001 - [Video]

[primordial]

[The video feed clicks on, and at first, you might mistake the person on screen to be a dirty mop, what with the long messy strands of brown hair hanging down from his head. But on second glance, no, there's a face underneath all that, and it doesn't look that happy.]

W-why am I here? Again?! I didn't ask anybody to be here, this is not what I wanted, this is really, really, not good at all!!!

[And he murmurs and shakes his head, looking down at the ground as it he is wishing it could open up and swallow him right then and there.]

...

Yeah. Um. So...my name's Sam. Sam Erstwhile. I was here before, and then I was back home...and I guess I'm back here again. I don't know. So, really, you don't need to tell me about the whole Persona thing, I know about it. I still don't understand why in the world they would choose me to be here again...I'm no one special. Really, I'm not.

[A sigh.]

Erm, so has anything changed recently that I need to know about? Same old, same old? No crazy other-world field trips or the like? I don't think I could deal with another other-world field trip, the last one was horrible...

Comments

[Video]

[bondsofsuffering]

[HEY LOOK it's your favorite minty haired devil.]

No more field trips. Just the usual kind of crazy. Welcome back!

[Video]

[primordial]

[oh wow you're still here huh]

[A slight frown.] Yeah...welcome back, indeed. You've still been here since after I left?

[Video]

[bondsofsuffering]

Yep. Haven't gone home a single time since.

[Not that he sounds particularly upset about this state of affairs.]

[Video]

[primordial]

Good for you.

[A pause.]

Still as cheerful as ever?

Video

[tyrantball]

Oh hey look who it is she is just so happy to see you

"Great Lord of Terror! You never told Desco you had a name!"

Video; Filtered to Desco

[primordial]

[He pauses, staring at the screen for a good full minute, because WOW NO, GET OUT SISTERLY FEELINGS, YOU ARE NOT HAPPY TO SEE THIS KID, NOPE NOPE NOOOPPPE.]

Oh! Um. Yes, I do have a name...and maybe you shouldn't call me that title when we're around other people, you know? I don't know what they might think.

...

You can still call me that when we're alone, though.

[tyrantball]

Smile smile.

"Okay!"

And now it is time to UPDATE SAM ON DESCO'S IMPORTANT LIFE.

"Desco has made a new friend! Her name is Miss Nano and she is really nice!"

[primordial]

Miss Nano?

[That name...does not ring a bell. And although he could honestly care less about people's lives, he'll go along with listening to Desco because 1) it's Desco and 2) he's got nothing better to do at the moment.]

What is she like?

[bakegarasu]

[Well he was gonna just let this go but then she used a title like that.]

This is a friend of yours, Desco?

[primordial]

[BETTER STEP IN BEFORE DESCO RUINS EVERYTHING]

Oh! Um, kind of? I guess? We met a few times before when I was here.

[look at this face how could it ever be a dark lord of terror in any universe]

[bakegarasu]

[No Desco please step in tell your uncle whom you've been hanging out with. :| ]

Uh-huh. Guess she found you interesting enough to like.

So are you really that scared or are you just laying it on thick?

[Anyone who hangs around Desco can't be that easily startled.]

[ video ]

[theultimateshadow]

Hmph. Why would the gods here choose a sniveling coward like you?

If they'll pick just anyone then there's no reason for me to be here.

[ video ]

[primordial]

I-I-I don't know!

[He sniffs, wiping one of his dark eyes with a sleeve of his jacket.]

And this is my second time, so...maybe they just want to make me more miserable. Just get all the sadistic pleasure they need... I don't know.

[ video ]

[theultimateshadow]

Are you really this pathetic?

[ video ]

[primordial]

[No, he most definitely is not.]

...I-I'm not pathetic. I'm just scared, okay? I don't like this place.

Video

[jazzandtiramisu]

[Wow. Okay what is this kid's problem?]

No need to get so bent out of shape. Sit down before you trip over yourself.

[The most helpful. It is Lanister.]

Video

[primordial]

I-I...

[He lets out a shuddering sigh, clutching his head briefly before letting them fall back to his sides.]

Yeah. No, yeah, you're right. I shouldn't...I mean, I didn't ask for this, but still. I shouldn't freak out.

Video

[jazzandtiramisu]

[Lanister just gives him a doubting look. He hasn't met anyone this high strung in ages.]

Good. There's no point stressing over things you can't control.

Surely you can think of a better use of your time.

Video

[primordial]

Ugh...still, I can complain about them. But complaining won't do any good, it just...it just feels good to complain.

[A pause.]

I wonder who is in control of who comes and goes? I never really got that answer when I was here last...

[video]

[a_gentle_boy]

Again? You've been here before...?

[This is less a question than it is an echoing of Sam's words. The young boy on the screen wears an expression of sympathy.]

I'm sorry you don't want to be here. I, um. I think I know a little bit about how you feel. If it helps, though... I think being here already means you're plenty special.

...I don't think I'll be very helpful to you since I just got here, but... is it alright if I ask you a few questions?

[video]

[primordial]

Yeah, I've been here. It's not fun.

[A sigh from him.] Special? Heh. Maybe they have a messed up concept of what it's like to be special...

Oh! Oh, um, sure. Go ahead. I-I'll try my best to answer.

[a_gentle_boy]

Ah, thanks! It's... It's nothing much, but I'm sorry for the trouble.

[He flushes a bit red.]

Just... I'm still wondering if I should stay - if I can stay. It'd be nice to hear first-hand from someone who's got experience. I mean, um -- I think I might need to go home, but. I'm not sure how. ...And I also heard that time doesn't pass while you're here. Is that true?

[angryyoungvamp]

Great. So this thing goes back and forth on whether to even keep us here. That'll be good to know if I ever actually leave.

Anyway, uh. Call me Maugris. Sorry you got dragged in here again, Sam.

[primordial]

Pretty much. Fun to find that out, isn't it?

[He nods sullenly.] Yeah...it's alright, I guess. At least it's not like I forgot how this place works, so there's that. Maugris? That's an unusual name.

[angryyoungvamp]

Oh, definitely. Just fantastic.

I'm still learning; I just got here last week. I learn fast, though. As for the name, it's after a character in a French story. Sort of a fairy tale, I guess. Maugris d'Aigremonte - one of Charlemagne's knights who was also a wizard.

While we're on names, Erstwhile's an interesting last name, but I bet you get enough jokes about it already.