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

[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.]

[primordial]

I-I guess...I mean, despite her appearance, she isn't that bad. Kind of reminds me of someone back home, honestly...

[A confused look.] Why would I be laying it on thick?Honestly, Desco terrified me when I first saw her...and then I saw what she was really like, and I felt a bit better.

[LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH RIGHT NOW DESCO DON'T COME IN AND MAKE THINGS WORSE JUST LEAVE IT TO HIM]

[tyrantball]

OH HEY UNCLE OTOHA

"He is Desco's role model! She wants to be as cool as him when she grows up!"

[bakegarasu]

Cool, huh? What makes him so cool?

[The cover, it is blown.]

[tyrantball]

There's a long pause before she answers.

"Desco has promised not to tell! Desco is sorry, Uncle Otoha."

Desco never lies.

[bakegarasu]

[That's super concerning.]

Uh-huh. That's strange, Desco. I wonder why he told you not to tell.

[tyrantball]

"Desco's not sure!"

A slight pause.

"Oh! Can we invite him to Desco's birthday party?"

[bakegarasu]

Maybe. I'll have to have a talk with him before.

[primordial]

[OKAY NOW THAT THAT LITTLE SIDE CONVERSATION IS OVER, Sam looks confused, shaking his head and holding up his hands, as if in apology.]

Desco! Really, you've got that wrong...I'm not cool in any sense!

...She must call me that after I was the only one willing to stick around for her. Really, she's not a bad girl, despite, well...the wanton need for world destruction...

[bakegarasu]

[Dangerous line, you have crossed it.]

The only one willing to stick around for her, huh? But yeah. She's not a bad kid.

[It's pretty clear that he's holding back anger by his expression, though.]

[primordial]

I mean, I-I've never seen her around anyone else. But then again, I haven't hung around her to know that well, so...

[He lets out a slightly nervous laugh.]

I-I'm guessing you know her well, don't you? Oh god, god, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insinuate anything with that, it was a stupid thing to say. I'm sorry.

[bakegarasu]

She lives with me, so yes.

[He suddenly smiles, though it's less friendly and more predatory.]

I'll see you around then, I guess.

[primordial]

[Urgh. Being on this guy's bad side is not something he wants.]

Are you like her dad or something? Why so...I don't know, passive-aggressive? I didn't do anything wrong.

[bakegarasu]

No, but I am taking care of her. Someone needs to look after her, after all.

[primordial]

Y-yeah, I can get behind that. But seriously, I don't mean any harm to her, okay? Don't treat me like a criminal.

Filtered to Desco

[primordial]

[DESCO OH MY GOD NOOOOOO SHUSH YOU YOU'LL RUIN EVERYTHING.]

Desco! Could you please just...don't tell him, okay? I don't need people finding out about what I am!

[tyrantball]

Huh?

"Why not? You're a superior lifeform that is more important than most humans, right?"

[primordial]

[He opens his mouth, thinks better of it, and then closes it for a minute, before:]

That isn't the point. The point here is is that I have a cover, and it doesn't need to be blown. So...just don't mention it, okay?

[tyrantball]

Desco doesn't really get it, but oh well.

"Okay!"