compnetwork | [Voice]

[Well, Shelly has had quite enough of interrogating the locals. It would have been splendid if they had managed to answer all of his questions, but that wasn't the case. Not to mention, there are other questions he cannot pose to them. He can't pose them to the network, either - not directly. But it's time to seek more information, regardless. He just has to be careful about it.]

Greetings. I am new here, and I was told that I could use this device to communicate with other... "Visitors", was it? Other people like me, at any rate. I have already asked a fair number of questions to the inhabitants of this city, but I must admit, some of what they've said is difficult for me to understand, and I feel quite lost. Any further help would be much appreciated.

Speaking of this device... The "COMP"? [He pronounces each letter separately - Cee Ohh Emm Pee.] Something worries me. How secure is it? I think I saw some privacy settings while I was attempting to begin recording this message, but are they reliable? I assume the device's functions are powered by the internet, and the problems that may arise from such a thing are well known... or so I hope. In fact, how easy is it to determine the identity of a given person on this network? You never know who you may be speaking to, after all.

[There. Subtle. ~~Boy just wait until he figures out the government has his name on record.~~]

That should be all for now, I believe. Thank you kindly.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Maybe I just watch too much TV.

[A candyman? Philemon brought a candyman to fight demons in the city? ...He may be a god, but he sure makes questionable decisions.]

Oh... That's quite the career change you're being forced into. On the bright side, at least you get a Persona to watch over you.

[~~YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THIS CANDYMAN MIGHT BE CAPABLE OF, BOBBY~~]

In theory, at least. From what I understand, this Persona is... inside me?

I'm not really sure if that's the best way to describe it. If I'm getting this right, a Persona is a physical manifestation of your soul. And maybe kind of like a defense mechanism, because it appears when you're really afraid.

I... see. [Maybe. Kind of.]

This may prove challenging. There is very little I'm afraid of.

[Don't start with him on the subject of fear. When he heard a Persona's first appearance is mostly triggered by fear, he began to wonder if he would ever be able to summon his. Then he got his hands on an Evoker, which blasted the fear into his skull in a quite literal sense.

Needless to say, his decision to try that in private had been a good one. He spent a good half hour trying to pull himself together again as the Kitsune watched over him.]

If you need some help summoning your Persona, you can request an Evoker from city hall! It's a sort of magical gun that triggers fear so your Persona will appear immediately. [So he says with the most cheerful of voices, even as the memory lingers in the back of his head.]

A magical gun...? I suppose I do already have business at the city hall, but... [Is he supposed to shoot himself with it? That strikes him as incredibly foolish.

Perhaps he can rely on old memories instead.]

Ha ha! I know it sounds a bit odd, but not to worry. The Evoker is completely harmless! I'd never encourage novice ownership of a real weapon!

I should hope so, Mr. Detective. Why, I have seen supposed "professionals" with terrible gun discipline, even.

[A little noise of frustration.] See, this is how tragedies with firearms occur. A weapon is not a toy!

Quite so. I hope you know how to wield one correctly.

Of course! I would be an embarrassment to the police force and the very essence of justice if I didn't take full responsibility for my firearm.

[Even the real Bobby Fulbright didn't fumble with his gun, so in that sense the Phantom was very lucky.]

[There he goes again. As devoted as the detective appears to be, it's odd that he wouldn't remember a wanted criminal voice. Maybe he just doesn't have a good ear.]

That is good to hear, Mr. Detective. With men like you, it seems humble citizens such as myself have nothing to fear.

Awww, shucks! I'm just doing my civil duty.

Persona. If you're familiar with Jungian philosophy it makes a bit more sense, since a Persona is a 'mask' you use to interact with the world. Demons, on the other hand, are spirits or fallen gods from mythology.

A Persona can take the form of a demon, but they're not the same. Persona are not physical entities that can act on their own, as they're linked to your soul - or mind, if you prefer to think of it that way.

Ah, I'm afraid that falls somewhat outside my field of knowledge... but I think I am beginning to understand. They are projections of a sort, then?

That's fine. Most people here don't seem to come from worlds with demons. But that's correct.

In that case, it seems that... some degree of superstition may be required to summon these Persona at all, no?

[At least, he can't see himself just up and going "Ah, yes, possibly imaginary construct of my soul, if you could manifest and give me a hand here, that would be splendid."]

There's an easier way to do it. You can go to city hall and ask for an Evoker. While it may look like a gun, it isn't. There are no bullets inside it - you can check for yourself. But shooting yourself with it allows you to summon your Persona.

... I'm fully aware of how strange that sounds, but you'll have to take my word for it if you don't want to try it for yourself.

[Silence.]

... This seems like a terribly unwise method.

[That... is the usual reaction.]

I can go with you and demonstrate it, if you'd like.

Are you suggesting you would shoot yourself in my presence?

[That's almost amusing. If people did that too often, he could very well be out of a job.]

To demonstrate the harmlessness of this particular gun, yes. It's not as if I work very far from there.

I suppose... we may as well. I have yet to see one of these Persona in the flesh, after all.

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