[Video | Public]

[otakuro]

Hey.  Looks like I've got this working.

[Atsuro's face appears on the network under somewhat inadequate lighting.  An astute guess would place him in his room illuminated only by the backlight of his laptop.] 

Everyone get out of that first mission OK?  I can't speak for anyone else, but geez, I think I slept for a few days straight there.  If they, uh, wanted a report or anything, the research labs are fine.  ...Probably.

[He stifles a yawn before continuing on, the camera zooming out slightly to reveal a lot of bedhead and a conspicuously absent trademark floppy hat.]

Hnn...  Sorry.

So!  Anyway.  I've been thinking a lot.  About what they've told us and about... what they haven't.  Hah, I'm still surprised this place isn't some weird hallucination.  It's a little unreal, right?  Like they're asking us to act out a game or a fantasy novel.  But... even if it seems like it might be fun to stick around, I think we need to find out what it is we're really getting into.  ...There's something I want to say about all this.

You've all run into the monsters by now, right?  They talk, they cast magic, they do tricks.  Not all of them are bad, but they're things we've heard of in myths and stories from different cultures all across the globe - Cerberus, the hound of Hades.  British pixies and kobolds.  Nekomata and other youkai from Japan.  So... what gives?  What're they doing here?

...I'm not gonna get into details, but I should say that these guys - the exact same identical demons - have popped up in at least two other worlds that I know of.  And both times.... they showed up because the world was about to end.

I'm not saying this place is the same way, but... maybe that's why they need our help badly.

[addendum a few minutes later]

Ah, someone reminded me - if you guys want to see a database of all the demons I've ever met, you can drop by my room.  Libra 5-07.

Comments

[otakuro]

That's a bit reassuring. It's more along the lines of how they're usually imagined, right? Most people don't see them, but they come out to play tricks every now and then.

[aboyandhiscat]

[He nods in confirmation]

It's when the major demons are being active is when one should be alarmed.

[otakuro]

...That's a good point. If it weren't for the Bel demons, things might not have gotten as bad as they did.

I don't know what else would go under major demon, though. Anything that could destroy you in one shot?

[aboyandhiscat]

They're ones known by specific names, rulers in their own way.

[A voice from off-screen cuts in]

They are demons you find in the Keys of Solomon, Legends that persisted in time, Or had been worshiped as Gods and feared as Devils

[otakuro]

[Atsuro recognizes the second voice quickly as the cat. He'd actually been surprised not to see it.]

...Yeah. You know there's trouble when Lucifer decides to make a pit stop in Tokyo.

What about here? Nothing like that has popped up yet?

[aboyandhiscat]

[Raidou's expression briefly darkens at the mention of Lucifer]

It's too early to tell.

[otakuro]

...Or maybe they just don't want to scare us all away yet.

[Somewhat surprisingly cynical for Atsuro...]

Hah, I'm just joking. The demons were... pretty tame, all things considering.

[aboyandhiscat]

Save for those that feed on humans, most will leave humans alone if they're not offended. As for the reason we're here - I don't like being left in the dark.

[otakuro]

...Your demons must have been vegetarian or something. I'd say most of the ones I met were pretty eager to chow down on some juicy human flesh.

So you've been dealing with demons your whole life... what do you think about all this, then?

[aboyandhiscat]

Demons are what they are.

[He closes his eyes, considering Atsuro's question]

I don't believe this Philemon is lying, but he is omitting something. As for demons here - I never seen them mixing with humans like this.

[otakuro]

Maybe this is the natural result of what happens when we learn to live side-by-side. ...You know, when God isn't siccing 'em on us.

[aboyandhiscat]

It would be nice if that is indeed the case.

[It likely is, but it's too soon for him to say]

[otakuro]

Then again.... it's still pretty dangerous with them around. They wouldn't have put up a curfew otherwise.

[He pauses.]

Why do you think it is that not everyone here can use a Persona, but all of us can?

[aboyandhiscat]

Either it is because Persona is not a native power, someone is giving us this ability, some unknown supernatural law of this world, or people are chosen because they have the potential.

Find the common thread beyond 'we are outsiders' might be a clue.

[otakuro]

...Some of us have demons where we come from. Some of us are normal high school students.

But all of us have the power of love and friendship inside!!

...It's not going to be something ridiculous like that, is it?

[aboyandhiscat]

[There's a moment of stony silence as Raidou looks at Gouto off-screen]

...what?

[otakuro]

[No one appreciates his sense of humor.]

N-Never mind.

...Maybe the thread we have is that we can all learn to fight together to help defend this place or something. Something self-fulfilling and easy.

[aboyandhiscat]

...Possible.

[otakuro]

...I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Hey, do you have a list of all the demons you've got back home on your world, too? Any chance I could do a comparison?

[aboyandhiscat]

Not on all the demons, but I have a fair amount in my notebook.

Too bad I can't go and get Victor's compendium.

[otakuro]

That works. ...Yeah, I wouldn't have bothered keeping notes at all if my COMP hadn't done it for me.