[METHOD_ENTRY_001] [VIDEO]

[pastalishe]

[The feed begins--and will later end--with the face of a young woman. Her expression is stern as she carefully sets her new communication watch on the nightstand. She sits on her bed, arms folded and legs crossed, holding herself with dignity and poise. The image she's trying to present is somewhat ruined by a haphazard pile of stuffed animals behind her--but she's obviously trying to make the best of an uncertain situation.]

Good evening, Hinoto-Ri. My name is Cloche Leythal Pastalia. [She pauses--just for a moment--as if there was some other part of her name that she was used to including.] Like many of you who read this network, I am a new arrival to this city--a "Registered Extraterrestrial Guest." I arrived just this afternoon, in fact.

My home is Metafalss, which floats above the Sea of Death in Ar Ciel. [She unfolds her arms, gracefully resting one hand over her heart.] If those names mean anything to you, I would truly appreciate it if you made contact with me. Even if we were strangers there, please, do not hesitate to contact me--collaboration could only beneficial to us all.

I am eager to learn more of the circumstances not just of this world, but of those that you call home. I honestly believe that, by understanding each other and working together, we can better come to understand this city and the mysteries surrounding it. [Cloche stands and retrieves her watch. She walks carefully, so as to not jar the camera.] To facilitate that mutual understanding, I would like to share some information about something that has come with me from Metafalss.

And that... [At this point, she reaches the door of her balcony which she opens, with a flourish.] Is the Infel Pira. [Cloche turns the camera to the sky. Although it is tremendously far away, the latest addition to Hinoto-Ri's skyline is visible from Cloche's bedroom window.] The Infel Pira is my Song Server, the source of Song Magic for myself and other IPD Reyvateils. The shape may seem strange to you but, I assure you, it is a benign structure. As the Maiden of Aqua, I swear that it will cause no harm to the innocent citizens of this city.

[With that said, Cloche returns the camera's view to her own face.] I can only hope that my explanation has eased any concerns you may have about it. [She closes her eyes, looking contemplative.] This evening, I know very little. [She opens them again, a determined expression on her face.] But tomorrow morning, I shall know more. Each and every day presents itself a new opportunity to learn.

To all those who have listened... thank you very much for your time. I wish you all nothing but the best. Good night.

[Cloche does not fumble with the buttons of the watch. She neatly ends the feed after her closing remarks.]

Comments

[pastalishe]

I see. An interesting choice.

That's correct. [Cloche shakes her head.] My Cosmosphere is a mental and spiritual reality, not a physical one. However, it can only be accessed through the use of Dive Machines in the real world.

What is the Velvet Room like?

[greatseal]

Well, basically what you said - 'physical' only in that your mind perceives it that way. It's a place [well, to borrow Igor's phrase] 'between dream and reality.' In this city it looks like a lounge. Igor and the other residents can help you take on new Personas. There's no machine needed to get there, though.

[pastalishe]

I see. In that case, yes--a Cosmosphere mimics physical reality. I've been told that they can be quite detailed. [Some Divers have even become trapped within a Reyvateil's Cosmosphere, never to escape...

Not that Minako needs to know that.]

A lounge? [For a place revolving around this weird Persona power??] That seems so... informal.

[greatseal]

That really sounds interesting... Although, probably pretty personal, too.

The shape is supposed to change for every Guest, but they said it's a lounge now because there are so many people using it. For me it used to look like an elevator.

[pastalishe]

Diving is a very personal, intimate act. It's rare for a pair to go past Level 3.

I see. I suppose that makes sense, considering the circumstances.

[greatseal]

[the innuendo just gets worse...]

You'll probably get a chance to visit it soon.

[pastalishe]

[You don't even know... ... ... a sixteenth of it, Minako.]

I look forward to it. Disregarding of its choice of venue, it seems like a very interesting place.

[greatseal]

So is there anything I can do to help you settle in? I know it's kind of overwhelming at first to suddenly need to move in to a new apartment.

[pastalishe]

It has certainly been... an experience. [This entire apartment... is probably smaller than one of the spare audience rooms of the Grand Bell Hall.] I was told that the first three floors of the apartment complexes were devoted to boutiques and shops. Do these include restaurants and grocery stores?

[Not that she'll. Be visiting the grocery store often... the stove remains a complete mystery to her. And, as much as Cloche loves Luca, she wants to survive her meals.]

[greatseal]

There's restaurants and convenience stores, but for really good groceries you should head to Virgo. It's actually not that far from the Libra apartments and there's teleporters that connect them with Pisces.

[pastalishe]

They have teleporters just to connect apartment complexes? [How............ frivolous! But, at the same time, very convenient.]

[greatseal]

Yeah! They're actually pretty new... and sometimes dump you into the pool instead of the right place. So don't bring anything electronic with you.

[pastalishe]

... I'll make sure to take every precaution if I choose to use them. [Well. At least she has costumes to transform into if she gets dumped into the pool??] In that vein--are the watches waterproof?

[greatseal]

Well.... I don't know for sure, but my brother fell into the pool and only his mp3 player was broken.

[she sure is going to tell random strangers about that incident]

[pastalishe]

Well, that's a relief. I'd hate to lose a communication tool because of an arbitrary malfunction. Have they even tried to fix the problem?

[greatseal]

I think so, but I don't know about the progress. They said they were installing them here as a test, anyway.

[pastalishe]

How irresponsible! What would they have done if someone was seriously hurt?

[greatseal]

I doubt they'd have installed it if it were that dangerous.

[pastalishe]

I suppose you can't account for every bug in the system... [... but teleporting is still dangerous technology, okay. Elevators are totally more reliable. (Most of the time.)]

[greatseal]

Not without extra testing, anyway.

[pastalishe]

... hence why they've been installed here. [Damnit, science. Why do you need so many tests to figure out problems!]