compnetwork | 2nd Screw [Action]

[Nano picked a bad time to show up in Hinoto-Ri. She's a Leo, and the fear inflicted upon her by the event has reached the point of complete unhinged terror. At the beginning of the day, she thought to take a walk to clear her head, but as things got worse and worse, she's found herself utterly unable to deal with the world around her. And to make matters worse, those horrible scorpion creatures are crawling all over the city - and now, perhaps smelling her fear, they're also crawling all over Nano. She can be found running all over the city at various points throughout the day, trying desperately to shake them off and get to safety.]

Noooooooooo! Stop it! Get off, get off!

[She's really too afraid to do much of anything about it. In fact, she's even too afraid to notice that in her panic, she's managed to manifest her Persona, Pinocchio, for the first time, floating protectively above her as the scorpions continue to sting at her. Ironically, the robotic nature that Nano normally tries so hard to hide is currently her only saving grace, as her Persona reflects physical damage and the scorpions' venom can't affect someone without a genuine circulatory or nervous system. The scorpions will eventually mindlessly sting themselves to death, but there are quite a few of them and Nano's not much for fighting, so it seems she's going to need some help here.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Right, yes, that makes sense!

[She starts heading for the elevator, WHEN--]

Oh, this...? Um... it's... it's a cosplay prop!

Huh.

[Atsuro squints at her in obvious disbelief. Seriously who would fall for an explanation like that -- ]

Sheesh. Twice in two disasters! I guess statistically speaking, whether it's fire, flood, or demon invasion, there's always going to be at least one person in costume.

[...Atsuro heads for the elevator and presses the button without further comment.]

[Nano blinks, letting out a relieved sigh. She can't believe that worked either.]

[...The elevator takes far too long to get there. Atsuro shifts backwards uneasily from foot to foot as he tries to ignore the dull thudding that sounds against the front door every so often. After a half-eternity, the doors finally open to reveal...]

.......Phew. It would've been like a horror movie if this thing opened and more scorpions poured out.

[Thank you for that, Atsuro. He steps in.]

[Nano, for her part, bounces uneasily on her heels, fidgeting in place while she watches the numbers tick down. When the door finally opens, she squeals a bit and covers her eyes.]

I-is it all right...?

[And then, hearing Atsuro's relief, she lets out a breath she didn't even know she was holding before following him inside.]

Thank goodness...

[Atsuro leans back against the far wall and allows his tightly wound muscles to relax slightly as the elevator ascends.]

...Hey, you want me to try something? Someone told me it wouldn't work, but... my Persona can cure Fear. It can't hurt to give it a shot.

O-okay... if you think it will work...

"Alright."

Though the summoning of his Persona had initially required a dangerous situation, he had done it so many times now that it was almost second nature. Atsuro concentrates for a moment as he draws out the power...

A brief sound as of cracking glass announces the appearance of the Persona once more. Enki lowers its rod towards Nano for a moment before a flash of light envelops her.

((Sadly, it won't work.))

[Nano shakes nervously throughout the entire process, and is still shaking when Enki disappears again.]

I... I don't think it worked...

...Shoot.

[The elevator dings as they safely reach the... random floor button Atsuro had pressed when they entered. ...He doesn't get off.]

Ah - hey, what floor do you live in? I can see you back to your room.

Th-the top floor...

OK.

[Atsuro presses the correct button this time and the doors slide shut again. The silence is almost stifling after what they'd just escaped from.]

...I live over in the other building. I'll have to see if the the teleporters are still working.

Teleporters? They have those here?

I know, right? No one seemed to even bat an eye! I guess you get used to crazy stuff around here...

The two buildings are connected, but they might've taken it down for safety reasons. ...I would've taken it down for safety, but, eh.

Well, it sounds very convenient, at least.

Yeah.

[Atsuro nods.]

Then again, I could just get Badb Catha to warp me - takes a few warps, but it beats walking through this mess, still.

I thought your Persona's name was Babel...

((I'll assume you meant Enki there!))

Oh -- Yeah, Enki's my Persona. Badb Catha is, er, one of the demons I can summon.

[He looks faintly embarrassed.]

((herp, yeah, I think I was remembering something else from when you were planning Atsuro's Persona on Plurk - let's pretend she said the right thing!))

D-demons...?!

Edited 2012-10-31 03:30 (UTC)

Y-Yeah.

It's OK! Not all demons are bad guys - some of them will help you out. There are some demons in the city, too.

Oh...

[She still seems mightily apprehensive about that.]

I-I'll keep that in mind.

Aha...

[Yeah it was always pretty awkward trying to explain that.]

These guys follow my every command - I'd be long gone without them around.

[The elevator dings again! This time at the right floor.]

Ah! This is my floor.

[The demon thing is still a little scary for her, so she's glad to have something else to pay attention to.]

OK. Do you think you'll be alright from here?

[Inviting himself into a girl's room probably wasn't the most polite thing. Atsuro exits the elevator and pauses outside.]

Yes, I think I'm fine now. Thank you so much, Atsuro-san!

[Nano folds her hands in front of her, bowing her head gratefully as she lets out a relieved sigh.]

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otakuro - 2012-11-03 17:59 (UTC) - Expand