01 - [Video]

[primordial]

[There's a scrambling sound and a few mutterings of "you turn on the video over here, don't you?" before the video finally turns out, showing the somewhat morose face of one (1) Sam Erstwhile, disheveled brown hair almost covering his eyes. He glances away with a slight frown.]

Um, right, what was I going to say here...

[And then a nod as he looks back up.]

Right! Right. Erm, yeah. Hello to all of you, I guess. I'm Sam and...I just arrived a few days ago, so I'm sorry if I'm still new to all of this.

[He tries his best at a smile, but it's kind of a pathetic try, at best- his mouth just quirks upward for one second before dropping down to it's usual position.]

I...I just am a little confused, honestly. I mean, people have told me about the Persona thing and the fact that we have to fight monsters and all, but, I mean, why were we chosen in the first place? I know plenty of other people who would be way better at this than me. And it's not like I applied or anything, so...what's so special about me?

[He sighs, scratching the back of his head.] Somebody I talked to before talked about how they choose us based on our souls, but...I just want to hear what other people think. I'm not really interested in why we were chosen, more like how we were chosen, if that makes sense. What sets us apart from all the other people from where we come from?

Because, I dunno...I think they made a really huge mistake when they chose me.

Comments

[primordial]

Not...really. Mostly I was thinking about the whole, "there's something called a Persona and I have no idea where the heck I am, what is going on" part of it. Sorry. But still...I don't know who judged my will or what, but it's definitely not at all strong.

[A sigh.]

See, that's what I'm talking about. I've met gods and big huge knights of terror and now living weapons of mass destruction, and then there's me. Like...how do I even stand up to all of you all? What's so special about me?

[demifemme]

I wasn't special until the end of the world. Maybe something here'll make you special, I dunno. Heck, you got a Persona, that's a start.

[primordial]

Wait, what, end of the world? Your world ended?

[WHOAH LADY THAT IS SOME SERIOUS STUFF RIGHT THERE]

God! That's-I can't even imagine what I'd do in a situation like that...

[And a sniff.] Well, yeah, that's a start if I could actually, you know, figure out how to use it.

[demifemme]

Yes, my world ended. In fact, all world ends eventually. In my world an asshole got a hold of the big red button and boom.

If you're anything like me, you'd lay dying until a greater entity would decide to mess with you for fun.

As for using your Persona, usually, it first comes out when you're afraid or threatened. Just. Don't go out at night alone to kickstart it, you might be eaten.

[primordial]

Oh, gosh. That's...bad.

And so, you died- er, dying-, but I guess that last part means you were brought here while you were doing that? Aren't you glad to be alive, though?

[And a pause as he takes that info in.] Afraid or threatened, got it. And...in the night is when all the monsters come out, don't they?

[demifemme]

Actually, amazingly enough, there is life after the end of the world. Of course, because there has to be a catch, the post-end world is populated with demons who all want to eat you. So yes, I am glad to be still alive, and here is... relatively peaceful, so there's that.

The monsters come out at night, but mostly during the extra hour at midnight. That's when it's most dangerous. During the full moon, too, but that's a classic.

[primordial]

...Demons, huh? So, I guess that means Hell won out, eventually, whee you come from. Not that I believe in the existence of that, but hey, coming here, a lot of things have been proven wrong.

Extra hour? How can there be an extra hour, doesn't that break a lot of rules about time or whatever? And yeah, the full moon, that is a classic, heh. Not to surprised about that one.

[demifemme]

It's a little more complicated than that, but since you already are thoroughly confused by coming here, I wouldn't wanna bother you..

I honestly don't know about that. I suppose time is not as linear as we think. I've experienced the extra hour like most everyone here and it's a very different feeling from normal night-time. I can feel the proximity of the demon world during that time.

[primordial]

Alright, but...at some point I would like to hear it. I'm curious.

[A pause.] Yeah, I'm no expert on time travel or anything, so I'll just have to take your word for it. And what, the demon world is here, too?

[demifemme]

I think we'll all be here a while, so I'll probably get the occasion to share the story later.

*Shura scratched her chin.* How to explain... the demon world is actually here, but, in a different dimension, if you will. Demons are walking in the streets of Hinoto-Ri right now, only on on a different plane so humans and demons don't meet. At night, for some reason, the "wall" between both dimensions weakens and demons seem to appear, but they've always been there.

[primordial]

So...that means I could be walking into a ton of demons and not even realize it? But I can't touch them because they're on another plane. Huh.

If they can cross from their plane to ours, is it possible that the other way around could happen?

[demifemme]

Yep, you are walking into demons all the time, so to speak. And so are they.

I guess technically it is possible, but I can't say if it's happened or not. I've only been here for a month at most.

[primordial]

[He shudders.] That...that is definitely something I don't want to think about while walking around.

Oh, not long, huh? Has anyone stayed longer?

[demifemme]

Oh yeah, definitely. Some people've been stuck here since last year or so I think.

[primordial]

Last year? That long?!

Has anyone found a way home yet?

[demifemme]

Apparently, but Philemon keeps dragging them back here.

[primordial]

Philemon...

[A pause.]

Why-why does that name sound familiar? Is he the one I saw in my dreams? Before I came here, I mean.

[demifemme]

If you mean Butterfly Man, then yeah, I think that's his actual name.

[primordial]

Oh.

[New info get! This could be useful.]

And I would assume he's the one who brought me here, right?

[demifemme]

It'd be logical, wouldn't it? Since he kind of chose us.

[primordial]

Has anyone ever talked to him after he's brought them here? Or is that literally the last time you see him?

[demifemme]

I haven't seen him again, personally, but I've met his servants in the Velvet Room.

[primordial]

Velvet room...?

What is that, like his headquarters?

[demifemme]

Uhm... it's like another dimension, like the demon world. The servants of Philemon tend to our Personas.

[primordial]

Oh, so that's where our Personas are! Huh. And here I was thinking they'd be inside us or...something.

That sounds stupid, I'm sorry.