compnetwork | 02

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02 - [Video]

[This...is going to be a problem.]

[He was curious, really, to hang around until the 13th hour came along, and had been quite shocked by the enormous amount of monsters hanging around. So shocked that he was quite unprepared for when they started attacking- he thought he'd find a way to avoid them, honestly. And just when he was cornered...it had finally come out. His Persona.]

[And honestly, he wasn't too surprised. Not even scared, really, he's seen worse. His Persona is himself, isn't it? But this would pose a problem if he showed it to other people, because that would be going and showing them something very deep and personal that might turn them against him. No, he has to turn this into an advantage, a way to get people to pity him and go on his side.]

[And he knows exactly how to get that to happen.]

[The video turns on, and the first thing one hears is the rather terrified and stammering voice of one (1) Sam Erstwhile.]

This-this is really not okay! I mean, it's my birthday today, I really didn't need this as a birthday present!

[The guy seems to be on the verge of fainting, he's so pale. It's oddly dark behind him, even though it's morning...]

I-I...listen, is it possible to just refund a Persona? That's possible, right? Because...mine is a freakin' abomination, and I'm not really sure I want it. How come all of you get the cool ones and I get the one that looks like it feeds on little kid's nightmares??

[And then the darkness behind him moves, and what looks to be like a dark tentacle rests on Sam's shoulder. Sam shudders, letting out a slight whimper, as the skull-like face of his Persona drops down into view.]

[Looks like Sam wasn't kidding about that abomination stuff at all.]

They said having a Persona was a good thing. They said you'd love it, and that it'd help you, and...ugh, this isn't what I was expecting at all!

[And he buries his face in his trembling hands. He really looks like he's going to have a nervous breakdown over this.]

Happy birthday to me...

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Yes, I really was. God knows how many hours I put into it... [And he stares, obviously surprised at the offered muffin.] Oh! Um...wow, thank you.

[Ugh, these muffins are going to be the death of him, he swears. Inwardly bemoaning himself, he picks it up and takes off a bit to pop into his mouth, feeling like he needs to down a bottle of mouthwash or something after this whole friendly meeting is over.]

You would? Oh, gosh, I...I don't really know what to say. I mean, you're really nice... [He looks away, as if embarrassed, before it seems like a thought has occurred to him.]

Hey, um...is it possible that I can learn from you? How to fight, I mean.

*With Selphie, everything is always shared and enjoyed by as many people as possible. So she smiles, glad that he accepts and seems to enjoy it too. Satisfied, she sits back in her chair and takes another bite*

Well, sure I would. And thanks!

*She tilts her head when he looks away, curious as to what he might be looking at*

Oh - well... I guess. I mean, I'm not the best at hand to hand but..

*Selphie glances him over and laughs, shaking her head in her own amusement*

..but you look like you might be stronger than me anyway, so it'll probably be easier for you!

What, me, strong?!

[He has to look back at her at that, voice almost cracking with flustered surprise.]

I-I'm like the last person who's string! I can't even do one pull-up or anything...and I swear, finding a useful muscle on me is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Basically...I'm not that strong. Not at all.

*Uh...initially, she feels like she's said something really wrong, and it's her turn to look a little embarrassed*

Well - I mean.. I'm only really little, but I can pack enough of a punch when I want to so... with training, you'll be stronger for sure!

Hey, god things come in small packages, right?

[And he scratches the back of his head.]

Yeah, I...I just want to defend myself, you know? I'm lousy when it comes to fighting...but I guess if I'm here, I have to learn it.

*That earns a happy giggle, and Selphie tops up the water in her glass*

It's a good thing to learn. I mean, you never know what's gonna happen, or who might get mean. But for anything scary, you've always got your friend..

*Selphie makes a motion towards the window, and outside, assuming his persona might be hiding there somewhere*

[He takes a gulp of his own water, only disappointed when it doesn't wash the taste of the muffins down too much. But at her gesture, he follows it with a frown, nodding.]

Whatever that thing...I don't think it's my friend. I mean, it's me, but I don't want to rely on it all the time. I don't really trust it...

I think you're kinda gonna have to though.

*The smile she gives is sympathetic and understanding, and she bows her head as she finishes off her muffin*

Cause, I'm not calling you creepy or anything, cause you're not, but that thing is really closely linked to you. All the Personas are. Or, well, that's what I heard.

*Her smile becomes a little more uncertain and she shrugs with one shoulder*

[He frowns, staring down at the muffins in front of him. He doesn't look too happy.]

I get that, but...I'd rather it not be closely linked with me. I don't know what it says about me, that my mind brought forth that-that thing. I don't want to know...

[And he mutters under his breath..]

I thought I was normal. I guess this place thinks I'm a monster, too...

*That wasn't quite the reaction she was expecting, and she instantly shows a face of concern*

Sam..you know, your thing looks creepy but..it is kinda sweet. I mean, it clearly likes spending time with you and, I think it might even be a little put out that you don't like it so much.

*Selphie sighs softly, and reaches a hand over the table to pat at his forearm*

For what it's worth...as a total stranger that you've only just met...I think you're lovely, and I bet your persona thingy isn't so bad either, he just doesn't look as cute as you do.

[A long pause, and then:]

Y-you think so?

[He looks up, attempting that smile again, even looking a bit bashful.]

Yeah...I guess you're right. It hasn't attacked me or anything. And...you really think I'm cute? I don't think anyone has called me that, heh...

*Selphie looks absolutely positive as she gives a firm nod and sits back in her chair*

Exactly. Maybe you just need to hang out with it a little bit more.

*When he asks the question, Selphie flushes gently ~ she meant it, but she'd just spoken her mind to make him feel better*

Oh! Yeah.. I do..

Okay. That sounds like good advice.

[He lowers his head again, wringing his hands slightly in his lap as if trying to figure out what to do in such a situation. He sounds touched, though.]

Thanks, I guess...I don't think I'm very cute at all, but I guess what I say won't change your mind, will it?

Least then, even if you don't love it, you'll be more used to it.

*She glances up to see Sam looking down, and she smiles quite bashfully. Then she starts laughing and shakes her head*

Nope! Too stubborn for that!

Yeah...I need to ask if it has a name, too. It seems other Personas have names...

[He lets out a slight laugh at that, though it's so quiet that one might not even identify it as a laugh at all.]

Stubborn, huh? Not even when the going gets tough?

That's a good idea. I recognise my Persona from back home, so I know its name and that's kinda nice. Maybe knowing its name will help you bond, too.

*Selphie blinks at Sam, not sure whether it was a laugh or a cough that she heard*

Hmm.. When the going gets tough I think I'm the most stubborn of all!

Oh, you recognize your Persona? Are you one of those people who had Personas at home? But yes, I think a name would be important to know if we are to get along.

[He's the worst at these things, okay. But he does seem to be smiling when he looks back at her.]

Man...I wish I had your courage, really.

Nah. We didn't have Personas..but one of our Guardian Spirits has become my Persona here. They're basically elemental spirits that I can summon to help me out in battle. For the bigger monsters, not just for the usual dudes who are being jerks.

*Because it would be mean to kill those guys with a GF when a punch or a kick would do.
When he smiles, Selphie can't help but smile more, and she looks excited ~ after all, it's a huge difference to how glum he looked in his video*

Nah..it's nothing, really!

Whoah...Guardian spirits? Your world sounds really cool. We don't have anything like that where I come from.

[It seems Selphie is putting him more at ease, really- he doesn't seem so timid as he was before.]

No, really! I mean...you can do so much with that courage, you know? [And a somber frown.] And I can't really do anything with what little courage I have.

Uh huh! They are pretty cool, so I'm lucky to have one with me here, I guess.

*She grins at his enthusiasm, then looks down at the plate of muffins. There's two left, and he's barely touched his, so she figures that he won't mind too much if she lowly takes a lemon one.. But at his compliment she shakes her head and waves a hand dismissively*

Nah - mostly, back home, it was more...being stupid than being courageous. I just get a lotta people into trouble that way. But y'know, I reckon you've got a lot more courage than you think.

You are...we don't even have anything related to magic or spirits. Everything just works via technology or science. So, hearing about magic is pretty exciting...

[He doesn't even notice her taking another one, just focusing on her instead.]

Oh, you're just being really modest, aren't you? And no, what courage I think I have is even more than what I really do have. It's just the way I am.

*Selphie grins at that, looking pleased, but sympathetic too since she'd met plenty people from a world that didn't have any magic. She nods her head and gives a quick wink*

Maybe you'll get a chance to see some magic sometime!

*Then she looks away and shakes her head*

Nah. Really. I get in a lotta trouble from my friends. But ya know..I think courage isn't such a huge deal. It's about how you act in a hard situation that's most important.

Perhaps.

[He smiles slightly at the wink, though it disappears as quickly as it came as he looks towards his water glass instead, as if trying to find something to say there.]

And if you run away when you're in a hard situation because you don't know how to deal with it...isn't that bad?

*She shuffles a little in her chair and reaches to refill his glass, even if there was still plenty of water left*

Maybe. Maybe it is. But maybe it takes time to think things through, to really work out what the best thing is to do for that situation..

*Pretty cryptic maybe, but then, she wasn't really sure what kind of situation he was talking about*

[He nods as thanks for that, reaching down to sip at it before putting it back down.]

Maybe, but sometimes I do it without thinking, you know? It's like seeing a tiger and turning immediately to run for your life. Like that.

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