compnetwork | > 01. [text]

Hello everyone! ＼（＾∀＾） I hope you've all settled in well!

My name's Minako Arisato. I've talked to a few of you already, but for everyone else, it's nice to meet you!

Now that things have calmed down a little I was wondering - how many of us were Persona-users before coming to Hinoto-ri? I think it might be good to meet and compare notes if we haven't yet, see what's the same and what's changed. And maybe we could also make a list of people with experience who can help with answering questions or training, or things like that! Just jumping into using a Persona can be pretty daunting...

For everyone else - what do you usually do for fun? Some of the things I like are music, volleyball, cooking... If we have enough people who like the same things, maybe we could even form a club! I wouldn't mind having someone to play volleyball with again. Or to go out to karaoke! (ﾉ´▽｀)ﾉ♪

Anyway, that's all for now!

[added private text to Shinjiro]

Can I come over later?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Are you experienced with these persona things? I... Are they necessary?

Other than that, I have access to a karaoke machine.

I'm not sure about the situation here yet, but back home, they were. Only a Persona was effective against the enemies we had to fight.

...You own a karaoke machine? [that's a pretty big piece of equipment to have lying around...]

I do. They saw fit to bring my ship, and it has a lounge for karaoke.

What... If your persona... Is upsetting?

[...her ship?

But she sets that issue aside for now, because there's a more important topic to address] A Persona is something that's part of you... but it's not meant to upset or scare you. It's there to protect you. It's a 'mask' we use to face the world.

And, you know - Personas don't always stay the same. Sometimes as you grow and change, they change with you.

....My persona is the previous captain of the Nadesico. In the dress she died in.

[She's reminded of Junpei... of how Hermes and Medea fused to give him more strength, as well as the constant reminder of the sacrifice that led to that.]

...She must have had a big impact on you. And now she's watching over you.

[There is a long silence]

I'm not sure about that, it could be considered my fault.

What do you mean? [wait, Minako, that's insensitive -] If you don't mind me asking...

She died when a bomb went off as she was leaving for her honeymoon. I was supposed to check everything but I was told to enjoy the day... So it was missed.

[...

Minako herself can understand a little of that kind of guilt...]

Was she the one who told you to enjoy yourself?

.....One of the two.

It's really easy to look back and think about what we could have done... if we'd just been faster, or known more...

But living like that won't bring anyone back, either. I don't think she'd want you to feel guilty - I know she wouldn't, because she wouldn't be your Persona otherwise.

[Okay, she doesn't really know that for sure - the Persona isn't another person's spirit, it comes from inside. But she's never met someone who had a Persona solely to give them guilt.] She's made your soul stronger.

She was the second person to see me as a human, and she adopted me.

[this girl really has had a tough time of things.]

...See you as a human?

Its not a very interesting story. I was corporate property for several years.

[...what]

Property? But you're a person!

All children raised by the institute were upon graduation to be sold to support the scientific study that went on there.

I wasn't mistreated, I just was part of a computer system.

Even so, that doesn't sound right at all!

[although, she's wondering...] ...Are you an android?

No. I'm a girl.

My contract was voided a few years ago when one of the corporate heads deemed me defective though. It was about the nicest thing he could do.

That just makes it worse! A person can't be "defective."

A computer component can be though. And if a detective computer component is discarded then it can be a person. Just there was no other way to get out of my contract given how it was crafted when I was originally purchased.

My biological father found me a few years ago and offered to buy off the contract, but... It would have been too much hardship on his country and it felt wrong. I was defective as a computer component all on my own.

But how could a person be a computer component in the first place? That doesn't make any sense.

Genetic engineering and nanomachine injections. It was better then not being allowed to live I guess.

[Everything new she learns about this girl's circumstances sounds awful. Minako can't wrap her head around it... But, arguing with her won't change what happened, or change how things there are.

All she can address is what's happening right here.]

I'm just glad you're all right now.

Thank you. I'm Ruri. Hoshino Ruri.

(no subject)

greatseal - 2012-09-22 00:51 (UTC) - Expand

electricyousei - 2012-09-22 00:57 (UTC) - Expand