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[terminally_clever]

[After spending some time looking around town, talking with locals, and efficiently gathering information, Fumi's ready to introduce herself to the network.  Except it's not so much an introduction as a combination lecture / interrogation.  She doesn't have time for idle pleasantries - there is a new research topic afoot.  Her face is expressionless as she launches right into her diatribe.]

Persona.

A concept first introduced by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung in the early twentieth century, described as 'a kind of mask, designed on the one hand to make a definite impression upon others, and on the other to conceal the true nature of the individual.'

[Dry and pedantic, just like she likes it.  Although at this point, her features take on a hint of frustration.]

I have vague memories of having heard this word shortly before waking up in this city, and given the rather abrupt nature of my arrival, I feel safe in assuming the word holds a more significant meaning in this place than would normally be suggested by traditional psychological terminology.  I've also gathered that I'm far from the only person to have arrived in this way, or to have experienced that vague dream upon arrival.

So, Hinoto-Ri, what can you tell me about the Persona phenomenon, and what is the most efficient way to awaken one?  Please make your responses as brief and concise as possible.  I may have found my next research topic.

[The woman smiles before ending the feed and waiting for responses.]

Comments

[testsubject031]

((ooc: She can't do the illusion anymore :3 All robot!))

Well, y'see, I got mine by acceptin' my shadow self.

[terminally_clever]

Interesting. So even artificial lifeforms are capable of awakening a Persona. But this is the first I've heard someone mention a shadow.

[testsubject031]

[She can't deny that she is an artificial lifeform, but the way this woman says it...]

Ya gotta have heart to have a persona. It doesn't matter what you are.

Shadows are your hidden self that you don't want people to know about. But if you have the ability to accept'em for what they are, they become your persona.

[terminally_clever]

[Fumi tells it like it is. Warmth and sympathy was always more Otome's thing.]

And you say you awakened yours before coming here, is that correct? Are there any others here for whom that was also the case?

[testsubject031]

[Fumi reminds her of people she isn't quite comfortable being with, to say the least. She needs to know something before she goes blabbing anymore.]

You ain't a part of Kirijo Group's Ergo Research, are ya?

[terminally_clever]

Kirijo Group? No, I've never heard of them.

[She is with a secret Japanese government research installation, but it's not that one. :3]

[testsubject031]

So you don't know what I am.

Maybe if she speaks generally, it'll sate the lady's curiosity.]

Yeah, there're others who already had personas.

[terminally_clever]

And they all awakened them in the way you've just described? I wonder what makes you all different from the rest of us. Given that you're the first one I've met, I would assume previous Persona users are something of a minority in this place.

[testsubject031]

I dunno how many visitors there are, I haven't been stuck here very long.

[terminally_clever]

Hmm. Well, it seems more likely that the other methods I've heard described will yield better results in my own case. But your situation is certainly intriguing as well.

[testsubject031]

[Had she just attracted unwanted attention? Or was this woman okay to trust? It's certainly hard to tell.]

Y'could say that.

[terminally_clever]

It's a shame the machine I've been working on isn't finished yet, although I think studying the Persona phenomenon may be a perfect practical application for it.

[testsubject031]

A machine?

[She wonders if this is something her friends should know about.]

[terminally_clever]

A device to monitor the physical health and mental condition of the person inside. Similar to a combined MRI/CAT scan, but I'd like for it to be able to provide an even more complete picture of the state of the patient than just that.

[meaningdies]

[And soon enough, there's a knocking on her door.]

[terminally_clever]

[After several moments, the door opens to reveal a woman clad in a white china dress, a black trenchcoat, and fluffy bunny slippers. Fumi cares not for any concepts of fashion that make an ounce of sense.]

Ah, it's you. Come in.

[She steps into the apartment to let him in. There are already computer parts and the like scattered everywhere. Someone's been busy, wasting no time whatsoever in getting up and running again.]

[meaningdies]

[... He's really not one to talk about fashion, honestly. And he looks over the parts as he enters. He's kind of annoyed his computers didn't come here with him.]

I should have introduced myself before. My name is Naoya.

[terminally_clever]

Fumi.

[She gives a short nod of acknowledgement before heading for the couch, expertly weaving her way through the small mess.]

Well, then, let's get down to business, shall we?

[meaningdies]

[Naoya carefully picks around it as well. He pulls his COMP out of his pocket, flipping it open.]

I can open a channel to your computer if you'd like to look at some of the code.

[Not all of it, but some of it at least.]

[terminally_clever]

Just a moment.

[Fumi sits down at her laptop, fiddling with a few settings for a moment. There are firewalls upon firewalls on this thing, after all. Naoya's probably capable of cracking them on his own, of course, but she doesn't know that.]

All right, go ahead.

[meaningdies]

[He nods, and types a few things into his COMP. Some of the ritual subroutines are sent over to her computer, along with a selection of the Compendium.]

[The energy gathering routines are absent, as are the systems for Skill Cracking, but that should be enough for now.]

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[capitalbackup]

[It's only based on what she suspected. and maybe more but one thread on it isn't long enough yet]

I suspected the televisions play commercials targeted at one viewer's subconscious.

[The Aramid Room is a place to get Personas, which dwell in the human mind. So it's not a stretch to assume those commercials were related to the human mind as well?

For such an uplifting advertisement, the one she watched was like a slap to her face.</small.]

[terminally_clever]

[Well, that's all right. Her own system has Skill Cracking anyway, and she's already analyzed as much as she can about how her app itself works.]

Hmm... very similar, just as I thought.

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[terminally_clever]

Hmmm... given that Personas themselves are apparently part of one's subconscious, that would seem to make sense. Is the mode of appearance the same between the Aramid and Velvet Rooms?

[meaningdies]

It's strange to see. It should be much different, but I think our worlds must have more in common than I first thought...