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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

[meaningdies]

Some of them could be. Many of them are not any species of demon I know of.

As for the Velvet Room, it seems to show up randomly, unfortunately.

[terminally_clever]

Ah, so you're familiar with demons, then? And what exactly do you mean by 'show up?'

[meaningdies]

Quite familiar, actually. I see you know Yamato Hotsuin. The Demon Summoning Program in his phone is similar to the one in my COMP, though I don't seem to be from the same world as you.

[terminally_clever]

Yes, that's right. We were colleagues in my world. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to have a look at your COMP sometime. It's fascinating to think that such a similar program could have been independently created in two completely separate timelines or universes.

[meaningdies]

If you'll let me examine your phone in greater detail. I'm the one who developed the program in my world. It seems that a lot of the coding is similar, but not precisely the same.

[terminally_clever]

Well, that seems only fair.

[meaningdies]

I'm glad you seem to be so sensible.

[It's way too rare nowadays. Ugh.]

[terminally_clever]

Where would you like to meet? I've only just arrived, so it isn't as if I've anything better to do at the moment.

[meaningdies]

Where are you located? I can get anywhere fairly quickly now that I'm off work.

[terminally_clever]

Currently, the apartment complex in the Libra ward.

[meaningdies]

I can meet you in a few minutes, then. I'll take the portal between the complexes and show up there soon.

[terminally_clever]

All right. I'm on the eighth floor, apartment five.

[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.]

[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.

[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...

[terminally_clever]

It's hard to dismiss similarity like this as simple coincidence. Tell me, are you familiar with an entity by the name of Polaris?

[meaningdies]

No, I'm not. What is it, exactly?

[terminally_clever]

If the world can be thought of as a computer program, Polaris would be the system administrator. It's a godlike entity tasked with maintaining and overseeing the Akashic Record of souls.

[meaningdies]

Akashic Record... I'm fairly certain that's not something that's in my world.

[Or if it is, it's not something he's been able to experience. He has all of his information with him, anyway.]