A real problem for us, but hardly one for her. [he gives her a lightly crooked smile] . . . thanks for sharing, though.
[he doesn't know what it is about Penelo, but her openness and honesty sort of makes him want to return the favor. it has since day one, when they first met and Joker the Shingle Inspector was born]
You didn't even ask about the creatures I summoned.
[he points out as he shifts in his seat to get a little more comfortable]
They're both a lot more forthcoming with this information than I am, aren't they. . .
[he sounds fondly amused, at any rate]
A Persona. . . is a reflection of a Person's soul. Those creatures I called to assist me in battle are technically a part of me. They're different than your Espers, although in the end they function pretty similarly.
Well, it helps that I caught them by surprise. And I'm pretty good at ferreting out information.
[Even from you.]
And I think I understand that. You call out beings from your soul. This that...are important in your world? You mentioned that they were gods and demons and stuff before.
Right. Some of them are gods and demons from mythology, while others are fictional or literary characters. But the one thing they have in common is this: their stories are so popular and famous, that nearly everyone in the world has heard of them.
["nearly everyone," since he is pretty sure some of his Personas come from rather obscure mythological tales]
[Well that's impressive! But then that must be what it's like, living in the Information Age. For something to be known the world over in Ivalice, it's got to be something utterly earthshaking, and not just a story.]
And it's because they're so well known that they get to be given life as a Persona?
[bless Penelo for being so patient with all this psychology archetype Jungian bullshit]
But only in the Metaverse-- the world of the collective unconscious. Which is kind of a parallel world to our own. That's where the monsters we fight every day exist, and that's the only world in which we can summon our Personas.
[Her eyes widen a little bit, truly surprised by that. Not...that she doubts it's happening, but it just sounds so weird. Almost like the Occuria's realm overlaying onto Ivalice.]
[She's not going to probe too hard, not really. If he doesn't want to open up more, then he doesn't have to. But she'd still like to know. If only so maybe she can guide him a little.]
. . . you told me we're supposed to return home to the exact same point in time that we left.
But what if that doesn't happen?
[what if time is passing? what if the Holy Grail's influence is slowly coursing through the world, unopposed without the Phantom Thieves to stop it? what if the teammates who aren't here are trying to fight without Joker, Oracle, Skull, Queen. . . and what if they're losing? what if they're dying, because he isn't there for them?]
[he doesn't dwell on this much, but it's still a thought that's crossed his mind more than once. it's accompanied by the atmosphere around him dimming sharply, like he's surrounded by a dark, hazy shadow]
[Penelo shakes her head and slaps her hands down on her knees hard enough to make a clapping sound.]
That's not a notion you should even entertain. Don't think about that, and don't even consider it. You're going to do just that. There are dozens of off-worlders who can corroborate that as fact, so you're just getting yourself worked up over something pointless.
[She points a warning finger at him.]
Don't. Despair is just what your enemies want anyway.
[he actually nearly jumps when her hands come down on her knees, the noise startling out of his contemplation. he blinks at her a few times, eyes wide, before he lets out a soft huff]
[he lifts a hand to rub the back of his neck, a bit sheepish]
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mincingminuet) wrote1998-05-06 11:36 pm
no subject
[says someone who is way too familiar with close calls]
Beach trip ate my free time.
[And sometimes you die and get revived and keep right on fighting.]
Anyway. That's...more or less the story of Espers. Ultima is probably the least grotesque one I have, too. That feather was a real problem.
it ate mine too... no worries!!
A real problem for us, but hardly one for her. [he gives her a lightly crooked smile] . . . thanks for sharing, though.
[he doesn't know what it is about Penelo, but her openness and honesty sort of makes him want to return the favor. it has since day one, when they first met and Joker the Shingle Inspector was born]
You didn't even ask about the creatures I summoned.
[he points out as he shifts in his seat to get a little more comfortable]
no subject
Well, Futaba and Fuuka both told me a little about Personas. I admittedly don't know that much, but I figured I'd ask later.
[It seemed much less pressing than 'hey there are demons in my tattoos.']
Tell me about them? The ones you called.
no subject
They're both a lot more forthcoming with this information than I am, aren't they. . .
[he sounds fondly amused, at any rate]
A Persona. . . is a reflection of a Person's soul. Those creatures I called to assist me in battle are technically a part of me. They're different than your Espers, although in the end they function pretty similarly.
no subject
[Even from you.]
And I think I understand that. You call out beings from your soul. This that...are important in your world? You mentioned that they were gods and demons and stuff before.
no subject
Right. Some of them are gods and demons from mythology, while others are fictional or literary characters. But the one thing they have in common is this: their stories are so popular and famous, that nearly everyone in the world has heard of them.
["nearly everyone," since he is pretty sure some of his Personas come from rather obscure mythological tales]
no subject
And it's because they're so well known that they get to be given life as a Persona?
[Or what counts as life, anyway?]
no subject
[bless Penelo for being so patient with all this psychology archetype Jungian bullshit]
But only in the Metaverse-- the world of the collective unconscious. Which is kind of a parallel world to our own. That's where the monsters we fight every day exist, and that's the only world in which we can summon our Personas.
no subject
[Because he can clearly summon his Personas here. Could it be the nature of this world?]
no subject
[magician's stuff didn't count]
[although. . . there's a heavy pause after he answers]
Ah, I mean, not usually. We did sort of leave the world in a. . . messy state, before coming here.
[THE METAVERSE MERGING WITH THE REAL WORLD WAS SOME SCARY SHIT, MAN]
no subject
[Now she's interested, just leaning forward a little. A world without magick is bizarre, almost unthinkable.]
If you don't mind telling me, that is?
no subject
The Metaverse, the cognitive world, merged with the real world before we left. It was the work of the god we're fighting.
They did it so they could have complete control over humanity's thoughts and emotions, on society's perception of the world around them.
no subject
[Her eyes widen a little bit, truly surprised by that. Not...that she doubts it's happening, but it just sounds so weird. Almost like the Occuria's realm overlaying onto Ivalice.]
You're worried about the fight at home?
no subject
Am I that easy to read?
no subject
[And as they've established, they both do think down the same lines in a lot of ways.]
no subject
I am worried.
[he says honestly, voice lowering ever so slightly. it's a step above a whisper]
Not because I don't believe we can set things right. I know we'll defeat the Holy Grail and restore the world to how it should be.
But. . . [annnd he trails off in hesitation]
no subject
[She's not going to probe too hard, not really. If he doesn't want to open up more, then he doesn't have to. But she'd still like to know. If only so maybe she can guide him a little.]
no subject
But what if that doesn't happen?
[what if time is passing? what if the Holy Grail's influence is slowly coursing through the world, unopposed without the Phantom Thieves to stop it? what if the teammates who aren't here are trying to fight without Joker, Oracle, Skull, Queen. . . and what if they're losing? what if they're dying, because he isn't there for them?]
[he doesn't dwell on this much, but it's still a thought that's crossed his mind more than once. it's accompanied by the atmosphere around him dimming sharply, like he's surrounded by a dark, hazy shadow]
no subject
That's not a notion you should even entertain. Don't think about that, and don't even consider it. You're going to do just that. There are dozens of off-worlders who can corroborate that as fact, so you're just getting yourself worked up over something pointless.
[She points a warning finger at him.]
Don't. Despair is just what your enemies want anyway.
no subject
[he lifts a hand to rub the back of his neck, a bit sheepish]
Yeah, yeah. You're right. I know that much.
no subject
[She taps her thumb against her chin, giving him a serious look.]
If you ever find yourself having doubts? Call Lightning. Just put out a call for her, and she'll pick up. She's a firsthand witness.