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harmonize_rpg2014-01-05 07:45 pm
harmonizemods) wrote in harmonize_rpg2014-01-05 07:45 pm
Reflection (Plot)
WHO: Persona-users, ensemble NPC cast.
WHAT: The promised meeting.
WHERE: The lab.
WHEN: Monday 5/8, after classes and clubs.
Today, it was Ishichi who wordlessly ushered them all into the lab, where the usual group was gathered -- with two odd exceptions.
The first was an addition: an older man talking with Horaoku and Sawatari in the back.
The second was a subtraction: there was no Yachiyo today.
Instead, Suwa stood in her usual place, looking worn and somewhat distraught -- far from Yachiyo's usual cool poise, but a better reflection of the mood that still hung over the lab two days later.
She greeted them with a tired smile and a small bow. "Thank you all for coming. I'm sorry to have to bring you all here, but I'm afraid our troubles may only just be beginning."
WHAT: The promised meeting.
WHERE: The lab.
WHEN: Monday 5/8, after classes and clubs.
Today, it was Ishichi who wordlessly ushered them all into the lab, where the usual group was gathered -- with two odd exceptions.
The first was an addition: an older man talking with Horaoku and Sawatari in the back.
The second was a subtraction: there was no Yachiyo today.
Instead, Suwa stood in her usual place, looking worn and somewhat distraught -- far from Yachiyo's usual cool poise, but a better reflection of the mood that still hung over the lab two days later.
She greeted them with a tired smile and a small bow. "Thank you all for coming. I'm sorry to have to bring you all here, but I'm afraid our troubles may only just be beginning."
no subject
He crossed his arms and waited to hear it.
no subject
Some of the other adults winced at his blatant expletive, but Ono didn't seem to really care.
"So you know about Shadows, I'm told - the unconscious representations of our repressed selves. I was involved in the turnover of the research of the Kirijo Group to the Japanese government over a decade ago. Over the course of that process, I found a piece of information that I've held onto ever since -- and after being briefed by the team here at Chitoku, I have a possible lead for you all."
From his coat pocket, he withdrew a small tablet and stylus, and began to scribble away at the tablet. Moments later, the word written on it began to project on the wall: REFLECTION.
"Among the stuff we found going through our files was something that didn't quite jive: embryo-stage research on the concept of REFLECTION. Unfortunately, I can't identify the researcher who conducted this research, or anything else other than this one doc.There's very little to go on, one document out of millions that my team and I had to analyze. But the basic information we do have fits the bill."
His eyes flitted about the room, taking in the group of youths sitting in front of him. He had only been given basic information, but he recognized most of the faces from the dossiers.
"Reflections, it is theorized, are the embodiment of society's view of what an individual should be. In that sense, they're a sort of...anti-Shadow, I guess you could say. Similar, but very different, and that difference, I think, explains what happened to your teammate."
Ono's shoulders slumped forward. Loss of life involving Shadows wasn't uncommon – but there had been surprisingly few Persona-users KIA over the course of the various campaigns. Her death had hit him, even to hear about it from afar.
"It was discovered over the course of the incident in Yasoinaba that denial of one's Shadow causes it to threaten the host's life, as it is an aspect of the individual. A Reflection, however, is not oneself. It is an image produced by the views and thoughts of others. As such, accepting a Reflection could be seen as a denial of oneself and one's right to exist, abdicating the responsibility of self-determination to society as a whole. In short? It's signing your own death warrant."
As he shook his head, he thought about just how many lives the girl had probably saved. The differences between Shadow and Reflection were subtle – this death had likely prevented the rest of the team, or at least individual members, from going out the same way.
"This would explain why Miyume accepted the entity that confronted her, and yet was found dead anyway. Unfortunately, what I've told you all today is literally all that I have to go on. Yachiyo-san's put in a request to the government to go back through what they have and see if there's anything else, but I'm not optimistic."
He paused a beat, looking around the room from behind his glasses, before straightening himself up and looking at the investigation team.
"Any questions?"
no subject
Honest? That had to be it. Not to mention, this was a man who probably knew more about Personas and Shadows than anyone at Chitoku. Baku made a mental note to catch him on his way out.
As informative as the miniature lecture was, it only left more questions; he was nigh on lost in a sea of despondence. What could have pushed Miyume to accept the things society would impose on her? Aren't they to blame for what she saw?! A familiar anger wells up inside him, something he'd felt the day of his awakening, but he knew well that he could not lay the brunt of the blame on the adults. Everyone was a part of this, including himself. He shuddered to even consider this, but if these were truly a reflection of society itself, he was just as much a part of that society as anyone else. History wasn't Baku's strongest subject, but he remembers reading that society hadn't always been so traditionalist. Or judgmental. He could hardly expect society to change for the sake of something it wasn't even aware of, but maybe it would benefit the group for him to ask about the others.
A glimmer of hope sparked in the boy from this idea. That's right, everyone is a part of society! If I know what society thinks, I can separate reflection from shadow. Perhaps this was a wild goose chase, as Yoshinari had stated, but it was worth a try. Miyume wasn't going to come back, but at very least, her death should not be in vain.
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She didn't say anything however.
She remembered words with perfect clarity. And it hurt.
'This is my place in society, Haruka-san. I'm not fighting it anymore. It's the price I pay for being defective.'
She started walking towards the exit, her cane cracking against the floor as she felt her way.
no subject
Were they supposed to still do those missions even though it wasn’t clear if someone else was going to die sooner or later? Were they just expected to continue and put their lives on the line every single day? That wasn’t right. She clearly had enough.
Before the small girl even realized what she was doing, she stepped forward, facing the adults with an angry expression on her face.
No, she didn’t have any questions regarding that matter. But she just couldn’t hold her own opinion back anymore.
“Nobody can guarantee that this isn’t happening with some of us as well, right? If it happens again you won’t be able to protect us. Honestly, I’m done with that crap! I can’t handle seeing people die in front of me anymore! I quit! There’s nothing you can do against it! If you really want to research those shadows... or whatever they are called... why don’t you all just do it on your own? You did fine without us before, didn’t you? Or is the whole thing simply too risky for you…? If we do it you just won’t risk losing your own lives!”
It wasn’t like her to just scream things like these in other people’s faces. But there she was, just letting all the anger out she had to hold back for way too long now. Surprisingly, it really made her feel better somehow. She knew that the reaction she would receive for this kind of action probably wouldn’t be very positive but right now she just couldn’t care less.
no subject
Yoshinari moved quickly, interposing himself between the blind girl and the door. It wasn't the best position to address the group from, but his voice was loud enough that he figured he could make himself heard from anywhere in the room.
"Before you all get up and walk out on this," he said, gaze dancing from one team member to another, "I want to confirm something that these people have said to you already: there are no other options. Do you think the Japanese government would send its promising future to war if it didn't have to? There's no country on Earth that operates that way. I worked for the Kirijo Group for long enough to see Personas before anyone else on the planet knew what they were. I watched adults in tears because they couldn't channel the power. No one over the age of 21 has ever been able to summon one. Fuck, I don't think there's even a confirmed case of anyone older than 18."
"You lot are this planet's only hope. I know that sounds melodramatic, but it's the God's honest truth. I would not have allowed these people to drag me from my comfortable retirement otherwise. I will be up front with you – this school has in its ranks a handful of lesser Persona candidates. Past you all, there are perhaps twenty more individuals – but their capabilities are considerably less than you all. You are the best and brightest Chitoku Academy has to offer, and the most capable of wielding the power of Persona. If you walk away, there is no one to protect Japan or the world from the Shadow threat, let alone any new threat Reflections pose."
"Before you, there were two other teams of Persona users – on Tatsumi Port Island, and in Yasoinaba. Hazama Miyume is the first Persona-user to be killed in the other world. The only other P-user casualty occurred in this world. Those teams were very much like you – high school students placed in impossible situations. But they all walked out of their ordeals alive. Do you know why?"
"They lived because they EMBRACED the poor hand they had been dealt. They came to trust in one another. Befriend one another. They became linked together, and fought for one another as hard as they fought for themselves. Did they like being forced into this? I would imagine not. But they accepted it. They accepted the fact that, if not for their actions, their world was in grave danger."
"This is real life, everyone. Walking away from this team and this mission has very real consequences. It endangers those whom you are leaving behind, as well as all of us. I know you are not fond of much of the staff of this Academy – but they are soldiers. They are used to dealing with soldiers, not high school students with all of their emotional turmoil. Make no mistake – you are capable of wielding Personas because of that turmoil. Personas are Shadows. Adults have long since determined their true selves. For you all, that true self is changing."
"Do not turn your back on me. Do not turn your back on this institution, your friends, your country, and your world. We are in grave danger once again, and we face an enemy invulnerable to the bullets and tanks of the JSDF. I reiterate that you all are our only hope."
With his comments made, Ono removed himself from Haruka's path, stepping to the side, allowing her free access to the door if she so chose.
"You can run away and abdicate the mission you have been given," he said, after another moment, "or we can all work together to make sure what happens to Miyume never happens again. The decision is yours."
no subject
"I hate this shit," he managed, loud enough to be heard, even by the adults. "But the old guy's right. If they can't actually go into that place, and we're the only ones who can...we've got a responsibility, whether we like it or not."
The room still seemed to be buzzing in general, emotions flying left and right. He'd watched Haruka get up, and Himeko threaten to quit. By no means was he the conventional Supporter of Adults, but after his utter failure on the last go round, he felt the need to do SOMETHING.
"I held her in my arms before she got up and unknowingly signed her own death warrant," Taue continued. "I've got that on my head for the rest of my life. We couldn't do anything then; we can do something now. Doesn't mean I trust any of you all--" and here he pointed at the adults, all of them, even Ono "--as far as I can throw you, but we have to work together. Only sane choice. God, I need some booze."
no subject
It had never been a decision for her, after all. "Before you all get up and walk out on this", he had said, but the thought hadn't even crossed the girl's mind. She already knew she had to do this, that there was no other choice. It was what was being asked from her, so it was what she had to do, even if everything with Miyume had left her feeling so incredibly scared and guilty that she couldn't even sleep.
At least one of the guys spoke up about it, and as she clenched her hands a little tighter together, she really hoped the others would listen to it as well. She didn't know any of them very well, but the idea of having to do all of this with an even smaller group was even scarier.
no subject
It might be surprising to some of the adults that Baku would speak up now, given the relationship he had with them was tarnished to a greater degree than the others, but here he was.
"I really doubt they would rely on us if they didn't have to. I mean, I know I'm not the most cooperative guy, but if we don't get serious about this, then our lives not the only ones we have to worry about. Yachiyo-sensei and the others had to find us, a small group in this entire country, to fight these things, that can't have been easy, they're part of the team too. I don't know what kinda threat the other world poses to this one, but if those things that killed Miyume ever make it to this side where our personas don't work, we're done for. We gotta take the fight to them, together, as a team," it was here that he began to hesitate, opening his mouth wordlessly before letting loose a gentle sigh.
"I... I'm sorry I wasn't there. I could have done something... but, we can do something now. I don't know about you, but if I ever just stood by when I had the power to stop something like this from happening..." His dash of bravery was spent for the now, and the teen became painfully aware of the deep-seeded emotions he was getting into. His head shakes gently and he simply stares across the room, specifically in the direction of Taue, Himeko, and Haruka.
"We have no choice. The cards are on the table, and we have to make the right decision."
no subject
They'd never been given a choice to begin with. Ono had said so himself, right? There is no other choice. There are no other people. If there was, none of them would have been forced to pretty much stab themselves.
Responsibility?
Preventing more deaths?
Saving the world?
Adults should just learn to honest. It wasn't really a 'choice' then, not since coming to Chitoku. Even now, people were saying they were only doing it because they had to.
Haruka was completely still, except for the hand on her cane. That hand shook from how tightly she held it. It was so suffocating, except she preferred the nightmares, even if it was drowning. At least she got a chance to wake up before then.
Finally, she said, voice heavy.
"I need air."
And then she continued walking.
If all choices led to the same thing, then she should at least be allowed the illusion of choice a bit longer, right?
no subject
He had been wanting to be alone a lot lately, and here was the excuse he needed. He began walking past everyone.
"... Yeah. I'll go after her."
no subject
There was no trust in this school for her. Hell, there was no trust in this COUNTRY for her. She was not welcome, and both she and everyone else knew it. The fact she ended up with this strange Persona power was some kind of cruel joke. If this was only possible through trust and teamwork... why was she even here?
The German watched as Haruka got up and left, watched as Mirai went after her... but she didn't move. Her shoulders had slumped slightly, as if she had resigned herself to her fate here. There was no getting out of this. She was trapped in a country that hated her, in a school that didn't trust her, on some Global Security mission that may or may not get them all killed.... and she could care fucking less.
The German's gaze fell once again to the floor, almost as if defeated, and she chose not to say anything. Inwardly, she wondered if someone would go after her if she left.... but she reckoned they wouldn't. Maybe one of the military blokes would, but that wouldn't end nicely. So instead, she merely stood there, leaned against the wall, eyes towards the floor, and bandaged hand clenched into a painful and uncomfortable fist.
no subject
He sat in the back, rather than in front. He listened to the explanation, but it didn't bring out anything from him. At the time he lowered his glance to a notebook he'd brought with him. He always liked to take notes of important things, but this time he found himself scratching out small non-words before he even finished the kanji for them.
Ultimately the only thing he managed to write was one word, which he mumbled, lowly. "Selfish," he said.
'Doubts' and 'questions'? had been written all over the previous page of the notebook, until he'd perfected the kanji for both.