genessia | [Video]

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[As the feed clicks on, Akihiko looks rather... nervous. He was never good with public speaking, that had always been Mitsuru's thing. But... without her here, it fell to him to explain what was going on.]

As I'm sure a bunch of you know, there was recently a... thing where people were kidnapped and placed inside a gate linking to Attleton. The place the gate links to is... rather unusual but I am familiar with it.

[He gestures behind him to what looked like a TV filming set as far as the eye could see.]

I figure you guys deserve an explanation as to what goes on in here. This world is native to creatures called Shadows. Beings created from negative thoughts and emotions that people try to deny. The selfish, ugly side of humanity given form. In my world, the only way to fight these Shadows as they sought to overtake humanity was through a power known as Persona, something I'll get into later.

If a person enters the gate of their own will, the world looks like this, and they can leave at any time, however... should a person be forced in, it apparently works in the same way it does in my world. The world twists and forms a dungeon around the victim reflecting their inner turmoil, and a Shadow will be born from that, attempt to kill their counterpart and take their place in the physical world.

However, if a person can face their Shadow and accept themselves for who they are, they are granted the power of Persona to use within this world.

[He wasn't going to get into how he obtained his Persona as that would take another hour to explain.]

There are a couple other people from my world with this power here, but out of respect for their privacy, I won't be naming them. I, however, am part of a group called the Shadow Operatives - a group of trained Persona Users that operate independently of other law enforcement groups to deal with Shadow-related incidents. As such I will be making routine patrols through here now that I know it's here. I will also do my best to answer any questions you may have about Shadows and Persona.

[Private to Yukiko and Naoto]

On a side note, just thought you should know, Mitsuru isn't here anymore. So let me take care of this sort of thing as best I can. If I need backup I'll let you know, but... you guys deserve a chance for a normal life.

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That place is common in your world?

[Airy isn't sure how she feels about that world. She's still figuring it out but its safe to say it isn't a place she's about to forget.]

Not common, know. The Shadows are not limited to that world, but they cannot normally survive in the real world. It's... complicated. I don't know the how's or why's.

Oh... so what I saw.

[Airy's lips form into a line, she knows what she saw but it's still difficult for her to wrap her head around. Up until recently she was very normal. She exhales a slow breath.]

I guess I wanted to understand but I don't think I can.

What you saw was a reflection of yourself. Every selfish, ugly thought you may have had, twisted, exaggerated, and taken out of context and turned against yourself. It's a lot to take in, and will likely take some time. The important thing to know though, is though that may have been a part of you, that's not what defines you. It was only a part. Not a reflection of the whole.

It was a pretty big part of me.

[She admits softly.]

It's part of me that I've been running away from... I know I shouldn't but it's hard. I didn't really think I'd have to deal with more than just being a teenager.

It doesn't matter what it was, how big it was, or what part of you it was. That's in the past, and we all have something to try and hide. The important thing is that you faced it, and accepted it. You are you, and you are all the stronger for it.

It's not an easy path to walk, I know. But if you choose to take those steps, just remember, you're not alone.

I know... I feel like I did but sometimes I feel like I didn't. I know I can only be me but that also doesn't mean I like myself. I just know myself.

Or I'm talking in nonsense...

I don't know.

Not nonsense at all. People who get their Personas through the TV World have all been through similar experiences. I confronted myself in a different manner, but I understand what you're saying. You're not alone in that.

All I can say right now is take some time, relax, recharge, and get used to being in your own skin again. Once you do, I'd be happy to help you train if you want.

Train?

[She hasn't really thought about that.]

I guess... yeah, that'd be good.

The existence of such a place is concerning. However, you must possess great mental strength, then, to have overcome such a challenge.

[She genuinely was curious, though she had seen one fatal weakness in her mentality and tried to overcome it, she wasn't sure if that was only a part of it.]

I didn't get my power through confronting my Shadow.

[He pulls a silver gun from the holster under his arm.]

When my friends and I fought the Shadows, it was in the normal world... that's a long story in and of itself. We used these Evokers to call on our Persona's. It... doesn't really do anything. It's a symbol of mortality... we put it to our heads and pull the trigger, the self-preservation instincts of our minds kick in and our Personas manifested from there.

It's gotten to the point that I can call mine without an Evoker but... it's still got sentimental value. That said, you're right... it takes a lot of strength to face our self and all your secrets laid bare like that.

Then those so-called Shadows also exist in our world? [That wasn't really such a nice thought, even if they might prove to be an interesting challenge.]

Does that mean facing your own mortality is the same as facing yourself? [It sounded a little strange at first, but when she thinks about it more... there might be some truth to it. She smiles.]

They're in a gate connected to Attleton, yeah. They can't get out, but if someone is forced in, neither can they.

[He holds the gun in his hand, a since of nostalgia overwhelming him.]

I still remember my initiation like it was yesterday. I was given the Evoker, told to put it to my head and pull the trigger.

[He even presses the barrel of the device to just under his eyebrow.]

I was told that if I did so, I would be granted the power I sought... the power to protect what was close to me. I probably stood like this for a good ten minutes. I was a stupid kid back then, but in the moment I squeezed the trigger, I thought I was going to die. And then I heard a voice, my own voice, shouting in the back of my head.

"You can't die here, idiot. There's too much at stake to just take the easy way out." Without thinking, without feeling, the word Persona came to my lips, and I pulled the trigger. It was.. a surreal feeling. I don't know if that answers your question, but... that's what it was like for me at least.

[He pulls the gun away from his head, giving it one last look before slipping it back into its holster.]

It sounds as if it strenghtened your resolve. A lot of people seem to get desperate in life and death situations. I can respect that you have chosen to continue fighting. [Though it does pose the question in what kind of situation he must have been in his life to actually risk his life like that in the first place.]

Dunno if it's resolve or just stubbornness. Still, I've got too many people counting on me, and too many promises left to just roll over and die. So long as I've got that, I'll keep on fighting. No matter how long.

[Guess who looks really suspicious due to wearing a full-cover cloak and a black mask over the lower portion of her face? This one right here! From the looks of it, she's traveling really, really fast through one of the seedier areas of Everglade. Obviously from the lack of shaking she's not running.]

Does one need one of these 'persona' to fight shadows, or are they effected by other powers as well?

If we were in my world, I would have said yes. Conventional weapons do not hurt Shadows unless the power of a Persona infuses it... however it seems the rules are different here. When I was rescuing others from the TV world, I saw many without a Persona - some without any power - fighting the Shadows.

I will caution you that they are... unlike anything you've likely faced, so I cannot advise antagonizing them. That said, I know nothing of what you are capable of. Just approach them with caution.

[That will earn a rather amused laugh and a tug on her scarf so her face is actually showing.]

I wonder if that's due to being removed from their original world... Whatever it was that prevented harm except from certain sources has been left behind. It's just a theory though. I wasn't intending on poking yet another wasp nest but it was a little worrisome if only one or two people could give these shadows a good spanking.

[And after a moment of consideration...]

I'm Bridget, a thirteen hundred year old human-alien hybrid and the owner of the store Rocks.

It could be as simple as people having powers that don't exist in my world. I mean, one of the guys that came on one of the rescues with me had technology that was... thousands of years more advanced than anything my world has, and the powers people take for granted in Fayren just... don't exist in my world. Not without a Persona at least.

[He chuckles a bit.]

Nice to meet you, Bridget. I would never have guessed you were anything other than a normal person. I'm Akihiko Sanada, Shadow Operatives member. Not that it means much here.

Thank you for the compliment, I'm one of the more stand-out specimens of the Bloodline so I've relied on mental suggestion to get people to not notice my teeth and eyes. Not exactly something that works over technology...

[It seems that whatever Bridget was running from is no longer an issue so she'll slow to a casual walking speed.]

Hm, titles. A show of past accomplishments, of duties shouldered, or of a mark one has made on the world. Even if it doesn't register with other people here it doesn't mean a title is without value to you.

[There's a pause as Akihiko leans in, to get a better look at her eyes as his device showed them before shrugging a bit.]

Yeah... it's sort of a mark of honor to me. My friends and I fought long and hard to make sure there was a tomorrow to live for. ...And we all lost someone along the way. If nothing else it reminds me what I'm fighting for.

[Yukiko is just going to frown, he told her many times of him taking care of things and such, but she knew full well she couldn't live a normal life. Not here anyway. She had been fighting for as long as she could remember and she wasn't planning on stopping. Didn't help she was part of a group either.]

Sorry to say, I can't exactly live a normal life anymore. So as nice as it is to hear you say that, I can't exactly accept it. I get the feeling Naoto might be on the same page, but I cannot say.

[He nods.] I understand and I'm not asking you to sit on the sidelines. Just let me be the one in the public eye. You and Naoto-kun can maintain the element of surprise that way.

If that is what you want, I will not argue. However I will give you names of people who are aware of my abilities. It's not really a surprise for them after all.

[It was not even a long list, really. At least three people.]

I was the lightning rod for my group when we were spending our nights fighting the Shadows. I'm used to it, and can take it. It would be nice to know who's on the same page though.

One of the people who know is the Guardian of Genessia. David Haller. Then I have two others; One of which I work with and another who was with him when they found out named Aoshi Shinomori and Terra respectively.

Good to know. I should probably meet this David Haller guy too if he's in charge.

[Because being guardian of Genessia meant he ran the whole show, right?]

[She nodded slightly.]

You'll meet him sooner or later either way.

[While he was a little hesitant to say anything initially, he couldn't exactly stay quiet and just avoid the events at all. And with that thing Akihiko said that they obtained... well, it was worth inquiring a little more about.]

This 'Persona' we obtained, does that mean we can use it to provide aid if the same thing happens again?

[He hopes this incident won't repeat itself, but if it does, he's certain that he'd want to help.]

If it comes to that, yes. However, if the others I've encountered in my world are any indication, for a while at least, you won't be able to summon your Persona outside of the TV World. And even then you'll likely be fairly weak until you build up its power.

I can help train you, but it won't be an easy ride by any means.

[Only being able to summon it in that world? Makes sense. He'd probably rather keeping the idea of only summoning the Demon of Razgriz in a world where people shouldn't be to begin with.]

I wouldn't expect it to be easy, but I'm not about to turn a blind eye in case this happens again.

If you're sure, then I'll be happy to help you train.

[He nods, his expression being one of determination.]

If you're willing to give me the time, then I don't want to pass it up.

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