social_linked | Meet, greet and eat

Meet, greet and eat

(To be perfectly honest, Cornelius didn't expect to find other persona users outside of himself and Guzma. The head of the Skull gang was a stroke of luck, but to have found so many others who can tap into that power and help fight off the shadows...it's a welcome relief.

Not to mention the large, large expansion to Cornelius' circle of friends.

So what's a rich kid to do when he's happy to have an extended circle like this? Throw down. A bunch of money to get everyone nice and fed for a day. He arranged for a catered picnic and invited his fellow persona-users and any friends they wanted to bring along. There's a bit of something for everyone, so pizzas, sandwiches, whatever, really. It's a large, open space, too, of anyone's in the mood for playing around. Just like the food, there's plenty of options there.

Cornelius would be lying if he said he wasn't thrilled to have so many people to hang out with. He just hopes they'll have fun while they're here.)

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[Holy shit. He'd never seen so many people here. His group of friends from back home seemed like a lot, but seeing such a collection of strange people from all over... it really did make the whole situation seem under control.

But it also made the whole situation feel more OUT of control. If numbers helped, whatever was behind this would've fixed itself up, wouldn't it? Damn it... he wished the others were here. They were smarter about this stuff.

Kanji's jaw steeled. He wasn't some dumb kid anymore! He could gather info, too! He could offer training, too! ...Maybe after pizza. That one looked badass. Wait, was that lobster!? Okay, he was having lobster.]

[Hang on, hold the phone, is that who Rise thinks it is? She leans sideways and peers through the crowd, trying to get a better look...

Then he turns, and she sees his face.]

Kanji-kun!!!!

[Who needs dignity when you have friends you haven't seen in years? Make sure she doesn't spill her drink on you in her hurry, dude.]

[His mouth was, naturally, full of crustacean when he heard his name and he turned his head. That voice...

Holy crap-

The grunt was muffled and he frantically tried to chew up and take down his food before his inevitable demise by tiny friend. But he could only be so lucky, and only managed to clear half before he felt something cool splatter a bit on his shirt.]

R-rifhe, ifh-!

[Okay. Swallow.]

Holy shit, when'd ya get here!?

[Of course it was! Rise's timing is impeccable! She's already giggling by the time he manages to swallow, and she touches his shoulder lightly in friendly greeting. Also by way of apologizing for you know, startling him.]

Uh, just now? When did you get here?

[Yuck yuck.]

Uhm- [He actually checked a clock like it mattered.] 'Bout a half-hour...?

But seriously, it's good t'see ya! Everybody scattered after graduation...

[At least, that's how it felt to him.]

[... That's adorable. Never change, Kanji. She grins and touches his elbow.]

It's really good to see you too.

[She wishes now that she'd put more effort into keeping in contact with everyone.]

I feel like I don't even know what's going on with anyone anymore! You look good, are you taking care of yourself?

Kinda. I mean, I'm eatin' good or whatever, but college sucks, man. I'm doin' it anyway, though! Just finished my midterms!

[Fist, meet palm.]

Souji's been a huge help, too. He's done all this crap before, so it's major that he's kinda explaining the formulas in a way I get. Plus, er... I feel like...

[He shrugged awkwardly.]

I dunno, I feel like he's... lonely.

[She nods, thoughtful. She doesn't regret choosing to focus on being an idol over going to university. It sounds rough.]

I'm really proud of you. I know he is, too.

[She's really glad Souji's kept in contact with some of them other than her, for exactly that reason.]

Yeah, I know what you mean... Sometimes I think I know how he feels, but sometimes I think it's a lot more than... that. Does that make sense?

Maybe... but I feel like if he just called all of us we'd turn the damn world upside down just to see 'im. You know we would!

I'm gonna see about havin' dinners in with him more often, just two dudes hangin' out.

...Er, I mean. Y'got first dibs, of course, but y'know what I mean.

Yeah, that sounds right.

[She smiles and spaces out a little bit thinking about it. All of their friends would level mountains if Souji just asked. He's got a gravity, like that.]

I think he's scared to ask. I don't really understand why... He's just so gentle, you know?

[Like he doesn't want anyone to level anything for him.]

No, no, you definitely should! I do my best to make time for him but it's complicated and it isn't enough. Especially not to keep him from being lonely. I'd feel better knowing you were with him more often.

[Souji? Scared? Perish the thought. Kanji knew the man wasn't superhuman, but when a guy was so bold to stand up to someone like Morooka on their first day in school...]

Then I'll make a point out of it. Hell, I could use the company, too. Tokyo's huge and it's loud... I still dunno how to make of it and I've been here a few months.

How do people do it? How do people not feel like their head's gonna explode?

[Yeah, it's nuts. Not scared of shadows or death or creepy teachers or any of that, but he's scared of something Rise doesn't really understand about people.

She nods decisively, then smiles.] It can be quite a lot, can't it? I love it, though. It's non-stop and it's so beautiful!

[But even she needed a break from it, after awhile.]

I guess you just learn how to tune some of it out when you want to. Or get blackout curtains.

Got those in my first week. I guess what ain't helping's all the signs, jus' ... words, everywhere. Some kanji I don't even recognize, and that's weird, since Ma shoved as many as she could in my brain for the sake of tradition, y'know?

Ah, whatever. Maybe I need more time, but I ain't about to turn into a city-slicker! ...Wait, shit, am I a hick!?

[Silently, she slipped in the join the party, and quietly, she made her way about. However quiet, there was at least one person to see. After all, it had been a while since they had spoken face-to-face.]

[And approaching him at the table, she smiled.]

Greetings, Kanji-kun.

[It was his mind playing tricks on him. All of his friends could be recalled down to their voices, clear as day whenever he thought of them. But he'd finished his drink and contemplated having just one more when he... couldn't recall thinking of...

Kanji made a face into his cup, turned. The cup bounced off the floor and rolled under the table as he stood up straighter and immediately turned his eyes away.]

G-gree- HI! Wh-when didja- ...jeez, ya got good at sneakin' up on a guy, huh?

[Five years. May as well have been that day in May all over again. The years did her, erm... did her really well.]

It wasn't my intent to sneak up on you. Though, I suppose I've always had a quiet approach.

[She lips curled as she chuckled. It had been a while. She had let her hair grow up, but kept it cut to a professionally short height, allowing the tips to curl inward at her shoulders. The blouse, the undershirt, the pants, just like all those years ago how her looks changed during their breaks.]

Anyway, I arrived a few minutes ago. Had a few things to clear up at the station.

Heh. I-I guess some things don't change. [Okay, no littering. He crouched to gather up the cup and he gave it an underhanded toss into a wastebasket.]

I bet. Thanks... y'know, for workin' so hard like this. It can't be easy.

[He smiled, pushing off his knees to rise again before he turned to fix a drink for her.]

But it's good to see ya, and not just hear a voice over the phone.

They don't, but that's not a bad thing.

[Standing beside him, she'll let him prepare a drink for her.]

It is. I've been wanting to visit more often, but you guys have been giving the department a run-around.

Ain't surprised- there's so many of us now! It's crazy, we could practically open up a classroom for Persona Users or somethin'!

But Souji n' I have been doin' what we can to wrangle everybody up and keep shit quiet. ...-Ish. Cornelius over there's been doin' us a huge favor, too.

[He passed her the finished drink.]

...But that also means you should take it easy every once in a while, when ya can. We don't want ya gettin' gray hairs over us.

Hm, if there were more of us, a class would be possible.

Ah, yes, Abelard-san. A few officers have been 'convinced' to look the other way should they happen across anything.

[She thanked him and accepted the beverage, taking a sip.]

I'll see if I can. Besides, I wouldn't mind assisting this group on the field to have a better idea of the situation.

[He nodded. But now curiosity was stronger than anything else. Normally he'd speak confidentially, but he stood among countless people who could do the same thing.]

...You, uh... you wanna see it? The thing I told you about last phone call.

[Because maybe she could figure something out about the odd power suit. He'd never had anyone get a good look at it, and maybe there were weapons, buttons or something along the lines that she could find. Plus, she... she dug robots. Can't forget a robot nerd.]

See-- oh, yes! That. Yes, let's have a look at it.

[It had been a while since he had shown her, but now was the perfect opportunity.]

O-kay. We're on! Persona!

[His heart unexpectedly began to race as he stepped back. He'd learned how to make it happen quicker than before. It was a matter of having a 'center' to suit up from, right? When he felt that energy well and the card came down, he was used to striking it with his weapon or with a fist.

Instead, he balled both and crushed it at chest level between them. But rather than feel his soul split into two entities and having Takeji Zaiten appear behind him, the rushing light instead gathers on his body and disperses as the white armor flecked in flame decals. He flicked out both arms and completed the gauntlets. He shifted his weight and the greaves were done like dinner. The helm covered his head and his glasses were swapped for a visor.

Wait wait, gotta be cool, gotta be cool...! ...But in giving a flourish in the way he remembered his favorite superheroes did, he got his boot caught up on his freshly-formed cloak. He stumbled backward with a loud swear and hit the tree behind him with the back of the noggin. That was a heavy clank.]

[Well, it was much more than she really anticipated. Seeing the armor form and fix itself over his body, it was like watching a superhero transform - or heck, it was much closer to that one hero, Steel Man.]

[Though, as amazing as it was to watch, the posturing could use some work. She chuckled.]

Are you alright?

[Pins and prickles all up the face and the arms, but he wouldn't confess to that. Instead he sighed and sat up, untangling himself from his cloak.]

I'm- I'm good! Just tryin' some new... somethin'... stuff...

[The fingers moved as if they were his own rather than large gauntlets. The clunk denoted weight, yet he moved as if the suit was light as a feather. As he rose to his feet, he reached up and brushed the scuff out of the helm.]

Anyway, so that's how I've been crushin' the shadows on my end. But, uh, I wonder if I got buttons or somethin' somewhere. I can make it go but I can't make it stop unless I tire myself out... I feel like there's gotta be somethin' I can do to turn it on n' off at will, yeah?

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