recolle | OPEN POST ♞ HOT DAMN

WHO: Souji and youuuuuuuuuuu
WHERE: Apprassage
WHEN: 05/15 - 05/19
WHAT: Souji can now set things on fire. You're on fire, he's on fire, everything's on fire. It's great.

WARNINGS: Fire??
ONE

Souji hasn't been feeling easy since the night of the prom. It wasn't the prom itself that got him feeling so disembodied with himself (in fact, he had a great time being crowned Prom Princess and all) but rather, it was something else entirely. It was this feeling of "something" residing within him, as if he suddenly wasn't just Souji Narukami anymore but instead, Souji and who knows what.

Obviously, he hasn't spoken a word about this to anyone. Why would he? No need to bring on unnecessary concern and besides, this is something he should handle on his own. It can just be another one of his secrets, just like the strange voices in his head and the floating cards that he sees...

As a result, Souji has been trying to be as secretive as possible about his newfound powers. Well, as secretive as you can be with another being living in your soul, but you know, you make do. You make do by going to a semi-secluded area behind a few building and try to figure out how to summon said new monster. It's honestly just as hard as it sounds.

The first few times, almost nothing happens at all. A card engulfed in blue fire appears, Souji crushes it, there's a brief half second of an oversized monster, it disappears, rinse and repeat. Thanks to a certain memory, there is a faint sense of familiarity with the summoning process, but it doesn't suddenly endow him with the experience or knowledge that he needs to continue. All he can do right now is to practise with what he knows and that is to just summon the damn thing.

Sure would be a shame if someone walked around that corner and saw Mr Blue and Flaming Demon...

TWO

... or it'd be a greater shame if someone turned that corner at the wrong time and accidentally got hit by a spell.

Over the next few days, Souji has been diligently practising with summoning Mada, slowly learning the type of skills it possessed and how to direct it to use said skills. It certainly isn't an easy task, quickly draining Souji out and having him nearly pass out a few times. One doesn't simply become a Persona master in just a couple of days and for someone as inexperienced as him, there's bound to be some accidents.

Accidents involve fire or silencing spells.

Don't worry, the fire might just barely miss you or just catch a tiny bit of your clothes so don't worry about any serious injuries, but that silencing spell... don't worry, it'd probably wear off.

... eventually.

THREE

Remember how Souji nearly passed out from draining himself of all energy with this whole Persona nonsense? Well, it just about happened now.

Souji at least had the common sense to try and sit up against the wall right before he just suddenly dropped dead from exhaustion, but he slumps over to the side, actually kind of looking like a murder victim. It's quite terrifying, really, but hey, if you're looking for an opportunity to take his wallet then now is a good time.

WILDCARD

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ This part is easy. Souji's good at pretending that he's okay, that he's not emotionally or physically well, and after years of practise, he's able to be believable enough in that regard. ]

I'm okay. You don't have to worry. I... [ He stops here, as if trying to search for the right way to describe all this. ] ... don't feel completely different, not physically, but I can tell that it's there-- that it's a part of me and it's resting within me.

[ A small sigh. ]

I don't know if that makes sense.

Togusa hesitates, his face slowly relaxes, into an expression of sympathy. Here we go again, with the youngest people in the city having to take on the heaviest burdens. He very slowly nods along as Souji explains.

He is typing slower this time, wanting to make sure to get his words right.

As much sense as anything else? There are old stories from home of guardian spirits, that would hitch a ride with humans to make sure they stayed protected.

But you don't HAVE to be okay.

[ And once again, Togusa surprises him with the amount of thoughtfulness he displays towards him. To have an adult actually care for him, to say something like that, that he doesn't have to be okay... It's surprising, new, and almost even mind-blowing to him, and Souji, in a rare moment of weakness, almost appears like a small child as he looks down. ]

... No, but I have to. I have to deal with this alone.

Togusa insistently shakes his head. He swallows hard, and tries to talk again. It's like the spell wears off once he makes a bit more effort to push it off. A cough, and then he can speak. He puts a hand to his throat reflexively.

"See, I'm okay, too. No harm done."

But his voice stays quiet. "But. You aren't alone in this. Your specific circumstances, you're the only one going through them. But you've got plenty of people by your side."

He finally reaches out a hand, tentatively rests it in Souji's shoulder, ready to move it again in an instant. "But check it out. You're not a danger to anybody, either."

[ Souji tenses up when Togusa first puts a hand on his shoulder but he relaxes with a breath. It's... a nice feeling and he looks at Togusa, as if trying to see that he really is as okay as he says he is, but then he looks downwards again. ]

But I can be. I...

[ He swallows and takes a moment to speak again but when he does, he whispers. ]

... I hurt someone earlier. I accidentally set them on fire.

Togusa blinks in surprise, but quickly tries to get that look back off his face. Note to self, stop making jokes about people being able to shoot fire, then. It's not a flippant possibility, but a reality that some people are going through.

"Are they all right? Did you really hurt them?" It's half-concern, and half-trying to make sure Souji is being accurate, and not being too hard on himself.

"You didn't mean to. And you're doing the right thing, then. That you're trying to get a handle on this," he waves his free hand at Souji, "power. Whatever the source is. So that you make sure you don't hurt anybody."

[ He shakes his head. ]

No, they're.... they're all right, but it could have gotten worse. Gotten worse very fast. I...

[ Sorry, Togusa. It turns out that Souji is... a Negative Nancy. He's just very good at hiding it, so let him try to reel it all back in again. ]

... I'm sorry, I shouldn't be unloading all this onto you.

"And you shouldn't be having to bear such a heavy load at all," is Togusa's counter. There is a slight squeeze to Souji's shoulder before Togusa lets his hand drift off. He can keep his anger at Retrospec at bay, it's not needed here. But the unfairness of it all does ring strongly in his mind.

"If there's no way to get rid of what Retrospec is giving us, then this is the right thing to do. Figure it out, control it. If nobody did get hurt, please don't get stuck on thinking what could have happened."

"It's just like any other skill. It's going to take practice, and you'll get better at it, and people will be safer."

[ There's a prolonged silence from Souji's end as if he's just absorbing Togusa's words, as if he's trying to convince himself of what Togusa is saying. It doesn't completely work, but he has a great amount of appreciation to Togusa now. ]

... Thank you.

[ He really means it. He even bows his head slightly. ]

And I'm terribly sorry again for whatever just happened. The part where you couldn't speak.

Togusa can only slightly bow in return. He thinks that what he said was just the right thing to do, but he won't dismiss Souji's gratitude.

"Yeah, that was...interesting." Togusa automatically puts a hand to his throat, even though it doesn't feel strange. "I could still feel myself talking, but no sound was coming out. That could be useful if you could figure out how to do it again."

"It's also better that you know now that it's only temporary," Togusa nods.

Yes...

[ It is true that he does feel better knowing that the effects of the spell were only temporary but it still doesn't change the fact that accidentally used it on another person. ]

Did it just wear off on its own or were you able to somehow shake it off?

"Mmm, hard to say." Togusa tilts his head to the side. "I was trying to push through it, but I think it let go of me rather than me breaking through some kind of barrier."

Togusa shakes his head and he has to laugh. "I might be the wrong person to ask about this, though. I've never been zapped by magic before."

I see...

[ So it's something that just wears off? That... makes Souji feel a bit better but not by much. He doesn't want to go around using human test subjects just to figure out everything ]

And do you feel any different? Any strains?

Togusa puts a hand to his throat, and feels the vibrations as he hums a few times, louder and softer. He finally shakes his head. "Not a thing. It might have hurt if I had tried really hard to speak, just like it hurts if you yell really loud."

OPEN POST ♞ HOT DAMN

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