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WHO: Cleo, Minako, Ryoji
WHERE: Starting from Cleo's apartment
WHEN: 6/1 backdated
WHAT: Cleo attempts to deal with her new ears by having friends. She's not good at either part.

[After talking to Minako and Ryoji both, and possibly accidentally causing Ryoji's death, Cleo has sent her address to Minako, with the promise to meet and go somewhere, in hopes Cleo can get used to her new, bizarre ears.

When Minako arrives, Cleo's apartment is rather... bizarre. Aesthetically confused, to be polite about it. She has fuzzy carpets, a soft couch, a coffee table shaped like a cat's paw, her cat-eared motorcycle helmet on a stand near the doorway, and her apartment for the most part looks like a very comfortable, cute apartment. It also has things like weights scattered about, a pull-up bar in one of the doorways, a treadmill in the corner, and so on. A cat-loving cute musclehead's apartment, basically.

At the very least, by the time she's arrived, Cleo's set out a cup of tea for her as well. Though she seems to have relaxed somewhat after earlier, her ears tell a different story, curled forward and drooping in worry and nervousness.]

It's nice to meet you in person, Minako.

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[ There's no good or bad way to take pictures; as long as there's a genuine smile on one's face, pictures always turn out well, in Ryoji's opinion. He complies with the "Nya~n!" but also squeezes his eyes shut in half the pictures because after having the visor down in the comfort of relative darkness, the flashes from the camera sear his vision. ]

...Grey eyes aren't even an unnatural color, but every time I see them, it's such a strange feeling of being "wrong." Like it's not me. But Thanatos... feels more and more like me. What is it like for you two, with your different, now, eyes and ears?

[She raises one hand to her left, gray eye.]

It... is strange. It's an added bit of wrongness to the ears. It happened at the same time. It does not bother me as much as the ears, as I've never been able to see from it anyway.

[Her ears twitch, as she flicks them in all directions, showing just how much they can move.]

... I can move them as if they are natural. As if I've always had them. It feels natural when I do not think about them. But in the end, even if it feels like they are mine, they are not. They belong to a woman in a fantasy tale.

[Minako takes a moment to absorb the fact that Ryoji mentioned Thanatos in front of Cleo, Cleo didn't look at all fazed, and then comes to the conclusion that the two of them are okay, which means she doesn't need to freak out.

She tucks her phone back into her purse, to give her the extra moment to tell herself this, and to think.]

Going from brown to red was startling, but it was only the color, with none of my nerves or eyesight changed. I don't even see my own eyes aside from looking in the mirror, so it doesn't bother me for the most part. And if it does, then I wear color contacts to go back to brown.

[ It's hard to compare... Yukiko had told him to accept Thanatos as being just another part of him, while when he's with Minako, he's more determined than ever to make the differentiation between himself and the Shadow (Persona?). But he also has the luxury of nobody needing to find out unless he shows them himself, and can pretend forever that he is unaffected, so he isn't sure which of these routes to encourage. ]

It is how it is, I suppose... Even if they're strange or unwelcome... Your ears are cute, Cleo, and Minako- [ he turns his head to address each of them in turn ] ...staring into your brown eyes always felt like being welcomed home, but red is striking, and fills me with courage. I like them too.

[ There are no kind word he can think of for Thanatos though. ]

[She nods.]

I have never seen your brown eyes, but the red is striking. It feels, ah... strong. If that makes sense? You have a strong gaze.

[Her ears fold down in embarrassment, unable to look at either of the others.]

... I have... never been called 'cute' before this.

[If they're going to play the compliment game, Minako is more than ready to contribute!]

Thanks, you two. I don't think I'll mind red eyes as much if they give other people strength and courage. Because that's what you give me, Ryoji.

[Unfailingly. She has yet to interact with Thanatos enough to comment on that aspect of him, and she won't until she finishes sorting her feelings out on it.]

And Cleo, I refuse to believe nobody has called you cute before. Even without your ears, you're very cute!

[Also, now that the selfies have been taken, it's her turn to sit on the motorcycle. Vroom vroom.]

[ Ryoji beams as he takes his phone out; it's his turn to be the photographer, and maybe he'll update his lock screen or wallpaper with one of these shots, or if he can get that selfie file from Minako. If he could be encouragement for anybody, that's enough for him. He'd always tried to be like that, but Cleo had caught him at a rough patch in his life and she hadn't gotten to see that side of him much. ]

More than that, you're kind, and selfless, and worry about other people instead of yourself... sort of like Minako, sometimes. [ He laughs, but like. Don't go "Are you alright?" after nearly you'd just nearly drowned??? Take care of yourself before others... ] So instead of cute, I bet you hear "Cleo, you're a beautiful person!" right?

[The dashboard of her bike, for what it's worth, has an electronic screen, though it's currently off.

Perhaps more notably, if you remember how expressive Cleo's ears are, they're now folding forward like she's trying to cover her face with them. They're actually large enough to come down pretty far, and she reaches up, pulling them down further to hide her face behind hands and ears, because she's blushing pretty badly at all this praise, enough that the red even shows on her dark skin.

~~she's never gonna take care of herself before others. self-sacrifice is A++.~~]

N- No, I have... truthfully never before heard anything of the sort. Usually, all I hear is 'weird'. You two are just- You are simply amazingly kind, to say such things.

[~~Minako and Cleo think very much alike.~~

Once she thinks Ryoji has gotten enough pictures of her, she relaxes her posture to balance side-saddle on the bike, her smile getting a little sad.]

I don't think of it as particularly kind. It's just...common human decency. Or it should be. Nobody should call other people weird so insensitively like that. [And then she squares her shoulders.] So to make up for all the times you were called weird-- to start to make up for it-- I'll get you coffee and a cake from the cafe.

[ Even Ryoji's been called weird, as much as sunshine and rainbows he tries to be, so even if it's sad sometimes, he does let it bother him; it's easier when he's with people like Minako and Cleo who reminds him constantly that he's just fine the way he is, and he wants to be that support for people too.

So he reaches over and touches Cleo's hand that's holding down her ears. There's no need to hide from them. ]

Let's go get cake.

[At the touch of Ryoji's hand, one ear slowly lifts up, showing just how deeply she's blushing at their words.]

N- No, you don't- You don't need to do anything like that. I'm used to it, so it's fine. And it isn't as though they were incorrect.

[she has no idea how to handle people being nice to her like this.]

Hey, no, none of that allowed.

[She points right smack dab in the middle of Cleo's face, and it would be an imperious move if her usual bright smile weren't back on her lips.]

No more thinking you're weird. It's terrible for your self-confidence. [She would know.] We're starting a fresh slate here. You're cool and beautiful, okay? Say it with me. "Cleo is cool and beautiful."

[ Saying it out loud is possibly even more embarrassing than hearing it, but Ryoji grins anyways, taking one of Cleo's hands so she has one less to hide behind, and the other hand finding Minako's. ]

Cleo is cool and beautiful!

A- Absolutely not! There is no way I can say that!

[Her hands occupied, it's pretty easy to see just how red and embarrassed she is, but... well, she's actually pretty happy, underneath it all.]

[She laughs and gently tugs their little group towards where she parked her car. As nice as the motorcycle is, it's not going to get all three of them to the cafe. And now that she's mentioned cake, she really wants cake.]

One day we'll get you to say it.

[she's flushed and embarrassed, which makes her actually rather meek, able to be pulled along easily.]

That is highly unlikely.

[ Never ones to back off from a challenge, he and Minako will just have to say it as often as they can until Cleo can see that for herself. Ryoji follows along and goes ahead to take the backseat so Cleo can sit shotgun and talk to Minako more easily. ]

Cleo, what do you like to sing?

[ It's a short drive, but they've got time to find a good radio station and belt out a song or two. ]

[help her, she has no idea what to do here. she just... gets in the car.]

Sing? I... never have?

You should try it, it's fun! And cathartic when you need it to be. Ooh!

[Her favorite station jumps to life just in time to catch the beginning of a great car song.]

Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?

Where's the street wise Hercules to fight the rising odds?

[She has them at the stop sign outside of Cleo's apartment now, taking a moment to press a wrist to her forehead in a dramatic swoon.]

Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?

Late at night, I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need...

[ Ryoji jumps in at the chorus, with some minor alterations because honestly? He looks up to people very easily, and right now, his heroes are sitting right there in front of him. ]

I need a hero!
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night~
She's gotta be strong, and she's gotta be fast,
And she's gotta be fresh from the fight!
I need a hero!
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light~
She's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soon,
And she's gotta be larger than life!

[Cleo has somehow never heard this song. Her own music playlists are full of techno and electronica, after all, very little that has words to it. Usually it's things with a strong beat she can pace herself to, and gets the blood pumping.

But not knowing the song, she's just waiting for them to finish, and then. applauds like a dork when the song ends.]

Thank you, thank you, we'll be here all week.

[Minako feels invigorated after singing, as she always does, grinning at Cleo and swaying in her seat to the end of the song. Thankfully she's gotten them into the parking lot by now, so once she's parked, she jumps out and stretches.]

Hm~ I wonder if our usual barista will be there today~

[ Please please please. Ryoji closes his eyes and claps his hands together in prayer, never very religious save for this one instance of wishing their barista would be there. Ryoji's been to the cafe often enough to know the guy's work schedule (such is his dedication...), knows that today is one of those days, so his prayer is to the barista's good health that he makes it to work.

He's the first to reach the door and hold it open for the two of them, but not without poking his head inside first and whispering ] Yes!! [ under his breath when he sees that quiet, dark haired barista. Let's get a seat, hurry, so he can prop his chin up on his hands and make heart eyes from underneath the motorcycle helmet. I am so excited for Minato, you guys. ]

You come here often enough to have a usual barista? I am unsure if that's healthy.

[Her tone is light and amused, vaguely teasing. She follows the others inside, having almost forgotten about the purpose about the trip.

Of course, it comes back in full force when some of the NPCs in the cafe look up, and have to do a double-take at her ears. The more stares she gets, the more her ears flatten, until finally, she ends up trying to use Minako and Ryoji as a barrier between herself and anyone else.]

Well, that, and he was the barista who served me and Ryoji for the first birthday party I could share face-to-face with him. He's special.

[Minako shoots the slouching man behind the counter a fond smile, even as something in her stomach says there's something off about him-- but she's long since learned to ignore that feeling. Instead she focuses on Cleo's sudden plight, taking them to a table and plunking a menu upright in front of her so she has something else to focus on.

And then proceeds to shoot the other customers her best You're Being Rude and I'm Going to Smile at You Until You Feel Uncomfortable and Realize How Rude You Are smile.]

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i thought i deleted that whoops

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