Kanji doesn't need to think for too long on this one. Start with meeting the others. We can hit the labyrinths and the tower after that if you're still up for it.
Alright. The first time we met the others was at the largest Shadow in the first labyrinth, which took the shape of Wonderland from the book Alice in Wonderland.
The scene changes, and in front of him is a large shadow in the shape of the Queen of Hearts. He can tell that he's tired, almost out of SP, and he just knows he can't keep this up much longer. A scene plays out around him, and more Persona users appear, assisting in the fight.
Naoto lets the fight play out, as well as a conversation afterwards, and then everything freezes.
It's even stranger feeling the fight happening around him while he's just a passenger in the simulation, but ... Damn.Hell of an introduction, huh? he replies, once he's taken stock of what he's seen. Man, they've got some good timing.
Considering we are dealing with Time, I am somewhat unsurprised. They do certainly know how to make an entrance. What is it that you would like to see now?
The mental voice is starting to sound a bit strained, and more tired than before.
I don't need to see all the labyrinths in person. Just ... send me the data on them, and I'll look through it. Not that he wouldn't mind seeing them, but he can sense the exhaustion in her tone. And, honestly, it's tiring enough on his side... Is there anything else that would be worth seeing, uh, face to face?
Maybe whatever that Chronos was up to would be good later... but we can work with this stuff for now. It's enough to take in as it is, huh... Hell. For all he knows, after Izanami showed up back when Liminal'd gone wrong, the Trumps might like the idea of a time god for their collection.
Yes. I have been sorting through my memories and experiences for days. Reliving weeks of experiences in a few days is... overwhelming. However, this is important, so I wanted to make sure I understood before I brought it to everyone else.
Damn... That explains a lot. Kanji'd be rubbing his head if he could feel his body right now. You did a hell of a good job. But ... yeah. We can look at this stuff more later. Let's take five.
Kanji's head's spinning a little as he blinks the green out of his own eyes, and he sighs gently as Naoto leans on him. "Yeah. After all'f that... you wanna drink or somethin'?" he asks. "This is just ... man. A hell of a thing to get my head around."
"I know. If I was not as certain as I am of my own mind, I would likely not believe it myself." She sighs, shaking her head slightly. "It took a few wanders through the events to truly believe it."
After a moment, she nods. "Tea sounds fantastic, Kanji." A pause. "I should move, shouldn't I?"
"Heh. When you're ready," he says, though he's calling up a couple of cups of tea onto a nearby table as he does so. "I mean. We've been through any number of crazy things. But..." he's quiet for a moment, thinking. "It was still there. In your head. All this time. And ... maybe somewhere in mine, too."
"Yes. I'm used to crazy things here. In a way, I wouldn't be surprised if we have forgotten things here. Souji cannot truly remember some of the things he has been through as a Traveler. That's... normal, in an odd sort of way, if still uncomfortable. This is home. This is part of who we are being covered up." She sighs, obviously grumpy, and sits up, reaching over and taking a cup of tea.
"No. You ain't overreacting. Memories are..." Kanji sighs, long, still thoughtful. His tone's a little subdued. "They're special. They're what we look back on and think of as us."
"Memories are what make us who we are. What we've been through shapes who we have become." She takes a breath, pulling her knees to her chest. "If some of that is removed or suppressed, we are not truly us."
Kanji reaches for his teacup, staring into it with a muted look in his grey eyes for a moment. "Yeah. It's ... kinda scary." He's quiet a little longer, before he shakes it off. "You ... did an amazing thing bringing all of this stuff back."
"It's... uncomfortable to me how easy it seems to be to erase parts of our lives and memories, and how often various entities believe it to be the best course of action."
She sips tea, then looks up at him, startled, and blushing slightly. "It was not that amazing, Kanji. It is simply remembering what happened with the skills I have found myself with."
"Yes." She sits up a bit straighter, a bit of a bigger smile on her face. "I did not set out to uncover it, but I am glad I did."
She pauses. "I wonder if you experienced a similar event. It would make sense if you did, in a way. Our major events do seem to line up. Except for... that one girl. Marie, was it?"
"Marie, yeah." And that's worrying in its own way, given what she'd said would happen to her... "There ain't much way to prove it yet, but ... I kinda think it musta happened to us if it happened to you. It wasn't ... somethin' we chose differently. It was something that we got pulled into. Wouldn't matter who we are." He rubs his head briefly - "And ... I dunno. Some of it kinda ... felt right."
"That makes sense. These events were not the result of a choice. They just... were."
She pauses and nods. "I actually had a few things feel familiar as well before I found these memories, so it might be a sign that you did experience this in some way. I wonder if there would ever be a way to know for certain."
Kanji nods. The festival was when it was, so they'd been there... so why couldn't it have happened to them too?
"Maybe some kinda ... psychic business. I dunno." He thinks through it. "If we were there, there's still gotta be some trace. Even if we don't remember things... what the memories mean's still there. Somewhere."
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The scene changes, and in front of him is a large shadow in the shape of the Queen of Hearts. He can tell that he's tired, almost out of SP, and he just knows he can't keep this up much longer. A scene plays out around him, and more Persona users appear, assisting in the fight.
Naoto lets the fight play out, as well as a conversation afterwards, and then everything freezes.
That is the beginning of us working together.
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The mental voice is starting to sound a bit strained, and more tired than before.
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There's a pause as she thinks.
Not that I can think of at the moment, but I might change my mind later.
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Hell. For all he knows, after Izanami showed up back when Liminal'd gone wrong, the Trumps might like the idea of a time god for their collection.
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The world spins again, as they come back out of Naoto's memories. She looks even more pale and tired as the golden-yellow fades from her eyes.
Without thinking, she leans against Kanji just a bit.
"Perhaps a moment's pause would be good for the both of us."
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After a moment, she nods. "Tea sounds fantastic, Kanji." A pause. "I should move, shouldn't I?"
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"I am likely overreacting."
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She sips tea, then looks up at him, startled, and blushing slightly. "It was not that amazing, Kanji. It is simply remembering what happened with the skills I have found myself with."
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She pauses. "I wonder if you experienced a similar event. It would make sense if you did, in a way. Our major events do seem to line up. Except for... that one girl. Marie, was it?"
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"There ain't much way to prove it yet, but ... I kinda think it musta happened to us if it happened to you. It wasn't ... somethin' we chose differently. It was something that we got pulled into. Wouldn't matter who we are."
He rubs his head briefly - "And ... I dunno. Some of it kinda ... felt right."
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She pauses and nods. "I actually had a few things feel familiar as well before I found these memories, so it might be a sign that you did experience this in some way. I wonder if there would ever be a way to know for certain."
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"Maybe some kinda ... psychic business. I dunno." He thinks through it. "If we were there, there's still gotta be some trace. Even if we don't remember things... what the memories mean's still there. Somewhere."
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