THE Primary school library?
It depends on which word gets the emphasis!
[X] Spend time with friends.
-[X] Mitsuru-san and Takeba-san. (+Empathy)
[X] Try to make a new friend.
-[X] Girl from your class with braids.
[X] Talk to the librarian.
Shattered Justice (A Persona Quest)
- Thread starter SeekerofDreams
- Start date
It depends on which word gets the emphasis!
[X] Spend time with friends.
-[X] Mitsuru-san and Takeba-san. (+Empathy)
[X] Try to make a new friend.
-[X] Girl from your class with braids.
[X] Talk to the librarian.
SeekerofDreams
Aspiring Farmer
- Location
- Selphia
Inserted tally
SeekerofDreams
Aspiring Farmer
- Location
- Selphia
So, a few things will continue along...
Just... some conversations that could end up being important. One of which was going to happen no matter what, albeit in different circumstances. But that's what happens when you shuffle people's living situations around.
-Vote Closed!-
Just... some conversations that could end up being important. One of which was going to happen no matter what, albeit in different circumstances. But that's what happens when you shuffle people's living situations around.
Feb. 2-4, 2009
SeekerofDreams
Aspiring Farmer
- Location
- Selphia
Talking to people is hard.
Not in the sense that you never know what to say, or that times go by where you literally can't say anything, but people are all different from each other and what works in one situation doesn't always work in another, meaning that you need to be able to read others.
Or, at least, that's what this book says.
Sadly, while it tells you what sort of things go into a conversation, you're never given any information on how to identify them, or how to handle sensitive information, which would probably be really useful right about now. Or in general, really.
Maybe the writer thought it was common knowledge? Or maybe it'll be in the middle school library...
You don't think you're going to get anything more out of this book. It might be good for dissecting a social situation, or maybe directing one, but you just don't think that kind of thing is important right now.
Sighing, you close the book and glance around at the library. It doesn't seem all that different, outwardly, from the first time you visited it, or even from when you started encountering Akira, back when he pretty much lived here. Ignoring the fact that he seems to be planning out how to successfully move into that other library you found... Well, if you didn't already know this room had a secret to it, you would never have guessed there was anything off.
The librarian, sitting behind his desk, might not notice, either, though you doubt it, with how much time he spends here, how easily he seems to move about these halls. You don't think anyone's ever seen him outside the library, actually, you should ask someone about that sometime. Maybe Tafuchi-san, he seems interested in odd things, and you aren't sure Maiko and Akira would be able to give you a good answer.
I mean, given that they either avoid the library, or actively plot to live here...
Still, whether he ever leaves or not, the fact is that the person who spends the most time in the library is certainly the librarian. You consider, for a moment, asking him outright if he knows what kinds of strange things happen here, before deciding against it.
Still, it's not like there's nothing else you could use his help with, particularly since Akira isn't here at the moment. So, for the first time you can remember, you actually approach the librarian at his desk for reasons other than checking out a book.
You make sure to glance at his desk, because you don't think you ever managed to absorb his name. Ganto Sawano.
He seems to recognize you, which isn't exactly surprising when you spend so much time here, including an entire day that one time. "Oh? Do you need assistance with anything?" His eyes seem to gaze deep into your soul, and you glance down. It's unsettling enough when Mitsuru-san does it, even if Sawano-san probably isn't a mind reader.
You wonder if he expects you to ask for anything in particular. It's not like you don't have any particular tendencies, even if you doubt you'll clear out the mythology section, even the Greek stuff, by the time you move on to middle school. Every time you look, it just seems to keep growing bigger.
"Well... do you know if there are any books that could help me with talking to others?" You ask. "Especially when dealing with sensitive topics?"
He looks almost disappointed at your response for a moment, before nodding more firmly than you'd expect from someone so soft-spoken. "I believe I know just the thing. Wait here for a moment."
He vanishes into the aisles of books, and you wonder for a moment if he just ducked behind a bookshelf or if it's something else, but he's back a few minutes later with a book that's a bit larger than the ones you're used to.
...Actually, you don't think you've ever seen that particular book in the library before. But now's probably not the time for an interrogation, so you just check out the book you were given and then head home.
...It's actually perfectly what you asked for. Still, you suppose one doesn't spend all their waking hours as a librarian without becoming very good at their job.
The dormitory does not often receive mail. Actually, aside from the newspaper and Shinjiro-san's cooking magazine subscriptions, you can't recall the dorm ever receiving something that wasn't junk mail.
Mom only ever got bills and junk, too, so it's not that strange. You've never received any mail of your own, and you're fine with that, because anyone you'd want to talk to already lives in the same city. Even if it's a bit amusing to imagine someone trying to deliver mail to the Velvet Room.
I can't imagine it'd be very easy, what with the invisible door.
Still, in the morning, anything that arrived in the mail is just thrown onto the coffee table and sorted out later. Mostly involving Mitsuru-san trying to convince the other teenagers to read the newspaper for once while Shinjiro-san takes his magazines and vanishes to his room.
Still, whatever your method of handling it, there's little reason for Takeba-san to be staring at an unfolded piece of paper well into the evening. "Are you all right?" You ask, more than a bit concerned about her. If something's happened to upset your field leader... well, probably nothing will happen, since you barely fight Shadows anyway, but why risk it?
"...It's fine." She folds whatever she received in the mail back up, slipping it into her bag. Odds are it's not actually fine, you've noticed the pattern, but it's probably not worth calling her out on it right now. "Hey, Kirijo-senpai, I could use some help with something."
"What is it?" Mitsuru-san is sitting on the opposite couch, and given her general disinterest in anything aside from her work, you wouldn't be surprised if she didn't notice anything wrong.
"Well, see, I was wondering something about the Shadows in the tower..." What comes next is... you think it's a general discussion of tactics and strategy? Maybe?
I couldn't tell you. Nobody ever tried using those complicated words with me, and I could always see for myself what the others were doing, so it never mattered.
Still, whatever it is, Takeba-san's hand still twitches toward her bag sometimes, and she actually seems a bit less at-ease than she has been since September.
It's probably something personal, but...
[ ] Point out that something's clearly wrong.
[ ] Leave it be.
-[ ] But you could try and involve yourself in the discussion.
-[ ] Just leave. It's not like you'll be able to understand anything.
Not in the sense that you never know what to say, or that times go by where you literally can't say anything, but people are all different from each other and what works in one situation doesn't always work in another, meaning that you need to be able to read others.
Or, at least, that's what this book says.
Sadly, while it tells you what sort of things go into a conversation, you're never given any information on how to identify them, or how to handle sensitive information, which would probably be really useful right about now. Or in general, really.
Maybe the writer thought it was common knowledge? Or maybe it'll be in the middle school library...
You don't think you're going to get anything more out of this book. It might be good for dissecting a social situation, or maybe directing one, but you just don't think that kind of thing is important right now.
Sighing, you close the book and glance around at the library. It doesn't seem all that different, outwardly, from the first time you visited it, or even from when you started encountering Akira, back when he pretty much lived here. Ignoring the fact that he seems to be planning out how to successfully move into that other library you found... Well, if you didn't already know this room had a secret to it, you would never have guessed there was anything off.
The librarian, sitting behind his desk, might not notice, either, though you doubt it, with how much time he spends here, how easily he seems to move about these halls. You don't think anyone's ever seen him outside the library, actually, you should ask someone about that sometime. Maybe Tafuchi-san, he seems interested in odd things, and you aren't sure Maiko and Akira would be able to give you a good answer.
I mean, given that they either avoid the library, or actively plot to live here...
Still, whether he ever leaves or not, the fact is that the person who spends the most time in the library is certainly the librarian. You consider, for a moment, asking him outright if he knows what kinds of strange things happen here, before deciding against it.
Still, it's not like there's nothing else you could use his help with, particularly since Akira isn't here at the moment. So, for the first time you can remember, you actually approach the librarian at his desk for reasons other than checking out a book.
You make sure to glance at his desk, because you don't think you ever managed to absorb his name. Ganto Sawano.
He seems to recognize you, which isn't exactly surprising when you spend so much time here, including an entire day that one time. "Oh? Do you need assistance with anything?" His eyes seem to gaze deep into your soul, and you glance down. It's unsettling enough when Mitsuru-san does it, even if Sawano-san probably isn't a mind reader.
You wonder if he expects you to ask for anything in particular. It's not like you don't have any particular tendencies, even if you doubt you'll clear out the mythology section, even the Greek stuff, by the time you move on to middle school. Every time you look, it just seems to keep growing bigger.
"Well... do you know if there are any books that could help me with talking to others?" You ask. "Especially when dealing with sensitive topics?"
He looks almost disappointed at your response for a moment, before nodding more firmly than you'd expect from someone so soft-spoken. "I believe I know just the thing. Wait here for a moment."
He vanishes into the aisles of books, and you wonder for a moment if he just ducked behind a bookshelf or if it's something else, but he's back a few minutes later with a book that's a bit larger than the ones you're used to.
...Actually, you don't think you've ever seen that particular book in the library before. But now's probably not the time for an interrogation, so you just check out the book you were given and then head home.
...It's actually perfectly what you asked for. Still, you suppose one doesn't spend all their waking hours as a librarian without becoming very good at their job.
The dormitory does not often receive mail. Actually, aside from the newspaper and Shinjiro-san's cooking magazine subscriptions, you can't recall the dorm ever receiving something that wasn't junk mail.
Mom only ever got bills and junk, too, so it's not that strange. You've never received any mail of your own, and you're fine with that, because anyone you'd want to talk to already lives in the same city. Even if it's a bit amusing to imagine someone trying to deliver mail to the Velvet Room.
I can't imagine it'd be very easy, what with the invisible door.
Still, in the morning, anything that arrived in the mail is just thrown onto the coffee table and sorted out later. Mostly involving Mitsuru-san trying to convince the other teenagers to read the newspaper for once while Shinjiro-san takes his magazines and vanishes to his room.
Still, whatever your method of handling it, there's little reason for Takeba-san to be staring at an unfolded piece of paper well into the evening. "Are you all right?" You ask, more than a bit concerned about her. If something's happened to upset your field leader... well, probably nothing will happen, since you barely fight Shadows anyway, but why risk it?
"...It's fine." She folds whatever she received in the mail back up, slipping it into her bag. Odds are it's not actually fine, you've noticed the pattern, but it's probably not worth calling her out on it right now. "Hey, Kirijo-senpai, I could use some help with something."
"What is it?" Mitsuru-san is sitting on the opposite couch, and given her general disinterest in anything aside from her work, you wouldn't be surprised if she didn't notice anything wrong.
"Well, see, I was wondering something about the Shadows in the tower..." What comes next is... you think it's a general discussion of tactics and strategy? Maybe?
I couldn't tell you. Nobody ever tried using those complicated words with me, and I could always see for myself what the others were doing, so it never mattered.
Still, whatever it is, Takeba-san's hand still twitches toward her bag sometimes, and she actually seems a bit less at-ease than she has been since September.
It's probably something personal, but...
[ ] Point out that something's clearly wrong.
[ ] Leave it be.
-[ ] But you could try and involve yourself in the discussion.
-[ ] Just leave. It's not like you'll be able to understand anything.
DarkKing98
Certified Village Idiot
- Location
- USA
[X] Point out that something's clearly wrong.
-[X] "If there's one thing I've learned since coming here is that when someone says 'It's Fine' it usually means that there's a problem that should be talked about sooner rather than later."
-[X] "If there's one thing I've learned since coming here is that when someone says 'It's Fine' it usually means that there's a problem that should be talked about sooner rather than later."
- Location
- Somewhere else
[X] Point out that something's clearly wrong.
-[X] "If there's one thing I've learned since coming here is that when someone says 'It's Fine' it usually means that there's a problem that should be talked about sooner rather than later."
-[X] "If there's one thing I've learned since coming here is that when someone says 'It's Fine' it usually means that there's a problem that should be talked about sooner rather than later."
InquiQual
Emanator of Mythus, the Enigmata
- Location
- The Astral Express
[X] Point out that something's clearly wrong.
-[X] "If there's one thing I've learned since coming here is that when someone says 'It's Fine' it usually means that there's a problem that should be talked about sooner rather than later."
-[X] "If there's one thing I've learned since coming here is that when someone says 'It's Fine' it usually means that there's a problem that should be talked about sooner rather than later."
SeekerofDreams
Aspiring Farmer
- Location
- Selphia
Inserted tally
SeekerofDreams
Aspiring Farmer
- Location
- Selphia
All right... I'm finally free. Time to get back to work.
One day, either people will learn to stop pretending nothing is wrong, or they'll at least get better at lying about it. However, that day is not today.
-Vote Closed!-
One day, either people will learn to stop pretending nothing is wrong, or they'll at least get better at lying about it. However, that day is not today.
Not Quite Close Enough
SeekerofDreams
Aspiring Farmer
- Location
- Selphia
"Takeba-san... are you sure you're okay? You don't look okay." And you can recognize that sort of thing pretty reliably, now.
"What makes you think that?" She somehow seems even more unnerved than she was before. Never mind that you've already covered this sort of thing with her.
"If there's one thing I've learned in the past year, it's that when someone says 'I'm fine' it usually means there's a problem. And it's generally better to talk about it sooner rather than later." You're not going to say always, not when there's things you don't talk to people about for completely legitimate reasons, but it comes to mind that there's probably a few things you could have gotten out of the way before you did.
Honestly, you spent roughly a year trying to figure out how to settle things with Shinjiro-san. If Takeba-san ends up starting something similar on her own... it's going to be a long year.
You say that like it wasn't already.
"I guess, but..." Her hand finds its way to her bag again, fiddling with the little doll attached to it by a keychain. Personally, you think that doll's kind of creepy- it looks like it could be some kind of Shadow- but it's not like anyone ever asked you.
Mitsuru-san watches, her facial expression kept carefully blank, even as she tries to help. "Takeba, if something is bothering you, I recommend that you do something to fix it as soon as you can. Stress isn't a direct hazard to a Persona User, but it makes things similar to Shadow Morgana much more likely."
Takeba-san laughs, a little, you think, though there doesn't seem to be any humor to it. "Right... can't let the leader lose her powers, that would set you back a bit..."
"It's not just that." You're a bit surprised by how quickly the response comes, as well as the fact that the air temperature hasn't plummeted yet. "It is for your own sake, as well. Even ignoring the question of combat, I think we would all much rather see you happy."
You aren't sure why Takeba-san flinches at that. You thought that kind of thing was a given.
Maybe, but people can be really good at missing the obvious.
Then again, you'd thought that with Shinjiro-san, too, and there's really no good way to say just how wrong you were, even if things turned out okay in the end.
"I-I know I would," You add to Mitsuru-san's words instead. You don't really mean to guilt trip her, but apparently that's just how things work around here. "I don't like it when the people I care about are upset." That's been shoved at you more than enough times for you not to have trouble saying it.
"I-it's really not a big deal," Takeba-san still insists, though it's clear she doesn't fully believe it herself. "I just... Something came up, and I may need a few days to process it. But... I think it'll be all right." That's not quite fine, but it's at least honest, and you don't really have reason to disagree with her unless she still has problems a week from now, or something.
You'll leave it be. She only asked for a few days, after all, and it's not like any of you had plans to the contrary.
...Except maybe the world. You wake up close to the start of Dark Hour to Akihiko-san knocking on your door because Mitsuru-san found a a group of Shadows strong enough that she thought he'd need backup.
Or maybe it's just that he agreed with her, for once. I can't tell.
Whatever her mental state may be at the moment, Takeba-san is ready just as quickly as everyone else, and doesn't look like she's thinking about anything other than the job ahead. Koromaru follows the three of you closely, going to greater lengths to avoid the blood puddles than anyone else.
It's not all that far of a walk, just up to the strip mall, and there you see the Shadows.
It doesn't look like much. Actually it's just more blobs, except these blobs have golden masks with III marked on them. They stare at the four of you, though you know they're going to leap into action right when the first one has decided which of you to target first.
This really was not what you wanted to do with your evening.
Ken's HP: 75/75
Ken's SP: 130/130
Nihil Spear Power: 60
Nihil Spear Accuracy: 94
[ ] Attack
-[ ] With Nihil Spear
-[ ] With Card Scalpel
[ ] Skills
-[ ] Cruel Attack
[ ] Spells
-[ ] Hama
-[ ] Kouha
-[ ] Zio
"What makes you think that?" She somehow seems even more unnerved than she was before. Never mind that you've already covered this sort of thing with her.
"If there's one thing I've learned in the past year, it's that when someone says 'I'm fine' it usually means there's a problem. And it's generally better to talk about it sooner rather than later." You're not going to say always, not when there's things you don't talk to people about for completely legitimate reasons, but it comes to mind that there's probably a few things you could have gotten out of the way before you did.
Honestly, you spent roughly a year trying to figure out how to settle things with Shinjiro-san. If Takeba-san ends up starting something similar on her own... it's going to be a long year.
You say that like it wasn't already.
"I guess, but..." Her hand finds its way to her bag again, fiddling with the little doll attached to it by a keychain. Personally, you think that doll's kind of creepy- it looks like it could be some kind of Shadow- but it's not like anyone ever asked you.
Mitsuru-san watches, her facial expression kept carefully blank, even as she tries to help. "Takeba, if something is bothering you, I recommend that you do something to fix it as soon as you can. Stress isn't a direct hazard to a Persona User, but it makes things similar to Shadow Morgana much more likely."
Takeba-san laughs, a little, you think, though there doesn't seem to be any humor to it. "Right... can't let the leader lose her powers, that would set you back a bit..."
"It's not just that." You're a bit surprised by how quickly the response comes, as well as the fact that the air temperature hasn't plummeted yet. "It is for your own sake, as well. Even ignoring the question of combat, I think we would all much rather see you happy."
You aren't sure why Takeba-san flinches at that. You thought that kind of thing was a given.
Maybe, but people can be really good at missing the obvious.
Then again, you'd thought that with Shinjiro-san, too, and there's really no good way to say just how wrong you were, even if things turned out okay in the end.
"I-I know I would," You add to Mitsuru-san's words instead. You don't really mean to guilt trip her, but apparently that's just how things work around here. "I don't like it when the people I care about are upset." That's been shoved at you more than enough times for you not to have trouble saying it.
"I-it's really not a big deal," Takeba-san still insists, though it's clear she doesn't fully believe it herself. "I just... Something came up, and I may need a few days to process it. But... I think it'll be all right." That's not quite fine, but it's at least honest, and you don't really have reason to disagree with her unless she still has problems a week from now, or something.
You'll leave it be. She only asked for a few days, after all, and it's not like any of you had plans to the contrary.
...Except maybe the world. You wake up close to the start of Dark Hour to Akihiko-san knocking on your door because Mitsuru-san found a a group of Shadows strong enough that she thought he'd need backup.
Or maybe it's just that he agreed with her, for once. I can't tell.
Whatever her mental state may be at the moment, Takeba-san is ready just as quickly as everyone else, and doesn't look like she's thinking about anything other than the job ahead. Koromaru follows the three of you closely, going to greater lengths to avoid the blood puddles than anyone else.
It's not all that far of a walk, just up to the strip mall, and there you see the Shadows.
It doesn't look like much. Actually it's just more blobs, except these blobs have golden masks with III marked on them. They stare at the four of you, though you know they're going to leap into action right when the first one has decided which of you to target first.
This really was not what you wanted to do with your evening.
Ken's HP: 75/75
Ken's SP: 130/130
Nihil Spear Power: 60
Nihil Spear Accuracy: 94
[ ] Attack
-[ ] With Nihil Spear
-[ ] With Card Scalpel
[ ] Skills
-[ ] Cruel Attack
[ ] Spells
-[ ] Hama
-[ ] Kouha
-[ ] Zio
DarkKing98
Certified Village Idiot
- Location
- USA
[X] Spells
-[X] Kouha
LIGHT THESE BITCHES UP!!!!
-[X] Kouha
LIGHT THESE BITCHES UP!!!!
- Location
- The Internet
Jack of Olives
Rolled a '3' on their Con score
- Location
- The land of fruits and nuts (California)
[X] Attack
-[X] With Card Scalpel
I just want to see Card Scalpel get more use.
-[X] With Card Scalpel
I just want to see Card Scalpel get more use.