Shin Megami Tensei Persona: Dissonant Strain (Private RP)

[Cinnonym]

First, second and third year classrooms alike returned to the curriculum, the Persona users' peers and instructors oblivious to the realm outside the routine. While some brains crunched mathematics, others juggled strategy and advantage over foes that no history book had ever described. Time crawled ever slowly forward until, finally, the last and gratefully welcomed bell of the day rang its chime out and dismissed the students.

Eber was out the door before Akinari could so much as stand with his bag. Hikaru lingered for Shiori.

And Isoroku stood and hovered at the doorway for Rin, Koji, and the... questionable company of Kumiko. "Where the hell is stick-boy, anyway?"

 

[ShadowFolk]

"Hey...um...Eber, I know you don't have to, but I was wondering if I could get a little bit of help today with-" he looked up from stuffing is bag full with his text books to realize that he was talking to himself. Akinari sighed and looked around the classroom. "Well...at least its not so bad today..."

With everyone cleared out of the room he started his work again.

---

Kumiko got up from her seat, stretching. At least the dull day was over with. She wished she left the room before Kojiro or any of this friends could have the chance to even think about opening their mouths to her. But of course, she couldn't be that lucky. "I have no idea where Yamada-san is. He's on your side, you can at least call him by his name."

 

[NeoAC]

Shiori breathed a sigh of relief, happy to be done with the Friday lessons. When she came back from lunch, Mori was still talking to Hikaru, and she still had no idea what it was about. All she knew is that she didn't like it. It was unsettling.

As she packed up her books, Hikaru was waiting for her. "Hey Seiya-san. We got another meeting today right? Are we going to be discussing what happened during the last meeting?" She was trying to be as discreet as possible, not wanting to let on that there was anything out of the ordinary regarding these meetings.

 

[Cinnonym]

"Errr..." Hikaru clutched her books to her chest, trying to answer the question in a similarly roundabout fashion, "Well, if... If it comes up at the table, I suppose it will have to be discussed... Isn't that right, Hasegawa-san?"

She led the girl down the hall and to the club room to unlock it; Eber was already there waiting, and the second years were coming up the stairs just then as well. Once everyone had chosen a seat, they could begin their next conference... and she could give her brief announcement.

------

"Oh you're right, I'm being so terribly rude," Isoroku said, tilting his nose to the ceiling, "Has anyone seen Stick-san?"

 

[NeoAC]

"I guess so," Shiori agreed. She took the same spot she had yesterday, not wanting to mess with anything. She gave a quick wave to the German who had bolted from the track with such efficiency earlier. The others hadn't arrived yet, so she figured some small talk was in order. "So, anyone got any weekend plans? I know I've got to hit the stores so I can replace my jacket after last night."

 

[Rosen2012]

Kojiro couldn't help but smirk at Isoroku's joke. 'Stick-san...It really is a good nick name for him.' He did his best to suppress his laughter, but he could feel the grin forming on his face. He turned his head to Rin so he wouldn't have to be reprimanded by Mizushima for laughing at Yamada's new name.


"Ah-ha, um, so! We should, uh....Get going so the others don't have to wait.." He jerked his thumb down the hall indicating he wanted to leave. Truthfully, he didn't care if Yamada wasn't around or not. He never liked him anyway...

-----

Takuya watched as Seiya left with Hasegawa to their 'meeting' and his lips turned down into a sneer. Styx voiced her opinion on the matter with low growl.

"Yes...that girl is definitely one of them...We will have to test her later, when Seiya-san isn't around." He stood up and scooped up his folder on the new teacher. Yes, one day they were going to have to crash the Security Team's little meetings, but for today they had other plans.

"Why don't we go see if we can't make a another freshman feel motivated to skip class..." Styx let out a shrill sound of delight as Takuya left the senior class room and made his way to go check up on his favorite punching bag.

 

[ShadowFolk]

Kumiko rolled her eyes and pressed passed them, hurrying down the halls. She bowed at the entrance of the room to greet both of her senpai and took a seat close to the German. She looked to Shiori who was either making small talk out of boredom or actually interested in everyone's plans. "Shopping doesn't sound like a bad idea..." she spoke dreamily thinking about the cute things she could get for herself. Shaking the idea out of her mind, she focused on Hikaru.

 

[Cinnonym]

Shopping... When was the last time I went out to do something like that?

Hikaru shook her head to knock the reverie from it, clearing her throat lightly as she assumed attention at the head of the table. "Well, I... I'd like to start off by saying, I won't be taking you to the tunnels tonight. You were going through a lot yesterday, so... Well, I think a rest is deserved, and necessary... If we start the weekend off nice and early, we'll be rested up for Monday night."

Here she paused briefly, before resuming:

"...If you still want to be involved."

 

[ShadowFolk]

Kumiko's lips twisted in thought before she opened her mouth, "We've been through a hell of a lot and seen some crazy things. And as much sense as it makes to just run away from this, there's not much we can do but be involved."

---

Busying himself with cleaning, Akinari thought of all the things he could be doing if Mori wasn't such a jerk. Like grocery shopping, cooking, hobbies, maybe even making friends. He sighed sweeping up the dirt and dust.

 

[NeoAC]

Shiori had a feeling the offer to bail might have been directed at her. Of course none of the originals would probably leave. They had obviously stayed in until now, and she had only had a taste of what they had, albeit a pretty big messy taste.

"It's nice to know I can just use this weekend to relax, but no, of course I'll be back on Monday. It is kind of an important thing we're doing right? I can't just bail on that."

 

[Rosen2012]

Kojiro inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Not going to the tunnels tonight, and resting up for the weekend would certainly make it easier for him. At least this weekend he would only have to focus on his regular daunting task...Ugh, who had time to rest.

"We're not gonna back down, Seiya. If anything...knowing what we know...is all the more reason to keep trying. I don't think any of us could sit...knowing what's happening to the people out there."

'Or knowing that it could happen to any of us in this room...'

----

Takuya arrived at the freshman class room. He opened the door slowly and let Styx step in. She hovered about in the room breathing heavily filling it with her malice. The senior just smiled as he watched the ill feeling wash over the usually peppy freshman.

"Working hard, Fujita-kohai?"

 

[ShadowFolk]

Akinari felt an overwhelming sense of dread, he felt it coming down the hall even before Takuya appeared in his classroom. The boy dropped his broom and quickly bowed to his senpai. "Y-Yes, Mori-senpai. I am cleaning the room as quickly as I can. Er. A-And I'm being thorough of course..."
It felt like being under a rock, except in this case, the rock just so happened to be the presence of a maleficent being.

 

[Daren58]

Rin felt relief flood her to know that they would be getting a break before they returned to the tunnels. It would also give her a chance to make sure she's on top of her school work.

She gave a small nod at Kojiro's words. As unpleasant as the tunnels might be, Rin knew they couldn't stop going.

 

[Rosen2012]

Takuya smiled, "Good. I don't want you to think that just because I'll be out at soccer practice today means I won't come check over your work." Styx hovered around the room, breathing her cold breath over the freshman. "And I must say, I am glad to see you handling this task alone. I thought for certain I would see that....loaf of a student Fridmund-kohai in here trying to do your...task...for you."

He put his hands on the door, "I'll be sure to congratulate him at practice for finally getting his priorities set. After all...if's going to be as- infamous, as he portrays himself to be, he's got to learn to let go of dead weight. Right?" Takuya took a step back and slammed the door shut. Styx accompanied him down the hall and out to the fields for practice.

"Little freaks like Fujita are quick to learn their place....There's no place in society for such stains on society." Styx let out murmur of agreement. She was more interested in using her force to kick students- soccer balls around.

 

[ShadowFolk]

He shivered, glancing over at the windows he knew were closed and then back to Mori. Akinari wanted to speak against Mori and tell him that he was wrong. That Eber was a good kid and everything that he had done to Takuya was justified. But, he wasn't brave enough to. And just when he remembered that he could call his friend who had sworn to be there for him, Mori dropped another little bomb on him.

Eber had been acting a little differently, but he didn't think Akinari was dead weight did he? He couldn't have lost a friend so quickly could he? The boy was certain that he didn't over step any lines, so why did he feel so bad? Distraught, he stared out the window a long while before he went back to his work.

 

[Cinnonym]

Eber also gave a silent nod, confident and assured. He had known all along this was where he was meant to be. He wasn't going to sacrifice the power of Persona in exchange for sleeping tight at night.

Hikaru breathed a sigh of quiet relief.

"I admit... I'm happy to hear you say that. I wish I could be everywhere at once, and to help you more. But actually... I've come to rely on you as a whole. Especially with Kurado-san taking a... a 'vacation'." The secretary paused here, seeming to want to say something additionally on the subject, and failed to. "Well. Let's enjoy the rest of the day, okay?"

You have been dismissed from the Security Team meeting. The club will reconvene on Monday.

 

[ShadowFolk]

There was one good thing about not going exploring today and that was just not having to hold back on the soccer field. Kumiko could use as much energy as she pleased to thoroughly put the other female players in their place. She felt like fighting Shadows helped her get a little more inventive with her tricks.

Kumiko approached the tall freshmen, "I believe I saw your name on the roster at the soccer booth at club rush. I'll be seeing you today then, right?"

 

[Cinnonym]

"Of course, Senpai." Eber smiled his dashing smile. "I look forward to seeing you at practice. Now... To get down to the lockers and get out of this uniform, ja?" He winked, and left promptly after.

Isoroku made a face akin to one about to vomit, nudging Kojiro with his elbow. "Christ, let's get out of here. See you later, Rin."

 

[ShadowFolk]

She suppressed a giggle best she could and left the room shortly after Eber. Going down to the girl's locker room she made a mental note to be particularly impressive during practice. She'd have more than the coach watching her.

After changing into her uniform, she headed out for practice.

---

Akinari kept cleaning like he were trying to impress the Emperor himself. He didn't want Mori to come back and find something wrong only to further punish him. He sniffled and rubbed his eyes over his sleeve. He wasn't dead weight or useless. And he wasn't going to cry over it. It was just the cleaning solution getting to him. Akinari nodded his head, trying to convince himself of that.

 

[Rosen2012]

Kojiro chuckled along with Isoroku and gave a short nod of his head. "Yeah...hey, Rin! When we're done, how about you and I go over those notes okay?" Kojiro stood up and waved to the girl, he felt guilty about leaving her out, but he could understand why Isoroku didn't want to bring her to his little weapons showcase. Its not really something you do with a girl....

----

As team captain for the boys soccer team, Takuya was first on the field. He practiced dribbling the ball back and forth between his feet, then kicking it up, back, into the goal and repeating. He despised waiting for his teammates. How could he have possibly beat them here? He even detoured from his schedule to remind Fujita of his lot in life.

"Scum....Styx...Everywhere we are dealing with scum!" he swung the ball, but Styx's foot connected with it and there was a loud crack upon impact. A hole ripped in the ball and it went flying over the goal and out of site.

He picked up another ball and began practicing again while the rest of the team arrived.