01 - [Video]
[Minato frowns. In his mind, he's quickly going over all the information he heard so far and comparing them to past information from the Underworld.
Is this yet another game between the gods? Or a trick of the Apportioners? He can't rule out the possibility of other reasons for his world's destruction (assuming it's true, of course) even when Hades ( Read more... )
Is this yet another game between the gods? Or a trick of the Apportioners? He can't rule out the possibility of other reasons for his world's destruction (assuming it's true, of course) even when Hades ( Read more... )
Okay, he can handle multiples of others.
He can handle different universes and he knows they are BOUND to happen.
... But certainly not to him. He is unsettled. This other is clearly him, but he went and outed his last name, just like that? Well, shit. He's a marked person, normally, he never would have done that. So this just leaves him with a look of confusion. ]
They revive reasonably quickly.
[ A beat. He cannot possibly want to think about this, but... what is it with this 'him' that's got him so agitated? He isn't sure why, but he just can't place the feeling he's not going to like where this goes. ]
... I suppose, considering how often the tower brings in alternates of people, I should have been expecting this.
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Another him. He seen this before, with Shinjiro-senpai, the Hawkes and the man in white from browsing the Underworld's network. But with recent events back in the Underworld still fresh on his mind, he's...wary.]
No side effects at all? [Calm, controlled. This isn't that monster that parade around in his image, is it?]
So this place have alternates as well.
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[ Kayneshrug, bro. He is composed, though there is something of a bitter taste in his mouth, but something more disconcerting.
He certainly isn't acting crazy or parading around or doing anything mildly threatening, if that's what you're wondering, otherself. ]
... I'm afraid to ask about the "other" place; do I want to know?
[ Because hey let's avoid the topic of how you are different from me because that's mildly concerning-- ]
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[So no god of the dead owning their souls. But then again, with Hades joining Thanatos in death, who knows how the cycle of life and death works now back there.
Still, sleep paralysis is, all things considered, much preferable.]
Do you want to know? [Just ask and he'd answer. It's something both him and Minako adopts regarding their lives...and how it affects their sense of identity.]
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[ His nonchalance is only partially feigned. Really, in this case, it was more being used to a cold demeanor. After a second, the broadcast is filtered past the initial feed of video. ]
... Actually, there is something a little more important I'd like to ask you.
[ For anyone else, he might tack on a polite "if you don't mind," but that is not the case here. No, this is just the illusion of him giving him the choice. In truth, it would be closer to a demand, but his tone won't quite show that. ... Not yet. ]
What did you do every night back on Port Island when the Dark Hour appeared?
[ This seems like a simple enough question, but it's quite loaded. This would be where he'd find any critical differences, he hoped.
It was a simple way of asking whose allegiance he was with, without directly stating "who's side are you on? Strega, or SEES?" ]
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...From time to time, I went to Tartarus.
[Simply said, yet he's watching the other 'him' carefully.]
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[ It's as soon as he says it that it hits him.
... If he were in Strega, he would probably also call it the Tower of Demise. All of them did, though they knew the name Tartarus. They kept a VERY close watch on SEES' movements during the month. When they were not in the Tower, Minato had set to explore it himself. If they were getting stronger, his team had to as well. ]
... You're in SEES, then. Am I wrong?
[ Please let him be wrong please let him be wrong please let him be wrong. ]
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[As their leader on the field. But he always consider Mitsuru as their proper leader in regards to information and planning, Minato just use his best judgement with those knowledge and their resources.
The questions bring up ideas in his mind, making him consider it.
Since he knows about Tartarus, logically, his first thought would be that he's in SEES as well. But not necessarily.]
...Should I take it you're not in SEES?
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There is a long moment of silence as he just stares across the screen, looking at his mirror with disgust.
This is utterly revolting. Of all the things for this "other" him to be, he had to lead them? Though part of him knows his treatment of SEES is unfair. He knows it well. But he cannot bring himself not to be bitter and resentful and full of malice; they were extensions of the people who'd ruined his life, and hypocrites who had it far too easy. ]
I would never side with a team so ignorant and undeserving of what they've been given.
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He's aware that he's ignorant of the truth. What Mitsuru, Fuuka, Junpei and Minako knows about the future, even Akihiko was ahead of him. More so with Mitsuru, with her dropped hints about Ikutsuki and her utter distrust.]
About the Shadows? [Partially a bluff. Ryoji's words omitted certain details, but enough for him to draw his hypothesis.] Ignorant or undeserving, we do what we believe is right. If it ends up as the wrong action, we will handle the consequences and I know we will take care of it.
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He was unaware on the whole of a lot of things. Perhaps this was why Strega's position in this instance was what it was. But they couldn't afford to lose the Dark Hour. It was how they survived, and, awful means aside (Revenge Request, hits, illegal activities), it kept his family together. ]
... I really doubt you care about those consequences, especially the ones of people outside your team. "The masses over the minority," after all, right?
[ Admittedly, he did not like Apathy Syndrome any more than the next person, but it was a justifiable consequence in their position. Especially when he was such a marked person and risked capture if he tried to make an honest living. ]
You're no better than the brat that I know. ... Things aren't that black and white.
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[His classmates. Friends outside of school. People he met while walking around. All of his Social Links that made him open up and start to care.]
I'm aware, but I still believe. [...] Dare I ask who this 'brat' you referred to?
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Her name is Minami. Where I'm from, she leads your band of puppets. Tell me, do you enjoy being a tool used by a corporation that does nothing but spread misery, or do you also believe that's "for the best"?
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But he's taking more notes, mentally. 'Puppets', the disdain for the Kirijo group. There's still missing pieces of the whole puzzle for him to know the truth.]
What the Kirijo group do is their business. I do things because I want to help people.
[There's a sense of responsibility, as well as slight guilt, to go with his bonds.]
All too easily, I could've decline their offer back then or run away from them now. ['What's the point of helping strangers?' 'What's your obligation to them?'] But I don't and now, I don't regret my choice.
[I pick this path of my own free will.]
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[ Annoyance peppers his tone now--how could he not KNOW? He just pauses, staring. ]
... Of course not. No, you fools WOULDN'T know about the people controlling you behind the scenes, would you? Do you even know what they've done?
...
You can't be me. I wouldn't be this ignorant and foolish. Unless--
[ ... Of course. How could he not have seen it? Did that mean Minami and he, in this one's world, had altered places? It made sense, Theoretically speaking... that meant his Persona was natural.
... His resentment just grows picturing the nice life back home he must've had. And he wonders, if this is him if his parents and sister hadn't died. ]
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Like Minako. Does that mean in his world, her name is Minami? And instead of death, his life turn out for the worst?
His slight surprise went away in favour of his usual controlled front, but his voice is firm, protective, as the brother he don't get to act that often.
He would leave out his own ability to use different Personas. It's not the main topic here.]
Unless what? The past happened differently?
[Like how he's the survivor instead of Minako. It's a subject he doesn't bring up that often, afraid to know which of their worlds is better off. His or hers.]
And no, I don't know the extent of what they've done. [That, he's willing to admit. If he know, he suspect he will heavily disapprove.] Whatever they've done...did it affect you?
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