Journal Entry [In Response To: 10/2/2012]
[Note: This entry is written just after Lawrence arrived back at the dormitory directly following the events on October 2, 2012. Because Lawrence saw no need to hide it from the others (since it involves them and he does have principles) he has decided to post it on his journal rather than actually write it in the journal he keeps underneath his bed. It is locked to all non-Persona users, but other Persona users can see and respond to it.
I did not do this hoping for antagonism.]
Dear Diary,
I did not anticipate when I trudged towards Chinatown on foot this evening that the encounter I'd have in the alleyways would change me, but it has. Not any drastic change, like tolerating Ezra, but inside of me I feel some small amount of progress towards something I cannot quite identify. I'm not entirely sure I would call it 'significant' in any way, shape or form, but it's certainly something...
To begin with, I can hear Phoenix's--yes, he finally told me his name--voice a lot more clearly than I could before all of this happened. It still comes in these loud, intrusive pecks, but his words are more clear whereas before the meaning was somewhat obscured. Did I do that myself? Why? I felt this before, but something about the being makes me very uncomfortable... I cannot put my finger on why, but perhaps that is what led me to close my heart and shut off my ears to what he was trying to say.
But before that... criticisms.
My first criticism goes out to Kieran. First of all, I have not the slightest idea why in the world we were led by an underclassman of all people. I severely doubt any of these people know anything about tactics, and though I certainly won't pass myself off as an expert I can say that I know something of tact. No, not social tact. I mean planning, execution and the like. Kieran's... well, we can't quite call it a plan so much as we can call it a desperate boy's foppish attempts at diplomacy (which failed, by the way. Badly.)... but anyway, his diplomatic blunders led the dog beasts (that was what they were, was it not? It looked like it anyway.) to respond in an irascible manner and nearly kill me. The inexorable demons seemed to be hell-bent on keeping us out of what they referred to as their 'territory' for reasons I can only begin to ponder. Suffice it to say, it had something to do with their very existences and though that made little sense, more criticisms must be made before we get to the heart of the matter.
My second criticism goes out to Ezra. Ezra, Ezra, Ezra. Ever are you the patron saint of uselessness. I mean, really. You couldn't even bother to show up on time to an important event like this? Sure, it was only a few moments but when it comes to facing these supernatural beings, a few moments is the difference between our collective self-preservation and untimely (yet deserved on the parts of some, like those who offer beef jerky to dog demons in hopes of compromise) demise.
But that is not the extent of Ezra's supreme uselessness, oh no! He continued to be useless by telling us near the end of the battle what these things were weak to! After we had nearly finished dealing with them, no less! How useless can you be!? Weaknesses in opponents should be exposed early on so as to be taken advantage of; this is one of the primary foundations of war tactics, but I hardly expect one such as he to understand such refined subjects.
And was it just me, or did it seem like we were the only ones who were doing all the work? Ezra attempted to negotiate at first but when his attempts ended in failure (thanks to Kieran, no I'm never going to relinquish this grudge I have towards you) he seemed to take a back seat approach and allowed us to do the fighting. His one memorable contribution was telling us the creatures' Achilles heel much too late. Kudos, Ezra. Way to be useless. We'll be expecting just as much--if not more--from you the next time we have the inevitably unfortunate chance to interact together and cooperate as a team.
Oh, but that is nothing compared to what Lynne ended up doing! Lynne actually ordered her manifestation to help the beasts! What an incredibly moronic, idealistic thing to do! I knew you lived with your head in the clouds but what did you attempt to gain by committing such an utterly thoughtless action? Do you really think the demons will thank you? Do you think they have any sort of cognizance of the reciprocation principles governing society? No. They do not. In fact, they will just exploit this naivete the next chance we meet. Mark my words, you have damned us with your humanity. Why treat a demon as anything more than a demon? Really. I will never understand your outlandish thought processes.
---However... I must also thank you. I really don't know why... but you saved my life. Perhaps that idealism is foolhardy, but it is not all bad.
Now, then. To the heart of the matter. When asked about their intentions, the demons claimed they would 'make their space the same way demons always have'. This is a cryptic statement in of itself, but let's try and analyze it. The claim to 'make their space' may imply that they are merely searching for places that they belong within human society. Which is... odd, because that assumes that they have a notion of understanding and comprehension towards our society to begin with. How could that be?
Furthermore, this raises a bigger, far more concerning question--the question of what the demons meant when they said 'the same way demons always have'. At first glance, one would assume this means that they would just kill to get their way. But when coupled with the above phrase and interpretation, I believe this to clinch the supposition I had that demons have existed long before we encountered them on that fateful night in September.
In fact, I have proof of this fact. I obtained some information through letter correspondences with one Chloe Abendroth who claims that she and several others had these very same encounters that exact same night... and the exact same things happened to them.
With that in mind, we can conclude one thing with absolute certainty: demons have existed prior to the year 2012. Not just at Adessi, but all around the world. Somehow, they have kept their presences hidden. Yet they reveal themselves before us now, and seem to be laying claim to territory. But that's not all. Something has brought them out into the light. They have secured their self-preservation by making themselves unnoticeable to us, but something has made them noticeable. I can only guess at what that something might be... but I have a feeling it has something to do with these things we are suddenly capable of manifesting.
In any event... that is enough conclusion drawing for now. I would appreciate any feedback or additional analysis that any of you have to offer on my conclusions. But at the moment, I have grown tired and must rest.