Paying tribute to the ages

[elevator_attendant]

[In a very populated corner of the forum area, an intricate Japanese stall has been set up, containing small treats, along with a great deal of masks. Behind the stand is a small Mikoshi shrine, the entrance concealed by a blue fabric, inlaid with gold trimmings. Standing in front of these Japanese structures is a man, well-dressed in a blue suit and tie. His wardrobe clashes with the scenery, as he looks like someone who stepped out of an american hotel, circa 1930’s.

He speaks up in a very calm voice, but loud enough for all to hear.]

“Jidai Matsuri. For those not versed in Japanese culture, the festival, originating from Kyoto, is a time to celebrate the ages. Many other festivals are held during October, but this seems to be the one my master has fondness for.”

[A pause, while Theodore gestures to the Japanese stall behind him.]

“In honor of Japanese cultures, I’ve decided to bring something not often seen here to the Nexus. To excite or enlighten those who wish to learn more about the world and themselves.”

[He steps behind the mask stand, gesturing to the different character faces that line the stand walls. It’s very hard to count how many masks are there, but each one seems different then the next.]

“Masks are a common part of Japanese summer festivals, but my master finds them to be fascinating all-year round and feels that many other people can appreciate the beauty in such works of art. Thus, I have been tasked with sharing these wonderful gifts to you, the travelers of the Nexus. Donations are appreciated, but not necessary.”

[He plucks a mask off the wall, one that resembles Hello Kitty. No, he will not be putting it on, rather showing it off to any nearby person instead.]

“Feel free to find one that matches your personality. I can assure you that you will not walk away empty handed. If you require assistance, I will be here to answer any questions you may have.”

((The masks are enchanted (but not in a terrible lol way), and if your character chooses one, they will be able to recall a memory from their past (good/bad/sad/angry, you name it) or perhaps a very vague vision of the future. If you would not like your character to experience this, feel free to leave a note, and Theo will present your character with something normal. Enjoy!))

Comments

*o*/~

[sumarusfinest]

"...I haven't wanted to go back, since Tatsuya and Jun disappeared." A long story from a long time ago, in a different Nexus than this one. "When they left, it just seemed pointless."

Pointless to keep up with the Velvet Room. Pointless to go out for more than demon patrols or work. Pointless to go on living even, perhaps. The elder Suou who holds family in such high regard has been alone for a long time now. It's funny how the Nexus forces people to interact.

"..That is..." Featherman Red. Tatsuya's childhood idol, growing up. He still had tshirts from the show, and would watch marathons of it on dvd once a year or so. He used to own a mask just like the one Theo is holding.

Katsuya's fingers tremble as he reaches out for it.

"Where did you get this..?"

Re: good job, you :D

[elevator_attendant]

"So, their departure left a scar on your heart. But deep down, even if your allies and family are not physically present, they do live on within you." [Theo can sense the emotions rising from Katsuya, and for a second, glances to the shrine behind them. He refocuses his attention to the police officer once more.]

"Things are only pointless if you make them out to be like that. Sometimes we have to change, to look for something new in our lives."

[Theo continues to hold out the mask to Katsuya, a stoic look crossing over his face.]

"The soul calls out to many things, some of which we cannot explain. Perhaps this is something you have been desiring for a long time."

[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya takes the mask, stares at the face of it deeply.

The summer heat settles over Sumaru in a thick damp blanket during the Araya festival. It's sweltering out, but Tatsuya insisted on going. The younger boy is nearly impossible to keep track of, but Katsuya does his best to weave in and around the adults as he follows Tatsuya into the shrine proper.

The stalls are busy this time of the evening and the smell of takoyaki and other tasty treats permeates the air. It's not until they come across a stand selling masks that Tatsuya even slows down, much less stops.

"That's it! The Featherman mask. Can I get it, nii-chan?" Nearby a slightly chubby boy is putting on a yellow Featherman mask of his own. Katsuya could swear he saw a young foreign girl wearing the pink one heading down the steps with her parents when they arrived. And, just for a moment, a small dark haired boy reaches for the same mask as Tatsuya. He pauses, gives the younger Suou a glance, and then smiles.

"It suites you better." He takes it and hands it to Tatsuya, before selecting the black one for himself. The boy's mother gives Katsuya a small smile and then they're wandering off again.

"Please nii-chan?" Tatsuya holds up the mask and Katsuya can only laugh. He carefully puts it on Tatsuya before straightening up.

"Okay, but Featherman stands for good and right. So you have to be good while you wear that, okay?" The laugh Tatsuya gives in answer is all Katsuya could ever want.

Something wet falls onto Katsuya's finger. He blinks, realizing he'd started crying. Quickly the officer wipes his eyes. The red Featherman mask is in his hands, a precious memory he had nearly forgotten about. He smiles and bows his head as though in prayer.

"Though we may be far apart, the bonds we share cannot be so easily broken." His fingers trace over the plastic details of the mask. "That's right....How easy it is...to forget."

[elevator_attendant]

[Theo, while Katsuya is reminiscing on the past, merely stands there watching the police officer. The thoughts and feelings the Persona-user feels seem to linger in the air, changing the environment into something electric, full of life.

He can feel it. The memories Katsuya is feeling, but they barely last for a second in the attendants mind. Instead, he simply nods upon seeing the tears fall from Katsuya's face.]

"The bonds which all beings create is eternal. True bonds never break and can only become stronger." [He shows a bit of sandness, compassion on his face while talking.] "It is human nature to forget the good and linger on the bad. However, you who was chosen by Philemon, can find the strength to move forward."

[sumarusfinest]

That's right. And wherever the boys are, Katsuya is certain they are together again. Jun never could leave his brother alone. Like Tatsuya's shadow, where he could go, Jun would always follow. He hopes they're happy. Hopes that some day, they will come home.

And they will be welcomed with open arms.

"I was so concerned with overcoming the ugliness inside of me that Nyarlathotep drug to the surface, I forgot to cherish the good." He wonders if people will find it silly for him to hang a plastic mask up as though it were a precious work of art. He doesn't even like the show, never could understand why Tatsuya liked it so. But he did, and that alone was reason enough.

"Thank you...for showing me this. It means....quite a lot to me."

[elevator_attendant]

"The Crawling Chaos..." [Theo thinks about it for a second, but decides against asking questions about the past. It's not his place to do so, after all. Instead, he merely gives Katsuya a smile, content to see the man's spirits lifted.]

"It was our pleasure. Take heart in knowing that the denizens of the Velvet Room will always provide aid to the chosen ones. However, I must ask...what will you do now, Katsuya?"

And now you have the nokia ringtone stuck in your head

[sumarusfinest]

The officer pulls out a rather scorched and abused old mobile phone circa the early 2000s and presses a few buttons on it.

"Actually I texted an invitation to someone. I...want them to see this." Perhaps the officer isn't as alone as he once was, after all.

"It's an important part of who I am, places like this."

Curse you! Now I'm going to dream about the damn things.

[brave_heart_verity]

And somewhere else in the Nexus, a much more modern phone is getting a message.

Be there soon.

She hates masks. But she'll come for Katsuya's sake. It's the least she can do. But it's entirely his fault if Theo decides she's some kind of bright-haired goth, given how much paler her new all-black wardrobe makes her look and the fact she's not a naturally happy-looking person.

((Dunno if you know about Verity's power? She's got a magic spell stuck in her that lets her always know when someone is lying to her. This includes sarcasm and knowing when someone believes something to be true when it isn't. This doesn't include lies of omission. She can also see through illusions. So, tons of fun at a LOL, I know.))

Re: you two are awesome btw

[elevator_attendant]

[Theo just watches Katsuya pull out his cell phone, not saying anything until the message is sent. He doesn't object to meeting more people, especially those tied to Persona-users.

When Verity does arrive, Theo is surprisingly not taken back by her appearance or wardrobe choices. He's generally accepting of all travelers of the Nexus, and she is no exception. Although he will make an mental guess that this is Katsuya's friend, given how quickly she arrived here.

He'll let the two of them talk first before intervening in their conversation.]

((Yup, totally fine with Verity's powers! You're good. :D))

Aw shucks, no you

[sumarusfinest]

Oh noes, Katsuya is not aware of this mask hatred and will feel awful about this decision once he finds out. The officer gives a cheery smile her way when she arrives.

"A piece of my world seems to have decided to make its way to the Nexus." Katsuya gestures to the shrine. "Well, not my world exactly, but a parallel one. The Velvet Room denizens are very important to those with Personae."

He's holding a red sentai mask that looks like a Power Ranger's bird cousin.

We're all awesome. :D

[brave_heart_verity]

This should not surprise him, given her curse. But so long as nobody tries to make her wear one she can do this. It's easier to tolerate things that make him so cheerful.

Her gaze flits curiously between the masks, the shrine, and the stranger before settling on Katsuya again. "I'm sure he has a name, dear," she teases quietly, "and he's standing right here." And if he's not going to greet her properly, he deserves to get teased.

Re: yay :D

[elevator_attendant]

[Theo takes a moment to assess the situation, waiting for a opportunity to say something without seeming rude or interrupting the ongoing discussion. He finally steps forward, bowing to Verity in a polite way.]

"A pleasure to meet you, friend of Katsuya. My name is Theodore, or Theo for short. Either name works for me." [He extends one gloved hand to Verity.] "May I ask for your name as well?"

[sumarusfinest]

Oh heck. And he was getting to it, he swears. Katsuya flushes slightly and drops his gaze down to the mask in his hand.

"It's--" And there Theo goes, introducing himself. Katsuya nods. "That. Yes. S..sorry."

He was excited to show this place to her he forgot his manners. Oops.

[brave_heart_verity]

Of course he was. But still, he isn't there yet, so she has to introduce herself.

She gives Theo a thin smile and shakes his hand. "Verity. I'm glad to meet you. And thank you for... whatever it is you do for people like Katsuya." Her gaze flicks to the masks again, and she has to admit, "I don't understand what the masks are for, sorry."

[elevator_attendant]

[He smiles back, and if Verity can sense any sort of power, she might feel a unique presence coming from Theo's glove. It's nothing harmful, but rather relaxing.]

"Verity. That's a very pretty name." [He steps back in order to show off his wares to the woman, as if eager to explain things.] "The masks are for the celebration of a Japanese festival. Many people like to wear them in order to have fun or to pay tribute to their ancestors. Masks have many different meanings and uses, thus my master felt the Nexus would appreciate such a gift."

[He returns his gaze from the masks to Katsuya and Verity.] "Perhaps you'd like to find one for yourself? Maybe Katsuya would be eager to help as well?"

[sumarusfinest]

"The Velvet room is a place in between dimensions, sort of like the Nexus is. The only ones allowed within are those who have been granted Personae. Igor serves the god Philemon, and Igor and his attendants, like Theo here, have been critical to helping users such as myself hone their abilities."

Where Katsuya comes from, every Persona user had access to the Velvet room. He's not aware that nowadays these younguns only let their protagonist leader into such a place.

"The festival itself Theo speaks of celebrates the shift in the Japanese capital from Kyoto to Tokyo. It's a tradition to pay tribute to our ancestors who shaped the country's history. The masks used to hold great historical significance, but in modern times are mostly for fun." Katsuya gives a very nostalgic smile down to the sentai mask he's holding.

"...My brother loves this festival, growing up. He wore this mask every chance he got until it no longer fit him." Again Katsuya bows his head, as if in prayer. Honoring the bond he shares with his brother, and with Jun, wherever they are. For once the memory isn't painful. It's a treasure, something he cherishes. It's thanks to Theo he was able to fix the reversed arcana remember the bonds he shares.

"I thought it would be something you would enjoy, Verity. You love stories, so..."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Thank you." It's not often people compliment her name, so she particularly appreciates the compliment.

But oh, that face. That one she's making right there. She's just not good at hiding her feelings. "No, thank you. Masks creep me out. It sounds like a.... an interesting festival, but, no. Why don't you pick one out for your brother's boyfriend, since you got one for Tatsuya?" Anything that gets them away from the idea of pushing a mask at her.

[elevator_attendant]

[Oh, oops. Theo notices her discomfort towards the situation, and isn't sure what to say next. He takes a small step back, concealing a few of the masks in his shadow. The attendant's gaze rests on Katsuya, hoping he'll be able to make Verity feel better.]

"Ah, I'm not offended by this turn of events. My sincerest apologies, Miss Verity."

[sumarusfinest]

It's okay Theo. This happens from time to time, usually when Katsuya gets too excited over something to stop and think if it will be something verity will appreciate or not. The officer looks somewhat startled, before the guilty expression creeps back on his face.

"I suppose not. Since a mask is meant to conceal one's identity at it's core...it must cause you trouble." Verity may not have a Persona, but she has abilities of her own. Katsuya hadn't thought of how a place like this must feel to her. how she must see Theodore, since his human appearance is more for the 'clients' of the Velvet Room's comfort than a depiction of his true nature.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Exactly." She looks relieved that he figured it out, and she's grateful neither of them is pushing her about it. As for how she sees Theo... who knows. She's from a world full of people who don't look human, so it's unlikely to bother her. Looking back to Theo, she explains, "I have a curse that means I always know when someone's lying. It gets in the way of a lot of things."

And with that unpleasant business out of the way, she'll take hold of Katsuya's hand and hope he stops pouting. "So what's the shrine for?"

[elevator_attendant]

"Oh. Once again, I apologize for not understanding the circumstances before hand." [He seems to be blaming himself for the incident, even though he had no way of knowing about Verity's powers beforehand.

As for his appearance, it will thankfully stay and look the same, due to the space the three are standing in. Being in this Velvet-Room like setting helps the attendant look and seem normal to Nexus-goers, at least for a long period of time.]

"Shrines are normally carried as a part of the festival, to honor dead emperors who've longed since passed on." [Hesitantly, he looks over at the shrine, then back to Verity and Katsuya. "I'm uncertain if I can let you see the inside of this one right now."

[sumarusfinest]

He's not pouting he's...okay he's kind of pouting. but since Verity doesn't seem to be taking this too terribly, he'll perk up relatively quickly. She can have the hand that isn't holding the Featherman mask. He may feel somewhat warmer to the touch. Helios is stirring within such a place.

"The masks used to be representative of older centuries, as a way to honor the dead through re imagining them in the present. The shrines were a means of bringing the memories of emperors past out to the people, where they could be respected by everyone." Katsuya gives Verity's hand a slight squeeze.

"There are many of the older generations that feel as though Japan is losing it's hold on it's history. The younger generations have phased out wearing masks to emulate the dead and begun wearing masks of things they find amusing in the present. Still, there is no denying that a sort of energy surrounds festivals such as these, when the shrines are brought out."

Keyboards just hate you I guess.

[brave_heart_verity]

"It's okay, you couldn't have known. No harm done." But there will be if she keeps having to reassure them. She's not exactly in her right mind right now, and it's hard to care about other people's feelings when she's in mourning for billions of people. "And I get that I'm not who the shrine is for, it's fine."

He's usually warm to the touch. This is enough for her to be a little worried. She'll make sure he isn't coming down with something later. "Things change, and people think there was some golden past that was perfect, but there really wasn't."

She's cheerful today isn't she?

"Maybe I should go, so you two can enjoy your festival." She knows she's a buzzkill.

[elevator_attendant]

"Um, actually it's..." [He pauses for a moment, then just completely gives up on actually trying to explain what the shrine's significance is. Sometimes the best proof has to be shown, rather than explained.

He can sense that there seems to be some disharmony in Verity, although he's most certainly not aware of the situation that occurred on her homeworld. He gives Katusya a worried look, before walking towards the shrine entrance.]

"Perhaps we should all continue talking elsewhere...I believe the change of scenery will do us a great deal of good, instead of standing here in an uncomfortable place."

[sumarusfinest]

"...I apologize Verity. I had assumed this was something you would find interest in." Katsuya does understand what Verity is going through right now, but it doesn't stop him from sounding somewhat more tired at her reaction. The teasing had given him hope that she was feeling more herself, but it was clearly too soon for normal socializing, or to introduce her to parts of his world based on illusions or magic.

"It was lovely for you to come out all this way." He doesn't apologize for the inconvenience. He knows it will only sour her mood more. Still, it's put a damper on his own mood too. He gives Theo a somewhat apologetic glance. This clearly was not how he planned this meeting to go.

It would be more accurate to say the officer hadn't thought about this at all before he'd acted.