August Catch-All

[scooptimistic]

WHO: Maya and whoever wishes to deal with her!
WHERE: All around Chroma
WHEN: The merry, merry month of-- August
WHAT: Quests and bonding and shenanigans, oh my. There will be a few open prompts within!
WARNINGS: Nada, will change if it changes!



[ HEALING, FRESH HEALING - OPEN ]

[ It's only taken a few days to realize what's going on in the woods. Because Maya is a journalist and journalists are all about gathering information, she's half-tempted to check out the woods herself. But her arm is only newly out of its sling, so she's opting not to go charge into The Pit herself.

Instead, if you exit the woods, and you look as though your ass has been thoroughly kicked, you'll find this young woman waving an arm over her head to get your attention. ]

Ciao! Need a complimentary healing before you collapse for the day?


[ MY SWEET RED ROSES - OPEN ]

[ Good random day of August, person who Maya happens to familiar with! Or maybe she has no idea who you are, that might actually be a real possibility. But all the same, she's grinning at you and extending an arm, on which is draped no less than eight flower crowns of varying designs. ]

Take your pick! Free of charge, of course! One of these really has to bring out your eyes, right?


[ DON'T DO THE CINNAMON CHALLENGE - OPEN ]

[ Look... just. Look. She got a crate full of blue cinnamon, and now she's wandering around with her arms full of jars of the stuff, smiling wryly when she makes eye contact. ]

So I know it's not as great as fish or chicken or whatever most people ended up with, but if you want a sweet seasoning, I'd totally be willing to part with a jar!

Comments

[scooptimistic]

... Well, what do you think? Shall we go on an old jar hunt and keep ourselves busy for a little bit?

[ Might as well be productive about it. ]

[messianic]

Sure, let's do it. Better than sitting around and staring gloomily at the cinnamon.

[He feels you, Maya!!]

We might have more luck looking through the basements of some of the houses around here, but be careful--some of the floors that haven't been reinforced might still collapse.

[scooptimistic]

I'll walk with all the lightness of a Pixie.

[ you know, because they fly!! ]

I'm sure if we take it carefully, we'll be just fine. Let's go, Minato-kun!!

[messianic]

[... Okay, Maya.]

I'm ready. Let's start in Flavo--there aren't as many people there, so I bet there are more supplies hanging around.

[scooptimistic]

Perfect! Let's get going.

[ and as she starts heading in that direction-- ]

Speaking of "going", though-- how's your summoning attempt?

[messianic]

[...Urgh...

He doesn't wilt, necessarily, but he does wince a little.]

... It's...still a work in progress...

[Why is this so!! Hard!!

(He knows why; he went a whole year summoning like he does, and now he's trying to convince his body it's not necessary? It's...difficult.)]

[scooptimistic]

...

[ Have a hand on your shoulder and a little squeeze, buddy. ]

You don't have to look so pained about it! There's nothing wrong with it taking a great deal of effort.

[messianic]

[Thanks, Maya...]

... I know. I just have to keep working at it. It's just...

[Watching everyone else summon their Personas so effortlessly is a bit of an Experience for him.]

[scooptimistic]

...

[ And Maya is suddenly stopping and thrusting one fist into the air. ]

Let's positive thinking!!

[messianic]

[... Oh my god.

Minato pauses.

And blinks.

And slowly--]

L... let's... positive thinking...? [Just...awkwardly repeating the English here.]

[scooptimistic]

Exactly! As discouraged as you might feel now, no Persona user's ever gone through the completely same experience. You're going to be able to call on your Personas soon enough, but you're going to have to realize that forcing it won't help. Your method will be one you feel comfortable with-- we just have to work on helping you find it first.

Don't compare yourself to us, okay? You wouldn't have become a Persona user if you didn't have an incredible strength inside you. Digging down to it might just take some time.

[messianic]

[Oh...aw, Maya... that's really sweet.

He blinks slowly--and then he smiles a little in response, nodding solemnly. She's right, after all... Just because this is the way he learned to summon doesn't mean he can't figure it out in time, or that he's in any way less than the others.]

... You're right. I'll do my best not to get frustrated.

I know I...just have to keep working at it. But... thank you. Honestly. Your support's been really.... [Something that touches him a lot, honestly.]

[scooptimistic]

Big sister habits, I think. Even though that's not really what I am, anymore.

[ But that's fine. ]

At any point, if you ever have questions or just want more help dealing with this, don't be afraid to ask me. Otherwise I might not know when you're struggling.

[messianic]

I guess so... I'm not really used to asking for help, but... I'll try to keep you updated a bit more, too.

[A beat.]

What do you mean you're not a big sister anymore? Even with everything that you said happened... I don't think that erased your role as one, not to you or to them.

[scooptimistic]

[ To that, Maya only smiles sadly. ]

They don't remember who I am. I don't really intend to try to remind them.

And while I'll support Tatsuya-kun, I'm not the Maya he knew. So you're right, that I might always feel like one... but that's not the reality of it.

[messianic]

Do you really think...that even if those experiences were overwritten, they mean nothing?

[Even if they don't remember. Even if she's a different Maya than Tatsuya knows. Even if in this history, they never happened... they still happened somewhere.]

Even if it's something small, or barely noticeable... I don't think those experiences really ever meant nothing. Even if they've been forgotten... they still happened once, somewhere.

[scooptimistic]

... Well. If nothing else, they're important memories to me. That I got to meet them and look after them as a big sister-- I don't think I'll ever forget that.

[ ... again. ]

So the memory is enough for me.

[messianic]

Right.

[That's what he means, after all.]

You're not the same person as you would be without that, right...? I really believe in that.

[That meetings, even if brief or erased or forgotten...have a meaning. He has to believe, considering his own circumstances too.]

[scooptimistic]

...

[ And for that, he's getting his hair lightly ruffled. ]

You're a good kid, Minato-kun. Thanks.

[ It's a little embarrassing that he had to pep-talk her, but she honestly appreciates it. ]

[messianic]

[Oh, a hair ruffle... that's cute. Minato flashes Maya a faint smile from beneath now-unruly hair as he reaches up to fix it.]

It's just something I've thought about before, that's all.

Anyway--do you want to try this house for jar-finding?

[scooptimistic]

... Well, if the ceiling doesn't cave in on us...

-- Actually, even if it does, I'm sure we'll be fine! Let's give it a shot, Minato-kun!

[ And she'll shoot him a confident grin as she swings the door open. It sure creaks like it regrets living, but that's fine. ]

[messianic]

[...]

That's not really the sort of thing that you should just be like "actually", about, I think...

But we may as well do our best, I guess.

[So IN HE GOES....]

[scooptimistic]

[ So far, so good! Lots of ominous creaking, but nothing's breaking (yet). ]

Okay!! I'm sure a place like this has a couple of jars it doesn't need!

[messianic]

Right... let's look in drawers or cabinets, if there are any...

[Time to very carefully wander towards the kitchen. The floor is creaking very, very ominously.]

[scooptimistic]

Right! I'm pretty sure there are cabine--

[ and crunch goes one boot as it immediately goes through the floor. ]