awashrpg | USER: #4FB6C3

[H...uh..........

Though, no... Minato supposes that matches up, doesn't it? Igor had said it'd been "many years" since he last had a guest--the timeline makes sense, if there weren't any Persona users between the last crisis Nanjo dealt with and...well, him.

So aside from a brief moment to process that, Minato nods. It's not like he ever really thought he was that special, after all.]

Does that mean you know Igor too?

[Minato, please. At the name, however, he smiles. He does recognize the name for certain.]

It is good to know that Igor is still alive in your time. Although this does raise even more questions for me. Igor is Philemon's servant, as are the other residents in the Velvet Room, Belladonna, Nameless and the Demon Painter.

[He pauses, but continues before the other can speak.]

...I have a theory of what might have happened...I feel that Philemon might have taken a passive role after what happened.

[Whoa, Nanjo, slow down!! Who's Belladonna? Who's Nameless and the Demon Painter?

Igor's Philemon's servant...?

????]

What...do you mean, exactly? [A passive "role"? What was his role before? To hand out Personas to people? Why would that change?

He has so many questions.]

[Maybe they should sit somewhere to discuss at this rate. He leans on his sheathed sword.]

Philemon is a dweller of the collective unconsciousness, a guide that grants users the ability to summon Personas...but I think you understand that everything has another side to them. In a way, you could see He is the shadow that lurks deep inside of humanity...the being that stands at the opposite of him. the archetype of existential destruction. The Crawling Chaos, Nyarlathotep.

[He realizes it sounds daunting. But the other can simply ask him more questions as they go on.]

I had assumed him to be just the Persona of...someone we fought...but it turns out he was so much more. He has been using many for his pawns in his wish to destroy everything. But if you stand here before me, it means he was defeated or at least banished somehow. I wonder if his defeat means that Philemon may also have to mirror this as well.

[They probably should, and yet Minato is way too engrossed to even think about moving right now. Instead... this is so much information that he never knew. Nyarlathotep? The Crawling Chaos? The archetype of existential destruction? When Nanjo brings it up like that, in all honesty, Minato can't help but draw the comparison to Nyx.

Wasn't she basically the archetype of death, or creation and endless night?

Hrmmm...]

So you think... Philemon stepped back or...had to step back because Nyarla-- [... Shit.] Nyar-- [how the hell]

Nyar...latho...tep... [THERE, FINALLY.] ...had to?

[It's still better than a few people he knew, to be honest.]

It's a theory, yes, but it sounds like a logical choice. Both of them where...engaged in a bet to test mortals at one point. [This information still fresh from Tatsuya's visions makes him sound a lot more annoyed than he wants to be, and he coughs to calm himself down.]

If Nyarlathrotep is defeated, then Philemon should step back, least the Crawling Chaos uses this to increase his own power. Think of it like Ying and Yang. Maybe it is why there are less people in the Velvet Room as well...except certain cases like yours.

[Which does bring an interesting question in his mind now.]

I had assumed the operation was being lead by Miss Kirijo but...were you their leader, young lad?

[In a weird, twisted sort of way--it does make sense. Philemon can't meddle--and neither can Nyalathotep. And in that way, there's balance, and the world... is safe.

... So Minato just shakes his head, and focuses on what he knows.]

No... Mitsuru-senpai was definitely our leader. She was the one who always knew what had to be done.

[A contemplative pause, and he adds:]

I guess in combat, I was the leader, yeah. [and more and more with the rest, as time went on--but as far as he's concerned, it's still Mitsuru.] I did what I could.

Two leaders; field and combat. I understand. Ingenious. I'd expect nothing less than such perfection from Kirijo's heir.

[He grins again. He's smiled more here than he's done back home. It's an interesting feeling, coming face to face with the future.]

Something I've learned the last few hours before coming here is to keep an open mind. Therefore, should we find ourselves in any type of situation here, you can expect me to back you and her up.

[He may be a businessman and a leader, but Nanjo is more than willing to let someone else call the shots.]

[yeah Mitsuru-senpai's great, he agrees.]

Oh...

[Huh... he wasn't expecting that, somehow. Nanjo's the adult, the more experienced Persona user... but he appreciates it, too.]

... Okay. If that's what you want to do--I appreciate it, Nanjo-san. Mitsuru-senpai is really reliable, so you can definitely count on her. And... I'll do my best too.

[He's not an Emperor, Minato...or a Fool.]

I can offer advice, of course. I expect great things from the both of you.

[Is that praise? Who knows.]

I have a question to ask you. With Philemon being absent and you being the only resident of the Velvet Room that I've confirmed so far...you didn't spot any blue doors, did you?

You mean here, right? No, I haven't seen any.

[A simple shake of his head, and Minato rocks back and forth on his heels idly.]

I went looking, but... I couldn't find any entrances to the Velvet Room here.

I was hoping Igor could give us advice but it seems we are on our own. A shame. I would have wished to switch a few of the Personas I had on hand.

[Ahh. It would make sense he's a multiple persona user, right?]

[It sure does make sense--anyone who knows Igor, really, must have the ability to fuse Personas.

So he just nods along, expression contemplative.]

Earlier you said that you had particular affinities with Personas, or something like that...? What did you mean by that?

[The concept of affinities being alien. Hmm...]

Based on our Arcana, we are able to summon certain types of Personas more easily than others. In my case, the Hierophant and the Emperor.

[He looks at him to make sure Minato understands.]

[...?

He only sort of understands, honestly. But really, he never had to deal with that, so maybe it's not such a surprise that it's weird for him to contemplate.

Still, he's trying.]

Because your Arcana is the Hierophant...? [(The voices in his head tell him so, so it must be true!)]

That's correct.

[Well he just assumes that Minato gets it. You need to tell him when you don't.]

Affinity dictates which Personas are easier to master for each of us. He was Emperor...

["He"....]

By "he", do you mean the person I reminded you of?

Yes. The one that taught me much more about myself than I had been willing to admit. Someone who managed to reel all of us in into an effective group.

Naoya Toudou.

We were going to meet in a few days. It's been three years since I last saw him...

[Ah... the way he describes him, it sounds like...]

He was...the leader of your group, then?

[It's kind of an honor to be compared to someone like that, even if it's just in appearances.]

He was, yes. The Emperor Arcana fit him well. Despite the situations, he always made the right decisions. A little too obsessed with his video games some would argue, but he is the one I acknowledge.

Ah... he sounds really impressive, honestly.

[... A thoughtful pause, and:]

Hopefully when we find a way out of here and back home, you can still go meet up with him. Those sorts of meetings with friends...they're important.

Yes...I agree that they are. And he is. I'm sure your friends feel the same about you, Mister Arisato.

[Just one question...]

Your Arcana. Are you aware of it?

[...Ah.

Hm. Well. Somehow... putting words to "the Universe", or "the World", or whatever the hell he earned for himself at the end of that...situation...feels like too much.

Like putting on a mantle he doesn't deserve, pretending to have some great power that he doesn't have--that he just borrowed, for a moment, because the necessity was there. Besides... right now, he doesn't have all of the answers. So...?

Ruefully, he huffs out a breath, and his answer is:]

The Fool. I'm the Fool.

The Fool?!

[The Fool Personas. He strokes his chin briefly, looking at the boy before speaking again.]

...I see...I think I understand now. No one I have known to be a Persona user has been of the Fool Arcana. However...be it Igor's error when fusing, or obtaining enough cards to proceed with a summoning...Personas of the Fool Arcana always had the highest of affinity no matter who we were.

[It would make sense to have someone like him enter the Velvet Room.]

If my logic is correct, then...in your case it would mean every Persona you summon would have the highest possible affinity. An incredibly useful...and deadly skill.

[There is a tiny bit of awe in his voice. Or maybe you just imagined it.]

[Whoa, that was a Reaction. He wasn't expecting that, though... the more Nanjo says, the more it makes sense. If Fool Personas were like that, then--

Well.]

... I think Igor did say something like that. That... [How did he put it...] ...it was like the number 0. Empty but with infinite potential... or something like that.

[A shrug... he feels a little self-conscious about it with how Nanjo looks over it.]

I've never had any trouble summoning any Personas, at least.

USER: #4FB6C3

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When you're like 'should I give him a name' then realize no one will app P1 protag so

WE CAN DREAM........ of getting a naoya

I would kill for a Naoya that's not being played by me

i'll keep my fingers crossed forever

Just like Tatsuya in the original universe okay no

wow

We suffer because we care

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