[Holly] Look What I Can Do

[Ringo Shiro]

Ringo placed his sword down beside him as he sat on the crate that doubled as a chair. He was amazed that there were places to eat around here. This adds further questions about the blonde woman but if she is willing to provide services for breaks and meals then he can't complain too much. Besides he has done jobs for her without question so why question this now? His eyes glowed as he summoned his persona card.

He has come a long way huh? Until about a week ago he'd still go around trying to fight shadows normally. Ringo had to admit that it was a breathe of fresh air in a variety of ways. For one killing weaker shadows is no longer a struggle. Granted one without a persona shouldn't be fighting shadows but none the less Ringo still tried. Though he wondered if he is any better at enduring attacks now that he unlocked Tokoyo.

Ringo watched as the pork rice platter and water arrived for him. Ringo bowed politely and was about to dig in. He looked up when he heard footsteps. It was someone who he recognized well. He gave out a smile.

"Hello Holly."

[Holly Mason]

Holly didn't particularly care for food.  To her, it was something she tolerated so that she wouldn't die or be too hungry to focus.  So, anytime she found herself in this area it was because she was checking out the mission board or bringing in another sack of scrap for the weird blonde woman.  Since she was definitely never going to take another job from that mission board, she was here with a large bag over her shoulder on her way to turn it in for a bit of extra cash and hopefully some amount of favor.  The latter is about the only reason she kept this up anyway.

On her way, she saw something interesting.  That normal was there likely waiting for food, but considering what was hovering in his hand he probably wasn't so normal anymore.  This was good, very good.  Rather than turn in her junk now, she opted to make her way towards the table he was sitting at.  The strange blonde woman could wait.

"Ah, I see it finally came to you," she waved once she was noticed.  "Congratulations."

[Ringo Shiro]

"Ah, I see it finally came to you," Holly said. "Congratulations." The girl walked over to him carrying...a large sack of something. Ringo was rather shocked Holly collected so much but then again his salvaging also had him collect a similar bag full of random items. He still wondered what the people at the salvage shop even did with those.

"Thank you." Ringo took a bite of his food...which actually didn't taste so bad. If anything Ringo doesn't mind eating here more often. "Going to the salvage shop?" Ringo asked pointing over to the bag with his spoon. "Oh by the by...notice anything odd?" He might as well gather information from whoever he can.

[Holly Mason]

Holly made her way over to a box on the other side of the table Ringo was sitting at, gently setting her sack of scrap next to her.  For once, she decided to keep her elbows off the table and not stare into the soul of the person sitting across from her, instead folding her arms in her lap and looking up for a moment.  The fact that she had to think for a moment about whether anything she had been experiencing lately qualified as 'strange' despite fighting blobs of doom in a destroyed city really showed how used to everything she was getting.

"Well, awhile ago a floating castle appeared.  I hadn't been able to check it out until recently because there are some really strong shadows there.  It's not as exciting as I hoped and I still have no idea how it got there or how it's floating.  I don't understand how magic works at all," she sighed.

"Since you've awakened, I'm assuming you can 'sense' shadows now?  I'm starting to doubt how reliable that sense is.  I decided to do a job for the blonde woman here.  I was supposed to investigate the cause of this strange fog that had appeared over a town in the outer circle and I swear I couldn't sense the shadows there at all.  I was able to for brief periods of time, but some of them just kind of disappeared somehow.  I thought it was just unique to whatever was causing the fog there, but then I encountered two strong shadows in the sinkhole on the edge of the city.  The group I was with and I managed to defeat one of them, but the other ran away and just disappeared completely.  I couldn't even tell which direction it went once it was out of sight and I normally have no trouble locating shadows THAT strong.  I have no idea what's causing it to fail like that, but it can't be good.

"Oh," she perked up a bit after thinking again for a moment.  "My own persona also changed slightly.  I've seen this phenomenon in other users, though their changes were a bit more dramatic than mine, I still think it's worth mentioning."

[Ringo Shiro]

"Well, awhile ago a floating castle appeared" Ringo blinked and had to take a second to take in what Holly was saying...a floating castle?! Really? Like in those fantasy novels? "I hadn't been able to check it out until recently because there are some really strong shadows there. It's not as exciting as I hoped and I still have no idea how it got there or how it's floating. I don't understand how magic works at all," Ringo tried his best to think about how a castle would float but with shadows and personas one can't be completely sure.

"I see...I'll look into it if I can."

"Since you've awakened, I'm assuming you can 'sense' shadows now?" Ringo nodded. Come to think of it, his senses became a lot sharper the moment he obtained his persona. " I'm starting to doubt how reliable that sense is. I decided to do a job for the blonde woman here. I was supposed to investigate the cause of this strange fog that had appeared over a town in the outer circle and I swear I couldn't sense the shadows there at all." Ringo arched an eyebrow. Strange fog? First a castle...then fog...the outer ring is getting stranger and stranger. "I was able to for brief periods of time, but some of them just kind of disappeared somehow. I thought it was just unique to whatever was causing the fog there, but then I encountered two strong shadows in the sinkhole on the edge of the city. The group I was with and I managed to defeat one of them, but the other ran away and just disappeared completely." Maybe it was the fog? "I couldn't even tell which direction it went once it was out of sight and I normally have no trouble locating shadows THAT strong. I have no idea what's causing it to fail like that, but it can't be good."

"Can you show me this area sometime?" Ringo wasn't sure if he was going to be any better but he must at least see the area for himself. Though if what Holly said is true, powerful shadows lurk there. He wondered if they were any more powerful than the full moon shadows they've been fighting.

"Oh," Holly said. "My own persona also changed slightly. I've seen this phenomenon in other users, though their changes were a bit more dramatic than mine, I still think it's worth mentioning."

"I can compare. I've seen two people have their personas evolve...granted under differing circumstances." Ringo remembered the stark contrast between Layla's evolution and Alisa's. "One's evolved after overcoming hardship...the other evolved due to...well..." Ringo wasn't even sure if he should talk about Alisa's situation. "...apparently the shadows took one of us." Ringo wasn't in a hurry to find out who...in fact he was reluctant to go anywhere near the graveyard in the off chance that he finds out who. Would he even know their name seeing as how he doesn't know everyone that participates in the full moon fights?

[Holly Mason]

"I'd advise against it unless you brought help.  The shadows in the outskirts might be a bit much for you still, and the shadows in the castle itself are some of the strongest I've seen outside of stratum guardians and the ones that have appeared inside of the city."  She just shook her head when he asked if she could take him to the place with the fog.  "Well, I suppose strictly speaking I could, but I already got rid of the fog.  It was tied to some weird artifact and I destroyed it, so as far as I can tell the town is completely normal now.  Or as normal as any place can be out here.  And the sinkhole never had any strange fog to begin with, so it wouldn't do much good to take you there."

Holly nodded at his comments about awakenings.  The nod very suddenly stopped when he mentioned that someone died, and she opened her eyes again.  For a moment, she didn't move at all.  Once she did, she stood up and slammed her hands on the table.

"What?" her voice was loud, and while she wasn't yelling at him it might seem like it.  "Who?  What happened?"

[Ringo Shiro]

"I'd advise against it unless you brought help. The shadows in the outskirts might be a bit much for you still, and the shadows in the castle itself are some of the strongest I've seen outside of stratum guardians and the ones that have appeared inside of the city." Ringo pondered that for a moment. If these were strong to Holly who is much more powerful and had her persona much longer he has a ways to go. "Well, I suppose strictly speaking I could, but I already got rid of the fog. It was tied to some weird artifact and I destroyed it, so as far as I can tell the town is completely normal now. Or as normal as any place can be out here. And the sinkhole never had any strange fog to begin with, so it wouldn't do much good to take you there."

"I see." Ringo was glad the strange fog was gone but what he heard just now was beyond concerning. Is this going to get worse from here?

"What?" Ringo flinched when he heard Holly slammed her hands on the table. "Who? What happened?"

"I honestly don't know." Ringo said, a little bit panicked at her reaction. "Do you know Alisa? Short brown hair? Black eyes?" Ringo asked. "Someone she knew was killed by shadows recently. I don't know the details and I didn't ask..." Ringo looked down at the table now.

[Holly Mason]

Without taking her hands off the table, Holly's fingers curled into a fist.  She lowered her head slightly, her eyes narrowed and a frightening grimace appeared on her face.   A few strands of loose hair went in front of her face and her shoulders tensed.  For a few moments, it looked like she was about to punch something.  Her body shook, her hands trembled, but no such action came.  Instead, she lowered her head even more and audibly exhaled.  Her body didn't relax that much, but it stopped shaking as she returned to her seat.

"I see," she sounded remarkably composed compared to how she was just a few seconds ago.  "Only vaguely.  Our meetings outside of one that didn't last long, have only been in battle.  In the end, this is a danger we all face."

It just wasn't one that felt real.  Even after hearing about a death it still didn't feel real.  How could something like that even happen?  It was a stupid question with an obvious answer, but Holly's mind couldn't quite comprehend it.  With a shrug she returned to her normal, more relaxed state silly grin and all.

"Well, there's not much point dwelling on it," she waved a hand dismissively.  "The city outskirts might be a bit much for you alone, but I'm sure you could handle it with me around if you wanted to check it out.  Just make sure you're ready for a fight."

[Ringo Shiro]

Holly is reacting rather badly to this news as he has begin to notice. He couldn't blame her. Ringo wasn't exactly feeling comfortable after the incident in the hospital with Alisa. He didn't want to think about who might've died, who of the numerous who participate on those battles against those full moon shadows might no longer be there to stand aside others when they come. Ringo wanted to say something but found himself unable to. He figured he should wait until Holly has calmed herself.

"I see," Slightly better but the uneasiness was still present. "Well, there's not much point dwelling on it," Holly despite the silly grin and the attempt to dismiss the subject, Ringo can't help but to feel the uneasiness still there. That was his guess though. He was no mind reader. "The city outskirts might be a bit much for you alone, but I'm sure you could handle it with me around if you wanted to check it out. Just make sure you're ready for a fight." Ringo smiled sadly.

"That's not exactly my idea of a hang out to get to know an acquaintance." Ringo relaxed himself, the tense subject over and done with. "Say Holly..." He might as well turn to a brighter subject. "What are you going to do...if we ever break up this lock down?"

[Holly Mason]

"Hey, intense combat situations are known to produce some of the closest friendships.  It takes a great deal of trust and camaraderie to fight along someone like that, but if you're really not feeling it..." she shrugged.  "And what do you mean 'if'?" she scoffed.  "They've what, killed one person and caused a little bit of property damage?  That hardly even compares to the pain we've been throwing at them.  We'll break through it at some point.  As for what I'll do after, well the same thing as I'm doing now and was doing before.  My parents run a large shipping company that I'm supposed to inherit when they don't want to deal with it anymore.  I've got an empire to build."

[Ringo Shiro]

"Hey, intense combat situations are known to produce some of the closest friendships. It takes a great deal of trust and camaraderie to fight along someone like that, but if you're really not feeling it..." Ringo laughed nervously. Personally slaying shadows is not his idea of a bonding exercise even if great trust is required for combat situations with others. "And what do you mean 'if'?" Holly said. "They've what, killed one person and caused a little bit of property damage? That hardly even compares to the pain we've been throwing at them. We'll break through it at some point." Ringo honestly wanted to get out of this with no one dying. "As for what I'll do after, well the same thing as I'm doing now and was doing before. My parents run a large shipping company that I'm supposed to inherit when they don't want to deal with it anymore. I've got an empire to build." Ringo blinked for a moment.

"Build an empire?" Ringo looked at Holly for a moment. He could see it. "I was just curious." Ringo said. "I'm actually not sure what I'm going to do when if I somehow get out of this." He placed a hand on his chin in thought. "I guess with me back in practice in terms of swordsmanship I guess I can go back into practice if college work doesn't cut it for me."

[Holly Mason]

"Well yeah.  I don't think I'd ever be satisfied living a 'normal' life.  I've got a lot of resources at my disposal and I intend to use them to their fullest potential," she nodded to herself.

But then he just kept talking and her expression changed a bit.  Rather than keeping her arms folded in front of her she leaned into the table, put one elbow on the table and then rested her head on her hand.  Holly stared at Ringo for a bit.  It was a judging stare, similar to the one he got when they first met.

"What the hell are you fighting for then?  Don't tell me all you've got is that self-righteous bullshit 'well I have to do something' reason.  You're not going to be able to accomplish much with an attitude like that.  There's no conviction behind it if you're just kind of here because you feel like you have to be." 

[Ringo Shiro]

"Well yeah. I don't think I'd ever be satisfied living a 'normal' life. I've got a lot of resources at my disposal and I intend to use them to their fullest potential," Holly said. Ringo figured that normal life wouldn't be her thing. She did jump into this incident out of curiosity after all. However, Ringo noticed Holly's stare was...judging. About as judging as when they first met. "What the hell are you fighting for then?

"Pardon?"

"Don't tell me all you've got is that self-righteous bullshit 'well I have to do something' reason. You're not going to be able to accomplish much with an attitude like that. There's no conviction behind it if you're just kind of here because you feel like you have to be." Ringo looked at Holly. He smiled sadly.

"You're right." Ringo said scratching the back of his head. "I admit I picked up the blade again out of necessity." Ringo said, his eyes tilting back towards the blade. "But no matter what path I take I'll have to take my teacher's license exam any how." Ringo said with a laugh.

[Holly Mason]

Holly groaned and buried her face into her hand instead of resting her chin on it.  That was just embarrassing.  She stayed like that for a little bit before very suddenly changing her posture.  Now, she was facing him straight on with both her elbows on the table with her fingertips touching each other.  She looked directly into his eyes with a judging stare, though not the same one.  This one was a little more condescending.

"Look, it's great to want to help people, but that's way too abstract.  It's not personal enough.  I somehow doubt that you know every person here.  For all we know there could have been more deaths that we don't know about and you'd never notice the difference.  In the end, if you're not fighting for yourself, at least on some level, then you're doing it wrong.  Fighting because you DON'T want something isn't nearly as useful as fighting because you DO want something."

[Ringo Shiro]

Holly groaned and placed her hands upon her face. Ringo got the feeling that she didn't exactly like that answer. Holly then placed her elbows on the table, her finger tips touching, and a judgmental stare much like last time. Ringo's laughter slowly stopped as he watched her gaze.

"Look, it's great to want to help people, but that's way too abstract. It's not personal enough." Ringo arched an eyebrow at her words. "I somehow doubt that you know every person here. For all we know there could have been more deaths that we don't know about and you'd never notice the difference." Ringo looked down at that thought. " In the end, if you're not fighting for yourself, at least on some level, then you're doing it wrong. Fighting because you DON'T want something isn't nearly as useful as fighting because you DO want something."

"I..." Ringo wasn't sure what to say in response to that. He scratched the back of his head and looked around for a moment except at Holly hoping for answer to come to him. "Well..." Ringo was now in a bit of confusion.