Asking for Espionage (Amane)

[Ayakura Alisa]

I had received a call from someone. Another girl. Wasn't sure if she was a Persona-user or not. Well, that's not a problem... Anyway... I think she asked to meet here in this park. I had come here ahead of time because I had some stuff I needed to take care of anyway. I was holding a bag that contained a fresh set of clothes. Yeah, if I was going to go out and frolic with Shadows I might as well get a new change of clothes in case these ones get ruined. I really don't want to go out there wearing my old school uniform, which makes me look like I came from a convent. It's a bit embarrassing. The all-girl's school uniform DID feel comfortable but I wasn't sure how people would look at me if I wore it. Anyway, I placed the bag of clothes down at my feet as I sat at a bench waiting for the girl to come over.

I was hoping this would be a good business opportunity. If I could make some money out of it, that would be even better. Unfortunately, the fact my clothes looked a bit worn and torn might clue her in to my experiences. Let's hope that doesn't change anything. I decided to leave my bow behind back at the apartment. Didn't need it. I still did have my knife on me in case things went awry or that someone attempted to intrude on us. Anyway, negotiations. I had to prepare my lines. Yes, I had lines. Yes, I used them sometimes. Here's to hoping it goes well. If the girl in question isn't loaded though, I may have to work something out, because my services did get pricier depending on the nature of the work I actually had to do.

I yawned and fiddled with my phone a bit while waiting. She'd better not be too late. My patience is wearing thin already.

[Amane Mana]

Amane opened her closet and began to thrown on a dark blue long sleeve and jeans. It wasn't too cold today so it wasn't too bad. She opened her wallet and started to count the dollars in there before mentally cursing herself. Maybe helping that guy out wasn't enough. She placed a palm against her face. Does she use her Persona to threaten her? Now that'd be counter productive seeing as how she asked her to meet in a public place and it would just cause a panic. Not to mention threatening her potential help is not a good idea. She sighed and placed the wallet in her pocket and headed out the door. Hope her parents don't hear about this.
 
Amane walked over to the park...alone...about to meet some very suspicious person. Amane is already having misgivings about it. When she realized she found a part time PI she decided to investigate this person...and found horrifying...horrifying things. Things she could've lived a long time without. She gulped and started to walk up to the short black haired woman fiddling with her phone.

"Ms. Alisa Ayakura right?" Amane bowed politely. "I'm your customer, Amane Mana."

[Ayakura Alisa]

I looked up to see the young girl I was waiting for. She introduced herself proper as Amane Mana. Ok, Miss Amane. Why do you look so terrified? You look like you saw something you shouldn't have seen. I was thinking all of these things to myself. I hoped this really wouldn't turn badly for either of us. Does she think I'm a shady character? That's no good. I should dispel those worries as soon as possible. It might sour the transaction if she thought I was a terrible person. "Good ev'ning..." I greeted Amane a bit sleepily. "You look like you saw something strange... Are you alright? You should take some time to relax before we get into this." I nodded and tapped on a spot next to me on the bench I was sitting on. Best way was to make the client feel comfortable first. A relaxed customer was among the easiest to talk and negotiate with. I didn't want to wring her of her allowance, because she looked... a bit too young to be interested. After all, I had several years on her. I might look like a creepy pederast.

"I won't do anything bad, unless you think you can get away with threatening me to give you what you want, so don't worry. I'm harmless." I think.

[Amane Mana]

"Good ev'ning..." The private investigator began. Amane awkwardly waved back. "You look like you saw something strange... Are you alright? You should take some time to relax before we get into this." Alisa began to tap on the bench spot next to her which started to raise alarm bells in her. Amane had to be brave. If something does happen she could fight her off with Silky...there might be unexplained ice structures in tomorrow's headline but none the less..."I won't do anything bad, unless you think you can get away with threatening me to give you what you want, so don't worry. I'm harmless." Not the most comforting of words. It looks like Amane is going straight to the point.

"I found your website and I heard from some that you take more than just art commissions." Amane sighed and started to dig through her wallet and presented a meager sum, most of what Amane has at the moment. "I simply wanted to ask you to investigate the activity of the police and the military. No need to indanger yourself, I just want you to scout out and update me on possible information. I would also like to ask you what you know now at the moment." A simple exchange right?

[Ayakura Alisa]

I looked at Amane fidget through her things, eventually procuring some money from her wallet. It was a paltry sum, but I couldn't complain. She was just some teenager, after all. Looks like she wanted some dirt on what was going on outside. She told me that I didn't need to endanger myself, but unfortunately for her I had already done so, on more than one occasion, to the ire of a certain somebody I really should stop thinking about, because said person makes me want to kill. Anyway, she also mentioned 'updates,' so I guess she also has a vague idea of what was going on, she was just in need of more clarification on the matter. I'm glad she went straight to the point, because had she done something drastic, one of us could have gotten seriously hurt. She also requested to know what I knew at the moment. Oh well. All that for this meager sum? ...Eh... I guess. Fine. I wasn't feeling particularly in the mood to argue either. Long week and all.

"...Fine. This'll do. For now. The police and the military are a lie. From the sounds of it, you might have run into them yourself without actually knowing it's them. Shadowy creatures of the darkness. Dangerous things. Hopefully you can handle them. If you're asking about it, you probably could. Or you've seen them and ran away." I sighed and looked at my bag of clothes. "They're barricading some gateways to the 'outside world' and whatever's outside is destroyed. A wasteland. Nothingness. Ruins. Hmm. Well, you're probably more capable to check it out than I am." I knew that because she told me that there was no need to endanger myself, she was more confident about things than she seemed. I hadn't got any reason to doubt her.

"I'm still working on the investigation, so give me time to have an updated report."

[Amane Mana]

"...Fine. This'll do. For now." The lady began. "The police and the military are a lie. From the sounds of it, you might have run into them yourself without actually knowing it's them." Amane arched an eyebrow. " Shadowy creatures of the darkness. Dangerous things. Hopefully you can handle them. If you're asking about it, you probably could. Or you've seen them and ran away." Amane's eyes widened. This person knows. "They're barricading some gateways to the 'outside world' and whatever's outside is destroyed. A wasteland. Nothingness. Ruins. Hmm. Well, you're probably more capable to check it out than I am." Amane's jaw slowly loosened as she listened to this. "I'm still working on the investigation, so give me ti-"

"Wait, wait, wait, wait." Amane said. Her own reactions already sold that Amane knows what is truly going on. "...I need to ask you a few things." Amane looked left and right and then turned behind her and eyed the area to make sure no one is listening before turning back around. "Okay...this is not what I had in mind...I hoped you would just say what the news already knew and looked into that...but to know this much..." Amane presented her hand and a small blue card appeared before Amane quickly made it dissipate.

"You have one too?" Amane asked. "More to the point, I can't believe you said all that flat out. I mean...think about what you said, it sounds outlandish and you told me all this because I presented a meager amount. Just what do you think would've happened if I wasn't already exposed to this? Most people would ask for a refund..." Something Amane herself is considering seeing as how she is getting more convinced that this person is a touch sketchier than she imagined.

[Ayakura Alisa]

I shrugged. "I can tell you're one of those types," I said. "No ordinary person would come to a person like me and ask about what I knew about the current situation. Are you blind to the ignorance around you?" I sighed, speaking softly, trying not to sound too annoyed or demeaning, but honestly. "The general populace is satisfied with what they hear from the news - 'radiation leak'. Bull crap. Do you think an investigator is just going to accept that kind of explanation and not bother to verify the claims? I do not have a Persona such as your... kind, but that won't stop me from going out and investigating what's really going out there."

I shook the bag of clothes by my feet at Amane. "Do you see this bag? It contains a new fresh set of clothes. Why do I have a new fresh set of clothes? Because I went out and investigated some restricted places, and I encountered a thing which burnt the everloving hell out of my clothes. Two possibilities - if you weren't exposed to it, you would have either ignored me completely, or you would have told me that what you were fed by the 'military' was suspicious and you would have believed me anyway." I continued, sighing.

[Amane Mana]

. "I can tell you're one of those types," How?! Was this an ability this woman's persona had? . "No ordinary person would come to a person like me and ask about what I knew about the current situation. Are you blind to the ignorance around you?" Amane and Alisa sighed in unison. Amane had to admit, the lady had a point. "The general populace is satisfied with what they hear from the news - 'radiation leak'. Bull crap. Do you think an investigator is just going to accept that kind of explanation and not bother to verify the claims? I do not have a Persona such as your... kind, but that won't stop me from going out and investigating what's really going out there." Amane gave Alisa a look that more or less screamed 'are you crazy'?!

"Oi?! You went down there without..." Amane cut herself short. She went to the lockdown border without a persona herself. She really shouldn't be one to talk. Alisa then presented her a bag of cloths.

"Do you see this bag? It contains a new fresh set of clothes. Why do I have a new fresh set of clothes? Because I went out and investigated some restricted places, and I encountered a thing which burnt the everloving hell out of my clothes. Two possibilities - if you weren't exposed to it, you would have either ignored me completely, or you would have told me that what you were fed by the 'military' was suspicious and you would have believed me anyway." Amane scratched the back of her head and then sighed.

"Well...now things have changed now that you're more informed of the situation. I still have a job for you then." Amane said, looking up at Alisa. "Since you are aware of the power of Personas and the things crawling on the outside...I would like you to give me information on the places you explore. I myself in return will pay you more than in money. I will also give you information on the places I explore. I've been taking notes you see, though they're not with me at the moment." Amane's expression changed to one of concern. "Are you sure you're going to be okay? I'd imagine it'd be difficult for you to fight shadows without powers like ours."

[Ayakura Alisa]

Good, good, she came around to things. Probably because she outed herself and admitted she had a Persona. Good, good. A way with words was something good for an investigator to have. She requested a trade of information. Good enough, I'll accept that trade with little question, especially when I have already asserted myself to have experience out in the field. Not too much, but it was definitely a start. "Very well. Where would you like me to start? I have been for the most part searching for information regarding Shadows, as it seems those are the things most likely to be endangering our situation, and on top of that... My parents... " I coughed. "You'd best check out some of the executive buildings and perhaps the hospital, or even some old houses. You may find some interesting things there, I haven't discovered too much yet as of the moment, as I have just begun exploration."

I shuffled my feet. Amane asked me if I was going to be okay. "It's a lot tougher out there without the power of Persona, but I think I can handle it. I just have to take regular trips back to safety as my body is significantly weaker without the power. It's a hassle and a depressing thing to ponder over."

[Amane Mana]

"Very well. Where would you like me to start? I have been for the most part searching for information regarding Shadows, as it seems those are the things most likely to be endangering our situation, and on top of that... My parents... "Amane started to think. She's beginning to notice other places where shadows could be located. Though what was that last bit about her parents? Granted it wasn't like Amane was problem free with her parents but now she is a touch curious."You'd best check out some of the executive buildings and perhaps the hospital, or even some old houses. You may find some interesting things there, I haven't discovered too much yet as of the moment, as I have just begun exploration."

"Thank you...as for what I'd like you to explore areas of the second area of the tunnels I haven't been to. I'll send you the notes personally since things like internet and text can be tracked." Amane started to mentally draw down her future plans now that she has yet another ally who is familiar with the world of Personas and shadows.

"It's a lot tougher out there without the power of Persona, but I think I can handle it. I just have to take regular trips back to safety as my body is significantly weaker without the power. It's a hassle and a depressing thing to ponder over." On the other hand she is demanding a lot from this person. Amane scratched the back of her head.

"If you ever explore there, then feel free to call me up. I'll try to get there if I have the time." It was all Amane could really promise on top of the pay and information.