Staring at the Abyss (Open)

[Ayakura Alisa]

It's been a while since I walked along this... boardwalk. Usually, my parents would take me here on the weekends for a night out. When I was younger. I didn't question the decision to do so, since it was actually pretty fun. Mother and I realized a lot of the games you could play here were actually rigged after we tried them once. Though, I suppose anyone could realize it once they played a round or two. I found myself sitting at a rather secluded part of the boardwalk. There was a pretty nice hotdog joint where I bought myself one of those cheapo simple hotdogs. Sat looking at... Well, nothing in particular. I sat there, wondering, about many things that happened over the past few days. The Shadows, the things I saw... Those buildings... the whole "quarantine" situation. I continued staring out, I think I must have zoned out, because I wouldn't know if anybody would need to talk to me or not. Or if anybody messaged me on my phone.

Taking another bite from my hotdog, I turned my head around and looked to see a few people walking about, some with dates, the others... With family, or alone... I didn't care. I was just concerned at how ignorant everybody was of the situation. Only a select handful of us knew what was really going on. For those of us without Personas it was even more difficult. Even if we had combat capabilities, Shadows were incredibly tough. I almost found myself dead from that encounter, simply because they were so strong, and had capability to use magic that I now knew only Persona-users could also take advantage of. I felt... oddly powerless. I wanted to do something.

But... What? Aside from gather everyone, and try to look for more clues? That was it? Humph... It was depressing to think and ruminate about it. I supposed that was why I was here. I needed some quiet time. I looked about and wondered if anyone I knew also happened to be here.

[Icarus Kerberos]

This place was littered with people, which by analysis would make sense. The attractive carnival games and sights were pleasing to many humans. He found it fascinating as well, the fact humans could enjoy the colorful and loud attractions. On his scale, it'd probably just be a two in disturbance. He found himself wanting to engage in the strange games and events, but ended up simply walking along the boardwalk. Many humans were here, everyone seeming to have another attached to their arm or simply enjoying the strange food that they had purchased. Most human beings seemed to keep within their small group or themselves. Fascinating.

Icarus just stood in the middle of the boardwalk, simply watching humans walking along them or perhaps staring out into the water. There was one that had been sitting there before he had arrived, but she hadn't moved in awhile. He looked around longer, counting the minutes internally as he watched the humans go about their business. He could have left to fight Shadows by now, but he felt himself lingering inside the populated areas of the city. He'd only spent some time within the City since he had been deployed here, but he was starting to enjoy the company of the humans around him though he wasn't well acquainted. Maybe he should talk to someone... he had been getting strange looks for simply standing in the pier. Humans didn't do that?

He turned his head and locked eyes with someone who was also looking around idly. Most humans didn't know the oncoming threat of the shadows... and he was yet to really meet any that did. Mostly when the topic was brought up it referred to something else entirely. Maybe he should find more Users then. Icarus moved towards the female he had locked eyes with, though he kept his distance some.

"Excuse me, may I give a query?" He asked, "Does the name 'Shadows' hold a meaning to your person?"

[Ayakura Alisa]

I locked eyes with some strange kid who immediately queried me with the key word 'Shadow'. More specifically, he asked me if the term meant anything to me. I guess it did. "Uh, 'Shadows'? I guess it does. Strange monstrous buggers, those things are," I sighed and tapped my foot idly. "If you're asking me about it, I guess you already know what they are and what I just said probably doesn't mean too much..." I can't help but feel that there was something strange about this kid. "Do you go around asking random people what the word 'Shadow' means to them, kiddo?" I joked about, trying to smile, but it ended up coming out a bit awkwardly. I hoped he wasn't too serious, but then again, considering the things I had already encountered up to this point, I couldn't be too sure of things...

[Icarus Kerberos]

Curiously enough, the girl responded to his question. She answered plainly, at least what he was hoping for. She did hold knowledge of the Shadow creatures. Definitely lucky, as most people would say. He almost wondered how many people in this City actually knew the existence of the Shadows. Most people described them as mirror images of oneself or the like, nonetheless this girl referred to them as 'Strange monstrous buggers'. He took that as a sign she did indeed know what he was talking about. She went on again to speak about how he already knew what she was talking about, before asking him a question in turn. He tilted his head a little.

"Sometimes. It is necessary if I want to gather information." He said flatly, staring back at the girl. He couldn't tell her joking manner really. Now that he knew she possibly was a Persona-user or maybe just someone who was aware of the creatures, now what? He pondered, growing silent for a long time. It was an awkward pause, but he finally thought of a conclusion.

"Do you fight the Shadows then? Or do you leave them be?" He questioned again, his head tilting in the opposite direction this time. He was still mulling over his own thoughts, unsure of how to register what to do in this situation. He hadn't exactly met a human who knew about the Shadows.

[Ayakura Alisa]

The strange boy asked me if I fought Shadows or left them alone. I already knew how to answer that. Easily, I might add. "I fight Shadows if I have to - I am investigating the outside. It is hard. I am not very strong," I sighed, crossing my arms. "But sometimes I have no choice, they get in my way." I didn't really know what else to say other than that, really. He was a peculiar one. Something about him seemed off to me. But maybe he just knew too much. Was he one who fought Shadows? "...How about you? I guess you fight Shadows too, huh?" I shrugged and just asked out of idle curiosity.

[Icarus Kerberos]

Icarus looked over the girl, as if seeing if her statement held. She looked like she was capable enough to fight off enemies, but he wouldn't really know unless he saw her fight he guessed. His assumption was backed up when she mentioned she wasn't that strong. She mentioned investigating the outside, which perked his curiosity.

"Why are you investigating the outside?" Why bother when there was Shadows to defeat? Maybe he was missing something. He was built solely for destroying the Shadows and he found he never had a real reason to do much else. He probably would only be interested in the outside when there wasn't any Shadows to defeat. Eventually the girl asked him a question again, at least one he could answer very clearly.

"I fight the Shadows. It is what I was created for." Icarus explained and copied her shrug, "I do not let them do as they please. All Shadows must be eradicated."

[Ayakura Alisa]

He said, he was created to battle Shadows. He was not a real person? Was he a robot or something? Hell if I know. "O... okay... That's nice to know. Why am I investigating the outside? I am trying to find clues regarding my missing parents. They went outside but never came back. I want to know what got them if they're dead." I tapped my turned and stared into the distance. I don't know what exactly he was, but he disturbed me with his seeming fixation on defeating Shadows and anything related to them. Defeating such things isn't the only thing in to do in this situation. Why wouldn't striking the source be a better option? I am so confused. "Are you some sort of weapon someone made in order to defeat Shadows? You sound like a robot."

[Jonathon Montoya]

Jonathon walked down the boardwalk, whistling a little. He watched little kids blow their parents money on games they had no chance at all of winning. He smirked at the rather fond memories he had of being a kid and doing the same thing in similar situations. Of course, he never had a place like this back in the States, just carnivals and amusement parks. Looking around to see if anyone stood out he saw at least one familiar face. "Hey." He said, half as a greeting half in surprise of seeing Alisa in a place like this. She never seemed like the type of person that would enjoy large crowded places to him. Walking up besides her and the stranger she was talking to, hearing the word shadow in conversation, he sort of wiggled his way into their conversation. "What's up?"

[Ayakura Alisa]

I eyed Jonathon as he showed up all of a sudden, and greeted me as if completely ignoring the strange kid I was talking to though I'm pretty sure he knew what he was on. "Uh, just getting grilled by this guy here," I shrugged in response to Jonathon. "He asked me what I knew about Shadows, so I just told him what I knew. He seems to be concerned with their destruction and eradication, or something. It almost sounds like robot lingo to me." I tapped my foot again, crumpling my wrapper as I had already finished my hot dog by now. "What brings you here, anyway? You enjoying the scenery? It's a good time to kick back here sometimes when things just don't go your way. You know?" I was thinking that maybe now would be a good time to lighten up and get everyone to chill out a little. I guess.