Immaterial and Missing Power (Open to One)

[Nisha Dovickssen]

Nisha did not really like social gatherings. In truth, they were a bit of a headache. So many people were there, and, despite that, she typically stood out due to her height. She was a good head over most people. For a person that hated to stand out, being in a social environment meant going in complete opposition to her nature. After all, simply being there meant she drew attention. Not to mention that people typically had rather ridiculous first impressions based on her size or strength. It was pretty much always the case back home, and, with the majority of Asians being short, it kind of became a minor issue, even in the multi-cultural city.

And, despite all that, the silent giant went to the Valentine's festival, alone. Why was that? It was simple, really. Or it was to her. It was a gathering of the people in the city. The people there would be the very same ones she was fighting to protect on each and every trip to the Shadow-infested lands outside the circle. Call it strange, call it selfishness, but she wanted to watch those people. If nothing else, she wanted to observe them and remind herself of what she was using her accursed strength and the new power of Persona for. That, she believed, made the discomfort worth it.

The titan shifted off to the side, sitting on one of the benches as she watched the procession of people up and down the stairs and to and from the stalls. She was dressed simply enough. Jeans, tennis shoes, and a jacket, the first and last of which looked a bit snug on the woman's body. And they were. Most of her loose things were damaged in some way due to her fighting trips. She'd need to buy some more, she figured, once she had some extra personal money. She sighed slightly before sitting back and relaxing. People watching had never been a real hobby for her, but if it was on occasions like that, she could at least learn to like it.

[Layla Amare]

Layla didn't take much convincing to go to social gatherings in the first place. She was fine with crowds of most sizes so long as she didn't stand out too much, and they were chances to meet new people. That was more true now than ever. Between settling into a new city, schoolwork, and her regular forays into the outer circle to battle shadows and seek adventure (the last of which consuming so much time and energy that it might as well have been a job), she still didn't know all that many people in Mosaic City. So, even though she didn't have a date and would probably be surrounded by people who did, Layla had only known about the Valentine's festival for a few seconds before she had decided to go.

Everything about the place it was held seemed unusual to her. Rather than in some well-known place in town, it was held at a shrine up on the mountain. And speak of which, a Shinto shrine? Here? She had never expected to see one outside of Japan -- or at all, if she never visited Japan -- but here it was. And the shrine maiden hosting it (was she alone up here?) was drawing particular attention to the donation box as Layla signed in. Strange. But Layla figured that she could leave something. If not today, then on a later visit.

She had planned on dressing up for the event. She'd even planned on wearing one of the saris she had brought from home just for such an occasion. But after taking one look up the path leading up the mountain, she decided to forgo it for something warmer. And so she showed up in jeans, the thickest shoes and socks she owned, and a coat she'd bought upon arriving and realizing how much colder Mosaic City was than her home. As she walked onto the grounds of the shrine, shivering occasionally despite wearing the warmest things she owned, she knew that had been the right decision.

She glanced around the stalls set up for the festival, then at the people already present. Like she expected, not many of them had come alone. But she did spot a few who had. In particular, after a minute of taking in everyone she could pick out, her eyes fell on a tall, white-haired woman sitting on a bench well out of the way. Well, Layla figured, she would be less likely to be bothering someone sitting on their own than one of the couple scattered around if she tried to strike up a conversation. She smiled at the woman as she approached, asking "Hey, mind if I sit here?"

[Nisha Dovickssen]

Nisha had continued to gaze at the shifting of the masses as time passed. Young, old, boy, girl; people of all sorts were about, and there was no shortage of couples. Love, and youth, was in the air. These people were enjoying themselves. Though slight, there was indeed a smile that had crawled onto the woman's face. It was rejuvenating to watch those people go about the place, enjoying themselves. It really did remind her of what she was fighting for. It wasn't because of her father's almost-definite demise at the hands of Shadows. It wasn't because she nearly lost her life. It was just for these people- these normal, carefree people- that she took up the spear and battled for home and hearth.

It wasn't until movement that seemed out of place appeared that her smile faded. Someone was approaching. Some young lady, dark-skinned and slightly above the average Asian height, was walking towards her. Nisha wasn't good at gauging heights, but she was able to tell that the other was around a head or so shorter than her. That raised an entirely different question, though. Why was she approaching her? The dark-skinned girl was seemingly alone. If she were with someone, she'd likely have sought out an empty bench- which, of course, there were plenty of.

She couldn't think of any reason for a person to go out of their way to approach her, specifically. If she needed help, she would have likely been running, or at least showing some degree of haste. So, rather than assuming it was her, specifically, the woman believe it was a case of “whoever was available”. It wasn't bad, per se. It did leave her a bit nervous, though. Idle conversation was not her strong point. Even purposeful conversation was difficult, half the time, given her lack of sociability in recent years. And then the dark-skinned girl asked the question. Despite the fact that she had expected something along those lines, the woman's heart skipped a beat. It was something akin to the sensation a person still fairly new to the horror genre got when a particularly good jump scare occurred. Slowly, she shook her head. After initial eye contact, she lowered her gaze, keeping it somewhat to the ground. She couldn't really look forward or to the side without staring at some part of her. A curse of being tall. However, she had to be polite, at the same time. Simply shaking her head would not do.

”It's fine.” She verbally answered after some few moments of hesitation. Outside of work, shopping, or Yippa, those were the first words she had spoken in a while. And, just as quickly as they had started, they ended. Her voice was fairly high-pitched- enough so that it sounded almost odd coming from someone of her size. At the very least, it did make her seem younger than her bulk would have made her seem.

[Layla Amare]

The woman's response was rather unexpected. Layla wasn't sure what she actually was expecting -- a flat rejection, maybe -- but she had thought the white-haired woman would say more at least. A simple shake of the head and a short confirmation that it was fine. But that was fine. She didn't mind people who didn't say much. And if she couldn't her to converse a bit more...well, it would just be a quiet day. That or she would end up talking enough for the both of them. Either or. On top of that, though, what she did say was in a voice that didn't quite match her appearance. Layla had been expecting something a bit deeper. Or, at least, older-sounding. Instead, her voice was one Layla would imagine fitting someone around her own age.

"Thank you," she said, taking a seat on the bench next to the woman. Now that they were both sitting, she couldn't help but notice that the woman was quite a bit taller than she was. From that she suspected that the woman wasn't from in or around Mosaic City. Despite the diversity of cultures in the city, there was a majority of East Asian residents that included most of the people who were born there. Perhaps this woman was a bit like her then: someone who came to the city only shortly before it was closed off from the outside and who didn't know all that many people here yet.

"I didn't expect anyone to come to an event like this by themselves," Layla said. "Not that I have much room to talk, since I did the same thing." She laughed softly, but that laugh was quickly cut off by another shiver. It was even colder now that she wasn't climbing the mountain or otherwise moving around anymore. "I'm Layla, by the way. What's your name?"

[Nisha Dovickssen]

Words of gratitude were spoken by the dark-skinned girl. Then she sat down next to Nisha. At that point, the difference in height was a bit more obvious. The woman honestly hoped nothing bad would happen. Even if it was because she was likely the only person around that was alone, she reflexively thought that all people approached her for some negative reason or another. It was probably a detrimental complex, but there was little the woman could do about it, she figured, not with the way she was.

The girl commented on the fact that Nisha was alone. She then went on to admit that she had come without a partner, as well. So the girl was lonely, or at least looking for fellowship. Her laugther was cut off by what seemed to be a shiver. She was likely from the south- either the middle east or Africa. Nisha could have offered her jacket, but the shirt underneath was even more snug. It would have been embarrassing, really. And then, Layla gave her name. She wasn't entirely sure of what region a name like that would produce, though. She wasn't a linguistic expert. Most of the books she read outside of what was mandatory in school, was either fiction or something regarding the care of animals. Occasionally art books, but that was a rare deal. Still, she needed to respond. And, if she was being sought as a social partner, she needed to say something else. But what, exactly? She wasn't sure, and her pulse sped up in response.

"Nisha." Came her response to the question. Her gaze had slowly risen after the girl had come to sit. She was staring ahead at the people having fun. If she focused on them, she could probably relax. "It's a. . . pleasure to meet you." She added after a moment, pausing mid-way as she tried to think of the formalities. Of course, in the process of speaking, her voice cracked a little. Her throat was just a little tight. As was her chest. She needed to relax, but, if she asked a question, it'd likely be too forward or rude.

. . . talking to a fox was much easier.

[Layla Amare]

Nisha, was it? Layla had known a Nisha before. Three, actually. It wasn't the most common of names, even back home, but Bangalore was a big city. This woman didn't seem to be from that area, though. She looked to be from somewhere farther north. Russian, maybe? Probably not. Her accent was entirely unfamiliar to Layla. It didn't help that, for all of her linguistic skills, she wasn't all that familiar with anything outside of Asia, English aside.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Nisha," Layla answered, smiling. The woman, she noted, seemed to have a bit of trouble speaking. Or, if not that, then trouble conversing at least. It was as though she wasn't used to it. And perhaps she wasn't. Layla couldn't imagine not talking so much that she had trouble with it, herself. And people like that were quite a bit harder to carry on a conversation with that than those more willing to respond in kind, but so long as this woman wasn't driving her off she was still going to try.

She leaned back, resting one arm on the back of the bench. "So, if you're not sharing a special day with someone, what brings you out here?" she chanced. It was, at best, just a conversation starter, but Nisha wasn't giving her much to go on. She'd have to find some common point between them to take it much farther.

[Nisha Dovickssen]

Layla returned the formalities. It was odd hearing people other than coworkers call her by name. Even then, coworkers seldom called for her- so it was altogether odd for her to hear herself being referred to directly. It was somewhat nice. When the girl went on, after a pause, to ask her what she was doing, the woman remained silent. The silence went on for a few seconds, as though she were not going to answer. In truth, though, she was trying to think of how to phrase it. She didn't mind that this person essentially came just because she was lonely and sought out a social partner that was alone. Not anymore, at least. People were free to do as they desired, and she had yet to be rude. If anything, Nisha had been rude up to that point. Slowly, the woman sat straight.

”I wanted to watch people while they were having fun.” How much could she say? What could she explain? There was a fine line the woman had to not cross. Anything unnecessary might have led to her leaking the secrets of the city. She was fighting to protect those people- that happiness- and letting someone get hurt because of her stupidity would have been more than just regrettable. So how could she explain it while remaining well within the safe boundaries? That was the biggest issue. She wasn't some genius, but she knew her words would have consequences.

”It reminds me what I'm working for.” She finally said. She almost said “fighting for”, but she caught herself. Truthfully, she could play “working for” off in a number of ways. Being in construction meant occasionally building homes. Homes made people happy. So, if pressed for an explanation, she at least had an evacuation policy. But, the good news was that, since she answered, she could just return the question without sounding rude or odd!

”What. . . about you?” Despite the clarity in her voice while she answered the question, the woman had slipped right back into a sense of broken speaking when asking her own question. Whether it was awkwardness with questioning or a sign of how serious she had taken her work was ultimately up for debate, though.

[Layla Amare]

A few seconds passed before Nisha answered. Layla wondered, in those few seconds, if she was just not going to answer. Had she said something wrong? Or...no. Nisha did finally answer. To watch people while they were having fun...well, that was one thing to come to this festival for. Most of the people there, or at least the ones who were up and about rather than sitting on the sidelines, certainly looked like they were having fun. Whether they were playing games or eating cotton candy or even just standing around and chatting, almost everyone had a smile on their face. The rest of what Nisha said, about what she was working for, sounded strange. Or, at least, would probably have sounded strange to a normal person. Was she...no, best not to jump to conclusions like that. Nisha turned the question around and asked it right back at Layla, but Layla's thoughts remained on her response for just a little longer.

"While they're having fun...that's a nice thought," she responded. "Although, wouldn't you rather be having fun too?" She then thought about her own response. How she should word it, how much detail she should give.  She put a finger to her chin as she thought, while her eyes lingered on people moving between the various stalls.  In the end she decided to just go with something simple. "Hmm, I guess it's because I wanted to meet new people," she answered. "My life's been pretty crazy lately, so I haven't had time to just get out and meet people. So with the festival going on I thought now would be a good time to just take a break and do that. Plus, I like festivals, so it's win-win."  There.  That would be non-indicative enough to sound normal.  She had, after all, still had a hectic time settling into the new city and starting college, even before the blockade went up.  If she was questioned on it she could just fall back on that, if she had to.

[Nisha Dovickssen]

It seemed that the girl had her own designs for coming. She liked festivals. That was all well and good, but sitting out and watching the masses. . . did that really cover it for her? Well, her other purpose for coming- meeting people- seemed to have come to fruition, at least. Nisha was not a socially savvy butterfly. She would never delude herself to think that that was the case, either. But she was somebody. If nothing else, she at least helped Layla with that part. Even if it was something as minor as that, just her existing satiated another's desires. That was enough to bring a very slight smile to the woman's face. Still, it did seem that many people had stressful circumstances. It was no surprise, considering that many did not even live in that half of Mosaic when the lockdown occurred. Some people, like Nisha, had not even lived in Mosaic at all. So, if nothing else, she could sympathize with the girl.

”Fun is. . . an indeterminable quality.” She went back to the girl's question after a little while. ”It's something. . . that varies from person to person. Similar to. . . tastes, maybe.” Pleased with her comparison, she slowly nodded. ”I am content. . . just watching them for now.” And, truly, when she smiled, it was a pure smile. Sure, some things would have been better with friends, but it was just dangerous for her to get involved with others. If she became too comfortable with people, she'd slip up. She'd hurt those friends because of her freakish strength.

”Besides, the stalls. . . cost money. My budget is a little. . . limited right now.” She never bothered negotiating her wages. She figured her superiors paid her appropriately. And it did feed her, Yippa, and provide clothes for her. The occasional book was a luxury, but she did obtain them on occasion. There was plenty that could be improved, sure. But she was comfortable with her lot for the time being.

[Layla Amare]

Layla's words, it seemed, had brought a smile to the other woman's face. A real smile, even. That was something Layla had an easy time telling. What she said was...well, it didn't surprise Layla at least. While Nisha looked like a more outgoing type -- in fact, based on her height and build Layla could put quite a few stereotypes on her that that were probably off-base -- she seemed much more introverted. So it wasn't too unusual that watching people seemed fun to her. While Layla would much rather be interacting with people and being more engaged, she could imagine that much, at least.

Her last point, though... "Well, I do have a bit of money to spare at the moment," she said. While she had been hesitant at first, regularly selling off junk she had gathered in the outer circle had been surprisingly fruitful. "Maybe I could pay for something. Is there anything you wanted to do? Or eat?" Her own thoughts drifted back to the cotton candy stand. It was only recently that she learned of the existence of such a treat. She had been curious ever since, but never able to get over the fact that it looked like something that would be spun and woven into fabric. But that was just one idea. She'd let Nisha answer first.

[Nisha Dovickssen]

It was seldom that a person would willingly offer to do something that would include spending money for another person. Rarer still was such an action when the person in question did not like the subject. Finally, Nisha had never observed a case in which a stranger would offer to spend money on another. Such an action was kind. Beyond kind. It was ridiculously kind. As hypocritical as it was, considering that she was the sort that would give to others, should she have had the extra, she could not find herself agreeing with the idea of accepting another's kindness like that. Stranger or no, Nisha was not one to indulge in favors given by others. She would desire to repay them, typically in excess, and that was both a hard and dangerous thing to do. Still, she placed her hands together for a moment and closed her eyes. Before rejecting the kind offer, she hoped that something would repay Layla for her generous spirit. Nisha didn't believe in gods, but if she wished and hoped for it enough, perhaps a star of fortune would shine on the girl. Then, content with her effort, she finally looked over to the girl.

Well, for a moment. Her gaze averted after a few seconds. Maintaining eye contact was difficult.

”I greatly. . . appreciate your concern. However, I cannot. . . accept your kindness.” For a moment, she paused. How was she to explain? Simply saying “No” was rude. ”I cannot repay you. . . and I believe you should try to . . . enjoy the festival with your money.” Slowly, she nodded. Her smile persisted anew. ”The fact that. . . you even went so far. . . as to offer it was enough.” Her eyes closed before she straightened her neck. When she opened her eyes again to gaze at the crowds, she could feel herself relaxing.

”You're a nice. . . person. I hope. . . that fortune smiles upon you.” And those were her honest feelings. There would always be evil people, but they were victims of circumstance. Plenty would be concerned with only their own well-being. Those that would give to others, no matter how small, really did need blessings.

[Layla Amare]

Again, it took Nisha awhile to answer. Again, Layla wondered if she had managed to say something wrong. But then, Nisha put her hands together and closed her eyes in a gesture that Layla recognized as...praying? Then finally she met her eyes, if only for a moment, and answered her. Layla could understand her reasoning, even if that hadn't been what she had intended by it. So long as she could make someone happy with what she did, she didn't need to be repaid. Even if she could ask for any payment in return, no one would be able to guarantee her a long and happy life. So that happiness was repayment enough.

"It's fine. You wouldn't have to repay me," Layla said. "But I understand. And..." The last thing Nisha had said, about fortune smiling on her...maybe it was simple well-wishing, but Layla still smiled again when she heard it. Closing her eyes, she added "Thanks. But I think it already has." Maybe she hadn't deserved it. Either to die, or to be able to continue living instead. But it was because of that that she lived the way she did now: always striving to find happiness in everything from thrilling battles against tank-like shadows to just talking to someone sitting by themselves at a festival. Whether it was the work of a god, of something else entirely, or nothing at all, that was fortune in Layla's eyes.

[Nisha Dovickssen]

It seemed that Layla was in roughly the same position as Nisha in regards to exchanges. While it was fine to give, receiving was the issue. Still, there wasn't any particular wrong in such a mentality. If more people were like her, like Layla, then getting along with others might have been easier. She wouldn't have to constantly worry that “friends” were just there to use her presence for protection, or to antagonize her for her differences. The woman had plenty of experience with that as a child. She doubted that it had changed much since then. People. . . were pretty disappointing when they had the chance to display themselves as such. Of course, at the same time, there were people like Layla, who immediately redeemed the image with a few simple acts of kindness.

There was always light in the darkness; one just had to look for it.

”Then I guess. . . we're both fine with. . . remaining here.” She concluded after a moment. That was her own acceptance of the girl. Nisha never really had any say in whether or not Layla could come and sit, but, at that point, the woman was at least comfortable with her presence. Her initial doubts had all been vanished. She actually felt a little bad for having felt that way, but it was a happy guilt, as opposed a negative one. She went silent for a short time, but it was not an awkward silence. She was enjoying the other girl's presence. It was a peaceful silence.

”We may be. . . the oddest people here.” She did note eventually. Despite her choice of words, though, it was obviously not a negative idea. The smile that curled the gentle giant's lips was evidence enough of that.

[Layla Amare]

Silence, again. But Layla could tell that it was okay, now. Nisha was smiling, and the air between them didn't feel awkward anymore. This silence was just that. Silence. Eventually, Nisha did speak again, proclaiming the two of them to be the oddest people there. Layla couldn't deny the possibility. While everyone else was up and about, enjoying the festival, here the two of them were, sitting on the sidelines and being perfectly fine with that. Individually probably wasn't too different of a story. Nisha...well, Layla didn't have much to go on there. She seemed normal enough. Introverted, taller than any woman Layla had ever met, and possibly stronger as well, sure, but she still didn't actually know where Nisha was from. Maybe that was normal there.

"I don't know. You don't seem that odd," Layla said. "But, maybe we are. And that's fine." She certainly wouldn't deny her own oddity, at least. Between her condition, her lifestyle, and her Persona abilities, there was very little normal about her. But that, too, was fine. It made it much harder to fall into the stagnation that she hated so much.