solnet | [Video]/From Ken Amada's phone

[The video flickers on to Minako's gaunt smile. She's hiding her discomfort as well as she can, but you can tell just by looking at her that she's not in good shape. Dark circles under her eyes, bloodshot, a little thin and rumpled. But she's alive. And she's flesh and blood. She's sitting in bed.]

Hi everyone! This is mostly for those of you that know me already. I think there should be a bunch of newbies here now too... anyway.

My phone seems to be missing, so I'm posing from Ken-kun's, since he found me and was kind enough to drag me back to my room.

[She turns the phone to show him for a moment.]

I'm sorry for my absence, and for those of you who saw what was... left of me, in that absence, I am doubly sorry. I let my guard down for just a moment, and that was a moment too long. The Queen got a hold of me and played me like a puppet.

I managed to get free of her hold, somehow. So here I am! I'll be honest, I've been in better shape, but I'll be okay soon enough.

I'm in my room if you need to see me, or you can reply to this. Ken-kun will let me know.

[She smiles again, clearly tired just from the effort of talking.]

Love you all.

She still needs to recover, so don’t crowd her. Okay?

[Ken leans in and gives the camera a serious look, and the feed cuts.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

S-seriously!? But you're so--

[ He cut himself off before he could say "tiny". The kid had been pretty bratty about his height back then, and he was nearing to towering over him. He couldn't even imagine how he would be about it as a tiny kid. ]

Ah... I'm Tohru Adachi; I'm part of the Persona users from Inaba. I... well, you will meet us all, eventually. Or... well, some version of us.

[ This timeline stuff was getting a little annoying. ]

I've got multiple Personas at my disposal, but they've been feeling weird since I got here. I could give healing a try, but if you've already tried... you're probably right; I might not be able to do much.

[That name. He knows that name. He's heard of this person. His eyes widen, and he curls his hands into fists.]

N... not in some worlds, you're not. Maybe you're - I know people are different in different worlds, but stay away from her! I won't let you hurt her!

H-hunh?

[ Well, that wasn't a reaction he was expecting. Adachi pouted slightly, rubbing at the back of his neck. ]

Why would I do that? I'm not that kind of guy...

Because, at least in some versions of the world that Yu and his friends came from, Tohru Adachi is the name of the one who killed all those people.

So I don't think that trusting you right now is a good idea.

[ Adachi stared, taking a moment to figure out who he meant by "Yu". He let out a sigh at that, reaching up to scratch at the back of his head as he bowed it slightly. ]

...yeah, I know. Different worlds, different timelines in those worlds.

[ He lifted his head back up then, an earnest expression on his face. ]

But honest, I'm from a world where I lead the Investigation Team for the murders in Inaba. How can I prove it to you?

[Minako hears the shouting, the tone in Ken's voice. She can't hear Adachi as well, but just from Ken's side this sounds like a mess. She lifts herself up on her elbows again, reaching to brush her fingertips on his shoulder.]

Hey, what's wrong? Who is that? Adachi...?

[She doesn't know that name, or Yu, but of course Ken knows many people from his travels that she doesn't know.]

... I don't know. Whatever it is, we're not dealing with it now. I have Diaharan, so I can heal her again if she needs it. But stay away from her for now.

[Just gonna... shuffle over to block Minako from the shot.]

[ Adachi blinked when she came into view again, a worried look crossing his face. She really did not look good, and if he could get around her bitty protector and give it a try with one of his Persona... ]

Look, I've got Personas that have better than t--

[ He cut himself off, before letting out a sigh. Yeah, he wasn't winning this one, was he? Dammit... stupid multiverse; his expression dropped then. ]

...all right, fine. You'll see I'm not like the other 'mes' out there eventually.

Really, Ken, what has you so worried? Do you know this guy?

[If there's someone here Ken met at the Tower, or somewhere else that's trouble, she would rather know about it! She sits up and follows Ken's shuffling to try to look at the screen. As if that would actually tell her anything.]

[Minako please, he's trying to protect you -]

Sort of. I know the Investigation Team. They use Persona, and they solved the murders that he - or a version of him - committed.

Yeah, emphasis on version of me.

[ Adachi paused then; if this younger Amada-kun knew this other IT, then... well, he had to know how they all summoned their Personas, right? And not with a freaking gun to their heads either. ]

[ He held the phone back a bit, holding his right hand in view of the camera. ]

Look, if I were that other me, would I have this?

[ The Fool flared to life above his hand then, just waiting to be crushed. Instead he held it there, hoping they could get a good look over the camera feed. ]

[You're fussing, Ken!!! But she understands his defensiveness, considering what he's been through. She will take the time to judge this Adachi fellow for herself, if she can, but maybe once she's more mobile.]

Other persona-users? Solving murders, huh?

[Now that's interesting. She will want Ken to tell her more about that.

Mmm, very defensive, mister. But she doesn't hold on to that thought long, suddenly utterly fascinated with the glowing tarot card above his hand. She peers in closer to the screen, over Ken's shoulder.]

Woah...

... I know he had a Persona, too. So no, that doesn't convince me.

[But he settles back a bit, because there's nothing he can do to them over the video feed.]

We can have this conversation later. Minako-san's in no condition to have this sort of talk. She needs to go to sleep.

[He glances at her pointedly. He will take this phone away if he has to.]

Edited 2016-08-08 22:29 (UTC)

[ Adachi made a face, tempted to point out that he doubted an evil version of him would have a Fool Arcana, but he thought better of it. Besides, he better figure out what was up with how weird his powers felt anwyay. With that kid practically guarding her like a hawk, going over there and coming up empty in the Persona wouldn't do him any good. ]

All right.

[ He tried to glance around him toward her. ]

Hey, don't let him bully you around, but rest up, okay?

[S i g h. As much as Minako wants to sate her curiosity, the boys are right. She needs to rest this off. She feels sort of sick just from getting worked up and sitting up. Papa bear Ken strikes again.]

Yeah, okay, you're right.

[She rests her chin on Ken's shoulder for a moment to address Adachi.]

He's takin good care of me! I need it, really.

[And then she waves and disappears from view to flop back into bed.]

[Video]/From Ken Amada's phone

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]/[Action]

[Video]/[Action]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]