Aftermath (Sharaku)

Subject: Aftermath (Sharaku) Mon Mar 16, 2015 4:37 pm

What happened there...? All Rita could remember, really, was being blasted with some attacks and blacking out. The fight seemed to be over now, as she opened her eyes, at least, so that was good... did Sharaku escape like Nero advised? Rita's Persona, having been there, nodded in her mind, putting the silvernette's mind at ease that they were both safe. God... that was not good. That was not good at all. Was this how fights went along during the latter parts of a dungeon...? Horrifying... Sraosha didn't seem to be too keen on appearing this time either, which was... discomforting. Well... guess the only thing new from this run was a pebble. Great.

"Ugh... well, that went terrifically. Guess we're S.O.L. now. No idea how to get to the damn Angel without running into some shit like that... how annoying..."

Growling into the air for maybe Sharaku to hear, Rita slowly got up, holding her side before turning away and coughing painfully. God, it hurt... she'd recover, but it still hurt, dammit! She needed to bear with it for now. It was damn painful, but nothing a good rest couldn't heal. After all, she just got KOed, right? Nothing physical, so her mind would recover. That was just its nature, right?

"Dammit... I'll speak with Angela about this again. This Sraosha chick is too damn mysterious." Rita scowled and turned over to where Sharaku should be at the moment, wherever it was. "I won't bother you with useless endeavors unless I know exactly what I'm doing next time... sorry..." The silvernette narrowed her eyes painfully. She regretted ever trying this... the damn Angel was just... jerkish. Maybe she could actually get a definite hint on how to get to her later... for now, though, she'd let herself drop onto the ground, leaning onto the wall as she stared at the Sun that was no more. The radiant Moon took the sky now. How long had they been there? Only God knows, she guessed...

Subject: Re: Aftermath (Sharaku) Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:12 pm

This was really not funny. Sharaku had not expected those Shadows to be pushovers, but this was a little uncalled for. Well, he hadn't been having that much trouble yet, but he couldn't fight them off alone with Rita out cold. It was a bit surprising, seeing as she had seemed quite confident about continuing the search, despite him saying that it would most likely just keep getting more dangerous, the more they wandered around like lost sheep. This wasn't really a picturesque finish.

''I don't think there is a way to avoid the Shadows for very long. Unless the Angel responds to a specific action we need to do, instead of us simply looking around for her.'', he'd state passively, looking over at her as she spoke up after coming to. He was annoyed about how this went, but not enough to get all disstressed and growl over it. After all the time they've spent walking in circles with no palpable result, he sort of already expected something to blow up. Staying inside for too long always proved to be draining, and with strong enemies on top of it, the equation only got more complicated. He would keep gazing at her, throwing the rock in his hand up and down to pass time. ''I assume she didn't tell you this much the last time you asked, right? Why would she reveal more information now? From that one time I've met her, her method strikes me as 'I'll tell you the basic gist, and you go waste time figuring out all the rest on your own'.'' Which made little sense with the possible time limit set upon them. Did she want them to prevail, or fail because they took too long to solve the whole 'hiding Angels' issue? Maybe it'd be better to just make a move of their own, but did they have a chance against a God without any back up? That was the question here. Thesis seemed to be powerful, even on a glance.

He would shrug vaguely when she went to say sorry. ''That may never happen. No one seems keen on giving us solid information. I do not really care. I'm used to things not working out at all. I just do not enjoy the prospect.'' To be honest, if she were to not bother him unless she knew for sure...then maybe she wouldn't have to bother him at all. There was no certainty, that she would ever know enough to state anything for sure. In any case, he would keep standing not too far from her sitting place, still playing around with the piece of gravel, or whatever it was.

Subject: Re: Aftermath (Sharaku) Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:28 pm

The Angels were mysterious in their own right, but something about Sraosha was... off to her. Why show herself before? Or rather, why give signs of her presence? It didn't make sense, like, at all. What was the point? To just tease them? She must know perfectly well that Angela has told them the information and if not... then how come? There was still so much to discover... were they meant to brave the battles forever and ever to find an answer? How stupid was that?!

"I'm guessing it's the latter. What, though? Sraosha... I'm gonna do some research myself on this Angel. Who knows? There may be something on the internet. After all, I even found stuff about Personas, Philemon, Nyarlathotep... dunno how much of it is true, but it's there, so maybe this is as well." She'd sigh slightly, still holding her side. That was where she was pierced by the pillar of earth, right? Ouch... that didn't feel good. It was actually most likely because of that attack that she fell unconscious... not a good thing to think about. Maybe she'll try and keep away slightly more... maybe.

"That... I dunno. She seemed really eager to tell me about Sraosha when I told her about that first time we went in, so maybe? Best case scenario, I get a hint... I won't make you come along to investigate that, though, if I even want to do so." What Sharaku said rung true, Angela's methods seemed very... back-asswards to Rita. They didn't make much sense... was she there to help or give them a brain teaser? God.

"True. That's why I said it. I'll try to keep you informed about this case, though, it's everyone's concern, after all." After that, Rita slowly got up and started stretching slightly, glancing at her MP3 player... it was late. And, wait, where did her earbuds go? Great, just great. Looking near the sand where she landed, Rita found a pair of dark red circle things and immediately scowled.

"Well, whatever. Better my life than these things." She took hold of the earbuds and tossed them into her shorts' pocket. Maybe the store covered sand damage or something and she could pass it off as that. "Dammit... knowing I still have to train tonight makes me squirm..." It was true. Her training needed to be kept every day so missing it because of this... shouldn't be an option. Rita could do it, no problem, it was easy... or so she hoped. Agh... she couldn't wait to just return to bed for tonight... tomorrow was kind of an important day.

Subject: Re: Aftermath (Sharaku) Mon Mar 16, 2015 7:24 pm

The internet? Sharaku wouldn't bet on that if it were him. The Angel gave them vague info in the first place. If it was on the net, then they wouldn't need to play this game at all. That easy? Doubtful. Anything found there, was probably just a speculation, based on people's beliefs, but most likely nothing specific. Unless someone with actual knowledge chose to share worldwide. Which would be strange. ''I wouldn't bet on that option at all, but if you really want to try. If internet was the solution, then there would be no reason for the Angels to play a guessing game with us.'' That's what he thought at least. Internet was full of useless information.

At her next words, he would frown a little. ''Assuming you do get a hint...then what?'', he would give her a questioning glance. ''In case you mean you'll go prowling on your own...what will you do if the scenario from today repeats itself? There wouldn't be anyone to haul you out. Are you ready to die in case things go wrong for you, and you're alone?'' A sound idea..to take it only on her own expense, yet risky when she had the possibility to take someone as a back up. She could die that way after all, and he doubted she liked the idea.

He would watch her look for her equipment silently, not commenting on that. Yes, it would be lame in case she cared about a piece of electronics more than her own life. Though, the following words caught his attention a bit more. ''Train? Wasn't this enough for you today? Overworking yourself isn't the smartest solution either. What kind of training do you mean anyway?'' Wasn't the fighting they've done enough to pass for training? Guess it depended on what she had in mind, but still........

Subject: Re: Aftermath (Sharaku) Tue Mar 17, 2015 7:07 am

It was true that the internet wasn't going to give her all information on this... but if it could help, she wouldn't pass it up. Really, who said that these Angels hadn't been seen before? Hell, even some religions of old could be based around them. You never knew what would come up, it was always worth it to search. Thinking that, Rita would shrug at Sharaku's comment.

"Well, I'm not betting on it either, I'm just using all my resources. When faced with a mystery, you don't pull your punches, that's what my brother taught me." Her brother was a detective and she knew him better than anyone else, as well as his methods. He was sneaky, yet smart, witty, but serious. He could be the best big brother or the worst at a turn of the hat... but she trusted him. If his advice could apply to a situation, then she'd follow it.

"How should I know? Depends on the hint, I guess." Rita's face turned emotionless quickly, displeased. "I'm not dumb enough to rush in on my own." After that, she'd keep her words inside, not wanting to say anything else. Going in alone... was an option, but she wouldn't stay too long and risk another unfortunate event like this one. Rita was rash and hot-headed, but not an idiot. She knew exactly what to do in case she absolutely had to go alone.

Rita'd narrow her eyes, leaning backwards onto the cliff wall. "If I don't train, I'll become weak again. I need to work out physically and practice my moves every day, constantly." The silvernette would sigh, cursing her nature itself. If only this small variable wasn't ticked, then she wouldn't need to worry people... it sucked, but if she didn't do this... there was no way she was going to protect anyone.

"I have albinism, Sharaku, or at least partially. If I don't train every single day, I won't be able to maintain my body. I'm used to it, though... it's just another event for me." She'd put on a wry smile, almost as if in self-mockery. Rita didn't like it, that much was obvious, but she needed to do it. She steeled her body as much as possible, developed it to be greater than normal, even with a deficiency... if she were to give it up, then it would all go to waste. She looked normal, acted normal, and was normal, but she needed to overwork herself to do it... what a load of bull.

Subject: Re: Aftermath (Sharaku) Tue Mar 17, 2015 5:57 pm

Well yes, generally speaking, she was right. Using everything you have at your disposal was the smarter way. Sharaku was just simply skeptical about the relevance of anything that could be found on the net, that was all. Things as such could be incredibly misleading, knowing how people liked making up untrue stories on the web. ''As they say, leave no stone unturned. I get where you come from, I'm just skeptical about the usefulness of internet. People love to, excuse my French, make up bullshit there at times. But I suppose trying won't hurt.'' As long as she didn't latch onto a complete stupidity, which he doubted she would, it probably mattered little in the end.

He would give her an indifferent shrug. ''You're the one who said that you wouldn't make me come with you. Would you grab someone else then, if not going alone..? Either way, I don't particularly mind going, despite it probably seeming that way.'' He sounded annoyed, and he in a way was, but that did not mean he would sit things out because of it. That was normal for him. Most people couldn't claim to have seen him cheerful and happy for real, no matter the situation on hand.

Frowning a little, he would scratch at the back of his head. ''I see. Still, would one single day make that big of a difference? If you keep at it constantly in the following days, would it set you back that badly?'' He knew what that condition was, sort of. Not in completel detail, but enough to get her point. And it was obvious enough with her pretty much colorless hair and red eyes, when taking a second glance. Still, was catching up on one single missed day didn't sound like a terribly hard task in his mind. A few days in a row, sure, but only one? Though, he didn't miss her slight distaste on that. ''Hm. On that note, why not do it in a more fun way? Doesn't it get boring when you do the same kind of excercise every day.'' He would think for a moment, closing his eyes.

''Say, maybe I can help you with that? We don't have much to do here, and if you really insist on training, maybe we could do something? I'm not against some physical activity.'' That actually sounded better than standing around. He was never a fan of that.

Subject: Re: Aftermath (Sharaku) Tue Mar 17, 2015 8:18 pm

"Hey, no harm taken. I swore before without excusing myself so nothing much to hear it from you. Though, I suppose you're right. That said, I'm not going on a random goose chase just because some guy on the internet posted something. I'll make sure to check facts about my results with Angela before actually going at'em." She'd shrug lightly, slightly pensive. Research was research and, some times, you turned over false statements. It was nothing new, it happened, so why make it a big deal? With a way to check the legitimacy of facts so available to them, filtering bullshit should not be a worry.

"I honestly don't know. If I can, I'd prefer to go in alone for just a few minutes or so. I wouldn't go too far in, obviously, probably just one fight and then leave... nothing wrong with that, right?" Rita played a bit with the sand, letting it slip through her fingers as she sat down, then sighed deeply. "I can't risk my life on foolish endeavors, not now... I have someone I need to come back to. I was careless this time around... I won't make the same mistake again. There's someone I love dearly... and I really, really can't let her down. Just... I know what I need to do... I'm not going to do any more stupid shit like today again..." Rita tilted her head forward, obstructing view to her eyes and newfound frown. She wasn't happy with this result, and the only reward seemed to be something like a mockery to the entire run... and the ending only seemed to fund her idea further. God... that was just awful.

"It starts with a single day, then I decide I'm still unwell and skip another, then another and, once I know it, I've gotten into the habit of skipping out on training. Really, skipping is not an option, whatever the case." When it came to her training, Rita would let no leeway appear. It was train or nothing. She couldn't lose to her body, not again. She had been weak before, and that was not going to be her destiny once again...

"What do you mean? I do vary from time to time, but the basics moves need to be trained daily, or else I'll rust at them..." Rita would ponder for a moment before Sharaku spoke up, her eyes shooting back at him in surprise. "Ummm... really? I can't say I'd mind, but with what? My training sessions involve shinai... and actual padded gear, so I don't end up hurting myself accidentally. It's a shame I don't have a side room anymore, but I'm not shirking on security for the sake of activity... if you want, though, we can both run through the warm-ups, I guess..." It was obvious that she felt uncomfortable, and rightfully so. Rita never had a training partner. Literally. Not even her brother trained with her, he taught her. She always trained on her own, no matter the case, and it was fine like that... so it was honestly extremely weird for her to suddenly get a request like that.

Subject: Re: Aftermath (Sharaku) Tue Mar 17, 2015 9:35 pm

''I just prefer not to swear normally.'' Sharaku would quirk a laidback smile. He rarely did, therefore, it felt weird at times, unless he was riled up enough to say such without thinking. In which case, he wouldn't bother apologizing, seeing as it wouldn't even come to mind. ''That notwithstanding, I guess I should say good luck. I probably wouldn't be patient enough to read through loads of false leads to find something on the net.'' He would just get unneccesarilly irritated in case he were to try. Some things were simply painful to even read.

He would smile weakly when she explaned her reasons for not wanting to be careless. ''Good for you. At least you have a solid reason to come back.'' She was better on that than he was. He couldn't truly claim that. Sure, he hung out with plenty of people, but he wasn't that close to anyone. For reasons. Love was too strong a word for him, and it would probably take something big for him to seriously consider being extremely careful just to not let someone down. It was simply hard for him to think on such lines, just as well as act on it. ''So you like to procastinate then? Not that I really get the idea anyway.'', he would shrug lightly. ''If you can force yourself to not stop for a single day...what is the difference between that and forcing yourself to keep going after a one day break? If you can do one, the other is similar. Maybe it's just me, but it strikes me as similar.'' That was his kind of logic, at least. If she could be lazy enough to keep not doing it, then she would be the same in a normal scenario as well, and not do it properly either way. By that logic, continuing shouldn't pose a big problem, seeing as she was adept at keeping the daily routine. There was no way she kept at it even when she was seriously sick, was there?

Hm. ''I mean...that doing it over and over on your own could get boring, even if you vary here and there.'' Wouldn't it? There were only so many variations one could apply, and doing it everyday was simply repetitive. He would blink at her following explanation. ''I could work with that. Unless you have a different idea, but I don't think you'd be up to anything fight related as it is now.'' To be honest, he didn't really mind what, as long as it passed time. Simple talk wasn't entertaining in a long run.

Subject: Re: Aftermath (Sharaku) Wed Mar 18, 2015 1:19 pm

"That's what I expected. You never looked to me like the type to swear." Rita shrugged nonchalantly, not quite in the know about what to say. It was true that she'd probably need to swim through a lot of made-up stuff, but hey, how bad could it be? "You may not be, but I am actually interested in that stuff. If there's something tying any Angel to a mythology of some kind, even if it's just small stuff, it's worth a try. To be honest, I probably won't search on random sites, just historical records and stuff... whatever the case, I'll make sure everything I can report after this is true, so no worries there." She really wasn't all that keen on getting annoyed over the internet. Sure, it could be slightly frustrating, but Rita cared not for things that didn't affect her real life. It was just her nature.

Rita frowned deeper at Sharaku's comment, embarrassed by saying that before. "Everyone should have. Even if you don't have someone you love... you have people that love you. If someone I cared about went off and died, even if they didn't feel the same way about me, I'd be devastated." It was honestly discomforting thinking about this. Rita never liked speaking about death, much less hers or her close ones'. It was just... very, very off-putting. She had a reason to come back, sure, but it wasn't the only one.

"Does anyone? I hate procrastinating, but, nonetheless, I end up doing it. Besides, keeping your momentum is easier than picking it back up, that's just physics, and it applies to your will as well. If I stop, I'll have a break in activity, and lose my momentum. To get it back, I need a lot more effort than I would have needed to keep it going. Does that make sense?" Rita inquired with a raised brow, wondering Sharaku's logic for herself. Sure, the situations seemed similar but, in the end, that was their nature. It was ninth grade physics, simple stuff, but it ended up applying to this as well...

"What else would I do? I don't practice any known style, so I doubt that most partners would be keen on training with me. I mean... I can practice kendo normally and fencing slightly, but that's all. The way I vary my training is by adding more moves to my own style, it's all there is to it." The silvernette grew a bit more pensive over this, showing her furrowed brow fully now. It was still uncomfortable for her to suddenly have someone offer to be her partner... it was just... weird.

"Well... fine. If you don't feel too tired after that run, sure... I guess I can push you around for a while." Saying that, Rita slowly got up, still holding one hand to her side in pain. It felt like it was bleeding, but it wasn't... it felt numb, like a hole had been blown through her, but her body was there. God damn it... Magic was terrifying... how in the hell did Nero even heal these wounds? Well, whatever, Nero wasn't here right now, so she'd just have to deal with it. Ugh... it hurts...

Subject: Re: Aftermath (Sharaku) Wed Mar 18, 2015 3:23 pm

Didn't look it, eh? ''I do when something irritates me too much.'' He just found that it usually helped none anyway. Sharaku would snort lightly. ''Good for you then. I kind of have enough of the supernatural as it is, therefore I don't feel the need to search for it even on the internet. I already have it 24/7 without additionally looking for it.'' He would comment with a laid back tone. Not that the idea wasn't interesting in general, but he kind of had enough at times. Couldn't things be normal for a short while? Well. He didn't really have a choice there.

''I wish it were always that easy.'', he would state simply, with an airy tone, looking somewhere off to the side. He wasn't really comfortable with a talk that spelled love out too much. He honestly questioned where he stood with some people once in a while. Besides, people die everyday. It has to happen eventually, sooner or later. He wasn't always sure how much of a reason he had, with everything that was in play. Life wasn't very fun most of the time.

''Physics? I'm not really good at that.'', he would shrug vaguely. He barely remembered anything from that stuff. ''Maybe I defy them then. It does make sense, but I honestly don't care. If I want to do something, I do it, whether I skipped last time or not. I don't see a big difference there, but that might be just me.'' She had a point, yes, but it probably depended on the person. He wouldn't truly give a damn. Besides, doing it when feeling bad just to avoid breaking momentum would most likely make him bitter about the activity. Talk about a turn off. ''Keeping to rules is boring either way. Not that I know any specific fighting style myself. I find it easier to just avoid getting knocked in by something. Don't need to even fight when they can't hit you well.'' He wasn't really phazed by Rita's discomfort right now. It's not like what was being done mattered him. To say the truth, he'd rather spend his time annoying the opponent somehow than actually go and punch them in the face literally.

''Push me around..? In what context?'' He would blink a few times, unsure of what she meant by that. It could mean several things.

Subject: Re: Aftermath (Sharaku) Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:21 pm

"You and me both, then." Saying just that, Rita dusted herself off, particularly behind herself seeing as she had been sitting not moments ago. "Well, whatever. Everyone has stuff they like and don't like. I can't seriously blame you for getting tired when you're dealing with this stuff all the time. Hell, if I wasn't interested in this stuff normally, I'd be tired too." Honestly, she couldn't in her right mind believe that anyone could do what she wanted to do. Rita was an oddball, and a goofball, but she was smart too. If she needed to do something in order to help someone, even if it meant harming herself in some way that ended with the best for the greater number of people, then she'd do it. That was her way of life.

Rita narrowed her eyes at Sharaku for his words, pondering her own carefully. "I guess... some times, you can't even protect the ones you love, how are you gonna do the same for the ones you don't? Same with defending yourself. If you aren't able to return to your loved ones, how will come back to your acquaintances? It's hard, but it's something to keep in mind. We always have a purpose to fulfill, and we shouldn't let ourselves get done in before we accomplish it. That's how I view it, at least." Rita looked up at the shining moon, a small fire in her eyes. "I once told a friend of mine... each of us is the main character in their own story, so we should make it a good one. We'll only end up disappointing everyone if we don't." She shoved her hands into her pockets and closed her eyes, humming a light tune to herself, though it would be audible to Sharaku as well, most likely.

"Hah, well, aren't you a rebel? I guess some people just like to defy the norm like that. I can tell you that it has more lasting effects the longer you put it off, but I guess that holds true for anything." The silvernette put on a wry smile, not completely understanding where Sharaku was coming from but... well, everyone was different. Will was subjective and so was determination. It mattered not if you skipped or didn't do stuff for a while if you had enough of a strong will to pick it up like always. Maybe she just wanted to not lose the practice, who knows? Rita's mind was confused right now after falling unconscious.

"True, but if your opponent can pinpoint your position and predict where you'll be next, then just dodging will do you no good. Against a very skilled fighter, someone that knows only how to evade a hit won't win. He may not lose either, but he definitely won't win." She smirked, saying this flippantly. It was honestly quite a foolish idea to just keep dodging over and over, since some people actually had fantastic aim regardless of their skill, but that was another story. You could always just tank the hits and wait for the opponent to wear themselves down, but what was the chance of that happening?

"How else? Warming up needs a coach and I'm here to fill that role. I plan on doing everything myself, of course, so don't slack off, you hear me? Now come on, let's start off easy. Ten push-ups, no more, no less." Immediately after saying that, Rita dropped her stuff on the ground before going at it herself as well. She'd get into position and start the exercise... albeit slower than usual, seeing as the pain was still affecting her. She'd be able to do about one and a half push-ups per second, though, regardless, which wasn't too impressive by her standards. After all, this was just the usual stuff, right?

Subject: Re: Aftermath (Sharaku) Wed Mar 18, 2015 7:44 pm

Well, not liking it was probably not the right way to call it. Sharaku was...okay with it being a thing,and he would admit it was interesting at times, but it simply hadn't gone well for him most of the time, so a break sounded good when thinking of it. ''It's interesting in its own way, yes. I just think a break sounds good. It's been way too long for me. Or so it feels like.'' This here had been on for only half a year and something, but if he were to count all supernatural, it would technically make 11 - 12 years for him, even though he didn't really know what the deal was back then. That was already a sizeable amount of time.

His expression would be marginally blank as she gave her little speech. ''And if it isn't working out? Purpose...should one care as to what it is, when it seems to only bring about pain and suffering? I can't say I find avoiding dissapointing others worth it, when the cost for doing that is high. Sometimes, the story is simply broken.'' His tone had a slightly sarcastic undertone as he spoke. No, he did not like the idea of letting himself get done in just because. Yet, sometimes the opposite of that hurt too. What was the better choice then? Hell if he knew. ''What song is that..?'', he would inquire when she started humming something all of a sudden. He didn't recognize that tune, but it didn't seem completely random.

''I defy plenty already. I suppose one more will not hurt me. I'm not even sure it would classify me as a rebel anymore. I'm just not normal.'', he would snort lightly in amusement. ''Speaking of that, I never asked, but what is it like to have a Persona? I see everyone having one. Except me, that is.'' It was almost funny. Still, he did kind of wonder how different that was, seeing as he had no way of knowing himself. For whatever reason. He would laugh when she countered his statement about avoiding attacks. ''I didn't say I wouldn't actually fight when needed. I suppose I just like messing with people, that's all. Maybe they'll make a mistake if I frustrate them enough beforehand.'' Of course, he knew simply dodging wouldn't accomplish much in the end, unless he could last long enough to wear them out completely.

He would do his best to resist making a face. Push ups weren't his favorite activity in the world. ''What are you, my boss?'', he'd ask flippantly, but comply nevertheless. There were worse things in the world than that. He would keep at the same pace she did, not interested in trying for more right now. He was better at different physical activities anyway. He didn't really do the stuff you do at the gym often.

Subject: Re: Aftermath (Sharaku) Thu Mar 19, 2015 8:34 am

"Oh? You talk like you've been involved longer than most. I know I haven't been in this for as long as the others. Well, no matter... the point is that I need to search if I actually want to be useful." Rita closed her eyes for a moment, frowning. It just came to her that she really didn't know that much about Sharaku, though the same could be said in reverse. They hadn't actually spoken about themselves too much, really, and just fought alongside one another a lot... was that right? Maybe not, but she wasn't gonna press it at the moment. Rita knew better than to poke at something too much.

"Maybe so... still, if it isn't working out, then it's obviously something that you shouldn't be doing. If it doesn't make people happy, what's the point of doing something? Anyone's purpose is for someone... if it doesn't benefit everyone, then it isn't your purpose. That's my view on it, at least." Living just for the sake of living was foolish... someone's Reason was proof of that. Every human had one, they had to, whether it was the same as another's or not. That's why they were in this right now, was it not? Humanity was... interesting. Some times... you just had to keep going.

"Aah, I actually don't remember that well. I think one of the aides at the orphanage I was in until just a few years ago used to sing that for me. Heh... I was so young then. I think that was more than ten years ago. Maybe, I'm not really sure." That song wasn't something too special, it was just... soothing. Rita liked it so she sang it, nothing else to it. Truth of the matter was, her brother knew better than to act the way that expelled him from orphanages by his late teens, so she ended up spending most of her life in just one specific house. Needless to say, no-one wanted to adopt both of the siblings at the same time, so they just ended up staying until her brother was of legal age. That's how it went and how it turned out...

"Good enough." Rita still held her eyes closed while replying to Sharaku, and that didn't change for his next question. "Imagine if your conscience suddenly developed sentience. That's what it's like for me. Nero's pretty much the same person I am, but way more thoughtful and reasonable. She's basically my voice of reason. Not sure about others, though, there doesn't seem to be just one specific description. After all, Naomi-nee can't talk to her Persona, from what I understood." The silvernette stretched slightly, lightly patting her side to dull the sting. She had learned that actually touching your wounds, if they weren't open, that was, helped with the healing somehow... or something. It distracted her from whatever other pain she might have been feeling, that's the point.

"Psychological warfare? Against someone who's too hotheaded, that can be a good strategy. I can't say if it'd work on most people, but it might. After all, it isn't everyone that can just ignore what others say and not get riled up... which is a shame." Rita shrugged afterwards, finally opening her eyes back up. Really, some times, humans could just be dumb, her included. They could be taunted into things they didn't want to do, and manipulated by someone with a stronger mind easily... perhaps that was why the world was in such a state. It really was a shame.

"Supposedly, yes." Rita would reply in a flash with a serious face while still doing the exercise. Despite only asking Sharaku for ten push-ups, she'd actually continue on to do quite a bit more. The silvernette may have been hurt... but it was only slightly... yeah, slightly. Right. It didn't bother her so she just kept going, her teeth gritted to endure it. This was normal for her, it was just training, she could go on no problem...

Subject: Re: Aftermath (Sharaku) Thu Mar 19, 2015 3:19 pm

Technically, yes, he was. Sadly, it wasn't even very helpful. ''Speaking of these events, I was among the first that got involved, so yes, I suppose that classifies as longer than most. And if I were to count the first time I ran into anything supernatural, even before this, then I'd have to say it's been around 12 years. It sure feels like it's been a while.'', he'd state somewhat nonchalantly. She seemed curious, and it wasn't like there was a reason for him not to tell her. Those were just facts anyway. ''Either way, as I said, good luck on your search.'' What else was he to say there?

Sharaku would frown at her. That was actually rather confusing in his opinion. It should be for someone, and benefit everyone? What? How does that work? ''I don't think I understand you clearly here. Benefit everyone? I wouldn't say that is something that can be easily accomplished. Every person needs and wants a different thing. I don't see how could one benefit everyone with what they do. Second, the way I meant it is...why should I be doing it, when it does not make me happy? So I'll do my best to benefit others, even though that exact route hurts me as a result? If I go by what you said, then I shouldn't be myself, because it makes people around me unhappy. I don't think that is the best solution here.'' Yes, maybe it would be fair, but only if everyone thought that way. However, nowadays? Most didn't give a damn. One person could willingly suffer to help others, and they wouldn't care, just take what they got and do their own thing. You'd even get laughed at for being a goody-two-shoes. Not even he believed a person who claimed to be genuinely helpful right away. Because, it just didn't work that way, with the kind of mentality humans had as of now. That's what would have to change first. Otherwise, there wouldn't be much balance in Rita's idea. At least in his opinion. Point is, that people did whatever they wanted, even when it didn't make others happy. You can't expect someone to want to abide by it and possibly get hurt, when the majority showed it the middle finger.

Erm. ''You still have a good memory if you can remember that much after ten years.'' That wasn't really on point, but he didn't know what to say. He didn't want to go down that road and ask her about why she was in the orphanage and all. Those kinds of talks never went well. Besides, it wasn't something he needed to know unless she wanted to tell. Let's just stay with something that's safe to say. ''Maybe I should be glad I don't have one....'', he would mutter under his breath when Rita explained about Personas. ''I can't really imagine how would that work for me.'' Conscience. Sometimes, even he himself had a hard time telling what was he really like. If a Persona was supposed to be him, pretty much, then it could get complicated...maybe. Other than that...''You've spoken to Naomi about this already?'', he would blink a few times. Well then. ''Anyhow, I don't know. It doesn't seem that her Persona has a mouth...so maybe that's why.'', he would shrug lightly. What did he know?

''Didn't think of it that way. But perhaps so. I just like doing it. Whether it actually works or not, it's always worth a try.'' If not, he could still just fight the normal way. He wasn't dumb enough to keep using a strategy that obviously didn't work, or was simply failing right away. The outcome was still the most important part, and for that to be good, you couldn't mess around too much. ''Maybe I'll agree to disagree then.'', he would retort right back lightheartedly. He didn't like having someone boss him around, though, he knew she most likely didn't mean it that way. He did notice she wasn't interested in stopping her excercise, but frankly, he found it boring. Maybe that was why he never really considered going to the gym. This was no fun in a longer run. Well, unless she said something, he could just do whatever he wanted, yes? With that, he would smoothly get into a handstand, watching her do her thing upside down for now...

Subject: Re: Aftermath (Sharaku) Thu Mar 19, 2015 6:19 pm

Rita glanced over at Sharaku for his words, frowning with mouth slightly agape. "12 years...? This has been going on that long...?" The silvernette put a hand to her mouth, scowling while deviating her sight to the side. She was utterly surprised by this, as was obvious, but ultimately terrified. This has been going on for at least 12 years and yet it was never public knowledge? That was simply... scary. She never heard of anything like it before... well, that was a lie. According to her brother, something similar to this occurrence had happened once before, when they were still at the orphanage back in Japan. At the time, Rita knew nothing of it and, honestly, was probably kept away from it. It was most likely a hidden case, unknown to any not involved... but she couldn't help but wonder how this had gone by right under her nose. That was no matter at the moment now... apparently, something had been going on for way longer than even that... wow. That was just... horrifying.

"That's why it's complicated... that's why I want to find an Angel... I'm tired of this world. Most people are ungrateful bastards who lash out at you when you hold a door open for them. Helping people should make you feel good, and the others too, but instead, everyone ends up pissed off at the end. Society usually asks where chivalry went, when most of their members diss it actively daily. I hate that's where our world has gone off too, and why I know I have to follow my own path... I don't want to see any more fights. I want to witness the creation of a world where everyone can be satisfied and happy in. One where I won't need to break up fights... that's my kind of world." Rita gritted her teeth, angry. She wasn't entirely mad at everyone in this world. Hell, Sharaku right there just spoke her point. Rita hated selfish people, and, right now, it was obvious that most of the world was like that. Perhaps she was a bit hypocritical in her own right, as she was somewhat selfish in wanting her dream to come to fruition... that's why she wanted to stand back and only act when necessary. If she got an Angel's help, then she could show people what she wanted to do. That wasn't to say, of course, that she didn't realize the flaws of her Reason when looked upon at first glance... no, she knew very well what could come of it, and she was ready to iron it out. Though... of course, she wasn't going to force anyone to join her. If she succeeded... then that was for the best. If she failed, well... that most likely was for the best too.

"I have a good memory for useless stuff like this. For some reason, I get by in school mostly without studying... mostly being the keyword there." Rita liked the tune, so it stuck with her... it was no big deal, really, for someone who could remember the name of 718 fictional critters and still have patience for school... oh wait, that was common among Pokémon fans.

"Honestly, I have no idea whether you're better off or not. Nero won't speak to me unless she knows I won't be surprised and I know she's just me in the end, so it isn't awkward.. well, maybe it was for a bit, but I've gotten used to it, I'm sure you would too." She shrugged and kept quiet until he spoke about Naomi-nee, then smirked lightly. "That's what she said too. It doesn't matter, honestly, Personas communicate through telepathy most of the time, at least to their Users. How do you think Nero knows what I want her to do without me telling her?" The silvernette put on a haughty face, huffing. She prided herself on the fact that Nero and her were extremely in sync, especially after that dream encounter, and wasn't ashamed to show it. It gave her the power and ability she needed to protect the ones she cared for...

"I'll agree with you there, trolling someone is fun as hell. Well, when you don't like them, that is. You don't want to ruin a friendship just by being overly condescending, do you?" Rita kept up a sly smirking face while working hard on her push-ups, speeding up bit by bit at some exponential rate, albeit quite a slow one. "I'm supposed to be the coach, though. Hmph." The silvernette pouted after saying this, only to be surprised by Sharaku's own little quirky thing. She stopped exercising for a second and felt her weight crash down onto the ground, her arms not being able to hold it up too much longer without rest.

"Gah... I need to do way more than that... how can you handstand so easily, though? I always have trouble with that stuff... maybe I shouldn't be in the circus after all." She huffed, frowning. Sure, the circus was her job now, but soon it would most likely be more than that... hopefully. If she couldn't do basic stuff like handstanding, then how would she awe the audience? Maybe her sword tricks would be enough for that... or Lia could teach her something, that'd work too.

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