Dining for Freedom - Nola Allaway's Awakening

Trinity Walked along with Selenus and Tatsui, quite glad to have had this chance to have a meal with the two of them, though Selenus didn't eat it was still nice to have him nearby, as he was one of her friends just as Tatsui was. The place they had gone to eat had been one she always went, it was well staffed and the people there were always very nice to her, whether that was due to her being an idol or because that's how they always were wasn't really an issue she still quite liked the place. Also since she was rather well off and she wanted to make up for causing issues before when they met that afternoon she had payed for the whole meal, it was rather simple for her since she had her income from her idol work. Best of all they managed to get a private room to eat and talk in.

As the trio walked she looked to Selenus and Tatsui her expressionless face gazing at them for a moment before she asked her question "Did you enjoy the meal Tatsui? and Selenus was the place to your liking?" she wanted to make sure the two of them were content as well, as she had wanted this to be a time the three of them could get to know each other better and become better friends. Perhaps even make it so that Tatsui and Selenus wouldn't poke fun at each other or at least get into an argument like that had before.

Though as she had asked she also looked about to see if there was any other shops they could stop at, maybe for a little memento of the time out as friends? something that maybe she could buy as a gift for them both? She already had decided she would buy ether a collar or maybe a nice trinket for Selenus to hang on his neck or tail or something. As for Tatsui she had thought maybe she would get him a cell phone cover that looked like a sandwich....or maybe a cookie?

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

The seconds passed painfully by for Selenus, who was carefully counting down every single second that crossed the one-way barrier between the future and the past. Up until that point the night had been splendid: Good conversation, good ambience, good mood, good everything. But now that the day was drawing to a close, one single upcoming event resonated within his mind. The previous night Selenus had decided to hear out The Phantom when night-time came about, and now that the moment grew closer and closer he had become nervous.

This wasn't why Selenus was counting down every second, however. He knew something would happen. Somehow he knew that something familiar was going to take place. He looked up at the moon and thought back to his conversation with Noah the previous night. He'd brought up the idea that maybe the reason why he was so attracted to the moon was that the moon was trying to tell him something. At first he dismissed the idea entirely for how absurd it was, but now that he thought about it... every life-changing event he'd ever gone through had happened under the light of a bright moon: His activation, his purchase at the hands of Newman, the Eternal Divide, Newman's arrest, his awakening... all of them took place below the night sky. Now, there was nothing to tell Selenus that this night might've not been as innocent as any other night, but something deep inside him knew that it needed no confirmation. Call it wolven instinct.

As he walked along with Nola and Tatsui, Selenus engaged in idle conversaton with his friends. "Yeah, the restaurant was great. I can't speak for the quality of their food of course, I have a freakin' machinegun for a tongue, but the general atmosphere and interior design were quite aesthetically pleasing. It reminded me of a certain place I used to call home."

Though it would not be noticable by his friends, Selenus pleaded to Fenrir to be prepared for the night.

Ah, it is a wonderous night out. I mean, I would have expected the stars to be blotted out by the lights from the city, but they are as bright as the wilderness' night sky. But then again, that meal was fantastic. So I don't think I should focus on the night sky, but instead on the past memory of what is currently inside my stomach. But jeez, it sure is still crowded even at night time. But then again, this is Endyimon, the city that never sleeps. "Yeah Nola, the meal was excellent. I don't even think I have the words to describe it. Yeah Selenus, how was the atmosphere for you?" Selenus is a machine, so he can't eat food like regular people, he probably consumes oil or electricity or something along those lines. "Great, that's great. Now, I wonder how long it'll take to get to the bus in this crowded place." Huh, so it is night time. Shit, if we come across any demons...... that would be very bad, especially for Nola.

Trinity continued to walk, pleased to hear that her two friends had enjoyed the place she picked, Selenus for it's Atmosphere and decor which he mentioned felt reminded him of a place he once called home, She hoped he would enjoy the place he had to live now at least a little and have some fond memories later of it. Tatsui seemed to enjoy the place for the food and the decor as well, she was glad the place was aesthetically pleasing to the two of them. Not many could relax in a place like that she found, or maybe it was her presence? She wasn't sure really but it seemed like Tatsui and Selenus had liked the place, which was reason enough for her to think about asking The two if they would like to go there again some time.

As they walked towards the bus stop Trinity thought she heard someone say something, it was weird though as it sounded like a whisper and so she looked over her shoulder at first to see if anyone was behind her, but there wasn't anyone there not close enough to explain the volume of the whisper, she tilted her head a moment as she walked with the two, perhaps it was one of them playing a prank? That didn't seem right though as Selenus would have been obvious had he tried to move that close to whisper, and Tatsui....well she doubted he would do that to her he was a nice guy.

As they walked though she heard the whisper again but louder, then once more it was louder again the third time, and she placed a hand to her head "what is going on?...." she thought to herself as she stood there her hand on her head, her face expressionless as she slowed down a pace, she Identified the location of the voice, or what she thought was the location but it didn't make sense, Though she started to wonder if this was a side affect of her physiology? But it never happened before.

Then something else another whisper. Louder then before as she placed her other hand to her head, it was getting louder, and she knew blocking her ears wouldn't help, but why was the voice in her head? The drowning out of her footsteps and just the Volume of the voices was disorienting and so she stopped walking, but she still stood there her gaze fixed at the ground as she stared unblinking at it with her expressionless face.

"Who's there.......Why are you in our head......How are you in our head.....Answer us!.....We don't know your voice......Explain yourself now!" her internal voices all calling out to that voice, she didn't know what it was she didn't even know if it was real, but could their be more then just her and her siblings? a fourth? a fifth? she couldn't tell those voices sounded the same...maybe only one more she never heard before? she was told there was only three...did they mean three more?. She stood there stock still looking at the ground her eyes unblinking and unfocused as she held her head, no sound leaving the small girl as she simply seemed to have froze.

The trio (Quintet, if you were to indulge Nola.) kept on walking, two of its three (five) components fully aware that the night was no longer safe for them or anyone else anymore. Eventually, Selenus would stop. He'd start to hear the familiar sounds of slaughter coming from an alleyway, and then the eerie and bone-chilling voice of a youth who definitely was not human. Frantically, he turned around to shove Nola on along and simply ignore the demon, but he would unfortunately find that impossible, as Nola was crutching her head in a manner of pain that Selenus found all-too familiar.


After a few seconds of recollection, he understood what was happening: The night was prowling, but this time its prey was not three young men and a robot, but rather a little girl. Under normal circumstances, Selenus would advise the entire trio to run away, however this was not "normal circumstances". Nola was about to discover her true potential, and it seemed that this potential was awakened by proximity to the supernatural. Even if it had nothing to do with being in the presence of demons, and even if Nola was just having a particularly nasty headache, Selenus would much rather not find out what happens if you interrupt someone having a metamorphosis as profound and alterating as awakening to one's Persona. Retreat was not  an option. "Tatsui, make sure Nola's alright. If she's having the same reaction to the presence of demons that we had, then you know what she must be going through. Join me when you're both done. I've an ace up my sleeve that will allow me to fend them off alone, but it won't last very long, so hurry up will ya?" Selenus ordered, his voice completely firm and clear, leaving absolutely no place for a "No.".

Selenus walked into the darkness of the alleyway, making sure that he was no longer visible to those outside of it before unleashing his power.


Selenus allowed his power to flow out and summoned his Persona. At the same time, his body became engulfed in the fur-like, cold, black fire he would be bound to grow accustomed to. A medium black wolf, being guarded from the rear by an utterly massive white wolf, looked whatever demons he'd find straight in the eyes.

Hmm? Why is the night sky suddenly getting darker? "Huh? What's wrong Nola?" Why is she not moving and holding her head like that? I hop a bit at the sound. What the fuck is that? Sounds like.... something being devoured. It's coming from that alley over there. No, no, no, no. Please don't let it be what I think it is. No, it is a demon. It has caught onto our presence. Please don't tell me that Nola is trying to awaken to her persona. "Damnit, all right Selenus." I rush over to Nola's side. I have to help Nola get through this. Damnit, recollect. What did my persona say to me when I awakened. That's right, he spoke to me about what I truly wished. Then he told me to call him forth. Damnit, I hate guessing but i'll have to act based on that. "Nola, listen to me. Your likely hearing voices. You have to listen to their intent. You will know it is what you want when you hear it." Damnit, looks like Selenus is going to delay the demon by himself for a while. I pray that this works.

Trinity could hear the voices they kept getting louder, and louder, the pain was becoming quite extreme, but the words were not harsh...they were oddly gentle, and she could feel they didn't mean the harm that was being done, or rather that they understood the pain they were causing and were trying to lessen it. It was an odd duality to it all but it wasn't one she was capable of appreciating at the moment as she stared at the ground her hands on her head. the pain becoming great till it reached a crescendo. and she would have screamed if she were...normal.

But at the same time, she felt a warmth, a warmth like someone gently placing a hand on her back, then there was another, and another, eight in all the touch was gentle as she heard not just a single voice, but eight of them talking to her, at first the roaring sounds in her head drowned them out but slowly the sounds died down and she could hear the speech of the ones around her, gathered about her in her mind.

"Do not worry my Liege, we are here..." once voice spoke out. But was soon joined by another "We have always been here..". Then once more a new voice "We shall always be here for you". "You are never alone". "We stand at the ready. "Just give us the word, the signal. "And we shall come to your aid in your times of need". "This is our Oath to you, our Promise!" The new voices continued to come in to reassure her and in her minds eye she could see them.

The beings had the same look to them as the image she had been trying to make of clay for so long, the odd man in armor that she always seen in the back of her mind. the voices brought comfort to her heart and she knew they belonged there.

Then all at once the eight figured lifted their spears, joining the tips above the girl as if making a shelter for her and they spoke as one.



As she heard the voices she gave her gentle little neutral huff and she closed her eyes "thank you...Pawn" she said quietly as she could feel something, some sort of pressure being broken by the spears of the ones around her, a chain...a shackle breaking from above her, that had bound her arms, legs, around her neck and waist. and with that a glow emanated from her.

The mask appeared over her body in a gossamer shroud, and under that, her body was wrapped in leather belts, leaving her limbs free but totally concealing every inch of her body in the studded leather belts, had anyone else been around Trinity would have been worried, but only Tatsui and Selenus stood nearby and so she let her heart stay calm.

It was then the voices reached her, the voices of the demons, and she turned her head, her vision fully clear even though there was the leather belts in front of her eyes, "your out numbered....." was all she said to the demons.

Then one of her pawns appeared beside her carrying something with it. "My liege....your weapon..." it said as it presented the syntaur.

Trinity didn't quite understand how it was a weapon, but the sense she got from the pawn was one of complete loyalty and she took up the instrument "Thank you pawn...." she said simply as she walked past Tatsui towards what she knew to be Selenus, and only spoke gently to the boy as she passed him "We believe he may need help..."

Selenus had made his stance more than present, yet the demons were still focused more on Nola than on him. One of the demons started walking towards her in a threatening manner before Fenrir stomped a giant front paw in front of the fish demon, blocking its path.


Fenrir pushed the demon with his paw, sending it further back a few feet into the alleyway. On the other hand, Selenus slid a knife from one of the holsters on his left hip using his tail and raised it into the air, at the same height as the two archer demons. "Try to cross over. I dare you." He threatened as he waved the knife around, ready to cut them down at the first sign of movement.

Tension was high, and Selenus knew that he could not fend the demons off on threats alone. Figuratively backed unto the wall, Selenus spoke up.

"Huh?" Looks like the demons are approaching Selenus. I wonder how he will hold them back for now. Woah, looks like she awakened to her persona.... to think that she would also have the same fate as us.... And what is with that getup? I can look like an anonymous coated man, Selenus looks like a fiery wolf thing, but she just looks like a mass of belts. And, are all those little figures her persona? Odd, but probably fitting from the clues I got about Nola. "I guess you have also awakened Nola." I say sadly. I go into my masked form, a man in a coat, no way to see his face through darkness, and voice alteration to boot, making me a total anonymous man. "Nola, I know that this is pretty freaky, but you should probably help us kill those demons." Huh? What was Selenus about to say? 'Activating Orgia... mode?' That sounds weird. Is it like a sort of transformation of ability? "Yes, do you really wish to die? But then again, we will probably have to kill you demons." I say summoning my soulbound weapons.

Trinity stood there with her Persona, unlike the one Selenus Had, Hers stood between her and her enemy, as if standing guard over their User, Which in a way they were, And she looked at the three demons, they were Giggling with glee and eager to kill and fight. She could feel that there was no reasoning with them, not if they took such glee in their acts of violence. Tatsui said they would have to kill them and sadly she would have to agree, these demons seemed to have no conscience, they killed with glee and thought it fun, Things like that sadly needed to be ether subdued or killed, and it seemed slaying them was required in this case Regrettable as it was.

There were a lot of questions she had however, but they needed to wait for a more appropriate time to ask them as before them was quite the issue that needed to be handled. To add to the strangeness a man dropped down and handed a weapon to her, it was quite an odd weapon, it seemed to be a gun with three barrels, while she had to admire the look of the weapon, simplistic but in an oddly artistic way, she knew it was a weapon made for war, for combat.

She only nodded as she also received the ammo from the man, she could only guess that perhaps he was an acquaintance of Selenus and Tatsui, and he seemed to be there to help, so she wouldn't question at the moment, again she would wait for a better time to do that.

The Pawns meanwhile looked to Selenus as he talked about how they would be a help "But please remember we are here to protect our Liege first and foremost, we will not hesitate to help you, but should her safety come into question it is to her that we will focus our defense" with that the pawn moved back in line with it's fellows and the eight seemed to ready themselves.

Trinity for her part seemed to have been contacted in her mind by her pawns, [color=orange]"My liege, allow me to educate you...Your powers...our powers...they are focused and made manifest through Will and Thought, While dressed for battle we are sadly a paltry combat force, with focus and training we will become more, but at best we can only offer you and your allies the barest of support, we are not strong My liege but we think we make up for it in our devotion and loyalty. and our wish to protect can be manifest for you through focus, try it now my liege, before these Knaves have the chance to dare touch you"

Listening to her pawn she nodded as she lifted her hand and focused, and in a moment a barrier seemed to shimmer into existence between her and her enemies, she could feel it move staying between them and her, though it seemed to be rather fragile, but she nodded, again knowing she could trust her new found ally.

Trinity:

action:

Trinity's Current SP is reduced by 4