New Arrival [Takeru]

    Prisons were never meant to be bright or cheerful or comfortable in any sense of the word. Their purpose was to confine, after all, not to coddle. It was rare, however, that Paige didn't look around and wonder what it would be like to have chairs and cushions out in the open. What would it be like to be welcome and inviting instead of cold and cautious? The way it stood, she always had to retreat to her store to feel a semblance of warmth.

    // Not that I can do so now... // she mused to herself. As it stood, it was her turn to be on watch, giving her sisters a well deserved rest. She'd dragged a chair to the circle of cells and sat upon it, one leg crossed over the other demurely as she watched the empty bars listlessly.

    It had been ages since their last guest came to this place. Well, strictly speaking, it felt like ages; time never really passed in the Velvet Room, so guesstimation was the closest thing she had to a clock. Even still, her shift passed slowly, and she was growing restless. What were the chances anyone was going to show up? Why would anyone begin showing up now...?

    With a sigh the young woman picked up the needlepoint in her lap and resumed her project, eyes half-lidded and dull as she worked. Such a dreary place...it was no good for this kind of thing...

Takeru sat in the cell, bored.
"I'm telling you. You could summon me. I can feel it. The air here... it's clear enough to do so." Twelve said.
"Yeah, well... I'm in here for a reason. Best not to insult Igor by summoning you and damaging the place." Takeru said.
"HEY! Is anyone there?" Takeru yelled. How long had he been in here? Minuites? Hours? Days?
"Please... somebody... anybody... respond..." Takeru whispered to himself, about ready to cry.
"I don't wanna be left here to rot, alone and forgotten..." he said, beginning to shudder at the thought.

    Just as she pulled the thread taut on the seventh pass of her needle, a soft murmur broke the silence.

    She froze in place, hand extended upwards. Her eyes snapped into focus and she blinked once, twice, before looking up and glancing around. Had she imagined it? Was she picking up the whispered voices of her sisters, her brother, the Master?

    Another phrase, this one said louder than the last, convinced her that no, she was not hearing things. Standing from her chair, she set her project on her seat before beginning a sweep of the room, heels clicking against the stone floor. Was someone in here? Was someone in one of these? Was someone--a person, a real, live persona-user--here?

    Her answer came as she neared one of the final cells on her route.

    She let out a soft, surprised gasp as she saw a small figure sitting inside the cell. One hand rose to her lips to muffle the sound while her eyes went wide in shock. A persona...a user...here...!

Takeru immediatly perked up when he saw her.
"Hey there, I'm Takeru Kagemaru! I'm your latest guest!... you are an attendant... right? Here I can prove it! Come on out, twelve!" He said, and immediately, the sound of the TARDIS materializing came forth. When it was done, Takeru had changed outfits, and twelve stepped out.
"Hello there, miss! As you can see, I'm your guests persona, the doctor. Pleased to meet you." Twelve said.
"Now then, I don't mean to trouble you, but, uh... could you let us out, please?" Takeru asked her nicely.

    She was too stunned by just his being there to do much when he began talking. Rather, as he continued on with his introduction, she merely stood there, slowly recovering. She closed her gaping mouth (rather unladylike) and lowered her hands, instead watching him intently.

    By the time he was finished, she was glancing back and forth between the persona and its user, a gentle smile on her face. Eager to a fault, wasn't he? Not that she could really blame him, she supposed. He looked so young...he must have on;y just received his persona.

    After a moment, Paige tilted her head and smiled sweetly at the boy. "Your persona seems quite the gentleman. However, there will be time for introductions later; I'd like to talk to you. Please, send him away for now."

Takeru snapped his fingers, dismissing his persona as twelve walked back into the TARDIS, shutting it's doors behind him as it dematerialized.
"So... what did you want to talk to me about?" Said Takeru to her in a calm tone.

    "Nothing in particular. I was merely hoping to have a one on one conversation with you, is all." She responded, bending down to inspect the lock on the door. "Well, that is not entirely true. I am sure you have a great many questions. Feel free to ask me whatever you would like; I shall do my best to respond with the information you seek."

    Paige looked up at the boy and smiled once more. "Pardon, but you have a key, yes? May I see it for a moment?"

"Um... sure." Takers said, handing her the key he had received.
"I wonder why she needed that?" He thought.
"Well... for starters... um... who are you? i don't recall meeting you last time." He said, curious as to who she was.

    She took the key gently from his hand before sliding it into the lock on his cell door. A few seconds later and a loud click echoed throughout the otherwise empty room. "Ah, there we are. I am dreadfully sorry about this." Offering the key back to the boy, she carefully opened the cell door and stepped back, allowing him to step out of the cell. Should he exit, she'd close the prison door again, tugging lightly at the bars to make sure they locked. Once this was done, she turned back to the boy, surprise flitting across her face. Oh dear, she hadn't...?



    "Oh please, do forgive me." Offering an apologetic smile, the woman gathered her skirts and dipped slightly in a graceful curtsy. "I am Paige, a resident of this room. It is a pleasure to welcome you, Takeru Kagemaru."

"Nice to meet you too, Paige." He said.
"So, uh... if you don't mind me asking... what do you do here?" He asked her. "And, um... where's igor,  and the two other girls I saw here last time?" He said, mainly curious.

    "Ah...my sisters are off duty at present. The Master is away as well." She glanced around for a moment, as if listening. As she thought, there were no other footsteps, not even those of her brother. Everyone was truly off on their own, it seemed. "While they are gone, I am more than happy to assist you." She gave the bow another curtsy and a smile before gesturing to the simple chair she'd set up in the middle of the room. "Please, have a seat. You must be weary."

    Crossing over to the center of the room, she rested on hand on the back of the chair and gestured towards it again before speaking once more. "As for myself, I help guests such as yourself. Whenever you have questions that need answers, do not hesitate to come to me."

Takeru sat down,  eager to do so.
"Well then, uh... I was wondering... mainly, well... why does my persona take the form it does now? And can it change?" He asked her. Two questions he had on his mind for quite some time.

    After her guest took a seat, Paige gathered her skirts and sat on the floor on front of him, folding her hands in her lap. His questions were simple enough; common, too. It was one she could answer in her sleep. (All things considering, she may have done that at one point).

   "Your persona reflects your innermost self." She began. "A side of you buried deep within yourself. But of course, this side will change and grow as you continue to grow." She paused for a moment, laying a hand on her lips as she thought. "For example, a person's innermost self will change from when they're a child to when they're an adult." She let her hand fall back into her lap. "As you learn more about yourself, different sides of you can emerge, each more powerful than the last. It is difficult and dangerous, but it is possible."

"I see. Thank you for clarifying." He said. "Tell me.. do you know when your master may be back?" He asked her.
"Yes. Do ask that. I can only imagine how... awkward it would be, ypu, a teenage boy, alone in a room with a girl.  A very pretty girl at that. I wonder how long your self-restraint shall last?" Twelve said, somewhat sarcastically.
"Hey! Quiet, you." Takeru said, slightly irritaited.
"Also... um... do you have one of those books like the other girls here do? I'be been meaning to take a look at one." He asked her, curiosity glinting in his eyes.

    "No, unfortunately. The Master comes and goes when he pleases." Paige shook her head at the thought. If only Master Igor would tell them things...but his affairs were always shrouded in mystery, and no one, not even his creations, could begin to explain them.

    "Book?" She furrowed her brows for a moment before recognition dawned. "Oh! You're referring to our compendiums." As quickly as her excitement came, a somber smile took its place. "Unfortunately, I do not possess one. I am terribly sorry." She bowed her head towards Takeru apologetically.