Afternoon::The Calm Before the Storm (Maria)

Haru had left Class 0 with much on his mind and made a beeline for home so he could get the proper clothing for the investigation. A task thankfully easier than the morning rodeo thanks to his mother having guests to keep her occupied. He managed to get pass that group, finding it kind of silly that someone his age still had to sneak to get around things, but thus was his life.

Once out of range of being caught, he would move through the house and upon noticing that his father was kind of missing, he decided to try and find the guy. It took him a few minutes, but eventually he found the man conked out laying across his desk surrounded by papers. Heh. He guessed the morning event was more stressful to him than himself. Quietly backing out of the room, he went to his own room to find a nice pair of black jean like pants, a clean white T-Shirt, a very light jean jacket, and of course the most comfortable boots he had. Once he was dressed and had down played his looks well enough, he would drift back down stairs to grab a quick lunch and speak with Lisa before actually heading out the door.

Since he still had time to spare he decided to walk to Sunlake Palm where they were supposed to meet for the investigation. He was a bit nervous as what this task would be like, but at the same time had enough interest and dedication to change those nerves into excitement rather than fear; however, his internal emotions never showed on his serious face as he moved down the streets drifting from one area to the other until he had to pause at a large intersection and wait for light to give them the okay to cross. He wasn’t quite at the spot he was supposed to be in for the investigation, but that did not matter for now. He was at least in the area, so he knew he wouldn’t be late this time.

Shifting his weight as he kept his hands in his pocket, mismatched eyes would drift over the crowd he was behind as he simply waited for the light to change….

It never took Maria any longer than the usual person to make their way to Sunlake Palms despite the huge coffin on her back and attired in her religious outfit. With the usual populace staring at her with confused looks in their eyes, Maria didn't bother giving the time to be embarrassed about her own predicament. Her very own face was indicative of this. She had better things to worry about.

Soon, Maria would finally reach an intersection within Sunlake Palms. Perhaps it would require a few more blocks before reaching her destination and it shouldn't take much longer. While finally arriving at the crossing paths and waiting on the traffic lights to finally blink red and the walk signal to appear, Maria simply stood in the midst of the group that was waiting for it as well to cross. She simply crossed her arms, looking fairly disinterested in it all. But, she'd notice someone familiar was here upon looking to her right, which caused her to nod at him almost as if in greeting.


Maria didn't seem at all animated like the idol saw earlier. Would he be surprised? Even if he was, her colleague will have to start getting used to her blatant shifts in countenance.

Haru would stay near the back of the crowd waiting for the light to change with a neutral expression on his face as the folk before and around him chatted amongst each other about various things. He caught snippets of work talk, gossip, and other matters the world found important, but for the most part he wouldn’t pay it too much mind as he simply continued to wait on the light.

His full attention on the world would remain floating in space until his eyes caught the familiar coffin and form of the young lady called Maria that he encountered a few times before. As he saw her, she seemed to take note of him, mismatched eyes locking with the girl’s serious blue ones as she turned in his direction and nodded. He wasn’t sure what it was that had changed the girl from her earlier bubbly state, but at the same time he didn’t seem to bothered by the behavior change as he  gave her a nod back and took a few step into the crowds to stand by her side.


He would respond back his tone calm and business like as his eyes drifted from her to the world around him once more. It seemed his tone and behavior would match the attitude or situation given to him. The more intense one was towards him, the more business like he became.  It was a sign that his behavior was not a static one in the world and in turn could be unpredictable. Now how this shifting behavior would impact the encounter was unknown, but at least the behavior wasn’t hostile. Having been around the young lady a bit beforehand made it a bit easier to take this change in stride. After all, if she had been in Class 0, then she too must’ve gone through something the night before, no? And that probably impacted her in other ways, right? Haru wasn’t certain and for the time being would not pry into the mystery as he continued to stand quietly next to the other.

Haru would stay quiet as the light finally changed and the crowd began to move. Following along, but making sure to keep in step with his companion, Haru would eventually speak again.

“Is something bothering you?” he would ask his tone never shifting from its calm soft state as he continued to move with the crowd.

The exchange of greetings have been rather mundane, other than having a business-like air. After exchange, Maria directed her eyes back towards the streets and into the walking signals. She didn't seem all too interested in her surroundings, not that she was when she walked out of her club room. The light finally signaled her to finally walk with the crowd to the other side of the street. She was exceedingly quiet in the midst of the activity in the streets. But, Hatsu had evidently wanted to make conversation. Despite her disinterest, she would respond while still looking in front of her away from the idol.


She continued to walk calmly onward with sure steps. Many would assume that she was being cold to the Idol, but Maria needed to be like that in order for her to do her job. She was a weapon, a tool. Her emotions on the job should not get in the way no matter what. But sometimes, even statues can have a crack in their visage. This fact only strengthened the nun's belief that she had to strengthen herself and deaden her emotions even more. If only it was that easy.

Maria glanced back to her colleague, "I was not aware that you had interest in joining the Cadets. Why have you joined the ranks?"

She was rather curious. Perhaps it was his need to help people like five years ago. Though did that mean he has awakened to a Persona?

Silence.

It was something Haru was familiar with and probably the one thing he adapted to easily enough as he stayed waiting on the side walk for the light to change. He took note of the other’s serious behavior and while he matched it equally with a business like air, he did not take offense to the change or the seemingly disinterested behavior.

As they began to walk, the young man would watch the people around them as they moved onward. The young man would keep in step with the other easily enough as he took in her words with a light nod.

“As you wish then,” he would say in soft business tones as they continued to move much more like co-workers rather than a pair that had met in an informal arena before. He would keep quiet until Maria decided to ask a question of him. To her words, he would let out a small hum of thought. Now how was he going to answer that one?

“I wanted to help the city. Help it continue to thrive and to payback the one who protect us with service,” he would begin and then smirking slightly continue. “However, that answer is basic and expected, no? If I was be frank, then that is only half of the story. The other half is that I can’t resist a good challenge. It is even harder to ignore when you have someone telling you cannot do something. A flaw perhaps, but I don’t like being told that. So naturally I rise to prove the doubter wrong,” he would say easily enough before his grayish colored eye moved to watch her from its corner.


While his tone remained the same and could be considered business like and uncaring to a casual ear, the young man’s eyes held a glint of curiosity as he wondered why someone like Maria would want to be associated with the Government at all. That and the story behind the coffin she had with her peeked his interest also, but he wonder if she trusted him enough to tell him that tale. Hmm…maybe not. Perhaps he would try that angle another day.

Maria was glad that Hatsu was willing to leave that point of discussion alone. There could have been worse things to worry about, especially in the case of Brittany. She wasn't in the exact state of mind to even be concerned in talking about herself. So while she was walking with the man, she was still listening to his own reasons for joining the ranks. In a way, they were expected and unexpected, yet they were fitting reasons. Maria only nodded silently at him, but there was a marked respect to it. Someone like him surely had better reasons than she did.

But upon hearing his request to know hers, the nun paused. She hesitated with that blank expression. Maria knew it was rude to not share her reasons. It wasn't like the ones from the Ritual were entirely false. Deeper inside of her, she was subconsciously aware she had less than stellar motivations. The memories of the reeking smell of anti-septic crawled back in the back of her mind.


That was all she could muster. She hoped that this was enough for now. At least it was good enough for the Queen, it seemed. Her body had been torn to shreds back then and it was by the Queen's "hands" that brought her back. But that came at a price, of course. "I assume you now have a Persona after last night's Ritual? What was it like?"

It was most likely that he did. Failures like her had to rely on demons like Andraste. She was admittedly envious of Persona-Users, at least they had actual potential to fight the Demons and the Psyche Terrorists. Maria never had the chance. It would be good to know how many actually had Personas within her peer's group. Perhaps it was only Noah and her that never got such a blessed opportunity. But she couldn't complain, at least she had a way to fight back against the Demons.

The young man would continue to walk alongside the quiet young woman, content enough that she allowed him to stay with her rather than chasing him off. He didn’t see the need to pry into matters that were perhaps personal to the other. He understood there was a wall there and so for the moment did not seek to cross the boundary and probably wouldn’t bother crossing it unless they were closer. He accepted her wish not to speak just as he accepted her nod of respect to his reasons for being a Cadet. It seemed that unlike some, this particular young man was comfortable with silence and could read things well enough if given proper hints.

In any case, he would continue to walk with the other only glancing over at her when she seemed to hesitate at his question as to why she had joined the Cadets. He would take in the expression on her face for a moment wondering if maybe she did not wish to share. A bit unfair? Maybe. Would Hatsu throw a tantrum or pry? No. If she did not wish to share that was up to her. He would respect that. In fact as he looked away from the other he was on the edge of telling her such; however, just as he was thinking to open his mouth, she spoke.

To her short answer, he would take note of the tone she used and in turn would nod.

“I see,” was all he said, his tone respectful and understanding of the other’s reluctance to speak further on the matter. He wasn’t one dig into things without reason and even then when it came to personal reasons, he kept his distance even when he knew another well. He figured if the other party wished to share they would in their own time and in their own way. As for the inquiry…

“Yes,” he replied to start. He didn’t seem to be phased by the fact that she knew the word. He assumed that the proper naming of the creatures was known to any within the Cadet ranks. To the second part of the question, he would frown slightly in thought.

“It was…painful at first. Almost as if something was tearing what made me apart without mercy. It was enough that without relief, I think…I would have considered some rather unsavory options to end it all; however, amidst that madness was a sudden calm brought on by the thing called Persona. Like a blade, it cut through the madness and for the first time ever I was able to see the world clearly. It saved me from the madness, but the price of using it is pain still. Just…not as badly as the pain that called it forward,” the young man would say surprisingly easily enough. He didn’t seem to hold back on detail, making one wonder if he did it because that was the way he spoke or if he actually trusted her. Whatever the case was, he wouldn’t clarify as he glanced at the other hesitating only for a moment before asking his question.

“Did you awaken to one?” he would ask as he watched the other carefully, his sense keeping a careful monitor on the air around them. His question was a gentle one that left plenty of room to be rejected. Much like his silence beforehand this too was a sign of respect of privacy if the other wished to not share.

Maria was starting to really appreciate Hatsuharu's sense of discretion and respect of her privacy despite her trying to dig into his. But if he didn't want to say anything about it, she wouldn't blame him or even try to needle any deeper into it. After all, he gave that courtesy to her and it was only right she gave back as well. She found herself nodding at his description of what happened, it was more or less the same of what she went through. It did give her a slight chill in her spine when the nun thought about the Queen's blood. The monarch surely wasn't any normal human, that was for sure. But she had a fear of her, a respect of sorts. None of that really mattered right now, she was one of the Queen's tools. Such concerns were unnecessary.

Maria paused again when he asked if she had unlocked her potential like his. What potential was there to be asked about? She lacked it, which was part of the reason why she was linked to Andraste. There was a sense of shame from having to rely on it.


She quietly adjusted the straps on her shoulders to feel a little bit more comfortable. It shouldn't take much for her fellow Cadet to realize what she meant. Despite with all this conversation going on, the Demon Weapon stayed awfully quiet even now. It seemed ever likely that it was either disinterested or slumbering. And so was its Master, remaining silent even now unless prompted even further by Hatsuharu. Maria really did not want to disclose this kind of information, but it was prone to come out sooner or later anyway.

But this time she took initiative to ask, "Are you confident that we can do our job?"

The pair would continue down the street, their path changing slightly as they veered out of the crowds and hit more quieter streets to get to their location. As they walked along, Haru would listen to what the other had to say not seeming to mind the exchange of information that was occurring. While it may have seemed he was getting the short end of the stick with smaller amounts of information given from a casual view point, the young man did not view the situation like this.

His principals of sharing that he used on others was the same principals he applied to himself. If he did not wish to share or the conversation was going into territory he found uncomfortable, the young man would let the other know. It was as simple as that. So when she did answer his question after a moment of hesitation, the young man would listen to the answer, his strange color eyes drifting over the woman as she explained her own ability. When she mentioned what it was, his eyes would drift to the coffin she always had with her. That was an unexpected answer and made him curious on many levels. However, instead of bowing to the whim to drill her about the details, he remained in control of himself.


This was all he would ask of her and nothing more. If she wished to answer she could and if she did not that was fine to. Regardless of what happened, he would fall silent after that enjoying the hot yet pleasant weather around them. He would continue on like this for a while not bothering to disturb the quiet between them unless prompted by something. So the silence would stay until a question was asked of him.

Folding his arms, his left hand would go to his chin as his eyes lowered a bit to the ground as he thought on that.

“I don’t place my hopes too high in these situations. The potential to fail is as equally weighty as succeeding; however, I believe if we all worked together the success rate would be higher than if we attempted to do it alone. Though I will admit, I am unsure of the conclusion. I…haven’t really had to work in a group to get things done before…”

The young man would trail off from there as a small frown crossed his face. How would group work turn out anyway? With so many variables presented he couldn’t tell and as a result was unsure of success. Regardless, he was honest and down to earth with his answer rather than trying sugar coat things. Blunt? Yes, but that was simply how this young man worked.  

“How about you?” he would ask after a while as his hand dropped down to his folded arm and his eyes shifted to the other. “How do you feel about the matter?”

Her body stiffened at his request. There wasn't any reason to prohibit anyone from seeing Andraste. While the crowd could've been an actual reason to refuse to do so, in a way that bringing out a weapon out of nowhere would garner a lot of unneeded attention, it seemed that they veered away from the more crowded streets. Once they were out of the view of many people, Maria nodded at him. The coffin landed with a solid thud as she pushed off the straps from her shoulders. She listened to what the Cadet said about how he felt on their rate of success on the job and it was fairly reasonable. "Concerns about success or failure does not worry me much. What will happen in the future will occur anyway with or without our efforts. I will not let worry debilitate me, I will serve and I will deal with what comes regardless if I fall or not.

She was a tool of the Queen. Yes, she had her reasons to be concerned. But, Maria didn't want to share her concerns so easily when in this facade. Perhaps, it might give him a bit more confidence, or it wouldn't. Either way, she had a duty to fulfill and nothing will stop her from doing that.

Maria finally unlatched the final lock and slowly opened the coffin. In it revealed the gun in its full glory with the metallic spike cocked back. She nodded and glanced at Hatsuharu's expression to see what his reactions were to it.

He took note of the reaction to his request, his eyes sliding back over to the woman to observe her as she tensed up. Had he asked the wrong thing and offended her then? Or was she tense about something else? It was hard to say. Even harder when the other decided to remain silent about the ordeal. However, instead of apologizing or trying to make the situation better, the idol would keep his silence as his eyes returned to the path ahead of them and they veered off onto more quieter streets. He figured his question hadn’t been too bad considering she was still walking next to him and hadn’t come at him about the request. And look. She even responded back to his inquiry about their success.

To her words the young man would furrow his eyebrows slightly as they came to a brief pause as the young lady decided to take her coffin off her shoulder and rest it on the ground. As she did this, Haru would respond back.

“You seem quite focus on your task. Though does that mean you have no worry or fear of things?” he would ask curious as to how she could toss away success and failure as if they didn’t matter in the long run. A success was always a boost to confidence and moral, while a loss could be devastating in more than one way. To not consider either and focus on a task? Wouldn’t that make one reckless and in turn come one step closer to death herself? It was a curious thought to be sure and maybe he was translating what he heard all wrong. Even so, he found the thought of someone being so focused they were mechanical a bit unsettling.

Regardless of the thought, he kept his emotions more or less sealed up, his expression shifting from perplexed to curious as Maria opened the coffin to reveal…

His eyes would widen slightly with surprise.

“Well damn,” the words were still soft, but spoken a way that veered away from his normal speech pattern. It was a slip of his usual professionalism as for the first time he actually dropped his act and just reacted naturally to the situation as he took a small step closer to observe the weapon in more detail. He hadn’t seen anything like it before and to be honest believed the gun to be one of a kind. It was an interesting piece... though how Maria managed to carry such a thing was beyond him. The reveal certainly had impressed the young man as he folded his arms with a light smirk on his lips.

“Hmph. I am glad to know what will be used against our enemies. It looks like it will play its part well in the coming mission and now I don’t have to worry about being caught off guard by its presence,” he would say his voice still soft, but holding an edge of praise and confidence that he did not let show often. Regardless of this change, the attitude would be quickly sucked in again as he became more professional once more as he gave the young woman a small lopsided smile. “Thank you for sharing that with me,” he would say and truly mean it. She had seemed uncomfortable at first to do this and now seeing the weapon he could see why. Even so, she had humored for some reason or another, so he was appreciative of the act.

In any case once that deal was over, Haru would eventually suggest they continued on lest they be late to the investigation. Waiting for Maria to pack up, he would fall in line with the girl once more when they moved out again. He seemed to swallow what he saw pretty well and did not show fear of the woman as they continued to walk.

Maria had paused again when Hatsuharu asked her about her own worries and concerns. While her face was rather blank and calm, it seemed to verify that she did have such things buried in her heart. Yet the girl shook it off after that moment of silence. She looked up at the idol with the same visage on her face. In her cranium, the mantra she was taught since her tempering reverberated almost in ad nauseam.



She watched the Cadet's reaction upon revealing Andraste's true form under his very eyes. It was clear that he was surprised to see it. Yes, the Demon Weapon was big. But, that's more or less obvious from the coffin's shape. It was going to be monstrously huge and dangerous. But Maria is certainly pleased that Hatsuharu was heartened that such a thing was on his side. It's good to see her fellow comrades would have such confidence in her.


Maria silently nodded again for the last time at Hatsuharu's gratitude and his suggestion to leave. It was about time to catch up with the rest of their colleague to the crime scene. They had a Psyche-Terrorist to catch and they were clearly not waiting for them. Maria put the latches back onto the coffin as she closed it shut. With the container slung on her back, the Forgotten gestured the Nyarlathotep Child to start heading to their desired destination.


"Let us go then. I am certain they're waiting for us," Maria spoke with her eyes towards the direction of the scene. Her face, while empty, had the slight mar of anxiety on it. Would she be able to match what was required of her?

With that said, Maria would have now left the area with Hatsuharu to where they were needed.

He would take note of the look and the silence in response to his question. It was something he had gotten used to at this point as his eyes drifted to the other observing her blank expression, but reading in her eyes a different story. Despite what he saw, he did not pry into what he saw too deeply as he simply waited for an answer. When he received one, he’d give the woman an unreadable expression before blinking and turning away. That answer was displeasing to hear. He never agreed with following expectations if it meant losing yourself to the standard you were being held to. Even so he kept the feeling to himself and off of his face as he finally gave a soft “I see.” before falling silent again as he was lost in thought. The older cadet wouldn’t become too much more animated or talkative until the weapon Maria carried was revealed.

When he expressed his pleasure over seeing the item and even made a comment about its usefulness in their coming situation, he took note of the air around them. It seemed to lighten just a bit as Maria seemed pleased to hear the words he spoke. Well, well. She could feel still after all. Maybe her previous statement was not so bad after all. In any case, the moment would eventually pass as the pair became serious once more, their minds focusing on the task ahead.

Nodding at Maria’s gesture, Haru would fall in step with the woman as they moved off to the place they were suppose to meet the others in.

+ 4 stat points for 3 rank ups...

Haru:

Maria: