[ fidelio's poking around the soundstage, checking out the instruments — some of which are familiar in appearance, some which aren't, and none of which he has any idea how to play despite the bars of music notes hovering over his head.
eventually his exploration leads him to the box of CDs beneath the stage, and he takes one out of his case and holds it up in the light to look at the reflective colours. no strings or keys or anything... what the hell does this have to do with music.
[Ah, the ol' classic of fantasy characters finding out the oddities of everyday modern life. Akihiko had been testing the sound mixers a little, trying not to blast sound loudly while experimenting around with this, when he heard Fidelio]
It's just a CD. You can stick those into that thing over there. [He points at another device] The colorful side always faces down.
[After a few encounters with other people unused to modern things, Akihiko has, mercifully, stopped being surprised by what some aren't aware of. About time, really]
[ it's evening in whoville and at the moment fidelio's got horns on his head instead of cat ears (and presumably has the normal ears for this tribe under his hair) and no tail. at least it's not the most alarming transformation anyone's had today.
anyway, he's looking at a big plastic spider skeleton and judging. ]
[Sorry for taking a bit to respond -- I needed to pace myself a little, yup.
Akihiko has grown dog ears, big and pointy, and a fluffy tail. He's pretty sure anyone from home would think he was imitating Koromaru, since the color of the fur was so similar. Better this than horns, he thinks]
Accuracy is not the point. It's all about the aesthetic, and giving candy all over the place.
I sure hope not! What's more -- is it only one killer, or is it two? That's what's important here.
[For obvious reasons, really. The more killers there are, the more victims there'll be. If the number keeps going up...yeah, maybe there won't be redemption for anyone because everybody will be double dead]
Yeah. 'Bout as far from ideal as you can get, without actually voting for the wrong person. Voting out the one you know wasn't in their right mind and didn't have a say in it instead of the one who was perfectly in control and might be lyin'.
[ man. ]
Think it was the right choice, don't get me wrong. But that don't mean it feels good.
Fair. If you're tryin' to vote for whoever's guiltier, if you don't believe her story, the person who chose to go out and kill someone rather than the one who weren't in his right mind deserves it more.
Since I saw that tree, I knew someone out there would believe in its promises and try to kill. I hardly believe everyone will resist it...
[He doesn't trust anybody nearly enough to think they're immune. Heck, he's sure in different circumstances in his world, he himself would be tempted!]
So, seeing someone who might have proven I was right really got under my skin.
[If there hadn't been as much doubt surrounding her, he'd have certainly voted for Claude]
Yeah. I intend to talk to her, try to convince her to give details, and apologize, if I have to.
[Firefly wouldn't ever know of his actions if he didn't tell her, really, but Akihiko sees no reason not to be frank with her if he was mistaken, after having gotten her a step closer to death]
Doubt she's gonna hold it against you for votin' for her. I mean, she did do it, regardless of the circumstances behind it.
[ and he's guessing she probably feels some guilt over it either way. ]
If you want me own rationale, I just voted for the person who seemed more likely to be a threat goin' forward, even if it weren't necessarily the fairer answer.
[ okay akihiko is getting my one battle-containing memory (2:48:22 - 2:53:42) because i think it's funny if he recognises how similar these moves are to persona ones but gets confused by the different naming. i'm sorry if you also got this from becks lmao. ]
[Oh, not just the attacks seem strangely familiar to Akihiko. The archetypes' designs remind him of the Personas too. Watching the battle, Akihiko gets rather interested, seeing everyone fight that monster in the sea. While he wasn't able to see what Fidelio and Basilio have, he assumes they too have that kind of ability as well]
[...was he wrong, then? Or--wait, he gets it. Just like the spells have different names, this thing has been named differently too. Why couldn't these people shout what it's called whenever they use it, like sane people do, screaming PERSONA left and right?]
Whenever they were about to make a move, they'd transform into something else. That's what I mean. I recognize some of the magic they used -- it's the same I and my friends use.
[Even though you all apparently make it real confusing by not using the right names. Heck, you all even have a navigator]
[ huh. he wonders if that's a coincidence or if it actually means something. though if it's the latter in a world where elda are called humans, he really won't know what to make of that. ]
That lot calls 'em Archetypes. Never had one personally, though.
Interesting! Normally Personas awaken when you have some strong emotion involved. Sometimes wanting to protect someone else or something, other times it's wanting to fight no matter what...but in the end it's all rooted in the core of your being.
[Maybe Archetypes work like that too...? When the timing is right, Fidelio says, but now that he thinks about it, most Personas awoke with the best timing possible too]
...if those are humans, then being around here having to call so many of us humans must feel bizarre!
Pretty much. It's hard to talk when even myself isn't sure about things.
[Hey, Fidelio. Akihiko is keeping himself on the opposite wall, as if the distance helps focus]
I just don't get why I'd go and kill someone in the first place. That doesn't make any sense to me.
[Right now, he's starting to lean towards the conclusion that he was possessed, but maybe in a more subtle way that also left him sane.
He's wrong. He's just having such a hard time accepting that he impulsively went and killed Majima for a reason. It's somewhat of an internal crisis, really]
Even when the barriers fell, it was all started so sudden. Before I knew it, I had thrown a punch at Majima, without saying a word. I kept doing it, over and over, and before I noticed I wasn't seeing Majima anymore. I kept thinking about some memories I saw in the mirrors. Some big regrets.
[The first punch was such an impulse thing, once the barriers fell and both Majima and Akihiko saw they were both awake, but Akihiko also considers something: he wouldn't have been awake unless he was possessed, right? Because otherwise he'd have intentions to kill. True, many nights he wondered why he wasn't taking action to solve anything at home, but surely he didn't go and think taking a life was a worthwhile price, he thinks, because that'd go against all he believes. Right?]
Yes. [.......] I can't deny that in the nights I couldn't sleep easily, while in the dark I wondered if one of those apples would ensure we win. If somehow, an apple would be enough to let us win a fight against what's pretty much Death itself even though it's said to be impossible.
But there's a whole world of difference between thinking about that, and actually killing someone. I can't see myself making the jump if I'm not possessed.
[If only he was right about not being capable of that, but yeah, he'll have to sooner or later accept that. It will be immensely painful]
To be fair to you, I think plenty of us have thought about how those apples could help us out. It's not a moral failing, just thinkin' that.
[ and if it is, he's sure not getting revived. but it's true, thinking that to actually doing it is a very big leap. ]
But yeah, if you weren't seriously considering acting on that thought before you woke up that night... [ frowns. ] Seems like every time we think we're starting to understand how this all works, we get thrown another curveball.
...How were you feelin' today? Was it like somethin' was actively keeping you from coming clean earlier, or was that just fear?
I guess I didn't confess right away because first I'd have to face what I had done. No matter if I was possessed or not or whatever, first I'd have to accept I had actually killed.
[The longer the trial went and he had to confront more and more his actions, the more he had to accept he murdered. That sucked.
His immensely cooperative behavior with the strip search and the hand comparisons and everything else were, on some level, a sign of acceptance. How else can one explain he doing such counterproductive moves without nary a resistance, he thinks]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
w0, monday
eventually his exploration leads him to the box of CDs beneath the stage, and he takes one out of his case and holds it up in the light to look at the reflective colours. no strings or keys or anything... what the hell does this have to do with music.
he looks over, holding up a few CD cases. ]
Got any idea what these are?
no subject
It's just a CD. You can stick those into that thing over there. [He points at another device] The colorful side always faces down.
[After a few encounters with other people unused to modern things, Akihiko has, mercifully, stopped being surprised by what some aren't aware of. About time, really]
w1, monday
anyway, he's looking at a big plastic spider skeleton and judging. ]
...They know that's not how spiders work, right?
no subject
Akihiko has grown dog ears, big and pointy, and a fluffy tail. He's pretty sure anyone from home would think he was imitating Koromaru, since the color of the fur was so similar. Better this than horns, he thinks]
Accuracy is not the point. It's all about the aesthetic, and giving candy all over the place.
no subject
he sort of sighs inwardly at the tail and ears but keeps it to himself. ]
The hell do spiders and candy have to do with each other?
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Mix it together, have no care at all about biology accuracy, and you get something that creeps you out in a fun way. In theory.
[Akihiko shrugs]
It's a children's thing.
[He almost forgot to add that important detail]
w1, friday
This number had better not keep increasing every week.
no subject
[For obvious reasons, really. The more killers there are, the more victims there'll be. If the number keeps going up...yeah, maybe there won't be redemption for anyone because everybody will be double dead]
w1, saturday
anyway he's leaning against a wall somewhere with his arms crossed ]
Been a hell of a day.
no subject
That's not enough description for that. I'm still reeling from that voting.
[In the end he took a decision, but he's not happy about it]
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[ man. ]
Think it was the right choice, don't get me wrong. But that don't mean it feels good.
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Be honest with me for a moment. Do you believe Firefly?
[He really wonders if it was genuine self-defense, and Fidelio's opinion would be very welcome. Akihiko isn't really trying to be confrontational]
no subject
...Not really.
Do you?
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[Akihiko chooses to admit:]
I voted for her.
[So that's a no]
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Fair. If you're tryin' to vote for whoever's guiltier, if you don't believe her story, the person who chose to go out and kill someone rather than the one who weren't in his right mind deserves it more.
no subject
[He doesn't trust anybody nearly enough to think they're immune. Heck, he's sure in different circumstances in his world, he himself would be tempted!]
So, seeing someone who might have proven I was right really got under my skin.
[If there hadn't been as much doubt surrounding her, he'd have certainly voted for Claude]
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[ not that he doesn't understand the impulse... ]
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[Firefly wouldn't ever know of his actions if he didn't tell her, really, but Akihiko sees no reason not to be frank with her if he was mistaken, after having gotten her a step closer to death]
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[ and he's guessing she probably feels some guilt over it either way. ]
If you want me own rationale, I just voted for the person who seemed more likely to be a threat goin' forward, even if it weren't necessarily the fairer answer.
no subject
[Well, it's not confirmed that's what was going on with him, but between him and Firefly he seems like the more dangerous one]
w3, monday
no subject
...no way. You all have Personas as well...?
no subject
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[...was he wrong, then? Or--wait, he gets it. Just like the spells have different names, this thing has been named differently too. Why couldn't these people shout what it's called whenever they use it, like sane people do, screaming PERSONA left and right?]
Whenever they were about to make a move, they'd transform into something else. That's what I mean. I recognize some of the magic they used -- it's the same I and my friends use.
[Even though you all apparently make it real confusing by not using the right names. Heck, you all even have a navigator]
no subject
[ huh. he wonders if that's a coincidence or if it actually means something. though if it's the latter in a world where elda are called humans, he really won't know what to make of that. ]
That lot calls 'em Archetypes. Never had one personally, though.
no subject
I see...how did they gain that power? And...What was that monster you fought? It looked strong!
[That thing that was maybe designed by Bosch too...Akihiko wonders how easily his team could have beat it]
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[ he only knows how one of them actually happened, and that one was a bit of an outlier. ]
That? That was one of those humans we've talked about.
[ sadly not a bosch design but the vibes are sort of there ]
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[Maybe Archetypes work like that too...? When the timing is right, Fidelio says, but now that he thinks about it, most Personas awoke with the best timing possible too]
...if those are humans, then being around here having to call so many of us humans must feel bizarre!
w4, saturday
Hey. Sounded like there was a lot you couldn't say earlier.
no subject
[Hey, Fidelio. Akihiko is keeping himself on the opposite wall, as if the distance helps focus]
I just don't get why I'd go and kill someone in the first place. That doesn't make any sense to me.
[Right now, he's starting to lean towards the conclusion that he was possessed, but maybe in a more subtle way that also left him sane.
He's wrong. He's just having such a hard time accepting that he impulsively went and killed Majima for a reason. It's somewhat of an internal crisis, really]
no subject
What were you feelin' at the time, when it was happening?
no subject
[The first punch was such an impulse thing, once the barriers fell and both Majima and Akihiko saw they were both awake, but Akihiko also considers something: he wouldn't have been awake unless he was possessed, right? Because otherwise he'd have intentions to kill. True, many nights he wondered why he wasn't taking action to solve anything at home, but surely he didn't go and think taking a life was a worthwhile price, he thinks, because that'd go against all he believes. Right?]
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Regrets? Like that fight you died in, you mean?
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But there's a whole world of difference between thinking about that, and actually killing someone. I can't see myself making the jump if I'm not possessed.
[If only he was right about not being capable of that, but yeah, he'll have to sooner or later accept that. It will be immensely painful]
no subject
[ and if it is, he's sure not getting revived. but it's true, thinking that to actually doing it is a very big leap. ]
But yeah, if you weren't seriously considering acting on that thought before you woke up that night... [ frowns. ] Seems like every time we think we're starting to understand how this all works, we get thrown another curveball.
...How were you feelin' today? Was it like somethin' was actively keeping you from coming clean earlier, or was that just fear?
no subject
[The longer the trial went and he had to confront more and more his actions, the more he had to accept he murdered. That sucked.
His immensely cooperative behavior with the strip search and the hand comparisons and everything else were, on some level, a sign of acceptance. How else can one explain he doing such counterproductive moves without nary a resistance, he thinks]