cestmagnifique | [IC] OVERFLOW THREADS @ cerealia

I see...

[ There's a pause on her end, the soft static hanging in the air as she draws nearer. She can feel Minato's presence like a blip on a map, growing stronger with each step. ]

I thought I sensed something powerful, but I haven't been able to pinpoint it's location.

[ Not a good sign, either way. Her footsteps become audible as she descends the scaffolding, the rusty metal having much too give to feel safe. ]

Twenty meters or so.

[ A rough estimate, though she feels that her abilities aren't up to par in this environment. Still, she's fairly on point as she draws close enough for Artemisia to be visible looming behind her. ]

[The ability to stand still is of great benefit in such unstable areas, and Mitsuru may be able to catch sight of Minato doing just that before he raises his Evoker up to head level to let her see where he is clearly.

He was tense admittedly, having half-expected creatures to strike at whoever walked on the pathways. To say that Minato was relieved to have one of his closest friends beside him right now would be understating it, and he lets out a sharply drawn breath once they're re-united.

There's just enough light for him to make out the path ahead, and he steps forward with care.] This walkway doesn't seem like it'll hold, and I'm concerned about the reading you mentioned. Let's be careful- anything could happen.

[ There is definitely a safety in numbers, and having someone you know and trust as your teammate makes a great deal of difference. Mitsuru figures that people might have been split up intentionally, but she can't be sure. She seems to be running into others often enough that it doesn't seem the most effective tactic, though it is a little disorienting.

She steps out to meet him. Right to business. That's something she understands and respects. Mitsuru nods. ]

I've tracked a handful of FOEs thus far, but they seem to be minor in comparison. Do you think we were intentionally sent here, or was this a glitch?

[Mitsuru's ability to stay calm under pressure was part of why he valued her input most out of any of the SEES members, and as disheartening as it was to be stuck in an unknown area once more there were few people he could admit to being relieved to see here.

Her question is immediately indicative that she's aware of the patterns behind Cerealia's mysteries and Minato looks upwards briefly before answering, wondering if there's anything helpful up there based on the drafty winds in their surroundings.

...of course there's no such luck.]

I think it's both. Someone or something wants us here, and I don't think CERES ever intended for us to find out...remember the noises behind the Residential District? They've completely stopped for a few days after the circus left, and whatever was causing it might be related to us being sent to this place. [Exactly what was causing it and what the machine was actually doing was anyone's guess, but based solely on CERES' actions immediately after the noises started it was at least obvious that was something they were keeping away from the colonists.]

[ It hadn't been entirely easy for Mitsuru to step back and let someone else give orders, despite the fact that it was her insistence that Minato stay the field commander even when she returned to battle. But if there was anyone she would trust to come up with the proper plan of action, it was him. That remains so and she's keen to share what she's learned thus far, limited though it may be.

So she listens carefully, valuing his expertise in regards to Cerealia as well as his opinion. ]

The noises... [ There's a moment as she seems to be processing this. ] Yes...they did. And as you said earlier, the...ringmaster, or whatever one might call him, had intended for the carnival to be a distraction of sorts. It's highly likely that they're related. [ There's a pause as she looks to the hip opposite of her Evoker, where her mask is hanging. ] There's reason to believe that these may play a part as well.

Right. Everyone seems to have one even if they didn't go to the fortune-teller, and that's worrying. [The wind flicks a lock of his hair over his left eye, and he pauses to raise a hand to push it back.]

Her name's Aria, and it seems that tarot cards were involved the last time she appeared. No one seems to know who she really is, though...it's hard to say whether she's even working with CERES.

[ She nods in agreement. It is very worrying. It seems that their choice was never a factor. (Although, she doesn't yet realize that it may still play a part in the results of the mask, rather than their appearance alone.) ]

We can only imagine the implications. However, if she is not working with or for CERES, it's possible that these can serve a purpose outside of their influence. A mask...a facade that we may choose to present, or perhaps a way for us to hide our identities...

A persona, in other words. [He unties his mask, turning it around and staring at the eye silts.

...it's kind of unnerving seeing how the blood pattern on the mask seems to drip, and that's coming from someone who lived with the Dark Hour for ten years.]

We should be ready for anything then. Let's find whoever might have been sent here first- there's probably a lot of them. [His tone is dull and he's clearly uncomfortable at the thought of other people being trapped here, but there's no time for complaining when they had no idea what was lying in wait in this place.]

[ Though she's hesitant to use the term, it did have meaning before the existence of their Persona became known. He's adept at applying it, in this case. ]

Yes...

[ Mitsuru watches him quietly. Her own mask is plain in comparison, though it's expression is downturned. She remembers when Minato had called to see what the state of the masks of the rest of the SEES members were. What meaning could this have? ]

Much like Shadows...the varied appearances must hold some meaning.

[ But as to what, she can't say. ]

Shall we move on, then?

[ Collective we. Mitsuru looks over her shoulder to Artemisia who begins the scan again without needing direct command. She must stay vigilant if they're going to find anymore of their friends. ]

It's the same with our Personas...they might have only one appearance, but it can have a lot of meanings. [With that said he tucks his mask back where it belongs- visible, but only just enough so that it doesn't attach itself to his face again. He nods curtly after that.]

Yeah, let's move on.

You would know that better than most.

[ His ability to summon multiple Personas is indeed unique, so it was rather surprising when she learned there was another. But that's a discussion for a later time. Mitsuru takes a moment as Artemisia gets their layout. ]

I can see at least two more floors below us. They don't seem to be very populated.

Good work, senpai. [The floors not being very populated works in their favor, but he still looks wary- it won't do them any good to be complacent, not when they had no idea how strong any monsters they encountered could be.]

We should avoid as many monsters as we can, if there are any of those. [And with that said he's nodding, signalling they're good to go.]

[ She nods in return, falling into step easily beside him. Though she'd spent the initial portion of his time in SEES as the navigator, she feels that she does best on the front lines. ]

I will help us route a path, then.

[ As they move towards the stairs, Artemisia begins to project a layout as she scans the floors below. ]

[Seeing the layout reminds him of Fuuka somehow, and there's a moment of pause before Minato takes the lead, noticeably with his hands outside of his pockets- weapon or no weapon, he has his bases covered with his Evoker.]

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