video/action;

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji is sitting on the front stoop of the inn, looking around at the snow. His expression, while typically neutral, also shows a combination of excitement and pensiveness. He offers a tiny smile to the video feed.]

I think Kanji and I have to take responsibility for this event. It shouldn't be bad, though. Unless someone else's memories are mixed in, this was just a nice vacation.

[He falls silent for a couple of seconds, distracted, then addresses the network again.]

Would anyone mind helping me figure out what word we lost this time? I need to write it down.

Comments

video.

[sketchedout]

[ He nods in response, thinking nothing of it. ]

Yes. Ann is a good friend of mine, and Akechi and I are familiar.

video.

[eatsyourscience]

Do you have a Persona?

[That is clearly the logical follow up question.]

video.

[sketchedout]

[ goddamnit. ]

I beg your pardon?

video.

[eatsyourscience]

Takamaki and Akechi both have them. I thought you might, too, since you know them.

[A beat.]

I use them, too.

video.

[sketchedout]

[ He looks a bit hesitant for a moment, like he's uncertain of what to say, exactly.

But if he knows about Ann . . . ]

Yes.

video.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji offers a small smile.]

That means we're from the same world.

video.

[sketchedout]

[ It's probably the equivalent to holding one's hand out for a stray dog to sniff at and determine if you're friendly or not. Yusuke still seems wary, even at the smile, but it doesn't last. Whatever tension was there seems to loosen up soon enough and he nods again. ]

So it would seem. Is that strange?

video.

[eatsyourscience]

Only a little. I think you're from what's the future for me. It's 2016 for you, right?

video.

[sketchedout]

Yes, that's right. It's not 2010 for you, is it? There is someone else who . . .

[ His voice trails off. It's strange, being so open about it. He already feels like he's said too much. ]

video.

[eatsyourscience]

You mean Minato? [He shakes his head.] I'm from 2012.

video.

[sketchedout]

Further along then, but . . . still behind, in a manner of speaking. I see.

video.

[eatsyourscience]

[Behind isn't the word Souji'd have used, but it is appropriate, temporally speaking.]

It feels like each of us saves the world for the people who come after us.

video.

[sketchedout]

Should I be thanking you, then?

[ It's not a snide remark, but an actual, sincere question. ]

video.

[eatsyourscience]

You don't need to. We wanted to do it. [And they'd had to do it.]

I bet it'll be the same for you.

video.

[sketchedout]

Perhaps, yes.

[ It's a cagey answer, and he knows it's a cagey answer, but he can't help it. ]

video.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji'll let it slide. Kind of.]

I don't know much about what's going on at home for all of you. I've just heard a little about the Metaverse and palaces.

video.

[sketchedout]

Perhaps asking Morgana would be for the best. He's something of an expert on the subject.

[ Passing the buck to Mona? Maybe. But he's usually the one to take the lead on this sort of thing anyway. ]

video.

[eatsyourscience]

The cat? I haven't met him yet.

[And it is imperative that he do so. Because cats.]

video.

[sketchedout]

It is extremely hard to miss him once you start looking for him. Perhaps try looking near something shiny.

[ Morgana really did like treasure . . . ]

video.

[eatsyourscience]

Something shiny. I'll keep that in mind.

[A beat.]

Why is it hard to miss him, though?

video.

[sketchedout]

If you can hear him, then he's very . . .

[ Loud. Opinionated. Follow the sounds of the cat cackling and you'll probably find Morgana. ]

Vocal.

video.

[eatsyourscience]

Why wouldn't I be able to hear him?

[He practically has cat radar, so even that might not stop him. But still.]

video.

[sketchedout]

[ You know, that's a valid question. And it's one he could answer.

Or he could get distracted by craning his neck at the feed, briefly lifting his fingers in a framing motion as he squints, concentration deepening. It's only after a long pause — just a bit of awkward silence, really — that he seems to realize that perhaps he's waiting on some sort of response from him for . . . something? What was it, again? ]

— I'm sorry?

video.

[eatsyourscience]

[...Huh. Well that was surprising. But he can come back to the issue of Morgana in a minute.]

Did you see something interesting?

video.

[sketchedout]

My apologies. I was merely admiring the scenery.

[ From anyone else, that might sound like an excuse of some sort. From Yusuke though, it sounds genuinely sincere, like he was entranced by the feed. ]