Akemi Learns About The Velvet Room (Log 5)

Hideyori Arai cants his head to the side as he sighs. Mid of the afternoon and the man still was in the issue of what was going on within himself. Right now he has a bottle of ramune in front of him and was shouting at the convience clerk. "Grape?" he shouted. "Yeeech!" before he moved to pick up a bag of chips. Lays. "American..." he added osftly, canting his head.

Akemi had grown bolder. It was strange- so accustomed was she to demanding perfection she had never had an oppertunity to accept the possibility of failure before. But, the experiment demanded sacrifice. And so, she resolved to nail the posters to washroom walls, ensuring a sufficient influx of subjects for her to practice something approximating actual rigor. But, then she bumped into a familiar face in her first haunt and that all went to shit.

 "Yakuza guy?" She asked, cocking her head to the side. Yelling about something. That was... par for course, admitedly. But, a potential subject was a potential subject, and this one probably knew way more than those two kids. "Hey! Excuse me, sir," she says softly, but insistantly.
Hideyori Arai heard the phrase. "It's Hideyori. Arai if you are going to do like the police" he replied to the woman, though he had a good guess as to whom she was. However, he did not say much for now, save to shoot the clerk a bad glare.

        Turning around, he looks at the strange lady whom he felt the feeling from at the Duck Burger, and began to eat the chips, having paid for them. The Ramune..grape..was opened as well. "So you still live, eh? Good to know. And I'm not Yakuza. I'm loosely associated with people who are on both sides of the law"

Akemi Ohashi forces a smile. Whatever helps you sleep at night. "Of course. Mind if we go somewhere less open than an Americanized chain store? It's been a while." Not to mention, of course, the inevitably-terrified cashier who would probably be better off if not exposed to the mob-guy.

Hideyori Arai holds up his fingertips. "Not until you mention that you get what I am saying" he added as he waves his hand. "Go ahead adn get something" he added. A small grunt as he hands his business card to the chain store clerk. "If your boss ever needs computer work" he advised as he put some yen down for Akemi's order. "Ladies first"

Akemi Ohashi grimaces. "Oh, sure. I'll just..." Akemi reaches for gum as so to end the shoping trip as quickly as possible, but then thinks better of herself and remembers her financial straits. A noticeable shudder passes through her as she grabs a bag full of beef jerky as though it were a massive insect and sets it on the counter. "I get it, I get it. You're not actively in the Yakuza. They have a formalized hierarchy that doesn't include you, like every non-Italian character in every Western mob movie ever made. Frankly, I'm beyond caring at this point." She shoots the cashier a look that approximately convayed her condolances. "But, really, we must catch up. I insist."

Hideyori Arai rolls his eyes. "Right" he quipped drily as he paid for the woman's food as wel as the gum and the drink. A small sigh as they walk outside, facing the parking lot and the mall itself. His own food in his hand, the chips being imbibed as he looks at Akemi a moment longer.

        "I am so not Italian. Half Japanese..if you must ask but.." he waves his hand. "Go on. What did you want to know"

Akemi Ohashi smiles. "Don't care. I lived my first ten years half out of European airplanes. Everyone's a foreigner. But, well- I suppose I do have some questions, remaining for you. You mentioned, in our last meeting, that you'd take me to see your friends if and when I had manifested the ability to summon my own Persona. I am currently working on research along those lines, and do have a solution, although I still find it overdangerous and inadequate. So, what I suppose I want from you, is an introduction to your friend- the ones with Personae. I need subjects, of course," she said. "Unless, I guess, you've managed to figure out another method of obtaining one in the last couple weeks."

Hideyori Arai rolls his eyes. "Are you basically as king me to be the role of your senpai in this?" he asks the woman. The drink finished, tossed into the trash can, he turns his head to face Akemi. "The thing of the matter is..if I take you to meet with either the Government or those students I know and you do 'not' have a Persona.." he shakes hsi head as he leans against the wall. He waves his hand.

        "I told you. Either have your fortune read by someone, or face a true peril to your body ..'or' be a part of the Kirijo conglomoration and have them recognize you have this power. I know you have it as you feel like a warm thrumm in my head. But you have to understand there is a lot of suppression in the media as well"

Akemi Ohashi Akemi smiles widely. "Oh, really? That was the primary thing stopping me, I think, from carrying out the experiment on my person- I couldn't know if I truely had a Persona, or not. Perhaps..." she says, before trailing off. "No. Needs more testing. The last experiment almost burned down my house, which would be incredibly hard to explain to my brother." She muses for a moment, and then her hands fly into her bag and withdraw pencil and paper again. "Alright, what do you think is going to happen if you introduce me to these people sans Persona? I'm not asking you to 'senpai' me, I'm asking you to introduce me. There's a pretty significant difference."

Hideyori Arai looks at Akemi as he shakes his head. "They will treat you nicely but will likely say I'm stupid for telling you those things" he added. A small shrug. "Senpai, introduction...am I not guiding you through this?" he asks idly

Akemi Ohashi narrows her eyes. "I see- and you can't credibly claim that I happened upon this myself without my own Persona. Back to square one, then. How do the Kirijo people bring it out? Any knowledge at all? If I can't get subjects I'm going to need new avenues for research." she says, taking notes in her customary unreadable shorthand.

Hideyori Arai cants his head. "What research?" he asks the woman as he looks at her. A small sigh as he added. "The only way I 'know' of is for you to have that to happen. The Kirijo people, for their own reasons, are looking at Persona users and are aware of those with Talent. If you survive the Dark Hour I told you of..well.." he shrugged. He keeps his hands clasped behind his back as he asks. "Now..answer my question. What research?"

Akemi Ohashi says, "I'm trying to bring out Personae artificially, since almost dying is hard to enduce reliably in laboratory settings and I've never seen that stupid fortune teller. I had success with one subject, but his set fire to my bedroom. Obviously, I'm not using that treatment on myself- I sort of want to be able to use mine to keep me safe from monsters, and not for indescriminate arson. Developing something like that is going to require me to control for mastery of persona ability, and that means a large sample size. That answer your question?"

Hideyori Arai laughs as he looks at Akemi. "Look" he replied softly as he shakes his head. "As it was told to me, the Persona comes from your soul..your ability from within. If you go about asking people to expose their souls.." he shakes his head as he finishes his chip. "Can you see why this could be considered culturally awkawrd and inappropriate?" he asks.

Akemi Ohashi rolls her eyes. "Hideyori, I'm a scientist. If Alfred Kinsey can set up cameras and watch people screw each other for science, I can ask people to show me their souls. Plus, it's not like you had much trouble doing it, when we first met."

Hideyori Arai shrugged. "True. The point still stands though that this is something.." he clacks his teeth together. "This is something which cannot be known unless you have experienced summoning on your own terms.." he replied softly. A small sigh as he looks at Akemi. "Has the door to the Velvet Room made itself available to you? I understand the room's Master will let it be seen if someone truthfully seeks him out"

Akemi Ohashi half-jumps in surprise. "Velvet room? No, I've never- I've never even heard of it. Who's the Master of the Velvet Room? Why- irrelevant. Can you take me?

Hideyori Arai lifts his eyebrows as he sighs. "Why do I have a feeling I am telling someone this and it's akin to giving a child a cookiee" he added. A shake of his head. "Look. I do not know as I've never seen it myself but if I find it, I can bring you in as a guest but you would be.." he clacks his teeth. "If you mess up it's on me" he added.

        He ahhs as he lifts a finger. "And someone else who is not Yakuza but is familiar with Irie san told me of the room. If I promise to let you be my guest if I find it, will you quit calling me Yakuza guy?"

Akemi Ohashi takes a moment to breathe. Too much excitement would ruin this. "O-of course! Anything. And I won't mess up- or, I mean. I'll try not to. I will confess that the rules regarding this sort of thing aren't exactly spelled out during primary school. What if this... Master, figure, doesn't like scientists?"

Hideyori Arai barks out a laugh as he leans against the wall and closes his eyes. "As far as I understand it" he replied as he looked at Akemi, opening them. "If you are a resident of the room, and those who can summon Personae are residents, you are just held liable to accept your decisions, good or ill"

Akemi Ohashi exhales. "I- well. Responsibility is not something I lack. But there's still- I- What even is the Velvet Room?" she asks. "Who's this Master? Are they- can they give me Personae?"

Hideyori Arai shakes his head. "I told you" he replied. A small sigh as he cants his head. "I seriously doubt that they could gift it to you but.." he looks at Akemi. "As a scientist, if I gave you the calculations to unlock sustainable renewable energy but told you to only sell it to Sumaru corporations cheaply then charge the world double..would you not be beholden to me?"

Akemi Ohashi furrows her eyebrows. "It's an oral contract. I'd be beholden to it, of course, but I'm not above breaking it if it would, you know, bring about the transhuman revolution. I'm responsible, not honorable."

Hideyori Arai shakes his head. "That's not the point though I am making" he replied as he turns to face Akemi. "I am saying that, yes it can happen but should it? Would you not have the ability to find out yourself?" he asks. A small cant of his head as he sighs.

        "I will also have to say one other thing. Considering that you will have to possibly 'fight' for what you hold dear, or wind up fighting" he added as he pulled up his shirt, showing the scar which remained after one last fight. "Do you see why being in some sort of physical shape may be helpful? 'tis not a prerequisite but it might help in the long run"

Akemi Ohashi grimices at the nudity. "Keep your shirt on," she says. "I'm afraid, then, that I don't understand your question. I mean, I'm fully capable of assessing the morality of my actions- better than most, I'd say, but is that what you're asking? As for the issue of my... well, frankly pathetic physical status- I've done cost/benefit analysis on this and it's simply not worth my time to work out when I could be learning. If that changes, I suppose I'll try to improve myself, but as it stands I don't plan on entering into engagements I don't think I can win with being as weak as I am. And who knows? What if my Persona is some massive buff guy?"

Hideyori Arai shakes his head. "Would it not be better if you achieved this yourself?" he asks. A small shake of his head as he added. "If you ever unlock a Persona..I will be able to let you know just precisely how as I've seen some Persona use physical attacks at the expense of their owner's health. If you do too much it could damage your psyche, and in my case" he added. "If I am stupid with my moves I get tired quickly" he added.

        A small shrug as he looks at Akemi. "I hope you can forgive my bluntness. Did you see any news out of Inaba recently?"

Akemi Ohashi cocks an eyebrow "No? Or- not as far as I can remember. Frankly, I'm not sure I know where that is. Why? Something happen?"

Hideyori Arai says, "Inaba..is not that far from here by train. I was..visiting an estranged relative and they were murdered."

Akemi Ohashi coughs. "Oh, jeeze. Uh- are you alright. Did- um. Jeeze. Do you need to talk about it, or something?" she stutters.

Hideyori Arai waves his hand for a brief moment. "I appreciate it but.." he shrugged his shoulders. "It is something I may or may not have to deal with on my own" he added. His eyes remain half closed before opening them. "I just...if I seem wrong or off that's why"

Akemi Ohashi frowns. "I understand. I- jeeze. Just don't go all martyr on me, okay? I mean, I know we barely even know each other, but- just, don't make yourself crazy, understand?"

Hideyori Arai shakes his head. "I just want to find out..." he replied softly. "HOwever no I will not be doing anything crazy. I don't think.." he advised. Looking at Akemi, he taps his chin. "Focus you on one other thing to consider. Research the Mystery Killer in Inaba"

Akemi Ohashi tilts her head. "I, uh. I'm a neurologist, not a detective. I can give it my best shot but I'm not sure I can't bring anything better than the cops to the table on this one."

Hideyori Arai shrugged his shoulders. "You said you wanted to know all, kind of yes?" he asks. "I know those who have been to Inaba also have unlocked Persona after events have happened"

Akemi Ohashi smiles. "Well, Hideyori Arai, you just said the magic word. I guess I'll have to go out to Inaba sometime soon. I'll look into finding that killer, though it really would be easier if I didn't have another massive project to which I have to devote myself.

Hideyori Arai shakes his head. "You can't" he replied. "There are people who are seeking the killer but.." he shrugged his shoulders.

Akemi Ohashi says, "Oh? You know them? Are they, you know. Part of this whole thing?"

Hideyori Arai says, "No..it's just a gut feeling."

Hideyori Arai cants his head as he sighs. "Regardless.." he shrugged briefly. "That is about the best I can tell you in regards to Persona. If you.." he looks at Akemi. "If you ever show me you 'are' awakened..then I can offer you some more lessons if you want and introduce you to a few people"

Akemi Ohashi purses her lips. "Looks like it really is all the way back to square one, then. Thanks for your help, anyway. I have to go nail up these posters but if I start getting decent results I'll call you!" she says. Akemi turns and starts to walk back to the store.

Hideyori Arai nods his head. "Hey!" he called out once, before the woman left. "I have faith you know. Faith you will find your own answer"

Akemi Ohashi stops, turns. "Thanks, Hideyori. I'll find it, come hell or high water. Sorry about your relative!" she says, turns again, trotting off to go further her schemes.
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