-2-

[counterstrikes]

[Action for the park]

[Chie isn't going to school today. She still has too much on her mind, ranging from how much she hates this place to Yosuke to the gift that came in the mail. The only place where she's really managed to calm herself down is the park. It reminds of her of the time she spent training with Souji and Nanako by the river and the

Comments

[action; park]

[riastrad_ridire]

...

[That was different. Lancer knew 'weird', and this was pretty high on the 'weird-shit-o-meter'.]

That's pretty impressive. [He crossed his arms, watching her with an intrigued look.]

[counterstrikes]

[Chie quickly spins around, looking like her hand was caught in the cookie jar.]

G-geez! I didn't know anyone was watching me! How long have you been standing there?

[riastrad_ridire]

Long enough.

[He laughed at her reaction--he'd heard about Persona from Elizabeth, but had absolutely no idea what one was supposed to look like.]

What was that thing, anyway? Looks pretty useful to have in a fight.

[counterstrikes]

W-what?! Don't laugh!

That thing is Suzuka Gongen. She's kind of...like a part of me. She's really strong.

[riastrad_ridire]

I can tell she's strong just by watching that. ...wait, a part of you?

[Where have you heard that before, Lancer? Better think about it.]

[counterstrikes]

It...probably wouldn't make any sense to you, but she's my Persona. I don't get it sometimes myself...it's...more something I feel, I guess.

[riastrad_ridire]

[Annnd A connects with B.]

...Oh, you have one of those? I heard about them from a girl named Elizabeth.

[Lancer smiled, looking interested.]

She was kind of vague about how they worked, though. And she seemed convinced I was one. Weird.

[counterstrikes]

Yeah! She has them, too. I only have one, but some of the others here can use more than one...Suzuka Gongen's all I need, though.

[Chie smiles back! Yay, someone not being creepy about Persona!]

W-well...it's kind of a long story, and it's kind of personal. Basically, I just...feel her energy and I can call upon it. Sorry, it's hard to explain.

Why would she think that?

[riastrad_ridire]

Sounded like she could use a few herself, really. And she described them as being a part of her or something like that.

[He shrugged, as if it was nothing important.]

I'm not all that different from something manifested by magic, though it was my identity she seemed interested in. [And at this point, what was the point in hiding it?]

Name's Cu Chulainn, nice to meet you. Who exactly am I talking to, anyway?

[counterstrikes]

[Chie nodded as Lancer spoke, genuinely interested. He didn't seem crazy. That was a huge plus in this town. Also, he didn't have a gun.]

I'm Chie. Chie Satonaka.

[And then, she paused. The name sounded familiar, but it's not like Souji had that Persona long.]

...am I supposed to know that name?