#3

[rp_advice_meme]

Another RP anon meme has been posted, and so now is the time for another rp_advice_meme!

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Comments

Inner Psychology and Emotions

[anonymous]

Mitsuru does have a vulnerable and more emotional side, but she keeps it under tight lock and key. And when she tries to express it, or deal with matters that are require her to make decisions with emotions in them, things can get very awkward and tense for her. Mitsuru's expertise is in putting on the mask of a detached business woman in training, and when she takes that mask off, it's hard for her to figure out how to express herself without it.

As far as psychology goes, that perfectionist streak still reigns supreme in Mitsuru's mind. There is this constant need for her to be composed, calm, and in control. If she doesn't have these things, then BAM. Mitsuru is out of her comfort zone, and will do whatever it takes to regain her feet and get back in there. The plus side for Mitsuru is that it's easy for her to keep a calm mind, or at least one that can think clearly and make split decisions. The down side is that she has no problem pushing people away emotionally when it comes to keeping her cool, and being in control of things.

Again, control is a major part of Mitsuru's makeup. She's used to issuing commands, making plans, and the like, and she likes having some measure of it in her life. She's definitely a matriarch in some ways. Mitsuru does have something of a mother archetype working with her, although it's a bit skewed. Mitsuru is a leader, and an upperclassman, but she also tends to be a bit of a manipulator, and is in sore need of learning that it's okay to be a bit more open with her emotions.

On the other hand, she is also VERY dedicated to keeping S.E.E.S. working as a cohesive unit, and does have some loyalty to her family. She may get frustrated with Junpei for shirking his studies, or Akihiko for doing a stupid thing like patrolling alone and getting his ribs broken, but they're still a group of people she feels responsible for, and she will do her best to make sure they survive and carry out their duties.

Changing tracks, we don't see a lot of her back story as an ickle kid, but chances are tiny!Mitsuru had to grow up FAST. A bit of math shows that the Kirijo experiments started when Mitsuru was about four. Tartarus had appeared by the time she was eight, and was also when she summoned Penthesilea. So, yes. While Mitsuru is a prodigy when it comes to using her Persona, she had to pay a bit of a price for it when it comes to how her thoughts and social skills developed. (Such as deciding that interacting with people on a deep or meaningful level is over rated.)

She does have a bit of a pessimistic streak that seems to run right next to her insightful side. When she goes to the movie theater on August 30th, she gets really annoyed at the love story that's playing. Mitsuru even outright says "And the ending…It stopped right when the prince and the woman settled down. But what about after that? If they had shown the real life of royalty, I assure you it wouldn't have been a happy ending." She doesn't trust or believe very much in idealistic things.

She does have some escapist habits, though. Her motorcycle is one thing, but also studying and reading is a very good and reliable way for her to relax and/or recover from anything unpleasant. As she says herself "Studying actually helps take your mind off things" right after the Kirijo reveal.

It probably says something about Mitsuru that her primary way to cope with stress is to bury herself in work, and also worth keeping in mind for another reason. Mitsuru is something of a workaholic, and feels a bit unsure when she doesn't have something to do. It doesn't have to be homework or Kirijo correspondence work, either; hunting Shadows, reading, training her Persona, etc are all acceptable for Mitsuru. It's just really important for her to be doing something to keep her mind active and busy. She'll usually lean more to the intellectual side of things (physical training is something she leaves for Akihiko) although there's always the chance that she might want to practice her fencing.

[cont]

Inner Psychology and Emotions, Pt 2

[anonymous]

On some level, Mitsuru realizes that she doesn't fit in when it comes to regular everyday things. (Such as ordering fast food and eating it, fashion magazines, etc.) And is actually a bit resentful of that. There's other things that drive her to go out and experience new things, such as curiosity, but another big factor is proving to herself that yes, she can indeed figure out how to function on a day to day level without the Kirijo staff helping her out along the way.

Okay, quite a few tangents in there, but now for the more emotional side of things. Emotions and how Mitsuru expresses them are interesting. She experiences them, but she works really, REALLY hard on internalizing them. So when you see her sad face in the game, then you KNOW things are about to head south.

The general rule is that the more time she spends with a person, and the more she learns about them, she'll get a bit more comfortable with letting herself get a bit more emotional around them. Although even then, it's interesting to note that in her artwork she usually smiles with her eyes closed, and there's lots of instances in the game where it says she forces a smile, or a mood.

Also, Mitsuru is TOUGH on herself, both internally and externally. Internally she kind of…Censors herself when it comes to what she's allowed to think, and what sort of emotions she's allowed to express.

There's a definite line drawn on what sort of emotions she keeps locked up, as well. Ones that would undermine her authority, or that run counter to what she THINKS the Kirijo Group would approve of are internalized. Ones that would reinforce those things, however, are let out in amounts that Mitsuru might judge as safe.

A bit of anger and glaring, therefore? Is okay by her, as long as she can use it to get a point across. Doubt, sadness, and the like however all get closed up, since there's no way she can express any of those without feeling like she's displaying something that will make people think less of her. Happiness is an interesting one, as she does let herself express it as long as she can control it.

Bottom line being, Mitsuru is not comfortable with showing her more extreme emotions.