Persona: Shadows of the Mind

[The-Shadow-One]

Kieran - The Daily Grind
Kieran pocketed the ticket stubs, murmuring a thank you towards the star. A small chuckle at the expense of Oscar. "Real smooth Casanova." He stated, sighing as checked his phone. "Rather odd we're getting a notification.. you don't think it has anything to do with..?" He left it open but it was rather obvious he was talking about the weird dream.

[Rook]

James - The Daily Grind

James accepted Maria's invitation gratefully, sliding into a seat next to Oscar. He beamed excitedly at his fellow Persona users; he was clearly eager to discuss their exploits in that alternate dimension.

James couldn't help but wince at Oscar's fumbling attempt at romanticism, but he slapped him on the back heartily and flashed an encouraging smile, "Ah, don't feel bad, man! You'll have better luck next time." As his phone beeped, he withdrew his hand, dipped it into his pocket, and pulled out his phone.

[Unionhack]

The Wonderful World of Electronic Communication

As each student checked their phones, they were greeted with the same phenomenon. A text notification that, when opened, brought them to a texting application that was not the default. The app was the same regardless of phone model, running perfectly without hiccup or glitch, and was textured in a disturbingly familiar blue.

The text app opened into a conversation without prompt, one labled "Velvet Group Chat". One moderately long message was displayed, with a contact photo attached depicting a stoic-faced Victoria in her Velvet Room attire.

Good day, valued students of the Velvet Room. To ease your minds and further facilitate your growth as guests, my master has given me permission to contact you directly. I am here to answer any and all queries that you may have, barring information that is either beyond my station to give or beyond my knowledge; in other words, I can only speak of what I know and what I am able to discuss.

Bear in mind that you are the only ones able to see these messages. Anyone not awoken to the power of Persona will see only static-filled screen.

As an additional courtesy, we have given you the ability to enter the Velvet Room as you deem fit. We shall no longer summon you unless there is a great need; instead you may simply express your wish to me through this group conversation, and you will enter the Velvet Room that night as you drift to sleep.

I stand ready to answer your questions, honored guests.

The text was accompanied with an elegantly written, almost gaudy signature of Victoria's name.

[Rook]

James - The Daily Grind

ames gaped at the message, quickly flashing his screen to the others before typing out his first question,

U can get cell service in the Velvet Room?

[Aarah]

Keira read the message with a curious interest.

After finishing, she glanced around at the others reading theirs.
She spotted James texting something back.
"What are you writing?"

[Unionhack]

The Daily Grind

James' message went through, and since the conversation was a 'group chat' everyone received it as Victoria did. The message popped up with a contact photo as well; it depicted James facing forward, in a photo he didn't remember taking, with the faint but recognizable image of his Persona floating behind him. Occasionally, the photo would flip around like a 3D object, briefly showing the face of James' assigned tarot before returning to the prior photo.

After a short delay, Victoria replied.

To James,

The long answer to that question is quite complicated, and riddled with mystical complexities that would require a number of paragraphs to explain adequately.

The short answer to that question is a simple 'yes'.

The text was yet again accompanied with a fancy signature of Victoria's name.

[Aarah]

Keira - The Daily Grind

Keira noticed another message pop up on her phone: the one from James.
"Oh." She nodded her head in remembrance that the app was a group chat.
She gave James a bewildered look. "That's what you're asking?"

She read Victoria's reply, then re-read her original message.

"Why would we want to enter the Velvet Room again?" She asked those gathered around the table.

[The-Shadow-One]

Kieran - The Daily Grind
Kieran frowned at the notifications. "Well.. maybe to talk to that bug eye guy." He offered shrugging. "That's weird, when did you take that picture?" Another look at the phone before typing away himself.

So what was last night about? The hockey rink and all that?

Sending it with a button press. "This is so weird. They got the app onto our phone.. I.. god that's weird."

[Baloth-Kul]

I'm coming to the Velvet Room tonight.

Max waited a moment as he thought of a halfway clever follow-up.

No nudes in the group chat pls

[Cassandra]

Maria - The Daily Grind

Maria pulled her phone from her pocket when she felt the vibration. She was worried at first that it would be a message from her father, requiring her to go home early, but the fact that everyone else from the night before was also checking their phones led her to believe otherwise.

She read in silence, watching as the texts popped up on her screen. Sighing at the last message, she spoke as she typed up a reply. "Ugh, does this guy think he's being funny?"

This is a place for serious conversations. Please save your jokes for later.

She paused before writing out her question for Victoria.

What do you mean by "great need"? What would we be needed for?

[Unionhack]

Texts From The Velvet Room

When each summoner sent their messages, they saw that their messages were accompanied with images just like James'; pictures in the exact same pose, with the vague outlines of their Personas in the background.

After a few short pauses (far too short to normally type the lengthy responses that followed), Victoria sent her replies.

To Kieran,

There are many ways to explain the phenomena that occurred, for they are not so simple to be outlined in the nature of brevity. The most concise summary I can conjure follows.

Your schoolmate Brendan was confronted by his shadow self, the manifestation of his negative emotions and repressed unconscious desires. There is a shadow within every human, and through harnessing your own you have come to harness a Persona.

Shadows and Persona are but two iterations of the same being. However, not every human has the power to awaken to a Persona; either they are brought by fate to the Velvet Room as was your instance, or they awaken to consciousness in the sea of souls in which the Dreamscape drifts, as what happened to Mr. Rathburn.

I cannot say that I know just what caused Brendan's confrontation with his shadow. Most humans live in relative balance with their shadow, either accepting or ignoring the negativity rooted within their hearts. In such a case as this, either Brendan succumbed deeply to the repressed emotions within himself, or the confrontation was forced by malicious forces seeking his undoing.

When you encountered the shadow, taking the form of Leviathan, you were confronted with your own deep-seated negative feelings. However, the strength within each of your hearts managed to win out in the end, awakening yourself to your Persona and allowing you to fight back against Brendan's darkness. Once Leviathan had been tamed and sought reconciliation with its true self, it changed to reflect the alteration of Brendan's psyche and took form as the Persona Guan Yu.

I hope this message adequately answered your query. If further clarification is required, I stand ready to assist.

To Max,

Acknowledged. You will be welcomed upon your slumber this night.

Note that I moderate this conversation in real-time. I will remove what I deem lewd or inappropriate.

To Maria,

That you were called to the Velvet Room shows that you possess a strength of self powerful enough to stand against what malevolence might seek the demise of humanity. We cannot know for certain what powers may be, for they work in direct opposition to us, and we cannot know their goals nor their capabilities. We cannot even be certain of their identity.

To put it simply, your power is the key to containing the threat that the Dreamscape poses to the waking world. What may come is yet to be seen, but to even save a single life from the clutches of their shadow is a great deed on its own. My master and I exist to usher the growth of your power, not to direct it to our own ends. Remember that entrance to the Velvet Room requires the signing of a contract, binding you to the consequences of your actions as you utilize your Personas.

Each text was accompanied with the same flourish-esque signature. There seemed to be a theme with Victoria's messages.

[Aarah]

Keira

"With all the weird stuff going on lately, an app getting on my phone is, like, nothing." Keira replied to Kieran.

She read all the messages that started to flow from the chat.
In noticing Max's, she thought to those missing from the cafe. Max, Brendan, and Makoto. Why weren't they there? Everybody else had been drawn to The Daily Grind; why not them?

Further thought, all 'spoken' in her Persona's voice, produced questions that Keira also wished to ask of Victoria.

I don't remember signing any contract. You said we can choose to enter the VR when we want, but why would we want to?

[Baloth-Kul]

Beg pardon if I don't treat a BS magical group convo as srsly as you

Taking another moment to think, he decided to press for real information.

What killed my mother, where is it, and how do I kill it?

[Unionhack]

Texts From the Velvet Room I should make a blog or something.

A short pause took place, and then a new message appeared.

To Keira,

I assume that it is human nature to want to help others in need. There is a threat to your kind that only Persona summoners can combat. I do not intend to inspire guilt, but I must make it clear that you are in a position to help others in grave danger.

You did indeed sign a contract when you scheduled your classes for the school year, and you may have recognized the charming secretary overseeing the deed. The content is not what was important, rather that you bound yourself to a written agreement. The Velvet Room, and indeed the collective consciousness of your kind, are nothing without symbolism, pomp and circumstance.

A notably longer response time followed Max's inquiry.

To Max,

I am afraid that I do not know.

The forces that seek to bring harm upon your kind are vague, indefinite. A vengeful force targeting only Toronto, only a specific person, or the whole of humanity? The opposition and its goals are undefined as of yet, and discovering such information is not within my power. However, based on our observations, the phenomena that targeted Brendan Rathburn were much akin to the occurrence revolving around Hannah DeLaney.

The human subconscious brings form to Personas and Shadow alike. Much as you were able to bring your emotions into control as a Persona, losing grasp over this, whether by outside influence or otherwise, can bring out the shadow of a person. I suspect this is what happened to your mother, though I may be mistaken. I will not pry into the life of your departed, but I believe you will know within your heart if she was struggling with doubt or serious emotional turmoil.

What is curious is that this triggered an event within the Dreamscape at all. This is why I suspect there is an outside force preying on the emotionally vulnerable humans in your vicinity. Why Toronto has become the target, or why something has begun targeting people at all, is beyond my ability to know. However, it is no coincidence that you have awoken to your powers in light of this.

To this end, we exist to facilitate your powers, that you may discover the truth.

[Aarah]

Keira

Max's latest message brought concern and surprise to the forefront of Keira's mind.

She read Victoria's reply to her own message.
The secretary?
A vague image of a blonde woman came to memory and, aided by the photo on the chat app, she concluded that the two were one and the same.
Keira agreed that she was indeed someone who would help people if she could, but she wasn't very happy about being duped into signing something under a false pretence.
Due to this, she replied with the following message:

That signature was for classes. Didn't really give us an option to not sign up for all this did you. Just saying.

After pressing send, she saw Victoria's response to Max come through.
The content of this message was fairly alarming, and it was in reading it that recent occurrences suddenly came more to light.
Keira texted again.

Max, you're mom just died recently? I'm so sorry.
That's so awful.

[Unionhack]

Texts From the Velvet Room

What seemed like weeks passed before Victoria's next response.

To Keira,

It was not us that placed you on the path. What deigned you fit for the Velvet Room is beyond our knowledge, for we were not contacted nor present for the catalyst that sparked your potential. We simply observed and guided you when the time came.

Victoria waited a shorter time before adding to Keira's well-wishing.

To Max,

I wish that I could offer adequate sympathies, but I fear I may lack tact. I hope that in our efforts to aid you in stopping the threat to you kind, you may find recompense.

[Dirty Spaceman]

Brendan

Brendan followed along with the conversation, particularly paying attention to the explanation of what had happened the night prior. I definitely don't think I 'succumbed' to anything, or whatever, he thought. So it had to be some kind of attacker... aah, damn, that's worse, isn't it?

After watching the messages come in for a while, he sent one of his own, seeking confirmation of something that had become unfortunately evident:

So uh if I go to this Room or whatever, am I one of these guys now? Like going on missions to save people and all that?

[Pilovv]

Makoto pouted as she watched him go. She figured she would start heading back to her own dorm. Seeing as her phone was going off like crazy, she took out her phone to see what was going on. She never really used her phone, so she wasn't really sure what was going on. She frowned to see that she had somehow been added to some group chat, despite having not given anyone her number... She reads through the conversation, realising just what all of this was. "What?..." She frowned, walking into her dorm room. There was no way that this was a dream anymore. It was too persistent.

Taking off her shoes and sitting on the side of her bed, she would attempt to leave the group chat. She had a bad feeling that it wouldn't do very much, if she was even able to find the option. She fell back onto her bed, staring at the ceiling, letting her stretch away from her sides, phone barely being held in one of her hands.

[Unionhack]

Texts from the Velvet Room

To Brendan,

You became as the other summoners did the moment you came into contact with your Persona. Whether you choose to continue or not is your own decision.

Makoto's Dorm Room

As per her hunch, Makoto was unable to disable, leave, or delete the group chat she was added to by Victoria.

More Texts from the Velvet Room

To Group,

I am afraid that is all the time we have for today. I will continue to monitor the chat and accept any requests to be made in visiting the Velvet Room. In the future I will be available at all times, but for now my master has tasks that need attending to. I wish you good day and fair luck in your decisions to come.

[Aarah]

Keira finished reading all of Victoria's messages; there was a lot of strange information to take in.
She looked to the others gathered around the table.
"Any of you guys thinking of going to the room again tonight? I'm not."

[Rook]

James - The Daily Grind

James stared at Keira. "What d'you mean you're not going?" James asked incredulously, "Last night was so cool! We were like the superheroes or wizards or something. If we've got these powers, we should totally be doing something with them, not sitting around!"

[Aarah]

Keira -The Daily Grind

"Yeah, it was really amazing. Scary too though."
Keira answered James.

"The powers and Personas are incredible: agreed, but...I just want to have a good night's sleep! I hate being so tired. I mean, no one's in trouble or needs help right now, so why go?"

[The-Shadow-One]

"I'll go." Kieran stated. "If it's the room that guy would be there too." He muttered, rubbing his eyes. "I can handle having a few bad sleeps at least until club starts. Beginning of the year is always slow." He suggested.

When you get this Victoria, I'll like to go to the Velvet room tonight.

Putting his phone down after he typed it he grumbled. "Besides if there's a chance I can help even slightly.."

[Unionhack]

The Daily Grind

When Kieran sent the text, an elegant check mark resembling Victoria's signature font appeared over it. The same would happen to any others who sent a similar text indicating their desire to enter the Velvet Room that night.

Whatever followed in discussion dwindled, and soon the summoners parted ways despite their agreements or disagreements to head to bed for the night. Sleep came easier than usual, but for some, the transition between the waking world and the state of dreaming faded not to blackness, but to a soft blue glow and a haunting piano refrain...

The Velvet Room

Those who elected to enter the Velvet Room found themselves sitting in the desks of the Velvet Room, looking ahead to Igor sitting at his veiled table and Victoria resting at a smaller writing desk of her own. Victoria's desk was littered with opened letters strewn about, each of them bearing a gaudy, eerily familiar signature.

Those summoners who were present were able to see each other in the classroom, plain as day, while some desks were occupied by the shadowy silhouettes of those who elected to sleep through the night.

"Welcome... to the Velvet Room." spoke Igor as he crossed his hands and leaned forward, flashing his impish grin as always. He awaited words from those who came.

[Baloth-Kul]

Staring straight ahead with an uncommonly focused look, Max got down to brass tacks with Igor. "Shadows; how do we find them, how do we kill them?"