reverielogs | @all (from @r.asuka)

@all (from @r.asuka)

[ On the morning of the 15th, there is a network-wide ping issued approximately twenty-three minutes after the roster is released to the public. ]

Hello.

As I'm certain you all are aware, a roster has been sent to each of our devices. Given that this is yet another item on a growing list to be examined by us all, I believe it's important for each of us to come together to discuss any possible concerns or ideas that may require teamwork.

@PALPATINE and I earlier discussed the possibility of a non-compulsory meeting to sort through these issues. We agreed it would be in our best interests.

If you're inclined, please come to the Mess Hall at 19:00 in three day's time.

[ ooc: so! this will be broken down into sub-headings as discussed on the ooc plot post and utilized as a kind of "catch-all." if you think anything needs to be added at any time, please feel free to contact me through pm, at

rasasvada, or on disco at morning star#3715. or, you know, add it yourself! i don't mind.

noticeably, this is self-directed! if you character wants to speak or make a point to everyone, feel free to do so. no one is policing how this goes or making introductory comments or whatever else. open floor, y'all. ]

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[He's been there, keeping his mouth shut for the majority of the meeting so far, because, really- with Haru and Ren to keep him in line for these events, he's not about to start blowing their cover.

But his spidey senses start to tingle when Hinata starts fumbling at Haru's compliment, and he just stares for a moment between the two.

Ryuji Sakamoto, an insufferable asshole, leans forward and flicks the dude on the forehead, again, becoming their typical exchange when he wants to get the other's attention.]

Oi. Don't get any weird thoughts.

[He doesn't remember the last time he got a genuine compliment like that. He's honestly kind of floored and not sure how to react, both hands starting to come up belatedly as he realizes he should probably try to deny it to be polite, lest she think he's some kind of self-centered jerk.

Then Ryuji flicks his forehead, and if anything, he only gets more embarrassed, cheeks flushing a darker pink as he tries to slap the other boy's hand away.]

O-Oi, Ryuji!!

[Dude?? Embarrassing him in front of the cute girl who was so nice to him?? Wtf??]

I wasn't thinking anything weird!

[Listen, from one horny for compliments and affection boy to another, he knows desperation when he sees it, and it sure as hell ain't happening with Haru, so he places a friendly arm around his shoulder just to imply the deepness of their connection.]

Good, keep it that way.

[Turning back to Haru.]

You were sayin'.

[Oh gracious, even if she appreciates the gesture she's sure Hinata wasn't expecting any of that.]

Sorry about him.

[OR IS SHE?]

As you were saying, Hinata-san?

[Stop, stop! He's already dead!!]

N-nothing... don't worry about it.

[He doesn't need Ryuji to punish him again for something self-deprecating, so he's just going to try to move on now that the other boy is hanging over his shoulders. He doesn't shove him off, though, apparently just accepting his fate until Ryuji decides to release him.

But since they're both here... he gives Haru an uncertain smile.]

You know, it's kind of weird that both of you guys want me to use your first names, but you're still using honorifics with me. It's fine to call me whatever you want.

[...And then looks to Ryuji specifically. Bro if you use that as an excuse to call him something rude you're getting elbowed.]

[OH BOY

The crooked smile that creeps up on Ryuji's face like a toddler who knows he's about to slip his hand into the fattest cookie jar known to man when his mom's back is turned. It's downright dirty.

Mr. Talent.

Hajimememashite

BF (beautiful forehead)

Ryuji sucks in air through his teeth, and low, carefully, he lets out---]

Hajime, don't gimme permission like that, you know what typa guy I am.

[And now that he's probably thoroughly rekt the poor kid, he doesn't loosen his grasp (still has an eye on you, kid)- his attention returns to his beautiful sidekick thief. Kickthief. Sidethief.

Still in that low voice, though-]

Anyone that's makin' a thrust for power... can't keep your eyes offa them, y'know? You give in one little thing and the next thing you know, we're in a freakin' dictatorship.

Very well, Hajime-san. If you would prefer it this way!

[Though, for now she pointedly leaves the honorific on.

She nods along with Ryuji.]

We don't stand for that kind of thing, Hajime-san. We won't allow some rotten adult, or person for that matter. Drive this conversation into letting someone take power.

[While he absolutely agrees with Haru and actively wants to make sure Hinata is on the Right Side of things, Ryuji is slowly realizing how broad his shoulders are and it's honestly freaking him out a little bit right now.

Maybe that pool cleaning really worked, after all.]

[That's fine, he kind of prefers the honorific, anyway. While he's a very casual boy, he's never really been on a first-name basis with anyone since he was a child, and it's still really weird to him to do it now when he still doesn't know either of them very well. He just gives Ryuji a familiar-by-now, exasperated look.]

Yeah, thanks for containing yourself...

[Before his expression sobers, and he nods, humming quietly and bringing a hand to his lips to help him think.]

I agree with that, but... it sounds like you guys have had experience with this kind of thing before.

[It's phrased as a statement, but he's asking, honestly, glancing between them both as if hoping for reassurance that it's really going to be okay, and there's some kind of plan in case a bad person DOES try to get control.

Also kind of looking at Ryuji a little oddly. You okay there, man?]

[Her gaze lands on Ryuji. It's a silent thing between them.

We can't tell him.

But there was enough evidence between the two of them to figure out that they have had less than favorable run-ins with adults.

They were coming up with a plan, but that was hard... seeing as they don't have a Metaverse to roam in and they don't have Personas to protect themselves.]

Hmm...

[Sorry, Haru is thinking of how to phrase this so they don't blow their cover, and before Ryuji opens his big mouth.]

Just trust us, Hajime-san. Adults can't be trusted. They will do nothing but lie to you and use you.

[Haru knows that response of a look he gives her right back. It's laden with a you know I really want to- like he implicitly trusts Hinata for some reason that he knows, by all experience accounted for, he shouldn't.

He looks down at Hinata under his arm, noting that he was being investigated for telltale signs of his weird state. He just... really, really wasn't expecting him to be actually buff. It's almost like a goddamn insult to everything he thought he understood.]

She's right, y'know.

[Hajime might have some very twisted ideas of how the world works in regards to talent, but he's not unobservant. It's not the looks passing between them that he notices, it's the little details (from Ryuji, mostly) that he's just putting together to know there's something they're not telling him. Starting with what happened to Ryuji's coach, and their vehemence against trusting adults, to that one almost offhand comment about a rush of bad people suddenly coming forward...

Well, it's probably nothing. He doesn't have nearly enough evidence to try piecing anything together yet, and as far as he knows, these two are just normal people, like him. Normal people can't do much.]

I mean... not every adult can be a bad person, [he hedges, because it feels a little extreme to put all of them under one heading like that.] There can be people our age who can be just as bad. Or worse.

[His expression darkens, his eyes sidling toward the floor. He's thinkin about a certain incident that lead to the death of one of his classmates. That happens sometimes.]

I don't disagree with you, believe me.

[Haru has seen the world through the eyes of her own Father though, and that is the most disturbing part of how she thinks adults may view the world. They're power hungry, unapologetically so.]

There are adults who can be as polite and wonderful as anything, and there can be people out age who can be just as bad as the people... [The people we try to give changes of heart, but, she can't say that.]

We have to do what we can to prevent anyone on this ship from taking power. That is all I am saying.

When you get burned so many times...

[His grip on Hajime's shoulder loosens, and maybe it's pretty obvious that this line of thought bothers Ryuji a lot, but he looks over to Haru and smiles weakly. He knows it's a fine line he's dancing on, not wanting to let too much information out of the proverbial bag, but... it's a large part of his life and he can't reconcile it all that easily.]

It's just hard to trust, y'know?

Mmm.

[He hums, a little subdued, but still not shrugging Ryuji's arm off his shoulders. It's something to think about, and in light of what he's already been through...]

Yeah, I agree with that, but... I don't know what we can really do if someone wants to take control. I saw at least one person with a gun. And those people on the network who kept saying they wanted to "protect us." [He doesn't do air quotes, but they're audible in his voice as he all but rolls his eyes,] Isn't there a saying, "might makes right?"

We don't let them, Hajime-san! What can one of them do versus many of us?

[Haru is rather passionate about what she's saying. She doesn't want to be under someone else's control. That just makes things harder in the long run. She doesn't want things to be harder for everyone.]

I apologize for that outburst, but, it's just... what Ryuji-kun said is right. We have been burned so many times that it became hard for us to trust. Our point of view may not be like everyone else's.

Edited 2018-05-30 18:01 (UTC)

[There's a sideways smirk that comes out of all this; he's thoroughly amused, deep down within his delinquent trickster little heart, that Haru's truer nature is coming up to the surface, without a mask on to give her a reason to. It makes Ryuji so... proud? Proud's not the right word. It makes him so grateful that he's her friend.

And even when she apologizes for the outburst, the fondness only gets stronger. What a good fucking team.]

Screw 'em. We don't need protecting. You don't need protecting, right Hajime? [Patting him on the shoulder.] You'll stand up to anyone trying to take the path of tyranny.

[And this is why Ryuji is punk, through and through.]

[I mean... they can shoot us with a shotgun.

He keeps that morbid thought to himself, though. As far as he knows, both Ryuji and Haru are normal teenagers like himself. Which is why he gives both of them a bit of a concerned, exasperated look.]

Yeah, I'll do what I can, but... I don't want to get killed over it. I don't want you guys getting hurt, either.

[True, but who needs to think about that? No one.

She sighs a little, she does see his point.]

We wouldn't do anything to get ourselves killed, but what we will do is stand for what is right. The views of adults can be very crooked and I won't allow myself to be tricked or taken advantage of ever again.

[See, Haru "step on shadows until they beg for mercy" Okumura is a force not to be reckoned with. Ryuji may be all about the brawn of the group, provide the muscle and the team's spirit to push on forever forward, but she's the one that stands over your kneecaps and threatens to break them.]

Uh... yeah. What she said.

[Hajime, welcome in.]

'Sides, it doesn't look like it'll come to that, but I don't think anything will come down to gettin' physical. At least not yet. If some asshole was makin' a grab for power, they would've already shown their hand.

So that's why you gotta look out for the ones that play the long game.

[You both... really sound like you have experience with this before.

But they'd already declined to give him any details, so he doesn't push it. It's written all over his face anyway as he just nods in agreement with them both.]

It's easy to say look out for the ones playing the long game, but... how are we going to spot that, anyway? Wouldn't that just mean being suspicious of everyone, even the people who are genuinely trying to help?

[Haru decides that she would tell Hinata more about herself in due time. The reason why she doesn't trust adults.

This isn't something to discuss here.]

Having a certain level of suspicion is normal, isn't it?

[Ryuji's already one loudmouth accidental outburst away from telling Hajime everything himself, so...

He realizes though, that it's not the time, or the place to start talking about the reasoning.]

Our...

[How does he even begin this?]

Well. I'm gonna be honest. It's usually the people that offer an open hand in the name of goodness... those are the ones that... who deny, like... really, really deny that they're doin' anything wrong. That what they're doin' is for the sake of everyone else. But deep down inside, they're rotten.

Rotten to the core.

[There's a sense of despondency in Ryuji's words. It's easy to tell he's trying really hard not to get angry. He breathes through his nose and loosens his grip on Hajime, figuring that he's not going to compliment Haru anymore.

Those are the people who should have their hearts stolen - he thinks, but declines to voice.]

Anyway...

[She complimented him first! He's an innocent party, here!!

It sounds wrong to him, though, and while he doesn't say so aloud, that's also written all over his face. After all, the board of directors for Hope's Peak Academy were looking out for everyone when they proposed the Project... weren't they? To create mankind's hope?

Then again, they're the same people who swept Natsumi Kuzuryu's murder under the rug. He doesn't know why, he only has guesses that he doesn't like to think about.

He just shakes his head.]

I don't know, [he says finally, shoulders sagging a little under Ryuji's arm.] For now, all we can do is... try to keep an eye out for each other, and... do whatever we can to make sure no one takes advantage of anyone else. Right?

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jade told me to repost this and we're doin it

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