Happy Birthday, Dork | Backdated to August 31

[crouching_sin]

Sender: Naoya
To: Everyone
Subject: Birthday boy

My cousin, who recently arrived, has a birthday today. Wishing him a happy birthday is encouraged.

He's 18 now after all. In many places that makes you an adult, Kazuya.

Yes, I know you can see me writing this.

Comments

[whatsamada]

I suppose that is true and especially when one can hide behind the internet. You can say whatever you want with no real consequences either...

[And yet, it still blows his mind to know that such a thing was possible.]

To think that we need to trick ourselves into summoning Personas based on how we feel at that moment compared to how you can just so it so simply with a device.

[belheir]

Yeah, I can definitely see how that'd be easier, but... I don't think your persona is the same as a demon, at least? Demons have more agency. At least from what I saw.

[ He pauses and makes a face. ]

And some of them are real characters, besides.

[crouching_sin]

They definitely are. I don't quite known what your 'Persona' is -

[He'd require more study and he's relatively certain that an offer of such is not going to go over well.]

- but demons do have quite a lot of agency. They can't harm their pact partners, but they can do all sorts of things within the confines of a pact. The ones I designed are relatively strict, where the demon can't do anything physically or mentally to harm their summoners.

[Emotionally is free game though.]

[whatsamada]

My Persona is an extension of myself. I guess you can say it's a part of my soul and it allows me to protect myself in some way?

[Because how does one explain that Person was an experiment gone wrong based on a multimillionaire's time machine?]

...But it makes me wonder if Personas could have the ability to turn into demons too should they ever have some kind of agency.

[...Or maybe he was overthinking this?]

[belheir]

Well... That might be possible? [Kazuya gives a thoughtful hum. If it had been as easy ("easy") as giving up his humanity to become a demon...]

Though something would probably be pretty wrong if your soul turned on you...

[crouching_sin]

It would be. And I suppose it depends - demons are largely born of human belief. People believe in vampires, so there's vampiric demons. Zombies, so there's zombie-like demons. I don't think one person's belief is enough to make a demon, but who knows? Stranger things have happened.

[He looks at Kazuya at that. Stranger things indeed...]

[whatsamada]

[Which made Ken raise an eyebrow or two.]

...Then I suppose you better watch out. Let's hope that my Persona won't turn into a demon one day.

[Which he highly doubts but was he being serious or not? That was up to them to decide!]

[belheir]

[He gives A Look at Naoya. Don't look at him like that!! He already knows! He's the stranger thing that happened!!!]

If that happens I'll just have to beat it into submission.

[He shrugs.]

[crouching_sin]

I have no doubt that he could. He's quite strong. And he's managed to tame some pretty powerful demons.

[Or rather, all of them. Still!]

Though if it does, I'm sure there are plenty of people around here willing to capture it.

[whatsamada]

[And then there was a pause. And a longer pause. And an even longer pause....!]

Which makes me a little worried how you'll manage to fight me should the day arrive.

[belheir]

I think I'd manage just fine.

[He says, with a completely straight face.]

Naoya too, probably.

[crouching_sin]

Heh, probably. But let's try to avoid that happening. You seem fine, and I don't see any reason to fight you right now.

[What a fine young man Ken is. So far.]

[whatsamada]

I don't want to fight either of you. Especially when the both of you seem really strong...

[He said before eying Naoya because he definitely knows not to mess with him!]

[belheir]

[ WOW! Kazuya is the stronger one, not Naoya!

Kazuya will remember this. ]

Let's make sure that doesn't happen then, yeah? I don't really like the thought of turning my demons against people anyway.

[crouching_sin]

[To be fair, Naoya definitely comes off as a villain. He doesn't particularly care, but he's aware of how people perceive him.]

Nor do I, unless it's necessary. The idea is... distasteful, to say the least.

[And Ken seems like a good kid, so he wouldn't really want to fight him unless he had to.]

[whatsamada]

[With that, he cleared his throat a little.]

B-But anyway, I think we might be done here? Is there anything else you want to do, Kazuya-san?

[Because he would much rather not continue to talk about fighting friends (again)!]

[belheir]

[ He looks at Naoya like he has a second head at his comment. Distasteful? This coming from the guy who told people that if he gave the word, they'd slaughter everyone in the blink of an eye.

The look doesn't last too long, though, just enough bewilderment before Ken speaks and Kazuya turns his attention to him with a small hum of consideration. ]

Ah... I don't think so?

[crouching_sin]

[Look. Look. He'd rather not cause problems here. He doesn't really control the narrative here.]

Then why don't you two go out and do something? There's plenty of places to explore. And it's not as if I've been able to show you more than the basics.

[whatsamada]

Perhaps I can show you the park? Or some other places to eat as a birthday present? I think that would be a good place to start.

[And you know, he doesn't want to say here any longer and cause even more trouble!]

[belheir]

[ coward ]

Sure. I did ask for you to show me around after we got done annoying Naoya.

[ He nods, lifting a hand to wave it at his cousin. ]

Don't get into too much trouble while I'm gone.

[crouching_sin]

Me? Get in trouble? Hardly.

... Go have fun.

[It's almost nostalgic, ushering him off like that. Those days where he was little and clinging to Naoya's side are gone. ... Maybe it's better this way, but he still misses it.]