all aboard the atma train...

[tsundyne]

Who: Yukari and you poor unfortunate souls
Where: Throughout Vatheon (you can pick!)
When: Towards the end of the first day (of Curse 30), I guess
Style: [prose disguised as action brackets works for me--]
Status: Open, whoops

[By now, Yukari's seen the broadcasts from the network about this new Curse. She's lucked out before, with the Coral's effect passing over her, but...unfortunately, not this time. The tattoo on her right hand seems indicative enough of that, and she seems almost fascinated with it as she walks through Vatheon's streets.

The truth is, though, that she's worried.

...Worried about what it means, and worried about what she's heard.

A demon? Inside her? She's used to that-- or so she thought. But a Persona doesn't feel anything like this.

It gets harder to breathe and harder to focus on anything other than food. The unnatural hunger that's suddenly become the center of her attention, yet isn't satisfied when she eats...and her friends she lives with, about whom she's casually begun wondering, "...Well, what do they taste like?"

She doesn't want to know, though. She doesn't want to know, but the more she denies it, the worse the hunger stings and as she walks, she ends up dropping her (currently useless) Evoker that she had been carrying out of habit. It lands on the ground with a clang, but--

At the very least, it briefly snaps her out of her thoughts. She's bending down to pick it up, trying to focus on her breathing instead.

Her breathing--and only that...]



(( OOC: Have another DDS cannibal, Vatheon. Are you sick of them yet? |D She hasn't transformed yet, but her Atma avatar is Isis... feel free to contact me for plotting if you want. <33 ))

Comments

[bufudine]

[The last time he'd spoken to Yukari, they'd parted on very, uh, awkward terms.

This is clearly a good time to make up for that.

So Serph approaches, the usual tattoo on his face notably missing. But... something seems wrong. He can't see the tattoo on her hand from this angle so he calls her name to get her attention first.]

Yukari? What's wrong?

[tsundyne]

Serph...

[It's a bit odd that she only notices that tattoo when it's missing. His face does look oddly empty now, and she never really did get a chance to ask about it. But unfortunately, she isn't really thinking of that, or their awkward conversation at the hot springs.

...

She simply looks up at him for a moment, a bit surprised, but then shakes her head as she stands up.]

Um, nothing. I-I just dropped something.

[And she scrambles a bit to put the Evoker back in its holster, allowing the tattoo to come into full view.

...Serph would know, wouldn't he? She should ask, and she should trust him. But her first instinct is to lie...]

[bufudine]

[Yes... he can see that she's dropped something, and tracks her movement when she scrambles for the Evoker. But when he sees the tattoo...

He frowns.]

Show me your hand.

[He has a sinking feeling about this. He knows it's dangerous for him to be here, especially without his own demon to protect him, but Yukari is his friend.]

[tsundyne]

Wh-What?

[Damnit, she really hadn't thought this through. She'd never been good at hiding her emotions, either, because she's the type to say what she wants, whenever she wants.

Faking, sure. But hiding...

Hiding is different.

She's hardly prepared, and she's withdrawing her hand with the tattoo.

Grab it?]

[contemptibility]

[Tiir is miserable—completely and utterly miserable. It's bad enough that he lost his Iino Doue—the one constant of his life since birth—but to make matters worse, he's human.

He's the very thing he never wanted to be, and it makes him sick, in all honesty.

To be frank, he'd stay locked up inside the apartment for the duration of this curse if he had the choice, but unfortunately, he's running low on groceries. And so, he has no choice but to leave, still looking vaguely like he wants to die.

Along the way, he happens to notice Yukari—and, well. She's a bit hard to ignore.]

... Yukari?

[tsundyne]

[She'll trade places with you, Tiir.

She really, really will, because this is the last thing she wants, too. At least Tiir wouldn't have any problems devouring others... right? His "Atma" wouldn't become a threat, so--why wasn't he cursed? Why her, why always her...? How is she supposed to do this and live with herself afterwards?

...

Ugh. She recognizes his voice, too. The same person she argued with over this so long ago, the same person she practically lectured--

He isn't exactly high on the list of people she wants to see in this condition, but there isn't any choice. Him calling her by name is enough of a distraction anyway, and she simply tightens her grip on her Evoker as she stands up again, turning to him.]

H-Hey--

[She doesn't notice anything different about him immediately, at least. She blinks-- and doesn't do a particularly good job at concealing the mark on her hand. There's too much else to think about anyway...]

I, uh... didn't expect to run into you today.

[contemptibility]

[He'll happily accept that trade, Yukari.]

I assure you, I wouldn't be out here if I had the choice.

[It's too silent in his mind. Empty, hollow—it's unnatural. He feels like a part of him has been ripped away, as if they'd taken away his sight or any other sense. His Iino Doue is certainly worth as much, in any case.

It was the only part of him with any value—so why did they have to take it away from him?

He may not be cursed—for once in his life, he isn't 'cursed'—but he doesn't feel particularly blessed either.]

You don't look well.

[He forces a light smirk out of instinct, even though it looks like it's about to fall apart at any moment.]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd isn't wearing his normal clothes today. He's wearing blue jeans and a slightly oversized shirt. He looks uncomfortable in his own skin, like he's walking on eggshells. Spotting Yukari, he briefly perks up, like he's relieved to be distracted.]

Yukari! Hey!

[He takes a step toward her, then pulls back, hesitating. Should he even approach when he's like... this?]

[tsundyne]

H-Hey!

[Well. He isn't the only one grateful for a distraction. Heh, the lack of red makes him stand out a little less, hmm? She puts her Evoker back in its holster, trying to shake off her negative feelings for now.

Worst comes to worst, she couldn't really eat anyone... right?]

Uh, trying some new clothes?

[redcladidealist]

Er... I guess it's something like that.

[Worst liar ever. He comes a little closer, but still stays a little more than an arm's length away.]

I just, uh... They're comfortable?

[When in doubt, change the subject.]

So, how've you been?

[donotcomprehend]

[Gale's been out and around Vatheon, instead of the base, after having to deal with Otoha's transformation and making sure that he was fed. As such, he's rather on guard, so the clang of Yukari's dropped weapon causes him to turn. He would have ignored it after seeing what had happened, but the mark on her hand is easily visible from where he stands, so instead he's approaching quickly.]

That mark. It is not one you usually have, correct?

[tsundyne]

[The voice is a familiar one.

And she doesn't exactly see any point in hiding the mark now, since he's already seen it, and she doesn't exactly want to start wearing gloves. ...She simply puts her Evoker back in its holster before turning to him.]

It's...Gale, right?

Yeah, this-- this is new. [She gives a bit of a sigh as she holds up her hand. The hunger's new, too, but...no, she isn't going to want to talk about that.]

[donotcomprehend]

Yes. You are Yukari.

[He examines it further, for a moment.]

That is an Atma mark.

[sonlight]

[Heads collide as it turns out there's this weird kid(?) who bent down to pick up Yukari's Evoker for her at the same time, him clearly not paying attention to the fact that she's perfectly capable of picking up guns by herself! He reels back from the hit, letting out an almost dog-like yelp as he rubs the new sore spot on his noggin.]

[tsundyne]

[--Whoa!

Well...collisions are a distraction, too, so, y'know. Maybe she'll take what she can get. Even if she doesn't recognize the boy at first.

Odd.]

Uh, sorry... are you okay?

[She casually picks up her "weapon," though her attention is still fixed on him. No need for that to fall into this kid's hands, nope...]

...I am so sure I picked an icon for that last post??

[sonlight]

[He's definitely curious about it, though more in the child-like "wow what is that?" way than the "why do you have a gun?" way. He doesn't really know what guns are!

He nods in response to her question and stands up, nearly tripping over those long-ass ribbon strands (who thought those were a good idea??) in the process. He then repeats her question back to her, though with a great deal more hesitation.]

Are you... okay? [It's like he's not used to talking, or something! Go figure.]

[angelicvoice]

[ Fuuka appears perhaps on the worst time possible. Unlike others, her powers weren't anything special (or so she thinks). Her Persona powers are gone, but she didn't get anything too alarming. Just an egg-shaped jewel. She has no idea what this could be and was wondering if Yukari might know.

Once spotting her, Fuuka runs over to her ... But stops when she sees Yukari on the ground. Was she hurt!? ]

Yukari-chan!?

[ And now really running over. :U ]

[tsundyne]

[Huh?

...Oh, it's Fuuka. fdkjasd well, it's not exactly the best time, but it's not like Yukari's going to turn away a friend. She picks up her dropped Evoker quickly, trying not to dwell on the thoughts or the hunger anymore--

At least for now.

Fuuka's well-being is enough motivation for that, isn't it? At least she really, really hopes so--]

Oh hey, Fuuka.

[Heh. She's not hurt. Don't worry so much. :c]

Y-You okay?

[angelicvoice]

[ oh good. c: you had her worried there for a second there Yukari. Except your stammering and you know, you always do that when you're nervous ... ]

I'm fine. I don't think my curse is that bad.

[ She peers at Yukari curiously. ]

What about you?

breaks hiatus fuck the police ..aka fuck me i guess ?__?

[fake]

[ oh hey, he knows this girl— if 'know' meant interrogated her a few times, but it still counts. he knew her name, at least.. ]

Hey, Yukari-chan— [ he'd picked up the pace in his steps slightly in order to catch up with her after calling out to her, but he stops near instantly upon catching sight of her dropping something— it didn't hit the cobblestone around the bend of the plaza very quietly either, being metal and all... he blinks a few times, hands in his pockets. ]

.. Is that a firearm? [ LMFAO WHAT. there's a half-quizzical, half-amused expression on his face right about now because this was interesting albeit unexpected. ]

as tempting an offer as that is, i may have to decline......maybe--

[tsundyne]

[Problem, Akise?

...Yeah, she knows you, too. The boy with too many questions. Hah-- she's just casually going to pick up said "firearm" and put it back where it belongs. It's seriously the least of her problems right now, seeing as how it doesn't even work.

And she isn't in the mood to explain, either.]

Oh. It's... uh, something like that.

[lol yeah as if he's gonna be satisfied with that, right--]

What are you doing here?

LMFAO and wow worst rulebender ever comes back to this after hiatus tbh

[fake]

I was going to ask you the same question, honestly.. but this is a high-traffic, central area, so it really isn't as coincidental as one might think. [ and yeah no— ]

It isn't a firearm, then?

[asea]

[If she were to lift her head, Yukari may see someone's elevated foot as Walter conveniently stands there at the time of her dropping the Evoker. He's simmered down considerably from earlier in the day with the unwelcome change, and his focus is more on the weapon than the girl. So he doesn't offer to help -- not that she would have needed it.

He's seen that very same model of the weapon before. And he knows exactly where he's seen it.]

[tsundyne]

[........

Oh. Yes, that sure is someone's foot, curiously enough. She blinks once in surprise as she stands, to see who it might belong to, and--while he does look a little familiar, she definitely doesn't recognize him.

He hasn't said anything, either.

It's awkward and she doesn't like it so she's breaking that now, yes.]

Uh... hi.

[Also putting her Evoker away. Was he staring at it...?]

[asea]

[Walter understands that she's talking to him, and he finally glances at her when the Evoker is put away. He's noticed earlier that her breathing was a bit unusual -- sounded fragile, even. There's not much trace of that anymore. But it's only something he picked up, not something he's concerned about. In fact, he doesn't care.

So he turns away, as if to leave -- ]