vatheon | SHUSH LEVI I AM THE BEST LEADER.

[Serph doesn't have any outward reaction to Cielo's nudging, but he doesn't mind it at all. Cielo's the one who pokes at the people he cares about, after all.

However, it seems they're wrong about everyone here having Atma, if Yukari's reaction is anything to go by. Perhaps the tattoos mentioned in the brochure from Zelda have nothing to do with Atma; Vatheon is strange enough for that to be true. In some ways, he is glad for that; no one should be required to go through what they do to feel.

But Serph won't hide what they are, especially not from friends.]

Our demons are part of who we are. Dyaus is still Cielo.

[But the eating people thing? That's not something he'll advertise.]

[Hearing them both speak so calmly does wonders for her; so, being a little short on breath aside, she actually feels like she can think rationally about this now. She can handle anything, right? No matter what these guys were trying to pull...

If anything at all...

She's confident she can take care of it.

She looks at the both of them sternly, trying to sound demanding or threatening...but sadly, she doesn't have the same effect as someone like Mitsuru might.]

He's...part demon? You both are?

[She notes Serph's use of 'we' here.]

I-I don't understand.

[This doesn't seem at all like a Persona; which are their own separate beings. No, Cielo had actually transformed...]

[It's probably not a good idea for him to stay like this any longer, so Cielo reverts back, the transformation process reversing itself. He doesn't speak until his brand stops its glow. Cielo can't blame her wariness and tries not to be bothered by the change of tone in her voice. For everything she's done for them, they at least owe her an explanation.]

It's something that was forced on us one day.

[Everything changed then. Everything except the one thing in the Junkyard that couldn't change no matter what: the war. It simply adapted to Atma and raged on, just more brutally than before.]

As demons, we can do things we couldn't do before, like use magic. And...

[He pauses a bit. How does he explain this?]

And ever since we became demons, we changed as humans too. Started to feel things, learn what it means to be happy and sad and everything else, ja? And we started remembering things too. That's why we wanted to come here, because we remember a beach even though there's no beach where we come from.

[Serph is a little saddened by the change in Yukari's tone, but he... can understand, if she's not used to Atma. He hopes Cielo's explanation soothes her.

Serph remembers the things that have happened before they'd gained their Atma. Shooting others, getting shot at, forming the Embryon, engaging in skirmishes... but he doesn't remember how he had felt about those things. He doesn't think he'd felt anything at all. Those memories are so disconnected from how he currently experiences things that it's almost like that time had just been a remarkably vivid dream.

He gives a nod, confirming Cielo's words.]

We desire a peaceful world where no one needs to fight.

[Their Atma may have made them more powerful, but the Atma had also given them the ability to desire a world without fighting. Serph can't reject what the Atma have given them. He hopes Yukari will be placated by the fact they don't want to fight.]

[...Who? Who forced something like this upon them?

That's probably the first thing Yukari wonders. Because during her "journey," she found herself asking many times who would be cruel enough to inflict her own ability on her...on all of SEES? This ability of summoning Persona...why entrust it to a bunch of kids? Why put the world in that position...?

It's always easier when you have someone to blame. And judging by the atmosphere she remembers in the Gekkoukan dorms, she wonders if they would have even gotten along otherwise.

But this isn't about her anymore, and it isn't about SEES. In a place like Vatheon, many worlds came together, and all of them are equally important to consider.]

That's what we've always wanted, too...my friends and I.

[She frowns. In a way, she never got to see if they succeeded. She's been told that they did...all thanks to Aigis of course. But hearing about it just isn't the same.

Not when she supposedly was there.]

But, all the confusing memories and emotions...it doesn't seem fair to make you guys go through that.

[Although thinking about their words again, it...

almost sounds like a good thing. The ability to feel and be happy, sad and angry...where is their humanity, without that? There is definitely a lot about their transformations that she doesn't understand. And while she isn't sure she has the right to pry, she is definitely curious and nosy enough to.]

[It is rough sometimes. There are things about their Atma that even they themselves don't fully understand. And emotions, they can hurt. They're sometimes hard for Cielo to bear. And with feelings came thoughts. Thoughts that would have never occurred to him if had never felt happiness or sadness. Things he'd never think about if he had never watched his comrades' pain and shared in their grief.

Such thoughts weigh heavily on them, because they lead to questions that Cielo can't answer. Nobody can answer them, not even Serph.

And yet...]

It's okay.

[He sounds a little weary saying that.]

I'd rather be like this than what I was before.

[The things he's seen and experienced, he thinks they've changed him for the better. And with Atma, Cielo feels that he's more useful to his Tribe. More able to help and protect them.]

It's hard. But that's how things are, ja?

[They just have to go on. The only other choice is giving up.]

[Fair? Serph's never considered the 'fairness' of their situation, only the ways their lives have changed... and the ways they haven't. It's hard to consider fairness, when he's been starting to think there's something bigger out there -- something they have not even begun to grasp, something they have no way of comprehending right now -- ever since they had taken down Varin. God, perhaps? He doesn't know.

However, he agrees with Cielo; he'd rather be how he is now than before he gained his Atma. Can blindly following Junkyard law as they had really be considered living? Even now, Serph still doesn't know why they are alive, but he'll make sure they survive this... and find their own answers.

...But at the very least, Serph is glad Yukari seems to be more relaxed now than she had been after first seeing Dyaus. If she and her friends wish for the same thing as he and Cielo do, then Serph can't see anything wrong with friendship here.]

We hope we can still be your friend.

[He says it sincerely, out of a genuine wish for things to be so. He's sure Cielo feels the same way.]

[Life is hard; he is right about that. And that's something Yukari realized even before she joined SEES: with her father's death, and her mother being the way she is, causing them to fight all the time. She hasn't always accepted it, though, and it's people like Cielo who can just say "that's just how it is" that baffle her so endlessly.

Words like that are the ones most often seen accompanying the kind of inactivity and passiveness that Yukari has grown to hate. The people who can simply take what fate has given them and go along with it, without trying to reverse or do anything about it...

If Minato had done that...

If SEES had done that, they would've never been able to accomplish what they did.

There is no telling whether Cielo and Serph are the same way. She is forced to remind herself that she still doesn't know the first thing about them and their life back at home, aside from this. And judging by the way things are going, they're only scratching the surface.]

...Well. You guys would know better than me about what things are like.

[She's not really sure she has a voice in the matter; at least not until she knows a bit more. But she can tell they're at least in agreement on that point.

Neither of them seem to mind having these demons inside of them for now. And if they don't, Yukari can't find it within herself to mind either.]

But yeah... of course we can still be friends. If that's what you guys want.

[After all, it isn't as if they're the only ones with something like that lurking inside them...]

We only know what it's like for us. It's different for you, ja? At least, I hope it is.

[It would really upset him to hear that there might be another world like theirs. Daily struggles where for many, the only language they understand is the language of gunfire, claws, and fangs.

Cielo is very happy to hear that Yukari would still like to be friends. He finds Yukari to be a very smart and nice person, and it was reassuring that they could make friends despite the fact that they're clearly very different from everyone else. Sure, he has Serph for company and if the other Tribe members ever come here, he'd have them too, but there's something about making friends with different kinds of people that have their own appeal and charm, like a whole new world of possibilities was being opened up to him.]

[Serph gives Yukari a nod and mimics the speaking style of her last statement... though he still says it with that lineface.]

Then we are friends; that's what we want.

[And why wouldn't they want more friends? As far as Serph is concerned, there are no downsides to friendship. Well, aside from just not having the time to dedicate to each and every friend he makes, but that's okay; they have other friends, too.

...He's lost too many to the fighting. Even the ones who hadn't wanted to fight had their lives ended by Junkyard law. They had toed the line, slaughtered hundreds for the chance at Nirvana, but when they were denied even that opportunity, he'd finally been roused to anger... And Serph knows that he lost some comrades over that, before they had been deleted.

He's glad to have made a friend without the baggage from the Junkyard environment.]

[From the sounds of it... it is.

It is very different than what Yukari's used to, though she hadn't been a big fan of a life of fighting Shadows, either. She at least had some chance at a normal life, however, dealing with high school and all like everyone else her age; whereas it didn't seem like Serph or Cielo had much of a chance at all. It's sad to think about, in a way, but...

She knows pitying them won't help. They probably don't want pity; she knows she wouldn't, even given their situation. So instead, she smiles to the both of them.]

Well...then let's have fun here. All right? [She holds out both of her arms, gesturing to the entire beach, which they have to themselves at the moment.] Together. That's...what friends do.

[It's a little awkward, but she tries to talk to them as if the three of them have been friends for a while—if only to make them feel welcome here, and it seems to be working. She can honestly say she's a little surprised at how easily it comes to her...]

[Have fun. What friends do.

That sounds wonderful.

Cielo tries to think of things one did at the beach. Swimming, build sand castles, beach volleyball...

The strange side walking creature catches his attention once again and Cielo reaches into the water to pick it up, miraculously avoiding getting pinched.]

This is...a crab, right?

[He doesn't know how he knows the word crab. He's never seen one before. Cielo's tried to figure out many times how he knows all these words and things that he shouldn't, but can come up with no answer.

Meanwhile, the crab blows bubbles at him in annoyance.]

[Yeah... having fun together sounds like a good plan. Even if the rest of his comrades aren't here, he has friends both new and old here. This companionship... this is a good feeling.

From the looks of things, the crab looks like it's... crabby.

Serph's just going to stand over here where he's safe from potential pinching and watch.]

Oh--

[Yukari seems happy there seems to be no opposition to this friendship...though she can't think of a reason why there would be, when she looks over at the crab that has suddenly captured Cielo's attention. She's a little surprised that she hadn't noticed it before; though she does not find it strange that he seems to know the word. Everyone should know what a crab is, after all...

And she can't think of a reason why anyone wouldn't, at their (apparent) age.]

Yeah, that's right. [It does look pretty angry, now that she gets a closer look at it.] Careful, though. It pinches.

I can see. I'll be fine-

[NOPE. With amazing timing, the crab manages to reach with its claw up to clamp one of Cielo's fingers. To his credit, Cielo managed to not yell out (though a pained sound did escape him) and free himself of its grasp. The crab dropped into the water, where it scurried away to continue the crably business it was on before being so rudely interrupted.

You two now have free reign to make fun of him.]

[...Pfffffffft.

But all you'll actually see is a perfect :| as Serph watches the crab scuttle away. Eh, Cielo'll be fine. He's lived through worse.]

[She hates to say she told you so, Cielo...

Except not really. There's something satisfying about being right, after all. And even though she's been working on being a little less self-absorbed, there isn't a lot that can change that.]

So much for that.

[Pfffft. She is eying him to make sure he's okay, hardly even noticing Serph's lineface. But yeah, she can imagine he's dealt with worse.

...he'll live.]

[You are both laughing on the inside he can tell. And Cielo is fine with that. Like they thought, a little crab pinch isn't much more than a small sharp pain that quickly goes away. And if it brings some joy to his friends, well, Cielo would happily let all the crabs in Vatheon pinch his fingers.]

I deserved that, ja?

[Okay, okay, he'll try not to bother the wildlife too much anymore.]

[Serph doesn't say anything, but he does feel a sense of warm contentment. While his other comrades aren't here, it feels... nice, to be able to not worry about things. To simply enjoy the company of the people he's with.

But the sun is sinking into the horizon, painting the sky brilliant hues of pink and orange. Serph turns his head to look out at the ocean, reflecting the sky. The sight of it... it's a good reminder of what they had been fighting for. But night will be upon them soon enough.

Serph's voice is quiet.]

We should head back.

[Perhaps when they're more familiar with this new world, they can spend the night up here on the beach.]

[WELL, she wasn't gonna say anything, but y'know, she did try to warn you, Cielo. She shrugs though, and then turns to Serph when he speaks; because something about his voice is pretty demanding. He doesn't speak often, he's noticed, but when he does...

He has quite the presence.]

Right. [She's as taken in by the sunset as Serph seems to be...but suddenly glances towards the elevator, nodding her head in its direction.] It's the same way back down, so...

[...

Well, ladies first, she supposes. She'll lead the way.]

[Cielo's a little disappointed to leave the beach, but he understands that they can't stay there forever. So he wades out of the water and follows Yukari to the elevator. He's dripping wet with water again, but just like when he first arrived, he hardly notices.]

That was a lot of fun.

[Crabs can't get him down.]

[Good to know you didn't get crabs, Cielo.

Serph is the last one to enter the elevator, casting a lingering glance at the beach, the ocean, the sky. This is a glimpse of the future...

Once he's inside the elevator, doors shutting so it can bring them back down into the underwater city, Serph gives his two companions a nod.]

Let's go to the beach again.

[Yukari will nod, as the elevator starts to make its descent; both to agree that it was fun--confusion regarding their Atmas aside--and that they would definitely do it again sometime, after the two are a little more settled.]

...We will.

[And that's a promise.]

SHUSH LEVI I AM THE BEST LEADER.

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