M&M - Persona/JoJo Hybrid (IC)

[Kymme]

August 22nd, 2013
Morning

The bus shifted and bumped along on the expertly-planned streets of Washington DC. The seats are comfy and the internal lights cast the interior of the bus in muted shades. The bus isn't terribly crowded, though it seems that with every turn enough people are jostled into each other as to elicit a general groan of annoyance.

Aside from that, though, everything is quite alright.

Raphael sits at the back of the bus, on the far left of a wide row of seats. His head bobs to the music playing through his headphones, and his eyes have almost glazed over from the monotony of the city streets. For the capital of a nation, the District of Columbia sure had a lot of identical brownstone houses lining its streets. The occasional splash of color from a brightly painted business or vacation home did little to make the city pop.

Two other people sit back here, in the furthest reaches of the bus. On the opposite side of the row sits a girl with wavy dark hair (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/a8/62/3d/a8623d63d70fa7439d4bd30407b0556d.jpg) that seems to flow out in all directions. She wears a heavy dark trenchcoat that she uses more like a blanket than a jacket. Two thin white cords snake out of the collar of her coat and up to her ears, ending in hard plastic buds. The girl's eyes are closed, though she doesn't seem to be sleeping.

In between Raphael and the mysterious girl sits a skinny boy with wide horn-rimmed glasses (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/62/c6/6b/62c66b71caa5b10a2e20021ede84c187.jpg). He's wearing a black jacket over a blue vest, topped with a dark bowtie... for some reason. He's holding some sort of brick-like handheld gaming console (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Nokia-NGage-QD.jpg), gazing down at it with rapt attention. The console's screen is at a bad angle to make out what exactly he's playing, but the boy's glasses are so thick that they reflect the image like two mirrors.

It looks like something anime-related.

Oh, and you think you can recognize one of the characters, too!

You're out of options - you have to talk to this guy.

Have a Hero Point from your [Huge Weeb] Complication.

[Hiding Dragon]

Raphael pushes up his glasses, building up confidence to engage with another person. He presses the pause button on his phone, muting the Scott Pilgrim Sekai Ni Taisuru soundtrack blaring in his ears.

He scoots close to the boy sitting beside him, flipping his ponytail over his left shoulder.

“Hey bud what’cha looking at? Is that Witch-Doctor Queen!?” Raphael cranes his neck, unconsciously fiddling with one of his ear piercings.

[Kymme]

The young man's eyes snap to the side and nods animatedly. "Yeah, it is! I've just made it to this part where this bloke, Manta, beats up these other guys with a book! Can you believe it? It's absolutely mental! Here, I'll go back a bit." He lifts his handheld up a little higher, angling it so that Raphael can get a better view.

He wasn't lying, the scene was pretty mental.

After a few more minutes the boy pauses the video and turns back to Raphael. "Oh, where are my manners?" He extends his hand. "My name is Lachlan Anders. Pleased to meet you!"

[Hiding Dragon]

Raphael smirks and stops fiddling with his piercings. He looks at Lachlan’s extended hand and goes for a wicked high-five-fist-bump-combo.

“Yo! Nice to meet you! My name is Raphael Pallas! So obviously you’re going to Preston Academy. How did you get accepted?” Raphael lowers his glasses and looks across Lachlan to the girl opposite him. “Hey, do you know anything about that girl?”

[Kymme]

Lachlan grins and puts away his handheld. "Well met, mate! I-I'm not really sure, actually. I won a contest in London and Preston Academy offered to fly me here and let me attend!" He's almost bouncing in his seat. "I've never been to D.C. before. Do you know what it's like?"

When Raphael asks about the girl beside him he shrugs. "No, not really. I don't even know her name, hones--"

"Arley."

Lachlan head snaps around to face her. The mystery girl is sitting up, pulling her trenchcoat back around her shoulders. "My name is Arley. Also, we're here."

As if at her beck and call, the bus comes to an instant stop. Lachlan is nearly thrown from his seat, and another general groan wafts up from the students in the bus. Outside, Raphael can see the massive buildings of Preston Academy looming outside, along with several other buses parked along the streets.

Arley quietly leaps up from her seat and moves down the central aisle of the bus, reaching the door just as it opens. She's off before anyone else has gotten up from their seats.

"Well, that happened." Lachlan picks himself back up and grabs his messenger bag. "At least we know her name now."

[Hiding Dragon]

Raphael pockets his music player and slings his worn leather bag over his shoulder,

He smirks at Lachlan and sings: “She’s cold as ice~” What little satisfaction the reference brings him is snuffed out when it flies right over Lachlan’s head.

“Eh… I bet it’ll be fine. It’s just a city. Just gotta keep your nose clean and keep out of trouble. Plus a small crew of friends doesn’t hurt, am I right?” Raphael jabs Lachlan shoulder lightly and chuckles a bit.

He starts make his way through the bus, utilizing his height to get past the crowd. He hops off the bus and breathes in the crisp morning air. He undoes his ponytail, letting his hair flow in the brisk wind.

“Ah~ Finally.”

[Kymme]

The buses are offloading students onto a large green within a U-shaped loop off of one of the crisscrossing roads of D.C. At the head of the loop sits a white marble building (https://matthewdurrphotography.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/old-morrison-3.jpg) with several great columns supporting a temple-like roof. It's probably the most Washington D.C.-like building you've seen so far. Official-looking people, teachers in suits and business dresses as well as a whole squad of photographers are assembling on the steps, getting ready for something. On the pavement, various employees are gathering suitcases off of the buses and moving them into trolleys - golf-cart looking vehicles with big racks for luggage. They're hauling things off to dorm rooms, you imagine.

Lachlan emerges from the bus along with nearly a dozen other students, meeting up with Raphael after most of them have dispersed across the green. "You've got a point, mate. You're probably the first person I've spoken to since I got here. And... well, I'd be lying if I said a crowd like this wasn't intimidating." He puts an arm on the strap of his bag and the other in the pocket of his jacket. "So, scope out anyone who seems easy to talk to? If you want to get a crew together this'd be the place to do it."

The rolling sea of students lies before you, milling together, exited and unfathomably vast. There are probably several hundred incoming students this year, and not all of them are freshman. Raphael is a sophomore himself, though he don't really look the part. Lachlan carries himself like a sophomore, but something about him smacks of freshman. It's on the tip of your tongue... energetic? No, that's not the right word... naive?

The word 'impulsive' comes to Raphael's mind as Lachlan tears away from his side and goes rushing through the crowd. Raphael thinks he can make out what his new friend is moving towards... oh.

The green is ringed by tall trees, five on either side. Under the shade of one of these trees, away from the thick of the crowd, it looks like Arley is being harassed by a small group of people. Raphael counts four people, two boys and two girls, surrounding her.

"F*** off." Comes Arley's voice.

"Woah, whoa! Simmer down there, Columbine."

"Yeah, what are you even doing here? You got a gun under there?"

"No! I'm a student, just like you guys. Can you please leave me alone?"

"Not until you take off that coat, weirdo!"

"Yeah! It's like seventy-five degrees out. Why are you wearing that?"

"I don't have to explain myself to you! Go away."

"Nah, I don't imagine that's going to happen."

There's someone else moving through the crowd to get to this confrontation. Someone burly.

[Hiding Dragon]

“Oh ****, come on! Not on the first day!” Raphael whisks past a couple of people but gets stuck in front of a group of numskulls playing bloody knuckles. He finally arrives at the scene just a few steps behind Lachlan.

Raphael stomps up to the little group of bullies. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” The coldness of his voice startles Lachlan. Raphael holds himself like he’s seen their kind before. “Now, I’m not an honorable man but I’m not going to stand around while four goons are picking on some girl. I’d bet my bottom dollar she got into this school by being amazing at something, not by burning her parents’ money. So how dare you act like you’re superior to her! She can wear whatever she wants! I bet it has more sentimental value then those drapes you bought yesterday.”

Raphael jabs a finger forward. “And Columbine? It’s 2013 for ****s sake!” Raphael looks calm like a pond untouched. He shoves his hands into his pockets coolly

[Kymme]

Reactions are mixed.

Lachlan steps up beside Raphael with his jaw firmly on the floor, trying to find words. "Y-yeah, what he said..." Is all that he manages.

Arley looks up at Raphael as he approaches but casts her eyes down as he berates the four kids. It looks like she's trying to make herself invisible.

The four bullies are wide-eyed with surprise and some other emotion... maybe shame? It's quickly overridden by unbridled rage, however.

One of the boys (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/1c/ef/80/1cef800bd2fa1e6ca9a8b10475d605f4.jpg), towheaded, with thick expressive eyebrows currently bent into a single furious line, steps forward and thrusts a finger into Raphael's face. "I'm not here to get talked down to by some punk-band-wanabee! Why don't you f*** right off back to tumblr, you freak?!"

"Yeah!" One of the girls (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/98/8f/bf/988fbfcf2866e1e6ef5e5f80fcf33eef.jpg), with long dark bangs and a resting look of condescension backs him up, putting an arm around his back. "Yeah, get out of here! We're just - like, trying to make sure this chick isn't up to anything! And then you come along and start yelling at us? What the hell?!"

A crowd is beginning to gather, perhaps sensing a fight. It won't be long before the school officials notice, too.

The other girl stays back, but the second boy - with an embroidered ascot and pointy-toed boots, freshly polished - steps up beside his companions. "Who even are you! Some thirty-year-old perving on kids? You're lucky we don't call over school security and have you escorted off --"

"He's a student, too!" Lachlan cuts him off. "And what's with you lot? You're just using concern as an excuse to harass this poor girl! Why?"

"Nobody asked you, limey!" The blonde-haired boy takes a step towards Lachlan, balling his hands into fists. "You trying to be a knight in shining armor or something? Why don't you just go have some tea and crumpets and polish your fake teeth, you --"

Lachlan interrupts him again, this time by punching him in the face. A gasp goes up from the crowd. The blonde boy's head jerks back a bit, but then he seizes Lachlan by the wrist and pulls him close. His face looks uninjured - Lachlan's hand, however...

"You're going to regret that."

There's someone rushing through the crowd towards this tree. They seem bulky.

Raphael notices wetness in Arley's eyes before she turns away. She's trying to hide her tears.

[Hiding Dragon]

Raphael grabs the boy collar to pull his gaze away from Lachlan. “Hey now, who said you can lay a finger on my buddy? Now I know he was being a bit brash but you and your friends said some ****ty things too. Here’s what I recommend: you stop being little jerks, you leave me and my friends alone, and you think about what you have done today. Let me tell what will happen if you don’t do this. One, you will regret it. Two, your mommies and daddies will find you got in trouble and most likely take you out of this school. And three--” Raphael looks across all of their faces. “--there’s a large man coming our way, most likely a faculty member who will be here in the ten seconds or so. You now only have 9 second to decide.”

Raphael lets go and steps back a few paces, keeping his eyes locked on them. “Oh and you better dam well say sorry to Arley, or I’ll get you all charged with 2nd degree assault.”

He quickly pulls out his phone and takes a picture of them. “Aaaaaaaand I have your faces recorded. Sooooo now that’s 5 seconds. You got any questions?” Raphael smirks at them wickedly.

[Kymme]

Again, the bullies are flabbergasted. The second girl, hanging in the back, calls forward. "Hey, it's illegal to take someone's picture without their permission! Delete that! My-my dad's a lawyer, he can put you in jail. Or something!"

The towheaded boy smooths out his collar and glares at Raphael. "Unless I'm mistaken, your limey friend is the one who hit me. And you messed up the collar of my favorite dress-shirt. Doesn't that make you two guilty of assault? If I hit either of you back it's in self defense, right?" He takes a step forward but is then pulled backwards, nearly off his feet.

The other three companions have their arms wrapped around him, holding him back. "George, this is not the time! We have to go!"

"It's a little too late for that." The burly figure has emerged from the gathering crowd of students and made his way up the short rise to the tree. He's... not a faculty member, that's for sure. This newcomer stands (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/b3/18/57/b318571c776b7fccd526137ceb9b63df.jpg) a little over Raphael's height, with broad shoulders and a heavily muscled physique. His black hair is styled in a spiked mohawk. A long scar above his left eye completes his thuggish look.

"Does someone want to explain to me what's going on here?" He projects a natural air of authority, arms folded and legs spread shoulder-width apart. He points to Raphael. "You seem like you're a little more composed than these..." he regards the bullies with an upraised eyebrow (https://images.rapgenius.com/6e96c79daeccd20972dd4f069cb30e42.424x318x1.png) before continuing. "People. Would you like to explain?"

[Hiding Dragon]

Raphael looks wide-eyed at this newcomer. He can feel a bit of redness spreading across his face. “Um… yeah… These four jerks were picking on my friend Arley. But my other friend here, Lachlan, was a bit too brash because this blonde-haired guy was making fun of his unique heritage. This whole thing was caused because these rich kids were too worried about her outfit.”

Raphael rubs the back of his neck, feeling a little bit unnerved by this burly kid.

[Kymme]

"I see." The black-haired newcomer folds his arms, tapping idly on the side of his right bicep. "And that's... everything?"

"He punched me!" The blonde-haired boy thrusts a finger towards Lachlan. "That one, he punched me in the face!"

"Really?" He regards Lachlan curiously. "No offense, man, but your punches probably hit like butterfly kisses."

"Um... none taken?" Lachlan takes a step back, positioning himself slightly behind Raphael.

"You don't even have a bruise on your face, man." The jock rolls his eyes. "But whatever, maybe he did punch you, who cares? What really matters is..." His eyes flash and he leans forward, staring down all four of the bullies. "...if you were harassing this girl."

"Uh... n-no!" The boy with the neckerchief steps forward. "We weren't harassing anybody! We were just talking to this girl and then these two came up and started picking a fight! It's their fault, not ours!"

"Hm..." The jock considers this for a few moments. Then, turning back to them, he fixes them all with a gaze that could curdle milk. "So, if I were to ask you to leave you'd have no reason to say here, is that right?"

"W-well, listen! I--" He is cut off by this jock cracking each individual knuckle in the space of about three seconds.

"Go on. You were saying?"

They take off like spooked gazelle on the Serengeti.

The jock runs a hand through his hair, grinning slightly. "Phew... that was close. Can't go around starting fights on the first day of school! What would sis think of me then?"

Turning around to face Raphael, Arley, and Lachlan; his grin drops away. "I just said that out loud, didn't I?"

Lachlan extends his hand. "Lachlan Anders at your service, sir."

"O-oh! Right." The jock shakes back. "My name's Marcus. And you are?"

There is an awkward pause before Raphael realizes that Marcus is talking to him. "Come on, man, don't leave me hanging!"

[Hiding Dragon]

My name is Rapheal Pallas. Thanks for the save, man! Who even are you? Captain Cool or something!? Yeah… something like that… By the way I dig the hair.”

Raphael smiles, pleased with this nickname, then he whirls around to Arley. “Arley, are you okay? Here. “Raphael digs in his backpack and pulls out a folded kissy skull bandanna. “For your eyes, ya know?”

“Anyways, the ceremony is probably going to start soon. Are you guys ready to head over there?” Raphael grins a bit at his little crew of misfits.

[Kymme]

Arley stands and takes the bandana somewhat awkwardly. "Y-yeah... we should get going." She tucks it into one of the pockets of her coat and follows Raphael into the crowd. Lachlan follows too, sticking close to Raphael's side. Marcus peels himself away, though, moving to stand with several other athletic-looking students.

Eventually all of the students are gathered in neat, orderly rows in folding chairs in the smallest part of the green, directly across the street from the steps. A kind-eyed man with wavy grey hair takes the podium first and - after the necessary greetings, niceties, bad jokes, good jokes, congratulations, and special thanks - introduces the next speaker: Lenore Preston, the Dean of Preston Academy (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/9b/6a/dd/9b6add9df9f5d9e973e4b7bd318770fd.jpg). A dark-skinned woman who would rather eschew the constricting professional attire of her colleagues but all the same seems uncomfortably stuffed into a bright dress and dark jacket. At least the collar is popped.

"Welcome, one and all, to the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. Here you stand before the Old Stone building of the prestigious Preston Academy, but I'm sure all of you were well aware of that. Whether this is your first year attending our fine institution, or this is merely one of many, I would like to congratulate you for being chosen to attend. Many people dream for this honor, and only a select few are chosen. I'm sure many of you are very eager to begin your schooling, but I'm expected to drone on for a while here. Bear with me. Here at Preston Academy, we only accept the best of the best, and only produce the best of the best. Failure cannot and will not be tolerated from either the faculty or the student body. Do not ever waver in your endeavors and you will never have a problem with our disciplinarians.

That being said, do not let my harsh warning dissuade you from enjoying your time here. We have an abundance of extracurricular activities for you to sample, and offer plenty of volunteering opportunities around the city if you wish to aid those around you. We hope not only to encourage a strong intelligence, but also a strong moral fiber within our students. You should always strive to change your world for the better.

Ambition is the key here. One should always have a solid goal in their mind as they go about their lives. An ideal, a truth, anything to push you to do better than your best everyday you draw breath will suffice. Never accept mediocrity, never settle settle for half-done or good enough. Remember that, in this city, you lie in the shadows of greatness. Thank you."

There is applause from the teachers assembled and more... respectful clapping from the students below. After Dean Preston's speech the grey-haired man takes the podium once more and begins to organize the students by grade. Returning students from the upper grades are allowed to head to their dorms without further ado, whereas the newcomers as well as any incoming Freshman are gathered together and sorted by their last names. Raphael finds himself separated from Marcus, Arley, and Lachlan and moved into a group with a dozen students he doesn't know. They are then passed over to a lanky thin-faced man named Mr. Alencar (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/4d/7e/f3/4d7ef332498dc3077761c2fee0d64381.jpg), who begins to show the students around Preston Academy.

The grounds are vast (https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7058/6973063396_c5b27df37f_b.jpg), but their rout pretty much takes them past the Old Stone building, between the Humanities Building and the Fine Arts Center, past the Athletic Center, and across the street to another building, the modern-looking Forrester Hall. Inside are tables lined with staff handing out new uniforms, bookbags, Academy pamphlets, coupons for the various school stores and student-run restaurants, raffle tickets for mini-fridges, room keys (actually key-cards), key-chains, key-rings, lanyards with every possible permutation of the Academy's colors, and a dozen other things. It takes nearly an hour for Raphael to get everything he needs and make it to his room, located on the fourth floor of Forrester Hall. His friends are nowhere in sight - their guides probably gave them much more thorough tours of the Academy grounds.

This idea is shattered when spies Marcus standing in front of the door to room 413 - Raphael's assigned room.

ROOMMATES?!

[Hiding Dragon]

"Oh for Christ's sake." Raphael nervously starts stalking towards the door. (Why couldn't it be Lachlan?! At least we have something in common!)
Raphael taps Marcus on his big beefy shoulder
Uh Captain Cool? what are you doing.

[Kymme]

Marcus whirls around, eyes wide with surprise. "Hey! Er, I mean... Hi, Raphael!" He takes a step back, running a hand through his hair. "You're finally free, too? Man, the lady who showed my group around was so long-winded I thought I'd never make it! But, you know. It's all good."

"So..." He smiles widely. "Have you found your room yet? I'm right here." He raps his knuckles on the door to emphasize. "Not too far from either staircase, not too far from the elevator, top floor, looking out over the campus; seems like prime real estate. I'll help you look for yours, if you like."

When Marcus was just standing here it looked as if he was lost in thought, looking at something in his right hand. When Raphael approached he slipped it into his back pocket, too quickly to be casual.

It was a picture, old and folded.

The picture was of several people - perhaps a family photo of some kind?

[Hiding Dragon]

"Hm... Yes, I can see that now. Good eye." Raphael slips in front of him and slides his key card to open the door. "Good thing we're sharing it, no?"

Rapheal winks at him and slips past into the room. He darts in and throws himself onto the bed closest to the window, dropping his bag beside it. Propping himself up, he looks at a likely stunned Marcus.

"So I'm your roommate. I hope ya don't mind. By the by, what's up with that old photo? Family?"

[Kymme]

Marcus steps inside the room quietly, still smiling. "Yeah, it's just my folks. It's the only picture I brought with me. Do you think this school sells frames?" He tosses his bag onto his designated bed and sits down. "You know, I probably should have expected something like this. Coincidences, right?"

He leans back and folds his arms behind his head. "I've got to ask. What did you and your friend Lachlan plan on doing to those jerks? Were you gonna start throwing punches or something?"

[Hiding Dragon]

Raphael rolls over and rummages through is bag, finally pulling out a metal cube. Etched and indented from years of use, it's a very complicated puzzle box.

"Well... It was not part of my plan to punch one in the face. I was going to talk them down or just throw dirt in their faces and run away with Arley. I don't really know. I didn't want to get involved, honestly, but my chum sorta ruined that."

Then, with a satisfying click the box pops open, revealing some little red candy that Raphael uncerimoniously eats.

"So... how did you get into Preston? I mean - I'm sure it was for some sorta physical accomplishment, by the looks of you."

[Kymme]

"Athletics stuff, yeah." Marcus lays back, staring up at the ceiling. "I broke some state records in running my Freshman year and then wham!" He punctuated his sentence by thrusting a fist towards the ceiling. "Preston Academy called."

He sits up quickly. "I'm getting hungry, Raphael. Wanna see what kinds of stuff this place serves for lunch?"

----

And so the days pass. Friday is filled to the brim with full-campus tours and activities - all of which split the students up into alphabetical groups, meaning that once again Raphael ends up separated from his friends. They manage to find each other by the end of the day, though.

That is, Lachlan and Arley. Marcus spends the evening with a gaggle of kids that just so happen to be members of Preston Academy's football team. He stays out on the Academy grounds with them late into the night and returns to his and Raphael's room long after the sun has set.

The weekend comes and goes with some more free time - time that Marcus spends with his teammates. Raphael does get to spend some more time with Arley and Lachlan, though. They talk all throughout the weekend and Raphael manages to catch a few more details from them (not that he was prying or anything):

Lachlan's from a city in England called Bristol; a real character of a town. Arley's from... Denver? That's pretty much it. She's not very forthcoming and doesn't participate in conversations so much as sit next to Lachlan and Raphael and listen to them talk about anime. It seems like she's having fun, though. The four bullies from the first day don't trouble the intrepid trio, and the bulk of the student body largely passes them by. Just a few Sophomores, nothing to see here.

The first week of classes comes... and it hits hard. Preston Academy doesn't really do academic warm-ups - that's what the first four days of your stay were for. Monday comes with a few leaflets of homework, Tuesday with some review and book assignments, Wednesday with the beginnings of a heaping pile of homework, and Thursday with quizzes and computer-lab assignments. With constant study and diligent work Raphael crests atop the wave of classes.

Luckily, he doesn't have to navigate the labyrinth of school alone. Raphael has Arley in one class (Co-ed Physical Education, 2nd Period), Lachlan in one class (Art II, 4th Period), and Arley, Lachlan, and Marcus in another (Introduction to World Mythologies, 7th Period). The rest of his classes are chock full of weirdos.

Every day Marcus and Raphael get back to their room at around the same time. Despite the stress of schoolwork Marcus seems happy. Even in their private conversations Raphael's roommate maintains his happy-go-lucky cool mood. No one listening in would say that their conversations were enlightening, but it was a point of contact. That was enough.

----


August 30th, 2013
Midday, Lunch Hour

Arley hasn't arrived yet, so Raphael and Lachlan sit opposite each other at the end of a very long table, as far away from prying eyes as possible. The period before Lachlan had sketched a character from one of his favorite shows and was now rooting through is backpack looking for another drawing. "It's got to be in here somewhere. I'm sure... I was using it for a reference, it's got to be here! Um... oh - Ah!" With a dramatic flourish he pulls out a folded piece of paper. "This is it!"

He unfolds the paper but stops just before opening it fully. Raphael follows his eyes and finds that Lachlan's gaze is trained on someone just entering the room. Marcus. Raphael's tall roommate makes his way around the room and sits down at a table full of his teammates.

"What's that guy's deal, Raphael?" Lachlan keeps his eyes trained on Marcus as he addresses his friend. "He helped us out last week but I don't think he's so much as spoken to Arley and I since. He's your roommate, right? Does he ever talk to you?"

[Hiding Dragon]

Raphael looks up from his smutty romance manga disguised with the book cover of another obscure sports manga. “I wouldn’t worry about it. Marcus is a cool dude while we’re in our dorm room. We talk about stuff. I even let him take a crack at my favorite puzzle box just to see if he can get to the sweets inside.”

Raphael places the book down. “Why do you ask? Does it bother you that he spends his time with the sporty people?”

[Kymme]

“Well, not really.” Lachlan leans forward, crossing his arms on the table to make a cushion for his head. “It just feels like he’s ignoring us. It’s odd, isn’t it? He hangs out with you because you’re his roommate, but it seems like he couldn't care less about Arley or me.”

And then Arley steps into the cafeteria, hands thrust into the deep pockets of her coat and her face down, almost obscured by the collar. This is Arley on a typical day.

“Speaking of Arley…” Lachlan turns back to Raphael and whispers quietly as Arley nears her table. “He didn’t have any reason to give a damn about us on the first day of school. Why’d he run over? Do you think it was because he saw Arley? I mean – admittedly, I ran over to protect her from those bullies, but you don’t think he, y’know – “

“Has a crush on me or something?” Arley sits down next to Lachlan, chewing idly on a bright red apple. “Yeah, I wonder that too.”

Lachlan’s face reddens to match Arley’s apple and he turns away, pulling at his collar. “O-oh, um – Arley! You were… um… listening!”

“Yeah. You’re not that quiet.” She takes another bite. Looking across the table at Raphael, she continues. “Marcus seems so happy all the time. Do you think he’s high or something?”

Not waiting for a response, she leans across the table. “And, well, I actually do kinda wonder why he rushed over to help you guys. And me. D-do…” The red seems to travel from Arley’s apple directly to her face. “Do you think you could ask him for me? Please, Raphael?”

-----

It isn’t until later that day that Raphael gets his chance. In the evening, about thirty minutes before lights-out, Marcus arrives back at his and Raphael's shared dorm room. He's got a wide, exited smile on his face and an animated gleam in his eyes. "Dude! Raphael, you've got to come with me! The Seniors on the team told me the coolest story and I want to try it out! Get your shoes on and let's go!"

Have +1 Hero Point for this unexpected new complication: Dumb School Drama.

[Hiding Dragon]

Raphael looks up from another one of his puzzle boxes: a slimmer version that he has not yet gotten around to solving. He has his ear-buds in as he turns to face the door. All he sees is Marcus flapping his gums. (I guess he want me to come with him?)

Shrugging, he pulls out his ear-buds and pockets the slim puzzle box for later. Raphael starts putting on his shoes but stops, remembers something. “Hey, if I go with you will you promise to answer a question?” He grabs his jacket and looks at Marcus expectantly.

[Kymme]

"Y-yeah, sure man!" Marcus is momentarily caught off-guard by the question and stops. "What kinda question is it?" He lets the sentence hang as he moves down the hall towards the staircase.

Past sundown the campus grounds become an entirely different world. There are no students wandering, aside from a few night-owls or upperclassmen returning from an evening around DC. The city itself off limits to the unsupervised underclassmen, but the seniors and juniors are offered more leeway.

Marcus leads Raphael through tight alleys between buildings, away from the crisscrossing paths, and up to a small fenced off area on the northeastern side of Preston Academy.

"This is it." Marcus gestures grandiosely towards the area on the other side of the fence. "One of the guys on the varsity team calls it the Moonpool. There's en empty irrigation pond on the other side of this fence - they used to use it for the soccer and football fields, back before they upgraded to astroturf. Now the pond's empty." He steps up to the fence and pokes his fingers through the holes. "But sometimes, on nights where the moon is out, they say that the pond fills with a bit of water. Not all the way up to the edge, maybe halfway. The water is weird, though. They say that it doesn't get anything wet. If you poke a stick into the water it comes out completely dry. The varsity team has a tradition: you're supposed to stick your hand in the water."

He turns around to Marcus. "And I'm gonna do that tonight. Come on, let's see if the pool is starting to fill."

Sure enough, it is. The pond is rather small, maybe only twenty feet across, and crystal clear water reflects the night sky above. The water fills the bottom third of the pool, but despite its clarity Raphael can't make out the bottom. It's like a perfect reflection.

"I'm going to need proof." Marcus starts to rummage through his pockets. "Here's my phone. I want you to record me dipping my hand into the Moonpool. Otherwise they probably won't believe me. You game?"

You have a bad feeling about this.
A really, really bad feeling about this. Just seeing the pool makes you nauseous. It's difficult to describe, but it seems like the pool i surrounded by an aura of menace.

[Hiding Dragon]

Raphael looks at Marcus like he’s just inhaled spray paint from a paper bag. He takes the phone and hits record immediately.

“Okay Marcus, touch the magic moon water.” He scans the area to make sure nobody is coming. “Say… Marcus, since we are out here, I’m going to ask you that question you promised to answer.” He inhales dramatically.

“Do you like Arley? The girl with the longcoat? Do you have the hots for her?” Raphael waits, keeping the camera trained on Marcus.

[Kymme]

"Okay, here goes!" Marcus reaches down towards the water, hand splayed wide, creeping ever closer to the sheer reflective surface...

And then the smile runs away from his face.

"Wait, what? N-no!" His eyes move from the camera lens to Raphael's face. "Arley... did she put you up to this? I don't - I mean, she's..." His eyes narrow. "Are you messing with me? Come one, man. I wanted to show you something cool and then you're bringing this up? Wait, are you still recording this? Turn it -"

Then a hand bursts from the Moonpool and seizes him by the wrist, pulling his entire body into the water with one swift motion. His passage doesn't so much as make a ripple on the pool's surface.

[Hiding Dragon]

Raphael looks like he’s having a good time, enjoying every moment of Marcus’ embarrassment. That is, until the otherworldly hand grabs Marcus and leaves Raphael speechless just long enough for him to click the recording off. Then he explodes.

“OH! WHAT - SWEET BABY JESUS AND ALL THAT IS HOLY - WAS THAT SH*T!!?!? MARCUS! OH SH*T!!. Okay, okay… It’s fine, right? I’m just tired, he was off balance, it might just be a deep pool, right?” Raphael walks over to the edge. “Oh god Arley is going to kill me! Well, I mean, I got the video... Damn it, dude, your roommate just got ganked by a spooky hand from the magic water!” He put a hand to his chin. “This... does not make any sense! Magic water?? Oh man..”

Raphael stares at the pool, scanning every inch of its surface. F*ck it! I hope I don’t die... because if I do it’s all Marcus’ fault! He dragged me out here! A-and because of Arley’s request, I… RGAAHA!”

Raphael whips himself in such a fury that he leap into the pool without another thought.

[Kymme]

Raphael’s entire body hits the pool all at once, so he has no time to acclimatize to the sensation of the Moonpool. A tingling numbness passes over his entire body and sends waves of static down his nerves. The effect isn’t entirely unpleasant, but it’s something he’s never experienced before. It’s… otherworldly.

His soul seems to lift from his body as Raphael falls, or leaps, or dances, or exists through the thin barrier. Then he’s face down in the grass. Coarse, rough grass, not the manicured lawns and parks he’s accustomed to. This is a field of long wild grass that sways in a noiseless wind.

The silence is interrupted by Marcus screaming.

Scrambling to his feet, Raphael finds himself in the middle of a long clearing, like a street between two blocks of tall trees. Marcus is here, a few yards away, struggling to crawl away from something… else.

A blue mask two feet tall by a foot wide, (http://orig04.deviantart.net/d2aa/f/2016/100/9/7/cowardly_maya_by_sacurmitus-d9yfthg.png) with two wide eyes and a drooping mouth, serves as the head of this creature. Its body drapes down from the mask like a sheer black curtain, melding seamlessly into the ground. There is no texture to its form besides the rough-looking blue mask, with a Roman numeral 1 carved into its forehead. The creature extends two long arms, or rather, two long arms bloom from its body and reach towards Marcus.

“HOLY F*CK WHAT IS THIS THING GET AWAY FROM ME GET AWAY!” Marcus attempts to stand but one of the creature’s arms lashes out and sweeps his legs out from under him, sending him crashing back down to the ground.

Behind him, Raphael can see two more of these monsters slowly creeping along the ground, making their way towards him.

And so begins our first combat! Just so you know, Raphael, you don't have the use of your Persona yet. Have a Hero Point!

Initiative:
Raphael: [roll0]
Marcus: [roll1]
Monsters: [roll2]

[Hiding Dragon]

“Marcus! I’m coming!” Raphael runs up to his fallen friend and kneels beside him. “Dude are you okay? By the way, if we die it’s all your fault...”

He looks up at the creature. “Uh… maybe if I punch it, it’ll go away?” Raphael runs at it and attempts to punch it in the mask.

[Kymme]

The creature stands completely still as Raphael punches it in the face mask. There is a loud whack as the punch its home, but the monster doesn't so much as flinch. Then its body begins to melt, its neck receding back into the big pool that was its torso.

"Raphael!" Marcus scrambles to his feet, a wild look in his eyes. "Get away from it! I mean, nice save, but GET BACK!" He glances over his shoulder at the other two creatures, slowly slithering towards them. "I don't see any other way out of this. We've got to fight!"

He dashes towards the creature that was attacking him and leaps into the air, attempting to dropkick it. His feet land right on its face, accomplishing nothing save serving Marcus up to it on a silver platter. He hits the ground hard and the creature is unmoved. "Sh*t!" Marcus rolls onto his back. "I think I landed on my wallet."

But the beast doesn't attack him. Instead it turns its head towards Raphael and grows oddly still. Then its body bursts forward as one massive pseudopod extends out and strikes him like a spear to the solar plexus. It carries with it enough force to run him through and for a moment Raphael sees his whole life flash before his eyes.

It hasn't been a long life.

And then the lunge is stopped short. Not short of Raphael, mind you; it still hits hard and knocks the wind out of him. But all the same the attack is blunted. Raphael catches a flash of white fabric - a stray lock of pink hair flowing free from a hooded face - and then it's just the monster rearing up for another strike and Marcus shouting for him to move. But there's something new.

Something hovers nearby, just beyond Raphael's sight. A silvery, girlish voice tickles his ears.

"Phew~! That was close, right? Just hang back a bit and then dive in! These things'll probably fold like putty if we keep hitting them! Whaddya say?"

Raphael, you take one Bruise! Your newly increased Toughness prevented you from dying instantly, but the attack still hurt somewhat. It's your turn!

[Hiding Dragon]

“Is there a girl in here too?! Help us! Sh*t sh*t we are going to die!”

Raphael draws back to Marcus. “Damn it man this is all you fault! I swear if we get out of this I’m going to make you tell Arley how you feel! Now come on, lets focus on one of them!”

He pulls the small puzzle box from his pocket, holding it in his hand like a roll of quarters. He dashes at the monster, throws his arm back then catapults it forward in a Hail Mary haymaker.

[Kymme]

Raphael's hand shimmers mid-punch, and before his eyes is replaced with white-sleeved mechanical prosthetic, long needle-like fingers pressed together into a sleek spear of black metal. The arm strikes home, impaling the monster through its head and shattering the blue plate. Its whole body evaporates into black smoke as the damage reverberates through every inch of the black ooze.

Raphael's stomach drops as the arm detaches from his body, proving to be more of an overlay than a transformation. A whole body emerges from him, floating a few feet off the ground in a mirror of Raphael's stance. It's... a girl (http://orig03.deviantart.net/bb6f/f/2016/042/6/f/reaper___heartbreak_by_adriandadich-d7538m8.jpg)? Her body is a mismatch of Giger-esque plating that fuses organic textures with rough mechanical lines, all a glossy black in color. She wears a baggy white hoodie and studded black-and-pink high tops, both stylized with a bone and heart motif. Her hood has an omega symbol that is partially cut off, giving the suggestion of horns above her face. Her face, too, is an odd fusion of comfortable human features and monstrous traits. The skin of her face is creamy pink, too flushed with color to be human skin. Her eyes and hair are matching shades of pink, though her long lashes are deep black. If she has eyebrows at all, a fringe of pink hair obscures them. She has black sclera.

Also, she's laughing. "Woo! That was fun, right? These guys don't stand a chance! Let's just keep hitting them!"

Then the other two strike. Their bodies extend forward dozens of feet, going for Marcus and Raphael. Marcus manages to roll away and kip up to his feet, but both Raphael and this strange woman are caught too off-guard. The attack whips across Raphael's shoulder, driving him back a few paces and leaving a shallow slash on his chest. The pain is biting, but it grows numb after a few moments.

"That was... pretty bad." The woman grimaces at Raphael's wound. "But on the bright side..." She points at the puzzle box in Raphael's hand. "I have a pretty good feeling about that thing! I bet whatever's inside there will help out, for sure!" She grins widely. Her teeth are pointy.

[Hiding Dragon]

What the f*ck are you!? Who are you?!” Raphael looks at the acid dream girl floating beside him. He had no intentions of trusting someone who looked just as monstrous as the things they were fighting. On the other hand, she did just help him destroy one of these things.

“Uh… fine, lady, I guess I gotta solve it here and now!” He turns around and digs into his puzzle box. Expertly focused, mind racing, Raphael’s hands slide the delicate panels of the box in and out even as the monsters creep ever closer. Then a click chimes and Raphael smiles from one pierced ear to another. “There we go!”

[Kymme]

The puzzle box clicks open softly, but it isn't empty. Rather, a plume of black smoke begins pouring out, motes of white light dancing within. The lights split off from the cloud and flow into Raphael, soothing his injures and filling his body up with hope. The smoke, however, begins curling through the air of its own accord, arcing down to strike the monster closing in on Marcus.

When the smoke clears the beast's mask lies in the puddle that was once its body, slowly withering away into despair.

"Hah! I knew something good was in there!" The girl floating beside Raphael cheers. "Now there's just one left," she says, catching the final monster's quick lunge in a clawed hand. She squeezes and the pseudopod disintegrates into smoke. "Oh, and to answer your question:"

She fixes Raphael with her unsettling gaze and speaks with reverence. "I am thou... Thou art I... From the sea of thy soul, I come... I am Pandora, the all-giving and all-endowed."

"Wait, what?" Marcus glances over, seeing Pandora for the first time. "Raphael, get away from that thing!"

[Hiding Dragon]

Raphael is awe struck, watching at this woman with his jaw on the floor. You are me? And I am you? So you’re like my soul, manifest?! Or… something?! Wow! This is the coolest thing ever!”

His celebratory nerdgasm is interrupted by Marcus. “Wait, you can see her too? How?” Raphael leans close, poking at one of his chin piercings. “Maybe you have a some magical gift too? Hey, maybe you should call for it like I did. This is so cool! Some strange world full of monsters and heroes with magical powers? It’s like one of my mangas!” Then it dawns on him. “Dude, how the hell do we get out of here?!”

[Kymme]

"Um..." Pandora tilts her head to the side, regarding Raphael with eyes equal parts confused and amused.

Marcus was having none of it. "There's still one more of them, jackass! Quit talking about your dumb Japanese sh*t and sick that weird lady on them!" Then panic crosses his face. "Raphael!"

He lunges forward, but he's too late to stop the monster's attack before it lands, striking Raphael solidly across the shoulder.

[Hiding Dragon]

Raphael’s heart seems to stop as the cudgel creeps through the air towards him. Acting on reflex, he throws out a hand and Pandora appears, seizing the shadow’s limb with her long bladed claws.

“Now rip it to ribbons! Pandora!” Pandora brings up her claw and brings it downwards, slicing the creature into equal halves.

“...So cool!”

[Kymme]

Pandora's claws rake through the Shadow, destroying it utterly. "Yeah!"

The sounds of battle cease, the ominous air over the clearing fades, and Raphael and Marcus stand alone, with Pandora floating above them.

"What..." Marcus takes a deep breath between each word, "were... those... things?"

Pandora tits her head to the side at an inhuman angle, grinning with a mouth filled with sharp teeth. "Monsters. But don't worry, they're dead now."

Marcus takes another deep breath, slouching his shoulders. His eyes remain fixed on Pandora. "What are you?"

"Didn't you hear the speech?" Pandora lazily floats towards Raphael, moving her arms like she's swimming through the air. "I'm this guy's Persona. The defense he maintains to protect himself from the horrible curses of the world. My name is Pandora."

"Ri-right." Tucking his hands into his pockets, Marcus turns away and surveys the rest of the clearing. It seems to stretch off in two directions, flanked by thick, dark forests on either side. One end seems to stretch on forever, but looking the other way one can make out the looming forms of several large structures clustered together. "Last question, Pandora: where are we? What is this place, exactly?"

Pandora fazes back into Raphael until only her head and shoulders sprout from him. "I'm not sure. I've never been outside the sea of Raphael's soul before. I think I've heard of this place, though..."

"It's called The District."