2025-08-30: Conspiracy
- Log: Conspiracy
- Cast: Ichika Kawase, Hyousuke Suzuki
- Where: Rooftop, Kasugayama High School
- OOC Date: August 30, 2025
- IC Date: July 03, 2012
- Summary: After learning Ichika's identity at 2025-08-29: Green Harvest, Hyousuke has some questions. Ichika has some, but not all of, the answers.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"Hey. Beat it."
That's how Ichika Kawase gets rid of the last couple of stragglers on the roof at this hour. It's after school, and most of the students have better places to be than 'still here'. The sun is shining on Hirasaka, illuminating dingy buildings in the distance and closer by. The rooftop of Kasugayama High is also dingy; a few generator fans, a fence to ensure nobody falls off, the rooftop access back to the stairs. There's a lot of gray and off-white here, and a lot of brick and brown out there. Ichika has her foot on a brick platform, at two elevations as she looks out over the city. She's in uniform still, which means her long teal skirt and short white blouse with collar and black tie.
At least anyone else who shows up will be out of earshot, this far from the door.
The lack of air conditioning makes the rooftop warm, but the cooler breeze helps. Ichika's bleached-blonde hair waves in the wind. She doesn't say anything else until Hyousuke gets himself settled.
Last night, after all, she revealed the face under the mask, and they decided to talk about it today. And that time has come.
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke having trouble focussing in class was nothing out of the ordinary - certainly not considering the school he was in. However, his lack of focus was born of more than simple boredom, or a desire to be anywhere else. Were anyone to peer into his mind, the truth they'd find would be shocking indeed - that some masked vigilante patrolling some supernatural phenomenon walked amongst them as an ordinary student, and he'd been roped into whatever she had going on. So eager was he for answers that, when class finally drew to a close, he all but leapt out of his seat in an effort to make it to the roof in good time.
His uniform was a little dishevelled as he stepped out onto the roof, though not from the brisk walk over. That was just how he wore it, and given the fact that he looked to be the rougher sort - given his honey-blonde hair and rather prominent scarring - it certainly seemed to fit. How he appeared was not his main concern, however. He strode forward once he was sure the door was closed, and once certain that he was out of earshot of any passersby, he announced his presence to Ichika.
"How long's this been going on?" He asked, not caring for formalities or settling in.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika is not exactly a star student in the first place, so it's kind of a wash. She's a lot more together-looking, though; her carefully altered uniform and dark makeup are both exactly where she wants them to be. And when Hyousuke speaks up...
"I got my Persona a couple months ago," Ichika says to Hyousuke. "But I tried to avoid doing anything with it for a while after that. Then I started to find trouble in the Dark Hour, and learned that maybe I could do something about... well, anything," she says.
"So maybe a month. ...But there's been a ton going on before I got involved, and I don't know how far it goes back."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
"So does that mean we're all wrapped up in some..." Hyousuke searched for the words, rummaging about in his mind like it was a drawer full of mismatched items. It was clear he struggled to do so, however - between him looking away a little, and his hands gesticulating without him even seeming to realise, there was little sign that he had the faintest idea on how to ask her what he needed. "...Conspiracy?" He asked eventually. It didn't feel like the right word, but it was the only one he knew that fit. "You said there was a ton of stuff going on. What kinda stuff did you mean?" His mind flashed back to the night before. For as much red as he'd seen then, some motes of sanity had still resided in him - enough that he could vaguely remember questions being asked of the civilian there. "...Is that guy we rescued last night involved?"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"Kind of," Ichika says. "But I don't think it's as organized as that. At least... not most people. I think there is some kind of conspiracy going with..."
She nods. "That guy. Yeah, he and that lady we fought--I don't think she wants to fight, but she has to for some reason? I don't get it. But it's why I'm not angry at her. Still confused as hell, though. She's kinda crazy."
"...Anyway like... There's the Dark Hour, where there's a bunch of monsters. There's 'Palaces', which are sort of... alternate realities formed by people being really fucked up?"
"And there's a bunch of groups who do their own things in it all. I've found a few I think I can trust--just individuals, though. If you want more information, there's a place called the Cardboard Dragon that has someone in the know running it."
"I'm..." She shakes her head. "We're in over our heads," she says simply, turning to face Hyousuke. "But there's stuff I want to do, so I'm going to do what I can."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
The mention of the Cardboard Dragon caused him to tilt his head ever so slightly. He recognised the name, even if he'd never visited - a few of his classmates had mentioned it, though he knew little about it beyond that. He crossed his arms and tapped his foot, frustration etched visibly into his face as he digested the information, but could think of no appropriate way to react to it. He managed to speak eventually, though the delay between her response and his was nothing if not noticeable.
"And you're going to do it all as the Ogre?" He asked, finally deciding to just put it as plainly as possible.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika's patient. She got rid of anybody else out here for a reason; she knows from what she knows of him so far that Hyousuke is not the fastest guy. He's frustrated...
Well, that's fair, isn't it?
Ichika nods at the eventual question. "Yeah," she says. "When I got my power, it came with the outfit--a disguise. I figure... I've got a disguise for a reason, so I might as well use it, even if I'm not sure I need to yet."
"Besides; I'm not sure how legal breaking into alternate dimensions is, and... this way people can't come at the people I care about over stuff Ogre does."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Her explanation cleared up where the costume came from, at least. That much was enough to soften his expression. Not much - he still seemed to have difficulty processing such a hefty degree of information at once, if his look of consternation was anything to go by - but enough that it could be noticed.
"Please tell me I don't need to figure out a costume before we get into that Palace you mentioned." He groaned. There was still frustration to his tone, but that scant amount of relief he'd felt was enough to make him start settling down - enough to make something resembling a joke, anyway. "If my power won't give me one, I don't even know where I'd get one of those things."
He shook his head a little, as if to shake free whatever thoughts muddied his mind, then returned to the matter at hand. "Still... Is there gonna be any risk to me if I'm going out dressed like this? I'm not doing great with the law as it is." The words came slowly and reluctantly, like he'd had to force them out with no small degree of effort. He'd not particularly wanted to mention that tidbit, but there was no avoiding the matter at this point. That aside, she'd shared some of her past with him, and he felt it was only right he do the same for her.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
There's a whole lot! Ichika doesn't begrudge that. "Nah," Ichika says of the costume. "Most people don't use them. Just a few of us. I'm not sure why some of us get them and some of us don't."
"...Heh. Yeah. Tsubasa-kun could probably make one, but..." Her best friend and gang member, that is. They're very crafty.
"I don't think so," Ichika says. "Ordinary people don't know the Dark Hour exists. Palaces aren't in the real world. I'm pretty sure as long as you don't like, use your powers to steal shit you're fine."
A look to Hyousuke, thoughtfully. Trouble with the law...
"Yeo-san at the Cardboard Dragon could tell you more about if that's an issue. I guess just..."
She considers. "I dunno if there are any Persona cops," she says. "But I haven't met any." She considers. "...The biggest danger is if you get in trouble for being somewhere you shouldn't. But if you're with me, I can divert us into that 'other world' if we're close to the Palace. ...Personally, I see a cop and I'm probably bolting."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
"So long as you don't mind me running with you. Me and the police aren't really on good terms." There was no attempt to disguise the disdain in his voice. The word 'police' was all but spat out of his mouth, as if it left a bitter taste on his tongue just by speaking it. "Still... Sounds like I need to pay a visit to the Dragon at some point. If shit goes sideways and I don't have you to get me out of there, I need to know I won't be dealing with the law again."
"..Might have to speak to that Tsubasa too. I don't want to turn up to the Palace dressed like I'm going out for a run while you're all looking like..." He gestured towards her. He couldn't quite find the words for it, but it didn't take much to infer that he was talking about the Ogre's getup. "So what's in a Palace? Is it more of those freaks we fought last night? Or are we gonna have to beat on more weirdos like that cage lady too?" He was still a little sore that he'd not gotten to fight her directly. She was no more than a foot or two from him, and she'd spirited herself away before he'd had a chance to land a single blow. That somehow hurt more than the actual blows he'd received.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"Not at all," Ichika says. "We've gotten real good at scattering when the cops show up. And I'm a fast runner." A pause. She nods, then. "Yeah. The police aren't the ones who caused my problems... but they damn well didn't help me, either." She shakes her head. "But that's a good idea. They can hook you up--they're reliable people."
"Hmmm, yeah. If nothing else you'll want to get some equipment--in the other world, body armor or even just accessories help a lot. Stuff you can hide is best."
"Yeah, more creatures for sure. They might turn into like, demons? Fairies and monsters and such," Ichika says. "But there might be some weirdos, too, if they don't like what we're doing. Anybody can get in, so..."
"I mean, I guess we're also weirdos. But other weirdos, you know."
"Yeah though, Tsubasa-kun can probably help you out with stuff--or maybe this place called Peacock Silk, it's this... upscale-looking boutique that actually does stuff for people like us. Either way, I can get you in touch."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke fell silent for a moment or two, brow furrowing and his foot tapping again, though not out of frustration this time. Instead, he seemed thoughtful. It was only when the hamster wheel inside stopped spinning that he revealed just what it was he'd had in mind.
"Then where do you think we should head first?" He asked plainly, looking to her with an expectant gaze. "I figure we hit up the Dragon so I know what I'm going up against, then go ask your guy for some gear. I don't know what kinda things to expect in there, so I don't want to get a hole in my chest when I start trying to hit stuff because I took the wrong kind of armour in."
He blinked, looking at her and picturing the Ogre's gear over her. He wasn't sure how he'd not connected the dots before - given the circumstances, he felt he should have at least been more suspicious, if not something close. He made a mental note to kick himself for it later, however. There were more important matters to hand. "But if it's all just about making me take more hits without needing anything special, let's go to Tsubasa. If it's gonna take a while to make, we might as well take care of that first."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"The Cardboard Dragon first," Ichika agrees. "Then you'll know stuff. I can give you the address; you don't have to wait for me. Just tell Yeo-san that the Ogre sent you."
A pause. Hmm. "Yeah. So, that place you got your weapon, Toa Armory? We can go there first to get you some decent armor. Then we can have Tsubasa-kun help you cover it up so it doesn't look as conspicuous under your clothes."
Luckily, the Ogre's mask is magic--people don't see through it even when they really should. But right now...
"Otherwise, sounds good. ...Any other questions I can actually answer, for now?"
She looks over Hyousuke. "Oh, yeah."
"The crew isn't in on this stuff. Shuyo-kun, Shizuko-chan... They don't know about the Dark Hour or Palaces or anything. That's why I didn't invite you to the greenhouse to talk."
"...But thanks. It doesn't look like it was easy for you to share what you did. I'll keep it to myself."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke nodded his head firmly - a quick, but nevertheless genuine, gesture of appreciation.
"Thanks. It's... a lot." There was much to talk about in regards to his past experiences, and more besides on how it affected him even now. But that was a topic for another time - if he ever spoke on it at all. Perhaps if they knew each other better, or she revealed more of herself, he'd be more inclined to. But for the moment, he figured it best to let what remained of their secrets remain buried. "I won't tell your crew anything either. But we'll need an excuse if any of them start asking questions about what we're doing up here. You trying to rope the new guy into the gang's probably only going to work a few times before they think something's up."
Hyousuke wracked his mind for questions, but nothing came to mind. There were things he wanted to know, of course, but those were questions for more learned people - people that might know where Personas came from, what the limits of his strength were, and just what the hell this 'conspiracy' was all about. Ichika had made it rather clear that such things weren't apparent to her, and so, he decided it best to save his queries.
"Apart from that, I got nothing." He said finally. "Unless you want to make a time for us to go meet up at the armoury. I'll figure out the Dragon by myself - unless you want in."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"Yeah," Ichika says. "I first stumbled into that Palace... I barely got out," she admits. "Had to find that power--'Persona'--to get past the monsters. But the monsters weren't the worst of it." Myunghon had recommended she tell epople what to expect. Maybe...
Not yet.
"Thanks. For now, that and the fact that I can have friends. I can just tell them not to worry about it. Other people might make assumptions, though."
But the questions--andt hen... Hmm.
"Cool. I can head over to the Armory now; I could stand to eat something before I go home, and Shirashi's right there next to it."
"Guess let's go."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
"Now?" He asked, his brow cocking a little at the proposal. It was unexpected, but certainly not unwelcome. "Sure. The sooner I get that done, the better." There was one other question on his lips, but it was spoken in a far more casual tone. Given the simplistic and (hopefully) safe nature of it, however, he didn't hesitate at all to ask it. "Mind if I come with to Shiraishi's? I saw some weird stuff on their menu. If it's as good as the banana ramen, I gotta try it at least once." He could still remember the taste of it. Odd, yes - but not bad.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika isn't too worried about what people might say, but Hyousuke might be; they'll have to see. Regardless, she does mean 'now', as she indciates with a nod. "Yep," she says. "Great. Yeah, I figure... why not? I'm not doing anything else right now."
He asks to come along to Shirashi, and Ichika actually smiles. "Sure," she says. "Sounds fun."
"They've got this red bean gyoza," Ichika starts as she begins walking back to the roof access to leave the school.