2025-09-30: Sunlight on the Darkside
- Log: Sunlight on the Darkside
- Cast: Fuuka Yamagishi, Ayame Watanabe
- Where: The Dark Side of Sumaru
- OOC Date: September 30, 2025
- IC Date: July 19, 2012
- Summary: Fuuka, posting as Lucia, and Ayame, posting as the3v3green meet on the Dark Side of Sumaru to discuss Shadows. They share information, as well as their mutual desire to use it to protect those they care about.
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Lucia is a fairly new member of the Dark Side of Sumaru. She only joined this month, in fact - there are no posts or mentions of her before that to be found. She's represented by an icon of a glass sphere that appears to be filled with water, surrounded by gold bands that give it the appearance of an eye peering out at the viewer.
Fittingly to this, she seems more of a watcher than an active poster - appearing primarily in topics potentially connected to Shadow-related incidents and otherwise remaining silent.
That's how it happened, at first. A topic on shadowy figures spotted late at night in Sumaru's Aoba Ward... There's been some back and forth, some clueless posters drumming it up as a conspiracy. One thing leads to another and eventually, at her prompting, in the3v3rgreen's DMs...
LUCIA
Hello, the3v3rgreen.
LUCIA
Can you tell me more? Did you see them yourself?
---
Fuuka should maybe be working on her studies right now, or that project Yukari asked for her help with... But for the one, her brain already feels pretty full and more studying right now is likely to just cause everything to leak out, and for the other, she's waiting on some things and can't get much further without them.
This topic right now, at least, is interesting to her... If, partially, because she's already familiar with the3v3rgreen's other works on the internet. She doesn't play those games herself, but the way she puts those tutorials together makes it interesting for an outsider like her...
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Instead, the3v3rgreen is a long-time poster on many communities, but on the Dark Side of Sumaru for a couple of years now. Most of her juicy posts are in locked forums, but she's well-known for her tutorials on many games on other sites, and her helpful demeanor. ...But she happens to have responded to this topic. While some clueless posters may drum it up as a conspiracy...
But the3v3rgreen posted one very interesting note that may have gotten Fuuka's attention: she mentioned the green light in which the shadowy creatures tend to appear.
Ayame happens to have some free time and she's at the computer. School's out, but Ikkaku has more to do, and her kids are playing nearby. Keeping an eye on them, Ayame checks her DMs, and...
the3v3rgreen
Hi there!
the3v3rgreen
I did. What would you like to know? I can say they disappeared before daytime. I don't exactly go out that late at night as a rule, but I could still see them from my window.
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Green light. It's something some people may latch onto and spin any number of ways, but for active Persona users, combined with the mention of them disappearing before daytime, there's one thing that means. A thoughtful frown crosses Fuuka's face - and she scoots her cushion a little closer to the table in the middle of her dormroom floor, focusing a little more intently.
LUCIA
That's good. It's safer if you don't.
LUCIA
Were they wandering aimlessly, or moving with purpose? Did you notice anything else when the green light appears?
She doesn't know how much the3v3rgreen actually knows or is aware of - it's better to opt on the side of caution, at least until she gets a better understanding. Is she a Persona-user, or someone with the Potential who happened to wake up during the Dark Hour...?
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Ayame is a little slower on the next set of messages; Isamu mentions he's hungry, and she has to grab him a snack. Luckily, she already has some made, so it doesn't take long.
the3v3rgreen
Ahem, had to attend the kiddo.
Ayame makes no secret of being a mother on the internet.
the3v3rgreen
Aimless, I think. But as to what I noticed... Before I can answer that, i have to ask you a question. Are you familiar with a concept called the Dark Hour?
Ayame has to be careful; some of this information will make her look crazy, and some might be dangerous to the wrong people.
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Fuuka notices the delay in the next message, and inwardly starts to worry. Did she press in a little too strongly? Was her question a little too leading? Did she -
Oh, there's a notification. Fuuka exhales in relief.
LUCIA
That's fine. Is everything alright?
She explains, then, that the shadowy figure was aimless, and the relief only grows. That's good... nothing good happens when the Shadows begin to move with purpose. Still, the question about the Dark Hour... She supposes it's best just to be honest.
LUCIA
I'm familiar. I see it, too. Then the green light you mentioned - that was the sign of the Dark Hour.
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
The worries... of internet.
the3v3rgreen
Oh it's fine! My son was hungry is all.
It's a purposeful question--and one that pays off. Ayame is less familiar with the Dark Hour than Fuuka, but she doesn't have any way of knowing that at the moment.
the3v3rgreen
That's right! Good. If you didn't, I'd have had to make up some excuse, but since you did, I can confirm that I think those creatures are Shadows. We have more 'demons' in Sumaru, if you're familiar with those, but at night, the Shadows do come out too.
the3v3rgreen
I'm the only one in my family who experiences it, and I haven't experienced it for all that long. But it's the best way to suss out who understands that there's more going on in the world than is visible on the surface.
the3v3rgreen
You're new to these boards, aren't you? There's a few people like us, who know what's going on. If you'd like, I can put you in contact with the server admin.
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Fuuka can't help but smile a little at that thought. Even when they're having a serious conversation like this, a kid has to eat.
LUCIA
That's good.
...And a second later, as she realises unintended meanings to that...
LUCIA
Not that he was hungry, I mean. That everything's fine.
...It's a brief slip of the direct, confident online persona(pun intended) she tries put on, as her real self comes a bit more to the forefront.
She looks over the3v3rgreen's next messages thoughtfully, considering them all in turn. She should've guessed she would be a bit more knowledgeable about all this... That does make things easier if they can just be direct with each other, without having to dance around the subject and figure out how much the other knows.
LUCIA
I'm more familiar with Shadows than I am demons. I've heard they exist, but I haven't seen any yet. Right now, I'm monitoring the movements of the Shadows to try and keep ahead of the next big Shadow event.
LUCIA
My position is similar to yours. I haven't been aware for very long, either, myself.
She supposed it wouldn't be hard to track how long she's actually been active on the Darkside, so there's no reason to lie.
LUCIA
I am, yes.
LUCIA
You know them?
...Fuuka frowns for a moment, hesitating. Should she take the3v3rgreen up on that offer...? She grabs a cookie from the nearby bowl, munching on it idly before deciding...
LUCIA
Yes. That might be helpful.
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Ayame finds the clarification adorable--she smiles at her computer.
the3v3rgreen
I understood what you meant! ^_^
Lucia explains her familiarity, and Ayame learns something! The movements of the Shadows... she is thoughtful for a moment at that, listening to the rest.
the3v3rgreen
I see! I wasn't aware you could track general Shadow movements. Demons seem more erratic, the only real clue you get is if they're around at all.
Similar to hers, though...
the3v3rgreen
Not very well, but enough. They're unfriendly, but extremely knowledgeable. I can put you in contact with them and some secret mailing lists.
the3v3rgreen
Great, I'll send you a couple of links next.
And she does. Mailing lists, mostly; there won't be archives to view, but she might have an easier time asking questions.
the3v3rgreen
In Sumaru we call him a 'Rumormonger'. If you find something especially dangerous, if you send it to him you can put out the word. Not to scare you or anything. But with things like the Joker Killer out there I worry about all the kids I see wrapped up in these things...
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
That emoji... It's cute. It softens the blow a little, even if Fuuka feels like she's shattered her image a little.
LUCIA
Usually, Shadows are the same way. But from time to time they begin to move with purpose. ...That's my understanding, at least.
An unfriendly but extremely knowledgeable person... Fuuka considers that for a moment. That sounds a little scary, honestly - but that would be useful, too.
LUCIA
Thank you. I appreciate it, that should be helpful.
Fuuka will gladly accept the links - she'll check them out later, after they're done talking. A Rumormonger, though... she's heard the term before. It makes sense, that he would be connected to a place like this.
Mention of kids getting wrapped up in these things, though...
...She wonders if the3v3rgreen would've reacted any differently to her request if she knew. Maybe she already has an idea, now that they've been talking.
LUCIA
It's alright. I already know there's danger out there. That's why it's better to stay informed, isn't it?
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Ayame can be very cute! She can also be very friendly. Even on this serious topic, she tries to stay upbeat.
the3v3rgreen
I see. I'll keep an eye out for that. They're very frightening creatures. You can at least try to talk to a demon, but...
the3v3rgreen
You're welcome!
She might've reacted differently, but she might not've, too. Ayame doesn't press on the matter of Lucia's age. Instead she continues:
the3v3rgreen
Yes. Sunlight is the best shield. Understanding what's going on is vital to protecting yourself and others. That's why I spread what information I can when it's safe. It's not as much fun as games, of course. So let's work together to keep the people we care about safe, Lucia! ^_^
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Fuuka tries to think of how best to put it.
LUCIA
Thank you. But don't put yourself in danger.
LUCIA
Shadows are...
She 'hm's to herself for a moment.
LUCIA
They're instinctive. Reactive. They can be somewhat predictable if you understand them, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous. It's better to avoid them, if you can.
...Easier said than done for most, she knows. She has an advantage, but not everyone does.
the3v3rgreen continues... and Fuuka smiles a little, at her message. ...It resonates with her.
LUCIA
I feel the same way.
LUCIA
Yes, let's.
...There's a moment of hesitation, her fingers hovering over the keys, before she decides to add...
LUCIA
:)