2026-02-15: Masks Off
- Log: Masks Off
- Cast: Roger, Kazusa Motojima
- Where: Outside the Gigolo Arcade, Akihabara, Tokyo
- OOC Date: February 15, 2026
- IC Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 (After School)
- Summary: While working his day job(?) at the Gigolo Arcade, Roger happens to take notice of a certain Homunculus walking by. He goes to deliver a message for Kazusa.
- Content Warning: Light allusions to verbal/emotional abuse from a parental vigure.
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
Akihbara! The Electric Town! It is living up to its name on Wednesday, September 26th, 2012. School's just letting out, so you have yourself the usual suspects of youngsters filtering in to this singular Gigolo Arcade, and there's that weird red pig-like mascot just bouncing around and being a cheerful presence in which to welcome people to come play! ...It's sort of odd, in that people kind of accept his existence based on the perceived stereotypes involved in seeing a mascot around. He doesn't look much like any mascot the Gigolo Arcade chain has, and nobody's bothered to see what agency he's tied to. But he's a fixture, this is his day job!
And he does it with gusto, free of the angst of 'embarrassment' or 'low pay' or 'it is actually really hot in here.' Being human is a very fun series of games that you all play at the same time and he loves games, therefore the existence so far has proven to be fun and enriching in spite of the, er, many challenges.
...Of course, there are far more important matters brewing, now that certain things have transpired in which to prepare to enter the Atelier of one Kazusa Motojima, but everyone's spinning a lot of plates before one can make the plunge together. Until then... there is a mascot, who is happy to stand there all day, and then play games a significant chunk of the evening, like routine clockwork.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Arcades are a good and fun time, aren't they? Lots of games, lots of people, prizes to win... at least, they're supposed to be. For most of the people, it is. But there is something passing outside the arcade that is considerably not fun.
Something distinctly... not human.
That presence doesn't come into the arcade, though--it is a presence that glides along past the entrance, off to whatever other destination. It looks like Kazusa, in a Shujin uniform, long straight black hair with a pink headband and purple eyes, and her schoolbag. And outwardly she seems all happy and chipper, even humming a little to herself as she goes along.
She's not walking too fast, it won't take much to catch up to her, if one is so inclined.
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
Something distinctly... not human.
Every Persona-user with a grasp of Resonance is aware when there is something very wrong in their vicinity. For Roger, who is one, but also of a fantastical non-human origin, there's a different sense that ultimately ends up going to the same place. His mascot suit - his 'real' body from his time as a Sanguin Humor - lacks the full range of expressiveness it would have had in the supernatural environs it came from, but that very wide (And kind of creepy) mouth matches that grimace one might make.
Even above the new scents he's had to learn as to the hows and whys of their existence (sweat, for one, and will remain the only thing listed), that sense has never dulled in this human world of far more stringent laws and arrangements about what is and isn't possible (until some supernatural space decides to flaunt them by existing in places they aren't meant to).
"...A Homunculus," he grimaces with a boar-like snort. And then... a thought runs through the brain he's still trying to get used to having. He can approach! As long as he looks like he's doing his job, he can... actually not do all that much more than he's doing, tied to the rules of the many games of living and being like a human.
...
Well then.
There is, eventually, a pig-like mascot bounding along up towards that monster appropriating the face and life of Kazusa Motojima.
"Hello there," earnestly, in words, but not in intent, "it looks like you're having a lot of fun..."
He hasn't thought much beyond the step of saying 'hi.' This isn't an Atelier. There are no Coleric Humors around to direct. Police aren't Coleric Humors. (do not ask how he knows)
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
There are a /lot of complicated rules to the game of life, aren't there? Expectqations, pressures, some things it's okay to do or like but others it's not... and so many of those rules are so complex and situational, to boot.
... A person could lose themselves, trying to follow all of those rules, couldn't they?
Especially when things can be rigged so disfavorably against you for no real reason at all.
The thing that is not a human that Roger approaches pauses in her steps, turning back to look at him with a curious expression. "Mmm?" And then the thing wearing a teenage girl's skin smiles brightly at the sight of a mascot. "Oh, hello there! I am! I'm going to meet a friend at a cafe."
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
He has the Homunculus' attention. This isn't an Atelier. While he only has the sample size of The One Time(tm), which for nearly all of his kind would only ever be once before... bad things happen... he knows inherently, somehow, it would be rare opportunity within an Atelier for a Sanguin Humor to get this close to a Homunculus.
But again, it isn't. The power of Persona does not work here. All the fun and wonder of being human, a novelty that has not yet worn off, finds itself with its own safety nets that get in the way of what should be done! Except...
Except that's Kazusa Motojima's human self at risk, here.
"Are you?" Roger asks, tilting his upper body. A pause. Think, strange thing that is brain. Think. Or hurt. Brain also likes to hurt, too. But think, now. Even if hurt. (It isn't yet, but.)
"Is that friend one Motojima-san, by any chance?"
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Luckily--or maybe unluckily--this isn't an Atelier or any other kind of supernatural space at the moment. Luckily, because whatever power the Homunculus might have over the Atelier, can't be expressed here. Unluckily, since that only eliminates the supernatural threat--there's an awful lot one can do, even without magic, if one is willing or ruthless enough...
... or if one just lacks all sense of restraint.
She's in a class with Hazuki and Wakana, after all, she lives with Kazuhiro...
"I am!" Kazusa says cheerfully enough. But when Roger asks that follow-up question she pauses and blinks, seemingly confused for a moment. But then she smiles. "Oh, no, that's me, silly!"
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
One cannot see Roger's face under the mascot suit, but it is pensive. Face clenched, looking all the world ready to gore someone, or something. He knows what he's talking to, what she's doing... and even in the environment outside of an Atelier it is no less angering! He saw Kazusa have so much fun playing 'cos' that day, even though her father did a cruel thing. (Are all parents like Melanc Humors? He doesn't know. He hopes not. He'll never know because he doesn't have any. Is he happy? Is he sad? It's just a fact of his existence that he's never really dwelt upon prior.)
There is silence, but then...
"Maybe you'd know if you were," the entire upper body tilts, "but if I can ask a favor..."
And then, arms behind his back as much as he can, with all smiles in the tone, because the human brain has delivered an amazing gift. "Let her know that she has friends who can't wait to see her again to come and play all the things she loves to do! Even if she's all tied up for the moment..."
Layered meanings! Human brain is fun! He means every word.
"It's okay! It won't be much longer." ...He could learn subtlety.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
There is quite a striking difference, isn't there? Between the girl that was at the convention, doing a coordinated routine with her friend, the fearful, trembling girl that recoiled under her father's gaze... and whatever this thing is pretending to be.
Why do some fathers turn out like that? That might be a mystery that won't be solved here.
"I'm definitely sure I am!" Kazusa says with all of the cheerful confidence and conviction of someone who maybe had to think about it a little bit about it first just to be sure.
But she tilts her head. "A favor...?"
She listens as Roger delivers his message, staring at him blankly for a moment, as if she really just does not comprehend what he's saying. This may not be a surprise, for anyone who's seen the new (lowercase p) persona that Kazusa has worn over the past few weeks, or even the way she responded earlier in this coversation.
The moment stretches out... but then something subtly shifts. That wide-eyed stare sharpens just a little bit. One corner of her mouth twitches upwards in the smallest smirk. And there is a sharp edge to her voice that definitely wasn't present a moment before.
"... I'll be sure to keep that in mind." She turns to face the mascot more fully, all the clueless cheer in her tone evaporating. "No, it won't be," she agrees. "... and I'll be sure to spend lots of time with my friends for a long, long, time to come."
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
Roger is not at all surprised to have the Homunculus confirm something they both know. Roger stands confident, Game Face(tm) on underneath the mascot costume. Both of their metaphorical masks are off. He's not a Sanguin Humor of Kazusa's Atelier, but he's not going to leave anyone hanging.
A snort, wordless, but clear in the sound of what it is he intends to say in meaning, but then...
"Hey, what're you doing?!" Calls someone from the arcade. "You're missing a whole crowd passing by!"
...
The tension doesn't evaporate. "She'll be welcome to come on by!" She says - not of the Homunculus before her, but of Kazusa Motojima, as he hurries back to where he ought to be. He doesn't know if the real one can hear him, but it's a promise and - as far as he cares - a certainty.
But for now, both have their own charades to upkeep.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
She can't see who, exactly, it is, unmder that mascot costume--and even if she did it might not help. The Homunculus knows everything Kazusa does, of course, but unfortunately Kazusa was... a bit preoccupied that day, and there were many in the crowd who didn't step forward to intercede on KAzusa's behalf.
But someone calls to Roger, and instantly the menace is gone from her voice. "Oh, I shouldn't hold you up, Mascot-san! Take care!" she says, all sunshine and cheers, just like before. She leans in, all smiles as she says, "... make sure you don't go anywhere you're not supposed to go!"
And with that she turns and keeps walking to her destination, humming to herself.