01 - Who's Who

[deathboss]

So uh, I had this really scary memory come back to me, and I need help identifying either of these two...individuals. I drew them from memory so they might not be exactly like this...



The guy on the left is called Philemon. I saw him in a place that I can't quite remember but there was a checkerboard floor and Greek columns. His mask looks like it came from a bargain bin theater play. He said the place was a gulf between the conscious and the unconscious. Not sure why that would have a checkerboard floor, but there you go.

It's what he said that's got me confused. Something about the land of Sumaru being a netherworld where rumors are reality and we had to use our power to fight back. He called it Persona? Something like summoning the selves inside of you...angels and demons...breaking the chains of karma...sounded really important if the guy bothered to summon us for it...OH RIGHT! He was a golden butterfly before turning into a man.

...I promise this is a memory and not substance abuse by the way. Even ten cups of Coffee wouldn't give me that kind of freaky vision.

Anyway. I guess the monster on the right would be something from the netherworld? I don't know, that was my first memory before this one. Someone else was with me doing motorcycle noises to it for some reason...I don't think his 'Persona' was doing that...heck I don't even know what a "persona" is supposed to be. And with a bunch of people off somewhere, I figured asking everyone might be better than just bothering my bros...

Your help is greatly appreciated. If you know something about anything I just wrote, or just want to share your thoughts, I'll make it up to you if you can help me.

-Michel Mishina

Comments

It's beautiful, I'm guessing it was a Jojo?

[deathboss]

I still can't believe fruit SHOULDN'T have faces, to be honest.

But that would suck...I'm kinda curious to know where these memories are leading me to. Hopefully something else than motorcycle noises.

Yep! If you never hear the word 'Stand', but people say 'oh I have that power, it's a Persona'...

[thesettingsun]

You can't have motorcycle noises in all your memories.

Hahaha I love it

[deathboss]

True.

But to think that was my first memory. Was this other guy fighting demons too?

[thesettingsun]

My first memory was about being arrested for communist involvement.

Communism has never come up again in any of my memories after that. I must have gotten 20 more by now.

[deathboss]

...

I kind of want to ask, but at the same time I'm afraid to know why. Not to mention I was bad with history in general at school, so I'd probably have no idea what you were speaking about.

[thesettingsun]

Short version: I lived in Japan and it was super illegal to be a communist for a few decades. Plotting against the emperor, etc. etc.

[deathboss]

Huh. Well um...I'm glad that you're here now, if that helps?

I'm bad at this, sorry...

[thesettingsun]

It's fine, nobody knows what to say about weird memories. You get a little more used to it the longer you've been getting them.

[deathboss]

Yeah...this is weird enough...I'm almost afraid to figure out what exactly a Persona IS. What if it changes me into this weird monster?

[thesettingsun]

It's not going to turn you into a weird monster. Depending on your definition of monster, maybe.

[deathboss]

Well, I guess if it's another part of me...I guess it has to come OUT of me right? Hopefully not skin-bursting style.

What about you? Apart from that memory, did you learn things that were...better?

[thesettingsun]

There probably won't be any skin-bursting, that sounds like a really irritating method of summoning something.

[...And he's just going to not answer that question, because the answer is 'no'.]

[deathboss]

...true. That would leave lots of shit everywhere.

[Really gross pieces of skin. He shivers thinking about it. Also the guy didn't answer...but he's smart enough to know that asking again would be pushing it so he won't. He doesn't know the guy enough.]

Everything is still new to me, memories and all...

[thesettingsun]

I know 'you get used to it' isn't that reassuring, but it's true. Things like that won't bother you after a few months of memories.

[deathboss]

Hmmm...I don't know.
Getting used to having flashes of memories, I can see but,
knowing I had another life that I'm slowly remembering will be weird for me from day one to day being in my deathbed.

[Maybe that's just how he is, however.]

Anyway I know we see each other's names, but I don't know much about you. Thanks for helping out a confused stranger.

[thesettingsun]

Don't worry about it. We were all new once and getting our first weird memories, the least I can do is help someone out.

Shuji Tsushima, college student, nice to meet you. I published a novel last month if you follow that any?

[deathboss]

Not really, unless you contacted us to talk about it...

...honest I'm kinda bad at college right now. My life is on the tubes, bro.

What's your novel about?

[thesettingsun]

It's a space drama centered around moral relativism. Honestly, I was just trying to come up with something to mention so we wouldn't be total strangers anymore, that was the first thing I came up with.

I feel you on the college problems.

[deathboss]

Moral Relativism... [You lost him at the second word.] ...and don't worry, I'm the same. I could talk about all the videos I have online!

But yeah, I'm better at making them than working on my physiology studies. I don't get why those are required courses!

[thesettingsun]

What are you majoring in? I don't remember taking physiology courses.

I promise this gaff was on purpose

[deathboss]

Oh shit uh. Psychology! Not physiology. I'm pretty sure I'd probably faint trying to operate someone.

Film & Digital Media Production. It's just the required courses that are getting to me.

[Me learn English? Why I never!]

What about you?

[thesettingsun]

Literature. At least you probably don't get 'what real job are you going to get with that degree?' as much.

[deathboss]

No you'd be surprised how much you still get it.

That or "I want to do a video with you! But for free so you'll get more exposure"

So I feel you bro. Tell you what. I'll buy the book from you and let you know what I think.

[thesettingsun]

Ughhhh, 'do it for the exposure' is the absolute worst.

Thank you for the offer. My book's A Relative Weight, I'd send you the Amazon link but you can't even order things from Amazon anymore. It's at all the local bookstores, though.

(I will need information on this book because he will read it haha)

[deathboss]

The worst. 1 hit, 1 million hits, it still is the same, by that time you'd think "no, I'm pretty sure it's for your exposure, not mine" would get in their heads.

And noted! I'll look into it as soon as I can.