Palace Game 6/5

[fujimaru]

The Dreamer In The Grand Temple
Humanity Foundation Value: ????

What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

Comments

[survivaltricks]

[A STARK DIFFERENCE FROM THE SAD GALLERY. . .]

[he immediately goes to the board and card games. what's available, here!!]

[fujimaru]

A bunch of board games! They all look fairly new and intact, too; there's a lot that appear to be in progress, though there's no signs of anyone here, despite the voices, and the smell of fresh cooking.

[survivaltricks]

[mmmm food is tantalizing. . . but he picks up a random piece from a random game, just to see if anything happens. or if any of the games are like, mythology related]

[fujimaru]

Not unless you count like, some of the fantasy-ish games like Settlers of Catan.

One of them, however, is this board, which may be a little less immediately recognizable.

[survivaltricks]

[IT WAS WORTH A SHOT]

[he doesn't recognize that game though, it's true. so he will touch that game board and pick up the pieces and just otherwise go ??? at it like staring at it will make it make sense]

[fujimaru]

Examining the board gives him the brief image of this cute little scene; it's clear that the man is wearing much finer and more expensive clothes than the children who gather around him, but these kids clearly recognize him, having no fear as they call for their king to come play a game with them.

[survivaltricks]

[OH NO. . . IT'S CUTE. . .]

[he smiles despite himself]

Sounds like you've been able to meet some interesting people, Ritsuka.

[if there's nothing mythology related on the gaming table, then he'll make his way to the kitchen to see if there is anything there for him to poke at]

[fujimaru]

As he enters the kitchen, he will see this woman, at work apparently peeling potatoes. When he enters, she looks up, looking briefly confused.

"--Can I help you?"

[survivaltricks]

-- oh.

[looking a bit surprised to see her, but no displeased]

Ah-- I'm Akira, a friend of Ritsuka's. I'm looking for. . . mythology related things?

[USEFUL, AKIRA]

[fujimaru]

"Mythology?" She blinks, and then she laughs. "Well, probably for the better you ran into me, rather than some of the others. Come on, sit. Eat something, it'll be good for you."

[survivaltricks]

[progress?? seems pleased as he takes a seat, bowing his head towards Boudica in politeness]

Thanks; I appreciate it, really. Every little bit helps.

[fujimaru]

She smiles at him, reaching out to pat his cheek. There is, thankfully, no memory flashes or sparks with this contact.

"So, mythology, is it?" she says casually, as she gets up, heading to the stove. It smells like some pretty damn delicious curry over there. "We could start with me. My name is Boudica. Do you know it?"

you saw nothing

[survivaltricks]

[OH THANK GOD. he rubs his cheek a bit when he pats it; why does he feel like he just got mommed at??]

[he has to think about it for a moment-- that's a little obscure, even for his Persona protag level of mythological knowledge-- but eventually he brightens]

Boudica-- the Celtic queen who led an army against the invading Roman Empire, right?

Re: you saw nothing

[fujimaru]

Her lips twist into a wry smile. "After the death of my husband, and the disgrace of my family. Yes. That would be me."

Re: you saw nothing

[survivaltricks]

[bows his head a little more and, earnestly]

It's an honor to meet you, Boudica-san. Ah-- is that okay?

[should he call her -sama???]

Re: you saw nothing

[fujimaru]

"Don't worry about things like that, dear," she says. "If you're here, you're a friend of Master's, right? So never mind formalities. I'll help you however I can."

[survivaltricks]

Mmm. . . thanks. Things here are a bit different than what I'm used to.

[slightly sheepish]

. . . you don't happen to know where Ritsuka is, do you? That's why I'm here. I'm trying to find her, and bring her back.

[fujimaru]

"That's..." Boudica pauses as she puts a plate of curry rice down in front of him. It smells really good, perhaps better than reality could accomplish. This is a dream in its own way. "Well. That's a little bit complicated. We know who has her, just not where."

[survivaltricks]

[reaches for a spoon, but doesn't take a bite juuuust yet]

. . . who?

[fujimaru]

"It depends on when you ask him," she says, like this makes sense. "But when I knew him, he was Beast I. He might be using the other names, but--well. I suppose he's fond of Master, in his own way."

[survivaltricks]

[quiet for a bit as he takes a bite of this DELICIOUS SMELLING CURRY]

. . . Beast, huh. . .

Can you tell me more about him?

[fujimaru]

"He's garbage," she says flatly, and then smiles a bit again, slightly strained.

"Or, no... I suppose if Master were here, she would argue about that. But a Beast is--... well. We would call them an 'Evil of Humanity,' among other things. The things that humans have to overcome, if we mean to move forward, but that we can't be rid of. They're part of us, even if they oppose us."

[survivaltricks]

[ah. . . that draws a crooked smile out of Akira]

Almost like an individual's Shadow. The parts of themselves they fear the most.

Only. . . on a much larger scale.

[fujimaru]

"Oh, much larger," she says. "For humanity as a whole. The sins that we can't cut away from ourselves as a species.

"And for him, it was Pity."

[survivaltricks]

[tilts his head]

Pity?