Sixth Bell | A SEES PSA | Video

[ktfod]

[Feed clicks on, and there’s a white, fluffy animal, all up in its grill, tail wagging and tongue hanging out, clearly excited to be the center of attention. Barely visible behind him are a few sets of feet, and finally the camera is lifted up to show the group: Minato, Ken, and Akihiko.]

It’s going-- go on with it. [Guess who doesn’t sound particularly excited- yep, it’s Shinjiro.]

[Like every time Minato has posted/been part of a post, he's staring directly into the camera with a blank expression, and says,] Hi. [Differently this time, there's two of his teammates standing next to him with Shinji manning the camera, although none of them look particularly excited to be there. They're an incredibly dour group, this selection of SEES, although Koromaru can be heard jingling his tags while scratching an itch with his leg.

Minato is also holding his communicator up like it's a microphone with all the aplomb of a karaoke champion.]

Today, we'll be educating you about something we've been fielding a lot of questions about. Ken-kun, could you hold up your Evoker?

Are you sure about this…? [But leader’s words are leader’s words, so Ken obediently pulls out the gun, a small silver pistol, and holds it up. He’s so short, is the camera catching this?]

It's okay, [says Minato, perfectly deadpan.] I'm his guardian. It's safe. … Because it's not a real gun. When we shoot ourselves, it doesn't fire anything. Please don't be alarmed. [His delivery doesn't get any less wooden as he goes on. Minato has definitely gotten sick of explaining this, no matter how patient he is every time it comes up.]

Are you just going to say it like that? We shoot ourselves? We’re trying to teach people about it so let’s just do it, they’ll see for themselves. [Akihiko cutting in with a good degree of annoyance in his voice. He’s not looking too keen about standing around here, not to mention it took Shinjiro forever to focus the damn camera on them.]

Yeah, like that’s way better. Just shoot yourself on camera and let everyone puzzle it out. Dumbass…. [It’s muttered quietly from off-screen behind the camera, almost like the worst director commentary in the world.]

What, did you say something? I’ll--

[Minato interrupts with a mild,] No flirting on camera. [Because he can't resist teasing them. It's way better than having to explain Persona again, that's for sure.]

[That comment gets the most startled look that Ken fails to hide before he looks at something above the camera like it’s the grossest thing ever. Sorry Shinji]

We’re not- tch. Here, lemme just do it. [Said as Akihiko’s the one taking out his Evoker now, but not to hold up and show. He’s quick to just put it up to his head--]

Sanada-san, no, we’re inside...

Huh? So let’s go outside then, doing it like this won’t prove anything to anyone.

Why the hell do you have to ‘prove’ shit…? [God they’re all idiots.]

[Minato belatedly decides to maybe act a little bit like a leader. Just a little.] We're Persona-users. When we shoot ourselves with special fake guns called Evokers, we summon something called Persona to defend us. So, don't worry about it. You don't need to ask me about it anymore.

[Beat.] If you have questions, ask them. [Minato leans over to hold the phone up to Akihiko like he's interviewing him with the mic.] This is Akihiko-senpai. He's been part of SEES the longest, except for Shinjiro-senpai. Ask them everything.

Are you seriously pawning this off on me? Wasn’t this your damn idea?! [Pissy.]

….And Aki is your choice for that?

Hey, fuck you! [More pissy.]

[Dryly:] Watch it, he just said no flirting.

[Meanwhile, Minato looks down at Ken.] I think they got it. Let's go get lunch.

[Ken looks to Akihiko, then grimaces at Shinjiro behind the camera, then turns to Minato with a sigh.] I don’t know if this counts as ‘they got it’ but… okay. I think I learned something today that I didn’t really want to know……..

[PSA concluded, the camera dips back down again-- and what do you know, it just so happens to land on the stylishly-dressed Koromaru. The bickering continues in the background, more muffled now, but the camera stays focused on the dog. Those especially perceptive viewers may even note that the dog has the same red armband as the rest of the group. It lingers for another half minute or so, watching the dog drag his ass on the carpet for a second, stretch, and then trot off. Film cuts.]

[Akihiko is red, Shinjiro is darker red, Minato is blue, and Ken is orange.]

Comments

video | id reads "karen starr"

[boobwindow]

[ Seated in the brightly lit living room of her apartment, an orange cat wanders at the top of the couch to peer in warily at the dog it sees in the small screen. Karen is also in full view, tilting her head to the side in unison with her cat. ]

I'm not sure where to start.

[ Kids... ]

[ktfod]

Where to start? What do you mean?

[boobwindow]

With any questions.

[ktfod]

Well we're not going to wait around too long, so start with whatever makes the most sense.

[boobwindow]

I think my first question is was there supposed to be a proper demonstration?

[ktfod]

Should've been, I think so. But you won't be able to blame me for that.

[boobwindow]

Eh, that's okay. Nnnnot sure I want to see anyone shooting themselves in the head, fake gun or not.

[ She leans back into her sofa, her cat walking over her shoulders to settle into her lap. ]

You're a friend of Ken's? I hadn't realized he had friends from home.

[ktfod]

We're allies, yeah, we're both a part of SEES back home, I've been here a bit longer than he has as well. I guess i just don't find time to get around to talking to people. [Find time, as in he doesn't make any time. Better outside running around or punching people in the face, right?]

[boobwindow]

I don't remember seeing you in that post a while back where that [ bites lip ] moron embarrassed Ken on the network.

I'll take it as a good thing, however.

[amadaman]

I didn't do it thi--



[Oh she's not commenting about Akihiko swearing. Koromaru noses his way under Ken's arm to join him at the screen while he clears his throat.]

This is the team I'm part of, Miss Karen.

[boobwindow]

[ The orange cat lowers his head, eyes widening when the dog reappears. Karen doesn't seem to notice or care herself. ]

SEES? What does that stand for?

[amadaman]

Special Extracurricular Execution Squad.

... I don't think whoever named it was a native English speaker.

[boobwindow]

[ There's one word she's going to focus on there. ]

... extracurricular.

[amadaman]

[Ken reaches off to the side and pulls up one black blazer, turning it around until he can show her the circular emblem on the front of one side.

Gekkoukan Private Elementary School, it reads on the outer ring, Since 1982.]

We operate as a school club, on the outside. The others are in high school.

[boobwindow]

[ She takes a good look at the blazer, making out the emblem on the screen and nodding to convey as much. ]

I'm guessing this isn't what your parents had in mind when they let you join a club.

[amadaman]

... You can't really sign a permission slip if you're dead, right?

The organization that backs us up also runs the school, so they gave an explanation to any guardians when we moved into our dorm. Nobody knows about what we do except the people involved.

that's a low blow man

[boobwindow]

... oh, I'm sorry, Ken.

[ Awkward. ]

To fight those monsters, right? And they give you some kind of fake gun to help with that?

well... he can't reach that high, really

[amadaman]

Yeah. And other weapons, too. Our Personas have limitations and sap a lot of our energy with every use.

why are you so cruel to your smol son

[boobwindow]

What exactly is a Persona?

tough love, it makes them grow

[amadaman]

Um, well, when mine first appeared, she said that she's my true self. "I am thou, thou art I"...

They're from our minds, so I guess you could say they're a part of us.

bans you for being mean to your own character

[boobwindow]

[ Her brows furrow, processing this information. ]

So... something like a split personality?

[hoboagogo]

Probably with calling us all idiots. [JUST A CASUAL SUGGESTION.]

[boobwindow]

[ A wry smile. ]

That's kind of harsh.

[hoboagogo]

Just a suggestion. [The one he would do, tbh.]

But I guess me and Aki are supposed to be the one's fielding questions- so if you got one, just pick any. But as long as no one freaks and thinks we're gonna kill ourself mid-fight, there's not a lot else important here.

[boobwindow]

Ken's doing a fine job.

Well, I've never heard of Persona before. I could probably be here all day with questions.

I guess... are they magical in nature or something else?