Testing Post: TESTING HARDER

[stringmods]

We hope you'll enjoy your stay. But is this just a dream? You remember the man who said you were here as a special guest...don't you?

[[OOC - Welcome to the test post! Don't worry too much about Persona stats or your levels here, just come out and make up a scenario about what they are doing. Try out your potentials and interact with the city around you! We'll supply some NPCs once in a while when you least expect it (after all have to test those out too, right?)]]

Comments

[primordial]

[A shrug.]

Sam. You?

[selfgodded]

[There was a bit of a pause]

Before I answer, I must ask: what do I appear as to you? A man or a woman?

[primordial]

[He blinks in surprise, before looking the person up and down with a worried sort of expression.]

This isn't a trick question, right? You're not going to slap me if I say the wrong thing or anything, are you?

[selfgodded]

No. I won't harm you. There is no wrong answer. It's just that my name depends on what you perceive me as.

[primordial]

I don't know, actually...I mean, you act a lot like a woman, I think. But for some reason, I think man. I don't know why. I would say "neither", if that was an option...

Do you ever take that mask off, though?

[selfgodded]

No.

[Their voice became sharp then, a hand lifting to press against their mask protectively]

It is never to be removed... so you say 'man', do you?

[primordial]

Yeah, I guess I'll say man. For now.

[And he tilts his head curiously, like a bird.]

Why not, though? Is there something...scary underneath there?

[selfgodded]

No. My face is relatively unremarkable, but it isn't appropriate for mortals to see a God's face without permission.

[He lowers his hand from his face, and gestures vaguely]

You have picked 'man'. In that case, my name is Leo.

[primordial]

Kind of like Zeus, huh? You look upon the face of a God and you get either killed or go mad in the process.

[There's a pause, and then he lets out a laugh, as if reminded or a particularly intricate inside joke.]

Leo, huh? You're named like one of the districts here, you know.

[selfgodded]

Yes, I know. This mortal body was born beneath the Great Lion, so I thought the name fitting.

[primordial]

Great Lion? What is that, another god?

[selfgodded]

The constellation. The Leo astrology sign. Do they not have it in your world?

[primordial]

Oh, no, they do. They don't call it the Great Lion or anything. Just Leo.

[A slight pause.] I'm a Scorpio, myself.

[selfgodded]

Scuttling scorpion, sharp pincers and poisonous sting...

[A small laugh]

A good sign. Very few wish to anger a scorpion.

[primordial]

[He rubs his arm with an uncomfortable look, as if he doesn't want to be associated with such a dangerous thing.]

I guess...I'm nothing like a scorpion, though. I'd rather stay away from danger than get involved in it.

[selfgodded]

That is what a scorpion is like! They only attack when threatened. I know. There were many in the Wastes. Smart predators.

[primordial]

Hmmm. I guess...

[His frown only deepens.]

So...anyways. Um. You've got one too, right? The personality-thing. Persona, I think?

[selfgodded]

Of course! It is a being of both madness and ecstasy, of passionate celebration, and revelry in base human instincts. I like him. What is yours?

[primordial]

So, basically, it's like you.

[And oh boy, that question makes him shrink away, like a boy who's been caught cheating in class. His eyes dart from side to side nervously as he rubs his other arm slowly.]

Um. Well...I'm not sure what it is, really. It's a...thing. A-a monster.

I don't like it at all, really...

[selfgodded]

A 'thing'?

[Leo tilts his head from side to side, as if puzzled by such words]

A Persona is the representation of your soul, yes? That is my understanding. Are you saying that your soul is of a monster's? That doesn't fit. You are human.

[primordial]

I don't know, I really don't know...I mean, I don't think I'm a monster! I can't be, right?

[And then at the last part, there's a slight laugh, and his squinted eyes darkly glimmer with amusement for a few seconds- oh, dear Leo, looking human doesn't always mean being human. Sam doesn't confirm or deny that last statement, though.]

Maybe this place thinks that way, based on all the things I've done...

[selfgodded]

Ridiculous.

[Leo merely waves his hand dismissively, uttering a short, staccato laugh]

A monstrous human would not be so worried about being a monster. From my observation, those that do not care are monsters. Those that do, are merely pained, despairing humans. You feel fear and pain, yes? Then you are human. It is that simple.

[primordial]

So...does that mean that if one day, a monster who was born like that woke up and despaired over the fact of what he was, then they're human?

[He looks curious, as if he's never considered this fact before.]

Because if that's the case, human is more of a state of who you think yourself to be rather than what you are...

[selfgodded]

Yes. Biologically you can be human, but mere DNA and meat does not make who you are spiritually. Someone can be a monster in human disguise, or a human in monstrous disguise.

[Leo presses a hand against his chest]

I am a God, yes? My outward appearance appears human, but I am not that. Meat does not make a person, it is the person who makes a person. That is what I have learned from my observations.

[primordial]

Huh. So the man makes the monster, or the monster makes the man, or, well, something like that. What you are inside tells people what you are...

[He hardly ever smiles, but there's a hint of it in the curve as his mouth- he seems to be relieved.]

So, you don't think I'm a monster at all, do you? That-that's good. I was worried...I don't want to put that thing that is supposedly my Persona around in case that somebody judges me for it, you know?