An Invitation [tagging Verity Willis]

[sumarusfinest]

There is no pomp and circumstance as Katsuya pulls open the glass door leading back to his world. His home. Sumaru City. No witty mechanics or magics bar the path. One moment he and Verity are standing in the Nexus forum, the next they are facing the waters outside of the Konan Police department.

The noise is the first thing Verity will notice. The distinct hum of millions of people speaking a foreign language all around her. That being said most of the signs have at least made an effort to include English subtitles on them, to varying degrees of accuracy.

What little abnormality of this world is felt, rather than seen. As soon as Katsuya's feet touch pavement, there's a ripple in his senses as Helios scans the area for signs of demon activity. So second nature to him now. Like coming home. They walk past a vending machine selling soda, juice, cigarettes and beer--NasTea! the sign gleefully reads in sloping English letters that seem ill fitting considering the brand name.

It isn't until they are off the main road that Katsuya stops and gives his guest a small smile.

"Here we are. My home. What would you like to do first?"

Comments

The nineties man, the nineties.

[sumarusfinest]

"I..used to." Katsuya doesn't get out much now that he's not hunting down demons in every side street in Sumaru. But man, when they were fighting they ate out almost exclusively. Actually, it's a good time to pint out another of Sumaru's odd quirks. "There are several people in the city who specialize in rumors. Hardly a thing to be wary of normally, but..." There's a moment here where Katsuya tries to word what he wants to say. "Rumors become reality in Sumaru, if given enough credence. It is not as bad as it once was, but the effects never have entirely left the city. Thus, it's become rather critical for me to keep tabs on the goings on in the various districts."

That's probably good enough, for now. He doesn't need to explain about running black market arms dealings if requested. Or boutique stores developing armor plated fashions. So they used rumors to their advantage a few times. It was a necessary tactic.

"The man I was speaking to is another Persona user." Katsuya adds. "There are more than you would expect in this city, though most lead rather normal lives." Really, pulling the chair out for Verity is a practical action. She's never been in here before and he noticed her taking in the place. He'd like to allow her to do that as much as she wishes.

The owner, Kankichi, is a thin gnarled older gentleman who looks to be in a perpetual bad mood. His face splits into a wry smile when he recognizes Katsuya.

[Welcome back! Nothing stirring in Rengedai, Officer?]
[Nothing to worry about, sir.] Katsuya turns to Verity.

"Do you know what you'd like?"

It was a great time to be alive. A time when men could howl in peace.

[brave_heart_verity]

The idea of rumors influencing reality isn't the strangest thing she's ever heard. It actually makes a lot of sense to her, in a weird kind of way. "We are so lucky this didn't happen in the American South, then. The church ladies would rule the world. It'd be casseroles and Bible study until the end of time." Better she makes jokes than think about how to use this to her advantage.

Armor plated fashion is just a good idea, and it's really a tragedy the 616 never developed that. She'd feel a hell of a lot safer with some armor.

Just take her good opinion and run with it, Katsuya. It doesn't happen often. "So he's got somet--someone like Helios?" Being scrupulously polite is almost as foreign to her as the Personas and the Japanese. But for the right reasons, she'll try.

"Oh. Um. The shrimp? What are you getting?" She's too used to the American custom of getting one or two pieces of lots of different kinds. Picking just one seems so weird to her.

Canon takes place in 1999. Katsuya's timeline is roughly 2003 given years spent in the Nexus.

[sumarusfinest]

The implications and range of their effectiveness are devastating, but the idea itself does have a certain allure to it. Katsuya couldn't believe it even when he saw it, but years of dealing with the altered reality of his home have made him used to such things by now. It's how Baofu pulled him back into the Nexus, even.

It is really quite useful, and quite impressive that clothing designers managed it while still keeping their logos signature fashions. also made fighting demons slightly less lethal.

"Indeed. He awakened his Persona years before, when I was still quite young." There's an entire game intricate story behind this, but it's admittedly one Katsuya only vaguely knows through his contact with two of the first generation Persona users.

"I prefer the eel, myself." Katsuya smiles before relaying the order to Kankichi and settling in.

It's been a while since he ventured out to this district, visited the shrine. Walked the streets again. Helios stirs with the Resonance of the regular's Persona, giving the officer once again a nostalgic jolt of adrenaline, despite nothing going on. It was shameful to miss those days, even if only in passing. Terrible times, world ending times. And yet, there's a part of Katsuya that wishes he could do it again. Fighting demons with his allies, uncovering the truths in Sumaru's past.

Oh dear. Verity's going to be disturbingly liberal in her worldview to him isn't she?

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity's not going to complain about something that let them meet. Not ever. Not even when it's rumors and gossip and other polite words for lies.

She may have to do some shopping before she leaves.

"How long have people had Personas?" She doesn't rise to the bait of talking about him as a child. He'd probably prefer she forget about that little scene. But there's a little smile, just a hint that she's thinking about it. She hopes the question doesn't bring up any upsetting memories for him. It's so hard to tell when she might bump into those accidentally.

She'll be filing away the preference for eel. It may be useful to know this someday.

There's nothing shameful about missing old friends and the woman he loves.

He'll have to do some cross dimensional current events reading.

[sumarusfinest]

How fitting for Sumaru to be a city where lies become truth. Katsuya hasn't made the connection between his home and Verity's abilities. What must it feel like for her?

'I heard Rosa Candida is selling riot gear level armor in their signature style.' 'Really? There's apparently a strange noise coming from the Smile Mall late at night. People are afraid to go near.' 'Did you know you can buy weapons at Parabellum?!' Lies. Rumors spread throughout Sumaru. But truths as well. YOu could indeed buy weapons and armor. There were strange noises in the mall at night, a place where demons congregated to feed. They weren't the truth Before. But they are now. Mixed signals for Verity's powers.

"I'm not sure." Katsuya turns thoughtful. "We knew of a handful of users from St. Hermalin high school--alumni who developed Personae while attending the school. Several of them helped us during the fight to save the city. If it goes back beyond that...we don't know of it."

It's the action he misses, most days. Feeling like he was making a difference, the sensation of calling upon Helios. investigating warped places in Sumaru's dark corners, twisted by rumor, and setting them right. As right as they could be. He doesn't miss the world ending, but he does miss the journey. Especially when he's out in places like this where they'd rest and refuel before heading out again.

Poor man, trying to understand American politics. And Trump's hair.

[brave_heart_verity]

It's very strange for her, but she's experienced it before. (The Bugle has such a grudge against Spider-Man, and she's realized how the paper's convinced people to trust the stories instead of their own experiences.) A fair bit can be explained away as cultural dissonance and wrong beliefs, neither of which are unusual in a city like New York. But when their drinks come, she'll be discreetly taking some aspirin.

Thoughtful seems safe. Maybe this is a way into understanding his life that doesn't end with them both upset. "Maybe someone should start a club or something, so the more experienced of you can help the people who're new to it." It might do him good to have more local friends, and maybe even a chance to go out and save the world again. Or maybe he should open that bakery like they talked about.

No one is prepared for that.

[sumarusfinest]

"I could introduce you to some of my companions." Katsuya shakes his head with a smile. "The older Persona users I'm most familiar with are quite busy..."Understatement of the year considering one is a famous model and another is the heir to the most important family in the Japanese business world, but details. "Miss Serizawa and Ma...Ms. Amano live not far from myself in Konan. I'm sure they'd love to meet you."

Baofu has been hiding out in the Nexus these days, which is easy but also hard to locate since he prefers to do his work from the shadows. That only leaves Tatsuya. And...no. He's not going to open that door right now. Not when he's having such a good time.

The idea of younger Persona users is intriguing to Katsuya. He doesn't know any that aren't his brother's friends fro the Other Side. But he supposes it wouldn't be that far-fetched. When their food arrive the officer decides to switch gears a bit.

"IS it all that different from your world?" Katsuya would be lying if he said he wasn't equally as interested in the dimension Verity hails from.

Least of all the poor guinea pig.

[brave_heart_verity]

"I would like that." She has no idea who they are and just has to hope they're not exes he's trying to make jealous. Normally she wouldn't even worry about that, but since they're both women... she has to wonder.

Verity doesn't speak Japanese, but she's learned just enough of the social niceties to offer a decent "arigatō" when the food is brought over. American accent is American, but she tries. "Well I've never been to Japan before," she points out with a little lift of her eyebrows. She knows that isn't what he means, but she doesn't really want to admit to all of this. "I'm not sure how much is cultural differences, the fact I'm in the past, or the inherent differences between our dimensions. I'd be pretty lost if you weren't here to take care of me, that's for sure."

[sumarusfinest]

You have to date someone for them to be an ex. So no. No concerns there. The only ex Katsuya has ever had was from an alternate dimensional Raccoon City and he hasn't seen her in years now.

"The language barrier makes things complicated." He nods as he splits a pair of chopsticks and digs in to his food. Normally he dislikes eating out (too critical of how they make their food when he can cook at home) but sushi is a rare treat and one he quite enjoys. "Is this the past for you?" Katsuya tilts his head to the side slightly. "I hadn't stopped to consider that time would also be different." But of course it would. Alternate dimensions.

[brave_heart_verity]

Oh well, the object of unrequited hopes is nothing to worry about then. Except for how it totally is.

She takes a moment to appreciate her meal before she begins to eat. Well-made food should be enjoyed with all the senses. "It's 2015 where I'm from. Or I should say 'when' I suppose." So not the distant future or anything, but enough to make certain things awkward, like if she whips out her phone in public. "So not very useful, unless you want stock tips for companies that might not exist here."

She was just teasing about the stock tips. She'd give them if he asked, but she doesn't think he'd try to take advantage like that. "It's not so different, no. The brand names, the pop culture, but not the important things."

[sumarusfinest]

2015. Wow. Twelve years in the future. Verity would probably still be in junior high if she was in his world somewhere. It's a thought that nearly makes Katsuya choke on his food. It makes sense though. Hell, twelve years ago he was only in high school. It's bizarre to think about.

"Time discrepancies rather complicate things." Katsuya winces as though it was making his head hurt, before giving a small smile. "If you followed Japanese baseball I'd ask who won the last few series' just to hold it over Baofu's head." His best friend is a secret fan of the sport when he's not doing illegal information gathering things.

[brave_heart_verity]

But the important thing is that, right now, she's 27. Near enough his own age to not matter, and definitely all grown up.

"Do they?" She had figured they'd just work it out. She's so easy-going about these things. "It's not that long." Twelve years. Almost half her life. "Does it really matter?"

"I don't usually follow sports, but I can find out if you want. I'd warn you not to make bets, but I'm sure an upstanding officer of the law such as yourself would never do something like that." Her tone follows the line between earnest and sarcastic so closely she might not even know which she's aiming for.

[sumarusfinest]

Right now Katsuya is thirty and decidedly content with that. Being a kid sucked when he was a kid. He isn't the sort to want to go back to those years. God no.

"It's just hard to wrap my head around, is what I mean." He shakes his head. "It's not a trouble, it's just bizarre to try and think through. I feel rather old fashioned suddenly." He laughs though, clearly he's joking.

"Hm. Best not to look then. I wouldn't bet, no. But Baofu would." It would not surprise the officer in the least if that was one of the first things Baofu had done when he'd gotten to the Nexus, if the thought occurred to him at all.

[brave_heart_verity]

He was such a cute kid. But she won't try to bring any of that up. They can enjoy being adults together.

"It's the cute kind of old-fashioned," she assures him with a smile. "I'm just not going to think about it. Time isn't fixed, the future is always changing. It's better to enjoy what we have now." Which is such an odd sentiment coming from her. She hasn't had much in life worth enjoying, and she's kind of wondering where that idea came from.

"I'd look like a real idiot if something changed after your friend started betting." It worked in Back to the Future. It's a classic get-rich-quick scheme.

[sumarusfinest]

"It's enough of a chore to keep him on the right side of the law when he isn't abusing time loopholes through the Nexus." That's Katsuya's serious face now, but it's the nagging sort of big brother face more than it is upset. Kudos to Verity for being able to begin telling the difference!

It isn't until after they've settled the bill that Katsuya speaks up again. He looks a little bit concerned.

"I..I hope you enjoyed yourself today? It wasn't boring?"

[brave_heart_verity]

She'll learn them all if he gives her a chance. Or she'll keep trying. She's going to remember that he makes this face and not that face if she ever meets this mysterious friend of his.

"It's been really nice. Thank you for letting me come and visit you here." She's a little disappointed that it sounds like their day is over, but it doesn't diminish her smile much. "I hope you'll let me return the favor someday soon?"

[sumarusfinest]

He's becoming more open to the idea. There are several points about the day that have stuck in Katsuya's mind. Some that give him cause for concern, and others that are downright pleasant. He's not sure why this is so different from the time they've spent talking in the Nexus, but it has felt decidedly so. Not a Bad Different.

"I'm truly glad you showed an interest." There's that hard won smile of his. Not quite the one he'd been giving back at Araya shrine, but closer. "Perhaps next time we could share a baking day?" He sounds downright eager by the prospect. "I keep a tidy home and have no one else living with me at present, so you'd be more than welcome over."

[brave_heart_verity]

The Nexus is full of stress and crisis. Being stuck, getting LOLed, they don't put people in the best mood. Of course being at home where he's comfortable is going to be different. Or maybe he just finds her easier to deal with when she's dressed more demurely.

She does love that smile. Especially when it's aimed at her. "I would like that. But only after I get to show you something of my home. New York is a beautiful city, and..." there might not be much time "it's only fair. Please?"

How can he say no when she's asking so nicely?

[sumarusfinest]

Verity herself feels different today too, though. It's an odd thing, but not one he's concerned about. It's been quite a nice day, all things considered.

Katsuya is sure to get the door for Verity before they begin the leisurely walk back toward the station."I think that would be quite a fair trade...M..Makoto-chan." His voice had gone so quiet that it might have been easy to miss. But there's no mistaking the brief flush of red before Katsuya is suddenly very interested in looking at that cicada on the sidewalk.

"What is your favorite place in New York?" Nice transition there, Katsuya. She'll never suspect a thing.

[brave_heart_verity]

Maybe she's finally getting really comfortable around him. It's easier to be less awkward when she knows for a fact he wants her around and she's not just bothering him.

He's such a gentleman. She'll walk with her hands clasped behind her back, instead of the all-elbows way she usually walks around. With him there she doesn't need to be on guard all the time. She definitely notices the use of the nickname and the addition of "chan". But it doesn't seem like a good time to tease him about it, so she'll let him change the subject. She is grinning like an idiot now, she's not going to even try to hide that.

"Oh, that's tough. I like going up to the observation deck of the Empire State Building. I love the view. And I like the botanical gardens. And Fort Tryon Park and the Cloisters. It's like a piece of an old English castle got put down in the middle of New York." Running themes: good views and flowers. Important things to know about her, and he's done splendidly already.

[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya hadn't really intended to take up all of Verity's day, so he's slightly surprised that the sun is hanging low in the sky as they continue back toward Konan. She's clearly pleased though, so he doesn't feel too guilty about it.

"Ah! I've always wanted to go to the Empire State building. I never managed to the last time I wa sin New York." Luckily enough time has passed in Katsuya's world that certain other landmarks that are no longer in New York are politely left out. Did that happen in Verity's world? Best not to ask.

[brave_heart_verity]

Walking around with him is so much better than going home to an empty apartment.

"Then we'll definitely go there," she promises. Assuming nothing's happened to it between now and when he comes to visit. This is a legit concern where she's from; all plans are made on the unspoken contingency unless a superpowered fight wrecked things. And yes, that happened. It's not something she likes to talk about. She was just a kid. It was the first time the heroes of her world really failed her.

"And... maybe a museum? Or a concert? There's lots of concerts in the parks this time of year."

[sumarusfinest]

It's a pretty reasonable unspoken rule, considering the risks that are constantly present in Verity's world. One of the many downsides of living in a world with super heroes after all is having to deal with super villains.

"I've heard good things about the museums you have in New York." Verity has good ideas. Katsuya doesn't know what to even ask to see, so it's best to trust her judgement.

[brave_heart_verity]

On the other hand, Dr. Strange does a pretty good job of making sure reality is constant. No giant space starfish have eaten her, and she's only got a couple dead alternate timelines invading her dreams. All things considered, she's getting off easy.

"We have some pretty nice ones," she agrees. "Sounds like we've got a plan." The details can wait. She'll work it out later when she can check to see which museums are open and what they're exhibiting at the moment. "And then I'll treat you to a proper New York dinner."

Not steak, don't worry. The lobster should be safe.

My spirit animal is a gun (and also flame kitty)

[sumarusfinest]

Hey you never know, having a bullet soaking pistol whipping man with tactical training and a world saved under his belt (not to mention a few times visiting deaths door himself) and a spiritual protector wielding copious amounts of fire and bigger gun might work out well in Verity's world. Like to see a mugger try that on Katsuya's watch. Or y'know, Doombots.

Katsuya's never set foot on a Marvel version of New York though, so all things considered it may be a relaxing date and tourist walk or an adventure all of it's own. By that comparison Sumaru as it is now is downright boring, with only the occasional demonic uprising. The Crawling Chaos hasn't reared his ugly head in a few years, and Katsuya's content to keep it that way.

"Urban landscapes can have a beauty all of their own. You seem to favor very scenic places. I'm excited to see your world through your eyes. The places you hold most dear." Sounds like she has Katsuya's trust to play tour guide!

It's nearly startling when the pair of them find themselves once again outside the Konan Police Department. Katsuya's gaze flits to the face of the building and he sighs. The day flew by. But he can't be selfish simply because it's been years since he's had an outing like this, or a guest to spend time with. Verity has her on world and her own friends. Her own place. And it's not in Katsuya's world. It's a thought that makes him kind of sad, for a moment. He hesitates on opening the door, instead taking a moment to stand a bit off to the side with her.

"It really needn't be anything special." Katsuya waves his hands in front of his face. He doesn't want to trouble Verity to feel pressured to play host. "Whatever you like on a typical night out is perfectly fine."