isleofavalon | June Catchall

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June Catchall

🧙 WHO: Mitsuru Kirijo and you!
⚔️️ WHAT: Mitsuru getting the lay of the land after arriving in Camelot
🕒 WHEN: Starting June 14th, and the next few days afterwards
🗺️ WHERE: Around Camelot, S.E.E.S. House
⚠️ WARNINGS: None, but she’s from Persona 3, so that may change, and I will tag if it does

Wandering

[ Camelot was … not what Mitsuru would have expected from the stories that she’d read.

[ Perhaps she should have adjusted her expectations after receiving her smart phone and seeing the Red Spring, but it was still strange to think of this seemingly modern city as the mythical seat of King Arthur. If it weren’t for the castle looming above the buildings and the omnipresence of nature, harmoniously woven into every aspect of the city’s layout and architecture, it could have passed for any number of cities from her own world.

[ In spite of the familiar veneer, though, it wasn’t her world. It was an entirely new one, separate from everything that she’d experienced up to this point, and she knew precious little about it.

[ She was determined to fill in at least some of those gaps in her understanding today.

[ She wandered throughout the city with no aim besides exploration, taking a meandering path between a few different landmarks and neighborhoods, stopping periodically if any particular locale or store captured her interest. All the while, her familiar - a white-furred fox with two tails - padded alongside her.

[ Should anyone attempt to speak to her … she’ll stop and converse.

[ She wants to learn about this place. What better start is there than speaking to the people who live there? ]

Training

[ Getting the lay of the land was not Mitsuru’s only priority. She was brought here for a purpose - restoring Avalon’s magic - and accomplishing that task appeared to be the only way that she and the others could return home. Given how many people have been brought here and how long they’ve had to develop their magical abilities already, she’s aware that the progress she can make as an individual is likely miniscule … but once she’s settled in to her room in the house that Kotone, Yukari, and Aragaki-san had purchased, she’s quick to search for a training area so that she can begin developing her own.

[ Goal-oriented as always, Mitsuru was eager to contribute. Beyond that, she’d already learned that this world had it’s fair share of threats, and it seemed foolish not to familiarize herself with one of the primary tools that she could use to protect herself and others … especially since it seemed that she could no longer summon Artemisia …

[ Mitsuru tried to push that thought - and the sense of profound absence that it created - towards the back of her mind as she made her way towards the training ground. By the time that she stepped out onto one of the practice ranges, she’d managed some measure of success in that effort.

[ Instead of the missing part of herself, she focused her attention on one of the wooden targets at the other end of the range. She slowly lifted her right hand, flattening it out into a blade as a thin rime of frost began to gather on her skin. In one smooth, slashing motion, she flicked her hand in the direction of the target, and launched a thin spear of ice from the tips of her fingers.

[ The projectile sailed through the air and embedded itself in the target.

[ Mitsuru splayed out her fingers and the ice expanded, causing the wood around it to crack and splinter.

[ Perhaps it wasn’t quite the same as channeling her Persona’s ice-based abilities … but it was effective.]

Shopping (Locked to intoxication and foolaround)

[ Mitsuru, of course, did have some downtime over the course of that first week. Magic was still new to her, and using it extensively seemed to exhaust her the way that her early trips into Tartarus had. It was getting easier to use bit-by-bit, but Mitsuru was still taking care not to push herself too hard until she grew accustomed to it.

[ So, despite her desire for further practice, she’d decided that the second day would be something of a recovery day. Instead of finding a training range or a quest or anything of that nature, she intended to spend the day searching through Avalon Online to learn more about the world around her … about magic, recent events, potential allies and enemies …

[ Maybe she’d go into the city later and explore it further, but for now … ]

Wildcard

[ If there’s a scene you have in mind that doesn’t fit within the prompts above, you can post it below, or let me know and I’ll add a closed prompt below. ]

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Padding out from the crowd around them is a large, shaggy wolf with a darkish-blue fur. It approaches Mitsuru's fox, sniffing curiously, its demeanour not...overly hostile. It seems more curious than anything, and it huffs a little as it noses the fox.

A sharp whistle draws the wolf's attention and its head raises lazily to look as Edelgard pats her her leg, indicating it should come to her. After a moment, the wolf begins to meander over.

"I told you not to wander off." She says sternly, though it doesn't seem to bother the wolf any. Edelgard wasn't sure if she should be envious of Shaggydog's level of serenity or not. Regardless, once the wolf has rejoined her, she looks up at Mitsuru. "Apologies, my wolf has a mind of her own and doesn't always listen. She didn't bother you, I trust?" But her eyes are drawn to the fox spirit as well. "...Ah. A familiar, yes? It appears we're in the same boat."

There's a slight delay prior to Mitsuru's response. It's a small thing - a fraction of a second that's easily missed or explained away. She's just momentarily struck by how familiar the other woman's voice is, even though she's fairly certain that they haven't met before.

No matter. She smiles politely and shakes her head.

"No bother at all." Mitsuru replies, briefly glancing down as her fox walks towards Edelgard and Shaggydog, giving the wolf a few cursory sniffs of her own. "To myself or Hippolyta, it seems."

Her attention shifts back to Edelgard.

"And yes, it would appear so ... though I suspect you may have a better understanding of the situation than I do, given that I've only arrived within the past few days."

Edited 2021-06-15 06:14 (UTC)

[Izzy spent a great deal of time training. It was just natural to flex this new power she had, but her training generally happened on the streets of Avalon. She spent her time at the training grounds studying what others did. Trying to get ideas of how she coul use her own magic, or just because people watching was fun.]

[She definitely wasn't sketching Mitsuru for any other reason. Nope, no other reasons here. Izzy was however watching how that worked, the ice spreading out after the hit. Which was something she'd never considered. Eventually she called down from her seat on top of a tall climbing wall, not putting her sketchpad or pencil down yet.]

Are you used to doing that sort of thing cause you could do it at home?

Edited 2021-06-15 22:11 (UTC)

[ Mitsuru blinks, turning towards the unfamiliar voice. She'd been so caught up in her own thoughts that she hadn't realized that there was anyone else on the range at all, and she couldn't help but be frustrated at her own carelessness.

[ Nonetheless, she nodded at the girl up on the wall]

Something similar, yes.

[ Similar in it's practical uses, at least ... ]

[If it helped, Izzy didn't really walk on the ground while she was doing things training related. Keeping herself entertained with a giant game of 'the floor is lava.' that encompassed all of Avalon. Until she got tired, anyway. Izzy finished a few last details on her sketch before closing the pad up and sliding down the wall. Gravity was definitely involved but not fully consulted in the way Izzy moved.]

I haven't figured out how to do elemental magic yet, but I do a similar thing with my kinetic magic. I dunno if I can make it explode like you did with the ice though.

Did learning it where you're from take a lot of time, figuring out how to do that?

Yes and no.

[ Mitsuru tucked a stray lock of hair back into place. ]

I was able to generate and manipulate ice from the beginning, but the intensity and scale of my abilities increased dramatically over time.

[ She lifted her hand, palm upright, and willed shard of ice into existence. ]

The magic I've been granted seems to afford me a finer degree of control, but it doesn't have the same potency. [ A beat. ] Not yet, at least. I suspect that will change with enough practice.

[ Another thought and the ice in her palm disintegrates, evaporating into a wisp of vapor that blows away on the breeze. ]

Is your kinetic magic similar to an ability you possessed prior to coming here?

Edited 2021-06-16 05:09 (UTC)

[Izzy was always curious as to how these other worlds work, with beautiful fighters capable of amazing things. And her world was just- plain.]

My Earth didn't have anything like this. Just all the usual bullshit of hate and cruelty, but without being able to punch them from across the room.

[She was glad the through line was just hard work, no matter how special ones gifts are they need practice and refinement. That seemed more fair than the world usually offered.]

I just have to try things and see if they work. Sometimes I figure it out by being thrown at a wall and sticking there like a lizard.

[ The younger girl's summation of her own world causes a slight shift in Mitsuru's expression. The words, the tone ... it's clear that she's been through a great deal.

[ Mitsuru may not know what she's suffered through, but the cruelty she speaks of is far from alien, and so it's hard not to feel a certain empathy. Perhaps they're kindred spirits, in a way. ]

That process of trial and error seems to have served you well. I haven't been able to develop my own kinetic magic to anywhere near the same extent.

[Izzy was getting more and more sure that, to get tapped to help save the universe, you had to be a little fucked up. Or maybe everyone has been fucked up by something. It was hard to tell.]

I've had a little while to work on it, being here a few months and not owning a TV. Plus once you learn how to run along walls it's really fun to do that.

[It was amazing the free time you had when you didn't have school, or homework. Yes, sure, she had a job, but she went home at the end of the day and was free to do whatever. Izzy definitely was showing a bit of how young she was by just- how excited she got at the idea of doing things in defiance of the laws of physics.]

Supposedly the other magic you have, well, it's a little tougher to do anything with than whatever your main magic is. I've kinda- decided to let it come to me instead of forcing it out. Knowing me I'll end up burning down a city block or something and there were already enough fires in town...

[ Mitsuru's inclined to believe that it's the latter. She's yet to meet someone without scars of some sort. It's just a matter of how deep those scars are, how numerous, how acute the pain, how much they've healed ... ]

Elemental magic does carry a degree of risk, but you should have faith in yourself. Secondary magic may be more difficult to master, but what you've managed with your kinetic magic is something that should inspire confidence.

[ And she does mean that.

[ Though after that's been said, she realizes that she may have overstepped her bounds. While encouraging diligence and striving to improve has become habitual to her after a year of doing so for her teammates, she's still a stranger to this girl.

[ Mitsuru closes her eyes, shaking her head at herself with a slight smile. ]

Forgive me for being presumptuous. We haven't even been properly introduced, yet I find myself attempting a motivational speech.

[Izzy doesn't really know what to do with 'positive reinforcement.' Being told she can do something over shouldn't, can't, or do this especially if you don't want to. So she just is stunned by anyone really supporting her. Followed by a small, happy, smile at her boundaries being considered. A second thing she's not used to.]

Since I don't mind a bit of motivation, I guess we should properly introduce ourselves. I'm Izzy.

[Just Izzy. No offered last name, nothing more of her first name. Absolutely informal and American.]

It's a lot easier, picturing my kinetic magic. Since I just extend it off the motion of my body. My familiar's been trying to get me further with my elemental magic but it's not quite as easy to just- do it.

[ Mitsuru, meanwhile has internalized Japanese formality to the point that it comes as naturally as breathing. She even completes the polite greeting with a slight bow of her head. ]

My name is Mitsuru Kirijo. A pleasure to meet you, Izzy-san.

[ Her smile has inched just a hair wider, relieved that she hasn't offended. A response to Izzy's difficulties with elemental magic ...

[ That takes a bit of thought. Using elemental magic was largely instinctive for her due to the abilities that her Persona granted ... but maybe that was the key? ]

Perhaps focus in on a single application first rather than the entire spectrum of elements. An affinity for ice was a facet of the power that I have in my own world, so ice, and by extention water, are easier to manipulate than the other elements. However my teammates - people who wield the same power that I do - have connections to fire, or air, or electricity instead.

It could be that finding something that suits you is the first step towards mastering it.

Edited 2021-06-20 17:44 (UTC)

[Izzy knows nothing about Japanese etiquette, but she can't see anything impolite or mean-spirited in the greeting so she'll just, accept it and move on.]

I guess that makes sense. Kinda like how I really only started to get all my kinetic magic when I started using it like me and not like everyone said I should.

[Finding her own way, of course, was tricky. It worked for her bu it meant there wasn't a lot of help she could get until she got that first step. At least, here, the answer to that question was easy enough.]

It'll be fire. There's no way it isn't fire.

[ A quick answer, but Izzy seems certain, so Mitsuru accepts it with a nod. ]

Then that seems like a logical starting point. Focus on what creates that sense of affinity, start with smaller applications, and gradually widen the scope of your practice as you become comfortable doing so.

[Camelot is filled with all sorts of unique, bizarre people, especially with all the Otherworlders here. But Tokoyami is definitely one of the odder ones, what with his bird-like head and all. He's gotten his fair share of odd stares, but he tries to not let it get to him; he was used to curious looks from home, because even with a world full of superpowered humans, odd ones still drew a curious glance. But he just continues on his day as best he can, which is all anyone can do in Camelot, really.]

[But today he's out in Camelot for another reason. Dark Shadow had gotten into another spat with his familiar, and the raven spirit had flown off in anger. Tokoyami had gone off to look for her, but he can't seem to find the troublesome bird. With a small sigh, he is forced to ask others for assistance.]

Excuse me. I was wondering if you have seen a flying, spectral raven around anywhere, and if you could direct me to where if you have.

[ And his appearance does garner a look of surprise from Mitsuru as well ... though one less intense than might have been expected. While she's never seen anyone who looks like him before, she has seen many distinctive permutations of the human form through the various Personas and Shadows that she'd seen in her own world.

[ Between that, arriving in Camelot, and her brief encounter with the Fuath, she was starting to grow accustomed to encountering things that she'd never seen before. ]

I can't say that I have ... but I can say that I've spent the past hour or so in the southern quarter without hearing or witnessing any sort of disturbance, if that helps narrow your search.

[ His manner doesn't suggest that he believes this spectral raven to be any sort of imminent danger, but the descriptor does have a somewhat ominous ring to it. ]

Hmm... I see.

[Tokoyami frowns and lets out a small sigh, crossing his arms.]

I doubt she would cause much of a disturbance, but... well, you see, that bird is my familiar, and I would like to find her so I may calm her down. But I am not sure where she went.

Perhaps I can offer some sort of assistance? I may not have magic that can help with your search directly, but Hippolyta's nose is quite sharp.

[ She gestures towards the kitsune standing at her side. The creature looks up at Tokoyami, its twin tails flicking back and forth curiously. ]

She might be able to follow your familiar's scent.

A kitsune?

[That... might be a good idea. He hums in thought, nodding.]

That could work. If you think that she could help, I would greatly appreciate it.

Hippolyta?

[ Mitsuru looks to her familiar, and the fox spirit bows its head to signal its willingness. With that, her attention turns back towards the stranger. ]

She's prepared to make the attempt. Hopefully your scent will provide her with enough of a trail to follow.

[Tokoyami nods back in appreciation.]

Thank you for your help. I hope tracking a spirit will not be too difficult...

[He kneels down before the kitsune, offering a hand.]

I do not have anything of my familiar's, but if my scent will help, you are free to make use of it.

[ A slight incline of Mitsuru's head and Hippolyta trots over to Tokoyami, sniffing at his hand. ]

I'm glad to help, though I will admit that tracking a spirit is a new experience for me.

[ Not for the first time, Mitsuru wishes that her Persona had come with her ... Artemisia may have not had the range of a purely support-type persona, but the ability to scan her surroundings would be useful in this situation. ]

Regardless, please, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mitsuru Kirijo.

I am grateful for the assistance nonetheless.

[He really is. Even if the kitsune isn't able to track his familiar, he's just glad to have someone willing to help at all.]

It is nice to meet you, Kirijo-san. I am Fumikage Tokoyami. Are you new to this world?

I've only arrived within the past few days, yes. I'm fortunate, though, to have a few friends here who have been helping me acclimate.

[ Hippolyta seems to have gotten what she needs from Tokoyami. She takes a few steps away, turning her nose to the air and trying to parse through the scents on the breathe. ]

I take it that you've been here for longer then, Tokoyami-san?

[Once the kitsune has gotten the scent she needs, Tokoyami stands upright and watches her go. He t urns to Mitsuru and nods.]

I have. I've only been here a couple of months myself, so I am still getting used to some things. But I have at least gotten used to a few things during my stay here.

I'm in the midst of that process myself.

[ Hippolyta continues sniffing at the air, turning this way and that with the breeze as she tries to track Tokoyami's specific scent through the mingling aromas of the city. ]

I'm fortunate, though, that I have several friends who have been brought here as well. It's made adapting far more painless than it might have been otherwise.

[ Hippolyta seems to have found something. Her head turns in a specific direction and she begins walking, claws clicking on the paving stones with each step. Mitsuru tilts her head after Hippolyta, signalling to Tokoyami that they should follow. ]

Ah, so you are also in possession of allies here?

[Tokoyami nods to her, a small smile forming on his face.]

I, too, was fortunate enough to find many of my friends and classmates already here before I arrived. It definitely helped with my adjustment here to have someone I knew to talk to about such a bizarre experience.

[He does look up as Mitsuru motions to her familiar, and he nods.]

It seems like your familiar's skills are as sharp as you said.

It's certainly made all of this much easier to accept.

[ Both as reality, and as a burden she has to bear. She'd ... she'd have accepted the mission laid before her eventually - doing so was simply within her nature - but it would have been harder for her to do so alone for many reasons. ]

I'm glad to be proven correct so far. Truthfully, I wasn't entirely sure it would work.

[ Foxes had a keen sense of smell, but whether it was sharp enough for a task such as this ...? Mitsuru had hoped that it would be, and they wouldn't know for certain without attempting it. ]

I agree. But as strange as this situation is, we must persist. It is what a true hero would do when faced with such adversity, after all.

[A part of him has considered this like a challenge of sorts, an extra bit of training. They're fighting to restore their worlds, after all, aren't they? A real hero would rise to the occasion.]

Well, your intuition is still admirable. This is the closest lead I have right now.

I couldn't agree more.

[ While she might not use that term to describe herself, she could certainly subscribe to that ideal. They had an obligation to fulfill, and she would see it through, no matter what it took. With everything at stake, failing to do so simply wasn't an option. ]

Then I hope we find something at the end of it.

[ Ahead of them Hippolyta weaves through passersby, following the trail that only she's privy to. She isn't moving overly quickly, still pausing here and there to reacquire the scent when it's overpowered by something else, but she's moving consistently and with a sense of purpose. ]

I hope so as well.

[With Hippolyta leading the way, they traverse a good section of the city, even if it isn't a speedy journey. But soon enough, as they round a corner, Tokoyami perks up.]

Ah..!

[He steps forward, because perched on a nearby fence post is a raven, outlined with a blue, spiritual glow, it preens its wing before looking at them, cawing loudly. Tokoyami sighs.]

You gave me quite a scare...

[ camelot has come with its ups and downs, if yukari's honest. pros: she has a cool spiritual animal buddy. the magic is nice even if she misses the quiet, soothing voice of isis in the back of her mind. ken is here, shinjiro is here. mitsuru is here, now, which brings a sense of relief so strong it's almost palpable. ...kotone is here, against all odds.

cons: how the last pro throws every emotion into a tailspin that she still isn't sure how to navigate.

it's caused her to fall into old habits. or rather, habits she had in the weeks before arriving here. wake up leave the house for necessities before anyone else is awake, come home, speak as little as possible to anyone. it's better that way. safer.

so the surprise is evident on her face when mitsuru is awake just as early and scrolling through her phone with an intense expression. ]

Hey. [ in spite of everything that's happened--that's happening, rather--she feels comfortable enough around mitsuru to take a seat on one of the other chairs. a testament to how far they've come. ] What're you still doing here? I thought you would've been out of the house by now doing important Kirijo stuff.

[ not that the name means much of anything here, but. you know. important rich people things. ]

[ Waking early isn't anything new for Mitsuru. It's been a part of her daily routine for years - part of balancing her studies, her extracurricular activities, any duties that she had to attend to for S.E.E.S. or the Kirijo Group ...

[ The only notable exceptions had been within the past few months ... after her father's death, and Kotone's passing. She'd been making an effort to return to her usual schedule over the past few weeks - to return to normalcy instead of allowing herself to simply wallow - and to her great surprise, being transported to Avalon hadn't disrupted that effort. Something to do with the appearance of an immediate goal to strive for, most likely.

[ Whatever the case, Mitsuru's concentration was intense enough that she didn't realize Yukari had entered the room until the other girl spoke up. ]

At home, perhaps I would be, but "important Kirijo stuff" didn't come to Avalon along with me. [ She replies, locking her phone and slipping it into her pocket. ] Apart from exploring the city to find my bearings and practice my magic, I must admit that I'm at something of a loss as to what to do with myself.

[ Once she felt a little more confident in her magical abilities, there would be quests to fulfill, but until that came ...? ]

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June Catchall

Wandering (Maximum Tara Plattitudes)

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Training

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So sorry for the delay! The heatwave made it hard to tag things @@;;

It's totally alright! I'm still adapting to a new job myself.

Oh nice, congratulations! Hope the adjustment period goes well for you! :3

Thank you! It's been good so far, but even if it wasn't, it's only a short-term thing.

Well I am glad it is going well regardless!

So am I. Might not be long, but I'll take a few pleasant weeks over a few crappy ones.

Indeed!

shopping!

Re: shopping!