Thou art I and I am Thou (Semi-Lit Persona RP- Open and Accepting)
 

Greetings, salutations, and welcome to this RP. I am your host, Reyoki.

This RP is based upon the world of the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series. We are set after the events in Persona 4, as per the True Ending. As in Persona 4, personae are summoned via cards.

If you don't know what the Persona games are, but would still like to participate, here are links to the Persona 3 and Persona 4 pages on TV Tropes.

Our setting is America in a city called Reflection. In the city of Reflection, there are strange rumors. It is said that if you stare at your reflection in a mirror while holding a lit black candle and say, "Unveil your mysteries," you will be haunted by a dark spirit. It is not unheard of for students at Atlus High and Crystal Valley University, the local high school and college, to dare other students to test this rumor. Whether or not anyone has actually gone through with the bizarre ritual, though, is up to debate.

Some areas of interest in Reflection include Lake Glass, known for its smooth, shining surface, The Black Box- the small live performance theatre, Lake Town, the outdoor shopping plaza close to Lake Glass, the Abandoned Chapel just outside town, and Highland Field located just beyond a ridge on the far side of Lake Glass.

Our Rules
1) Obey the Trisphee ToS
2) Observe common human decency
3) Please observe our three sentence minimum when posting
4) Reyoki(myself), Mizeria, RyuFierce, and Obbiesan are your commanding officers; respect our authority

We are currently accepting applications!

Here is the Character Application Form that you MUST submit to either myself or RyuFierce for review before you may participate.

Username:
Character Name:
Character Age:
Brief Character History:
Character Appearance: (Image in spoiler tags or written description, please; no "my current avi" or anything like that)
Initial Persona: (You cannot use your Persona until you face your Shadow in the RP)
Persona Abilities: (Nothing unreasonable; we will check. Limit 6)
Secondary Persona: (Your Initial Persona will become eligible to evolve into this after you have been active in the RP for a while)
Persona Abilities: (Nothing unreasonable; we will check. Limit 6)

If you would like to see the different personae from the games, here is a YouTube video that browses through the compendium from Persona 4. We also accept any Personae from Persona 3, Persona 3 Portable, and demons from the other Shin Megami Tensei games as per the Megami Tensei Wiki.

Current Active Members

Username: Reyoki
Character Name: Missy Lockley
Character Age: 22
Brief Character History: Missy has traveled all over the world with her family's acting troupe. When she reached High School age, though, her folks thought it would be best to settle down. Unlike the cast of jolly characters her family is, Missy is a rather sharp-tongued individual with a hair trigger temper and a very dry sense of humor. She manages her family's theatre on weekends and is a shrewd negotiator.
Character Appearance: She's rather on the short side with long midnight black hair and icy blue eyes. Her skin is somewhat pale from spending so much time in a dark theatre, and that coupled with her slender build gives her a false look of frailty.
Initial Persona: Hua Po
Persona Abilities: Agilao, Fire Break, Maragi, Rakukaja, Rakunda, Makajam
Secondary Persona: Yatsufusa
Persona Abilities: Agidyne, Maragidyne, Megido, Mediarama, Mind Charge, Masukukaja


Username: RyuFierce
Character Name: Konrad Weber
Character Age: 21
Brief Character History: Konrad was born in Germany but his parents moved to America. He became a member of the SCA and learned the ways of armored combat. He is also has experience in making armor out of many types of materials. He's a loner at school and normally is either working his part time job, tinkering with new armor or at fighters' practice after school. Normally he's very selfish and only becomes friends with a person if he thinks it will benefit him. Eventually though he becomes attached to them against his better judgement.
Character Appearance: 6ft 7in, Light brown hair, hairstyle depends on day, wears glasses and large build with some muscle.
Initial Persona: High Pixie
Persona Abilities: Mabufu, Holy Arrow, Bufula, Media, Rakukaja, Sukukaja
Secondary Persona: Alice
Persona Abilities: Mamudoom, Dekunda, Marakunda, Megidola, Mind Charge, Die For Me!


Username: Obbiesan
Character Name: Trace Arino
Character Age: 22
Brief Character History: Trace had your typical life up until he reached high school age were he was shipped off to school to live in a dorm by himself. Trace never really was good at making friends so when forced into this weird environment he began to shut himself in and focus in on his study's and playing games. He has only recently began to reach out and find others to be friends with.
Character Appearance: Trace is tall and slender with snow white hair that hangs just over his eyes. his skin is very pale as he never spends time outside and is constantly playing games or reading and studying.
Initial Persona: Ippon-Datara
Persona Abilities: Mudo, Maragi, Mamudo, Agilao, Rampage
Secondary Persona: Thanatos
Persona Abilities: Megidola, Tempest Slash, Evil Smile, Mudoon, Brave Blade, Ghastly Wail


Username: Mizeria
Character Name: Cirya Kane
Character Age: 21
Brief Character History: Cirya is a calm, kind-heart soul. She can get happy-go-lucky when she is around her loved ones. She makes friends easily (or so it appears), but because she travels so much she doesn't have much time with them. Whether or not her happiness is just a mask to keep her at a distance to everyone else or it is pure true happiness no one can guess. She is easy going and loves life even when things are hard, but if anyone threatens her family or friends she will strike with a vengeance that would be most stunningly elegant if it wasn't so terribly violent and chaotic. She is like the earth itself, and even with all her beauty, grace, and kindness she has her dark moments too.

When Cirya was young she lost most of her family in a horrid raid. Total destruction of her little village in the middle of no where. Between the fires burning all around her, and the raping and killing of everyone she knew Cirya lost a bit of herself that day. She can't remember how she is alive or if anything was done to her. She woke up months later in a back alley of the slums. Somehow she managed to find a place for herself, but the nightmares still haunt her dreams. She takes odd jobs now to get by. If she needs the cash she'll do just about anything. She never takes anyone to the little corner of this hell she calls hers and she makes sure no one ever followers her there. She is extremely paranoid and unforgiving.
Character Appearance: Bronze Skin, tanned from all the time she is outside. Bright clover green eyes that reflect her happiness and chaotic joy. Long curly redish-brown hair thats normally tied back away from her face in a pony tail so she can she what she is doing. She is normally dressed in neutral earthy tones. She wears mostly pants and t-shirts because they are easy to move around in and it won't matter if they get dirty, but can dress well when its need.
Initial Persona: Angel
Persona Abilities: Hama, Patra, Garu, Dia, Sukukaja, Charmdi
Secondary Persona: Cybele
Persona Abilities: Samarecarm, Megidola, Mediarahan, Vicious Strike, Amrita, Mediarama

Username: Trakadon
Character Name: Nova Kondo
Character Age: 18
Brief Character History: When Nova was six and as far back as he could remember, he was alone. Living and fighting for survival in the dark allies of Tokyo. One day after he was beaten to bloody mess by several gangsters for trying to steal from them, Nova was found and nursed back to health by a elderly man named Hiro Kondo. After Nova recovered, Hiro Kondo adopted him. Amazed by Nova's high intellect and quick understanding of anything he showed him, Hiro decided to to teach Nova martial arts and took him around the world to increase his training and knowledge. For once Nova was happy, but soon his happiness faded when his adoptive father died on his 13th birthday. Nova found himself the heir to a fortune he never wished for and a misfortune that followed him where ever he went.

Nova carries only a few mementos left to him by his father. A bracelet with a rare blue gem that shines with incredible ferocity depending on his emotions and a tarnished photo of his late father.
Character Appearance:
Initial Persona: Leanan Sidhe
Persona Abilities: Mediarama, Recarm, Zionga, Patra, Life Drain, Marin Karin
Secondary Persona: Scathach
Persona Abilities: Dark Pledge, Garudyne, Akasha Arts, Wind Cutter, Recarm, Diarahan

Pending Applications

Username: Maya
Character name: Miya
Character age: 19
History: Miya lives with her single mother and over protective brother, Troy. She tends to be lost in her own world, which is filled with happiness, video games, death, and randomness. In a situation she can do questionable things that make you just want to pet her head and say its alright... but she will cut you and burn the body if you cross her.
Character Appearance:
Initial Persona: Jack Frost
Persona Abilities: Mabufu, Media, Bufula, Zio, Me Patra, Ice Break
Secondary Persona: Loki
Persona Abilities: Megiodola, Mabufudyne, Niflheim, Salavation, Mamudoon, Ziodyne

Missy strolled down the sidewalk with a blank expression on her face. The bag from the electronics store swayed at the end of her arm with her steps, as did her long black hair, which was in a high ponytail today because of the summer heat. She had been sent out to buy some new sounds effect CDs for her family's theatre, and was on her way back.

The theatre was rather small, but it was the only one that hosted live performances in the city. It had been three years since the Lockley Thespians purchased the building, and Missy was beginning to grow accustomed to living in one place instead of on the open road.

Konrad walked out of the scrap metal shop pulling his bin on wheels behind him. His hair was cut short and he was wearing some shorts and a white t-shirt he had bought at a local event. If someone would to pull the cover off of his bin they would find a couple of 16 gauge steel sheets. With that he took a note out of his pocket and crossed steel sheets off of his list. "Hmm lets see I still need Kydex plastic sheets and some copper rivets." He spoke with a slight german accent. He sighed as he started off to a leather shop that had the rivets cheap. It was in a plaza next to a theatre.

Cirya moved quickly off the bus as it stopped on the corner ten blocks from her crappy apartment. She really had to find a better one. Her hair was a mess of curls today. It seemed to have a mind of its own like always. She had gotten some supplies from the store so she could make dinner when she got home. Work was slow going, and was limited to part time side jobs and which didn't pay much. Tonight she would eat in style... if you can count mac 'n cheese as a rare treat.

'Things should look up soon, right?' she thought to herself as she zipped up her jacket to block out the wind. Her cell phone rang loudly from its home in her pocket. The shrill noise echoing in her ears.

"Hello, This is Cirya." She spoke in her phone. She spoke in a pleasant crisp tone. She didn't know many people with this number... Not many in this area anyway. And if someone needed her from back home.. well.. that just wasn't her problem.

She blended into the background and no one even notice her by the time she walked a block and a half. She cut down a few side allies still listening to the voice on her phone. He was talking about a job of some sort. Trying to convince her to take it. It had to be pretty bad the way he was begging.

"Excuse me sir, I'd hate to interrupt you. Just tell me how many hours, the pay per, and where. I'll let you know if I'll do it from that. You don't have to talk me into it." She smiled into her phone trying to sound nice while letting him know he was begging way to hard.

"O-oh… Um.. Its 40+ hours a week, $17 an hour, You would be working in the college... " He stammered out the words and prayed…

"$17 an hour? I'm not teaching right? You wouldn't want me if thats the case."

"You would be doing odd jobs around the campus. No teaching."

"Thats more then fine." She said and took down some information as she circled the forth time around the block. When she was sure no one could see her she entered her apartment smiling to herself and went to making dinner. No more Mac 'n Cheese as a treat. Finally.

Missy yawned as she approached the theatre. "I hope they didn't lock the front doors again," she said to herself grumpily when she realized she'd left her keys in the office.

Upon arriving, she woefully discovered that the doors were indeed locked. She scowled at the glass and steel doors and started towards the rear entrance.

Konrad walked past the theatre. He saw a figure heading to the rear entrance of the building. She kind of looked familiar. 'May have seen her around campus.' He continued on his way pulling his bin behind him which was making a bit of racket. The rough pavement was not agreeing with the wheels.

He made his way into the leather shop and bought the rivets. All he had left was the kydex. Konrad looked up at the darkening sky. Rain was on the way. The plastic would have to wait. He made it up to the theatre before it started pouring down. Desperate to find a place that was dry he made a mad dash to an awning in front of the theatre his bin clanging every which way as he pulled it up and sat down to wait out the worst of it. "Hate this summer weather, first unbearable heat then sudden storms. Should have stayed in Germany."

After entering through the back door and dropping off the new Sound Effect CDs in her office, Missy went to unlock the front doors. It was a small college town, so she wasn't worried about thieves and vandals. Plus, she might need to run some more errands, and she didn't want to risk being locked out again.

When she got to the lobby, she was surprised to see that it was about to start raining buckets. "Honestly, why can't the sky just make up its bloody mind?" she asked to nobody in particular. She saw someone outside underneath the small awning and sighed. She unlocked the doors, opened one, and said, "Hey, come on inside. If the wind picks up, you'll get drenched out there."

"Thank you." Konrad decided to heed her advice and headed inside. He tried to brush as much of the excess water off of him as possible when he followed her inside. He looked up at the strange girl he saw earlier. "My name is Konrad Weber. I believe I may have seen you around the college campus a couple of times Miss....?"

After dinner Cirya wasn't the least bit tired... She wondered if the book store was still open. She knew she should sleep for her job tomorrow, but it was still early for her. She changed clothes quickly and ran out of her house and down the block. She knew no one had seen her and that was good. God being paranoid was horrible. She had her hood up blocking her face from view as she walked quickly down the street. It wouldn't take her long to get to the little plaza, but that was because she walked fast not because it was close by.
She picked up pace when she thought someone was following her, and she started to zigzag her was down the streets, turning left and going to the next street over only to turn right on the next side street she passed. She knew the streets like the back of her hands, and honestly she did this far to much for comfort...

"It's Missy, actually; Missy Lockley. If you make a joke of it, I'll kick you in the larynx," she said with a scowl. She gave the tall man a once-over and said, "You probably have seen me around campus. I probably had my nose stuck in a book, right? I've seen you a couple times, too. You're kinda hard to miss, being as tall as you are."

A peal of thunder rang out from the foreboding clouds, and Missy sighed. "Well, there goes the rest of my errands. Would you like some tea while- hold on a tick," she said as she scrunched her brow. Someone had just darted down the alley next to the theatre looking oddly suspicious.

Missy dashed out one of the side exits to catch up with the hooded figure. "Hey you there! Why are you creeping around in a place like this?" she called to the strange person.

Cirya looked back but didn't stop or reply just skirted around the building and kept running. She didn't care what anyone said cause unless they were the person following her she didn't care. She left most the horrors of her past in exactly that, the past, but recently the dreams started up again. She couldn't get the fear out of her system. Panic on the edge of her thoughts she couldn't stop.

'What if someone was here to finish whatever had been started so long ago? I know, I know the chances of that are slim to none, but what if? If I stopped and talked to anyone they would just be in danger if that was the case... I just have to lose whoever this is...' She thought with tears rushing down her face. She couldn't block out the images in her mind. Her senses were starting to remember the smells and the heat of the fires. She was losing control of herself. She ducked into the first open door she found. An all night dinner. Lights blaring against the cold darkness outside. She found a seat and wiped her eyes before anyone could see she was crying...

Konrad followed Missy to the side exit just in time to see the hooded figure running around the corner. He grabbed a broom and readied it just in case. He never had to use his skills outside of his hobby and hoped he never would. Konrad looks at Missy. "I think it was just someone using the back alley as a shortcut. But if you would like to pursue I suppose I'm honor bound to help."

Missy didn't give chase to the person and stood at the doorway, glaring down the alley. "Nah, it's fine. Let's get back inside before the bottom falls out of the sky, and put that bloody broom down. Someone could get hurt if you go waving it around like that," Missy said sharply as she ducked back inside.

Konrad followed Missy back inside. "I'll have you know I have very good precision when it comes to sniping a persons arm." Rather than risk more of the small woman's ire he tossed the broom back. "So I guess you help run this place then? I'll take you up on the tea if your still offering." He didn't quite get what Missy's problem was. 'I at least pretend to be nice.' "So what kind of plays do you normally have here?" He asked trying to create some idle conversation.

"Sure, come on to the office and I'll brew some fresh," she said as she walked, "My dad and uncle own the theatre, but they let me manage it on weekends and during the summer. As for the plays we do, we try to stay away from the cliche of Shakespeare. We do odd productions like The Grimm Brothers Spectaculathon and Once Upon a Beginning. You know, comedies." She took him through the theatre to the backstage area to a plain white door with a plaque that read "Manager's Office" on it.

The inside of the room was very organized. There were bookshelves lining the back wall from floor to ceiling with various labeled boxes scattered amongst the tomes held there. There was a large leather sofa on one wall along with a small end table on either side. There was a medium-sized oak desk on the other side of the room with two chairs in front of it and a modest office chair behind it. The center of the room was empty save for an oriental-style rug that was tacked to the floor.

Missy walked over to one of the bookshelves closer to the sofa and end tables and pulled out a box. She opened the box to reveal a litany of smaller boxes with the names of various teas on them. "Do you see one you particularly like? I'm not picky, myself," she said with a small smile.

Konrad moved into the room with Missy. "I have found Shakespeare to be rather overdone in theatres myself. I'll take Earl Grey if you have it." He began looking around the room paying particular interest in the bookshelves. With his curiosity satisfied he plopped down on the sofa and waited for Missy to prepare the tea.

She took a box over to the coffee maker that was sitting on one of the end tables by the couch and put some of the open tea leaves into the lined basket. She filled the back of it with two bottles of water and turned the machine on.

"It shouldn't take more than five minutes," she said as she replaced the boxes to their rightful places. With a yawn she turned one of the chairs in front of the desk around and sat. "So, master Weber, would you care to share a little about yourself?" she asked with a ghost of a smile.

Konrad returned her smile. "Well as you may have guessed I'm not a native to the states. I've lived here about 5 years after the we moved here from Germany. My parents are big corporate suits apparently. I hardly see them anymore with them flying around the states and beyond."

"I'm also a member of the SCA short for Society for Creative Anachronism. You may have seen us at our fighters practice at the Highland Fields and occasionally have annual events there. I'm one of the crazy people who wear armor and whack other people with sticks. That's the best way to describe it without you seeing it in person. I'm also a member of a household in the SCA. They are pretty much are my second family. They helped me out when I was new to the states."

"I'm also currently trying to start my own business in armory seeing as I don't wanna keep working my part time job together. Right now I'm making light weight rigs for tourney fighters but I want to eventually make Gothic sets of armor that will actually look pretty. But I suppose I've bored you enough with my hobby. And I think the tea is about done." Konrad was getting a little excited, it had been a while since someone (outside the SCA) had taken an interest in him.

Her smile filled itself out and she nodded, grabbing two insulated cups from the cabinet inside the end table. She filled the cups mostly full and handed one to Konrad. She held out a small dish with sugar cubes for him in case he wanted any.

"That's quite the interesting story. Perhaps you could spare some time to give some sparring pointers to our troupe. We're always looking for ways to be more authentic. We might even be able to assist in your armory business. Since we haven't been traveling for so long, it's been hard to find decent metalworkers to keep our equipment in top shape.

"Ah, I don't believe that I mentioned before that we used to travel. We've traveled all over the world performing plays that would make people smile. Of course, none of that was much my style. I've always preferred to do managerial work, such as reserving performance spaces and selling tickets," she said before pausing for a sip of tea and a small chuckle.

"Sometimes, I swear we might've gone bankrupt in some awful, forsaken place if I hadn't decided to take over the troupe's financials. We all finally settled down here about seven or eight years ago. The troupe bought this building not long after I graduated high school, and I've been managing it part-time ever since. Ah, I'm sorry. Please forgive my rambling. Is the tea to your liking?" she asked politely.

Konrad grabbed a couple of cubes of sugar and stirred them into the tea. He took a sip and nodded. "Sounds like you found your niche though in finance management...unlike me. And yes the tea is really good." He drank some more of the tea before continuing.

"As for the sparring, our fighting styles are a bit different from real weapon fighting. I think I can change the styles to make it more real for your purposes. I'm proficient in most weapons except for those swishy pokey rapiers." He took another sip of the tea.

"I would be happy to restore your equipment. I'm sure we can come to an arrangement monetary wise." Konrad finished his tea and stood up to walk to put the cup away. "So what are studying for in college?"

She nodded and said, "I'm studying subjects dealing with History and Mythology for the most part. It's been said that the best way to learn a country's history is to learn its mythology, so I'm dabbling in both."

She finished her tea and set the empty cup on the end table. "Oh, just leave that anywhere. I need to clean this place soon anyway, so I'll take care of it then," she said before standing up and stretching.

There was a knock on the door frame and a man with shoulder length black hair wearing white leggings and a corset walked into the room. "Missy, who is this? Does that large amount of raw materials in the lobby belong to him?" the man asked with a large grin.

Missy looked mortified for a split second, but quickly regained her icy composure and responded, "Yes, uncle Harvey, it's his. It was about to start pouring outside when I got back from the music shop, so I let him inside so his things wouldn't be ruined. Is rehearsal finished for the day?" "Yes, we just finished the Green Room meeting. Your mom will bring you the notes in a bit," the man said.

"Thanks for letting me know. Now, go back to the green room and finish changing. Oh, and tell little Kirk and Max not to mess with the stuff in the lobby," Missy said before shooing the man out of the office. She sighed and shook her head as she turned back to Konrad and said, "I apologize for my uncle's lack of decency. Shall we see if the rain has let up yet?"

Konrad kept a straight face as the man left the room. "Yes I think it's probably let up by now. Speaking of mythology and legends. Have you heard about this rumor that everyone's been talking about?" Konrad set the cup down and followed Missy out of the office.

"It's kinda scary actually, one of my buddies in the SCA was going to try it and the next day I heard he was rushed to the hospital. They said he is stable but is comatose. Didn't think that something like that could happen by saying some stupid phrase."

Meanwhile in the dinner Cirya sat and ordered a sandwich and a coke and waited until the weird feeling past. She didn't want to go back outside. She felt something was waiting for her there... and she didn't want to confront it yet. In reality she didn't want to confront it at all. Yet she knew she would have to. If only it was a movie, or a book. She was the 'good guy' right? So the 'bad guy' would never win... but life isn't that way. Not at all.
She sighed to herself and looked around again. She hadn't really looked around since she sat down, and only then it was to find all the exits and to figure out any possible threats. Now though the place was calm, and even more then that... dull. No one here looked like they would hurt a fly let alone her. All the threat levels she had assigned to all the people there dropped to near zero.

"Hey sweetie, you want anything to go with your coke?" The waitress said. Cirya hadn't touched her food at all.

"Sorry, guess my head isn't really with me tonight."

"Yeah, I bet. When you came in here you looked pretty spooked. Anything we can help you with sweetie? We're nice folks here. We care for our own."

Cirya looked at the woman like she had three heads. No one had ever tried to help her before. It was different. New. But not bad.
"I should be fine..." And then she lied. "... Its just my old boyfriend. I thought I saw him... He's not really the happiest with me right now.. So I kinda freaked."

"Oh my god! No wonder your spooked and ghostly white. Let me get you some hot chocolate, and another sandwich! Later I'll have one of my boys walk you home." She looked like she was really concerned for her safety and then hastily went to the kitchen to get her more food.... that she didn't need. She looked down at her full plate and was utterly confused by the whole thing that just happened. Just then the little bell above the door rang out....

She walked with him back to the lobby as they talked. There were now people milling about here and there in various costumes. "You mean that weird rumor about candles and mirrors? I've heard people talk about it, but I didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to try something like that," she said as they entered the lobby.

Two young boys were circling Konrad's stuff with their mouths open in wonder while a few adults watched them. Missy walked up behind the two boys and put her hands on their heads. "Alright, that's enough gawking from the two of you. You know, if you keep your moths open like that for too long, you might turn into koi fish, and then we'd have to keep you in a tank in my office!" she said with a devious grin. The two boys yelped and covered their moths with their hands before running off.

Missy snickered a little and said to one of the onlookers, "Thanks for not letting them mess with this guy's stuff." A woman smiled and said, "You know it's no problem, chibi-chan. By the way, who is your companion there?" "His name is Konrad. I let him use the lobby to shelter his stuff from the storm earlier. He may be able to help us with the equipment problems we've been having recently," Missy replied before turning to Konrad and asking, "Do you have any more shops to visit? I still have some errands to run, and I'd like to speak with you some more if that would be alright."

Konrad gathered his stuff up and checked the contents of his bin. "Well the little creatures seemed to have done no harm. I still have to get a couple of sheets of kydex so I could use some company. You know aside from hitting people with sticks we also have archery. If you want I could teach you sometime?"

He opened the door for Missy and motioned her through. "If you would lead the way."

Trace had just finished his game of Tekken as the manager of the arcade said he was closing up. The two talked as they both walked towards the door and with a quick nod and goodbye Trace was walking down the street towards the local diner. He wondered what he would do now that the arcade had closed for the night, there was the option to go back home but it seemed far to early to head home. There was also the small diner her was headed towards it would be at least a great place to sit down and grab a bite to eat.

"The diner it i" He mumbled to himself. Tace kicked the door open and looked around with only one girl catching his attention she seemed a bit on edge but then some people are paranoid for no reason. Seating himself quickly Trace order a hot chocolate and keep staring over at the girl hoping to grab her attention.

Missy nodded and said, "I've watched archers at their task before, but I've never ventured to try it myself. It seems like it would be a good way to clear my head."

She walked with him down the road a little ways to where most of the shops were and said, "You said earlier that someone you know actually tried out that bizarre rumor people talk about on campus, and now they're in the hospital? What's up with that?"

Konrad continued down the sidewalk with Missy. "Well I heard they found him in front of his bathroom mirror. There were signs of a struggle but apparently he showed no signs of injury or bruises. Some people around town claimed to have seen a shadow figure matching his description heading toward Lake Glass."

"There have been other cases similar to this happening around town but I don't think anyone has linked the ritual as the cause. I kind of want to do the ritual just to find out what happens. Though it might be safer with another person just in case."

"Hmm, I guess I could help you out there. I think we have some black candles in our prop room, too," she said while they walked. She stopped walking and checked her watch. "It's starting to get late right now, so I don't think we should try it tonight. What are your plans for the next few days? I have a meeting tomorrow for the theatre, but I'll be free by the afternoon."

Konrad checked his cell phone. "Hmm yes I should be free tomorrow afternoon." He looked around at the shops and spied the one he was after. He walked over to the door and opened it for Missy and followed her inside. He frequented this place and the store assistant knew what he was after and rung up his order. He payed in cash and they brought out sheets for him.

He grabbed the sheets of kydex and stuck them in his bin. "So where did you need to go?" he asked Missy.

The sudden noise made her jump. She stared at the stranger as he walked in. He couldn't be anyone that had been following her. She knew that already. She hated when she was like this. Paranoid. Cut and Dry, she did have a reason to be, but that doesn't mean she liked it. People trusted one another so easily. Why couldn't she?
When she had walked in all the corner tables were taken... She had made do with putting her back against the wall. That way no one would come up behind her. She hadn't moved much sense.
"So here ya go darlin'. Got ya somethin' a bit different this time. I figure sense you haven't touched that that its not to your liking." The waitress looked down at the plate.
"Oh, no thats not it... I... ate before I left. I was on my way the the market... Then I thought I was being followed.... and ended up here. The only light in the darkness." She tried to smile sweetly and brush everything off. "But I'll try it, thank you."
Without a word she picked up the other plate and left the one she brought with her, and turned toward the man that had walked in. He had been staring at her, but he was no longer of interest as soon as she dismissed the thoughts of him being the one following her.
"Can I get you something?" She sounded different. Almost rude. She had noticed that he was staring... Maybe she thought he was the one Cryia was afraid of...

"I have to go to the party store across the plaza. The colored cellophane wrapping plastic works great in place of lighting gels, and it's a lot cheaper," she said with a slight smirk. She took great pride in being able to find ways to cut spending costs for the theatre.

When Konrad had finished his purchase and they were making their way towards the party store, Missy asked, "What are you making from all those materials? That is, if you don't mind my asking."

Konrad smiled "Not at all. I'm making a light weight speed rig for tourney fighting. The chest piece will have 3 pieces of kydex in the front with the middle piece overlapping the 2 pieces to its sides connected with leather so you are able to both of your elbows together and with a fourth piece connecting in the back that can swivel so you can easily move your shoulders as well. That kind of flexibility is unheard when it comes to most of the armor we make. The other pieces of kydex will be heated and reshaped to fit the individuals arms and legs for bracers and leggings. It may not look period but a tabard covers all sins." As he finished the long winded explanation he opened the door for Missy.

Nova rested his arm on the car door and admired the view passing him by with a humbled look upon his face. It had been five years sense the last time he was in the states, and he was not at all pleased with the memories. Nova sighed as he turned away from the window.
"Young master, is something wrong?"
Nova looked into the rear view mirror and locked eyes with the drivers for a brief moment then turn to look out of the window once again. The driver was a rather young looking women, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. "A beauty any man would want by his side." His father would say, and she was to be Nova's new assistant. Or so he was told by the board members.
"No, everything is fine, Morgan." Nova knew Morgan was here to watch him and make sure he didn't do anything that would involve his late father's company. It was also the board member's idea to send him here as well. They went to great lengths to keep him away, even before his father died. They never did like the idea of him becoming the new heir anyways.
"We shall be arriving at the estate very soon, young master." Morgan chimed in.
Nova nodded yet keeping his focus else where.

"Poetic. By the way, I'm not as fragile as I look; I can open doors without breaking," Missy said as she walked past Konrad into the store. It didn't take her long to find what she needed and get in the checkout line. She'd ended up picking out several packs of gum and a pack of balloons as well.

Konrad followed Missy into the checkout line. "Sorry if you feel like I've insulted you. It's just proper manners from where I come from." He remarked.

She checked out and shook her head gently. She gave Konrad a small smile and said, "Whatever. It's fine, I guess. I'm used to people doing things like that for me because I look so frail, not because they're being chivalrous. It's nice to know the practice isn't dead, though."

She exited the store and held the door open for Konrad this time with his bin of stuff. "To be honest, I'm more concerned for you with that bin of stuff you have there. If you're not careful, you might bump into someone."

Konrad chuckled. "You don't need to worry about that. I've only rarely had my bin "bump into" anyone. The wheels help out immensely." He walked out the door lugging his bin behind him and started walking down the street with Missy. "And yes chivalry is not as dead as most people seem to think."

"I know it's not as dead in other parts of the world, but this country seems to have beaten it into a comatose state," Missy said with an exasperated sigh. She could hear the sound of an engine approaching behind them. When she could see her shadow in front of her from the headlights of the vehicle causing the sound, her eyes went wide. She shouted an exclamation in a foreign tongue and leaped out of the way of the vehicle as it quickly approached on the wet road.

Konrad heard the vehicle approach from behind him and saw the headlights as well. He let go of his bin and leaped to the side barely escaping from being clipped by the vehicle. His bin was not so lucky though. Konrad shouted a german explicative.