Aurrorian

Persona: The darkest light

What about those whose applications are still WIP? @Dark Light@Feijao@Sage Orion 0312

Persona: The darkest light

Present Day

"Well, I do have a visitor pass..." I reply behind the blue haired boy, shifting the lanyard around my neck with said identification into better view. I pause to take in the scene of students investigating a crime scene: the spiky haired student looking increasingly like a fox examining a glass shard, the blue haired boy cautiously opening lockers with a yardstick, a third student more determinedly opening another set, and a girl standing beside me looking on nervously. I wonder if it's more than a coincidence of curiosity that these four specific students, and I, were drawn to this area due to the novelty of a criminal like the Death Husband, Blood Eye even. Where would the music teacher of this school be anyways, if not watching their own classroom? If I'm to have an amateur interest in detective work as these other students seem to have, there would lie my first suspicion.

I hesitantly clear my throat to talk again, as the only adult in the room, "Actually, I'm a part time counselor asked to come help your school, in that office. A...secretary was showing me around, until we heard that scream. She ran back to the office to call police, while I was close enough to find my way here. So, since the police are probably on their way..."

I hesitate again. There's a fine line to cross into becoming an authority figure for these students. Except I'm not a teacher or similar person they could possibly respect in the moment, especially with me fibbing. Part of me wants to, but that part seems to think of prodding or even scolding them like younger children in trouble. Another part sees myself no, someone more like Raven in them, with youthful energy not yet tapped by becoming a working adult. I take a breath, then finish my line.

"...we should investigate this as efficiently as we can, before they arrive," I'm about to take another step into the music room, when I hear approaching footsteps, "Oh, somebody's already coming."

As if by instinct, I turn around and march back down the hallway, hoping to meet whoever it is and stall for time. I figure it would make up for my earlier awkward arrival if I fibbed in favor of the students rather than against. It's going to land me in some trouble with the school staff for being up here in the first place anyways.

"Hello, my name's Angela Gong, you can just call me Angela. I'm a part time counselor assigned here by the local Catholic charity, non profit and secular divided of course. More here for career guidance, a bit of financial aid, some basic mental health services including referrals, you know. I was just looking around the school to get to know the place, talk to some students and introduce myself."

"Oh uh, I did just come from that end of the hallway and greeted students there, I think they were cleaning up after independent band or choir practice so they didn't need supervision. Which is funny actually, part of the reason I came up here was because I heard the music room was this way, and the school's counselor mentioned wanting to see the music teacher for something. I couldn't find them inside so uh, would you happen to know where the music teacher could be, maybe their office? I'd like to make a good first impression on my colleague, if you could help me."

Persona: The darkest light

Present Day

I simply nod at this unprecedented turn of events. Me, finally trusted by Boss to act by myself for work, not only that but to do some counseling? I essentially shadowed my seniors in the previous cases we worked, looking over my shoulder while they did the talking. Now this is no chance to mess up, Angela.

Recalling my college courses, I think about how textbook my approach should be, balanced against what my peers had indirectly taught me in the field. Most of the clients we interacted with were adult heads of household however, their children or wards usually away from home like at school. It hits me then that Boss may have assigned me to counsel at a school, because I would be closer in age to the students compared to my coworkers. I clap my face in reassurance as my ride share pulls up, and minutes later I arrive at Kage Private High.

I sign in at the administrative office, then a secretary leads me towards the counseling office, where I introduce myself to the sole counselor of the entire school. A bit curious that a private school has little budget for no more than one, and the dark circles under their eyes shows the load they have to carry. But one statement by them unexpectedly clarifies the true pressure they face,

"I appreciate the help from you and your organization, Angela. It's...the recent case surrounding this school, the Death Husband. Students just keep coming to me with their fears, and for comfort if their classmate went missing."

My heart skips a beat. Of course, I remember now hearing the school name before on the news. My mind instantly flashes to Raven, and I wouldn't be surprised if my own eyes darkened in intensity. But, this isn't Blood Eye, and I can't let my past trauma cloud my exchanges with the inevitable students that arrive for counseling later today.

A scream in the distance probably makes everyone in the room break into a sweat. The secretary tells me to wait inside while they confirm the situation, so I do until a flurry of movement later outside, I notice the secretary in the main office across the hall urgently dialing the phone. I use the bathroom excuse to leave the counselor, and after meandering close enough to confirm the call was indeed for emergency services, I hurry off in a vague direction I think the scream came from.

I don't ascend to another floor of the large school building in case I get called back, but the closer to the location I get the more I could tell it was somewhere above. I stand unsure of my agency in the hallway, classrooms to either side and definitely opposite the direction of the bathroom, when the bell rings. Immediately, someone with two distinctly spiky hair growths bursts out of a classroom door and sprints for the staircase, followed by three other students trailing them in succession. Considering it broke the usual pattern of the rest of the students filing out of their classes in a steady stream towards their next class, I could draw the nearest conclusion as to what they shared in common with me at the moment.

"Raven would've been brave confronting a murderer like that. At least, I think she was with Blood Eye..." I mutter under my breath before moving again with the crowd. The tide directs me towards the stairs so I go with it, catching a glimpse of one of the four earlier students before finally following them under my own volition. I end at an unusually quieter spot on the second floor sparse with students, except for the four grouping around a door down the hall. I slowly approach them and peer through the doorway into what appears to be a music room.

"Um, excuse me, are students supposed to be up here?" I ask, before realizing my dumb question.

Persona: The darkest light

@Jangel13 In general terms, what are the conditions to move onto the next scene if any? Unless this is the only scene for the crime.

Persona: The darkest light

I got skipped. But at least I can write a lengthier post to cover two rounds instead of two short posts.

@Feijao Gonna try this mention again, finishing your character sometime? I think my character would interact well with yours.

Persona: The darkest light

@Feijao Will you be finishing your character? Still early enough for introductions IC.

how do I keep messing up mentions smh

Persona: The darkest light

Waiting for student characters to post before me so I get a feel for the setting.

Persona: The darkest light

Present Day

Even now, Mom insists on getting up early to make me breakfast. This is after I showed her all my self taught cooking skills from living in a dormitory my four college years, not that I could discern her criticism of it through that ageless glower. It's been a year since I graduated from the local university and moved back home, drawn into Mom's embrace again like our tied blood relation strings us both.

At least my workplace is closer than needed for a car ride. My job has been simple so far, sitting at the computer recording inventory of all our donations, and manning the front desk for any visitors inquiring about the services our charity provides. Sometimes I've been assigned as an assistant for whomever Boss entrusts recent hires to, so I follow senior case workers to beneficiaries in the community in order to distribute goods. And the pay's good enough for one more year before I head off to earn my master's degree. If there's any regrets to be had, my resume might gain little traction from even fibs like "Assistant Case Manager" or "Inventory Specialist," paid for costs of opportunities farther from my hometown.

As I walk by the church, reflecting on my sources of dependence, I remember something I lost instead in one of them.

Past Winter

When the funeral procession began for Raven Harlan I hadn't been present, mentally. I barely shuffled up the aisle in time with other attendees, my eyes dipped towards the feet of the coffin bearers. They were especially fixated on one bearer's purple high tops partly tucked under their slacks, still clashing with the surrounding black ensemble. I was wondering whether to express penitence for Raven myself as someone nudged then pulled me to my seat.

My body knelt in prayer for the Office of the Dead while my mind continued to wander. That moonlit night, I hadn't hidden nor taken Raven's necklace, not until the police arrived and collected it themselves as evidence. Presumably it was returned to the Harlan family after the investigation, in its broken, renounced state. Should I be praying for Raven's redemption, or would that even be respecting my willful friend's dying wish? With the times I skipped church myself while in college, I would need to reassert my own wavering faith first, already divided and tested among other significant figures in my life.

The only hint I had gotten from Raven before of any dissent, was once playing basketball against her. She suggested allowing me to make a quick prayer before she could contest my shots. I naturally retained my limited finesse, and we had stopped playing together once Raven wanted stronger competition. And now, she who once dared to overcome any larger challenge, I had found in some dark alley left for dead by everyone, even me.

I opened my eyes slightly glancing side to side, and I noticed her mother in an opposite pew, face under a veil. Her family sat beside her, and judging by their various states of bowed to near upright heads not all of them were religious. It occurred to me the one coffin bearer among them wearing the purple shoes might have done so out of pragmatism.

Father Harlan, himself in brilliant white vestments, proceeded to preach about the unknown journeys people must take after having arrived at every known destination. And one by one as some others rose to their feet in acknowledgment, offering their own thoughts and prayers, I realized most everyone except me was believing the same thing. Raven was still with them in spirit, on another path parallel to theirs. While I, I had just felt alone in the darkness since that night. No other light could shine brighter than the one I used to feel with Raven. The void beside me wouldn't be filled by anyone else.

Between then and preparing for today, I had thought of composing my own prayer to Raven and for Him to have mercy. But now I didn't want His light to shine upon me and bless me with any presence. I was alone and lost the only presence that I witnessed possess the individual drive she had, but she had still left me an example of strength. Perhaps it was this strength that separated us after high school, and I should cherish it as her parting gift.

I held back a bitter smile for hours, up to the Final Commendation and Farewell. As the coffin was treated with holy water and incense, suddenly the church doors opened from behind, and a man rushed down the aisle towards the altar. Raven's mother nearly lifted her veil to witness with the rest of us, this man trying to open the coffin lid and pleading Raven's name, before Father Harlan shoved him away then two other priests escorted him back outside.

The interruption had little impression on me though. Father Harlan announced that the Rite of Committal at the cemetery would be restricted to family only, before officially ending the funeral service. I became conscious of Dad tugging my sleeve and Mom frowning at me, as we made our way to the reception afterwards.

It was just my luck to meet an old "friend" and their family, as mine took aside hers for a chat. I had only joined her clique in church and school back then out of social necessity, and though there were some genuine people I liked hanging out with, she hadn't been one of them.

"Hey Angela, been a while. I'm...sorry for the loss, knowing you and Raven were close back then."

"Yeah hey...well you know, trying to move on by being here."

"Oh definitely, I wouldn't want what happened to her for anyone else."

"Uh yeah..."

"...So, are you done with university? Got a job?"

"Mm hmm, I work here at the charity now actually."

"Oh cool, I'm just starting out as an entrepreneur. And I found a boyfriend."

"Well, guess that's better than living with parents."

"Can't beat the free room and board though."

"I actually cook for them, dinner usually, since I got used to it in college."

"Oh, so you can cook..."

Her boyfriend swooped in, "A friend of my girlfriend is a friend of mine. We can invite you out to eat sometime, if you want--"

"I can cook too."

"Uh, sure babe..."

"Thanks, but I'd like some alone time for now. Wouldn't want to add to your list of needs for each other," I cut in, my "friends" then looking at each other in confusion.

"Thought so," I finally let go my smile.

Persona: The darkest light

@Jangel13 If you're stuck writing a hook for my character, just DM me and we can discuss something. I'm open to joining one of the established groups of characters though instead of solving a third mystery.

Persona: The darkest light

@Jangel13 I'm just going to write a TL;DR CS now...my character already graduated so her job is working at the charity.

EDIT: Okay jeez, I said in my original CS my neighborhood was relatively safe, except now there are 2 more serial killers running loose. o_0 Where does Blood Eye fit on the timeline? (I think I get what you're doing in accordance with the Persona plot structure.)

Edited in TL;DR CS under Characters.