Velvet Room, Inc.

Revamped chapter, as promised. (Read the author's message on chapter 1, if ya haven't yet)

Please enjoy.

DISCLAIMER: Persona 3 and all things associated with it is owned by Atlus. Seriously, they do. You must be high if you think it's someone else's.

CHAPTER 2: Strings

"Wait, watching me? 'Potential'? What do you mean?" I asked, clearly confused. Nothing made sense up to this moment—why I came here on my own accord, why I was drawn to this place and the meaning of all they've been saying like "Candidate" or "Line" or whatever. Questions piled one by one in my head.

Philemon stood up from his chair and spoke up. "I understand that you are confused at this point in time, but please let me explain from the beginning of the workings of your fate reaching up to this day."

My. . . fate?

I nodded slowly, what with my mind thirsting for answers and burning with curiosity. Philemon took my silence and curious expression as a signal to begin.

"Velvet Room, Inc. was established in the year 1999, here at Port Island. Since then, I have been in position as the CEO, with Igor and Theodore as my aides. I'm sure you'll meet the other two later."

1999. That was 10 years ago, when I was disappeared from my unknown parents and was brought to the orphanage. . .

"Our system here is a rental of sorts - employees are assigned to do jobs, requests, and other forms of services according to their assigned 'Arcana Department'. I'm sure you are familiar with some arcana in tarot cards?"

I joggled up my memory in tarot cards and found the info I needed. "You mean like Temperance, Justice, Chariot, and stuff, right? I've encountered those before when I tried becoming a fortune teller to get enough for a bus fare. . ."

It lasted only for a day, since I just happened to keep spouting nonsense. And I felt poetic during that day, too. Maybe it was just my hunger that got to me that time. . .

Philemon nodded, satisfied with my answer. "As each unique individual have varying personalities and roads in life that they face, they are each presented an arcana that stands for their psyche. Hence, we have 23 'Arcana Departments'."

Out of curiosity, I asked Philemon a question. "So how do you group people?" This time, Igor answered the question, as if he was expecting me to blurt it anytime soon. "I give them tarot readings, dear guest. Then, the cards tell me where they shall be assigned."

Igor then pulled out a deck from his coat pocket and waved it in front of me. The design of the back was colored with blue and black, depicting a sort of face within a circle in the center of the card. After giving me a long enough look, Igor returned his deck in his pocket.

Philemon then continued on with his explanation. "Each 'Arcana Department' corresponds to a single type of job, which is why we only give specific tasks to specific departments. There are a few departments here which are subject to being exceptions, as they represent a multitude of personalities."

"Coming to employees, we do not just hire anyone. Rather, we observe possible people and determine whether they have the 'Potential' or not."

Potential. . . The word rang inside my head, remembering how Philemon made mention of the word before. Each time I ran through it, a weird feeling kept tugging at the back of my head.

Unbeknownst to me, Philemon was locked in an almost unnoticeable conversation with Igor. "Master, would it be wise to tell him everything now? What if he isn't prepared? The Fool still does not wake in his Soul," Igor whispered, never moving his sight nor twitching his body in the slightest.

Philemon smiled a bit, like a child who knew some secret no one else did. "I know, Igor. This is why I have already prepared the next course of action to be taken."

Deciding to break me out of my daze, Philemon casually walked up to me, flourishing a sort of business card in his hand. "I'd like you to have this. I know you have more questions, but I'm afraid I'll be on leave for a while. If you would consider the choice of becoming part of the Room because of the qualities you possess, then we would welcome you very much, Mr. Arisato. Your mind is still processing this, which is why I'll have you think it over. You know where we are," Philemon said, chuckling at the end.

I took the card in hand. It was as thick and hard as a credit card; it was blue with red borders, and a sky-blue butterfly was emblazoned in the center. I flipped it over and read the company's contact number.

"Oh, and before I forget, take this as well. You can think of it as a sort of gift." Philemon held a briefcase in his hand, moving it in front of me so that I could take it. "What's inside?" I asked.

Philemon laughed lightly before answering me. "I believe you'll know when to open that case, and when you do, you shall awaken to a world you have never witnessed. Mr. Arisa - no, Master Minato, rather. Can you please close your eyes?"

I blinked, slightly confused with what he instructed me. I shrugged and did so, thinking that there was no apparent harm in shutting my eyelids.

"Good. Now, empty your mind and fill your senses with the sight, sound, smell, taste, and feel of nothingness, and that shall let you drift off. . . . ."

I felt myself losing consciousness, and soon my body betrayed my will to stay awake. Sleep took grasp of me, sending me down to a peaceful slumber. . . .

"Mm. . . Huh?"

I regained consciousness and found myself inside my apartment room at Iwatodai. Realizing where I was and recalling the events of yesterday, I hurried out of my futon and quickly moved around to recover from my slight shock.

How I was delivered here was a mystery. I don't even know if yesterday was real. Moments later, my doubts about my previous excursion to the room evaporated into the air after I found Philemon's business card in my hand and the briefcase he gave me as a gift. I shook it to try and discover its contents, but sadly it seemed to have foam inside to keep its contents safe. I sighed and placed it down on my table. No sooner after I have sat that my stomach roared with hunger, signaling me to move my ass into the kitchen and make something for breakfast.

Four bowls of fried rice and three bacon slices later, I went through all that I learned yesterday: the Velvet Room, Inc., me being a "Candidate" who possessed the "Potential," and the people who were associated with the Room. It wasn't all clear yet, but their system sounded unique and fun.

I never had many talents to begin with, and I had terrible luck. I may be a bit smart, but that was inversely proportional to my strength as a limp noodle. I can do all household chores and deal with on-the-spot-problems, yet my clumsiness still almost always got in the way.

After setting aside thoughts about the room and shrinking my pride further, I decided to go out and get some fresh air. Maybe I could also kill some time at Game Panic. Or even enjoy myself at Mandragora. Good thing I woke up at 7.30 in the morning. Lots of time for recreating and relieving yesterday's stress. . .

. . Goddamit. And I still didn't have a frickin' job, nor did I have much money. Nice going, Arisato.

It was already April, and in a little while summer would be approaching. Throughout the trip from Iwatodai to Port Island, I was so glued to the music playing by me, Chain by BACK-ON, that I nearly forgot to get out of the train once arriving at Port Island Station.

Once I was out, I went over my job hunting options when suddenly I heard a scream near the station side alley. I turned and walked briskly towards the direction of the sound, and soon found myself looking into a bad situation.

A teal-haired girl wearing a Gekkoukan High uniform was cornered like a frightened rabbit by two creepy guys. Both of them also sported uniforms from Gekkoukan.

"C'mon, Fuuka-chan. . .hang with us a little. School's not gonna run away, y'know~? Hahaha~!"

"He's right. Let's have a little fun, all by our lonesome selves here . . .Hehehe. . ."

The girl, Fuuka, shook like a leaf. Her eyes were already soaked with tears, and she was looking more and more frightened by the second.

"P-please. . .le-let me go. . . I. . . I. . ."

The two creeps ignored her pleas and continued to advance on her. Fuuka put her remaining strength into what was a desperate attempt to run away. One of the goons caught her by the arm and restrained her, removing all other chances at escape. The other guy then went in front of her and gagged her mouth. "There, now no one will hear any 'unwanted noise' from you here. Hehehehe. . . Are you ready to have fun, Fuuka-chan~? Ahahahaha!"

I snapped.

I had to do something.

But despite all the heroic thinking, my body refused to move, and my feet anchored themselves to the ground.

Dammit! What the hell's the matter with you, move!

"Shit, move it! Goddamit, she's gonna get screwed big time! Just give me some strength, you limp of a body! Graaaaaah!"

.

.

.

.

.

[Heh. Would you risk your life for this lady, well enough to enter the pits of Hades for her to be free?]

-!? What the hell was with this voice?! Who are you?!

[Child, words are unneeded for now. Tell me! Will you save this Eurydice, or will you not so vow?]

Sure I do, dammit!

[Then be calm as the steady seas and do as I say. Drown out everything your Soul hears, but the sound of my strings that make wind sway. Once done, feel your Soul burst into flames!]

It didn't make much sense, but I closed my eyes and concentrated. The world seemed to pause. I discarded all unwanted sounds, and found myself hearing nothing but the resolution in my head.

I will save her. I'll be damned if I didn't.

Suddenly, I heard what sounded like harp strings and felt a surge of energy through my body. I shot my eyes open and found a silver aura covering my hands and feet. I knew what had to be done.

"Hey. You bastards."

The creeps looked at me. I grabbed hold of an unused steel pipe piece and walked towards the end of the alley. The two stopped at the sight of me. Fuuka's eyes opened wide with surprise upon seeing me attempting to rescue her.

"Who the fuck are ya, huh?! You wanna get screwed up? You don't even know us, ya freak!" The one who gagged Fuuka pulled out knife and pointed it at me. I exhaled and held the pipe like a katana.

"Let go of her, or I send you to the hospital." I felt my hands warm up, and soon the pipe was on fire. My face showed no emotion, but inside I was surprised with what was going on with me.

Was this the 'Potential' Philemon talked about?

[Oho, and it be a beacon that shines bright! What promise you show in your power's flight!]

Hey. What the hell are you talking about? Care to elaborate?

[I shall, but at a better place and time. For now, land your fists and feet upon their bodies, and make them feel the consequence of their crime.]

. . . . Setting aside the urge to not shout at this guy or whoever it was in my head for his riddles and rhymes, I readied myself for the situation I was to face. I looked at Fuuka and found myself having eye contact with her. Her eyes showed hope and warmth, yet also fear and shock because of the recent events. I tore myself from the sight of the windows to her soul, and gritted my teeth in anger. She was a stranger, all right - but that doesn't mean I'm just gonna let this go.

"Here I come, you damned pieces of crap."

Please leave a review; comments, criticisms, complements, and suggestions are welcome. Oh and by the way-RHYMING ORPHEUS! YESSSS! HAHAHA!

~Arsony