And we back. Christ, Persona Royal was so much fun. It now rests completed in every sense now. Max stats, completed Compendium, every Confidant completed, and Platinum trophy acquired. If you don't have it already, I implore you to get it when you can, you won't be disappointing. Now back to our regularly scheduled writing/ramblings.

Spoiler: Winner!

[X] Act Interested: Keep Talking with Ranma, Get Konatsu Later
-[X] "What if you in particular have a really bad curse that just attracts misery to yourself? I mean, if you only interact with negative stuff, doesn't that mean that you are the common denominator?"

Definetely an interesting question, and one we'll be getting an answer to...right about now!

Won't bother with the disclaimer for this one, you all know the drill by now. START THE WRITE PATH!

You weren't gonna lie, a part of you wanted to meet Konatsu, grab him, and fly away from this weird, scary part of Japan leaving only a trail of smoke and money behind you. The larger part, however, was vastly interested in the casual wisdom being dumped on you by a random martial arts master.

It hurt your sensibilities and dreams about magic itself, but what Ranma said made sense, in a twisted sort of way. Magic was just like any other skill or teaching, you had to spend time on it and do specific things to actually get better at it. The things in question this time just meant suffering needlessly for that express purpose, you supposed...

Wait, why not just ask the guy while you had his attention?

"Hey, Magic comes from suffering, right? But, then, what if you were 'cursed' with bad luck, or just not a very lucky person to begin with? Or live in a shitty situation in general? Wouldn't we be seeing a lot more people flinging around Mojo?" You asked the man in question as you were both ushered quickly to a booth off to the side, Ranma having already grabbed a menu for you, even as he nodded to the waitress for a 'usual'.

Ranma took a moment to hum again, looking at you for a moment, before grinning a little again.

"Aight. That's a fair one, and just as simple. Life sucks, so deal with it." Ranma explained with a grand sweep of his arm, as if parting a curtain.

You stared back, unamused, the Third-Arm Sash bringing up the cup of water you had been provided to drink as you crossed your arms.

"Ha! Okay, fine, it's a bit more than that. Okay, let me think of a good analogy...you look like of chunni, so this should work. Okay, think of a regular person like a person on the internet. They don't post nothing, they don't contribute nothing, they just watch and are present. But you still know there's more than just you using the internet. Then you get someone goin to a desert for 40 days looking for gems or fightin a squid to the death in an undersea cave. Sounds more exciting, right? The World thinks so too. These're the streamers, the 'content' makers, guys and gals people throw money at to see more of. If you do somethin worth 'watchin', the World can give you some pretty sweet donations. Assumin ya survive, at least." Ranma chuckled as he saw the disbelief on your face.

"That...sounds so fucking stupid and shallow. It also didn't answer my question!" You were quick to point out, as for all it was 'good' it wasn't what you wanted.

Ranma blinked at that for a moment, considered his words, and half shrugged.

"Eh, guess it didn't. Sorry, explainin metaphysical stuff always gets tricky when you don't have a centering philosophy or inclinations to run off. Okay, if you live a shit life, then you just live a shit life. The World doesn't really care about the minutia of day to day details or interactions, just what you do to make it harder. For there to be any benefit to it, you have to have a solid goal to strive for, as well as some reason to do what you are. A kid starving in Africa is less likely to get magic powers than a 40 year old virgin who's been trying to get laid for that entire time. Unless the kid wanted to eat unicorn, or the hearts of his enemies or sumthin, that's a different story." Ranma finished as he was presented with what looked like a whole grill's worth of okonomiyaki, each topped with a large helping of assorted ingredients, which quickly began to disappear down his gullet in a blur of limbs.

You had your head in your hands at this point, the wonder of magic sorely and painfully torn away.

"Is...is it really that easy? Is it REALLY, that petty?" You asked, honestly wondering just why it was like this.

"Yep! A World is like its people. In this era, it's a petty, spitefully indifferent motherfucka with a short attention span." Ranma cheerfully confirmed through a full mouth, constantly emptying and refilling between syllables.

"Also, that's Konatsu." He continued, casually pointing at the 'waitress', who had brought you to the booth, making you snap around to see 'them' standing at the table side attentively.

...Well then.

[] Hello. Take My Money: You're paying for Konatsu, Get the HELL out of NERIMA

[] I...I Think I'll Have Some Chicken and Shrimp Okonomiyaki Please...: Try and Get Your Shit Together, Keep Talking to Ranma

[] I'm Going to Leave Now. Goodbye Forever. : Say Fuck It, Leave Nerima, Leave Konatsu, Japan Has Broken You