A man in a red coat wanders the city streets, looking up to the oddly present stars curiously as he absently checks a blade and gun strapped to his back. "Geez feels like it's been a while since I've shown up... Oh well, time to get back to it I guess." A smirk forms on his face, staring over at a random mailbox... Only to see some sort of monster attack it? He can't help walking closer to the thing, greeting it with a wary eye and a casual shout as he raises a hand towards the blade on his back. "You come here often or is this a new thing? I've never quite seen such a thing before, but hey it's not a big deal if you're just attacking mailboxes I guess... Tatsuya, yourself?" No sense starting a fight if he doesn't need to, so instead he'll try and talk it out for a change of pace.

Approaching from behind the figure would be the sound of bike chains grinding to a halt. Whew... that was a productive day! Tomorrow we shall do our best once more, right? A man speaks softly as he parks his bike at a nearby rack. He ran his hand over the handlebars with a warm smile affixed to his face. However, that warmth would soon turn to fear as he notices the... thing? He couldn't quite make out what he was seeing, but the figure seemed to be under some form of stress. Hello? The man called out to the figure and slowly began to approach. The suddenness of the figure lashing out at the mailbox would startle him slightly. Even so, he calmed his nerves and continued approaching the figure. His eyes jumping between the being and the mailbox. Excuse me. Are you doing okay, sir? Do you require some assistance?

The entity would turn slowly to face Tatsuya and Ryoma. Its pale eyes moving between the two for s moment as the wires seemed to continue doing...something to the mailbox. Finally, both eyes would look in opposite directions to view them both at once. "T-t-tatsuya? Tatsuya? Tatsuya! Tatsuya Suou? Apollo... I-I...I don't know if I have a name. I think I lost it, will you help me find it?" Finally, it'd grasp at its eyes as it begins gasping in pain once more. "A-ah! Why do my eyes hurt? W-wait, why could I see you both at once? Please, stop..." Finally, it would open its eyes once more with them returning to normal. They'd begin focusing on the man as well. "I-I'm not okay. I don't think I've been okay. I'm not sure if I ever will be. I always feel sick now... How are you?" The mailbox would have turned into black goop at this point with a cyan mask floating in the middle. It would suddenly begin forming into a much more solid state as the wires retreated back to the entity. The mailbox would solidify until its shape was much more similar to that of a serpent with its lower half stuck to the ground. The mask began to form over its newly formed face as its mouth became more like a jaw with a set of sharp fangs. It would begin hissing and lashing out before going to bit the closest thing to it besides the entity. In this case, the closest thing would be a nearby car which it would grab onto with its jaw, crushing the exterior before randomly throwing towards the direction both Ryoma and Tatsuya would be standing.

You have never been okay? The figure's words were startling to hear but nowhere near as off putting as the mailbox turning into some strange monster. How am I? Well, I can honestly say that I am better than I once was... but that only happened because I opened my eyes to the truth! The appearance of the mailbox's new form sent a shiver up Ryoma's spine. An unpleasant memory trying to breach the locks he had put up. This caused him to pause until he heard the crunch that the beast exhibited. Now at attention he noticed the creature fling the car towards him and the two strangers. Watch out! Ryoma uttered a quick warning before diving to the left and hopefully out of harm's way. Regardless, he'd scramble for a moment and begin fishing out something in his apron.

Naoya found himself wandering in the streets again, still thinking about some past things before seeing a man in a red coat and...a coffee man...but then wait! There's a mail box too, but...something doesn't look right. Not giving a moment, his left hand went close to his face as he yelled, "...Persona!" There, within a flash of blue light, an equally blue flame encircles him, as a black, demon-like figure materialized, wearing a red cloak that contrasts with its blackness along with gold ornaments that somewhat signify royalty. "Garula" He commanded, as the demon back-handed at the deformed mail-box, as a strong gust of wind flies at it and damages it.

Tatsuya stares at the being, he can't quite figure out what exactly it's mad words mean at the moment... "Never been okay huh? Well, I'd love to help you out, but I can't exactly say that I'm getting warm fuzzy feelings here from this..." And as the car is suddenly grabbed by inhuman jaws Tatsuya mutters a curse, drawing the blade from his back as a smirk cross over his face. "Get outta my way." In moments, he's moving across the ground with practiced ease and slices straight the car, metal blazing hot as his burning weapon rushes through it like butter. With that, the man points his weapon toward the thing in front of him and raises his voice. "Look, I really don't want to resort to killing you or anything. So let's just talk this out and with any luck, we can all get along, if not... That'd be nothing new to me."

The entity would look over to Rymoa with confusion crossing its eyes. There was a moment where their eyes seemed to go totally blank like the eyes of a corpse but they'd quickly begin to light back up. "Truth? Odd, the truth is what hurts me but also it's the lies that are getting to me. I can't tell what's real and what's fake anymore. It all just looks the same to me. Everything can be changed so what's the point in truth and by that line of logic what's the point of a lie if it can just be turned into the truth?" The entity would seem to grasp at their head in pain once more while gasping in pain before looking back up as if everything was fine. "It's good that you're doing better. Feeling better than you did before is the optimal route to being okay." The serpent would be hit by the mass of wind with its head being pushed back to the ground but it would seem to just rise back up before glaring at Naoya with empty eyes. It would hiss loudly as a glob of acidic liquid shot out of its mouth in Naoya's direction. The humanoid entity would look over towards Tatsuya with more confusion as if his words were foreign. "Kill? What is kill? Wait, no, I remember. Sorry, that won't work out. I don't think it will anyway. You didn't answer before, you're Tatsuya Suou, right? I read about you but there was never enough information in your files. Could I get a closer look at you? I can see the data I'm looking for in you but from this distance, I can't read it..."

The man stands up and dusts himself off quickly. In his left hand would be what appeared to be the top of a Keurig machine. He brought it to his waist and a belt would shoot out and fasten to Rymoa's body. Hmmm... you seem to be lost. Much like I was... of course concepts like truth and lies can be twisted and sold as either or, but what matters is striving towards the actual truth. No matter what pain it brings. Living in ignorance is all well and good, but not if you purposely avert your gaze. He smiles softly at the figure, but his eyes held a fierce determination. And if everyone is so quick to shy away from that responsibility, then as an ally of justice I will take it upon myself to find the truth. I will not settle for a convenient fabrication, and neither should anyone else.

Naoya non-chalantly dodged the spit and was about to call another spell when he heard Tatsuya's name. "...Tatsuya?" he said, as he stopped attacking

He absently looks to Naoya, hmm so he's here too huh? "Yeah it's me, and I guess we're trying to reason with that guy over there." He just keeps his eyes on the being, for now, answering it's questions with a casual drawl and a smile. "Sure I'm Tatsuya Suou, but I can't let you go prodding inside my head or anything. But like I said, I'd prefer to help you rather than anything else... Now, what exactly is this data of yours for? I might be willing to tell you, assuming it's nothing too dangerous."

The figure's pale eyes would focus on Ryoma. His words made sense to it but it still felt an uncomfortable remembrance fill it. "I don't want any more truth. I already did what I could, don't I get to rest yet? Too much pain, I'm tired now. I just want everything to make sense, I just want something I can hold onto. I feel nauseous, I think it's time for me to return to my personal space." The figure would almost seem to look towards the path it was heading for before but then it would remember Tatsuya. "Head? No, your head is useless. Your existence, the space you take up in the world. That's where the data lies and that's what I'd be stripping down and looking inside. I want to see Apollo's data directly. I want to see what makes your Persona yours so I can recreate it. I always want to recreate things that are interesting. I want to grow my collection. The ones I managed to create were weak and incomplete. I can only make powerful shadows right now. So let me see your data..." The strange serpent wouldn't stop attacking. It seemed completely disconnected from its creator as it would extend outward towards Naoya and attempt to try and bite at him with its massive jaws.

While Naoya would try to listen up, he drew his sword and then tried cutting the serpent in one stroke before listening in... "Data? What do you mean by that?"

See the data directly... Not a chance in hell he's going to let himself be torn to bits. "I see, so this info gathering would mean taking me apart too then? I can't allow that if so..." Besides, he needs to know what this thing would even do with the stupid data. "And why exactly are you looking to gather this data? If it won't harm me then maybe, but so far your methods seem... Less than safe, and I need to know what I'm helping with if I'm going to give you anything."

You want everything to make sense? You want something to hold on to? Then look no further than friends, comrades, confidants... so long as someone is ready and willing to hold out a hand to you, then grab hold. They will be the truth you deserve. The man holds out his own hand as he speaks, however in his grasp is a small K-Cup looking object with "Ride Blend" written on it. I would offer myself as that pillar, however, I doubt my words alone would convince you. That and I am very busy protecting the peace. Much like right now! He flashes a quick grin as he inserts the cup into his belt. A green button would light up as he does so and pressing it would cause it to cry out. PREHEATING! STANDBY! READY! Henshin. The man begins running towards the snake as he slams the top of the belt, locking in the cup. RIDE BLEND! KAMEN RIDER C! Rymoa would be covered from head to toe in a brown liquid as he keeps running. The liquid would coalesce into brown armor with gray lines running up his arms and legs, his head would be covered in the same brown along with gray compound eyes, lastly there would be a red crystal laid upon his brow. Kamen Rider C. Let's get brewing shall we? The man leaps into the air and performs a flying knee aimed squarely at the creature's jaw. Kyaaaah!

The serpent would reel back as Naoya sliced at its mouth, causing it to back off for now. The figure looks back Tatsuya again. Tatsuya's words almost seemed to stab at them causing their breathing to grow heavier and their tone to grow more nervous as they answered. "Torn apart? Whatever I tear apart I put together again but you can't make progress without looking at the components something's made of. I won't change anything, I just need to copy it down so I can look at it later. Last time, Apollo fell apart right before me, it knew I wasn't the rightful owner but... If I know what'd missing I ca-" They'd be interrupted by Tatsuya's question of what it'd be used for. The figure almost seemed to stagger back as if they'd just been hit in the face. "I-I...what it'd be used for? I...don't know... Something has to change... Everything just feels off, I need to keep gathering more data to make things right again. I don't want to be knocked down again so I need to gain as much to support me as possible. Does the cost matter when the result is so beneficial?" Ryoma's kick would knock the serpent back a great distance, actually unearthing it from the ground to reveal it's incomplete tail. The tail of the shadow seemed to separate into three short pieces that it couldn't move properly causing it to struggle to move at all. The figure seemed to regain some of its nerve listening to Ryoma speak. "I...have none of those left. People always abandon me. I've always been so twisted inside. The one time people tried to reach their hand out to me I used them to do what I thought was right and then they abandoned me too. That's why I'm the way I am now. O-ow...I'm sorry...it hurts to remember..."

Everything feels off huh? Geez, this is a whole mess, to say the least isn't it... Tatsuya frowns a bit and focuses, his Persona taking shape and rushing towards the serpent. "So, you need things for the sake of having things? No, for the sake of having things that you can support yourself with..." Flames rush from the Persona's hands, a ring of fire which would wrap around the foe's neck if it hit and begin to press down while burning into it. "I guess I can kinda understand that, I chased after power alone once because I thought that I didn't have anyone." Tatsuya smiles and walks a bit closer, a burning look in his eyes as he gazes towards the strange bei- no, person. "Making shadows won't help with that though, neither will making yourself stronger. You say that everyone left you, and yeah that's fair enough. But that doesn't mean you should just give up on everyone else and try to go on without having anyone... It doesn't work, I'd know more than most that in the end?" He reaches into his coat, pulling out a lighter and flicking it open with a slight smile. "It's just a road to more and more hate and depression, or that's where it took me once. And from where I'm standing, you look like you need help. So I'll try and help."

The man jumps backwards as Tatsuya's persona attacks. Do you think monsters can learn to live with people? I used to think it was impossible, but that's because I didn't have anyone to tell me how narrow minded I was. The man brings his hand down on the green button once more. Someday you'll get better. I'll fight to make that the truth. Because saving others is what being a Kamen Rider is all about! He slams the button three times in rapid succession. RI-RI-RIDE BLEND! THE FINISHER! Rymoa is surrounded by brown liquid and jettisoned into the air. He quickly orients himself and aims at the top of the snake's head. His descent starts slowly until his leg starts to shine with a gray light, at which point he begins travelling ever faster until he connects with his target. Soiyaaaaaaah!

The figure would stagger back more and more, each of both Tatsuya and Ryoma's words like sharp daggers jabbing at their sides. Their breathing was heavy and the wires seemed to grow more rapid in their movement like a bundle of snakes ready to strike. "I-I need to leave...It's getting hard to breathe and I feel like I'm gonna throw up..." The figure would begin to walk away as the night suddenly felt as though it was growing darker as if to cover their trail. The serpent would be held to the ground by the ring of fire disallowing it from even attempting to recover. The strike from Ryoma to the Serpents head would be the final hit required to cause the strange serpent to explode into a mass of dark liquid and strange green orbs that would all drop to the ground quickly. Any who looked at the orbs could see a variety of numbers and short terms flowing through them.

The man lifts the top of his belt and pulls out the cup. All the liquid around his body would return to the belt and Rymoa would be back to normal. Well then, that was eventful! Hm? Not seeing any sign of the person, Rymoa turns his attention to the strange orbs left behind by the shadow. He kneels down and picks one up. Back where I'm from we didn't even have cellular phones, so I haven't the slightest clue as to what these things are...