[Basics]
(This is all you really need to read to interact with Fusego. The two sections below are just for flavor and further detail.)
Name: Tadashi Fusego (旦 篝)
Age: 16
Hometown: Inaba
Affiliations: Yasogami High (track team, symphonic band)
Sign: Libra
Blood Type: B-positive
Arcana: Sun
Persona: Phoenix
Initial Spells: Garu, Maragi, Me Patra
Summoning Style: Tarot card (P4)
Weaponry: Tonfa (strike)
Bio: Fuesgo was born and lived his entire life so far in Yasoinaba. Formerly a quinessential class clown, entering high school seems to have mellowed him out, though he retains his habit of having sweets almost always available to share with people (hence the offered gum in the snapshot). During an incident, he accidentally fell into the world of the Midnight Channel (aka Mayonaka TV) and came face to face with his Shadow. With the guidance of Teddie, a resident of that world and one of the group that solved the serial murder case two years prior, he was able to accept that Shadow, and awakened his own Persona, Phoenix of the Sun arcana.
Fusego is a fairly charming young man, still retaining some of his playful younger nature while taking care not to be an outright clown. He regards joy as the most important human emotion, and desires to help others find it. At the same time, he has a phobia of getting close to others; his life has been a particularly easy and enjoyable one, and he regards himself as having never experienced true sorrow, which he fears growing close to another will eventually cause him to experience. (This impasse was what created his Shadow.) While he now understands this and is trying to open up, knowing that if he really wants to make someone happy he has to understand first why they're sad, it's a difficult process for him.
As far as experience, after the events of the Inaba serial murders, Mayonaka is largely peaceful, so he hasn't had a lot of combat experience except for a spar or two with his senpai and friend, Kanji Tatsumi. (Mostly he just uses Phoenix' power for things like parkour and a safety net when rock-climbing.) However, he's always got an ear open for rumors that might connect back to Mayonaka... Teddie -did- tell him that only part of it is as it once was, and deep down he's as much a fan of hero shows as ever... the chance to follow up on a rumor and maybe get to play hero for once is definitely one that appeals to this young Persona-user...
[Persona]
(A more detailed view of his abilities and how they evolve, as well as the summoning animation for each line. Also includes details on his ultimate Persona, currently locked.)
Initial Persona: Phoenix
The famous eternally-reborn bird of legend. Fusego unlocked this Persona by facing his Shadow and deciding to risk learning of the hardships his friends have suffered for the chance to make them happy.
Resists Agi and Zio, weak to Bufu. (Zio resistance is due to long training with Kanji, whose Persona specializes in elec-element spells.)
Garu->Garula
An innate skill to Phoenix. Single-target wind-element spell, capable of decent focused damage. Phoenix does not possess the multi-target Magaru, thus Fusego normally uses this twice on the same target to inflict Dizzy rather than trying to Down the entire field. Fusego's summon animation for this spell is an upward swing with a tonfa.
Maragi->Maragion
An innate skill for Phoenix. A spread-type fire-element spell, it strikes all enemies simultaneously. This makes it a risky proposition for casting if some enemies absorb or reflect Agi spells. Fusego performs a spinning strike with his tonfa for this spell's summon animation.
Skewer->Single Shot->Double Shot->Black Spot
Phoenix's first set of physical skills, dealing Pierce-type damage. While less powerful than others, they have decent Critical rate. All of these are single-target, delivered by Phoenix striking with beak or talons. A straight thrust with one or both tonfa calls out this attack.
Sonic Punch->Assault Dive
A pair of physical skills learned late in Phoenix's growth, dealing Strike-type damage. More raw power but somewhat decreased critical rate compared to the Skewer line. Fusego charges and strikes Phoenix's card with both tonfa at once in an X-pattern.
Me Patra
A status-healing spell, this is one of Phoenix's few multi-target spells, curing Fusego and all allies of nerve-based ailments (Fear, Rage, Confusion). It is an innate skill to Phoenix. Fusego lets both tonfa fall and holds out his hand to the card, which shatters in a pulse of energy that clears the party's minds.
Dia->Diarama
The basic single-target healing spell. Its highest form, Diarahan, is available only for his ultimate Persona. Because the Media/Mediarama form is not accessible, Fusego is limited to supplementary healing in most cases. To cast Dia, he throws one tonfa into the air, then clasps Phoenix's card in one hand. To heal himself, he holds that hand to his chest; to heal another he thrusts it out towards the party member in question.
Recarm
A special skill channeling Phoenix's legendary ability of rebirth into a fallen party member. Restores any one KO'd ally to consciousness and 50% health. A very late-game ability, and one of Phoenix's most useful. Fusego tosses both tonfa high into the air, clasps Phoenix's card between both hands, then holds them to his heart as if praying. Phoenix appears over the target rather than Fusego, spreading sunlight over their fallen form.
Fire Boost
A support-type skill learned relatively early, it raises the damage dealt by Agi spells by 25%, thereby helping to compensate for Phoenix's Agi spells being a lower tier than Garu (in exchange for the Ma- spread property).
Ultimate Persona: Yatagarasu
A giant bird with three legs and pitch-black feathers. Around its neck is a chain holding three magatama jewels. It is said to be the servant of the sun goddess Amaterasu, and a herald of divine will. Legends tell of one such bird leading the famous Emperor Jinmu to victory in the region of Yamato.
Nullifies Agi, resists Zio and Hama, weak to Bufu.
Garudyne->Panta Rhei
The ultimate Garu-type spell. Still single-target, this spell deals severe wind-element damage to the enemy, tossing them about in a whirl of divine wind.
Maragion->Maragidyne
The last tier of multiple-target Agi spells; its severe counterpart (Meltdown) has never been used except by residents of the Velvet Room. Deals strong fire-element damage to all foes at once.
Freila->Freidyne
An archaic spell that calls upon the power that fuels the Sun. This series of single-target spells deal "nuclear" damage, effectively Almighty-element.
Torrent Shot
Yatagarasu's lone physical ability, it deals Pierce-type damage. This attack has moderate critical rate and will always strike twice, possibly three times.
Diarahan
The strongest form of Dia, though still single-target. This powerful healing force restores any one ally instantly to full health.
Samarecarm
The strongest revival magic, empowered by the will of Yatagarasu's patron Amaterasu. The target recovers their consciousness and all HP.
Amrita
The upgraded form of Me Patra, this spell now heals all ailments from the party by the blessings of the sun.
Fire Amp
A more powerful version of the Fire Boost ability, this improves Agi spell damage by 50%.
3rd-tier Ultimate Persona:
Ameno-Uzume
The Japanese goddess of dawn and of revelry. When the sun goddess Amaterasu hid herself in a cave in fear from her brother Susano-o's rage, it was Ameno-Uzume's playful dancing that drew her from her hiding place so the other gods could convince her to return. She appears as a young woman clad in white robes and a green haori coat, a heavy boomerang (not pictured) fashioned after the Kusanagi-no-tsurugi slung on her back. Like Yatagarasu, she wears a necklace bearing three magatama jewels.
Absorbs Agi, nullifies Zio and Hama, weak to Bufu.
Hamaon
The holy power of the goddess encircles the enemy in powerful sealing slips. High odds of dealing an instant kill through Light-type magic. If the enemy is weak to Hama-type spells, a success is almost guaranteed.
Maragidyne
As above.
Nova Cyther
The specialty technique of the sun god Apollo. A single point flare that bursts within an enemy, dealing severe damage of the archaic element "Nuclear". Like Almighty, this bypasses enemy resistances and immunities, and is effective against the rare enemies possessing Almighty resistance.
Rainy Death
Ameno-Uzume hurls her boomerang at the enemy at tremendous speed, dealing heavy Slash-type damage. This attack has the highest critical rate out of any other attack. Do -not- rain on her parade.
Samarecarm
As above.
Amrita
As above.
Enduring Soul
The strongest power born from human will. Once per battle, this power allows Fusego to recover from KO instantly with full health, as if Samarecarm had been cast on him.
Solar Dance
Ameno-Uzume's unique healing skill, born of the dance with which she lured the Sun from her hiding place. As Diarahan, this spell also will cure any status ailment currently on the target and bestows a random stat boost (Tarukaja, Rakukaja, or Sukukaja). As its SP cost equals that of the ultimate healing spell Salvation, it cannot be used frequently.
[Story]
(A more detailed version of his bio's backstory. See further below for the actual scene with his Shadow.)
Inaba. A small little rural town tucked away in the flatlands of Japan, the only real rise in the land marked by the nearby Mt. Yasogami. It's one of those small country towns you read about now and then, where everybody knows each other's name and rumors spread like wildfire, only to be forgotten faster than smoke dissipates. Enter one special rumor that a few residents still haven't forgotten, and the incident that tied itself so closely to the fantastic story.
"Haven't you heard about that one, Fuse-kun? If you look into a TV that's turned off on a rainy night, at exactly midnight, the face of your soulmate will appear."
Well... a rumor like that isn't the sort of thing a middle-school kid can ignore. One rainy night in April, Fusego snuck downstairs just before midnight and parked himself in front of the family TV. And... sure enough, an image appeared. In a small town like Inaba, the boy recognized the girl on-screen immediately, and went to bed a few minutes later in a hazy euphoria.
The girl was senior Saki Konishi, the daughter of a local liquor store owner. The next day, she was found dead, the second victim in what had come to be regarded as a serial murder case. Suddenly, Inaba was on the map, and rumors started really flying about this "Midnight Channel".
A week later, Fusego worked up the courage to watch again, and found himself staring at Yukiko Amagi in one of the more... bizarre programming segments he'd seen. The same Yukiko who had vanished a few days before. Needless to say, her safe return was a serious comfort to the boy, but the connection was obvious... and while not involved in the group of high-schoolers who eventually cracked the case and won through, he followed it through the Midnight Channel until its final mysterious disappearance late in December when the murderer was finally exposed and brought to heel.
Two years later saw Fusego admitted as a first-year to Yasogami High, where without knowing it he formed friendships with three of the ones who had ended the serial murder case. Inaba had largely forgotten after the case was closed, and even the Midnight Channel was barely whispered anymore, but Fusego remained curious about just what had happened. The killer certainly refused to reveal any details besides "I did it", after all. And the idea that the Midnight Channel was somehow connected, despite not having been on for nearly two years (he'd checked many times), was a tantalizing hint of something amazing...
He had no idea how amazing, however, until he decided to browse some electronics at Junes one day and caught sight of Teddie, the boy who could turn every female head at school (and about a third of the male ones, or so rumor had it), stepping boldly out of a TV, a huge grin on his face as he practically tackled the manager's son Yosuke.
The idea of another world, one that the Midnight Channel had given him a glimpse into and that Teddie apparently spent a lot of time in, was too tantalizing for words. He began to wonder... and one rainy, misty night, he reached out and found his hand passed through the TV.
... the understandable utter shock rather quickly sent his legs wobbling and the boy tumbling completely into the TV screen, waking with a heavy pain in one shoulder to find himself in something roughly approximating a circus tent. And then he noticed the boy across from him. Aside from a garish wig and clown makeup, the other boy looked remarkably like Fusego himself.
Then he began to speak, and, well... let's leave that conversation for another time. Suffice to say Fusego was about to make a fist and start swinging before another voice cut in on them... a bizarre bear-like creature wobbling towards them.
The sight was... sufficiently distracting, and only got more so when the creature pulled off its head to reveal Teddie peering out, looking horribly worried as he hurried to Fusego's side and hushed him. The other boy... as Teddie explained it, was Fusego's "Shadow". Everything Fusego had ever suppressed about himself... every time he looked away from reality and pretended everything was fine... The part of Fusego that he denied existed and wished wasn't real was standing before him... and either he'd have to accept it, or it would go berserk and attack the original.
Fusego, naturally, was appalled by the idea of this creature being part of him... but as he went to deny it, Teddie moved in front of him, a pair of claws at the ready. Fusego stared... and then lowered his head, as he understood Teddie was ready and willing to fight to protect him.
"... so, in the end I'm really like this, huh? ... yeah. I guess we are... right, me?"
The Shadow finally cracked a smile, and nodded... and a bright, shining form took its place, one that soon dissipated and left a single card fluttering down into Fusego's hands. Teddie congratulated him, and started explaining all about the "Persona" that he'd just awakened within himself... but Fusego only half-heard a few sentences before passing out.
He woke up a while later, laying on his own bed with Teddie and a very familiar-looking idol tending to him. As he relaxed, Teddie and Rise started explaining all about what had happened two years ago. When all was said and done, Teddie remained to watch over Fusego, talking late into the night with him about Mayonaka... the world he'd stumbled into.
There was quite a lot to take in, but a few more trips into the world and Fusego took things in stride, getting to know his Persona a lot better. There was a definite change in his personality too, the goofy class clown starting to knuckle down and get much more serious and caring.
Of course, as time passes, it brings new rumors... like the rumor told by a girl visiting from a nearby city about the mysterious TV program shown on rainy nights... rumors that Fusego, as a new Persona user and just generally curious, couldn't help but hop the next train to spend summer vacation investigating...
[Disregard the following for now, severe WIP]
[Meeting the True Self]
Fusego rubbed his shoulder as he looked up at the other boy. "... what's with the clown suit?"
The boy grinned. "... like it? It's the perfect get-up for a guy like me, huh?"
Fusego got up, still dizzy. "... the hell? What's that got to do with me? Who the heck do clown shoes even go with, anyway...?"
The boy's grin got bigger. "Well, you of course. Isn't it obvious? I'm you... you're me... and between all those crazy jokes I crack whenever you see a frowning face, what else would better suit me than a clown?"
Fusego... decided he must be dreaming at this point. "I'm not a clown. So what if I like making people happy? That doesn't make me a clown, that makes me a nice guy."
The boy slapped his knee. "A nice guy? Not a clown? Yeah, that's what I'm always telling myself, all right. I gotta, so I don't start thinking about just how little good I'm really doing."
Fusego blanched. "... what are you talking about... of course I'm doing good things... I make people smile, damnit, what more do you want?"
The boy grinned back at him. "Exactly. It's so easy, isn't it? Just wander by some glum kid, crack a joke, get a little grin out of them, then move on... not even caring how quickly that smile's gone, or how little it does to fix what was really making them hurt... and hey, if I mess up, whoops, it's just Fuse being the class clown again, no real harm done, ne?"
Fusego shook his head. "That's... not true. I care about them, damnit! I want to make them happy!"
The boy shrugged. "Sure, but it's just so much easier to crack a joke, then pretend that solves everything... but hey, bandages fix everything, right? Never mind that Ayane-senpai caught a cold and can't play for a whole month, or that it's the anniversary of Yumi-senpai's father dying. Not that I really care what's really eating at them anyway. I just ask to be polite."
Fusego shook his fist. "Hey, shut the hell up, clown! That's not true! I care about what's hurting them!" He paused. "I mean... I just..."
The clown leered at him. "Yup, I care so much I don't even bother stopping to really fix things. I mean, sure, I could make them a lot happier by getting to know them, understanding what made them cry... but that's just so hard." He smirked. "Way easier to just keep on being the class clown, and pretending my stupid jokes and sweets fix everything that's ever been wrong with this world."
Fusego took a step towards the other boy, raising his fist. "I said to shut the hell up, dumbass! Who the hell do you even think you are? That's not who I am... I want to help, I... I just..."
The boy smirked, shoving Fusego roughly back. "Still in denial, huh? But then again, if I really wanted to help, I'd have to get close to them... get to know them... now that wouldn't be any good at all, would it...? Way better to just stick my fingers in my ears and pretend everything's sunshine and rainbows with the world." He grinned. "... it's not like I really want to help anyway. I just get a charge out of seeing someone smile and pretending I just pulled them out of some horrible depression..." He pointed. "Right, me?"
Fusego got to his feet, running towards the other now. "Sh-shut up! I'm not-"
"Hold up!" The oncoming melee suddenly stopped as something that looked an awful lot like the Junes mascot waddled quickly up to them. "Sorry I'm late... Rise-chan and me haven't had to do this in a long while..." He looked between the two boys. "Fuse-kun, you have to accept it."
Fusego stared. "A-accept? Accept what? That pack of lies this jerk keeps using my face to spout?"
The bear pulled off his head, that familiar blonde head peeking out. "Fuse-kun... I know it's hard, but... this is your Shadow." He shook his head. "... everyone has one. Even guys like me and Yosuke... Even if you don't want to admit it, there's a part of you that feels this way. That knows exactly what your Shadow is talking about..."
Fusego shook his head. "S-senpai... c'mon... give me more credit than this, I'm not like that!"
Teddie shook his head. "Everyone's got a part like this, Fuse-kun. But if you keep denying it like you have... it's gonna go berserk... It's not surprising, really. You've been saying to everyone all your life that it doesn't exist... and now you're telling it right to its face."
Fusego shook his head. "Senpai, I don't know what gave you this crazy idea, but that's... that's not me! I swear!" He locked eyes with the Shadow. "You hear that? You're not!"
Teddie shook his head. "... I had a feeling this was gonna happen," he murmured, putting the bear head back on. "Maybe I shoulda told Yosuke..." He moved suddenly between Fusego and his Shadow, raising a claw. "Don't worry, Fuse-kun, I'll keep you safe myself."
The Shadow leered at the bear, black clouds starting to collect around him as he reared, a dark form starting to envelop him. "Stop using that damn nickname, you idiot!"
Teddie seemed taken aback. "... you don't... like that name? B-but that's what everyone introduces you by... you introduced yourself like that when we met, didn't you?"
Fusego took in the scene before him, shivering. "... Senpai... you'd fight something that dangerous for me?" He paused, and then lowered his head. "... yeah, he's right... I really do hate that nickname... but people always got a laugh out of it, so I let 'em..."
The other two paused, and Fusego looked up. "I just... hate rocking the boat, y'know? This town passes rumors fast; I piss off the wrong person and suddenly nobody wants to even look at me anymore..." He sighed.
The Shadow nodded. "Pretty stupid thing to be afraid of, huh?"
Fusego arched an eyebrow. "... yeah, I know that. But it's an excuse. Lets me pretend nothing gets me down. And that way, well... I get to act like I'm always happy. And then I can cheer people up more."
Fusego looked up at the Shadow looming over them both. "... but you're right... I know I'm basically just slapping on a bandage and hoping for the best... Clowning around gets a laugh out of people, but it's just a single bolt in a moonless night..." He shook his head. "... I never really talk with them... never get to know them... so I can never really give them any kind of real joy..."
Teddie looked at him, nodding slowly. "Fuse-kun..."
Fusego winced. "... like that stupid nickname... Fuse's a girl's name, a famous priestess who fought demons... I'm neither of those things..." He sighed. "I... really do want to help them. That's a genuine emotion. But I'm..." He closed his eyes.
The Shadow was shrinking now, back towards its original form. "But I'm scared," he continued, walking towards Fusego now. "I don't want to really get close to them, even if that's what it takes..."
Fusego shook his head. "... you really do know me too well," he muttered. "You're right... I'm scared of getting close to people. Scared of knowing just how deep their hurt runs... I've had tons of friends practically since I was born, I live in a great town, my parents always take care of me... hell, I don't even think I've ever really been sick a day in my life." He paused. "... I've got no idea what real sorrow is like... and I'm scared to find out... scared it'll break me..."
The Shadow nodded, clown outfit starting to fade back into his training clothes. "And then I won't be able to go around helping people smile... I can't risk burning myself out..."
Fusego shook his head. "... pretty pathetic excuse to tell myself, huh? I'm... just a class clown, too scared to get close enough to really make a difference... too scared to let myself actually feel sad about someone..." He looked up. "You really do know me too well, jerk..."
The Shadow laughed. "Well, duh. I'm you, after all..."
Fusego nodded, and raised his fists. "... still... kinda want to see what you're made out of..."
The Shadow grinned, and raised his own. "Just keep in mind, I've seen all of those movies you borrowed from Chie-san too..."
The two lunged at each other, fists flying... eventually leaving them both collapsed on their backs, sighing. "... yeah..." Fusego murmured. "You know me way too damn well... even got me to admit all the stuff I'd never admit to anyone... got me to admit it to Senpai of all people..." He sighed. "... you're me, all right..."
The Shadow smiled, a warm light shining as he rose into the air... the form of a beautiful, red-feathered bird forming above the boy. "Thou art I... I am thou..." the bird whispered quietly, before vanishing, a single card emblazoned with a shining, smiling sun falling into his hands.
Teddie smiled as he finally came over. "Congratulations, Fusego-kun," he said quietly. "You did it... you've awakened your Persona..."
Fusego's eyes were already closing, worn out. "... Ted-senpai... promise you won't tell anyone else about what my Shadow said?" he murmured. "I'm going to face that fear... start really helping people be happy instead of just patching them up with jokes and sweets... but it's something I want to face on my own... okay?"
Teddie smiled. "Just get some rest. Rise-chan and I will tell you all about it later, promise."
Fusego nodded, and his eyes drifted to the card in his hands as he fell asleep. "... Persona... huh..."
