"orerines"

[igiko]

title. "Orerines"
canon. Persona 3, Tales of Legendia
summary. Yukari finds herself back in Vatheon and in an enlightening conversation with Shirley.
notes. (sob) I'm sorry for the excessive focus on Walter. I'll make it up in future parts; promise.

Shirley is a nice girl, thinks Yukari. In all the weeks Yukari has known her - even if they've only interacted twice in that time period - she's been nothing short of supportive with no shortage of kind words to dispense. It shocks her, then, that a sweet girl like Shirley would be acquainted with the jerk face by the name of -

"You know Walter?" asks Yukari, eyebrows furrowing and mouth more agape than she'd prefer it to be.

"Yes," says Shirley, inclining her head to the side, "you've met him?"

Yukari snorts. "More like experienced him." She pauses, realizing that she doesn't know where Shirley stands with Walter. "Sorry. He's . . . not a friend by any chance, is he?"

"Oh, no. Walter doesn't see it that way."

"So you want to be friends with him?" At Shirley's nod, Yukari stares. "He's not exactly the friendly type. Though you must know that already, huh?"

With a faint scowl, Shirley folds her hands together and looks down. "He isn't the most sociable person, but I believe Walter is capable of befriending others. The villagers back home spoke so highly of him."

Yukari can't imagine anybody having good things to say about a guy like Walter - but then again, here's Shirley defending him and doing just that, so maybe it's really just her with whom the jerk has issues. "Hey, can I ask you a question?"

"Yes?"

"What's 'Orerines'?"

Shirley almost looks disappointed, and Yukari can't fathom why. "Did Walter call you that?"

"Yeah. He wouldn't tell me why."

"I see . . . Orerines means 'people of the land.' It's the word we use for those who live on the land, as opposed to the water."

Yukari doesn't quite follow, though she catches onto the "we" that indicates Shirley is the same as Walter in some form. "So you're saying that you two live in the water?"

Shirley nods. "We're certainly capable of it. We are called the Ferines."

Taking a brief moment to mull the new information over, Yukari begins to understand where Walter's animosity comes from, if Shirley is telling the truth. It's an awkward revelation that, this whole time, she's been enduring discrimination without realizing it. The injustice of the situation rubs her the wrong way, and she purses her lips.

"Thanks for telling me." Clenching her fists, she lets out an aggravated sigh. "So he doesn't like me, because I'm a 'person of the land.' Do I have that right?"

Apparently Yukari does, since Shirley moves in with the most apologetic look that doesn't belong on her face. "I'll talk to him. It's hard to say who is and isn't truly Orerines - Vatheon isn't our world, after all. Walter doesn't trust others very easily. I'm certain he doesn't have anything personal against you."

It sounds like a load of excuses - and it is personal - but Yukari listens out of deference to Shirley. Although she doesn't have much faith in Shirley's promised talk with Walter, any attempt to make the jerk less so around her is welcome. "Thanks again. So . . . I can't change where I'm able to live, but is there anything else I can do so that he's not walking away from me after ten seconds?"

Yukari has no interest in pursuing a lengthy conversation with Walter; however, she still holds to the hope that, if he would at least tolerate one without being hostile, they might reach an understanding and some sort of truce. Arguing with him at every turn had grown stale months ago. If she can, she'd like to sit down and talk things out, and then maybe they'd be able to have an interesting discussion on something clear for once.

Despite the seriousness of Yukari's question, Shirley gives a small smile. "Oh, that's not because you're Orerines. Walter doesn't do so well with extended conversation. He's rather shy."

"'Shy' isn't the word I'd use . . . ," says Yukari, sighing. "Good to know, I guess."

"I'll talk to him tonight. Is that okay?"

"More than okay!" The sooner they resolve this mess, the better. Yukari makes a mental note to do something nice for Shirley in the near future, whether or not the attempt to make Walter more friendly succeeds.

"Then it's decided. And . . . thank you, Yukari," says Shirley, bowing.

Yukari watches the gesture with wide eyes. "What for?"

"For giving Walter a chance. I know he isn't the easiest person to be around. It's something he and I have been working on." The wistfulness of Shirley's tone suggests that it's more complicated than she makes it sound. "I hope that, one day, Walter will come to appreciate the time and effort you've given him."

The jerk's sucked far too much time and effort out of her, if Shirley were to ask Yukari. In the end, she only says, " . . . Yeah. Me, too."