The arcana is the means by which all is revealed...

[thanabro]

Characters: Ryoji and anyone who was interested in encountering him during the Witch Kiss mini-event.
Setting: May 9th, starting from floor 28 and working its way down.
Format: I'm starting off with prose but either works for me.
Summary: From the moment man devoured the fruit of knowledge, he sealed his fate.
Warning: Madoka spoilers? Persona 3 spoilers definitely. Also being creepy as hell, that's a warning too.



After that little encounter, Ryoji wandered down the stairs. He needed to find people, and tell them, and ease their pain. It was a simple task, but he knew he would meet resistance, like he did before.

No matter. He stopped at the twenty sixth floor to gaze into the morgue briefly, a small smile on his face. These people had stopped hurting. They were at peace. After a few moments of this, he turned and headed back down the stairs, going towards the media floor and then, perhaps, the lounge on the fourth floor. Failing that, he would head to the dorms.

Hopefully not, though. Bringing people to peace in their beds... while fitting, it would cause too much alarm.

Comments

[chaos_that_crawls]

"... That was the morgue, wasn't it?"

A tall man wearing a clean, dark, pinstripe suit with a red scarf around his neck stands looking at Ryoji. His smile is slightly brighter than the boy who looked at the morgue during that one, brief moment. Not too many people would look into a morgue and smile. It piqued the man's interest.

[thanabro]

He turns, and smiles a bit wider, putting a hand to his scarf.

"It was. It's nice and quiet there... knowing that the people there are at peace."

Rest... that's what they needed. It was a mercy for them.

[chaos_that_crawls]

"... Peace?"

Nyarlathotep's face feigns gentle curiosity. He scratches his chin a little, thinking on the response he was just given.

"What makes you think they're at peace?"

[thanabro]

"Because they're not hurting anymore. If they're not alive, then they can't suffer."

He tilts his head a little, curious as to why the question was asked.

[chaos_that_crawls]

"Hm. The soul in stasis would never have to be exposed to anything that would harm it. Utter peace. Maybe."

Nyarlathotep smiles. He understands that's not true. He can guarantee that it's not true. At least, that's the case concerning the souls he's able to keep. There is no peace to be found in death. If there is no point in living, then there is only regret in having lived after death. That is eternal suffering.

"If that's true, then to kill others is equivalent to showing mercy. Don't you think?"

[thanabro]

"Some people might not agree, but yes. I think so."

He laughs lightly. He likes this man. There's just something about him.

"Then again, if anyone would think so, it would be me. Death is more than just a concept for me."

[chaos_that_crawls]

"Well, death is a subject that not many people would like to dwell over. ... It's funny how people can easily forget what's around them everyday. Everybody dies naturally. Or at the hands of others."

[thanabro]

"It's the most natural thing in the world. If there is life, there has to be death. And yet... people close their eyes to it. Some do, anyway. Recently, more and more people have been calling for the death of everything."

Floor 25;

[pitiedthefool]

Yu, understandably, was still dealing with his own demons as he walked through the (for now) peaceful meadow. It was a place where he could be at rest, even with the war inside him raging onward and his heart ached. Not just because of the nightmare he'd awakened from recently, not because of the confusion caused by being embraced by the familiar goddess of death not too long ago and offered respite as his emotions sorted themselves out, but because the sting of betrayal was one he'd hoped to never feel again.

Yet there it was, and even the peace nature always brought to his heart didn't alleviate it. He was only glad that this time, it was never as close nor strong as the trust with Adachi that the other had forsook and reversed. In fact, he was close to discarding the link altogether and moving on when he heard footsteps. Looking up, he couldn't help but pause.

Izanagi-no-Okami was already bristling...

"...Ryoji-san?"

[thanabro]

Ryoji took a few steps towards Yu. There was something about him that made him bristle. So full of life... so different from himself. He would end that light, snuff it out, and then the boy could rest. He seemed like he had been through a lot. It would be his gift to him.

"I'm glad I ran into you, Yu. You seem tired." He had no weapon - he needed none. Death would come to him whether by sword or by spell, but it would be there for him.

[pitiedthefool]

Yu raised an eyebrow, rather perplexed by the way Ryoji was carrying himself. He doesn't know the other well, but there was something about the air that tasted of a farewell. One that his "true self" was far too familiar with. Something was...

"...Everyone is, Ryoji. Of many things." The nightmare was one, the tower was another. There were many things he was sick of, that he sought the truth to. Yet there was something about the way he said it...

That light of life, of hope, burned brighter in his soul as though it were called upon. The sensation nearly caused his balance to be lost as his eyes narrowed. He's on edge, because he can nearly taste it- the same atmosphere he felt every time Death was near damn those chests. "Though it may not be the same tired you're talking about."

[thanabro]

"It's a shame, really, that people want to fight so hard. The answer is easy. They just need to reach out and take it." The presence of Death seems to grow as Thanatos is pushed up to the surface, ready to be summoned - though something's wrong. The persona itself seems resistant. This is not what his master is usually like - he will follow orders, but he knows it's wrong.

"Please. You deserve rest. Everyone here does. Why don't you let me give it to you? It won't hurt much, I promise." And he means it. He doesn't want anyone to suffer. He'll make it as painless as he can.

[pitiedthefool]

"What do you mean?"

Though he feels as though he knows the answer already. That it was why he felt a hand on his wrist, trying to guide him to lifting his hand when-

s̷̖̞̊ͣͤ͜ṵ̧͎̩ͬ̊ͣ̽ͯͅṙ̡̙̭̻v̢͚͍̉̐̌ͩ̈́̓́i̵̡͔̬̯̎̂̈́ͯ̓͜v̼̹͍̘͔̄ͬ͆̓ͯ̓̑͝͠ĕ̑̋̓̈́̓҉̧̹̙̫̹͈.̢̼̣̺̩̻̊ͫ̈́̚ͅ.̶̴̠̲̙̥̜̱̝̬̾̐̾͟.̶͎̭͎̲͙͎ͫ̈́̊͐ͦ̒͘

Seeing Nanako in danger, hearing Nanatame's twisted, shadow-like voice coming from Kunino-sagiri, desperately trying to figure out a way to counteract the attacks and atmosphere changes, seeing his friends one-by-one losing control of themselves for a time... Being so close to death so many times, how had they-?

s̷̖̞̊ͣͤ͜ṵ̧͎̩ͬ̊ͣ̽ͯͅṙ̡̙̭̻v̢͚͍̉̐̌ͩ̈́̓́i̵̡͔̬̯̎̂̈́ͯ̓͜v̼̹͍̘͔̄ͬ͆̓ͯ̓̑͝͠ĕ̑̋̓̈́̓҉̧̹̙̫̹͈.̢̼̣̺̩̻̊ͫ̈́̚ͅ.̶̴̠̲̙̥̜̱̝̬̾̐̾͟.̶͎̭͎̲͙͎ͫ̈́̊͐ͦ̒͘

Seeing them all fade one by one, even those who hadn't... been in Inaba before. Minako, Minami, both Minatos and Strega, Sora, Shinjiro, Xion, Michel, the person before him now, even Izanami... and he hadn't... hadn't been able to...

S̥̯̮̙̤̤ͣ̅͋́̀ͅU̧̝̼̘̙̼̣͉̔̆͆̅̃͢R̶̰͎͔̩̲̬̫̐ͧͪͯ̕͝V̦̬̮͔̄̈́̏I͑҉̵̣͓̱̺V̴̧͍͓͈͉̝̈́͑̀͑̊E̶̵̡͕͎̺̪̭̐͊

He nearly chose to let him when the quiet voice reached him. That's right. It was all a nightmare, now- no matter what the darker voices in his heart said, what his Shadow would probably say if it had the chance. His eyes narrowed, fist clenching over his heart - when had his hand reached up there? - as he opened his eyes. He would be letting all of those both back home and here down if he fell again so soon.

"...'It's too early yet for you to sleep.'" For a brief moment, his eyes flash pale blue as Izanagi-no-Okami is begging him to let him out. He can feel the presence, feel the paper of the card in his hand.

Crush it... Crush thy mask and call forth what should be free...

He was tired, drained from the nightmare, but he wouldn't let another be lost to a delusion. The card was glowing in his hand. "...This isn't like you, Ryoji. What's going on?"

[thanabro]

He took a step back from the boy and the glowing card. It almost hurt to be near him, the overwhelming presence of Life coming from him. Why couldn't he see? Why couldn't he just do the sensible thing? He didn't want to hurt him more than he had to. He didn't want to cause anyone pain.

"What's going on? I just realized what I should have realized all along. I just want to help people. Please... let me help you. You seem so weary. Carrying someone with all those years in your soul... I just want to ease your pain."

His voice, his expression, he genuinely wanted to help the other. He wanted his friend to not hurt. He wanted his pain to cease. He just wanted to do the right thing. Why couldn't people see that?

[pitiedthefool]

It wasn't that he could not see, could not hear. In fact, his eyes were fine. His Orb of Sight granted him that, as did Izanagi's wisdom and experience. He never saw his power as a burden to wear him down, but an opportunity to help make things right. Which is what he'd done for Izanagi and Izanami, however unintentional it might have been.

"If anything, it is what these bonds have taught me: There is no rest for a weary soul who finds life too painful and has lost the will to live." Why couldn't Ryoji see it, why was peaceful death suddenly lacking in insight for the counterpart Life offered? His worry grew for his friend's soul.

'What happened to you, Ryoji?'

"One who falls into despair, one who succumbs to the emptiness the void offers, one who seeks the hope that had been stolen..." he muttered, his voice becoming guarded by the bright flame shining in his heart, nearly echoing the pain and lessons he'd endured when learning how to appreciate the finite time all humans have been given. Something he was not willing to let go so easily again. "Izanami didn't find her peace beyond death. I can see it in her eyes, the pain she has now."

He held out the World in his hand, the static threatening to overwhelm it just from Death's presence. What had been born from their connected hearts reaching his in the face of the end he surely would have been welcomed by if they hadn't. Maybe it even shows over him for a brief second- he doesn't know.

What he does know is that this wasn't the same Ryoji speaking to him, who had wanted to kill those who killed his sister from another reality.

"I once heard a 'fairy tale' of a soul who waited at the ends of the world, using himself to act as a seal for a world that had lost the joy of living. I'm not about to lose sight of that Hope again." Yu reached out to him, offering his hand in a last-ditch attempt to reason with the other. "Let me help you find it, too."

[thanabro]

He took more steps backwards. Why was this painful? He didn't understand. He just wanted to help usher in a world that didn't hurt, that didn't want, that didn't need. He was trying to give people what they wanted.

Something flickered in his eyes - pain, sadness, fear. He never wanted anyone to hurt again. He just wanted to do the right thing. He wanted to help people.

And then that last story... the words hit him and he froze. A soul at the end of the world... one who held together the edges of the world to keep it whole for those who he cared about.

"I was supposed to die a long time ago. Please. You both have long lives ahead of you. Don't waste them by throwing away second chances." His voice was quiet, halting, as he spoke, suddenly unsure.

He shook, pulling his arms around himself as if he were cold. "The Seal... that's... it worked. I'm holding it together." Ryoji's gaze dropped to the floor, going distant. Hope... he'd almost forgotten about it, with everything that had been going on. "But I just want to keep people safe. I want to help them. If dying helps them..."

[pitiedthefool]

The light of awakening in midst of the fog of lies always was painful for those lost to the shadows of themselves. Hurt Izanami, hurt Izanagi, hurt him as he helped the others face the hidden aspects of themselves.

He doesn't lower his hand, keeping the World so close to his heart in the other. He could hear their voices, wishing for the strength to face life's hardships. They didn't want to die. Their desire for the choice needed to be heard by Izanami once before, and needed to be heard by this harbinger of Death as well.

"Sou-da na. It has worked, and the me from your reality is probably as grateful for your action as I am for another. If you hadn't, that me wouldn't have made the friends I have...learned what it's like to live to the fullest." His voice trails for a brief moment. Ryoji's still in there, he could tell by the way he reacted to the story. There was still hope for reaching out to him...

"Life may be painful, and sometimes... reality can be suffocating. Demo, that doesn't mean that there isn't joy and happiness. How can we know it without knowing sadness? How can we know hope when we have never felt despair?" Yu shook his head. "-Dying does not always ensure peace. Sometimes, all it does is trap the soul in eternal punishment.

"Ryoji, I know you want to help them; you're a kind soul. But, killing only brings more pain. For them and those left behind."

media room

[complementing]

[While she doesn't have as strong of a bond with the Ryoji here at Animus as compared to her own Ryoji, she could still sense him through her connection to Thanatos. So when she senses him now, she glances up, wanting to talk.

But something is wrong.]

...Ryoji?

[thanabro]

[... Minako. He steps towards her, carefully, hands folded behind his back. He's smiling a little, though it's guarded a bit.]

You're back. Minako... it's good to see you.

[He reaches out to her as he gets close, going to put his hand on her shoulder.]

You look tired. You should rest.

[complementing]

[She watches him warily, a frown going over her face as she sits up to see him better.]

Are you oka--

[And then she is breathless, nauseous, her vision swimming. The weight on her shoulder becomes a overwhelming pressure that threatens darkness, and it's only when she pitches forward in a convulsion, pulling away from his hand, does it stop long enough for her to get her bearings again.

Her voice is reduced to a croak as she speaks.]

I was fine before that happened...what is going on, Ryoji?

[thanabro]

[He reaches forward again, trying to hold her and embrace her.]

Nothing. I just want to help. I just want to make things easier for you. Please... let me help you rest.

[He doesn't know what to do, aside from to help her. That's just all he wants.]

[complementing]

[Minako backs away, not needing to experience that excruciating, suffocating twist of her insides again to know that something is very, very off about Ryoji, and she was going to be very, very dead again if she lets him get his arms around her.

She needs to talk him down long enough to knock him out and figure out what's wrong with him, now.]

I know you do. I know you care about me very much, and I'm so grateful every day for it. But whatever you did to me just now, it hurt more than it helped.

[thanabro]

It won't hurt very long, Minako. I promise I'll make it quick. I just want you to rest. That way you won't have to hurt anymore at all. Please, let me help you.

[It's the only thing he can think of. The only thing on his mind. It repeats, over and over. 'Help her. Save her. Give her peace.']

[complementing]

Ryoji...I know you came from a different world than me, but you must've realized, watching your brother and sister. We don't want to take the easy way out. We can't-- we don't want-- to rest just because it's easier, or because we hurt. Not when we have people to protect. We push through it.

...you have to push through whatever is making you like this too.

[thanabro]

I'm trying to protect you. I just want you to be all right. Why can't you understand that?

[He moves towards her again. He won't - no, he can't give up. He just needs to make it right.]