towerofanimus | (no subject)

[Ryoji is heading towards the forest level. He hasn't been able to find Minato (either of them), Minako, or Minami, and he's getting worried... but he also needs to find food. He has a flashlight in his hand and the other in his pocket, and the light keeps darting back and forth as he keeps startling at skittering noises.]

Dammit... stupid monsters...

[Oh. This will be interesting. She'll tip up her hat and blink as that flashlight manages to flash across her. Eyes being adjusted to the dark means that hurt.]

Excuse me, do you need some help?

Oh! Sorry. I'm just... trying to figure out if the forest is worth the risk right now. There's not a lot of food around, so I thought I might try hunting...

[Hunting with Megido spells and Hama spells isn't going to be effective, is it. :| ]

Hunting would probably be smart, but what about traps instead? Lure the animals to you. Much less dangerous.

[No. No, it's not. She could probably try a few of her stronger spells, but... Those probably won't help.]

True. I don't have experience with that but maybe if I dig a hole and put some leaves or something over it...

[It works in the movies, okay?]

I'd be careful about digging a hole with how this place works. Are you good with any distance weapons?

[That may give him an advantage unless he cane make snare traps.]

True... and no. I haven't really trained with any weapons. I can use some long-distance spells but I'm not sure they'd leave anything left of the animal...

[Should Izanami wander into the library, she may see a strange sight. She'll see an outline of a man sitting on a chair holding probably taking the location into consideration a book. His yellow eyes glow only faintly as he looks through the text. The darkness hardly bothers him. This was more or less his element, after all. Shadows. There was an abundance of shadows.]

Edited 2012-06-07 05:11 (UTC)

[Well, the glowing eyes may explain to a normal person how he might be able to read. Convenient, even if it's faint! So she will approach.]

Reading something interesting?

[Nyarlathotep isn't the only entity that can mask his identity. At the moment, he's not trying very hard to do so, but at the same time, he doesn't notice the fog around Izanami. He glances up at the "other man" and smiles before looking down at his own book.]

I'm just reviewing an old work of mine.

[Well, she's still keeping up the facade that she's human. For now. But she will also come closer and try to peer through the darkness at it.]

You wrote it? Must be strange seeing it here.

I was able to bring it here. Even at the end of the world, I'm glad I'm allowed these small luxuries.

[His eyes glance through the pages of the book "he" wrote. He silently mumbled the letters that formed the conspiracy nonsense lining the paper. A smile stretched across his lips.]

That must be nice, to have something like that. I didn't have much--just my clothes.

[Not a lie, actually. She really did only have clothes, but then, when you're a dead death goddess, do you truly need anything else?]

What's it about?

Hm.

[He scratched his chin while still smiling. How to explain that in the simplest terms? He wondered.]

In short, I suppose it's a book about the end of the world.

And were you right?

[She can't read it, not in the lack of lighting. And while she is definitely comfortable in the darkness herself, it's not Yomi and she can't read in the darkness.]

Yes. That's why I'm here. It's because I was right.

[That's somewhat of a lie. The "end of the world" he sought for wasn't caused by him or humans. It was something inexplicable. But he isn't one to not right the coattails of his past victories.]

You must be proud.

[She, one the other hand, is... Disappointed in the supposed destruction of Inaba. That it may be gone after she handed over humanity's fate to them is... Infuriating.]

All things are born. All things decay. All things die. I don't see why I should be "proud" of a natural occurrence.

But you must be proud that you were correct on the timing.

As I said, it was inevitable. The ones who brought about the end of my world were none other than humans. It was less of a prediction than it was... deciphering the inevitable. Fate.

[She narrows her eyes, just slightly.]

I thought that guy explained over the network that it was something outside the universe that ended everything.

[She wouldn't be her if she didn't pay attention to details.]

[Someone has stopped on floor thirteen, and he's not very subtle about that energy he's throwing off. But the white-haired man seems to be almost in contemplation as he speaks to himself.]

Someone hast constructed this place to the worship of the Endless... though the form of the place be strange. The inhabitants of this place hath gods, truly, but -

[He stops, and turns, staring directly at the approaching 'man'. The last being he ran into with power did not seem friendly despite his outwardly polite appearance, so he's on guard.]

- Who art thou?

[Ah, so someone seems to notice. She'll keep hands in her pockets, just smirking.]

I don't get to hear people speak like that all that often.

The ways of speaking hath changed since we were first awakened.

[This is definitely another Endless, or something close to it. Mami wasn't around so he was less hesitant to drop those sorts of things.]

Thou art clearly an Endless or something similar to them - and yet thou feel strange to us. Thou art not an Endless of the sort we are used to encountering. So we ask - what manner of Endless be you?

I am Izanami, a goddess of death.

[It's comforting, to hear that manner of speech. Even if only her husband uses it and she has long since adapted to more modern speech patterns.]

Izanami. Well met. We are Fou-Lu, though some know us as Ryong.

[He pauses for a moment, thinking over what she said.]

A goddess of death? We wert not aware that some Endless hath been summoned to rule over some aspect of the lifespan of the Fading Ones.

I was a creator goddess once. However, my own untimely death placed me in charge of Yomi, one of the underworlds. We take care of the things humans cannot.

[His eyes widen in shock. It's a bit hard to believe what she's saying.]

An Endless, slain? 'Tis difficult to believe... and yet we hath no reason to doubt thy words. We offer our condolences.

[He's not sure where the mortals go after they die. He doesn't really care. He's going to send them all there anyway.]

Cousin Izanami, what knowledge doth thou have of this place? We are but recently arrived.

[Guess who's already managed to make his way to the maze on floor eight? And guess who's already managed to get himself completely lost in there? It had taken him long enough to make his way down here, now he has no idea how to get himself out.

He now stands at a crossroads. Three paths, yet only one of them leads to the exit. That's how these things work, right?

~~Not so much fun when you're the one in a maze that changes every day, is it?~~]

[Oh, how perfect a spot for their reunion. All of the symbolism of being at a crossroads. There is no need to play pretend with Adachi, so when she approaches, she's already dropped the attendant act. That doesn't mean she won't start off playing nice, though.]

Well, well. This is a familiar scene for us, isn't it? Though a bit less metaphorical this time.

[The man blinks in surprise, whirling around to find... someone he doesn't seem to recognize. Not right away, at least. Inaba's not a very large town at all, most people there are familiar faces whether he knows them personally or not.]

H-huh...?

[Adachi, of course, hasn't quite caught up with Izanami or the others. He has yet to reveal himself or his intentions, to be defeated at the hands of a bunch of kids. So he doesn't quite get the metaphor this stranger's referring to.

Wait a second...]

Are you... You're from Inaba, aren't you? You're that kid who pumps the gas.

[It makes sense to see the attendant there, he supposes. If the world truly was destroyed, it only makes sense to run into other people he may know here in this Tower.]

That's right, you probably haven't figured it out yet.

[There's a chuckle now as mist--no, fog--begins to rise. But it just sticks low to the ground, probably only reaching their knees as she reaches up to grip the brim of her hat, the other hand shoved in her pocket.]

That's what made Narukami special, in a way. He figured it out.

[There's a chuckle as she takes a few slow steps closer.]

It's all right, though. I'm not expecting thanks or gratitude.

[He doesn't notice the fog initially, for his eyes are still fixed on Izanami.]

Narukami...?

[Why is this guy bringing up Dojima's nephew? Why here? And while he's at it, what hasn't Adachi figured out? What did Narukami figure out...? As far as the Brat Pack should be concerned, Namatame's the one responsible for all those murders. He's still safe, isn't he?

Adachi shakes his head. Calm down. He's probably reading too much into all this. Best to stay cool. One thing at a time.]

Gratitude...? What for? All those times you gave me gas?

[...There was probably a better way for him to phrase that question, and he seems to realize that after the words leave him. But oh well.]

For a little push I gave you.

[She doesn't move. She doesn't do anything visible. But she's smirking, and then, there's a tug, a nice, big tap to something. Hello, Magatsu Izanagi, she knows you're there. She knows because she awakened you.

And it's time that Adachi knew, as well.]

[A choked gasp escapes Tohru Adachi as the normally dormant Magatsu Izanagi starts to stir within him. He cups a hand to the side of his head to keep steady. What just happened? Magatsu Izanagi may act on instinct, but his power now rests in Adachi's hands. That power is now his, and his alone. So why...?]

Wh-What the hell did you just...?

[Then it hits him. His eyes go wide. It makes sense. That kid at the gas station was the first person Adachi had run into after a long cross-country drive, back when he first came to town. The first person he'd even heard about the Midnight Channel from. Hell, the first human contact he'd even had coming into town was a handshake from this guy.

...It was him. It was him this whole time.]

Edited 2012-06-07 06:36 (UTC)

Just a little push.

[She holds up both hands, palms out to show she's done. There's a smirk, though, as she watches Adachi begin to realize. The crossroads she mentioned, when they first met. That mist is curling around them still, seeming filled with an odd power.]

I've been terribly rude. Should I introduce myself?

[The mist has, indeed, started to rise, and now Adachi's noticed that as well. He swallows, his hand still resting on the side of his head.

Fog. Manipulation. What other tricks does this guy have up his sleeve?]

What are you?

[There's a shift. It's like, for a moment, the person before Adachi has been jarred sideways in reality. She exists, but has changed. For one, the clothes fit wrong now--a bit loose, as she's shorter, slimmer, more womanly. Because, well, she is a woman. Even her voice will change.]

I am Izanami.

[All Adachi does is stare, mouth hanging open. That's all he can really do at this point. This little "reunion" of theirs is not only unexpected, it's pretty messed up.

Finally, he crosses his arms, regarding her with a cool, even glare.]

Izanami, huh?

[He sounds skeptical, as if what he's really asking is, "Am I supposed to be impressed?" See, Adachi isn't exactly all that brushed up on Japanese mythology. It wasn't really until after acquiring Magatsu Izanagi that mythology started to play a role in shaping his life.]

Would you like a history lesson?

[It's a sincere offer, and she'll even gesture for him to take a seat if he so wishes. And for a moment, just a moment, she seems to shift again. Skin becomes decayed, eye sockets empty, arms skeletal--the very visage of death. But it's brief, and she's left smiling.

[Well. That was... unpleasant.

But as much as he'd love to get the hell out of here, there's something that compels him to stay. Speechless, he takes a step backwards, leaning against one of the labyrinth's walls and crossing his arms, glancing expectantly at her.]

[You don't know the half of it, Adachi. At least it was only a glimpse.]

Before this world existed, it was covered in mist and twin gods came into being. Together, they swirled the mists with a naginata--

[A familiar weapon, if he's paid any attention to the weapon his own Persona uses.]

--And the mists cleared, leaving the lands. The two gods wed, and the land of Nippon was born. Then they began having many other children. But when she gave birth to fire, the goddess was badly burned, and as such, had to descend to Yomi.

[Is that a hand, Adachi? Is it? slowly clawing its way up your leg? Not that you could likely see it, with how heavy the fog is.]

Her husband and brother came for her after murdering the child in grief, but it was too late. She could not leave. He refused to leave her, and so he lit a comb on fire in order to see better. And he was shocked by what he saw: the rotting corpse that was his wife. And so, to his own disgust, he ran. He was ashamed he had been too late.

[And there it is again, that flash of the woman as a rotting corpse. Except this time, perhaps, there's the flash of many skeletal, red hands surrounding her. But it's again gone in a brief flash. Though by now, it should be noted her eyes are red instead of gray.]

He sealed Yomi with a boulder, unable to face her. She begged to be taken from there, to not be left behind, perceiving her husband's reaction as one of rejection. When he refused, she said she would kill one thousand people a day until he came to her. He retorted that he would create fifteen thousand.

[She's walking closer now, slowly and steadily. The clothing seems to change, as well. A simple, white burial kimono, stylized around the neck.]

And so the long years began. Eventually, she calmed down and came to try to help humanity. But she did not understand those she only saw in death, and so created a way to see their innermost wants. And from there, she chose three representatives, giving them a power unimaginable.

[And it's not she comes to stand face to face to him. If he looks down, he may see those red-skeletal hands are gripping loosely onto the legs of his pants--he can't run, she won't let him. But that's all she's doing with them, for the moment.]

[Cool story, Izanami. No, really. That's a very captivating tale. It really grabs your attention.

Or maybe that's just the skeletal hands that have Adachi in their grasp, nearly driving him to panic though he dares not try to escape, apart from the occasional nervous twitch in his legs. He gets the feeling that struggling wouldn't work out very well for him in the long run.

Needless to say, by the end of her tale, she's got him pretty damned spooked. But something catches his attention: she chose three representatives... Narukami, Namatame, and Adachi.]

S-so that's it? That's why you decided to give me this power? To help save humanity?

[Rather, to help them towards their inevitable fate as nothing more than Shadows...?]

I wished to give them precisely what they desired. And I must admit, they were quite confusing. You humans, desiring to both bare your innermost selves and obscure that same self all at once.

[There's a chuckle there as she thinks about it. Is she truly so different, constantly obscuring her own form? Izanami just smirks at Adachi, though.]

You were chosen for your Emptiness.

[Emptiness, huh...? Well, he won't fault her for that judgment call.]

Sounds about right.

Then what about those other guys, huh? What makes them so goddamn special?

Edited 2012-06-12 08:56 (UTC)

Despair and Hope.

[A quick, concise answer. He deserves that much.]

[A week had passed and Demi was already getting tired of the state on the tower. It was...for a lack of better word, almost too familiar from his stay in the Vortex World. He had no problems surviving and finding things to salvage on his own, considering his half-demonic nature allowed him to digest more than just human food. The problem was everyone else. As much as the demonic world was all about who survived the strongest, he could only remember Futomimi's and then...Alcor's words about helping others. Hope for the world. He sighed. While he had never asked for them, he wasn't afraid of that burden either. He continued to walk along the tower, checking to make sure no one was getting harmed by the monsters who had decided to go out more in force as the days went by.

Ahhh...this person was new. He didn't recognize him, but the outfit of a gas attendant were hard to miss. He gave him a curious glance until Pixie spoke up.]

Hey Hitoshura! There's something about him...well apart from how good looking he is!

[Pixie. Pixie why...were you sighing dreamily that was a bit unnerving.]

Edited 2012-06-09 07:47 (UTC)

--Oh.

_{[There's not much sound at all beyond that lonely 'oh,' as Kohaku stops to warily watch the person she'd nearly missed drawing near. Empty gray eyes, that seemed to drag what little light remained into them.. well, maybe it's nothing as strange as her own. Once upon a time, she'd been self conscious about that bright yellow.

She'd long let go things like self-consciousness.]}

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/Readies popcorn?

/shares ice cream

/Nom!!!

/cuddles

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