towerofanimus | ⚔ 001

[And guess. Just guess who ends up showing up a few levels into the tower. At first Shinji isn't sure if his mind isn't playing tricks, but that sure as hell is Aki.

A thousand things run into his mind - should he ask what world he's from, is he dead over there, oh hell he's going to have a lot of explaining to do soon but you know what?

Violence wins out in the end. It was their best way of communicating, after all. Without warning he readies a hand and punches him on the shoulder.]

You're late, asshole.

[He missed you.]

[Oh, he would know that voice anywhere. So many questions already, and he can't think of where to begin. A reaction like that, is he dead too, now?

But that can wait. He's never been the type to start with the heavy stuff - or address it at all, really, but in this case, it'll be unavoidable.

He's happy to see Shinji again no matter the circumstances, so he just turns, grins, and goes for a shoulder punch of his own.]

Who the hell put you on the welcoming committee?

[He missed you too.]

[Oww. Goddammit, Aki still packs a hell of a punch and Shinji winces for a second from the impact. You reap what you sow, bro. His eyes dart to the other teen's arm for a second, making sure that the guy has the SEES headband on his arm - it's a sign as any on what side he's on. After what happened with Ken...granted if Aki had been in Strega that would have just earned him a full-scale beating to punch some sense into him.

Nothing like that today. It was finally hitting him that Aki was here, and despite everything...grinned.]

Tch. Dumbass. You really think I'd sign up for a welcoming committee?

[He'd been signed up for the welcoming committee. Minako had insisted.

...of course that meant he'd need to ask him a few questions regarding that soon. They could wait.]

You ate your oatmeal yet?

Edited 2012-06-29 19:34 (UTC)

[Akihiko laughs at first. Good question. It's a matter of who made him do it. But that doesn't need to be said.]

Guess there really is no getting out of that, huh? [He grimaces. Oatmeal. Ew.] Where is it?

[Yeah that does not need to be said at all unless you want more scowling and punches to the elbow upgraded to punches in the chest and/or face.]

Unless you feel like vomiting everything else you eat. Down in the cafeteria, Level one. We can take the long way or use the elevator.

[A pause.]

...how much of your protein crap d'you end up with in your trunk?

[YES. HE TOTALLY WENT THERE. And...you know...he was going at this like he'd always been here before. And in an odd way...it kinda felt nice.

Tch. He had been growing way too soft. Dammit.]

[IT IS NOT CRAP, ASSHOLE.]

[His tone is half teasing, half serious.] Plenty, if you want some. Let's take the long way.

[In the most deadpan of tones and very serious;]

No.

You ain't putting that shit on anything I'm eating.

[But alright, the long, normal tour. Down to floor 38 they pass, then 37th. Shinji ignores the clawing sounds in the pitch black darkness that isn't the staircase.] Electrical power came back on this Monday. We've been dealing all month without power, or food for that matter. [Going to floor 36...he should warn Aki about what's to come and the fact the stone steps are starting to give away as they go down..]

Next few levels sap away all your powers and your Persona. All you got is your fists, so don't do anything stupid. Watch where you step.

[What, you mean ask where he's from or anything like that? Pffft...nah.]

Edited 2012-07-02 22:58 (UTC)

[ Ryoji is just wandering about after the power's returned and everyone's collars have been changed, because why not? Exploring is kind of fun, and it's not like the monsters here are entirely dangerous for him...

But he's just turning a corner when he sees a familiar person and grins, lifting his arm and waving. ]

I didn't expect to see you here, Sanada-senpai!

[See Minato.

See Minato walking along this corridor ahead of you, his back facing you. In his hand is his sword, while his evoker's sheathed for now.

Now what?]

[...It's a good thing he's already seen Shinji alive.]

Arisato.

[Minato pause at that familiar voice. He turns around and see Akihiko, his senpai. His senpai who recognised him, not Minako.

Judging from his reaction, Akihiko must be from his world, not the other Minato's.]

...Senpai.

[Understatement of the century.

But with Mochizuki being so cheerful, Akihiko can't tell if he remembers being Death or not - even he had been able to tell that remembering had made him do a 180 for personality. Better to act like he doesn't, because if not, it's not his place to tell him.]

Same to you, Mochizuki.

[Arisato isn't Shinji, what do you even say....]

How are you?

I'm doing well. [Better than some people he knows.] ...Did you just arrive here?

[Yeah, yeah. Only problem with your BFF being a cook.]

At least I missed that. Up ahead, what makes it bad?

Yeah. Only people I've seen have been you, Shinji, and Mochizuki.

[He just shrugs, holding on to his axe a little tighter.]

Apart from monsters wanting to kill you? You can't call on your Persona makes it more dangerous. If you start running off I'm gonna smack you on the head.

[Because he cares. In his own way. Also you keep doing that anyway HE KNOWS YOU.

Without waiting for his confirmation, Shinji starts them down on their few levels down without any of their powers. It's done mostly in silence and Aki might feel a strange emptiness as they go on. Like a part of him is just...completely silenced.]

We're not the only ones here. Ken and some people from Strega, too. [He let that sinks in, before he explains about the different worlds.]

[ He laughs a little and then proceeds to ramble a bit. ]

It is pretty weird all the different people who turn up here, huh? I've even met someone who looks just like me but is actually siblings with Minato and Minako where he's from! [ Nope, he has no sense of easing someone into things, does he? ]

But did you just get here?

[Minako is turning a corner in the hallway, intending to head down to the music room when she catches sight of a familiar crop of silver hair. She blinks, takes a moment to access the teen's profile, then charges at him.]

Does Shinji-- er, does Aragaki-senpai know you're here?

[SLOW DOWN CRAZY SLOW DOWN

This must be who Minato and Shinji were talking about.]

I've seen him already, yeah.

[None whatsoever! No wonder he's bffs with Junpei.]

Pretty much, yeah.

[And just like that, Caesar's gone. It's lonely, strangely so, something he never thought he'd feel. But there's no time to worry about that right now. He keeps focused on what's going on around him, trying to learn the layouts of the floors and at the same time keep an eye out for monsters.]

Is that all?

[And so they go quietly for the next few until they reach level 30, and their persona can be heard once again. Unfortunately, that is also the level where they can hear monsters scattering off in the corner, should they step off...

Or you know, the steps give way and they land right in the middle of a group.]

...Dammit. Why'd it have to do that now. These ain't like the Shadows we know. Better get back to the end of the unbroken staircase before the really big ones notice we're here...

[He swings his axe as a monster that tries to attack him. Never had much trouble with this floor. Figures it'd do that.]

[And of course Maziodyne isn't enough to take them out in one hit. Caesar, your magic stat is nothing to sneeze at, but being a bit higher wouldn't hurt.]

Does that mean take care of these or let them chase us?

It means we get the hell out!

[You know Shinji, if you'd explained this earlier, it might not have been weird for Akihiko to suddenly see you grasping a floating card, crush it and then have a brand new Persona burst into the scene to clear a path for them.]

[Then see Augustus use his lance like a hockey stick, sending a few monsters flying off....]

[...then again being the fact you are Shinji, it is doubtful anyone expects you to talk about those types of details. They can always come later with a few punchings for not speaking up and being an idiot.]

[Oh my God, Shinji, you are so dead. Again. Hope you like that face. Enjoy it while it lasts.]

[He is definitely explaining that later. Asshole.]

What the hell are you waiting for, then?

There's more. There's another version of myself walking around, but he's from a different world.

[At this rate, another version could mean secretly Cthulhu.]

Friend or foe?

[Or a manifestation of your feelings over Minato.]

Foe, but we're on truce here.

[*;;;*]

Truce. Right. I'll remember.

...He's the leader of Strega, so he's not very friendly to SEES.

[Yeah, dropping that down.]

[Just. This face.]

[Yeah, he knows.

Will wait for the reaction to settles down now.]

[She gives him a brilliant smile.]

Good! I'm glad. He'd be mad at you if you didn't see him right away.

[A pause.]

So...I guess you're from Minato's world.

How... did that even happen?

That's right. It's nice to meet you. [And yeah. Now he feels super awkward. :|b ]

...Things happened differently for him when he's younger.

[Very differently.]

[No, she will not allow him to feel awkward 8T She will proceed like they have never met before and he will not feel one ounce of awkwardness.]

Nice to meet you too, Senpai! I'm Minako Arisato. I'm kind of like Minato's female alter-ego, so sorry for any confusion that there might be, but if you have questions go ahead and ask. By the way, have you been able to talk with him yet? He'll be happy to see you too.

⚔ 001

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okay and now I am back 8Db

Lately! Hallways somewhere?

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Works for me!

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so late aaah sorry!

i'm the one who should be apologizing <3

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<3

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