005 | ❝Come back for the hope that you've stolen...❞

[pitiedthefool]

Characters: Yu and you it will never get old
Setting: Starting in the morning of the return from Infighting on the dorm's second floor, wandering later on
Format: Your choice
Summary: Birthdays were had in Hell, so he decided to celebrate by flooding the dorms with origami cranes and do several other things.
Warnings: I sense a few New World Fools...

Yu wasn't one to say when he was hurting, nor was he the kind of person to simply ignore when others were either. It was hell, the last month... and according to the notes he'd received from Naoya and Zo the main portion of the tower hadn't fared well, either. So for remainder of the first day, all he did was continue making paper cranes in his shared dorm room. If anyone asked, he probably was too absorbed in how calming it was to respond much...

Floor One
After dropping off the little paper figurines at the doors of the other Persona users and his friends, Yu found himself wandering down to the cafeteria. He hadn't eaten much of anything for the last month and barely stomached whatever Ken and the others had brought him from the table, so finding all of these ingredients in the cafeteria?

It was like he was finally back in his element after what felt like an eternity.

The teen soon lost himself in the scents and mundane actions that come from cooking, probably making extra on purpose for anyone who wanted to try something that wasn't guaranteed to poison them. After all, he does know his way with a knife and a stove... even if it was a pain figuring out Fahrenheit-to-Celcius every now and then.

Floor Five
Yu tried to avoid this floor as much as he possibly could for reasons only a select few fully understood. He always ignored the red-collar workers as they went about their jobs, doing what they always did. Yet the sensation he had when coming here...

For once, he could recognize it. That emptiness and the suffocating feeling as though death were clawing up his legs again, trying to drag him down into the pits of hell. The crushing void within his heart to the point where he could almost hear their screams as death claimed them all over and over again.

He almost fell to his knees once or twice, taking hold of something before he could. A rail, someone's arm... he didn't know. All he knew was he wanted out of here before the despair that nearly claimed the spark of hope that still resided in his heart returned once more.

Floor Fourteen
Over the several months Yu'd been here, the media room had become a place of solace where he would meet with his friends and bond. Whether it was over music or video games didn't matter. He just enjoyed the time he spent with them.

This time, however, he was looking for someone in particular... someone he couldn't find at the "wrap-up party" last weekend. After a while of waiting, he sat down and began playing a little game again. Maybe they just decided not to come today...

Floor Twenty-Two
For some reason this week, Yu had begun to frequent the art gallery much more often than he normally did. After all, it seemed to be a place where a certain goddess kept finding him... and all it did sometimes was show him his fears. Oddly enough when he looked at the paintings now, it wasn't mostly his own world he was looking at...

It was of a surgeon cutting open a patient who remained awake, abominations and many grotesque creatures oozing out of the person's abdomen. Yet he didn't flinch, didn't so much as make any acknowledgement of what it was he saw. All he did was keep walking and enjoying the silence all the while hoping someone would soon break it.

Night, Your Floor of Choice
Cooking wasn't the only thing that was cathartic for the teen. No, there had also been a reason he had tried making a weapon for himself only to find a new friend giving him one instead. It had been a month, and his skills were a little rough around the edges, but he'd decided that it wouldn't hurt to stay out until around midnight and fight once the monsters came out.

If you're lucky, someone might even hear a single word being muttered before the sensation of electricity remaining stagnant in the air became more poignant: "Persona."

[ooc note: For Purse Owners Yu's met and seen their Personas, there is an origami figurine of them in their rooms somewhere (more than likely just at the door unless you're his roommate). For close CR, there's an animal other than a crane for them of their choosing. He was in a giving mood. :c

ALSO! If you'd be so kind as to also state the day of the week in the comment as well, it would be greatly appreciated! You can also have your characters wander into him on accident on either lounge floors. It gets old saying "Yu sit here, wat do?" after a while... |3]

Comments

2nd - Floor 1

[attheclocktower]

[When Xion found the bird - it looked like a bird, though not like the crane she'd first been given - her heart had leaped a little. Of course she'd noticed that people were missing, but their names weren't gone from the doors, not like Axel's had been. But there was only one person she knew who could make paper animals like that. And he'd been gone too. And she'd worried. But did this mean...?

She'd look later, for sure. But first she wanted to see if the cafeteria was offering anything new, or if they were just going to stick to oatmeal like they had so far. She hesitated, not sure what she wanted to do with the paper bird. It seemed too delicate to just... carry around in a pocket, but after Vanitas' theft she didn't want to risk just leaving it here. In the end, she carefully slid it into the pouch of shells she kept tied to her side now with a makeshift belt. Maybe it wasn't the safest there, but safer than anywhere else, most likely.

She took the elevator down. Her injuries were healing - helped along by a few good Cure spells - but walking down all those stairs was a bit too much to expect. However, she's distracted entirely as soon as she exits the eleveator, looks around and sees a familiar figure over in the kitchen area.]

You're really back!

[That's... more than just a small note of relief in her voice. And she'll be moving in his direction as fast as she can without making things too uncomfortable/painful.]

[pitiedthefool]

[He had left the small little songbird made of paper at Xion's door for a reason. She had come across to him like a bird trapped in a cage and inescapable fate. Yet even in midst of it, the power coming from their faint bond had come back to him while he was in his own quite literal cage, like a quiet song in midst of the suffering they'd endured. Even a few of his dreams (when he could sleep) he had heard her crying, even if he couldn't see it and his voice was muted.

It was bizzare... like a small piece of home that continued even after his first journey ended. He hadn't had those kinds of dreams since February, after all. So to hear that again, experience it... he wondered what all had happened when he couldn't do much of anything to change their fates.

That's when, even over the sizzling of the sauce in a pot, he could hear her voice behind him. For a moment, he wondered if it was just a dream... if none of it was real and he'd be waking back up in that hospital-like setting again and the torment would begin anew, but he felt that kick into reality coming from within.]

...Xion?

[He stopped what he was doing, placing the knife down and smiled faintly. It was true... None of yesterday was a dream, either. They were all back, right?]

Yeah... It's good to be back. [How he was still standing, he had no idea... but it probably wouldn't take too long until he recognizes something was off with how Xion is moving.]

Floor 1 - Monday

[detecting]

[Naoto couldn't say she was particularly hungry. She'd had so little to eat over the past month that her stomach couldn't hold much of anything. The sight of food itself no longer seemed all that appealing, but watching Yu cook? It was a refreshing sight. It made things feel normal.

So she stood there for a few minutes, just watching. A small smile pulled at her lips. It felt good to see him like this.]

What are you making today, senpai?

[pitiedthefool]

[Not many of them were likely to be able to eat as much as usual after the previous month, that is true... but even if he himself can't stomach much of what he cooks, at least whoever comes by will be able to enjoy the fruits of his own version of therapy.

Yu almost didn't notice after so long of being trapped close together with everyone, but when she spoke he couldn't help the faint smile. It felt like a small piece of normalcy had returned... however brief it may be before he has to face the reality of his own choices again.]

Tofu curry with fried rice. It's been a while since I could.

[Though with the puffer fish he saw mixed in the supplies...he couldn't help the slight nausea at the thought of the last time they had tried curry as a team, even if it was before Naoto joining their ranks.]

Laaaaate Monday night - Floor 25 okay?

[hachitaro]

[He knows it's more dangerous at night, but right now he doesn't really care. He's sitting in the meadow, listening to the tape again.]

['They promised us everything. Not all of us are as lucky as you are.']

[The sound of something moving makes him start, and he's on his feet in an instant - but then there's the word and a figure in front of him, and there's something about it that makes his heart leap to his throat. He clenches his fists and waits until the monster is cooked, before staring back at Yu.]

... Thanks. What... or who... did you just summon, though?

It is completely fine. /o/

[pitiedthefool]

[He wasn't paying attention to who else was around as well as he probably should; only enough so that he wasn't going to hit anyone accidentally when he was fighting. So when he heard that? He blinked before facing Taro.]


No problem... and it's called a Persona. [he tilts his head. Wasn't that partly obvious by the word he said?]

Floor one

[mutab1e]

[There were a lot of things about Equius Zahhak that were unpredictable. His behavior for about half of the time, for one thing, among others. But one is definite: if he needs to get his mind off something, he sews. If he's worried, he cleans. If he's about to flip, he cooks. No exceptions. So he shushes the little frog that was sleeping on his bed when he woke up, sets it in the trunk for safekeeping, and immediately heads right down to the kitchen.]

[It's immediately obvious that someone else was there already; god, the smell was unfamiliar, but it was just so comforting that he had to take a moment and sigh quietly before entering the cafeteria proper. It only got stronger as he wandered across, and eventually he was peering through the doorway. (Yu is presently out of his sight.) There are things on the stove, so someone must be here, right? He glances around for a few seconds, then creeps in. Just to see what's cooking there. Did someone forget to put this away after they were done? No, it wouldn't smell so strongly if it was old...]

[pitiedthefool]

[He'd only left it briefly to look for black pepper, which wasn't too hard to find other than it was in the back of the spice rack. So when he came back to see a familiar-looking troll child? Somehow he was less than surprised after seeing glimpses of him that entire month he'd probably be better off forgetting ever happened. Probably. Most likely not.]

...We meet again. [It's quiet, because he doesn't want to startle the kid - he had been six ways close to jumpy the last time he'd seen him. This too was neutral territory.]

Tuesday-ish, Floor 22

[capax_infiniti]

[Sometimes answers can be had in the art gallery, amid the atrocity and horrors. He's seen portraits of himself, portraits of what he has a feeling are these other "him", the future that others are so mired up.

It`s been so quiet around the tower that hearing someone else`s footsteps seems loud and grating. He stiffens up, listening. They`ve stopped not far away. Curious about who it could be, Xehanort slinks towards the source of the sound.

Much to his surprise, it`s someone he hasn`t seen in quite some time.]

So you've returned?

It is a party on Tuesdays, it seems. /o/

[pitiedthefool]

[Yu is silent up until he heard the elderly man speak. Even before he began to turn around to face him, it is obvious that something had changed within him. Something that was so strong before... an obvious ability to repel the darkness from within.

After all, it was not Pabilsag that was returned to him. Rather, it was Odin. Yet Odin was not the one whose presence was the most obvious within his heart. Instead there is something cold about it, like a remnant of darkness the power had been pulled from. At least, before he thinks better of it and calms himself even further. It would not do to have another see the results of that month of torment, after all. He still had people who looked to him to lead, even if he had messed up and let a small amount of despair and emptiness reside so close to his light.]

So it would seem. [If he seems even more emotionless than the last time they spoke, it is most likely for good reason.] I take it no one who stayed behind was very fortunate either?

Monday Night on the day after their return, dormitories, before midnight.

[fractus_animus]

[ Hey Yu.

... You might... find Minato alone in the dormitory area near the stairs. You can probably tell which it is by social link rank up somehow, how the fuck did they get to like 3 the outfit he's wearing. Also by the collar, probably.

He's sitting on one of the stairs. If he wanders closer, Yu will probably notice a lot of clicking sounds.

Click, a sound of shattering glass, click, the glass noise, click.

Click, click. Pause...

Click. More glass noises. More bright lights.

Care to investigate what he's doing? ... Though by now, you can probably hazard a guess.

Yeah I wanted a thread before he goes TOTALLY crazy, sue me. ]

nopespider.gif

[pitiedthefool]

[That he might. After all, it wasn't Izanagi who silently prodded him to check it out, but Alice seriously man, you were all lights on nobody's home for at least a week of it how the shit did that happen giddily poking him, saying that someone may want to play with them.

Unable to concentrate nearly as much as he'd like, and realizing that origami cranes only calmed the soul so much before violence is likely a better alternative for aggression... he follows the sounds of shattering glass he's grown so accustomed to.]

DORM ROOM LIKE A BOSS

[evokingfool]

[When Yu returned to their shared dorm room, Minato's both relieved and worried. Relieved to see Yu back alive--he might not return again, he feared--and worried about his friend. Whatever happened to Yu, it might be very, very draining on him.

Minato sits down on a chair and watch his friend make the origami. Then, he reach out to grab a paper. He'd like to help make the paper cranes as well.]

aw yeah B)

[pitiedthefool]

[He felt Minato's gaze on him as he did return, but seeing the personalized coffee mug and the two notes waiting for him had... definitely put him in a strange mood before he simply left them on his nightstand and had begun folding the paper cranes. He'd stock piled as much paper has he could before, had gotten to 998 when he was inevitably pulled to the elevators with the other sixty-one the previous month.

First Rise's birthday, and now Yosuke's... He had to make it up to them somehow, even if it were silly and Rise wasn't here. What's worse, now Yukiko was gone too...

There had been too much dread and despair lately, so if these helped to bring some happiness back to the others...especially those directly affected by Jason or the deaths in that event, he didn't mind any accidental paper cuts. Nor did he mind his friend deciding to join him. Even though a part of him... felt like he'd let the other down by falling a bit.]

No one had an easy time while we were gone, huh.

Floor One: Monday

[sacred_flamer]

[Luke had been reluctant to leave his room, afraid that if he did, his ears would be gone again, replaced with those ghastly headphones he had fused to his skull all last month. He barely even acknowledged his roommates, preferring to curl up under the covers and ignore that there was a world outside of them.]

[Still, a growing teen answers the demands of his stomach, and it wasn't long before he had to shuffle out in search of food. When he opened the door out into the hall, however, he was lucky enough to be looking down, otherwise he would have trampled the little paper crane that had been left behind... not that he knew that's what it was. He let out a surprised noise as he picked it up, tugging gently at the wings; what, this was made out of paper?! How'd they do that?!]

[He glanced around, trying to spot who had left it, but the fact that he didn't see anyone and his stomach was practically yelling in protest made him give up quickly. Luke trotted down to the cafeteria, holding the little paper bird cupped in his hands like a little kid.]

[pitiedthefool]

[Yu was still there, reheating what was left of the rice he'd prepared in the morning. Soon enough though, he heard someone's footsteps and looked.]

Oh. Hello, Luke. [Is it odd to see him look completely normal? Well, aside from the somewhat jaded look.]

Floor Five, Tuesday

[pitythefool]

[Adachi couldn't really say he enjoyed life in the Tower for the past month or so. Yet again, his life had been uprooted and he'd been dragged somewhere else against his will. Just when things were starting to get interesting, too.

Though that wasn't to say things weren't entirely interesting in the Tower. Now that the power was back, Adachi had decided to dedicate a bit more of his time to exploring once again (after a couple of heavy, long-overdue meals, that is). And guess what he found upon arriving at Floor Five? A viewing station. One that showed him just how ravaged that dinky little town in bumfuck nowhere had gotten in his absence.

But before he could really take it all in, he felt someone grab onto his arm. It nearly made him jump in surprise, and he whipped around quick to see what was the matter.]

Hey, what are you---

[Then he realized just who he was speaking to.]

N-Narukami-kun...?

[Not a female Narukami like the one he had seen before. Yu Narukami. Here in the Tower.]

Pardon me while all I hear is "asdfghjklgfsdfhgfsawdfghks /TABLE FLIP"

[pitiedthefool]

[It was probably a good idea that he hadn't eaten yet today, or the moment that complete sense of emptiness - of all his ties aside from the few that existed in and because of this place being severed - could have caused him to lose it. But as he backed away from the viewfinder, blindly reached out for the nearest solid object or person, his mind became clear and the sensation faded as quickly as it had when his Personas had been returned...

But it was obvious... he was still rather pale. Not just from that 'illusion,' no... his gaze gave that away as the familiar voice and tone caused him to let go.]

...A-Adachi-san?

[NO. NO NO NO NO NO. NOPE. This could not be happening. It had to be another illusion some-

Oh. That laughter from somewhere deep in his soul probably meant it wasn't and Lucifer and Beelzebub were sharing the suffering popcorn again that it was real. Just as real as what he'd caused, as real as the shit from last month had been, despite none of them showing any physical signs of what had occurred...

Internally he was still screaming, but on the outside there was naught but an icy sort of eerie calm as he placed a hand to his forehead, muttering an apology of sorts before straightening the best he could.]

When did you get here?

['This cannot be happening.... Why... Why now, of all times?']

Cafeteria, Monday

[thousandcurses]

[She had come down to make tea, if the cafeteria had it. And it does! She just never expected Narukami to be here. Ah, yes, he must be back. She frowns, standing there watching him for a moment before quietly approaching. He seems... Tired.]

Narukami.

[pitiedthefool]

[She wasn't the only one who'd come to make tea...especially after the month before. He's too young to drink still, so calming tea would have to do. He almost doesn't respond, letting the silence hang for a brief moment. But then he feels the guidance of another, an almost-whisper he nearly stumbled back from hearing. They were right; it would be unwise to give anyone the cold shoulder, even if part of him screamed of death.]

Izanami-san. [He doesn't just seem tired; he's exhausted - both emotionally and physically. After coming back, focusing on making the cranes for nearly twenty-four hours straight and barely stopping. But now? Now he feels like the rodent who got caught in a rat trap - a lion's claw.] ...I couldn't stay true to myself this time.

Floor 5; Wednesday, close to nightfall /o/

[justabignobody]

[That arm he grabbed for? Yu will find that it's twisting quick to get a grip on his own arm, to be able to support his weight and keep him from falling. A moment later there will be a shift, if he allows it, one that pushes his arm over Riku's shoulders.

It's been quite a while since they have seen each other - a month or maybe just a little more, Riku thinks... and given the post that had went up earlier that week and the rumors he had heard about what had happened to those taken by the administrators, he has maybe at least some idea where he has been.

He has no idea just what exactly had happened there... but given the darkness he sense in the other, the bitter aftertaste of despair that it leaves on his tongue... it must have been just as bad or likely even worse than things had been in the tower. Given that, he'll skip any How-are-yous or Are-you-alrights.

He can't really help he concern in his voice when he finally does speak up.]

...Yu?

/o/

[pitiedthefool]

[Yeah... he might be sorry about that in a moment when he can actually, you know, get his bearings again. He'd only meant to steady himself, after all. So when the haze clears and that crushing feeling in his chest dissipates, he stops and realizes his arm is now around someone's shoulders and that they're familiar.]

Ah... Sorry, Riku.

[He didn't mean to nearly make you fall over if he did. Most of it clears up as quickly as it appeared, but there are still traces.]

... Lost my balance for a second.

Floor 22- Why do they keep meeting here...

[doublechecks]

Yu.

[His name was stated by a person who just stopped after seeing a familiar visage.

Is it an illusion, or is he just as real as this never-ending tower? Ah, his brain has not been in the right mindset these last few days. Seconds became days and months became years as Lelouch's still faded mind recognized the face as well as the surroundings around them.

The Art Room was it? He can't really remember, for all he saw right now was the vague shape of a person as well as Yu's face.]

I don't know but they need a better meeting place...

[pitiedthefool]

...Lelouch.

[Yu turned to face him, an eyebrow raised. What was with that tone? Had something happened that he was not yet aware of? Either way, he does not seem to be in the best of conditions... but he is indeed there.]

What happened?

A DAY THAT IS NOT MONDAY

[legatus]

[Hey look, it was everyone's favorite grumpy Mcgrumppants. If he looked happy to see Yu, it wasn't showing much in his face because let's face it, not much emotion every showed up there anyway.]

So you're back.

[Nice to see you Yu etc etc.]

whee /o/

[pitiedthefool]

[Yu wasn't much better in his current state, though he certainly was better than he was a couple days ago... minus a little anger issue.]

Seems that way. [Nice to see you too, man.] It's good to see you in one piece.

Floor 22, Thursday

[nemophila]

"Hey--!"

Jun had gotten marginally distracted looking at the paintings in the gallery; particularly the...rather... gruesome depictions. But when he'd noticed Yu, well. The last time he had seen him was after the first week; he hadn't had a chance to speak with him after the uh...crushing thing.

It was good to see he was...physically unharmed at least. But he wasn't sure that really meant much. "How...did it go?"

[pitiedthefool]

He blinked when he heard someone, not used to running into others here (though in hindsight, he probably should have gotten used to it by now). So when he looked over to see who it was-

Oh... It was one of Eikichi's friends. He spared a nod, sparing a faint smile. He'd heard what had happened to them upon awakening back in the tower, after all. "...Ah, hey." That question, though... He sighed. "Riki won week three and the entire 'game' of theirs. Our actions before..." Yeeeeaaaaah. "-got Jason's disqualified."

There was a certain smugness about helping to cause that.

"The last two weeks were quiet on our end, anyway."

Floor 5 | Wednesday!

[death_awaits_you]

[ It's just as well that Yu grabs Ryoji's arm, for otherwise he might never have torn his eyes away from the horrible vision of his world destroyed. The vision isn't what really gets Ryoji so much as that certain, unshakable feeling of emptiness - of The End written in capital letters made of death and decay. He can't get rid of the feeling that it's his fault - because who else could have so thoroughly extinguished life but Death itself? Nyx, answering the call of despair through a broken seal and annihilating the world in response.

It's his fault. He did this... the letter was right - it had to be, because -- because this feels so real and true and resonates with a feeling he's been trying to deny about this whole place and the despair that clouds it (never mind the stubborn hope that shines right on through - he's not feeling that now, not as he looks at the barren husk left...).

And so, he's just been sitting there and staring, eyes wet with tears of guilt and sorrow, when there's a hand on his arm, pulling a little and knocking him off balance as much as it helps the other stay up. Ryoji sniffs and swallows and blinks at the silver haired man and nearly cringes at how familiar he feels in some respects. No, he can't -- by destroying the world, he's hurt all persona users. It's their future he's destroyed. Will destroy.

He was able to forget all about being Death, so why couldn't he have somehow forgotten about whenever the seal breaks and he ends the world, after all?

So, all that comes tumbling out of his mouth at the touch is apologies. ]

I'm sorry - I'm so sorry...

hey, you got a slot. :3

[pitiedthefool]

[The other's reaction was enough to pull Yu to his senses, especially the tears in the boy's eyes--wait, Ryoji? Yet his Personas didn't respond or whisper to him like they normally did with an already-formed bond. Was this-?

He raises an eyebrow, quickly trying to shake off the feeling of dread building in his heart and listen. The hope for others exists within him, just as Izanagi does. It hasn't died just yet, despite the reality that he is facing by looking into the viewfinder. After all, it is something he can never escape from... even if they try to tear it away from him.]

Don't apologize...

[...This feeling is familiar. Almost akin to what he felt when that child (Pharos, was it?) had visited with him in that pod, but somehow... different.]

We can't even be sure that this- is real. And if it is... [It can't be. He can feel the strong, unbreakable ties with those not present otherwise. So how-?] -then it's my team's fault for letting them all down.

floor 1, this past Tuesday (the 3rd)

[childhero]

[The scent of food is what draws Link in today. It smells... different, unlike anything he'd ever found before, but it's also... good. Now that the Tower is functioning properly again and the kitchen has restocked, Link's been turning to the cafeteria again, thankful for this small convenience this place has given him. He's used to searching for his own food, so being able to just go and pick something out... It's nice.

But that smell -- He doesn't recognize it as being part of the standard menu. Curiousity gets the better of him and he decides to investigate the kitchen to see what's going on. Ah... At the very least, he recognizes the person cooking. They've only spoken the once, but Link remembers him to be very kind.

He approaches where Yu's cooking, trying to get a look to see what he's up to.]

What're you making?

[pitiedthefool]

[The convenience is definitely a good thing, really. Though lately he's been considering trying to plant his own vegetables in case they abandon the tower once again. However, he's in the middle of preparing something instead when he hears a familiar voice asking him something.]

Ah. [He nods a 'hello.'] It's called curry. Would you like some when it's done?

[Because seriously... he made enough for several people.]

Saturday - Floor 25 - Night

[lilies_jail]

[Unfamiliar with the tower's layout just as of yet, Eriko decided to take her fencing foil and wander about - it was difficult to sleep in a few place, and she wasn't used to having to share a room with others. However, witnessing Yu, Eriko recognized him from their prior conversation over Eikichi's video announcement. This was the perfect time to formally introduce herself in person!]

So, this is the famed Izanagi-no-Okami - Philemon had been quite busy recruiting people to fight against Nyarlathotep's workings, it seems.

[Elly approaches him, her Persona Michael of the Judgment Arcana materializing behind her as a sign of peace. Not that she had met anybody hostile in the tower yet.]

It's a pleasure to see you in person, Mr. Narukami.

[pitiedthefool]

[Even if it is familiar, it's always a good idea to have a weapon on hand when one wanders out either in the day or the night. After all, there was a floor or two where eternal night fell, and he knew of at least one person who was unsavory in this tower.

The sound of a vaguely familiar voice caught his attention, though. Stopping, both he and Izanagi-no-Okami turn to face her. Michael, huh...]

Good evening, Elly. [He nods faintly in welcome and acknowledgement.] And yes, this is him.

[Izanagi-no-Okami stays beside and behind him, nodding. His mask is slightly cracked, but it's been repairing itself over the course of the week.]

Thursday - Floor 14

[detecting]

Do you mind if I join you?

[pitiedthefool]

[He blinks.] Not at all.

[There's space next to him, and another controller if she wanted to join in. Though to be honest, he's partly surprised by her being here in the first place, since he rarely came across her in the media room- ...Oh. Oh man. How was he going to even explain what happened since they last spoke.

... He decides not to let it show. For now, anyway.]

Post-Killnato 1.0 -- Locked to AU!Minato.

[pitiedthefool]

[Yu didn't stay long in room 1-14, only to possibly nod to his other friend were he there and to leave a note beside a certain Persona user's bed. It was short and simple, but things needed to be addressed and quickly.]

We need to talk.
When you see this, meet me on the 38th floor.
-Narukami

[That's all the note says...]

He has no idea.

[fractus_animus]

[ When Minato wakes up, it's clear he's died when the sleep paralysis hits him for an even longer period of time. The torture has been extended, and when he finally regains control of his body, he startles bolt upright with a lot of gasping and confusion.

... Why are his clothes so...

... What the hell happened? Moreover, why can't he remember anything from after Monday Night?

Panic is setting in, but he tries to remain calm when he glances at the note by his bed. ... Yu wanted to talk to him, huh.

Eventually he... finds a change of clothes to get the dried blood off himself (also showers), and then makes his way down to the 38th floor.

He's a bit nervous. He isn't sure what to expect. ]

Post-Killnato 2.0 -- Locked to any interested Social Links.

[pitiedthefool]

[...It's over. It's all over for the time being.

After all that's happened this past few weeks, all the faces he's seen and the continued aftershocks of the suffering they endured the last month, he knows even he didn't come out unscathed. Izanagi's mask was enough to prove it when he'd practically summoned himself the last few days, just to hover beside him. It was nice for a while, still being his charge after everything. That Izanagi hadn't outright rejected him after what he'd done and stuck by his side, much like his friends had.

They were each other after all... right?

Somehow, he ended up wandering to the meadow floor while he was absorbed in thought. This particular floor always reminded him of the world inside people's hearts; the beautiful valley filled with wildflowers, grass and a few trees along the small streams. For the first time in a while, he smiled at the scene before him and the memory - the reward for their hard-earned victory. It truly was a beautiful world...

...

When he smiled, it was like the quiet facade of calm finally gave way for the first time since that first week back. There was no need to remain strong with no one around right now, no need to lie to himself about how he was doing. Instead he simply let the tears he'd been holding back fall. He couldn't stop either Minato, couldn't help those who didn't want his assistance, and after last month... He was allowed to grieve on his own time, right? When none of his team were around to see it as far as he knew?

Yu slides down to the ground, letting his back rest against a tree while the silent tears begin to soak his shirt sleeve.]

[princeofjunes]

[The meadow had become his go to place for reflection - the electronic floor was nice and all, but for serious thinking it was just too busy - but it seems Yosuke wasn't alone in that regard]

[It's actually a little funny. A few months ago, the sight of his best friend crying would have sent shockwaves through Yosuke's world like nothing else. Now? Now all he can do is admire how few and far between their fearless leader's breakdowns are, with everything they've been forced to endure. They've all had it rough, but Yu...]

[Yu hadn't even been here as long, and he seemed to have the worst of it]

[Still, eager to offer his support - what little he can - Yosuke quietly makes his way across the meadow, stepping lightly to not alert Yu. Once he's close he drops down to his knees next to his partner, smiling softly]

Hey, crying alone kinda sucks.

Mind if I join you? I think I've got at least one cry in me.