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

Entry tags:

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

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]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Despite everything, Yosuke lets out a chuckle, bumping into Yu's shoulder playfully. What's left to do but make jokes about it all? It's all he's got left, all his brain will allow for]

Rough? Partner, please! I'm sure everyone has their dead unrequited crush that changed them as a person and helped kick off the most important year of their life show up!

And doesn't everyone find out that that person actually didn't hate them? You know, that everything they had told themselves was completely wrong?

... wait, are you saying it's seriously just me?

[He puts on his best look of mock surprise]

Oh, man! And that's not even going into the gigantic hug she gave me!

[...Fair enough, but even the jokes have their own bite to it in some sense. No matter how much he tries to chuckle along with it. All that comes is a vaguely amused sound, and it's faint.]

Alright, you got me. It was an understatement.

[Regardless, he is listening... and waiting. Waiting for everything to be brought up to the surface again so they both had to face it.

Though he was glad that things were... going that well between him and Saki.]

Actually, I was being a little serious.

... very little, okay, but still. It was rough, but... honestly, I'd be lying if I said seeing her again didn't make me the happiest I've been in a long time.

[He pauses for a moment, clenching and releasing his fists for a few moments before finally just sighing, letting the back of his head thunk against the tree]

Seeing Adachi, I could have done without.

I'm glad.

[It's how he felt about seeing Dojima again, considering. For now, he just enjoys the silent moment and how they seemed to be fine-

Oh. Oh, there were the emotions he'd pushed down deep so he wouldn't have to feel them. His anger and small bit of self-hate due to what he knows happened that day when he lost it not so long after they'd all returned... All he can do is sigh, grimacing all the same. He really shouldn't be surprised after the party, should he.]

...We all could have.

[Even if they had shown pity on him, even if he DID help them go in the right direction at the end... he still hates the bastard, regardless of emotional ties.

Feel free to smack him for being an idiot. Or he'll do it, himself.]

Yeah, you knew, didn't you?

[It's not really a question - after all, Yosuke's not an idiot, and he remembers all too clearly how Yu reacted when he found out that Saki was in the tower. He wonders how things could have gone differently that day for a moment, what might have happened if he weren't overwhelmed, or if Yu had been just a little more assertive. Not that it really matters. What if's don't matter]

[Unless they do and you find yourself talking to a dead girl. Oops]

... don't tell me you did a link thing with him.

...I knew.

[He knew all too well, with how that accidental encounter went. Had been looking for either of them after learning the truth only to find Kanji again, and-

...

He falls eerily silent, glancing away even now. He'd only meant to stop them. Kanji or the others wouldn't have... wouldn't have wanted any of it, and yet-

Yu doesn't wait for Yosuke to do it. He simply smacks himself in the face, wincing when he realizes just how much power is behind his strikes now (when did that happen?). His jaw may end up red afterwards, but he doesn't care. It'll at least match how terrible he felt for what he's done just by going momentarily insane.]

...there's a reason I told Gas Chamber about him, what he's done.

[He wanted to break that connection before it poisoned him further, and now look what's happened.]

[He just blinks at Yu hitting himself, mouth falling open slightly. That... was unexpected. Very much so]

Not that watching you hit yourself wasn't awesome and all, but... for the record? I wasn't going to punch you.

[It's truth, and it's a fact that surprises even him. Just a few days ago he would have jumped at the chance to deck his partner in the face for... well, for Adachi mainly, but he knows in his heart that the emotions from everything else would have only added to the force of the blow. But now?]

I was mad yeah, but it's not important anymore. I'm not even sure what is.

[And here it comes, once more, all out into the open]

I just... I feel like I'm losing my grip on everything. Or I lost it. Hell, maybe I never even had it. Does it even matter? I mean, look at me! I'm happy. I'm in this tower, and I'm happy. That alone's enough to make me want to cry.

...I needed to smack myself out of it.

[Literally, because otherwise... he wouldn't be able to say a thing and he knows Yumi would be mad at him for trying to do everything on his own again. He can't do that anymore; not to himself, and especially not to his best and closest friend. Especially with where his mind has been since they've come back.

Yet after all of that, all he can do is place a hand on his best friend's shoulder. Even though it hurts to, even if he wants to pull away the moment he does. ...Yu can't run from one of his nine most important social links.]

I know I lost it. [Again.] Funny, how things go in this place.

[...He's running again.]

[And that grin, inexplicable though it is, finds its way back to his face]

It is funny, isn't it? Me? I got lucky. And I know, it's me, I never get lucky, but I got lucky. I lost my head, and I figured everything out.

[Nope, this doesn't sound crazy at all. Not in the slightest]

But let's figure you out first. You're hurting like crazy, and you've clearly gone nuts if you're first instinct was to moan here instead of finding your friends. I mean come on Partner, you're acting like I did. Pot, kettle, whatever. I know this isn't healthy.

You'll find what you lost. You're the tough one, I know you will. But if you try and look alone I really will punch you. Probably not in the face, but in a different spot at least.

Don't know. I say you do get lucky, but then Karma comes back at the most random of times.

[-and knocks you flat on your back for the foot-in-mouth syndrome. Seriously, man. The last part causes him to give his friend a faint, vaguely cracked smile. Almost brings him back, doesn't it?]

...and I know. Just needed to get my thoughts together before I did seek anyone out.

['You just found me, first.' He falls silent, but then... he begins to explain.]

Adachi found me on the fifth floor. ...He got the hint that none of us were too thrilled about him, and when my back was turned, he pointed a gun at me. ...I couldn't help but laugh after everything that happened. It was obvious he hadn't thought it through.

[Somewhere along the line, he'd removed his hand from Yosuke's shoulder. Mainly to stare at it so he didn't have to see the anger other than his own.]

He's terrified of me, and of Izanagi. I could see it in his eyes when I didn't back down. that's why I didn't say anything at first, because he knows how one-sided that confrontation would be, now... if he did try anything.

[See why he reacted the way he did, now? But... that wasn't all.]

When Adachi fled, I heard it. Somehow by going insane for that brief moment and snapping, it formed. That's when I found Aragaki-san, and later you and the others.

[...Siiiigh.]

...We went looking for Saki, after you left. Kanji and I split up to search, but when we found each other again... the other Minato had gone berserk. He died in front of Naoto, and I lost it. After I promised not to make the same mistakes. Yet if I hadn't and sought the other leaders, more people would have died.

[There was something in his eyes, there; and it wasn't just regret. It was fear. The fear of losing anyone else, even if temporary. ...Especially after facing Izanami.

Only six more words can be said, because he just piled a lot onto Yosuke and he can't handle saying more after this. It's barely audible...]

I've been running this whole time...

Edited (HA, Still did it.) 2012-07-28 07:09 (UTC)

[He's silent as his partner talks, simply listening with his head against the tree and his eyes on the 'sky'. It's a lot to take in at once, especially with him having missed so much. His partner does have a link with Adachi, Adachi had threatened him, Yu had gone crazy, Kanji-]

[... Kanji...]

[Yosuke can't help but feel pangs of guilt at that. If he had been there instead of sulking, he could have helped his team. His healing skills probably could have kept Kanji alive. Sure, in this tower he'd come back and life would go on, but knowing his teammate had died, knowing he'd died in front of Naoto of all people... it was too cruel. Wasn't he supposed to be there for all of them? Didn't he have a special bond with Naoto, having been there the longest with her? And he'd let them all down. It stung - no, it wasn't quite a sting. It was a stinging emptiness. Numbness]

[But he forces himself to swallow it down. Self pity is how he'd wound up in this position, and it wasn't going to solve anything. But what was? What words could he possibly have for Yu in this state? He's not a dispenser of wisdom - he can't even compete with a damn fortune cookie]

[What can he do? There's no words for this.]

[... there's no words for this...]

[Yosuke nods to himself, standing and starting to do a few stretches]

Come on, stand up and let's do this.

You're done running.

[It was a lot to go through in one day, he'll admit. In the midst of the silence, he begun to collect himself again. All of these many fragments, reflecting who he was back at him. The truth of his actions, both before and after arriving here... Had he really fallen prey to the mind games of this place? Yes. Would he continue to stagnate here because of it?

No, because he remembered now. Remembered just how potent the differences between him and the other two were, and how important his ties with others were. Though, he can almost hear Margaret scolding him for being like this and allowing himself to be deluded into thinking he wasn't any better. Especially after what he had to do at the time (was it really, though?). He'd locked away a crucial part of himself; his compassion. That light that had cut through the lies, had held out a hand to the others who were going the same way in midst of uncertainty. Really, how could he have forgotten in the first place and let that emptiness take hold? Not to mention blaming himself for not getting there sooner.

He watches his friend, lowering his head not in shame... but in bittersweet acceptance. There is a lot said in the silence between them, when he finally looks up to meet Yosuke's gaze and begins to stand.]

... Yeah.

[But what he's really saying is a quiet promise, one that only takes two words: 'Never again.']

We started this together, saw everything as a team. ...I'm not going to turn my back on what we've sought in life all this time.

['I won't run, and I will be here to help guide everyone once more. No more stumbling, no more faltering, and no more blaming myself for events that aren't my fault.'

...As he straightens, he feels it. That little bit of trust in his friends, the voices that reached out to him when he needed them most, lighting the way again. There are more now, some more quiet than others, but the sight is hard to ignore.

Izanagi-no-Okami appears behind him, mask cracked and what looks like blood dripping from where it looks like it had been previously smashed in. Yet in the same light he had once transmogrified, the injuries are gone. ...Had he been waiting this entire time?]

Izanagi... [You goddamn troll.]

Edited 2012-07-28 08:01 (UTC)

[That persona... it's appearance isn't something he can ignore, but it brings a smile to Yosuke's face]

So, we're bringing our personas into this one? Fine by me, I didn't feel like holding back anyway.

[He drops into a fighting stance, fists clenching and that smile never leaving his face. This feels so much better than a talk anyway - much more real, much more personal. He can say things this way he'd never find the words for, and maybe now he can finally work through everything he's been keeping cooped up for the last month]

[As if to accentuate his resolve, Susano-o appears behind him, looking over at his fellow god]

Don't you dare go easy on me!

[At least it means He Got Better. Still, it would be pretty good to blow off some steam right about now.]

Seems so.

[Yu follows suit, smirking to himself. Just like the "old" days, and he'd missed that - them letting their fists do the talking instead of their words. It was more genuine, and just so much more like them since he was usually the quiet one of the two. Speaking so much after last month was... unnatural-

Okay. Now it took all of his willpower not to chuckle at what he could have sworn was a 'It hast been quite some time, my child.' from somewhere in his soul. ]

Anything less than actually trying would be an insult.

[But with recent events... he might be holding back slightly. After all, he hadn't put that much force into the blow that killed Jin (oops). Yu throws the first punch, Izanagi-no-Okami following suit after a faint nod. No setting his friends' clothes on fire, nope.]

[One brawl later, Yosuke finds himself in an exhausted heap on the ground. He'll be feeling this one for a week easy, but between the bruises and the aches he also feels the best he has in a long time. Several weights have been lifted off his shoulder, and it's damn nice. He manages to lift his head and look over towards his partner, silly grin on his face]

You really went all out, huh?

[You mean the most epic bro battle EVAH, right? Because that's what it feels like right about now. Regardless of that cry of victory Izanagi gave before disappearing, Yu is going to be feeling this one for a loooong time. Ow. He aches all over, but it's a good kind of ache that matches the bruises the fists have surely left by now. Not to mention any spells they exchanged.

It takes a bit, but Yu looks over from his own sprawled heap of mess in the meadow grass with a muted version of the same look.]

Well, you asked. [He chuckles, winces, then laughs a little more. Man, what a load off both their shoulders.] Next time, let's not aim for the jaw.

[We repeat: ow.]

Oh come on, like yours is made of glass. You took those hits just fine.

[With a groan and a herculean effort, Yosuke manages to get himself to a sitting position. Standing is sure to be even trickier, so he decides not to go that far just yet]

If you ever do this with Chie though, you might need to lay down some ground rules about hits below the belt.

[He could say something about someone who does have a jaw of glass, but he refrains from it. Instead he sits up with some effort, debating on whether calling Isis would be a good idea or not. Then again, she'd probably be a little annoyed... eh, who cared. He'll probably summon her later.]

'Kept that in mind since day one. [Sorry for leaving you there, by the way. That looked like it'd hurt ~~also he could probably borrow Izanagi's codpiece okay no~~.] Need a hand?

Please, I got this.

[His pride won't allow anything else, and though it's with great difficulty and more than a few grunts, he manages to get himself to his feet. It takes another few seconds to steady himself, but he's managed to not faceplant and really it's more than he could have hoped for]

Now all I need to do is run into a cute girl on my way back and tell them how I heroically fought off ten monsters single handedly.

[Oh, Yosuke. Yu sighs, shaking his head once before he slowly gets to his feet. It's almost funny, really. How he almost laughs but doesn't for the sake of someone's dignity (he was bruised enough as it is-- they both are). Bravo for no faceplants, man.]

Good luck with that. They seem to be rare in this tower.

[Oh boy, here they go again.]

Please, the women are plentiful! There's Saki, or that cute redhead Lina, even Yuko's kind of cute if I can get past the weird factor.

[He gets a devilish grin on his face]

And I hear you've been getting close to some ladies, too.

Alright, you got a point.

[But still, Yosuke... Yuko? How can you even entertain the idea? His brain cracks a bit just by thinking about it.]

...A few. [A shrug, but it's probably obvious who he's thinking about...]

[He's not entertaining any ideas - doing anything would be way way way too weird - but he can admit a cute girl where there's a cute girl]

Wait, a few? Man, you've been busier than I thought.

[huh. Must be a Magician Arcana thing.]

I'm only friends with them, Yosuke. [Sorry to burst your bubble, man.] ...one of which his a little too much like Yukiko when it comes to obliviousness about dating.

[HOW DOES HE GET IN THESE MESSES, BRO? ~~not like he minds, though... it's kind of funny, teaching her about romance things via 'helpful anon'.~~]

[Dear god, Yu. Why would you say that? To Yosuke?]

She's oblivious, huh? Well then, I'm sure you've been busy... teaching her, Partner.

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

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