towerofanimus | A dead man's wish

Characters: Everyone.
Setting: Everywhere, July 11th
Format: Whatever you want - it's a mingle log, after all.
Summary: While Naoya gets the reveal started on the network, Enoch takes care of physical copies.
Warnings: Reveal. Info. Nothing else, inherently.

*There's something different about the tower today. Not in a big way, not like the power or glamours are out. For one thing, everyone with a mailbox will get this note, unsigned:

Souls in our world are defined as the self. Even those without anything that can be considered a soul in their own worlds would manifest one here. Souls are extremely resilient - they can be torn out of their body and survive provided they are removed in the right manner. But they shouldn't be of course - the side effects might be disastrous in ways we can't quite understand. It's happened here before. Souls can be torn out of this world the same as in any other. Here though they can split - that's extremely important. They can split and merge if you have the right skillset. Never lose your soul in the Tower of Animus. None of yours are yet lost - but never lose it! They won't come back whole if you let her swallow them up. The power must have gone by now - she'll want to restore the tower. Everyone who ended up trapped on their own worlds is now in grave danger! She can't take souls as Zo can, but she can siphon them and she can squeeze all the energy out of them.

As soon as this message is decoded put it in as many places as possible! Put it on the network make copies and plaster them on the walls. Do everything you can so that as many people read this message as possible. There isn't enough energy to erase everyone's memories!

Remember - souls born here can be split and reabsorbed here. A soul born elsewhere can be split there, but there's no way to put it back together unless you can put it back where it's supposed to be.

Not everything is as fake as it seems. Your souls are here and you have all been drugged to keep certain aspects of yourselves contained but every part of you is here. You can use that against them if you can figure out how to unchain yourselves. I'm afraid you'll have Jason as your first opponent as he's the one with the keys you need. Be careful! There is information everywhere though much of it has been nearly permanently sealed. I can make it possible for you to access it, although you will all have to unlock it.

If that wasn't strange enough, you've probably seen it already. The same message is posted throughout the tower - on bathroom stalls, on walls, on tables. There are easily over a hundred pieces of paper.

And hey... Isn't that the same note "the Observer" put up on the network yesterday evening?*

((ooc: Mingle log for reactions off the network! Have fun!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[When Claudia finds him, there's a faint, grim twist to her thoughts that says she isn't surprised to see him like this. It's only natural, given the news. She realizes how important Sakura is to him, after all.]

[All things considered, it's not so strange to kneel down beside him and say, as calmly as she can:] Kariya. [She doesn't shy away from touching him, either, reaching out to set a hand on his back, a simple and steadying gesture. There's blood, and she can see pulsating veins, but she doesn't look away from him. Right now, she needs to make sure he's calm, for the sake of his own health. Just as she did when the glamour had failed, she pushes aside her emotions and focuses on one task.]

[He recognizes her voice right away.]

Ah, don't--

[He doesn't want to bleed on her, for her to see him like this, bloody and even more hideous than usual, his face twisted and his body a wreck.]

I just--

[And he sobs again, spitting up more blood.]

I'm sorry.

[When he apologizes, she hushes him, shifting to rest her weight more firmly on her knees. Rather than backing away, she moves to hold him against her, the action careful and conscious of the pain he must be in. Gently, she wipes blood from his mouth with her sleeve, her lips pressing against the top of his head.]

I understand.

[When she holds him, he leans into her and sobs against her, grateful for the touch regardless of how tender his skin his and how his body aches. His voice his hoarse and thick with tears but he manages to speak regardless.]

I love her so much, and I can't do anything for her! I keep failing her. No matter what I do...

[She strokes his hair, and at first, she's silent. She recognizes his words as ones she herself has said, albeit in very different circumstances, and it makes her sensitive to the risk of making things worse with a single verbal misstep.]

[In the end, she simply tells him:] It's not your fault, Kariya.

It is! If I'd done things differently, if I hadn't left home, she would never have had to come to my father's house.

And here, too, I know there's more I could have done for her. If I'd talked to her more, if I'd stayed with her. I wouldn't have let her go.

I should have been more careful, and now-- now...

[Another sob wracks his body.]

Stop that. [For just a second, her tone sharpens.] You don't know that there's anything you could have done to stop her from being taken away here. You can't blame yourself for that.

[She keeps him in her arms, a cheek pressed against his hair. Her tone is equal parts firm and gentle.]

Kariya, listen— No one here is just going to allow something to happen to their loved ones. There's still a way to fight, and we'll find it, because we have to. You'll be able to fight for Sakura, and I'll fight for her, too.

Edited 2013-07-10 05:50 (UTC)

I can't know, but what if it's true? It could be...

[Though he has to admit, this doesn't even convince him. He leans against her, growing calmer.]

I want to fight, but I don't know what to do. What can I do? I'd do anything to save her.

Now isn't the time to worry about could-bes.

[When he calms, even only in part, she feels relieved. She holds him tighter, still mindful of his body.]

I don't know. [She answers honestly, not softening that reply.] But, apparently, there's a way. We just need to uncover it. With so many people here, it's just a matter of time.

I know, you're right, but... Sakura... I--miss her so much.

[He's still crying and bleeding, but more quietly now.]

Is there really a way? It's--so hard to find anything here. We don't have much time. We're all running out of time.

[A pause.]

I'm scared.

I know. I think we're all scared. That's why it's important not to break down now.

[She doesn't sound accusatory when she tells him this. She has faith that he can be strong. Her hand continues to stroke his hair.]

What other choice do we have?

[As she strokes his hair, he nuzzles against her, as if she could hide or protect him somehow.]

You're right, but I--I don't know if I can be strong. [His voice breaks. He knows he's being weak and foolish, right when he should be as strong as he can, but the thought of losing Sakura permanently had hurt him, physically and mentally.] I want to be, but I'm not as strong as Sakura. She's so much braver than I am. She should be here, instead of me. I wanted to take her place... but they wouldn't listen to me.

[There's a second where his words upset her, and she opens her mouth to chastise him, but then she catches herself. She can imagine how she would feel if, instead of Sakura, they were speaking of Kirei or Caren. She can imagine herself doing the same—she can't imagine herself acting differently. So, rather than scold him, she tilts her head to press her lips to his hairline, holding him close.]

You can be strong—I know you can. You've already been so strong for her. Don't think you haven't. Whether you think she should be here instead of you— You are here.

A dead man's wish

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