A dead man's wish

[warriorscribe]

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!))

Comments

on the graveyard floor;

[slightlyoblivious]

[You will find Yukiko down at the graveyard, too. Her arms are full of flowers, and it's clear she's been visiting everyone whose name is familiar - and everyone who doesn't have a flower, too.

But right now, she's knelt down in front of one of the two graves bearing her own name. She's surrounded the gravestone with flowers, just as she's done with the other bearing her name.]

I'm so sorry. I feel...I don't know how to feel. But I do know I'm sorry. You're me, after all. You shouldn't be out there like you are. And you're with me, even if I never got to meet you. You're with me.

[She leaves a folded note along with the flowers. And then she moves on to the three graves marked with Chie's name, starting to do the same.

It's okay to interrupt her.]

[fuhgeddaboudit]

Yukiko?

[Wearing the yellow flower hairclip Yukiko had left in her mailbox, Labrys approached as quietly as a whirring mechanical robot probably could.]

Looks like you had the same idea I did, huh?

[slightlyoblivious]

Hey, Labrys...

[Yukiko nods. She's wearing the matching pin clipped to her headband.]

It doesn't seem right, not to. Two other versions of me, three of Chie...and then so many others that don't have flowers or anything.

They should have something. An explanation, at least.

[fuhgeddaboudit]

[She nodded, dropping down to her knees beside Yukiko.]

Yeah, I was thinkin' the same thing. They'll...they'll be okay, right?

[slightlyoblivious]

They're me. I asked for their strength and their courage, in the notes. I explained what happened.

They'll be okay. I know they will.

[Yukiko stands up after a moment.]

Here. Do you want some of these flowers?

[fuhgeddaboudit]

[Labrys nodded again, looking determined.]

Yeah--I came here a lot t' leave flowers after the you I knew last time left. I didn't want ya t' think everybody forgot ya just 'cause ya weren't here.

[slightlyoblivious]

I -

[Timeline-sis, you're getting a hug.]

Thank you. For both of us - that me and me here now. Thank you...

[fuhgeddaboudit]

[yukiko ;-; have a robo-hug.]

I-it ain't any big deal. It just kinda seemed right, ya know?

[slightlyoblivious]

[;w;]

I'm really glad you did, though. Even if that's not the me that's here, it still means a lot to me, Labrys. I appreciate it.

[She lets go after a moment, but Yukiko's a little teary.]

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji had actually been visiting the graveyard floor himself. He had lost a few friends during his time here, and wanted to at least say goodbye to them. He'd paused at the graves of the other versions of himself as well, especially the one he'd met in person. That was one of the hardest farewells to make... though they'd only talked a few times, that Ryoji seemed almost like a brother to him, and knowing that his world was so much worse than his own made it hard to handle.

When he spots Yukiko, he approaches silently, not wishing to disturb her, and while she bends down to leave a note, he cautiously puts a hand on her shoulder.

He won't say anything yet, though. He isn't sure if anything he says will make this alright anyways.]

[slightlyoblivious]

[She turns at that hand on her shoulder, nodding once. Yukiko doesn't want to be alone right now.]

Thank you. I'll...well, not right away, but I'll be all right. I just - I wanted them to know they're not alone. Those two other versions of me...they're still me, you know?

[notsogrimreaper]

[Nor does Ryoji, so he's more than happy to accompany her. He nods, trying not to glance back at the grave marker he'd come from.]

I know. There's other versions of me that have been here too... one that I knew really well. I wish I could help him, especially when he already went through so much more than I did.

[slightlyoblivious]

[Yukiko nods.]

Two with my own name, three with my best friend's, and then everyone else from home...I wish I could do more for them. I - no.

No, we're going to do something for them. For all of them. We'll make it happen.

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji smiles at her determination.]

With all the brave, determined people we have here, I don't doubt that we will be able to help all of the people back home and restore our worlds.

I believe in them, and in you.

Is it okay if they meet at a grave not mentioned?

[warriorscribe]

*This floor... His attitude towards it had changed so many times since it appeared. First, he lingered there to comfort mourners. Then he returned to his world and the pain of total loneliness was too real to ignore and it became unbearably painful - and he was under threat of death to go there. And then over time, as he gained an aim, as events unfolded and they were given some control, the pain faded in the light of determination - they were not hopelessly lost.

And now? There was another layer to this memorial to the lost. Each and every person there, their suffering would end in even more pain, to fuel more suffering here.

And it was in part his own fault.

He does much the same, visiting graves along the way and leaving notes about at random. He has plenty of copies in his stack, after all.

When he comes to the grave reading Ryotaro Dojima, he sees there's already someone there, someone he doesn't think he's met.*

...He's someone you know, too?

yes. and I'm gonna tear up tagging this ;w;

[slightlyoblivious]

He's one of my best friends' uncle. He and his daughter Nanako were both here...and now...

[Yukiko doesn't look up for a few moments, as she finishes leaving her flowers, then saying a silent prayer.]

I wanted to do something for them.

[It's then that she looks up.]

They'll be okay. He's a detective, a good one. He'll protect as many people as he can. That's how he is.

[warriorscribe]

*He has no one to protect, alone on his dead world. But he can't bring himself to correct anyone of this misconception now.

It's been a long year for him, but he can't imagine - Dojima had been his roommate when he'd first come here.*

...And we'll save them. We'll keep Ruana from draining them of their lifeblood, so to speak.

*He had to say things that were inspiring. There was no room to despair just yet. Later, perhaps.*

[slightlyoblivious]

[Yukiko knows it's a misconception, but right now? It's keeping her from sobbing. She knows, deep down, there's no one to protect, that he's alone, that Nanako's alone, and she couldn't do anything.

But right now, not crying is a whole lot better than letting her tears flow as freely as she'd like them to. Later, perhaps. But not now.]

We will. I know we will. That vampire - and maybe that's the wrong word, but I can't bring myself to think of another - won't drain them. We won't let her.

[warriorscribe]

I find myself preferring "demon".

*Enoch's fist clenches at his side, and he takes a deep breath to keep the anger down.*

It's not a term I would use lightly in my world.

[slightlyoblivious]

I don't think I'd use that term lightly, either, same world or not.

[Yukiko doesn't look at that clenched fist. Instead, she looks down, at the flowers.]

But - we'll beat her. No matter what she is. We have a long road ahead of us, but one day...one day. The clock won't tick down before we save them.

[warriorscribe]

You're right. This tower is full of strength of many kinds. She doesn't know what that strength can do in unison.