songerein | Player Event: "Imbalance" [OPEN]

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Player Event: "Imbalance" [OPEN]

Who: Everyone! Even the newcomers! What a time to jump in, huh?
Which: OPEN Dreamscape
What: On the night of the 10th a strange dreamscape appears, dividing some dreamers into two, each bearing just half of themselves... how will they pull themselves together?
Warnings: Probably a lot. I trust you fine people to please mark your content appropriately should your threads make mention of anything triggering. I'm watching you.

Quiet nights never seem to stay quiet. It began with the slightest flicker within the crystal lanterns, a ripple, perhaps the sound of coins clinking together.

Then, with a distant scream, there was a torrent of blue and orange flame. It's hot but it doesn't burn, swirling and dancing with the frenzy of a desperate dancer. It blinds to familiar surroundings, twin colors that seemingly never end...

Until one's feet touches sand-dusted stone and marble. The air is hot and arid, ripe with burning kindling in myriad torches that line walkways. The flames rhythmically sway, catching the glimmer of golden archways and decor that embed the city... palace...? That lay before you.

Something is wrong. Really wrong. Something in you feels... different. Blank. But before you can comprehend it much further, something is running down the pathway in the distance to enter the palace like the devil was on its heels. That something looks just like you...

You pursue this weird other you... or, you don't. Perhaps you were drawn to the palace's splendor and decided to explore, maybe find some sweet treasure while you're here. Whatever the case, nothing about this place smells dusty or aged. It feels brand new... lined with statues and tapestries of what appeared to be great warriors, all humanoid and bearing twisted horns atop their heads and long, craggy tails covered in scales. But some of them have been altered in some way... some are missing their heads, and one or two "lucky" ones have simply had large claw marks ripped across their face. What would put claw marks in stone was anyone's guess.

Those who tire of the architecture may find some doors are unlocked. Yes, such a lavish place seems all too eager to lay itself bare for you, perhaps bearing a sparkly trinket or two to your liking. (Note: Unfortunately, any treasures obtained in the palace will only come back with you in the form of candies shaped as said jewels, crowns made of shortbread, tapestries spun from candy floss, etc. It's all food. Enjoy!)

Deeper and deeper you delve, either arms full of treasure or having bumped into friends who don't exactly act like your friends normally would, you find more motifs of the warriors, more intact the further you head through this weird city-palace. Near the center are statues depicting two... figures... each holding a pair of scales.

Yet no matter how much you wait and watch them, the scales continue to sway from one side to the other. There's nothing on their respective plates, however... what could be throwing them off?

If you place anything on the plates and mend the swaying scales, you are given a single shard of a strange crystal rife with dreamotion energy with a sense of wholeness and connection. It shifts colors as you turn it this way and that in your hand. Maybe that'll help put some of these people back together if fighting or talking to them won't do it...

[ooc: Information and Plotting post is here for easy review. The shards are meant to simplify putting people back together if needed, but are the only thing that can be taken into the semi-waking world as a pretty bauble. Also, a reminder that this is optional. Enjoy!]

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▶ HAVE A SHORT REST
He's... fine. Probably.

This darkened corner of the Dreamscape was the one he’d woken up in, after… what had happened, actually? Akechi remembered the crystal lanterns glowing, hearing a song… and then nothing.

It probably didn’t matter. He sat, leaning back against cold stone and staring at the ceiling, and realized, dimly, that the gap in his memories really should have bothered him more- that this was a Dreamscape of some kind, and therefore probably dangerous, but mostly… he just didn’t want to move.

Even if the place reeked, to his mind, of saltwater and rust and grease… and blood. That should have unsettled him, really, but right now it mostly felt… familiar. Strangely comforting.

There was a pistol in his hand, heavy enough he could tell it was real, even if he knew he’d gotten rid of the real one- and that was fine. It was cold down here, and dark, and there was a puddle of water underneath him, condensation trickling down off the walls of the tunnels, and that was fine too. The single azure lantern nearby didn’t illuminate much of anything, and that was probably more fine than the other things, but it was hard to find much reason to be happy about it.

There was blood on his suit jacket, too, a spatter of it across his left sleeve, and he knew that should have been a lot more concerning than it was-

But there was just… nothing. Mostly what he wanted to do was sleep. Good place for it, honestly, just as soon as those approaching footsteps went on by.

▶ DISQUIET
This is probably not fine.

… Only, in keeping with the theme of the Dreamscape, the Goro Akechi languishing in the tunnels, compared to this one, was akin to walking from a soundproofed room into a metal concert. The effect was an eye-bleeding explosion of color- an outfit that was all purple and red stripes and black and white patterns and princely gold and tattered black cape- a helmet that was half black with horn and half white with wings, a mask that was a twisted mockery of a crow, cracked and pieced together from jagged shards of red and black.

And yet, for those in the know, what might have been the most disquieting aspect of his appearance was the eyes, luminous gold that shone under the sunset light of the Dreamscape. He moved with sword in hand, stalking through the twisted landscape- but in spite of his purposeful progress, he’d greeted others with a knife’s-edge smile and a demeanor that was one part desperate and one part almost- almost- friendly.

Even if the overall effect almost hurt to look at. Even if his voice reverberated oddly, like a layer underneath was distorted, twisted like the rest of him.

And, in this specific instance, when he’d caught movement out of the corner of his eye- a stranger, or perhaps an acquaintance just passing by, he’d moved quickly, too quickly, blocking egress but approaching no further than arm’s length.

“Hello! Do you think you could help me? I’m looking for someone.”

▶ RIVERS IN THE DESERT | CURRENT CR, FREE FOR ALL
It's definitely not fine. It is not fine at all.

One had finally found the other.

This deep in the dreamscape, the environment was… unstable. Often, it took the shape of Nald’thal’s grand arena- it was, after all, Madhuri’s dream. But there was a Shadow here, and in such a place cognition was everything.

The air stank, at times rust and grease and salt and blood and others floral and vegetal and cloyingly sweet and bitter like poison, ripples through the air occasionally revealing rusted metal and thrumming machinery- or, in the chaotic morass bogging the place down, brilliant plantlife and a tree rising into the sky- though these flickering glimpses were only present for moments at a time.

The chaotic confluence of cacophonous cognition had come to conclusion, and Goro Akechi, twinned, looked himself in the face. One, bearing an expression that suggested nothing more than resignation- and the other, utter jubilation.

The Shadow glanced at those accompanying his Other, and the knife’s-edge smile returned. ”I’d almost hoped this would be a private party… but I guess I did always love being the center of attention. Evening, everyone!”

Edited (fucking html) 2022-09-11 05:22 (UTC)

The shifting scenery was disorienting enough, but the assault all of the changing smells were having on his senses is what was really getting to him. He buried his face in the crook of an elbow, having long since invoked the costume change that had him sprinting towards the centre of the arena, dressed as Joker. He skidded to a stop only when he reached the figure that stood there, staring the Ideal down, with the Real right next to him.

"Akechi—"

He wanted to take Goro's lead on this one, shooting the other a glance before taking a half-step forward, and closer. His body language said what his words didn't: They'd been in this position before. They could handle it again.

Amber-gold eyes fairly burned behind the mask, as the Shadow stared down the pair approaching. "Joker. It's good to see you. That's not even me being sarcastic; I can't imagine anyone I'd rather be here for this."

The boy beside Ren faltered, almost stumbling as he came to a stop. "And what is 'this', exactly? You're walking around pretending to be a Shadow, but that's impossible. Persona wielders can't have Shadows."

The Shadow's knife's edge smile widened, a gauntleted finger testing the tip of his sword. "They aren't supposed to have Palaces, either. Or awaken to multiple Personas at once- and yet, you've seen both of those things happen, haven't you? It's clear the 'rules' don't always apply... but if you're skeptical of my credentials, I could just... prove it."

Akechi narrowed his eyes. "Prove it how?"

"Everything you are. Everything you hide, even from yourself- especially from yourself. All these things and more- for I am a Shadow! The true self! And you?! You're just what's left."

"You know that's not right!"

In spite of being directly addressed, he spoke only to Akechi, the one at his side, rather than the one that toed the line in front of them. Behind his mask, he gave the Shadow a long, drawn out look, saying nothing in that infuriating ~~silent protag~~ way of his.

"Maybe there were parts of yourself that you hid for a long time, but—" when his voice finally came, it was calm again, even-toned and grounding. Futaba had had a Shadow before her Awakening, so it wasn't outside the realm of possibility, but at the same time, considering their... circumstances, not everything always added up. "It's not like that anymore."

Joker straightened then, finally swinging a simmering gaze of his own back towards the Shadow, the knife at his side gripped tightly. "And if there is any part that's been left—" it's obvious he means you Shadowkechi— "we'll just pick it back up again."

"Is that right, Ren? And do I tell you everything?"

As exhausted as Akechi looked- was, he could just about have managed Concerned, in the moment. "Just- stop. You're not me. Alright? I'm not even me, even if you told him everything about me- even assuming you are my Shadow. It wouldn't matter even if you were."

The Shadow's smile faded, his voice turning quiet. "And why is that, exactly?"

"Because Goro Akechi died in Shido's Palace. Pretending otherwise is pointless, and sad." Even though the remark was half-directed at the boy beside him- he couldn't... quite meet Joker's eyes.

"You don't—" of course Akechi didn't tell him everything. How many mistrials and steps could they have avoided, with just a little more honesty between them? "And you don't need to..." All the same, thanks to their bond, Joker had felt there was a deeper connection between them. One that went beyond words...

His glance fell downwards at the true Goro's words. That simple, irrefutable truth was more than just some simple thorn in his side, spurring him to avert his gaze, too. He knew that when the former detective had come back into their lives that it was unlikely to be a happy ending, but... still—

"Almost as sad... as never getting to say goodbye, in the first place."

"And you won't get to," Akechi replied. He sagged, slightly, the exhaustion showing in his expression. He really was so god damn tired. "I'm not him, and this is just a dream. You'll wake up, and I'll fade away. Not even like a Shadow would. Like a cognition would. That's all I am." He looked up at the Shadow. "So, what. Have you come to kill me? 'Rewarded as a traitor deserves', is that it?"

The Shadow cocked his head to the side, considering the question. And then he moved, like lightning, azure flame burning as a gauntleted fist swung towards his face, sending the defenseless Akechi staggering backward, bleeding- "Are you really this pathetic?! After everything you've been through, you're just going to give up?!" His face was twisted in a feral snarl, turning to look at Joker, now. "That's what Hereward is, you know. This sad sack of shit realized he was going to die and do you know what he felt? Relief. Freedom! Freedom from Maruki, freedom from Shido, freedom from the thought of ever having to confront the one thing that terrifies him more than anything else-"

"Stop it."

"Oh? How are you going to make me? You don't even have a Persona anymore. Do you?! You can barely manifest Hereward for more than a few seconds, let alone do anything with him, no matter how many of those little tutoring sessions you go to with Emet-Selch. And you- don't even know why. Because you won't even ask the fucking question!"

Akechi spat, staggering to his feet. "I thought we'd just established that didn't matter. My existence- whatever or whoever I am- is inherently pointless."

Edited 2022-09-26 14:31 (UTC)

"..." it wasn't so much a sound, as it was a audible wince, at that pointed, first statement. The Akechi that had returned after the cruiser had fell... it was a cognition— he'd suspected, but Ren had been happy enough to blur the details, so long as it meant... ...

Joker drew in sharp breath as Goro staggered backwards from the point-blank blow, moving instinctively in front to try and shield one from the other, flipping the dagger in his hand from a defensive stance onto its offensive point, baring teeth at the Shadow- still choosing to speak to the young man at his back, rather than the one he faced.

"It wasn't pointless!" though the message was clearly for the both of them, anyway. "You can say it as many times as you want that none of it mattered, but you and I both know that isn't true! I heard you say it. I know you wondered what might have happened had we just met sooner, so—"

The construct may have told more truths than Akechi had wanted it to, the relief that came in the death he'd suffered at the hands of himself. The revelation of the lack of a Persona— confessions kept in the dark before now, of lessons to try and alter the bitter pill of the situation the former detective had found himself in...

"I might not know what question he's talking about, or just how much of that is true, but— if there's something you need to figure out, we can do it together, while you are here! While you can ask!"

The shadow raised his hands, taking a step back but saying nothing further.

"Alright. I'll bite. Why can't I use a Persona?"

"Not a clue?" He titlted his head. "That's the wrong question, Bargain-Bin. We only have until this Dreamscape collapses... so I'll ask for you." The Shadow leaned in, making no move to attack, but mere inches away from Joker's face, eyes lingering for a moment- before peering at the boy behind him. "I'd say listen to him, since he knows better than you seem to- but this? Has. To come. From you.

Who are you?"

"... I don't know."

"Look. I promised Yoshizawa I wouldn't hit you and I've only done that one time so far which I think is a very fair compromise, don't make me upset her- Who. Are. You. Shido's bastard?"

"No."

"Really. You could've fooled me. Bitter, angry, murderous... fundamentally alone. That sounds right, but you tell me. Who are you? Yaldabaoth's prized knight, his perfect little witless agent of ruin?"

"No." Akechi snarled, kept for the moment at bay by Ren's presence between them.

"Now that was the closest thing to a feeling you've shown all damn day. Should we go down the list of everyone who's ever manipulated you, played you like a damn fiddle, can we cut to the chase, or am I going to have to beat this incredibly. Simple. Lesson into you. What's left, when you take away everything forced on you, everything you were twisted into being, everything stolen by people who think that people like you are less than dirt. What name did you carry with you, even though everyone around you told you the name of a dead whore was worth less than dirt?"

"This is pointless. I know what you're getting at, and we've already established that I'm not him. He's dead. None of this matters."

"So what?" In contrast to the previous near-scream, the quiet tone from the Shadow's mouth was like a slap in the face. "So your life is meaningless. In what way is that any different from anyone else? He's dead, but you- we- remain. Doesn't that mean that we're- finally- able to make that meaning ourself? Is that who you are, a sad little footnote on Takuto Maruki's rap sheet?"

"No," came the whispered response, and the Shadow's expression softened, a gloved hand coming up to remove the twisted mask.

"No. I know you know the answer, because... I know it. But you need to accept it. You're the best of him- the brightest, all that's left... of Hinawa Akechi's son. You have a second chance, something that precious few people ever get. You have his memories, his experiences, and even if Maruki made you like this, that doesn't have to define you- any more than Shido did. You can just... move on. We can just move on. I'm not saying it won't be hard, because it will-" he glanced at Ren, smiled softly. "But what the hell has been?"

In the first moment, Violet didn't recognize him. How could she? Distorted as he was, half-idealized hero, half-twisted mess, all-Shadow, there was something entirely unrecognizable about him, despite the hints of his Crow costume peeking through, tattered and pieced together though they may have been. Not to mention that she herself, only recently gathered back together, was trying to find a way out of this confusing place. She was tired, exhausted even.

He, however, was not going to let her pass. The quick movement, the blocking of her path, and she looked up at him, her eyes widening as the recognition settled under her skin. Akechi. But... the look of him, the twisted smile on his lips— Since their first excursion together into the Metaverse, she had always known Akechi to be a little... well, she'd never been able to put it into words. But this seemed worse than that, like that multiplied by a hundred, like the tempering side of him was completely gone.

...Which, based on what happened to her? It probably was.

Oh, no.

Violet took a deep breath, looked up to meet his eyes. Was he looking for Joker? Or was he looking for himself - the other side of himself, no doubt the one he tried so hard to let none of them see? The only way to know was to ask.

"Who are you looking for, Akechi-san?"

There was something unsettlingly genuine about the way he smiled, when he saw her. Genuine excitement, with a slightly-desperate edge that made those amber-gold eyes fixate on her like she was the only feature of the room. "Sumire. Good! You can help me. We're friends, aren't we? Or are all those grand speeches about camaraderie and acceptance the bullshit I always hoped they weren't?"

The way he spoke— the way he smiled— both sent a genuine chill down her spine, but she held her ground, not daring to take a step back away from him, whether for fear of him, or for.

Her words when she spoke, however, were careful, both in tone and choice.

"Of course we're friends... which is why I need to know who you're looking for. Will you tell me?"

His answer would, naturally, decide her course of action. But regardless of anything, her words were truthful. Even if she did end up fighting in some way against him here, it would be to protect him from this mixed-up, frightful version of himself.

He seemed to relax, if only slightly. "It almost sounds like a bad joke, when I start to say it out loud. 'I need some help finding myself' makes it sound like I'd like to go on a vacation to France and not come back- but really, Sumire, it's the truth. Have you seen him, out of curiosity? A boy who wears my face? He's not me, not in any way that matters, but it's important I find him just the same."

She shook her head slightly in response to his words. "I know it's the truth, Akechi-san. What's happening to you now... it happened to me, too."

And that meant that the boy with his face was him, in every way that mattered. But she wouldn't say that, not when it seemed like his sanity was on a razor-thin edge.

"I'll help you find him. But... I have to ask, what do you plan to do with him when you do?"

The shadow's expression turned contemplative, for a moment. "Oh, I know what he'd like me to do. But I think that'd be rather pointless and sad. I would very much like to beat the shit out of him, though."

He fell into place by her side, though, the smile returning. "Still! I think apart from Joker, you're the member of the group I've spent the most time with. Which is a little funny, if you think about it, because neither of us were really being ourselves at all, through most of it."

What he'd like Akechi to do? Violet frowned. The words he spoke were certainly true, to the point that she couldn't confidently say she knew what the other version of him wanted. Despite the amount of time they had spent together, neither of them was honest about who they were... at least until very recently.

She had to wonder, though, from his words alone: was that other part of him— the one this Shadow-like Akechi seemed to be chasing— a part of him that wanted to die? It seemed likely, and yet she didn't want to put words in his mouth. Instead, as they walked, she dropped her gaze, her tone thoughtful as she spoke:

"What is it that he wants you to do, Akechi-san? Because the truth is, I'd like to be able to spend more time with you as the two people we truly are, not the people we were pretending to be..."

"Kill him, probably!" It was said so casually, so thoughtlessly, with the tone of announcing one's dinner plans. "It'd make everything so simple, you see? Stop him thinking about things that he hates confronting about himself- flaws in his thinking, gaps in his reasoning you could drive a distressingly-feline minibus through-"

He laughed, for a moment, at the joke. "Already dead. Just a puppet. Meaningless, really. Easier to stop caring, stop trying, stop existing. Fucking coward. But you don't have to worry. I don't need to kill him, Sumire. And he can't even summon a Persona. It's sad, really. No more lies to cling to, no more hate to drive him forward, even survived the death he'd planned- at the Phantom Thieves' hands, no less! It's all, so... pathetic. It's like there's nothing left, and he's really just looking for a reason..."

He paused. "I've just realized, this is probably pretty upsetting to hear. Sorry about that. I'm-" he smiled, just a little bit- "-we're- not a very happy person. If you couldn't tell. But you... you people. You've seen us. Seen me. Warts and all, and here you are. I've never had friends, Sumire. Not before Ren, and not before all of you, as fucked up as that is. You wouldn't leave me behind, would you?"

As Akechi responded to her question with the exact answer she'd somehow known was coming, she felt her heart sink. Despite knowing what it was going to be, she'd allowed herself to hope for something different, because she knew all too well how it felt, and it's a feeling she'd never wish on anyone— and perhaps that part of him would be surprised to know that he was included in that.

Her feelings toward him might have been complicated, but they were teammates after all; Violet thought to herself that there was even the potential for them to be friends, now that they had the chance.

"Um, it's okay. You don't have to apologize." Her smile was a little awkward, but genuine nonetheless. "I mean... yes, it's upsetting to hear, but not because—" She broke off, shaking her head for a moment, trying to find the words to say what was on her mind. "Honestly, I'm not a very happy person either." In fact, just like him, one of her two selves had been desperately seeking her own death before a kind stranger had helped put them back together. "But... I think we can learn to be.

So, no. I won't leave you behind."

And in fact, it was inspiration from the stranger's actions that informed the next of her own, as she reached out to offer him her hand.

"But if you want to look for him together, you have to know that I won't let you beat him up, either. Okay?"

Edited 2022-09-29 18:13 (UTC)

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Soft but hurried steps carried the form of an increasingly frightened young boy through the less frequented recesses of the area. Ever since Seto had discovered that his other self was seeking him out with murderous intent, he'd been playing the most intense game of hide and seek he'd ever engaged in. Everything about this was still so bewildering, and he had zero clue as to how he was supposed to reunite himself. All he could do was try to survive long enough to wake up from this nightmare.

So when his eyes adjusted to the dim light, and he first caught sight of the slumped figure covered in blood and holding a firearm, there was nothing he could do to stop the gasp that escaped from his lips. Eyes widened in surprise, he swiftly looked away before he felt ill. A part of him just wanted to leave and pretend as if he'd never stumbled across this guy but he looked like he was in worse trouble than even Seto was currently.

His voice came out meekly at first,"..M.. mister?" They grew with some strength, though kept to a firm whisper. "Hey, mister... are you okay?" What a foolish thing to ask when it was evident that the stranger was anything but. An assumption formed in his mind and Seto started to feel even worse. Had his other self been responsible for this? Was he still skulking about in the shadows, somewhere? If he was, then neither one of them should stay here.

Taking as deep a breath as he dared in this foul air, he forced himself to take a step towards the fallen form.

"Is there anything I can do? Are you hurt..? We need to get out of here... before he comes back."

He was being interrupted.

Unfortunate.

Akechi's eyes opened, focusing blearily on the child in front of him. The boy was concerned. "I'm not hurt, no. The blood isn't mine."

He doubted that was terribly reassuring, but then, he didn't much care. "Before who comes back?"

"It's... not?"

Seto took the briefest moment trying to decide whether that answer was more comforting or disturbing. If it wasn't this guy's blood, then whose was it? "Whew, that's a relief. What are you doing down here then?"

"Oh that? I guess it doesn't matter now. I just thought I knew who might have done this to you but like you said- you're not injured."

"Waiting, I suppose."

He glanced up at the boy, looking... tired. So tired. "You probably shouldn't be down here anyway. I'm not a very good person. You should run along to your parents, or whoever's in charge of you."

It was impossible for an inquisitive mind to be satisfied with the vague answer, but it didn't take a child prodigy to recognize when someone was not in the mood to talk. That and the strange teenager still had that gun and it looked like they recently used it.

The death of his parents was still fresh in his mind, so the child grew silent.

"I... don't have any parents. Not anymore- but if you want me to go..."

His expression faltered... and he nodded. "That... makes two of us, I suppose. You can stay, if you want. I won't stop you."

Something about another orphan made him sit up and think. It wasn't a pleasant emotion... but it was something to do. "Who's coming after you?"

The admission of that fact caused the youth some pause himself. It wasn't easy dealing with loss, not when it was fresh nor when it had been a few months onward. Seto wasn't sure how recently the other male had lost his parents but he instantly felt sympathy for him. Did he have anyone else he could turn to? "I'm sorry, I didn't know." Even though the stranger said he could stay, Seto still wasn't sure if that's what either of them wanted.

Still, he was exhausted and if he could just rest for a little while...

He lingered in the passageway, trying not to be a bother in anyway. So when the follow up question was issued, it too him off-guard. "Oh.. uh.. This won't make any sense, but.. I am." He might have been young but that didn't mean he was stupid. That person trying to wipe him out was definitely another Seto Kaiba. "I mean.. he's like.. another me. A lot taller and... meaner."

Edited 2022-10-14 02:50 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Player Event: "Imbalance" [OPEN]

Goro Akechi || Persona 5 Royal || OTA

3 ( the last ace in a lost hand )

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oof so sorry my dude, i am out of hell for a few days...... lays down tags 4u gently

I've been there friend, no worries

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▶ HAVE A SHORT REST | Throws (+) Kaiba at you

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