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Post by mugenginga on Jan 14, 2010 23:11:27 GMT -5
Ryoji's face fell even more as Souji talked. He opened his mouth to try and say something, anything, but nothing sounded right. He lowered the arm that had been lifted and turned away. It was a bit of a violent turn. His hands were balled up into fists. Damn. That's the only word he could think of. But... why was this an issue? They'd be dead in a month anyhow. Because... because he thought maybe The Fall could be stopped?
It can not. Ryoji...
You say that... I suppose it doesn't matter. I'm gone either way, right?
Nyx hung her head, You shouldn't be here now.
Ryoji's eyes squeezed more tightly shut. His palms ached from the fingernails being driven into them. This wasn't something even Minato killing him could solve. The truth about Souji had no connection to The Fall. He'd still know about it. Although in a month, they'd all be dead. Again, something like shock flitted across his mind. Because... he let out a shaky sigh. It was simpler when he just accepted things. Nyx had said that he could, he could discard the human emotions. Dammit, if he'd just killed Aigis that night on Moonlight Bridge, none of this would be an issue. None of it.
"...You're just giving up, then?" Atem's voice was very critical.
"Atem, that's-"
"No, Partner. I'm tired of this, and its not going to work out on its own. Ryoji, you listen too. Nothing is decided until the final play is complete. Both of you are just giving up, and by doing that you've already lost. You can't automatically lose before the outcome is decided, you choose to lose. Souji, you'd lose yourself. Ryoji, you'd lose the world. Are you two just going to lay on your back and take this?" It was critical still, but also harsh and jugdmental.
Yuugi hung his head. Atem had finally had enough. He actually fel thte same way, but he didn't think it needed to be delivered so harshly. Then again, Atem's greatest pet peeve was those that gave up. And Ryoji had clearly done so, and Souji looked ready to. If he wasn't there already. Ryoji had looked up at Atem's harsh words and the clenched fists loosened. Atem didn't understand, he couldn't.
"I'm... sorry. I'm really sorry..." his voice was shaking.
"Don't apologize!" Atem snapped.
Yuugi took a step back and glanced at Souji. Would Souji dig himself into a hole too? Ryoji had looked away the instant Atem snapped. He wasn't just annoyed right now. The former Pharaoh was angry. Kid gloving the situation was clearly not working. If Ryoji and Souji had to be slapped upside the head a few times to get the point, he'd be more than willing to do so.
Nyx sensed the presence at the door, but said nothing. She didn't pass the sense to Ryoji. It seemed one of the demons from before, the one that wasn't the King. She glanced towards Souji. She was sure at least Izanagi was picking up on it. It was not yet a problem. Her heart hurt as the Pharaoh was making his arguments. It was human nature, she supposed. To thrash against the inevitable...
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 15, 2010 21:49:44 GMT -5
Souji clenched his fists. He hadn't given up. Not yet. He wasn't one to lie down and die. But he couldn't think of anything else to do. It wasn't that simple. Ryoji knew that too. He couldn't detach himself from Izanagi. Because he was part of Izanagi. He knew that by now. An offshoot, a shadow formed from him...
Souji blinked as he realized that he wasn't really sure what he was. Other than Izanagi's "Shadow" taunts, Souji had been getting conflicting explanations. Shadow borne from Izanagi. A shell that only existed to host Izanagi. Or the simple, non-descriptive "avatar" description.
But that wasn't important right now. What was important was that Atem had just told Ryoji to stop apologizing and that Minato looked like he was trying to decide whether he should strangle Atem or not. Minato obviously hadn't been having a good day.
"Atem," Souji said. He was trying to stay calm himself. He was still worried about what had happened when he'd regained control of his body.
You're still not done being emo about that? You and I both know that a Shadow needs to be being rejected for that to happen, Izanagi growled. Izanagi was keeping his eye on the door, and he seemed anxious for Souji to get out, a message he was sending by causing Souji to get a migraine that was only getting worse with every word Souji spoke.
"...I've been trying to get rid of Izanagi. I haven't been lying down and taking this. But even me going berserk on him in my own body didn't force him out. And he's not stupid enough to deny me again and make that happen again. And even if he was, he'd still be attached to me," Souji said. He was still trying to not explode on Atem, but the way Atem had been talking was pissing him off, even if it was probably right. Souji was surprising himself with the way he was thinking, though. He really was stressed, he supposed.
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Post by mugenginga on Jan 15, 2010 23:12:43 GMT -5
Atem noticed Minato all but twitching out of the corner of his eye. He almost felt for the blue haired teenager. After all, he doubted he'd be reacting any better if it was Yuugi being snapped at. In all honesty, he'd probably be reacting worse. He was implying a weakness to Ryoji... he was stating a weakness to Ryoji. The world was screwed if Ryoji gave up, somehow Atem knew that. He looked towards Souji as he tried to explain he was fighting. He shook his head.
"I'm not saying to get rid of him, Souji-kun," Atem's gaze was still harsh. He'd turned away from Ryoji, leaving the teen with nothing to say with no permission to apologize, "I'm saying don't just accept being lost as fact. Ryoji," Atem turned back to Ryoji, who had flinched as Atem said his name, "I'm telling you the same thing. Maybe you are tied to Nyx, but what you are has nothing to do with who you are. Whose duty is it to bring the Fall, who is Nyx's avatar?"
Yuugi took a few steps towards Souji, "Seta-kun... are you okay?"
The short teen didn't know if Souji was aware of this. But he was holding his head. He looked like he had a pretty massive headache. As if talking was making it worse. Atem had turned his focus to Ryoji, and Yuugi found himself turning his head. Who was Nyx's Avatar...? Yuugi's eyes widened. That... he hadn't thought of that.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 15, 2010 23:53:52 GMT -5
"I'm perfectly fine," Souji said. Which he wasn't. He hadn't realized he was holding his head the way he had been until Yuugi had asked him if he was okay. He realized that he's been about to slip out of consciousness then. Still was. His headache only felt like it was getting worse. He didn't know where this headache had come from suddenly, but considering Ryoji's headaches over the past couple days before he awakened, he had his suspicions.
Minato gave a concerned look to Souji as Yuugi addressed him, but he refocused on Atem as he addressed Ryoji. Who was Nyx's Avatar? Well, obviously Ryoji was... right? But Atem was implying it was Death... which was technically correct. And probably was more of the avatar than Ryoji was. No, definitely was.
Souji winced again. What was Izanagi trying to say? Shut the hell up? Like that was going to happen.
Actually, Izanagi was trying to get Souji away from this room. He didn't know if the demon could hear him speak to Souji; he doubted it, but the girl earlier had reacted whenever he talked to his avatar. It was possible the demon could hear his part too.
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Post by mugenginga on Jan 16, 2010 1:18:47 GMT -5
Yuugi didn't look convinced, "Seta-kun, maybe you should go home and lay down...?"
Atem was aware of the conversation, but said nothing. He was waiting for Ryoji's answer. Ryoji looked confused. Hadn't he told him? He was Nyx's avatar. It was his duty. Atem had to know that. And it wasn't a duty as much as a compulsion. He couldn't fight it. There had to be more to what Atem was asking than the obvious. He averted his gaze, Atem's eyes were always so harsh. He didn't know what the other teenager was after. No... he knew, he was pretty sure he understood what Atem was implying.
"You don't get it," Ryoji said with traces of bitterness, "Just like Izanagi is part of Souji, I'm part of Nyx. I'm part of Nyx's Avatar... the false part," his voice had shifted to a bit dark, "If any part of me is wrong, its this," he ended with a gesture towards himself. Atem narrowed his eyes.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 16, 2010 1:51:08 GMT -5
Souji shook his head, and he found himself hurting even worse. Jesus, what was Izanagi trying to do to him? He was going to pass out if this kept up. He wasn't even paying attention to the conversation at hand now.
Minato looked up as Ryoji insisted he was the fake one. "Ryoji, stop saying that!" he said. "No you're not! You're just as real as the rest of us! Are the emotions you got from me fake too?"
Minato had been rather animated lately. But he still was failing at reassuring people, in his opinion. He really needed to stop trying to do that, even if the fate of the world rested on Ryoji not calling Nyx to this world.
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Post by mugenginga on Jan 16, 2010 2:30:02 GMT -5
Yuugi fidgeted for a few moments. There was almost a foot of difference between his and Souji's height. Being short sucked, it really did. Finally he walked over to Souji and reached up and grabbed his hand. Souji didn't even seem coherent for the pain. Yuugi knew it was probably Izanagi, but right now that wasn't the issue. Souji was going to collapse at this rate.
"Hey, come on. I'll help you back to your apartment. Atem, I'll be back shortly," Yuugi said.
Atem hadn't let up his harsh look. It wasn't a glare so much as a critical stare. They had to get Ryoji to realize things soon. A month. Maybe. If Ryoji just let go, it was the world he was letting go. Maybe it was unfair to put that kind of weight on his shoulders. Atem knew what that kind of weight was, there was a reason he'd sealed himself in the Pendant. He opened his mouth when Minato managed to speak first. He heard Yuugi talk and nodded to let him know he'd heard.
Ryoji was going to argue. He had an argument all set up in his mind when Minato said the last bit. In a flash the words were gone. He hung his head. Right, he had to think of Minato. They were linked, if he was down on himself he was in a way down on Minato. He moved his mouth to the words of "I'm sorry" but no sound came out. Atem looked annoyed again.
"No, you're not," he stated, flat and dangerous.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 16, 2010 2:58:35 GMT -5
Minato was glaring at Atem. "Hey. There's nothing wrong with 'I'm sorry'." His hands, already curled into fists, tightened as he looked right at Atem. He didn't care that his fingernails were pinching into the skin of his palms at this point.
Souji looked down at Yuugi as his hand was removed from his head. Actually, he was barely seeing Yuugi. Maybe he did need to go back to his apartment. He gave a small nod, and let Yuugi help him outside.
Too bad he didn't make it about five feet from Minato's apartment before he finally did collapse.
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Post by mugenginga on Jan 16, 2010 3:31:40 GMT -5
Atem looked at Minato, "There is when you don't mean it."
Ryoji looked up. What did Atem mean, he didn't mean it. Of course he meant it. He looked hurt at the accusation, but Atem's glance didn't change. The former Pharaoh was aware of Minato's position. Odds were things were going to go south any second. Ryoji glanced at Minato, well aware of the same thing Atem was.
"Atem-kun, do you really think that...?"
"I know that you've given up. Stop apologizing for the decision you've made," Atem stated. This really wasn't going well.
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Nyarlathotep had sensed Souji coming closer. By the time Yuugi got the door, the demon was in the stairwell, using the wall to conceal itself. As much as it wanted to antagonize Souji or pop in uninvited on Minato and Death, Abel had pretty much stated he was to stay hidden. Observe, not interfere. Nyarlathotep hated orders like that, but he didn't fancy pissing the King off. He'd be lucky if he was as simple as killed.
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"Seta-kun!?"
Yuugi had been guiding Souji when he collapsed. The short teenager fell to his knees. There was a bit of pain, but he was more concerned about Souji. He was shaking the silver haired teen by the shoulders, trying to wake him up. He glanced at the door as he did so. He'd have to get help at this rate. Damn his height.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 16, 2010 3:55:57 GMT -5
And then the blue haired teen who had suddenly developed a worse temper than Souji ground his teeth at what Atem was saying. So this whole time he'd been saying that they didn't need to give up or decide it was a lost cause, and now he was pulling this shit?!
He ground his teeth, and finally ran forward and grabbed Atem by the collar of his shirt.
"What the hell's wrong with you today?!" Minato yelled. "We've already gone through a day of hell, and now you're coming in here and pulling this shit?! If you don't stop, I'm going to kick your ass! I don't care what Yuugi thinks, this is my apartment, you do not come in here and start yelling at Ryoji and Souji, and if you don't stop, I'm going to kick your ass right out that door!"
The thing was, if anyone had been yelling, it was Minato.
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Souji was still out cold.
You're still not safe yet, Souji-kun, Izanagi said. You took too long to get my warning, and that demon's still watching from afar.
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Post by mugenginga on Jan 16, 2010 4:10:17 GMT -5
Atem tried to side step the rush. Ryoji's eyes had gotten wide and he'd taken a step back. Yeah, it had gone south. The former Pharaoh wasn't able to dodge, Minato was quick when he needed to be. He found himself pulled close and meeting Minato's glare. He didn't struggle much, just enough so that he didn't feel like he was going to be choked to death. At around 5'3", the height difference wasn't exactly favorable to Atem.
"I'm saying if he's going to condemn the world with his choice he shouldn't apologize for it!" Atem yelled back, "He' s not sorry, if he was sorry he would fight, he would change his choice!"
"Minato, let him go! Atem-kun, don't you think I'd choose not to if I had a choice!? I don't!"
"Ryoji does," Atem growled, feeling the shirt tighten against his back at Minato's reaction to the response, "Death might not, but Ryoji does!"
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Yuugi had jerked his head up as the shouts started. First Minato. That made Yuugi pale. He didn't care what he thought? Oh crap. Yuugi pushed himself to his feet as he heard Ryoji yell. And then Atem yelled. Considering what Minato said that couldn't be good. He didn't think Atem would hurt Minato unless he had to. He hesitated, glancing back at Souji's unconcsious form and the door to the apartment. Finally he squeezed his eyes shut and crouched down.
"Seta-kun! Seta-kun..." Yuugi closed his eyes and asked for forgiveness mentally, but he couldn't think of anything else right now, "Izanagi-san, get up!"
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 16, 2010 4:27:41 GMT -5
Minato looked back at Ryoji, narrowed his eyes at Atem, but he didn't let go of him quite yet. This time, he was ignoring Ryoji. He was going to make his point.
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For a moment, nothing happened. Then, there was a light groan as Souji's eyes fluttered open. They weren't yellow like they'd been when Souji had woken up after going berserk, but they had a bit of a yellow-colored gleam. The deity in control of Souji's body pushed itself up, and slowly came to its feet. It would be clear that this wasn't Souji in control as he stood up. He was holding himself more proudly, more regally.
Izanagi smirked as he looked down at Yuugi. "You called?" Izanagi asked. The look he was giving Yuugi was rather Naoya-like.
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Post by mugenginga on Jan 16, 2010 4:54:12 GMT -5
"We're the same damn person!" Ryoji shouted at Atem.
The former Pharaoh pulled back a bit, but Minato more than compensated. He could probably attempt to get free. Hand to hand was not his greatest skill, but he could probably manage. The problem was that with how serious Minato was, he might have to hurt Minato to accomplish it. And Minato's reaction was understandable. Even if he and Ryoji had just been close friends, it was understandable. So the most he did was try to adjust to lessen the tension, but it didn't work well.
"You're the same person? Do you honestly believe that?" Atem asked. He was looking at Minato more because the hold he was in forced him to than anything else.
There was something other than anger in Atem's narrowed eyes as he kept them locked with Minato's. He didn't know how well Minato would read the nonverbal communication right now. What he wanted was for Minato to realize that he needed to help. Right now all he was doing was making Ryoji feel more useless. He wasn't supporting even a bit of what Atem was trying to say. It was clear, even by the little bit of motion he could see out of the corner of his eyes, that Minato was the only one Ryoji would listen to with full attention.
Dammit, Minato, say something! Does Death care for you the way Ryoji does? Do you give a damn about Death? He clearly doesn't think those feelings are worthless, but he can't differentiate one side from the other! Yes, its him. Yes he is Death and Death is him, but dammit his human, his light side needs your support! It doesn't matter if the darkness came first, you have to make him see that his gentle side grants a sort of strength as well!
Atem had stopped struggling. Unless he wanted to hurt Minato, he could only wait for the blue haired teen to let him go. He could reach his cards, but that would hurt Minato was well. Right now all he could do was hope Minato could see what he was thinking through the eyes he was staring at.
Ryoji had stopped as Atem had spoken. Did he think that? He covered his face with both hands. He didn't know. Death knew, and he found the pull towards just letting Ryoji go and going to the Tower grow stronger still. If this was what protecting him did to Minato, maybe it was better off he was gone. Maybe if he made the choice to abandon that... was that him or Death? Was he Death? Was Death him? Was their a dividing line? His head hurt, he just didn't know.
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Yuugi took a step back. He didn't know if he had caused Izanagi to come out, or if Izanagi had already been out. He'd tried Izanagi's name because he thought maybe the god had already been out. Now, with that horrid smirk, he wasn't sure. He felt like a horrible person. His concern for Atem had overridden his concern for Souji, and now this was what it was. He set his feet in the ground and glared at Izanagi. It was that rare look of defiance Yuugi had, made all the more powerful due to its rarity.
"Let Seta-kun wake up," Yuugi's voice skirted an order, but was low despite being vehement. He didn't want to interrupt what Atem was trying to do, he'd made that decision finally, "I don't want your help, but I know you were keeping him down! You were causing that headache, weren't you? Let Seta-kun out!"
He only hoped Atem could handle himself. He only hoped he was right and that the situation had been caused by Izanagi. Nyarlathotep had raised an eyebrow and smirked when 'Souji' had responded to Yuugi's Izanagi line. It was like Ryoji, it seemed. In this case the teenager was an avatar of Izanagi, but it was close enough. Not only that, but it seemed the group were not fond of that side of the teenager. Nyarlathotep almost chuckled. Extraordinary indeed. A teenager connected to Death and one who was a mere avatar.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 16, 2010 11:46:08 GMT -5
Minato could see that Atem wasn't just angry at something now, but he couldn't tell what Atem wanted him to say. He got the gist of it when he looked back at Ryoji, who had started covering his face with both hands. Minato's expression softened greatly, and he finally let go of Atem's collar. He took a few steps toward Ryoji.
"Ryoji... does Death care for me the way you do? Do you think that I care for Death? Ryoji, you're the one who's important to me, not Death. You're the one I want to spend the rest of my days with, not Death," Minato said. He wasn't sure if he was saying the right thing at this point. After all of the fails he'd had earlier, he wasn't sure he wasn't making things worse. "You and Death are completely separate people to me."
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Izanagi's expression changed to a neutral one as Yuugi started ordering him around. Yuugi never spoke like this. Well, Izanagi supposed that no one in this group liked him anyways, after his actions during his brief time in Souji's body before. Brief time in it now, too. He doubted Souji would stay out for long. Well, it was the idiot's own fault for not taking his message.
"Sorry, but Souji's busy sleeping. Don't worry, I'll let him have control once he's awake," Izanagi said. "And yes, I was, but not for the reason you're probably thinking. We were being watched. Still are, in fact. And considering our encounter with Abel earlier, it's likely one of his court. I'm thinking that demon that unsettles my avatar so much, Nyarlathotep."
Nyarlathotep. He knew he knew that name from somewhere, but it had been years since it had been brought up. He had known about some business that had been going on in the mortal world over the past decade or so, and that Philemon was involved with his avatar's Wild Card, so it only made sense that Nyarlathotep was involved somehow. But he couldn't recall any specifics, mostly because his avatar had been very young when these incidents started over ten years ago. Souji wouldn't remember any specifics. And even if he did, Izanagi doubted he'd know anything about any Persona users or anything like that involved.
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Post by mugenginga on Jan 16, 2010 12:30:21 GMT -5
Ryoji paused. No, Death didn't. As far as Death was concerned, Minato was little more than an inconvenience, a temporary stop over in its purpose. Nyx wasn't the only one that thought of Minato as a "former host". And caring? Death wasn't even capable. It was a true neutral, it had to be. Like Nyx had said, Death had to be impartial. Emotions only interfered with that. Which was probably why he was having the issues now. Because his emotions didn't want this, and Death knew it had to happen. It had to happen, and that knowledge was passed onto his emotions.
Atem had stumbled a bit and taken a step back. He was running his throat, but he said nothing as Minato approached Ryoji. He looked sympathetic now. Yes, he'd been angry and flown of his handle. Maybe it was more because he was struggling against what Ryoji was told was inevitable, but it was also because Ryoji was being lost. Ryoji had managed to become a friend, even if only in terms of a good aquaintance for him. Even in the chance that he couldn't beat it, he needed to stop being so torn up. And as long as that happened, as long as he didn't give up, Atem believed there was a chance. Even Zorc had claimed he couldn't be defeated, after all.
"Ryoji..." Atem said, softly with a glance towards Minato, "If you and Death are the same, than so are Anpu and Bakura."
Ryoji hesitated. They seemed similar. Hell, when one was active and not talking, only a stance differed them. Anpu could mimic Bakura, Ryoji was sure, but then again... if Death felt the need to it could mimic him. Really, Pharos had been far more Death than he was, at least early on. And who had drawn out the human side? The teenager lowered his hands and glanced at Minato. Him. The source of those emotions.
"...not completely. When it goes, I have to... but..." Ryoji looked away, and he gained a wry smile, "Just a shared body, huh...?"
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Yuugi's gut reaction was to argue that. K1 wouldn't spy on them. He pulled that back quickly, trying to cover it with it being Nyarlathotep's choice. He pulled that back as well, and found himself looking away from Izanagi. His harsh gaze had dropped as well, and now he looked depressed. No, Izanagi was probably right, implications and all. Yuugi glanced towards the door again and shook his head without realizing. He couldn't rely on Atem for everything.
"Do you think he's aware we know he's there? I mean," Yuugi dropped his voice to a whisper, "Is it possible to sneak up on him?"
Nyarlathotep turned his head as he heard Yuugi's voice drop. Of course he knew that they knew he was there. And it wasn't as watched as Nyarlathotep would have wished, he was having to rely on voices. Still, he couldn't make out what Yuugi had just said. He scowled. He could guess. Yuugi was trying to make plans towards him in a way he couldn't hear. He could hear footsteps though, and he'd be gone if they tried anything. God or no, Izanagi was still stuck in the frame of an avatar that didn't appear to like the idea.
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