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[semi-open] harbinger of suffering and grief
WHO: Ryoji and whoever doesn't sleep at night, I guess
WHERE: Apprassage to various places around the city, Recollé Woods
WHEN: midnight 5/17 and onward towards the end of the month
WHAT: Ryoji regains his Thanatos form; unable to control his powers, he flees, leaving destruction in his wake. He's generally very upset about it all. Please help.
WARNINGS: fighting, violence, mentions of death and suicide
[ —a screech pierces the stillness of night over the quiet streets of Apprassage, the bite of burnt rubber and asphalt filling in the space where a car now lies turned around and stalling traffic, shattered windshields spilling glass onto the street and the crumpled hood sending smoke into the air. The blaring of the car alarm falls on deaf ears of the boy standing before it, eyes wide and unseeing as he clutches his head and screams, the shimmering barrier around him dissolving back into darkness and then— ]
A. midnight, 5/17, various (CLOSED to those I talked to on May's plotting post here)
[ A brilliant flash lights up the sky outside, brief, overwhelming, then everything is plunged back into darkness. Whether the noise had woken you up, or you were awake in the dead of night to begin with, eyes lifted towards the sky might spot a shadow take off past the rooftops, deep rumble felt through the earth behind it.
Those who venture closer— the curious, the brave, the foolish— would find deep gashes on the roads, dragged long as if a sword pulled across the ground, scattered potholes still burning with the last wisps of an eerie glow. The sky flashes again, the shadow in the middle a dark hole that swallows up all light, monstrous figure apparent with the stark contrast that makes it easy to follow; even blind, one can do so by listening for the unearthly wail that cuts through the air and may dizzy the mind even from so far.
Close, it's hard to see, harder to believe: a sharp white mask reflecting the moonlight; serrated sword out of its scabbard and caked with dirt and rubble; coffins draped across its shoulder, rattling and coming for you. Every encounter brings it further and further out away from the innermost parts of the city, and each time, Thanatos stops and turns, breath visible as it chills the very air around it, waiting.
>> Hollingberry Field
>> Recollé Woods
>> Peach Beach
>> The ocean
>> ???
Select your arena, and let's go. ]
B. nights, 5/18 onward, Recollé woods (CLOSED to those above, and anybody who has interacted with Ryoji at least once before)
[ The pain disappears faster than it should have, but Ryoji would have preferred it to the emptiness in his chest, the way his hands won't stop shaking. He fumbles with his phone, startling when a twig snaps underfoot and he throws it from himself as if it burnt his hands.
He leaves the phone there for the time being, nestled on top of damp, rotting leaves as he picks his way a little deeper into the woods, a mutter under his breath: "Keep yourself together." Because whatever... whatever happened yesterday, he can't let it happen again, losing control and hurting others— killing, for all he knows, because he'd fled to the woods and hasn't gone back since the night before, hasn't talked to anybody in person except for some texts on the phone.
He's got to figure it out. Somehow.
It's here in the woods he'll stay until he can, out of the way and hoping nobody would come near after the unnerving draw of the woods earlier in the month, practicing under the veil of night. He'll manage it eventually, the flicker of shadow and a rumble, a light show, the splintering crack of felled trees. He's not as careful as he could be, frustrated, exhausted, distracted enough not to notice whoever approaches to see the arched back of a boy, head bowed and clutching his knees as he struggles back to his feet... or the back of a monster, sword in hand gleaming with the moon. ]
C. days, 5/22 onward, various (OTA)
[ Days pass, and it feels like he understands less and less of who and what he is... and why... The first time it happened, only a handful of days ago, it was a car accident. He'd frozen there in the middle of the street, staring down the pair of headlights as they approached. He had not died. He should have...
...Ryoji shakes the thought out of his head. Something had protected him, a power that welled up from within and then- gone. He couldn't do it again, hold out his hands and block the fluttering of petals onto his head in the park, or the cat that meets him on the road, rubbing its head against his ankles twice and then runs.
Maybe it had to be something similar, either to the situation or the feeling; there's no way he can know but to try, reckless and stupid as he stands by the busy streets of Tisse contemplating stepping out into traffic; holds a switchblade in his hand on the rooftop of an apartment building in Apprassage, flicking the blade in, out, in, out; up high on the bridges of the Towers, leaning dangerously over the edge as he stares down at the ground far, far below; at the zoo in front of the lion's cage trying to get it to wake up so he can climb the fence and stick his head inside its mouth; he doesn't know, nothing's working and he needs to know. ]
D. 5/26 onward, various (OTA)
[the one lighter prompt, save me ]
Hey. Hold out your hand for a moment? I want your opinion on something.
[ If you comply, Ryoji tugs out from beneath his collar a thin silver chain, on the end of which a gold ring dangles momentarily before he presses it into the palm of your hand, closing your fingers back over it. Despite having been tucked under his shirt, the ring is cold against your skin, a faint glow emitting from in between your fingers while no sun reaches it inside your hand. ]
...How does this make you feel?
[ Stupid, probably, as if holding a ring would evoke some sort of emotion, but that's what it does for Ryoji, looking equal parts expectant and hopeful as he looks from you, to the ring delivered to his door courtesy of Retrospec, and then back. ]
--
( ooc: Aside from being able to shift into the form of Thanatos, Ryoji's powers include: ghastly wail (fearful opponents fall unconscious), tempest slash (sword attack), megidola (almighty magic attack), moonless gown (barrier that reflects all attacks, max three activation per day))
WHERE: Apprassage to various places around the city, Recollé Woods
WHEN: midnight 5/17 and onward towards the end of the month
WHAT: Ryoji regains his Thanatos form; unable to control his powers, he flees, leaving destruction in his wake. He's generally very upset about it all. Please help.
WARNINGS: fighting, violence, mentions of death and suicide
[ —a screech pierces the stillness of night over the quiet streets of Apprassage, the bite of burnt rubber and asphalt filling in the space where a car now lies turned around and stalling traffic, shattered windshields spilling glass onto the street and the crumpled hood sending smoke into the air. The blaring of the car alarm falls on deaf ears of the boy standing before it, eyes wide and unseeing as he clutches his head and screams, the shimmering barrier around him dissolving back into darkness and then— ]
A. midnight, 5/17, various (CLOSED to those I talked to on May's plotting post here)
[ A brilliant flash lights up the sky outside, brief, overwhelming, then everything is plunged back into darkness. Whether the noise had woken you up, or you were awake in the dead of night to begin with, eyes lifted towards the sky might spot a shadow take off past the rooftops, deep rumble felt through the earth behind it.
Those who venture closer— the curious, the brave, the foolish— would find deep gashes on the roads, dragged long as if a sword pulled across the ground, scattered potholes still burning with the last wisps of an eerie glow. The sky flashes again, the shadow in the middle a dark hole that swallows up all light, monstrous figure apparent with the stark contrast that makes it easy to follow; even blind, one can do so by listening for the unearthly wail that cuts through the air and may dizzy the mind even from so far.
Close, it's hard to see, harder to believe: a sharp white mask reflecting the moonlight; serrated sword out of its scabbard and caked with dirt and rubble; coffins draped across its shoulder, rattling and coming for you. Every encounter brings it further and further out away from the innermost parts of the city, and each time, Thanatos stops and turns, breath visible as it chills the very air around it, waiting.
>> Hollingberry Field
>> Recollé Woods
>> Peach Beach
>> The ocean
>> ???
Select your arena, and let's go. ]
B. nights, 5/18 onward, Recollé woods (CLOSED to those above, and anybody who has interacted with Ryoji at least once before)
[ The pain disappears faster than it should have, but Ryoji would have preferred it to the emptiness in his chest, the way his hands won't stop shaking. He fumbles with his phone, startling when a twig snaps underfoot and he throws it from himself as if it burnt his hands.
He leaves the phone there for the time being, nestled on top of damp, rotting leaves as he picks his way a little deeper into the woods, a mutter under his breath: "Keep yourself together." Because whatever... whatever happened yesterday, he can't let it happen again, losing control and hurting others— killing, for all he knows, because he'd fled to the woods and hasn't gone back since the night before, hasn't talked to anybody in person except for some texts on the phone.
He's got to figure it out. Somehow.
It's here in the woods he'll stay until he can, out of the way and hoping nobody would come near after the unnerving draw of the woods earlier in the month, practicing under the veil of night. He'll manage it eventually, the flicker of shadow and a rumble, a light show, the splintering crack of felled trees. He's not as careful as he could be, frustrated, exhausted, distracted enough not to notice whoever approaches to see the arched back of a boy, head bowed and clutching his knees as he struggles back to his feet... or the back of a monster, sword in hand gleaming with the moon. ]
C. days, 5/22 onward, various (OTA)
[ Days pass, and it feels like he understands less and less of who and what he is... and why... The first time it happened, only a handful of days ago, it was a car accident. He'd frozen there in the middle of the street, staring down the pair of headlights as they approached. He had not died. He should have...
...Ryoji shakes the thought out of his head. Something had protected him, a power that welled up from within and then- gone. He couldn't do it again, hold out his hands and block the fluttering of petals onto his head in the park, or the cat that meets him on the road, rubbing its head against his ankles twice and then runs.
Maybe it had to be something similar, either to the situation or the feeling; there's no way he can know but to try, reckless and stupid as he stands by the busy streets of Tisse contemplating stepping out into traffic; holds a switchblade in his hand on the rooftop of an apartment building in Apprassage, flicking the blade in, out, in, out; up high on the bridges of the Towers, leaning dangerously over the edge as he stares down at the ground far, far below; at the zoo in front of the lion's cage trying to get it to wake up so he can climb the fence and stick his head inside its mouth; he doesn't know, nothing's working and he needs to know. ]
D. 5/26 onward, various (OTA)
[
Hey. Hold out your hand for a moment? I want your opinion on something.
[ If you comply, Ryoji tugs out from beneath his collar a thin silver chain, on the end of which a gold ring dangles momentarily before he presses it into the palm of your hand, closing your fingers back over it. Despite having been tucked under his shirt, the ring is cold against your skin, a faint glow emitting from in between your fingers while no sun reaches it inside your hand. ]
...How does this make you feel?
[ Stupid, probably, as if holding a ring would evoke some sort of emotion, but that's what it does for Ryoji, looking equal parts expectant and hopeful as he looks from you, to the ring delivered to his door courtesy of Retrospec, and then back. ]
--
( ooc: Aside from being able to shift into the form of Thanatos, Ryoji's powers include: ghastly wail (fearful opponents fall unconscious), tempest slash (sword attack), megidola (almighty magic attack), moonless gown (barrier that reflects all attacks, max three activation per day))
no subject
Ideally, Thanatos best fights in the sky, coffins spread and sword able to be swung in a wide arc with its full range of motion. With no such clearing in the middle of a forest, Thanatos will create its own, light from its jaws hitting the ground at its feet and blowing apart a row of trees to reach the Persona. ]
no subject
Poking her head out, she sweeps a beam of fire in a wide arc, not bothering to aim and just going for the method that would hurt it the most.
Further back towards the beach, Yukiko's just beginning to stagger to her feet, plucking splinters from her arms and trying not to panic. This is...objectively? Pretty terrifying.]
no subject
As Thanatos fights, a sound starts to fill the air, a drawn out cry of grief, fury, malice. ]
no subject
Wobbly, the girl drops to her knee again, head feeling light and ready to give up and just pass out. Hands scratch at the soil, head drooping, she starts to sag in defeat and fear.
But that's not the end of this. Soothing words fill her mind, calming her fears, a spell washing over Yukiko and filling her with courage. Her eyes snap open and she rises, slowly walking towards the approaching Persona.]
Thanks.
[Another flash of light, and Sumeo-Okami drops a healing spell onto Yukiko, soothing waves banishing the pain from the splinters and sealing the wound. That's encouraging! Planting herself firmly behind the "guardian angel", they wait for the monster to reappear, finally together.]
no subject
Thanatos bursts through the trees behind the announcement of it's return: a great eruption of almighty magic that tears apart the ground near Yukiko's feet. Both her and her Persona are stronger for being together, so Thanatos aims to sever that tie, starting with Yukiko who gives Sumeo-Okami existence. ]
no subject
Yukiko's joins it, and they launch another spell. Another lance of fire, aimed squarely for Thanato's mouth. This time she's angry, and more accepting that she needs to help her guardian angel, whatever it is, and the spell is stronger than before.]
Go...Down already! Stop this!
no subject
It's not as fast as Sumeo-Okami, slowed by the onslaught of fire that burns away at it and obscures its vision, but it wastes no time trying to dodge the flames. With Yukiko and her Persona as a single target, Thanatos slashes forth with its sword each time it can get near, each slash weaker than the next as if doing so hurts itself in the process, but it does not care. When it can't reach the two of them, Thanatos unleashes its Megidola, then begins to rely on it. It cannot heal like Sumeo-Okami can, but no matter how weakened and close to death it's become, its magic is seemingly unlimited, with no care about burning through the soul which is the source of its power, because Ryoji's soul is its own. ]
no subject
Healing as they need to, eventually they begin to focus more on avoidance and using that enormous katana. Fire's not working that well, and it's draining energy they need for healing but that sword...
Dodging, moving with a speed and skill Yukiko herself can only associate with some sort of samurai hero, the Persona focuses on defense and finding an opening. And when that opening comes, she doesn't hesitate and neither does Yukiko's heart. In the span of a heartbeat, when Thanatos brings back it's head for another spell, Sumeo-Okami strikes. Darting forward her sword bites deep into where the monster's heart should be and rakes downward, tearing through monstrous flesh and bone and showering the ground with dark blood.]
It's over!
no subject
burning inside like fire where Thanatos is being torn apart, jaws open wide enough to unhinge in screaming in silence, pulled back and writing in the air as blood falls. Shadows pull off cloak and coffin, leaving darkness, pain, fear-
- a boy, screaming as he clutches his chest as if to hold his ribs together lest they split apart, tumbling through the air from the great height Thanatos once ruled and fought but no longer.
Ryoji plummets past tree branches with sharp snaps— wood? bone? he can't tell; everything burns and he feels like dying. ]
no subject
Yukiko rolls away and gets to her feet, the Persona setting the boy down.]
Oh! Oh no! It's...
[She doesn't know his name, but she's seen him on Retrospec. And...with Minako.]
Heal him! Help him!
[Panic sets in, but glowing motes of light come from Sumeo-Okami and surround Ryoji, healing him of what wounds they can.]
no subject
Ryoji opens his eyes to the night sky above, barely registering the glow of the Persona and the worry of the other face who saved him. Mouth open, he gasps without drawing breath, trying to sit up and get away. ]
I—
[ His voice catches in his throat, so strange to him, hearing it clear in the air instead of in his head. His hands grasp at the dirt, the grass, cool and wet under his shaking hands where last they gripped a sword. That he's forgotten how to be him, is jarring. ]
no subject
[When he tries to sit up, she pushes him back down, and with a wave of her hand banishes the Persona. She's done what she can do, now it's time for humans.]
You can't run away. Not right now. You're hurt and I'm not letting you wander off.
[Came out of a monster or became a monster be damned, she's not that kind of person.]
no subject
[ It's a lie that's become habit, but his voice wavers unconvincingly, and it feels like his entire body is shaking, trapped in Thanatos for so long and forced to move against its will. Physically, though, he is fine, thanks to Sumeo-Okami's healing and to his own body being that of a Shadow, and this he tries prove by sitting up again. ]
What about you? What- was that?
[ He gestures to the air where the Persona had stood, feeling so similar to Thanatos, but manifesting apart from Yukiko instead of overtaking as it did Ryoji. ]
no subject
...I...remember...her name.
[Her eyes shoot open, focused on him, lighting up.]
My guardian angel. Her name is Sumeo-Okami! I...holy shit. Is that really...
[Shaking her head, she seems to shake off the funk, giving him perplexed look.]
Sorry. I...Um. I don't really know where she comes from, but I finally remember her name. She shows up when I'm in danger. And...
[She looks around warily, at all the shredded trees and rocks torn asunder.]
What was that thing you were inside? Do you know it's name?
no subject
He doesn't correct her— that it is inside him, not the other way around, or at least that's how it feels. ]
...Thanatos.
[ The name itself, he's reluctant to give, because even without telling Yukiko of everything he's remembered Thanatos represents, it's a familiar enough name: the personification of death. ]
It's a Shadow. And it felt the same as Sumeo-Okami, but that can't be right...
no subject
wait.
Wait.
She stops when Ryoji tells her it's name, and that it's a Shadow. She doesn't know what a Shadow is, but she knows what Thanatos is.]
A Greek god? The personification of Death.
[Her head cants to one side, considering him.]
You know. You're right. It did feel similar. Maybe it's...the same? Only, I think mine killed it? At least temporarily.
no subject
That's right...
[ Frowning, he touches a hand to his chest, not to feel his heart, but to feel the stirrings of power that tell him that Thanatos is indeed still there, dormant until it can find a chance to overpower him again, whenever that would be. ]
...But it can't be the same, because yours protected you. I- mine wanted to kill you. How do you control yours?
no subject
[It sounds silly, in the face of his clear distress, but that's the only way she can think of it.]
She shows up when I'm in danger, or when I call. We were...um...practicing magic on the beach when Thanatos arrived. But that took time.
[A thought strikes her.]
Are you afraid of it?
no subject
Yes, I'm afraid of it. I don't want anything to do with it. It came from me but- [ He looks up at Yukiko, who does not know him, nor how he used to be; gentle smiles, easy laughter, so full of love for everyone and everything. Thanatos is the complete opposite of everything that makes Ryoji himself, and he would reject it with all that he can. ] -it's not who I am.
no subject
He is a part of you. Maybe denying that is what's making him lash out.
[Some part of that rings true in her head, though she's not sure why.]
no subject
I've only known Thanatos for all of two hours... Maybe if it weren't Death, I could...
[ Even if denying makes Thanatos lash out, he can't see the opposite being any better: accepting Thanatos would mean accepting having to accept mindless slaughter. ]
no subject
[She says that with a degree of certainty.]
I feel like this is something you should really consider. Not recoiling from it, accepting that it's a part of you. You don't have to ask for it's help, but I don't think it's going away, is it?
[Leaning back, she lets her hands fall away.]
Nothing good comes from denying a part of yourself. Even if it isn't something you like. If you can't accept it, then it's just going to keep hurting people.
no subject
He looks at his hands, clasped in his hands. They once held a sword, covered with blood. ]
Do you think it would be enough? If we could coexist, but... knowing that I will never call it out again. I don't think I would ever need to- or want.
no subject
I do. And let's be honest...I don't think it can hurt to try?
[That's important too.]
It's not like it's going away. And if you want to try and it freaks out again, I can stay near.
no subject
Honestly, I feel like I will be the one to freak out. What do you do to call for it? "Thanatos, come out, please"?
[ ...Nothing. Presumably, because reluctance is in every syllable Ryoji speaks. Or maybe it just doesn't want to come out just to sit and chat, when it's made for fighting. ]
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