eatsyourscience | (no subject)

(no subject)

To begin with, it was Naoto's idea to check up on things in the TV world, and it had become so normal to spend rainy afternoons inside that Souji agreed without requiring much in the way of an explanation, though she provided one anyway. He agreed with all the points she made--that they should keep an eye on the movements of the fog, the density of shadows in various places, if anything had changed since Adachi's defeat--but more than anything, he was beginning to miss that world and the time they spent there.

Chie and Yukiko passed, and so did Kanji when Souji tracked him down at lunch, but Rise was happy to accompany them--a good thing, because Souji didn't think it would be wise to go in without her--and so were Yousuke and Teddie, who agreed with Naoto about the importance of keeping an eye on what was going on in that world. Souji couldn't blame him.

Inside, everything seemed the same. Even the damp smell, the feeling of the fog against his cheeks in odd juxtaposition to the way it vanished in the view through his glasses were the same. He asked Rise to do a scan of the area, but wasn't expecting her excited, staccato announcement that there was a new area she hadn't seen before.

When Kanzeon vanished, Souji glanced around to find everyone looking at him and he almost smiled at how comfortable it had become to see them relying on him. He gave a slight nod and with Rise directing him, led the way past locations they already knew.

They stopped when the ground disappeared in front of them. An expanse of open, empty space spread in front of them, filled with a swirling fog that he could see. Resisting the urge to remove his glasses and clean them, Souji squinted. All that was visible were what looked like several bare, unornamented platforms hovering in the air, each at a greater distance than the last from where they stood.

He looked around, then down, then took a step into open space. Rise called out after him, but trailed off when a walkway materialized beneath his feet, extending for a short distance ahead of him. A few steps across what looked and felt like smooth, gray stone confirmed that it would continue to appear ahead of him as he walked instead of leaving him to step blindly and hope he hadn't come to a corner without noticing. Hefting his sword a little higher, he looked back and nodded to the others that they should proceed.

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While Teddie heals him and Naoto, Souji considers for a second. He doesn't want to chance casting Garudyne and having it rebound in his face. Switching from Norn to Futsunushi, he uses Power Charge, followed by Primal Force.

The attack should be devestating, but it seems this opponent has resistance to physical skills. Rise confirms this a second later and Souji grits his teeth. It must have some elemental weakness, then. At least he hopes so. Otherwise, they'll have to batter at it and waste their resources trying to take it down.

He tries to conceal and ignore the feeling that's ballooning inside him, pressing up against his lungs so that it's getting harder to breathe. It's a lot like desperation, and he doesn't have any time for something like that.

Yousuke is catching on. He instead casts Garudyne at the shadow, knowing that even if it bounces back, he won't be hurt. It's worth the time it takes to fish for weaknesses.

Naoto, on the other hand... Well, she's painfully aware that while she's quite good at wiping out large numbers of smaller shadows with her instant kill techniques, she's woefully unequipped to deal with larger shadows that have specific weaknesses. She can always attack physically, but that won't work here... And a Megido-level spell would take toll on her stamina.

for now, she backs off, defends, and watches closely for an opening.

The Garu spell seems to do the trick. Rise calls from the back of the group, "Great, Yousuke-senpai! You found its weakness!"

Souji hesitates, thinking this over. If he switches back to Norn, he'll leave himself open to any Zio attacks the enemy uses. On the other hand, she's his only Persona with strong wind skills, and invoking her will be the fastest way to beat this Shadow.

On the other other hand, he does have one more option. It comes at a high price, but with Naoto reserving her energy for later, Souji's willing to take the risk. He summons Helel and casts Morning Star; as he'd hoped, it does significant damage, and it doesn't take many more attacks for them to finish the shadow off.

With Yousuke casting Garudyne every turn, the shadow stays down long enough for Naoto to squeeze in a physical attack and help chip away at it's health. Like any battle, it's about falling into the correct pattern. Once they figure it out, it goes down like all the others.

Yousuke wipes at an errant bead of sweat rolling down his neck. Naoto takes her hat off for a moment to re-arrange her hair.

"How was that? You still okay, Souji?"

"Yes." He's winded, but he's not hurt. He's also not yet willing to give up. Taking off his glasses to rub one temple, he looks around at the others. "We can rest if you want."

"How about a break then?"

Yousuke looks around, and when he doesn't see any disapproval, he makes the decision for them. He goes over to Teddie and steps on his foot, causing his head to lift up like a garbage can lid. Yousuke fishes in his hollow body for a variety of knock-off Junes brand soft drinks. He tosses one at Souji.

Souji catches the drink while Teddie flails his arms.

"Yousuke! Is this 'unrequited feelings'? Love between men?!"

Rise giggles and Souji sits down on the ground, his sword leaning against his shoulder. Popping open his drink, he takes several deep swallows and then closes his eyes.

"It is not!"

Yousuke slams Teddie's head shut, and grinds his hand into his fur with super-noogie force.

Naoto, however, remains sedate as always. She opens her drink with a quiet pop and goes to stand near Souji while the others make a racket over Yousuke's "questionable sexuality".

"...Is it the same as before?"

Her version of concern. She has gotten better at reading other's feelings, but Souji was being obvious enough right now regardless.

Souji nods and takes another swig of his drink, though he doesn't open his eyes.

"There are nine of them left."

She kneels down, giving him some space, but communicating that she's taking this seriously.

"We don't have to continue. Perhaps coming back another day with all our numbers would be more pertinent."

He looks up and his expression is one of gratitude. "I don't want to risk losing them permanently. We'll move on in a little while."

Naoto nods, and stands up again.

"As you say, then."

The others had been watching. When Naoto stands, they all shift about surreptitiously, like they weren't already hanging on her words. It's not very effective.

Rise hardly pretends to have not been listening in, taking the opportunity to get far too close to Souji's side and press him for assurances that he's okay. Meanwhile, Teddie leans toward Yousuke and raises a hand to his stitched on face to stage whisper:

"Should we be worried?"

Of course Souji hears him, but he ignores it, giving Yousuke a chance to respond while he gets back to his feet and repeats to Rise that he's good to go.

Yousuke pats the bear's head, not bothering to whisper back. Instead, he looks straight at Souji's back as he talks.

"Nah. If something bad happens, we'll drag his butt back out whether he likes it or not."

Souji gives a slight nod, that could be to Rise or to acknowledge Yousuke's comment. His friends have his back, but he knows they won't let him get himself killed. He appreciates that, especially since he knows that this time, he'll be too willing to push himself beyond his limits.

"Let's go."

They all wait on his word. When he moves ahead, they follow. Even into this endless, uncertain fog... It was one thing that glued them together so tightly. Their unwavering mutual trust in their leader.

Three battles later, Souji finds himself staring at a large X etched into the next platform and dreading the step forward that will lock them into a seventh battle. The haven't been battles particularly difficult, but neither that nor skipping Strength and Hermit isn't enough of a consolation prize when he's down six Personas and about to be stripped of one more.

He's tired and starting to feel upset and he knows he looks it by now, the strain of his glasses not working making it very hard not to drag his sword on the ground behind him as he walks. But he isn't ready to stop.

Rise seems to have picked up on this and she taps Teddie on the head. Teddie looks at her, then at Souji, still staring ahead of them without moving or speaking, and turns to stage whisper to Yousuke:

"Is it time now?"

Yousuke was already thinking of it himself. When Rise and Teddie showed their concern, he moved into action.

He nods at Teddie and steps forward. Naoto nods back in silent approval.

"Hey, partner," he voices, putting his hand on Souji's shoulder from behind, "you seem pretty beat. You sure you wanna keep going?"

His tone and posture communicate this clearly enough: If you say yes, you're going to have to prove to me you're okay.

Souji looks over his shoulder at Yousuke, then turns so that he's facing all of them.

"I think I need to."

"'Need' to?"

Naoto automatically falls into the role of bad cop. It suits her so well!

"Senpai, I can understand your... unease, losing contact with some of your persona. But you're obviously tired. I'm concerned that this place is causing you to have an adverse reaction to the TV world."

She adjusts her glasses.

"I think it would be best if we turn back now, and return another day."

"I think this is my place." All signed point to yes.

All go quiet. Yousuke and Naoto glance at each other, both at a loss of what to say. Naoto puts her chin in her hand to think, and Yousuke stutters through his words.

"T-that's impossible. Dude, Izanagi came to you a long time ago... How could you have a world? Wouldn't you need a shadow?"

"I've spent a lot of time in here with you guys."

Rise frowns, clasping her hands behind her back. "That can't be right, senpai. Teddie and I would have sensed something that strong."

There's no doubt at all that a Shadow of Souji would be strong.

"Rise-san is correct."

Naoto looks up again.

"This area appeared from nowhere. And besides that, I've been keeping an eye on the midnight channel indefinitely. Nothing has shown on it since we apprehended Adachi."

Of course, it still existed at all, and that bothered her. But this place was completely outside the pattern they were used to.

"We haven't seen anything like a Shadow either," Yousuke adds, "Usually they come out and taunt us before we even get all the way in."

"They all agree." His Personas almost never agree, so this is startling. "If it weren't mine, why is it only affecting me?"