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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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?"

"Because this places defies all the rules we've come to know, I thought it was a separate entity entirely. But I hadn't taken into consideration that it might be your shadow world..."

Naoto sighs in frustration.

"We have no precedent. I don't know what to think."

"What does it matter?" Yousuke butts in, frustrated out of care, "even if it is your shadow world, you're worn out. We're all worn out. Partner, this could be seriously dangerous."

Souji knows that that's true, but the comment that all of them are tired makes Souji pause more than being worn out himself.

"And come back when?"

Well, Yousuke was fishing a little there (he knew Souji thought about others more than himself) and it looks like it worked.

"Dude, we can come back tomorrow if you want to. And then maybe the rest of us can come in with you too."

Edited 2012-05-06 02:26 (UTC)

He looks around at the others, then nods.

"Alright."

Yousuke throws an arm around Souji's shoulder in the most jocular of brohugs, leading him back in the direction of the entrance. He looks quite pleased.

"Awesome. I promise we won't disappoint."

There's a chorus of protests in Souji's head, but he tries to soothe them by saying they would be back. He considers visiting the Velvet Room before leaving the TV, but he's not sure he wants to know what Igor will have to tell him about this.

He walks with the others back the way they came, but keeps looking back over his shoulder.

Yousuke gently bumps into Souji to try and get his attention after seeing him look back for the 50th time.

"It's okay dude. We'll fix it. You'll get your persona back from whatever's taking them away, pronto."

"...I don't know if I should....refill." He needs better words for situations like this. Then again, he's never been in a situation like this before, so it's not like he was prepared.

"Get new persona to replace the ones you lost?"

This idea is still quite novel to Yousuke. Being able to pick up, mix and match 12 persona in your head-- what was having 12 persona in your head even like? Susano-O was loud enough on his own...

Souji nods.

Squeaking along, Teddie hurries to catch up and walk beside them. "But what happens to the ones you lost, sensei?"

"...I don't know."

"Speculation is pointless."

Naoto pulls her hat down more securely. She's not going to let this thing turn around. It's simply too dangerous.

"Your persona, more than likely can be recovered. I'm more worried about our theory of this being your world."

Her mouth forms a thin line.

"If it's true, your shadow could likely decimate us all."

Souji shakes his head, but is aware that it's a possibility. Either way, leaving the Shadow or whatever here isn't an option.

"We'll bring the others back with us."

"Good."

She's concerned that even that may not be enough. But she lets her fears remain unspoken.

Rise takes it upon herself to be optimistic for everyone. "Don't worry! We'll take care of. We've got lots of experience!"

Souji nods. "...We'll take care of it."

The walk back is uneventful. No trouble. No shadows. A little too quiet.

However, it's as soon as they pass the I platform where the first shadow was that Naoto stops in her tracks.

"This isn't right."

Rise stops and turns to face Naoto, hands clasped behind herb ack. "What do you mean, Naoto-kun?"

Souji just nods.

She points ahead. Yousuke's eyes widen as he realizes before Naoto even explains.

"This is supposed to be the last platform before the exit. But there--"

She's right. There's another platform.

Rise turns and her mouth drops open. "W...what the hell! This is supposed to be the way out!"

Souji sighs and draws closer without stepping onto the platform.

"It's X again."