Mun is thinking about Animus, voice needs testing first

[sukeban]

Just because it's not the worst place you've ever considered sending me doesn't mean I have to be that keen on the idea.


...No. It's not like that. I do want to protect the others. I just don't see how suffering with them is going to do anyone any good if there's nothing I can do to prevent it. I can deal with them not recognizing me, that isn't what's important, but if I have to see them hurt, you and I are going to have problems. Understand?

Comments

> Suddenly a spoiler approaches. What will you do?

[handshakegreeting]

You sound as though you are sure you will be able to prevent their suffering this time around.

[They sound amused, at least...]

Those who are already there are not faring well. Do you think you'll be able to do any better than they?

[sukeban]

Maybe I can't, but then again, maybe I can. Not even a goddess of Yomi can predict the future, after all. [OH, ICE BURN.]

Whether I can or not doesn't matter, because I can't sit back and take it, either.

[handshakegreeting]

[It beats fire any day, I mean-- Oh, was that supposed to hurt? Because she doesn't even seem all that phased.]

Then you will indeed suffer alongside them, if other realities aside. [Any hint of a smirk is fleeting like the mists as they first settled in town. After all, she had once sought to bring about their desired end of the torment when another goddess could not. Why one would choose suffering above all else perplexes her greatly even now.] There is very little that can be done once a decision is made against oneself or companions one would align themselves with.

[princeofjunes]

There's worse things about the tower than just seeing your friends get hurt.

Just... do yourself a favor and try to avoid it, alright? Nobody needs to go through that.

relevant keywords are relevant

[sukeban]

[They would end that suffering on their own terms. God, we've been through this, woman.

She'd make a comment about how effective the decisions were that Izanami made against them, but that would feel repetitive.] Well, one of us is wrong. We'll just have to wait and see which one, I guess.

[OOC: Pardon my brevity. Caffeine has abandoned me. >_>]

[sukeban]

That's a surprise. I can't think of too much that'd be worse anywhere, to be honest.

[She knows exactly what he's referring to, mind, it's just not one of those things that really registers if you haven't seen it yourself. That, and you guys actually mean that much.]

[princeofjunes]

Yeah, I couldn't either. Then the last week of my life happened.

[Mystery girl, he is trying to be helpful! Don't make this hard!]

[sukeban]

[Mystery girl, is it? He's in for a surprise, then, because her overriding desire not to see him like this takes over, prompting her to take his hand, a smile on her face.]

C'mon, Yosuke-kun, you should know that nothing's ever hopeless. We'll get through whatever that place can throw at us, I promise.

[princeofjunes]

[Well, color him shocked! It's only now, with his hand in hers, that he notices the uniform the girl's wearing and how familiar it is. His eyes go from her hand to her face and back again as he gapes for a moment, collecting himself]

Okay, I know the tower does weird things with time, so are you my girlfriend from the future or something? I swear, telling me won't break the universe or anything!

[sukeban]

[Well, the smile didn't last too long, giving way to disappointment as she puts two and two together.]

Ah, right. This was what I meant by not being recognized, wasn't it?

Let's just say we're not exactly from the same timeline... partner.

[princeofjunes]

Par-

[princeofjunes]

...tner...

[princeofjunes]

[princeofjunes]

[princeofjunes]

So you- but... you have...

[Sure is staring at your chest, Yuko]

[sukeban]

[Surprisingly, she actually laughs a little, rather than being offended.]

Well, this is already more like when we first met than I expected. Eyes are still up here, by the way.

[princeofjunes]

[Oh crap busted]

Right! Sorry, I just... I mean, you-

[Okay. Deep breaths]

Different timelines. Right. Okay. You're just my Partner. Still the same old partner. Just - [He cant help his eyes flicking down again] - a little different.

[sukeban]

[She wants to correct him on some of the details of that statement, but the poor guy seems messed up enough by her mere presence. Instead, his hand slips from her grasp, her own dropping limply to her side as she tried faking a smile. She hadn't needed to in a year, so she may have been rusty at it.]

Right! Just the whole, y'know, being a girl thing. Totally the same otherwise, broseph.

[If that sounded as forced as it felt, not even Yosuke would be able to miss it.]

and here she was, being civil

[handshakegreeting]

[That is all up in the air, along with being able to do anything. She has been watching her other self, the choices those children have been making. It matters not what they have been through. If those who charged with running the Tower had the power to trap even gods, then who is to say that they would be effective this time?

Besides, a metaphysical slap in the face or several changes a woman.] Then I hope for your sake that the truth is not as harsh as it would seem.

[She won't attempt to change the child's mind. No, she'll sit back and let the other self mother her like the others while she retrieves a cup of tea and watches behind the scenes. It would prove entertaining, in the very least...]

[ooc: it's okay; caffeine does that sometimes. u_u]

[pitiedthefool]

[What. The--]

[pitiedthefool]

[It's like... looking in a mirror and seeing yourself as a girl. What.]

[pitiedthefool]

[Okay, somehow this brain break is just as short as it had been for Teddie suddenly human body. He blinks once, then looks her in the face. ...What?]

There's little we can do to prevent it, but we can negate the damage it does to them.

[He's silent for a brief moment. H-hah... He's fallen quite a bit, but... trying to pick up the pieces. Like anyone should listen to his 'logic' in the state he's in "in-game." Maybe that's what the little light in his eyes are trying to say before he glances down. 'Please...don't fall like I did.']

...It's all we can do at this point.

[sukeban]

[Yeah, you never really get used to that. She still hasn't, in any case.

She could tell how bad a state he must be in from his words alone; his expressions just hammer the point home. Considering who he is, she can almost surmise what it must take to get him there. Then again, there's that old saying about want of a nail...]

Is that really what you think?

[detecting]

[... You.

You are a strangely familiar face. Not to mention that uniform...

Alternate universe, alternate timelines. Naoto knows they exist. Being in the tower proved it.

So could this girl really be--]

... Senpai?

[sukeban]

[A mildly relieved smile crosses her face. It's a nice change of pace to be addressed as she's used to back home.]

I had a feeling you'd figure it out right away, Naoto-kun.

[She's tempted to ask if she and Kanji have hooked up yet, but given the situation, she's not sure that'd be an appropriate thing to ask.]