caughtinanetwork | 3rd foggy night ▣ [anonymous text/private message within]

[ it's weird enough that someone would know the date he'd initially arrived— he'd only contacted the hanamura kid, since that had been the only one from back home when he checked; other than that, he hadn't used the network, really. what's weirder is the fact that whoever this was knew his name and wanted to speak with him for some reason— anonymously. the hanamura kid hadn't gone and been an idiot by telling someone, had he? adachi had been fairly confident that he would keep his mouth shut for the most part since he was more bark than bite (and obviously at a loss of how to handle things without dojima's nephew around— their "leader"), but right about now he's mentally cringing at the possibility that he hadn't... ]

who is this

[Hanamura didn't even need to mention his presence for her to realize, take note of him and observe before making a decision on when to later speak with him. Let him grow comfortable and secure before even so much as saying a word. After all, that was what she always did. Waited for one of them over the many centuries to find their way back to her, to figure it out how it all began...

Now the one who had was gone from this world, but no matter. It would not deter her from speaking with one of her last three representatives in their world. Though, she would start slow.]

Another from your world. One who has been both here and there for a very long time...

[ shit. the message doesn't clarify very well, of course— not that he really expected it to, otherwise they wouldn't have messaged him anonymously to begin with. it does, however, make him all the more paranoid. so it's someone who knew him from back home... and they'd been here a while. so whatever game they were playing, they had a headstart in it.

wait, that doesn't add up—

he'd checked the contact list when he'd gotten here, and he'd only recognized hanamura. did he miss someone? ...

his next response is considerably delayed, seeing as he decided to open up the contact list and give it another look— the addition of kujikawa's name grabs his attention, but other than that...

and it couldn't be kujikawa, because they had said they were here before. definitely not hanamura, either— this person's spelling was too good. was he not remembering someone? maybe they changed their name or found a way to remove it from the list somehow...

but the real question here was: ]

alright so what do you want

[The anonymous sender is quite patient, seemingly waiting for his response calmly while paranoia grew elsewhere. Ah, yes... there he was. She had almost begun to entertain the notion that he had almost forgotten in his fear and dread. Of course, she knew better of it... just like when she first offered him a hand in greeting.

Depending on where he may end up while reading this next part, he may hear a vaguely familiar chuckle. One of someone who seemed to be rather forgettable at first, yet sounded too similar...]

Simply to meet. After all, who else can truly understand with a small dog barking up the wrong tree?

[Yes Yosuke, she just referred to you as a dog.]

[Deal with it.]

[ this whole thing is really beginning to bug him— not only because he's unaware of what this is all about, but also because he feels like he's supposed to know who this is. yet, he couldn't quite place his finger on it. it's familiar, but it isn't— has he ever met anyone who talked like this? it's really beginning to irritate him— especially since it feels like he's beginning to hear things. certain it's just paranoia, he brushes it off. ]

right like im supposed to believe that you can understand me
you know my name but i dont know yours
i dont really think thats adequate grounds for meeting someone
i mean were not even friends|

[ and he didn't have any friends. although if he were to consider something a "friend" to him, it would be the shadows— they understood him. they liked him, even; let him control them. granted, they were controlling him all the same, but it wasn't like he was particularly aware of that. it wasn't like he cared. he didn't. he was virtually empty.

there's no way this could be a shadow, either. shadows didn't have a habit of speaking— ah, well there was that one. ameno-sagiri, was it? his memory might be a little fuzzy, but he remembers that pretty clearly. hard to forget, when they were in such close contact.

no, this couldn't be that, either. it was hard to describe, but whoever this was they "felt" different. yet, they still seemed similar... familiar... who was it? from back home... ]

| are we?

[ he's honestly not so sure at this point. ]

[Whether or not she minds that it bugs him is up to interpretation. After all, he had little time left in their world... did he not? That chuckle can likely be heard once more from somewhere nearby. The same, not-quite-masculine yet not-quite-feminine voice he heard likely all of once and actually paid some attention to it.]

Oh, you likely do not recall our meeting. We had only spoken once before...
Don't you remember? What it was like when you first arrived to that small town and just how dull it was?
Not that you cared, from what he'd seen...

[Is it all beginning to fall into place, much like the small amount of fog beginning to enter through the windows of your apartment and through underneath the door?]

...since it was naught but a game to you, child of man.

[ less thinking on his behalf this time, thankfully— a lot of things just said (and exhibited) had helped steer his mind in the appropriate direction. his thinking hadn't been that off from where he had left off last, but now he realized what he had been missing. that was right— he'd thought of this before, too. back home— and while he may not have yet written or sent the letter to the brats yet from his point of timeline, this sort of thing had been weighing on his mind. he may have thrown those people in the tv, but he wasn't the one who had started all of this— the fog stuff, and the rumors... the midnight channel's origin. that's right, he'd understood this before, hadn't he? someone had told him about all of that when he had first arrived at that town.. and before he'd heard about the subsequent rumors— he still couldn't remember who it was or even their face, but the fact that someone had told him personally... the same had happened for namatame, hadn't it? he's not sure about dojima's nephew, but he'd bet money that it was the same for him— he wasn't from that town originally either, after all.

although he had fancied himself the mastermind behind the murders, there had been a mastermind behind it all that wasn't him.

that mastermind was here in vatheon.

that mastermind was talking to him right now.

he can't suppress his own laughter at this point; this was just so interesting. to think that the orchestrator behind the fog and the shadow world would be in vatheon as well. he's left staring at the half-written anonymous message, wondering just how powerful this being whose identity was quite literally enshrouded in fog really was— although that didn't really matter to him. he might not know their name, but he definitely knows who this is— what they did. oh, this was just too good. ]

it seems you know a lot more about things than i thought [ about him too, but he'll conveniently leave that out. ]
but thats because you acknowledged my game isnt it

[ he's still slightly nervous, but a lot of that nervousness had subsided in place of excitement by now. ]

[Now now, she only bestowed the power. It had been up to all three of them how they chose to utilize her gifts to them; the people. Just as the "Midnight Channel" had been. There were opportunities, nothing more and nothing less. However...

There is no text response, because you see... she wasn't only speaking with him via some device, now.

What was once a disembodied chuckle now came from behind him (and was that clapping?), the figure of a rather familiar male persona standing there in the corner with cap barely hiding the red glow emmanating from beneath its shield. Their lips were curled in mocking amusement at the excitement exhibited, just like the child that had showed itself in the fog of the realm she granted him access to... How very fitting for the aspect of her twin brother that had shown itself in him. Perhaps he would get his answers, or... perhaps he wouldn't wish for them once she was done here.

The male voice speaks up, some of that awkward tone she'd used once before lifting like a veil...]

Impressive. You know, it took him even less information to figure it out and find me... [There is something rather mocking, under the regal and motherly tone. Strange, how two voices seem to mix with one another...] I acknowledged all three of you, though you were by far the strongest.

[The figure tilts their head up and to the side, appraising him. After a moment, the amusement is clear on the masculine facade... just like the subtle danger. Was she here against her will? Or was this simply a game for her, as well...]

[ ah, this was escalating quicker than he expected... it was.. exciting, kind of. of course, when he hears the clapping from behind him, there are only two instinctual reactions he makes in response to it—

one, he felt some kind of satisfaction from it; it was a reassurance that he was on the right path, and it incited his ego in ever the slightest way. two, he, of course, had to turn his head. not immediately though— it had been a brief pause, but during that pause he'd tightened his grip and taken a deep breath; he was almost smiling, but he couldn't bring himself to smile once he'd turned around. he was never the best at controlling his own nerves— something about how he'd puked at his first kill and how he'd initially decided to run away after he'd been found out.

ah, wait— he recognized that person... he'd met them before, actually— that was it! that was the person who had told him about the tv trick— before he'd eventually heard it again from other rumormongers in town, anyway. it'd been a popular rumor, hadn't it? although he'd first heard it from the first person he'd met when he'd only just arrived at that shithole of a town...

he compulsively grits his teeth, albeit momentarily. he's somewhat irritated at their first implication— it didn't take a detective to figure out who they were referring to. the 'three' of them— that's interesting. him, namatame, and dojima's nephew. the last part of what she says has him the most interested though— he'd been briefly shot down then validated, but of course he's going to concentrate on the latter since the former was only annoying to him. yeah, yeah, adachi's a screw-up and he's mr. perfect— in fact, he's probably one of those lucky ones that were blessed by the world and society; the kid had a lot of friends and nothing seemed to affect him— because he hadn't been through the kind of shit that adachi had been through, obviously.

'the strongest', huh... ] That's..

[ then why did he lose? did he screw up? it'd all been a game for him, yeah— that whole escapade that had gone down in his own little world had been his last round of fun. it'd all evolved into something more though, he'd noticed that much— he'd embraced it, even. maybe that was why... ]

That's because my idea was the strongest, wasn't it. [ not so much said as a question rather than a statement. there's another pause, but he at least knows where he's going with this— it's something he'd already decided on before, after all. ]

It's what people want— a world where truth is obsolete.

[It was something that always had amused her, and one of the many reasons why he was so befitting of his Persona. Raw nerve and emotions certainly did seem to play a role in his actions, and somewhere... an aspect of herself is likely smirking as the figure stands there in the corner. Events were continuing to go just as she had imagined they would, and she cannot help the chuckle that comes from the mists.

After all... that light of recognition had been more than enough of a clue to say that he did indeed recall their brief exchange of words. Do continue to try and put the pieces of the puzzle together, Adachi... she cannot wait to see what your mind will give birth to this time around.

Yet the figure remains silent as she waits for him to be able to speak plainly, watches the thoughts flicker in his expression. It was always something she found entertaining, even though there was no way she could completely understand their motivations. That lack of realization was what caused her to fail, as well... a shame, too. If they had succeeded, then mankind would not have to suffer longer and even more. The 'conductor' was well aware of what was predetermined...]

An interesting theory, Adachi-san.

[Was it right? Was it incorrect? The expression on the figure's darkened expression left little to the imagination as it takes a few steps closer.]

However, do you not seek the truth simply by stating that? Or... do you turn from it once more.

[ he already knew - there was no way he had mistaken who this person was, but their response only nailed in a confirmation. so he knew who he was dealing with.. that, in no way, told him how to deal with this, but he liked to think that he already had that sort of understanding driven into him somewhere. this person had chosen him after all, right..? not to mention he was the only one who had gotten along with the shadows. his mentality expressed at that time remains unchanged - the world is full of shit. that's really the only truth he's willing to acknowledge. he shakes his head, giving a shrug with his thumbs awkwardly placed in his pant pockets - both due to his overall nervousness and general laziness in posture. regardless, what he says comes in a rather matter-of-fact tone. ]

I'm not interested in truth. I don't intend to chase after it, either.

Hmhmhm...

[That smile is looking less and less friendly, even though they do not take another step forward. In fact, they seem to be reflecting on his choice of words.]

Yet you seek confirmation of your beliefs.

[Parts of the figure flicker in the thin fog, but nothing happens right away. He has remained stagnant, just as she had predicted. A fitting vessel of emptiness, and how truly pitiful... If he blinks, he'll miss it. The coldness, the sudden disappearance of the familiar facade before him. Until-]

You, who were chosen for your emptiness...

[...It's coming from his right, and if he looks, he will see her standing there. No, standing is not the proper word for it... More like hovering an inch from the ground as she speaks. The hat and usual outfit are gone, leaving the white kimono as her only covering and folded right over left. That same twisted, malevolent presence as the one inside his head seems to permeate from the near-ghostly figure in the room. He can likely feel that little 'push' deep within his soul as she lifts a blood-stained hand out to him.]

How ill-conceived, Tohru Adachi.

[ he isn't particularly set on blinking any time soon with what was going on right in front of him; it was all very surreal if only due to the fact that his apartment had been completely empty and normal just 5 minutes ago - well, as normal as an apartment can get that is under the ocean, anyway. and yet, nothing had ever felt quite this real to him. this was happening for a reason - this was right.

he's startled for a moment by the transition - it'd been a little too quick for his tastes, and having his figure on the right of him so suddenly causes him to take a step back solely in reaction. although it wasn't a "him" anymore... he's not sure what to make of the drastic change in appearance - from some unimportant kid that pumped gas of all things for a living to a woman on an scale of elegance that he had never actually witnessed before. it really does have an effect on him for some reason, almost like a physical "push" - a "push" that wasn't unfamiliar to him either, but it had that much more impact now that he knew the significance of it. he wouldn't be surprised if she claimed to be some kind of divinity at this rate - he might actually believe it, too. was she even in vatheon against her will? he's honestly curious.

but regardless of wherever this was going, he's not exactly sure if he likes what he's hearing right now. although he isn't about to tell whoever this was to shutup because that just doesn't seem like a very good idea - and while adachi may be a man full of bad ideas and bad life choices, he's also a coward. a part of him is genuinely afraid of this thing, but he isn't about to flat-out defy her, either. she isn't a shadow, but her ideology can't be in total rejection of his - she'd said it herself, that she'd chosen him. what for? because he didn't give a shit about the world? then what did that mean? ]

So what? I don't know what you expect from me, but it'd be nice to know how exactly you "understand" beyond being aware of everything that I did, so that's why I'm asking: What are your beliefs?

[ TL;DR SOME MEN JUST WANNA WATCH THE WORLD BURN, IZANAMI. ]

[True enough, it was a visit she had planned to make on her own soon enough. However, it would seem that this world had other plans... though she had made it under her terms. No doubt he, like him would have felt that sudden queasiness had she not made her presence known first. An unfortunate side-effect to be chosen by one of Death...

Yet she makes no further move, her hand dropping to her side as she floats there in this empty apartment... so very reminiscent of the man's heart. It was almost ironic, really. Claims of divinity and such could wait for now. In the meantime, she could not help the faint smirk crossing her lips. On its own it would hardly seem remotely threatening, but her slightly narrowed eyes second that cold, dead elegance of old. One that is rarely seen in modern-day terms in their own world.

The push relents for the meantime... She supposes she could spare a few answers for the time being.]

It is not my beliefs you should be asking of, child of man. [For a brief moment, it's almost like she can see right through the soul. Then again, for those she has greeted with a handshake... she certainly could.] I merely wished to give humanity what it desired so... and mankind cried for a world marred in a thick, heavy fog.

[Izanami chuckles, like a mother looking down upon her child... like someone who despite having lost, still won.]

"Would it not be better to wrap oneself in lies and live in blissful ignorance?" [It is by no means the same as Adachi's words, but she could not be surprised that the Hanamura boy spoke nothing of the mastermind behind the scenes... the one who started the rumor in the first place.]

Did you not think similarly when you faced those children?

Edited (now with less html fail) 2012-08-29 08:14 (UTC)

[ it's not a word-for-word quote, but it's similar enough - familiar enough - for him to understand almost immediately what she's talking about. he'd said something nearly exactly like that himself. haha, wow... he never even thought that this "mastermind" had shared the same ideology as him. granted, he'd gained that particular wish when he had basically thrown his life away and fancied the idea of everyone else doing the same simply because of how much he disliked a world that operated by society's rules - rules that had screwed him over. so he was really just returning the favor.

he's silent for a moment; he doesn't intend to answer her questions since he figures they're more in a rhetorical sense, anyway - the look on his face is probably louder than his words would be anyway, considering how heavily reminiscent he appears to be.

but he definitely still has a few questions. that's right... since he had lost, he never got to see the end of all of this then, did he? had it even ended? 'had' is a particular keyword for him here, considering she was here now, despite whatever happened - right in front of him. so what about now? ... ]

Did they ever make it to you?

[Technically she was a neutral party and only wished for what humanity wanted, but details. Close enough, anyway. She smirks faintly at his silence, the expression that was all too clear on his face. Aah, she did indeed strike a nerve. Even if it was a former similarity.

Former, because she finally acknowledged their desire - their right to choose. Though the one before her didn't have many choices left back home now did he?

Though that question... Ha ha, she seems so amused by it.]

They did indeed [All courtesy of yet another little push.]

[ honestly, he's more than a little impressed - to tell the truth, he never expected those kids to even make it to him, so the fact that they found out about the mastermind was even more amazing. on one side, he found it a little amusing really - wow, that would've been entertaining. he's left wondering who won though, considering izanami had answered his question in the most ambiguous sense possible. on the other side of things, it also kind of irritates him... if only from his much disdained familiarity with that aspect of those kids - they really never know when to give up. not that adachi was ever very confident in his ability to win in the first place, but damn...

he chuckles, although his brow knitting together a bit in mild irritation despite the sneering but just as slight crook of a smile he had begun to exhibit. ]

I guess I should've expected that. [ ... although the questions are still there. did they win? did this mastermind win? and whatever happened to the world that adachi had grown such ressentiment for... ameno-sagiri had ultimately backed off, which left the main question lingering in adachi's head - the question to answer all questions, if you will. ] Oh, but I wanted to ask you something...

[ his posture straightens ever so slightly and he attempts to keep eye-contact this time - as though it were a speech he had recited beforehand... although really, it was just a question he had wanted to ask since she first sent him that encrypted message... ]

Who are you really?

There's a couple other options you forgot; they may fear the destructive power it can possess, they may fear it from a terrible memory that they associate with the rain, or seeing as how this city is full of delightful people with unique abilities it may interfere with them.

Now, I hadn't wanted to sound odd simply because of a few more obvious options. After all, it could be considered rather presumptuous. The possibilities are intriguing, however.

True, true. But if someone had one of those reasons, they may be unwilling to talk about it unless they were asked indirectly or directly. That aside, it's always interesting to see other reasons brought to the table!

But to answer the question you asked, I don't really mind it either way. I used to watch it from my bedroom window as a child.

And that is when one gets creative. After all, one can only reveal so much at a time...

A pastime we seem to share. I too used to watch it fall, though it was far more interesting in fields rather than an island.

Creative? Dear me, it seems I've been doing it all wrong these past few years then! I've always found honesty gets the best reactions, though I'm certainly not above stretching the truth in my favor.

I've always been a little more partial to thunder, though.

[...this is familiar. He remembers this from the last time--

So it's tentative, but an educated guess nonetheless.]

Izanami-san? Do you like the rain?

I have no idea who you are referring to, but yes... I do enjoy the downpours every now and then. After all, it was initially symbolic for an opportunity of renewal for the lands it fell upon.

[Child, why do you do this. Changing the filter, now.]

Yes, it is I. However, I do indeed have reasons for when I speak anonymously, Arisato-san.

[Reasons such as luring one of her own representatives out into the open for a friendly discussion. She cannot have them realize her identity until just. the right. moment.]

[...oh oops. > You feel a little embarrassed--

But mostly, he feels curious.]

Sorry about that. But why were you speaking anonymously, then?

[He can't help but be curious.]

[There there. It is not like he knew in the first place.

> However, she will explain... somewhat.]

To greet someone who recently arrived yet neglected to introduce themselves. That, and curiosity.

[Wouldn't you be intimidated if a god singled you out right off the bat?]

[...oh okay.

also no he wouldn't be intimidated by a god singling him out but that's pretty much his life anyway SO WHATEVS]

I see. I'll be more careful in the future, then.

[What is a protag life....]

No harm done. They neglected to check the rest of the responses in time...

[Trooooll in the bubble- oh wait there's several. :I

[> You feel a chill down your spine for some reason.]

Oh. Do you mind if I ask you something?

Why do you have to be anonymous to contact him?

[> You ponder this while speaking to a goddess of death...]

There's really no need to... aside from wishing to introduce myself in person, first.

Oh, I see. That sounds reasonable.

[No it doesn't, Minato, it sounds sketch as hell.]

Sorry, I should have asked this first. How have you been?

well im not human

but i dont liek the rain becauz water attaks hurt alot

and u get kold and i haet the kold

Odd. I could say the same of fire magic, myself.

i think fou-lu is bad with fire attkas

[There's a noticeable pause.]

i dontk now why i htink that

What relation does illness have with rain?

[Has he been unknowingly leading his Tribe into danger all this time!?]

For those with weaker immune systems, it is easier for them to catch a cold. Surely you knew?

[Pretty sure it is safe to say you didn't. Shh...]

[...This again.]

ive got enough of it at home tbh

[No Yosuke, it's just because you had an Issue up on the island that you're even more bitter about it right now.]

[Oh, hello Yosuke.]

Has he been giving you a hard time, like myself?

[Does she need to give that dog another bone to chew?]

thats a stuped qustion if u ask me

[Who doesn't give him a hard time? But Adachi is his own breed of annoying.]

[See, she would say 'your friends', buuuuut... Too bad this isn't audio, or her smirk might have been audible. Her little representative never changes! <3]

hm... How unfortunate.

[...well, that wasn't vague-yet-oddly-threatening.]

damn rite its unfortunate he needs 2 go bck 2 the hole he came from

[Seems like someone isn't all that happy. Surprise surprise.]

3rd foggy night ▣ [anonymous text/private message within]

encrypted

encrypted forever

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anonymous → filtered text;

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filtered text; wow where did notifs go

filtered text; they are fiendish things

filtered text; clearly this means I need better bait (and not tag while pain meds). :I

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text; My inner editor screams, I'm sorry.

anonymous text; no i'm sorry i took so long to reply ;;

text; It's okay I still love you and your tags ;w;

voice; c-c-combo breaker

anonymous text; best combo breaker

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