[ It all comes back. It all comes rushing back, all the precious and cherished people in her life. Emil, her grandmother, and even if that Shade is something that she keeps locked up deep in her heart for all of the dark things it's made her feel, for all the resulting ugliness that came after her grandmother died—
She is fine, as long as she can remember the rest. As long as she can remember what happiness in a hanged portrait feels like, as long as she can remember the happiness of someone saying he's happy to see her now even though he's in a body that's a skeleton, a body that he hates. How many times does she have to forget and remember the people she loves? She was so scared that she'd have to once again lose—
Because her life has been filled with loss after loss after loss (how many sacrifices does she have to experience? how many?). She's not quite as furious as Ichiro is because most of the lost memories bring back what little joy she's managed to grasp and cling onto. It makes her stagger, and she holds onto the pod to steady herself, barely able to take in what the other three are doing even if they're shouting or running or falling to their knees.
She could cry.
She won't let go. ]
It's not always our fucking choice when we lose our goddamn memories!
[Naminé carefully tucks hair behind one of her ears.]
They're all back, and they're yours. It's good to have friends... who can remind you of what you've forgotten. In case you forget.
[On the surface of the platform, all four of their shadows begin to shiver. They start to stretch, elongate. They pour away from their bodies, sliding along the stained glass away from them, under Naminé's feet, converging. At an empty end of the platform, they spill over the edge.
Something dark and massive rises up over the edge. It grows. And it just keeps growing, larger and larger, much larger than the platform itself. It bows over all of them, its arms resting around the edge.
Naminé gasps and takes a half a step back, clutching the notebook to her chest. When she turns away, a dark portal opens, and she races into it before it closes behind her.
The dark entity gazes down on them with glowing, yellow eyes. It raises both arms, and then smashes them down onto the platform on top of them. Choking, foul, icy-cold darkness washes over them like a turbulent wave, knocking them back. It's so heavy, full of the same kinds of madness they've gained staying here too long. Suffocating, twisting. Their hearts can't take it.]
at least there's a new target for being angry now! ichiro does not have to fight this little girl becaues now there is a massive monster looming over their heads. he almost immediately jumps back, putting his keyblade in front of himself again as the arms start to come up, because there is zero time to process, and the first thing he thinks is oh fuck no and takes off at a run in kainé's direction. she's nowhere near the three of them, right now, and he saw nier in that pod, and - he gets it, god he gets it.
he's not gonna let her be alone, though.
the wave of miserable, ice cold darkness hits him as he's almost there, and ichiro makes a grunted, cut off noise at it slams into his injuries and pushes its way up like a poisonous sludge. he does everything he can to stay on his feet, to keep moving, but is it even possible...? this is more than just an enemy, it's a violent wave of nothing - it's like that voice had said. fighting off literal darkness and failing. ]
beau uses her keyblade to stand back up, watching her shadow melt and contort away from her, and dumbly, her thought is just oh, that's bad. when the dark entity crawls up to the platform, she gets a rush of adrenaline, and it's enough for her to start moving. she wants out. she's cold, she wants to - go home? she wants to be out of here. so she tries to fight, except.
foul, angry darkness hits her like a truck. she stumbles back, and falls directly on her ass. it's - nothing, it's too much, she feels like she's withering from the inside. she clings to the keyblade in her hand, feebly trying to bring it up, but her limbs feel heavy.
[and another thing...why is it always like this? why is there always something else to fight without even a moment to pause?
but there's no time to complain. there's no time to think about it, and there's no time to regret leaving people behind. ichiro has kainé and taichi darts for beau to join her at the ready to fight back, keyblade drawn and teeth bared.
except. they get pummeled by an onslaught of cold, slow-seeping darkness that makes its way into every crack and crevice it can, coating every injury and slowing every fibre of their being down. he stumbles on his feet, keyblade quickly swinging down to keep himself propped up as he struggles to remain standing.
strength...doesn't he have any left to give? how could they have come this far to fail now?
..."Don't give up even if you're stuck in the darkness. The light--it'll guide you."
...but when there's no light...how can you find your way? they have to keep trying. even if it's impossible and maybe hopeless.]
[ Dark and massive is something she's seen before. That's nothing new even if it's not quite the same. What is new is the wave of darkness that chokes her. She sees Ichiro run towards her, and she can do nothing, a great, infuriating nothing because her heart is trying so hard to fight back against the darkness that sinks in everywhere it can, pulling her down.
She slides to the floor, her arms barely wrapped around the pod. She can't let go. She won't let go. She can't.
It's too much. They can't lose here, but why can't she fight it?
[The enormous entity is relentless. That's how it feels wandering in the darkness, a place full of nothing but. Hopeless. That's what it's like. Doubting everything, but more importantly, doubting yourself.
It swings its arms back and forth across the platform, slapping them around, slapping them down. The hits hurt their heart the most, but they also hurt their bodies, too. Bruises, cut skin, swollen whelps. (You can have some broken bones if you want to be mean. :unamused:) Truly, it feels like it won't ever end.
And then out of the distant darkness around them, a bright, warm orb zooms in, looping up, down, and around the arms before crashing directly into the platform in front of the creature. Light flashes, blinding. Left behind in its place, glow dulling, is a small, cloaked figure with a bladed key. It mad dashes across the platform, leaping up and attacking full-force one of the arms. The creature jostles in pain, faltering in its attacks. The figure flips and somersaults from one arm to the neck effortlessly, attacking.
And then it lands back in the center, throwing off the hood. Two rounded ears pop out, and then a pointed nose. looks back at the four of them over his shoulder.]
Didn't think I'd leave you in here to fight all on your own, didja? Don't give up! You've got the keyblades! See!
[The [rat shack man] points behind them to a strange keyhole hovering above the platform.]
[ every single hit hurts. it feels like the darkness is seizing into all the cracks in his soul, finding every bruised and battered part of ichiro from their long, long fight. he tries to hold onto the thought of his brothers from every hit, when the darkness cracks into his already bruised ribs, when it leaves bleeding cuts on his arms and his chest, one streaking under his mole on his face. pain lances through the lightning-strike burn on his arm, and he grits his teeth, hard, and slams his hand into the ground. he can't lose here. he can't - even if it feels like he's going to.
he's going to die here, away from home, away from jiro and saburo. his friends - taichi, beau, kainé - they're suffering, he can't do anything about it. the darkness bruises and bends and threatens to break.
and then, suddenly, there's light. his head snaps up - the pressure lifts, and ichiro inhales so hard it hurts, forcing himself back up as it suddenly feels less relentless. every part of his body is screaming in pain, and ichiro forces himself not to fall back over as he lifts his hand and wipes blood away from his nose. it feels automatic to lift up the keyblade, and as he does, he stares up at their savior - ]
Edited (lemme make sure i actually move the cyoa along ) 2021-07-01 05:50 (UTC)
[i can't believe i made the (shenpai voice) fellas is it gay to love your rat joke in chat and now we're being saved by mickey fucking mouse
anyway. beau isn't genre savvy, and she is suffering from broken bones! all of them! i'm very mean. bruises, cut skin, and broken bones - she tries to protect herself from the hit, but she feels her arm snap, and only just barely bites her lip to shut herself up. blood leaks from her lip as she tries to withstand the darkness, tries to find any piece of herself that she can use as light to fight against it, and comes up empty. another hit shatters a rib, and she closes her eyes, staggering. not here, it can't end here. not after the promises she's made.
and then -- there's light.
a long pause, as she just... registers. and then:]
Is that a fucking rat? [she asks, completely and thoroughly dazed. she sees. she has lost her mind to the darkness.
... might as well do what the rat says and lift her keyblade up to the keyhole. she's just copying ichiro. is this an isekai.]
[cool. he managed to survive one near-death experience on sheer luck, but it looks like his luck’s run out. there’s no one here who can save him as the darkness weighs him down and crushes him. the bruising on his back spreads and the skin cracks, cuts across his shoulder blades and the upper part of his spine as blood begins to soak into his shirt. the keyblade barely helps to hold up his weight, and the sharp snapping he barely hears is only a blip before he feels a faint throbbing in his left, frostbitten wrist. it’s hard to focus on anything as his vision starts to go fuzzy…
…no, wait. that’s a light that’s zooming toward them. light blinds him and when he sees a mouse (not a digimon, just a hooded rodent) he vaguely wonders if this really is some fucked up dream. but right. keys go in keyholes. he drops his arm to the side, wrist dangling awkwardly as he lifts the right arm with his keyblade in hand to point at the keyhole while he mumbles in confusion.]
Darkness rodent...
[one of them is from an isekai and this is actually a more polite way to travel than usual, thanks.]
[ She is hit, again and again. She is slammed until her left arm breaks at odd angles, her back is deeply bruised, and cuts streak across her front and legs, leaving her very bloody and messy indeed.
Her consciousness is fading fast, especially after all that slapping made her let go, and she's struggling to keep her eyes open just as the light zooms in. She can barely tell it's a rat shack man.
She doesn't know a Mickey Mouse.
What she can tell is: ]
You could have fucking come three platforms ago, asshole!
[ Savior, her ass!
She's prone on the ground, but with what remaining strength she has left, she raises her keyblade to point at the keyhole. It's the isekai thing to do. ]
[Can't believe he deus ex machinas only to get insulted by uncultured swine. He's royalty!
He watches to make sure they are all able to unlock the keyhole.]
You know, Kainé, it wouldn't hurt you to say thank you sometimes! [He nods then.] You can't stay very long in the darkness without an unwavering light. It's too dangerous. But don't worry. If you're ever doubting yourself, just know I'll always be there. Right inside your heart!
And you have each other, too! That's what friends are for.
I got it from here! Go!
[Four beams of light shoot out of the ends of their keyblade at the opening above them. The keyhole lights up and glows, and then a door appears, hovering in the air. A few steps fold out down to them.
Behind them, the massive creature raises its arms again. It's absolutely hilarious how much Mickey Mouse can turn and mean mug the hell out of this thing! Wow! Nothing is more terrified than a pissed Mickey Mouse.]
Not this time!
[The grip on his keyblade tightens, and he launches himself with a yell from his place on the platform up all the way toward the creature's head in one go, keyblade swinging and coat billowing. This absolute mad lad.
As they make it out of the Dive, they will have lingering instances of confusion about memories, and episodes of they effects of darkness (anger, sadness, paranoia, and jealous) on and off until trial. Up to you guys! Also, I have something for all of you, I will give it to you later in your DM.]
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no subject
She is fine, as long as she can remember the rest. As long as she can remember what happiness in a hanged portrait feels like, as long as she can remember the happiness of someone saying he's happy to see her now even though he's in a body that's a skeleton, a body that he hates. How many times does she have to forget and remember the people she loves? She was so scared that she'd have to once again lose—
Because her life has been filled with loss after loss after loss (how many sacrifices does she have to experience? how many?). She's not quite as furious as Ichiro is because most of the lost memories bring back what little joy she's managed to grasp and cling onto. It makes her stagger, and she holds onto the pod to steady herself, barely able to take in what the other three are doing even if they're shouting or running or falling to their knees.
She could cry.
She won't let go. ]
It's not always our fucking choice when we lose our goddamn memories!
no subject
They're all back, and they're yours. It's good to have friends... who can remind you of what you've forgotten. In case you forget.
[On the surface of the platform, all four of their shadows begin to shiver. They start to stretch, elongate. They pour away from their bodies, sliding along the stained glass away from them, under Naminé's feet, converging. At an empty end of the platform, they spill over the edge.
Something dark and massive rises up over the edge. It grows. And it just keeps growing, larger and larger, much larger than the platform itself. It bows over all of them, its arms resting around the edge.
Naminé gasps and takes a half a step back, clutching the notebook to her chest. When she turns away, a dark portal opens, and she races into it before it closes behind her.
The dark entity gazes down on them with glowing, yellow eyes. It raises both arms, and then smashes them down onto the platform on top of them. Choking, foul, icy-cold darkness washes over them like a turbulent wave, knocking them back. It's so heavy, full of the same kinds of madness they've gained staying here too long. Suffocating, twisting. Their hearts can't take it.]
no subject
at least there's a new target for being angry now! ichiro does not have to fight this little girl becaues now there is a massive monster looming over their heads. he almost immediately jumps back, putting his keyblade in front of himself again as the arms start to come up, because there is zero time to process, and the first thing he thinks is oh fuck no and takes off at a run in kainé's direction. she's nowhere near the three of them, right now, and he saw nier in that pod, and - he gets it, god he gets it.
he's not gonna let her be alone, though.
the wave of miserable, ice cold darkness hits him as he's almost there, and ichiro makes a grunted, cut off noise at it slams into his injuries and pushes its way up like a poisonous sludge. he does everything he can to stay on his feet, to keep moving, but is it even possible...? this is more than just an enemy, it's a violent wave of nothing - it's like that voice had said. fighting off literal darkness and failing. ]
no subject
beau uses her keyblade to stand back up, watching her shadow melt and contort away from her, and dumbly, her thought is just oh, that's bad. when the dark entity crawls up to the platform, she gets a rush of adrenaline, and it's enough for her to start moving. she wants out. she's cold, she wants to - go home? she wants to be out of here. so she tries to fight, except.
foul, angry darkness hits her like a truck. she stumbles back, and falls directly on her ass. it's - nothing, it's too much, she feels like she's withering from the inside. she clings to the keyblade in her hand, feebly trying to bring it up, but her limbs feel heavy.
she can't take it.]
no subject
but there's no time to complain. there's no time to think about it, and there's no time to regret leaving people behind. ichiro has kainé and taichi darts for beau to join her at the ready to fight back, keyblade drawn and teeth bared.
except. they get pummeled by an onslaught of cold, slow-seeping darkness that makes its way into every crack and crevice it can, coating every injury and slowing every fibre of their being down. he stumbles on his feet, keyblade quickly swinging down to keep himself propped up as he struggles to remain standing.
strength...doesn't he have any left to give? how could they have come this far to fail now?
..."Don't give up even if you're stuck in the darkness. The light--it'll guide you."
...but when there's no light...how can you find your way? they have to keep trying. even if it's impossible and maybe hopeless.]
no subject
She slides to the floor, her arms barely wrapped around the pod. She can't let go. She won't let go. She can't.
It's too much. They can't lose here, but why can't she fight it?
Where is the light...? ]
no subject
It swings its arms back and forth across the platform, slapping them around, slapping them down. The hits hurt their heart the most, but they also hurt their bodies, too. Bruises, cut skin, swollen whelps. (You can have some broken bones if you want to be mean. :unamused:) Truly, it feels like it won't ever end.
And then out of the distant darkness around them, a bright, warm orb zooms in, looping up, down, and around the arms before crashing directly into the platform in front of the creature. Light flashes, blinding. Left behind in its place, glow dulling, is a small, cloaked figure with a bladed key. It mad dashes across the platform, leaping up and attacking full-force one of the arms. The creature jostles in pain, faltering in its attacks. The figure flips and somersaults from one arm to the neck effortlessly, attacking.
And then it lands back in the center, throwing off the hood. Two rounded ears pop out, and then a pointed nose. looks back at the four of them over his shoulder.]
Didn't think I'd leave you in here to fight all on your own, didja? Don't give up! You've got the keyblades! See!
[The [rat shack man] points behind them to a strange keyhole hovering above the platform.]
1/2
he's going to die here, away from home, away from jiro and saburo. his friends - taichi, beau, kainé - they're suffering, he can't do anything about it. the darkness bruises and bends and threatens to break.
and then, suddenly, there's light. his head snaps up - the pressure lifts, and ichiro inhales so hard it hurts, forcing himself back up as it suddenly feels less relentless. every part of his body is screaming in pain, and ichiro forces himself not to fall back over as he lifts his hand and wipes blood away from his nose. it feels automatic to lift up the keyblade, and as he does, he stares up at their savior - ]
no subject
Is that Mickey Mouse?
[ am i hallucinating, ]
no subject
anyway. beau isn't genre savvy, and she is suffering from broken bones! all of them! i'm very mean. bruises, cut skin, and broken bones - she tries to protect herself from the hit, but she feels her arm snap, and only just barely bites her lip to shut herself up. blood leaks from her lip as she tries to withstand the darkness, tries to find any piece of herself that she can use as light to fight against it, and comes up empty. another hit shatters a rib, and she closes her eyes, staggering. not here, it can't end here. not after the promises she's made.
and then -- there's light.
a long pause, as she just... registers. and then:]
Is that a fucking rat? [she asks, completely and thoroughly dazed. she sees. she has lost her mind to the darkness.
... might as well do what the rat says and lift her keyblade up to the keyhole. she's just copying ichiro. is this an isekai.]
no subject
…no, wait. that’s a light that’s zooming toward them. light blinds him and when he sees a mouse (not a digimon, just a hooded rodent) he vaguely wonders if this really is some fucked up dream. but right. keys go in keyholes. he drops his arm to the side, wrist dangling awkwardly as he lifts the right arm with his keyblade in hand to point at the keyhole while he mumbles in confusion.]
Darkness rodent...
[one of them is from an isekai and this is actually a more polite way to travel than usual, thanks.]
no subject
Her consciousness is fading fast, especially after all that slapping made her let go, and she's struggling to keep her eyes open just as the light zooms in. She can barely tell it's a rat shack man.
She doesn't know a Mickey Mouse.
What she can tell is: ]
You could have fucking come three platforms ago, asshole!
[ Savior, her ass!
She's prone on the ground, but with what remaining strength she has left, she raises her keyblade to point at the keyhole. It's the isekai thing to do. ]
no subject
[Can't believe he deus ex machinas only to get insulted by uncultured swine. He's royalty!
He watches to make sure they are all able to unlock the keyhole.]
You know, Kainé, it wouldn't hurt you to say thank you sometimes! [He nods then.] You can't stay very long in the darkness without an unwavering light. It's too dangerous. But don't worry. If you're ever doubting yourself, just know I'll always be there. Right inside your heart!
And you have each other, too! That's what friends are for.
I got it from here! Go!
[Four beams of light shoot out of the ends of their keyblade at the opening above them. The keyhole lights up and glows, and then a door appears, hovering in the air. A few steps fold out down to them.
Behind them, the massive creature raises its arms again. It's absolutely hilarious how much Mickey Mouse can turn and mean mug the hell out of this thing! Wow! Nothing is more terrified than a pissed Mickey Mouse.]
Not this time!
[The grip on his keyblade tightens, and he launches himself with a yell from his place on the platform up all the way toward the creature's head in one go, keyblade swinging and coat billowing. This absolute mad lad.
As they make it out of the Dive, they will have lingering instances of confusion about memories, and episodes of they effects of darkness (anger, sadness, paranoia, and jealous) on and off until trial. Up to you guys! Also, I have something for all of you, I will give it to you later in your DM.]