irismessaging | 1st Shadow [accidental video]

Entry tags:

1st Shadow [accidental video]

[Last night had been a great night for a campfire, huh? The stars had been brighter than they had been all month, and the full moon had been completely visible, so big it almost dominated the whole sky.

Unfortunately, a regular at the campfire (you've probably heard him singing along obnoxiously to any of the songs, though he doesn't know most of the words) never showed up to witness that beautiful night. He was locked in one of the bathroom stalls. In fact, he stays there all night, and he still hasn't returned to his own cabin by morning. Not to worry, though, he's leaving everyone a message to let everyone know he's alright.

...Unfortunately, he isn't going to seem very convincing.

He had meant to send a voice message to the other campers, but perhaps Iris was feeling a bit mixed up today, or perhaps his wonderful ~~smother~~ mother wasn't going to let her gift to him go unnoticed. Either way, he's completely visible as he sits in the bathroom stall, and there's clearly something behind him, something that makes a slight rustling noise as he fidgets.]

Hey everyone. It's Ryoji Mochizuki. Could someone let Chiron or Mr. D know that I'm not going to be at any training or classes today? I... I'm not feeling too good.

[Funny, he doesn't look any more pale than he normally does... Still oblivious, Ryoji stretches out slightly, and the video shows a glimpse of a pair of shadowy wings before cutting off.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Minato considers before answering. Does he want to lie and maybe make Ryoji feel better, or just tell him the truth and brace him for it? Where are his multiple choice answers.

He shrugs a little.] Probably.

[And then he heaves a sigh.] Did you sleep last night? [Or did you just sit here. All alone. Without even warning anybody where you'd gone? Come on, Ryoji. You're going to actually get sick.]

[Ryoji slumps a bit, but otherwise stays calm. He knew they probably all noticed, but he was hoping...

Oh, and that is a difficult question to ask, Minato. He certainly doesn't want to lie to you, but he knows you'll probably worry more if he tells the truth. Eventually, he realizes that the bags under his eyes are probably noticeable anyways, so it doesn't hurt to be honest.]

No. I don't really sleep very often.

[It was much easier to be an insomniac back when he didn't need sleep... Now he just stays awake until his body forcibly shuts him down.]

[He raises an eyebrow, not quite quizzically but... surprised. Clearly he was left with enough need to nap for both of them.]

You need to, here. [Sleeping is very important, says Mr Death Coma. He has a feeling if he doesn't try to at least push it a little, Ryoji's gonna accidentally make himself dead of exhaustion.

He's gotta keep an eye out for his bro, you know?]

Come back to the Cabin?

[Hey, they were similar in some ways, but very different in others. This is just more proof of that.]

Of course. Don't worry, I still try to.

[Not his fault he has nightmares. Now that he thinks about it, his parent could be another reason for that as well. A goddess of the night probably would prefer it if her descendents were conscious during her time.

He's obviously hesitant to leave, despite Minato's comforting.]

I... I don't know. I don't want to bother anyone.

You won't. [He's very firm about that. Besides, most everyone's gonna be doing activities all day and Ryoji doesn't look too good.

Come on, seriously.]

We'll go straight to the cabin?

[Sorry, Minato. He just needs a little more courage to actually walk through that door.]

Straight to the cabin. [And if anyone stops them, Minato will give them a slightly creepy silent protag look.]

[You know, Ryoji just finds your silent protag look kind of cute. Aww, he's being intimidating!

But at least that got a small smile out of him, and he nods.]

Then let's go.

[Just... give him a minute to shuffle out of this stall. He's folded his wings up as best he can, but they're still a little hard to maneuver around with.]

[Hush it. Of course he's not intimidating to Ryoji. Other people might find it unnerving.

After a moment of watching, feeling the awkwardness Ryoji must be feeling, he hesitantly holds out a hand. Come on?]

They'll go away. [He hopes. If they don't, it could be a problem moving around.]

[Don't worry, he's certainly intimidating to others.

Honestly, taking Minato's hand seems a bit more embarrassing, but Ryoji manages to grab it after a few moments of nervousness. He nods. Of course he had worried when they first appeared that they wouldn't go away, but he's pretty sure now that they're just meant to be a sign of being claimed. They're going to go away, especially if Minato says so.]

I know they will.

[Now let's focus on actually getting out that door.]

[It might be embarrassing, but Minato normally doesn't pay much attention to most social norms. He tugs on Ryoji's hand to move forward.]

It won't be so bad. [He's been looking around for information about his father and, really, he doubts anyone's gonna be nasty about Ryoji's claiming. Especially since most people have no idea who his mom is.

Assuming, of course, that Minato's right about his mom.]

[He follows along willingly, though his smile fades rapidly.]

I know it won't. It's just...

I was expecting her to be my parent. It would have made sense. I was just hoping that maybe if I hoped it wasn't the case, that maybe I'd have a different parent.

... If anything, she didn't need to claim me.

It doesn't change you. [He won't make him leave the bathroom yet.]

We can't choose our parents. [He knows Ryoji doesn't want to be the avatar of Nyx. That, he's 800% sure of. He doesn't want to be the son of the Lord of Death, particularly. It seems like it's against everything he cares about. But, hell.] Who do you want to be?

Of course we can't.

[That doesn't change the fact that he wants to choose. He'd pick almost anyone over Nyx, and he's pretty sure that Minato would pick almost anyone over Hades.

He goes quiet at Minato's next question. That's an excellent question, isn't it? He never had a childhood spent dreaming of occupations he'd take when he was older. His first month truly alive was spent goofing off, never imagining that he had a fate much different from being a normal kid. He doesn't know what he truly wants, especially not after everything that happened, but... he has something.]

... A good, happy person.

[Minato aches for him in that moment. Something in his chest crumbles, because Ryoji never got that chance. For all Minato gave him, in the end it did little more than hurt him.

But it's a kind of hurt Minato recognizes. One you don't regret. If he was more outgoing, he might do more than close his eyes with a deep breath. As it stands, he's not so his shoulders sag a little more and that's a lot considering his slouch.]

Then that's what you'll be.

[Thankfully, just that reassurance is enough to stop Ryoji from completely and utterly breaking down. He can't smile, of course, but he still nods, still tries to believe him.]

You think so?

[Because honestly, if Minato says so, there's no doubt in Ryoji's mind that eventually he will be what he wants to be.]

I know so.

[That was cheesey. Don't call him out on that one, Ryoji.]

You're halfway there. [You're good, regardless of the things you did in their world, regardless of who you were born as.

You just have to work on... happy.]

[He won't. He's cheesier than you, with some of his pick-up lines. Honestly, that kind of cliche sappiness is good, as long as you mean it.]

Halfway... you think I'm good?

[That is something to be surprised about, clearly.]

[He's very sincere about that, he is.]

I don't think you're bad. [You didn't mean to be what you are.] You warned us. [Warned them, gave them the chance to die happily, gave them the chance to prepare.

Gave him the chance to seal you away forever.

You're still talking to him.]

[Ryoji can't really picture Minato lying about something like that, anyways.]

Even after everything I did...

[He has to laugh at that. The person he hurt the most still thinks that he's a good person. It's not something he'd expect if he had hurt anyone else.

Because it's Minato, though...

Ryoji squeezes his hand slightly, as some sort of reassurance.]

I don't think you're bad either. Honestly, I think you're incredible.

[He's not incredible. He doesn't think so, at least. He just dealt with what he was given.

Seriously, though, if Minato thinks Ryoji is good, no one else has the right to think otherwise. He just wants his friend to use his second chance well.]

Are you okay, now? [The wings are big and get in the way, but nobody's going to be saying shit about them. Or else.]

[Does Minato need Ryoji to remind him of just how incredible that was? Considering everyone else was just ready to give up, Minato and his friends were amazing for simply trying.

But don't worry. His second chance will be used the way he wants to use it. He's going to do his best to become what he wants to be, and have experiences he never got to have. The thought of that is enough to make him nod.]

I am. We can head out now, if you want.

[It worked, in the end. That's all that matters.

He nods when Ryoji does.]

Straight to the cabin? [Just making sure it's still the game plan.]

Yeah, straight there.

[As far as he knows, that hasn't changed.

...Though maybe if his stomach is growling, they should stop and get some food.]

[He notices that, but he won't change the course unless Ryoji wants to.]

I'll get you something from the camp store.

1st Shadow [accidental video]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)