irismessaging | 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.]

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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.

Ah, t-that's okay. You shouldn't have to get me anything.

I don't have to. [He wants to. He went hungry his first day here and who knows how many meals each of them have left.]

So then if you don't have to, you can just forget about it, right?

[Minato, why would you let yourself starve? You know he would have snuck you some food, even if he got in trouble for it.]

I want to.

[C'mon, Ryoji. You're hungry. He'll drop you off at the Cabin and go grab something.]

...Only if it's not too much trouble.

[Geez, Minato, you're embarrassing him. He doesn't need to be taken care of.]

[You locked yourself in the bathroom. But he wouldn't offer if he felt it was trouble. This is Minato, remember?]

Come on.

1st Shadow [accidental video]

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