aeon-arcana:

What even happened? Time had slipped by and she had completely lost track on how long she was completely out of it. Was it a few days or less? More? —However this became less of a priority to her; recalling correctly she knew that Minato had to be around here somewhere. His condition was what worried her, she hadn’t checked up on him for some time and she could only hope that he was alright. 

She didn’t waste a single second, if her memory served her correctly, she should be heading towards the trailer the boy was assigned to. —A few moments later she arrives at the trailer and bounds up the steps to knock on the door—quite loudly at that. 

“Minato, are you there?”

[ Sleep had become a priority, namely after his most recent bout of battles with his old nightmares.
It`s not as though he had much to worry about anymore. No more fear of shadows swallowing his loved ones up, failing to accomplish his mission, or scary thoughts of death. After all, he died once. He couldn`t die again.
But maybe that morbid thought was the one that made his stomach turn. Nonetheless, thoughts of old days constantly attacked him. Most likely since he had nothing productive to do here - what a pathetic existence.
Come to think of it, he wasn`t quite sure which of his friends were still here after all this time had passed. Minato silently chastised himself for not keeping tabs on everyone. ]
What if they aren`t even here anymore?
[ Way to go, he thought to himself, find more things to make yourself be depressed.
His pessimistic reverie was interrupted by loud metallic knocking on the door. As he was alone, he had to be on his guard. Reflexively, his body shot up in response. Prepared to defend until he heard a familiar voice. ]

Ah, Aigis. It`s you. [ The teen called back to her; his voice already sounded incredibly relieved. Immediately his joints relaxed and he threw the covers off of his body, shaking the cobwebs off of his bones by moving briskly. Pulling back he door, he greeted her with a weak but earnest smile. ]
Long time no see, huh? How have you been?
[ Hopefully the dark circles under his eyes had been getting a little better. ] 

exiledarcana:

You could hear me? Hm, maybe it’s because I used to talk to you while you were dreaming.

You do remember that, right? I must’ve freaked you out a number of times. [Chuckling to himself, he ruffles the other’s hair slightly, grinning ear to ear. He was glad to hear he was okay… sometimes, Ryoji got worried about him. Worried that one day, he’d just up and disappear, for the world’s sake. Minato was such a humble guy, he made him feel like a little kid sometimes.]

[Then again, it wasn’t really far from the truth.]

So you haven’t been sleeping well…? Ah, that’s tough, ‘specially for someone like you, who’s always sleeping in class. Is something bothering you?

[A small part of Ryoji wondered if he was the one bothering him. He was pretty sure someone in the right mind wouldn’t want to be around someone who nearly ended the world, and took their life. Then again, Minato had said that he forgave him, since it wasn’t entirely his fault. But…Minato was a sweet-talker. He told people what they wanted to hear sometimes, so he couldn’t help but be a little bit self-conscious.]

What exactly are you worried about? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking. Because, I can understand if you don’t want to tell anyone, especially if the source of the problem is the one—

I mean, not that I suspect you’re mad at me or anything!

[Oh, Ryoji. Awful liar, as well as an awful person at keeping their thoughts in their head, instead of out. Truth be told, his heart was always on his sleeve, always speaking before thinking…it was a bad habit. Not like it was anything he could fix, of course.]

Anyways, I’m sorry you’re having trouble sleeping and all. [He recovered from his fault rather quickly, shaking his head and keeping his eyes averted on the water.] Sometimes, life gets a little too crazy, and your mind can’t keep up with it.

[Pretty smart advice from someone as new to the world as he was.]

So take a rest if you need to, right? Doesn’t look like we’re going to be leaving this place anytime soon, so you should let your worries go.

[With a confident smile, he looks towards the other male, sheepishly scratching the back of his head. Man, he was a huge goof sometimes - always trying to get everyone to smile. As much of a ladies-guy he was, he was really sweet once you got to know him. Ryoji was painfully nice, always wishing the best for everyone, but often getting thrown off tangent with half-guessed assumptions and confused looks. It was difficult being human.]

You talked to me while I was dreaming? [ Amused, Minato daintily moved the tufts of hair that Ryoji mussed up back into place, blinking several times in thought. He slowly filed through the cobweb covered memories from his past life. ]
Right, I remember you speaking to me…just as I was regaining consciousness.
[ Pharos` voice had mixed in with his dreams, causing him to wondering who exactly was calling out to him in the midst of an illusion in his head. Minato often had strange dreams, located in the strangest of locations that often made zero sense or hardly related to what had happened during the day.
It became routine to see the boy a week before the full moon, sitting on his bed or standing eerily close to him the moment he opened his eyes, face to face with piercing electric blue eyes. ]

Hey, I didn`t always sleep in class.
[ He groused, stretching the truth that indeed, he often had moments in which his attention span crashed, leaving him spaced out completely, paying zero attention to the relevance of difficult math or obscure Japanese history. How on earth did he end up having such high test scores again? Being under Mitsuru`s watchful eye coupled with her academic suicide standards probably contributed to that. ]
You`d be tired too if you had to run around a gigantic tower for an hour.
[ He nearly laughed at how he was cautious about mentioning the dark hour, still reminded of when they thought Ryoji was normal and had nothing to do with the shadows.
Tartarus. It sounded a lot more simplistic than it was.
Delving farther and farther into an endless abyss that drained your stamina. Time after time he would have to point a gun to his head, a gateway straight to his brain, the cold click of a trigger clearing his mind, reminding him that any moment now, he could die…
such a morbid process banished his thoughts and enabled his persona to come forth. ]

I`m not sure what it is that`s bothering me…probably something really stupid. [ He gracefully smacked his palm against his face, dragging his fingers against his skin in a harsh motion to pull his lower eyelids from his eyeballs for a split second. The dark circles underneath his eyes had become more opaque than before. ]

Mad at you? [ Innocently, glossy silver eyes peered up at his companion. ] Do I have a reason to be? Unless there`s something you`re not telling me, of course…
[ As tired as the quiet teenager could be, he was never one to miss out on the opportunity to quip, even at the most desolate or demure of moments. ]
Don`t sweat it, it`s not your fault. [ A tight, minute smile curved at the edges of his lips, feeling pretty pleased with himself that he had gotten such a positive reaction out of the previously worried Ryoji. A furrowed brow and pout never suited Ryoji. Well, maybe the pout, but never the stressed out look. It reminded him too much of December. A smile suited him best; he was relieved when his friend smiled with such bright intensity. ]
You worry too much. I can`t think of a time you`ve bothered me around here, Ryoji.

[ Stuck here… ]
Yeah, we`re probably not leaving here any time soon…maybe that is what`s bothering me.
[ He feebly attempted to mirror the confident smile on Ryoji`s face. How could he be so cheerful? They really were opposites. ]
I`ve been so bugged about being stuck here, but then I realize the moment it`s all over, I`ll be dead again, won`t I?
[ Pause. Wait, that`s not what the savior of man kind should say. ]
Not that I wouldn`t mind being the seal again as it means protective all of man kind. Maybe I`m being selfish, but I had missed living.
[ In essence, he would lose everything again. ]

Then again, I would still be with you, technically, so… [ Trailing off, he smiled faintly, taking on a slightly distant look. ]
That counts for something, right?

(Source: xxii-thefool)

of course tumblr, you would die on the dead guy
rude

can i finally make a post
can i tumblr

CAN I!?!?!?

narukami-yu-:

Trying to not make any signs of embarrassment any visible, he kept things vague and only answered with a simple “Mm. I do wonder.”

The elder was still set to tease him more and more. What appeared on Yu’s face in response resembled a pout. ”It’s the kind of song that wants to stay in your head. ‘I like them girls girls’ gets repeated so many times that you get to learn the song fast, I suppose.” 

“I could lend this to you so I’ll see how long it’ll take you before you start singing along too.” Yu pushed the box slightly to the side to make place for the other boy. From the number of times that they ran into each other, he could easily feel at ease next to him despite the few words of teasing. Then again, they have escaped together from a situation of life or death at the Carnival. It felt much like how it was when exploring dungeons with his friends in the TV world… That was a major slink rank up. 

“So I don’t seem the type to you..? How did you label me before this?” He asked, slightly amused.

Don`t worry about it, I get you.
In my first few sessions at Mandragora I could barely hold the mic. [ Just like that, Minato was lost in a reverie detailing his days at Port Island. ]  But eventually you adjust to it.
[ He picked at the sole of his shoe idly before explaining, allowing a slight lull. ]
I used to do karaoke all the time. [ This was explained almost shyly - he had never told anyone at school about it. Nor about his escapades in going to the cafe all the time, either working there or trying to drink down all that coffee. He was chock full of strange stories, many of them involving odd foods. ]

You are right though, it has a catchy beat. [ Minato was already tapping a foot and finger in time with the tune. ] “I like them girls that`s hard to get~”
[ He was already singing along. Darn, he was right after all. Talk about an earworm.
It was a peaceful transition from the pensive loneliness on the shores to a warm companionship with Yu, bonding over music.
It had been awhile since he felt this much at home with someone that he didn`t know from his previous life. In fact, it was probably the first instance. Namely since this circus felt like the farthest thing from home.

He stopped singing for a moment and turned to his companion, a smile dancing across his visage. ]
By type I meant your taste in music. [ Minato blinked innocently into Yu`s similarly silvery eyes, placing a hand on his cheek in order to rest. ]
You struck me as…maybe more of the rock or smooth jazz kinda guy.
[ Again, he was joking just a bit. ]

narukami-yu-:

His dulled senses failed to detect the presence of another approaching. It was only when he heard the voice that he came came from the clouds. Immediately, his mouth came shut. 

Well. That was embarrassing. Thankfully, it was only Minato… not that he cared much about being judged. The lyrics of this song were clean enough and it was not as if he were singing at the top of his lungs.

“Oh, it’s you, Minato.” After he said the name, he thought something sounded strange. Ah, that’s right, he strangely became accustomed to calling the blue haired boy by ‘Mi’ now. “It’s…”

What was even this song? There were no labels or anything on the CDs or in the box. “…Music?” 

He scoffed. “I actually don’t know. I found these in my trailer.” His hand moved from the box to the radio to lower the volume. It would be rude to keep the loud music playing while someone came to talk, but now he had made one hell of an awkward background music.

[ Minato`s eyes lit up just a bit when his companion ceased his vocalization. Did he feel embarrassed? How cute. It was nice that they shared a similar interest. Minato was always an avid fan of any sort of music, and hearing another source of melodies was a blessing. Not that he would ever get tired of his good old mp3 player, forever hanging around his chest.]

You nearly sound disappointed. [ Minato chuckled. ] Or relieved, probably…
seeing as most people usually don`t like it when other people hear them sing.
[ The older boy was used to it for his sheer lack of shame as he would sing his heart out at Paulownia to instill more courage into his heart.
You got used to it after awhile. He wasn`t half bad, if a pro said so himself. ]


Of course I know it`s music. [ He took it literally. Yu really was a funny boy. ] I mean, no, I`ve never heard music before.
[ Pleasantly sarcastic, he fingered the metallic surface of the headphones around his neck. ]  I should have figured you didn`t know the title…but since you were singing I thought maybe you heard it before in your old world.
[ Minato decided to sit down beside the teen, making himself comfortable. ] Funny song to listen to. Yu never struck me as the type. [ He kept his tone even, but it was obvious that he was teasing. ]  
At least you managed to find some good tunes in this dreary place.
[ It was quite obvious the shorter boy was incredibly pleased by any sort of song or melody. It had made him feel a little bit more at home. ]

narukami-yu-:

Today, Yu found something new.

… that were quite old actually.

With all that renovation and moving done lately, the boy stumbled upon a box of old CDs in the trailer. Some were cracked, but there were a few that still looked usable. It was a mix of curiosity and boredom that invited him to discover what kind of musical taste the previous owner had.

Grabbing the small portable radio with him without forgetting the treasure box, Yu walked out to a nearby ‘park’. There, he sat down by a tree and played the CDs one by one. It wasn’t much, but perhaps some music could liven up the place a bit, unless these were OSTs of horror movies.

Surprisingly, the music playing fitted his tastes. There was this particular track that struck him somehow. After a few plays, he found himself singing along.

‘I like them girls, girls. I like them girls that’ll love to trip…’

[ With bones that felt creaky and joints comprised of spider webs, he had dragged his lethargic body from the lake side. The trailer`s tight hospital corners and musty smells made Minato frown. More and more time was spent on the shore, staring at the water and simply pondering. What exactly could he be thinking of?
Each time he tried to form these ideas into coherent speech, it had proved to be rather difficult, nearly impossible.
Perhaps walking would take his mind off of it. Thinking about step after step, the rhythm of his shoes crunching against the ground…it was peaceful.
After a few minutes, the crackling of pebbles wasn`t the only thing he had heard of.
The mincing of steps began mixing with a voice. A moment of pause, he listened to what seemed to be someone singing. It instantly brought back memories of karaoke. Glancing up from his shoes, bright silvery eyes met silver hair. Well, look who it was. Piano fingers rose to his ears, gently removing his headphones from their usual perch to hang around his collarbones. ]

What on earth are you listening to? [ A slightly crooked smile overcame his expression. The boy`s taste in music was…interesting to say the least. Then again, there was only so much they could manage with here. Besides, Minato had a rather ecclectic taste. If it had a good beat, he would be content with it. ]

exiledarcana:

[It’s pretty odd, when he starts thrashing around, and he tries to locate the source of being uncomfortable - wasn’t this sort of reaction to stuff called having a ‘seizure’ or something? Mentally and physically, Ryoji was a little bit more than freaked out.]

Hey, hey, hey, you’re okay.

[The clammy hand on his face is if not a little unnerving. But the ‘voice’? Had he been having night mares? That’s what you got when you stayed up for too long.]

Uhm, I’ve been here for a while. I came out here after a while’s rest and you were laying here out by the lake! I didn’t want you to catch a cold, so I stayed here with you.

[That was normal for friends to do, right? Or was it odd? The problem with Ryoji was that he neither worried about such things, nor had the capacity to know about them. Common social gestures were mysteries to him, so he usually just did what he felt was right, which more often than not is the wrong choice. Not like he could help it, though. He’s pretty good at getting out of trouble.]

Are you okay? Looks like you were having some type of nightmare.

[He’d never had to experience them - usually when he went to sleep these days, it was nothing but blankness. Going to sleep and waking up were like blurred seconds to him. It was hard to understand what point of view he was coming from, really. Ryoji had a more difficult time when he was alone, because it gave him time to think about things; things he didn’t want to think about in the first place. Perhaps that was why he enjoyed being surrounded by people so often, that social butterfly.]

I mean, just how long have you been up?

Huh? Oh, yeah. Right as rain, you know. When am I not? [ He gave a gentle scoff, but he was amused by the other`s concern. It was heartwarming. ]
You were here the whole time? Mm…that`s why I could hear you. [ Minato rubbed his eyes, pulling on the bottom lids in a vain attempt to make himself a bit more awake. ]  

You didn`t want me to…ah, that`s nice of you. [ He had waited by his side. A small smile spread across his face, rather pleased to be doted over. It was usually the tired looking teenager batting for Team Mom when it came to his friends; when a friend expressed concern for him, it naturally made him feel pretty good. Wasn`t he lucky to know such wonderful people?
Even if Ryoji wasn`t exactly a “human” by all standards, he didn`t really care. That`s how Minato saw him, a perky person, a real ball of sunshine. ]

I`m fine.
[ Liar. He was a bit (okay, more than a bit) put off by his dream. His arms were still shaking a little bit. You`d think I`d be used to this now…it`s just a dream, it`s not real. He gave an exasperated sigh, wanting himself to just get it together. 
But the concern in Ryoji`s face…Contrition pressed the information out of the shorter male. He paused a moment before fessing up. ]

Yeah, I had another nightmare. [ A pale palm covered his own eyes in a slight gesture of shame. ] 
A long time now, actually. I haven`t been able to sleep well. Maybe I`m worried, maybe there`s too much on my mind.
I`m sure it`ll pass.
[ He said this quickly, like he wanted to brush it off. Just keep pushing those problems away, Minato.
You think they`ll just suddenly go away don`t you? ]

(Source: xxii-thefool)

narukami-yu-:

Geez, what a spoiled queen. [A last violent shaking sent both boys bouncing back to their seats. Yu was at least glad he was able to pull himself out of a tight spot. He braced himself for further shaking, but none were felt anymore. An elongated sigh was let out. Hopefully, the torrents have passed and they could finally enjoy moments of calmness.

Come to think of it, this was Yu’s first time on a Ferris Wheel. His parents were always too busy to go on vacation with him and he was never really able to make friends before coming to Inaba. He never had many occasions to spend time at an amusement park. Though, this deathtrap was not the ideal and he was inside a Ferris Wheel cart with another boy… Now, come to think of it…]

[Yu observed the boy at his right from the corner of his eyes. Envy and desire. There was no more reason to be hesitant at this point anymore, was there? Before doubts could give him regrets, the teenager caught Minato’s hand in his; something that he felt should have been done sooner. He closed in slowly, lowering his head to the nape of the boy’s neck, and whispered:

‘I am the King of team plasma.’]

[Obviously that last paragraph was out of character and did not happen, but it’s still keep in narration because lololol. Back to our original program: Yu and Mi were riding on the Ferris Wheel and dangling dangerously in the sky all thanks to the regular machinery maintenance done by the circus’ staff.]

…

[The silverette did not know what to think of their current situation yet. They already knew this whole adventure involved a great gamble with their lives to begin with. He really could not add anything to the silent message Minato was sending him: he felt the same. Hopefully, they will be able to make it to the top… safely. The goal was to see what this land looked like from the highest point.]

[ Problem? A tight spot indeed but not as tight as okay we`re not going there.
Minato sighed, nearly sounding a smidge irritated at the way things had gone. But he had to admit, a ghost operated Ferris Wheel? That was a lot more exciting than what he`d been doing the past few weeks. ]

[ This mun can`t help but laugh and have no idea how to counter that except in some Alternate Universe where that happened Minato was probably shocked and began to wonder what exactly the taller boy had been smoking. 

And then back to real life.
Minato shared a glance with Yu, glad that the both of them were equally uneasy due to the current events. He absently wondered if the other teenager had ever been on a Ferris Wheel before. True, usually couples rode in the same little box, but Minato`s dates tended to stay on the ground.
Besides, this was strictly business.

Rickety business as it was, as the rotations came to a jerky stop at the very top, nearly sending Minato flying once more.
It`s like they knew… or there was some sort of mind reading device somewhere.
Nah. He had been remembering too many episodes of Phoenix Featherman. ]

…
[ Silver eyes blinked through the window, trying to get a clear grasp of the images in the distance. Some shapes were quite hard to make out, however. How irritating. ]

…
You look exactly like Elizabeth, except…well, male.
[ Hello captain obvious. ]
She had mentioned she had siblings before, but I thought she only had a sister? Looks like I was wrong after all, heh.
Nice to meet you. Minato Arisato.