eyeswideopen | Messenger Box

I guess I could, I mean it's been a while. I don't want you think I've lost my touch or anything.

[That was totally a tiny reference to the hand thing. After all, that's what happened last time they all went to go see a Piphron memory pod. Maybe it'll get a reaction, maybe it won't. But anyways, moving on...]

Besides, if I said I wasn't interested in doing something grotesque, you'd see through that lie in an instant. But hey, let me hear your thoughts on things first, and I'll do whatever I decide to do. I think that's a better way of putting it.

[...which basically is her trying to buy time to try and figure out how to crack his calm facade. Is it transparent and obvious? She'd hope not, but then again she's Junko so that's not really something she can do.]

After all, we both know that whether you like it or not, I do value your opinion on these things.

[He takes his time thinking over her words. The fog of sleep has lifted but, every time he and Junko talk it's like walking onto a battlefield. He loves the debates, he can't deny that anymore. But he hates her with every fiber of his being and all that she knows that he doesn't.

She can get at him if he isn't careful. His amusement swirls in the connection as his laugh floats as light as a feather in the wind.]

That's so repulsive I'd wretch if I cared enough. Well, since you begged so nicely the two pods are rather interesting, don't you think?

Not only are their effects diametrically opposed, but none of those ghosts appeared this time. Those connected to Piphron felt it first.

[There's a soft sigh and Komaeda murmurs something that isn't discerable, his voice soft and warm whatever he said. He isn't alone.]

The positive memory is in line with all the others we've seen from him. Where as the negative...doesn't it seem a little familiar to you?

So it's pretty obviously a sign of things to come. But as to how they're connected...

[She remembers the Piphron pod from that day well enough. Sure, she was a little preoccupied, but it's not something easily forgotten. She's can probably put things together on her own. Sure. She's got this one, but instead of giving her thoughts and feelings, she'll go a different route.]

Hey, did I call at a bad time? I mean you're half asleep, you seem distracted, almost as if...

[There's no need to trail off, but she'll do it anyway before putting a quick conclusion together.]

Oh wow, I totally get it now. Way to go Nagito!

[....huh?]

[It takes him a second to realize his murmuring to the sleeping Hinata that he'd be back in a moment had translated into the connection.

Oh shit.]

[His face feels hot and the link is flooded with a sweltering summer heat as he presses his hands to his face. No.

No, that's not what happened.

No.

It's...not like he doesn't want to but, he's definitely not ready for that. Not after how stressful this whole situation has been and how he still isn't quite alri-]

[He swallows, and replies, his tone full of his irritation and embarrassment.]

T-that's not what's going on! You woke me up out of a dead sleep to suffer through your childish antics. But congratulations your perversions are as abhorrent as ever and woke me up!

[He sits up in bed with a curse and buries his face in his hands. It's not use, his face hasn't stopped feeling like it was burning.]

Let's finish this so I can go back to sleep. As you said, as to how they're connected. You need to recall the rock-like pod when the very first memory pods fell.

[Wow, looks like she completely ruined his calm composure. Not exactly the way she was planning on doing it, but she can despair over how it all worked out in the end.]

Hey, I bet that's not the only thing that's rocklike, huh? Huh?

[Sorry, if she's going to be accused of having abhorrent perversions, she's going to have fun with it.]

But do you really want to talk about that now? Maybe I should retract my congratulations if you'd rather talk with me than...well, let's go with him, right? I've definitely got my suspicions, but I could always be wrong.

[She doesn't think she is, for the record. And don't worry, she'll get back to the topic of Piphron eventually.]

He's asleep and I didn't want to disturb his rest! [He snaps then realizes he gave it away. In a breath he's got himself mostly back under control. She's going to keep prodding and he needs to be ready for some really invasive questions.

It's so gross that he really might puke at some point. But, while his stomach tries to flip he glances down and sighs, running his hand over the muscled back of his boyfriend. His thoughts settle back down.]

And for someone who called me gross, you're a little too eager.

Hey, I can't help it. You're supposed to be happy when your friends get together, right?

[And there's that word again.]

But anyways, since you don't want me to act like that. Let's see, it seems to be a trend with Piphron, doesn't it? Is two times a trend? Assuming they're two separate times anyway, but if I can do things twice and have people think it's my thing, then why not? So Piphron goes around burying people alive for betraying him. Or for this supposed betrayal. I don't think either pod made it clear, but you're the guy with the direct Arehtei pipeline, so you'd know more than I do.

[Normally, she'd leave it at that, but...]

But you know, you've gotta wonder what exactly caused that sense of betrayal. Y'know, like it was it something like finding out your lover was on the phone with your worst enemy while you were sleeping soundly, completely unaware?

[Yeah, Nagito, we're not done with this.]

[His irritation ripples through like faint glimpses of lightning. He's never going to hear the end of this. It's as bad as when she found out his interest in Hinata in the first place. Except she's rather wrong about this situation. He'll get a look but, nothing like she's suggesting.

Besides.

Their mornings are not going to be about discussing anything or, even thinking in the least.]

While your concern is turning my stomach, that's not going to happen. You're also looking at the memories wrong. How many times are you going to be completely wrong until you're utterly useless? Let's find out, shall we?

It isn't a trend. The calamity happened in an instant, sweeping up the entire world in the chaos and corrupting the Arehtei. They proceeded to begin a purge to all that threatened the land.

This is the start of the incident we saw before. Look at it again, the events line up. We're missing what happened between the mountain exploding and the mountain range used to crush the Piphron's aligned.

Hey, I could've been right, but then it'd ruin the joke, and that wouldn't have worked at all. Besides, nobody likes a know-it-all, or they just don't like it when I do it.

[She knows he doesn't need to hear her thought process, but there it is anyway.]

But missing memories, huh? That's got to ring some bells. Or not, you know. Either way, it's got to hit close to home, missing a piece of the puzzle there. But...how much do you think we're missing? The mountain range explodes, it crushes everyone to death, doesn't seem like there's a lot between point A and B, does it?

[Nope, it forms a nice neat picture, but she's willing to shoot down her own theory.]

In case you're at a loss or too grossed out by my concern to talk, this where you say I'm wrong again.

[He's sighs like she's some child that wasn't paying much attention in class. This is starting to bore him. The sheets rustle as he lays back down.]

No, that's fairly accurate based on the present evidence. [It disgusts him to admit when she's right but he can't refute it either.]

There doesn't look like there's much between the two pieces of the event. Mm, but yes we noticed how the Arehtei are a lot like us members of class 77. You didn't need to point that out for any of us to see it.

[The fact it super upset them is something he's not going to say.]

Without a doubt, something is starting! Each time an Arehtei gets ready to appear, the world begins to ripple with distortions. Piphron is the last one who has yet to appear now. It's only a matter of when, not if. Not that you needed me to tell you that.

Edited 2016-07-12 04:07 (UTC)

[She's in despair over how quickly her hold on his attention is dissolving, but that's okay. It's fine. She's sure she'll get it back eventually.]

Jeez, sorry if I'm boring you. I mean I try my best, but I can't really compete with something like that. I guess I could, but those are mental images neither of us need.

[Of course now that she's said it...]

Oh, and don't get me wrong, but while I'm totally interested in what happens when Piphron shows up. I'm always interested in all of these appearances, I'm sort of curious about what's going to happen next. I mean outside of that one, it's a full set, isn't it? So if you were to look at it like a game, either the game's over and Piphron's the final boss...or things are about to go in a totally new direction, don't you think?

[She'll think about that one for a second, but...]

Or maybe I should have that conversation with someone else instead though. I'm clearly boring you, and she might find it more interesting anyway.

[Something serpent like moves in the link and a low thunderous snarl echoes, as Komaeda jerks upright in bed.

He has a very good idea who she might be after. He's rather fond of Nanami, and she's important to all of Class 77.]

Oh I'm only bored because you're treading the familiar roads. You wanted my expertise but you're not showing me what you're using it for. That's rather rude of you. Come on, you always liked sharing before. What's stopping you now?

Which do you think it is. Game over...or a new road now that the cast is assembled for this grand stage play?

Edited 2016-07-12 05:21 (UTC)

I figured that one would get a rise out of you. She's a pretty nice person. Or at least she seemed like one anyway.

[She throws it out casually, yes she's talked to Nanami. It's not worth talking about it more.]

And you're right, I haven't been talking about what I'm getting out of this. But that's not really out of a desire to hide things from you, I think we all know I'm not very subtle when it comes to show and tell, but it's simply because...

[There's another mental shrug here. There's no reason to keep it a secret, but it feels weird admitting it.]

I don't know. It'd be boring if it was just game over. That's it, we've crossed off the Arehtei checklist and we'll all live out the rest of our days in peace and happiness unless despair girl decides to send everyone falling off the side of the island or something. Or maybe some magic portal will open and send everybody home. I can't say I'd mind that, but it wouldn't really feel like we did anything, y'know? Besides, there's a bunch of mysteries to solve, so it'd be a bunch of anticlimactic bullshit for things to end with Piphron. After all, we've still got work to do.

[She's lumping herself in with the we. Different work, obviously. But still.]

So I think this is more of an insert disc two type of thing. Or three maybe. Yeah, that works better. Like the first one was the initial prologue before the rest of you showed up, Disc Two kicked off with all the Areheti stuff, and now we're getting into the major crazy plot twists. You know the ones that make the earlier ones look like nothing? Man, I really should have this conversation with her next time. She'd probably go nuts for that sort of comparison, don't you think?

[..maybe it was worth talking about more.]

Edited 2016-07-12 05:40 (UTC)

I'm not discussing her with you anymore than I'll discuss Hinata. [Something sharp scrapes against stone, and white eyes open in the dark. A thick chain is visible, like a warning. Komaeda's emotions are taking on new shapes again. He can tell what it is, he'd seen a glimpse when he'd been loving and hating Hinata for what he'd been doing to his heart.

He glances down at his hands. His hands are covered in black dragon scales, long claws tipping his fingers.]

I think this has all been the prologue. Piphron is the last key to the door that's at the end of the tunnel. Once the lock turns we'll see beyond it to the challenges awaying. Whether they claim the life of the unprepared and foolish, remains to be seen.

There's far more to this. Just like when I served those kids. Ah...

[The beast in the dark shifts, and those white eyes fix on her. Like a massive predator just sighted its target. The eyes are far, far too large to belong to a human. The slitted eyes draw back and everything goes silent and dark.]

Edited 2016-07-12 17:27 (UTC)

[Foot steps echo as if the person approaching is far away. They continue to drum on the senses as emotions swirl through the connection and the projected image. Hatred, rage, and beyond it all like the endless sea is a well of despair so deep it seems to distort reality.

Massive claws slam into the ground, as the beast from before reappears but it's nothing compared to who steps into the light. A long steel chain stretches from between his knees up to the collar around his throat. His thin body is covered in a red and grey shirt, and a black back jacket. Bandages mar the black pants, soaked with blood. He smiles at her, easy and light, like a switch blade being snapped open.

His dark eyes burn with a feverish light as he comes to a stop in the circle of light.]

Well, I'm sure this form should be familiar to you. Shouldn't it? Like dear sweet Peromei, I too have two aspects. Ah, but you guessed that already, didn't you? Kaa hahahaha, or maybe this is a surprise to you!

I'm almost shaking with excitement at the possibilties! [He wraps his arms about himself with a bubbling hysterical laugh. It's also all an act. She is his only source of information on what he was and to keep her off balance, he'd decided to test what little he remembers. It would keep the topic on subjects he decided on.]

Edited 2016-07-12 17:48 (UTC)

Those kids? Hey, so you...

[She'll trail off, because that train of thought just derailed with what's going on here. That's way more important. What does she do with this...what does she do. And no, the coincidence of talking about some new plot twist and then this happening isn't lost on her. But for now that thought is also pushed aside while she mulls over what to do with this.

Honestly, it's sort of funny to her, there's all that buildup and she expected some sort of giant scary thing and then wow, sort of a letdown there. But it's also not really a letdown because well, it's not. Seeing him like this couldn't be considered a letdown, not in the slightest.

But is it a surprise? Sure, it's a welcome sight, but at the same time, she wasn't entirely sure what to expect, so the weird tie between a letdown and not a letdown aside, she was totally on the edge of her seat waiting to see what it was.]

Am I surprised by it? I don't know. Sure, I guess, I mean I didn't exactly see that one coming. Honestly, I was expecting more with all that heavy metal imagery. At the same time though, he does it too, doesn't he? That guy you won't talk with me about. So I guess it's to be expected you'd follow in his footsteps, right?

[...and now she's just disappointed with that conclusion. Sure,it's fun, and it's awful, but it's Junko, so she went from being super excited about this to just feeling like a balloon that's had all the air let out of it.]

You spent entirely too long focusing on what you can see. [His voice has the echo of the growl under it as he smiles at her with teeth too sharp to really belong to a human. In a way it feels entirely too good to just let go. He doesn't have to care so much around her.

He can be as terrible as he wants to be. She's not his friend after all!

The beast in the shadows laughs, and it sounds entirely too like Komaeda as a massive black scaled tail sweeps around him, the heavier massive chain spilling into the light.]

But I'm hardly surprised. Since you tend to forget I'm not skin deep alllll the time. [He raises his left hand but it isn't hers. Scales matching the beast's cover the hand and sharp claws catch in the light. Not entirely Servant at all.]

I could show you what lives in the dark of course! It might even be a little fun to tear you apart in this space. [Another inhuman flash of his teeth and when he fixes his eyes on her they're slitted and wild. His voice crashes about them like thunder. It's like he's becoming something else. Dark and terrible with a hatred for her that could be considered as endless as her despair.]

But you'd have far more entertainment than I feel like giving you today. The stage is being set for the next turn of the story and we're standing on opposite sides again. Not that you'd expect anything else at this point! Like I said, I do think we'll be closing the prologue with Piphron's appearance.

As for what lies beyond that...

[He quiets and walks towards her, his eyes burning with white fire. It's like being in the jaws of a monster now. The pressure mounting by the moment and when he's looming above her his face is in shadow, the chain at his throat is cracking as scales form on his neck. His voice has changed, a low deep sound, and only half human.]

Areta.

And the grand adventure through a poisoned world that may or may not be saved. Hard to say, don't you think so.

[Don't worry, she didn't get her hopes up about that remark about tearing her apart. Not even when the image started to creep closer and closer. She'd have fun with it, of course, but she wouldn't expect him to. It's all for show.]

You're right, I would find it pretty entertaining, but then we wouldn't be able to have these little chats anymore, and you'd totally fuck up that whole allowing me to leave thing. I mean sure, you can't really do it through this thing, but if you really got going, if you could really feel my feelings about it, I don't think you'd be able to leave it with just a mental projection.

[She's entirely calm about this. It's not going to happen. If it does, it's like she wins, and if it doesn't, well, essentially she still gets a win out of calling him on it. It's so boring when things turn out that way, so why express any other emotion?]

And you're right about another thing. It definitely is hard to say.

[Now she's starting to sound excited about things again. It's overblown, more Monokuma than Junko, but it's relatively genuine.]

What's going to happen with the world? Will positivity triumph over negativity? Joy over grief? Serenity over anger? Love over hate? Bravery over fear? Trust over distrust? And of course, our old favorite, the neverending battle, will hope triumph over despair? Phuhuhuhuhuhu, it's going to be something, and I just can't wait to see what happens!

[And she'd stop here, but...]

Oh, and I know balance versus imbalance totally plays a role here, but it sounds so clunky thrown in there, doesn't it?

You're so unimaginative. It makes me sick to think I once chased after you for your perfect despair. What a dismal, predictiable, little wretch I was... [He sighs, exhaling white flames to the side. The heat might fan her face. The chain hits the ground at their feet as he shakes his head and brings hands up on either side of his body, palms facing the sky.

It's an interesting contrast to see the dragonic hand that's built for destruction across from the perfectly normal one.]

But you're not wrong! It's so cliche and predictable to call this a battle between positive and negatives!

[That's not what she said. But who cares. Like he doesn't twist her words all the time and hurl them back at her. He points his deadly claws at her as a smile stretches across his face. Scales form shading on the sides of his face, but they stop there. As for now this is all she's allowed to see.]

Will the all consuming harmony blaze across this world, tearing it from clutches of ruin? Or will all fall into the endless dark? Why, I'm shaking just thinking about all the possible routes ahead of us!

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! [He wraps his arms about himself and shivers just like the old days. And abruptly stops laughing entirely, to fix her with his gaze.]

Well. I won't bore you with promises to oppose you. By now that isn't all that interesting and mediocore acting is a terrible thing to behold! But mm, thank you I've learned I wanted to know with this little practice session.

Edited 2016-07-12 20:51 (UTC)

[Searing gold light explodes outward and rips through the space as he draws back. It's a hope so powerful it seems to shake the foundations of the connection as he shakes his head yet again. His eyes are pierced with inner light, as his power, the real one curves around him and fills the air as boundless as the sky.]

Either way, let's have some fun with the plot this time! You the lonely, connected to nothing despair trying to drag this dying world down.

I... [A real smile stretches across his normal face, as the scales flake off and turn to ash.]

I don't think I need to repeat myself. I'm not you.

Unimaginative? That really hurts. I don't know what to say to that, I really don't. I mean it's a small slight compared to everything else we're talking about, but I can't let it go. I just can't.

[She'll pretend to fret about it, but it's not a major issue with her. She knows the truth, she's plenty imaginative. And for what it's worth, she thinks he knows that too. But if he doesn't, it's okay. She's pretty sure she's got some good evidence to show off how imaginative she is. So she won't argue that point for now.

Instead she'll focus on that nauseating hopeful radiance. It's so gross. He's so gross. She can't help but despair at him emerging from his cocoon and despair over the fact that he's come this far, and also despair that she's let him come this far. It's a pretty fun feeling actually, thanks for that little display.]

Yeah, you don't need to, I mean you can if you want. But you're right, you're not me. Otherwise that would make for one hell of an awkward conversation with him tomorrow morning.

[There's nothing to be gained from a remark like that, it's hopeless, and that's why she did it. Anyways, moving on.]

But me all alone with no connections versus you and all your shining hopeful friends, huh? You know, not that you'll talk about it, but that's what she said I wanted. Something like that anyway. So all, right! If that's what I want, then let's find out, okay? After all, you've come this far, so if we're heading in a new direction, you better not disappoint me.

[She sounds almost childish, practically pouting about it. But she means it. She knows what's coming around the bend next, but whatever comes after that with Piphron, and whatever comes after that with the rest of the world, even though it's hardly a one on one or a Junko vs. everyone else type of situation, she wants it to be something she can look back on and reminiscence about, regardless of whichever despair filled outcome (either for everyone, or just for her) occurs.]

You say that like I don't disappoint you every day! [He laughs, a light sound and it rings in the air. He feels very good right now. It seems one night being with someone who loves him has done something for him after all.]

But alright! Let's pull the curtain up and take our places! I'll make sure this is a sight to see for everyone! [He holds up his left hand as he leans forward and then he steps entirely back.]

Now as informative as this has been. I have much more pressing matters to settle. [He glances back as if towards some place in the distance. Yes. It's time to just bask in the simple pleasure of being needed and desired back in his own bed.]

I assume you know the way out. [He points to an exit door that appears as if by magic. It's a thought but, details.]

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sobored - 2016-07-13 08:27 (UTC) - Expand

Messenger Box

Evening, after the pods fall | Voice

Evening, after the pods fall | Voice

I'm so sorry

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1/2 Content warning: Body horror

[Image] Spoilers for Ultra Despair Girls

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Yeah about that body horror...

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