accidental audio

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

-there's a moment of static-
Are you okay, Ryoji-kun?
Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks. Besides, there’s more I have to tell you guys.
Ryoji-kun...
There are many questions we need answered. To begin with, you said Shadows were here to facilitate the birth of the Maternal Being... please elaborate on this.
The Maternal Being is called Nyx.
Who the hell’s Nyx?
Nyx is the mother of Shadows. In ancient times, she bestowed Death to this world. If she is awakened, darkness will once again cover the land and all life will vanish.
All life will vanish?
Are you saying everyone will die??
It will be more accurate to say that... everyone will forfeit the will to live.
… ! Are you talking about the Lost!?
-there’s a long, tense silence-
The Fall...
But.. it’s still possible to keep it from happening, right?
W-what? There’s no way to prevent it?
I’m sorry....
Wait, what’re you apologizing for? Are you saying it’s for certain?
Yes... you heard the bell. I’m the Appriser... The Appriser of Death... My existence is affirmation of the Fall.
The affirmation... of the Fall...
When!? When will it happen!?
I’m afraid you will not live to see spring...
But that’s not too far away!
-Several shuddering sighs can be heard, followed by a nervous laugh-
Wh-what are you guys freaking out about? All we have to do is defeat this Nyx and that won’t be a problem ‘cause we’ve never lost!
Yeah! We’ll beat it!
Defeating Nyx is... impossible. It has nothing to do with strength, ability or power. Just as all living things die... and the flow of time is continuous... Nyx cannot be defeated.
What? That’s bullshit!
This is all so sudden...
I was born from a collection of Shadows. But now, I have a human form. So I can talk with you, laugh with you, cry with you... All gifts I received because I was inside her. Of all the people on Earth, it was she who carried me... Thanks to that, I am able to give you a choice.
A choice?
Nyx’s coming cannot be avoided. But it is possible to live in peace until she arrives. You’ll have to... kill me. If I were to disappear, all memories of the Dark Hour would disappear with me, as would any recollection of the fate that awaits you. You won’t remember anything. The coming of the Fall will be instantaneous... and you will not suffer.
We’ll forget everything!?
You’ll be able to return to your normal lives. And in doing so, the time until the Fall will be slightly delayed. In essence, I am the same as Nyx and cannot be killed. But thanks to her, there’s a part of me that’s human. So if death comes from her hands, I think it may be possible.
Ryoji-kun...
If you don’t kill me, you will suffer more than you could ever imagine. With no hope for salvation, you will live every day paralyzed by the fear of your impending death. And I... I don’t want you to have to endure such pain.
I could never kill you...
… you’re so kind. I’m sorry to put you through this...
… I don’t want my memories to be erased... To forget everything would be like hiding from the truth!
Would that really be such a bad thing? All that awaits you now is despair. You don’t know the terror of absolute death...! Please, don’t make your decision without at least thinking about what I’ve said.
Why is this happening!?
-another soft sigh from the background-
You don’t have to decide right now. You have until December 31st, New Year’s Eve, to think about it. After that, I’ll dissolve into the blackness of the Dark Hour and become intangible.
Ryoji...?
I will disappear with the coming of Nyx anyways... so don’t worry about me. I’ll be back on New Year’s Eve.
-soft footsteps that slowly fade away, followed by the opening and closing of a door. The audio fades into static-

[Minako, Ryoji, Yukari, Ken, Mitsuru, Akihiko, Junpei,]

Comments

[philoxidizes]

...If someone found a way to prevent accidental recordings, they would be a rich man.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

... I was afraid of this after Fuuka's phone caught it all last night.

I'm just going to stop carrying to stupid thing.

[philoxidizes]

At tense moments, that might be an idea. It's probably impractical otherwise, though.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

I was hoping it wouldn't turn out to be a tense moment.

[philoxidizes]

That's usually what makes it so tense.

How are you feeling?

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

I'm not exactly sure, to be honest. A lot of different things.

[philoxidizes]

I'm not surprised. It's a lot to take in.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

Yes, facing the possibility of one's death is a lot to take in.

[philoxidizes]

Most people don't have the agency of choice involved at all, although I suppose whether that's a blessing or a curse varies.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

How can I choose? I can't kill him. It wouldn't be right...

[philoxidizes]

Would you be paralyzed with fear if you didn't? I'm not sure that he's right about that.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

... I'll admit I'm afraid, but I've been afraid before this, and I've kept going even then.

[philoxidizes]

I've heard it said before... "Courage isn't the lack of fear, but the strength to continue even when afraid."

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

I need to remember that come New Years.

[philoxidizes]

It's a shame it had to happen right around the holidays.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

I know. I was looking forward to it, too.

[philoxidizes]

Perhaps you could try to at least salvage Christmas?

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

I'll do my best to do just that. I want everyone to be able to enjoy it.

[philoxidizes]

It's a burden, but... with how I understand the way SEES is, I don't think you'll have to carry it alone.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

I think that's one of the things that'll make this bearable. I know my friends will be there with me.

[philoxidizes]

Mm. You'll all decide together. ...If you wouldn't mind keeping me updated, I'd appreciate it.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

Of course. If I'm not able to, I'm sure Fuuka will.

[philoxidizes]

And by the way, I wouldn't be afraid to think outside the box, if I were you.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

... you already know how this all turns out, don't you?

[philoxidizes]

It's a real choice, that could go either way. And there was a certain amount of interference, before. So it's hard to say.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

Alright.

[philoxidizes]

That's probably not actually very comforting, is it.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

None of this comforting, Itsuki.

[philoxidizes]

I know. It's probably the least comforting situation in the entire history of situations. It's... frustrating not being able to help, that's all.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

And it's frustrating knowing you're being evasive even though you told me you wouldn't be.

[philoxidizes]

That's fair. Are you looking for me to tell you what to choose? I didn't think that was like you.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

I already know what I'm going to choose.

I guess I just wanted the truth from you.

[philoxidizes]

There was interference, I wasn't lying. I just neglected to mention that it was me who interfered. I suppose there's no Doctor around now to keep me from breaking laws of time, is there?

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

.. what did you do?

[philoxidizes]

...Sometimes, I actually am evasive for a reason. You're going to have to trust me about this, but you can also trust me that you're going to come through this all right, one way or another.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

... what about my friends?

I'd be trusting you with them as well.

[philoxidizes]

Of course. You wouldn't be all right unless they were, after all.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

... alright.

[bittervictor.livejournal.com]

I probably shouldn't say anything at all. I shouldn't even have seen this, but...

If it were me?

I'd fight.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

It's okay. I know it's on the community now.

He said she can't be defeated.

[bittervictor.livejournal.com]

That isn't something I'd be willing to take at face value. Especially with so much at stake...

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

Right now, it's the only information we have...

[truthinfortune.livejournal.com]

[Minato told Naoto about the final battle with Nyx... but it's just so much more heart-wrenching to hear the exchange actually take place... Even if it's concerning Minako.]

That boy... He's a lot like Teddie.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

Teddie?

[truthinfortune.livejournal.com]

He was a Shadow that took on a human form. And he was our friend.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

How'd you meet him?

[truthinfortune.livejournal.com]

Well, Souji-senpai, Yosuke-senpai, and Chie-senpai all found him inside the TV world. I didn't meet him until much later on, and by that time, he'd learned to take on a human form. He's different from normal Shadows... he just wants to live peacefully with humans.

[infinite-arcana.livejournal.com]

I think Ryoji would've liked that, too.

I'm glad you were able to have him as a friend.

[truthinfortune.livejournal.com]

Me too. He's very naive about a lot of things, but... we've been trying to teach him about our world. And he absolutely adores Nanako-chan. I can't imagine not having him as a part of our lives.