[Accidental Video] ☠ A shadow fades in bright light.

[derparcana]

[ Ryoji hadn't noticed, but when he sat down on his bed, he accidentally turned his SFC on. Currently? The screen shows the little thought bubble following him around. His thoughts are vague, to an extent, at the moment, but what you'll notice is that the inside of the bubble is darker in color than most. Sort of like there's a little black mist

Comments

[Action?] Welp

[lunateclock]

[The moment he sees the video, he of course does what is necessary: he walks over to Ryoji's room, no matter the late hour, and knocks.]

Ryoji-kun?

[The thought bubble, trailing after him, has his own worries-- 'I hope he's okay' 'he shouldn't blame himself' 'this isn't fair' -- intermixed with his Personas -- 'death death fortune death Arcana'.

But he's adept at ignoring those voices in his head these days, and so he simply waits for the other to open the door.]

[Action foreverrrr] YEEEP

[derparcana]

... Just ignore it, Minato-kun. It's stupid.

[ Floating there going on and on. Worry after worry. ]

But I don't want you to. What if I...

[ ARGH TRAITOR. ]

... Really, it's fine.

[lunateclock]

[His own thoughts are quiet, a stream of quiet murmurings in them that are too faint to read.

It isn't like him to confront, but sometimes-- 'Enough is enough']

No it isn't. Can I come in?

[derparcana]

[ ... ]

Yeah.

[ He tries to just... clear his thoughts. For now, the bubble goes silent. ]

[lunateclock]

[So he does so, walking in and shutting the door quietly behind him, the thought bubble still filled with thoughts that are just a tad bit too quiet.]

I'm sorry for never asking this before. But...I'd like to know.

...Ryoji, what do you really think?

[And thoughts in his own, drifting-- 'About yourself' 'about shadows' 'about Nyx' 'about you']

[derparcana]

[ ... His thought bubble seems to answer that well enough. He swats it away so Minato can't see it, though. ]

You... know what I think. I've accepted it. It is what it is.

[ But it just comes back, floating around him. ]

I don't want to worry him. He deserves better.

[ SWAT. ]

[lunateclock]

[This receives an arched eyebrow and a solemn look.]

Do you know what I want?

I want to hear what's bothering you. ...I want you to talk with me.

[His thoughts reflect that, completely honestly.]

[derparcana]

[ ... He sighs, then looks at Minato... opens his mouth, then sighs again. ]

I don't...

It isn't fair of me. What he did was right. Why make him feel worse?

[ ... Another sigh. ]

Look, it's... not important.

Why are you being so persistent? I don't deserve to be cared about.

[ SWATTING IT. >: ]

[lunateclock]

[...hmm. His thoughts are mercifully quiet.]

Please don't tell me what to think, Ryoji-kun. Even if it's simply your thoughts.

...Everyone deserves to be cared about. And I'm afraid you're stuck with me.

[A few faint, but readable thoughts. 'Psyche' and then 'other half' and then, most prominent 'Ryoji'.]

[derparcana]

M-Minato...

[ And he concentrates very, very hard. ]

Can we please not do this? This is really stupid.

[ That's better. ]

A-and I'm not telling you what to think. I'm sorry.

You wouldn't even know anyway, if you weren't here. I hope he isn't mad.

[ ... Irritatedly trying to pop it now. Except thankfully the kitten takes an interest in it, attempting to pounce on the bubble. ]

[lunateclock]

[His thought bubble starts to be a reflection of his own thoughts more, some of which are a reflection of Ryoji's as he takes them in. 'Stupid', 'wouldn't even know' and then-- 'that's right. I should've noticed before.' But there's no self-loathing there. Just a quiet acceptance.]

Please don't apologize. I just...wish you'd be honest with me. Why are you hiding things?

[derparcana]

I'm not hiding anything. You know the truth. How is that hiding something when you... already know everything that will happen?

[ A faint swirl of words in his bubble. ]

You know what he means, though.

Shut up.

[lunateclock]

[He tilts his head, then.]

No, I don't know the most important parts, really. I don't know how you feel about the entire thing, or what happened to you, or why you're feeling this way now.

Can we at least talk?

[derparcana]

[ He falls silent. That bubble, however, does not. ]

I hate it. Everything. I hate what I am.

[lunateclock]

[A considering thought-- 'I don't want to do it this way'-- and then...]

I don't want to invade your privacy. If you don't want to tell me, I won't look.

[...'But I can't ignore that.']

Because of what you signify? And what you'll become?

[derparcana]

[ ... He just looks down, ending up where he was before, with his head against the wall, quiet. The bubble says what he can't. ]

It's more than that. I don't just signify anything. I AM that. And if something happens here...

Stop it.

[ Agitatedly, but only with a half-hearted swing, he attempts to get rid of it. ]