WEEK 4 DAY 4: MISSION

[wonderful_mods]

Mission: "Ascertain the world's circumstance."
Time Limit: Long
Noise Plane: Duet
Wall Instructions: No key walls; create walls at your own discretion. Seal off the school and dorm.
Wall Rewards: Poison Scorpion
Reaped Rewards: Final Pyre, All Expired
Mission Rewards: Scarletite

[This is the vaguest mystery ever. But, scan around and one thing will become apparent. Even if the second day was spent entirely clearing noise from the area, they're all back in full force, and they seem to be possessing more people than usual. These people have feelings of hopelessness, apathy and death. But just scanning them doesn't seem to give the answers why. If the mission can believed, this is not something the Reapers have done, but something to do with the world itself. Surely someone must know the truth....]

Comments

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji can't even hear anything anymore. The voices around him are as muffled as his vision. He doesn't fight back, but he does cry out sometimes, and even then, even through all the blood and tears on his face, he's still smiling.]

[notsogrimreaper]

... It was the only way. I didn't want it but... Minato was happy with that outcome. I just wish I could have saved him and-

No. Please, don't make the same sacrifice. It's not fair to you, to die for people who don't wish to live anyways. It's not fair!

[His voice rises a bit, a bit more emotion and desperation showing through, but he gets a hold of himself once the Professor continues speaking.]

It has to be someone living. I imagine that if a Player tried it, it'd be the same as them getting erased, and even then, the seal might not stick.

[vexed_snake]

[Wait a second, Ryoji is sustaining serious injury. And he is smiling. Reluctantly, Asakura backs off.]

I think that's enough for now.

[invisiblefloatinghead]

But some of those people do want to live. I've seen it time and time again. When things are at their worst, a great many people will surprise you, and that's when they'll be at their best. There are those that would do anything to let these people carry on.

[This whole time, his voice has been rather gentle. He understands these things! And he'll nod.]

I suppose that would have made it too easy, then. Those of us here...we've died once. A second time doesn't seem too bad in comparison.

[Yeah, he really would have done it. Can't have been worse than being turned into salt.]

[roadroller]

But I don't understand... you said you were created to cause this whole thing, right? I don't get what that means exactly, but how can you even -

[Wait. She blinks for a moment, and then her face settles into a hard stare. It couldn't be.]

... Ryoji. ♪

[She invokes his name. The lack of a follow up statement should create a pressuring atmosphere.]

[notsogrimreaper]

[His smile rapidly fades into confusion and a little regret. He was so close this time... but it seemed like he would need to rely on his friends to kill him instead of his enemies.]

Don't stop, please.

[notsogrimreaper]

[He senses the pressure almost immediately, and lowers his head, scarf shielding his face and making him look as if he wants to hide from her. It's obvious that she knows what's happening, and it's obvious that Ryoji doesn't want to talk about it.]

I'm sorry, but it's the only way. If I cause this when I exist, when I don't, everyone should be kept safe.

[notsogrimreaper]

Some do, but not enough. Not enough to keep this world from ending. I know this, it's happened before. I think Minato would have been the only person who could have prevented this, but he's gone...

I don't want anyone to have to die for me. I just... I just want to die for them. I want to be able to do something right for once.

[vexed_snake]

"Please?" Well now, that's the magic word.

[And he'll turn to leave because being asked nicely kind of has that effect on him.]

I think I've done enough here. That was fun...and you're still breathing.

[invisiblefloatinghead]

[The Professor will nod in understanding.]

I just...would always like to believe there's a better way. I'd be a hypocrite if I said I thought self-sacrifice was wrong.

[notsogrimreaper]

...Is that how you died? Sacrificing yourself?

[It's strange how many humans Ryoji knew that did that. He'd thought Minato would be one of the few but it was different here.]

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji slides onto the floor, hardly keeping himself conscious, but he still tries to call out to Asakura.]

N-No, wait! I can... I can take more! Don't do this! Don't...

[And he can't hold on any longer before falling backwards and passing out.]

[invisiblefloatinghead]

[There's a slow nod.]

I took a hit meant for...

[He closes his eyes and cannot remember anything there. Who he'd died for, why he'd done it...]

...someone. I couldn't tell you who...only that I got turned into a pillar of salt for my trouble.

[He sighs.]

And yet I feel like I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I had to.

[vexed_snake]

[For a moment, Asakura stops to look at Ryoji passed out there. Maybe he'll change his mind?

...no, he's going to draw all over Ryoji's face before leaving. The hotel probably didn't mean for their complementary ink pens to be used in such a manner...]