WEEK 5, DAY 1: MISSION

[wonderful_mods]

Mission: Get with the Times.
Time Limit: Short
Noise Plane: Solo
Wall Instructions: Key walls around the Times Square. Keywalls must be cleared by presence of a pact, or by fighting noise.
Wall Rewards: Blown Kiss
Reaped Rewards: Frantic
Mission Rewards: Rare Metal

[It looks like things are back to normal, but that seems to only raise as many questions as it solves. What happened to Tatsumi Port? Why did the phones all go dead like that? And why did nobody see the GM the entire last week...?

But it's no matter. It's the start of another week of the Reaper's Game - and the mission seems the same as ever for Day 1. Now just to figure out where the mission is pointing to.]

Comments

[emotionaldeath]

[He nods.]

It's me. I came with the rest of you after all.

[cruel_kindness]

[And now you have a yellow pony with pink hair hugging you.]

...We missed you...

[emotionaldeath]

[He... kind of just lets himself be hugged at first, body stiff. He remembers hugging, and being hugged before. He remembers it being a little scary, because he was worried he would hurt someone, but also heartwarming, because it showed that he cared about people and that he could let people care about him. Right now, there's none of that. He doesn't feel any positive or negative emotions.

He does eventually hug back, but there's certainly not any warmth to it or his next statement.]

I missed you both too.

[cruel_kindness]

We both thought you were gone for good!

[Is Fluttercruel sniffling and holding back tears? Yes. Yes, she is. But they're happy tears. They're both glad Ryoji's back. Sorry, she's too emotional right now to notice the lack of warmth.]

[emotionaldeath]

I'm sorry I worried you. Please don't cry.

[He wouldn't be bothered if she continued to cry though, which is a little unsettling. Even Ryoji can tell something is wrong with him.]

[shy_kindness]

[Fluttercruel just... lets Fluttershy take control for now. She wipes her eyes of tears and breaks the hug off.]

It's so wonderful to see you again! I'm sorry if we did anything too bad to Nyx. id we? Oh, I hope we didn't.

[emotionaldeath]

No, everything is fine. You didn't hurt me, and Nyx cannot be killed anyways. Did either of you get hurt?

[shy_kindness]

[Fluttershy's now relieved. While it's true that they got hit by fireballs a couple of times, 'Shy isn't one to make a big deal out of it.]

Oh, goodness, no, we're perfectly fine. We're both so glad to have you back.

Um, how are you doing?

[emotionaldeath]

[Fireballs among other things if the battle continued much longer, but Ryoji can't seem to spark any worry within himself.]

I feel fine. A little strange, but that must be because I'm a Player now.

[shy_kindness]

Oh dear... Well, we hope you make it through this week. Maybe you can be a reaper again...?

[Fluttershy nervously shuffles a hoof on the ground.]

[emotionaldeath]

Maybe that will happen, but I don't know if they'd let me in easily. As long as I don't become an RGer again, it'll be alright.

[shy_kindness]

[Fluttershy gives a pleasant smile.]

I'm sure you'll be able to get in again. And as long as you're sorry about what happened, the higher-ups will be able to forgive you.

[Yeah, about that...]

[emotionaldeath]

[He shakes his head.]

I am unsure that they will let in someone who nearly destroyed their game last week. I also did not want to be a Reaper before.

[Though he's... not exactly sure why that is now. He knew he had to erase Players to remain in the game as a Reaper, but that didn't really upset him. Was it supposed to?]

[shy_kindness]

Oh...

[The Flutters didn't expect Ryoji to not want to be a Reaper. But nonetheless, they'll support that decision.]

That's okay. If you don't want to be one, then you don't have to. ...But, if you don't mind me asking, why don't you want to be a reaper?

[emotionaldeath]

... I honestly don't remember why I didn't. I think I felt upset about the idea of killing Players and sending Noise after them, but right now I don't think I'm bothered by that.

[From the look on his face, he isn't bothered by much of anything anymore. It's a little unsettling.]

[cruel_kindness]

[Fluttercruel takes control.]

Tch... Grow a brain. We're not killing anyone, we're helping them by challenging them. Besides, if being a reaper meant killing others, you think 'Shy would agree to it?

...And why the buck are you so... calm like that?

[emotionaldeath]

Someone did tell me that before. I think I felt better about it, but the last week had made me feel guilty again.

Now though, I don't seem to feel anything. I know I should be happy that you all are safe, or sad that I hurt you, but there isn't anything.

[And yes, all of this is said with the same straight face. He's not even panicked about the idea of losing his emotions... though that would make sense if that's true.]

[cruel_kindness]

That wasn't you. That was Nyx. We thought you died...

But it's still bucked up to Tartarus and back at what happened to you. What the flying feather were the higher-up thinking!?

[emotionaldeath]

I'm part of Nyx myself, though. I am to blame for what happened.

And I guess I did die, if I'm a Player. They had to take something from me, so it's only fair.

[cruel_kindness]

[Fluttercruel facehoofs.]

No, you're not. You're not a split personality. You're not a shadow or a sickness or just another part of someone else. You're your own person, as is Nyx. Just like how I'm my own pin and Fluttershy is her own pony. Don't blame yourself for someone else's mistakes. I've been through that road before, and my friends helped me convince that it wasn't all my fault.

That's not what I meant. Yes, all this calmness is bucked up, but not as much as Nyx taking over your body. Just one week. I made it through without drinking coffee, so you can make it through without emotions. Then you can be a Reaper again.

[emotionaldeath]

[Ryoji listens, but he doesn't really absorb anything Fluttercruel tells him. It's not like he'd feel upset if he was part of Nyx, or relieved if he wasn't. He just nods a bit when her little speech is finished.]

Then I'll think of myself as my own person. I suppose it should be possible, with the part of me coming from Nyx and one part coming from a human that held me inside him...

Nyx has taken over before, though. I don't believe it was something the people running the game controlled.

[cruel_kindness]

[Fluttercruel's proud that Ryoji decided to be his own person.]

But... Then why did the higher-ups choose that place last week?

[emotionaldeath]

I guess I don't know that. Maybe they don't have as much control as we think.

[cruel_kindness]

I'm going to call them out whatever the buck is the case. No one messes with one of my friends, even indirectly, and gets away with it.

[emotionaldeath]

There isn't any need to get revenge for my sake. I'm fine with what happened.

[Probably because he's been forced to be, but it counts, right?]