Minato | Souji | Akira | 097

[messianic]

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[purrtagonist]

[ppppauses]

[but then he answers, casually but honestly]

Satanael. The fallen angel that rebelled against god-- Yaldabaoth-- granting humanity the knowledge and power to liberate themselves from him. Satan, Lucifer, the devil, and so on and so forth.

[he sounds so nonchalant as he says this]

[sworders]

... Mm.

Yeah, that seems like it'd suit you.

[ Souji, you've known the guy for less than a day. ]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . snort. . .]

You say that with such confidence already, and we've only just met.

[sworders]

It's just a hunch. Technically, you've already given the both of us knowledge to make ourselves stronger that we didn't have before.

[purrtagonist]

[stuffs his hands into his pockets and shrugs]

I didn't realize your Shadows were so. . . different, I guess. I've never known them to be any other way.

[sworders]

I've never had my clothes change like yours, either.

Maybe it's not just the Journey that's different, but the obstacles themselves...

[purrtagonist]

[. . . maybe. . .]

My clothes change to protect me from the distortions of the Palaces we enter. It's a manifestation of my "will of rebellion."

[in case Souji was wondering if he really was a thief or not, you know]

I think you're right about the obstacles being different, though. All three of us have different summoning methods. You noticed, right?

[sworders]

Yeah, I did-- I think that's important. And the only thing different about what I wear is...

... Well, I don't think it'll be too important here. I might not need it at all.

[purrtagonist]

[arches a brow]

Well, now you've got me curious.

[don't say something and then cut yourself off senpai!]

[sworders]

It's just glasses.

[ mildly. ]

[purrtagonist]

[raises a brow]

[pinches the edge of his own glasses and pulls them forward to the tip of his nose]

Like this?

[sworders]

Kind of. Basic concept, but they helped us get through the area we were fighting in. Without them, it would have been impossible to see what was around us.

[purrtagonist]

[huh]

[. . . like an item that helped them see through bullshit to the truth of the matter. . .]

[kind of similar to Izanagi's journey into Yomi, when he thinks about it]

Tell me about the area you were fighting in.

[sworders]

[ Fog sure is some bullshit-- ]

A fog-filled world inside the TV.

[ Well. Let's start there. ]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . . . . oh]

Huh.

[yep. just. huh]

[sworders]

Someone was throwing people in there to get killed.

[ Souji had a fun year. ]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . . . . oh]

What? Why?

[sworders]

... It's a long story. But it was more or less a game to the mastermind.

[purrtagonist]

A game?

[he feels his anger rising. . . just slightly]

People's lives aren't a game. . .!

[sworders]

I know.

[ And he says it quietly, but there's a hint of anger in that even tone. ]

We made sure he took full responsibility for the lives he toyed with-- and the ones we couldn't save.

[purrtagonist]

[Akira sets his jaw tightly, gaze flickering away. right. . .]

. . . good.

[he's glad]

[if the Phantom Thieves couldn't be there to bring a criminal like that to justice, he's glad Souji and his team were]

[sworders]

... Sorry, if I upset you. He's not going to be able to hurt anyone ever again.

[ until some little shit in a fighting game decides to be even more of a little shit, but it turns out fine so it's fine!! ]

[purrtagonist]

[IS IT REALLY FINE!!]

[either way, Akira nods]

I'm not anymore upset than anyone might be hearing that story.

I'm just glad that he was brought to justice.

[sworders]

So am I. We all had a personal connection to it.

[purrtagonist]

. . . personal how?