acatalepsy_logs | ( the sickness: phase two )

( the sickness: phase two )

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II ▫ logs	V ▫ rules	VII ▫ bestiary	IX ▫ canon updates	XII ▫ taken	XV ▫ drop/hiatus
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the sickness ends.

the temple.

The Temple, shortly after Astoria's burst of energy, is in a constant state of growth. Trees are bursting into existence from seeds in mere seconds, flowers are growing wherever magic lands . . . and the Temple is abruptly a-buzz with energy, magic crackling throughout the air. You may find a tree in your house, or flowers suddenly growing along the walls, or plants wiggling their way through the stone walls of the buildings of the Temple. All of a sudden, the place looks very overgrown.

The Forest of the Fey seems to be responding in kind, too. Sprites are exceptionally active, darting out of the Forest and into the Temple with increasingly regularity, playing basic little tricks on the members of the Circle they can find. Flower crowns are made at an alarming rate, and there might be a few fruit-food fights that break out with the sudden abundance of peaches and apples that appear on the grounds. Learn how to duck!

With the magic comes the sudden fluctuation of energy: canon powers flicker on and off, as do the powers granted by Astoria. You feel more like yourself, you suddenly have access to energies you did not have previously in the Temple However, it's a double-edged sword -- it is not constant, and it may be more trouble than its worth.

And, remember: the Sickness is not fading immediately. If you make it to Stage 3, then you're stuck with sensory deprivation for at least another week or two. Sorry, friends.

lake dona.

Lake Dona is a massive body of water, stretching outward for so far that it almost seems like an ocean until you see that the water is fresh. It is surrounded by long, leafy trees that dip into the water and has a variety of ancient ruins scattered around it -- weathered stones set into circles at seemingly even intervals, old buildings that seem to mirror the Temple in construct.

In addition to the ruins, there are a network of caverns tucked along the water’s edge, just underneath the surface on the western side of Lake Dona, that appear to go underground into murky darkness. The actual entrance to these caverns seem to be underwater, seemingly guarded by merfolk, but poking around may seem to be more trouble than its worth.

There is plenty of wildlife to be found within the lake itself, ranging from freshwater mermaids who would rather you stay the hell out of their backyard to a rather large and suspiciously friendly plesiosaurus-like creature (some would say that she prefers to be called Nessie) that seems intent on checking out who you are. The lake teems with odd-looking fish, most of which seem to be okay to eat, and plenty of plant life! But who knows what lurks in the depths below . . . that giant sea-monster looking thing has to be eating something.
PROMPT IDEAS: Here are some prompt ideas for this new area! However, don't feel limited to such ideas! Feel free to fish, to explore, to swim, to poke around . . . it's always possible Astoria may check in on your character, too, once she is feeling better! ;)

1.) The Great Pumpkin The overgrowth of plants have caused a massive growth spurt in a lot of the trees, including the fruit trees that sprinkle themselves throughout the Temple. However, the fruit themselves seems to be growing at a rather . . . alarming rate, resulting in a few pumpkin-looking squash growing to the size of small boulders in the fields. Hope you have a lot of spare time on your hands to make a hell of a lot of Temple-pie, because these squash aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

2.) Food Fight!: Those damn sprites are at it again, and are collecting fruit off the ground and throwing it at people. Fight back, organize, and conquer! Or not. It's probably better to just not.

3.) Part Of Your World: The mermaids within Lake Dona are a suspicious lot, and they don't take kindly to strangers stomping through their territory. However, they are receptive to music, so if you are so musically inclined, they will definitely be more inclined to be a little more playful than territorial. If you aren't? Have fun getting tossed into the lake head-first by a bunch of pissed off mermaids who want you to get the hell of their lawn. They don't take kindly to your type around here.

4.) Nessie: Within Lake Dona is a massive plesiosaurus-type creature which seems to be . . . oddly friendly? It seems to pop up at the most inconvenient of times. Are you sitting on the edge of the lake enjoying the water? Enjoy a massive ass dinosaur sticking its impressively long neck out of the lake to check you out and also scare the bejesus out of you. That being said, Nessie is an extraordinarily friendly being, and will even give you laps around the lake if you ask nicely!

5.) Caverns: The caverns within the lake are dark, deep, and menacing The merfolk inform you that you cannot go there -- no one can, but the merfolk sure seem to be keeping a careful eye out on it. Testing the boundaries indicates a weird magical field around the entrance of the cave, that works like a bit of a forcefield. Weird, right?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Minato can only take that shrug to mean "I'm not going to tell you" or "I can't tell you," which are both fair enough, but he recognizes that stance of closing himself off with his hands in his pockets and wants so badly to tease the truth out of Akira. He's curious, but he can be patient too, hiding his hands into his own pockets as he takes a step closer, as if to assure Akira he won't do anything rash. ]

Can you show me again?

[whoa, personal space!1 but even as Minato steps into it, Akira doesn't move away]

[. . .]

All right.

[it's an agreement, but once that's only given after a moment's hesitation]

But you might want to take a step back.

[a friendly warning]

[ It's a warning Minato does not take. He'd stepped in for a closer look, after all, and that's where he stands, pinning Akira with his stare. ]

[oh my god]

[Akira laughs, light and airy, before he ducks his head and shuts his eyes again. this time, when he reaches out and grasps at Satanael, he doesn't let go]

-- Persona!

[it's instinct, to cry out that word as he summons, almost like that word is a catalyst for his power in and of itself. the blue fire is back, but this time it doesn't just whirl around his fingertips. it curls around his ankles and legs, dances around his arms, burning away his outfit to replace it with a far more stylish leather coat and red gloves. but Minato only gets a brief glimpse of the mask-- white with black rings-- before that incinerates into nothing, and a semi-transparent being bursts to life at Akira's back]

[Satanael is a large and imposing creature by nature, but thankfully he isn't nearly as huge as he was the first time Akira summoned him. still. . . he hovers above his master, the barrel of his rifle propped against his shoulder. Akira inhales sharply, because he can feel that power coursing through his fingertips, buzzing through him like electricity. and it's a fucking rush. a shot of adrenaline that he hadn't realized he was missing until now]

[it feels like. . . he's regained a lost piece of himself. a vital part of his soul, his very being]

[he never thought he'd be able to do this again. the fact that he can sends him into another fit of euphoric laughter, one red-gloved hand pressed against his face]

[ Oh my god

The entire time, Minato does not move, eyes wide as he feels the swell of power wash over him like warm breath that otherwise catches in his own throat. It's an incredible feeling, even when he's just a spectator in all of that, so that he's left to stare up at Satanael in awe.

So this is Akira's Persona.

And it hits him how carefully Akira had constructed his mask, because he wouldn't have thought a power like Satanael is what lay hidden inside him, reverence and intimidation and...

Honestly, Akira looks like he's out of his goddamn mind, cackling like that, and if Minato had never seen a Persona before, had not spoken to Akira before and had come to know him even the tiniest bit, he might be smart enough to take a step back now and give them room.

Instead, he stands, touching the tips of his fingers to his chest, and breathes. ]

...So that's your Persona. I've never seen this one before.

[sorry senpai, your kouhai is just a tad bit extra]

[the fact that Minato doesn't step away is incredibly telling, and Akira quickly swallows his laughter to catch the other wild card's gaze with his own, gray locked with gray. he's silent for a moment, processing the meaning of Minato's awe-filled reaction coupled and the words that follow, focusing on keeping Satanael manifested above him]

[and then the spell breaks. Satanael vanishes in another whirl of blue fire, and the white mask reforms against Akira's face]

. . . but you've seen others. Is that right?

[he'd be more surprised about this fact if he hadn't already spoken to Naoya]

[ Just a tad bit?

Minato thought his way of summoning was excessive, but it has nothing on how flashily Akira does it, the apparent strength and confidence that bolsters him a stark contrast to the dread and desperation that always settles on Minato's shoulders and gnaws at the back of his mind every time he sets the barrel of his gun against his temple. Maybe because Minato has to force his power out, while Akira literally steps into the role and takes it upon himself.

He nods a slow nod, eyes locked and never once leaving Akira's face after Satanael disappears. ]

I've seen others.

[ He has others, but he doesn't feel the need to share it, not yet. There's something upsetting about the fact that Akira has a Persona— the fact that he needs a Persona, that they're still used somewhere, sometime, after everything Minato had done to ensure that Tartarus went away and there would be no more Shadows born from the den. ]

[Akira doesn't look away, either. even though there's something almost unnerving about the way Minato stares at him, at the way he keeps Akira rooted in spot with nothing but his gaze. Minato. . . isn't a bad person. Akira knows that much, from the few interactions they've had. he's weird, kind of out there, but still fusses over people and does things like fetch their pillows and trick them into resting when they're sick. he's not a bad person]

[but knowing that he was involved in Persona business too does paint him in an entirely new light.]

[that answer really only begs one question]

Do you have this power, too?

[ It's at that question that Minato finally breaks eye contact, a sign of guilt and admission even if he doesn't say anything more. He doesn't really want to. Persona users aren't a cause for celebration, especially knowing how the ones in his team had come to be. As for himself, he'd only gotten the power because he was at the wrong place at the wrong time, regardless of all the things he'd come to accomplish with it after the fact.

Instead of answering right away, he leans over, one hand on his knee and the other beckoning Koromaru over to him. The dog comes running over, and- too smart for his own good- lets out that howl again, the one calling for a Persona that has no means to manifest. ]

...Both of us, [ Minato murmurs to the ground, eyes fixed on the Koromaru as he runs his hand over his head. ] Can't show you any proof, though.

[ Koromaru can't summon, and he refuses to. ]

[ah. huh]

[. . . that's strange. to Akira, there's no shame in having a power as useful as this one. but for Akira, gaining the ability to summon a Persona was the first step toward reclaiming his stolen future. the first step towards fighting against the powers that attempted to subdue him and his teammates. the first step toward creating a better world. but the way Minato ducks his head seems almost. . . contrite?]

[he doesn't answer right away. not as the blue fire kicks back to life around him, the sleek leather jacket and mask vanishing, replaced with his normal outfit once again. he can have this conversation as Akira; he doesn't need Joker right now]

Can't. . .

[his gaze flickers towards Minato's waist. towards his Evoker should he have it on him, or just the spot where a gun might rest if someone placed it in its holster]

Or won't?

Edited 2018-09-24 04:16 (UTC)

[ Again, Minato lets silence hang in the air, but it's his usual taking his time with things, carefully choosing his words and the weight behind each option. He straightens up when Akira lets his disguise fall away; it's easier to talk to Akira when he's simply Akira and nothing more, easier to stand and face him and smile- apologetic in every inch of his being. ]

Won't, [ he corrects himself. ] Not until I have a good reason to, anyways.

[ For him, showing off isn't a good reason, nor is giving proof, as it isn't imperative that Akira believes him. Still, Akira looks like the sort of person who'd keep this in the back of his mind and never let it fall to the wayside, so- ]

But I'll answer any other questions, if you have them.

[Akira likes that answer better. won't. it's more honest, more telling, and he accepts it without argument. he doesn't need proof, anyway-- he believes Minato has the power of Persona too, because why else would he be able to recognize Akira's?]

All right. That's fine. You don't have to if you don't want to.

[Akira links his hands together and lifts them above his head in a stretch, eyes slipping shut as he once again focuses on the familiar presence hovering in the back of his mind. he'll have to take his abilities out for a spin later, to make sure he hasn't gotten rusty. but for now. . .]

[it's good to have it back]

I do have a bunch of questions, but I don't want to make you talk about something you'd rather not.

[his eyes open again, and he tilts his head, curious]

You seemed kind of. . . [. . .] Ashamed.

[ Is that what his expression looked like? Shame. He shakes his head- a firm denial. ]

It's not something I'm ashamed about. I'm grateful for it, but at the same time... I guess the circumstances make it hard...

[ It's vague and he knows it, but he doesn't really know how to explain without starting over from the very beginning and trying to explain- justify- everything that happened. It's all in the past, after all. All his victories, and all his failures.

In the end, he just shrugs helplessly. ]

You seem to enjoy it, though. That's good.

Circumstances. . .

[again, he wants to ask. but Minato keeps it vague on purpose, and Akira can't blame him. only a choice few people outside of the Phantom Thieves knew about his abilities. and even fewer knew the circumstances surrounding them]

I'd like to hear about them one day. Whenever you're willing to share.

[he makes an offer. one that Minato doesn't have to accept now, or even ever. but it'll stay open regardless]

[as for himself?]

It was a power that came to me at-- a time I needed it most. [both when he wanted to protect Ryuji, and when he was shipped off to Tokyo with nothing but a cardboard box of belongings to his name] It's a part of me. It gave me the strength to fight back against something I've wanted to fight for a very long time.

If you call that "enjoyment," then. . . yeah. I guess I do.

[ The strength to fight back... Whatever circumstances surround Akira's being granted the power of Personas, it feels so much different than Minato's own. But even then he can relate to parts of it— he had first harnessed the power when he needed it the most, but rather than something he had wanted to fight for a very long time, it felt like the first time in his life that he'd stood up against death and fate and swore to protect those he could with his own hands. Rather than granting him strength, the Persona felt like courage, guiding him towards the strength that was already there. ]

...Maybe I "enjoyed" it a little too.

[ He says nothing more about sharing his own story for now, but he crouches down and plays with Koromaru's paws, and thinks he could share his. ]

For Koromaru, too, I think it came when he needed it. It came when he needed to protect his shrine— his home- and I guess it's something like that for me too.

[ah]

I wonder if it's like that for everyone?

[it'd make sense, considering what a Persona is. a mask for facing the world's hardships. Akira crouches down to Koromaru's level as well, reaching out to pet the good dog's head, fingers scratching his fur behind his ears]

Every person I know awakened into their power when they were trying to protect something. [. . .] Or. . . trying to rise above something else. Rebel against it.

[ Minato isn't too sure, knowing what he does about how Aigis got her Persona, or all those involved with Strega, but however the power came to them, it doesn't change the fact that they were all a form of strength, whether it's out of a need to protect or fight back. ]

I dunno. I guess that's something I could've asked Igor, but it's a little late for that.

[ He lets Koromaru's paws go, so the dog can sit up straight and lean into the scratch. ]

As for now, though, protecting people... I want to be able to do what I can with my own two hands. I don't need my Persona for that. So that's what I mean by "until I have a good reason to," I guess.

[. . . Igor--]

Huh?

[anything else Minato says after he drops that name is immediately lost in the wind, because. . . out of all the Persona users Akira knew? none of them knew about Igor]

You know-- I mean, you've met Igor? From the Velvet Room?

Oh. [ It doesn't surprise Minato as much that Akira knows of Igor and the Velvet room; even if none of the rest of his team has ever been in the room or met the man, Minato's told them of his existence. It took a while to convince everybody he wasn't just asleep on his feet on the ground floor of Tartarus every night. ]

Yeah. Lots of times. I'd come hang out after school, usually.

[ To visit Elizabeth more often than Igor, granted, so he could see if she wants to go anywhere or switch out his Personas if not, but the Velvet Room in general was always a nice place to hang out. ]

[Minato is far better at sharing with his team than Akira, who avoided every single opportunity to tell them about Igor he could because why would they believe him]

Oh.

[well. . . the concept of another wild card isn't that foreign to Akira. Akechi had been one, right? either way, Akira jerks a thumb at the crown of his head, one brows raised]

Same hat. Wild card?

[ Maybe if he didn't joke around at every given opportunity, people would believe him?

Minato looks up at Akira's head— no hat, actually, but they're the same in that regard. ]

Yeah, that's what he said my power was. Death, and also the wild card.

[his jokes are funny!!]

Death?

[what??? Minato gets a squint for that, but then again, it kind of fits with what Akira was told. . .]

I was a wild card and the "Trickster," apparently. Although it wasn't Igor who gave me that name.

[ Minato figures Igor was talking about the Death— Ryoji- that was sealed inside him, but he hasn't heard of any arcana that relates to trickers. ]

Elizabeth?

[another bemused look]

Who?

Uh.

[ How to explain Elizabeth? ]

No, never mind. Who did you mean?

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