1st Magatama | [Video/action]

[heavensmostwanted]

[Video]

[A kind of familiar face might appear on the network, to those that may have known the last Demi-Fiend or not, or only knew the human known as Naoki Kashima. He stares at the journal in his strangely after activating it. Was this supposed to be some future cellphone? Either way, no choice but to try it out.]

Can anyone hear me? I have questions I wish answered here, if there is anyone. Somehow I doubt no one was responsible for my current predicament.


[Action]

[After getting his questions, Naoki stays behind in the forest. This one chance to enjoy some actual fresh air, no enemies around him, and the warm rays of a sun? Something his human half had longed for. Cerberus seemed to sense his thoughts, lying down on the soft grass. Naoki lowered his guard. If Cerberus didn't sense trouble, then everything was alright for the time being.

He laid down against the large body of Cerberus, wincing at his wings being hurt, but adapting nonetheless. After all that talking, he needed a good recharge. And considering the softness of Cerberus' fur, it was all that much easier to try and relax. Just one hour. That's all he had to waste. Once they were back in action, more answers could be found.]

Comments

[voice]

[dragmire]

You are not wrong. Your current predicament can be placed on the shoulders of the organization known as the Malnosso.

Re: [voice]

[heavensmostwanted]

And what are they supposed to be? And why bring me here?

[voice]

[dragmire]

Scientists. Foolish men who play at gods. But even they are not wholly responsible for your being here.

Re: [voice]

[heavensmostwanted]

This is beginning to sound like a bad movie.

[Not that he doubted it, entirely at least.]

Who else is responsible? Angels? Demons?

[voice]

[dragmire]

Neither. This world is on the other end of a rift, drawing in people from other worlds like a parasite. The Malnosso are but opportunists, taking advantage of their seniority to control those who follow.

[Voice]

[ledbythewind]

[That familiar voice causes Richard's breath to catch in his chest, his heart lurching to what feels like a sudden stop. There's no mistaking its owner, not to him. He knows that voice far too well.

Slowly he inhales, then exhales again. A part of him wonders if this is a dream, but then again, that's what he'd wondered the last time, and that had been no dream. There's only one way to find out for sure.

Cautiously, he ventures:]

... Naoki?

Re: [Voice]

[heavensmostwanted]

[It's been a long time since someone used his real name. That caught his attention immediately.]

You know my name, and I know nothing about you. I want answers.

[Voice]

[ledbythewind]

[He doesn't remember.

It's not a huge surprise given the last time, but it still hurts. He has to remind himself that it doesn't necessarily mean he WON'T remember, though whether that's a good thing or a bad one, Richard isn't sure.

Let's just take this one step at a time for now.]

It's Richard. You really don't remember anything?

Re: [Voice]

[heavensmostwanted]

Unfortunately, Richard, I am not the same Naoki you know of, because I sure as hell do not recall being in this realm, nor even seeing a real human in quite some time.

[Or a blue sky, little animals, the list goes on and on.]

Now then, I can assume that either a, my memory was tinkered with and I was here for a long time, or b, the most likely one, I am not the same Naoki. I would wager b because it's doubtful I could forget about this place.

[Video]

[concasse]

[Very nearly, Sanji responds to the video posting with the other's name - Naoki - ready to be as surprised as he is delighted to see his young friend again.

But then he sees the very brief, pointed reaction Richard receives.

... Alright, so... he won't do that thing yet. Looks like "Caution" is the word of the day.]

Like someone else already said, blame the Malnosso.

And no, there's no shitty exit door. We're all stuck here.

Re: [Video]

[heavensmostwanted]

Figured as much. If they had enough power to knock me out and attach wings to me, they would possess other methods of keeping me in line or something like that.

Speaking of which, what is the point of these wings? Can everyone here fly?

[Video]

[concasse]

No, not with these things. They're... well, as I understand it, they help us cross the shitty language barriers. Not everyone here is from the same place.

Don't mess with them too much. Try and remove them and it'll kill ya.

Re: [Video]

[heavensmostwanted]

Wings that help...translate...Well, I've heard weirder stuff. This is actually tame.

Wait, why would they kill me? Are they connected to my heart or something?

[voice]

[godbent]

[...Again, again with the Naoki. Ugh. and he's back to glowing] There's a welcome center in the middle of town, they'll hook your up.

Re: [voice]

[heavensmostwanted]

[He senses something wrong, but doesn't point it out. Odds were he was better off not asking.]

Well, that helps out a lot. Where is exactly is the town though? Kinda stuck in the middle of a forest.

[voice]

[godbent]

The rivers flow away from the mountains, and the village is in the middle between the lakes they flow into to the west of them. Go upstream unless the mountains are behind you while your'e going upstream, then go downstream.

Re: [voice]

[heavensmostwanted]

I see. [He looks around, seeing only trees. There's some noise in the background as he jumps from tree to tree to get a better view.] Okay, got a much better view now. I see what you are talking about.

Anything dangerous in this forest I should know of?

[musubi]

[Isamu has been quiet up until now, but he's been following most of the conversations here. He doesn't always follow the journal as closely as he should, but there was no missing this entry - especially not when he shared a home with Richard.

No memory of this place. Not the same demi-fiend.

When Isamu had first arrived in this place, still a pseudofiend and wondering how Naoki had managed to screw up carrying out his Reason, the other boy had treated him with far more patience than he deserved.

But what about now? Would he be that lucky twice? Aside from his eyes, any remnants of what he'd become in the passageways of Amala were long gone, crumbled away like so much dirt.

The only way to find out is to slowly flip the page and address the issue himself.]

...Hey, man.

[heavensmostwanted]

[Him. The son of a bitch that only added to the fires already created by Hikawa. That bitter feeling of betrayal had never ceased. He glared at the book in his hands.]

Isamu. You really are here, and apparently have grown a pair to talk to me now.

[musubi]

[Well, there was that.]

It's a pretty decent pair, and I'd like to keep them that way if it's all the same to you so try not to punt me in them too quickly.

Not that I could blame you for that, seeing as it doesn't look like you remember anything.

[heavensmostwanted]

Oh I don't know. There's a lot I do remember from our world. I recall a moron I had to save from Thor. I can remember also saving him again from a water demon, risking my neck twice, and then a third when you started babbling like a moron about isolation.

[That voice of his is getting more venomous, memories flooding back.]

I remember being made a fool of when I helped you gain that power. I remember Ms. Takao dying in front of my eyes as a sacrifice to Hikawa and not doing a damn thing. And I sure as hell remember Chiaki slaughtering several Manikins, and then unleashing her angel army to try and do away with me!

Above all else, I remember trying to reason with you, and got spat in the face in return.

[Voice]

[goldenglasses]

[Sorry for the loud voice that greets the journal at top volume. Someone is a bit excited to hear a familiar voice over the system.]

NAOKI! Is that you!? It's so good to hear you again! AHHAHA!

Re: [Voice]

[heavensmostwanted]

[Unfortunately, Naoki was on the tree to survey an area when Vash's yell caught him off guard. He hung to the branch, glaring at the journal.]

Keep your voice down, would you!? What is the matter with you?

[Voice]

[goldenglasses]

It's just so good to see you again! It's been so-

[Wait.]

DON'T TELL ME YOU DON'T REMEMBER ME!?

Re: [Voice]

[heavensmostwanted]

QUIT SHOUTING!

Sheesh, not even Cerberus roars as loud as you do...