(no subject)

[appraiser]

WHO: Ryoji, OTA
WHERE: in woods
WHEN: May 25-ish
WHAT: unstatuing, aka meet Thanatos, aka Jorogumo's not the only monster in the woods
WARNINGS: none
NOTES: forest lake info

i.
[ Oh. This is weird. Ryoji's foot lands heavily on the ground, and stands still by the very edge of the woods, turning his head this way and that. He was just out walking, but he could feel that lapse throw off his sense of time-- stiff limbs, the imperceptible changes that that he can't ignore: the blades of grass are longer, flower buds dotting the path in greys and dark greys. It's hot, and he tugs at the scarf around his neck, because it's suddenly ten degrees hotter and almost suffocating.

Unbeknownst to him, it'd been three weeks since he had been turned into a statue and made to stand guard here, but no more. He turns his head to the woods, staring for a moment... he should go home and figure out what happened? but he believes he'd find his answers in the forest with the demons... and so then finally steps off the path, bounding lightly through the trees— darkness, shadow, and in the next clearing, a monster stands in his place: Thanatos, with its wide mantle of coffins boring into the packed trees around him as it takes off in flight- low enough to the ground that the toothed sword in its hands drags along the ground and marks its path.

Joggers, patrol groups, poor innocent people who just wanted to try foraging berries and didn't want to encounter monsters today, sorry. Thanatos isn't quiet in its approach, with snapping branches and cracking stone, a little path of destruction in its wake to warn people before and after. Run? Engage? It definitely looks evil, exuding an oppressive aura and drawing darkness towards itself until the woods drown in shadow. ]

ii.
[ Any blue characters... small prompt here for a Jorogumo if you want to play it out; Thanatos would be able to take it down like it's child's play, so whether it's your character happening upon Thanatos and Jorogumo already engaged in battle, or Thanatos coming across you and the monster, we can play something out o7 ]

wc.
[ meeting Ryoji himself and not Thanatos, inbox things, etc. I'm easing myself off semi-hiatus, so! waves hands, I can be contacted at birdseed for anything ]

Comments

i.

[messianic]

[He really can't say what gives him the sense that he should be moving over towards the woods today. Calling it an explicit feeling would be a bit too strong, but there's a bit of a tug nonetheless, and he's found that there's no real point to avoiding those in a place like this.

So he follows the urge, hands tucked into his pockets as ever as he strolls casually, and he pauses at the edge of the trees, head cocked to one side. He won't go too far into the woods--he's pretty sure he's worried people enough lately--but... he's curious, so he steps into the shaded area and amongst the trees. It's noisy today, the sound of ground and trees alike being disturbed, and Minato should probably move, or be more concerned, but he's really not, standing his ground more curiously than anything.

It all...becomes very clear, of course, as soon as he sees Ryoji (Thanatos, but still Ryoji, always Ryoji), and then a sigh escapes him, relieved as tension he didn't even entirely realize he was harboring over Ryoji turned to stone bleeds away.]

...Ryoji. You're back. [A beat--and he amends properly:] Welcome back.

[appraiser]

[ There's a saying about cats and curiosity, but sometimes, the payout is worth it— it's why Ryoji decided to step into the woods again, when Thanatos stops and turns to the sound of Minato's voice rather than continue his chipping through the woods.

The sword gets stuck into the ground like a marker where Thanatos stands, blank masked face tilted down to peer at Minato's face.

"I'm back." The voice filters through Minato's mind like any Persona's voice does, words for him alone. "How much time has passed? Was I not me?" ]

[messianic]

[Thanks for not chopping down all of the trees there, buddy. Minato peers back; it's harder to tell if Ryoji's in one piece in this form, but he tries anyway, eyes trailing along the form of a Persona that he's all-too-familiar with.]

You were you, but...in stasis, I guess. You were turned to stone. Like Vriska-chan and Elizabeth-san.

[A faint breath out, and he shakes his head; Ryoji seems fine, thank goodness.]

You've been gone for a handful of weeks now. [Three, he thinks...? It's hard to keep track of time here, but he's pretty sure it's been about that long.

[appraiser]

[ There are no tells in this form. No soft hums, no tugging at his scarf, no glances down and off to the side. Thanatos just stares, quiet and still as this information is received and processed: stasis, stone, immobile.

"Good." It's not a cheerful "good," but a very firm one. Compared to the alternative, this is good.

"That means I was accounted for. There's no way I could move?" ]

[messianic]

[Ryoji............ that's true, that alternative would be Not Good.]

No, you couldn't move at all. You were stuck in place.

[He... knows why Ryoji's worried about that, really.]

You don't have to worry about that.

i.

[passio]

[ ryoji looks a little different today. ]

...!

[ dextera has been coming to check on ryoji since he learned that ryoji had turned to stone—with everything else going on, he hasn't been able to spend quite as much time with his lapidified friend as he would like, but today seems to be the day that things change anyway. he catches the last movement before ryoji disappears into the forest, and he's immediately running after him.

the sound of it all, the forest breaking behind thanatos, is louder than ryoji has ever been in dextera's presence. ]

[appraiser]

[ If he'd stayed himself, Ryoji might have been able to slip through the trees and disappear quietly, unknowingly to anybody else, but there would be very little else he could do. As Thanatos, he's confident he would be able to handle anything that he encounters, banking on the fact that things run and hide when they feel the oppressive weight of Death breathing down their neck, nipping at their heels.

What few animals in the woods scatter long before Thanatos catches up to them— it's a very linear path; there's no seeking another way around thickets or low branches even though it easily could, because it just as easily slashes through everything with its sword. ]

[passio]

[ dextera is not afraid of death, when living is so much worse.

so he runs, chasing after ryoji—and soon, he realizes, he's chasing after the monster that ryoji showed him in the well. still, he knows who it is, he knows that his friend is back, and it doesn't matter what he looks like. dextera wants to see him, and make sure that he's okay.

that this monstrous form isn't because ryoji is hurting. ]

Ah... R—!

[ his voice is quiet and so small, unable to even yell, but he tries, the sound dying hoarsely in his throat. surely he has some way to get ryoji's attention... ]

[appraiser]

[ He could throw a rock at Thanatos' head.

But even that seems like it might not work, what with the barrier that Ryoji once showed he could put up against something like that— a voice reaches him much more effectively, even though it's a sound and not a word, it's so clearly a voice and set apart from the ground and trees breaking in Thanatos' wake.

The Persona is slow to turn, coffins jumbled in the tight space that it has.

"Dextera... Do you need something?"

It's Ryoji's voice, if a little more solemn than usual, but definitely his- nothing is said out loud, though, but instead it echoes directly in Dextera's mind, settling down right next to his own thoughts as if it were his own subconscious. ]

[passio]

...

[ dextera didn't realize that he missed the sound of ryoji's voice, as little as he's heard it. ryoji has always been prone to silence around him, matching dextera's natural quiet, but it's a gesture he appreciates all the same. he can tell something is a little darker, however, a little heavier, in the way ryoji speaks to him now. he closes his eyes against the echo in his mind. he's learned a little sign language in the time since ryoji became a statue, so he puts that to good use now. ]

Hello, again.

I

[totheno1]

[Exploring the forest was something Kei had done quite often the past few weeks. Sometime with others, but often alone, he carried his sword on hand and his persona ready to summon should any situation arise.

This was entirely different. He couldn't quite explain it, but unlike all of the creatures he had faced so far in this world, this one felt familiar and seemed to seep into a sort of primal fear. He'd felt this once before with someone else here, but the sounds in the forest weren't that of a boy, but something far larger. He stopped moving to listen, hand on his blade.

Briefly, Thanatos might spot a a bluish glow that disappeared just as quickly in the far-off distance. If he came towards Kei's direction, he'd notice a figure floating next to him, over twice his size. Nanjo for his part, had to be a mixture of curiosity and annoyance plastered on his face. Something had clicked when he realized what was happening, and he didn't like it.]

[appraiser]

[ If Nanjo later follows the little path of destruction Thanatos had left behind in trying to squeeze through the trees without getting its coffins caught on warrant branches, he'd see that the path is straight and unwavering, like Thanatos had stepped in from the outskirts of the forest and just kept going forward. That's what it did, and what it had planned to do, even after it spots that flash of light— that same familiar feeling- Vishnu's dark form in the distance.

Doesn't matter. Keep going. Or so the voice in Thanatos' head whispers, but then it notices Nanjo's expression and ducks its head, almost out of what looks like sheepishness, and veers its course slightly, still straight, but just enough that it won't run directly into Nanjo and his Persona. ]

[totheno1]

[He noticed the path as the other passed next to him in the briefest of seconds, Vishnu keeping a hand over Kei as if shielding him as they both watched Thanatos veer slightly. Memories of a school in ice came back into his mind, of three girls who had acted as guardians towards the final tower they had to climb.

He's not sure where the creature is going. Be it the familiar feeling or not, the closer he gets, the more Kei realizes something.

He needs to talk to it. It might be insane, but he's not too worried with Vishnu next to him.]

Wait. [He doesn't wait for the other to stop.] You're from my world, aren't you?...I can't ignore what my Persona is saying. This is a familiar feeling to when I met the Night Queen.

[appraiser]

[ Like with Maya, Thanatos doesn't really feel like waiting and having a little chat when there's something more pressing on its mind, but there's a question being directed towards it, and that always makes it inclined to answer.

It's a difficult question, though, not one it can answer with a simple yes or no. Thanatos slows and comes to a stop, staying there with its sword resting by its side instead of approaching.

"That's difficult to say..." Ryoji's voice, soft and slow and potentially familiar filters through Nanjo's mind, as Personas are wont to do. "Some would consider my existence universal, after all." Not him as Thanatos, maybe, and definitely not him as Ryoji. But stripped of individuality, he is representative of Death, and what he does and what he brings won't change no matter where he is. ]

300 years later

[totheno1]

Mister Ryoji...

[The voice is a whisper from Kei, but he quickly crosses his arms, bringing one hand over his chin deep in thought.]

...so my guess was correct when I first met you. Who are you, exactly?

[There's still a piece of the puzzle and he won't dance around it. Besides, the creature that stood before him doesn't feel as malicious as Nyarlathotep, Pandora or even the Snow Queen, avatar that she had been.]

i

[scooptimistic]

[ For the most part, Maya's been fairly well-behaved. Not optimisming the grumpier souls to death, not jumping into forbidden areas on her own, avoiding the forest when she's without backup--

But some things just tend to fall into place sometimes, and occasionally it means that people who weren't meant to meet again meet again, and other times, it means that paths cross when they would have missed each other by mere seconds.

Like now.

She doesn't see the transformation, but Artemis stirs in clear warning, and the bruise on her torso throbs suddenly, prompting a quick wince. There's something-- familiar, and chilling, and as the monster(????) takes flight, Maya takes off after it. Calmly, carefully, responsibly-- ]

Waiiiiiiiit!!

[ NEVER MIND. ]

[appraiser]

[ The only indication that the monster heard anything is that it slows down, a lift of the head in lieu of startling, but slow enough that Maya can catch up a little, that Thanatos can continue making its way through the woods like it originally planned but at the same time, listen for what it thought was "wait" but surely that wasn't meant for it? There's no reason anybody would be calling out to it— the number of people who have seen Thanatos numbers to a total of two, and neither person is one to raise their voice. ]

[scooptimistic]

[ yeah, when she thinks about it, this thing probably isn't used to random strangers yelling at it to slow down, but Maya is also a strange person. Still, she notices it slow down just enough that she can quicken her own stride and close the distance between them.

"Don't go in the forest by yourself", Lupin had told her, but technically this doesn't count if there's another living creature, right? ]

You--! Um! Giant floating thing! Can we talk for a sec??

[appraiser]

[ If Thanatos could make a face, it'd probably look insulted at being called "giant floating thing." Is this how you request interviews, Maya...?

There's amusement, though, and that's enough to make Thanatos stop completely. "Thanatos." It transmits the word directly into Maya's head as if her own intrusive thought. "If you need a name to refer to me by, you can call me Thanatos." ]

I

[inheritance]

[As one of the oblivious people foraging berries, Izuku only freezes in shock for a second before jumping to his feet. This is...certainly unlike anything he's seen before, but that's true of many of the creatures in the forest.

He watches Thanatos approach, ready to activate his quirk if he needs to. Though his instincts are telling him there's danger, Izuku's noticed it's moving away from the town and deeper into the forest. So... if it's not trying to attack the town and everyone in it, then what is it trying to do?]

[appraiser]

[ That's a good question. For a while, it looks like it's just headed out into the woods— when the path bends, it doesn't stop, just raises its sword and cuts straight through rather than deviating even the slightest from its path, leaving a wide open trail for Izuku to follow along after it. What animals in the forest that see its approach scatter quickly- from dual-tailed squirrels to fire-breathing geese- all of them make way for the Persona as it makes its way through the trees. ]

[inheritance]

[And follow after it, Izuku does. His curiosity is just too great to ignore, and besides, anything he could learn from the....person(??) might be helpful, too.

So Izuku trails after him, staying out of the way of his sword, but close enough that he doesn't lose sight of him either.]

do you want some starbucks to go with my lateness

[doublecrowss]

[ When it comes to the forest, Akechi has been laying low for a while, mostly making sure not to stray too deep; even with his powers, there's no telling what he might find out there, and past experience has proven that no amount of special skill could help him, if he couldn't steel his own hear first.

But today? Today he's picking up on a strong, familiar presence emanating from the depths of the woods, and he finds his steps lighter, faster, tracking it down with insatiable curiosity and a side of recklessness that would probably earn him an earful from his roommate later on, if he ever found out about his adventures. As the presence grows more powerful, so does the accompanying noise of falling trees and crushed stone and destruction, and once Akechi finally makes it to the source, his suspicions are confirmed. ]

A shadow...? No, that's--!

[ Well, no time for idle conjectures! In a flash, the princely outfit and red mask manifest into place, and Akechi dashes after the creature. A shadow would be dangerous on its ow, but this is... a Persona, isn't it? ]

yes hello I will take a peppermint mocha frappe

[appraiser]

[ It's a Persona, but it's also a Shadow— the way Thanatos appears, there's all the makings of a Persona, from that familiar sense of power to the way it's not quite solid at the edges, something of a dream. But darkness laps at its feet, warping the air around it and sapping away all the light as it heads deeper into the forest, until the only thing that gleams is the length of its sword, clean and bright.

Thanatos drifts along, for the most part, a sense of direction but only a vague sense of purpose, and it's one that changes when it hears somebody shout out behind him. With that disguise on, Akechi isn't immediately familiar to Thanatos, and its grip on its sword visible tightens in response to catching a glimpse of the other boy. ]

brings u a espresso

[doublecrowss]

[ Yes, there is definitely something a little off about this creature, but Akechi can tell this isn't some random monster the town has tossed his way; Shadows, Personas... in the end, they are essentially the same. The only difference is whether they manifest on their own or are summoned by a Persona user.

And, in this particular case, it's looking like it's the former, as he sees no other human beings around. Careful though he might be, Akechi has kept a close eye on that sword, and he sees when the creature's grip tightens around the handle; it's weird, but it doesn't look like it's ready to attack, though? It's more like a defensive stance...

Well. Either way-- ]

Come forth, Robin Hood!

[ It's best to prepared, so the figure of the archer comes to life, hovering above Akechi, just in case. Hopefully Thanatos will recognize the voice...? ]