[No scratches, yes, that checks out—and though the crystal creature has a few scratches of its own, it's mostly as smooth as it appears, its dangerously sharp edges reserved for its mouth and hooves. There's no damage or blood that it can see, so what is it going to do, not believe him, this generous giver of pets? It continues to listen, big blank eyes blinking.
Oh... ohh!
It takes a moment to consider this amazing development, then another long moment to consider what this means for what to do next, attention moving to the pavement. Then, it hefts its head in a singular, determined nod, then turns forward, looking back to Ryoji. Let's go, together! There are Chosen to protect!]
[The question gives it permission to lead the way, so forward it goes! It's not long before an odd spot in the street almost causes the crys to trip once more, but it catches itself and turns its gaze down to where it the asphalt has been dissolved as if eaten away by some sort of acid. The holes are small at first, the size of a drop of rain, but even in the dark the growing trail of them forward is clear, until the unsteady weaving line of damage is fully connected.
Determined to find the source and see if there might be someone in need of help, the crys keeps following it.
Turning a corner following this trail reveals that other things have disppeared where the swerve leads. Lamp poles deleted, the glass of their lights scattered on the sidewalk. The lower corner of a brick building simply gone, no rubble nearby to indicate what was lost. A dark cloud of something like mist stands where the trail of missing pieces ends, as tall as a man but largely formless. Even so, it's condensed enough to tell by the movement of the wisps that it turns around at their approach, slowly.
After a moment, it speaks.]
Ah... It's you.
[The creature seems alarmed—straightening up at first at the sound of the voice before lowering its posture somewhere between defensive and uncertain.]
[Poor thing, tripping away in all of its excitement. It almost makes Ryoji forget the situation at hand with such a bundle of joy by his side.
But then the asphalt begins to dissolve, and Ryoji’s smile disappears once more.
It only gets worse from there, as they travel towards the lion’s den. He wonders, not for the first time, what would have caused such destruction. Is the crys leading him towards there? If so, then he must get ready for battle, and unfortunately scare his little friend once more by transforming into Thanatos.
His tracks stop at a familiar sight, one that he has once seen in a dream.]
[Yellow eyes open in the cloud to peer at the avatar and his companion, no emotion apparent in their featureless gaze.]
Does it matter?
[The reply is neither snide nor truly curious of any answer Ryoji may give him. All of this is pointless... what's another ruined street in the grand scheme of things?
The crys seems much more anxious regarding the shadow in front of them than the transformation of its new friend, even though his speech is apparently calm. The gaze turns slightly away, pensive if the tone of voice is to be believed.]
Since you're here... perhaps you could answer something for me.
[The crys straightens up in surprise, but with no voice the only audible indication is the way its hooves scratch against the street briefly. Its focus moves from the towering friend and the dark cloud and back, uncertain...
The shadow's voice doesn't become harsh, but there's nevertheless a directness in the question as the shade's gaze focuses on Thanatos again, and the shape of him starts to solidify.]
[The reply comes almost immediately, though the shade's fatigue permeates it. There's no anger in him like this, not right now, but his distrust of beings like Thanatos is too strong to leave behind.]
You of all creatures... Why would you want such a thing? Has all the misery left in your wake not taught you that being human is only a series of senseless tragedies?
Brief moments drowned out by the rest, if they happen at all. And when they do every second comes at a cost, stealing something or other from those around us or the world itself.
[He moves towards an empty shop—not quite towards Thanatos but not away, his cloudy lower half leaving the street below him eaten away.]
We can't help ourselves. Cruelty and selfishness always wins out.
Even if it's not that much, I still think those few happy moments make it worth it. You talk about suffering and pain, but seeing humanity rise above such obstacles is why I hold so much respect for them.
And there are also those benevolent souls, heroes who would go against such cruelty and selfishness.
[He may still be Thanatos, but one can clearly hear Ryoji in the echo of his words.]
[If Thanatos were not the kind of being he is, perhaps Zekarion's answer would have delved more into the idea of what it means to be a hero—a topic he's long been invested in. But the gaze that meets Death's through the reflection in the shop's window is sharp, and instead, he retorts in a low voice:]
So our misery should continue for the sake of your enjoyment? So you can watch those rare few of us rise above it while all the rest drown in the attempt?
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expiationmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
expiationlogs2025-03-11 10:18 am
no subject
Don’t worry, little one. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine! No wounds or scratches or anything like that.
[How could he explain that he’s more or less doing the same work this creature has been doing?]
I might be harmless, but I’m also, uh, durable? That’s why I had that other form around!
[And the fact that he has this massive sword and dark powers, but that’s not gonna help out his case.]
So I figured, I should help everyone out the best that I could instead of just hiding somewhere, you know?
no subject
Oh... ohh!
It takes a moment to consider this amazing development, then another long moment to consider what this means for what to do next, attention moving to the pavement. Then, it hefts its head in a singular, determined nod, then turns forward, looking back to Ryoji. Let's go, together! There are Chosen to protect!]
no subject
That sounds like a great idea! I would love to have a companion!
[And just to be sure, Ryoji gives it another gentle pet. Maybe he should give it a treat later? Does it even eat anything?]
So where are we headed first, my new friend?
no subject
Determined to find the source and see if there might be someone in need of help, the crys keeps following it.
Turning a corner following this trail reveals that other things have disppeared where the swerve leads. Lamp poles deleted, the glass of their lights scattered on the sidewalk. The lower corner of a brick building simply gone, no rubble nearby to indicate what was lost. A dark cloud of something like mist stands where the trail of missing pieces ends, as tall as a man but largely formless. Even so, it's condensed enough to tell by the movement of the wisps that it turns around at their approach, slowly.
After a moment, it speaks.]
Ah... It's you.
[The creature seems alarmed—straightening up at first at the sound of the voice before lowering its posture somewhere between defensive and uncertain.]
no subject
[Poor thing, tripping away in all of its excitement. It almost makes Ryoji forget the situation at hand with such a bundle of joy by his side.
But then the asphalt begins to dissolve, and Ryoji’s smile disappears once more.
It only gets worse from there, as they travel towards the lion’s den. He wonders, not for the first time, what would have caused such destruction. Is the crys leading him towards there? If so, then he must get ready for battle, and unfortunately scare his little friend once more by transforming into Thanatos.
His tracks stop at a familiar sight, one that he has once seen in a dream.]
…Did you cause this?
Whispers Ryoji, uncertain and on guard.
no subject
Does it matter?
[The reply is neither snide nor truly curious of any answer Ryoji may give him. All of this is pointless... what's another ruined street in the grand scheme of things?
The crys seems much more anxious regarding the shadow in front of them than the transformation of its new friend, even though his speech is apparently calm. The gaze turns slightly away, pensive if the tone of voice is to be believed.]
Since you're here... perhaps you could answer something for me.
no subject
This does not have to end up in bloodshed. Not yet.]
What do you wish to ask?
no subject
The shadow's voice doesn't become harsh, but there's nevertheless a directness in the question as the shade's gaze focuses on Thanatos again, and the shape of him starts to solidify.]
Why do you pretend to be human?
no subject
Because a part of me wishes that I am human.
[Not all of him, because his being has been a strange amalgamation of different facets. But the part that feels the most like himself yearns for it.]
no subject
[The reply comes almost immediately, though the shade's fatigue permeates it. There's no anger in him like this, not right now, but his distrust of beings like Thanatos is too strong to leave behind.]
You of all creatures... Why would you want such a thing? Has all the misery left in your wake not taught you that being human is only a series of senseless tragedies?
no subject
But it isn't! There may be tragedies in being humans, but there is the joy and beauty of living, too!
no subject
[He moves towards an empty shop—not quite towards Thanatos but not away, his cloudy lower half leaving the street below him eaten away.]
We can't help ourselves. Cruelty and selfishness always wins out.
no subject
And there are also those benevolent souls, heroes who would go against such cruelty and selfishness.
[He may still be Thanatos, but one can clearly hear Ryoji in the echo of his words.]
Humanity isn’t as weak as you think it is.
no subject
So our misery should continue for the sake of your enjoyment? So you can watch those rare few of us rise above it while all the rest drown in the attempt?