#— inkyara 01.

[cladinivcry]

@inkyara

they sit at the back row of the pew, silently listening to the preaching in the Church of Onoma. So, maybe Ofiuco isn't the god here or something. Or maybe there's multiple gods? They don't know, but they seem interested at least to learn. Not for the religion itself. They were never known to be religious to begin with.

"they got just about everything, huh?" They whisper as to not create interruption. "You come here often?" Today was their first day at this Church.

[36rai]

THE MOMENT SHE WAS put in her place, she left it. With her heart racing, Reko scans the bright and raring line-up of bokeh blurs on the boardwalk. This photographer's dream is sickening. What a child would find larger than life is a graveyard to her. There's no way she can call this a home — there were only supposed to be eleven attractions, and she thought she'd finished her last.

"Kh... Damnit!"

She carves dark grooves into the decking with her shadows. She stomps the lulling waves into a tempest, boots shaking the earth. Her bongos cla-clunk-cla-clunk against her thigh. She can't tell how much of it is real.

That is, until she sees him.

"It's you... You fuckin' asshole! What are you doing here?!" Reko makes a beeline for that unfortunately familiar face, right at the centre of her dutch angle. "Is this another trial? I've had it with this shit!"

It's just Sou. There's no Kanna in tow. Something feels amiss, yet she puts herself mere inches away from him, staring him down. Maybe if she peeks down, she'll catch metal.

@inkyara

[darkenforcer]

@inkyara ( continued from here ! )

did he really need a reason? sure, this might've been in the running for Worst First Impression Ever, but sou didn't look capable of hurting him or anything.

"you're not that special," (maybe he could ease the tension somewhat if he kept things laid-back), "practically half my social circle's made up of people who've threatened me at some point."

and if sou had murdered someone before... well, he couldn't judge him on that fact alone. that'd take some serious hypocrisy.

he extended his free hand, an attempt at a clean slate. "i said my name's yuri. and it's not like i can't just leave if you cross the line again, so... that a good enough reason for you?"

[darkenforcer]

yuri took the verbal assault with an air of indifference, the only slipup being a slight frown when he's labeled an assassin. that had to be a coincidence, though, he doubted the stranger had any way of knowing what he'd done back in his own world.(who'd use a frying pan as a weapon, anyway...?).

"....yeah. oho," he echoed after a deep sigh, more from exasperation over wasted time than anything else; flaring tensions up again with a snappy response didn't seem like the brightest idea, so he needed a second. "that mean you get it now? my offer still stands -- only 'cause it looks like you seriously need it -- but even i've got limits when it comes to getting weird-ass threats hurled at me."

if yuri were more patient, he'd likely try unpacking all the concerning things he'd just witnessed, but he really wasn't in the mood to pry. let alone risk another rant.

Sou clawed his fingers between the knitting of his cap and pulled, his white knuckles straining at the effort. He squeezed his eyes shut, and when they again opened, his grin stretched to his ears. His expressions seemed to be twisting from confusion to smug glee.

"So that must be your REAL name! Why, I'm your greatest threat and killer, Sou Hiyori! You don't even remember... figures! Memories aren't impossible to alter, after all! If you're trying to help, what's with the scabbard? Get tired of your frying pan, assassin?" Sou straightened his back, standing as tall and big as he could manage. It wasn't by much, but he would work with everything he had to impose. His crescent-shaped eyes widened suddenly, as with further examination and overwhelming flashes of clarity, the other man's eyes... there was such vivacity to them, and his voice... even his calm voice lacked the manner his mind sought.

"... ... ... ... ... ... Oho." That was when he knew he fucked up.

[cladinivcry]

"I can respect that," They say with a nod. "you came to the right ward then. Archimedes has all the architecture, art, and history. There's a theater here, some arts under water, all of it."

They continue to lead the way, falling silent as they think about what they want to say next. "I'd like to get to know you a lil' better. I don't have many friends and you seem like a cool guy." It's the truth. Having somewhat just arrived here, there weren't many people that Indigo knew well enough.

"Wanna check that theater out?"

His question about Archimedes was a test, a probe to gauge Indigo's knowledge and intentions. Sou remains cautious, though knowing Indigo is familiar with this ward eases some of his concerns.

"Places of knowledge and beauty appeal to me," Sou shares in an amicable tone, hiding the calculations happening under the surface. "Architecture, art, history - anything that reveals the ingenuity of the human spirit. But I am always interested in new experiences."

[idaego]

Es had truly never been to a store before. She'd read about it in books, seen it in picture books, told about it in brief stories regaled to her by her precious wanderer... This dream of hers was spoiling her, showing her a life she's never had the chance to live. The lineup of different soups and canned goods rest upon the shelves and she truly didn't know what to make of it, walking along the aisle without paying attention to where she'd been going—

The cart is a surprise, having briefly stumbled into it. She's unfazed despite this incident. If anything did happen, she certainly wasn't sure if she'd wake up, but that wouldn't matter. She couldn't have left her world. Giving the individual a once over, she takes a few steps to the side as he similarly moved out of her way.

"Don't worry," comes her dull response. She doesn't seem to be accompanied by any basket or cart herself... The thought of buying hadn't even crossed her mind. Rather— "I'm only window shopping."

While her gaze appears disinterested, she walks closer to him, curious despite her expression. Why is he trembling? And the scarf... Es can't help but stare, unblinking.

"Are you cold?" Frankly, she doesn't know what cold feels like, but this is an educated enough guess given all she knows. "Stores usually have hand warmers in stock." That's what she assumes at least. From what she knows, it'd be weird not to have them. This is a world of her own creation after all. Right?

Sou was like a ghost, wandering through a cleanly split fog of existence. For the moment, he could almost swear he was Shin again, weighing two cans of soup in his hand and mentally calculating how much he could live on, how much currency he could spare. It was a part of mundane life he barely could believe was happening. He was a definitely a ghost in his own body. In the Death Game, his meals were full of splendor. Wasteful final suppers that no one had the appetite to pick at, let alone he and his distaste for turkey. He shivered. With nourishment, he might have survived his hasty execution longer.

"O-Oh... my bad. I'm in your way, huh...?" Geez. He needed to pay more heed to the people around him. Sou pushes his shopping cart aside with a trembling arm and fixes a smile on his face.

@idaego liked for a starter!

[cladinivcry]

"I'm very familiar with this place," They say, turning to face Sou with a wink. "The stars thought it'd be a perfect place to house me in. Which, I think they did a pretty damn good job. It's nice here. You ever been to Savior's Respite or Water of Styx? Two of my favorite places. I've got a few, but those places are nice."

Indigo places a finger under their chin in thought and hums, "What do you like Sou? We can see if this place has anything like it?"

"We will see about that," He responds cryptically, "but first..." He'd tailed after her, doing his best not to appear like a lost duckling. Sou was worryingly eager with brushing off the topic and breathing new air into the discussion. He broadened his strides to walk alongside her instead, and his hat was returned to his head.

"... How familiar are you with Archimedes? This is... my first time here. I don't know my way around, besides going back where I came." He smiled his amiable smile from before, as if nothing happened. Behind it was something chilly, some stilted strain that twinged like an overstretched muscle.

[cladinivcry]

They nod. They can relate to that. And they don't take it to any offense at all. Why would Sou open up to someone he just met? WHY would they talk about things they kept close to their chest to someone they'd just meet? It didn't work like that.

"That's alright. You don't have to." They say, a small smile forming at their lips.

They've pushed their-selves off the wall of the Church and starts to lead the way, "You know, I guess I never really worried about the whole true colors shit. What you see in front of you is what you get, when you're around me." They pause, hands slides into their pockets, "I mean, aside from something I wanna hide, but who doesn't right?"

"... ... ... That sounds like a horrible idea," Sou imparted more suspicion, more reluctance... "that's precisely how the strong ensnare you. They tell you, it'll be okay, just trust me, and it's all at their convenience...! I can't just... pour out my heart to someone I only just met!" He sighed, then he took off his beanie. The pitfalls of black and white thinking were steep, but he knew this was the only right thing to say, for his own sake. He wasn't going to risk his neck after dying once. "We shouldn't have this kind of discussion here. I'll agree to that, at least. You'd never show your true colors in a place like this, now would you...?" Despite his standoffish reply, his tone turned into something quite gentle.

[cladinivcry]

"Mmm, that's alright." Indigo catches the pain in Sou's voice, the way his body language speaks to them. Hm, what could it be? Indigo smiles and shrugs, "It's nothing to get.

You know what's crazy? Inhuman strength and strange powers are just something one can't get. Likkkeeeee, I have pretty much an unlimited ammo of shit I can do, so to speak, but even I don't get HALF of it."

"I wouldn't know anything about that." Sou's voice was pained. He gripped his beanie to secure himself, suddenly apprehensive in the presence of the other. His traitorous gut-response... his doomed weakling status... it all came crashing back to him. Waves jittered up his spine as he failed to empathize. This was just... trifling... compared to the constant flirt with death weak people like him had to scrap by. He couldn't keep up his friendly mask, it was just too intense. This was why he didn't socialize. "People everywhere with these... inhuman strengths... don't get it."

[cladinivcry]

"Sure, Sou it is then." Easy enough. Are they about to smoke right here though? They're thinking about it, but in the end opt out on doing so. Indigo just slides their hands into their pockets and turn to address Sou,

"Definitely not from here." They say with a laugh. "Uh...It's kind of difficult to explain. A normal world where creatures like me exist," In secrecy, "and people with no powers exist. It's weird seeing so many beings from different worlds. You know, you're so used to being the only one who can do things like conjure up fireballs, so seeing others who can do the same or more...It's wild."

Preferring a parasocial approach to spiritualities, Sou nodded in a swift motion and began to squeeze out of the pew and past the aisles. He watched for his acquaintance with glances behind, and once he'd led their escape he crossed his arms over his chest. He leaned against the outer wall of the premises and watched people go by.

"By the way... just Sou is fine. Even better, in fact," He thought it best to nip it in the bud immediately. He couldn't stand hearing others address him as Hiyori, but he couldn't just leave it at Sou either. It had latched on to him like a parasite, but it was still apart of him. "Where did you come from...? There's surely people from all over Spirale that come here, but I don't know about outsiders like me."

[cladinivcry]

"Oh, you're baby-baby in Spirale." They say in awe. Damn, it only felt like yesterday when they first arrived and it's already been a month! Crazy how that works out. How fast the time goes, right?

"Archimedes seems to be one of the perf' place to kinda get a chill atmosphere." Like this Church for an example. After a couple of more minutes the sermon is finished and the priest is greeting those who approaches him.

"Wanna get outta here, Sou Hiyori?"

The heat and passion with which the preacher spoke drained out his ears somewhat. It was difficult to immerse in scripture other than his oath, as if a deep-seated memory whispered bad omens to him. Casual, friendly talks never appealed to him so deeply, but he knew he couldn't steer away just because his darkness willed him to. For once, he didn't hide. He rubbed his shoulder endurably. There was reluctant relief settling in his bones.

"Likewise. I've been here for about two weeks... so I am new," He stretched the rim of his beanie and nodded as if tipping a cap. "I thought I could use the change in atmosphere. Fibonacci can be distracting."

[cladinivcry]

Indigo is fairly observant. Escape routes were extremely necessary. It's funny how they are both doing the same thing and being very discreet about it as well.

"It's nice to meet you Sou Hiyori." they say with a friendly grin. "Did you just arrive here or have you been here long?" It's a good thing that they're whispering and that the preacher at the front has a clear boisterous voice to nearly drown out the two at the far back of the pew talking.

Though it looks like the sermon is nearly finished.

There is no good reason to lie in church, Shin thought. He dubiously scooted closer, but still not quite as close as the initial pat had welcomed. He glanced around to make sure nothing was amiss about his plotted escape routes... just in case. "I have a title. Sou Hiyori," he suggested, threading his fingers together across his lap. This time his leg really did bounce. "It is nice to meet you, Reyes."

[cladinivcry]

"MMm," They just grin. Indigo Reyes was full of surprises. "I have to keep people on their toes, y'know?" Their attention is back on the big guy standing in front of rows, and rows of people, preaching and talking about their god. "It's interesting though. Everywhere is different." And they lived for such a long time, they never actually even heard of this god. It just goes to show that this world was entirely its own, cut off from the rest of the world that Indigo knew at least.

"Indigo Reyes. Do you have a name?" Their attention falls back on the boy. Heck, Indigo even pats the space beside them for him to get closer.

@cladinivcry

Shin's nose wrinkled as if he'd just stifled a rude snort. He was not immune to the power of music, and paused, listening. There was something rebellious about this person... and he had no room to call it out, really. Not in offense.

"I figured you were more of a secular type," He smiled once the music's swell had ceased, "I didn't think I'd see you back next time. Am I wrong?" It was as if some part of him felt impiety for his twisted tomorrow vow... there was something pleasantly romantic about two deities becoming one, something he was sure Kanna would have liked and Hiyori would have hated. The further ironies weren't lost to him either. He knew he was drawn to their opposites, and the familiarity of his own martyrdom.

[cladinivcry]

Just like Sou, Indigo stays seated. They weren't much of a group singer and they didn't really like singing in front of people to begin with (not that this would be considered singing in front of anyone). Either way, they have their hands placed on their laps, completely relaxed. They are wearing their shade in door, but they haven't really had anyone look at them weird. Not that Indigo would care if they did.

"Today's my first day, too." They say with a smile, eyes now on the guy next to them, "I thought about getting up and leaving, but I'm already in too deep." They're not. They have no problem just getting up, honestly.

@cladinivcry

It couldn't be said that Sou walked into the church, at least not the Sou that first came to mind. Shin... Sou; he wasn't sure who he was, and he wasn't sure what to do with his legs. He sat still against a tide of nerves, half-listening to the sermon and firmly keeping his feet rooted to the floor. It wasn't so bad, it wasn't so bad, but he felt as if he'd been caught doing something wrong once addressed.

"Hello," He grips the tie under his scarf and shakes his head, "can't say I have... it's a long trip from home." He even made an effort to pick out a suit for the occasion, further uprooting deep-seeded old memories of someone he wasn't. Around them, many stood up to sing, but he didn't move from his seat by their side.

[cladinivcry]

Indigo tilts their head. Ah, is that how he saw it. They don't actually fault him for seeing it that way. An powerful person could never really feel weak. That's clearly what he believes at least. "I can't speak for those who feels the way they do when it comes to feeling helpless, but I can speak from my own experience and from watching those experience happen around me and how that makes me feel. That kind of helplessness and the feeling of being weak, I can understand." To fall into the hands of humans who'd take advantage of their family for their own selfish reason...hmm.

"I offended you with what I said, and I'm sorry." They apologize. Indigo studies the kid then gestures away from the church, "Did you....want to talk about it?"

Sou gives Indigo a long, challenging look. It's sullen and bitter, as if he wasn't on the same page at all. An untold load in gunfire and worse wracked him. A familiar thought, if only I weren't so weak, I'd have survived, coiled around him to the core. If only I'd... trusted...

"Are you...? What are you trying to say?" Shin asks, his eyes boring a clean cut through the murky paranoia that'd surrounded his heart. "To me, it just sounds like you're like any other powerful person. You really don't understand... how a weakling feels!"

[36rai]

THE WHITES IN THOSE teeth Sou has ground down to only let lies through, Reko can see them with startling clarity. He defies those honest, child-like smiles that never show his gums, that never meet his eyes. By all instruments of observation, he is testifying the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

However, what he testifies is complete nonsense, and may as well be written in iambic pentameter for how little it parses on virginal touch. Security system? Mishima AI? Nao? He knows something about Nao that she doesn't? Again? God, give her a break!

Reko's fist rears back, pinpricks of his blood decorating her knuckles and none blossoming underneath. Between the draw of her bow and the empty quiver, there is a window. She dares to look through it: snivelling children, snot-nosed and red-eyed, tethered to a fight that they only play the role of audience for. Blights and annoyances, shouldering their way into business that they could never understand.

And yet —

That's bizarre! It's like… it's like you're not Reko…!! You've changed!! You were so… full of affection…!!

Her hand lunges forward — holding her digits open threateningly. "Give it back." No profanity dresses her threat. She can't punch him in this position. Rather, she won't. "I don't wanna see you ever again. I know you don't want to either. So give it back."

Shin staggers backward with the force of her blow, wincing in pain as heat radiated from the wound. With a cocktail of shock, disbelief, and horror, cortisol raced through his arteries. He knew her body was inorganic, but he never imagined it would be so easy to remove one of her limbs. Still... his fingers curled tightly around the cold ceramic, feeling it's weight and texture with his median nerve. He knew it was a strange and macabre to do, but this gambit was a tangible piece of evidence that confirmed his suspicions about his and Reko's true natures. Vindicated, he tucked the detached limb under his arm and raised his other in front of his face. Blood seeps out of his mouth as he speaks. "You're wrong," Shin's fear and anger betrayed his coarsened tenor, "You need to stop lashing out with incomplete information, if you even can! There was more than our collars keeping everyone trapped — an entire security system was deployed in case someone like me decided to revolt! I'm just a programmer, Reko! I couldn't even hope to disable it on my own!

"I didn't create you, and I didn't create that twisted game! I was powerless! But you...! There was always the risk that you were coded to destroy us from within! Nao knew that better than anyone after the Mishima AI appeared in her room, and she took the burden into her own hands!" Shin touched his swollen flesh, the shortness of his breath making it difficult to remain standing. The crowd trickling in grew more oppressive the thicker the air between them raged. The onlookers could feel the weight of their words, and the implications of their relevations. "I'll say it one more time since you're stubborn as hell! Get ahold of yourself! This is a place children play for pity's sake, not the Death Game!"