[Open] From the Shadows

[not_that_sasuke]

[The first day the dungeon appears, Sasuke doesn't get far in his attempt to check it out thanks to his inability to breathe underwater. Fortunately, the day after is when he receives the feather-shaped stone bequeathed by a crow, kept on hand because although he doesn't know what it does, all gifts from the crows in this world seem to be important somehow.

It's once he's returned to the Velvet Room for the day that he begins to hear it. A voice in his head he can't block out, calling to him.

"She's here. She's really, really here.”

“She can finally lock everything away."

He leaves Kurou behind in the Velvet Room, shutting the door behind him in spite of the cat's cries. Lucky him he's already outside once he's out the door, heading once again to the dungeon, puzzled, yet no less determined. It's a surprise when he's able to breathe underwater, but not at all unwelcome given the situation. The rest of the journey, he spends trying to be as stealthy as possible, avoiding fights in favor of speed.

And so, he eventually makes it to the forest on the third floor. Or at least, what was once the forest.

Instead, the floor is shrouded in darkness, countless drawers appearing to form "walls" in a slowly spinning spiral. However, a quick examination proves they are no more than illusions, all centered around one person:

Himself.

Indeed, a golden-eyed Sasuke stands in the midst of it all, completely unperturbed by the surroundings. It's enough to make the real one stop in his tracks, staring in confusion.]

Who-?

"Yuusuke was right, you know."

[He gapes at the- illusion? Impostor? Before replying flatly:]

What-

"You're such an idiot. No, worse than that."

"You're nothing."

[OOC details about this can be found here! The attendants will also be letting people know that Sasuke’s disappeared, if a reason to venture that deep is needed - or if they just want to talk with the attendants about what's going on.]

Comments

Speaking to the Shadow

[not_that_sasuke]

[Anyone who enters the floor while all of this is going on will be greeted by two Sasukes - one normal one and one awesome golden-eyed one. It’s the normal one that visibly panics the most at the presence of others, eyes wide and expression tight. The golden-eyed Shadow, however, doesn’t seem too distressed, merely glancing in their direction.]

"You should turn around. There’s nothing worth finding here."

[As much as Sasuke doesn’t particularly want people to see this side to him, it might be possible to talk the Shadow down, or at least figure out just what caused it to appear in the first place.]

[reveilation]

[ Those golden eyes irk her, just like the Attendants' do, just like the bear's does. She doesn't trust them at all, and she doesn't trust Sasuke either, but she also doesn't want people to die (thanks, Minato) so she marches straight up to the pair of them, arms crossed and scowl on her face. Directed at Sasuke himself. ]

What the hell are you doing, wandering off in a place like this? What did you do?

[ She gestures to the darkness all around them. Turn the forest back right now or the first person Kido's going to punch is Sasuke and not his Shadow. ]

[not_that_sasuke]

[He hesitates when answering her. Part of him doesn't want to say, but- it's not like he even has much to say on it.]

I don't-

"He doesn't know." [His Shadow cuts in calmly.] "He just acted without thinking again."

[reveilation]

I'm not talking to you.

[ She gives the Shadow a cold stare, and remains facing Sasuke. ]

I want to hear it from you, Sasuke: What the hell?

[not_that_sasuke]

[Well, now even the Shadow's looking his way.]

...

It's right. I just went for it.

[Which doesn't explain anything at all, but... what does it matter?

He messed up. Again. And now people are angry at him. Again.

Whatever Kido's got in mind for him, he probably deserves it.]

[reveilation]

Because...?

[ She prompts him, anger bubbling beneath the surface and barely restrained by clenched teeth and shaking fists. If he doesn't give her a good reason, she's going to clock him in the jaw and drag him out of the forest. ]

[laconism]

[Even though Red is still struggling with his own Issues involving Sasuke and his twin that he fucking murdered, there's no way he can ignore the attendants telling him that Sasuke is going to die if they don't save him from his Shadow. Learning that Shadows can be formed from themselves was a pretty big shock in of itself, but he can dwell on that later.

As soon as the attendants finish talking, Red immediately bursts out of the Velvet Room and makes a beeline for the third floor with Charizard's help. Naturally Pikachu is along for the ride as well, and soon enough the three of them reach their destination. This is their first time on this floor so they have no idea whether or not it's supposed to be this dark and trippy??

Upon hearing a familiar voice and still atop his airborne Charizard, Red looks down and spots the... two Sasukes? Or is the other one—?! No, no, that can't be Yuusuke. It's not Yuusuke. Calm down, brain. The attendants mentioned his Shadow, but... he doesn't see any monsters around. Is that what the gold-eyed Sasuke is? Do all Shadows that are born from people look like their owners? God, that's creepy.

He flashes a sympathetic glance at the real Sasuke. Sorry man, he knows that Red is probably the last person he wanted to see right now, but...!! Amarok manifests himself and leaps at the Shadow Sasuke with a Lunge attack. Why talk to it when they can kill it? That'll solve everything, right?]

[not_that_sasuke]

[The Shadow smoothly sidesteps the attack, eyes on the Persona to dodge any others that might come his way.]

"...So you're killing both of us? Well, he probably deserves it."

[Sasuke's eyes are still wide. He didn't expect Red to show up at all, much less immediately attack.]

[laconism]

[Surprise, Sasuke, Red doesn't mess around when he's in battle mode... And both of us? What is the Shadow talking about? Is he just trying to confuse him? Whatever. He narrows his eyes at the Shadow while Charizard swoops down towards him, he and Pikachu simultaneously releasing a Flamethrower and a Thunderbolt. Right as he's dodging those attacks, Amarok makes another Lunge attempt.]

[not_that_sasuke]

[He dodges with surprising speed, but that lunge catches him, and the actual Sasuke gives a short gasp.

Even if it's his Shadow, it's still a part of him, and that didn't feel great.]

[laconism]

[And just like that, battle mode is disengaged. Great hustle, team.

Red's eyes widen in surprise, Amarok disappearing as he gestures for Charizard to land near Sasuke. If attacking the Shadow is just going to hurt him, then what do the attendants want them to do about this thing??? Before he worries about that though, he needs to check on Sasuke first. He hops off Charizard's back and stands in front of him with concern while the Pokémon keep a close eye on the Shadow.]

Sorry... Are you okay?

[infiltrationtools]

[The moment Akira heard what was happening from one of the attendants— actually, no. They hadn't even finished their explanation before Akira turned on his heel, walked out, and ran as fast as he could for the dungeon.]

[Keeping the crow's boon safely on his person, Akira makes his way as quickly and quietly as he can through the water and ice, like some kind of awful speedrun. And when he finally crashes into the pile of dirt and leaves, he stands up — with blades of grass in his hair and dirt on his glasses — to an awful realization.]

[They're both here. At the same time.]

[His cover is thoroughly blown by the fall. But it's the Shadow that addresses him before Akira can even speak, and he just scowls.]

That's a fucking lie and you know it.

[not_that_sasuke]

[The Shadow remains unruffled even as Sasuke looks anything but, averting his gaze, unable to look at Akira directly.]

"It's not. Someone like him doesn't deserve help."

"He's already coming up with reasons for you to go away."

[Which is at least true enough to get Sasuke looking up at the Shadow again, a mix of surprise and uncertainty.]

[infiltrationtools]

[Akira glances over at Sasuke briefly. He needs to choose his words carefully here, so he looks back to the Shadow.]

That doesn't mean he doesn't deserve help.

It means that neither of you want help, because you think you don't deserve it.

[not_that_sasuke]

"You have no idea how many people got hurt because he screwed up. Well... I guess you do know someone who died."

[Oh, that one gets Sasuke's attention quick.]

"Just face it. You couldn't have stopped Yuusuke even if you wanted to. He beat you in that last fight, just like he does every other time. You can say you like messing with him, but all you've got is a little information he didn't. The only way you can fight back is by pretending none of it hurts so he doesn't get the satisfaction of seeing you cry."

"You're so pathetic."

[flowerclips]

[ normally, rei does all right in dungeons. she got really scared by last month's incident, but she has been slowly getting over it and has been going back in. however, something about seeing that second sasuke, the one with the golden eyes, it frightens her. it reminds her of something that she doesn't want to remember. ]

S-Sasuke...? [ she calls out. ] Who-- Who is that?

[ she already knows the answer. ]

[not_that_sasuke]

"A Shadow. The true self."

[Sasuke looks very much about to argue that little point, but his Shadow's tone is completely matter-of-fact.]

"There's still time, Rei. You can run and forget any of this ever happened."

[flowerclips]

[ and just like that, a chill runs through rei's body and suddenly, it almost feels like she's back with her own shadow. well... it'd be nice if she was able to give sasuke some advice on how to face one, do something similar to the other p4 kids who gave words of encouragement, but unfortunately, rei only knows running away. if she can, she'll walk forward to try and tug on sasuke's sleeve. ]

L-Let's go, Sasuke. We should leave.

[not_that_sasuke]

"No."

[Ah. The Shadow's approaching them now.]

"You wanted to disappear, didn't you? That wasn't a lie."

"You can still disappear from here completely. Just like you wished for."

Re: Speaking to the Shadow

[trabryu]

[ "Shadow"... This isn't the first time Mondo has seen one, but it does unsettle him that the golden eyes are reminding him of the attendants. He trusts them ー or at least Arisato to an extent, but... He can't remember... was the eyes of the Shadow Tatsumi golden too? ]

Sasuke... what's goin' on? C'mere.

[ He ignores the Shadow, walking past it, towards Sasuke instead. ]

[not_that_sasuke]

"Don't bother. He doesn't deserve it, and he knows it."

[Sasuke's eyes narrow as he looks back to the Shadow. No, shut up, stop talking about-]

"Not that he explained any of that to you, or anyone else here."

[trabryu]

Keh! Don't need no explanation. Sasuke.

[ He'll attempt to grab Sasuke's hand. He doesn't quite understand this situation... but he knows for sure that this isn't what Sasuke wants, and not where he's supposed to be. ]

cw: suicidal ideation

[not_that_sasuke]

[He almost does allow himself to be dragged away, but then:]

"Where are you going? You wanted to disappear, didn't you?"

[-And he's frozen in his tracks. No, more than that, he's pulling his hand away from Mondo.]

[rabbeats]

I don't think so.

[ Hibiki acts purely on instinct when he tries to come between the Shadow and Sasuke, trying to make sure the former cannot reach the latter. These golden eyes are unsettling, so it might be a good idea to keep the Shadow away.

That being said, he wants to check on Sasuke but makes sure to keep his eyes on the golden-eyed boy. ]

Are you hurt? I'll help you get out of here.

[not_that_sasuke]

I'm not hurt.

[Is Sasuke's quick reply, but the Shadow cuts in just as quickly after:]

"He doesn't deserve the help. Hasn't he already troubled you enough?"