Sasuke Sagami (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
not_that_sasuke) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
cetana2019-09-04 11:01 am
not_that_sasuke) wrote in cetana2019-09-04 11:01 am
[Open] From the Shadows
[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.]
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.]
no subject
[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.
no subject
"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.]
no subject
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.
no subject
[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."
no subject
You're not pathetic.
[He sounds firm, but measured.]
There's nothing wrong with depriving someone of satisfaction they don't deserve.
What's your relationship with Yuusuke actually like, guys?
[He looks at both of them in turn.]
no subject
Yuusuke's...
[One that his Shadow's faster to answer than he is.]
"They used to be equals, but after mom died, he couldn't beat Yuusuke at anything anymore. Yuusuke just likes to look down on people now - especially him. But that's why it's funny when he doesn't know everything for once."
"Yuusuke really freaked out when he couldn't figure out who his "master" is. But even if he knew, it probably would have turned out the same way. He just wants to get rid of anyone who doesn't belong at that school so he can show off how good he is at missions. It's like an excuse to show off how good he is at fighting, too."
no subject
[Despite himself, Akira has started scowling. He always got the sense that Yuusuke didn't have a problem with killing for his own survival, but... this was a new level. Somehow though, it didn't surprise him too much that he would act like that. So Sasuke... just became his punching bag for Yuusuke to flex how much better he was? Was that it?]
I can't say I'm surprised. —Now, you.
[And he looks to the original Sasuke. Anything to add?]
cw: suicide
[Sasuke looks mildly uncomfortable admitting as much. The discomfort only increases as his Shadow starts talking again.]
"It's easier to kill your emotions than face your problems and fight back. Just like it's easier to keep trying to run away from your family than face them."
"Too bad Yuusuke told them you're still alive. They'll definitely drag you back when they catch you. Unless you disappear for good, you'll have to face them again."
"That's why you came here, right? Because you were hoping she'd be here to lock you away permanently."
Re: cw: suicide
[There's a lot to unpack here. Akira's approach, it seemed, was a lot different from Sasuke's. He fought back every opportunity he got, to the exclusion of things like "acknowledging weakness" or "letting go".]
And that's how you want it to go? Lie down, let them take you, or die for nothing?
[He can't understand thinking like that.]
Your family's not here. Yuusuke is dead.
Both of you are worth more than a disappearance like that. You can fight this.
cw: suicide
[But before he can fully speak, his Shadow once again interjects.]
"You're nothing. You're totally worthless. You never get anything right. Every time you mess up, someone gets hurt."
"They'll all be better off without you. That's why you were trying to see that spirit again. If she locks you away before she fades..."
"You'd fade with her. No one would have to even remember you existed."
no subject
[He's trying not to get heated. He's trying. He's keeping his gaze fixed on the normal Sasuke, letting the Shadow finish but then promptly ignoring it.]
Everyone at home is already 'without you'. They're without Yuusuke, too. You're both lost to them. And now you're here, worlds away, and they can't ever touch you again.
He-- [and Akira gestures to the Shadow] is just what they've conditioned you to think! They don't even need to be here to hurt you anymore, because now you've got it all set up to beat yourself down for them!
no subject
"It's not like he was supposed to turn out like this. He never listened to them. If he did, he wouldn't have believed he could make it to the city just by running."
"Too stupid to listen or learn. But it's easier for you if you just blind yourself to the truth, huh? Then you can just keep running instead of acknowledging that she's dead-"
[That gets him snapping his head up again, a flash of pain, like he'd just been slapped, quickly replaced by a cold fury.]
Shut up.
[No. No, it can tear at him all it likes, but she's off limits--]
no subject
Okay. What changed there?
no subject
"What were you really running from? Sure, the night can be scary, but..."
Shut up!
[Sasuke's voice is actually alarmed now- alarmed and angry.]
"The scariest part-"
No-
"is knowing tomorrow will come-"
Stop!
"and mom will never, ever come back."
[The Shadow's struck a nerve, because Sasuke for once is quick to shoot back:]
Stop talking like you're me.
[-Which is, of course, exactly the wrong thing to say.
There's a quick flash of a grin that looks completely out of place on Sasuke's face, though maybe not so much on his twin's - and the darkness that surrounds them seems to envelop the Shadow completely.
Hm.
Bad.]