[video] forward dated to 9/13

[appraiser]

Ryoji Mochizuki shared a video.
09/13 near Apprassage

[ The video starts up, dark, silent. A bedroom, if an empty desk and neatly made bed and too many cardboard boxes count as a bedroom, and then the view flips over with a soft ] Oh. [ as the user finds the front-facing camera instead of the rear that he always uses on his phone. ]

Hi... It's been a while.

[ The bottom half of the screen blurs as Ryoji draws his knees to his chest where he sits on bare floorboards, phone in his hands. He doesn't introduce himself— doesn't need to, when his name is up there for people who don't know him, his face right here for people who do: the people he's recording this video for, whispers in an empty room. ]

I'm back. I know there are probably questions as to why, or how... and I can't really explain it well myself. But I'll answer the best I can, if you want to ask, texting or in person.

[ Ryoji sits up a little straighter now, looks a little more serious. This is what he meant to say: a confession. ]

But before that, I want to say that I'm glad to be back, however it happened... a second chance like this. I also want to be more upfront about myself, and there are things I want to say to a lot of people.

There was a time in the past where I was a monster: I'd hurt a lot of people, and I ran from all of that, hid myself away, and pretended it hadn't happened. The memories I've been experiencing, I kept the good ones close, the bad even closer, pretending they weren't real and that they have nothing to do with me. I thought... that it would be better to forget about all of that and return to a simpler time. Unconsciously, I think that's what I did. I went back to before everything happened, to start over, and do better this time. But I got it wrong. I made myself forget, but I wasn't forgotten...

[ He's rambling now, a little, so he turns his eyes away from the screen, staring off at something in the distance- it's the moon reflected in his eyes, only half. ]

There's somebody I still need to say goodbye to, but after that... I want to see so many of you. I owe a lot of "thank you"s and "I'm sorry"s and "I love you"s, and I want to be with people again. I don't want to leave this world or its people ever again.

So... I'll see you guys soon.




( ooc: forward dated to 9/13 to give myself a buffer. replies can be via text, or an in-person if you want to fast-forward to ryoji showing up at your character's house/class/chance meeting at some cafe/hi roommates/he'll be finding people around town somehow. for his cr, please assume he checked up on them, whether it's handwaved or not! )

Comments

[truedetective]

I don't know. To be honest, she seems... not that different from me. I'm not sure if that's reassuring or depressing.

[appraiser]

why do you think it could be depressing?
for me, having similar personalities makes it easier to understand the other self
and that's a good thing

[truedetective]

That is true. But everyone else seems to be getting visions of a grand former life where they've been someone completely different. Meanwhile, I'm still generally me, albeit in a different setting. That said, I imagine these complaints are falling upon deaf ears at the moment, given everything you've been going through.

[appraiser]

my plights don't make your complaints any less valid
think of it like this:
you're already living a grand present life
that's why they feel the same

[truedetective]

I think my other self was a detective.
Not a junior intern. Actually a detective. And she wasn't any older than I am now.
So that is a slight step down.

[appraiser]

that's... pretty amazing of her, to be a detective in high school
but you're amazing too, and it isn't fair to compare directly like that, i think
you have accomplishments she doesn't have, right?

[truedetective]

Possibly. I'd need to know more about her life. I apologize for making this about myself inadvertently. You've been through something very traumatizing, I imagine. Or would you prefer to talk about other things?

[appraiser]

it's alright
i'm more comfortable talking about other people than myself
especially after something traumatizing- not talking means i don't have to face it, yet
so we can talk about other things

[truedetective]

If you're sure.
I do feel mildly selfish.

The more I think about the things I've remembered, the more I feel that this other me was involved in matters very much beyond what a normal student would be involved in.

[appraiser]

i'm sure
were these matters by choice or circumstance? i can see it go either way, but the shirogane-kun i know likes challenges, and you say you're fairly similar

[truedetective]

True. I'm not entirely sure that the Shirogane you know would readily challenge a god.

[appraiser]

what kind of god?

[truedetective]

A giant eyeball.

No, I'm serious. That's all I know about it.

[appraiser]

the eyeball didn't used to be a moon, did it?

[truedetective]

I would say "what a bizarre question," but honestly, my tolerance for what constitutes "bizarre" has been seriously strained as of late. At any rate, not that I'm aware of. It was oddly metallic.

[appraiser]

never mind then
a metallic eyeball though...
a robot?
i would have thought gods to be more... light and ethereal substances instead of heavy steel

[truedetective]

Frankly, if gods are getting involved, I think it's wise to assume that our assumptions may be just that.

Why did you ask me about the moon?

[appraiser]

right
it's just something i saw
the moon opening up into something that looked like an eyeball
and it called me to it
it's difficult to explain...

[truedetective]

Hm. It called the Ryoji you or the Thanatos you?