001 (How does one formalities?)

[acceptedlife]

[Takeshi has been... very careful. Since the last time he replied to something on the linkshell. However, he can't help but have a feeling of dread as August rolled in. Maybe he's just paranoid. But in the middle of the night, there is a text appearing on the list from him.]

Out of curiosity, what does everyone think of this invitation to the Empire? (Also what does someone wear to those kinds of things?)

Locked to [AU] Reno
Found something interesting in the 'Width. Be visiting soon.

Locked to Nagito Komaeda
Said I'd message you when I had something. I finished the map, so I'm sending you that now. Expect the other thing before some of us accept that most gracious invitation.

[Attached is crystallismap.jpeg and wor.jpeg. It's far rougher than what the official images look like, more like outlines that have been erased and redrawn until it seemed right and then redrawn over with ink. He's no ultimate artist (or any artist, for that matter), but it's passable and isn't inaccurate.]

Locked to Kenichi Nakagawa
Hey dad. Found something of interest you should see. I'll be between Arito and Yun'Ashia for most of the month working on adding to it, but lmk when'd be good to visit.

Comments

[regalblaze]

[Ignis is not going to go bankrupt because of a handful of macaroons. He even takes a few for himself.]

He does. After everything he's been through and... everything that will come his way, he truly does. [And it makes Ignis frustrated, angry and admire Noctis even more.]

...It goes without a question that wherever High... wherever Noctis goes, I will have his back. If I can help along the way, that is a bonus.

[acceptedlife]

[Takeshi pauses at that admission and accidental slip up, cyan eyes meeting green for a split second before his gaze seems to go through him, and-

Sora... Kairi... I'm sorry... An endless expanse of darkness, the only thing visible being the white sandy path that crunches beneath his(?) feet. I'm not ready. Not yet. Not until I see Sora and Kairi one last time...

Riku, can you hear me?

Ugh, another of the real things memories. He should have guessed. He sighs, eyes refocusing on the pages before him.]

I know the feeling. [He replies softly, bereft of the usual sardonic and bitter tone. His mind goes to the brief glimpses of King Mickey, the fragments he can still barely remember from the real thing's memory. Even after all these years, he still has to sort out the ones that were first implanted... and the ones that were rewritten entirely.]

I'd give anything, to be by the side those who accepted me as my own person. [Any of those who managed to worm their way into his heart, really. And yet he... he can't.] But, they aren't here. In a way, I'm jealous.

[He picks at the first macaroon, and incidentally finds a new favorite treat. Oh dear.]

...His secret's safe with me.

[regalblaze]

Thank you. I am sure Noctis appreciates that as well. [Ignis says with a soft sigh. Takeshi looks in pain, from what Ignis can tell. From memories from the past, everything that transpired in his world and people he knew.

Ignis' hand curl around his own cup of warm brew-]

I wish I could offer words of consolation. But these things, [these feelings,] don't just disappear.

Perhaps being led by a thought that they don't have to experience this place could be a small comfort? [Vaikuntha is not terrible to live in but... it's not home. Ignis can relate to that.]

[acceptedlife]

[Takeshi nods faintly. He runs a finger around the rim of the cup absentmindedly a few times before he wraps the same hand around it.]

They never do. [Believe him; he's tried to make them do so. Several times. Pushed it so far down that they wound up becoming a part of his Shadow. He frowns thoughtfully, debating on whether or not it would be a good thing to say anything on that. Because, unfortunately... it is no comfort. Not to him.

In the end, he decides to let the dead rest in peace.]