yamaboshi | see right through your beautiful lies ( semi-open )

Entry tags:

see right through your beautiful lies ( semi-open )

[ When you awaken, you're in what seems to be an abandoned warehouse; it looks like the place hasn't been used for its original intent in ages, though the smell of copper permeates the area. The carcasses of corpses lie around here and there - some dismembered, some completely intact - along with creepy, oversized masks of rabbits.

The warehouse itself isn't that big -- there's two floors, and many doors. However, each door is locked, and the only way through is to find a key.

However, you're not alone. There's a girl who seems to be panicking nervously, fiddling with her skirt anxiously as she sits on her wheelchair, glancing every now and again at you, not all that certain as what to do. At least, that's before you awaken, which is when she gasps in sheer surprise. ]

You're-- you're finally awake.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Stand your ground, Mitsuki. Don't try anything right now.

[ That's an order. Rei's still going to be blocking the door with her body to see what he'll try. ]

[She'll try to stand her ground. There's no point in trying to get the weapon from his hands but she braces herself.]

[Ugh... What can I even do? One person doesn't care whether she lives or dies, another is so programmed that I can't even reach her... the door's blocked, nothing I destroy will have any impact... but I can't die here! I just can't! Not when everybody else I know is in danger!]

...I know you will never believe me. I know you've branded me as a liar, just like you've branded everybody else. So nothing I say will make any difference at this point.

So allow me to speak into the void for a bit. Whether you believe it or not, Rei, we're fighting for the same thing: the defeat of falsehoods. We just have different approaches. You want to destroy the world. I want to rebuild the truth. And I will continue to fight for that truth. Even if I die, I can only hope others will take up the mantle.

I will also say this. A single lie does not make a person evil. A thousand truths do not make a person good. Some of the best people I know could tell me lies and still be the most authentic people I've ever met in my life. My only regret right now is that you've focused so much on lies that you no longer know what the truth looks like.

Mitsuki... I hope, at some point, you will realize. Your father is a good man. And therein lies the contradiction. This person who says is your father wants you to perform terrible acts for him. So how could that person possibly be your father? Even if you don't believe me personally, at least believe in logic.

And believe in the hope of the truth!

[He turns suddenly towards Rei, dashing towards her as if to strike her with the axe... before instead sweeping his foot down at her legs.]

[ Rei's definitely caught off guard as she manages to get tripped and fall on her legs, though she's still infuriated with these turn of events.

He hurt her. He physically hurt her. ]

Wait right there, Wright-san. I won't stop you from escaping, but I will tell you this: you still haven't solved the message of the note I gave you to its entirety.

[So how could that person possibly be your father?

Back, during the first game, Yu had relied on his connection to Mitsuki to try to pull her out of it. It hadn't worked but it had left an impression. Phoenix's words reminded Mitsuki of those words back then.

Emotionally wise, she still believed in her father but she thinks she's a logical person. Phoenix's words make logical sense.

Enough so that she follows Rei's previous order of not to move. That is until she sees Rei fall. She moves forward a bit then stops.]

...he tried to commit suicide because his closest friend betrayed him. Maybe that...changed his thinking.

[It may not be relevant completely to the situation but it's important to Mitsuki. The dull ache is only growing more profound. She just wants it all to stop--]

[The... message of the note? There's more to it? What does she mean? ...No, I don't have time for that now!]

[He begins hammering on the door with the fire axe, aiming to get it open.]

Mitsuki... *chop* Just ask yourself... *chop* Do you honestly believe he would change that much... *chop* ...and if he is, is that really the father you remember anymore? *chop*

Then... present your evidence!

[CRACK. The door knob is off. He pushes the door open.]

Rei... if I haven't solved the message yet, I will some day. No matter how long it takes.

You're an idiot.

[ She's saying that because it's the truth. Does she really have to give him the hint? ]

I'm saying that the message is this room's final puzzle. As well as your way out. That axe won't be able to get you out of here, after all. I tested it for the purpose of this game. It's pretty durable.

Of course, the last puzzle... is the same as the first. Of course, if you substitute the word "liar" in the second and third sentence for "wolf", you might get your answer. I'm not as cruel as to not give a chance for the rabbit to escape. In fact, it might be more interesting this way.

[...Apparently I'm going to have to agree with her. So much for being cool on my departure.]

Lovely. The "wolf," huh?

[But... it's not really that difficult. After all, we have two "wolves," and only one of them seems to be obsessed with being in control.]

...You have it, don't you.

I have the key for all of the rooms. Mitsuki has a key, but it only opens one. So I guess you can say that I have the master key.

[And she's already locked one door, so that would have ruled her out anyway.]

I suppose you're probably not too willing to cough it up, either.

I don't plan on giving up that easily. Besides, you're not violent enough to get it off of me. [ But! ] I will let you borrow it at a price.

...a price.

[I'm positive I'm not going to like her terms.]

Don't worry. It's not going to kill you.

[ She's trying to reassure him. It's probably not helping that she's smiling through all this. ]

[Then who IS it going to kill?]

Just tell me. What is your price?

Cut yourself off from Maya Fey altogether. That is my price.

...

...

...

[The axe drops from his hand. He sits down, his arms around his legs.]

...if you're going to kill me, do it quickly, please.

So are you saying you're not going to take my offer? Cutting yourself off from her doesn't mean you have to die. I'm being quite generous, you know.

...

What you have just asked me to do... is no different than dying to me. You are asking me to commit myself to a terrible lie for the rest of my life: that I value my own life over Maya's happiness. To become a "wolf" to save myself.

[His voice shakes; it could be fear, it could be despair. Either way, a tear drips down his cheek.]

I would rather die as a sheep than live as a wolf.

I see. So that's your answer. It doesn't really matter to me, considering that I was planning on taking Maya away with whatever option you choose.

Sorry, but it looks like you won't be escaping from this place, unless you find a way to get the key from me. But that's too bad. It's physically impossible to steal it from me.

[ A laugh, as she gestures at him. ]

Mitsuki? Go ahead and kill him. He's no use to me anymore.

[Mitsuki is finally able to move, grabbing the axe. It would be easy to kill Phoenix now--but she stops.]

...Not yet.

[Maya... I just wanted to protect you. But it seems I've failed...

...? Did she... say "not yet?"]

[ A stern, cold reply; ]

And why's that?

Why are you so interested in that Fey girl?

[Her father wouldn't have any interest in Maya Fey, other than killing her. He shouldn't have any interest beyond that. Forcing Wright to break contact with her... didn't make sense. The Feys were frauds and deserved to be punished. That... that didn't mean something like that. Right?

Her head was protesting every thought. It was wrong to disobey. She was a good girl. She'd--she had to do something.]

It doesn't make any sense at all. I don't want to believe him but... this can't be right.

...

[Something seems to be happening... I'd better bide my time and see what that something is.]

You want me to explain myself? I want to punish her in the worst way possible. That's all.

[ She takes a quick glance at Mitsuki, but starts to walk again, away from the door. ]

Unless... you don't want to punish the liars.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject