Palace Game 6/5

[fujimaru]

The Dreamer In The Grand Temple
Humanity Foundation Value: ????

What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

Comments

[fujimaru]

It is, in fact, Da Vinci! Though as he approaches, he can see there are some differences between her and the one that he knows, even without the transparency thing, subtle things that are just faintly off. But when she sees him, she smiles and waves.

"Fancy seeing you here."

[survivaltricks]

[deeeefinitely noting that, and it puts him a little on edge, and is at least a clue that this da vinci isn't the one he knows from the village]

[still, he greets her with a smile and a wave]

Likewise. Do you come here often?

[fujimaru]

"This is where I'm supposed to be," she says, serene. "We're kind of locked in place, the three of us here, so this is the only place you'll find me. ...Well, this specific me, at any rate."

[survivaltricks]

The three of you. . . [the crying woman, da vinci, and--]

[glancing over at the third figure? IS IT ROMAN]

[fujimaru]

IT SURE IS ROMAN, and he sure is trying to keep the third one from attacking anyone.

Da Vinci looks vaguely pained, though she's still smiling.

"The three of us," she says agreeably.

[survivaltricks]

[UGH NOW I'M SAD]

[that's valid though; Akira gives Roman's figure a nod and silently shakes his head at Gojo before he turns back to Da Vinci. he takes note of that pained expression, and asks gently]

Can I ask why you three are locked in place here, of all places?

[fujimaru]

"Well, isn't that obvious?" she says, cheery as always.

"We're all dead."

1/2

[survivaltricks]

[opens mouth]

[survivaltricks]

A-- ah.

[WELL NOW IT ALL MAKES SENSE. the deep pang of regret, the reason Da Vinci looks slightly off, the reason the woman is crying. . . for a moment, Akira mirrors Da Vinci's pained expression]

This room is. . . Rituksa's regrets?

[fujimaru]

"Her memories," she says gently. "You know her, don't you? She doesn't forget easily. Just like any human, really... even when you move on, you don't lose the pieces of the people you loved."

[survivaltricks]

[quietly, but simply]

Of course not. But remembering doesn't have to come with--

[he pauses, thinking about the emotions he felt welling up inside of him when he touched that portrait. . . and he shakes his head]

. . . no. It's not my place to say how she should or shouldn't feel.

[besides. . . he'd be a hypocrite if he did, wouldn't he?]

Is there anything I can do here to help. . .?

[fujimaru]

"Here? I'm afraid not." She's gentle about it, reaching to pat--the air above his shoulder; she is very careful not to actually touch him. "This is a place for the dead. Unfortunately, there's no real magic that can undo that."

[survivaltricks]

[. . . curious. he lifts his hand to try and touch hers, like?? hello??]

No; you're right.

But she should at least know she doesn't have to mourn alone.

[fujimaru]

She goes still, but she does not pull her hand away. When he makes the contact--

You think you will remember the wet crunching sound for the rest of your life. It's not something you've ever heard before, but you know it anyway: the sound of a hand going through someone's body effortlessly. You'd turned your head for a moment, and when you do, you see that the priest is there, with his hand through Da Vinci's chest. There is blood on his cheek, and he smiles pleasantly. His words are a ringing blur in your head, self-congratulatory, though he cannot yet get to you. Your best friend is screaming, struggling in your grip, but you are frozen in place.

"Take care of Mash for me," Da Vinci says. "And take care of everything in that briefcase. And not just because it'll be useful, okay? That graph is proof that your journey really happened. ...It's our pride and joy--both for me, and the others who aren't with us anymore. I just couldn't bring myself to erase it."

She tells you to hurry. She tells you that the Chaldea you have known and loved is gone, but that she believes a new one can be built, so long as you and Mash survive. I know it's a lot to ask, she says, but don't give up, and do your best!

And you grab for Mash's hand, and you nod before you drag her to where your escape route awaits.

...Ci vediamo, Uomo Universale.

[survivaltricks]

[OH. OKAY. THAT'S WHY, THEN]

[by the time his memory ends he has his face buried in the palm of one hand as he sucks in a deep, shaky breath. whew!! whew!!!1]

[fujimaru]

WHEW,

She does look sympathetic, letting him have that moment as she drops her hand again.

"I did tell you."

[survivaltricks]

[waaaaves a hand, wheezes]

Ssssso you did.

[a sheepish laugh]

. . . if there really is nothing I can do here-- [though!! he is making note of this room!! and will talk to Ritsuka about it when they all wake up!!] -- can you at least tell me where Ritsuka is?

[fujimaru]

"Unfortunately, my line to the outside is limited by what my living self knows," she says casually. "So unless she figures it out, I won't know."

A pause, and then, "But I know that there's a key to look for. So long as you have it, you should be able to find where you need to go."

[survivaltricks]

[perking up a bit at that]

But if she does figure it out, you'd just-- automatically know?

[a pause]

-- is she here, right now?

[PUTS A PIN IN THE KEY THING FOR NOW HE'LL ASK ABOUT THAT IN A SEC]

[fujimaru]

"She is me, after all," Da Vinci says. "More than any other summon of me would be. Possibly even more than the backup that we made. I won't know immediately when she does, but it'll only take a little bit of time."

[survivaltricks]

. . . all right.

[this gives him a gameplan!! brings his fist down against his palm in a DETERMINATION gesture]

If I get stuck, at least I know I can come back here to check on someone else's progress.

[WHICH WOULD MAKE HIM FEEL BETTER THAT SOMEONE HERE IS DOING SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE. and if that person was anyone, it'd definitely be da vinci, he thinks]

What sort of key should I be looking for?

[fujimaru]

"Something symbolic, probably?" She taps her cheek with one finger. "You're a clever young man. How much do you know about mythology?"

[survivaltricks]

Prooobably more than someone my age usually does?

[it comes with having Personas!!]

[fujimaru]

"Then use that."

She reaches out and flicks a finger at his forehead, though she doesn't quite make the contact. He knows why.

[survivaltricks]

[rocks back a bit with the flicking motion, as though contact was made even though it wasn't]

I had no idea Ritsuka was a mythology buff--

[ANYWAY. are there any other doors in this room, besides the one he came through?]