Everyone responsible for creating the Dark Hour is dead.
[He won't admit to the coil of dread that's been pooling in his gut since this began. The surge of fear he feels now, though - for the rest of SEES. Because 'being' implies that it's...not a person, somewhere in the world. Some other force. But what that could possibly be, and what "purpose" may exist...he can't even begin to imagine. He just.....he doesn't want his team hurt. Not ever, but he'll settle for not in ways that can't be healed.]
I couldn't say. I only know about my own situation because Akira confronted the entity responsible in his timeline. But, Pharos' memory might be part of it. It's possible part of what he's forgotten might give you clues about what's really happening.
Most of what he's remembered so far has been cryptic warnings of doom. The "end of everything".
[Ends...time. The Dark Hour. He thinks back to the first time he and Akechi spoke of what SEES fights...he doesn't remember in the most detail, due to his fever, but....shit.]
[The phrase 'end of everything' causes him to tense visibly, eyes widening in alarm. Could...there be a connection? How long has Mementos existed in its distorted state?]
That...definitely sounds like reason to suspect something inhuman is involved. Obviously the end of the world didn't happen seven years ago in either my, Akira-kun, or Akira-chan's timelines, but a false god in our time plans to erase the world.
[That-- That's alarming. That something's trying to erase the world at all, let alone possibly again. Something in his gut tightens to an almost painful point. He doesn't....despite....the world is.....
He's more alarmed than he shows, mostly only looking surprised. But...but it's starting to solidify what he thought of moments ago and it's not looking good and... SEES is in way over their heads, aren't they?]
The timing....the timing is off. Why would it-- You told me before. The Dark Hour was gone after the end of January 2010, right? You're sure?
I'm certain. I...haven't slept well, since my mother died, so I'm often up in the middle of the night. And that's when my memories of it vanished, until I got involved with the Metaverse in 2014. I at least don't think Yaldabaoth is directly involved with the Dark Hour, but...honestly, I'm not sure the idea of multiple entities trying to end the world is less unsettling than the idea that Yaldabaoth has been defeated before and it only served as a setback.
It's not- We know how to end it, there's a pattern....but it shouldn't take longer than three more months. Early December. It...can't take until January....
[Not unless something is seriously wrong. What the hell could take that long? Does one of them escape and come back the next month? Does that happen more than once? It doesn't make sense. The timing is wrong.]
But it-- There are twelve Shadows, massive ones. Much stronger and more intelligent than any others we've faced. Once all of them are defeated, the Dark Hour stops for good. They've been appearing every full moon for a while, sometimes paired up. There are three left.
The next full moon is October fourth. It...can't.... It can't take longer than three more full moons.
[Something is nagging at his mind. He can't quite....there are missing pieces to the puzzle, but this is absolute. It has to be. The Kirijo Group has put everything into cleaning up this mess for ten years. Again, something about the timing...]
Are you sure that's all there is to it? You said everyone involved in the incident died, so it doesn't seem impossible that something important was left unrecorded.
Everyone directly involved with the creation. And it's true a lot of the data involved with the project was destroyed in the blast...but Yukari-chan's father's dying message told us this was how. Recording it was the last thing he did before blowing the entire lab up, destroying the project before worse could happen.
[He...did he get around to telling Goro about the origin of the Dark Hour, before? He isn't sure. He was sick as a dog.]
The Dark Hour didn't just start all of a sudden, Akechi-san. Were a few years of experiments leading to it. Pretty sure he was the lead scientist. If anyone knew, it'd be him.
[And part of this is that Minato wants it to be true. But he...doesn't know anything else, doesn't know what other answer there could be. This is all they know. But after ten years....and he's experienced it every night. Every single time.]
Can something caused by Shadows and power-hungry adults in the first place be called 'natural'?
Shadows are natural, in a way. They exist regardless of what anyone does, so while the circumstances might have been artificial...
[Talking about this...hurts. It brings up guilt that he still isn't quite sure to handle, and he wants to just change the subject. But Minato deserves to know, doesn't he? Just what can happen if the wrong person gets access to individual Shadows.
He's not sure he'll be able to talk about it coherently like this, though. He closes his eyes, sweeping all the guilt and discomfort aside for the moment. It might hit him hard later, but by then he shouldn't need to talk about it. When he looks back at Minato, his expression has gone eerily blank.]
A Shadow acting on its basic instincts is much more natural than a person deliberately targeting a victim's Shadow.
...the fact they can prey on people isn't. The Dark Hour isn't. [He's mostly saying that to himself by now. He still doesn't understand the ins and outs of Shadows, not like the Persona-users from later evidently do. And...honestly, knowing what he does now, he isn't fully sure he can go back to fighting them as he has been so far.
It was easier to think of them as alien, unnatural creatures. The target of SEES's secret midnight crusade.
But Goro isn't the only one who can do eerily blank. Minato is quiet for a minute as he puts some thoughts together. Deliberately targeting individual Shadows....sounds a bit like... His face and voice are steady, but over the course of this conversation he's slowly curled in on himself. He doesn't necessarily read as troubled, but...]
Strega, the artificial Persona-users who've become our enemies, have been using the Dark Hour to carry out assassinations for anyone who pays. At least....people with Apathy Syndrome can get better.
[No one comes back from being dead. It's a cold truth that may as well be carved in Minato's bones.]
[A flash of anger breaks through his emotionless mask at the description of Strega. It's not enough to crack it completely, but his eyes narrow slightly and his jaw tightens at the thought that there's a history of Persona users abusing their powers for murder.
His first instinct is to point out that Dark Hour would prevent witnesses, and even more powerful enemies can be taken out with a surprise attack...but that's not the person he wants to be, is it? Someone who solves his problems with murder...that's exactly who he wants to stop being.]
At least you know that much about them. Dwelling on the people they've already killed won't help. Just think about the people they won't be able to hurt if you bring them to justice.
[They can only do so much about Strega, as things stand. And there are already too few people they can save. But SEES isn't focused on saving, they're an execution squad, because this was already a bigger problem than a handful of kids could hope to fix all of.
Maybe there wasn't room for heart in this mess. Maybe....it would have been better if he'd stayed closed off and apathetic. The idea scares him, this was part of the nightmare he'd had, but isn't....that selfish...? His posture relaxes, and his face loses what expression he had. Drive everything out until it stops hurting.
It's all fine. He doesn't care.]
Guess it doesn't matter why or when as long as it ends. [Even if he'll have no purpose once it does.]
No, that's not quite true. The 'why' is worth knowing. Knowing the reasons for something can help prepare for the future. But you are right in that the most important part is that you succeed. If there really is an apocalyptic threat coming, I owe at least a version of you my existence.
Pharos is accurate enough. Knew about Strega - at least sort of - before I did.
[But the nature of the "end of everything" remains a mystery. As does just about everything surrounding Pharos. But as long as they get rid of the Dark Hour before it happens, everything will be fine. Right?]
[It doesn't make anything better. You'd think it would, but it doesn't.
....There's one more detail he should probably tell. If it helps do something about the Black Persona before someone else gets hurt - or worse....he hates the implication that Pharos is connected to it, but that's what they've got right now.]
One more thing, regarding Pharos. He was there before I Awoke.
That's not entirely surprising...whatever he is, he's connected very strongly to you, but is also more distinct than a Persona.
I am curious how he ended up there, though. Especially with that damage to his soul...it even seems like what's here has been fragmented and reassembled. It's like...looking at something, and if the light hits it the right way, you can see cracks.
Typically either through natural degradation from being dead and unable to care for yourself properly, or being attacked by a psychic being, without a body to protect you. There are probably other ways, I haven't been at this nearly long enough to know all the unusual stories, but that's how it usually happens.
[The fact it seems to be...in pieces? Makes Minato think it must have been some kind of attack. "Natural degradation" sounds like it'd be more like....moth-eaten suits, or dry-rot, rather than a shattered dish. This isn't a comfortable thought. What if whatever-it-was finds Pharos again?]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 08:33 am (UTC)[He won't admit to the coil of dread that's been pooling in his gut since this began. The surge of fear he feels now, though - for the rest of SEES. Because 'being' implies that it's...not a person, somewhere in the world. Some other force. But what that could possibly be, and what "purpose" may exist...he can't even begin to imagine. He just.....he doesn't want his team hurt. Not ever, but he'll settle for not in ways that can't be healed.]
How would I know? [He has to protect them.]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 08:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 08:54 am (UTC)[Ends...time. The Dark Hour. He thinks back to the first time he and Akechi spoke of what SEES fights...he doesn't remember in the most detail, due to his fever, but....shit.]
P5 endgame spoilers
Date: 2018-09-02 09:17 am (UTC)That...definitely sounds like reason to suspect something inhuman is involved. Obviously the end of the world didn't happen seven years ago in either my, Akira-kun, or Akira-chan's timelines, but a false god in our time plans to erase the world.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 09:35 am (UTC)He's more alarmed than he shows, mostly only looking surprised. But...but it's starting to solidify what he thought of moments ago and it's not looking good and... SEES is in way over their heads, aren't they?]
The timing....the timing is off. Why would it-- You told me before. The Dark Hour was gone after the end of January 2010, right? You're sure?
no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 09:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 09:55 am (UTC)[Not unless something is seriously wrong. What the hell could take that long? Does one of them escape and come back the next month? Does that happen more than once? It doesn't make sense. The timing is wrong.]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 09:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 10:11 am (UTC)The next full moon is October fourth. It...can't.... It can't take longer than three more full moons.
[Something is nagging at his mind. He can't quite....there are missing pieces to the puzzle, but this is absolute. It has to be. The Kirijo Group has put everything into cleaning up this mess for ten years. Again, something about the timing...]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 10:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 10:57 pm (UTC)[He...did he get around to telling Goro about the origin of the Dark Hour, before? He isn't sure. He was sick as a dog.]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 11:32 pm (UTC)Of course...there's no way to confirm right now. I just know the world certainly didn't end seven years ago, and Apathy Syndrome hasn't...
[He pauses, glancing down with clear guilt and unease in his eyes.]
It hasn't occurred naturally since, at least not anywhere that's been reported.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 11:55 pm (UTC)[And part of this is that Minato wants it to be true. But he...doesn't know anything else, doesn't know what other answer there could be. This is all they know. But after ten years....and he's experienced it every night. Every single time.]
Can something caused by Shadows and power-hungry adults in the first place be called 'natural'?
no subject
Date: 2018-09-03 12:08 am (UTC)[Talking about this...hurts. It brings up guilt that he still isn't quite sure to handle, and he wants to just change the subject. But Minato deserves to know, doesn't he? Just what can happen if the wrong person gets access to individual Shadows.
He's not sure he'll be able to talk about it coherently like this, though. He closes his eyes, sweeping all the guilt and discomfort aside for the moment. It might hit him hard later, but by then he shouldn't need to talk about it. When he looks back at Minato, his expression has gone eerily blank.]
A Shadow acting on its basic instincts is much more natural than a person deliberately targeting a victim's Shadow.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-03 12:35 am (UTC)It was easier to think of them as alien, unnatural creatures. The target of SEES's secret midnight crusade.
But Goro isn't the only one who can do eerily blank. Minato is quiet for a minute as he puts some thoughts together. Deliberately targeting individual Shadows....sounds a bit like... His face and voice are steady, but over the course of this conversation he's slowly curled in on himself. He doesn't necessarily read as troubled, but...]
Strega, the artificial Persona-users who've become our enemies, have been using the Dark Hour to carry out assassinations for anyone who pays. At least....people with Apathy Syndrome can get better.
[No one comes back from being dead. It's a cold truth that may as well be carved in Minato's bones.]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-03 12:55 am (UTC)His first instinct is to point out that Dark Hour would prevent witnesses, and even more powerful enemies can be taken out with a surprise attack...but that's not the person he wants to be, is it? Someone who solves his problems with murder...that's exactly who he wants to stop being.]
At least you know that much about them. Dwelling on the people they've already killed won't help. Just think about the people they won't be able to hurt if you bring them to justice.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-03 01:19 am (UTC)[They can only do so much about Strega, as things stand. And there are already too few people they can save. But SEES isn't focused on saving, they're an execution squad, because this was already a bigger problem than a handful of kids could hope to fix all of.
Maybe there wasn't room for heart in this mess. Maybe....it would have been better if he'd stayed closed off and apathetic. The idea scares him, this was part of the nightmare he'd had, but isn't....that selfish...? His posture relaxes, and his face loses what expression he had. Drive everything out until it stops hurting.
It's all fine. He doesn't care.]
Guess it doesn't matter why or when as long as it ends. [Even if he'll have no purpose once it does.]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-03 01:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-09-03 01:54 am (UTC)[But the nature of the "end of everything" remains a mystery. As does just about everything surrounding Pharos. But as long as they get rid of the Dark Hour before it happens, everything will be fine. Right?]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-03 02:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-09-03 02:21 am (UTC)[It doesn't make anything better. You'd think it would, but it doesn't.
....There's one more detail he should probably tell. If it helps do something about the Black Persona before someone else gets hurt - or worse....he hates the implication that Pharos is connected to it, but that's what they've got right now.]
One more thing, regarding Pharos. He was there before I Awoke.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-03 07:31 am (UTC)I am curious how he ended up there, though. Especially with that damage to his soul...it even seems like what's here has been fragmented and reassembled. It's like...looking at something, and if the light hits it the right way, you can see cracks.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-03 08:31 am (UTC)How does that happen? Damage to a soul. [Can he fix it somehow? Pharos is...important...]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-03 08:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-09-03 07:30 pm (UTC)How can I help him?
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: