queenofheartsrp | [video/action]

[video/action]

[From time to time Minako likes to explore the outskirts of the Garden. Usually she doesn't find anything particularly interesting in the process, and today is no exception. That is, until a strangely familiar girl with spiky black hair and a long yellow scarf shows up. Minako stares for a moment.]

Ryoji?

[The figure nods. Minako considers asking "why are you a girl?" but that seems somehow rude, not to mention unlikely to yield a satisfactory answer. So she settles for:]

It's so good to see you again!

I wish I could say the same.

[Minako's eyes widen a little, and she frowns.] What do you mean?

You were supposed to be the Seal, the only thing standing between the world and the Fall. Now that you're here, what do you think has happened?

[Minako's breath catches in her throat.] That's not- it can't be...

Come, now. You always knew it was a possibility. You just didn't care.

Of course I care — but there's nothing I can do about it! It wasn't my choice to come here, and I can't leave! Believe me, if there were any way I could go back, I would do it without hesitation.

You say that, but you've been enjoying your second chance at life, haven't you? How disappointing. We all thought you were willing to make the sacrifice, but instead you selfishly cling to life, whatever it may mean for the rest of the world.

But I was- I did make it.

And yet here you are. How can it be a sacrifice when you haven't given anything up...?

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[Zenobia arrives on the scene, out of breath, and her eyes red from crying.]

Don't listen to her!

[Already thrown off-balance enough by the phantom's accusations, it takes Minako a minute to respond to Zenobia's arrival.]

... What's going on?

I don't know, but I've been chased and tormented by someone who looks kind of like my father [Though... oddly female... ] and that's impossible. He's been dead for a long time!

So I have a strange feeling that maybe these new people who appearing aren't real. Don't be quick to listen to them...

I... I guess that makes sense. There was something like that in the labyrinth before, after all.

What, you're going to trust a stranger over me? I'm hurt. I thought we were friends!

This isn't the first time I've encountered someone around here arguing with someone who was their friend back home but is all mean for no real reason now.

[Zenobia turns to Ryoji. She's still stubborn enough to try to reason with the apparitions.] Shut up! "Selfishly cling to life?" What person would say that?

It's... happening a lot, then?

I'm only speaking the truth. Surely the good of the many is more important than one person's desires.

Yeah... other people are seeing people they know, too. But the people are being unusually mean.

[Turns to Ryoji.] What are you trying to accomplish? You want her to kill herself? Even putting aside your stupid 'one to save many' thing, it doesn't matter anyway, because here, she'll just come back. If you want her dead then tough luck.

... I see. Well, I appreciate your going to the trouble of... helping me, with this.

[Fake Ryoji doesn't really have a good answer for that, but nevertheless she smiles a bit smugly.] I only want to ensure that she's returned to where she belongs.