[Open Log] I end up holding onto those dreams

[hopelesslyaverage]

WHO: Makoto Naegi & anyone
WHAT: Makoto returns after dying and canon updating
WHEN: Evening of August 2nd onwards
WHERE: Winter Flower Yard, Welcome Center
WARNINGS: possible death talk, killing game talk, descriptions crazy despair in the threads (will add to headers when necessary)


Winter Flower yard: Closed to Mukuro (corpsewarblade)

After his unfortunate death against his Ultimate Despair Reflection, Naegi was sent to his flower to revive. Instead of just a peaceful rest, his mind was experiencing his future. Leaving Hope's Peak Academy, joining the Future Foundation. Dealing with the Remnants of Despair. Facing Junko again, even if she was just a computer program.

If that wasn't enough, he was forced into another killing game. Another desperate fight between hope and despair. Hope won, even if it came with great sacrifices.

Even if a long time went by at home, only three whole days go by while he's in the giant White Iris. Now Naegi is ready to come out. He's wearing the white clothes that he had in the beginning and looks healthy, even if a little older.



Welcome Center

After a few days of getting his thoughts in order, consoling Mukuro and making sure his Pokémon were alright, Naegi returns to the Welcome Center. It felt weird, now, coming back with what he has experienced so much. At the same time it was also soothing to be able to just go back to working with Ellipsa things again.

It's very likely to find Naegi reading some files or writing some notes -- basically doing some boring, mundane things. But if anyone walks into the lobby he looks up with a smile.

"Welcome."



Wildcard

Naegi will most likely reach out to his CR to just ask them how they're doing or just talk in general, grateful for their existence here. If you want to discuss a custom thread, you can poke me through DMs, through the Seasons Unofficial Discord or sasageyo!

Comments

[mayoninofukucho]

[Well, damn. That's even worse than he expected.]

What exactly happened? How'd you die?

[Each loved one's death seems to get crueler for Mukuro. She couldn't have done anything to prevent him from getting eating far away from the city, but she saw Jean fall right in front of her eyes, just out of reach... and now, she presumably got to dispatch who- or whatever killed Makoto, only to have him die on her, without any healing powers to save his life.]

[hopelesslyaverage]

[Naegi gestures Hijikata to sit down on the lobby couches, as he also makes his way there, so they can talk more 'comfortably'. At least something nice about this.]

Well... my reflection came out of a mirror. At first I thought it was a normal doppelganger, but it turned out he was my opposite. A version of me if I had been the Ultimate Despair.

[It wasn't outright said he was, but it was likely he had also been the Mastermind of the killing game. A thought that made him sick to his stomach, being the one who orchestrated his friends' deaths.]

He kidnapped a bunch of civilians and threatened to blow them up. I managed to get the bombs and save most of the civilians with Mukuro's help, but... one of them was slower than the others. So I shielded them from my reflection and got stabbed instead.

[He really, really should have listed more people to help, but he didn't want to risk anyone's lives dealing with someone who acted like Junko. He wouldn't have even asked Mukuro if she hadn't happened to run into him.]

Mukuro killed the reflection and tried to help me, but it was too late.

[mayoninofukucho]

[[Hijikata's expression turns more and more grim as Makoto explains. So not only did he get the worst kind of reflection, but said doppelgänger went rogue in the city and involved innocent civilians in his chaos spree - that'd already have been a complete shitshow even without the emotional gut punch of it being one's own worst self. He exhales, then puts an arm around Makoto's shoulders, giving the far one a solid squeeze. After all this time, he knows that sometimes a bit simple physical support goes a long way.]

That all happened while the expedition was still out there?

[So there were few otherworlders left who would have helped the boy deal with the situation... Hijikata understands that he didn't want to endanger locals. Dealing with the Mastermind is no joke, what with how unhinged and unpredictably sado-masochistic Junko was.]

You did well, Makoto-kun. When it's between us and a native, we've always got to be their shield.

[He's not going to give him grief about not having utilised his seasonal powers more wisely to save himself as well - Makoto isn't a combatant, despite everything he's been through back home. He can't be expected to react like one in a life-or-death situation. Mukuro, though... it must be eating her up all the more that even she, the Ultimate Soldier, wasn't able to make a difference, even though she took the reflection out.]

If you want, we can practise some defense techniques so you'll have a better chance if something like that ever happens again. You winter power holders have some good options at your disposal.

[hopelesslyaverage]

[Naegi nods. Death for natives was permanent, after all. He did what he could to prevent that happening for them. He doesn't have regrets about it... just regrets that it had to end up with death to traumatize Mukuro.

At the offer of practice he smiles, though.]

That would probably be a good idea. I've gotten good at magic, but I'm still useless when it comes to self-defense.

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata smiles faintly, squeezing Makoto's shoulder once more.]

Not for much longer, not if I can help it. We'll turn you into the Ultimate Defender!

[Because his luck clearly isn't cutting it... although perhaps that was just because his opponent was himself.]