(no subject)

[sleight_of_hand]

WHO: Adachi, his pokemon, some closed prompts, and otherwise open.
WHERE: Around Heropa
WHEN: During the Shamtheon plot and immediate aftermath.
WHAT: Thanks to Woden, Adachi thinks he's Izanami. He's going to be so thankful for that after the fact.
WARNINGS: Liberal use of creepy crawlies that would legit make the character himself have a panic attack if he was in his right mind. Thanks Woden. Also kind of sort of possibly implied suicide and Adachi has Feelings with capital swear words about this particular goddess.

[ Riza | Where's Dad? | Closed to Skater House ]
[ Human dad was missing. ]

[ It didn't take long for Riza to realize that something was wrong. Of course, there were times that dad was up and moving earlier than usual in the morning, leaving her behind to rest as he went and did his really important job. But he would always at least leave food out for her. Today there was no food, and dad's scent around the house smelled... weird. Like something was very off. ]

[ The front door being left unlocked was a pretty big clue too. ]

[ Part of her wanted to wait, to see if he would come back, but this was very wrong. And window friend hadn't been coming around lately, so she knew no one was going to be coming in. Scrabbling her way out of the house was really the only option she had, and it wasn't long before she was bounding down the block, heading for Big Friend's house. Big Friend's dads would know what to do; even the grumpy friend that smelled like mom might have an idea of what was happening. ]

[ Riza was scratching at their door in the next moment, letting out little whines and hoping someone would hear her. ]

[ Izanami | Sing for Your Depression | Open ]
[ "Adachi" isn't in his usual hang out spots at all. In fact, if there's a dark and dank part of sunny Heropa, he's found it. ]

[ There's no glamorous concert stages for her; just her signs pointing the way to places best left in the dark. It calls to those that prefer to live their lives in the "dark" themselves; those that hate the world, that want more but can't find a way to reach for it, and find themselves constantly spiraling downwards. At least they're heading for a good show: his voice is surprisingly good for her message. Of course, when they hear it, they're even worse off than before, but where they go after and what they do isn't much concern for her. ]

[ She's too caught up on the backlash herself; on the misery and despair she feels from each and every one of them to care. ]

[ It gets worse as the days go on, to the point where they she just doesn't care, where the hopelessness bleeds into them both and the world is just so full of shit that it's hard to see the point of even doing this much. On those days, she plays a little game; she sends out one of her little pets to have some fun. ]

[ The screaming that results is at least a little amusing. ]

[ Adachi | Exception to the Rule | Open ]
[ If there was ever was an exception to his "no murder" rule, Woden would be it. ]

[ Adachi was a little (okay, a lot) too ashamed to show his face anywhere near anyone he knew after that whole debacle, and went with his usual standby depression cure: finding the nearest bar and drinking himself stupid. Unfortunately, maybe it was because the therapy had actually done him some good or maybe it was because he was just that fed up after spending a week thinking he was that bitch, but he couldn't bring himself to drown in his misery. A few hours in and he was still nursing the same drink he started with, evaporation probably taking more of the liquid than his mouth did. ]

[ It wasn't that he didn't want to; being drunk on his ass would have helped a lot more with how he was feeling. If he was drunk, he wouldn't have to deal with the murderous thoughts running through his head, of having Izanagi-no-Yomi go a few rounds with Woden's head -- body being attached only an option. Hell, he might have even put a few bullets in him himself, and that was a problem. He wasn't the kind of person to murder with his own two hands; the only time he had was here, a stranger, a madwoman that would have killed him if he hadn't done her in, and he damn near threw up afterwards. ]

[ Woden, though? Woden he would have enjoyed slaughtering. And he hated it. He hated what he did to him. He hated that he made him miss Akira-kun disappearing. He just hated him. ]

[ A sigh escaped from him as he managed a sip from his drink, plopping his head in a hand afterwards. ]

Ugh... I'm going to be living at my therapist's after this, I just know it...

[ Adachi | Setting Things Right | Closed to Iris ]
[ So that had been a thing. That had been a thing, and he was pretty sure he was going to need to talk to certain people about it. He thought of going to the kids first, to check on them and make sure they were all okay in Akira's absence, but he couldn't quite do that just yet. He wasn't sure how to talk to them about what happened, about how embarrassingly easy it was to fit into that mindset, even after three years of trying so hard to shake it off. ]

[ Iris, though... Iris he could talk to like the adult he sometimes felt like he didn't deserve to be, but had to be. ]

[ He stood outside her door, but hesitated when it came to knocking, his hand raised but afraid to rap against it. What if she had seen any of that, heard about any of that? He really didn't want her to see that ugly side of him, a weird feeling settling in his chest at the thought. She'd probably tell him to get lost, to never talk to her again. She'd totally be right to do that, and... well, that thought definitely wasn't helping that feeling get any better. ]

May as well get it over with...

[ Adachi swallowed hard, before knocking quickly before he lost his nerve. ]

Comments

Izanami

[izanyagi]

[Well...this is not what Yu had expected, honestly. In fact this was completely and utterly confusing. Not just for what it implied, but he had no idea this was possible. Some part of him wonders about Adachi and Marie and there's a lot of arrows in a diagram of confusion but this quickly disappears.]

Hello?

[There is a lot of misery in here. But Yu came with a secret weapon; Yosuke's headphones, or at least the ones he had bought here. Since they didn't disappear like his partner, he had kept them as a memento and a good way for him to cope. Now there's music blasting in them at full strength.]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ It didn't really take much to find the source of that misery; Yu was only bothered by one other person shambling away like the world was coming to an end. "Adachi" was lounging at the end of the alleyway on some kind of makeshift throne (really just an old, broken chair, probably dragged out of a garbage can somewhere). He flicked his eyes up at Yu, looking unsettlingly too much like that time Yu confronted him alone in the TV world. ]

What do you want?

[izanyagi]

[Oh there he is. Yu gives him a small wave, even as he switches songs. This is probably something Yosuke would listen to, right? Anyway. He cracks his knuckles and looks at him trying to read what he's saying, even as he stands there with his sword.]

Adachi-san. I'm here to put a stop to this. I hope you understand.

[Hopefully Adachi hadn't asked him something that had no relation to what he had just said. Also please don't mind too much that Yu's voice keeps fluctuating, speaking when you can't hear yourself isn't the best, seriously how the heck did his partner even manage it.]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi didn't look the slightest bit impressed, barely sparing the sword the kid was holding a glance. ]

We are Izanami, child. You will refer to Us as such.

[ ...could this brat even hear her? She was starting to doubt it. ]

I'm going for this stupidity

[izanyagi]

I can't really hear you Adachi-san.

[The answer is no. Yu is being the worst...brother(???) ever. Idly he taps his feet to the beat. Okay, that's probably how Yosuke does it normally. The tarot card descends above him in silence to those without headphones as he lets it descend to his eye level.]

Persona!

[The voice is determined, and it seems that wearing Yosuke's headphones has at least prepped Yu up that the Persona answers in full, as it appears a little more dramatically than normal. The giant blade falls to the ground next to him, as the Persona looms behind him, electrical energy cracking as it keeps its arms crossed.]

Let's rock.

[Yu, please.]

Izanami

[drivesadesk]

Jonathan had been scouting out places like this having heard rumors of a song bringing people to the brink of despair. A lot of trouble had been caused in recent weeks, both by whoever this singer was and by many others, and he fully intends to put a violent stop to it wherever he can. When he hears the scream, he moves toward it, sliding his crowbar out of his backpack. It seems he's found the right place. As he reaches a dark and shadowy corner of a dark and shadowy building that seemed entirely out of place in somewhere as sunny and bright as Heropa, Jonathan peered around the corner to see the cause of the panic.

[sleight_of_hand]

Jonathan gets the pleasure of seeing the source of the scream really quickly after that, a person running full tilt past him, maggots chasing after them, eating everything in their path on the way. What follows is the sound of... well, something like amused laughter, though it sounds rather hollow, before Adachi shows himself, turning a corner and leaning against a wall. Even though he was clearly the cause of all this, he almost looks bored.

"What do you think you're going to do with that?" he asked, not sounding anything like what he did the last time Jonathan talked to him.

[drivesadesk]

Well. He's never seen maggots act quite that aggressive before. But then he sees Adachi, and his behavior seems unnatural for him as well. He'd seemed like a decent person before, and Jonathan doesn't like having to do this, but if Adachi really is a decent person trapped in some shitty mind control crap, then he probably wants Jonathan to stop him before this went any further. As much as he can want anything when his will is not his own.

"Oh, this?" he said, indicating the crowbar with a slight movement of his hand followed by a shrug. "Oh, I don't know."

Then, as quickly as he says that, he raises the crowbar, lunging forward and swinging for Adachi's head. "This!"

[sleight_of_hand]

There's a brief moment where Adachi just stands there, just rolls his eyes, before oh so casually stepping away. He ducked under the attack easily, letting out a yawn as he did so.

"We would suggest you not try that again," he replied idly.

[drivesadesk]

Jonathan doesn't listen, instead jumping toward Adachi again and attempting to swing the crowbar down onto his skull with a loud yell. As he moves, his eyes revert to their natural slit appearance, and he doesn't seem to put any thought into the fact that this fight might be beyond the capabilities of a crow bar.

Izanami

[purple_reign]

[ This shouldn't be possible. Ananke isn't here to perform any awakenings, and even if she were, this isn't the Pantheon's world! How can there be more gods surfacing so suddenly? ]

[ But, possible or not, there's no denying that this is another god Singing their heart out on an impromptu stage. The Song though... It's strange to hear. It almost tugs at Inanna's own heart. They can feel the painful tug of it if they focus, sickly sweet and miserable. It's a message too sad for them to truly hear; too in conflict with the comforting reassurance that reverberates through Inanna's own message. ]

[ Inanna lingers near the edge of the crowd until the song has finished, anxiously watching the crowd to spot anyone who seems too in tune with the music. Those, Inanna pulls aside to whisper a message of their own to, hoping to mitigate at least some of the damage from this show. ]

[ When Izanami finally finishes, they brush past any security and step into the spotlight with her, concern etched heavily on their face. ]

Adachi? You don't seem like you're really enjoying this.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Someone was interfering, and that was just rude. ]

[ Something like recognition flits over Adachi's face for a moment, though it settles back into an almost bored expression in the next. There's no guards to speak of, mostly because who was going to try and do anything to them? Not when people are so listless after her little song it's taking every effort for the rabble to shuffle away. ]

[ Instead of trying to stop Inanna, she let out a bored sigh, waving a hand dismissively. ]

Should We be?

[purple_reign]

[ That's...concerning. The vague flicker of recognition leaves Inanna unsettled, brow furrowing as they reach out for Adachi. Surely he's just overwhelmed by the power, right? They all changed after awakening, but...Inanna had been sure Adachi would be happier to see them than this. ]

You can feel however you want, but if it's making you unhappy... Do you really want to do this?

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi focused Inanna with a bland look, before he suddenly found his nails more interesting, absently picking at them. ]

We're just doing what We're meant to. Is that not the point of awakening like this?

[purple_reign]

What you want for yourself matters too.

Riza

[fourlevels]

[ Makkachin had been spending more time with her person lately, sensing he needed more of her attention like he used to need before, so she was flopped over his legs with her head on his stomach because he still hadn't gotten up for the day. Her ears perk up when she hears the scratching at the door though, faint as the sound traveled up the stairs, her head raising finally when she hears the whines. She tries to rouse Viktor, nosing at him and wriggling in his lap, quick get up there's someone at the door!

He's sleeping though, yet again, but she couldn't really blame him since he's been so tired lately. Deciding to let him rest, Makkachin springs off the bed to head downstairs, giving a soft bark through the door to her friend. ]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Riza jumped back with a yip at the sound of big friend yipping, wagging her tail, before she backed back, voicing her worry. She needed help, big friend! Human dad was gone and she didn't know what to do! ]

[fourlevels]

[ Makkachin wuffs, pawing at the door. Sometimes her person becomes gone but he usually comes back, sometimes towards the end of the day. Maybe little friend's person will come back too? ]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Riza whined; human dad does that, sure, but he always, always, always leaves food before he goes... ]

[fourlevels]

[ Makkachin whined back in sympathy. That's no good at all. She glances back towards the stairs, hoping her person heard what was going on down here and was on his way to open the door. Hearing no footsteps coming, she decides to take matters into her own paws.

Makkachin rears up on her back legs, putting her paws against the door, starting to paw at the knob. She's been able to do this a couple times before, but it's awfully tricky—there! She knob turns enough so she hears the click of the handle sliding out of place, coming back down on all fours. Little friend just needs to push the door in now! ]

setting things right

[eloquentness]

[ It was official: gods sucked. Gods shaped like one of her best friends especially sucked. Iris hadn't had to venture far to hear rumors about a goddess wrecking havoc, let alone one who wasn't answering any of her (admittedly unimportant) texts.

Messages like -
seriously, where are you?? It's not like you to skip dinner
and
I LEARNED THE GODDAMN TABLE FLIP EMOJI FOR YOU
(╯°□°）╯︵
SEE

When she hears the door knock, she assumes it's laurel or lucina. Maybe Eli, or well... anyone who isn't the guy who had ghosted her. Iris blinks back surprise after she swings the door open, staring at him and furrowing her brow. ]

You're back. [ she thinks. she takes a step closer to him, hesitant - ] I mean, it's really you, right?

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi offered her a soft, sheepish smile. ]

Yeah, it's really me...

[ He paused a moment, before pulling out his phone, quickly tapping out something. ]

You forgot the table. ┬━┬ ノ( ゜-゜ノ)

[ Adachi peered up at her after he sent that, like he was silently apologizing for making her worry. ]

[eloquentness]

[ her expression softens, though she pulls out her phone as soon as she feels the vibration.

oh. oh, that would be like her to forget, and she giggles, peering down at the text, ]

Of course I forgot. [ she steps to the side, ] So... are you gonna come in?

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi smiled fondly; he liked the sound of her laugh. It was really cute and... ]

[ ...wow that was sappy. He pinked slightly, letting out a cough, before he nodded. ]

Sure thing.

[eloquentness]

[ she beams, closing the door gently behind them. ]

I missed you, you know. [ she wants to ask how the heck he got brainwashed again, or at least wrapped up in that false god nonsense, but time, place, and honestly - she doesn't want to wipe that smile off his face so soon. ] So you had better have brought your appetite, because you're going to be staying a while.