animus_network | ♟ [video] ♟

I know what happened. Are you happy with yourselves? Doing things when you don't even know what you're doing, or why. Look what you did... there were people suffering, children crying. Do you know how much pain you caused? It isn't right. It isn't fair.

What gives you the right? You take other people's lives in your hands! Take their choices from them. Deciding whether we should live or die for us. Do you think that we want to die? I don't. While there's life, there still hope. We should keep on living, no matter what. We should always keep--

[After this brief speech, Kariya slumps, breathing heavily. His good eye widens, and the swollen veins in his face seem to pulse for a moment. The effort of speaking has obviously taken a lot out of him. The physical and mental shock of the worms returning has taken its toll on him. He looks as if he's having trouble standing upright at the terminal. A spasm of pain crosses his face. When he speaks again, his voice is weaker.]

I need a healer--is there someone who can help?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It taught us some of their abilities - the ability to turn off our abilities. Which means physical training is what we should focus on.

Protected?

[He smiles, but it's clear there's it's painful.]

Their protection was gone the moment they were pulled here. I've been doing what I can for them, but you're underestimating the strength of some of them.

[... He sighs at the next part.]

Okay, fine. There wasn't a poll of interest. But with some of the people here, do you really think everyone is going to vote for the good of everyone? There's a bunch of psychopaths in here.

[He shakes his head.]

I made my peace with death a long time ago, when I was planning on murdering someone and then myself. But my hope was going to live on, so that people would think twice about using their abilities where others can be hurt.

[At that last part, he facepalms.]

Don't be an idiot. Where are you?

We already knew that. They were able to turn off or change our abilities whenever they wanted, and they don't work on certain floors.

I know the children here are strong and brave. [He shakes his head.] No matter how old or young, we should look out for each other here. We should work together. We should consider each other's best interests and protect each other if we can. It's still possible to help people.

What matters is, they made a decision that may have endangered us all. No, I know that wouldn't have worked, but that doesn't change that what they did was a mistake.

There are some dangerous people here, but I believe the good ones outnumber them. [Not that Kariya is necessarily good at telling who is dangerous and who isn't.]

I don't want anyone here to die. I think we have to do whatever we can to survive. That's how our hope will live on. [He doesn't judge Ken for wanting to murder someone. He doesn't approve of something like that happening to one so young, but he knows that sometimes these things are necessary.] I'm sorry that that happened to you. What I want is for others to think twice, too.

[Kariya has no reason to hide where he is.] I'm in the dormitories, on the second floor.

You can't tell good people from bad people so easily.

[... Just. Sighing. He nods.]

I'll be there soon.

[Aaand heading on up. He's not far, at least.]

Maybe not, but I still believe there are more good people than evil.

[He really has no reason to believe that, considering his experiences, but he thinks so anyway. He remembers the people that he cares about, and the kind, ordinary people one meets every day, back home. They must be the majority. It's just that the cruel, terrible people are a vocal and visible minority who can't seem to leave the good people alone. He doesn't have what could be called a positive world-view, but he does have an idealistic streak.

He remains by the terminal, continuing to respond to replies at first, but when he grows too tired, he leans back against the wall, his breathing quick and rough.]

[It's easy to spot him as he heads down the hall - and Ken raises his Evoker to his head, pulling the trigger.]

[With a sound of breaking glass, the woman in armor appears in front of him, casting a Diarahan to restore Kariya's health.]

You should probably go to bed.

[Kariya can only stare--as Ken first pulls a gun, then shoots himself with it. It's alarming, and he starts, worried for Ken's sake. But then Ken doesn't seem to be hurt, and there's a strange woman suddenly standing there. Kariya isn't sure how to make sense of what's happening, but he does realize it when he feels much better than he did a few moments ago.

He blinks.]

I--I probably should. Thank you.

[He's argued so much recently, that for once, he's too tired to argue. Yet he's also too stubborn to turn and go to bed right away.]

What is that? What did you do?

It was a healing spell. Dike is my Persona. It's a power that a bunch of us here have. We summon them differently, but it's pretty much the same thing - a part of you that you can use to fight.

♟ [video] ♟

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