video; return of the radio show (forward-dated to march 10)

[orphne]

[Okay, so when Goro Akechi asks nicely for a favor, Kotone isn't one to turn him down. People are probably more likely to listen if it's not-him saying something! Besides, it's kind of fun to pretend to be a real news anchor, sitting next to Minato at one of the desks in the club building, holding a piece of paper in both hands. In light of recent events, though, her usually-bright smile is a bit more subdued as she mouths a few words, skimming down the paper, and then immediately makes a face.

It's so obvious to anyone who knows either Minato or Kotone that there's no way what they're reading out loud are their own words. Their broadcast goes live not long after Ragna's post.]

Good evening Aldrip!

I'm certain that we all are aware of the current events. Especially since the perpetrator behind the latest explosion decided to grant us with a live broadcast and-- [She pauses, scrunching up her face, because what's written next is so passive-aggressive about "the person in question not having a plan, and how no one should be surprised that person didn't have a plan." She'll just leave that part out and skip ahead,]

Considering the nature of the Council, it'd be foolish to think this attack will be left unpunished. However, we aren't sure if they will come to us as a whole or just target the perpetrator. Honestly, both are plausible scenarios. Which is why I believe we need to gather all the information we have of The Council.

[ Why is this so long?? Minato leans over a bit, squinting at the mess of handwritten notes in front of him. ] A lot of people have theorized that they are the ones responsible for our presence here, or that they are godlike creatures. While I believe this is an important theory to keep in mind, I’m not sure that’s the case here.

The council was originally absent when The Chosen arrived here for the first time. They only became active back in October after we went through the Maze. [She makes another face, because the maze sucked.] For those who weren't here back then, here's a quick summary: One night in September the town transformed into a gigantic maze with different levels that we had to clear while facing our fears, insecurities and memories related to the crimes in our parchments. After a few days the maze disappeared and town returned back to 'normal.' That's when 'Jerry' appeared and began to act on behalf of The Council to rehabilitate the criminals.

…‘someone' suggested that we might have entered a whole different timeline after coming out of the maze. [ He takes a moment to shuffle through his papers because, what maze…? Minato glances over his shoulder at something off-screen with a puzzled expression before looking straight ahead again. ] There’s no concrete evidence on this, but we shouldn’t ignore it either. The odd behavior from the locals would suggest it. They’ve been seen freezing in the middle of action before suddenly changing their opinions and behavior, along with being… unable to offer any proper information about the world they live in.

It could be that the world is preparing for another world-altering change right now, just like back with the maze. [Maybe they should have led with that?]

We also believe that we are hardly the first group of The Chosen who have arrived. There have been mentions of previous "cycles", indicating that there were others before us. These cycles were mentioned in the graves that we came across during October's witch hunt — [ He glances at something out of view again with a curious tilt of the head. After blinking a couple times with a frown in that direction, he turns to his notes again. ] — along with… an underground grotto where we found pictures of the people from past. [ Minato frowns a bit because that’s… mildly concerning if true. Frankly, he doesn’t know whether anything in these notes is true at all. ]

The biggest indicator, however, that we are not the first ones here are the sudden images, video and audios clips we received after our expedition with the fairies back in July. [Her mouth opens in an "oh" as if she's only just realized something herself, then shrugs and continues reading,] Those clips showed people from the past discussing about their "crimes" very similarly to our own. They also mentioned dealing with similar trials and monsters like we have. So, it would make sense if we assume that everything that we have gone through has happened before, and that we are following some sort of a script...? [HUH?? Now it's her turn to stare off-screen mouthing 'what?']

Or at least, that was the case until the destruction of the City Hall. [ Finally, something he actually has firsthand knowledge about and doesn’t need to glance over his shoulder to make sure he’s reading things correctly. ]

[Apparently whatever she's looking at off-screen is prompting her to continue, because she makes a face but checks her papers again. And then makes yet another face, deciding to paraphrase what's written there.] The Council is really powerful and can alter people's memories and bodies, but maybe they're not the ones behind the maze...? 'Cause apparently we don't have any proof that they can change reality. So maybe they're just a product of maze instead of the ones behind it. [She scrunches up her face and checks the papers again, a little doubtfully,] Maybe like Jerry, they're being used as tools by someone with greater power...? [She's kind of regretting agreeing to do this... she should have made Akechi read his own hypotheses...]

We don’t know who or what that powerful being may be. It could be the ones that locals call Those Who Were Here, but they seem to be deities only to Aldrip. None of the other towns have shown any signs of religion as far as we know. They might be a red herring set out to mislead us. [ He speaks flatly with an impassive expression. Minato clearly doesn’t actually believe or agree with anything that’s coming out of his mouth right now. He maintains his focus though, eyes trained on the notes in front of him. ] Whatever it is, we believe we can all agree that their excuses and explanations about wanting to rehabilitate us is bullshit, along with our 'crimes.' [ Minato looks off camera again and gives definitely-not-Akechi-Goro a thumbs-up. ]

[Kotone puts down her papers and sticks out her tongue a little as if trying to figure out how to talk normally again after all that formal language.] Anyway, that's just a summary, so if anybody has any other information, go ahead and let us know! How was that, Goro?

[ ooc: Replies will mostly be from Akechi, but possible peanut gallery-ing from Kotone and Minato!

Also please feel free to tag each other too! Hop on in and let’s start cooking some theories \o/ ]

Comments

audio

[memori3s]

...none.

[ He's helping!!! ]

But someone told me we should stay with people we trust.

[melnik]

Great.

[ Not!!! ]

That's assuming we can actually remember who the people we trust are.

[memori3s]

You don't remember...?

[ Shouldn't that be an easy question to answer? You either trust a person, or you don't. ]

Did you lose your memory, Mister?

[melnik]

No, I haven't. [ At least... he doesn't think so? ] But didn't whoever wrote that document you were reading say that the Council can alter our memories? If we just sit back and let things play out, how do we know we'll be able to keep all of this straight?

[ It's making him paranoid to say the least. ]

[memori3s]

[ There's a thoughtful pause before Minato proffers another theory. ]

Yeah. If that's the case, maybe we've forgotten the fact that we can't remember things.

[ On a less alarming note, the sound of paper shifting can be heard from his end of the conversation. ]

Maybe if we write everything down... We could bury the papers in something. Like a time capsule.

[ He's shrugging a bit, even though the man can't see. ]

[melnik]

[ His point is very true, and honestly, one that would be easy to start spiraling over if he let himself. But if there's no way to be sure, to get anywhere, they have no choice but to trust that they have at least the presence of mind to theorize like this.

Still, the uphill battle of it all makes him groan. Internally.

He gives a thoughtful hum. ]

It's a decent idea. Even if it sits there under the ground, it's at least insurance the information wouldn't be completely lost. [ By the way, since they were reading this info off, he is wondering -- ] Did you compile all of this together?

[memori3s]

[ They do run into the potential future problem of having their memories altered and, therefore, forgetting the location of the time capsule. But maybe that's a conversation for another day.

Minato shakes his head before remembering the other person can't see him. ]

No. ...I'm part of the newest "wave."

[ No legwork done here at all. He's just here to make the information more... presentable... ]

Akechi put it together. I was just reading it.

[melnik]

[ He thought about that, too, but at least the possibility that they could find it would exist.

Anyway, all right, that does explain why the two of them seemed a bit confused reading it. ]

Akechi. Okay. [ He's going to have to talk to him later. ] I'm part of that wave, too. A little overwhelming, isn't it? All these ideas being thrown around and no one really seems to be able to actually confirm or deny that what they're spouting off is true.

[ Not that he blames them for trying. There's not much else they can do. ]

[memori3s]

[ Oh. Hi there then, Mister New Guy -- ]

...it's not so bad.

[ He's moved at least five different times. What's another, even if it's a weird place like Aldrip? ]

Does it matter if anything being said is true or not?

[ Sorry Miller, looks like you might have finally met someone who isn't really invested in going home. And it's not because he doesn't want to, but because he doesn't see the point in it. ]

[melnik]

What do you mean, "does it matter?" You're just... fine with all of this?

[ Whether he wants to stay or leave, there are a lot of moving parts. It seems like even someone who enjoys living in Aldrip would find at least one problem in all of these theories. Or maybe he's just so carefree that he sees no point in worrying about it without it happening first. Miller can't imagine that. ]

[memori3s]

[ Bad news for Mr. Miller about Minato's general outlook on the world. ]

I guess so.

[ He's not... not fine with it. If that's the case, then... yeah, he supposes he is fine with it. ]

I don't really see the point in thinking about it.

[ It's simply the sort of person he is, the kind who can accept practically anything without any question. ]

...is there a reason why you need to get home, Mister?

[melnik]

[ Wow. It definitely does surprise him, as evidenced by the pause he takes to reply--but his lack of understanding aside, he can't say he's really in a position to judge since he doesn't know anything about the home Minato came from. ]

It is... less about returning home and more about the people who are still there.

[ The jury's still out on whether this place is better than the one he came from, but as far as physical dangers go, he wouldn't be complaining if he knew his family and friends were safe. ]

My daughter is not doing well.

[memori3s]

[ ...ah. Well, that's something that Minato can empathize with. He does hope everyone back home is doing well, even if he can't return there ever again. ]

...I hope you can find a way home then.

[ His daughter probably misses her father. At least, Minato had missed his parents for a little while too. ]

How old is she?

[ He'd been ten when he lost his mother and father. ]

[melnik]

Thank you...

[ He wants to acknowledge the kindness in his saying so, but it does almost feel like he shouldn't be bringing it up. Or rather, he's not sure how he ended up talking about it.

Their relationship is not necessarily a simple one, but the intention behind his concern for her, at the very least, can't be called into question. Not in this situation. ]

She's twenty. [ Too young to be fighting for her life. But that's not unique to his world and he doesn't want to mention it. ] You seem like you're close to her age. Do you not have a family to return to?

[memori3s]

No.

[ math is hard they actually died when he was six OOPS And it's been the way for awhile now. He discloses the truth not for sympathy, but because it was a simple question to answer. ]

I had friends though, so it was okay.

[ While it would be nice to see them again... he shouldn't. He'd made his decision, and he'd accepted the consequences. After all, he's here because it was necessary to keep them safe. ]

[melnik]

[ He is sympathetic to it, of course, but it's a dismally familiar story. There isn't any use in him providing platitudes now. If anything, it would come off as disingenuous or nosy.

Though where their original conversation is concerned, it does only partly answer the question of why Minato doesn't care to return. ]

What about your friends then?

[memori3s]

I shouldn't.

[ There's no going back, not when this is his means of fulfilling the one choice he'd made through his own free will. ]

...I'm here to make sure they can keep going.

[ If given the option, he would make the same decision again. ]

[melnik]

[ That feels intentionally cryptic. He pauses, perhaps allowing Minato to imagine the confused expression he might be making out of sight, but ultimately decides not to press him on it for now. ]

If you say so.

[ ... ]

So, are you going to get involved in the investigation, too, now that Akechi made you read his notes?

[memori3s]

[ He's learned a valuable lesson from Scott: don't just casually drop the fact that you're dead on others. ]

I wasn't.

[ Things are a bit different now. He has nothing to return to, unlike Miller. ]

...but I think I will, if it helps you get home.

[melnik]

[ There's a moment of silence. He didn't expect that. ]

Thank you, son. I don't know why it is that your staying here will help your friends, but even so, we shouldn't have to just accept that our lives are in the hands of this... tribunal. If you would choose to stay... that is your decision. But do not let them take away your right to choose.

[memori3s]

[ Maybe Miller will find out someday why it is that staying here will help everyone back home. And though he can't see it, there's the slight raise of both Minato's brows.

"Do not let them take away your right to choose." It isn't the first time someone's said something like that to him before. Perhaps the world keeps giving him reminders for a reason. ]

Okay. I'll remember that.

[ Having a choice won't change his decision, but maybe that's not what matters. Miller's probably right, that it's the fact that he'd be making a choice that counts. ]

I'll let you know if I learn anything useful.

[melnik]

[ Maybe so. He won't consider it necessary to pry into his business, but sensing the self-sacrificing nature behind those words, he at least felt the need to say that. ]

Sounds good. I'll be in touch then.

[ But he realizes now that that would probably be easier if they knew each other's names. ]

I'm Miller, by the way.

[memori3s]

[ Names. Right. ]

Minato Arisato. ...just Minato's okay though.

[ Fortunately, "Miller" is easy enough to remember. It's good to have a name to go with the voice. ]

[melnik]

[ There's a reason he doesn't usually bother to give his full name, after all. ]

Okay, then, Minato. I'll speak to you again soon.