It's not bad. It feels more like a field trip and less like the eternal rest.
[Which is not too bad of a vibe, really. If all he has to do is hang in there for two months in something that feels like a long field trip, and the only task at hand is not being a terrible person, then he can handle it]
And yet there are a surprising number of comfortable places to nap around here. [ not that they believe in naps. ] I can't say I've been on many field trips myself, but I think I get it. One of those things where you learn a lot and at the end of the day it's up to you to decide if you apply the knowledge.
So far I'm open to whatever lessons I'm meant to learn.
[Redemption seems simple enough, he thinks. It'd be too bad if things happened during the next eight weeks that made it not be so easy anymore.
Akihiko just stashes the Florida keychain away because why not. They're free, and although he has no keys right now, who says he won't get any in the future]
This beach place has been alright. The cave with the clouds was a surprise. That was more... [Akihiko tries to decide the right word to describe that] ...meditative. And that chasm with the sound of machines was eerie.
I don't think I've been down to the last two yet. [ they haven't had a reason to. they have other places they like to haunt instead. ] But I'm glad you're making use of what's available. It feels a little less stifling to have options, doesn't it? Even if the lessons are still to come.
[Turns out, Akihiko decided to go for the cave. He strolls to the door, opening it and gazing at the pink clouds]
Here it is. Strange.
[Slowly, the clouds near the entrance take the form of a different material to cover the floor of the cave. Instead of rock, it's concrete. It's...it's difficult because Akihiko isn't really the imaginative type, but he's trying. While the clouds at the roof of the cave turns a nice, clear sky blue and he tries to shape the surroundings, he comments:]
If it wasn't for how tangible that boardwalk area is, I'd think all of it is made of clouds like these.
[In a way, it's a little bit of an attempt to indirectly find out what the boardwalk is made of. Is the glass that filled heaven at first just...a far more advanced form of these clouds? Is it all an illusion so realistic it feels real? Akihiko doesn't intend to press much, but there's no harm in knowing a little more, he's sure]
[ toward the cave they go. they peer inside a little, watching the clouds roll and shift to reveal a concrete floor and a blue sky. they don't speak immediately, keeping an eye on what's coming and what's being shaped. ]
You think? This island was here even before we started working for God. All of the islands in heaven were. The area you all started in first was different to keep you separated from the other residents during the judgment period. But everything's about as real as you think it is.
It'd have been convenient if everything out there was like that. If everything was made of clouds and you all could control it and make it physical, it'd be easy to make whatever you want exist.
[Soon, what he's trying to make takes form.
It's pretty nice, truthfully. Too bad the seats are just illusions, but hey, at least the view is nice, and the wind turbines are turning around lazily]
I don't know for sure yet because I don't want to find out, but I think if I were to be stuck in heaven forever I'd want to have some way to create a familiar place, and make it tangible.
[Would have been comforting, right? But hey, Zuriel is probably being truthful by saying this all existed for a long time. Akihiko has a hard time figuring out why someone would want to create a creepy thing like the kindergarten and make it connected to a welcoming place like the boardwalk, so...yeah, it probably isn't anybody's creation, he supposes]
[ yeah i thought it was gekkoukan but did not want to assume, thank you nick. ]
Are you unhappy with the things you have now? [ they don't seem offended, mostly watching him conjure up what appears to be a rooftop and taking note of specific structures. ]
There might be other places out in the rest of heaven where you can create your own space. It wouldn't surprise me if this was meant to be a paradise of some kind. [ hmm... ] Do you think you'll have trouble finding your way back home?
The beach is great, and the mansion reminds me of my old dormitories. Everything else is...fine.
[Just fine, though. He's probably not all that satisfied because he doesn't want to grow attached to heaven. He's got to go back, after all!]
...I don't know. I have my own thoughts of what 'redemption' is, but I can't guess if they're good enough for your boss.
[He's rather uncertain in general, and normally he judges himself a tad harshly. When he was alive, he was very unsure of what it means to be strong, or kind, and now he's being told he also has to get redeemed. It's another vague concept to grapple with]
[I'm going to say that the Persona 3 dorms are real fancy as far as dormitories go because they're funded by Mitsuru's family and therefore I said nothing wrong. This way I can avoid admitting I probably have been picturing the mansion of this heaven all wrong, ahahaha, whooops]
It's something along the lines of...leaving behind what you know you're doing wrong. Figuring out what about your life and your behavior is getting in your way, so you're not your own worst enemy. And then, the actual hard part, is not falling into that again.
I know it sounds obvious, but it's all I can think of because even though it's easy to say, it always turns out to be difficult to do. I haven't really managed to leave behind all of the things I know I should. Dunno if two months more of time will be enough, but I'm going to at least try.
[Is that redemption? Who knows. But it's what he's aiming for, at least]
[ a lot of things are fancy for zuriel, to be fair.
anyway they let akihiko speak, listening quietly and thinking through his answer. there are parts of it that they agree with, and parts they think could stand an elaboration, but it's not their idea of redemption that's being presented here. they asked for his. ]
They do say it's hard to break old habits. Personally, I think it's even harder when you know it's something you need to leave behind. Especially if it offers some sense of security, terrible or not. I don't think what you've said is wrong, but maybe it isn't as black and white either. Like maybe it's not just about leaving behind the things you're doing wrong, but it's learning what can and can't be changed, and learning how to work with those to be a better person.
But it sounds like you have some idea of what you want to leave behind anyway.
I do! It took me a long time to figure out, but I think I know what to aim for.
[Actually succeeding at this is the hard part, but hey, if he resurrects, maybe he'll have a lot of time to achieve it. Akihiko looks up to the fake sky. It's a nice blue sky, maybe because Akihiko is feeling pretty calm right now, despite the whole 'being dead' thing]
I already decided I'm not staying in heaven. Part of why is because I have to go back to overcoming my weaknesses as a person.
I don't think it's bad that it took a long time. It means you were really taking it into consideration instead of picking the first thing that sounded feasible.
[ but they turn that over around in their head, what weaknesses might mean. ]
Would you consider making it through these eight weeks a part of that? Overcoming a weakness by carrying on and exploring your options.
You need to focus, but yeah. Just think about it. Try to picture something in your mind. [He looks around, like saying goodbye to the roof of Gekkoukan] For this I remembered how it felt to stand in the actual roof. I guess that's how it turned out so...vivid.
Was this place important to you then? It's... a school, right? [ they can guess. but they do listen to that advice and take a moment to think, visualizing for a bit before the imagery around them begins to shift to what looks like the beginnings of a forest. ]
It's the rooftop of the school I go to. Gekkoukan High. I hardly can think of a place more significant than this one for me.
[...more because of the Tartarus tower that sprouts here every night, and less because the school is a place he likes. He doesn't hate it, it just isn't a huge deal.
But also the rooftop is a really cool place, he can admit that!]
Oh! A forest. [He glances at Zuriel's halo. He shouldn't be surprised, he thinks to himself] Of course...
You have your school, I have this, I think. [ the forest itself looks fairly ancient, but it's large and beautiful and surrounds them from all sides. ] It's important because of the people you're with, right? I can't think of many people that actually like high school.
That's pretty much it. This is where I have been with, with the people I care about. Together we have faced a lot of things here. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't care at all about this place.
[The power of friendship, yeah! Sometimes it's based on fighting supernatural things in some eldritch location that sprouts from your school on a nightly basis. Persona games, they really are something!
Akihiko slowly walks around, taking in the forest. Interesting...!]
If this forest is some important place to you, then you spend a lot of time here?
It's amazing what places mean to you when you have memories attached. They could be something so mundane and mean nothing to anyone else, but you knew how important it was. And that was all that mattered.
[ we may walk. it sounds like there are some whispers in the forest, and the lighting is dim and the forest itself is peaceful. ]
It was magical. We used to come here to try and solve some mysteries we were hoping to find answers to. And it would listen to us and protect us as long as we did the same for it. [ this is a very condensed version of events. ]
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[ besides the whole being dead thing. ]
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[Which is not too bad of a vibe, really. If all he has to do is hang in there for two months in something that feels like a long field trip, and the only task at hand is not being a terrible person, then he can handle it]
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[Redemption seems simple enough, he thinks. It'd be too bad if things happened during the next eight weeks that made it not be so easy anymore.
Akihiko just stashes the Florida keychain away because why not. They're free, and although he has no keys right now, who says he won't get any in the future]
This beach place has been alright. The cave with the clouds was a surprise. That was more... [Akihiko tries to decide the right word to describe that] ...meditative. And that chasm with the sound of machines was eerie.
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[Feel like haunting those with company? He won't take it badly if he gets a no, of course]
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Alright then. Where shall we go first? [ yeah they're game, and they will give akihiko the option to pick first. ]
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Here it is. Strange.
[Slowly, the clouds near the entrance take the form of a different material to cover the floor of the cave. Instead of rock, it's concrete. It's...it's difficult because Akihiko isn't really the imaginative type, but he's trying. While the clouds at the roof of the cave turns a nice, clear sky blue and he tries to shape the surroundings, he comments:]
If it wasn't for how tangible that boardwalk area is, I'd think all of it is made of clouds like these.
[In a way, it's a little bit of an attempt to indirectly find out what the boardwalk is made of. Is the glass that filled heaven at first just...a far more advanced form of these clouds? Is it all an illusion so realistic it feels real? Akihiko doesn't intend to press much, but there's no harm in knowing a little more, he's sure]
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You think? This island was here even before we started working for God. All of the islands in heaven were. The area you all started in first was different to keep you separated from the other residents during the judgment period. But everything's about as real as you think it is.
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[Soon, what he's trying to make takes form.
It's pretty nice, truthfully. Too bad the seats are just illusions, but hey, at least the view is nice, and the wind turbines are turning around lazily]
I don't know for sure yet because I don't want to find out, but I think if I were to be stuck in heaven forever I'd want to have some way to create a familiar place, and make it tangible.
[Would have been comforting, right? But hey, Zuriel is probably being truthful by saying this all existed for a long time. Akihiko has a hard time figuring out why someone would want to create a creepy thing like the kindergarten and make it connected to a welcoming place like the boardwalk, so...yeah, it probably isn't anybody's creation, he supposes]
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Are you unhappy with the things you have now? [ they don't seem offended, mostly watching him conjure up what appears to be a rooftop and taking note of specific structures. ]
There might be other places out in the rest of heaven where you can create your own space. It wouldn't surprise me if this was meant to be a paradise of some kind. [ hmm... ] Do you think you'll have trouble finding your way back home?
[ how does he judge himself? ]
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[Just fine, though. He's probably not all that satisfied because he doesn't want to grow attached to heaven. He's got to go back, after all!]
...I don't know. I have my own thoughts of what 'redemption' is, but I can't guess if they're good enough for your boss.
[He's rather uncertain in general, and normally he judges himself a tad harshly. When he was alive, he was very unsure of what it means to be strong, or kind, and now he's being told he also has to get redeemed. It's another vague concept to grapple with]
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Those must be really fancy dormitories then. [ but that aside. ]
You may as well share your thoughts. If they're not in line with what might count, isn't it better to know now than find out later?
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It's something along the lines of...leaving behind what you know you're doing wrong. Figuring out what about your life and your behavior is getting in your way, so you're not your own worst enemy. And then, the actual hard part, is not falling into that again.
I know it sounds obvious, but it's all I can think of because even though it's easy to say, it always turns out to be difficult to do. I haven't really managed to leave behind all of the things I know I should. Dunno if two months more of time will be enough, but I'm going to at least try.
[Is that redemption? Who knows. But it's what he's aiming for, at least]
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anyway they let akihiko speak, listening quietly and thinking through his answer. there are parts of it that they agree with, and parts they think could stand an elaboration, but it's not their idea of redemption that's being presented here. they asked for his. ]
They do say it's hard to break old habits. Personally, I think it's even harder when you know it's something you need to leave behind. Especially if it offers some sense of security, terrible or not. I don't think what you've said is wrong, but maybe it isn't as black and white either. Like maybe it's not just about leaving behind the things you're doing wrong, but it's learning what can and can't be changed, and learning how to work with those to be a better person.
But it sounds like you have some idea of what you want to leave behind anyway.
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[Actually succeeding at this is the hard part, but hey, if he resurrects, maybe he'll have a lot of time to achieve it. Akihiko looks up to the fake sky. It's a nice blue sky, maybe because Akihiko is feeling pretty calm right now, despite the whole 'being dead' thing]
I already decided I'm not staying in heaven. Part of why is because I have to go back to overcoming my weaknesses as a person.
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[ but they turn that over around in their head, what weaknesses might mean. ]
Would you consider making it through these eight weeks a part of that? Overcoming a weakness by carrying on and exploring your options.
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[Hell yeah! I feel bad for writing that knowing I plan to have Akihiko murder, but whatever, hell yeah!
Akihiko turns his head towards Zuriel]
Want to make a place?
[You're hereby invited to use the cave's clouds if you want, green angel]
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Me? [ they seem surprised by that. ] I guess I could try. It's just... thinking it? That's how it changes?
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[...more because of the Tartarus tower that sprouts here every night, and less because the school is a place he likes. He doesn't hate it, it just isn't a huge deal.
But also the rooftop is a really cool place, he can admit that!]
Oh! A forest. [He glances at Zuriel's halo. He shouldn't be surprised, he thinks to himself] Of course...
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[The power of friendship, yeah! Sometimes it's based on fighting supernatural things in some eldritch location that sprouts from your school on a nightly basis. Persona games, they really are something!
Akihiko slowly walks around, taking in the forest. Interesting...!]
If this forest is some important place to you, then you spend a lot of time here?
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[ we may walk. it sounds like there are some whispers in the forest, and the lighting is dim and the forest itself is peaceful. ]
It was magical. We used to come here to try and solve some mysteries we were hoping to find answers to. And it would listen to us and protect us as long as we did the same for it. [ this is a very condensed version of events. ]
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