Conversation Space III.

[powersthatbe]

A poured concrete floor and cinder block walls are lit by a single bare light bulb hanging overhead. Shackles dangle from brackets on every side, and the chair in the center of the room is clearly an electric chair. A tall glass sits on top of a stool made of what looks like pure gold - but the liquid inside it is almost definitely blood.

Comments

[callmemeibe]

"I wouldn't dream of it," says a voice from behind Yosuke. When he turns around to look, nothing is there; yet when he turns back, a bleak man sits in the electric chair, dressed in a very nice but simple kimono, tied right over left. He motions with a pale, thin hand to the other side of the stool, and a metal chair appears in the nothingness beside it.

"Will you accept that seat, at least?"

[wildmagician]

The voice is definitely a surprise and Yosuke feels slightly stupid for jumping at it when he actually got a reply to something he said. He blames it on the room's unpleasant atmosphere. At least he can rationally conclude that if no one else had returned from the room dead or harmed, he'd probably be safe sitting on a normal chair like the one that appeared.

"That works."

As he does, he'll put his kunai back into his pockets. They're still near enough for him to pick up if needed, but at least he'll trust this guy enough not to look like he'd jump at him for every move...

"So, who are you?"

[callmemeibe]

"All of our number have many names; most choose to change theirs each cycle. This cycle, I've chosen the name Mortimer." He'll pause for a moment to remove the bloody chalice and set it on the floor. "But I have previously been known as Ereshkigal, Donn, Yama, Hades, Osiris, Santa Muerte, Grimm... you get the picture, I'm sure."

[wildmagician]

Yosuke looks at the man more carefully before nodding at the list of names. It's pretty obvious from the way he's dressed and those which Arcana he's talking to.

"Number thirteen, Death." Not the first Arcana that came to his mind when he heard about these conversations being a thing. "I bet you get this question a lot, but why'd you go for me?"

He has an idea or two, but he'd like a confirmation rather than speculation.

[callmemeibe]

The being nods at Yosuke's assertion. "I am indeed."

Death ponders the question for a moment, before cocking his head to the side, raven-like in his interest. "You met enough of my requirements. That's how all of us choose. But you're asking for specifics, yes?"

He leans in, then, his fingers steepled in front of him. "Why do you think I chose you? Consider me curious."

[wildmagician]

Yosuke frowns a bit, but then settles for a very neutral look on his face.

"I've needed to change - to become a leader from someobe who's more comfortable following orders. I've dealt with losing someone I care about and needed to come in terms with that."

Then he shrugs. "That's what pops into mind first."

[callmemeibe]

Death stays quiet, but eventually gives a slight nod of his head. "The fact that you are able to come up with reasons in the first place should tell you all you need to know in regards to why. It certainly tells me what I needed - that I chose rather well."

He sets his jaw, lacing his fingers together as he contemplates for a moment. "I suppose I should ask if you have any further questions before I explain what I can of phase three."

[wildmagician]

He probably should have figured other questions beforehand. With his luck he'd have forgotten them, so he didn't really bother. Still, not having questions in mind makes the silence during which he's thinking rather long.

Well, he might as well ask one that he's been thinking since the illusion week.

"Who comes up with the Liminal Spaces? Is everything that happens in them something you can or can't control?"

[callmemeibe]

"Thus far, we've designed them to give hints," Mortimer answers, "in accordance with whichever of us just went, or will go next. Just as you can shape Liminal Space to fit your needs, we can shape it, and harness it... simply on a much larger scale than you mortals. Some of you have made decent progress, with living spaces and creative portal use."

[wildmagician]

"'Mortals'. If we're that, what do you call yourselves?" As far as he remembers some of them were dead. That didn't make them very immortal.

[callmemeibe]

"I use the term mortals loosely. It's much easier to refer to you as Mortals or Travelers, than 'the sentient beings displaced from various times and worlds into Liminal Space for the sake of Synodiporia'. It gets to be a bit of a mouthful."

Death pauses, then answers, "The Arcana, mostly. Psyche - Miss Arrows - sometimes calls us the Champs."

[wildmagician]

"Yeah that... would be a bit hard to use all the time." Though that does raise another question, which he will probably get his answer for in the Phase Three explanation. If not, it's there in his memory.

Yosuke laughs a little at the first term. "Well, that might get a bit confusing, considering our Arcana-related abilities... but that's still better than Trumps or Champs."

[callmemeibe]

"Indeed it would," Mortimer muses, giving a bit of a smirk. "That is why we have chosen names, as well, for further clarification. You can call me Mortimer, if you wish. That's the name I've chosen, this cycle. Now, do you have any further questions, or shall I get to the point?"

[wildmagician]

"I think I prefer to call you Mortimer from now on. Makes things less confusing." Talking about death could get double meanings if he continued to use that name.

"Nothing else in mind, since I'm pretty sure you'll explain what 'Synodiporia' is when you get to the point. So go ahead."

[callmemeibe]

"Synodiporia is... a tournament of sorts, between us Arcana," he explains hesitantly. "It has been going on for... well, this is the seventeenth cycle. Last cycle's winner, Fortuna, chose the rules for this cycle - that being, that sentient creatures with ambition were to be selected at random to participate." There's a pause. "I did not choose to bring you here, nor did any of my other... compatriots. You were chosen at random out of billions of possible candidates."

[wildmagician]

In other words, everyone here was just very unfortunate. They weren't selected by some method, just on random. That was actually pretty reassuring, but also very disturbing at the same time.

"It can include anyone. Kids and old people, those with medical conditions and even villains. What kind of a person makes a rule like that and takes a risk of anything happening to us?"

[callmemeibe]

"Not a person at all, as Fortuna was one of my kind," Mortimer answers promptly, but then inclines his head curiously. "Are you saying the old are not as capable of aspiring to something as the young? That the sick are not as motivated as the healthy? That those you consider villains do not yearn for their personal goal, as you do?"

He pauses once more, his fingers threading together. "I believe every child and every elder can be just as strong and capable as someone your age. I believe those with medical conditions, including death, should be given a second chance at living. I believe even the most virtuous of men can be capable of great evil. Fortuna, also, saw this complexity in humans, and chose to take a gamble on it. Would you deny her last act among the living?"

[wildmagician]

Yosuke is a bit taken a back by the reply and falls back into a bit more defensive mode and a lot less aggravated at the thought than before.

"That's not... That's not what I wanted to imply. I know there's strength in every kind of a person. All of us have limitless possibilities", he says before sighing. "I'm just worried. I keep hearing about baby Rose and thinking about what kind of a life she will live. Born as a Traveler, never knowing what kind of a life she could have had. Then I keep thinking about the people who do know. People who have a peaceful life without any danger, ripped out of their normal life to become a part of a game. Perhaps even stuck thinking if it's a punishment for something they've done."

It's not that Yosuke is the world saving hero kind of a person, but he does get his moments when he worries for the normal people. The type that he was before ever entering the TV world. In Naoki's world he never acquired a Persona. He's had to think about what his life would be if he hadn't followed Souji in the beginning.

"I'm not saying that those things can't be overcome either. Perhaps they'll find strengths they never knew they had while becoming a Traveler. But there is always a risk that someone ends up breaking under the new circumstances and that bothers me."

[callmemeibe]

"While the baby Rose is an... unusual case, I can assure you that she is being protected. The Royal Couple will prevent any harm to her person, naturally, and if she does become sick or hurt, I can heal her. We have all agreed to keep her out of this round of Synodiporia, and there will be grave consequences if one of us oversteps those bounds." Pun totally intended, though Death doesn't smirk or laugh.

"I know that she would have been sent to her mother's world in which she has no father, and would constantly in danger as part of her parents' crew traveling through space. Hoban and Zoe Washburne... have lived tough lives. I don't think life in Liminal Space is so bad for her."