Ryslig IC INBOX

[noasark]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, GREATFLOOD. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 950.04.933.05 *** GREATFLOOD has joined 950.04.933.05 <GREATFLOOD>This is the inbox of Noa Kaiba. <GREATFLOOD>Leave a message, and I should reply shortly. <GREATFLOOD>Undesirables will be banned.

Comments

[softspokenlandlord]

It's not a problem! This is our first direct conversation, so it's understandable. :)

We haven't moved in together yet, but it'll be me and Yugi. He was quite direct on the matter, but he hasn't changed his mind, so I don't think it was just a fluke.

We'll be living in the 38-8 complex, in room 806.

[noasark]

Oh! Well now, that's unexpected.

I knew that he was moving to the 38-8, but I didn't realize you would be the one moving in with him. Well, I'm glad to hear it at any rate. You could both benefit the other I'm sure.

[softspokenlandlord]

Honestly I didn't expect to be moving in with anyone at all, but if it had to be someone, I'm glad it's a close friend.

...I've never had a roommate before, but maybe you're right that this might be good. We share interests, and we both cannot go out during the day. So I won't be disturbing him. :)

[noasark]

Ah- those are good points as well, but I was referring to your character more than anything. You come across as a bit reclusive.

He in contrast, tends to perhaps rush into things a little too eagerly I've noticed. It's now my hope that you both balance the other out (though preferably in a healthy manner).

[softspokenlandlord]

Oh.

Yes! That is also a little true.

[It's extremely true this is unfair.]

I'm sure it'll be good. I would prefer to keep an eye on Yugi anyway, because he's had some unfortunate experiences here already, and he can be pretty aggressive.

[noasark]

He certainly can yes- I suspect were he empowered as he is at home he would have caused a few comas by now.

Perhaps worse. Fortunately not the case, and I say fortunately in part because we'd probably trigger a cycle of vengeance doing that.

[softspokenlandlord]

I'm sure comas would have been a much bigger thing long before Yugi arrived if the Millennium Items were still powered.

[To what could he possibly be referring? It is a mystery! No references to some birdman at all.]

But you're right. I think people are terribly aggressive around here about their vengeance. I'm not sure if I care for it very much. I understand getting angry, but...everyone here is far too powerful. We can't just forcibly control others or kill dissenters all the time, right?

[Oh you sweet summer child you've been here for AT LEAST half a year.]

[noasark]

Arguably they already are if one considers the matter of soul devouring. Frankly if anything was still powered I'd be a machine locking people into virtual comas, even.

[Wow! Terrible!]

Oh, far from that. Quite tragically you will find that the idea of 'an eye for an eye' becomes very very easy to repeat here. I would even go so far as to say that for some, the fact that we cannot die here makes it harder to release that rage.

Frankly I think half the reason I'm this calm is the fact that I've seen it happen too much to want any part of the trend. Naturally instead this means I've been relegated to the role of 'peacemaker' and 'therapist' somehow, but I suppose I'll take it over watching people slaughter each other repeatedly.

[softspokenlandlord]

I don't get it. Look, I was mad with what Javert did and how it affected me, but at least I'm not harassing him on every little thing he does or trying to kill him out of spite. That would be unfair to Yugi, who likes him, I guess.

People need to learn to deal with their things better.

[Ryou don't you even.]

I mean, why does everyone want to be so hateful? Is the fog god really that interested to see us at each other's throats? Because the way people act here it's

It's just

Making us even more of villains. It's good that you're keeping the peace and helping people but it almost feels as if you're the only one interested in it, Noa. Well. I mean. Not to say I wouldn't want to help people.

[Which by the way thanks he wanted the reminder that he's a soul-sucking piece of shit but you know...Ryou's pretty sure that Noa didn't mean it that way. That's just Ryou's hangups. Not worth bemoaning to someone who seems to have been here a long time, right?]

[noasark]

Hmmm.

Not that I have much experience with these things, but something you said literally ten or so seconds ago leads me to wonder if you represent those words about anger so well. A hint- it wasn't related to Javert.

But that's hardly my place. Regardless, she has zero interest in it, she's simply also inhuman, something I've tried emphasizing multiple times. You can't crave the happiness of all of your 'chosen children' and expect it to work out automatically, or even necessarily at all at these numbers.

People will argue. And unfortunately she's managed to grab a few who enjoy doing more than just that.

Do believe me when I say I'm not the only one interested in it, but I can at least see why you would think that way.

[softspokenlandlord]

[You know, everything that Noa has merit to be responded to, and maybe at some point, Ryou will let his curiosity run away with him again with regard to the Fog God. But there's just a little thing sticking out to him that has him writing responses, then deleting.

Rather than beat around the bush, he zeroes in on it.]

Please elaborate on what exactly you mean about my anger. I'm very interested to know.

[noasark]

Not that I bear much context- I was a computer and all- people don't bring up items and power as a source of generally immense tragedy unless they have a very quiet sort of anger pointing in that direction.

Given you mentioned Yugi outside the category- a very big mistake by the way I saw what he did to Seto- it must be someone else.

As I said- hardly my business, but the acquisition of power stirs poor choices, so whoever the target may eventually be, I would rather cut a slippery slope at its peak.

[softspokenlandlord]

I think I have the right to be angry about those items and what they did.

At least Yugi - the other Yugi - learned from his mistakes. I've seen it. I wasn't there for what happened to Kaiba in the beginning, so I can't really speak of it, all I know is about what my friends told me, what with the theme park of death and all.

But I had to carry someone with me that never learned from his mistakes. He kept making those mistakes in MY body.

[He's still bitter. It's not about being a vengeful shade, it's about each and every scar on his body that would never go away, the marks of his mistake years ago in touching that damnable Ring. And he will forever regret his part in everything, including not getting rid of it.]

So yes. As I mentioned, If I'm angry about the adverse effects of the Millennium Items, I think I'm in the right.

[noasark]

[God is he glad he spoke to others about the dimensional varieties of Kaiba Mistakes before this, or that would be...so...confusing. Well.

He can see the Ring Spirit's issue now.]

Careful now.

Shades in particular are at risk of vengeful qualities.

If you aren't going to deny that rage, keep watch that you don't become as ruled by it as any god and spirit would.

I won't deny you your right, but I can remind you where the line- for you and your sanity in this I might note- lies. Unless you enjoy the idea of partaking in some great revenge, but take it from another who learned from his mistakes, even if only in death.

What makes monsters monsters is not power and appearance but attitude. Take care not to go from hunter to beast, and become swallowed by this.

[softspokenlandlord]

I'm not doing that. I'm not being a vengeful person for being upset.

Noa i'm not enraged. i'm not going to

[Ah. He hits enter, but he really should have deleted that. Because saying he's not going to hurt the Ring-Spirit doesn't quite mesh with what he actually did, which was hurt the Ring-Spirit. But...but why is it bad? He'd been shunted off more than once, been treated as if he was wrong for trying to extend kindness! Why is it all because he's a shade?

Why can't it be because he has good reasons?!]

don't. don't call me that. I'm not a beast. i didn't even want to be a monster. i never wanted to be here in the first place! and i'm not going to take revenge on anyone.

[Is...is that what people think of him?]

[noasark]

Calm down.

I said to take care not to take that path not that you were on it. But hypocritically claiming this isn't like the matter of Javert doesn't help.

Unless you want to deny his victims their anger. Enraged, oh no. But fairly seething sounds about right.

But if I am right, then your target, like Javert, is still here. Mere presence can make anger grow, so I am warning you so you Don't let it. Does that make sense?

As an aside just because I noted Shades are at risk of vengeful tendencies, doesn't mean any other monster is immune to their own unique equivalent. Everyone stands on even ground here.

Frankly, humans are far more often monsters than anything that looks it.

[softspokenlandlord]

I didn't mean anything by what I said about Javert. The fact is that I never forgave him. All I'm saying is that everyone killing each other doesn't make sense, alright? Let them be angry. I am. But...the violence. It doesn't come to any good end.

[And that is the crux of all of his problems. Ryou's inherently nonviolent. This whole soul-eating thing doesn't set wtih him well. He hates to see others be hurt, even if they hurt others. Words...probably just aren't enough sometimes.]

I recognize this is a selfish thought, but I wish that things were solvable with words. If they were, then the person I'm thinking of might be tolerable. But they aren't.

I'm very sorry I lost my composure. You don't deserve that.

[noasark]

Pray then that you never do understand.

It isn't a good set of shoes to wear.

How do you know words will be impossible, if I can ask. Know for certain rather.

Everything is reduced to human hardware on arrival here, no matter what they were- even if things conflict, I tend to find it works out for most that way.

So what makes this different- consider me curious, it's a fault.

[softspokenlandlord]

I know it because I tried it already. Many of our conversations just turn into

[He isn't sure how else to phrase it...it's hard to nail down what to call it that isn't derogatory, and for good reason. He sighs, and finishes the sentence.]

madness.

I want to be able to have a conversation of understanding. I've been trying to approach those that I have encountered problems with and see it from another perspective, or at least reach a point of catharsis. I think I might have gotten somewhere with one person, but I made a grave error with another.

The thing is, I'm not even sure if they understand why it was an error at all.

[Sorry he's being vague, Noa. This is hard, he hates talking about this subject. Not necessarily because it'd tarnish his reputation, that's already tarnished for life.

...More because to himself, he's tainted who he is.

That and he finds it useless to talk about the Ring-Spirit in any sort of negative fashion. What's the point, he's already made friends. He's tolerable to everyone else. Right?]

[noasark]

If this is someone who wasn't human to begin with, madness is expected honestly. Imagine a fish abruptly turned into a bird- things are going to be messy.

They may well not understand though, you're right. The Fog certainly doesn't when such things are pointed out. A human mind can shift that but only with time to learn, unfortunately.

[But hmmm. Here sits a chance he didn't expect to have...and he probably shouldn't invest this much time into it but...]

I would offer the role of a mediator but something tells me that isn't wise for now. Instead- if you need to talk through it, I can offer that.

Believe me when I say you won't get any judgement for it. Or anything you say really.

[softspokenlandlord]

[Noa makes...good points, probably, but Ryou still feels that without the whole story, it's a little bit hard to convey his point. Noa...doesn't really need any of this. Maybe he should just disengage.]

It isn't wise for me to be around him. So mediation isn't possible, you're right.

Noa is this really what you want to spend your time on? I didn't mean to place all this on you. I can just leave you alone.

[This is the teen's out. Ryou doesn't want to talk about this stuff either, but he probably needs to. Not at Noa's expense though. Not if he wants out.]

[noasark]

Speaking frankly it's a mix. On the one hand no. On the other this is going to irritate me if I drop it.

I'm a Cat, Ryou.

For that matter the other wordly things here delight in irony and it would probably be better to come to some sort of peace on this for yourself before you wake up locked in the same room or some nonsense.

Besides six years here may as well pay me with Something and I suppose experience and damage control is better than nothing.

[softspokenlandlord]

[Perhaps Noa didn't mean it for levity's sake, but the idea that being a cat meant he would not let this go? Kind of amusing. Ryou smiles a little, despite himself. Good thing the computer screen doesn't show it. That'd be embarrassing.]

Well. If you are certain, I won't argue the point.

Um, after the whole...alternate universe thing, I was having a difficult time coping. I don't want to go into detail with it, so let's just call it a crisis of identity. A couple of people helped me through it, so it's fine.

[K...kind of?? Haha, don't worry about it.]

I wanted to repay the kindness back with one. He sought me out, he listened to my ravings, and he talked me down. In return, I agreed to meet with him.

[He pauses there, to let Noa process it, and also because he's trying to decide whether to proceed at all. He doesn't like this story...]

[noasark]

Ah yes, the matter of multiple timelines. I apparently have a very nebulous existence in yours. Very 'Schroidinger's cat'.

I tend to simply coast on tje fact that ultimately I am myself regardless of anything else. Now.

Carry on.

[softspokenlandlord]

That's an apt reference, and you seem to have the whole self-actualization thing down. I admire you honestly. Not everyone can deal with that kind of thing so easily.

[He is right too. Ryou has no memory of Noa, but that doesn't matter. He exists as a person, and the whole Schrodinger's cat thing is pretty apt.

Especially since the only way Ryou knows him is as a cat. But anyway.]

Ah, so. We met. Me and that other person. The problem was, I don't think I'd fully sorted myself out. I was still shaky about things, so maybe it's my fault for putting myself out of my comfort zone when I'd barely gotten back into it.

Just...talking to this person, it's infuriating on its own. Everything is made to be complicated, and whenever I try to sympathize and conversate, it always seems to turn into something confrontational. I wasn't built for that at the time. I just wanted to be there for him like he was there for me. It didn't work, because the truth is...I don't think he gets why I don't like him. Maybe he thinks the arguing is a game or something, but he's done things that irreversibly altered my life and I take it seriously.

[He's showing his hand a little here. But he doesn't realize, because saying it to someone feels almost freeing. Almost.]

It really, really didn't work, and it went very poorly.