thefoundation | Exorcism Research Meeting

[There's notes slipped under everyone's door's that night.]

Meet in the lobby for an research meeting on exorcism. - Shirogane Tsumugi

[Said lobby has stacks of manga on one of the tables, organized by series. There's a lot there. On another table is her sewing machine, supplies, and an assortment of red and white fabrics.]

Right! Some manga and anime refrence exorcism, like Inuyasha, or revolve around it, like Twin Star Exorcists. I've brought out both of those, Gegege no Kitaro, Blue Exorcist, Natsume's Book of Friends, Yu Yu Hakusho, and more. I think that by referencing them... we could find exorcism methods to try. While they are fictional... we are too, so... it might still work, right?

[She nervously fiddles with her tape measurer.]

I'll be working on Miko costumes for the exorcism... but I'd appreciate it if everyone here read through at least one series and wrote down the methods you find, so we can prepare for them.

Oh, and umm... one last thing. If you want to look for more related manga or watch the anime of any of these series... I'm giving you free reign to check the shelves in my room and watch on my computer.

[She's trusting you all to not look under her bed, okay. That's where all the... stranger merchandise she has has been relegated to.]

So... let's do our best to save Niijima-san, Cinque-san, and whoever the Jorogumo is... okay?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Szayelaporro-san then.

[A nod and smile. ]

Yeah, I can make a perfect replica of your cape for you after tomorrow. It'll be a fun project.

[There's a slight pause, before she makes another comment.]

You always were one of my favorite of the Arrancar. I can appreciate a fellow actor, you know?

[A small dark smile flashes across her face before being wiped away by the excitement at his suggestion.]

Oooh... yeah, Snake-san has the right hair color and jaw shape for Aizen! He'd be a perfect fit! I'll have to ask him if he shows up!

Edited 2018-12-16 04:41 (UTC)

You got it ;) The one and only Szayelaporro Granz. I appreciate it.

[she might hear a ghostly chuckle]

Well... my coworkers aren't exactly much competition, if you ask me. I hear Grimmjow is quite popular with the fans! But you wouldn't want to meet him in real life, he's quite prickly. Haha! Just don't give away all my secrets, hm?

[she can feel a gloved finger being pressed gently to her lips]

We could even style his hair the same way!

[There's a blink at the finger pressed to her lips, but it's accepted fast.]

He is! He got voted the fourth most popular character at one point, you know! I mean... I get the appeal, but I like a little more thought behind my villains.

[A small smirk and quiet response.]

My lips are sealed. Consider it a sign of solidarity from one glasses wearing villain to another.

[Or... former villain in her case. She's not planning on doing what she did again. There'd be no point to it after all. Well... that and some things here have made her start to rethink some of her views.]

He has enough for it! We just need to convince him.

"Villain" is all just a matter of perspective anyway, my dear. But yes, from one ah... what do the Japanese call it? "Megane"? One megane to another.

Your glasses are quite fashionable, as well -- good choice.

Well, he's quite gruff. It may be difficult!

It is.

[A small shrug.]

In the perspective of most people here... I think I'd be the villain of my story.

[A smile tugs at the edge of her lips at him speaking her language.]

Yeah, one megane to another.

[It turns into a bright smile at the compliment though.]

Thank you! Your own glasses are good choice too. They give off that sleek and dangerous aura, and are perfect for dramatic glasses shines!

Well, it's for the greater good! If we can convince him it's necessary-- which it absolutely is-- then that might sway him.

Well, we aren't in our stories any more, are we? No longer constrained by text, or art, or programming. Beings with souls and wills of our own. Here, it isn't always so black and white. Haha! Pun intended.

[she can't see it, but he preens himself and adjusts his glasses]

Well, I didn't have much of a choice -- they are my mask fragments, after all. But I did modify their original appearance, just a bit.

I believe you can do it! I will do my best to help. [because heck that'd be funny]

Yeah... there's no writing credits to what we say anymore.

[It's strange to think that.]

So... we can start over here, right? Be different, or... not make the mistakes we made previously.

[Maybe?]

Well, you did a plain good job, working with what you had. Creativity comes with restrictions!

[That smile just keeps growing.]

Alright! I'll get to work on it, and we can ask Snake-san whenever he shows up to agree to wear it with love!

We've always been able to make our own choices -- even if they were written by someone else, for us, we're still making the decisions. So why bother being existential about it? I'm already a changed man. My death was... utterly humiliating. I had what felt like thousands of years to reflect on my mistakes, and what I would change if I could.

And now, I can. I can make those changes. I can see how far I've come -- and how far I've yet to go.

Maybe you'll think of it the same way.

[it's... been a strange few weeks for him, to say the least. But not in a completely bad way]

Best of luck to you then! I would love to help with this research, but I actually have some research of my own I need to do.

Ah-

['Start over', is it?]

Do you...really think anyone can change, if given the chance?

[Tsumugi tenses up, freezes, and after a few moments relaxes in resignation.]

.... How much of that did you hear?

[Oh. Right, he asked a question.]

And... um... it is a common character arc in stories. The heel-face turn. A bad guy becoming a good guy.

[She never considered herself the bad guy, except in the story, until recently though.]

Besides... we were fictional. We just did what we were written to do, right? But now that we're real, we can make our own choices. Our creators aren't our writers anymore. We are. We can be different people than who we were written to be, if we want to try.

[God... when did she turn into Saihara? She can feel the irony of this moment.]

[He just smiles warmly at that first question.]

Regardless of what you think, I don't see you as a villain, Tusmugi-san.

[And as for the rest...]

I...would like that, I think. To be able to change from that and be a better person.

I don’t think you’d think anymore if you knew what I did.

[Literally what this entire situation but worse and for entertainment. She actually gets and agrees with the Foundation’s stance on them. It’s just now that she’s gotten attached to people here that she’s starting to reconsider that and her stance on the fictional status of the Ndrv3 characters. She’s still heavily debating the latter, but she’s at the very least agreeing that maybe putting physically alive fictional characters in a death game was wrong, even if most of the population was okay with it.]

I think you have the best chance out of all of us Atsushi-kun. You have a good heart. That’s the plain truth.

I could say the same thing about myself, you know. I try to smile and be nice, but I've done some pretty bad things. And my 'normal' is so far off that I don't think it can be fixed.

[He's not fishing for compliments here, this is what he truly thinks.]

But I still want to try. And I think you could do it too, if you try.

.... We are more similar than I thought.

[Wow, that sounds familiar. A small genuine smile is cracked out of her.]

Hey.... are you sure you're not a protagonist, Atsushi? I think you'd make a good one if you aren't.

I'm pretty sure I'm not, but we can find my series to check for sure.

[A private conversation, perfect for crushing him.]

I guess we will.

[This cannot go wrong in anyway.]

Exorcism Research Meeting

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Major NDRV3 Spoilers

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