The Metaverse is a world made up of human cognition. Palaces are castles created by a person's extremely distorted thoughts and desires.
Say you have a mafia boss who sees the entirety of a city as his personal bank. In the Metaverse, that city would appear to be a part of his bank world, the bank world being his Palace.
And at the center of that bank is the mafia boss's Treasure. The core of his own personal bank world. Remove it, and the entire distortion falls apart.
That's fine, Chuuya can dance around those secrets. He'll flop over onto his back and stare up at the 'ceiling' of the tent.]
I guess I should share something new about me, huh?
I was asleep for a very, very long time. I don't know exactly how long, it was hard keeping track of time during it all. But 'sleep' is all that existed before the moment when I woke up.
It was like a bomb had gone off in the slums, destroying everything around for several city blocks. They said everyone in the blast area died, but there I was, sitting right in the middle of it. The first thing I remember seeing was the moon, hanging low in the sky on the abnormally bright night while buildings burnt around me.
I was seven then. I think. It's hard to know for sure when you don't remember your real birthday, or anything else from your life before. For me, it's just 'sleep' and then 'the life after sleep'.
[it isn't so much a "secret" as it is. . . Akira isn't sure how to talk about it. but he flashes Chuuya a smile, a clear indication that he appreciates him not pushing the topic right now]
[but the smile fades quickly when Chuuya starts talking about his life before the mansion. as he continues, his brows furrow, and once Chuuya is finished. . .]
. . . you must've been terrified after you "woke up."
[he can't imagine it, honestly. he can't imagine not knowing anything until the moment consciousness bursts into being with him lying in the middle of a large crater caused by an explosion]
You'd think that, but it was actually more peaceful than anything. It was so quiet. And 'quiet' isn't something you normally hear in a busy city like Yokohama. It was sort of like..."oh hey, I'm awake now, cool," I guess.
[But that's only half the story, and that's probably why Akira doesn't quite get it.
...
Chuuya tucks his arms under the back of his head before he continues talking.]
Where that crater is, there used to be a research facility. Top secret and all that. See, having abilities like mine is really rare where I'm from, and they wanted to find a way to give people abilities. So those dumbasses thought it'd be a good idea to try and take powers away from spirits and gods and stuff and give them to humans instead. That's so stupid, right?
[HE SURE DOESN'T but it's actually refreshing to see someone agree with that sentiment. So much so that he actually pauses for a moment and gives Akira a thoughtful look before answering.]
I stayed there for a while, just watching the moon. Then I ended up behind some store, looking for a way to sneak in and steal some food. Or something like that. It's been like eight years, it's hard to remember that far back. But I do remember the moon that night.
Yeah. There was a group of kids called 'The Sheep'. They tried to claim they were a gang, but really it was a bunch of orphans trying to survive in the slums. They took me in, and I grew up with them.
[Unfortunately those previously-happy memories are no longer happy, for reasons Akira will find out with memory share lolololol]
[Akira's mouth twitches, a bit fond. it took him a while to get there, considering how distorted Sae used to be, but. . . he trusts his Judgment Confidant to do the right thing now. after all, she did so much for him after he was arrested]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2020-03-08 04:42 am (UTC)[Yeah he totally did that to illustrate how lost he is by what Akira just said.]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-08 04:45 am (UTC)The Metaverse is a world made up of human cognition. Palaces are castles created by a person's extremely distorted thoughts and desires.
Say you have a mafia boss who sees the entirety of a city as his personal bank. In the Metaverse, that city would appear to be a part of his bank world, the bank world being his Palace.
And at the center of that bank is the mafia boss's Treasure. The core of his own personal bank world. Remove it, and the entire distortion falls apart.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-08 04:59 am (UTC)Does Akechi know? Or is it one of those "you are my greatest rivals but I don't know your secret identity" kinda things?
no subject
Date: 2020-03-08 05:04 am (UTC)Heeeee definitely knows.
[how about he just answers affirmatively and then says nothing else]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-08 05:17 am (UTC)That's fine, Chuuya can dance around those secrets. He'll flop over onto his back and stare up at the 'ceiling' of the tent.]
I guess I should share something new about me, huh?
I was asleep for a very, very long time. I don't know exactly how long, it was hard keeping track of time during it all. But 'sleep' is all that existed before the moment when I woke up.
It was like a bomb had gone off in the slums, destroying everything around for several city blocks. They said everyone in the blast area died, but there I was, sitting right in the middle of it. The first thing I remember seeing was the moon, hanging low in the sky on the abnormally bright night while buildings burnt around me.
I was seven then. I think. It's hard to know for sure when you don't remember your real birthday, or anything else from your life before. For me, it's just 'sleep' and then 'the life after sleep'.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-08 11:37 pm (UTC)[but the smile fades quickly when Chuuya starts talking about his life before the mansion. as he continues, his brows furrow, and once Chuuya is finished. . .]
. . . you must've been terrified after you "woke up."
[he can't imagine it, honestly. he can't imagine not knowing anything until the moment consciousness bursts into being with him lying in the middle of a large crater caused by an explosion]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-08 11:56 pm (UTC)[But that's only half the story, and that's probably why Akira doesn't quite get it.
...
Chuuya tucks his arms under the back of his head before he continues talking.]
Where that crater is, there used to be a research facility. Top secret and all that. See, having abilities like mine is really rare where I'm from, and they wanted to find a way to give people abilities. So those dumbasses thought it'd be a good idea to try and take powers away from spirits and gods and stuff and give them to humans instead. That's so stupid, right?
no subject
Date: 2020-03-10 11:58 pm (UTC)So. . .
[his mind is clicking together, gears turning as he works to put together the pieces]
So your powers were forced upon you by researchers in a facility?
[wow, saying it aloud really does make his gaze narrow and his jaw tighten, doesn't it?]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-11 12:24 am (UTC)I wouldn't know. Like I said, I don't remember any of that. But if it's true it's pretty fucked up, huh?
no subject
Date: 2020-03-11 10:59 pm (UTC)[Akira says honestly and bluntly. IT'S SUPER FUCKED UP. CHUUYA DIDN'T DESERVE TO BE A RESEARCH RAT!!!]
[but he thinks of something else, and he can't help but ask. . .]
Where did you go after you woke up?
no subject
Date: 2020-03-11 11:13 pm (UTC)I stayed there for a while, just watching the moon. Then I ended up behind some store, looking for a way to sneak in and steal some food. Or something like that. It's been like eight years, it's hard to remember that far back. But I do remember the moon that night.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-12 12:41 am (UTC)[his heart aches with sympathy as he listens to that story]
Did you ever find a place to stay?
[a place to live. a place to belong]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-12 03:12 am (UTC)[Unfortunately those previously-happy memories are no longer happy, for reasons Akira will find out with memory share lolololol]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-13 04:49 pm (UTC)[but for now, he smiles a little bit, mouth quirking slightly at the corners]
I'm glad you managed to find a place to belong, after all of that.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-16 12:04 am (UTC)[The look on his face is a rather lonely one.]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-16 12:26 am (UTC)[there is something else here, but Akira doesn't push. if Chuuya wants to talk to him, then he will]
Either way, it sounds like things weren't easy for you growing up.
It does explain a few things.
[like why Chuuya didn't know what a pillow fort was!!]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-16 01:05 am (UTC)[Not having parents will do that to a person.]
Yours just leaves me with even more questions though. Is that something you wanna talk about, or are you gonna give me the run-around about it?
[If Akira doesn't want to talk about it, then he won't ask. But he is curious.]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-16 01:48 am (UTC)You can ask.
[at this point, Akira doesn't have anything to hide about his identity as a phantom thief]
I promise I won't be coy.
[EXCEPT ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO AKECHI]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-16 01:55 am (UTC)Why was that prosecutor trying to help you? I thought all cops were shitty.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-16 02:15 am (UTC)Niijima-san?
[Akira's mouth twitches, a bit fond. it took him a while to get there, considering how distorted Sae used to be, but. . . he trusts his Judgment Confidant to do the right thing now. after all, she did so much for him after he was arrested]
There are exceptions to every rule.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-16 02:33 am (UTC)[But it's good to hear that Akira had someone on his side.]
You got out of that mess, right? You're too young to be rotting in prison.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-16 03:29 pm (UTC)[most of them. but not all]
That prosecutor was the one who helped me escape, actually. I spent some time undercover after that.
[. . .]
Though I had to turn myself in again later.
[for Reasons]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-17 03:41 am (UTC)