take down the noise!

[ WEEK 1 DAY X. ] @endphones​ WAS SPOTTED IN THE CROWD.

is this… the UG? another form of it?

if mr. mew was real, he’d have yowled by now with how tightly he was held to her chest – crossed arms hiding timidness, a little bit of fear. the unknown is something shiki usually welcomes – it’s an inspiration! new ways to try things! but after the whole euphoria of HEY! YOU’RE NEW HERE! buzz died down, it was true she felt deathly alone. no pun intended! maybe she was dead and in another afterlife. her body still being … eri’s, would prove it.

timid steps and timid movements – no, no, shiki! be more confident! people ( and noise, probably! ) could sense fear! – come on!

…

yeah, not working.

squared sholders slump a bit, but her death grip on Mr. Mew relaxes. so what! maybe she was afraid! everything around her feels … different. she can’t pinpoint it, but compared from the busyness and cacophony of shibuya, this place was chaotic in another way.

… but in the distance… is that…?

“Ah! Neku!”

she’d recognize that spiky hair anywhere. is this a good thing? a bad thing? shiki didn’t know. but that wasn’t going to stop her from going near him..!

( a pause in her footsteps, but pushing onwards. )

“You’re here too!”

        So he’s been here for… two. At least two weeks. It’s hard to tell when your time spent is without rhyme or reason, or without staving off impending danger, like erasure or an incoming test. Terra’s probably exacerbated that, especially considering that he’s not obligated to face either head-on, but with or without the presence of a new world, Neku wouldn’t be able to count time either way.

        ( He either has to be dead and dormant in who knows where—unless he somehow enters another Game—or he’s here. Neither is a particularly good thing. )

        Nothing grand has happened in those two weeks, either. He’s heard rumors about whatever the hell is going on at night, and nearly evaded a run-in with it due to… half-regrettable reasons, but nothing else. Even now, nothing’s happening: once again, before sunset, there is nothing out of the blue—

        And then, suddenly, he hears another familiar voice—or, well…

        It’s complicated. Because when he turns, the first person he recognizes is… Eri, if he can get her name right, and looks like her—but Neku never met her, and judging by the stuffed pig in her hands, then that’s really—

        “Shiki?!” The surprise bursting from him is more than genuine, with a force strong enough to make him step back. After all, after three weeks of an unfair game and a reunion at Hachiko, one would think things as close as possible to ‘normal.’ Still, it doesn’t stop him from stepping forward to meet her. After all, she was still Shiki—and always would be, as he had said weeks ago—and that fact would remain no matter what.

        When he comes to a stop, he speaks up again, his composure returning. “…Yeah. I am. When did you get here? And…”

This is not Shibuya— this is not his lively city that thrived with vibrant noise and freely flowing imagination. Perhaps it is a dissonant noise that crashes against him, but he can hardly hear a thing here, like this. There is no kind of noise that bleeds through his veins the same way Shibuya does. Even his former proxy feels like a dull echo of the vivid noise that he could once hear. That knowledge is what sours him the most. You can only pretend so much before he has to face cold, hard truth. Joshua has always been rather good at pretending, though.

Whatever kind of place Vraelgard is, it’s a far cry from Shibuya. Nothing makes that more plainly clear to him than the way Neku stands before him.

( He’s kind of wishing he brought the gun with him. Not that foam bullets could really hurt physically, but mentally it might’ve been enough to drive some kind of wedge between them. Maybe even relive some nice traumatic memories. Fun times! )

“Since when did I ever follow the rules?” Even if he might not know the full extent to which Composer meddled in his own game, it’s not like it was exactly hard to see that he had, in hindsight. Sure, his actions probably could have been equal parts helpful and sabotage towards Neku, even then he really doesn’t think this is something surprising, in any case. “Unlike you, being dead doesn’t stop me from existing in the world of the living.” And like that, he acknowledges that fact— no tact as per usual. It’s a curious matter, even if Joshua doesn’t acknowledge it as such; he’s held a number of souls in his hands, watched some of them slip between his fingers and fall away from him ( he can’t help but wonder to what extent the beings here are capable of ).

“…Do you understand? A death wish like that…would upset your friends, wouldn’t it? Hee hee.” Perhaps he is the one that does not understand, then. After so many brushes with death, do you really not— well, he’s not in any place to judge. Joshua had stood before the crossroads of life and death and chosen for himself too, after all. A tinge concerning, considering the potential proxy has for life, but even if it leaves a bad taste lingering in his mouth, it’s none of his concern. It’s not his world: he has no say in what Neku decides to do. No point lingering on unpleasant memories.

“You don’t need to sound so thrilled, Neku. You never had a problem saying no before— so just say so. You won’t hurt my feelings.” Before, the usage of past tense begs acknowledgement that things have changed between the days where he messed with him during his second game, and where they stand at now. What has changed: Composer could guess at, but does not wish to acknowledge it. He doesn’t need the ability to scan to figure this one out. Friendship? You’re going to make him laugh, Neku. You can’t be friends with— 

Well, Neku has always been sharp. Joshua does not appear before him entirely willingly, and should proxy express a desire for him to leave…their paths would not cross again for quite a while, likely. He is sure that they both understand this fact quite plainly. To the boy who had expressed a desire to see someone who’d wronged him before: he could hear all of Shibuya’s thoughts with ease from up top, and ignored them ( but that does not change that the thought was heard ). He does not quite understand why Neku would want that— an impossible feat, he’d once said, to understand. Perhaps that’s not quite it, rather, maybe it is that he does not wish to understand.

It doesn’t matter. Understanding, not understanding; it is not his world, his life to be meddling in anymore. He needs to focus on the task at hand. “Use your head, Neku, I said escort mission. Don’t tell me you can’t even figure out that much anymore? I’m not being nearly as cryptic as Minamimoto’s missions were.” Besides, anything else would require too much effort on his part— everything requires too much effort when you’ve got a fraction of your normal powers, but he’s not going to acknowledge that now. “Incidentally, Neku, which region did they place you in?”

        Neku Sakuraba—ever an artist, ever particular for only a few certain but niche details and for the small things that stick to his memory forever—would be lying if he hadn’t forgotten how obnoxious his old partner was.

        He’s forgotten a lot, of course: his own identity, when it was once required; an old friend, if one ever existed; and most of his memories of the past, back when the world felt grey and bleak and ever stagnant. But Joshua still sticks out as a rotten nuisance—a rulebreaker, a rival in persistence and selfishness, perhaps to two extremes—and with a week and some extra to prove it, Neku won’t ever forget it. Maybe that’s what makes these conversations worse: this is all stuff that he should expect, but it doesn’t make him want to shut him up any less.

        ( At least there’s a possible reason behind all the trust, at least to an outsider: how, no matter what insidious ideas slip from Joshua’s mouth, Neku can at least expect some kind of consistency from them.

        …And, sure, it’s a terrible, inexplicable thing to trust—but the mind and heart both work in inexplicable ways. )

        “Definitely not since last month,” Neku answers, without hesitation. He would pretend to think about it for a bit, just to breathe before Joshua continues, but it’s not like it’d help after the next comment. How nice of him to bring that up—you know, being dead yet again, because it’s not as if Neku can go about his day and stay alive. Still, he’s obligated to answer ( and even if he isn’t, it doesn’t stop him from wanting to, ) so he bites his lip, glues his arms close to his chest and swallows down his growing anger.

        “That must be great for you,” however, is what he ends up saying. The remark is stained by ash and fire, and followed up too quickly. “I never knew! I mean, you didn’t bother showing your sorry face after everyone came back, so I thought you were as good as erased.” No, he didn’t; he thought the very opposite, but of course now, of all times, his snark would take over. It’s not as if Joshua says anything that’d bring the conversation back a level.

        “Of course it would. I wasn’t planning to die tonight, anyways.” Even with the risks he was taking, or the apathy brewing at his side? Perhaps, after everything, a death wish would upset his friends—but there’s certainly one it doesn’t seem like it’ll affect, right? For him to ask that is remarkable, especially when logic dictates that there is only one way he could’ve taken the position he holds now. Neku won’t pry, though: even to someone that he still wants to understand, there are some places where even trust and bravery can falter.

        Ah, right. Well, as exhausting as it is to talk to Joshua, Neku can’t deny that he still wants to talk to him, regardless. ‘Change’ is too weak a verb for the effects of three weeks, and though his old partner may want to sever ties, Neku would rather hold to them without letting go. Perhaps it is impossible for a human thrice killed and a boy with the talents of a god to talk to one another; but, even if it should be impossible, or if all the heavens will try to stop him, Neku will reach out to him anyways. Still, “Just because you’re still a pain in the ass doesn’t mean I’d say no,” is how he replies—and that is all from him on the matter.

        “I am using it, genius. But I wasn’t told where 104 was today, was I?” Maybe your advice is, for once, appreciated, Josh. “They put me in the southern region. Where are you supposed to be?”

        There are pros and cons to having a place here to stay.

        The bad thing about it is that being assigned a home means Neku’s in it for the long haul. He has, without hesitation, been presumed a permanent resident, his real home and hometown tossed aside, devoid of meaning. That’s not good at all: the notion that it will be a while before he returns home, even with his current situation, is too worrying to be explained in words.

        The really good thing about it is that he doesn't need to walk up ten flights of stairs to reach his room. Neku reaches the front door, pulls the handle, walks through—

        And then he realizes another bad thing. Two bad things, really. Awful number two is that he’s got a roommate. Terrible number three is that he’s being held at… stickpoint.

        “Don’t point a stick at me,” Neku starts, and he pauses, and then he bites his lip and adds, “Please.” He doesn’t think a stick could easily kill him, no, but if pins can have powers, a stick unfortunately can, too.

@endphones​​​ ♡’d for a starter

The world works in odd ways, doesn’t it? First they pull him away from his beloved city, then they strip him of most his powers, and now this—oh, he’s being dramatic, of course, Joshua will not deny this. It feels somewhat warranted when this is the closest he’s ever been to human: well, the first time in a long time, at least. Even during the long game, powers suppressed, he’d still had to hold back. He has the right to gripe, even if not vocally so.

Mortal actions do not deceive the gods, was it? He cannot say he disagrees with that, but…the thought of being considered mortal again is distressing, even if he’s fairly sure that’s not the case ( temporarily so, perhaps, though that is not that much more reassuring to you ). Not that such any emotion ever makes itself visible— vulnerable. Composer might not be entirely composed here, but he at least has that much reign over his emotions.

And what is this, exactly, you may ask? Why, finding his dear proxy here, clearly. Perhaps, all things considered, he shouldn’t be so surprised, although he’d never had any desire to see Neku again after all this time. Well, it’s less about what Joshua wants, but— avoidance is clearly inevitable, he can’t just jump planes here. Might as well engage him on his own terms, instead of waiting to see how long it takes for him to figure out he is here ( likely, it wouldn’t have made a difference ). Tee hee. Surprise! This way, he can perhaps cleanly cut things off before anything can start, see how far he can get away with pushing him. Maybe things will be better this way. His own feelings have no say in the matter here, a lonely god is destined to be alone.

( Maybe not. You never really had a good sense for people, isn’t that right? )

“Trying to break the rules, Neku? I wouldn’t suggest it. As you’ve already probably gathered, the powers that be around here seem unfathomable as far as their full potentials go.” Neku’s colors still bleed warm in his peripheries, almost like the setting sun above them, but he doesn’t linger on that too much. Besides, Joshua can remember the last time he’d seen proxy, dead ( and for once, not by his hand ). Didn’t need him anymore— that might’ve been an exaggeration, lie had slipped out easily enough at the time; he’s still useful as entertainment here. If nothing else, Neku’s always been sharp, so he can count on him to notice the same oddities that he does. Nothing more, and nothing less than that. Composer doesn’t deserve anything else than that. “Or, don’t tell me you hadn’t picked up on even that much? Because as far as I recall, right now you should be…hee hee. Well, unless you’re not my…? You don’t seem like the other Neku’s, though.” Not entirely out of the question, though; while necromancy doesn’t seem unlikely here, given his own situation, it’s not like his proxy is the only Neku Sakuraba— and you are not the only Composer of Shibuya out there. 

It is far easier to act casually, as if he’d never avoided him in the first place…do you hate him, Neku? For that, he means, always acting according to his own agenda. He really wouldn’t blame him if he did, really; though what proxy feels in the end is inconsequential to him. Joshua doesn’t really expect him to understand the meaning behind his actions, but Neku’s always been pleasantly surprising. “Well, what do you say, partner? Feel like an escort mission, for old times sake?”

        Neku was many things, once, back home.

        He was born and raised in Shibuya. He lived in it, breathed in it, bled in it and died in it. After all these years, he knows the city like the back of his hand, with no need for a map or guide to jerk him along.

        But, of course, this is not Shibuya. It isn’t even Tokyo—let alone Earth, or what he knows of it, because he’s never heard of a country called Vraelgard before. What knowledge he had of Shibuya was left on the hot sidewalk, discarded and unnecessary. Now, he’s stuck in Terra, with blood running that makes him feel like he is, once again, alive, and a warning in the back of his head that tells him to try and stay that way for once in his many lives.

        It doesn’t quite work.

        After all, the last time that Neku walked around Shibuya, he was not a stickler. Maybe he tried to stand for the rules once—the memories of his childhood are hazy—but he doesn’t try anymore. There’s no better proof than the two null and void games that he had to play. He kept that notion when he came here, and so those lucky souls who had no part in it will see that proof shine again tonight.

        It hardly matters, anyways. Sure, he might reach his apartment late, but whatever’s out there doesn’t scare him. When you’ve died, and died, and died again, you start to lose sight of what’s to fear and what isn’t. Your priorities go askew, which must be why he’s stopped to face off an old ghost from home.

        ( Well, ‘face off’ probably isn’t the right word, here. A face off between him and Joshua would appear far different to this. )

        “You’re one to talk,” Neku starts, once Joshua has mouthed off for long enough. It’s too familiar, even though his charades with Beat were more recent. Joshua takes the time to be a snot, ever high-and-mighty, with words placed as bait; Neku, ever a performer, trips over his shoes to knock down the only sensible portion of his speech, and takes the bait instead. “You’re doing the same thing by being here.”

        Because, of course, the first time he appears—his late cameo in his shootout aside—is in another city, talking nonsense about ‘other Nekus’ and what Neku should be and how much of an idiot Neku is, again.

        “I heard what the kid said. That’s more than enough to understand.” For her, at least, because he’s already being pulled into another mess with no way out. Neku takes a long look as he asks—and then, as always, he sucks it up and sighs.

i have had enough of these foolish accusations!!

every moment i spend without bambi for the ps2 in my possession—

i highly advise you give bambi for the ps2 to me, or—

ok but this is actually really so neat eguerig ty for doing this and indulging my mess

THERE’S NO ROOM FOR A LARGE DRAGON!!!

now listen to me young man i am talking directly in your ear right now—

finally, a reasonable request!

ok, i am now on more than 8 hours of sleep and i’m putting these out on a lot of my blogs anyways so here’s a starter call!! i need a hot minute to replay twewy and to write everything since i’m busy with . a Lot of starters but ill cap at three!

hey there everybody! i’m nahi, more commonly known as lucent, or lu ★ i've got a funky mun page, but here’s the gist! i use he/him, i’m a minor (the same age as neku, in fact!), and my twitter is here whilst my tumblr is over there! as for other info…

aside from writing, i’ve been dancing for 11 years! i take ballet, pointe, and character classes. i talk a lot, and sometimes it’s about things like twewy, lwa, hxh, or tbhk, while other times it’s about dismantling the heteronormative non-inclusive system behind ballet. (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

enough about me, though! without further ado, here’s one of your resident dead kids walking!

neku sakuraba! don’t call him phones

has used up three lives already, and yet he’s only fifteen! what a weird cat!

don’t call him a cat, either.

used to be emo. still looks emo. also looks like and does have horrible fashion!

just because he’s from 2007 doesn’t mean i can’t bully him.

very avid fan of music and the arts! at least he’s got good taste there.

will complain about others’ noise level, though.

don’t fuck with him! he’s got the power of god and anime on his side! (or, well, used to!)

no i will not explain. if you’ve played twewy you’ll understand

neat!!