Swan Song of the Mediator

For a place he was kidnapped to this place sure comes with some cool places. All the wards and branches had something to offer for Eiden, though some he’d avoid out of fear for his safety. Golden and Archimedes in particular being the kind of thing he enjoyed with the beach, art museum and all the quirky fun things he could spend time with… Urban areas as well as beautiful spots such as this. 

“ Ahh, this is the best~~ “

As he wades further ahead to the water it curls around his legs, pleasantly cooling them off as he goes. A welcome break from the oppressive heat of the sun. 

“ Sure is! It’s not so bad though, I get to wear my summer fit too! But well, I hear it’s cold here during the winter for some period of time too— “

Being the social butterfly he’s quick to respond to the one speaking to him. Thinking through what’s he’s just been told and finally it sinks in.

“ Oh wait! You said Earth didn’t you? “

It always did get pretty cold around the city here, but it was still comfortable enough that bundling up to the nines wasn’t needed. Or even in some cases where people would walk around in shorts and a T-shirt in 20 degree weather like it was a pleasant breeze...something he definately won’t admit doing.

“At least it isn’t in a state where the weather isn’t going from one extreme to the other. That would be torturous in itself.” Joey did blink at the brunet when he caught what he said absentmindedly. 

[Sorry to everyone whose been waiting for my replies, working on this VN has been kicking my ass and school started this week! 

I’ll still be working on replies for those who I missed and opening up a mini-starter call for Joey here. I’ll probably be slow to reply again until I get used to the workload, but I’ll still try to get everything out! 

Red Magic — How does your muse react towards blood?

[It freaks him out a lot, even to this day. For a good long time from the time of being stabbed in an alleyway and losing the memories of that day to even now years later, even the sight of red used to scare him. He's still not used to seeing blood and doesn't want to get used to seeing blood, but compared to then....he just feels numb and has a sense of sickness from seeing it.]

Illusionary Dominance — What hobbies is your muse most prideful in?

[Ask him before he joined the soccer team and he would have said soccer. Learning what his teammates actually thought of him soured the sport for him, but in return, he got really into baking again. Even though his cooking in general really, REALLY sucks, somehow with baking it always turns out perfectly. Maybe it's because he has the perfect cold hands for pastry dough, maybe it's likely because when you have measurements there's less chance for failure compared to winging it when cooking. Either way, baking has become his major passion.]

Gray Thaumaturgy — Does your muse believe in miracles?

Send me a ✏️ and I will draw your muse as shittily as possible

Even though he wanders around Archimedes ward quite a lot, Joey has never really paid much attention to it has he? Always going straight to the library rather than actively interacting the the place. Well, you know what they say about a first time for everything- right? Today happened to be a pretty hot day with people running around to either hang out at the coolest restaurant or to explore the art exhibits, even going so far as to feel the chill of years of history from the churches. 

The raven haired young adult elected to go near the River of Styx, closer to an area that people haven’t crowded around yet and rolled up his pants along with removing his boots to soak them in the cool water- sighing in relief. Its been a minute since he’s been in such hot temperatures. 

“Hmmm....this isn’t it either. This is more along the line of a soul-sucking curse than a erosion curse. It’ll just cause more pain than relieving it.” Joey muttered to himself while putting down another book, just one more from the huge pile he’s made over the past five hours since he ended up at the library. He was hoping to look for some process in his own research, but it proved to be uneventful...like before. If only he hadn’t lost his book with all his notes...

Sitting back, he rubbed his temples with a slight groan from the growing headache. Maybe he should’ve stopped while he was ahead. This wasn’t all that needed to be done today after all. Maybe he’s been too enthusiastic with all of this lately. He needed to slow down, or he’ll work himself to the ground. 

As if a sign from somewhere came for that exact reason, his phone started buzzing while stuck in its vibrate mode. Picking up, he raised an eye at the caller ID from his blurred eyes before realizing who it was and answering.

Wow, he must really not want to talk or maybe he has somewhere to be? She perks up with a nod, “YEAH! That’s all the question! Hey, hey, do you want me to walk you to where-ever it is you’re going?” She bounces over, closer to the man, smile lighting up her face. 

“We can talk about all your favorite musics, together too if ya want! I have a whole collection of favorite music, myself.”

Annnnd she’s not leaving. Great. He could try to outpace her, but the more Joey thought about it, the more futile he realized it was going to be. With a sigh, he got up and started walking in the other direction back to where the an abundance of cafes and other little shops were located. He was going to need an extra strong coffee. 

[I’M FINALLY OUT OF RETAIL HELL WEEK HECK YEAH

Like this for a starter with Joey, who will likely be finally moving out of his shell and actually going around and doing stuff for the first time in months instead of just sitting in his abandoned bakery. Most likely along the lines of training or researching curses. This could be a chance to make a new friend (or enemy) of him! 

They plainly listened, as it would be reasonable to be doing so, but once he got off topic, there was clearly no reason to do so anymore. Turning away from him, Caster simply ignored whatever else he had to say. All in all, it just mattered that this place was the Golden Ward Apartments. Nothing more, nothing less.

It didn’t seem to be bothered by the way he spoke to them, because why would they? There’s nothing to be angry about or put any emotional input or output to. He could say whatever he’d like to them, and it wouldn’t really give a care. After all, there wasn’t anything for them to care about.

Giving no reply, they look at the entrance to the stairs and then the elevator. Considering their options, they’d take the stairs – elevators… elevators – were not what they wanted to be in. Not after that. Not after what happened. 

“Farewell, mister – have a good day, even if you still have more to discuss… I do not wish to listen.”

His eyebrow twitched at the book’s extremely passive attitude. Rather, there wasn’t a need for him to get annoyed over a book. It was a freaking talking book, what was it going to do- slam his fingers? Besides, Joey did the bare minimum of being cordial and wanted to be out of this apartment as soon as possible.

“Yeah sure, have a good day- whatever it is you do.” 

“Oh they killed me when i had immortality and the city think it be funny to trap me in my own hell now as i’m weaken. Forcing me to be in a hospital with the three ASSHOLES who killed me plenty when i was a LITERAL unkillable god.”

Jeez the ego. Still Dan make note of the power. Meaning it be best to bring the little idiot to all three floors so it be easier to explore as once again they go though the motions. But this time with the EPIC gamer dude passing by the morgue as Kuroto motion Joey to watch as he seem to be raiding a chemical room for materials.

“Yeah it comes from a item. They all have the bugster virus in them that allow them to transform. Don’t bother attacking them while they do their thing. Normally they have a protective layer that make shooting them mid henshin impossible.”

Kuroto seem to sense something as he quickly motion Joey to hide under the bed as once again…The green warrior step into the room.

You know? The one that killed Dan with EASE the last time as hold ya breath.

One false move then the loop star all over again.

“I’m sorry when you had WHAT.” People having immortality shouldn’t be surprising considering what he’s been through. But this kid looked like the most mundane person ever seen in this history of EVER. Then again it wasn’t like a random immortal person would walk around in weird clothing proclaiming that they couldn’t die. 

“I don’t know, just because you may have been a unkillable god doesn’t mean you’ll always be unkillable. Maybe that’s what this dream is about, amongst other things.” That...was probably uncalled for coming out of Joey’s mouth, especially seeing as how those three chasing Kuroto and them definately had some beef against him. Shaking his head, he noted what he said about the virus and not attacking them while transforming. 

“Metal music?” She won’t say she’s unfamiliar with it, but it’s not a type of music she’s heard of. THOUGH, judging by the faint sounds coming from his headphones, she can kind of make out what it is. It does sound like something she’d listen to. Loud music. 

“Can I listen? We can listen together! You know, like friends!” Badou would be happy right? That she’s out here getting a taste for new music. 

“I bet you have  HUGE taste in music, right~? RIIIIIGHT~~~~?”

Ugh, its a good thing Joey’s gotten better at hiding his outward facial expressions otherwise the sour look on his face would be very obvious. He could just disappear, hop into a shadow and end up on the other side far away from this girl- but it would also be rude as all hell. 

He wasn’t afraid of being rude, but it wouldn’t hurt to have SOME common courtesy. 

“Yes…sixth time.”

Dan actually reach the third floor and found Dan Sakurako room by his second loop. But his refusal to open that door have him search though ANY OTHER WAY TO BREAK out of the hospital.

“As CHEATING as that was. Cronus can only hunt what he can see. If we to hide close to him and not make a sound. He wouldn’t detect us. The moment he see us. Unless we’re so much quicker then him. He henshin and press the button then we’re dead. Neither of us can move in the frozen time. It’s just him and the red dip shit you encounter that trying to kill me and reset me back here everytime..”

So great. Not one but TWO killers as Kuroto mess up his hair in frustration.

“Ability. Don’t you have any useful ability? What about phasing out the hospital or something?”

He frustrated. Dan Kuroto clearly frustraed as he don’t know WHEN but he for sure Kriya Kujo waiting somewhere also. He stuck as a MERE mortal againts his father and his own creation.

Six...times?! Joey groaned while covering his face in frustration. Still, six was on the relatively low scale for time loops all things considered. The thing was making sure it stayed at the low level otherwise they’ll be stuck here forever. 

“Well, that’s good to know that it can only attack when we’re seen. That at least makes this somewhat more manageable.” Still, the fact that it could pause time was going to be a problem and likely lead to an instant death.

“I have the ability to travel through shadows, but the downside is that I have to have been to the area first in order to actually get there. It’s kind of like-” He made a random gesture with his hand. “Like Fast Travel. I thought I would be able to use my absorption ability, but their powers are coming from those belts right? If its an item then it’s all but useless. But other than that-”