THIRTY THIRD NIGHT [VIDEO] (And Though You're Broken and Defeated, Your Memory Will Carry On)
[The Guide suddenly pops on, as if dropped from a tremendous height. The damage is evident enough, the picture is garbled static and nonsense, and there are voices, but the translation function appears to be temporarily on the fritz. Half-translated words cut through the nonsense; 'show' and 'regret,' but one word, a single name is clear, tearing through the interference as the Guide struggles to restore functionality.]
[" SHINJIRO."]
[As if on command, the video finally clicks on, the camera desperately trying to focus as rubble and debris fall around it, dirt billowing as chunks of steel and titanium girders crash into the constantly regenerating floor as one man looms over the frame of another. As the feed comes into focus, the climax of the battle is witnessed, the piercing sound of the gunshot, the looming mass of malevolence conjured from Shinji's own mind at the pull of a trigger; Castor, his Persona. It hangs in the air watching with the rest of the audience.]
...
[And when all is said and done, when the dust settles, Shinjiro stands. He lifts his head and laughs. A good, sincere, honest laugh. He looks down, as if slowly gathering himself, his bearings, and turns, his eyes focusing on the Guide. It takes a few moments but...he registers it filming. He doesn't know how much people have seen, and frankly, he doesn't seem to care. Instead, he lowers his head, a smile creeping onto his face; the smile of a man with no regrets left. He reaches up, touches the small, red yang on a chain around his neck, his many grievous wounds dripping and spilling blood through torn holes in his frame. How he's standing is a mystery, it's clear that most of his body is wrecked, scarred beyond comprehension.]
[He opens his eyes one last time, but they're distant, not focused on anything in particular, at least nothing in this world.]
[And he speaks, to no one and everyone.]
Hah...! What's with those faces?
[He lifts his head.]
Now, this...is how it's supposed to be.
[He turns, his back to the Guide and takes one step, two steps three--]
[And falls.]
[The feed times out several minutes later...]
(OOC: Sadly, Shinjiro won't be responding to any tags, but stay tuned for the real conclusion! Feel free to act and discuss amongst yourselves in this post, and as for Shinjiro's body retrieval, Ling/Greed will be handling that, but you're welcome to help! The link leads to the tail end of the fight log for your character's viewing pleasure, and for those of you who wish to not see this, then the Vogon V chip has you covered! Those with the proper settings are treated to a music video about a man who, against all odds, refuses to give up on his dream, regardless of the circumstances!)
[" SHINJIRO."]
[As if on command, the video finally clicks on, the camera desperately trying to focus as rubble and debris fall around it, dirt billowing as chunks of steel and titanium girders crash into the constantly regenerating floor as one man looms over the frame of another. As the feed comes into focus, the climax of the battle is witnessed, the piercing sound of the gunshot, the looming mass of malevolence conjured from Shinji's own mind at the pull of a trigger; Castor, his Persona. It hangs in the air watching with the rest of the audience.]
...
[And when all is said and done, when the dust settles, Shinjiro stands. He lifts his head and laughs. A good, sincere, honest laugh. He looks down, as if slowly gathering himself, his bearings, and turns, his eyes focusing on the Guide. It takes a few moments but...he registers it filming. He doesn't know how much people have seen, and frankly, he doesn't seem to care. Instead, he lowers his head, a smile creeping onto his face; the smile of a man with no regrets left. He reaches up, touches the small, red yang on a chain around his neck, his many grievous wounds dripping and spilling blood through torn holes in his frame. How he's standing is a mystery, it's clear that most of his body is wrecked, scarred beyond comprehension.]
[He opens his eyes one last time, but they're distant, not focused on anything in particular, at least nothing in this world.]
[And he speaks, to no one and everyone.]
Hah...! What's with those faces?
[He lifts his head.]
Now, this...is how it's supposed to be.
[He turns, his back to the Guide and takes one step, two steps three--]
[And falls.]
[The feed times out several minutes later...]
(OOC: Sadly, Shinjiro won't be responding to any tags, but stay tuned for the real conclusion! Feel free to act and discuss amongst yourselves in this post, and as for Shinjiro's body retrieval, Ling/Greed will be handling that, but you're welcome to help! The link leads to the tail end of the fight log for your character's viewing pleasure, and for those of you who wish to not see this, then the Vogon V chip has you covered! Those with the proper settings are treated to a music video about a man who, against all odds, refuses to give up on his dream, regardless of the circumstances!)