the13tharcana | IC contact post for Adstringendum

[If Josh seemed doubtful about it, then Ryoji already had reasons to believe it was the truth. It made him turn more serious all of a sudden.]

So it's probably a very good thing that time stands still back in our worlds while we're here, huh. Otherwise Shibuya might have had a problem without you being able to watch over it like you used to.

[And then there would be the possibility of Josh returning home... only to find not necessarily a pleasant surprise back there.]

And you would have an even bigger problem if it were still to affect you here in return, while there wouldn't be much you could do about it.

Or can you still feel things changing, even while here?

[Because Josh did say that he wasn't completely cut-off from it.]

[Don't... even make him think such a thing, Ryoji. Really. The headache isn't worth it.]

Actually, if time didn't stand still in our worlds... someone likely would have already taken my position from beneath my feet.

[Without a Composer or a Conductor in place... really, the UG was free game, if things hadn't been paused. With things the way they are, he can at least maintain his position while not being there at all.]

... what I can feel is more or less the equivalent of one track on a CD, set to repeat over and over.

[The small period of time from which he'd left, from which any of them had left, spanning from the moment Rhyme had been Erased to the moment Neku had met with Shiki, Beat and Rhyme at Hachiko. The melody of the track that spanned those three weeks, the changes that it goes through... from out of harmony and slightly foreboding, to a near-perfect harmony, the notes happier, lilting. Content.]

[This was yet another difference in their cases. Since Ryoji didn't really have anyone that could... take over his place. But that was also something he was born with, not something he had to strive for, meaning that he didn't even have a saying on the matter. And just thinking about going back to his home world now... terrified him more than he would led on, to be honest.]

So you say... Can just anyone become a Composer?

[Since... Josh was a normal human being once upon a time as well, wasn't he? He's told Ryoji about having died, after all. And yet here he was - angel wings and amazing kind of powers and all.]

...Is it a good kind of track, at least?

[Unfortunately, the threat of someone eyeing his position is more frequent than Joshua would like. Case in point, Minamimoto had just been trying himself not long before Joshua arrived here.]

Anyone can try. But it takes a particularly strong Soul to succeed.

[After all... it isn't just anyone that could take on the Composer and win.]

... it gets better near the end.

So you must have had a strong Soul if you managed to accomplish something like that.

[That thought alone made Ryoji smile.]

Does that mean that the city was changing for the better before you left?

You could say that.

[Of course, at the time, he had some help.

At that, Joshua smiles, glancing up to the sky.]

... yes. It was.

[Ryoji... found himself staring yet again. He honestly couldn't remember seeing Josh being so happy before. Both happy and proud. It managed to put a soft smile on his lips.]

The way you talk about it, Joshua-senpai... it makes me wish I was able to see that city of yours for myself someday.

[Even if something like that wouldn't be really possible, most likely... he could always wish, right?]

--Oh, wait, now that I remember it... All the friends back from your world who said that they come from Shibuya as well? Rhyme-chan and her brother, Neku-kun, and ah... Shiki-chan? [Did he remember the name right? He was sure she's been here twice by now, but they somehow never got the chance to talk more than once each time.] And Sanae-san as well? Oh, and there was also that guy... you've gotten into a fight with... once... [Ryoji trailed off a bit, wondering how he could have forgotten such a thing to begin with. And why was he remembering it just now, for that matter.]

Are they all residents of your city?

[A city is a Composer's greatest work, just as a symphony is to a composer of music. Or, rather, it is the paper on which the notes are written. It has the capability of becoming something fantastic. All it takes is love, and the Composer's grand vision.]

I could draw you a map someday.

[Granted, his skills were no comparison to Sanae's, but they were passable enough.

At that, Joshua looks back down, smiling... content.]

That's right. All of them are. Koki-kun as well, if you remember him. Hair similar to Neku's?

[He waves one hand idly.]

Minamimoto is the one you're thinking of, the one that attacked me. Though I have to say, it's fairly expected of him at this point, considering he's apparently still after my position. Even crushing him beneath a few heavy bits of machinery didn't seem to put a stop to him. His likeness to a cockroach is incredible.

Could you? I would love that.

[At the sole mention of a map, Ryoji practically beams at him. He never really tried drawing anything himself - save for those few occasional scribbles he's made along with that list recently - so he wouldn't exaggerate if he said that his skills in regards to that were pretty much non-existent. But that was most likely far from the case with Josh, was it? Now he was curious.]

Koki-kun... Ah, you mean Kariya-kun? I've talked to him in person just once, but yes, I do remember him.

[Really, there were so many people coming from Shibuya who managed to appear here by now. You guys were such a lucky bunch.]

And yes, that guy. His first name was Sho, if I remember correctly? He's been here twice by now, hasn't he? ...So he wants to become a Composer, just like you, huh. I'll be sure to remember that.

[In case he ended up here again.]

Of course.

[Perhaps a small sketch of part of the city itself... but definitely a map. Joshua's drawing skills can only go so far.

... and really, so many people have come and gone from his world. But that isn't exactly something to be happy about. Admittedly, the more people that are here, the more he has to worry about finding a way home for them.]

Correction: he wants to become the Composer of Shibuya. Meaning, he wants my position directly. There are only two ways to become Composer - either the current one Ascends and leaves the position to you, or you take it by force, by Erasing the current Composer.

[And to be quite honest, Joshua has no interest in exploring either one of those options.]

[Alright, then. Ryoji got the picture by now.]

Well, then... I guess it's okay for me to say that any enemies of Joshua-senpai are enemies of mine.

[Even if he wasn't fond of making enemies out of anybody, he supposed drastic times called for drastic measures. And Ryoji definitely wasn't about to side with someone that could be a potential thread to the safety of the person most dear to him.]

Does this Sho person also have abilities such as yours?

[... you know, Joshua is... not surprised to hear Ryoji say that.]

Kind of you to offer, Ryoji-kun.

[But really, he doesn't expect Ryoji to do anything. Especially since Minamimoto currently isn't here, anyway.]

He's one of my Officers, so he's capable of quite a bit - Noise production, telekinesis, telepathy, a Noise form... More or less, we're on the same level. Here, it makes it a much more even match.

One of your Officers? So he basically works under you and is after you at the same time?

[And Josh was okay with this? Or was that something he simply wasn't aware of earlier?]

Telepathy is mind reading, isn't it? And telekinesis makes it possible for you to manipulate objects without touching them, right?

[With those two, Ryoji was pretty familiar with by now. And the fact that Sho could manage either of that as well was a bit... worrying, to say the least.]

...Noise production, though? And a Noise form? What's that?

[Now this sounded like something he possibly had no clue about. And somehow he doubted that had anything to do with sound itself. Or did it?]

You could say that. He's somewhat of a prodigy, you see. Unfortunately, he's also one crayon short of a full box. I was aware that he was ambitious enough, but I never really thought he had the means~

[He's... not going to mention the way that he acquired those means, either.]

That's right. Though it seems I have to be physically present for both here. It's the same for him, but it's that way at home, as well. At least at home, I have a considerable advantage.

[He lets out a little sigh, glancing away for a second. Everything in general is better at home.]

Noise are creatures made up of the Soul energy that creates all living things. They exist on a plane separate from the RG and the UG, yet they are able to traverse both. They feed off of the negative energy given off by humans and block the flow of positive energy. He, like any other Reaper, can summon existing Noise and send it to attack Players.

Minamimoto, though, seems to have stumbled on a taboo method of creating them himself. Strong ones that are resistant to normal types of attack. Though, considering there isn't any spare Soul energy floating around here, I doubt he's capable of that.

[He smiles again, eyes lifting to the sky.]

As for Noise forms... well, only Reaper Officers and above are capable of having those. Think of it like a Final Boss form. Enhanced speed, strength, defenses... Not to mention, it's considerably intimidating.

...You were able to read people's thoughts without being physically present around them before? [Well that was kind of... both amazing and a little scary at the same time? Though Ryoji supposed it only made sense, if Josh was being connected to the whole city like that.] But this is something you have control over, right? Or do you hear what people think even without meaning to all the time?

[Because if it was the latter? Ryoji could only imagine how annoying and tiring something like that could be.]

So this Noise that you speak of... is more or less a physical manifestation of the negative energy people create? A kind of 'evil spirit' thing? Or is it something neutral in nature, but becomes negative the more negativity it feeds on? Is there positive type of Noise as well? [How both of their worlds worked seemed complicated to explain in this regard, wasn't it?] And there's no spare Soul energy around here? ...But it still exists in people, right? Or is it replaced with something entirely different here?

[Sorry for all the questions, Josh, but you're gotten Ryoji curious now.]

Meaning that... you have a Noise form yourself?

Of course. I could hear the thoughts of everyone in the city, if I so wished. [He waves a hand.] I didn't have control over it at first, but it didn't take long to figure out how to filter it all out.

[Granted, he'd had an awful headache for a week or so.]

Noise are made from Soul energy, actually. They simply instigate negative emotions. While they exist in both the UG and the RG, the only plane they're physicaly physically present on is the UG. They're more like spirits on the RG, possessing people and drawing out their negative feelings. Normally, people can't see them at all. It takes a special natural talent to be able to see the UG from the RG.

[He pauses for a moment, considering.] There isn't any Soul energy here because people don't die here. Not in the normal sense, anyway. It's present in those living here, sure, but there isn't a way to tap into it to create Noise. [Not that isn't taboo, anyway.] Because the Animus hold the souls of the dead and place them back where they belong, it doesn't really work the same as it does at home.

[... and that question gets a little smirk, and a bit of silence as Joshua glances away. He'd normally be evasive, but... well, it's Ryoji. It isn't like it will hurt anything.]

I haven't needed to use it in a long time.

[So are you able to tell what I'm thinking right now? Ryoji asked the question in his mind and turned silent for a moment, wondering whether Josh would catch it. If not, then... well, that would mean that either Joshua wasn't invading his mind right now, or would try to make Ryoji think that he didn't on purpose.]

I see. So I guess it's no wonder that this place works differently, considering. The Animus disrupt the natural order of things - and obviously in regards to a lot more than just that.

The Dark Hour that I mentioned to you about a while back doesn't seem to be taking place here, either, after all... but then again that's also an anomaly that started happening back in my world, so perhaps it's not that surprising that it doesn't happen anywhere else.

[Just like not everyone was aware of the things Josh was talking about, besides the residents of Shibuya. But all in all, just because Ryoji wasn't aware of something like the UG existing back in his world, it didn't necessarily mean it wasn't there. And come to think of it, the UG and the Dark Hour seemed to have a few similarities when you looked at it a bit closer. Especially in regards to the 'natural talent' thing, at least.

Ryoji blinks at that smirk, suddenly even more curious.]

Are you still able to use it here?

[Hm. Clever, Ryoji. And here he'd thought you had found your answer long before this. It wasn't really anything to hide, considering what Ryoji already knew, so... 'Of course I can.' Ryoji will be able to hear it ringing through his own thoughts, clear as day.]

I doubt that there's much in common with any world out there, really, other than a few buildings. There isn't a Game here at all, and to be quite honest, this world feels incredibly chaotic. Though, that probably doesn't come as a surprise.

[He tilts his head skyward again, chewing the inside of his lower lip in thought.]

I can. It takes a lot of energy, but...

[Ryoji perks up at the answer immediately, giving Josh an excited smile. Because as much as he knew that the other could read his thoughts, this was the first time Joshua gave him a reply in such a way. So they could practically communicate like this without saying anything at all! (Just like Josh could do with his kitty?) Talk about being able to hold private conversations with other people around as if nothing. ...Oh, of all the places they could go with this.

Well, of course Ryoji had the disadvantage of not being able to read Joshua's thoughts on his own in return, while being totally exposed himself. But he made peace with this fact a longer while ago already, anyway.]

So you tried changing here before already, I take it?

[Oh, of course. It's the best way to hold conversations behind someone's back without them knowing. He and Sanae do it all the time, honestly~ ... and of course, he's been conversing with Poco quite a bit, too. It helps, to be able to talk to him like that. Especially considering he's a nekomata. If something happens and he goes berserk, it could be easier to control him.]

Only a couple of times. It's a little exhausting, honestly.

[Exhausting, huh? Well, Ryoji wasn't really intending to push it at first, but if it didn't have any other negative symptoms beside just that... At least, from what Joshua was saying...]

So... what are the chances of me bribing you into showing it to me?

[Only a little more exhausting than flying, dragging Ryoji with him, supporting his weight with telekinesis and blocking bullets with telekinetic shields.]

... it depends on what you're using as a bribe, I suppose.

[...Okay. Ryoji would most likely think twice if he knew it was that exhausting.]

Well, there's not really much I could use besides another bowl of ramen, I guess? [As far as material things went, at least. But you weren't really interested in... non-material things as far as Ryoji was concerned, were you, Josh?]

So maybe there's something else that could go along with your wishes that I'm not aware of yet?

[As far as bribes go, material is the way to go. Non-material... well, he's still solidly on the fence about that. In terms of bribing, anyway.

A little sigh, and he pushes a bit of hair from his face.]

If I'm going to do this, I need a bit of open space.

[Shifting in cramped quarters was usually fairly uncomfortable.]

Open space...?

[Ryoji blinked, taking a moment to actually register that information. Did Josh just agree to it, just like that? And-- excuse him for panicking there a bit but he wasn't sure if he should start running away and put some distance between himself and Josh yet or--]

--Wait, you mean this bridge is too small for that?

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