knowinginthedark | [Journal and Event]

How strange. It may just be that Chacu Challhua in my world was too late. Or even just far too early. Or that, well-- the butterfly effect that caused me to agree to go on the expedition that led to my death, it caused everyone else who would've become a Dark Signer or a Signer to just... Simply not make the fatal decision to follow that path.

A person who may decide to stay home in one instance, or to go traveling around the world in another, or to not take a specific risk or met someone in particular-- it's impossible to confirm, but it's likely that my choice simply made it improbable. *it's a little... fatalistic of a theory, but he is the one living the whole thing...

I guess there is no way of ever knowing for sure if that was the case, but I know there's plenty of theories about how different choices can cause different timelines or possibilities to occur or not occur. It's a bit over my head most of the time, but I guess it's not out of the realm of possibility that something did or did not happen that didn't meld right.

Likewise, I don't think we were really 'supposed' to have two sets of Signers here, but like I said, there are some strange dimensional reasons we have two sets.

I'd say there's more than "reasons" for it-- there's so many things that simply never matched up to where I was from. Nothing like "SAI", or even anything that acknowledged Psychic Duelists, existed in my world, outside of the most niche of research. Accepting that monsters were present in our lives was like taking a fairy tale seriously.

It's why I ended up doing research. It seems like... a lot of things happened because of the presence of people who probably shouldn't have been here, possibly. You admitting to what you were... Well, it made a few things much more clear, but I might need to retrieve my notes first before I can do more research.

Yeah, come to think of it, a lot of things have developed or changed here because of people or Duel Spirits that have come from other worlds, timelines, dimensions and so on and it's kinda interesting comparing it to how things were in your own world where these things may not have happened.

*Juudai then gives him a small smile.*

I feel your research would be a real asset to this world.
I know we have some uncertainties right now and you did say you weren't fond of staying in one spot but... I honestly would love to have you as part of SAI's research team.

*he looks sheepish at that* Well... I appreciate that, really! I'll admit, I'd gotten so used to people just plain not... Taking my research seriously at all, so there was really more of a benefit to just being here compared to where I was.

*hangs his head right after that, though* Me sticking around however, other than the talk of my, you know, existence, probably is going to depend on... a couple other things.

*he gestures to the cuff* Namely if I get sent to jail or not after I recover fully, but, well.

I was catching up on what happened while I was out, news-wise. I think I might end up having at least one visitor, just circumstantially.

'One visitor'? Someone you're expecting to visit you?

But yeah, it depends on what the police and OOPARTS decide to do, though I'll be honest that the police tend to kinda... side wave 'supernatural occurrences', I don't think they really like dealing with it. A lot of stuff like this gets dealt with by OOPARTS and/or SAI a lot of the time.

That said, I'm going to try and see if I can push to get you put under my watch at SAI, sort of as a 'rehabilitation' case.

Rehabilitation... would probably work out as a reasoning, yeah, but...

Uh... that report about people suddenly reappearing, including that tourist group from a couple New Years' back? *he fidgets with the thin hospital blanket, obviously uneasy*

I guess there's no reason to hide it, but that group was my fault. But so was... everyone else that showed back up, too, it sounds like. And given how the report was worded, it's pretty likely that includes... Everyone I might've fed to Chacu Challhua in the revenge he drove me into, over the years. From back in my world.

*Juudai gives a slow nod.*

I see. I figured the people suddenly appearing was connected to you and Chacu Challhua.

*His face becomes more solemn for a moment.*

I remember how the Earthbounds we had fed on souls. I definitely have some... memories... of doing that myself. Of Uru influencing me and it feeding on the souls of people I dueled, even those I held close to me.

But... those people came back and so did these people. They're disorientated, but they're okay.
Granted I never thought that some of those that returned were possibly from your own world, so, they may need some extra help establishing lives here.

Edited 2022-01-01 21:49 (UTC)

They might. I mean, it's better than them appearing in a world that likely doesn't exist anymore, right? Least a better fate.

I wonder why it is though-- that they do come back. Were they just... Batteries for the Earthbound Gods, kept around even after being drained? I know that Chacu Challhua had his own limits, I could feel it when it happened, so I know it wasn't a feint, but just... Why, really?

Though honestly, I just expect at least one of them is going to try to attack me on sight, for what I did. I still remember a lot of that very clearly, and I wasn't exactly the most... accommodating sort when it came to "believing they had purposely left me for dead" and all, so my old team might not be accommodating in turn.

*suddenly, it may be very clear why he said he doesn't work "well on teams"*

*Juudai takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.*

Right. So some of these people you knew and I assume after you were bound to the Earthbound, you attacked them in revenge because you believed they 'purposely left you for dead'. Is that right? Just making sure I understand the situation and how much danger you think you're in right now.

Yeah, it was kinda, well... most of what the first couple years with Chacu Challhua involved-- it was sorta part of the deal he had me agree to. That I could get revenge on them in exchange for doing a Dark Signer's duty.

In hindsight though, I realize honestly... a lot of why they ended up running off and leaving me there, was probably just because of his own manipulations. Earthbound Gods seem to have the ability to affect probability, just slightly enough, to cause a death of their host target.

But it's not like they'll realize it. From their perspective, hey invited some nerdy freshman in college to go on an expedition in another country, he jumps at the chance, they freak out and leave him because of some ghosts... and then months later he pops up and sacrifices them to his god that he met on the way back?

*... he flops back onto the hospital bed, the cuffs clanging a little*

Maybe if I'm lucky, they'll count that all up to a crazy hallucination. Or aliens. That seems to be a running theory.

Okay, well, just in case, while you're in here recovering, I'll make sure there's some kind of security watching you and will tell them to not let anyone else see you other than specific people myself, or OOPARTS say is okay.

And if you are eventually released into my care, then I'll continue to make sure you remain safe, if you really do feel one of them may try to attack you if they find out where you are.

Other than that, if you are faced with one of them at any point, either contact myself or Onni from OOPARTS and we'll try and help explain and defuse the situation.

*giving a weary thumbs up*

Sounds like a solid plan. Though I'm still mildly hoping that "aliens" really does become the driving theory.

... you're really serious though about "rehabilitation", huh. I'll admit, I didn't actually uh...

Expect that even if I survived this, even if I had won or lost against my alternate, I'd be allowed to even stick around.

I always believe that people should have chances to redeem themselves and sometimes they need the support to be able to do that. I honestly wouldn't be doing my job properly if I didn't offer the chance to you.

But, I can also relate to you on a personal level, being a former Dark Signer myself. I may have been one for a shorter amount of time, compared to you, but I still remember being driven for revenge, having my thoughts and actions being manipulated and hurting people along the way, believing what I was doing was the right thing.
But after it all, my friends forgave me and gave me the support I needed to get back on the right track.

They never gave up on me and I promise I won't be giving up on you.

You have friends here, Tarou and it's okay for you to lean on myself, or Ruka, or anyone else who wishes to help you.

*Juudai gives him a genuine supportive smile. He really means this.*

*he stays quiet for a moment.

Before putting his hand to his face, that sorta. weary, exhausted feeling.*

Ugh, Chacu really did do a number to my perceptions, huh. *he removes the hand, readjusting his glasses*

Okay. I'll believe you that you want to really help. And I'll... Try to be on my best behavior about it, too. I still think a couple things'll come to head either way, but I'll try to not be the one instigating it. You know. In favor of rehabilitation, anyway.

*Juudai gives him a smile and a nod, satisfied with the answer before standing up from where he was sitting.*

Alright. I'll talk to OOPARTS and the police to let them know this is the route I want to offer to you and that you're willing to accept it.

In the meantime, take what time you need to recover physically.

Hah. Thanks. *he gives a bit of a wave*

Honestly, so long as my back's okay, I think I'll be fine once I get to finally eat.

Heh, I'll make sure to mention to them that you're hungry on the way out.

*Juudai gives him a wave.*

I'll catch ya later!

*With that, he turns to walk out of the room.*

... Tell Samasu "thanks" from me, too. And that blonde kid that was helping them out-- Tezaki, I think his name is.

If it were any other Signer who had actually decided to make me their problem, I'd probably not be alive right now, either.

*Juudai looks back at him with a smile.*

I'll make sure to let them know.

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