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[luneminary]

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[noentry]

[. . .

[It's how Sano feels too, but he can't quite bring himself to say it, to admit that his powers are terrible, that they cause more pain than good.

[He asks a new question, avoids again, but he thinks it matters. He thinks Ryoji might understand.]

Does this really make us human, though? Are our abilities the only difference?

[luneminary]

[Good question. If this place strips all of what makes them supernatural, does that make them human? What defines what is human and what isn't, when they're all the same inside?]

I don't think it does. But at least this way we could pretend, and isn't that enough?

[noentry]

So, you really wish you were human, then...

[luneminary]

Yeah!

[The smile he has is blinding.]

I think humans are great. They live their lives to their fullest with the limited time that they have. That's not something I could just do, as a god of death.

[...And momentarily, as it turns into something more distant and melancholy.]

Although I guess there would be problems too if I would just stop existing as one...

[noentry]

[So, they're both gods. A god of death is perhaps more vital to the universal ecosystem than a god of misfortune, but perhaps Sano isn't giving himself much credit.]

I've thought about it too. Once or twice.

[luneminary]

Right?

[He nods vigorously.]

Lots of humans wish that they could be special or something more, but I don't think they realize that there's something to be gained from being "normal" as well.

[noentry]

It's that, but...

[He thinks of Haruaki, of course, the only human he really knows.]

Sometimes humans are exceptional too.

[luneminary]

[He's right, of course. Pretty much all of SEES is exceptional in their own ways. And that includes the people who aren't human, too.]

They are, aren't they? There's some things that they can do we non-humans cannot.

[Like fight against fate.]

[noentry]

Like what...?

[Not because Sano disagrees, but because he wants to hear it from someone else too, just how amazing humans can be. Maybe it will validate his own feelings. He's all but forgotten the quarter-built snow-Ryoji.]

[luneminary]

...You know how gods are supposed to represent something? A title, or a duty they must fulfill? Humans don't get any of that. They get to be whatever they want to be.

[He thinks of Minato again, and of the myriad activities he seems to pick up. Of how different each of SEES are in their likes and dislikes. Yet they all come together for one common purpose.

So he finally voices the thoughts he has this entire time:]

Humans get to fight against fate, and make one for their own.

[Snow-Sano has hardly been built, although Ryoji has been slowly making progress - he's finally working on the legs!]

[noentry]

[He hadn't quite looked at it that way - or maybe he had, just without such eloquence in his articulation. Ryoji's words make perfect sense, click into place among the other puzzle pieces that put together Sano's understanding of the human race. Sometimes, he thinks he's falling in love with it.]

You're right.

[. . .]

Does that make you a god, Ryoji-san?

[luneminary]

[He looks at Sano with an understanding that only two beings who found themselves belonging in another place could have.]

That's what they call me, and so a god I became. I am called by many names, but Ryoji is still my favorite.

[noentry]

Yeah...?

[Maybe Sano wonders idly what Ryoji is a god of, but that doesn't really matter, does it? They understand each other - something, anyway.]

Why Ryoji?

[luneminary]

[Why Ryoji, indeed? The name just popped into his head, like it's something that's always been with him back when he thought he was just human. Someone else must have named him...like his parents.

He's still not sure if he hates them or not.]

It's because it's the name that represents myself now. I like it when people call me that instead of the names that are associated with who I am as a god or as a Persona.

[noentry]

A persona? What do you mean by that?

[luneminary]

The easiest way to explain it is that a Persona is the manifestation of the self. Like a mirror to their soul, so to speak. Humanity reflects mythology, and mythology reflects humanity, which is why Personas take the shape of supernatural phenomena.

[Or a god, in Ryoji's case.]

[noentry]

So...you're a reflection of someone else?

[It's not quite the same, but...the concept feels familiar.]

[luneminary]

Yes...and no.

At first, I was born as a reflection of multiple wishes. A concept given shape. But then I was put inside a human boy, and so I became specifically his reflection, too.

[There's a fond look on his face - the face he always makes when he thinks about Minato. Someone special to him, unlike any other.]

It's because of him that the personality of "Ryoji Mochizuki" exists in the first place.

STARES INSANELY AT THOSE BRACKETS??? NEW INFORMATION FOR PAN

[noentry]

Multiple wishes...

[Sano is quiet, tucking his fingers around his chin.]

Do you think...that might be what's happening here too?

[And aside from that, it begins to make a little more sense to Sano that he liked Ryoji so immediately.]

What you said... It almost sort of reminds me of someone.

SURPRISE!!!! ryoji is such a walking spoiler alksdjakl

[luneminary]

I'm not sure, but it's possible.

[Why else would they be able to make those wishes come true in the first place?

In any case, it's now Ryoji's turn to be curious.]

Oh? Who is that someone?

[noentry]

Eh... Don't worry about that...

He's just some weirdo I know.

[Aren't they supposed to be making sculptures of each other? Snow melts through Sano's gloved hands. He tries to pack it onto the pair of legs he's already put together, but it continues to be tricky work.]

I don't think this is turning out right...

[luneminary]

[Ryoji laughs, cheerful tones amidst the breeze.]

You sure know a lot of weird people!

[He's been working on snowman Sano this entire time, but his own progress tells a similar tale.]

Maybe we're going about it wrong? Like maybe there's some kind of special trick we have to do...

we can inch toward a little wrap one way or another if u wanna

[noentry]

Eh... I don't know...

[Really, he's been so distracted by their conversation that he's sort of lost interest.]

Maybe we should just bail. We can do something else instead.

up to you! im good with continuing unless you wanna be free

[luneminary]

Wait, what?

[But the cute snowmen! It is really hard though, to the point that he's not so sure if it can be completed at this rate. Still, thinks slacking off and skipping classes are still a foreign concept to him.]

We can just do that?

hehe o v o let's keep goin then

[noentry]

I mean...we won't win the contest, and we probably won't get paid, but...

[Sano shrugs.]

Why not?