Descent into Madness

[Soul]

(ooc: The date is May 23 and it's around... mid-morning. Open to all assassins, but I particularly want Miyuki and Medusa here. Sorry in advance if this opening post is on the long side. I just really want to set the mood.)

It really didn't feel like it had been all that long since Soul, Miyuki, and Ursula's mission to infiltrate the agent headquarters. In that way, it also didn't feel like it had been all that long since Soul had given in to his animalistic desire to tear an agent apart. He had thought that he could regain his hold on himself without much of a problem after that. He was wrong. Dead wrong. If anything, the white-haired boy had only lost himself more than before.

There in the assassin lounge was where Soul currently was. He had slumped over on the couch closest to the back of the room and was staring up at the ceiling, one hand gripping his forehead and the other hanging limply at his side. His eyes were closed and his teeth were clenched together. To anyone else present, it might appear as though Soul was trying to get rid of a massive headache. It wasn't anything like that, though. Inside him was a war. A war being fought for control of his mind.

You really shouldn't have gone on that mission, Soul.

Oh, great. There was that damned voice again. Only... it wasn't just a voice anymore. No, the voice had a physical form now. ...Mostly physical, at any rate. He was there in the corner of the lounge eying Soul with what could only be described as a very nasty look. This was what Soul had begun to refer to as the ghostly version of himself. What made things worse was that he didn't know if anyone else could see this figure. "Go away." Soul growled.

No. Not until you promise me that you'll talk to Medusa about letting you go free. You don't belong here, Soul. You can still fight against the hold she has on you!

"I said go away!" Soul's voice was louder this time as he lifted his head slightly and moved his hand away from his face, revealing subtle dark circles forming around his eyes. Sleep had been eluding him for reasons he couldn't quite place. It wasn't helping that this ghost of the past him was haunting him. Soul slumped over again without waiting for his 'ghost' to speak again. Like hell he was going to ask for anything from Medusa. If she wanted him there, he would stay. "I came in here to try and relax. I don't need you bothering me." Soul growled. It was becoming more apparent that Soul was losing his old personality. This new, cold attitude was quickly becoming more and more common place. Did he care? Not at all. Soul rather liked it... and that was what was worrying the very last sliver of sanity represented by his phantom.

Realizing he was getting nowhere with his phantom, Soul let a soft groan escape him as he covered his forehead again with his hand. Things couldn't possibly get any more annoying. ...Could they?

[Eris]

It wasn't wrong for him to have assumed the room was empty. After all, Eris was quite skilled in the way of stealth. However, the only clue that presented itself of her presence was the way the shadows began to shift. Eyes revealing themselves and the figure of a woman conjured behind the couch where the boy sat. Goddess dropped her arms to the couch, resting the side of her head on her arms, alarmingly close to the boy so her hair flipped over his head and drifted against the side of his face. It'd slowly glide back, having taken on the appearance of nearly always being under stand, the way it pulsed gently.

"Be careful. Talking to yourself..." she said, tone not threatening but somewhat dangerous, "Someone might hear you." she added with a sharp smile. It'd be kind if not for the cunning mind beneath those bright eyes.

((ooc: Hope ya don't mind me slipping Eris in here? x3 ))

[Soul]

(ooc: Oh, not at all Eris. That was perfect. CX)

Great. Just great. Someone had heard him. Soul could see his phantom smirking at him as he rubbed his forehead in a vain attempt to make the situation even a little bit better for himself. Soul was about to open his mouth and ask just who Eris thought she was interrupting his thoughts, but as he lifted his head again to look at her he stopped himself. Getting mad at his leader was not a good idea.

Now what do you intend on doing, Soul? the phantom Soul asked. Soul didn't respond. He didn't want to seem completely crazy, even if Eris had already heard him.

"Sorry. Things have been... hectic recently." Soul said in the hope that that would explain himself. It probably wouldn't. For all he knew Eris thought he had completely lost it. "So, what brings you here?" Soul asked.

You can't ignore me forever you know. came the chiding voice of his phantom. Once again he ignored it. How long he could do so had yet to be determined, though.

[Eris]

"Hectic... Can't say I mind it..." Naturally, the Goddess of discord wouldn't. She allowed a smile, slick and unnerving as she eyed him up.

"One of my assassin's is having an argument with themselves... only polite I should interfere I suppose." she shrugged with a grin. Goddess only allowed herself to put on a lighter tone because she needed not to prove herself.

[Soul]

Not that she would know what it's like. What with me trying to pull you out of this and all. the airy Soul said. Whether or not he was purposefully trying to make Soul snap at him again was hard to determine, but Soul could feel his eye twitch slightly as a result of that comment. He wanted the phantom to go away, but couldn't say anything. It was having fun tormenting him, he was almost certain of it.

"Fair enough. Guess I should have considered who else might have been listening." he said at last. He doubted she would believe him if he even mentioned the phantom, let alone that he really was arguing with it and not himself. Then again, maybe she was right. Maybe it was himself he was arguing with. Maybe he was mad. "I just came in here to try and relax. I don't really think it's working." Soul stated. Then again, what could he really call relaxing anymore?

[Miyuki Takara]

Pink hair drawn up in a very loose and messy bun, Miyuki entered the longue in her regular tight jeans but with a tight gray tank top instead of her usual black sweater.
She'd gotten a good book to read, and intended to sit around and read it without disturbances, but the minute she entered, she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Soul laying on a couch, looking very distraught, and their own head, Eris, leaning over him.
I never get to read my books in peace, do I? Miyuki thought in passing as she walked up to the two.
"Ma'am," she dipped her head in formal greeting to Eris.
She then turned to Soul, a fake pout on her lip and her hands on her hips. "You look under the weather, doll," she said with a slight connotation of concern in her voice. "Something wrong?"

[Soul]

"It's nothing. Just a really bad headache." Soul replied, though perhaps just a bit too quickly. At last he allowed himself to sit up again, trying to make it seem as though there really was nothing to worry about. Then again, he had just been arguing with himself. Even if he had lost his grip on sanity, not even Soul was willing to admit that he was perfectly okay. Though even he had to admit, calling his phantom a headache seemed like the perfect metaphor.

Smooth. Real smooth. You want to throw in a fake cough, too? the phantom Soul asked.

"Would you just shut up for five minutes?" Soul replied, though it was barely audible. At least, he hoped it was. "So, what brings you here, Miyuki?" Soul asked.

[Miyuki Takara]

"I was going to read," she began, "But it looks like you set up camp here already. Not like I have a problem with that."
She took a seat next to him and placed a hand on his forehead. "Sure you're not sick or anything?" she asked. "You feel kinda warm. Don't tell me you're stressed out about our mission!"

[Soul]

"Sorry about that. This looked like the most comfortable place to take." Soul said. He wanted to say more, but he stopped himself as her hand went to his forehead. He welcomed the strangely gentle touch of her hand. For some reason, he felt he was able to relax a bit more. From the corner of his eye Soul could see the completely and utterly distraught look on his phantom's face. He clearly didn't like what was going on.

"Other than having a bit of trouble with sleep recently, I feel fine." Soul replied. "I don't think it's anything to worry about." he added with a slight shrug.

[Miyuki Takara]

Miyuki raised a thin eyebrow in a questioning look, but didn't say any more. Instead, she simply started giving him a soft but firm back massage now that he was sitting up. "There. You looked real tense."

[Soul]

At first, Soul was keen to ask just what Miyuki was doing. He wasn't exactly accustomed to massages. Once it began, though, it was hard for him to stop the soft 'mmm' of pleasure that escaped him. Man, did that feel good! Soul hadn't even realized how tense he really was. He could feel himself giving in to the relaxation. "Okay, I have to admit, that does feel pretty good." Soul finally said.

You can't be serious. You're just... dammit, what about Maka?! Don't you even care about her anymore?! the phantom Soul asked. He'd moved closer to the couch, but of course Soul realized Miyuki and Eris wouldn't see him. He'd come to the conclusion that he was the only one who could see this airy version of himself.

Soul decided to not respond this time. He was determined to try and appear at least a little bit sane. Just for the moment. If the phantom spoke again, though, he doubted he would be able to keep himself from snapping at it again.

[Miyuki Takara]

"Mmm-hmm. You needed it, doll-face," she muttered as she let her thumbs trace circles up his back. "Now, tell me truthfully. Is something up?"
Despite her impossible and brutal nature, Miyuki couldn't deny the growing affection for the sytche-boy anymore. He didn't get on her nerves, and didn't hate her or be overly fond of her, and that was just about all she could ask for in this world of idiocy. So it was only natural that she would feel concern for him-- he wasn't hiding any uneasiness very well.

[Soul]

"I don't know if you would believe me if I told you." Soul replied. "It's... difficult to explain."

Aww, what's the matter Soul? Afraid she'll think you've lost it completely?

"Oh for the love of... shut up." Soul hadn't even realized he had been speaking in his usual volume as those words left his mouth. It was too late to take them back. A sort of 'oh, crap' expression formed on his face as color briefly drained from his face. What sort of reaction should he expect from that?

Nice. Now she'll definitely think you've lost it. the phantom Soul taunted.