#cant get over the way that him getting an up on francis feels im SORRY

[helianskies]

hear me out. hear me out. the one good thing to have come out of brexit:

look at that shit-eating grin. oh my days

[lizzyaka]

HAIII ITS ME THE ANON!! im ngl i genuinely gasped when i read your rentry and saw tsh and yttd in the same line like those two are such mismatched interests i never expected to see anyone else like them both 😭😭😭

I GET YOUR ATTACHMENT TO SHIN BRO. Also based on your yttd faves i have a feeling you went thru all the stages of grief with the bio-siblings revelation…… idk just a feeling hehe. NO BUT YTTD MAKING IT SO ONLY ONE SIBLING GETS TO LIVE WAS SO??!???? i never emotionally recovered from that . regarding my yttd fav i’d say its shin but it has been so long since i played the game i barely know his character anymore ;;;;; lowkey i also fw almost all the floor masters. midori/sou was my bunny corcoran back in the day (in the sense that theyre both problematic-ish characters that the fandom hates but i enjoy their character guiltily)

and for my tsh faves oooh boy… as u can see by my username… richard and bunny are so deeply personal to me . theyre not favorites in the “i love them ❤️ my scrunklies” way but in the “I HATE THEM I HATE THEM I HATE THEM” way. like i am fully aware they are horrible people but as characters??? Theyre written so well to the point i cant help but think about them every second daily

beware of the shin tsukimi to richard papen pipeline!!!! this may be reaching and i fear im mischaracterizing shin (you are free to correct me on this. let out the inner shin fan out) but if you squint real hard….. theyre both liars who pretend to be someone theyre not and theyre also both pathetic losers (i say this very affectionately) who are just trying to survive (what is richard even surviving from. he is nawt in a majority vote death game)

i have yapped too much i apologize </3 i appreciate you defending bunny from the allegations actually we need more bunny defenders in the fandom (and less francis fans.. cough) . i dont have any specific questions about yttd bc my memory of that game has gotten foggy sadly but we could always talk about yttd to jog up my memory of it !!!

NAURRR DONT BRING UP 2-2 im gonna be honest w u i have played yttd a total of 7 times (this is so embarrassing i want to crawl into a hole and never come out) and 2-2 has never once failed to devastate i cannot express just how badly it affected me. last time i played was over a year and a half ago im trying to forget as much about it as i can so i can replay the whole thing w fresh eyes when 3-2 comes out but i doubt thats gonna be possible since i fear the only person in the world who knows yttd better than me is nankidai himself. I promise ur jaw would have dropped to the floor if u had met me 1-3 years earlier i cant stress how bad the obsession was, theres a couple of people who follow me here who knew me then who can testify😭 it was actually bonkers i ate slept and breathed yttd

I CANT STAND THE FLOORMASTERS BROO i heavily fw rio ranger and safalin BUT THE REST? BOOOO midori actually makes me sooo fucking violent sorry hes by far my least favorite😭 i can see why u like him trustt i just have a vendetta against him

AND I KNOW WHAT U MEAN ESP W BUNNY bro won me over im not sorry. Yes hes awful yes he would borderline hate crime me but i stand with bunny what can i say

[mifhortunach]

2023 'overview'

The standard end of year post of course!

This year has both breezed by and felt absolutely endless, personally at least, and i feel like i accomplished nothing(!), but still, here's a round up of some stuff i enjoyed!?

MOVIES: as ever as always! I'm writing this a bit in advance, but i've deffo seen less movies this year than i did last year, tho i believe that i did manage to get out to the cinema way more than usual (tho, tbh, most often on my lonesome i think). I think i've felt the most divided on them this year; i liked a lot of stuff very VERY much! i also have felt so SO bored with a lot more things. i think i talked about having like. a matrix moment last year, nothing like that this year, tho a lot more of being like, 'well yeah, of course', or finally being able to recognise what a shot is, lol. Regardless, here are the movies i probably loved the most this year:

aftersun: all i talked about jan thru feb, need to watch it again. it looks great, its both fun & heartbreaking, and you KNOW i love the found footage side of it all - especially when it addresses that even when you have footage of 'objective reality' you just really cant know it all operation avalanche: as w aftersun, this shit gets at like ALL my interests! OpAv isn't a perfect movie, and i think the more u know about the production/etc the more obvious that becomes [i genuinely WOULD love to see/know more about the version that really did have the mole/romance plotline integrated, but lbr, that doesnt really exist]. ANYWAY!! i do think this is such an exciting film to watch, especially the movie making sequences, and i think the feeling of it all comes across so truly iygm. also, obvs, bc i love conspiracies unfortch the dirties: im sorry there's so much MJ on this list, short tho it is! but hey, these really took over my life for a month there lol. i still havent listened to the commentary w the real film critic, but i truly find this to be an airtight movie, the found footage stuff is so well integrated, justifying everything while also calling all intent/'reality' into question.. i do think someone could spend forever with it - its also funny & miserable! what more could u want (watch my fancam please) my house walkthrough: i genuinely just really like this!! ive said it before, but i genuinely just find it such an exciting watch, the bts just makes it so much cooler - what's sicker than repetition Hon Noms: la confidential: heat walked so this could run ! thirst: so much fun, i love vampire lovers who hate each other beau is afraid: too long, but i really liked most of this, v funny black tower: great example of doing smth so cool w very little

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

books:

francis spufford, new sun series, chandler, mauretania

PODCASTS:

sfultra!!!: sean L@TDF finally returns to talk about sci-fi books! sean is one of the few critics i'll always keep up with even when i dont agree w him, & this show has been a real treat all this year - the patreon stuff is great as well - its introduced me to a lot of new stuff & crit, and its been good to hear from him again. if u listen to any of these, listen to this shelved by genre: really good, tho often we have different interests - got me to read a fair few more books this year! im not a games guy, and im mad behind on fatt, so its super nice to get to hear some austin biweekly anyway, lol. twioat (as ever): i was a bit trepidatious about this season starting off, but it's been so much fun, the fellas really knocked it out of the park. i loved hearing from some guests that we havent heard from in ages. this season on AJLT was also fuckin amazing, truly & really adored their coverage; possibly highlight of my summer?? toxic podcast: i almost certainly shouted this out last year, but it was nice to have this around again in the top half of the year!! ale has a letterboxd now & its fun to get to see just how many truly atrocious horror movies he does watch all the time. a true connoisseur

------------------------

pick’n’mix:

ntbts: its a such good show!! i've watched more tv than usual this year, but i love how this is done on almost every level. i apologised before for having so much MJ on this list & i stand by that!, but i do think that one of the best (practical) traits in his work is making difficult stuff look not only easy, but genuinely both fun & achievable. whens the movie going to drop??? (lol) getting into shirts: this genuinely was more of an accidental year long thing, starting w the ones i printed for lizzie back in jan/feb, but its been fun! finally got back some screenprinting experience, and i think u can really see some amping up of ambition & basic skill/practice. i do wanna do more in the new year, but am trying to engage with actual intended outcomes (and lbr, the storage issue lol), so we'll see

the sopranos!!: sometimes they really were right about good tv being good, who knew! so much funnier, weirder & depressing than i wouldve expected- honestly undersung at this point. also, it introduced me to a tonne of music lol

the blackberry soundtrack: unfortch i continue to be kinda mixed on the film, as much as i think on a technical level it's so super cool & well-made. i do really like the soundtrack tho!! i'm kinda iffy on some of its application in the actual film, but im a hater, so what can u do lol. the actual thing DOES rip tho

==========

this whole thing makes it look like i got a lot more done this year than i feel like i did lol. i feel like i had plans up the top but they really all came out in the wash//

i read an okay amount of books, but failed to get thru any piles

i watched more tv than usual this year, and saw id say, a midtier amount of movies, but way more new movies than usual

i moved for a bit! then moved back & got a worse job lol

there was a lot of work i didnt get finished.. i have stuff ive been meaning to edition since this time last year that i still havent gone back to.. that said, i think i did get some stuff done, finally actually did some stone litho(!!!!) & had some stuff up in a show or two

who knows,,, maybe ill finally get my shit together & 2024 could be my year - people say good things about being 26 right??? 😭😭😭

[autocann1bal]

part four of my playlist analysis!!

part 1 &lt;- part 2 &lt;- part 3 <- back into the soup we dive

somewhere only we know - keane lockwood takes them to a special spot and they have a nice picnic on a hill and cuddle on a picnic blanket <3 we're ignoring how sad the song actually is <33.

brooklyn baby - lana del rey oh please lockwood is so brooklyn baby by lana del rey you cant tell me hes not hes a posh little london boy and lucy's a girl who grew up in a rural town in the north theyre so brooklyn baby.

sunsetz - cigarettes after sex we're ignoring the sexual aspect of this song entirely <3 anyway theyre wandering around a park just before the sunset, just being silly and cute <333. like real people do - hozier look i know we've had plenty of locklyle sleepy morning and sleepy nights but this one is DIFFERENT OK. they wake up in lockwoods bed after a rough night of panic attacks from both of them, they fell asleep in eachothers arms. lucy tries to get up without disturbing him and he, still asleep, holds her tighter and kisses her forehead. she stays till he wakes up and they kiss <333 domesticity my beloved. its called: freefall - rainbow kitten surprise george and lucy talking methinks. it just feels like a serious conversation between them. my kind of woman - mac demarco lockwood just heart-eyes-ing at lucy while she files papers in the basement or smth idk just lockwood pathetic simp mode, as usual <33. i was all over her - salvia palth lmao lockwood hopeless simp time but sad edition. the way he looks at her, like shes all hes ever wanted, all he ever will want, but the knowledge that she may never be his. this gets even worse after she starts helping him with his panic attacks, he feels like hes using her. francis forever - mitski lockwood, alone in his room, every night after lucy left. he cant get her out of his head and hes to afraid to ask george for help, for fear george will tell him to suck it up and move on (which of course would never happen). those where some rough nights for lockwood. the beer - kimya dawson lucy breakdown song (real) (not clickbait) (im definitely not writing this instead of my essay waht are you talking about) i want you - mitski lucy, longing for lockwood more than anything, but shes so deathly afraid that holly is replacing her. diet mountain dew - lana del rey ok it doesnt. really fit their dynamic i dont think but it just sounds so right ykwim? good looking - suki waterhouse hes her good looking boy!!! this song is so them just read the lyrics <33. 4 morant - doja cat erm. uhm. haha. i mean. yea. erm. so. hee hee. lockwood vibes. harness your hopes - b-side - pavement that whole 'hold me just like the morning paper' line is so simp-y lockwood <3333. dirty night clowns - chris garneau different. vibe from the last song uhhh. do i have to explain. move me - half.alive THEY ARE SO HALF.ALIVE I CANT EXPLAIN IT ITS JUST THEM. i mean the literal first line of this song is 'i never told, you never asked' which is quite literally them in episode 6 so. i wanna be yours - arctic monkeys just lockwood being a simp again and who can blame him lucy is so <333. britrock - mccafferty uh oh more mccafferty time. this song is just so lucy i dont know why it just is im sorry. im not sorry. after dark - mr. kitty sad vibes. theyre both in the dark just lying together in lockwoods bed. not even talking just together. thinking. ill call you mine - girl in red do i have a personal vendetta against this song?? yes. will it stop me from using it for Them TM?? absolutely not. cute domestic roadtrip vibes fight me. i want to be with you - chloe moriondo this one is self explanatory. bedroom ghost - flower face oops different vibe. lucy shower breakdown? no, lockwood shower breakdown :sunglasses:. privately owned spiral galaxy - crywank (specifically the lovejoy cover tho) mmm lockwood thinking alone in his room song methinks. christ alright, part 5 ig im so sorry this is so long i feel so bad dfhgfkjg

[angrylizardjacket]

sweet chaos {Brian May}

Anons asked (in a roundabout way, I lost the original prompts): Brian/Reader where she has a crush on him but he thinks she’s into another one of the band members, and when he confronts her, he tells her he has feelings too? Also, Brian/Reader where they meet in the studio and there’s flirting and they end up together.

A/N: 3640 words. Something about Brian just makes me wanna write a lot apparently. Y/N is just.... so chaotic. ANYWAYS, so this is the fic I wrote last night and then lost, but I’ve managed to salvage it, and I’m happy with how it turned out. I’m so sorry to the two beautiful anons whose prompts were lost to my mistake last night, just know this goes out to you.

“Deaks, when did you get cool?” You gaze around the studio with an almost awed expression, hands shoved in the pockets of your jacket, before finally turning your grin on John, who was crouched by his bass case, looking up at you with a singular raised eyebrow.

“I’ve always been cool.” John was adamant about this, pulling out his bass and clicking the case shut. “You just don’t appreciate me.” After a moment, in which you rolled your eyes at him, he secured the strap on his instrument and looked up at you with an amused smile. “A year ago.” He conceded, and your eyes went wide.

“A ye- John Francis Deacon-” You cut yourself off, spluttering in surprise.

“Not my middle name.” He interjected, though you just talked over him, bouncing on the balls of your feet.

“You’ve been in a band for a year and you didn’t think to tell me? I’ve been living with you for like a week!” You crowed, and your theatrics had earned both a chuckle from John, and the attention of the three other boys in the room; the rest of the band.

“You care to introduce us to your friend?” The blonde one asked, eyebrows raised, confusion clear on his face.

“If I must,” John gave you a long suffering smile, before turning on his heel to face the others, “Roger, Brian, Freddie, this is Y/N. Y/N, this is Roger, Brian, and Freddie, the band.” He gestured between you all, and it takes a moment for him to finally finish processing everything you had said. “How have you known me this long and not known my middle name?”

And, okay, he did have a point; you’d grown up living next door to each other, had been practically joined at the hip since some kid had tried to push you off the swing beside him, and so you’d pushed the kid back, yelling ‘go away, he’s my friend’. You been through primary school and high school together, and it was only when John went to uni and you took a year to backpack across Europe, that you really spent a meaningful amount of time apart.

“Is it Jonathan?” You asked, feigning innocence, and John had to actually stop, where he was tuning his bass to suppress a smile. You couldn’t look at him, if you did, you knew you would just break into a fit of giggles. Instead, you took the moment to really give a good look at the band. The blonde one behind the drums, Roger as he’d been introduced, didn’t seem to know what to do with you, and instead just went back to setting up his equipment. Freddie, who had been quietly warming up his voice on the other side of the room, had paused for the moment, analysing you with a serious look before his gaze came up to meet yours. He gave an approving nod, and went back to his work, already bouncing with energy and anticipation. The guitarist, Brian, just seemed amused by the banter, looking between you and John with a loose grip on his guitar.

“Yes, my mother named me John Jonathan.” His words were practically dripping with sarcasm, but you kept your composure, not even cracking a smile.

“I’ve met Lilian, I wouldn’t put it past her..” You clicked your tongue, raising your eyebrows at John. After a beat, his eyes went wide and he tried to protest, but your facade cracked and you chuckled fondly at his exasperation, and you hear Brian laugh too, before he goes back to also tuning his guitar. “I’m kidding, Deaks, you know I love your mum,” your waved him off with a fond smile, making a move to leave the recording studio, but thought better of it, turning back with a mischievous grin. John’s expression immediately became suspicious. “And of course I know your middle name; it’s Dick.”

“Richard.” He corrected automatically, the word accompanied by an eyeroll. You heard Roger snort out a laugh.

“How do you get Dick from Richard?” Freddie asked with a confused frown, stopping his pacing. The moment the words left his mouth, you’re pretty sure you can see John spontaneously form a headache, and your grin sharpens.

“You ask him nicely.” You hear both you and Brian say at the same time. There’s a beat of silence, and you both look at each other, sharing an amused moment of camaraderie, much to John’s exasperation.

“I like this one.” You say, voice firm, pointing directly at Brian. His smile widened before he ducked his head, going back to his guitar. John had just started shaking his head at you, but he was smiling so you knew you weren’t in any real trouble.

In the sound studio, the tech they had on, as well as the other two girls, Mary and Kristin, they introduced themselves as, greeted you warmly enough, and thus started one of the longest and best nights of your life so far.

John was good at bass, much better than you had realised, much better than he had any right to be, at least that’s how you phrase it in your head when you’re resting your chin on his shoulder, listening to the playback of his latest version of the song they’d been working at for about half an hour. Eyes glassy, your mouth remained shut as the boys bandied about musical terms and ideas that you didn’t really understand, though you knew you’d appreciate their end product. John sort of loved that about you, your ability to walk the fine line between irritating and lovable, yet also knowing when to keep your mouth shut if you didn’t think you could contribute to a conversation as well as you’d like.

“You’ve been awfully quiet, what do you think, Y/N?” Brian’s smiling up at you from where he’s sat in a wheelie chair they’d co-opted from the office in the next room. Snapping back to reality, you take a step back from John, looking to the now-empty studio, and then to your best friend.

“What do I think?” It takes all of your effort not to just blurt out exactly what you had been thinking; I watched John eat a worm once and now he’s making kick ass music and I don’t know how to consolidate those two mental images of him in my mind. “Great.” You answer instead. “I think it sounds great.” After a beat, you duck your gaze, laughing a little self consciously, “I don’t know a lot about music so I can’t really offer much feedback.” 

“Well, if you stick around, we can probably teach you a think or two.” He shrugged, but there was clearly an offer in his words, and you smile, before turning and raising your eyebrows at John, as silent question asking if you could stay.

“He’s the one who made the offer, not me.” John just put his hands up in mock surrender, pushing you a few steps closer to Brian as he maneuvered around you to head back into the recording studio. “She’s your problem now, Bri.” He called over his shoulder, giving you a sunny smile, which only served to make you irritated.

“Problem?” You huffed, before stalking over to the sound desk, leaning over it as you turned on the microphone. “Don’t disrespect me like that, John Jonathan, I watched you eat a worm!” And to that, John, along with the rest of the band and those in the sound studio, laughed, and you felt the tension leave you as you cracked a smile. After a moment, you see John pulling up his bass, and there’s a gentle tap on your left hip, and you turn, seeing the sound technician waiting with pointedly raised eyebrows. Stepping back quickly, you move to make room for him, promptly falling right onto Brian, who was the one who had been trying to get you to move in the first place.

John’s started playing again so no-one else hears Brian’s quiet grunt of discomfort at your landing. Scrambling to stand up and apologise, you hear him quietly laugh, reaching out to take hold your wrist, not to keep you there, more like a reassurance.

“It’s fine, you’re my problem, after all.” And despite the fact that you resent being called a problem at all, the way he’s smiling at you, the way he says it, well maybe it didn’t sound too bad.

The sound got more experimental as the night wore on, and once they’d reached the tipping point while recording the tenuously titled ‘Seven Seas of Rhye’ the night became electric. You spent your time often on your feet, bouncing around the space, listening with a grin as the others would suggest a new, eclectic ideas. If you weren’t in Brian’s lap in the wheelie chair, which you’d claimed as your seat for the night, you were dancing with Mary, or John, or even Roger and Kristin, you’re pretty sure you’ve been a part of something truly extraordinary by hearing this album being created.

“Alright, alright,” when the night wraps up and John comes to collect you, you’re with Brian, chatting to Mary with his chin on your shoulder, “time to head home, dear.” Mary excused herself from the conversation, heading off to find Freddie, while you turned and gave John’s outstretched hand an unimpressed look.

“You cut me loose, Deaks, I was in the market for a new best mate and you pushed me at poor Brian here,” shaking your head, you lay the faux disappointment on thick, crossing your arms and leaning back just a little further against Brian, who was grinning with amusement at the whole situation, “this is really all your fault.” You added, but John just rolled his eyes, smiling exasperatedly at you.

“It’s fine by me, I’d love to have you off my sofa, but I just thought I’d let you know,” and he cast his gaze towards the recording studio, “Brian lives with Roger.” He said pointedly as Kristin’s high, sweet laugh rang through the air, and you saw Roger was grinning confidently, showing her how to twirl a drumstick in favour of packing up his drum kit. Standing abruptly, you took John’s free hand.

“Yeah, probably a good call.” Brian’s expression soured, but then he turned back to face you, smiling brightly. “Lovely to meet you, though; we’ll be seeing you again, right?”

“You guys play gigs?” You asked, and he nodded. “Well then, now that John’s let me in on this dirty little secret of his, I think you’d be hard pressed to stop me.” And with a final, playful wink, you loop your arm through John’s and leave the studio.

And, well, you do see them again. You see them a lot; you’re there every weekend, at gigs, sometimes in rehearsals, you become as regular of a fixture as Mary. The boys liked having you around, you were friendly and bright, and you actually seemed to bring John out of his shell a little. In general, you found it easy to be around them, being close to them, and soon enough, you’ll find yourself comfortable enough to just lean against them when you’re standing close, at bars or during a break in rehearsals. Casual hugs, arms around shoulders, it’s a staple of your existence with the band, which you love because - yay! Human contact! - but with it comes a pretty big detractor.

It’s damn hard to establish whether or not the goofy guitarist who smiles like goddamn sunshine, and who you may have an enormous crush on, is even remotely interested in you as more than anything more than a friend. You’d really tried not to like him like that, for John’s sake at least; he was your best friend, you couldn’t jeopardise your friendship with him, and his band mate, but the heart wants what it wants, and yours wants Brian to never stop smiling at you the way he does when he’s on stage and he sees you cheering for them in the crowd. He’s always the first to hug you when you arrive to a show, never one to brush you off when you tuck your arm into his when you’re both waiting for drinks at the bar, he plays along well when you’re doing a bit, and he’s always the first to drag you away whenever you’re about to get in a scrap with Roger.

That was the main problem you had with the band; Roger was far too easy to wind up, and you were far too willing to kick that hornet’s nest whenever the whim struck you. He respects you well enough, likes you well enough, is even willing to share the armchair in the hall outside the rehearsal room when you two are the first ones to arrive, and the others show up and you’re both arguing over an article in the paper but he’s got an arm around you for stability. It’s not that you don’t get along with Roger, it’s just sometimes fun to watch him get worked up over a joke. Like when you’d told him you’d seen better drumming in a high school marching band. You’d almost copped a drumstick to the face for that one, but you’d caught it just before it had landed, and after a beat of silence in which the both of look a little impressed at your reflexes, you both break out into unintelligible arguing, drawing the attention of both John and Brian who had been chatting at the side of the room. 

You’re about a foot away from the drum kit, brandishing the drum stick and threatening to shove it somewhere unpleasant, and Roger was standing, looking a little like he was two seconds from crashing directly through the drum kit to tackle you, when you feel a pair of arms around you, and you’re being dragged away. Looking around, you see John advancing on Roger like he’s a spooked horse, trying to calm him down.

Once you realise it’s Brian, you stop trying to get away, and simply let yourself be walked backwards until the two of you are near the door, and he turns you, arms still around you, so he’s blocking Roger from your sight.

“Why do you have to rile him up like that?” Brian asks, and you turn around so that you’re toe to toe.

“It’s not my fault he doesn’t know how to take a joke.” You grumbled, crossing your arms awkwardly as they’re trapped between the two, though Brian doesn’t loosen his grip, in fact, he seems rather endeared by your antics.

“Can I have that?” He asks, eyes dropping to the drumstick in your hands, and you snorted. You can hear Roger in the background angrily murmuring that he’s fine.

“I caught it, it’s mine, fair and square.” You say, voice lofty. “It’s a trophy.” You added, and that set Roger off again, just as Freddie walked through the door.

“It’s a trophy, my ass! Give me back my drum stick, you knob!” He hollers, and you use the element of surprise to shift both yourself and Brian to face the enraged drummer, though he doesn’t let go of you. John’s got his arms around Roger, but he’s not being held nearly as securely as you.

“This trophy will go up your ass! Call me lazy again!” You dared at the top of your lungs, even as you were being hauled backwards. “Let go of me, Brian!” You protested as Roger broke free of John and started wrestling one of his cymbals from it’s stand, to both John and Freddie’s shouted protests. “You throw that cymbal and I’m keeping it too!” Are the last words you get in before the door to the rehearsal space shuts and you hear it lock, presumably by Freddie. Brian lets go of her and promptly sat himself on the armchair in the hallway, looking like he was trying to process what had just happened.

With your back against the door, you twirl the drumstick absentmindedly, a skill you’d picked up quite by accident, simply by virtue of having seen Roger show off so much. It’s not something that goes unnoticed by Brian, but he doesn’t comment on it.

“Why?” Is all he asks, and you finally look up. When your gazes meet, you lob the drumstick gently over to the side of the room, already bored with it.

“He was being a dickhead.” You sighed, as if it were answer enough, letting the tension out of your shoulders and resting your head against the door. Silence stretched between you, and when your gaze shifted from the ceiling to look at Brian, he was waiting with a half-smile for an elaboration. “Rog told me that if I was going to just laze around I should start looking cute or being helpful,” already your explanation made far too much sense, and Brian chuckled. “So I said I only help out people with talent, and that the rest of you were fine-” you don’t know what to make of his pleased little smile, but you’re already getting to your feet and making your way over to him, “and of course he feels the need to prove himself.” You say, sitting down on Brian’s lap. Sitting sideways, you hang your legs over the arm of the armchair and rest your cheek on his shoulder. It’s automatic, the way he rests a hand on your thigh, the other coming to wrap around you in support.

“Wouldn’t have mattered what he’d played, would it?” You can hear him smiling, and he already knows your answer.

“He implied that I was lazy and not cute.” You made a face, like you couldn’t believe it, even after the fact. “Me!” Brian couldn’t help but chuckle at that, though his heart wasn’t in it.

“I have to ask, is this some weird, passive-aggressive flirting technique you’re using on him?” And when he says it, you sit bolt upright, frowning deeply, flushing with embarrassment; he thinks you’re flirting with Roger of all people?

“I don’t know how to flirt with people I do have a thing for, let alone Roger.” But as soon as the words left your mouth, you felt your face heat up further, and you scrambled to a standing position. “What makes you say that?” 

“Well you do talk about his butt a lot.” Brian himself seemed unable to look at you, and you started pacing.

“I threaten his ass a lot, I’m not- Is this about what I said about the drum stick?” You asked, eyeing the singular wooden drum stick where it’s lying on the floor. You don’t pick it up.

“You also- the spinny thing he does with it. It’s a thing he does to show off, like his signature, I just-” He’s floundering a little bit, and you find yourself smiling despite the situation.

Coming to a halt, you stand, facing the chair, fond smile on your face as you see where he’s a little flustered. Heartbeat thumping in your ears, you throw caution to the wind, just a little.

“If it was just as easy to learn guitar as it was to twirl a single drumstick, I’d’ve been Jimmy Page months ago from watching you.” You half smiled, heart in your throat. He finally looks at you, radiating pride despite his bashfulness, which is a sweet look on him, and you gently step forward, settling back down into the chair and curling up by him.

“I like seeing you in the crowd, you know?” He murmured, tapping out a gentle rhythm with his fingers on your thigh.

“I like watching you play.” You respond, before admitting. “It’s one of my favourite things in the world, seeing you up there, all confident; you’re very talented, you know-” and you look up to gauge his reaction, but he cuts you off with a kiss. Relief floods through you as you kiss him back, indulging in what you’d been hoping for for what was months at this point, since the first studio recording.

“Y/N-” John unlocks and open the door in quick succession, takes one look at where you and Brian had just broken apart, caught absolutely red handed, and immediately shuts the door again. You and Brian take a moment to look at each other, processing what had just happened, before bursting into laughter again, which quickly devolves into more kissing, until he’s gently moving you off of him, reminding you that he still had the rest of band practice to attend.

John is smug during the entire drive back to his house where you’re still crashing on his sofa, a few days away from the paperwork for your own place being finalized.

“I knew it.” Is all he says when you finally snap and tell him that smug, righteous asshole wasn’t a good look on him.

Freddie caught on almost directly after John; he’d picked it up from context clues, and also because at your next gig, Mary seemed to know without you or Brian barely speaking two words to each other. She’d leaned over to Freddie during one of the breaks and asked how long the two of you had actually been together, saying that she’d meant to ask before but it’d never been so obvious. When Freddie tells you this, you almost do a spit-take.

“You’re joking.” You respond, eyes shining with amusement. “What? Is he looking at me differently?” You cheeks flush as you look over your shoulder at where he’s waiting by the bar, and he looks back at you, shooting you a bright grin that made your heart flutter. Looking back, Freddie’s wearing a knowing smile.

“No, he’s always looked at you like that.”

[hrharthurkirkland]

4. "Shut up and kiss me" FrUK ;)

ok I’ve never written fruk before because I’ve only started shipping it recently. this was a struggle but I hope it’s still ok ;-; (this will be put on ao3 with the earlier gereng prompt)

It seemed that after meetings went by, there was never much to do other than sit around and wait for the next plane. Francis felt quite lucky, however. In the many times he had visited England, he had never quite gotten bored of it here. Always something to do, something to see with a story he had somehow never heard before. How could such a small island possibly hold such rich history?

“Thought I’d find you here.” A voice sounded from nearby, one he recognised all too well.

“Arthur.” He smiled as he turned to face his old friend, his chin in his hand, “You were looking for me?”Arthur scoffed as he slid himself into the booth of the cosy little pub the Frenchman had found on one of his midnight strolls, “Don’t flatter yourself. I drink here all the time.”

“Ah, of course. How silly of me to assume.” He rolled his eyes, though kept his pleasant smile. A little company would be nice in this corner of the world, after all, they had known each other for such a long time.

Enough time to be able to sit mostly in silence as they drunk, watching the various people as they filed into the pub after a long day at work; regulars chatting with each other, cheering at the TV. Francis enjoyed people watching, although the English weren’t his first choice, there was perhaps one he would let his eyes wander to.

Arthur was sat with his arms crossed, one foot up on the bench he sat on with his eyes closed and chin against his chest. Were his face more relaxed, one might believe he was sleeping. Despite his brow still creased, he was oddly peaceful. Not very often the Englishman would let his guard down enough to get a nap in.

“Tired after the meeting?” Francis nudged him slightly, as much as he didn’t want to disturb such a rare moment, surely it would be held against him,“Hm?” Arthur blinked to clear away the fog in front of his eyes, “Yeah, ‘suppose…” He sighed, relaxing back against the wall of the booth,“Maybe we should head back.” “We?” on of those particularly bushy eyebrows raised expectantly,“If you want to.”

There was a pause between them, hanging in an air of familiarity. While holding his wine to his lips, Francis let his hand move over, taking the Englishman’s own under the table. He waited for those fingers to tangle in his, the warm touch of quiet acceptance. Even then, Arthur looked away, awkward as ever. Such a delicate thing, a romantic at heart, but he’d never let it be seen.

“Come on then.” Francis swung back the remainder of his wine and began to shuffle out of the booth, not letting go of the hand he held, urging the Englishman out with him, who barely managed to finish the pint he had.

He wouldn’t do something as stressful as hold Arthur’s hand in front of everyone, he merely used it to pull him up, then gestured for him to lead the way. Despite only having a drink or two, it was still amusing to see the Englishman stumble as he took the lead, straightening up trying to hide it the best he could. For someone who drunk as much as he often did, he still had trouble holding it.

They began walking to the door, Francis one step behind, before their careless leader smacked straight into someone walking in – someone who seemed to be a regular. Big and burly, the man looked down to who bashed into him with aggression already building. Knowing his dear old friend, Francis was quick to grab Arthur’s arm and pull him away towards the door, apologising for the clumsiness. But of course, he was a little too late.

“Watch where you’re going!” Arthur snapped, much to the dismay of his friend,“Me? You’re the one who hit me, mate.”“Leave it.” Francis warned, tugging on the Englishman’s arm again, but he was shaken off as Arthur stepped up threateningly,“Do what your boyfriend says, yeah?” The man turned, heading towards the bar.

As he was pulled out, Arthur continued to shout, both him and the man continued their arguing while Francis called the nearest cab over, having to shove his friend inside. So much for a peaceful evening. Drinking with the Englishman seemed to only go well when they sat together alone. But now, they sat in the back of a cab, a tense vibe in the air as Arthur sat with his arms crossed like a sulking child. He hadn’t changed in all these years. As small and aggressive as ever.

They got to his home after an increasingly vile cab ride, the driver very eager to be rid of them. At the gates of the home, without the social pressure of having to hold himself back in front of a driver, Francis grabbed the Englishman’s shoulder and spun him around. “What on earth makes you think that was smart?”“What?”“Acting like that back at the bar! You can’t act like an adult for five minutes. There was no need for it.”“Whatever.” Arthur huffed,“No, not whatever!”“What do you want me to say? I can’t exactly go back and apologise, can I?”“You could start acting mature and admit you made a mistake!”“Get off my back!”“There you go,” Francis scoffed, turning his back, “You’re too stubborn! This is why you can’t have nice things.”

He continued to scold, all the while feeling the building ball of anger behind him. Safe to say his night was quite ruined, what could have been a romantic evening with someone he felt he could love, had turned to one full of frustration he couldn’t ignore, and frankly he refused to enter that house if it remained. Might as well get it all out now.

Behind him, the tension in Arthur grew, occasionally snapping back with one word responses.“Maybe if you drank less and thought more, you wouldn’t get so angry over the smallest things.”“Shut up.” He spoke through gritted teeth,“I won’t! Listen to me for once and put away that stubborn pent up attitude! All you do is-““Shut up and kiss me!”Francis Blinked, stopped midsentence in confusion, “I’m sorry, what?”“You heard me, bastard.” Arthur’s hand shoved at his shoulder, turning him and grabbing his shirt to shove him into the nearest wall. All at once, he pushed their mouths together.

As aggressive as it was, soon the kiss calmed, the pair melting into each other. When they broke away, Arthur dipped his head down, leaning on the Frenchman’s shoulder, his hand loosening on his shirt.“I know it was stupid. Just shut up and stop being so angry at me…”“Oh… you idiot.” Francis smiled, a gentle feeling overtaking him as he wrapped his arms around him, “We should go inside and talk, hm? I’ll make you tea.”“Please…”

[hamelaisley]

prague...dedicated to becky

PRAGUE

Chapter 1

"we could run..........you and me. we could go now and never look back"

"are you serious???"

"i have money saved up josh. i could get us new identities. create a escape route. for now just keep up appearances.........,go to berlin like were gonna shoot. well leave to go to prague from there"

"what are you saying jen?????"

"im saying i wanna be a real person again........with you. thats what you want right???? i mean this is it josh. will you run away with me????"

-XX-

"aaaaaand action!!!!" yelled francis lawrence.

any other time this would have been joshs idea of heaven. working with his friend all day. but now.... it was just really awkward and he couldnt wait until the wrap.

josh started to mumble his lines but was cut off by jen.

"im really sorry francis but........i cant do this right now......." she said and then walked off to her trailer.

it had been like this ever sense....ever sense prague.......

-XX-

josh walked up to the train platform trying to find jen. suddenly he saw her standing with a suitcase and wearing a red jacket with cute black heels on. she spotted him and immediately smiled at him. he walked over to her.

"hey!!!!! i was starting to think you werent coming!!!" she said.

josh looked down at his shoes. jen didnt notice or care. jen pulled a folder out of her purse.

"k so here are our new identities. for now on your name is thomas campbell and mine is elle sinclair. we can talk about there back stories or whatever on the train ride to prague" she said.

"jen........." josh said.

"oh dont worry about the ride......... its only a hour long and if your bored you have me to talk to" she said.

"jen i.......i dont think we should do this........."

jen looked kinda confused.

"what do you mean?????"

"i mean we..... we made a promise that we would make these movies. we have a responsibility to the fans and everyone in the movie to finish it.... this is our life jen. this fairytale about running away is nice but this is where we belong. in hollywood. living our real lives....."

"josh its not that simple....... you dont understand but everything here is fake.....but this" she said and grabbed josh's hand. ".....this is simple. this is our real life. we have to go josh...... are you coming????? please come with me josh....."

josh paused and let go of jen's hand.

"i cant......im sorry........"

-XX-

josh walked up to jen's trailer and knocked.

"jen its me.....please let me in........"

"josh no. i dont want to talk to you now"

josh could tell she was crying.

"jen......."

"go away!!!!!"

josh leaned against the door and felt a single tear on his cheek.

"ok" he whispered.

Chapter 2

things were awkward on set. jen was avoiding josh and it was making him feel awful and lonely. he was always talking and laughing with her and now that he wasnt he felt empty and hurt. he hated being alone because then your forced into listening to your own thoughts instead of someone elses voice. god he couldnt wait for this to end.

but.......but what if this awkwardness never ended?? what if jen never forgave him???

he stared at the script in his hands. he was trying to memorize his lines because he had to and to distract himself from the situation with jen. it wasnt really working. he looked out the window of his trailer and saw jen in her own trailer looking straight at him. but when she saw that he saw her she looked away.

josh threw the papers on the ground frustratedly. he needed to talk to jen. even if she didnt want to talk to him. fuck, hed tie her up and force her to listen if thats what it took.

he walked out the door and to jen's trailer. he knocked and waited for her to answer nervous that she wouldnt. but she did. thank GOD thought josh.

"hey" jen said not looking at him. she was wearing a pretty white dress that would probably blow in the wind if it was windy. it reminded josh of the first time he saw jen.

-XX-

he put some cologne on his wrists and pulled on the jacket he was wearing. then he looked in the mirror and fixed his hair. he felt like a girl but he wanted to look perfect before meeting his co-star jennifer lawrence. they talked on the phone a few days ago and he has instantly fell in love with her. she was so funny and comfortable with who she was. and josh knew she was gorgeous. he saw her at the oscars when she was nominated for winters bone. she was irresistible to josh even though he didnt meet her in person yet. but that was going to change in a few minutes if josh didnt die from his heart beating so fast that it fell out of his chest.

he looked at his watch and took a deep breath. if he didnt leave now he was gonna be late.

he left his house and got into his car and drove to jen's house. when he got there he couldnt help but laugh at the garden nomes in the yard of her house. they were cute just like her.

josh wiped his sweaty hands in his pants and rang the door bell. jen answered.

joshs mouth went dry when he saw her. even though she was wearing a super simple white dress she was still breathtaking stunning. her eyes were the bluest blue josh had ever seen. her lips were full. her cheeks were pink like she ran to the door or something, and she had a cute button nose. jen smiles and you could see her dimples.

"well what are you waiting for silly!!!!! come in the damn house its frickin cold outside hahah" she said.

josh did as was told and went Ito her house. suddenly he stopped and just looked at her. he didnt think it was possible to be more attracted to this girl but that was before he saw her in person. it was love at first sight for him.

oh god josh thought im inlove with a girl and i dont even know her full name.....

"uh.....jen???"

"thats mizz lawrence to you" she joked.

he laughed. "k so this is kinda super weird but i was wondering........ can you tell me your middle name????"

she looked at him silently for a few seconds before saying something. "shrader. my middle name is shrader" she said.

"jennifer shrader lawrence" josh said. and it was the most beautiul name hed ever heard.

-XX-

"hey......can i come in????" josh asked. jen nodded her head "yes" so josh went in.

"look josh about the other day........"

"its ok jen. really its fine like dont worry about it" josh said.

"i just really miss you so much. what happened in prague......im so sorry jennifer for hurting you. i didnt mean to hurt you. and i want us to go back to the way things were. please????? i dont wanna loose you.......... i love you"

"josh.........."

josh cut her off as he leaned forward and kissed her. to his disappointment though, she pulled away after a few seconds.

"josh..........we need to break up."

Chapter 3

"josh..........we need to break up."

out of all the things josh thought jen would say that did not even make the list. he expected that theyd need to talk some things out but.........

"....i....jen what?"

"josh its.....please dont look at me like that....i just think that were not the same people we were when we first fell in love.....i dont want to ruin our friendship"

she was right about one thing. they werent the same people they were when they first fell in love. the old jen would never do something like this to him.

-XX-

"oh you can do better than that!!!" jen yelled at josh as she flew through the air. josh laughed and pushed her back harder. his arms were getting kinda sore. who knew that pushing someone on a swing could be so much work??

"jen my arms are tired." he complained. "im gonna take a break"

"your WEAK JOSH HUTCHERSON. YOUR FUCKING WEAK!!!"

"well not all of us can be nicholas fucking hoult jen. maybe you should call him so that he can come push you" he said. but right after he said it he wished he didnt. it wasnt fair to jen. she didnt know how much it hurt him to see her with nick. and even if she did he didnt have a right to be mad. it wasnt her fault that she loved nick and not him.

"look jen im sorry" he shouted up to her. she ignored him.

he stepped back away from the swing and sat down. he watched her for a little while until suddenly jen let go of the swing and literally went flying through the air. he knew she did it on purpose because she was laughing like an idiot the whole way until she hit the mulch. but even then she was still laughing. josh ran over to her to make sure she was okay. her knees were scraped and her hair was messed up and had pieces of mulch stuck in it.

"i wanted to come sit with you but i didnt want to do the whole slowing down thing normal people do when there done swinging" she told him.

josh rolled his eyes and laughed.

"god dammit jen!!! you know i love you but you can be such an airhead sometimes!!!" he laughed. jen didnt. she stared up at him and met his eyes.

"you love me????"

josh started to panic. did he say that out loud???

"josh....do you???? love me????"

he couldnt tell if she was kidding or not. he could easily get himself out of this one. of course he loved jen. she was his best friend!!! but for some reason he didnt want to get out of anything. he wanted to tell her. there. in the hawaiian park under spring clouds.

"i.......jennifer how could i not??? ive loved you ever sense that very first phone call. sense i very first saw you. ive loved you every time weve laughed and every time weve fought. i loved you when you had a boyfriend and i loved you when i had a girlfriend. ive loved you during my proudest moments and my weakest moments. ive loved you during nothings and somethings and everything in between. so yes jennifer i love you. ive been hopelessly inlove with the girl in the white dress from the very beginning and will be right up until the end."

jen didnt say anything for a while. instead she just took his hands in hers and leaned into him so that there faces were pretty much touching. josh fought the desire to just lean forward and take those perfect lips into his own.

finally she said something. "so you DO remember what color dress i was wearing when we met!!!"

josh smiled. of course thats what she got from that.

"ya i guess i do"

"josh??"

"ya????"

"we broke up. me and nick"

josh tried not to look excited. not that he really was. he was just worried about jen.

"why would he break up with you??? your the most perfect girl in the world and if he doesnt see that then he doesnt deserve you!!!!"

"i broke up with him josh...."

"what???? why???"

"because i love you too"

and then like belle and her beast there lips met taking away the beast and leaving only a prince.

-XX-

"jen thats bullshit and you know it....." josh said to her. "you know i hate being lied to......why dont you just tell me the real reason???"

jen sighed not looking him in the eye.

"josh after prague i.....was hurt. you hurt me when you said no. it made me feel like you didnt love me and i......called someone who i knew still loved me....."

"huh??? who???"

"josh.....i called nick"

Chapter 4

"josh.....i called nick. okay?!? i called nick and one thing led to another and we decided to give our relationship another chance. im sorry josh. i didnt mean to hurt you......."

josh felt his eyes start to sting with salty tears. how could she do this to him???

"did you screw him???"

"what??"

"i said....did you screw him"

"josh......."

"answer me"

".....yes. but josh you need to understand that you hurt me....."

he didnt hear anything that she said after that. her lips were moving but there was no sound. he stared straight through her.

"josh........josh please say something......."

"you.....jen you *cheated* on me??" josh asked.

"it....we were on a break and i was hurting josh you need to know that please know that"

josh fell out of his daze after hearing that.

"god jennifer you are so full of shit"

"uh excuse me?????"

"and to think i actually felt bad about prague.... i called you 273 times after that jennifer. you didnt answer 273 times. and it turns out that was because you were too busy sleeping with someone else????"

"thats not fair-"

"actually i think it's perfectly fucking fair jennifer. god i worked my ASS off for this relationship. i felt guilty for those whole three months we didnt talk. i missed you. i just wanted to make things better and i was stupid enough to think that you wanted that too!! god im such a idiot!!!"

jen was mad.

"how dare you say that stuff to me??? do you think it was easy for me to not talk to you for three months??!?!" she yelled.

"well after what you just told me ya i do!!" he shouted.

"i thought we were taking a break!!!"

"you know what??? fuck our friendship. you fucking disgust me and i dont want anything to do with you. not anymore"

jen didnt say anything.

josh stormed out of the trailer taking jens silence as his time to leave.

-XX-

"jennifer.....im so sorry. i was scared. scared to leave behind the life ive worked for my whole life. im a coward and im sorry. i shouldnt have left you in prague. i love you"

"i know that your mad and hurt and i know that i made you feel like that and im sorry im so fucking sorry. i love you jennifer"

"its been a week now......jen your scaring me. im worried about you.....please call me so i know that your ok??"

"jen im going crazy here.....its been a month sense i last kissed you......touched you......or fucking saw you...... i know your ignoring me but..... stop ok?? i miss you"

"jen......the decision that i made in prague. i know what it looks like. i know that it looks like i chose being an actor over.......over being with you. but thats not what happened. how i feel about you is real. very very real. and i know that you know how ive felt about you for a long time..... i told you.....we told each other and......and.........look jen i know that i probably hurt you. your probably hurt that i didnt run away with you in prague........but jen......i love you. i love you and i cant live without you. so.......please call me back"

the smell of pool water and listening to his voicemails was making jen feel dizzy. she held the phone to her ear and tried not to cry. but what she and josh had.......it was over now. she was never going to let herself get hurt like that again. she was stupid to think that josh would ever run away with her. her fairytale of running away from the fame and getting married and having kids and just living.......it was never gonna happen. and part of her knew she knew it wouldnt happen before this but that didnt make it hurt less.

she took the phone away from her head and looked at it one more time before she threw it into the pool.

"hey babe who was that???" nick asked.

"no one" she said. she leaned down and kissed nick on the ear. "absolutely no one"

Chapter 5

josh was so mad at jen he didnt even know what to do. the only thing he knew was that he had to get out of here before he exploded. so he went to the only place he could think of.

"oh hi josh" jena malone said when she saw it was josh who knocked on her trailer door.

"hi jena" josh said. jena opened the door a little bit more. he didnt move.

"well what are you waiting for silly!!!!"

josh felt like he was gonna throw up when she said that. even though jena didnt know that that was what jen had said to him when they first met didnt mean it didnt bother him a lot.

"i.....actually was wondering if i could maybe......take you out tonight??"

she smiled when he said that.

"ya id love to!! just let me get my purse and we can go k??"

"ya sounds good"

-XX-

"josh??? what are you doing here??? its midnight!!!" jen said after she opened her hotel door to see josh standing there with daisies.

"tonights our last night in hawaii" he said.

"ya so we should be sleeping because getting back to LA is gonna take forever"

"no.....we should be walking to the picnic i set up on the beach for us so that we can sleep on the plane" josh said. he took a purple daisy and put it in jen's hair. after that he gave her them.

jen smiled. "alright lead me to it"

they walked down to the beach holding hands. josh loved holding her hand. it made him feel so connected to her.

"oh my god josh this is awesome!!!!!" jen said when she saw joshs picnic.

they sat down and started to eat. jen looked up at the night sky. the moon was full and reflecting on the ocean.

"this is the most beautiful thing ive ever seen" she said. she was looking at the full moon.

"sure is" josh said. he was looking at jen.

-XX-

"so where are we gonna go????" asked jena. they were in joshs car.

"lou's" he said.

"whats that????"

"a club"

"oh fun"

on the drive there joshs phone started buzzing and didnt stop.

"sheesh!!! someone must really wanna talk to you!!!" jena joked.

"huh....weird" josh said.

when they got to the club josh checked his phone"

37 missed calls from Jennifer Lawrence and 37 new voicemails. his phone started buzzing again.

josh glared at his phone before turning it off. screw her josh thought.

josh went inside the club and saw that jena had already ordered them some drinks.

"just a few shots" she said. josh smiled. this was just what he needed to get his mind off jennifer shrader lawrence.

it got later and josh and jena got more drunk. they decided to go dance on the dance floor.

josh watched jena dance and realized how pretty she was. he never thought about jena like that before because he was too busy thinking about jen like that. he got close to her and started to dance with her.

"you are so gorgeous" he said. she laughed.

"your not do bad yourself handsome" she said.

josh leaned in and kiss jena. he pulled her waist closer to him and she put her hands around his neck.

"do you wanna come home with me???" josh asked.

"yeah but were gonna have to wait because were both to drunk to drive" she said. "lets see i called her like 20 minutes ago to come get us so.... oh there she is!!!!"

josh turned around to see who jena was talking about.

standing there was jen with tears on her cheeks. she looked at him and ran to the clubs bathroom.

"whats her deal....." jena laughed.

josh didnt care about jen anymore. he couldnt care about her. and besides what right does she have being hurt when she was the one who cheated on him?!?

josh smiled at jena and kissed her again.

with each second he kissed jena he could feel himself thinking less about jen.

this was just what he needed.

[theyrejustbehindtheveil]

ML Secret Santa

Merry (belated) Christmas @nayawata it is I, your gifter for the @mlsecretsanta with a fic about the OTP

Paris, France | July

She graduates. One day, she is at université, and the next, she is not. The morning after her final exam, she slips downstairs for breakfast and instead finds an envelope.   

Her parents' latest attempt to stop her from being so easily scared is three months in a city she doesn't know with a language she barely speaks. All expenses paid. She leaves in three months. Merde. 

Sydney, Australia | October 

It’s a jarringly young city. Everywhere Mylène looks she expects to see historic architecture and instead sees nothing beyond the nineteenth century. Her auntie chatters good-naturedly from the drivers seat which is on the wrong side of the car. Everything is strange and it feels a little like she can’t breathe and she cant make a sound and she is so so glad when the car stops and she can get inside the house and play her song and feel like she is still at home. 

The first two weeks she only leaves the house with one of her cousins or aunts, too scared to venture outside without some kind of security net. They take her on outings every few days, doing the tourist shtick at what is probably their attempt to make her feel welcome. The multiple trips to the city aren’t too bad, but when they head anywhere else she feels off kilter. The ocean is too big and the countryside is too foreign. The suburbs are too sprawling and quite frankly she doesn’t even know where to start with the birds. 

November

She goes for a walk alone the first week of November. Three pictures of the waterfront reflecting the clear blue sky later and she realises she is lost. Very lost. She isn’t even sure which way is home. She would like to say she was brave enough to find her own way home but the truth is that pedestrian’s hassle her along until she crashes into something large and solid with an eep of surprise. 

The large and solid something responds with a grunt that shocks her into leaping back. And looks up. And up a little more to find the something’s face shuffled into a terrifyingly grumpy glare. She shrieks and cowers a little before the glare retreats into something a little closer to concern.   

She’s fumbling out an apology as best she can manage and trying desperately not to give in to the urge to flee when the man in front of her guides her gently to a bench. “Are you okay?” he asks and she can’t help but suck in a breath at his accent because it is wonderfully, blessedly French. 

“T’es Français?” She hopes he understands what she is trying to say. 

He starts in surprise. “Oui.” She can’t help the wave of relief that sweeps over her and switches to French for a more coherent apology. 

The guy’s name is Ivan and he doesn’t know how to get back to her aunts’ place, but his english is much better than hers and he is brave enough to ask for help and big enough to hide behind when the strangers get to be too much. Mylène thinks she quite likes this arrangement. It takes a full hour to find home, and she is glad for Ivan’s company.

He slips her his phone number moments before she shuts the door. Merde.

Three days pass before she even has the courage to save the string of numbers to her phone. Two more before she sends through a safe, neutral, hi this is mylene :) 

Ivan replies twenty-seven anxious minutes later.  hey mylene good to hear frm u  glad u hadnt lost my no

sorry, she replies 

dw i was jst disappted i might not get to see u again

oh i d like that

me too this wknd?

Deep breath.  yeah i d like that

sat 1pm we can try tht walk again?

yes please

He arrives at the front door at five minutes to the hour. She’s been ready for the past ten minutes, but she still jumps at the sound of the doorbell. 

This second walk is far better than the first, even if there are more people out on the weekend. They find their way to a market near a library and Mylène can’t help but feel a little nervous but Ivan is quietly reassuring. He buys her a little pin for her bandana and his face when she pins it straight to the fabric is something she really wants so see again.

She learns a lot about Ivan that day. He likes heavy metal, hates the heat, tries to be gruff and intimidating but cares too much to pull it off convincingly.   

She tells him about Paris, how scared she is of just about everything because so much of it is just too much a lot of the time, that she likes cats better than dogs, about her dad’s job, and that her deepest desire is to be brave.   

Ivan returns her confidences with the slightly ashamed admission that he is really not a cat person and Mylène giggles at his despondency before rushing to reassure him that she doesn't hold it against him. 

Later, she texts him. the cat thing is mostly because they re quieter  also because of the superhero he was kinda sweet

hte who

chat noir the paris superhero a couple years back in the news a lot both him and his partner total badasses in spandex

oh that superhero

i met him a few times he was at our school on superhero business n stuff he was really kind little dorky

that school that was awlays in the papers was urs?francis dupain or smth i almost went there

francois dupont yeah that was a crazy time scary too wait what dieu we might have been classmates thats so weird i was turned into one of the monsters one time

oh no

there was this mean girl she teased me and i ended up a monster

you could never be a monster mylene

no like an actual monster type creature monstrous from a horror movie pink jelly thing horrificater i scared people and kidnapped them i don t remember what happened much but everyone was really nice to me for a while after

wait the first time that was u in there

yeah that was me

wow working through that must have been hard

i had help chat noir came and talked to me a few times my parents really helped im glad u had that

December

There is no snow for Christmas this year. She gets a second summer instead, of the kind that Paris rarely sees. Ivan texts her every other day to complain about the heat. Her aunt takes her to the beach, and Ivan shows up in a pair of stupidly bright shorts that apparently were a gift from his sister. They make her laugh, and he grins. 

 you re really easy to talk to ivan um thanyk u no really it s really nice i like it

…

sorry if i made it weird i just mean t like we re friends i like talking to you

mylene its fine im sorry i dont take compliments v well it means a lot that u can say that thank u

He hands her a parcel a few days before Christmas. Inside is a pin she recognises from - oh. Its Ivan’s. From his favourite band. “You’re giving me this? Haven’t you had it since you were a teenager?” 

“I… I want you to have it, to remind you that you can be brave.” 

“Zombie Skull Crushers is going to remind me to be brave?” She hates the plaintive note that her voice holds.

“Yeah, doesn’t it just sound brave and badass, just like I know you can be?” 

She hugs him, tight and grateful.

“Thankyou, Ivan,” she chokes out. “It’s the best present anyone’s ever given me.” He hugs her back, gentle and easy as breathing. 

She almost forgets the parcel tucked into her bag but presses it into his hands right before she leaves. “Joyeux Noël, Ivan." 

Her parents fly in for Christmas itself. She goes to meet them at the airport and the moment she sees them both she runs for them. Her dad catches her as she leaps and her mum folds into the both of them and she burrows in between both of them and doesn't leave their side if she can help it from that point on.

Paris, France | January

She leaves for home with her parents. The plane lands and she gets off and everything is so wonderfully familiar but she feels strangely untethered. Her home is still much as it was when she left, and her room is identical save for more dust than normal. 

And she can’t quite work out what is missing until her phone buzzes insistently and she drops her unpacking to fumble for her phone and check the screen. 

They’re all from Ivan, and she realises as she reads through them it’s him she’s missing. He’s worked his way under her skin, going form imposing to reassuring too easily. 

miss u already mylene

Oh, merde 

i rly had a great time with you when i go back home to chatres in abt a month can i see u on the way thru

What?

Two months and it had never come up how close he lived to Paris. To her. And she want’s to see him again and isn't that incredible. Mylène doesnt know what she ever did to deserve such a gift but there’s only one thing she can do 

of course i want to see you too i didn t know you lived so close

His response is almost immediate  yeah crazy huh

A month of of texting back and forth follows. Ivan is beautifully poetic when he tries, and Mylène learns ever more about her new friend. When Ivan returns to France, he knocks on her door when she’s the only one home. 

“Hey,” he says, like. a month of separation hasn't stood between them like anticipation. She stretches her arms around his waist as far as she can and laughs with joy at the tidal wave of affection swamping her chest. He curls his much longer arms carefully, fondly, around her back.   

“I missed you. Please don’t ever stay away that long ever again,” she mutters earnestly into his chest. His arms tighten a fraction, before he shifts one hand to tilt her chin up so he can look her straight in the eye.   

“Never. I promise, Mylène, I won’t ever stay away from you for very long anymore. I don’t think I could.” 

She believes him when he looks at her like that, like he wants to see right through her eyes into her soul and know it intimately. Three days later he asks her on a date. 

She says yes 

They go for a walk.   

She tucks her hand in his and the world feels a little less terrifying when she does.

[survivornavarino]

Episode #9: I’m A Fighter -Jake

*loud screeching noise* AHHHHHHHHHH omfg i cant believe we just did that #beam 4 life ok so like i feel horrible because i love drew but he was trying to make an alliance and it didnt include me and i had to take him out before it was too late because while it wouldnt be me this vote it probably would next time so like sorry drew i love u im sure this doesnt help my case for like why u should b my friend but like i rlly am sorry.  also i feel bad for lying to jake but it just wouldve gotten back to drew and i didnt want to risk that.  im hoping he doesnt hate me too much for blindsiding his ally but like again, they were trying to have a majority alliance that i wasnt a part of and i just didn't want to deal with it tbh.  maybe jake and i are just doomed to eternally be on separate sides in games idk (sad music plays) umm trixie idk we dont really talk we just kind of coexist UM HOLDUP JESUS CHRIST WE JUST FUCKING MERGED WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WIG ON PLUTO WHAT TO HECK ????? im off to plot heathers demise xoxo gossip beckka

Woot Woot its merge loves. Time to be a complete mess and be first merge boot. Hehehe

I MADE IT, MY SECOND ATHENA GAME AND I MADE IT TO MERGE AGAIN IM INCREDIBLEY HAPPY. Let’s hope I don’t get eighth place again, and if I’m gonna be honest I need Drew gone if I’m gonna win. He’s so fucking good at challenges. So eliminating him would mainly be out of fear.

Remember how I’m a dumbass? Me too ok so Drew was eliminated already.

Excuse me I am stupid and don't get letters are better as numbers... and also reversed. I would like an explanation plzz

words tried in number form and reversed so far that have not worked. Emily-Amanda-Abbey-Francie, Navarino, Survivor, Athena. Im gonna cry I cant find it yet.

Oh yeah tea, I ended up finding a secret advantage called the deja vote which means I can steal someone’s vote from a tribal and re-use it at a later tribal 

This was originally going to me a vlog of me screaming after tribal but I busy last night and fell asleep before doing it so now I'm more calm and just gonna type out. Okay so looking back at my last confessional, bitch I'm boo boo the fool. I seriously thought Eddie and Autumn were being honest with me because I trust(ed) them sooo much, but it turns out they were playing me and orchestrating a Drew blindside behind my back. So before I went out last night, EVERYONE told me they were voting Matt. Then two minutes before the vote, Eddie and Autumn message me like "JAKE! Are you here??? SOMETHING is happening" like bitch shut the fuck up something is not happening don't act like this shit just happened last minute. Then they say "Drew is getting voted out tonight!" So...I went to Drew and told him to play the idol if he had it. Because I didn't want Matt staying if I was voting for him. But Drew said he didn't have an idol, and Eddie found out that I told Drew and told Autumn. So after I got home I messaged the group chat with Eddie and Autumn and told them that I was upset by them lying to me bc I did trust them the most. Then Autumn decided to get ballsy and reply "I don't buy that at all since you told Drew to play his idol, you were more loyal to him than me." GIRL STFU yes the fuck I did tell Drew because you told me TWO MINS BEFORE TRIBAL - MEANING YOU KEPT THE VOTE HIDDEN FROM ME ALL DAY. DON'T SAY IM DISLOYAL WHEN YOU WERE THE BIGGEST MFING SNAKE THIS ROUND! ...Anyways. Autumn then tries to come for me by saying "So tell, what's with this alliance between you, Eddie, Drew, and Trixie." And this is when I got more mad. BC Drew proposed this alliance to me, but it was never made, hell I didn't even tell Trixie about it. And when I told Eddie about it I told him I think we should tell Autumn about the alliance (Since he wanted to as well) So it became clear that Autumn was spreading to rebecka and matt that I was in an actual alliance with them to get them all to turn on us. So um Autumn, I wanted to trust you and go far with you in this game, but you're dead to me in this game now and I want you GONE. Autumn has the most connections here. She has Eddie, Rebecka, Matt, Ben, and I've heard that she has Mitch as well. She is a huge threat and if I can find a way to take her out, I will. But right now I need to focus on surviving. After the vote, Trixie added me to a call with Julia. Julia told us all of the alliances she's in (and she's in a damn lot) and said she basically likes Trixie more so she's working with us. Umm okay that's cool. I hope she's being serious because my life in this game is in Julia's hands now. She has all these connections and I need to get her to gun for someone that isn't me, Trixie, or Shoib. I've decided that my ideal final 3 would be with Trixie and Shoib because I trust them the most now, we've been together since day one, and we're all fans. It would be perfect. Sooo yeah. I also talked to Heather and basically blamed Tyler for all the animosity between us. I am trying to repair relationships and hopefully push the target off my back because I am worried about being targeted for 12th. IDK WHAT ELSE TO DO! I am in SUCH a bad position right now and it's so annoying. At the start of this game I had a lot of allies and the two people who trusted me the most (Tyler and Drew) are gone. But I'm a FIGHTER. I will NOT give up! I was in the minority at merge in crossroads and turned it around and made it to FTC so I just have to keep pushing and hopefully I'll get the same results! Woo wig! This was originally going to me a vlog of me screaming after tribal but I busy last night and fell asleep before doing it so now I'm more calm and just gonna type out.

https://youtu.be/iUDlOxxgtz0 my face in the thumbnail for this video is so funny cause it's when i found out of another to do the idol search. Obviously we know it didn't work adhshjks

I am pumped for this merge, I feel like I am playing a really under the radar game and it will make people come to me and ask me to vote with them if the game does break down into two sides, which I think it will. I trust Julia and Trixie the most right now and Trixie has two FREAKING idols omg. I also trust Mitch and Autumn but they are my secondary alliance which I will fall back on if I lose Trixie and Julia

Ok so no one is really messaging me about the vote, which is scary. I don't want to be first merge boot. The only people who have spoke to me are Matt, which he is confused, and Jake, which says no one really spoke to him about the vote yet. I did hear that people thought Ben and I were close, which like we have voted together, but aren't to close. I know now that Trixie has an idol and someone found the merge idol so FUN. I CAN'T WAIT TO BE FIRST MERGE BOOT.

Me starting a grassroots movement of Ben vs Heather cause I'm not aligned with either? Yep. Me forcing people to show their hands and make choices? Absolutely https://68.media.tumblr.com/41399c7dcc99b69388de05d609f7323c/tumblr_inline_o6ola1oDhw1sso1z7_500.gif Look none of these votes will be easy cause I like everyone and I'm aligned with almost everyone but it's Survivor I ain't scurd. I neeevvveerrr talk to Ben or Heather so I'm just gonna be a swing vote in the mess I created. Also feel free to give me the villain edit that's the one thing I haven't accomplished in Athena, besides winning or beating my placement. If not that's cool too I'll just continue to be my messy antihero self. Ok bye! Time to disappear and let the drama fester while I'm at work

You know what would be great, if more people would know who the vote is gonna be. Won't be surprised if that is me to be quite honest. Right now I hear Ben and if that is the only name I hear, I'll do it.

i never thought i'd say this but I WANNA HEX JULIA THE WITCH. okay not really bc i dont want her to read this and think im actually mad. but im wary of what i say to her now considering she told heather about my idol hehe

The votes for me cuz Beckka is bitter over another game. At least in that game I didn't isolate her. I'm prob just gonna cry in a corner.

This is a mess

this round has been a fucking mess and a half and im too busy rn trying to save my ass to make it all sophisticated i have a lot to say so if i stay ill explain everything later but basically autumn came to me today saying she wants to flip on ben so im trying to rally eddie trixie shoib julia and heather to get 7 on ben but apparently ben is throwing my name out bc he doesnt want to vote heathwr and immm fucking nervous idek if heather will wanna vote ben now if hes trying to save her what if she flips like this is bad help

The first merge vote is stressful as fuck cus there’s 12 people. I’m fine as long as it’s not me.

Don't know what's going on. Voting heather and hoping it works!!!!!

Good god am I glad I'm immune for this bullshit Let's start with merge. Woo merge! The idol system is announced. I actually make progress on the advantage hunt! Then I finish it. And someone already has it. GREAT So then I try the idol hunt and someone ALSO has it! GREATER. So now I have to worry about that shit. So I won immunity somehow because I guess preparing was a good idea since I blew through the second round. I won't be first merge boot in Athena woo!!! But now the vote is fucking crazy. I want to vote out Heather because, as sweet as she is, she's got a lot of ears listening for info for her and it's better to get someone like that out early before it's too late. But people don't want to because they're the ears! Big surprise. People are between Jake and Ben and Heather and honestly? I want to keep Ben around a little more. My plan for now is to not have one big alliance, but rather to be a part of small trio alliances so people can have my back without the worry of a huge alliance fracturing. I just have to keep the trio members safe. My planned trios are as follows: Ben, Mo, myself Shoib, Autumn, myself Rebecka, Julia, myself (WIP) That's 7 people who have my back in varying circumstances, as long as they're being truthful. I've also been alerted to a greater alliance of Matt, Ben, Julia, Mo, and Rebecka. Hopefully this trio plan will help me get in with those people more, and perhaps in the close future I can take out Matt and get rid of that variable.

i made merge!! its lit!! there hasnt been a lot going on so far. nobodys really reached out to me and ive been so busy so im just going with what rebecka wants, which is heather. i’m not sure voting heather is a good move for me, in fact i know its not, but unfortunatelt i dont have the time to make another move and im just tryin to survive

What is going on here on this day? This is a mess and i'm just on the train a long for the ride. I'm hearing Ben, Jake, and Heather, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's me tonight. Like I'm sure they're afraid of Jake having an idol, so why not throw their votes on someone who's irrelevant at the moment and who probably wouldn't see it coming? Anyway, I HIGHLY doubt Ben is leaving tonight, and I don't really believe that the votes are going on Heather or Jake, idk idk idk idk idk idk idk idk idk idk idk idk. I really hope Jake stays, and I really hope Ben goes or I am probably screwed af.

[elliotthezubat]

DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 70

from internships to entering the nether

Yumi: "...How...How does a _child_ get kidnapped and..." *shudders* lord death: .....*takes a long sip* we as a people have to improve, to keep things like....like _this_ from happening... Yumi: "I know...How much information do we have? Such as, who...killed this child?" -elsewhere- Shima: *reading a book on familiars* "..." *yawns* konekomaru: so, what are you doing for your secret santa? Shima: "Don't know...This gift choice is really hard to figure out." Bon: *grumble grumble* -elsewhere- leo: ....... Gin: *slides a glass of water* "Here." leo:....*small sip* ........... Gin: "How old are you?" leo: ………..25 years old. Gin: "I was told about some of your abilities. Must be useful." leo:.......................................*her expression is solemn* higuchi: ... Gin: "I've seen what you can do out there. I can imagine it hurts. Do you need any medicine?" leo:...........im used to it. higuchi: ..... Gin: "Because you wanted to protect someone." leo:....my new home... Gin: "Yes. You were happy there." leo:.....he....he made me feel like i wasnt alone anymore.... higuchi: dostoyevsky? leo: *she shakes her head* vanya... Gin: "A sibling?" leo:.......n-not exactly. he made me feel welcome when i was taken in by the rats.....he means a lot to me. *soft smile* even if he doesnt love me the same way, he's the most important person to me. higuchi: ...... Gin: "Do you know whether he is safe?" leo:....you said he escaped, right? naoya: long hair, head bandages? leo: yes! naoya: yeah, he escaped. leo:....*sigh* i see.... Gin: "Do you think he'll return?" leo:...i think he will.....he wouldnt ever dare to leave mr dostoyevsky's side....to vanya, fyodor is the most important to him... naoya:...... Gin: "Hmm...And you? Will he return to you?" leo:....i can only hope, right? Gin: "..." *closes the file* "We'll see." *opens the door—and is pushed aside* Tachihara: "I brought snacks!" leo: .... higuchi: -_-; Tachihara: "Who wants--" *shoved by Motojiro* Motojiro: "Who's up for a rousing game of Chutes and Ladders?!" Gin: "..." *pulls out a blade* leo: ._.; -elsewhere- Fitzgerald: *sipping his tea, wearing a shit-eating grin* louisa: sir francis? Fitzgerald: "Yes, Miss Alcott?" louisa: any news? Fitzgerald: *deathly serious* "Yes, there is." louisa: o.o; oh? Fitzgerald: *holds up the guest list* "This 'Plus One' option is increasing the number of guests for our party. I had not considered so many people would have a Plus One! We'll need more plates..." -elsewhere- Jacqueline: "Any update from your 'patient'?" kim: well, he's back home now. Jacqueline: "Think they'll go after him again?" kim:...i dont know.... -elsewhere- Tanizaki: *staring at the sunset* ???: brother.... Tanizaki: "Yeah?" -there is someone standing..........in an elephant suit- naomi: we start our punishment tomorrow. Tanizaki: ._.; "...What the heck are you wearing?" naomi: mascot suit. Tanizaki: .________.;;; "...How bad is mine?" naomi:.....do you really want to know~? Tanizaki: "I mean, better now than later?" -elsewhere- Yohei: *typing* chie: *helping the others decorate the tree* Shotaro: *wrapped in lights* ._.; -elsewhere- Takehisa: *seated in driver's seat* "Okay, I'm going to start it up again. Check the engine." karin: alright! Takehisa: *starts the engine* karin: looking good. Takehisa: *turns over the engine* *Burst of exhaust out the back-pipe* karin: *cough* crap! Takehisa: ._.;;; "...Whoops." -elsewhere- Benimaru: *lights a candle at a shrine* kirei: *smiles* Benimaru: *lowers his head, prays* -elsewhere- Kid: "Hmm..." stocking: comfy~? Kid: *smiles* "Maybe~" stocking: *smiles and kisses his forehead* Kid: ^\\\^ *purrs* stocking: so cute~ Kid: >\\\\< "I can't help it--you're so cute..." stocking: *smoooooooch*~<3 Kid: "Mmm..." -\\\\- *rubs her hand* -elsewhere- Mrs Harue: "Sweetie? Can I get you anything?" keek: ......*shaking a bit* Mrs Harue: "..." *hug* keek:...*sniffle* Mrs Harue: "We'll go out tomorrow to the doctor..." keek: o-ok.... Mrs Harue: *trying to smile* "We can also stop by your favorite game shop?" keek:....s-sure.... -elsewhere- Black Star: *groans* tsubaki: easy now... Black Star: "I-I'm fine...I can leave now--" *tries to sit up--and his burnt hand touches the bed* "Ow!" tsubaki: !!! Black Star: TT~TT "I want a healer..." -elsewhere- Magaki: *giggling* <It's so close...> *looks in the mirror--then sees no reflection* "..." <Not close enough...She smelled like one of them...> -...- Magaki: <Just need a bit more time...> *transforms their arm into the Uncanny Sword* <And someone to wield...> *licks their lips* -elsewhere- Poe: "So, how was it?" ranpo: it did the job well, so good work there! how's your shin? Poe: -~- "It still hurts..." lana: *getting ice for it* here, put your leg up* Poe: "Thank you..." ^^ lana: ^^ -elsewhere- Kishiri: "What you been thinking for Christmas?" vivian: well, papa said he was going to be attending a christmas party at manhasset in hopes of forming some kind of collaboration. Kishiri: "Manhasset? They got some deep pockets, right?" vivian: mmhmm! Kishiri: "Man...Sounds like a fancy shindig. You going?" vivian: of course! since papa's always working in europe, this is one of the few times of the year i actually get to see him. Kishiri: "...Good for you to see him." -elsewhere- Vulcan: "You heading to bed?" yu: yeah. shinra: yeah. i get the feeling things are going to be busy in the coming days.... Relan: "Holidays, too..." -elsewhere- Hibana: *passed out* "Zzz..." gabriella:....*smiles and tucks her in* -morning- Kunikida: "..." aya: .....is he gonna be ok soon? Katai: "...I don't know. He hasn't been keeping to his schedule..." aya: *worried* *light bulb* kunikida! let's go ice fishing! Katai: ._.; Kunikida: "...Where?" aya: i think there's a big pond in the park in the pine acre's district! Kunikida: "...You'll need your coat." aya: ok! Katai: "You'll need poles, too..." -elsewhere- Kyouka: *yawns* "Wake up..." atsushi: *yaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAawn* ugh....so exhausted.... Kyouka: "It was a busy mission. Are you skipping classes today?" atsushi: cant afford to right now. *streeeeetch*...............................................kyouka did i seriously fall asleep on the kitchen table? Kyouka: "...I don't know?" *looks around* -elsewhere- Akutagawa: *marks the calendar* "Okay...Just need to learn non-lethal attacks. Should be easy. Set up the first dummy." coke-bottle glasses: right away, sir. Akutagawa: *summons Rashomon* coke-bottle: *timing him* Akutagawa: *wraps Rashomon around his fist--and punches the dummy's chest* -knock back!- coke bottle: excellent work, sir! Akutagawa: "Hmm. Was it lethal?" -elsewhere- Sanjuro: "Until Black Star recovers, will you be investigating alone?" tsubaki:....i suppose so. Sanjuro: "...Without the Uncanny Sword?" tsubaki:....*gulps* Sanjuro: "...It'll be okay. We're going to get...it back." tsubaki:...right. we have to. -elsewhere- Johannes: "I don't see why I have to go with you." >3< metsu: *holding an umbrella* because you are too much trouble to be left on your own. Johannes: "Hmph. You act like no one else has ever done that in a lab...And Jeje will clean it up." metsu: ... Jeje: "IT GOT EVERYWHERE!" -elsewhere- Todoroki: *takes books out of his locker* ochako: hey todoroki! *waves* Todoroki: "Oh. Good morning. How are you?" ochako: nervous for the internships. Todoroki: "Oh? But Gunhead sought you out, right?" ochako: yeah. but ive totally got this. *fist pump* Todoroki: "..." *smiles, fist bump* "Yes." ochako: hehe ^^ Todoroki: "...I have finalized my choice." ochako: really? where is it? Todoroki: "...My father's..." ochako: ^u^ ......... OuO.......... O___O WAITWHATNOW!? Todoroki: "I guess I should've given you a warning, such as 'Sit down for this'...Sorry. I just...need to learn how to control my flames..." ochako: what the heckie dude? why not someone like, i dunno, ryukyu? or manuel, or even the wild wild pussycats?? Todoroki: "None of them are the person from whom I inherited my Quirk." ochako: ......are you sure? even after all he- Todoroki: "I won't act like this won't be hard...or even impossible. I...have had to set up some appointments..." ochako: .... Todoroki: "With a-a...therapist..." ochako:......*she hugs him* Todoroki: "..." *pat pat* "Th-Thanks?" -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *putting books away--spots a student at a desk* "???" rowena: hello. ^^ we're working on setting up a club. we have two members so far. *she holds up a sign that says 'mystery and occult club'* Jacqueline: "Oh...I would imagine you would have more members in no time at this kind of a school..." rowena: *she smiles* Jacqueline: "Wait--who's Member #2?" rowena: annaaaaaa- *seeing poe* miss warren ^^;;;; Jacqueline: "???" Poe: "Rowena? What's this club for?" rowena: it's a club dedicated to the study of mysteries and the occult, as the name implies. ^^ i think it could help me make friends here who share similar interests with me. Poe: ^^; "Just be careful..." -elsewhere- Lucy: "Zzz..." marie: miss montgomery? Lucy: *grumbles, looks up* "..." O_O *sits up straight* "S-Sorry, Miss Mjolnir." -elsewhere- higuchi: they're WHAT? naoya: yeah, those two rats are joining us. Tachihara: "AND I AM HYPED!" higuchi: even after they, oh i dont know, TRIED TO KILL ALL OF US?!?! naoya: well, they seemed eager, especially the munchkin. Tachihara: "...That gremlin is still here?" naoya: um, that's who i meant. her and the other guy, sasha i think? higuchi: alexander pushkin. naoya: eh, close enough. Tachihara: D: "What about the cute girl?!" naoya: opted to stay in the cell. Tachihara: -3- -elsewhere- Katai: "...I haven't gotten a bite." aya: how about you, kunikida? Kunikida: "Nothing." aya: hmm... Katai: "I was hoping to catch fish. She seemed to like them..." aya: ?? Katai: "...!!! N-Nothing..." .\\\. "I-I think I'll have a nibble soon." aya: ok then. *shrug* Kunikida: *his line has a tug* "??" aya: quick! you got this! Kunikida: *starts to pull it in* -you caught it!- Kunikida: "Ah. Salmon." *hands it to Katai* "Give it to that woman you like." aya: wait, uncle katai has a girlfriend? Katai: "I-I don't know what you're talking about!" Kunikida: "You said she was there when you were recovering--" aya: ?? Katai: "I SAID NOTHING!" -elsewhere- Dazai: "..." -knocks- kirako: dazai? Dazai: "..." *opens the door* "...Hey." kirako: listen, i know yesterday was a bit of a shock for you...it's a shock for me too... Dazai: "...I'm sorry." kirako: ?? Dazai: "I didn't mean for this..." kirako: dazai, it's ok. these things happen. Dazai: "...Getting pregnant is not 'just happens'..." kirako:....im not mad at you, if thats what you're thinking. Dazai: "I'm mad at me..." kirako: ..... Dazai: "...Look. Whatever you want, I'll support. I'll have the money..." kirako:....*pats his back* Dazai: "...I'm not 'father material.'" kirako: no one said you had to be. Dazai: "...I'd have to, or else I'd screw that kid up..." kirako:....*holding him close, stroking his head* .... Dazai: "..." *looks shocked, even as he hugs her* kirako: ....*hums slightly* Dazai: *closes his eyes* -elsewhere- Chuuya: *grabs his books* eijiro: eyyyy! ozaki! what's up? Chuuya: "Oh. Helo, Eijiro. How are you?" eijiro: good. been busy? Chuuya: "...Quite. I need to pick up some makeup assignments..." -elsewhere- Lucy: "Any plans after school?" atsushi: i might take a nap. im still exhausted... Lucy: *nods* "Let's get you home...I'll cook something and you can get the leftovers from the fridge." atsushi: ok then. *yaaaawn* -elsewhere- Black Star: "Zzz..." tsubaki: ...... Black Star: *groans* {Black Star: "..." *looks around* "...Oh, great. Here again."} {???: ....................} {*In his dream, he is at a waterfall...*} {????: ...................} {Black Star: "...Tch. Look, whatever Yoda speech you got, make it fast: I got to wake up and--"} {????: *bearing their teeth and charges*} {Black Star: "!!!" *tries to leap over*} -black star?- Black Star: *tossing in sleep* tsubaki: black*star? Black Star: *swings his arm* tsubaki: black*star wake up! Black Star: *his hand reaches at Tsubaki* "No!" tsubaki: *hugging him* Black Star: "..." *coughs* "I...Sorry." -elsewhere- Katai: *counting the fish* "Is this good?" aya: mmhmm! Katai: ^^ "Yay..." Q~Q "Can we go home now?" -elsewhere- Kid: *thumbing through papers* liz: busy week? Kid: *nods* "I would like to finish some of these tasks before the holiday break. How about you?" liz: yeah. -elsewhere- Gin: "..." higuchi: you ok? Gin: "Just thinking. The idea of including those Rats is not comforting." higuchi: i can see where you're coming from here, especially after what the one tried to do with-....*sigh* Gin: "Yes. I would love to put an explosive around _their_ necks." higuchi: .... Gin: "..." *pulls out her blade* -later- Endeavor: *reclining in front of his fireplace* secretary: sir, you have someone to see you. Endeavor: "??? Who is it?" *sets down his drink* secretary: its your son. Endeavor: "More specifically?" secretary: he says his name is 'shouto'? Endeavor: "!!!" *tosses the chair aside* "SHOOOOOOOOOOOOUTO!" secretary: *falling out of their chair* t-too loud. Todoroki: *standing at the entrance* "...This was a mistake." Endeavor: *running through the hall* "Wait!" secretary: *ducks under the table* Q-Q; Todoroki: "...Endeavor." Endeavor: "Oh, come on, my boy--if you're going to join me at this Agency, can't you call me 'Dad'?" Todoroki: "...That's not the word I was looking for." Endeavor: "...One day, after this training, you will learn to respect me and embrace not only your power but your legacy--" Todoroki: "When are you going out on patrol?" Endeavor: "CLEAR MY SCHEDULE!" secretary: y-yes sir! (thinking: the pay isnt worth this shit Q_Q ) -elsewhere- Gunhead: *looks at clipboard* "Let's see...Yep. That's you." *holds out his hand* "Welcome aboard, kiddo!" ochako: *shaking his hand* i look forwards to lookin- working with you sir! Gunhead: ^^ "D'aw, you're all gungho and ready to power through--awesome!" ochako: ^^ (thinking: he's actually really chill and adorable how the hell even-) -elsewhere- Uwabami: *adjusting the mirror* -knocks- momo: um. h-hello ma'am. itsuka: hey. ^^ Uwabami: "Ah, Yaoyorozu, Kendo! Welcome!" *opens her arms* itsuka: um....*glances* *ahem* momo: *bows* i look forwards to working with you, ma'am! itsuka: ._.; Uwabami: "Oh, please, sweetie--" *hugs* momo: ^///-///^; itsuka: grk- s-strong grip... Uwabami: "I'm so glad you are here!" *hands Momo a mirror* "Hold this." -elsewhere- Izuku: *looking at the address* "So it should be just a few doors--" *looks up* o_o; "--down?" -the place looks completely abandoned- Izuku: ("Maybe...No, this is the right address.") *approaches the door* "Um, excuse me? I'm looking for someone? I'm Izuku--" -an old man is laying on the ground.....red all over.....- Izuku: D: *SCREAMS* "Oh no! Help! Ambulance! Police! This old man is--" -he springs back up- old man: HELP! I'VE FALLEN, AND I _CAN_ GET UP! Izuku: *LOUDER SCREAM* "HE'S ALIVE!" old man:... !! NOOO MY KETCHUP FILLED SAUSAGE LINKS! OH THE HORROR! Izuku: ._.;;;; "...Um, excuse me, sir?" ^^; "I'm Izuku Midoriya. I'm here from--" old man: you a telemarketer, sonny? Izuku: .___.; "N-No? I'm a student who was to begin an internship with Gr--" old man: boy. *pats his back* if you're lookin for 'big joe mcgee', that's a block down. but if i were you, i'd just turn back. he'd break you in half in a heartbeat. Izuku: O______O;;;; ("...WHAT THE FUCK?!") old man:....im hungry. Izuku: "...Sir, I am looking for Gran Torino! Is he here or not?!" old man: wha? toshinori, izzat you? Izuku: -_-; "No, I'm Midoriya..." ^^; "Excuse me, sir. I have to make a call..." *sets down his luggage, takes out his phone* old man: *looking through the suitcase* say kiddo. fire an attack on me, would ya? lets see what your one for all can do. Izuku: ._.; "...Gran Torino? Sir?" old man: did i fuckin' stutter? put it on and come at me, bro! Izuku: :X "I-I need a room to change in, sir!" old man: next floor, first door on the left. Izuku: .\\\\. "Th-Thank you!" *grabs his suitcase, runs* gran torino:.... (thinking: let's see how well you picked them out, toshinori...) -elsewhere- Bakugo: "...The heck you staring at?" fan: oh. my. gosh. you're interning for best jeanist?! EEEE! HE'S SO COOL! fan 2: i would totally let him step on me! Bakugo: "...Okay. I already have to deal with one of you masochistic fuckwads in class--I don't need one here. Get to stepping." secretary: mr bakugou? right this way, please. Bakugo: *follows, grumbling* "I wanted a top hero and all, but these fans are obsessive...Just fixated on one person like some weirdo." -elsewhere- Mineta: =\\\\\= "I get to meet a giant lady, I get to meet a giant lady..." old lady: yeah? *takes a drag* whadda you want, brat? Mineta: "I was looking for Mount Lady, and she's all--" *imitates her dimensions* "--and you're not." ???: oh my fucking god, barb, he's the intern! fuck!. hey cutie~ (thinking: oh fuck my life) -yep, it was mt lady, coming home from a grocery run- Mineta: "... ... ... ... ... ..." *SCREAMS* mt lady: what? what?! barb: did his parents drop him off the empire state building as a baby? mt lady: well that explains everything. Mineta: "IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AND WORK WITH YOU, MA'AM! I can't wait to be under your tutelage!" *excited* mt lady: riiiight. sure... ^^# (thinking: i cant wait to punt this runt) -elsewhere- Deathgoro: "Got to keep up the pace when going on patrol, kiddo!" jirou: u-u-understood, sir! -elsewhere- All Might: *shuddering* "He'll be fine, he'll be fine, he'llbefinehellbefine--" -elsewhere- Sanjuro: *marking a map* "And this was the radius where you encountered this thief..." tsubaki: so they couldnt have gotten far, then. Sanjuro: *shakes his head* "And here are the residential areas--" *circles those* -elsewhere- Wes: ._.;;;;;; "...Why is your friend back? We're not done with practice--" licht: long story. Hyde: *waving a flag* "Do it, baby!" licht: *throws the chair at him* Wes: O_O Hyde: *knocked down--the flag drapes him like a coroner's sheet* licht: he will be at peace, for i am a heavenly angel. *pose* -the spotlight shines upon him- Wes: "...JOSEPHINE! The spotlight isn't until later!" maid: i dont know what happened! it just turned on by itself! ghost dog: 8D Wes: -_-; *pets ghost dog* -elsewhere- Lucy: "Huh. They're both fast asleep?" Dazai: "Zzz..." kirako: zzzzz.... atsushi: *puts a blanket over them* mii: *mreow* Lucy: "??? Oh, hello..." *pets Mii* mii: ^u^ Lucy: "I didn't know Kirako had a cat..." atsushi: yep, she does. Lucy: "What a cutie..." *scratches under Mii's chin* mii: ^u^ Lucy: "You hungry, little guy?" ^^ mii: *mreow!* -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *setting the plates* nagisa: *helping with stirring* kim: thanks, kiddo. nagisa: hehe! ^^ Jacqueline: *smiles* "We have enough chairs?" kim: i think so. mami and chrona said they'd be over too. Jacqueline: "It'll be good company...I better get dessert out of the oven." -elsewhere- Shamrock: *reading the email* "...How sad." naho: whats up? Shamrock: "!!!! Oh! Um...My favorite tea is being discontinued." X^; naho: .....that stinks. *exits* -elsewhere- Relan: *sneezes* iris: you ok? Relan: "I think so? Just dust..." tamaki: it's like that baby panda video. Relan: ._.; "...I'm not a panda..." shinra:.... TTuTT (thinking: could have fooled me.) -elsewhere- Hibana: =\\\\\\\= *snuggle* hanako: *giggles* Hibana: "Such a cutie-patootie..." -elsewhere- Karim: "Hmm...You been okay?" dia: !! o-of course. just a bit tired is all. foien: ... pearl: we do worry about you, dia. dia: im fine, really... Karim: "Well, how about some soup?" -elsewhere- Iida: "So you are on patrol?" manual: yeah. hosu city's been in a bit of a panic after the incident- s-sorry. Iida: "No, I understand. It would make sense to have superheroes visible to give civilians confidence..." manual: that's right. especially since so many people are around during the holidays. Iida: "Hmm...How approachable are civilians to you?" -elsewhere- Izuku: *stares at the broken microwave "..." *tries opening the door* "...You shouldn't use this, sir. It'll release radiation, and not the 'superhero origin story' kind..." gran torino: im gonna go to the store now. be back soon. clean up while im out see ya! *exits* Izuku: *sighs* "What even is this...I thought I would come here to learn how to control One for All, then I'm told my focus on learning it like All Might would teach it was a shackle...Maybe...if I tried another approach..." *looks at his hand* "...This hand of mind is connected to my arm, which is connected to my shoulder...It's...!!! It's an extension of me!" -elsewhere- best jeanist: to be honest, im not really a fan, mr kacchan. Bakugo: "!!!! Then why the ever-loving crud-apples did you take me on as a protege?!" best jeanist: because i intend to make a good example of you. *sparkle sparkle* Bakugo: "I am already an awesome example! Look at me! I won in the competition (ignoring that my opponent was totally wimping out)--DID YOU JUST CALL ME KACCHAN?!" best jeanist: please, it's all over social media. *shows his phone* also, have you looked in the mirror lately? heros and villains are two sides of the same coin. look at that hard glare of yours. does that look like the face of a hero to you? -night time- Izuku: *drops garbage bag in the alley* -the night is silent- Izuku: *looks up the alley wall* "...Okay...If I try to bounce there, then there..." *nods* "Let's do this..." "Charge up the feet...and the knees...and...BOUNCE!" *leaps* -elsewhere- leo: ............. {RHOD member: <oi, oi, new girl, give us a smile>} {leo: ...} {RHOD member 2: <she's a cute on, the boss sure knows how to pick 'em, eh?>} {*tap tap on Members #1 and #2's shoulders*} {RHOD 2: <nyeh>} {leo: ??} {Ivan: *creepy face* "Master would like you two to leave her alone--or suffer."} {1 + 2: OwO;;;;; *they flee*} {leo: ...... <t-thank you, sir....>} {Ivan: *slight bow*<"Anything for my master...Even though he had not specifically asked me in this instance.> ^^; {leo: .... .///. <w-what exactly will i be doing here? i dont have any particular skills that would be of use->} {Ivan: <I...don't know that. But Master said he was interested in what you could do, and I always trust his word~ Maybe speak with him?>} {leo: <m-maybe....>} {Ivan: <But first--> *hands her a tray*} {leo: ?? *blinks* } {Ivan: <Can you make tea?>} {leo: <well, i've never actually tried to...>} {Ivan: <Then in the name of our master, I will teach you...>} leo: .....*sigh* please be ok, vanya.... -elsewhere- Ivan: *shuddering* fyo-dolly: ... Ivan: *stares* "..." <Is this to your liking, Master?> -no answer- Ivan: Q~Q "H-Have I offended you?" fyo-dolly:.... Ivan: "..." *holds up the doll* *high-pitch voice* "I think you're really obedient, my loyal servant!" *normal voice* "Oh, am I, really~?" ^^ *Fyodor*: "Oh, yes--you are the most perfect servant! Far better than that skanky whore who is only good for filling with my seed--" Ivan: "Oh, stop, master~ You'll embarrass me." =\\\\= *Fyodor*: "It's true! You also know how to tend to me in every way possible..." -elsewhere- pushkin:.................kati? did you feel that? katya: the overwhelming feeling of second hand embarrassment? yes. Gin: "Are you two done talking?" katya: nyeh? pushkin: nothing! OuO; Gin: "Good. Now pay attention..." *holds up a kunai* -elsewhere- Fourth Kind: "And that's it for today. Now get to bed for a bright and early day, you poozers." eijiro: understood! -elsewhere- Izuku: *his face is bruised* TWT gran torino: jeez, you fall down the steps, sonny? Izuku: "Just some...late night jumping practice, sir." gran torino: yeah, every real challenge starts that way. ya'll'd be hard pressed to get that kinda mentality outta all might. he could manage fine from the start, so i had to use different methods. the only thing the kid had going for him was his body... GET YOUR MINDS OUT OF THE GUTTER, YOU SICK FUCKS. Izuku: :X "I WASN'T THINKING ANYTHING OF THE KIND, SIR! ...And why did you make that plural?" *looks around* gran torino: dont think about it too much. anyway. we sparred until he was ready to pass out and cry. Izuku: ._.;;; "...Poor All Might...That must've hurt." gran torino: not as much as the emotional pain. he was entrusted to me by a friend of mine who's long gone, god rest her soul. -ding dong- Izuku: "I'll get it, sir..." (" 'Entrusted'? Did he mean...All Might's mentor?") delivery: delivery for a mr...torino? gran torino: aha! it's here! -one microwave installation later- Izuku: "Wow, that is one fast delivery..." gran torino: how about we heat up those taiyaki i bought the other day, huh? im starved! Izuku: owo; "...For breakfast?" -and so- gran torino: *nom* >3< TOO COLD! Izuku: "!!! I-I don't understand! I set the time correctly, I know it..." gran torino: ah! here's your problem! you put them on too big of a plate! if you use too big a plate, it wont spin and only a part of it will get warm! have you never used a darn microwave?! Izuku: "O-Of course! We just don't--My mom and me--We don't have a spinning microwave! Ours is stationary and...And...!!!! I figured it out!" gran torino: ? Izuku: "I am the taiyaki!" gran torino:....did you hit your head harder than you thought you did? are you going senile? Izuku: "I have been trying to concentrate all of my power to one spot, rather than using One for All throughout my body, as an extention of myself..." gran torino: now yer catching on! Izuku: ^^ "I-I only hope so. Now it's about putting it into practice..." -elsewhere- Uwabami: *checking her mail* *sighs* "So annoying...All these invitations..." -one letter from the zoo- -'do your best today! <3 aoi + shiina + everyone'- Uwabami: "..." TTWTT "D'aw..." -elsewhere- Mr. Asui: "What you want to do today, kiddos?" *ribbit* satsuki: did-nee! did-nee! mrs asui: sound like a plan. ^^ -elsewhere- Akitaru: *sets down glasses* "Drink up." shinra: thanks for the meal! *gulps* tamaki: are we ever going to the nether? its been weeks. Takehisa: "If someone would hurry on the map--" Victor: "I'M TRYING! I'M TRYING, DARN IT! STOP PUTTING ME UNDER MORE PRESSURE!!!" karin: o-o; nozomi: D8> Victor: "..." Q___Q "I'm sorry--I'm just really stressed...Knights. Fire people. Mushrooms. Tunnels. Fear of dying. It's all a lot weighing on me..." nozomi: i-it's ok. *hug* karin: *glare* Victor: .\\\\\\\. (*screaming internally* "This is not helping my stress...") -elsewhere- Todoroki: "What's it like working for my father?" secretary:..... Q_Q Todoroki: "...Oh no. He hasn't done...that, has he?" secretary: no! nothing like that! he just piles all the work on me. TT_TT i barely have time to sleep... Todoroki: "...May I help?" -elsewhere- Fyodor: *humming* guard: you seem chipper... Fyodor: *smiles* "I have decided to make the best of my situation~" guard:...creepy.... -elsewhere- ???:...mufufufu~ this should be easy~ -elsewhere- Kid: *playing with Shiori* shiori: ^u^ Kid: *holds up a doll* "And what is this animal?" shiori: moomoo! Kid: "A moo-moo! The cow goes--" *impersonating the sound* "Mooooo!" shiori: *giggles* Kid: *sets down the cow, picks up another one* "And what sound does this little one make?" shiori: meeew! Kid: "A kitty cat!" *sets it down* "And how about this one?" *picks up Shiori* shiori: *baby squeal* Kid: "Shiori goes 'hee hee hee'!" stocking: *smile* Kid: *looks at Stocking...winks at her* stocking: 7///w///7~<3 Kid: ^\\\^ *passes Shiori to Stocking* stocking: hey, shiorin ^^ shiori: stocky! stocky! Kid: *smiles, as he snaps a pic* -elsewhere- Yohei: "Look what a big boy you are..." toru: hehehe! Yohei: "And a happy boy, too." *picks him up* "Umph! And bigger..." chie: ah! haha, yohei im not done washing him yet! ^^; *laughs* Yohei: "Oh--sorry!" *sets Toru down* "I'll mop up." chie: ^^; *washing toru in the sink* aw, did daddy try to get you out of bath time early? toru: ba! chie: hehe, silly daddy! Yohei: ^^; "Sorry...Just been away so long today..." chie: *small smile* ah, did you want to be on ducky duty? Yohei: "...That'd be great." *smiles, kisses her cheek as he takes the rubber ducky* toru: ^o^ Yohei: "QUACK QUACK!" toru: ^u^ -elsewhere- Relan: *pats Shinra's back* "Better?" shinra: y-yeah. iris: *hug* shinra: =///= Relan: "We're here for you..." -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *sighs* "Good meal..." mami: thanks for tonight. ^^ kim: no probs. nagisa: ^u^ Crona: *nods* "Th-Thank you..." -elsewhere- Dazai: "..." yosano: still moping because of the baby, huh? Dazai: "It's not 'moping.' It's thinking." yosano: hmm... Dazai: "Money. Broken family. Dad who has problems." yosano: you're scared because you're inexperienced. Dazai: "Is that the _only_ reason? What do I know about raising anyone?" yosano: well, you've been doing well with atsushi and kyouka, right? Dazai: "...I don't have to change their diapers, though..." yosano: hey, you're not the only one raising this kid. Dazai: "...What if she doesn't want me involved?" yosano: you'll just have to ask then, wont you? Dazai: "..." *bolts upright* "Yes, I will." -elsewhere- Sanjuro: "It's getting late...Maybe call it a night?" tsubaki:...perhaps... Sanjuro: "..." *hug* tsubaki:....*hug* Sanjuro: "We'll stop them...and we'll get him--...the sword back." tsubaki:...r-right....*walking home* ......... Sanjuro: "..." *looks up at the sky* -elsewhere- Magaki: *covering their ears* "..." -...- Magaki: "...Stop..." -...?- Magaki: "Stop talking to me...I don't want to hear it..." -...- Magaki: "..." *lowers their hands* "..." *stares at the one that transforms into the Uncanny Sword* "...Go away..." -elsewhere- Bakugo: [how is your internship?] itsuka: [its...an experience. ^^; ] Bakugo: [about the same -_-# ] *texts a photo: his hair and outfit have been changed* itsuka: [who are you and why do you have katsuki's phone?] Bakugo: [HA HA FUCKING HA. i'm gonna kill jeanist for this shit] itsuka: [XD] Bakugo: [ -_-# what's snake woman got you doing? patrols?] itsuka: ... [advertisement.] Bakugo: [??? like, passing out flyers?] itsuka: [it should be on in 8 minutes on channel 22] Bakugo: "???" *flips on Channel 22* ['kay. let's see what this is all about...] -seems the commercial is promoting the oumagadoki zoo- -momo and itsuka are also in explorer themed outfits- Bakugo: "??? The zoo--" *spots Itsuka* "..." .\\\\. -elsewhere- Tokoyami: "...Is this the work to finish?" ojiro: i think so. *phew* a lot to clean up... Tokoyami: "A civil service, I suppose..." *takes out a flashlight* -later- hagakure: [it's so sad. TT^TT i didnt know how bad things were here in chicago...] Ojiro: [a lot of crime?] hagakure: [that's the least of it. when i got to valkyrie's office, some of the graffiti was disheartening to say the least...] Ojiro: "..." [i'm sorry] hagakure: [cant turn back now, though. i came because i wanted to help out the people who were suffering here. so thats what im going to do! *determined emoticon*] Ojiro: [sure you will. good luck! stay safe] hagakure: [i will. ^^] -elsewhere- Free: *laying down a blanket* milia: zzzz Free: *tucks her in, strokes her head* milia: =w= eruka: *small smile* Free: *stands back...* *whispers to Eruka* "When does she start school?" eruka: sometime in the spring. Free: "That's a bit off...Better help her prep..." -elsewhere- Asura: *shudders* mikan: *pet pet* heibito: =w= Asura: *slight whimper before hugging Heibito* mikan: *hums* Asura: "...This is pleasant." -elsewhere- Lucy: "Zzz..." anne: zzz Lucy: *turns over under her blanket* =w= -morning- Wes: *yawns* liz: zzzz Wes: "..." *rubs her back* liz: morning~ *kiss* Wes: "Good morning." *smooch* ^\\\^ "Sleep well?" -elsewhere- Chuuya: *shivers* sonia: *asleep* Chuuya: "..." *gets up, goes to the kitchen...takes out the cat dish* mito: *mreow* Chuuya: *pours out a bit of dry cat food and a bowl of milk* "Here you go, Mi--...Mito." mito: *mew!* *nom nom nom* Chuuya: *pets her* "..." *looks at the kitchen table* -...silence- Chuuya: *sighs, opens the cupboard, removes some bowls and cups* sonia: *yawns and gets up* Chuuya: "??? Sonia? You up?" sonia: *nods and goes to brush her teeth* Chuuya: *wipes his eyes* -elsewhere- Jacqueline: "So...That zoo commercial." kim: yeah, i could see them setting up. aoi seemed pretty nervous. Jacqueline: "Hmm...They didn't ask you to be in the commercial?" kim: i didnt offer, so nah. -elsewhere- Endeavor: "--and let the people know you mean business. Give them a dirty glare if you have to." intern 1: *muffled reply* Todoroki: "..." -elsewhere- Gin: *washing blood off her hands* katya: *streeeetch* haaaa, that was great. pushkin: hell yeah it was. did you hear the one guy begging for his mommy? katya: nah, i think my gun was too far down his throat. higuchi:.....a long time ago, you both threw your morality out of a car on a busy highway, didnt you? Gin: "We can't have unwanted attention--which is what you brought onto us." katya: nyeh? Gin: "Do I have to discipline you?" pushkin: are you still mad because i almost killed your bro? OwO;;; *STRANGLE* pushkin: grk- O-O UNCLE! UNCLE! higuchi: gin! katya: GET THE FUCK OFFA HIM! *lunges* -hirotsu put them on janitor duty as punishment= Gin: *in janitor's uniform* -_-#### katya:... <fuck> -elsewhere- Spirit: "Have a good day at work." sachiko: *nods and smiles* Spirit: "I'll have dinner ready..." *smooch* -elsewhere- Kyouka: *picks up her books* "Ready?" atsushi: *nods* Lucy: *walking with them* "What's on the agenda?" atsushi: usual school stuff until christmas break. Kyouka: "Any exams for you?" atsushi: im not sure. Akutagawa: "None for me." Lucy: .____. atsushi: i see akuta-.... O-O;; Kyouka: "You're looking well. Been eating better?" Lucy: "DON'T ENCOURAGE HIM." Akutagawa: "I haven't killed in at least a week..." atsushi: that's good. Akutagawa: "Thank you." Lucy: >_> "_Only_ a week...?" -elsewhere- fukuzawa: hmmm..... Tanizaki: "Sir?" fukuzawa: *looking at his phone.... 'when is the best time to host a baby shower?'* Tanizaki: "...Sir. Is there something you want to tell me?" ._. fukuzawa: ? naomi: you didnt hear? *whispers* kenji: *peeek* hehe, silly mr fukuzawa, babies dont take showers. Tanizaki: *listening* "..." O_____O naomi: yeeep. Tanizaki: "...Jeez. Might as well find a deal on diapers..." -elsewhere- Stein: "I'll need volunteers." sayaka: TTuTT (please dont call on me please dont call on me pleeeeease dont call on me!) Stein: "Miss Kaname." madoka: y-yes sir! sayaka: O.O; Stein: "And Sayaka." sayaka: Q-Q -elsewhere- Medusa: *groans, sets her head at the kitchen counter* neian: zzzz Medusa: "..." *drags a book--"Arcania*--over to herself, rests her head on it, watches Neian* "..." -elsewhere- Katai: *checking his phone* keek: [thanks for helping me] Katai: "..." ("I wish I had done more sooner...") [you're welcome. how are u?] keek: [ok. went 2 doctors. will be going 2 therapy] Katai: [oh good--i think that will help] -elsewhere- Kunikida: *opens his book...holds his pen...his hand is shaking* ranpo: still shook up over that kid, huh? Kunikida: "...Do you have to be so blunt?" ranpo: hey, i just have a detective’s understanding. Kunikida: *shuts his book, tosses his pen away* ranpo: ... Kunikida: "...I can't do this..." yosano: .... Kunikida: "...I think I have to leave." fukuzawa: what do you mean? aya: you can't give up, kunikida! Kunikida: "Look at me...Do you not understand the embarrassment I will attach to this Agency by staying here?" fukuzawa: you arent bringing shame to the agency. Kunikida: "I LET A CHILD DIE! I should be punished!" -stunned silence- Kunikida: "..." aya:....*teary eyed* kunikida... Kunikida: *shakes his head* -elsewhere- Intern #1: "Yo, Kacchan! Good luck today!" Bakugo: "Blow it out your ass." -elsewhere- Gunhead: "Oh no--that poor kitten's stuck way up there..." ochako: *gravities on up* its ok, kitty. -she got clawed up, but it was worth it- -elsewhere- emily: alright. and now for the roll call. mr twain? twain: yo! emily: wilde? oscar: here~ emily: white? ebie: *hanging upside down* here! emily: steinbeck? Steinbeck: *calling from upstairs* "Coming!" *walking down, holding a potted vine* emily: ah. baum? man: we're here~! ^^ girl: present. emily: good. let's see. hemingway? Hemingway: "Ay." emily: that should be- oscar: wait. dickenson isnt here. emily: IM RIGHT HERE! D8> oscar: hmm? oh! she's giving role. sorry hun~ ^^; emily: =_=; Steinbeck: "Okay, now that that part is taken care of, onto business--" *pulls out Christmas lights* -elsewhere- Fitzgerald: "..." *staring at Christmas lights on the tree* mary: *putting a bow on mr tsubaki* hehe ^^ Mr. Tsubaki: "..." *head tilt* mary: hehe ^^ Mr. Tsubaki: "..." *nuzzle* -elsewhere- leo: ...... Akutagawa: *enters, carrying a backpack of books* leo: ?? Akutagawa: "...I had to come back to tend to you, as others are not here to do so." leo: ....i....i see.... Akutagawa: "..." *sits down, takes his homework out from his bookbag* "...I go to school now. Did you?" leo: ...i had private tutors when i was much younger. i continued my education with the rats. Akutagawa: "..." *shivers when she says 'Rats'* leo:.... Akutagawa: "...I've gone a week without killing." leo: ? Akutagawa: "I made a promise to someone I want to kill. And that I'm attracted to." leo:.....ah.... Akutagawa: "...I'm conflicted. But not killing has made me...feel things." leo: ....do you love this person? Akutagawa: "...I think so?" leo: ....why? Akutagawa: "...He's powerful." leo:....is that...the only reason? {atsushi: *smiles*} Akutagawa: "...He looks friendly." -elsewhere- Lucy: *opens her lunch* "Jeez...Following us like that." atsushi: yeah…but i think he's been getting kinda better? ish? Lucy: "Yes, I felt much better that he didn't try to kill me this time." -_-; atsushi: i really do think he might get better from this. *smiles and holds her hand* Lucy: =\\\\= "...Tiger instincts, right?" atsushi: *chuckle* -elsewhere- aya: *pounding on katai's door* UNCLE KATAAAAAI WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY!!! Katai: "!!!" *wrapped in his futon, bounces to the door--and falls out of it onto the floor* "...Owie." aya: *shaking him* it's kunikida! he's thinking about leaving! we gotta talk him out of it! >A< Katai: O_O;;;; "...I left. It worked out...fine-ish for me." ^^;;;; *...Something is crawling along the floor behind Katai* *...Is that an amoeba?!* aya: O_o *chokehold* TALK HIM OUT OF IT AND CLEAN YOUR HOUSE DARN IT!! Katai: O________o "OKAY, I WILL! ..." *takes his phone, dials Kunikida* "...It's still dialing..." aya: please pick up.... *CLICK* Kunikida: "...What?" aya: please dont leave, kunikida! you cant just give up because of one slip up! that's not the kunikida that we know! Kunikida: "...'Slip up'?" aya: people make mistakes ok? that's normal. all we can do is learn from the past and improve, right?! Kunikida: "...What am I supposed to learn from someone's death? How many will die..." aya: ....*biting her lip* IF YOU DONT STOP BEING A BABY ABOUT THIS THEN MORE PEOPLE ARE GONNA DIE! YOU CAN HELP STOP THAT! JUST GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR BUTT ALREADY AND START GOING FOR IT, DAMMIT! Kunikida: *triggered, as he remembers lives he has lost--and those he has saved* "..." *drops the phone* aya: ....kuni?....*shaking* kunikida are you ok? {Kunikida: "Aya...I'm sorry that you were almost--"} {aya: its fine. miss yosano was there, right? ^^} {Kunikida: *sighs* "That is a relief..." *opens his book* "Although this unpredictable nonsense has disrupted my schedule. -^- } Kunikida: "..." *picks up the phone* "Are you safe?" aya: y-yeah, im at uncle katai's right now. Kunikida: "Is Katai okay?" aya: yeah. h-he needs to clean though. big time. Kunikida: "...I will be right there. Go out and buy a sponge." -elsewhere- kirako: hmm? dazai? what brings you over? Dazai: "...I came to offer my services." kirako: oh? Dazai: "...May I help with anything? Chores? Baby clothes?" kirako: ah. well, if i need any extra help, i'll let you know. but for now, i seem to be doing well. ^^; Dazai: "...Have you been to the doctor recently?" kirako: besides yosano? *chuckles* Dazai: "I mean...Do you have an OB-GYN?" kirako: i might schedule an appointment later on... -elsewhere- keek: ... Dr. John: "Let me know whether you feel the pen..." *takes her pen, taps it along the top of leg* keek: i feel it.... Dr. John: "Okay..." *taps closer to the healed stump* keek: yeah... Dr. John: "Okay...That means nerves are still active and haven't died...How is pain in the severed nerves?" keek:....i-its not as bad...p-physically, anyway.... Dr. John: "...We can keep track of pain medications. But when you say 'physically'...is there something you wanted to discuss that wasn't physical?" keek:....*shaking* i have....n-nightmares.....the rats....n-nurse lewis...a-a-and that man....*she's shaking badly* Dr. John: "..." *offers her hand* keek: *whimpering* sachiko: *outside* (lewis? s-she doesnt mean......does she?) -elsewhere- Black Star: *sits up in bed* tsubaki: *asleep* Black Star: "..." *pats her head, his hand more healed* -elsewhere- Kunikida: *scrubbing the floor* aya: *dusting* Katai: D: "B-But don't upset the feng shui!" -elsewhere- Mori: "..." -footsteps can be heard- Mori: "!!!" *tries to hide under the desk* -the door opens- fukuzawa: ...... Mori: *trying to lean up against the back of the desk* fukuzawa: mori? i know you're here......it's alright. i have no intentions of fighting you right now. Mori: "...There is no Mori..." fukuzawa: ?? *looks under the desk* Mori: *huddled, holding papers and crayons* Q~Q fukuzawa:.....?? mori? Mori: *holds up a paper, with a drawing of Elise* fukuzawa: .............she's your ability, isnt she? Mori: "...Yes." fukuzawa: you can summon her again, right? Mori: "...It's so hard..." fukuzawa: ?? Mori: "Summoning her...She won't be how she wants to be..." fukuzawa: what do you mean? Mori: "She...can never age." fukuzawa: .... Mori: "...I don't deserve..." fukuzawa:....what happened to you, mori? Mori: "...The loss of innocence..." *puts a hand through his hair* fukuzawa: ..... Mori: "...You have seen enough death. You survived it." fukuzawa: ..... Mori: "...Rintaro did not." fukuzawa:....rintarou? (come to think of it, that girl always called him that....) Mori: *nods* "He died when he...When I...When we..." fukuzawa: when you what? Mori: "...Killed them..." fukuzawa: ... Mori: "Rintaro's mother..." fukuzawa: !! Mori: "And...father." fukuzawa: ?! Mori: *closes his eyes as tears fall* "I-I guess we're orphans, huh, Rintaro?" fukuzawa: ... Mori: *giggles...which turns into crying* fukuzawa: .....(natsume...what do we do with him like this?) Mori: *shaking, curled up in the fetal position* fukuzawa: .... Mori: *shivering, closing his eyes* fukuzawa:...*sighs* god dammit.....come on. *picks him up* if people knew the boss of the port mafia was hanging around here by himself, you'd be an easy target...especially like this... Mori: "Zzz..." fukuzawa:.... *sighs and begins heading back* Mori: *nuzzles into his chest* -elsewhere- Chuuya: *grabs a box of cereal at the grocery* katya: sup. -she and pushkin have a whole cart full of milk...- hirotsu: put those back. katya: =n=# pushkin: =3= Chuuya: "...What...the...heck?" hirotsu: *sigh* those two are quite the handful... Chuuya: "...Working with them seems like a bad plan. How you hiding this from authorities?" hirotsu: you'd be surprised. we managed to clear you and akutagawa's ledgers so you may attend school, we can clean theirs as well. Chuuya: "That's a fair point...Just keep them away from me." hirotsu: while their attitudes can use _quite_ an improvement, they have proven effective in terms of missions, especially given akutagawa's 'hiatus'. Chuuya: "...Still thinking he won't last another week." -morning- Kid: *kitten yawn* stocking: morning~ Kid: =w= "Good morning..." *smooch* stocking: mmmm~ Kid: *cuddles* "How was your sleep?" stocking: good. -elsewhere- atsushi: *streeeetch*.... *goes out for a quick walk around the apartments* Dazai: *on the roof* atsushi: *sighs and tiger jumps onto the roof* hey dazai, please dont jump. *pulling him back* Dazai: O_O; "...I was just admiring the view!" -phone message- Dazai: *pulls up the message* [emergency mandatory meeting; fukuzawa's apt] Dazai: "??? Okay, let's move..." -in the apartment- ranpo: so what's up? kirako: is everyone here? Kyouka: "Yes." Dazai: "..." Tanizaki: *looking around* *No Kunikida* naomi: mmhmm. kenji: is kuni sick? *Knock knock* kirako: *looks* *Kunikida is outside* yosano: found him! aya: *following him inside* Kunikida: "I'm sorry. I got turned around on the way here." fukuzawa: so then everyone is accounted for. mii: *mreeeeow* Dazai: "Y-Yeah...What is this about?" fukuzawa: on my walk last night, i found something rather...distressing...he was in a bad state and i was forced to bring him back with me to keep him out of harms way. Kunikida: " 'He'?" fukuzawa: *looks in the other room* it's alright, you may come out. they wont hurt you. *shivering is heard...as Mori walks in, wrapped in a blanket* yosano: what... atsushi: ....the.... odasaku: actual fuck.... ranpo: WTF?! kenji: hi! kirako: O_O Kyouka: !!!!!!!!!!! *hides behind Kirako* Kunikida: "!!!" *puts Aya behind him* "Sir, what is the meaning of this?" -he explains what happened- ranpo: he looks...almost kind of cute this way.....i feel sick. yosano: there is so much wrong with this picture. Dazai: "..." *leans forward, stares at Mori in the face* Mori: "..." atsushi: what's he doing? odasaku: ... Dazai: "..." *flicks Mori's nose* Mori: "OW! naomi: um... ._.; Dazai: "Huh...Never thought this would happen. So, what, we switch bodyguarding him?" fukuzawa: for now, until we can figure out what to do with him, we'll be keeping him here so that he doesnt endanger himself or others. Kunikida: "It's the 'others' part that concerns me. What do you propose?" fukuzawa: i will be keeping him in the back room for the time being. Dazai: "So who takes the first shift watching him--" Mori: *stares at Naomi* naomi: not it! aya: not it! yosano: i'll do it. ranpo: really? yosano: well, someone has to. Mori: *stares at Yosano* "...Oh! Long time no see, akiki!" yosano:...what the fuck? ._.' Mori: ^^ "Glad to see you. How's the medical profession treating you?" yosano: fairly well. and it seems i'll be treating you for today. Mori: "Okay. Just don't treat me like that one patient we had your last year--that guy really didn't need a spinal tap that badly..." yosano: ... -_-; this is going to be a long day, isnt it? fukuzawa: it doesnt look hopeful. atsushi: ._.; (so that's where ranpo gets his bluntness from...) Dazai: "Well, we'll leave you to it~" -elsewhere- Akutagawa: *sets a tray of food down for Leo* leo:....*small nom* Akutagawa: "...You miss him?" leo:....hard not to...im worried.... Akutagawa: "He did try to kill me and my...rival." leo: .....if you're angry with him, you can take it out on me.....i cant die anyway.... Akutagawa: "...Useful." leo: ......on an outside perspective, yes.... Akutagawa: "...Even if you cannot die, I'm not sure I could...That is a bit ambiguous whether it would violate my agreement." leo: ... Akutagawa: "..." *sits down* "...What does love feel like?" leo: eh? well....when you're able to be with that person, it feels....warm. Akutagawa: "And light?" leo:...*small smile* yes. Akutagawa: "..." *nods* "It feels peaceful." -elsewhere- Katai: *walking through the grocery...dragging his futon with him* blair: oh hello~ ^^ Katai: o\\\\w\\\\o "H-H-H-Hell-oooo?" blair: ^^ Katai: owo "...Fish." blair:...nyeh? OwO~? Katai: "I-I went f-fishing...Do you like fish?" -elsewhere- Victor: "So..." *hands out the groceries* "I think the Eighth is about ready." ivy: about fucking time. Joker: "No kidding. After all this, I don't know whose liver was going to hold out longer, mine's or Red's." -elsewhere- Takehisa: *packing the Matchbox* shinra: ..... Akitaru: "...Hey." shinra: !! *salutes* sir! Akitaru: *small laugh, salutes back* "At ease, soldier. Just wanted to see whether you're up for this." shinra: of course! i mean, i-i have to be, right? Akitaru: *smiles* "Right!" *pats his back* "...We'll bring him back." -elsewhere- Hibana: *opening a box* gabriella: a gift for iris? Hibana: *nods* "I thought it was time..." gabriella: *peek* oh! Hibana: "You think she'll accept it?" gabriella: im certain. -elsewhere- Master: *sets down a glass of water--then notices a ripple in it* "???" miranda: looks like another one. Master: "Weird. We had them months ago--and now they're back?" -elsewhere- naomi: ._.; Tanizaki: *facepalm* naomi: why is he clinging to me? .____.;;; Mori: =w= Tanizaki: "..." *removes a switchblade* naomi: um.... *poke poke* Mori: "I feel at peace...You're very kind, ma'am." naomi:...um....thanks? *blinks* Mori: *rests his head on her lap* "You're like a mommy..." Tanizaki: *biting his lips, taking out another switchblade* naomi: .______. *sweats and screams on the inside* -elsewhere- -rumble rumble- Kyouka: *hiding under a table* O~O atsushi: everyone ok? kirako: y-yeah. *rubs her stomach* Dazai: "..." *looks out the window* "...No obvious damage. Just some car alarms..." aya: that's good... Kunikida: "..." *re-sets the table* -elsewhere- Kid: "..." *shivers* stocking: *pats his back* Kid: "N-Not again..." stocking: shhhhh, im here, kid... Kid: *shivers, slight whimper* stocking: *holding him to her chest and strokes his head* Kid: *closes his eyes, trying to steady his breath...* stocking: *humming* Kid: *calms down, starting to sleep* -elsewhere- Katai: owo;;;; "...You okay?" blair: nyeah. just a bit startled is all. ^^ Katai: "Th-That's good..." *he had leapt into her arms* blair: hehe, cozy? *slight squish* Katai: o\\\\w\\\\o "...Incredibly so?" -elsewhere- Poe: *under a pile of books that fell from the shelves* ._.; lana: *helping him up* edgar, are you ok? Poe: *nod nod* "I-I know I like to put my head into a book, but this is ridiculous." ^^; lana:.......*chuckles* Poe: "..." *forehead smooch* lana: ^///////^ -elsewhere- Chuuya: *using his gravity powers to hold items up before they hit the floor...the amount he is holding up is stressing out his body* .______.;;;; "I-Is that everything?" kouyou: *she nods* Chuuya: "..." *lowers the items...then falls back onto the floor with a sigh* "Phew..." -elsewhere- Izuku: "Wow! Are you okay, sir?" gran torino: bwahaha! mother nature cant keep me down! Izuku: o_o; "I suppose not..." *picks up items that fell in the kitchen--including boxes of candy* "...You sure like sweets, sir..." -elsewhere- Bystander: "Isn't that that cat-girl who lost in the Sports Festival?" tamaki: *keeping a straight face, altough she was a bit hurt* nozomi: try not to mind them that much, miss tamaki. ^^; Bystander #2: "I think she lost more than the match--you see her pants fly off?" tamaki: *HISSSSSSSSSSSS* Bystander #2: *falls back* "Oh shit!" -elsewhere- Yohei: "Damn...It cracked the roof." mana: showtaro? you got the supplies? Shotaro: *lifts them up with Bone of the Ox* "Got 'em!" mana: ok! let's do this then. -elsewhere- Victor: *carefully crawls back into the Eighth through the open window* komori: *staaaaaare* Victor: O________O;;;; "...Um...Howdy!" komori: [sneaking out again?] Victor: ^^;;; "Oh, you know--my family is up at weird hours, have to get there when I can. And I don't want the Commander to dock me for personal days or sicks days--I'm saving those up to go to a comic convention next month." *nervous laugh* komori:......*eye glints at him* Victor: O______O;;; *runs--into the wall* -elsewhere- Spirit: "...You okay?" sachiko: yeah...just uneasy.... Spirit: "Something at work?" sachiko:...*sigh* if what that girl said is true, that zoey actually did that to her.....do i get the authorities involved? if i do that, they'll question her, and it might just stress her out more than she already is... Spirit: "Wait, Zoey? ...What girl? She knows something about your coworker who went craz-- ...Who..." -she explains the situation- Spirit: "...Have you talked to this girl?" sachiko: not yet. but please dont tell anyone i told you this, i could get in some real shit for telling you this... Spirit: *zips his lips* "Got it. Not even if Lord Death asked me." sachiko: *smiles* thanks, spirit. *hugs* Spirit: *pats her back, hugs her* -elsewhere- Kunikida: *looks outside* "...Where the devil is he? Why would he leave home? Did he get shot...again?" -knocks- Kunikida: "???" *looks through the peephole* -it's katai!- Kunikida: "!!!" *throws open the door* "Where were you?! I was worried sick..." Katai: .\\\. aya: uncle katai? Katai: "...Hi. I, um...Earthquake." -elsewhere- Karim: *drenched* -_-# pearl: *giving him a towel* ruby: when's dia gonna get back? -elsewhere- dia: ..... Fyodor: *smiles* dia: ....<i held up my end, you hold up yours...> Fyodor: <How shall I begin?> dia: ... Fyodor: <Maybe tell you where she went?> dia: <where is she?> Fyodor: *smiles* <I can't write it out. You'll need a map...> dia: ... Fyodor: <Do you have one? I can dictate the directions to you...> -elsewhere- leo: ... Akutagawa: *nudges Naoya* "Talk to her." naoya: hey there. leo: ...*nod* naoya: *hands her a beer can* thirsty? leo:....im good.... naoya: well, i had a talk with kouyou about finding you some work. leo: ............... Akutagawa: "You may like it. Just listen." naoya: kouyou said she'd offer you a position as a courtesan. she said she'd hate to let you rot away in this dingy-ass cell. 'sides, we let the other two nimrods out, why not let you out too? leo: ........ it wouldnt.....be the first time i was in such a position...... naoya:...... ._.; *feeling like an ass* did you want to talk to her personally? Akutagawa: "...That might be a good idea." leo:.....perhaps...... Akutagawa: "...When would you like? It could be later." leo:....it doesnt really matter when.... -elsewhere- Ivan: *shivers* -silence.... deafening silence....- Ivan: "...Am I going to die like this, Master?" fyo-dolly: ..... Ivan: "..." *strokes the puppet* <I suppose...if it is for you...> -elsewhere- Shinoda: o_o;;; "...What are you doing?" mana: fixing the roof, what does it look like? Shinoda: "But Nea said she likes it like this..." chie: it's going to cause a leak! D8< nea: *pouts* fiiine... Shinoda: ^^; "I'll treat you to ice cream..." -elsewhere- Rin: "Was class that bad?" madoka: i-im alive. QuQ *shaking* sayaka: TTwTT kilik:... *pat pat* sayaka: thank you TTATT Rin: "Jeez..." *hugs Madoka* "That bad, huh?" -elsewhere- Yumi: *cradling Shiori* shiori: zzzzz lord death: *small smile* kirika: ... Yumi: *sets Shiori down into her bed* kirika: ...cute. Yumi: "??? Kirika?" kirika: w-what? lord death: *hug* kirika: !!... 7///7; Yumi: *pat pat* -elsewhere- Magaki: "..." *grimace* -...- Magaki: <The blood is so awful...I never wanted to drink it...> *sets it down* <...No, relax. I got it from the butcher's shop.> -...- Magaki: "..." <What exactly can _you_ do, anyway? Aside from sword-stuff...> -elsewhere- Sakuya: *sitting at the kitchen table, looking at the night sky* soul: cant sleep? Sakuya: "No...Not a new problem." soul: ah.....need something to drink? Sakuya: "...Yep." soul: milk? Sakuya: *nods* "...Maybe cookies?" -elsewhere- Chuuya: "..." sonia: zzzz Chuuya: "..." *tucks her in* sonia: *holding her teddy* Chuuya: *soft sigh* ("Surprised she likes that thing...") sonia: zzzz Chuuya: *small forehead kiss* sonia: =w= Chuuya: *smiles, before he stands up and heads to the door* -elsewhere- Dazai: "..." *turns over* kirako: zzzz Dazai: "..." *protective hug* kirako: =///= Dazai: "..." *small cuddle* -elsewhere- fukuzawa: .... Mori: "Zzzz..." ranpo: zzzz fukuzawa: ....*reading* Mori: *turns over* "E-Elise..." fukuzawa: .... Mori: *whimpers* fukuzawa:....*awkward shoulder pat* Mori: TT~TT -elsewhere- Jonah: *giggles, re-designing a Hood's face* hood: OwO guruna: *spinning in a swivel chair* kurururu~ Jonah: "I think you'll enjoy it. It'll be great for infiltration..." -elsewhere- Burns: "Why are you still awake?" dia: sorry sir, busy day.... Burns: "Hmm." *offers a mug* "Have a seat." dia: *sitting down* ... *her hands are a bit shaky* Burns: "...Okay. What's eating at you?" dia:....*sigh* just....this dostoevsky incident... Burns: "??? What about it?" dia: b...bad memories.... -she explains what happened, but leaves out the part about barkova- Burns: "...I had my suspicions you knew him." dia:....i thought....coming here would keep me away from that terrible place.....he's in my head.... Burns: "Only if you let him." dia: ....im sorry, sir. Burns: "Don't apologize. This is a rough spot that you'll get through." dia:...u-understood. Burns: "..." *pats her shoulder* "You're tough. I know you won't let some lunatic get to you." dia:... *she nods* .... -elsewhere- Akutagawa: "Zzz..." Gin: *sets the blanket down, tucks him in* Akutagawa: *breathes more easily* -elsewhere- leo: ...... *A door down the hall sounds like it opens* leo: ?? ???: "...Sleeping?" leo: .....who is this? Kouyou: *approaches* "Someone who has been wanting to speak with you." leo:...oh. Kouyou: "Disappointed?" leo: n-no, just....i dont know about this....i dont want to betray the rats... Kouyou: "And how would this be betrayal?" leo: if your suggestion is for me to work for you.... Kouyou: "Yes, it is. And I think you would do well..." *studies Leo's face* leo: *there is a solemn look on her face, her eyes dull and tired, weary of the world* Kouyou: "...What do you want?" leo: ....an escape from this ability of mine....i want to be able to die....but i cant... Kouyou: "...I'm sorry. I don't know what you have gone through..." leo: .......*silently stares at the wall, tears falling, but her expression doesnt change* Kouyou: "..." *unlocks the door* leo: .... Kouyou: *enters...sits beside her* leo:......?? Kouyou: "..." *pats her hand* leo:.....*shaking a bit* Kouyou: "It's okay...Cry as much as you need to." leo: ........ Kouyou: *pats her back* leo: .... Kouyou: "...Do you like tea?" leo:.... *nod* Kouyou: "Then let's get you some tea." *presses a button on her smartphone* -elsewhere- Katai: =w= "Zzz..." blair: *in cat form, sleeping on his lap* Katai: *turns slightly...looks up* "...??? ..." *pets Blair* -elsewhere- Yukio: *wide awake* "..." momo sakura: *yawn* yuki? Yukio: *sits up* "Momo?" *puts on his glasses* "Can't sleep?" momo sakura: *nod nod* Yukio: "...Want to talk?" -elsewhere- shinra:..... *It's dark...There is hardly any light...* shinra: oh.... this place again... *There is fire, but little, no warmth...A skull is at Shinra's feet* shinra: WARG! *falls over* ???: mr kusakabe? shinra: *blinks* oh, hey mikami. mikami: *awkward wave* shinra: ok, so we're lucid dreaming right now or something? mikami: i think so. shinra: ok. so how about we check this place out and see what we find? mikami: *nods* -the two are walking along, looking for any other potential people- *A pedestal can be seen* mikami: what do you think it is? shinra: not sure... helloooooo? anyone here? *The room grows bright* shinra: *he sees someone* ?? ...... !!! *Someone in a cloak, with odd tips poking from the top appears...Someone stands before them* shinra: s-sho? sho! Sho: *looks up* "...You again." shinra: *reaching for him* grab on! Sho: *stares...holds his sword* -whud- shinra: *lying on the floor* ....ow.... -elsewhere- Sho: *eyes snap open* dahlia: shall we proceed? Sho: "..." *takes up his sword* "I am ready." -elsewhere- Hibana: "?! What's wrong?" mikami: s-sorry, i just had a nightmare. ^^; ryuuko: are you bruised? mikami: i-i dont think so...*brushing her bangs out....showing her blind eye...* Hibana: "...Well, I hope sleep is better. Need something?" -elsewhere- Yumi: "Shh...It's okay..." kirika: *peeks into kid's room* ?? Kid: *holding his head* kirika: is he ok? lord death: *pats his back* shhh... Kid: *whimpering* *his skin is burning up* lord death: ellen, call for stein. ellen: right away, sir. Kid: *closing his eyes, getting faint* -elsewhere- Chuuya: "Zzz..." mito: zzzz Chuuya: *yawns...pets Mito* mito: =w= Chuuya: *sighs...looks at the clock* -4 AM- Chuuya: *groans* "Still early..." mito: *streeeetch* Chuuya: "..." *pets along Mito's stretching* mito: =w= Chuuya: *picks up a cat toy, wiggles it* mito: *batting at it* Chuuya: *smiles, moving it up and down to get Mito to leap onto the bed* mito: *leaps* *mreeew* ^w^ Karim: "..." pearl: *doing round and bumps into someone* ah! sorry about that sir- Onyango: "Excuse you." pearl: *ahem* may we help you? dia: ... !! ah, commander onyango! it's been a while. Onyango: "...Dia? Child. You're older now." dia: yes. pearl: s-she's actually a company commander now after rekk- *tenses* f-father hoshimiya's passing... Onyango: "...And that is why I am here, child." *turns back to Dia, ignoring Pearl* "Where is the Commander?" dia: he should be in his office. Onyango: "Still the same place, or has the building been re-built, too?" -elsewhere- *Someone stumbling, bleeding from their stomach* ???: "H-Help..." 'eyebrows': oh! oh goodness! tao: commander! we got someone hurt! Huang: *walking into the alley* "Symptoms? Condition?" tao: they've been cut open! Huang: "Gloves." granny: *handing her the gloves and medkit* Huang: *puts on the gloves, takes out clothes* "Wipe the blood. Sterilize the wound." 'eyebrows': understood! ritsu: y-yes! Huang: *takes out needle and thread...she charges a flame along the needle* -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: ._. *sits up* "Did you feel that?" fang-hua: mmmn? Tsukiyo: "The ground just shook..." fang-hua: so they're starting up again? Tsukiyo: "What is causing them? I don't know where the fault lines are..." -early morning- shinra: so then the nether... Victor: "Yep! This is a 'wear dark pants' kind of a mission..." tamaki: TMI! iris: will you really be ok with going, relan? Relan: "I-I've been improving my combat skills--I think? I mean, if Victor, Nozomi, and Vulcan are going, I should be able to, too, right?" ^^;;;;; "..." shinra: *smiles* i believe in you rel! nozomi: *nervous* karin: *she has on a backpack with something in it* dont worry, kiddo. we got you covered! Vulcan: *twirling the keys* "We're all packed. I'll take care of driving us there." -and so- shinra: it's pretty overgrown... tamaki: the snow just makes it creepier! >~< shinra: try not to lose your pants, ok? tamaki: GET BENT! Akitaru: "Hey, settle down! Just be happy the city let us go in here. After what happened with the last venture people made underground...and the one before that..." tamaki:.... Q_Q;;; Takehisa: "...Sir, are you nervous?" Akitaru: "Why would you say that?" *his knees are knocking into each other as he shakes just below the waist* komori: [i will stay by the matchbox] maki: ._.; Vulcan: "I wouldn't worry too much, guys. I did water clean-up work here all the time...Hey, Sister? You got a prayer before we go in?" iris: y-yes! *praying* i ask for the infinite dawn, give light to the impure souls. ratomu. *CREEK* *the doors are opening* tamaki: MREOW! karin: huh. Arthur: "Magic door--MAGIC DOOR!" Akitaru: "Sister, stay back..." iris: *backs up and looks at her hands, stunned* Arthur: "She's a witch--burn her!" -PUNCH- Relan: -_-# maki: *fist steaming* Arthur: X~X Vulcan: "Um, guys?" *he's by a power station* "The electricity still works here. Even the door-opening mechanism is still operational--" shinra: are you trying to give us a collective heart attack?! Vulcan: "What? We're all fine, right?" Akitaru: *facing the open doors* "..." shinra:....*gulps* tamaki: ._.;;;; creepy.... -and so they enter- karin: *turns her headlights on* nozomi: *gulp* is everyone alright? tamaki: Q_Q Arthur: "I don't know what the big deal is." Vulcan: "Yeah. Looks the same as before. Oh, hey, look!" *points* "My tag [graffiti] is still here!" nozomi: ^^; maki: pusupusu, can you give us some extra light? pusupusu: pususu~ 💗 Takehisa: "??? What's this Mickey Mouse looking symbol?" *pushes the dust aside--and there is a skeleton on the ground* "..." tamaki: *SCREAM* iris: !!! Relan: "!!! Eeeek!" shinra: ._.;;; *Groaning is heard* Akitaru: "Calm down! We don't need any of you groaning!" shinra: 0_______0;;;; Takehisa: "...Sir. That wasn't us..." Akitaru: "...Then who was it?" karin: *looks in the direction of the sound* what the? iris: !!!! ???: "Leave...Iris..." iris: SISTER! shinra: hiban- (no...something isnt right here....) "Hibana": *reaching out a hand* "Save...me!" iris: *running towards her* shinra: !!! WAIT IRIS- -a thick mist appears- misora: EEP! tamaki: WHAT THE FUCK shinra: shit! "Hibana": "..." *her smile warps into a gaping mouth, opening wide, as her hand grabs Iris's wrist--and digs nails into her skin* iris: *SCREAMS* tamaki: GET OFF HER! shinra: IRIS!! RELAN! GUYS! Relan: "I can't see! Where are you--AAAAH!" -the fog disperses...- Takehisa: *collapsed on his back, unconscious* -elsewhere- tamaki: *cough cough* iris! relan! you two ok? Relan: *whimpering* iris: i-i think so..relan! are you ok?? Relan: "Th-They already separated us..." tamaki:...ok, just breathe, you're gonna be fine. i'll look after you two....*spots someone* ....w-what the....? iris: is that....another sister? amber?: ....... *standing still, her back facing them* tamaki: a-amber? amber?! amber?:..................................... Relan: "...After what we just saw..." tamaki: amber, it's me tama- *turns her around* -'amber's' face is badly decayed- tamaki: *screams and stumbles back, hitting a fake wall and falling into the darkness, screaming* iris: !!! TAMAKI! Relan: "!!!" *looks at 'Amber'* iris: !!! *A large man, carrying the demeanor of a priest, approaches* iris: *tense* Assault: "...I do not enjoy the prospect of killing children. But if you are in the way of our Preacher, then Assault will kill you." -elsewhere- maki: ugh.... *winces* c-crap... -she's alone in what seems to be an old railway- maki: *whimper* this sucks....but at least it cant get any 'better' right?! QuQ;; ???: it's only some stray child. maki: O-O;;;; *turns and looks* *Numerous White Hoods surround her* maki: awwww biscuits. Flail: "Heh. 'Child'? It's just a woman trembling in the dark..." maki: how cute, im gonna deck you in the shnozz now ^^ white hood: she's gonna what us in the what now? -SLAM- hood: @_@ maki: *demon eyes* -several hood run in terror- Flail: "She is just a puny little girly woman! We can take her, men! GET BACK HERE AND STOP RUNNING LIKE PUSSIES! THIS IS A PERFECTLY GOOD CAUSE TO DIE FOR!" maki: i think your big nose just scared them. -iron owls go- Flail: "MY NOSE IS NOT BIG--" "Disc": "Shut up, sir." *firing flaming disks at Maki* maki: *finger guns and fires them back at them* nah. Bee: O_O;; "I TOLD YOU DISCS WAS A DUMB THEME, FRIZ!" *struggling to duck--and gets his hood shaved off by a disc* Friz: "SHUT UP, BEE!" *gets a disc-shaving up his back* "AAAH!" Flail: *facepalm* "I thought we'd be more effective than this..." maki: ^u^ Flail: "..." *throws off his cloak* maki: aww, does big nose wanna pway? *Flail stands, bare-chested, hairy, with a chain in his hands* Flail: "I'll crush you, tiny girly woman!" maki: *urk* oh god, my eyes burn! hood 4: *runs to vomit* Flail: *summons a fireball along the chain* "ENOUGH WITH THE DUMB JOKES!" maki: alright... come at me, bro. *The fireball grows spikes to become a mace* Flail: "In the name of the Preacher, I bless you with DEATH!" maki: *DODGING* *The mace smashes the ground, walls--and some Hoods* Bee: O_o; "I HATE THIS JOB--" *SQUISHED* hood 5: OW! *he's naked now* FUCK THIS LUCKY LEWD CURSE! TT~TT Flail: "Don't let a little nudity stop you, boys!" *BANG BANG BANG* -IRON OWL PUNCH- Flail: *his face is squished by the sides* maki *PUNCHES HIM IN THE GUT* Flail: "..." *laughs, coughing up blood* "HA! No matter how muscular you are, at the end of this, you are still just a woman!" maki: *glares and chops him into the dirt* yes. a woman who just wrecked your shit. Flail: "BUT I'M STILL STANDING--" -BWAM- Flail: X~X "..." *Meteor Strike then falls onto his lower body, smashing his balls* x.x -elsewhere- Vulcan: "It's like biology, really. People come together, people depart--" Akitaru: -_-# "Don't turn this into science talk." Vulcan: "We get separated, we return. Just like how we'll find Lisa, right, sir?" Akitaru: *sighs* "If we just stand here, we're not going to find anyone--" ???: !!!!! Akitaru: "...Oh, you got to be kidding me--" -SMACK- Akitaru: *knocked down across the floor, into the wall* Giovanni: "Kukuku..." Vulcan: "..." *smiles* "Lisa." lisa: ......... Vulcan: "Got to say, you're looking great. That outfit suits you." lisa: .....*shaking* Vulcan: *trying to hold onto his friendly smile, even as his eyes are wet* lisa: why did you come here, vulcan? Vulcan: "...That's a silly question. To bring you home." lisa:.....*her eyes look dull* Giovanni: "WhaT'S WRonG, Feeler?" lisa: *eyes wide in horror* {Giovanni: "...A stray."} {lisa: *staring up at him*} lisa: *shaking* Giovanni: "I taught you: to control flames, to control humans...to control hIM. I GOt him to adOPT YOU. MAYBe i neeD TO REMind you of yoUR LESSON..." lisa: *trembling* ah- Vulcan: "!!! Get away from her!" Vulcan: *rushes at Giovanni* lisa: *shooting firey tentacles out at them* feeler....i am feeler.....right? Giovanni: "Yes--" Vulcan: "No!" *VULCAN PUNCH--" Giovanni: *catches Vulcan's fist--with a robotic hand* Vulcan: "...What the f--" *tossed* lisa: .... Vulcan: *lying on his back, coughing* Giovanni: "I have his key, I know the rest from his family. Feeler, cremate him." lisa: *attacking* Vulcan: "!!!" *a small ball rolls in between Lisa and Vulcan* lisa: ?? -elsewhere- tamaki: *winces as she gets up* ah....*slams her fist to the floor, yelling* FUCK! FUCKING! DAMMIT! *she's crying* *whimpering* i hate this...i cant do anything...i couldnt keep them safe....am i just...that useless? ???: kurukurukurururu~ tamaki: ?! *looks up* guruna: oh my my~ what have we here~? a lost little kitty? Tamaki: "Nyah?" guruna: kururu~ how cute. what's your name, little kitten? Tamaki: "..." *steps back, assuming a defensive pose, summoning a flame tail* "Back off!" guruna: aw, does kitty want to play a game? kururu~ very well~ *sends a fire tornado at her* Tamaki: "!!!" *pushes with fire-tail and kitten fire paws, trying to get out of the path--* guruna: hmm, your movements are all sloppy-sloppy. it's because you're upset, riiiight~? *Tamaki's tail gets caught in the fire tornado* Tamaki: O_____O "OH SHIT--" BLAM- Tamaki: *face-first into the wall* "..." guruna: kurururu~ aww, did kitty get all hurtsy? you're upset, riiiight~? i think i know whyyyyy~ because you're a child of misfortune... Tamaki: "..." *pulls her face off the wall...she's bleeding...and it's mixed with her tears* "..." guruna: i can understaaaand~ im a child of misfortune as well. when i was just a little girl, my mommy and daddy didnt want me anymore, so one day, they threw me out of the car over a bridge and drove away. i waited for days for them to come back, but they never came back. Y_Y Tamaki: "...Oh my..." *tries to stand up* guruna: one day, the hoods found me. i was so mad and sad that the world had been so mean to me. i wanted to make them hurt. i wanted them to hurt for how they treated me. *crawls over to her* you're mad too, arent you? because the world treats you like a joke *rubs a hand up her stomach and smiles* it's ok, tammykins, we can just...burn this awful world together <3 Tamaki: "...Okay, stop touching me right the fuck now." guruna: kuru? Tamaki: "I'm sorry...about what you went through. That's not fair. But you taking it out on a world, where there are many innocent people is not the answer!" guruna: oh? Tamaki: "So, we can either talk this out..." *Tamaki's tail returns--along with two...three...six...* guruna: kuru? O_o;;;;; Tamaki: *growls...as fire extends along her back, over her head, forming tiger teeth* guruna: OwO;; Tamaki: *roars, as she rushes on all fours with nine-tails coming off of her* guruna: *sending fire tornados at her* Tamaki: *tail whip #1* guruna: *slammed into a wall, revealing a staircase up to the upper levels* Tamaki: "..." *lowers her fangs, smiles* "Lucky." -in the upper levels- iris: *hiding with relan in a room* *looking around* hmm.... Relan: *trying to steady his breath* iris:...*touches her cheek* (if this was long ago, i couldnt even move....but im not the same person anymore. right now, relan needs me. and we need to get out of here.) *spots a fire extinguisher and crowbar*.... *idea* relan? i have a plan. Relan: "Wh-What?" iris: *smiles* think you can handle a crowbar? -outside- Assault: *marching through* "My Lord commands I follow through." -one door opens and iris steps out, holding the extinguisher- Assault: *pulls back his fist* "I'm sorry..." iris:....... Relan: *pulls back with the crowbar* "..." *brings it down--* Assault: *catches* Relan: "!!!" iris: !!!! *sprays him down* Assault: *just stands there, before he tosses Relan back* Relan: "UMPH!" iris: !!! relan! Assault: *grabs Iris by the neck* iris: *grk-* Assault: *summons a fire bullet* "I am sorry. But this is ho--" *CRACK* iris: *falls* *cough* ah! Assault: *his left arm is bruised...but his right arm is still holding a fire bullet* "..." *turns back* Relan: Q~Q *still holding the crowbar* "...G-Get away!" *swings it* Assault: *dodges* "I guess I should have killed you first." *kicks Relan back* Relan: *falls back, still holding the crowbar* iris: *throws the extinguisher at assault's head* Assault: "..." *lifts his foot--and slams it onto Relan's chest* Relan: *screams* iris: get AWAY FROM HIM! *tackles him* Assault: "!!!" *collapses to his knees* "You little welp!" *grabs Iris by her hair* iris: *bites down on his arm* Assault: "AH!" *pulls harder on Iris's hair--tearing some out* iris: *winces, bleeding a bit* Assault: *pulls back his fist--* ???: ururuRURURURUUUUUUU -GURUNA GETS SLAMMED RIGHT INTO HIM, sending them both into the wall- guruna: @u@ uwaaaa, now im really dizzy~ iris: !!... *looks* tamaki!! you're alright! Assault: *his head is smashed into the wall...there is blood* Relan: *turns over, sitting up* tamaki: *panting* you two ok? Relan: *coughing blood* iris: !!! relan! *runs over to him* are you ok??!! Relan: *crying...but smiling* "I'm just...glad you're okay." iris: *hugs him* Relan: *pat pat* tamaki:....come on, we need to find the others....... *Assault is standing over them again...* Relan: "!!!" *takes the crowbar--leaps, and slams it through his teeth* Assault: "GAAAH!" *falls back* Relan: Q______Q "..." guruna: *squished* KU- tamaki:....lets go.... guruna: kuruuu... love hurts... TTuTT -elsewhere- Takehisa: "..." arrow:.... *aiming at him and shooting* .... -elsewhere- shinra: guys? *shaking* where are you?! ???: "I'm over here!" shinra: victor, you ok? nozomi: w-we're fine. karin: just glad to be alive. Victor: "I-I had someone trying to hold a sword at me..." Q_Q karin: but i scared them off, nyoho~ ^^ nozomi: dr itou... ^^; Victor: "Shinra...This is why I said this was a dark-pants day...Have you found your brother?" shinra:...no, not yet. but he's close. big brother instincts. karin:.... ?? are those...gunshots? -elsewhere- arrow: ..... Takehisa: ("It's almost pitch-black--yet their aim is incredible. And I haven't landed a single hit.") -BANG- Takehisa: ("I'm a sitting target...") *spots the abandoned subway car* ("Need cover.") -a light shines through the car- arrow:.... Takehisa: "!!!" *falls back--* -FWOOOOOOOOM- Takehisa: *he has landed back on the floor--and the blast blew away his glasses* arrow: i dont allow...for my prey to escape.... *fires again* Takehisa: *barely dodges, the fire arrow just skimming along his leg* "...Sorry. That 'prey' belongs to us." arrow: this world is always changing.... human feelings are...unneeded.... we will obtain the adora burst....both kusakabe, and kurai's... Takehisa: ("With this fog, and without my glasses, it is difficult...") "Hmm...No feelings? I suppose that makes it easier to organize the world...But it won't convince Shinra or Mikami to join you." toujou?: then why are you fighting? Takehisa: "..." *smiles* "That's hardly going to provoke me, 'Toujou.' Your face just makes me calm." *lowers his duffle, opening and removing pieces* mirage: what is he doing? Jonah: "Are those...shotguns?" -BLAM- mirage: O-O;; Takehisa: *holding a smoking shotgun* "..." mirage: noisy...and that shockwave... -elsewhere- seraphim: ah....so _they_ are here as well, lord sho? Sho: *closes his eyes* "...Yes. I sense them." seraphim: shall i greet them? Sho: "...Leave Kusakabe to me." -elsewhere- arrow: *aiming, even though she is wounded* *BOOM* arrow:..... Takehisa: *trying to steady himself* ("At this rate...I'm going to pass out...") “…” ("In this world, it is spectacular deaths that command attention...Flame combustion...Superheroes...Meisters...I always knew my death could come at any point...I am always prepared to die...") "..." *looks at the 8 on his sleeve* "...Damn it. If I left it to Obi, who would care for our subordinates?" *takes up one last rifle* arrow: *shoots* Takehisa: ("And I...will use my opponent's flame to increase my own...") *His bullet moves faster by sapping the fire from Arrow's arrow* -BOOOOOOOOOM- arrow: *knocked back, screaming* Takehisa: "..." *falls, slumps back against the column* "Now stay down..." mirage: .... Takehisa: "...Two more, huh? Hiding, like cowards." mirage: *holding a knife* Takehisa: "..." *his hand passes along to a stray bullet...which he flicks, sending at a rapid speed* mirage: *doesnt even flinch* -BOOM- Takehisa: "...Illusion." mirage: now die... Takehisa: "..." *smiles* mirage: ?? *Something appears on top of the debris* Jonah: "??? Is that a turnip?" *The debris is knocked aside--as someone emerges* Arthur: "Born from the Earth, I still descend from the Heavens as the Shining Knight!" mirage:....what? Arthur: "The Holy Paladin? That guy that was captured by Hoods? ...Come on! I was missing for a long time!" mirage: .... screw it, im just killing him. -mist appears- Takehisa: "Don't screw this up, Boyle!" -several figures appear, one attacking- Arthur: "...One trick. That's dumb." *doesn't move* -fwsh- mirage: oh? Arthur: "I only move when I feel the weight of body and murderous intent upon me. That is what Konro that and sour commander taught me." -they all attack- Arthur: *doesn't move, closes his eyes* mirage: *lunges, grinning* Arthur: *eyes break open* ("The breath of life--") *removes Excalibur, slices with his blade* -mirage is gone...- Takehisa: OAO;;; Arthur: "..." Takehisa: "WHY THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!" Arthur: "I sense the breath of life--" *SMACK* Arthur: *collapsed on the floor* mirage: *slumps over* Takehisa: "What kind of an idiot just swings his sword wildly--..." *looks behind* "...Oh. He _was_ there?" Arthur: *bleeding on the floor* "He was going to stab you in the behind. That's craven." -elsewhere- lisa: .... Akitaru: *struggling to speak, but his mouth is covered* Vulcan: *coughing* lisa: .... Vulcan: "Lisa! I said I would bring you home!" lisa:...you shouldnt...have come here... Giovanni: "Kukuku...Those who cannot possess flame abilities are not deserving of life...'Lisa' awakened her ability. You remember that day, yes, Feeler?" lisa: ...my parents perished....i was left alone....the bug.....awoke those flames in me.... Vulcan: "He's lying to you!" Akitaru: *reaching for an orb* "He's...taking advantage of your fears..." *grabs the orbs--and extinguishes her flames* lisa: *backs up* they protect me.... Vulcan: "From what?" lisa: from the flames...from the fears.... Akitaru: "...I don't know anyone who isn't afraid of flames, kid. Even firefighters..." lisa: ... Giovanni: "Tell me...Do you know what attracts insects to flames?" Akitaru: "...I mean, I guess I've wondered--" *Giovanni's cloak blows back--revealing a monstrous mouth emerging out of his chest* Giovanni-Chest-Mouth: "I'M NOT TELLING YOU!" Vulcan: o_o; *The cloak descends--and a small "burp" comes out from under it* Giovanni: "And now, it is time for you to die ignorant of this world--which, really, is not much different than how you were born into it..." Akitaru: "Okay, enough of this..." *takes up a fire extinguisher, blasting Lisa's flames* lisa: why are you doing this? they protect me....from the fear....the sadness.... Akitaru: "If you have to bury yourself in them...are they really protecting you, or are they imprisoning you? Why do you look so insecure?" lisa: *attacks* shut up! Giovanni: "Bringing a fire extinguisher to a battlefield...Fool." Akitaru: "..." *picks up a bigger fire extinguisher* "You know that our role is to protect humans from fire...and as long as I'm alive, that's what I'll do!" Giovanni: "...Kill him." lisa: ... -BLAM- *Akitaru is held back against the wall by Lisa's flame* lisa: protecting lives...yet throwing yours away.... Akitaru: *cough* "Appearances...can be deceiving. I'm not throwing away my life. I'm saving yours..." *a trigger slides out of his sleeve* lisa: ??!! -BOOOOOOOOOM- Giovanni: "!!! When did Obi attach those extinguishing grenades...When she attacked each time?! Feeler...you fool." lisa: *falling* !!!!! (mom....dad....i dont...want to-) *Giovanni stands back, not coming to her rescue...* lisa: *tears falling* *CAUGHT* lisa: !!?? *looks* *Vulcan has caught her* Vulcan: "..." *smiles* lisa: v-.... *tears falling as she cries, holding him tightly* Vulcan: "..." *hug* "It's okay...Even without flames, there are those of us who will protect you." lisa: *hic* *trembling* ???: "You'rE MAKIng a misTAKE..." lisa: ......s....stop it..... 'he gave you a place to live when you had nothing' SHUT UP! GET OUT OF MY FUCKING BRAIN!! Giovanni: "FeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEELer...Who saved you? Who brought you to Vulcan? I. Have you forgotten your debt? RETURN." 'feeler': do as he says. lisa: JUST SHUT UP!! *banging her head* SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY!! Vulcan: "!!! Lisa!" *grabs her by her shoulders* lisa: she wont leave....she wont leave my head.... 'you're in _my_ head' SHUT UP! Vulcan: *holds her, hugs her* "I'm sorry..." *Vulcan feels something along Lisa's back* Vulcan: "???" *pulls back, looks--* *There is a rope around Lisa's waist* lisa: *yoinked* AH! Giovanni: *ropes Lisa in, holding her by the waist...the rope is around her neck now* Vulcan: "Lisa!" lisa: *choking* Giovanni: "If either of you move, then my heated rope will decapitate her." *A robo-arm appears from Giovanni's cloak...it tosses something to Vulcan: a handgun* Vulcan: *catching the gun* Giovanni: "If you value her life, do as I say: take that gun...and kill Obi." Akitaru: !!! Vulcan: "...You monster!" Giovanni: "Oh, Feeler...Finally, your life will be worth something." lisa: please...dont do it vul....just let me die... Vulcan: "..." *shaking* Akitaru: "Vulcan...Son...You're going to have to..." *opens his arms* Vulcan: *aims* "...I'm sorry." Akitaru: "Don't be." Giovanni: "Hurry..." *tightens his grip on Lisa* -bang- -akitaru collapses- lisa: !!! Vulcan: *shaking...* Giovanni: "..." *lets go of Lisa* "Amazing...Didn't think of a dog of the brigades had it in him." lisa: *cough cough* vul...y-you shouldnt have- Vulcan: "..." *falls to his knees* Giovanni: "Kukuku...This is such a glorious--" Akitaru: *raises* *intense stare* Giovanni: "!!!" Akitaru: "i KNEW YOU WOULD DO IT, VULCAN--BUT THAT STILL REALLY HURT!" lisa: ??!! w-wha- Giovanni: "WHAT THE F--" Akitaru: *grabs the nearby railroad tracks--and lifts them on his own, knocking down Giovanni* "YOINK!" Giovanni: "UMPH!" *falls back* lisa: but...h-how did he- Akitaru: *thumbs his nose, smiles* "Trade secret of the Brigade, I'm afraid--" Vulcan: *wiping his eyes, small laugh* "I added bullet-proof lining to all of the Eighth's coats!" Akitaru: … Vulcan: "..." ^^;; "Oh. Sorry! Y-You wanted to be a secret, right?" lisa: did you name it 'the turtle shell'? Vulcan: "..." *turns to look at Lisa* "...Oh my God, I love you." lisa:... .//////. Akitaru: "...Um, not to ruin this moment, but...What the hell is that chicken thing?" *Giovanni stands...without his coat...as just a head with legs* lisa: ....what the actual hell. Giovanni: "..." Vulcan: o_o;;; "...Dad used to tell me stories about these kinds of things, but goddamn." Akitaru: "Dude, do you even lift?" Giovanni: "You saccharine fools...Trusting in each other to risk your own lives..." *the legs widen--as the body re-assembles itself--with a ton of guns, missiles, knives, and a spoon* lisa: vul....kick his ass. Vulcan: "...You got it, babe. Initiate: Penguincete!" lisa:... =///=; *Armor assembles over Vulcan's head--producing a rock penguin helmet with fire engines off the temples that blast Vulcan forward* Vulcan: "Let's do a strength test!" Giovanni: "Your silly headgear is no match for my ingenuity!" Vulcan: *his beak slams into Giovanni's chest, obliterating his tech* Giovanni: "GODDAMN IT, YOUR SILLY HEADGEAR WAS TOO MUCH!" -elsewhere- shinra: ugh...i feel sick. nozomi: mr kusakabe? karin: easy kiddo. Victor: "Is it the Adora Link? The Adora Link? Please tell me it's the Adora Link!" shinra: *feeling black skeletal hands reaching up, and a large shinra head over him* *screaming* nozomi: !!!! karin: breathe kid, breathe! shinra: w-what's....what's going on? *A hand touches Shinra's cheek* shinra: *staring at the horned figure* ah- wha-what are.... *The horned figure grins...as their hand pulls back, they have transformed into--* Mrs. Kusakabe: *holding out a hand* "Shinra..." shinra: mom- MOM! *reaching out* Mrs. Kusakabe: *smiles...* "Why did you let me die?" shinra: ah- *FWOOSH* {shinra: *trembling, looks up at burns*} {Burns: *his right eye is on fire*} {shinra: ....*looks in where burns is looking*} {???: "AAAAH!"} shinra: that's.... Arg: *guttural noises...blood swept up into the air from claw marks cut into his face* shinra: *backing away* ???: *sniffles* shinra: !!! *Infant Sho is seated on the ground, crying* shinra: hey lil guy... *picks him up* hehe, it's ok. ^^ Sho: *sniff...giggles* "Hee hee..." *grabs Shinra's nose* shinra: *smiles* ???: ...nra.....shinra?.....shinra! shinra: !!! karin: *putting a cold compress to his head* you ok? shinra: y-yeah... Victor: *holding a notebook* "Tell me everything!" -he explains what he saw- karin: the 4th's commander...? Victor: "Arg? What, was he at your house during the fire?" shinra: i dont know... -ashen foot prints appear down a path- shinra: wha? nozomi: shinra? shinra: i think....he's leading me to him.... ???: not quite yet. Victor: ._.;;; Shinra: "Wha--" karin: ?!?!?! n-no way...that cant be- -fire feathers shoot out- Shinra: "!!!" *tackles Victor and Nozomi* nozomi: EEP! karin: *dodging* ... !!!!!!!!!!!! Shinra: *kicks one feather away* nozomi: what's-..... *her heart drops* seraphim:.... karin: i-....irina!! Victor: "...Wow..." nozomi:.... *her voice shakes* m-mama? Shinra: "...Nozomi?" seraphim: it's been a while. i see you and your aunt have joined the 8th now.... a pity. surrender the adora burst child, and i'll make your deaths painless. karin: what the fuck?? how are you- y-you died! seraphim: ufufu ... AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! oh you naive sister of mine... Shinra: *staring at Seraphim...charging his feet* Victor: "..." *steps forward* karin: why are you doing this?! seraphim: im only doing what i wask tasked to do... nozomi: m...mother..... Shinra: "Who 'tasked' you? The Preacher?!" seraphim: *ignoring him* nozomi, it's been a while.....are you still following toshiaki's research? how foolish~ nozomi: ah- seraphim: i should have just let you die like your useless father... nozomi: *she just shatters* ah...... Victor: "!!!" karin: *putting on her fisticuffs and attacks* HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?! SHE'S YOUR CHILD! and toshiaki- HE WORKED HIMSELF TO HIS DEATH TRYING TO FIND A CURE BECAUSE- seraphim: he was only a means to an ends. im so glad you found him for me~ karin: why? the irina i know isnt cruel like this... seraphim: dont you get it? 'irina harada' doesnt exist anymore. karin: *punching at her* Shinra: "..." *charges his feet--and leaps, aiming a kick for Seraphim* Victor: "..." *glancing between Seraphim and Nozomi* seraphim: *knocked back* will you surrender nicely, boy? nozomi: *she cant even move* Shinra: "...Because you're Nozomi's mother, I'm going easy on you. We're taking you, too, along with Sho." karin: licht! get nozomi out of here, and you better not try anything funny! Victor: O_O;;; "R-Right!" *picks up Nozomi* seraphim: oh? what of her? she doesnt have any abilities of her own, she's nothing but dead weight. Shinra: "...Ma'am...You're dead wrong..." *leaps again* seraphim: ~angel bullet~ Shinra: "!!!!" *tries to dodge--* -the feathers graze him slightly- Shinra: "Ah!" *lands on the wall--and leaps again* karin: shinra! try to knock her to the ground! Shinra: *leaps from the ceiling* "Got it!" *opens his arms* seraphim: *attacking* Shinra: *getting grazed, some hitting his arms* "RAWR!" *reaches for Seraphim's neck* seraphim: !! Shinra: *grab--and pulls back his fist to punch* -POW- seraphim: !!! Shinra: *falling...but not as fast as Seraphim is* karin: batter... UP! *PUNCH* seraphim: *sent into the wall* Shinra: *lands next to Karin* "...Is that it?" karin: better not stick around to find out, lets go find your brother. Shinra: "...But she's Nozomi's mother." karin:...after what all she did, she doesnt deserve to be… -elsewhere- dahlia:.....they have arrived.... Sho: "..." *takes his sword* -the door opens- shinra:...hey lil bro... *warm smile* Sho: "Shinra Kusakabe...You've actually appeared." shinra: of course i did, now let's get you home. ^^ Sho: "_This_ is my home. With the Preacher." shinra: .... Sho: "Why do you insist on taking me away from my family?" shinra: sho...i am your family, just try to remember, you, me, our mom........ Sho: "Stop. I have no mother. And the thought of you as my brother makes me want to vomit. Furthermore, I am not of woman born--" shinra: as opposed to what, an incubator? Sho: "...I...don't actually know. But the Preacher does." shinra: ...*opens his arms for a hug* Sho: "..." *smacks his hand away* shinra: ....jeez, not very touchy-feely, are ya? Sho: *swings his scabbard at Shinra's face* shinra: *dodging* Sho: *twirls--swings again, aiming for his feet* -elsewhere- misora: huwaaaa, this sucks. it smells bad and i feel like im gonna throw up! >^< Jonah: "Oh, lookie here!" misora: *grimaces* oh THAT explains it! Jonah: *leans forward* "Lost?" misora:.... *not even looking back and punches him with in the face* Jonah: *knocked back...and his face is squished up where she punched him, his nose now up on his forehead* misora: how gross Jonah: *deep breath* "I don't see many like you who can throw a punch like that...What's your tale, girlie?" misora: cut the BS, you know who i am, you creepy wormy stalker! Jonah: *leans over her, his forehead nose resting over her hair* "Just wanted to get to know you all over again..." *inhales* -SLAM- misora: why dont you hurry up and die at my feet, scrub? Jonah: "I can do many things at your feet~" *his lips are now on his cheek...he taps his cheek onto her shoes* misora: GROSS! IM GONNA VOMIT TILL I DIE! DX< *kick to the face* Jonah: *by this point, his eyes are on the back of his head* ._. *blink blink* ???: "Are you two done yet?" misora: uru? *turns* Haumea: "Hi~" misora: unyeh? soooowwy~ dont mind me, i was just going now~ ^^ Haumea: *rests a hand on Misora's head* misora: eh- *ZAP* misora: OSHARE- *KO* @w@ owowowowowo..... Haumea: *snaps her fingers* "Jonah, bring her along." Jonah: *sits up, his face back to normal...ish* "Can do!" *slings Misora over his shoulder* misora: XAX Haumea: *smiles* "And with Sho and Kusakabe now meeting, it's time..." -elsewhere- shinra: *still dodging* Sho: *has his blade out, attempting to slice at Shinra* shinra: *dodging* sho! please! just hear me out! Sho: *knocks Shinra to the floor* shinra: GAH! Sho: *vapor comes off of his back* "..." shinra: *getting up* Sho: “No matter how fast you are, you’re not going to catch up to me. You and I are in different universes.” shinra: im not going to give up though- *running for him* Sho: *prepares his sword* -fyooooom- Sho: "!!!" -tackle hug- Sho: "?!!! shinra: it's ok, lil bro. *smiles* Sho: *clenches his teeth* "Stop calling me that!" *pulls back his fist*: *his eyes widen* "...Oh no...I've disappointed--" shinra: ?? disappointed? Sho: *pushes Shinra away, leaping to a pedestal* shinra: ... (it's like that dream....) Sho: "..." *bows before a figure in white* shinra: *stares at the horned figure* is that the preacher? Sho: "...You see them? Of course...because of the Adora Link." shinra: .... Sho: "The Preacher is who shares this link with me...lets me access this power." -the vision fades- shinra:... Sho: "Your Adora Burst is not enough. But with the Preacher’s divine protection, I can affect the entire universe..." shinra: my head's hurting from all of this....but enough of that, let's play tag some more. ^^ Sho: "I am not interested in playing games." *holds his sword* "The Preacher said they need you. They did not say they need you conscious." shinra: alright then, you're it! Sho: "No..." *He vanishes* shinra: oh? hide and seek then, eh? -shiv- shinra: !! Sho: *has driven just the tip of his blade into Shinra's shoulder* "You are the 'It.'" shinra: heh... i guess i should show you, you're not supposed to hurt the other player. Sho: "..." *disappears again* shinra: ... *Kick to the back* shinra: oof! Sho: *holds the sword over Shinra's head, his foot pressed down onto his back* shinra: this is pretty pointless then, huh? but i wont give up....the memory of when you were still just a lil tyke, that's enough a reason to keep going, right? Sho: "I have no such memories. Let's assume you and I are related by blood: there is no connection between us. No memories. Nothing." shinra:...then lets make new ones. there's lots of people who are looking forwards to meeting you. *smiles* Sho: "I have no desire to meet those people. We in the Order have only one goal--" shinra: i know, i know...to you, im just some stranger, but to me, you're still my lil bro! so.... thanks for being alive, sho. Sho: "..." *lifts his blade* "I summon...Separated Univ--" -huh? where did shinra go?- Sho: "???" *looks around* ("I'm...alone?") -elsewhere- lisa: nnngh.....vul...? maki: she's waking up! lisa: *cough* ....giovanni....where- tamaki: he fled.... lisa:.... Vulcan: "Lisa...How are you..." lisa:....*she starts laughing....which devolves into sobbing hysterically* Vulcan: "..." *holds onto her* karin: .... tamaki:...c-come on, lets find the others and get out of here already! Vulcan: *carries Lisa* -elsewhere- Haumea: *watching from the balcony* misora: *coming to* uwaaaa.... *yaaaawn* wha? Jonah: owo "Hello~" misora: *PUNCH* EW GROSS! DX< Jonah: *his face spun onto the back of his head* ._. Haumea: "Shh...Your lover's spat is getting in the way of observing..." misora: how dare you! *peeeeeeek* Haumea: *leans over Misora* "Is. There. A problem~?" misora: OxO *blinks* Haumea: *mad grin* "I think you'll do nicely~" misora: OxO;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; -elsewhere- Sho: "...Where is Shinra Kusakabe...?" -FYOOOOOM- shinra: *crashed into a wall* holy shit! what just happened?? Sho: "??? How...did you appear there?" shinra: not su- *throws up* ugh...vertigo... >~< Sho: "...It is not possible. Without the Preacher's divine intervention, _you_ should not be able to pass through to your own universe..." shinra: my head's spinning, cut me some slack and let's just go home now, sho. Sho: "..." *walks forward* "For the last time...This is my home. And you are going nowhere--" shinra: if i just leave without you, then i cant keep my promise to mom. Sho: "I have no mother. I have no interest in this mother. And I want you...to shut up..." *raises his sword* "About a mother." -zip zoom- Sho: "!!!" shinra: jeez, are you having that moody pre-teen phase? Sho: "You emerge from nowhere, insist you are my brother--" *swings his sword* "AND THIS IS NOT A MOODY PRE-TEEN PHASE!" -zip zoom- Sho: "?!!" {shinra: *crying, locked in the pantry*} Sho: "?!" *looking around him* "Wh-What is this?" -there are more memories...- Sho: "..." *just watching them* "Is this..." {student: its that demon! he killed his own mom and baby brother!} {student 2: get away from us! *throws a rock at shinra*} {shinra:....(it wasnt me...there was...a horned thing there...)} Sho: "...'Horned'? ...Preacher, what is...Why are they throwing things at that boy?" baby sho: baba... shinra: *picks him up* i got you! baby sho: ^o^ Sho: "..." *tears falling* shinra: years ago, it was just you, me, and our mom...then the fire happened... Sho: "Yes..." *The memory of the fire appears...* Horned Monster: *staring at Baby Sho* {Young Haumea: "Hmmm...Sure cries a lot..."} shinra: people were afraid of me, blaming me for what happened, even grandma hated me. she would hit me, lock me in the pantry....but i never gave up... Sho: "I was raised for one purpose: to fulfill the Preacher's goals...I persisted..." *turns to Shinra* "...Our grandmother hit you?" shinra:....but before that happened, we were all a happy family. Sho: "...A family..." {Mrs. Kusakabe: "My boys..."} {shinra: ^^} {baby!sho: mama!} {Mrs. Kusakabe: *hug*} {shinra: i love you, mommy! ^^} {Mrs. Kusakabe: "I love you, Shinra. And I love Sho. I will always love you both..."} Sho: *silently weeping* -...- *Sho stands...His sword is not with him* {shinra: *hero stance* here i am! ah! mom! a newspaper blew in! *he removes it from sho* haha! there you are!} {Mrs. Kusakabe: "What a good brother you are!"} {shinra: ^///^ hehe} {Sho: *sniffles...adjusting to seeing the light again*} shinra: *smiles* Sho: "...Brother?" shinra: come on sho, let's go hom- -shiv- Sho: "!!! I-I didn't...Did I?" shinra: *looks back* ???: "D'aw, what a shame..." Sho: "Haumea?" shinra: wh-what? Haumea: "??? Wait..." *lifts up Shinra's chin* shinra: who...who are....- Haumea: *slap* shinra: *collapses* Sho: "Brother! Haumea, what are you--" Haumea: *squeezes Sho's mouth with her fingers to quiet him* "Tsk tsk...You know that to re-create the Great Fire we _need_ those of us who gained the Adora Burst through the insects--" Jonah: "TMI, Haumea." Haumea: -_-# misora: O^O~? Haumea: "Oh well~ It doesn't matter if I gave out too much info--since it's not like anyone can stop us. Right, Sho?" Sho: "...I didn't...My sword..." *sniff* "Sh-Shinra? Please..." shinra: sho....run.... Sho: "No! Not without you!" Haumea: "Oh, don't worry. You two won't be separate!" *giggles--then deathly serious* "The Preacher wants you both." misora: *stumbles forwards* ..... Jonah: owo~ Sho: "all those years ago! What happened to me?!" Haumea: "..." *leans forward...rests a hand along Sho's face--and zaps his brain* Sho: "!!!!!!!" *passes out* shinra: SHO!! -BANG- Haumea: *dodges--barely* O_O;;; "...The devil?" tamaki: *TAIL WHIP* Takehisa: *holding a smoking gun* "...Get away from them." Haumea: "Eek!" *smacked in the face* "Owie!" *falls back* "...When did _she_ get competent?!" misora: !! *runs behind takehisa* Q_Q THESECREEPYPEOPLEKIDNAPPEDME!! >^< Jonah: D8 "COME BACK TO ME, MY PRECIOUS!" karin:....ew. iris: creepy. Haumea: >_<# "NOW YOU ALL ARE TICKING ME OFF!" *spots the sword through Shinra* "..." *devious smirk...as she kicks the sword harder into him* shinra: AHHHH!!!! iris: !!!! STOP IT! Takehisa: "NO!" *bang bang bang* Haumea: *spins to dodge* "Oh, sorry~ Not today..." *snaps her fingers towards Takehisa* Takehisa: *aims--* "!!!!" *collapses* Haumea: "Huhuhu..." *aims her fingers at Tamaki* tamaki: *bracing* *SLICE* tamaki: huh... ah! Haumea: "..." *the back of her crown is cracked* O_o;;;; *holds the back of her head* "GAH!" Arthur: *behind Haumea* "Okay, weird bag-dress lady: you're defeated by the Shining Knight of the Earth Samurai Cowboy Superhero!" tamaki: THAT'S TOO MANY TITLES! Haumea: Q~Q "My crown..." *growls--and snaps her fingers at Arthur's face* "Take that!" Arthur: "...Take what?" Haumea: ._. "..." *snaps again* Arthur: "...What? You like snapping your fingers?" *snaps his fingers* "Yeah, I can do that, too." Haumea: >_<# *snap snap snap snap* shinra:.....what? Arthur: "..." *takes his sword--and knocks the hilt onto the top of Haumea's head* dahlia: that is enough. Haumea: "...GAH!!!!" *holds her head* "Stupid stupid sword person!" *A column is shaking behind Haumea* Haumea: "Stupid mindless person! And now I got to carry Kusakabe with a sword through him to the Preacher, and this is all so annoying when--" *The column falls towards Haumea* Haumea: "...What is that sound?" Akitaru: *PUUUUUUUUUSH* Haumea: "...Oh motherf--" *SMASH* -rumble rumble- tamaki: !! shit! maki: we got shinra, now let's go! shinra: w-wait, s-sho- Haumea: *bruised* -_-### "Jonah, get Sho." *passes out* Jonah: *picks up Sho* "Come on, Baby..." Sho: "Zzzz..." shinra: urk- -outside-

[elliotthezubat]

DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 49

camping trips, three way wars, and general chaos

Anne #2: *roars, coming from the floor* atsushi: !! shitshitshitshitshitshit! *runs* Anne #2: *clutches Atsushi, wrapping him in ribbons* atsushi:.... ah biscuits. Lucy: *waves* "Toodles." *The door opens, pulling Atsushi in* atsushi: FUUUUUUUUUUU- *Door slams shut* Lucy: "And now, that just leaves the doctor..." *smiles* "You're free to go~ Fitzgerald told me I only had to take care of the Man-Tiger, not some dotting middle-age tired old fart--" White Coat: "..." *smiles* Lucy: "???" White Coat: *creepy face* "Why don't you give it a try, little girl?" Lucy: "!!!" *feels a chill run up her spine* atsushi: *ahem* White Coat: "You can't...because you have lost." Lucy: "???" *looks* "Man-Tiger?! How are you--" atsushi: the game...isnt over...just yet... Lucy: "How?! The door was shut! I saw it!" atsushi: seems the plan worked then... this was a two against 1 battle. *White Snow dissolves...The door was a fake* Lucy: "B-But how were you able to resist being pulled?!" atsushi: sheer willpower and the help of a friend. you know, there's one thing you got wrong. im not the most strong or popular of people. in all seriousness, i bring misfortune by being alive, so i can understand why you resent other people. in all honesty, i dont want you to fail and be abandoned. but i have to protect the people close to me! Lucy: *shaking...tries to step back but feels like she's being pulled forward* "What?!" atsushi: gotcha. *yanks on the ribbon* Lucy: "AAAHH!" *pulled towards Atsushi* atsushi: *catches her* please, deactivate your ability and let everyone go. if not, you'll get dragged in with me and we'll all be trapped! Lucy: "I-I can't be defeated! I mustn't--" atsushi: please hurry, i cant hold on forever. *slipping* Lucy: "..." *sobs, de-activates...* atsushi: *blinks.* -everyone is back outside- ???: *crying* atsushi: *turns to see naomi comforting a crying lilac* naomi: it's ok, we'll find your friends soon. naho: LILA! *hugs him* I WAS SO WORRIED! Lilac: *holding on* "I was so scared!" Tanizaki: "Naomi!" naomi:.. BIG BRO~! *HUUUG* atsushi:....*notice someone*...hey...s-sorry about that....but if you need somewhere to stay, maybe the agency- *PUNCH* atsushi: X-X ok...i deserved that....*nosebleed* Lucy: *runs* White Coat: "Oh dear..." atsushi:... elise: what, did you look up her skirt or something? atsushi: w-what?! N-NO! THAT ISNT- I-I WOULDNT- White Coat: *shiny eyes* "Elise! You're safe!" elise: yeah, i thought it would be funny to see you freak out if i went missing, rintarou. atsushi: !! oh! you're that guy from the hotel the other day! is this your daughter? White Coat: .w.; "...What?" elise: nah, rintarou just makes me call him 'daddy'. atsushi:........................... White Coat: OWO;;; *Someone hugs Atsushi* atsushi: eh- kyouka!.... owo; kyouka, i think we should go away from this man. i get the feeling he wants bad things for you. White Coat: O____________O Kyoka: "...I was worried about you..." atsushi: well, im here now, but we really should be getting far from this weird guy. White Coat: Q~Q "...I'm just a middle-aged nobody who works at a small company..." *clears his throat, smiles friendly at Atsushi* "But I would like to give you advice, young man." atsushi: if its on how to pick up young girls, i'll pass thanks. Kyoka: *protective tug on Atsushi's arm* White Coat: (thinking: "ENOUGH WITH THE FUCKING JOKES YOU LITTLE--") *serene smile* "No matter how dire the circumstances seem, every problem has a solution. Don't forget that." Kyoka: "..." *realization* O_O atsushi: yeaaah- HOLY MOLEY WHAT IS THAT?! *points to something, then picks up kyouka and runs* Kyoka: *clutching Atsushi, partially to protect him, partially in fear* White Coat: "??? ...Well, that was fun!" elise: come on rintatou, lets blow this popcicle stand! atsushi:...*phew* its ok kyouka, that creepy guy wont hurt you now....kyouka? Kyoka: *collapsed to her knees, shaking* "N-No..." atsushi: ?! kyouka? kyouka what's wrong?! -down the road- White Coat: "..." ???:.....ugh, you know, the stubble makes you look like even more of a disgusting creep, sir. -_-; White Coat: "You think I need a shave, then?" elise: yeah, you look like an old man. ???:.....*cringe* aaanyway, you might want to take a look at this. *walking into an alley* White Coat: "???" -several mafioso's are surrounding a dead man- mafioso: eyyy the boss is here! *White Coat is now in a dark coat...Mori...* Mori: "...Who did this? An assassin from the Guild?" mafioso 2: actually, i think this guy _was_ from the guild. mafioso 3: hey errand chick, here to get screwed by the boss again? rain: FUCK OFF, JERRY! Mori: *stares at Rain* "...Late." rain: D8< i lead you here! sir! Mori: *looks down upon her* "You were not when I needed you...You will make up for that today." rain: !!!..... TT~TT yes, sir... Mori: *smirks, before looking back at the dead man* "The Guild...The Agency...This is quite a problem...But no matter how difficult the problem, a solution will present itself. A solution bathed in blood." -elsewhere- Lucy: *shaking* -elsewhere- lilac: *shaking* Sakuya: "It's okay...You're safe now." naho: i know, it sounds ridiculous, but it really happened! >n< Sakuya: "I believe you! I'm not doubting that...Not like we haven't seen other people make it look like we're somewhere else..." naho: i guess.....*slight pout* Sakuya: "..." *holds her hand* naho: to be honest, im a bit jealous. i mean, higan can use fire, lavender can paralyze people, otogiri can use her strings, but i cant do anything. even lilac has a cool ability, and he's younger than me! Sakuya: "...Maybe you just haven't discovered your own ability...And I think you already have one." naho: you think so? Sakuya: *nods* "You got a level head that keeps a lot of people here sane. Including me." -elsewhere- Rin: "Think I over-packed?" kyouko: ... *sweatdrop* Yukio: "...You're not taking an entire television set with you." Rin: "Then what do I watch out there?" kyouko: im sure they're letting you bring your phones with you, right? Rin: "I think so...but I like a big screen--" kyouko: maybe someone is bringing an ipad? Rin: "..." *pouts* "Okay, fine." *hands the TV to Yukio--who collapses under its weight* Yukio: >__< kyouko:...oh! that's right, uncle shiro told me to give you this. *it's bug spray* just in case. Rin: "Oh, sweet! That'll help!" *smiles* -elsewhere- Kid: "Feeling okay?" stocking: yeah. Kid: *smiles* "I'm glad. Busy few days ahead..." stocking: yeah. Kid: "...That camping trip?" stocking: not that exactly, but just work in general. Kid: "...The woman...?" stocking: i think her name is michelle? .....i kind of feel bad for neuhaus... Kid: *nods* "...Is True Cross pursuing any actions against him?" stocking: i havent found out yet. but if i were the one in charge, i'd say the pain he's going through is punishment enough. Kid: "...Have you said so to your father?" stocking: yeah. he said he'll see what he can do. Kid: *nods* "...This is sad." -elsewhere- Kunikida: "...You're late." atsushi: well, we ran into a bit of trouble on the way. Tanizaki: *protective of Naomi* Kyoka: "..." Kunikida: "...Evidently. What happened?" -atsushi explains what happened- Kunikida: "...Fitzgerald, making a move." atsushi: what do we do? Kunikida: "...Keep an eye on their locations as best we can. Anticipate attacks. Arm ourselves." atsushi: .... Dazai: "...Too bad I wasn't there. I bet I would've been some help." *friendly smile* -elsewhere- Fitzgerald: "I think someone else may need to visit the Mafia and the Agency." louisa: w-w-who do you suggest, lord francis? Fitzgerald: "Maybe Steinbeck?" louisa: r-right. i'll inform him right away! Fitzgerald: *nods* "Thank you." -elsewhere- tall man:......... Shorter man: "Why are the roads here so narrow?!" tall man:....we should just walk.... Shorter man: *pouts, as he puts on his hat* "It'll be a long walk to deliver the package..." *stares the car* "My poor steed..." -elsewhere, in a garden- ???: .... Mori: "Are you ready?" ???: *she nods* dont worry kyouka, mama will be there soon.... -the next day- Kyoka: "..." atsushi: hey, we got ourselves a job today! *hands her a stun gun* here. Kyoka: "...What is this for?" atsushi: so you can protect yourself. (thinking: without using her ability...) -and so- Kyoka: "...This errand..." atsushi: all we have to do is deliver this evidence to a court judge. *shows her a picture* here's what he looks like. think you can handle this? Kyoka: "It's fine. I will definitely succeed." -and so- guard: sorry miss, but a permit is required. Kyoka: "I am from the Detective Agency. I am here to deliver." guard: just the same, you're just gonna have to wait, i dont make the rules i just enforce them, ok? Kyoka: "..." *walks back to Atsushi* atsushi: darn. we'll need to get past him somehow. Kyoka: "Finish him off." atsushi: we're not...gonna kill him. *sweatdrop* Kyoka: "...I could seduce him away." atsushi: we're not doing that either!! (thinking: that would just be weird!) Kyoka: *pouts* *then sees someone walking to a side entrance* "...There." atsushi: ?? perfect. -it was the judge- atsushi: !! come on! Kyoka: *follows* atsushi: you head in, i'll keep watch. Kyoka: *pulls out lock-pick and opens the door to enter* Kyoka: *holds her stun gun, aiming as she passes through hall* atsushi: ^^; y-you could just knock. Kyoka: "...Then it would not be infiltration, would it?" Kyoka: *spots a janitor's locker* "..." *light bulb* -and so- Kyoka: *in janitor's uniform, pushing cart up to a guard* "Judge wanted his room cleaned." guard: um...ok... Kyoka: *nods* "Thank you." *quickly goes to judge's office* judge: ye-? Kyoka: *hold up envelop* "Delivery." judge: oh, why thank you. -later- atsushi: i got crepes! Kyoka: *shiny eyes* "Yummy..." atsushi: so how did it go? Kyoka: "I did not have to electrocute anyone...mostly." atsushi: ah. that's....good. ^^; Kyoka: "...Why did you have me go with you?" atsushi: i guess to train you? show you the ropes? m-metaphorically speaking. Kyoka: "...'Ropes'?" atsushi: n-not actual 'ropes' per say, i-its a metaphor. like a figure of speech. Kyoka: "...I'd rather see actual ropes. They are useful in missions: infiltration, asphyxiation--" Kyoka: *holds her cell phone* atsushi: *sweatdrop* Kyoka: "...I learned many ways to kill." -phone buzzes- atsushi: !!! Kyoka: "?!!!" ???: demon snow. punish the man who brought kyouka into this world of lies. -shink- atsushi:.....*collapses, bleeding* Kyoka: *frozen* "..." ????: there you are, kyouka. *she smiles* Kyoka: "...No..." kouyou: i was so worried when you didnt return home, and here i find you, playing with this monster. *steps onto atsushi's back* atsushi: *yelps in pain* Kyoka: "How...You...The phone?" kouyou: simple, i just got a new phone~ it's ok. mama will protect you. atsushi: k-kyouka, run! Kyoka: *tries to move...trips backwards* kouyou: it's alright now. im here to help you. Kyoka: *can't move* kouyou: *she hugs her* you poor thing, deluded into believeing this world is one of light. but i know one day, these knaves will exploit you and your ability. i promise, i wont let that happen... if i must eliminate them, then i shall do so. atsushi: tch-...that's rich coming from the mafia. -he charges at her, but is slashed- atsushi: ?! Kyoka: *shocked* Kyoka: "St-St-" atsushi: *he looks up to see an entity, similar to demon snow.* w-what? kouyou: golden demon. finish him off. Kyoka: "STOP!" kouyou: ?? Kyoka: "Do not hurt him." kouyou: ....*faux smile* oh you poor naive girl. im afraid its not that simple. you see, mr mori has issued an execution notice for all members of the ADA. i was able to convince him to spare you, so come home with us. a flower born in the dark, can only survive in the dark, after all. Kyoka: "You're wrong!" kouyou: ?! Kyoka: "I am not a flower of darkness." kouyou:....*glares hatefully at atsushi* this is your fault, boy. you've tainted her with your light...but i can still save her. -she aims her sword at his neck- kouyou: if he dies under your care, the agency will surely abandon you... Kyoka: "Stop!" *quiet* "...I'll go." atsushi: !! kouyou:...good girl. Kyoka: "..." *walks to Kouyou* kouyou: *opens her arms to hug her* *STAB* kouyou: ....*sneers, holding the blade to keep it from piercing any further* well done, it seems i have taught you well... Kyoka: *holds up a phone* kouyou:....!!! Kyoka: *flips it open* kouyou: dont do it! if you do, you'll- Kyoka: "Demon Snow!" -elsewhere- toru: *crawling* chie: *smiles* Yohei: "That a boy!" toru: guu! Yohei: "Good!" *claps his hands* "You're moving so fast, kiddo!" -he tumbles and falls on his side- toru: ah....hehe. chie: aw, you're ok buddy. Yohei: *smiles* "He's in good spirits--'cause he's going to keep trying 'til he gets it." chie: *smiles* just like his daddy. Yohei: ^\\\^ *smooch* -elsewhere- -slash slash clang- kouyou: do you see now?! this is the nature of your blade! killing all in your way without hesitation; just like a demon! Kyoka: "You're wrong!" kouyou:.... please, its not because i do not sympathize with you...however, some things are not meant to be. a flower that blooms in the dark can only survive in the dark. if it touches the light, it will burn... Kyoka: "...Even if that is the case...how can I forget this wonderful dream--now that I've seen it?!" kouyou:...please come home, my child. your true nature can never change. if that was not the case, you would not be able to use the demon as a weapon. after all, it was that demon who killed your parents. atsushi: !!! Kyoka: *struggles to look back at Atsushi* "It's not true...It's...not..." *drops her cell phone* -several mafia cars pull up- atsushi: (thinking: ah biscuits) Kyoka: *looking around, fearful* -suddenly, a car gets straight up flung into the air- kouyou: !!! what the ever-loving fuck?! atsushi: kenji! Kenji: "Howdy!" *adjusts dress* mafioso: who's the strong chick? Maifioso 2: *heart eyes* she's gorgeous! Kenji: "Hee hee..." *winks* mafioso 2: PLEASE GO OUT WITH ME! atsushi: -__-; (thinking: he's enjoying this way too much...) kouyou:.... (thinking: an onnagata?) Kenji: "We can talk about dinner and gifts later. First, I have to do this--" *picks up a car and holds it over the Mafiosos' heads* mafioso: hot dam- -KO- atsushi:....oh, kunikida! Kunikida: "We followed a signal on Kyoka's phone--" *picks up Atsushi by the head* atsushi: ow! kouyou: why you vermin....kyouka, come here! Kunikida: "..." *sets Atsushi down* "Dragging us into this, because you can't fight your own battles...But if it is a war this monster wants..." atsushi: kyouka, its ok, we'll help you! mafioso 3: wa, wa, waaaa.... Mafioso 4: "What the hell, Frank?" mafioso 5: uh....who're those guys? ???: "Ooooo! A fight!" Kunikida: "???" tall man: itchy....*walks over to the fountain...and sits in the water*....better.... Shorter Man: "...The Guild is not paying you to bathe in public water! And little kids could've spit in there!" atsushi: o-o;;;; ooooohhhh shiiiitake mushrooms. Shorter Man: "Besides, we're here to deliver a package--" *looks at Kenji* o\\\\\\o "Daymn." Kenji: "Hee hee...You make me blush." atsushi:.....do you want to tell him or should i? Kunikida: -_-;;; "We have bigger worries...Like a three-way battle between the Mafia, the Agency, and now the Guild." frank:....um...does anyone hear- -CRASH- ???: *cough cough* ???: "We have arrived?" ???: well i do believe so. ??: 'bout time. i was gettin' bored up there. ???: well, it is a shame poe and alcott arent here, they're afraid'a heights you see, but they're better off dead. ??: yeah, real damn sha- *spots kenji* !! *slides on up to 'her'* well hello there, good lookin~ Kenji: "??? Man, I am really pulling this off!" *waves* atsushi: *JAWDROP* Kenji: "What's your name, stranger?" ??: the name's twain, but you can call me, *winks* anytime~ *hands kenji his number* tall man: *has birds all over him like he's a statue* steinbeck....twain's hitting on your date. Steinbeck: (ಠ_ಠ) *grabs Kenji's hand* "I saw her first!" Kenji: *blushes* twain: steinbeck, do not cockblock me here, i havent had a date since getting here. kouyou:... shoot them! mafioso: no way, this is getting good! Kenji: "Boys, boys! This is no way to behave! The proper way is with bribery!" -DOUBLE WHACK- ???: i do apologize for these two hooligans. they dont know how to mind their manners, miss....? atsushi: toshiko! her name is toshiko! Kenji: owo; "...Toshiko is my name-o!" ???: i see. atsushi: *looks at kunikida* Kunikida: "..." *sigh* "I have to do everything..." *pulls out a smoke bomb* -BOOOOOOOM- Steinbeck: *cough cough* ???: !!!! *uses the windy thing to blow the smoke away. both the agency and mafia have escaped* hmph. they got away. Steinbeck: D:< "Including my lil apple dumplin’!" twain: damn. well, i got to give her my number~! -thunk- twain: ow! Steinbeck: >_< ???: now you just keep your lil snake in your pants mister. Steinbeck: "...Ha ha. 'Little.'" twain: tch-, at least i know how to show her a good time, unlike you, farmer boy. Steinbeck: "I know how to please a woman! Farms teach you lots of stuff!" ??: reeeeally hoping that isnt relevant. Steinbeck: "...So, what now? We report to Fitzgerald while I find the Agency and my sweet cherry pie darlin’?" twain: why dont you leave that to me~ and i'll take her out to a nice dinner to boot! Steinbeck: "I'll take her dancing!" -the squabbling continues until the tall man picks them both up and holds them away from each other before clunking their heads together- tall man:...too noisy. ???: thank you, lovecraft. lovecraft:.... Steinbeck: X_X twain: >-< ow! -elsewhere- Mori: "...Failure." mafioso: w-we're really sorry sir, and we dont know where the boss lady went. kyouka ran off in all the chaos and she followed after....she kinda vanished.... Mori: "...None of you followed her? Or could find her? Then what good are you?" mafioso: there was too much smoke and screaming sir! Mori: "If you could not handle the Agency _and_ the Guild, then I need someone more powerful to face them..." Mori: "And that means targeting the Director of the Detective Agency!" *smiles brightly* "Elise! New dress time!" -elsewhere- Yosano: "Time to heal injuries?" kouyou:....do your worst. *smirks* atsushi:....(thinking: kyouka vanished during all the commotion...) Yosano: *smirks* "Yay! New plaything..." *pulls out chainsaw* Dazai: "??? ...Maybe call her, Atsushi?" atsushi:... if i do that, i risk activating demon snow... Dazai: "Then that would get a report out...and either we would find her...or the Mafia would first." atsushi:.....this would be easier if she wasnt a wanted criminal... Dazai: "...Hey. We'll find her. Just have to keep searching." -later- kouyou:.....*smiling, but trembling* dazaaaai. how...nice...to see you.... Dazai: "...Big sis. Long time." atsushi: wait, she's your sister? kouyou: it's a figure of speech, rememeber? atsushi: ....... Dazai: "Now, kouyou, let's chat: where's Kyoka?" kouyou: that's what i would like to know myself.....*looks at atsushi* boy. atsushi: i have a name! kouyou: a name i do not know, nor do i care to. atsushi: D8 atsushi:....you... you scared her off! kouyou:...*chuckles* atsushi: WHY THE HELL ARE YOU LAUGHING?! *claw arm* Dazai: *puts out his arm* "Atsushi, no." atsushi: b-but- Dazai: *takes him by the shoulders, spins him around* "Leave her to me. I got this." atsushi:..... -elsewhere- Steinbeck: "Aim..." *BANG* Steinbeck: "Good shot!" louisa: *holds up a card that says '10'* ???: mr fitzgerald, we've recieved a report that the agency has vacated their building. Fitzgerald: "..." *smiles* "A hunt is no fun without the challenge of finding your prey." louisa: t-the mafia is making they're move as well, sir. Fitzgerald: *stares* "...I had to work two whole years to buy a gun of this model." Fitzgerald: *fires multiple shots at the target, demolishing it* -elsewhere- atsushi: i didnt think there was a seminar hall underground. yosano: well, death city is just full of surprises, as well as underground passages. there's even rumors of an ancient inventor living within the catacombs. atsushi: *gulp* creepy. Kunikida: "I assume we will be dividing up our resources effectively now." atsushi: i guess.....oh, looks like the boss is here. mr fukuza- Fukuzawa: *holds up a hand* "Listen, everyone. A few days ago, war was avoidable. That option is no longer available." atsushi: ?! d-dazai? Fukuzawa: "Dazai will lead the discussion about where we go from here." Dazai: "Call me Professor Dazai!" *stands behind teacher's desk* atsushi: *sweatdrop* [thinking: i fear to imagine what school would be like with him as a teacher...] Dazai: "The Guild has a lot of money, the Mafia has a lot of troops. Therefore, if we fight either one head-on, we'll end up a beaten pulp of blood, tendons, and bones!" yosano:.....*griiiiiin* atsushi: o.o;;; (thinking: having these guys as teachers or classmates....would be terrifying) Dazai: "That means guerrilla tactics are our best options--dividing up our members into defense and offense. And that means you in defense have one objective: protect Doctor Yosano!" yosano:...for some reason i am tempted to hit you. but then again, i am your only medic, so... Dazai: "And with the Doctor protected, you'll all be able to go all out in battle without worrying about the deadly injuries you will surely experience!" atsushi: (thinking: im not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing) yosano: and we also have a one-up on the guild. our secret weapon; kenji! or rather 'toshiko'. Kenji: "Huh? Oh, thanks!" *smiles* atsushi: (at least kenji is having a good time...) Dazai: "Offense will divide into two teams: me and Atsushi, Kunikida and Tanizaki." atsushi: *points to self* me? o-o; Dazai: *nods* "You'll need my power nullifier." atsushi: then everyone else is defence, right? -elsewhere- Chuuya: "Hmph. I said we can't trust outsiders..." *dials up Mori* *Phone dials...* Chuuya: "Come on...Someone, answer." elise: giddeyup horsey! rain: TT_TT Mori: "Rain, get the phone, please." rain: eliiise, please get off me TT-TT elise: but im not doooone yeeeet. *kicks her in the hip* rain: ow! Mori: "Rain. Now!" rain: alriiiight! *gets up, dropping elise* elise: owie! rain: *answers the phone* yes? Chuuya: "Oh, Rain. Hello. Is Mori there?" Mori: *gasps* "Elise!" *runs to her* "Are you okay?" rain: m-mu-chu-mr nakahara! h-he's right here! Mori: *glares at Rain* elise: rain bucked me off! *faux crying* she's so mean to me! rain: D8 Mori: "Then she will be punished." *takes the phone* "Elise, continue your play while I speak with Nakahara~" elise: ok~ *kicks rain in the shin* rain: AH! *falls* Chuuya: "Boss, the attack failed. Even though I had men tailing him--" Mori: "Relax. It is to be expected of the Detectives' leader. Carry on with the plan. The thing we planted on the Assassin's sleeve--how's the scan marker?" Chuuya: *checks* "...I got a signal." Mori: "Follow it. That is where we make our first attack." Mori: *looks to Elise and Rain* rain: please stoooop TT-TT Mori: *smiles* "Having fun, Elise?" elise: *kicking her in the stomach* you hurt me dummy! *looks at mori* yeah rintarou. ^^ Mori: "That's good! Elise, keep playing. Rain, stop screwing up." rain: TT____TT -elsewhere- *A man is seated, reading, as a woman stares at him* Man: "...Stop looking at me." woman: i wasnt. *looks up* i cant wait for autumn to get here already. Man: "Why, so you can see things die?" *flips a page* woman: well arent you gloomy. but no. its i may finally be free from this stiflin’ heat. Man: "Then go into the shade." *continues reading* "I cool my blood..." woman: hmph. tell me, father, does the term 'ashes to ashes' ring any bells? *cue the windy thing tearing up his book* Man: *stares at his broken book, then up at the fragments of pages* "...Genesis 3:19." woman: hmm... just dont ya'll forget why we're here now. this here hotel room is now our base of operations. Man: "I think you have forgotten God's mission to me: pass judgment on sinners. Those would be our enemies. Unless you want to atone as well, Margaret Mitchell?" margaret: oh please, ya'll arent even worthy of polishin' my shoes, hawthorne. guild worker: oh for the lovva god, just kiss already! margaret: LESS TALKING MORE MOVING Hawthorne: "Hmph." guild worker: oh and another thing. you've been kinda treating us like dirt since we got here. this isnt the civil war, ma'am. so we decided to form a union! Hawthorne: "...A union? Seriously?" margaret:... *windy things him off the roof* guild worker: *SCREAMS* -crunch- Hawthorne: *looks around* "Anyone else in this union?" -silence- Hawthorne: "Good. Now, give us our mail." guild worker 2: you got a letter, just came in this morning. margaret:....is this..crayon? Hawthorne: *reads it* "Looks like an adult's handwriting, though." *reads it* " 'Dearest sir and madam: Seeing that you came all this way, I am sure you may feel out of place. My little lady as well feels confined and wishes to play outside. Even as she is so boisterous, she is still so adorable I could die!'" *looks at Margaret* "...What the devil is he prattling on about?" margaret: seems they dote on their daughter quite a bit. Hawthorne: *continues reading* " 'But I digress. I write about our recent military conflict. Below is the list of the Guild's assets we will destroy--'" margaret: .... O_O they're going to attack the hotel?! this is a public facility! they must be nuttier than a squirrel's thanksgivin'! Hawthorne: *reading* " 'First, your hotel. Second, Mr--'" *pauses* "...'Mr. Hawthorne's life.'" margaret: ...miss mitchell's life?! c-clearly this is some kind of a joke by some petty immigrants. guild worker: woooow. not okay! guild worker 2: hey! we got an intruder! Hawthorne: *stares at the man* "...What kind of eyepiece is he wearing? And are those...lemons?" margaret: must be some homeless vagabond. Hawthorne: "Now I recognize him: that insane bomber on the train a while back--" Motojiro: "I'M NOT INSANE!" Hawthorne: "And the Detective Agency easily defeated you." margaret: we should just turn him over to the authorities. Hawthorne: *takes his cross in his hand* "Not the best plan, as he has already planted those 'lemons'--bombs--around our building." margaret: you're telling me those lemons are bombs? *laughing* Motojiro: "Sh-Shut up! My plan was genius!" Hawthorne: *cuts into his own hand* margaret:.... Motojiro: .____. "You're a cutter and calling me insane--" *SLICE* margaret: ......*sly grin* Motojiro: *gasps, shuddering in pain* "WHAT THE HELL?!" Hawthorne: "Will you not atone, you boring bomber of the Mafia?" Motojiro: "I-I-I'm not with the Mafia! I'm the ambassador of the universe! Here to bring a message of...um...love?" margaret:...he must have been snorting something before he arrived here. Motojiro: .w.; "...Did that excuse work, pretty lady?" margaret:........father, if you would so kindly proceed. Hawthorne: *takes a lemon* "You have your scarlet mark now upon your body..." *points to the A carved into Motojiro* "Now, without your penance..." *tosses the lemon at Motojiro* Motojiro: "!!! No--" *BOOM* Hawthorne: "...God's grace." -a helicopter flies over- Hawthorne: "Let's hope they are careful with the supplies--" ???: " 'God'?" margaret: ??....!!! h-how?! Motojiro: *grins* "You think God speaks to you? Ha! You call me insane, you crazy preacher?! The language of God is science!" -beep- Motojiro: "And science means always questioning...And you didn't question what was in that shipment on your helicopter..." margaret: what was that? *looks up*.... oh ya'll have to be shitting me. Motojiro: "My actual ability is not making bombs--it's surviving _lemon-shaped bombs_!" person on the streets below: are those....lemons? Hawthorne: "...That's still asinine." Motojiro: "Say that to your God when you're dead!" margaret: EVERYONE OFF THE ROOF! -BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM- lana: !?!?! w-what the heck was that? Bellhop: "?! An explosion?! Is that...fire?!" lana: *goes to call the fire brigade* -on the streets below- margaret: *landing via the windy thing* what on earth is this place?!?! guild worker: the whole roof is in flames....good thing there's steel keeping it from spreading....i think that's how steel works...right? Hawthorne: "The letter referred to destroying three items on their list. We are Numbers 2 and 3. I suggest we escape." margaret: indeed. *they run into an underground tunnel* Hawthorne: *follows--and sees someone* "??" margaret: oh, that's the senior secretary, isnt it? ......w-wha... Dead!Secretary: *mouth opens...then rips the face apart, revealing...lemon bombs* Hawthorne: "Mitchell!" *tackles her out of the way* margaret: ?!?! *BOOM* margaret: !!! are you alright? Hawthorne: *covers her, as building around them collapses* -elsewhere- Burns: "...You finished?" dia: we've detained the culprit. Burns: "Bring him here." foien: *has his hands ziptied and sits him down* there you go. Motojiro: "Ow! Hey! I know my rights! You can't just--" Burns: *holds up a flame to his face* Motojiro: ._. dia: you'll have time to explain during the trial. -elsewhere- Mori: *playing chess with himself* "The Guild has formidable people. Difficult to take down." *picks up the Rook* "We'll have to send our most spirited piece..." -elsewhere- -shink- margaret:...ah....*coughing blood* Hawthorne: *stares in shock* "Oh no..." Akutagawa: "This is stifling--" *SHINK* Hawthorne: *wide-eyed, as he sees himself stabbed* Akutagawa: "Let's get this over with." Hawthorne: "..." *smiles, laughs* "Here to test me, Examiner?" Akutagawa: "I shall test you, yes." *sends his tendrils at Hawthorne* Hawthorne: *blocks with his blood* Akutagawa: "?!" Hawthorne: "You can't shake my faith so easily, demon." Akutagawa: "...Rashomon." Hawthorne: "SCARLET LETTER!" *CLASH* Hawthorne: *his attack is sliced down* "?!!" Akutagawa: "Pathetic. Fight me with all you have, Brother, or this assassination will be for nothing." Hawthorne: "Do not call me that...I don't need to fight with all I have--when this fight is already over." Akutagawa: "???" *sees his own blood on his coat* "You cut me. Congratulations--" *The blood leaps up* Akutagawa: "?!!!" Hawthorne: "Not your blood." *The blood circles around Akutagawa* Hawthorne: "I was wrong, though. You are not a demon: you merely feast on prey weaker than you." -a breeze is blowing- margaret: nng... Akutagawa: "?!!" Hawthorne: "Mitchell...?" margaret:...the mafia...war...all meaningless...the only thing that matters to me is restoring my family's reputation. how could the likes of you, who has never known humiliation or defeat, ever beat me?! *The ground starts to shake* margaret: ....wha-....ah..... *SLICE* Hawthorne: "!!!" Akutagawa: "_I_ have never known defeat? No. Defeat has been my constant companion." Hawthorne: ("He's broken free of my technique! I can't run--") Akutagawa: *rushes at Hawthorne--* *COUGH* Akutagawa: *collapses to his knees, clutching his stomach* Akutagawa: "...What are you doing? I said I would battle you. So fight me with all that you have!" Hawthorne: "...Why do you persist, despite your injuries?" Akutagawa: "..." *steps forward* "I want to hear something from someone..." Hawthorne: "...You have faith." *slices his hand* "I have changed my mind: I will fight you with all I have--" Akutagawa: *leaps* Hawthorne: *fires at him* margaret: *attempting to break free* *pained scream* Hawthorne: *spots her* "Mitchell, stop!" margaret: it...hu..rts... Hawthorne: "Don't! Just stay--" *SLICE* margaret:.......no... Akutagawa: *shot...but smiling, as Rashomon slices through Hawthorne* Hawthorne: "..." *shudders, collapsing to his knees* Akutagawa: "To finish this..." *releases his last attack* margaret: !!! nathaniel!! Hawthorne: "..." *smiles peacefully* Akutagawa: "?!!!" *Akutagawa pictures Dazai smiling at him...and Atsushi...* *The blood of Hawthorne slices at Akutagawa, ripping at his body...* Akutagawa: "N-No...No! Rashamon! Destroy him!" *Rashamon reaches for Hawthorne...* -SHINK- margaret:....*impaled, holding hawthorne* Hawthorne: "!!! ..." *sobs* "M-Margaret...Why?" margaret: i....lo..lov....*collapses* Hawthorne: "...Margaret!" *SLICE* *BOOM* Akutagawa: *stays back, as he sees the ceiling fall onto the couple* *Blood pools under the debris* Akutagawa: " 'It's okay...to live'..." -elsewhere- Kenji: "But I have a date!" yosano: no butts, it's too dangerous right now. that goes for you too edogawa! -morning- chie: good thing they finally caught that bomber... Yohei: "...Can't have more of them. Not again." chie: *she nods* Yohei: "...Maybe I should help. I mean, I'm sure I have something that could detective explosives..." -elsewhere- higuchi: motojiro is requesting a lawyer to bust him out of prison. Mori: *pouts* "That's troublesome. Can't someone else do it?" higuchi: well, ryunosuke recently became ill and has confined himself to his room... Mori: "...Fine. Send Q. Oh, and tell Ryunosuke to get better immediately. RAIN! BRING HIM HOT SOUP!" higuchi: !!!??? q?! y-you cant be serious! Mori: *stares* "You think I'm not a serious person?" *he's writing letters with glittery crayons* elise: im gonna want those back when you're done, rintarou! >n< higuchi:....im on it then....*shudders* -muttering amongst the mafiosos- mafioso: is he out of his mind?! Mafioso 2: you saw what that...that _thing_ did to ted...poor, poor ted. Mafioso #3: *sniff* "Ted still owed me $20..." TT_TT -elsewhere- kirako: hi there mii-chan. i know you must be so lonely right now. but dont you worry, the pet sitter is taking good care of you. naomi:.... kirako: EEP! n-naomi! i-i was working! i swear! naomi: i didnt say anything, im just standing here. but look at this. *puts a newspaper on the table* kirako: *reading* 'explosion at local hotel, mad man in ski goggles held for questioning'. -meanwhile- yosano:....!!! we have someone on the cameras Fukuzawa: "...One man." Chuuya: "..." *grins at the camera* Fukuzawa: "Yosano, activate the guns." -vreeeeeen- -the camera disconnects- yosano: ?!?! Fukuzawa: "?!" *The bullets bounce away and off each other, missing Chuuya* Chuuya: "If you're still alive, come on out, Detectives." yosano:....director? Fukuzawa: "..." *looks at Rampo* Rampo: *nods* -and so- Chuuya: "How insulting. The Agency sends only two?" yosano: sorry hun, but you're gonna need an appointment first~ Chuuya: "Ha ha ha...You think the Mafia needs an appointment to tear down your base?" Kenji: "I don't think you need to!" yosano: if you want to, be my guest. but i have the feeling you arent here for that. Chuuya: "??? You think so?" yosano: we _are_ detectives after all. if we cant deduce the reason for a client's visit, then what kind of detectives are we? -elsewhere- lovecraft: ...... Steinbeck: "So, as I was saying, that's the way to properly farm and sell your produce." lovecraft:....there's the lodge. -quite a bit of flowers growing here- Steinbeck: *shiny eyes* "Flowers!" Steinbeck: "Sunflowers! And flower crowns! Woo hoo!" lovecraft:....how nice. Steinbeck: "I'll grow her more flowers!" *pulls out his sack* lovecraft: the secretary? Steinbeck: "??? I don't know--I wasn't up for getting her flowers--" lovecraft:.....*already walking ahead* -fantasy!toshiko: teehee~ oh john, you're such a sweetie pie~<3- Steinbeck: =\\\\\= "My darling clementine, I will make you a thousand flower crowns..." *stabs his neck* lovecraft: .... Steinbeck: *plants flower seeds...which grow out of him* -inside- naomi: *running with kirako* this way! kirako: why are we going through the staff passage? naomi: the enemy will most likely be there. i sent a request to have your car moved in here. kirako: wow... -VRRRRRRRR- -halfway down the road, and a noise is heard- kirako: EEK! naomi: the door is stuck! *A vine appears* naomi: this is bad, they're gonna break the car! kirako: nooooo! i just got this car! *The car is lifted into the air...the vines crush the car a bit...then stop* naomi:....*looks out the window* O_O are they....growing out of his body?! Steinbeck: *waves* "Hi, ladies! I should've expected the best from your Agency." naomi: doesnt that hurt?! Steinbeck: "A bit. The biggest pain is picking pieces out of my skin. And I think I got grape leaves along my spine...Wait, what were we talking about?" lovecraft:....we're here to make a request of you. naomi: 'request' basically means 'dispose after use' to villains like you. Steinbeck: "??? I'm not a villain. I got a sister about your age, back home." naomi:.....*lightbulb* say, you know that girl 'toshiko'? Steinbeck: owo;;; "...Yes. That's one reason I have this job. I get paid well to support my family--and I hope to impress her!" naomi: if you let us go, i'll set you two up on a romantic date! Steinbeck: owo;;;;;;;;; "...But if I did, I wouldn't be able to support my sister!" *slight crush of the vines* "I-I can just convince Toshiko I did what I had to do!" lovecraft:....??...it's snowing...in july? *BANG* lovecraft:...oh. ok. Steinbeck: "???!" *BANG* Steinbeck: *Blocks with a vine* ???: "Naomi! naomi: !! big bro! Tanizaki: *helps her and Kirako down* "Get to the railroad tracks--there's a train waiting for you!" naomi: right! Kunikida: *aims at Steinbeck* ("Just need to keep him from the girls--") *Vine whip* Kunikida: "!!!" -elsewhere- -pine acres train stop- atsushi: *looking around* (thinking: death city is such a big place...it's almost like a small country...) Dazai: "Look it the tiny creature!" dog: *bark bark* Dazai: *holds up doggie treat* "Hello!" dog: *wags* Dazai: *hides the dog treat--and it vanishes* dog: *head tilt* Dazai: "That's the difference between our status: I WIN!" dog: ?? Dazai: *suddenly, the treat appears back in his hand--and he eats it* dog: D8 atsushi: D8 -on the train- kirako: *phew*...that was a close one... Naomi: "..." kirako:..chin up, im sure you're brother will be fine. ??? *sniffling* -a young boy is seated in one of the seats, holding a doll and crying- Naomi: "??? Oh dear...Are you okay?" boy: i-im just scared and l-lonely. mommy and daddy had a fight, and im mad at them so i decided to run away to live with my grandparents in pine acres. but this is my first time on my own and im scared. kirako: aww. boy: will you two go with me so i wont be as scared? Naomi: *smiles* "We're getting off at Pine Acres, too." boy: r-really? kirako: it's alright. we'll help you find your grandparents. boy: thank you. you seem like really nice people. -at the station- Dazai: *tenses up* atsushi: dazai? what's wrong? Dazai: "I-I just remembered: doggie treats give me the shits!" atsushi: THEN WHY DO YOU EAT THEM?! Dazai: *hands him the bag of treats* "I must take care of business! The fate of the Agency rests in your hands! Do not fail!" Dazai: *runs* atsushi:.... random person: your friend seems like an interesting person. atsushi: you have no idea. Dazai: *running* "..." *looks back* gin: *holds a blade up to dazai's neck* Dazai: "...Ginny! You've gotten taller!" gin:... higuchi: *aims her gun at me* start talking. now. Dazai: "...Oh, please. I developed your surveillance techniques. I could smell you a mile away." Dazai: "And you really intend to kill me? Just you two?" higuchi: *nods at gin, who puts her weapon away* we have a message from the boss. Dazai: "From Mori? Hmm...A threat? Complaint? Murder notice? Hard to guess..." higuchi: i'll just summarize the point; are you interested in returning to the mafia as an executive member? Dazai: o__o Dazai: o_____o "...BWA HA HA HA!" higuchi: w-what's so funny? Dazai: "Ha ha! What a serious offer! I'm overjoyed!" higuchi: i've seen the records. your methods, the sadistic way you hollow your enemy’s hearts. you have a heart of darkness, and blood as black as ash. Dazai: "...People change, Higuchi. Why, I remember when Gin here was just a tiny cute little girl before she grew up to an androgynous ninja warrior. Still a hot look, though." gin:....do you want me to kill you in your sleep? higuchi:......................................................................................................wait what? Dazai: "With that cute voice of yours, sure~" -train arrival sounds- gin: you better go. q is on board. Dazai: "...What?!" higuchi: i tried to talk mori out of it, but... Dazai: *already running* -meanwhile- atsushi: naomi, kirako, glad you're ok. boy: miss naomi? who is this? atsushi:...same question for you. Naomi: "The poor dear was all alone, so we offered to accompany him to this stop." boy: *trips* ah! atsushi: *catches him* boy: *whimpers* owie, my ankle! you hurt me! atsushi: n-no i didnt! i helped catch him! Naomi: *glares at Atsushi* boy: no.....you....hurt....me.... *pulls up his sleeve to reveal a bunch of razors taped to his arm, cutting him up* atsushi: ?!?! kirako: !!! *covers her mouth in shock* Naomi: "What?! K-Kid! Who did this to you?" boy: her mister....wanna plaaaaay a gaaaaame~<3 ? -his doll begins to laugh- Naomi: "...Oh fuck no." -the doll rips its head- kirako: ......*strangling atsushi* Naomi: "K-Kirako! Stop!" atsushi: im really sorry about this! *grabs her and slams her into a wall* Naomi: "..." atsushi: !!!! -several people are screaming and fleeing from the scene- Naomi: *rushes at Atsushi with a pocket knife* -outside- -more people fleeing- Dazai: *running* (" 'Protect me,' they said as I was running off...Protect me from what? From--") "!!!" atsushi: NAOMI! SNAP OUT OF IT! *strangling her* kirako: *crying as she has broken her arm* Dazai: "No! Atsushi! _You_ snap out of it! Now!" Naomi: *crying, gasping for air* atsushi: ?! d-dazai wait! *backing away* p-put the knife down! Dazai: "??? 'Knife'? Dude, chill...You're being manipulated..." boy: oh hiiiii mr dazaaaaai~<3 ! Dazai: "...Goddamn it, Q..." Q: oooh you said a bad woooord, hug time! *tries to leap at him* Dazai: *dodges--and seizes Q's doll* Q: hey! give it back meanie! atsushi: *fetal position and screaming* Dazai: "...Dissolve, you abomination." *nullifies the doll* atsushi: w-wha?...!!! Naomi: *cowers, trying to crawl away from Atsushi* Q: boooo, you're no fun. but i had a good day today. atsushi: n-naomi i- Naomi: "Stay away from me, you monster!" atsushi: *his heart drops* naomi no i...i was just..i i didnt mean... Q: heehee~ thanks for showing me a good time everyone. im gonna go cause trouble somewhere else. *the train begings to leave* bye bye dazaaaaai~! Dazai: *watches Q's escape* "..." ("The Mafia will do anything...So will I.") *turns to Atsushi* "...Come on, buddy. We're going home." atsushi: *hic* im..s-so...rryy-yy.... Dazai: "...Atsushi..." atsushi: *winces* Dazai: "..." *hug* atsushi: ?! w-why are...y-you... Dazai: *mini-chop* atsushi: >.< Dazai: "I can't change your past. But as your senior, I have advice for you: stop it with the self-pity." atsushi: .... Dazai: "Self-pity is what makes life a nightmare. Don't do that to yourself.") atsushi: *looks at naomi and kirako*.... kirako: *winces* ow! Naomi: *glares at Atsushi* "It's okay, Kirako..." atsushi:......... Naomi: *helps Kirako along* "Let's get home..." -elsewhere- q: *humming to himself* *RING RING* q: ~? Mori: "How did it go?" Q: i broke the weretiger reeeeally good. he broke the lady's arm and tried to choke the other one. she was nice. if i was older, i'd probably be her boyfriend then i would get to tinkle in her! Mori: *chuckles* "One thing at a time, Q. Just get back here, and you'll get yummy cake and toys!" Q: yay! rain: you're awful mori! elise: we can beat up rainy together, too! rain: I HATE YOU BOTH SO MUCH! Mori: *chuckles* "Elise, go play for a bit. Rain and I have an important task to finish." rain: TT-TT -elsewhere- louisa: *breaths* (thinking: remember to breathe when you talk and you'll be fine...) Bellhop: "May I help you?" louisa: EEP! *runs into a wall then flees* (thinking: that was too close!).....*about to knock on the door* ???: "Stop dawdling and get yourself in here." louisa: !!!! -creeeeak- Fitzgerald: *staring at the door* louisa: l-lord francis? i-i have another s-strategy proposal. Fitzgerald: *flips through pages* "I am impressed how quickly you write these reports--but must they be so long?" louisa: s-sorry...i-i can...abridge it for you..i-if you like... Fitzgerald: *takes the report and walks to the door* "Forget it. I'll read it while we walk." -elsewhere- Kid: *hug* stocking: well arent you cuddly~ Kid: *purrs* "Indeed." *smooch* stocking: hehe~<3 Kid: "How are you?" stocking: doing well~ Kid: *smiles* "I'm glad...You know what may be better?" stocking: what~? Kid: "How about a specially made dinner, with dessert, and dancing?" stocking: sounds wonderful~<3 Kid: "Good, because I already made the reservations~" stocking: and tonight, maybe we can enjoy a night to ourselves~? *tracing a finger down his chest* Kid: .\\\\w\\\\. "Of course...But that's the next surprise..." *smooch on her cheek, before whispering* "A hotel room." stocking: oh~ *kisses his nose* Kid: *blushes* "Stocking, you're so loving." stocking: mmmm~ *nuzzle* Kid: *nuzzles* "I love you." stocking: thank you kid.....thank you for meeting me. *smiles* Kid: "..." *holds her hand* "Thank you for letting me into your life." -elsewhere- Giriko: "..." *loud laugh* "What happened to you?!" kirika:....*covered in tape, ribbons, and feathers* you wont believe us. even if we told you. Gopher: .\\\\^\\\\. *he's missing a shoe, a pant leg is ripped off, and he is shirtless--with paint slapped across his chest* -elsewhere- Sakuya: "...Lilac? You there, buddy?" lilac: .....*shivering* Sakuya: "...May I come in?" lilac:...if you...want to... Sakuya: *opens the door, looks inside* lilac: *curled up in the futon*...... Sakuya: "..." *sits by the futon* "...You get any sleep?" lilac:....would i...have been better off....staying in that place? Sakuya: "??? 'That place'? ...You mean...not here?" lilac: it was.....peaceful....i didnt...feel anything....am i...a bad person for thinking that? Sakuya: "..." *swallows* "If...I had that chance...yeah, I'd consider staying there, too." lilac:....oh.... Sakuya: "So, no, I don't think you're a bad person for thinking that. But I also think it would be a mistake for you to have stayed there." lilac: ?? Sakuya: "Because you would miss so many opportunities in front of you." lilac:...sakuya....why did you start dating naho? Sakuya: "..." =\\\\= "...'Cause I like her." lilac:....what about her do you like? didnt you also say you liked mahiru? Sakuya: "!!! Um...I mean, yeah. I just...There are different things I like..." Sakuya: "...Just...happy being around her." -elsewhere- Mori: "Good meeting." higuchi: ...... gin:....*nods* Mori: "Higuchi, please see to Akutagawa. And someone, give me an update on the Agency's location." higuchi: right.....*knocks on akutagawa's door* ryunosuke? are you alright? Akutagawa: "..." *shivering in the corner of his room* higuchi:....may i come in? Akutagawa: "..." *silence* higuchi:...*turns the knob* Akutagawa: *tries to cover his head* higuchi: ryunosuke? are you doing any better? Akutagawa: "...What is wrong with my brain?" higuchi: ?? Akutagawa: "What does it mean to fight for something you believe...if you believe nothing?" higuchi: ....? Akutagawa: "That smile...Get it out of my head..." *fetal position* higuchi: ryu- *puts a hand to his shoulder* Akutagawa: *pulls back* higuchi:..... -elsewhere- Rin: "Hello, everyone!" konekomaru: hey rin shiemi: hi there rin! izumo: hey. Bon: "..." *goes back to what he was reading* Rin: D:< "Bon! Look at me, man!" shura: yo. Rin: "Oh, hey, Teach. What's up?" shura: you kids ready for this thing? Rin: "...Well, no use waiting around." -elsewhere- Kid: *adjusts his tie* stocking: looking good~ Kid: *smiles* "Just matching you~" stocking: *smooch* you flirt~ Kid: *blushes* "I only speak the truth." *offers his arm* "Shall we?" stocking: indeed~ Kid: *takes her inside to the restaurant* "I hope the menu will be to your liking." *leads her to their table* -early morning, a parking garage- Dazai: *shiny eyes* "Ango!" ango: it's been quite some time, dazai. i see your eye is doing better now. Dazai: "You know it!" *walks by him--pats his behind* ango: ..... -the two other agents hold their weapons up at dazai- Dazai: *Has removed the handgun from Ango's back, aiming at him* ango: you know you wont actually shoot. i did clean your ledger after all. you still owe me back, correct? Dazai: "..." *returns the gun* "I know that. And you knew what I would do--hence why you didn't load your gun, huh?" ango: seems you're right on the mark. now, if you arent here to catch up with an old friend, what is the point of this meeting then? Dazai: *points to Ango's car* "You can't bring this shiny vehicle here and not offer me a ride!" ango: please stop rubbing my car, you'll get fingerprints all over it. Dazai: "I will if you give me a ride." -and so- ango: ah, so this 'guild' has arrived in death city then? Dazai: "Yeeeeep! So, you better get to investigating." ango: *glasses shine* rest assure, the death city council's gifted’s department has been more than aware of this. Dazai: "So...What're you all doing?" ango:....do you know what kind of an organization the guild is? it's a secret society. each member has an identity of their own outside the organization. their influence isnt just limited to the eastern states, they are possibly capable of eating their way into this very city. Dazai: "...That's an odd turn to this discussion." ango: it would appear they've been granted diplomatic immunity. being that death city is considered a city-state, there isnt much we are able to do. it's more than likely they will abuse this power. unfortunately, even this meeting is being monitored as well. *he stops the car* dazai. run. warn your coworkers. Dazai: "?!!!" -CRASH- -elsewhere- atsushi:....dazai's late..... *thinking back to wat kouyou said* [kouyou: please, take care of kyouka..] ???: "Sorry to keep you waiting." atsushi: took you long enough daza-.... !!!! Fitzgerald: *smiles* "One thing money cannot cure: boredom." atsushi: *backing away* ???: *from behind him* "That's a typical reaction." atsushi: ?! !!! *attempts to punch him* Fitzgerald: *catches the punch* atsushi: !!! -kicks him in the fitz-junior- Fitzgerald: "..." *tenses...then smiles widely* "What a kick! Worth $10,000!" atsushi: o_o (thinking: aaah biscuits) Fitzgerald: *Million Dollar Kick* atsushi: NYEEEEEEEEEEE *CRASH* fuuuuuuuuuck..... Fitzgerald: *picks Atsushi up by the head* "We put a bounty of 7 billion on you. If this is all you got, you're not worth that much. But don't despair, old sport: your worth lies elsewhere." atsushi:...*spits in his face* Fitzgerald: "..." *wipes away the spit* "Ha. There's the fight I wanted--" *Footsteps heard* atsushi:... !!! -a wild kyouka appears- Fitzgerald: *snaps his fingers* "Oh! The lower-rank Mafia girl!" Kyoka: "No. I am Kyoka of the Detective Agency. It is nice to meet you." atsushi ... Kyoka: *leaps, slashes at Fitzgerald with a knife--but he dodges* Fitzgerald: "My, such a barbarous child to attack without giving off any murderous intention." Kyoka: "..." *takes Atsushi's wrist* atsushi: woah! Kyoka: *leaps up and over the barrier--towards the water--pulling Atsushi with her* Fitzgerald: "?!!" atsushi: YOIP! -splash- Kyoka: "...You can swim, yes?" atsushi: i think so. i did help you swim to the short that one time... heh, hard to believe that was almost a month ago now... Kyoka: "Less talking, more escaping." *doggie paddle* Fitzgerald: "...Huh. They're getting away." *opens notebook* "What am I supposed to do...Ah, here it is! 'Do...nothing.' ...Okay!" *smiles* -elsewhere- shura: gooood morning campers! Rin: *groaning* "Five more minutes, Mommy..." shura: ooooi. Yukio: "..." *dumps bucket of cold water onto Rin* Rin: *gasps* "Wh-What?!" shura: time to get up. we got a big day ahead. Rin: "..." *grabs a towel to dry off* "What's the first lesson, teach?" -elsewhere- Kid: *purrs* stocking: good morning honey~<3 Kid: "Morning~" *smooch* stocking: god, you were amazing last night. still are~ Kid: *smiles, blushing* "I can say the same to you..." *traces his finger along her arm* "...Stocking?" stocking: yes~? Kid: "...It felt so good without protection." *blush* stocking: *blushing and nuzzles* Kid: *holds her* "...You know...We're not always going to have this kind of time to ourselves in the future." stocking: yeah. that's why we got to enjoy it. Kid: "...We have the room for a few more hours...How should we enjoy this time?" -elsewhere- Mori: "Late again, I see." rain: my alarm clock needed batteries! Mori: "Well, that's no good. You didn't have extra batteries lying around to use?" rain: i thought i did, and i went to check but i was all out, so i had to go to the convenience store and buy some more. Mori: "What, none in your smoke detectors? And let me guess: then you missed your bus, yes?" rain:... yes. Q.Q Mori: "..." *sigh, walks around her* "What am I to do with you..." rain: im really sorry sir! im doing my best, really! Mori: "And you missed the memo." rain: memo? o-o; Mori: "The memo. The one about coming in late for work?" *sighs, hands her a sheet of notebook paper--written in crayon* rain: um... *examines it* 'those who arrive late will be made to play the 'punishment game'..... Q_Q Mori: *nods* "Follow me..." rain: TT~TT Mori: *opens the door* "Enter..." -elsewhere- atsushi: *pants* alright...we should be safe here....kyouka, where did you run off to- Kyoka: "In the darkness. Where I was from." atsushi:.....kyouka... Kyoka: "...I didn't belong there any more." atsushi: ......!!! hide, it's the police! Kyoka: "..." *hides* "...I called them." atsushi: ??!! Kyoka: "The Guild will not attempt an attack with police in the open. Let's go." *starts to move* atsushi:....why did you come back? why get involved in this war? Kyoka: "...Because the Detective Agency is the only place where I belong." Kyoka: "This is the first time I have ever wanted to be somewhere, be something. I will fight for it, I will resort to anything--even the monstrosity within me." atsushi: ........ Kyoka: "Now, let me carry you...And exaggerate your limp." atsushi: um ok?....ooooooh. oh the paaaaain! my ice skating careeeer! Police Officer #1: "???" Kyoka: "...Help. We were attacked by people with weapons." -elsewhere- Victor: *sitting in front of Hot Wheels toy cars--which are now on fire* "..." nozomi: !! *getting the extinguisher* Victor: "Why do cars hate me?! I just am trying my best with them!" -elsewhere- atsushi: *running with kyouka* (thinking: im glad i stopped her before she hurt anyone...) !!! Kyoka: "Let me go." atsushi: um....we have company. old man:.... Fitzgerald: "Hello, old sport." atsushi: why you son of a bi- *BANG* ACK! owwww...fuuuuck. twain: *from a roof* bulls eye, baby. Kyoka: O_O Fitzgerald: *on incom* "Good work, Mr. Twain." *picks up Atsushi by the neck* Kyoka: O__O Fitzgerald: "Well, then, little princess: I will be taking your boyfriend--" Kyoka: "...My what?" atsushi: HUH? o-o; -rumble rumble- -whale noises- atsushi:....what the fuck. melville: hello, old friend. moby dick: ^o^ Fitzgerald: *carrying Atsushi to the whale* "I have only known you for a short time, princess. But please, listen to my experience: saving people does not suit you. But you already know that." Kyoka: "..." *crying* "Why...? Then...Then why show me the light?" atsushi: *trying to reach her* kyouka! run! Kyoka: "..." *shakes her head, starts to run at Fitzgerald* Fitzgerald: *entering the whale's mouth* -police sirens- officer: hands in the air! atsushi: !!!! no.... Kyoka: "..." *turns and sees police behind her* officer: you're under arrest under the suspicion of murder. atsushi: KYOUKA!!! Kyoka: "..." *crying, looks up* "...Goodbye." -elsewhere- Relan: "..." *holds his hand* shinra: ^^ *hug* iris: *hug* Relan: "Feel better?" shinra: yeah. Relan: "That's good...Anything you wanted to do today?" -elsewhere- Mori: "Have you learned your lesson?" -elsewhere- judge: court will now come to order. the case of motojiro kajii vs public welfare will begin. is the plaintiff here? Motojiro: *playing a 3DS...in handcuffs* hirotsu: *facepalm* lawyer: yes, your honor. judge: and the defendant? Hirotsu: "Here, your honor, defending Motojiro Kajii--" Motojiro: "NO, I WON'T TRADE MY SAPPHIRE FOR YOUR SANTA COAT, YOU ASS!" judge:...mr kajii! do you mind saving the game and paying attention? Motojiro: "Huh? Oh, fine." *closes, folds his hands together* "I plead not guilty. Now, let's get this show on the road!" -elsewhere- ???: *wheezing* -beep. beep. beep- ???:.....rn....mr hawthorne? Hawthorne: *inhale, wheeze* nurse: mr hawthorne? Hawthorne: "Wh-What?" nurse: i see you're awake. ^^ Hawthorne: "Wh-Where...?" nurse: you're in the hospital. you and the lady next to you were found badly injured. it's amazing you're still alive.. Hawthorne: "Lady...!!! Mi-Mitchell?" nurse: she's right next to you....she's in a bad state....we arent sure if she'll ever recover. margaret: *no reply* [margaret: i....i lo...lov-....] Hawthorne: "...Margaret..." nurse:.... nurse 2: mr hawthorne? there's a phone call for you. Hawthorne: "...Who would know I am awake?" nurse 2: i guess it was good timing? *hands him the phone* Hawthorne: "...Hello?" Fitzgerald: "Hello, old sport." Hawthorne: "!!!" Fitzgerald: "Report. What happened to you on the front lines--?" Hawthorne: "..." *laughs* nurse: ?? Hawthorne: "Foolish...She was so, so, foolish!" *crying laughing* nurse:...*backing out of the room* Hawthorne: "To sacrifice one's safety...Ha ha..." *stops laughing, now stone-cold serious* "Mitchell...She wanted to salvage her family's legacy. So why did she--" Fitzgerald: "She joined this war to pay off her family's debt and to re-establish them. That dream is now gone with the wind." Hawthorne: "..." *shaking, gripping the phone harder until the plastic around it is chipping off* "No..." nurse: !! Hawthorne: "With all due respect, Lord Fitzgerald: _you_ left her to the winds." margaret:.... *no reply* Hawthorne: "You led her down a path of no return...with your damn money. Sacrificing what she had for a pittance!" Fitzgerald: "What?!" Hawthorne: "...I will restore her honor." *hangs up* Fitzgerald: "???" nurse 3: letter for you, sir. Hawthorne: "...What is it?" -no address or name, just says 'mr hawthorne'- Hawthorne: *struggles to open it...* note: dearest mr hawthorne. i can help you save her. upon your discharge, meet me at the following address. with love, FD. -the note has what looks like a demented mouse logo- Hawthorne: "..." *sets the letter aside* "..." (" 'FD'?") -elsewhere- shiemi: look, i found margie! *holds up some wild flowers* Yukio: "...Maybe try the common name for them?" konekomaru: *writing down notes* Rin: "That one kind of looks like an ardvark." *points to the sky* takara: ..... Shima: "..." *pokes Takara's shoulder* takara: ?? Shima: "Are you still asleep?" takara:.... Shima: "...YO! DUDE! WAKE YOUR ASS UP!" takara's puppet: I AM AWAKE, MCSHITLORD! Shima: "EEK!" *falls back--and down a hill* -splash- izumo:....*soaked*.... Shima: O~O "...I will be running now..." -elsewhere- Kid: "We're home." liz: hey, welcome back! Patty: *hug/tackle* "You're back!" Death the Kid: Kid: "Unf!" stocking: ^^ Patty: *sitting on Kid's chest* "What'd you bring me?!" Kid: -_-;;;; -elsewhere- Shotaro: *looking through the phone book* nea: looking for something, kiddo? Shotaro: "Just wondering something: are there more of us? I mean, in my family and other Dokeshi." nea: what brought this up? Shotaro: "Just...wanting to do a good deed, I guess. After what some of us have gone through..." *glances at Emine...who is seated under a tree...in shadows...just staring* nea:.....what exactly are you looking for? Shotaro: "Just anyone whose name sounds like a Dokeshi name...Oh! Like this one! 'D. O. Keshi'! Actual name in the phone book!" nea:....*sweatdrop* -elsewhere- Rin: *staring at his scabbard* shiemi: did you want to toast marshmallows? Rin: "Huh?" *forcing a smile* "Y-Yeah, sure..." shiemi: have you ever roasted marshmallows before? Rin: "Not very well: they always melted too fast." shiemi: aw. Rin: "I guess I added too much heat to them..." shiemi: ^^; izumo: yukio told me that you and your cousins roasted marshmallows once before when you were kids, right? Rin: "Yeah. Dad wanted to do some 'great outdoors' thing...in our backyard." shiemi: that sounds like fun. ^^ Rin: "It was...until I shook that tree with the beehive..." shiemi: oh no! Rin: "Those suckers sting..." -elsewhere- naho: we're baaaaa...... O_O; Higan: *gyrating his hips to music* "...Oh. You're back early." naho: *covers her eyes and screams* Higan: "??? What? I'm wearing boxers and a shirt." -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: *stunned* "...I now have the urge to pour bleach into my eyes." reimi: ?? Mr. Tsubaki: "...Sorry. Just had a mental image that was most unpleasant." *sips his tea* "...How are you?" -elsewhere- Vulcan: "..." *burns a sheet of paper* -elsewhere- Bakugo: *tugging at his collar* mama bakugou: nervous, kiddo? Bakugo: "No, I'm not! It's nothing, right?!" -elsewhere- yuuji: ...... Aizawa: "...You're quieter than usual." yuuji: sorry just....not good with social situations. *looks out at all the people on the dance floor* Aizawa: "...Join the club." *sips his punch* "...Heh. A club of asocial people." yuuji: talk about irony... Aizawa: "Just take it slow. No rush trying to get used to this setting..." yuuji: ....why did you decide to become a hero? Aizawa: "...We want to see people with quirks looked upon in a better light. I think being a hero is one part of that." yuuji: hmm....i guess that makes sense....there are some parts of the world where they're still frowned on... Aizawa: "...I had hot coffee thrown at me when I was 12." yuuji: ....that's rough, dude. sachi....*tenses* she had it a lot worse. back in our hometown, sachi didnt have the best home life. she lived in a 'religious' household. and im talkin the bad kinds too. they treated her like absolute shit, all because she had a quirk. she became resentful, bitter. she wanted to make the world pay for the hell she was put through. all i wanted was for her to be happy...*tearing up* Aizawa: "..." *offers a napkin* yuuji:...*sniff* thanks... Aizawa: "No problem...What do you want now in your life?" yuuji: ...i dont really know. i never really thought about it. Aizawa: "You got time. You're still pretty young...but make it something that is meaningful and helpful." yuuji:...right. -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *collapses on the couch* kim: rough day? Jacqueline: *groan* "My eyes are buggy from staring at books." kim: aw. Jacqueline: "...It could be worse." *turns over* "...Your day go alright?" kim: *she nods* Jacqueline: *yawn* "That's good...Kim?" kim: hmm? Jacqueline: "Do you like this?" kim: what do you mean? Jacqueline: "Are you happy...with your job? With this home? ...With me?" kim: yeah. life's pretty sweet. *smiles* Jacqueline: *smiles back* "Yeah..." *reaches out to Kim* -elsewhere- izumo: so how are we doing this test then? Yukio: "You'll be divided into teams." izumo: *nods* shiemi:... konekomaru: will they be equal teams or randomly decided? Yukio: "More or less equal. Shura will announce Team #1." shura: team one will be kamiki, takara, and shiemi. Rin: *raises his hand* "Which team am I on?" shura: you'll be on suguro's team. konekomaru: then i guess that just leaves shima and i on the last team. Shima: "Woo! Team Best Team!" Rin: "..." Bon: *serious look at Rin* "...Don't screw up." Rin: D: shura: whoever brings their lanturn back first is the winner and recieves a mystery prize. may the best team win! Shima: "!!! Come on, Konekomaru! I know exactly what I want that mystery prize to be!" Rin: "Is the mystery prize food?!" shura: on your marks......*looks at yukio* Yukio: *lets off a party popper* "Go!" -as they begin running in, several moths begin flocking to them- Rin: "Ah, look at the pretty butterflies--" *they swarm his face* "...AH!" izumo: *summoning familiars* Rin: *spots Shiemi* "!!!" shiemi: eep! nii-chan we- -one of the moths rips the paper- shiemi: D8> Rin: "Shiemi! Watch out!" shiemi: EEP! *ducks from a big ass moth creature* Rin: *swings at the moth* "Back, Mothra!" moth: SCREEEE! Rin: "I said--" *flaming up* "--back!" moth: *hisss* 'child....of satan....' Rin: .///.;;;; "Wh-Where?" -elsewhere in the woods- Rin: .///.;;;; "Wh-Where?" -elsewhere in the woods- maid: *panting* l-lord amaimon...can..can we...go back now? *carrying him piggy-back stye* Amaimon: "No. I want to piggy back a bit longer." *pats her* "Onward." maid: *grumble* why did you make us come out here in the middle of the night? Amaimon: "Big brother asked me to." maid: then why doesnt _he_ monitor the brat? Amaimon: "Because something about me not getting out of the house enough. If you're tired, we can take a break." maid: yes please. Amaimon: *pulls up on her reins like a horse* "Wow, there. We can graze over yonder." maid: why did you put this on me -_-; Amaimon: "It's what a horsie needs." *gets off of her, stretches* "You can go drink at the stream." maid: *mumbling* cant believe i left my home in gehenna for this...*mumble mumble* Amaimon: *picking berries* "...Are these poisonous?" -fwoooom- maid: what was that?! Amaimon: "...Huh. So that's why brother wanted me to check..." maid: shall we investigate then? Amaimon: "..." *grabs a handful of berries* "Let's go, horsie." maid: *sighs and sprouts wings, flying over* -back over- shiemi: niiiii... Q~Q Rin: *whapping away the last moths* "...I'm sorry, Shiemi." Bon: *having arrived* "...Just make a new paper." shiemi: *sniff* Q-Q Rin: *glares* Bon: ._.;;;; "...Just being honest--" *Light flashes in Bon's eyes* Bon: "AH!" shiemi: ah! oh no, i got seperated from my team! ???: "INCOMING!" shiemi: ?!?! Shima: *waving flashlight at moths, his other hand waving his staff* "Back off, you stupid bugs!" konekomaru: *reciting the moth demon's fatal verse* Shima: "...Oh! You guys are all here--" *spots Shiemi* "!!! Shiemi! Are you okay?" *gets down on one knee* shiemi: i-im fine. my neck is a little itchy though... Bon: "...Mind if I check?" -one lantern acquirement later- Rin: .___.;;; "...I thought it'd be a tiny little paper lantern..." izumo: took you guys long enough. Bon: "Delayed on account of moths." Shima: *moves up to Izumo* "They didn't come this way, did they?" izumo: the circle would have kept them out. *staring at her prize; a pen set* Rin: "...Yukio picked out the pen set, huh? I was hoping for food..." shiemi:....*walking into the woods* Bon: "???" Shima: "Yo, Shiemi! We're over here!" shiemi:.... Rin: "Shiemi? Shiemi!" -something is squirming in the back of her neck- Rin: "!!!" izumo: gross! ???: "Found you all." shura: ?! Yukio: "What on Earth?" Amaimon: "Hello." *waves Shiemi over to him* shiemi: *walking over* Yukio: "Shiemi!" Rin: *follows Shiemi* "Hey! Get back here--" shiemi: *not responding* -in the trees- maid: oh nooooo this is bad. lord pheles is gonna kill me TT-TT Rin: *takes Shiemi's wrist* Amaimon: "Hey. No. Don't do that." behemoth: *GROWLS* Rin: "...Please tell me that was my stomach..." behemoth: *GAAAAOOOOO!* Rin: *leaps out of the way* "AH!" Amaimon: *gestures to Shiemi* "Come to me." izumo: !!! shiemi: *walks over to him* izumo: on no you dont! *summons familiars* Amaimon: "Why can't you let my bride and me go off on our honeymoon?" izumo: O_O maid: *JAWDROP* Amaimon: *picks up Shiemi, bridal style* "Do you take me, in sickness and health--" -doink- konekomaru: *tossing pebbles at him* >-< *The pebble hits the top of his hair and--* *POOF* Amaimon: "..." *pat pat* Shima: "..." *snort* "Broccoli head!" Amaimon: "..." *vanishes with Shiemi* izumo: dont let him get away! maid:...WHY?! WHY WOULD YOU THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA?! ???: "Who said I was going away?" maid: *SCREAM* l-l-lord pheles!? w-when did you- Mephisto: "I was finished handling the sundaes and thought I'd take in some entertainment." maid: b-but he's going against orders! he wasnt supposed to attack! Mephisto: "Oh, don't worry. Just a small hiccup to this exam." maid: hmm... -back on the ground- Shima: "Where did he--?" *KICKED* Shima: *sent flying* konekomaru: SHIMA!! Amaimon: *stares at Konekomaru* "I had my hair just the way I wanted it..." konekomaru: um..*sweating* Amaimon: *taps the tip of his finger on Konekomaru's forearm* konekomaru: *screams of pain* Bon: "!!! Konekomaru!" izumo: what the hell did you do to him?! Amaimon: "I broke his arm. My hair is very important." izumo: !!! Amaimon: *grabs Bon by the throat, lifting him up, while he's holding Shiemi in his arm* Bon: "URK!" shiemi: ..... Bon: "..." *cough* "If you're blaming anyone...don't blame me! Blame Rin Okumura!" Rin: ._. "...Wha?" Bon: "Always running off. Always being a mystery. This isn't just our fight, Okumura--it's yours too! And you're just going to sit on the sidelines?!" Rin: "..." *takes his scabbard* shura: !!! rin dont do it! Yukio: "Stop!" Rin: "...I'm sorry. But I have to use these flames for kindness..." *removes the sword* shura: oh my god. *A bright light shines* Bon: "?!!!" Amaimon: "..." *puts on sunglasses* konekomaru: t...thats.... maid: *JAWDROP* oh fuuuck. Rin: *covered in blue flames* "I am your opponent!" Amaimon: "...Ha ha ha!" *hands Shiemi to Izumo* "Hold my bride." izumo: !!! *squished* oof! h...heavy...... Amaimon: *leaps at Rin* "Whee!!!" Rin: *blocks* Bon: *staring, shaking* shura: come on, we need to get shiemi to safety. Bon: "Demon sword...Rin...What the hell is going on?!" Rin: *summons flame along his sword, sending it in a wave at Amaimon* Amaimon: "Shiny!" maid: sir, is this REALLY a good idea?! Amaimon: *leaps behind Rin--tugging on his tail* Rin: *howl* Mephisto: "How else will the boy learn?" maid: oh this is a bad idea, if the order finds out about this- Mephisto: "I'm not telling them." *stares at Maid* maid: i guess all we can do is hope it works for the best.... Mephisto: *shrug* "What's the worst that can happen?" *holding a bowl of ice cream* -back on the ground- Yukio: "Shiemi!" *trying to examine the wound on her neck* "We have to get this poison out..." izumo: *getting the medkit* Yukio: *examining Shiemi's eyes* "Chuchi sting. We'll need the holy water, too..." Rin: *screaming as he slices at Amaimon, cutting his arm* Amaimon: *howl, as he continues swiping* Mephisto: "?!" maid: shouldnt we be doing something?! Rin: *burning trees, as he flings Amaimon across the sky* Mephisto: "..." Amaimon: *bounces back, coming at Rin* Rin: "AAAAH!" Amaimon: "GRRRR!" Mephisto: "...ENOUGH!" *catches both of their fists* maid: eep! >.< shiemi: ...nn.....nhuh? Yukio: "??? Shiemi?" Mephisto: *smiles* "There. Dawn has come. Time to go home." shiemi:..yu...ki? Yukio: "I-I'm here...Are you back with us?" shiemi: i...i think so...my neck itches... Yukio: "Easy...We all need to evacuate..." shiemi: whats...going on? *BOOM* Yukio: *shields her* shiemi: ah! izumo: ?! konekomaru: bon...thats- Bon: "...Blue flames..." Amaimon: "Brother! You told me if I followed your instructions, you'd give me infinite play!" Rin: *growling--being held back by Mephisto, who merely holds the palm of his hand at Rin's forehead* maid: im so confused. Mephisto: "I also told you not to damage the school..." *holds up his cell phone--showing a photograph that a tree from the forest flew all the way from and smashed into Mephisto's True Cross office* Amaimon: .____. Mephisto: "And you fail to recognize, Brother: this child has more power that exceeds your abilities--" ???: you also damaged the shower, that i was using~ ^^# Mephisto: "..." *turns around* o\\\o Rin: *confused grunt* Amaimon: "...Hello." felisia: ^^# *heavenly bitch slaps rin and amaimon into the ground* Rin: O______O *face-plant into the ground* Amaimon: "Aaaaaaaah--" *butt-crash into the ground* "...I'm stuck." Mephisto: "...Oh my." shiemi: !!! Yukio: D: "Rin!" felisia: *cracks knuckles* well, my frustration has been vented. ^^ Mephisto: "...You are so amazing when you're furious." izumo: ....ugh. i can almost smell the second-hand embarrassment. Mephisto: "Now, where was I? Oh, yes! I think Rin should come along with me--" Rin: *growling* -chop to rin's head- felisia: down you. Rin: *collapses, flames dissipating* Shima: .\\\\. "So cool..." izumo: shima, pay attention! *chop* Shima: "I was! She knocked out Rin!" shiemi: ..... shura: oooooi. you alright there? Yukio: "Shiemi...Do you need to sit?" shiemi: *staring at rin* Rin: X____X shura: ok, i didnt want to have to do this.....*licks finger and sticks it in rin's ear* Rin: >_____O "WHAT THE HELL?!!!" shura: oh good, you're still alive. Rin: "Yeah, I am--and you didn't have to--" *looks around...sees burned forest...and his classmate* Yukio: "..." konekomaru: ... izumo:.... Rin: "...Oh man..." *tries to look at his classmates* "Guys, I...I just--" shiemi: do you really think this is funny?! *tearing up* Rin: "!!! I-I wasn't making any joke! Shiemi! Are you okay--" izumo: ...??!! *notices something in the trees* ???: "Son of Satan! Prepare to meet your executioner!" Shinra: "What the hell?!" shura: ahh hell. Triple A: "The son of Satan will be killed by Arthur A. Ang--" shura + felisia: *swords out* Triple A: "...Hell. Hmph. Stand aside. I am executing the Son of Satan--" shura: like hell you are, baldy. Triple A: "Then I will have to get by you--" *dashes at Shura* -clang- felisia: how about no. Triple A: "?!!! You want to fight as well? Fine!" *aims at her* shura: ok kids, get back to the campsite and pack up. we'll handle this one. Yukio: "...Come on, Shiemi." Rin: "...Shiemi. I...I..." Bon: *glaring* shiemi: .... *looking away* Rin: *holding out a hand* "W-Wait! Just..." Bon: *muttering* "Goddamn son of Satan..." Rin: "..." *just stares at the ground* felisia:...*pitiful glance at rin* Rin: *avoids eye contact* *sniff* Triple A: "Have at thee, fallen angel--" -morning- Akitaru: "...Blue...flames." *pauses* *goes back to reading his newspaper* "Out of my jurisdiction. Not getting involved in that again." shinra: sir? Akitaru: "Long time ago. Don't want to get into it." *tries to keep reading the newspaper...then puts it down* "I've seen some shit, man." shinra: i could only imagine... Akitaru: "If you ever see the blue flames...you're gonna need more than just someone to purify the soul--you're going to need an exorcist." shinra: *opens mouth to say something, but decides not to* Akitaru: "Something you wanted to ask me, son?" shinra: nothing, just thinking. Akitaru: "..." *pats his shoulder* "Okay." shinra: ....*hug* Akitaru: "!!! ..." *hug* "You're okay." shinra:......thanks dad... Akitaru: "..." *smiles* "Sure, son." -elsewhere- -later, after the trial was concluded, and rin asked shura to train him- madoka: *knocking* excuse me? is rin home? Fujimoto: *smiles* "Yes, he is." *stands aside* "Please, come in." madoka: *she nods and leaves her shoes at the door* Fujimoto: "It'll be good for him. I'm sure he wants to see his girlfriend." madoka: *she smile and knocks on his door* Rin: *inside* "Go away." madoka: rin? it's me, madoka. may i please come in? Rin: "..." *whimpering sound* madoka:...*opens the door just a creak* rin? *noticing kuro by her feet* Kuro: *meow* Rin: *hiding under bedcover* madoka: rin...im not mad at you. i dont have any reason to be. Rin: "...I'm a monster." madoka:....*sits on his bed* rin....*light hug* Rin: *shakes* "St-Stop..." madoka:...... Rin: "They hate me." madoka:....*holds his hand* i dont hate you. Rin: "...Why not? You know what I am." madoka: *she smiles* because i know that you're still a good person, despite what you are. Rin: *shakes his head* "...Did you know?" madoka: ...yukio told me. Rin: *squirms, pouts* "I wasn't ready to tell you...Were you mad I didn't?" madoka: well...its a scary thing to live with... if it were me, i'd be scared too. Rin: "...When I first had the blue flames...Dad..." madoka: *holds him* Rin: *sniff* "I-I didn't want people to know, just for this reason...They're going to want to kill me." madoka: its ok. we're still here for you, rin. me, your brother, your dad, kyouko... Rin: "...Promise?" madoka: *kisses his forehead* always. Rin: *sniff* *holds onto her* madoka: *hums a bit* Rin: *closes his eyes...* "Hmmm..." -elsewhere- Belkia: *blindfolded, holding a knife* "Now just stand still, and I will make sure the knife does not hurt you." naho: are you sure this is a good idea? o-o; Belkia: "Of course--after all, it's my idea! Now, let's get ready...Get set..." -elsewhere- Rino: "Your kid made a mess of your office." Hibana: "...How big a mess?" hanako: *crying* -some pens fell over- Hibana: "Oh, sweetie." *picks her up* "It's okay." -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *holding her hands together* "Please? Just turn into your tanuki form for a second." kim: for five dollars, yes. Jacqueline: "..." *sigh* "Fine." *hands her a five* kim: thank you~ *poof* Jacqueline: *smirks, as she holds up a tanuki-size doll outfit* -elsewhere- Kunikida: "..." kirako: ...... Kunikida: "Still no idea where they are." yosano: where do you think they might be? Kunikida: "Dazai had said he was meeting with a friend. And he dragged Atsushi along." -someone has arrived- yosano: ?! kirako: mr dazai! Dazai: *his arm is in a sling* "Yo." *tries to wave--then cringes* Q~Q yosano: *smirks* need some help, dazai~? Dazai: O_____O;;;; "I think I'll run now--" Kunikida: "Hold him!" -LE TACKLE- -too graphic- yosano: *cracks knuckles* now that wasnt too difficult, was it dazai? Dazai: Q~Q "...You're too rough." yosano: daawwww, does baby want a wowwypop? Dazai: "...Lemon, pwease." yosano:... -throws a lemon lollipop at his face- Dazai: *Lemon lollipop sticks to his face* "...Thanks?" Kunikida: "Kirako, get Dazai's report." kirako: right. -elsewhere- lana: did you see that guy with the raccoon here? Bellhop: "...What?" lana: yeah. one of the guys in the executive suite had a raccoon with him. Bellhop: "...Huh. Weird. Well, not the weirdest thing to happen here--" ???: *animal screech* lana: gah! *A raccoon leaps at Lana* lana: *SHRIEK* ???: "Karl! Stop that!" lana: eh? *Picks up Karl* ???: "My apologies. He got off his leash." lana: i-its..fine. ^^; Karl: *growling at Lana, sticking out its paws again* ???: "Karl, no!" *bonks his head with a rolled up newspaper* "Bad Karl! Bad!" Karl: Q_Q -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *chuckles, looking at the photos* kim: -_-; Jacqueline: "Five dollars for some juicy blackmail." *shows off pic--of Tanuki Kim in an adorable dress and bow* "Cute!" kim: you're evil. Jacqueline: *smiles* "You taught me well." *pats Kim's cheek* -elsewhere- Wes: "Want a drink?" liz: sure. Wes: "Wine? Beer? Water? Juice?" -elsewhere- Yumi: "Where is everyone?" lord death: kirika's in the den, studying. Yumi: "Kid, Liz, Patty?" -elsewhere- Konro: "Meal's about ready." kabuki: *smiles* Tsukiyo: *stomach growling* "Looking forward to your good cooking, Captain!" -elsewhere- Kishiri: "Here you go." *hands her an ice cream cone* vivian: thank you~ Kishiri: *smiles* "Feel like forever since I saw you. You're looking good." -elsewhere- Gopher: *reading* "I think I know the answer to Question 5!" -the next day- Rin: *deep inhale* "Okay...I'm ready." shura: ok. *hands him a wooden sword and some candles* Rin: "...The heck is with the candles?" *sniff sniff* "They scented?" shura: its to help you control your flames. if you can light the two at the ends at the same time without lighting the one in the middle, you'll be able to use the kurikura again. sound easy enough? Rin: "...I burned down an entire forest." shura: thats why we're training. to help you control it. Rin: "..." *sighs* "Fine..." *sits down in front of the candles...points at them...and bites his lip* "HMMMMMMMPH!" -FWOOOM- shura: .... *licks fingers and puts out a small flame on her hair* -tsss- Rin: ._.; "Oh, snap. Sorry!" -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: "??? What's all this?" -a few days later- Q: *humming* ???: *aimless* "Itchy..." Q: ~? hey misteeeer~ im bored, humor me! ^w^ ???: "Humor...a child...I'll make you a balloon animal...But I have no balloons..." *tentacles crawl out from under his sleeves* Q: *squicked face* ew. what is this, motojiro's DVDs? ???: "??? I just...think of these things." Q: how lame. *puts on barbed wire fisticuffs and punches, causing his hand to bleed* -a handprint appears- Q: that mark appears on anyone who hurts me. teeheehee~ i wonder how it will look when you break down~? ???: "...I don't know...what you mean by 'break down...'" *His arm twists a bit, a gurgling sound coming from his throat* Q:............................. *a puddle has formed under him* -several civilians scream in terror- -elsewhere- Yohei: "And this is your thumb..." *taps Toru's hand* toru: ah! Yohei: "And here is your little pinky..." *taps his pinky* -elsewhere- Stein: "How is my patient?" valentine: they seem to be doing much better this morning. Stein: "Let me meet with them..." -elsewhere- Steinbeck: "Howdy!" louisa: eep! g-good morning! Steinbeck: "What're you up to?" *picks up a file* louisa: lord francis asked me to get a plan together. h-ho-how is your mission? Steinbeck: "All tied up!" louisa: goodness, that busy, huh? Steinbeck: "No, I just meant I tied up the target in vines and keep him locked in a room." louisa: o-oh... right... ._.; Steinbeck: "Is the boss in?" louisa: i believe he- Fitzgerald: "EMERGENCY!" louisa: EEP! Steinbeck: "... Fitzgerald: "Give me the EMERGENCY plan!" louisa: b-but lord francis, i-if we use that, it would lead to collateral damage! Fitzgerald: "It is direct, is it not?!" louisa: y-yes, b-but if we go forward with it, the city council is certain to take notice. Fitzgerald: "Let them!" *spots a snow globe with a piano inside* louisa: oh, we'll be in so much trouble Q-Q Fitzgerald: "Every single thing here belong to me! Down to the blinds on the curtains! And that includes you and all my subordinates!" *brings down the snowglobe* louisa: lord francis.... Fitzgerald: *stops at that phrase...calmly sets down the snowglobe* "So, from now on, I will not let my subordinates die." -elsewhere- Shouto: "...This is embarrassing." eijiro: what is, man? Shouto: "Getting coffee with someone." eijiro: oh cool, who is it? ???: ok, i got the coffees. hmm? oh, is this a friend of yours, shouto? Shouto: -_-; "Fuyumi, this is my classmate, Eijiro Kirishima. Eijiro, this is my sister." fuyumi: hey there, nice to meet you. ^^ eijiro: oh, hey! i heard you were a teacher, is that right? fuyumi: mmhmm. Shouto: "..." *cough* "We were here to get coffee." eijiro: neat. -elsewhere- Dazai: "..." yosano: hey, we'll find him, alright? Dazai: "I hope so--for his sake, and whoever gets in his way." yosano: ...*small chuckle* he's only younger than you by a few years, but you've kinda become like a dad to him. Dazai: *shrug* "Someone has to keep an eye on him. What, you'd rather Old Man Kunikida do it?" yosano:....do you want a honest answer or no? Dazai: "I'd go for honest--he may be eavesdropping, so it'll irritate him." yosano:....*casually sips coffee* *shrugs* *An annoyed grunt is heard behind a door* Dazai: *smirks* -elsewhere- Belkia: *sitting in the corner* tsubaki: have you learned your lesson now? Belkia: "I should use rubber-tipped fake knifes?" tsubaki: *nods* Yukio: "How goes training?" shura: it's a work in progress. Yukio: "...How much did he burn?" shura:......well good news is the buildings are still standing. Yukio: *sigh* "Rin? Maybe I can try helping--" Rin: Q~Q "It's all on fire..." kyouko: *extinguishing it* phew... Yukio: "...Rin, come on. You have to get this under control...Shura, any alternative lesson?" -elsewhere- Arthur: "I CAN'T KEEP WAITING!" -elsewhere- Mori: *putting an x across faces of Guild and Detective members in photos* rain:....Q still isnt back yet... Mori: "Then call him." rain: alright. *dials phone* -somewhere- -pon pon pon plays as a ringtone- Q:...hnnn? Steinbeck: "Howdy!" Q: nhh? rain: !!!! w-who are- Steinbeck: "Someone who's got your boy." rain: i dont know who you are...but if you do ANYTHING to hurt him- Steinbeck: "Please. You won't do anything--because you won't be able to." rain: what do you mean? *tense* Q: *screaming* it hurts! it hurts! i'll kill you! i'll kill everyone! Steinbeck: "Raze the earth...eat the grapes of wrath..." -elsewhere- atsushi:....what do you want, you pompous sack of jerknuts? Fitzgerald: *smiles* "What would you do for your friends?" atsushi: what kind of question is that? Fitzgerald: "The only question, because everyone has a price--something to sacrifice to earn something back in exchange. And as payment to you, for what I need from you, I'm going to tell you why I took you. We are seeking...a book." atsushi:....thats it? cant you just go to the library or something? Fitzgerald: "It's the only book of its kind. Tell me, how many books do you know that can withstand fire and almost all forms of destruction?" atsushi: um...magic books? maybe? Fitzgerald: "_One_ book. And that's why I need you, tiger beetle." atsushi: im not a beetle. what the hell is with that weird nickname? Fitzgerald: "You are valuable--and I can't afford to lose such an expensive acquisition. After all, to get this book, I am about to take drastic actions." atsushi: something about the threatening vagueness of that statement has me worried. Fitzgerald: "Needle. Haystack. To find a book that can survive fire, there is only one logical conclusion: burn down the entire city." atsushi:....are you absolutly insane? Fitzgerald: "Of course not! If I was, I would be using my vast wealth for therapy." atsushi: you know if you pull a stunt like that, the whole city will be after you! Fitzgerald: "Who would be left to stop me?" atsushi: ....*notices something*.....ooooh frick. -its a doll. a very creepy doll- Fitzgerald: "Recognize this little fellow?" atsushi: that's- Fitzgerald: This doll, with its head ripped off, will curse about 20 percent of the city's residents." atsushi: !!! you cant! -meanwhile- rain: *still on the phone* you're insane!! Steinbeck: "Maybe. But I'm just following orders." Q: *whimpering* i-i never asked to be born like this... w-why do bad things happen to me?! *crying* rain: ....kyusaku... Mori: "..." Steinbeck: "Child, you should be happy! You're going to be part of something bigger than yourself." Steinbeck: *serious face* "That's what I'm supposed to tell you." *sits down* Q: *hic* i wanna go home. i wa-i want my mother! Steinbeck: "There are those with power. There are those without power. Your lot in life was determined before your birth. You have this power? Then you have no choice but to die with it, too." Steinbeck: *smiles* "Your mother isn't here. God is here. And He doesn't love you." Q: *tears streaming as he screams* AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! I'LL CURSE EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU! I HATE THIS! rain:...*heart cracking* -elsewhere- chie: mono, where did you get that bruise? mono: what bruise? -several marks appear on several people, including eternal feather, shouto, and kunikida- kyouko: ...yukio, what happened? Yukio: "???" *looks in the mirror* "Where did this...?" -on the moby dick- Doll: "Ha ha ha ha..." Fitzgerald: "Activated. Now all that is left is to damage this doll--" atsushi: how about this, the agency will help you look for whatever you're looking for, ok? that way you find your book, and no one gets hurt. its a win win! Fitzgerald: "...An interesting proposal. Very well. I'll accept--" atsushi: great! so where do we- Fitzgerald: "--with anyone who survives this." -riiiip- atsushi: ooooooh fudge. -on the streets- sancha: see anything? Tsukauchi: *staring at one person walking down the street* "...Is that a zombie?" sancha: maybe hopped up on something. try pulling ov- -the person is screaming and lands on the car- sancha: HOLY FRISKIES! -in the office- kirako: ..... yosano: feel anything yet, kunikida? -a ghostly woman appears in the corner- ghost: do...ppo.... -on the moby dick- atsushi: this is bad. think man, think! ???: "You? What can you do?" atsushi: ??! ???: "You would bring only misfortune. You dragged them into this--those young girls." atsushi: i was...just trying to help them! ???: "And that's why...You thought you were their hero." atsushi: just stop it! *punches the door* agh! dammit! ??? (a different voice): "...Who are you talking to?" atsushi: huh? *peeks* oh! you're that redheaded girl. Montgomery: "Yes, me. Serves you right..." atsushi: are you still mad at me im guessing? *notices the doll* that doll! Montgomery: "Yeah. It's trash, so it goes in the dumpster." atsushi: please, you have to let me out. if we dont do something, the whole city- Montgomery: "By 'everyone,' you mean your 'champions'? So, not me, huh? Sorry. I want to see you survive this, alone. Then you'll know how I feel." atsushi: listen, i understand how you feel. i was all alone before too- Montgomery: "Don't patronize me! How can you understand?! The Guild is all I have left! Have you been stuck with the same leftovers for a whole year?! Been hit with a hot iron poker?! Washed dishes all day with frostbitten and bleeding hands?!" *pulls up her sleeve* atsushi: !!!! Montgomery: "This is my mark!" *the burn of a poker* atsushi:....the first time is always the most painful. but the third time is the worst... *pulls up his shirt to reveal a similar mark* Montgomery: "!!! Wh-What...?" atsushi: i lived in a pretty bad orphanage too. so i know what its like to be alone and afraid. but that doesnt mean we can let it control us as adults. when i joined the agency, i finally realized that. i guess im pretty dumb for not realizing it sooner... Montgomery: "..." *shaking* "...'Too late'..." atsushi: ?? -they are now in 'anne's room'- Montgomery: "It was too late for you...It was too late for me...It's too late for them. Can't stop it." atsushi: ...no. there is a way. dazai's ability. if he touches the doll, it will deactivate the curse. he did it one before when it affected me... Montgomery: "... *glares* "How is that supposed to work? We're in the air! You don't know where he is!" atsushi: well, i read something once; 'not once have i regretted the things i did, i only regret the things i didnt do'. it was from a book in the library orphanage, i dont remember the authors name, but it stuck with me. Montgomery: "..." Anne: *roar* atsushi: !! Anne: *hands bag to Atsushi* atsushi: um...what is this? Montgomery: "A parachute." atsushi: so then, you're helping me? Montgomery: "..." *points to a door* "This door bridges you to the walls of Moby-Dick to escape." atsushi: thank you so much....what made you change your mind? Montgomery: "...Solitude is my life." atsushi: .... Montgomery: "Maybe that is the problem. Maybe if the Detective Agency and the Mafia had collaborated..." atsushi: *light bulb* thats it! *hugs her* you're a genius....um...did i ever get your name? Montgomery: o\\\\o "G-Get off of me! You have to get out of here!" atsushi: ah! right...are you sure you'll be ok in here? Montgomery: "...No. But I'll survive. And you better--because I'm going to need someone to get me out of here." atsushi: right. i'll be sure to come back for you. and if things dont work at the guild. you can always join the agency! Montgomery: "...I'll be waiting." *push* "Now get going!" atsushi: OKAAAAAYYYYYY!!!! -inside- guild member: the weretiger has escaped! twain: *smirks* alright, my time to shine~ -outside- atsushi: *falling* (thinking: i just have to get to dazai at the new base, then i can-) *notices something* eh? that's....the port mafia! -not just the mafia, but also the DWMA, pro heroes, true cross, the brigades, the whole 9 yards- -BANG- atsushi: ?! what the- -inside the bullet is a little boy?- boy: gotcha! -the bullet continues downward- atsushi: *gulps and activates the parachute* Chuuya: "Guard the traffic network!" gin: *nods* -elsewhere- shura: alright, lets keep civilian casualties to a minimum! all those unaffected get indoors! adrian: understood! shura: gilda, get into the shop and treat any wounded. gilda: *nods and goes to do that* Rin: " 'Casualties'?" shura: just get back inside and focus on your training, leave this one to the adults, m'kay? seiya: i dont know if you noticed, but things have gone kind of nuts out here. momo sakura: *sniffs* *hugs shiro* uncle shiro, im scared. Fujimoto: *pat pat* "I know, kid. Just stay behind me..." kyouko: ... *checks the shed* yukio? feeling better yet? Yukio: "Let me go!" *rocking in the chair* kyouko:...guess not... *closes the door* -elsewhere- -a tiger lands on the ground- -nice landing- atsushi: oholycrap i cant believe i didnt just die! oh shit! right! doll! to dazai! gotta hurryyyyy! *runs* -bullets shoot down from above- atsushi: FUUUUCK! *running. the whole city is in chaos. he can see a baby about to fall into traffic* !!!! *grabs the stroller and makes a run for it as bullets tail behind* oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck! -he keeps running until...- -squish~- rain: !!!! o///o atsushi: .__________.;;; IM SO SORRY MA'AM HERE, PLEASE WATCH THIS KID I GOTTA GO THANK YOU! *runs* rain: ah...what just.... -in the moby dick- twain: oh, dodging and hiding, eh tiger boy? classy. but i'll come out soon enough... -on the ground- atsushi: *noticing easter eggs as he runs* -a wave of ice shoots out, with him barely dodging it- atsushi: HOLY CRAP! fuyumi: shouto, calm down! he isnt here! Shouto: "GET AWAY FROM ME!" *summons a sharp icicle in his hand* "Take another step, and I'll kill you!" eijiro: dude, chill! and i dont mean that as a pun! fuyumi: shouto... atsushi: *still running* -BOOM- atsushi: *sent flying* oh fu- *crash* nnng...ow... cant stop now...got to....keep going... *trying to reach the doll* *BOOM* *BANG BANG BANG* atsushi: come on...come ooon... *someone approaches* ???: "VICTORY!!!" atsushi: ...!!! dazai! -atsushi cries tears of joy- atsushi: oh thank fu-huuuck... TTuTT Dazai: "??? What's wrong? You hurt?" atsushi: they're shooting at us from above! Dazai: "..." *looks up* "Huh. I forgot to set off the smoke screen..." *pulls out a giant remote control, pulls the antenna up* -fwoooooom- twain: D8.....ok. i'll give them that one. -on the surface- Dazai: "Come on...Lean on me...Subway station is right here...Watch the step..." atsushi: um, the doll? if you would please?! Dazai: "Oh, super! With this we will save everyone!" atsushi: yeah, could you please do that like, um, NOW?! Dazai: "...Well, here's the thing: it's not going to stop the major problem." *picks up the doll head--which stops laughing* atsushi: ?? Dazai: "As long as the Guild has Q, they can re-use his abilities in new ways. Unless I'm right there with him to neutralize him, I can't do anything." atsushi: but you dissolved the doll before! Dazai: "And what do I do then? Dissolve the doll again? And again? And again?" atsushi:....when i was on the ship, the red haired girl gave me an idea. now, this is going to sound insane but... they are one of the most powerful organizations of gifteds in the whole city. Dazai: "...'They'?" atsushi: ....the port mafia. Dazai: "...You hit your head pretty hard." atsushi: i'm serious! true, they might not be the most trustworthy, but they're the best we can work with right now who are aware of this whole guild thing. besides, Q is one of their members, isnt he? Dazai: "...Have fun talking to the boss." -elsewhere- Shotaro: "Oh no..." mono: *passes out* mana: i think she's ok now... mono: nnnh... huh? Shotaro: *frowning* chie: feeling better? mono:.....*shaking* -elsewhere- Rin: "Bro?" Yukio: "..." kyouko: ....*pats his back* you ok? Yukio: "...I lost control..." kyouko: i dont know what that was...but maybe you should take a break today. maybe some rest will help you out. Yukio: "...I...don't feel like resting--" Rin: *shoves a copy of manga into his hands* "You haven't read this yet! Get on it!" kyouko:...*small smile* (thinking: im glad he's in good spirits again....) {kyouko: YOU CANT JUST KEEP BEATING YOURSELF UP OVER THIS! if you want them to forgive you, then prove it to them! prove you're a good person!} Yukio: "..." *opens it* "...The art isn't as good this week..." -elsewhere, somewhere in true cross district- guard: *whistling* hmm? hey, this is a restricted area. you arent allowed to be in here! *A figure in a gas mask is seen* guard: freeze! Gas Mask: *holds up a hand...and some black drips from it* guard: !!!! Gas Mask: *the drips accumulating into a blob, which they hurl at the Guard* -early the next morning- Rin: *nod nod* "Yeah! I am! See?" *holds up one paper* "This one is only scorched along the edges!" shura: *nods* Rin: "Hee hee hee...I did good!" -phone rings- shura: hold up...yo.....what?...ok. oi kiddo, we got a mission. Rin: "???! A mission! Sweet!" *takes his sword* -snatch- Rin: "HEY!" shura: uh-uh-uh, until you can control your flames, and i mean it, this baby's stayin with me. Rin: *pout* "What if there's an emergency?" -and so- Yukio: "I am Yukio Okumura, Middle First Class Exorcist." exorcist: i've heard about you. mr todo, mind explaining the situation? i'll tend to the wounded... Yukio: "We heard reports of a theft: the Left Eye." shura: ..... woman: please, they took my son! i dont know what i'll do if something happened to him, he's all i have left! Rin: "Don't worry, ma'am! With Rin Okumura, Exorcist No Class--" Yukio: -_-; Rin: "--on the job, I'll save him--" Yukio: *pushes Rin back* "We cannot ensure the safety of your son." woman: !!! Rin: "Dude! That's not very encouraging--" Yukio: *drags Rin back by the back of his shirt* woman: *crying* exorcist: we'll do what we can ma'am... Rin: "What the hell do?!" Yukio: "You cannot make promises for things you cannot predict!" Rin: "So I'm supposed to make her feel badly?! And I will save that kid! Just get out of my way and--" *takes a step forward* shura: *grabs him by the collar* come on kiddo. we got stuff to do. Rin: "Let go of me, Boob-zilla!" exorcist: mr okumura, we got the hazmat suits out. Yukio: "Thank you." *accepts his, starts to put it on* todo: please, allow me to come with you. im partially responsible for this, after all. Yukio: "Okay. Get on a suit, and you can guide me to the suspect." -inside- todo: so, i heard you're quite the prodigy, mr okumura. im certain your father is proud of you. Yukio: "...Thank you. I hope he is." -the bird is still chirping- Rin: "So, what's the bird for, Mr. Todo?" Yukio: "???!!!" Rin: "Yo!" *stares at Mr. Todo* "...Do I know you?" todo: im sabutora todo, from the order's deep keep, where i serve as the warden. Yukio: "Why are you here?! Where is Shura?!" Rin: "I ditched her. Kind of surprised how easy that was..." todo: ah! there he is! Gasmask: *holding the boy* Yukio: *aims--fires* Gasmask: *dissolves, dropping the boy onto the floor* Yukio: "?!! Todo, cover me--" boy: *wheezing* Rin: "I got this!" *leaps over to the boy* -the eye of the impure king lays on the ground- Yukio: "Rin! What did I tell you--" *spots the eye, grabs it* -squeeeek- Rin: ._. Yukio: "...It's a fake!" ???: oops. seems my cover's blown. -todo rips his hazmat suit off.....revealing goat like horns- Rin: "What the hell?!" todo: *smirks* boy: *coughs* Yukio: "Rin! Get the boy out of here!" *fires at Todo* Rin: "Right!" *picks up the boy, starts running* -todo sends smog at rin- Rin: "Ha! A little smoke ain't got nothing on my flames!" *flame on* boy: *SCREAMS* Yukio: "Rin, stop!" Rin: "!!!" Yukio: "He's infected! The miasma off Todo was enacted by your flames!" Rin: "Oh no--" todo: *tackles yukio* heh, y'know, you remind me of myself when i was younger. my family planned my whole life for me as soon as i was born. i wanted to be just like my father and brother, and what do i have to show for it? nothing, thats what. i decided then that i should be honest with myself, and the truth is; i hate all of it. my father, my brother, this whole organization. hell, this whole world! Yukio: *trying to push him off* "N-No! I am not like that..." Rin: *holding the kid, looking at the spreading infection* "...Kid...Come on, hold on..." todo: every heart has its darkness...i wonder..what is it you're so afraid of... *checks watch* oops. time for me to go, glad i had this time to chat, yukio. *vanishes* boy: *breathing hard* Yukio: *staring at where Todo was* "..." Rin: "Yo, bro! The infection!" -they were able to treat the child and bring him back out- boy: mommy? woman: satoru!! *hugs him* oh thank god... Yukio: *smiles...his arm is bloody* "He'll need additional medical treatment. Please follow the Exorcists to our EMT unit." woman: r-right! shura: there you are!...jeez, always playing the hero. what do you think this is brat, a shonen manga? Rin: *crosses his arms* "Just trying to help! So, you find what it was you were looking for?" *smirk* shura:..*rolls eyes* well, bad news, seems the real eye is long gone. i have my familiar tracking it now. Rin: "...What's the good news?" shura: well- Mephisto: "Ice cream!" shura: *facepalms* sir? the right eye? Mephisto: "Fine. I--" Rin: "Sweet! Cherry!" Yukio: *slaps the back of his head* Rin: -3- Mephisto: "The Right Eye of the Impure King was stolen. Now it is your task to retrieve it." shura: it was the left eye that was stolen. the _right_ eye almost got stolen, but the attempt was thwarted. i swear, you're going senile. Mephisto: -w-;;; "_I was busy_. Maybe if someone--or someones--hadn't lost one of them..." Yukio: ._. Rin: *nom nom nom* *mouth full* "Huh?" shura: *facepalm* unbelievable. come on, we got training to do. *drags rin off* Rin: *still having his ice cream, as he's pulled away* Mephisto: "Well, time to get back to work." *pulls out a 3DS* -elsewhere, in a park- cat: *walking along a brick wall* Fukuzawa: *holds up small fish* cat: 83 *nom* ^w^ atsushi: .... Fukuzawa: "..." *turns, spots Atsushi* "???" -elsewhere- rain: -_- .... at least that child was returned to its mother. Mori: "The baby probably took to you because of your large breasts." rain: *jawdrop* (thinking: HE ISNT EVEN BEING SUBTLE) THEY ARENT THAT BIG YOU DAMN BASTARD! 737 you arent even into that... Mori: *grabs her breasts* "Feel big." ???: *aHEM* if you're done harassing the poor girl... Mori: "??? Kouyou? Pleased to see you return." *lets go of Rain* kouyou: likewise. *hands him a letter* as it would have it, the leader of the agency has scheduled a meeting with you. rain: TT~TT why is it always me? curse this ability of mine... Mori: "..." *smirks* "So, it's come to this...A reunion." Chuuya: *walks in, notices Rain* "???" kouyou: indeed. shall i get a team to go with you? *smiles at chuuya* Chuuya: "!!! Kouyou? When did you--" Mori: "Please do. Rain, gather the ones I want." rain: understood. -that afternoon, at a park- Mori: *waves at Dazai* Dazai: "..." rain: O-O; >->;;; Mori: "Four years, yes? Do you have my coat--" Dazai: "Burned it." *spots Rain* "!!!" *winks* rain: *half glare* Chuuya: *furious face at Dazai* rain: ah, seems he's here! Fukuzawa: *enters* *The two men approach* mafioso: wa wa waaaa kouyou: again? seriously? Mafioso: "Frank, I swear to God..." Kunikida: *stare* Tachihara: *stare* -the tension is so thick, you could cut it with a knife- Tachihara: *takes Gin's knife* gin: -_-; hirotsu: *observing* Mori: "The powers-that-be would not be happy that two such powerful organizations meet--" Fukuzawa: "I'll get to the point: one of our newest members proposed our organizations form an alliance." Mori: "...Interesting." Fukuzawa: "I am against it: we should not work with an illegal organization." atsushi: ..... Fukuzawa: "However, given how often and brutally your organization has injured this newest recruit--" Tachihara: "HA!" gin: *elbows him* Tachihara: "Ouch!" rain: *observing* Fukuzawa: "--it is shocking how poignant and eloquent he was in making this proposal." Mori: "Ha! Quite interesting indeed." higuchi: ... Fukuzawa: "Even if we cannot form an alliance, I want a detente." Mori: "..." Tachihara: *whispers* "What's a 'dee-ten-tee'?" hirotsu: i believe he refers to a temporary truce. Fukuzawa: "I have many reasons to pursue this plan. First--" Mori: "Have you ever read Thomas Schelling? Or Nash? Or Kissinger?" Dazai: "...War strategists. Schelling looks at game theory--" Tachihara: "Like 'Battleship'?" higuchi: ....were you dropped as a child? Tachihara: "Why do you think I have this bandage on my nose?" Dazai: "...You just want to shove more war theory into my head. _Both_ of you..." Fukuzawa: "I read 'The Art of War.'" frank: yeah, thats where the guy puts all the animals on a boat and beats the shit out of 'em. and thats why whenever any group of animals is together its called a zoo! Tachihara: "..." Dazai: "..." frank:...unless it's a farm. Mori: "...And I think that the war between nations is not so different between the war between organizations. Let's say we pursue this alliance. What happens if someone breaks it? Who enforces any rules?" Dazai: "So, if you don't trust us...and we don't trust you...this falls apart." rain: .... Mori: "And many of us do not trust you at all." Tachihara: *cracks his knuckles* rain: .... atsushi: *gulp* Fukuzawa: "My subordinates were also attacked by your people." Mori: "But no one died--to our embarrassment." Fukuzawa: "Then...we have one solution before we may proceed--" rain: a-and that is? Fukuzawa: "Settle our scores, right here, right now." rain + atsushi: oh no. Fukuzawa: *leaps at Tachihara and Gin* gin: !! Tachihara: "Oh, hell no--" *SLICE* gin: !!!! *her sword broke* D8 Tachihara: "MY GUNS!" Fukuzawa: *in front of Mori, sword at his neck* Mori: *a scalpel slides out of his sleeve, at Fukuzawa's neck* rain: why does he have a scalpel?! Fukuzawa: "Your 'medical ethics' have not changed, Dr. Mori." rain: wait he's a doctor?! higuchi: well, he was our medic before the previous boss passed away. Fukuzawa: "And I assume you still have a fetish for young girls." rain: DOES HE EVER! *WHOOSH* *Another scalpel sails past the side of Rain's head* rain: O-O;;;;;; *quivering* Q-Q Chuuya: "..." *pat pat* Mori: "Still whispering to cats, Silver Wolf?" Fukuzawa: "..." Mori: *gestures to Mafia to turn to leave* atsushi: wait. i have....an offering......*teary eyed and hands mori a shopping bag* Mori: *looks into the bag* "???" -it was a doujin....a hentai doujin.....a _loli_ hentai doujin- rain: D8 gin: O_O higuchi: D8 hirotsu: -_- Fukuzawa: "...What the fuck?" atsushi: *crying* do you know...how AWKWARD it was to make this purchase?! IM NOT PROUD OF THIS! I DID WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE! with all due respect mr mori...you are a sick. sick. man. Dazai: *pat pat, smiles widely* "You did good! I wouldn't have done it." Kunikida: "You sick brat." atsushi: *whimpering* i need a cold shower for about 10 years. TT~TT Mori: "...What's the catch?" atsushi: maybe we can work on an agreement? please?.....we'll help you get Q back? Mori: "...Ha. The Guild is too powerful for the Agency to defeat. You don't stand a chance." -at the hospital- nurse: *working on things* hmm? oh hello sir. ???: "Good day." nurse: are you here to make an appointment? ???: "Here to meet with two patients." nurse: ah i see. which room? ???: "The one with Hawthorne and Mitchell." nurse: ah. right this way sir. ???: *follows* nurse: mr hawthorne? you have a visitor. Hawthorne: "??? I expected no--" ???: *holds up a piece of paper with a rat drawn onto it* Hawthorne: "?!!!" nurse 2: who was the foreign guy? he's cute. nurse: honestly zoey... ???: "Hello, friend. We have much to discuss." Hawthorne: "...We are not friends--" ???: "Would I be, if I did something about her?" *points to Mitchell* Hawthorne: "..." ???: "The second half of a man's life is made up of nothing but the habits he has acquired during the first half--and you have a habit of following someone. So, follow me." Hawthorne: "...I struggle to hold onto hope, God--" ???: "To live without Hope is to Cease to live. Live, Hawthorne--live! And I will make her live..." zoey: what do you think they're talking about?...i wonder if he's single? nurse: -_-; you're shameless. zoey: come on veronica, you only get to say that cause you're engaged. Hawthorne: "And how do you intend to have me released from this hospital?" ???: *waves to Veronica and Zoey* "Hello. I have spoken with Mr. Hawthorne, and he has agreed that he and Ms. Mitchell will be taken released into my care." veronica: ah, i see. zoey: soooo....you seeing anyone~? veronica: *facepalm* ???: "..." ???: "No, I'm not. For to love someone is to see them as they really are--and few ever see me as I really am." Hawthorne: *raises an eyebrow* zoey: aww. maybe i could try? veronica: (thinking: are you that desperate for a relationship?) ???: "...Oh? Are you busy this weekend?" zoey: nope! ???: *smiles* "Care to walk with me and talk about when and where to go out?" -elsewhere- stocking: how was the meeting, kiddo? Kid: "Disconcerting, as you can imagine." *sits* "This is an ability like none I have seen." stocking: it wasnt the kishin... Kid: *shakes his head* "What the victims had in common was not a proclivity to madness." stocking: oh? Kid: "It was almost like chance, like if they...just happened to bump into the wrong person." stocking: that's a scary thought. Kid: "Yes...How are your colleagues holding up?" stocking: yukio's doing better now. i got some news that some guy named todo went rogue, but it was unrelated to the incident. Kid: "What did Todo do?" -elsewhere- Vulcan: "At least the cats finally calmed down...Whatever happened freaked them out." lisa: no kidding... Vulcan: "Glad Giovanni didn't come over--he'd probably toss one of you little guys away for bothering him." lisa:... -elsewhere- shinra: how's the commander? nozomi: resting....whatever he saw must have really shook him... Takehisa: *slight shiver in his sleep* maki: .... -elsewhere- naho:....sakkun? you awake? Sakuya: "Hmm? Wha--" *opens an eye* "...Naho?" naho: *hugs him* i was worried about you... Sakuya: "..." *hugs* "...What happened?" naho: you just...broke down and screamed... Sakuya: "..." *memories hit him all at once--and he is frozen* naho: ......*holds him close* Sakuya: *not responding, just still, eyes wide* naho: it's ok now....we're here... Sakuya: "...I was so scared. Angry. Felt my brain exploding." naho: *rubs his back* -in another room- lavender: how is he? Higan: "Not great. Temperature still not going down." lilac: *shivering* lavender: poor kid....it was like he couldnt breathe... Higan: "Happening to both him and Sakuya? Doesn't seem right...I'm not a medical professional, so I wasn't sure what he needs: food, water." lavender: ....maybe i should schedule a therapy appointment for them. Higan: *nods* "Given his health, maybe the therapist should come here?" lavender: maybe. -elsewhere- fuyumi: hmm? oh. are you shouto's classmates? ochako: yep. took us a while to find the place. Izuku: "...We heard what happened..." fuyumi: ah...he's in the guest room. he hasnt come out all day. Izuku: "..." *looks at Ochako* "Did you want to talk to him first?" ochako: i guess. *knocks* todoroki? its us. Shouto: *silent* ochako: ..... Shouto: *turns over in bed* "Leave." ochako: .....well, we brought you lunch. we'll leave it on the table for you. or by the door....i'll just put it by the door. Shouto: "..." *pulls covers over him* "What is in the lunch?" -elsewhere- Kunikida: "..." *taps his fingers on the table* atsushi: dazai, are you sure you'll be ok going by yourself? Dazai: "Just think of it as a milk run: in-and-out, fast." atsushi: um....phrasing? i think? Dazai: "...Need I remind you what book you bought?" atsushi:....*tearing up* *shame corner* -mushrooms sprouting- atsushi: im the scum of the earth, i should just die in a hole. Dazai: "Not before me! I still need a cutie for a suicide pact--" yosano: just get this done with already. -_-; Dazai: *pout* "Fine. If I'm not back in an hour...wait longer." -that night- Dazai: "Hmmm...Cozy house. Lots of plants." -rustle rustle- Dazai: "!!" ("Please be a squirrel.") lovecraft:.... Dazai: "...You aren't a squirrel." lovecraft: .....steinbeck? *looks around* *zip* lovecraft:...... Steinbeck: *zipping up his pants* "Sorry. Drank too much juice." lovecraft: 7_7 Dazai: "Gross...So, you the two who kidnapped Creepy the Kid?" lovecraft:..more or less. Dazai: "Super! I'll just pop inside and take him--" -BOOOOOM- Dazai: "?!" lovecraft: *faceplanted*...ow. Chuuya: "I have arrived." Dazai: "...SHORTY!" -in the parking lot- rain: ...(thinking: mr nakahara...please be ok...) *BOOM* rain: !!! Dazai: "Watch where you leap, shrimp." Chuuya: "SHUT YOUR PRETTY BOY MOUTH!" Steinbeck: *sends vines at Chuuya* "Not getting away, lightfoot--Lovecraft, go!" lovecraft: ..... Dazai: "You've gotten lazy, shrimp. How am I to land a punch and nullify if you don't--" *BAM* Chuuya: "*holding a tree* "DON'T MAKE FUN OF ME!" Steinbeck: "...I thought they were fighting us." lovecraft:...zzzz... guild member: *knocked into the trees* oooow Dazai: "Why are you getting mad at me?" *knocks down another Guilder* Chuuya: "Because you abandoned us!" Steinbeck: *pokes Lovecraft* lovecraft: zzzzz Dazai: "You didn't witness what I did! If you did, maybe you'd leave--" Chuuya: "I ain't leaving! I want power! The fine things! Wine! Money! And--" *Vines encircle them* Chuuya: *vines cover his mouth* Dazai: "...Huh. Not my first choice for dying. Or my first choice in a lover's pact--" Chuuya: 0////0 *muffled screams* -one pwning of steinbeck later- Steinbeck: x______x lovecraft: zzzzz Chuuya: "...He's just going to sleep? Jeez, this mission is stupid." Dazai: "Worst day in years." *Both reach for the door* Chuuya and Dazai: "?!" Dazai: "Step off." Chuuya: "Don't walk next to me." Chuuya: "Look, if this isn't wasn't a mission, I would have blown you--" Dazai: "..." Chuuya: "--away." Dazai: "Suit yourself..." Chuuya: *enters* "Have you heard of Petrus? It's a wine so expensive that your eyes would pop just from looking at the price. When you left the organization...I opened a bottle to celebrate. I hate you that much." Dazai: "Funny. When I left you, I celebrated by rigging your car with a bomb--" Chuuya: "FUUUUUUUUUU--" Chuuya: *kick* Dazai: *dodges* "Please. I know everything about you, down to your breathing." Q:..... Dazai: "Oh. I found sleeping beauty." Chuuya: "..." Dazai: "I need to cut off the roots. Give me your knife." Chuuya: "Fine. Here is--" *checks pockets* "!!!" Dazai: *holding it up* Chuuya: "...Motherfucker." Dazai: *takes knife...up to Q's neck* Q: .nn...mo...mmy.... Dazai: "..." *sad frown, before smirking at Chuuya* "Won't stop me?" Chuuya: "The boss said I had to bring him back alive. But there are two problems. First, you are too far from me to reach in time--" Dazai: "Obviously." Chuuya: "And I could care less. I still see the people he murdered. My colleagues. Friends. Let him meet his mommy." Dazai: "Then..." *stab* -the vine begins to wither- Chuuya: "Tch. Goody two-shoes doesn't want to kill?" Dazai: "...You kept Q around because you always had me as a check, to nullify his abilities." Chuuya: "So?" Dazai: "So whether he lives or die doesn't matter to me--he's not my problem, he's yours. The only problem I have is Kunikida's yammering." -Elsewhere- Kunikida: "!!!" *punches a wall* -back at the little house- Q:....zzzz.... Dazai: "You carry him." Chuuya: "Wait, why?!" Dazai: "You got anti-gravity abilities and child-bearing hips--" Chuuya: "!!!" Q: zzzzz... Dazai: *takes the doll* "And I'll keep this out of your hands." Chuuya: "Bondage freak." Dazai: "Petite mafia." Chuuya: "Death lover!" Q: *snore and hugs chuuya* mama.... Chuuya: .\\\\\. "N-No..." Dazai: *smirks* "Mama..." Chuuya: *grunts, kicks down door* "Let's just get out." -creack- Dazai: "...?!!" Chuuya: "What?" lovecraft: i've been....stiff lately......have i been working too much? Chuuya: "??? What did--" -TENTACLE PUNCH- Chuuya: D: *knocked back into a tree* Dazai: *catches Q* .___. Q: zzzzzz Chuuya: *marches back to Dazai* "Huff...Huff...Okay...Why is this guy now all turned around with his head snapped back?" Dazai: "Nah, don't worry! I'll just catch his tentacle--" Chuuya: "I bet you will." Dazai: "--and nullify his ability." *hands Q back to Dazai* "Put them here, buddy!" *holds out his hand at Lovecraft* -WHACK- Dazai: *bounce bounce along the ground--into another tree* Chuuya: D: "Crap!" *jumps to dodge another tentacle* lovecraft: that was...a heavy punch. Dazai: *coughs up blood* "D-Damn...My power nullifier isn't working..." Chuuya: "But you can stop any ability! The only way that could happen is if it...wasn't...an...ability...Oh, fucking hell." lovecraft: so tired....starving....got to....FiNiSh ThE jOb...ThEn I cAn...Go BaCk... Dazai: *gets up* "Okay...Operation 'Shame and Toad.'" Chuuya: "No! 'Rains Falls Outside the Window Frame'!" Dazai: "...Oh, please. Have I ever picked the wrong strategy?" Chuuya: "...Damn it. Fine!" Chuuya: "Sucking people dry..." Dazai: "..." *LOUD LAUGHTER* lovecraft: complete the mission....then go home.... Dazai: *holds up his hands, smiles* Dazai: *ducks* Chuuya: *stare* -a barrage of tentacles shoot out- Chuuya: "Gravity manipulation..." lovecraft: a decoy? Chuuya: *GRAVITON PUNCH* lovecraft:...heavy.. Dazai: *claps* "Nicely done." Chuuya: *glare* "Stop treating me like your pet dog." Dazai: "I'd have a dog do tricks to stop this guy--but since I don't, I settle for you." Chuuya: *glare* Chuuya: "I HOPE YOU CATCH AN STD THAT ROTS YOU FROM YOUR BOWELS UP TO YOUR HEAD!" Dazai: "I hope your big hat eats you from the head down." Chuuya: "IT'S NOT BIG!" Dazai: "You're over-compensating." lovecraft: what a chore....but the contract....needs to be fufilled... Chuuya: "YOU KNOW YOU'RE LYING!" Dazai: "Maybe ask your girlfriend." Chuuya: "...What?" -SLICE- Chuuya: "!!!" Dazai: "...Huh. That was my favorite hand." Chuuya: "..." *turns around* D: -churning noises- Chuuya: .______. "Do...not...want..." a horrific monstrosity is standing before them- rain: *looks in her rear view* O_O !!! Chuuya: *runs away* Dazai: "Ouchie...Chuuya...Help me..." Chuuya: "H-How can I help you...?" Dazai: "Pick my nose." Chuuya: "...What?" Dazai: "I can't reach my nose--" Chuuya: "USE YOUR OTHER HAND!" Dazai: "Please...Make it my last wish." Chuuya: "...Fine." *moves his fingers to his nose* Dazai: *snatches his fingers--with both hands* :D "GOTCHA!" Chuuya: "I WILL RIP OFF YOUR HANDS AND WEAR THEM AS MY MITTENS!" Dazai: "In other news, we're going to die." Chuuya: "...What?" Dazai: "...I suppose there is one thing we could do. Or you could. 'Tainted.'" -in the parking lot- rain:....*overwhelmed with a feeling of dread* -back with them- Chuuya: "...Like I have any choice..." Dazai: "Go to it, tiny!" Chuuya: "You're tiny!" Chuuya: *steps before Lovecraft...inhales...* lovecraft: *growls* Chuuya: "O, grantors of dark disgrace...Do not wake me again!" Steinbeck: "Ouchie...What happened?" Dazai: "You got a knife at your neck--and get to witness Chuuya's ultimate ability." Chuuya: *vibrating...as blood drips from his limbs* *BLAST* rain: !!!!!! *getting out of the car, locking it, and running towards the clearing, though she has quite a ways to go* Dazai: "Chuuya can manipulate gravitons, increasing the density of his body--and the projectiles made by the compress gravitons consume all matter, like black holes." Chuuya: *launches a compressed graviton at Lovecraft* -FWOOOM- lovecraft: *SHRIIIIEK* Dazai: "So, why are his limbs regrowing, Grape Boy?" Steinbeck: "...I have no reason to tell you. And it looks like your friend has exceeded his abilities--he could only hurt Lovecraft from inside--" Dazai: "..." *smirks* *holds up remote control* Steinbeck: "?!!!" -beep- -BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM- rain: AH! *falls, scuffing herself up in the process, as she keeps running* -back with the others, a large crater is left in the ground where lovecraft had been standing- Chuuya: *staaaaaaare* Chuuya: "...Hee..." *covered in blood* Chuuya: *summoning more gravitons...* "Hee hee hee--" Dazai: *smacks Chuuya upside the head* Chuuya: "?!" -tainted's marks fade away- Dazai: "Hey, Chuuya." *smiles* Chuuya: "...Dazai? I...I..." Dazai: "It's okay, buddy. Let it out--" Chuuya: *BARF* Dazai: .w.;;;; "...This was a new shirt, you dick!" -a few minutes later, and rain meets dazai on his own on the path- rain: you! mr nakahara, where is he? Dazai: "...Oh, hey!" Dazai: "Um...He's dead." rain: *drops to her knees, teary eyed* no....no no no no.... Dazai: "Yep. The gravitons just ripped his body apart. Limbs went flying. Head popped off like a broken Pez dispenser. Pancreas stuck in a tree branch." rain: *breaks down sobbing* Dazai: "Yeah. Sometimes, if I close my eyes, I can still hear him--" Chuuya: "Moron! You almost sent me into poison ivy! I can't wipe my ass with those!" rain: !!!! .......*she looks at dazai, and slaps him across the face. hard* Dazai: *hit hard* "WORTH IT!" *lands face-first in the dirt* Chuuya: "...Rain? Your eyes are red..." rain: HOW CAN YOU BE SO GODDAMN RECKLESS YOU IDIOT! *hugs him* i was....so worried that you'd....please....dont scare me like that anymore.... -she's shaking- Chuuya: .\\\\\. "I-I wasn't trying to scare you! I had a mission and wanted to end it quickly so I could get you out of here--" rain: *pulls back, slightly blushing* m...mr nakahara? Chuuya: "...Chuuya...Rain..." Dazai: *standing...and...PUSH* -squish- rain: O-O.... o////////o KYAAA!! Q: *yaaaawn* hmm? im....outside? Chuuya: "Ah!" *tripping and--SMOOCH* Dazai: "Oh, hello, kiddo." rain: O//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////O Q: ....eeeeew. cooties! Chuuya: o\\\\\\\\\\o Dazai: "Ha ha ha ha! Congrats on moving on from me, Chuuya! I give you up to your new girlfriend." Q: ??? rain: w-wha-wha?!! O////O;;; Chuuya: o\\\\\\\\\o "I-I-I--" *gravity powers kick in--as he is floating* rain: m-mu-mr nakahara!! Chuuya: "I AM JUST EXCITED THAT IS ALL!" Dazai: *nudges Rain* "You make something rise in him." rain: .....you're terrible. but even with all that....you're still better than that walking scumbag, mori. Dazai: *serious face* "Yes." Q:.....im confused. can we go home now? rain: r-right! my car is this way. Chuuya: *trying to swim through the air, he's floating so much* "I can't get down!" Dazai: "Think of baseball and take a cold shower." -in the car- Chuuya: .\\\\\. rain:....so...mr dazai...do you want me to drop you off at the agency building then? Chuuya: "..." *shakes his head* Q: *clutching his doll, asleep* Chuuya: "...I want to go to a bar." rain: tomorrow. but right now, you need rest...i worry about you, you know. Chuuya: "..." *looks away* "Thank you. I...worry about you, too. I didn't want you...hurt." rain: *small blush* mr nakahara... Chuuya: *at a stop light* "..." *puts his hand on her shoulder* rain: ah...*blushing* Dazai: "You two going to neck?" rain: will you just keep quiet?! >n< Dazai: "Nope! This is too much fun! So, when's the baby shower?" rain:......... -she doesnt reply- Chuuya: "..." *punches Dazai in the mouth* Dazai: "Oh! I was just teasing! I know you and Chuuya haven't boinked yet. But I would get on that--Chuuya doesn't last long--" Chuuya: "DO YOU EVER SHUT UP?!" Dazai: "...Rain? Please promise me you will make my little Chuuya the happiest man on earth." rain: do you mind? im trying to drive... Dazai: "Well, you can drop me off at my place, then you can get the kid home, then you two can...you know." rain: ....we're here. -she parks in front of the agency building- Dazai: "Oh, super! Well, good--" Chuuya: *punches him out of the car* rain:...*sighs* look...mr nakahara. i am so sorry about....what happened. 7///7; Chuuya: "...I'm...not." rain: e-eh? Chuuya: "...You are an incredible woman, Rain. And I...I..." rain: mr nakahara- Chuuya: "!!!" *reaches over and slams his foot on her brakes* rain: ah! h-huh? wha? *blinks* was i...dozing off? Chuuya: "J-Just a stop sign you missed..." *his arm also reached out across her to block her* rain: r-right...thank you....mr nakahara... Chuuya: "A-Any time..." *looks at her* "I..." rain: ?? Chuuya: "...I would prefer...that we...that you..." Q: keep your damn pickles to yourself, monkey man...zzzz rain: ....see you at work tomorrow then? Chuuya: "...Yes..." *sad frown* "Sleep well, Rain." rain: *she parks the car and nods* good night, mr nakahara. *walking back to her apartment* (thinking: i've been feeling out of it the past couple of days....i cant be...right?...i'll just....check first thing tomorrow...) *An image of Chuuya's face comes to her* rain:...*faint smile* ???: do you really believe you have a right to speak with him? -a small, black cat like creature is by her feet- rain: just leave me be. cat: but technically, i am you. and you are nothing but a magnet for misfortune and humiliation. rain: you think i dont already know that? cat:....im curious as to how this plays out for you. and as they say, 'curiosity killed the cat', rain. or should i say- rain: dont. -elsewhere- Mori: *sips his drink* kouyou: *on the phone* i see....a job well done.... *hangs up* Q has been returned. elise: yay! Mori: "...Hmm. Dazai did that?" kouyou: or rather, team 'double black' did that....onto other matters. we've had reports that a member of 'the rats in the house of the dead' has made themselves known in death city. Mori: "...Troublesome." -elsewhere- FD: "Enjoying this?" zoey: this is really nice. *she smiles* FD: "I'm glad." *puts a hand on her shoulder* "Nights back home...could be so cold." zoey: ...*holding his hand* FD: *takes her hand up to his lips* zoey: *blushing* FD: "my dear..." zoey: yes? FD: "Close your eyes..." zoey: *does so* *She feels something wrap along her wrists and ankles* zoey: ah- *riiiiiiiip* zoey: !!! .////. FD: *holds up a camera* zoey: um....k-kinky much? owo; FD: *puts it on a tripod* "Very..." *presses record* "Now...I want to start with a few questions..." *his hand slides down her stomach* zoey: l-like what? FD: "Your patients..." *his finger slides under her panties* "Hawthorne and Mitchell..." zoey: a-ah! w-what about them? FD: "I want them." *rubbing his finger along her* zoey: *soft sigh* f-for what? FD: "I'm looking for something..." *his other hand rests along her leg* "If you give me the answers I want, you'll be happy." *slides his finger slowly into her* zoey: *soft moan* FD: "I want them released into my care. Okay?" zoey: r-right. FD: *slides a bit deeper* "And you will delete all records you have on them from the hospital files." zoey: y-yes! >////o FD: "Good girl...Because if you hadn't, I would have to punish you." *takes her bra--and rips it off* zoey: *squeak* FD: "I need them to find me a book...Maybe you know where it is?" *continues fingering her, as his lips kiss lightly along her shoulder* zoey: w-what ki-ind of a-ah, a book? FD: "It can survive anything...even fire." *coaxes her back up, as he fingers deeper into her...he kisses lightly on her neck* zoey: *loud moan* FD: "But I don't hear an answer from you..." *tightens one strap* zoey: i-im not sure...this is..the first i-i've heard of something like that. FD: "Not the answer I wanted. I have to find that book--" *tightens more* zoey: mmmn! FD: "Answer, damn it--have you seen it?" zoey: i-i dont know what it is! FD: *smiles* "Good girl." *gentle kiss on her cheek* "Next question..." *his hand is along her breast* "Who admitted Hawthorne and Mitchell to your hospital?" zoey: a-a man by the name fitzgerald... FD: *gropes her breast, his other hand sliding lightly along her hip* "And where does he reside?" zoey: h-he's been staying at a hotel. FD: *light pinch on her nipple* "The name of the hotel...?" zoey: a-ah! FD: *leans to her other breast* "The name...Give it to me..." *the tip of his tongue rests along her nipple* zoey: *shivering* FD: *suckles on her nipple--then bites* zoey: ah! *wince* FD: "The name, you bitch--the name of the hotel..." *his nails scratch along her side* zoey: i-i didnt get it! h-he didnt t-tell me! FD: "And how will you find it for me?" *his hands hold her hips* zoey: i-i'll f-find out..s-somehow... FD: " 'Somehow'?" *massages her hips* "That's a start...Good girl..." *lets go, removing his shirt* "Are you turned on, dear girl?" zoey: y-yes. FD: *smiles* "Correct answer. And I believe you..." *unbuckling his belt, pulling down his pants* "You know what I want to hear now?" zoey: w-wha? FD: *pulls down his boxers* "I want the passwords to the hospital's network..." *he grinds along her* zoey: a-ahh! i-its... 151-KNTO. FD: "Is it?" *grabs her cheeks, squeezing* zoey: y-yes! FD: "Good..." *guides himself into her, holding her hands* "Because if you lie, do you know what I'll do?" zoey: w-what? FD: *thrust* "That video? It's uploading right now into my secure account." *thrust thrust* "If you fail...that video is emailed to your boss." zoey: !!!! FD: *scratches his fingers along her hips as he continues thrusting* "Problem?" zoey: *too shocked to say anything* FD: *frowns, as he digs his nails into her* "Speak." zoey: ah-ah!! FD: "Not enough!" *pulls back his hand and slaps her face* zoey: *winces, whimpering a bit* FD: "Speak, goddamn you!" *thrusts into her* "Or I'll give you something to cry about!" zoey: t-that is the passcode! really! FD: *smiles, polite* "Thank you..." *nuzzles against her breasts, as he thrusts* "God, you make me so hard...You're so tight." zoey: its....my first...actually... FD: *smiles* "I have lots of practice. I'll make it good for you..." *strokes where he slapped her* zoey: *slight wince* FD: *frowns* "Give me a smile, dear girl." zoey: .....*trying to fake a smile* FD: "...You're almost there..." *thrusts deeper into her* "Mmmm...Ah..." zoey: *panting, shivering* FD: "my dear, you're amazing...And I know we're going to get along so well...Ah! Oh...Do you think about this kind of thing when you're touching yourself?" zoey: ..... FD: *warning tone* "Zoey. Answer." zoey:...*quietly* s-sometimes... FD: *his hand pulls on her hair* "Louder." zoey: s-sometimes! FD: *smiles* "Good. You'll think about this more after tonight...Now, what would you say if I came into you?" zoey: ?! FD: "I am not hearing you say 'no'..." zoey: w-wha? FD: " 'Yes' or 'no': two syllables. Say one." *thrusting faster* zoey: aH! y-you- FD: *grunting* " 'You' what?" zoey: you wouldnt- w-would you? FD: *smirks, still thrusting, his member twitching inside of her* "Answer me..." zoey: *screams* FD: *cackles--as he pulls out--and cums onto her* zoey: >///o ah.... -she's bleeding slightly- FD: "..." *taps his fingers along her blood...and licks it* zoey: *trembling* FD: "Shh...It's okay, Zoey. I'm going to remove the straps...give you a bath...bandage you...and you won't tell about this to anyone..." zoey: *small whimper* FD: *small kiss on her lips* "Thank you..." *loosens her wrist straps* -elsewhere- Mori: *in front of his chess set* "Tomorrow, we make the next move." -elsewhere- Chuuya: "..." *staring at a photograph* kouyou: hmm? *It's of a night at the bar--him, Higuchi, Gin--and Rain* kouyou: oh i know where that is. the bar lupin, correct? Chuuya: *nods* "Good spot...Memories." kouyou: *she nods* from what i recall, dazai, sakaguchi, and oda were frequents there a few years ago... Chuuya: *frowns* "Dazai...He ruins it all..." -elsewhere- shura: ooi, rin. ever been to kyoto? Rin: "...No?" shura: well that's about to change. so get your stuff packed and ready to rumble. we're heading to the airport as soon as the sun rises, ok? Rin: "!!! B-But what will I pack?!" -early morning- Rin: *yawn* -at the airport- madoka: *hugs him* be safe, alright? Rin: *nods* "...I wish you were coming." madoka: yeah...but this is an exorcist only trip... i'll be sure to talk to you over vid chat. *smiles* Rin: "..." *leans, kisses her forehead* madoka: ^///^ Rin: *pats her head, giggles* shura: come on loverboy. *drags him off* madoka: ^^; *waves* be safe! Rin: *waves back, smiling* Rin: "I'll bring you a souvenir!" -on the plane- Rin: *sitting in the front seat, stretches out* "Ah...Leg room!" shiemi: .... *sad frown* Rin: "Oh, hey, Shiemi! Where're you sitting?" shiemi: ...... (thinking: why cant i say anything?) Bon: "Yo, Shiemi! Get in your seat! We got luggage to store." shiemi: ah! r-right! konekomaru:.... Rin: "Hey, Bon! Konekomaru! Shima!" Bon: *growls* konekomaru: ....*looking down at his feet* Rin: "??? Um...Guys? I--" Bon: "Just go, Konekomaru. Got to get going before flight attendants yell at us." Shima: "Hey, buddy, just calm--" Bon: "Now!" konekomaru: *taking a seat* Rin: D: "What the heck?!" izumo:......*grumbles and takes a seat in the same row as him* Rin: -3- "Oh, what, you're going to be pissy at me too?" izumo: im not- Rin: "Not what? Not happy sitting next to Satan's boy?!" shura: *blows a whistle* ok, listen up everyone. i take it you all know who i am, but for those who dont, i'm shura kirigakure, the one forced into leading this op. Shima: "Hi, Ms. Kirigakure!" shura: hello shima. anyway. as you know, two days ago, during the mass hysteria incident, the left eye of the impure king was stolen from the true cross deep keep. it's been confirmed that the former warden, sabutora todo, was part of the incursion, but at the current moment, his reasons and accomplices remain unknown. Rin: *crosses his arms* Bon: *listening* shura: at the same time, a similar attack was made at the kyoto field office, which fortunately was averted, but their goal was undoubtedly the impure king's right eye. izumo: *raises a hand* just what is the impure king? we havent gone over the lesson yet. Bon: "..." ("Dad...") shura: *looks at another teacher* care to explain? Teacher: "The Impure King was an upper-class demon during the late Edo period--causing the spread of fevers, epidemics, 40,000 deaths. His power was suppressed by his eyes, which were removed by the monk Fukaku--" Shima: *snort* Teacher: "Each eye is dangerous enough on its own, releasing a large amount of miasma." Rin: *muttering* "Monk Fukaku just had to show off..." izumo: *elbows him* pay attention. Rin: "Ow!" shura: our main objective is to tend to the wounded and strengthen their defenses. all exwires will assist as well. now lets work together on this and make it easy on me, got it? Rin: "Ow!" shura: our main objective is to tend to the wounded and strengthen their defenses. all exwires will assist as well. now lets work together on this and make it easy on me, got it? -ding- Rin: "???" intercom: flight 117 to kyoto, japan now departing. -the plane begins to move- Bon: *grips the armrests* Rin: *looking past Izumo and out the window* shiemi: .... -that awkward moment when you've grown up in a japanese home but never set foot in japan before- Rin: "Oh? Really? Huh." izumo: what? Rin: "...Why are you not scared sitting here?" izumo: psh- me? scared of you? as if. having demon blood isnt too uncommon, even amongst exorcists. hell, one of the teachers in training is a half demon half angel. Rin: "...Well, when you put it that way...Yeah, I guess. So, why are so many people still being all pissy at me?" izumo: it's probably because of you being satan's son. i know its harsh, but that's just how it is. the only reason you havent been killed is because the order doesnt know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Rin: "..." *nods* "Th-Thanks for cheering me on, Eyebrows." Rin: "I knew you were a nice girl!" izumo: w-who the hell are you calling eyebrows?! Rin: "??? What? Friends give friends nicknames--" izumo: what makes you think we're friends, huh?! my name is izumo kamiki! >-< Rin: "Thank you, Izumo." izumo: >n< d-dont get so casual! Rin: "...'Miss Kamiki'?" izumo: ....say, you've never been to japan before, right? Rin: "Nope! I'm super-excited! Did you know Kyoto has a tower?" izumo: yes, i know that. i've seen it. Rin: "Really?! What's it like? How tall is it? You ever spit from the roof of it? Can you see Tokyo from the top?" izumo: -_-; -elsewhere- Ranpo: "HA HA HA! Challenge accepted!" lana: may i help you, sir? Ranpo: "Hello. I am here for a game of wits against a worthy opponent." lana:.... yosano: *shows her the letter* lana: ah i see. i'll bring you two right up. Ranpo: "And soon the game of deduction will commence!" -ding- lana: here we are. Ranpo: "A note on the door...Hmm...Doctor, a pen, please." yosano: *hands him one* Ranpo: "Same words must appear in X and Y...Got it!" Ranpo: *writes the answer, rips the paper from the door* "We enter!" -creeeeak- yosano + lana: *peeek* *seated at the table is a tall, gaunt man--with a raccoon on his shoulder* lana: (thinking: so they're friends with that weird guy?) Poe: "Hee hee hee...Have you solved the puzzle, Ranpo?" Ranpo: *holds up the puzzle* lana:.. 'this puzzle has five words' 'this puzzle does not have five words'. oh, so one of those brain teasers? yosano: (thinking: jeez, dont you have anything better to do?) Poe: "I should expect nothing less of my rival." Ranpo: "Now I have a question for you!" *dramatic glasses removal* yosano: ? Ranpo: "...Who are you?" Poe: *falls out of chair* lana: he's been staying at this hotel for a while with his pet raccoon. Ranpo: "...Oh! Karl! What up?" Karl: ^W^ Poe: "!!!" yosano: so i take it this scruffy haired weirdo is with the guild then? Poe: *muttering* "How? I planned for Lord knows how long...Came all this way to this city...I wrote that letter in my own hand, decorated this room as based on the lengthy domestic ideology texts I wrote..." Ranpo: *smack* "SPEAK UP!" lana: D8 Poe: "R-Right...I am Poe. Detective, luminary author. But...I lost to a certain detective in a contest six years ago." Poe: "Such humiliation! It will not stand! I--" lana: oh, you're a detective? Poe: *turns to Lana, smiles* "Why, yes, Ligeia, I am." lana: it's lana, actually. *sweatdrop* Poe: "And so I used my powers of observation, critical thinking, and a Death City phone book to track my opponent to this very--" Ranpo: "BORING!" *tosses papers away* "Where's the game?" yosano: *sweatdrop* Poe: "OUR FATES ARE INTERTWINED! Much as the Earth revolves around the Sun, we are pull at each other! And on this day, it will be the sun that revolves around the Earth--I WILL BE VICTORIOUS--" Ranpo: "Shhh...I just want the game. I don't really care about you." Poe: D: *collapses* "Karl...Save me, my sweetie..." lana: *sweatdrop* Ranpo: "Could you get on with this? I have a client waiting for me..." yosano: yeah, anyway. Poe: *holds up a book, crying* "Our competition *sniff* requires we read this mystery novel to find the serial killer--" Ranpo: "Minus one point." Poe: "YOU AREN'T THE REFEREE OF THIS GAME! LIGEIA IS!" lana: it's lana! la-na! Ranpo: "Ligeia is right: a fictional work is hardly a challenge for a real-life detective." lana: you too?! Poe: *smirks* "I thought so..." *pulls out a stack of papers* "Which is why, if you win, you'll learn the Guild's weakness. How about that?" yosano: wow. is that right? Poe: "I will show you how to take down the Guild's fortress, the flying Moby-Dick." lana: ....what? Ranpo: "..." *points at Poe* "Plus one point to you." *points to Lana* "Two points to Ligeia." lana: who even is that?! yosano: im as confused as you are, lana. lana:...you're officially my favorite person in this room. Poe: D:< *continues* "The Guild's fights are all about money, violence--which bores me to death. The only thing worthy of admiration and awe in this world is..." *points at Ranpo* "...your ability, 'Super Deduction.'" yosano: *sweatdrop* Ranpo: "..." *snatches the book* "Plus five points. Let's begin the game!" *sits down in a chair* Poe: "I picked that chair out myself. You see, when the room is oblong, you want to have a chair that suits the curvature of the walls--" *rambles* yosano: how do we know this isnt a trap? Poe: "If you are concerned, doctor, please, join the game: the rules permit other members of the Detective Agency to collaborate." yosano: and lana? Poe: *looks at Lana* "...Do you like murder mysteries?" lana: well, i did attend a murder mystery theme party during senior year. Poe: "Perfect! Well, then, read along with them!" lana: *looking* Ranpo: *reading* Book: "Our story begins on a night, in a certain era. A few guests were trapped into a mansion due to a blizzard. Our main character, a private detective, must stay overnight--when he is roused from his sleep by a strange noise next door." -a bright light fills the room- lana: ?! -you awake in a mansion- lana: w-wha? where...? Poe: *heard throughout the room* "My ability...to transport readers into any book..." lana: w-what?! what is he? a dokeshi? yosano: not exactly. Ranpo: "He has an 'ability,' like my ability of deduction." lana: like a quirk? yosano: somewhere in the middle i guess. Ranpo: *looks around the room for evidence* -elsewhere- Kunikida: "They are late." atsushi: i just hope they're alright... Kunikida: "They'll be fine--physically, at least." -back in the hotel room- Poe: *staring at the book with a smirk* -a light shines from the book- Ranpo: *holding up his hands* "So bright...Where am I? Why do I feel like I'm in a different set of clothes?" lana: *SCREAMS!* yosano: !!!! -a dead corpse is in the middle of the room- Ranpo: "What?! What happened? I don't have my glasses." -4 other individuals are there- Ranpo: *feels his foot hit something* "???" yosano: *looks* Person #1: "That man...Is he dead?" girl: what happened? Ranpo: "I'm...not sure myself." victim: *handing ranpo a key and pointing to a door* ah... Ranpo: "Wh-What?" *looks at the door* "Is that how the culprit escaped?" *walks to the door, inserts the key, opens--* *There is a wall, with something painted...in paint?* Person #1: *reading* " 'Welcome to'...Does that say 'Locked Room' or 'Locked Poem'?" lana: whats with the cat missing an eye? Ranpo: "Hmm...The creepy guy said if we face a serial killer. Therefore, if we fail to solve the mystery...we die." lana: seriously?! Ranpo: "Doctor, please use your ability on the dying man." yosano:...!!! what? my ability doesnt work in here! Ranpo: "..." *holds his head* "Nor will mine..." lana: then we're basically fucked. Ranpo: "Hmm...Locked room. No exit. Victim murdered. But without my ability...to solve this case...would be...BORING! DULL! FOOLISH! A great detective does not investigate--their superpowers just solve the case for them!" lana *face plants* yosano: (thinking: are you fucking real?) Suspect #1 (the gambler Kizaki): "Hey! Can I leave now?" Ranpo: *head slammed against table* "Zzz..." girl: -_-; Suspect #3 (Ukai, journalist): "Interesting how quick everyone here is to deny before they were accused...But I didn't do it either." -one session of questioning and investigating later- Ukai: "Allow an actual journalist to investigate!" Ranpo: "What, you're going to do a list of the worst 5 moments in anime that you totes never noticed?" -AAAH!- Ukai: "?!!!" -they follow the scream to a room....where yosano has an axe in her stomach- yosano: i messed up... lana: !!!! Ranpo: "Doctor! What happened? Oh no...W-We need a doctor!" lana: SHE IS A DOCTOR! Ranpo: "ONE WHO IS NOT DYING, YOU IDIOT!" yosano: i didnt see who did it....but i know you can solve this. number one detective...... -back in the hotel- Poe: "Hee hee hee...This was the mystery all along: you can't solve it, and if you try, you'll discover only something about yourself that you don't want to know, Ranpo...I WIN! Ha ha ha!" -flash- Poe: .w.;;;; *turns around* lana: *mortified* yosano: eh, getting axed wouldnt have been the worst thing to happen to me. Ranpo: *waves* "I win!" Poe: D: "B-B-but how?!" lana: what he said! Ranpo: "??? That I won, or that the Doctor survived?" lana: YES! Ranpo: "Well, the Doctor can heal injuries if the person is to the point of dying." *holds up an axe* "Want to try?" lana: but i thought that abilities didnt work in the book? Ranpo: "When released from the book she must've been able to heal herself immediately." *hands axe to Yosano* lana: but who was the killer then? Ranpo: "...Me." lana: ...EH?! yosano: and what brought you to that conclusion? Ranpo: "I was the only person in the room. The book has to have a narrator--and if the detective is themselves that narrator, then they are an unreliable narrator." *stares at Poe* "You must use those a lot in your works." Poe: D: lana: clever. Poe: "B-But--she was murdered! How did that happen when you weren't there?!" lana: that is true. Ranpo: "Magnets." lana: ......huh? Poe: "Ha! Like such a thing is possible--" Ranpo: "In that setting? The hints were everywhere in your story. Advanced medical appliances. Clothes provided by the mansion itself. The novel was actually set in the year 2050, where the house is an entertainment facility within orbit--that is its secret, is it not?" lana + yosano:....what. Poe: "...Alright, yes, it's true! You got it all!" *covers his face, whimpering* lana: i-its ok sir! but....why did you do all this? what did the guy do to you? Poe: "What did he do? ...He is my rival! He--" Ranpo: "I solved a mock-murder he designed in this very room a long time ago." lana: eh? O-O Poe: .w. "...You remember?" Ranpo: "Of course! I had to expend all of my ability to solve it." yosano: i'll be giving you two your moment and just wait outside. *exits* Ranpo: *smiles* "The one and only time another detective pushed me to my limit!" Poe: QWQ lana: ^^ (thinking: i have no idea what is happening) Ranpo: *picks up stack of papers labeled 'Moby Dick'* "I'll just take these and be on my way. Keep writing, Detective: I need you to work for my brain's sake. ^^ " lana: *watches them leave* .....do you need something to drink, sir? Poe: "...Amontillado." lana: ah. -elsewhere- Dazai: "I guess we'll need Light Snow and Man Tiger on this one." atsushi: *gulps* Dazai: *holds up the plans to the Moby-Dick* "We can't let that giant whale crash into the city below." atsushi: *nods* Dazai: "Now, if you excuse me, I have a friend who was stuck in a car accident--" atsushi: what?! Dazai: "Oh, he's fine. Lucky bastard. I wanted to die in a car crash with an attractive woman..." atsushi: *sweatdrop* (thinking: you have some weird goals.) Dazai: *pinches Atsushi's cheek* "And you hang tight, and if you behave, I'll bring you back something you like." ("Or someone...") -and so, in the helicopter- atsushi: you sure you're ok, tanizaki? Tanizaki: "Piloting..." atsushi: *sweats* intercom: now entering the moby dick's field of vision. Tanizaki: *focusing* Tanizaki: "Light snow..." Tanizaki: "Atsushi, go!" atsushi: *nods* -on the moby dick cargo hold- guild worker: !!!! w-what the hell?! Guild Crewperson #1: "I told her not to go out with him--but she's in her rebellious phase." guild worker: NOT THAT IDIOT! I MEAN THE DEAD BODIES! Guild Crewperson #1: "...?!!" Akutagawa: "..." *cough* guild worker: *running* Akutagawa: "Rashomon..." -SLASH- ???: you go on ahead, mr akutagawa.... rain: *looks up and smiles, but her eyes are dull and lifeless* i'll catch up. Akutagawa: "...Very well." *walks* -elsewhere- atsushi: im in. Dazai: *on radio* "How is it?" atsushi: quiet....and as cliche as it sounds....too quiet. ???: "I hate that cliche, too." atsushi: ACK! oh jeez, dont give me a heart attack like that! ???: "Ha ha ha...I'm older than you, and you worry about yourself having a heart attack? That's no way to live. I suggest a cruise. Very relaxing." atsushi:...a little birdy told us you were going to drop the whale onto the city. cant you stop it? Melville: "...Whoever is left on Moby Dick should have taken the next freighter off by now. You know why, kiddo? Because this war is ending." atsushi: how do we stop it from falling though?! Melville: "...This last act will obliterate the Guild's enemies...and...Moby Dick." atsushi: how do we stop it?! *shaking him* JUST TELL ME, DAMMIT! Melville: "With 70 percent of Moby Dick weaponized, I no longer control it enough." atsushi: isnt there an off switch or something?! Melville: "...The control terminal. Heavily guarded." atsushi: right. thank you sir!....wait...why are you still here if everyone else left? Melville: "Why? Well...Moby Dick once roamed the skies, before it was altered into a Guild fortress. If it is to go down...I should as well." atsushi:.....*nods and runs* .....!!!! Akutagawa: "?!! Man-Tiger?!" atsushi: OH COME ON! listen akutagawa, i'd love to stay and chat, but i have a very urgent thing that needs to get done pronto and i would appreciate doing it in one piece, thanks! Akutagawa: "..." *black energy swirls around him* atsushi: hey. im on the line with dazai, he said he has something he wanted to tell you, sounds important! Akutagawa: "...Dazai wants to speak with me?" atsushi: yeah! *tosses the communicator* Akutagawa: *pants like a dog, rushing to catch it* atsushi: *runs* Akutagawa: "Dazai! I'm here!" -the number you are trying to reach has hung up. if you would like to try again- Akutagawa: "..." *black flames around him* -elsewhere- atsushi: *opening the door* Fitzgerald: *holding a phone* "Hi, Zelda. It's me, Francis." atsushi: *sneak sneak* Fitzgerald: "I'm almost done--What? No! I could never forget my wife." atsushi: *reaching for the terminal* Fitzgerald: *spots a reflection on his wedding photo* "Sorry, I have a guest coming. I'll call right back. I love you, Zelda. Goodbye." *puts down the phone* atsushi: *grab* (thinking: got it!) *FLASH* -BANG- atsushi: oooow... wha?... O-O;;;;; hhhheeeeeeyyyy siiiiir. ^^;;;; Fitzgerald: "Hello, Tiger. You thought you hit the jackpot?" atsushi: listen. i kinda left my phone at home, and then i lost my communicator, soo...imgonnaborrowthisnowthankyou! *running* Fitzgerald: *already in front of him--tripping him* atsushi: !! oh shi- *notices something coming at them from the hall* Fitzgerald: "???" Akutagawa: *glare* atsushi: owo; *backing away and RUNS* Fitzgerald: "I'm sorry, Mr. Akutagawa, but I am occupied right now." Akutagawa: *practically passes through Fitzgerald* -in one of the halls- atsushi: *panting* just got to get someplace safe, then i can-