Mizuki "I'm gonna change my last name" Date 👁️ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
usarinpa) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
expiationlogs2023-03-05 02:11 am
usarinpa) wrote in expiationlogs2023-03-05 02:11 am
[02] [open] nemesis identified
Who: Mizuki and YOU [open]
Where: The wilderness, a ways from Aldrip in an out-of-the-way little cave (Not Lorentia)
What: In which Mizuki finds out she's been alone all along.
Warnings: Spoilers for AI, IDK—will add if any become relevant.
[ There are thin tire tracks starting at the inn that head out and away from Aldrip today. Curious, isn't it? Were they there before? Have you even seen a motorbike here in Aldrip since you woke up here?
If you're keen to find out, you will follow a trail that is just long enough to make you wonder whether you should turn back. Keep with it, however, and you will find yourself at a small cave nestled in the mountains, the opening of which is surrounded by trees. ]
👁️ i. He was the Universe
[ Perhaps you'll see the bike first. It sticks out like a sore thumb. But walk a little further and inside the cave, there's Mizuki, asleep on the cave's dirt floor.
Her hair is messy with sleep. There is a hair piece that sticks out against her cyan locks, standing out almost as much as her bike does in the wilderness. In her hand is an empty, decorated box with a note attached that wouldn't look out of place in a trash can, as it is. Meager remnants of the few good things that have happened to her here, now that she can't go back.
A subtle, unpleasant odor lingers in the air, reminiscent of a wet dog or wild animal that's no longer there. Somewhere beside her sits her pipe, and at her waist, there is her holstered Evolver. ]
👁️ ii. Ought to Know
[ Alternatively, the trail is still going. Eventually, footprints start to appear in the dirt next to the tire track, suggesting that Mizuki has started walking. Catch up to her, you'll find that her back is to you and she is dragging her bike alongside her.
Why? ...Well, technology continues to be fickle, apparently.
Watch her for long enough and you'll see her stop and try to start it again. Instead, there's that all too familiar, insufferable buzz that makes her cover her ears. Her mouth opens, like she's groaning, but the noise that escapes, if there had been any, is easily swallowed up by the rustling of leaves and the buzzing of insects.
Once that passes, she can be seen pulling out a piece of parchment from her pocket—a map. ]
▶ ooc/wildcard
[ Due to trauma, Mizuki will be aphonic/unable to speak temporarily! Sorry about that. She will still be writing things in the dirt or on the back of her map, probably, and if I feel it's appropriate, I may give her back her voice midthread.
Enjoy the introduction of her shiny new bike, and please feel free to reach out via PM, on the Discord, or![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
yammdere for plotting/ideas! Thank you! ]
Where: The wilderness, a ways from Aldrip in an out-of-the-way little cave (Not Lorentia)
What: In which Mizuki finds out she's been alone all along.
Warnings: Spoilers for AI, IDK—will add if any become relevant.
[ There are thin tire tracks starting at the inn that head out and away from Aldrip today. Curious, isn't it? Were they there before? Have you even seen a motorbike here in Aldrip since you woke up here?
If you're keen to find out, you will follow a trail that is just long enough to make you wonder whether you should turn back. Keep with it, however, and you will find yourself at a small cave nestled in the mountains, the opening of which is surrounded by trees. ]
👁️ i. He was the Universe
Her hair is messy with sleep. There is a hair piece that sticks out against her cyan locks, standing out almost as much as her bike does in the wilderness. In her hand is an empty, decorated box with a note attached that wouldn't look out of place in a trash can, as it is. Meager remnants of the few good things that have happened to her here, now that she can't go back.
A subtle, unpleasant odor lingers in the air, reminiscent of a wet dog or wild animal that's no longer there. Somewhere beside her sits her pipe, and at her waist, there is her holstered Evolver. ]
👁️ ii. Ought to Know
Why? ...Well, technology continues to be fickle, apparently.
Watch her for long enough and you'll see her stop and try to start it again. Instead, there's that all too familiar, insufferable buzz that makes her cover her ears. Her mouth opens, like she's groaning, but the noise that escapes, if there had been any, is easily swallowed up by the rustling of leaves and the buzzing of insects.
Once that passes, she can be seen pulling out a piece of parchment from her pocket—a map. ]
▶ ooc/wildcard
Enjoy the introduction of her shiny new bike, and please feel free to reach out via PM, on the Discord, or
no subject
... So, this is where you have been. I was starting to get worried, you know. I even paid to have a missing poster made, hoping someone would help me bring you back home.
[He knows he's not fooling her with these empty words. They're well past that phase by now. Although it's only been roughly two days, so much has changed in so little time. The dry chuckle he gives before continuing only confirms the game they'd been playing for weeks is officially over. For her, and around her, at least.]
In the end, that wasn't even necessary. I had a feeling you'd be here.
no subject
She steps back, then to the side as she realizes how close she is coming to the cave wall. He won't corner her here. ]
no subject
What are you so wary of me for? I just came over to bring you the things you forgot in our room.
[The sugary words contradict his attitude and body language, both of which are more reminiscent of a predator cornering its prey, barely holding in the urge to attack. Hunching forward ever so lightly so that he's still towering over her, he mockingly mimics his own gestures from the day she probably wants to wipe off her memory completely, and abruptly drops the rabbit scarf on top of her head. The hairpin is also there, attached to the scarf, just like it was on that memorable day.
It's all intentional. To remind her of her own blissful ignorance.]
no subject
She doesn't check whether it's actually been crushed, but she hopes so.
Meanwhile, she will absolutely try to rip apart the scarf. She expects no trouble, doing this, but it is surprisingly fucking durable, and doesn't budge.
Stupid enchantments. ]
no subject
After all the money I spent on buying these for you, and all the trouble I went through to find you and bring them back to you here...
[Without prior warning, he reaches to grab her arms in a loose hold. More than to stop her from her stupor, it's to grab her attention to his next words.]
Why are you doing this? That's not how you treated the gifts Date got for you.
[He's seen that ugly stuffed doll in his memories, at least. The same doll he used as reference in search for the perfect gifts for her. Hopefully, bringing up anything related to Date will spark her anger and make her speak, just as it made her snap last time.]
no subject
There are a million and one ways things would have gone differently if the real Date were here...
They would have fought. He would have spent his nights in the taverns whenever she kicked him out, which would've probably happened more often than she liked. And most of all, she would have eventually warmed up to the idea that they could've maybe had a home here. A place.
Everything about Saito just reminds her of what could have been.
It's all his fault. ]
no subject
A bad omen, for sure.]
What's wrong, Mizuki?
[Mizuki. Not the usual, jeering Mewzuki nickname he came up with.]
Do you miss your dear Date so much that me mentioning his name is enough to push you over the edge?
no subject
She takes some breaths. Everything is colored with anger right now, but she doesn't want to give Saito the satisfaction. She simply slumps her shoulders, taking a step back, and even lowering her hands.
Not worth it. ]
no subject
[His tone is nothing short of sugary and convincingly reassuring. On the surface, at least.
Lured by the decreased tension in her posture, Saito daringly raises a hand again, to let it rest on her shoulder. But rather than comforting, the feathery touch might feel asphyxiating when combined with the words that leave his mouth next.]
I can be your Date.
[It probably doesn't help that he sounds serious about it. Though in reality, it's to see how much further she can take without breaking down completely.]
He did me a great favor, leaving in my brain all these fragments of moments you two spent together. It would be a shame to let such heartwarming memories go to waste.
no subject
The vomit stew. Giving her Adorabbit.
The fight over her stupid eggs...
...!!! ]
Never.
[ Her tone is dripping with disgust, but it is also markedly calm. So much so that she feels unsatisfied, gripping that blue bunny scarf he had chosen himself for her as she repeats, explosively: ]
Never! You hear me? [ With startling speed, she loops that scarf around his neck. A strong gust of wind kicks up as she uses all her strength to push back against him, and she pulls on either end of the scarf, tightening its hold. She wants to see him suffer. ]
Pretend all you want, you'll never...
Never, never, n̶e̶v̶e̶r̷,̶ ̷n̶e̴v̷e̵r̶, ̷̬̼͔̯̂͒ͅn̶̺͕͇̬̞͗e̸̛̟̟̕͝v̸̢̐̿̆͜͝e̷̺̠͊̔̔̆̊r̷̳̥̘̲̩̲͑,̸̝̘͋̒̉̚ ̴̹͖̣̟̝͈̀̚ņ̸̖̝̮̫̭̾͛e̸͍̦̒̾͝v̴̮̝̭̓͐̈́͝ͅè̷̤̪͕̰̱̜͘r̶̪͇͘
[ Her words dissolve into mumbles as she starts to sound like a record starting to skip. No matter how many times she says it, it doesn't feel like enough. ]
no subject
His pulse automatically picks up when he feels the walls of his throat constrict — and for once, it's not thrill that triggers that response. His hands claw frantically at the indestructible fabric, even though trying to compete against her in raw strength is bound to be a wasted effort. Desperation begins to kick in as the air going in and out of his lungs grows scarcer with every second he wastes struggling.
The thought of reaching for his knife crosses his mind. But at this rate, if she keeps pulling tighter and tighter as she seems dead set on, he might end up with a crushed windpipe before he can even reach inside his coat. A hint of horror colors his expression at the grim realization that there's literally nothing he can do to make her snap out of her trance, but plead. As pathetic as that is.
So this is how it feels like to be on the preyed side?]
... Mizuki, stop! I— I can't breathe!
[Hurriedly mustering his best, distressed Date-like voice from memory, he manages the words amid disgruntled noises and gasps for air; but the execution still comes out more commanding and artificial than intended.]
no subject
She can feel her anger fuel her strength all over again. Just as Saito might feel that hesitation and seek to take advantage of it, Mizuki will shut it down before it even begins, grip tightening once more as she pulls. This time, she won't be satisfied until he stops talking, stops moving. She will watch his breath leave his body and his limbs go weak, but the anger and pain he'd caused does not subside, no matter how hard she tries. She can barely feel the way the tears blur her vision and stream down her face.
Where is that sweet taste of revenge?! It shouldn't feel this way. None of this is right. None of this is right—! ]
no subject
Realizing his words have little to no effect on her, his vain struggle to free himself eventually subsides, and the sound that escapes his throat resembles more a dry rasp of hopeless laughter rather than a pained groan. Even as his limbs start giving up on him completely, pulling him closer to kneeling down on the dirt beneath them, he makes a feeble attempt at holding onto the girl's shoulders for support.
Still grinding his teeth with whatever strength he still has on his jaw left to muster, he tries to take in a sharp intake of breath to speak. His lips move, but whatever words he's trying to vocalize leave only in the form of incoherent wheezes and groans before his consciousness starts to falter. His body gives in shortly after, letting himself be dragged down by gravity.]
🎀
He doesn't move.
She doesn't move, and for a moment she wonders if she's gone too far. What has this place done to her? What would Bibi say? What would Boss say? And Date...
...Her face twists as she looks at his, and she before she knows it, she is reaching to touch him for any sign that he's still alive. Just before she gets there, though, she can see the slight rise and fall of his chest, and she jerks her hand back, stumbling in the same direction—away from him.
Not that she had much, but she leaves everything behind, and she runs.
She lucks out with her motorbike, which she is pretty sure won't make it through the desert, and makes her way back toward Aldrip. ]