[02] [open] nemesis identified

[usarinpa]

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 yammdere for plotting/ideas! Thank you! ]

Comments

[parasaito]

[Saito's knees cave in as the shortage of air only grows. The back of his mind registers the angry drops rolling down the otherwise blank young features of the victim turned aggressor; the majority of his conscious mind, however, is too preoccupied with his own vision getting darker to even think about it — let alone derive any pleasure from the accomplishment.

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.]

🎀

[usarinpa]

[ It is really a shame Saito doesn't see what happens next. Something plucks at her heartstrings. It wasn't his voice. His words don't quite reach her, or perhaps it was simply delayed, like starlight traveling lightyears. It is sudden like a switch, and Mizuki jumps, gasping as she drops everything—the scarf, and Saito—cleanly onto the ground with a harsh thump.

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. ]