[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

[aintyourdad]

Uh-huh.

[ He knows he didn't have to do anything. And yet, he did. And no, he will not be commenting on that further. ]

You're talkin' again. You couldn't, before. You remember that?

[usarinpa]

[ Probably easier to just nod than get into how she didn't want to talk, or think talking was worth it, or dump on him about what happened the last time she lost her voice. She's quiet for a while, bending her knees as she rests her arms atop them in an attempt to appear casual. ]

Yeah. It's happened before.

[ She glances out of a window, back straightening a bit like she's just remembered something.

No bike. It's fine, she'll go back for it later. ]

[aintyourdad]

Does it happen a lot? Are you sick with somethin'?

[ The clinic people won't say anything except that she seems physically fine. ]

[usarinpa]

No. 'Least, I hope not, but—

[ They weren't too late. She's not infected, she's not infected. She's not infected... If she tells herself this enough times, eventually she'll believe it. ]

It was just once. When— When my mom died.

[aintyourdad]

[ Trauma. Something horrible happened. Joel scowls faintly.

He has no condolences to give, on the loss of her mother. No "I'm sorry to hear that", no "what happened", nothing like that. He's not going to insult her by offering up something he doesn't feel, or by prying into something that's none of his business.

Instead, he focuses on the now. ]

What happened to cause it this time?

[usarinpa]

[ She's probably thankful he left it alone. It feels less like pity this way, like she's lesser, and it's an entirely fair question to boot. Mizuki hesitates as she tries to decide exactly how much he needs to know, and her stomach starts to churn, like she's getting a little nauseous. ]

There's... a guy from home that I've been staying with ever since we met up.

[ She pushes through the unpleasantness. ]

He isn't who he says he is, and he really knew how to push my buttons and put me back in a bad place.

[aintyourdad]

[ Joel frowns at that. ]

Sounds like an asshole. Sounds like you shouldn't be stayin' with him anymore.

1/2

[usarinpa]

[ She nods all too readily in agreement. ]

Yeah, I'm... [ working on that, she wants to say. But she doesn't wanna sound like some victim who can't get herself out of a bad situation. Besides, she's already made the decision. ] I'm not.

[usarinpa]

[ Come to think of it... ]

You said you weren't planning to stick around last time... right? So, where did you go?

[aintyourdad]

Clearly I haven't gone anywhere yet, otherwise I wouldn't still be here.

[ He huffs a little. ]

Is anyone planning to stick around here?

[usarinpa]

[ Tch. Okay, Mr. Grinch.

Mizuki just shrugs though, rather than saying anything she might regret. Somewhere deep inside, she still appreciates he went out of his way for her. ]

You wouldn't think so. Guess we're all just doing what we gotta to make it by.

[aintyourdad]

That's usually true, yeah.

[ That's always what everyone is doing, in Joel's experience. ]

At least you're talking again. That's a start. [ There's a pause, while he considers her. ]

You need any help, getting that guy to leave you alone - let me know.

[usarinpa]

[ Oh, yeah... Not that Mizuki would have recognized the misconception, but she'll go ahead and clear it up now. It seems appropriate to warn him. Her expression remains dark, and there's a silence that grows in the air. ]

Yeah. I'll keep you in mind.

[ She needs people she count on, people who won't disappear for six years at a time. ]

In the mean time, watch out for a guy who calls himself Kaname Date.

[aintyourdad]

I will.

[ He's not sure if she'll take him up on his offer or not, but it was genuine. She's a nice kid, who doesn't deserve to be mistreated, or taken advantage of. ]