[Keiko and Kuwabara know, at least, but Kurama wasn’t fully aware of the details of Yusuke’s whole situation. Exactly where he is from on the timeline being a notable factor he lacks context for. From where he is standing, Atsuko knows exactly what is going on. She was there for their last huge mission, after all, it’s just that Yusuke doesn’t know about that, yet.
Even if Yusuke had a close enough relationship with his mother to want to stay in touch, patching technology to Demon World certainly wasn’t in his skillset. Regardless, neither one of them are able to communicate with home from here and that was the real issue that they would all be dealing with on this world. Well, except for Hiei, when everyone he bothered to care about was right here with him. Or, so he’d claim, at least.
Kurama, once again, does not let on to his amusement at Yusuke’s clear huffiness, perceptive as he is to the other’s shift in mood. He’ll just politely refrain from acknowledging it, focused on the topic at hand, instead.]
Perhaps. Although, it seems more likely that they are continuing on with their traditions despite our presence, rather than with us in mind. That said, we don’t truly know anything about who brought us here, but I do not imagine they have anything at all to do with the festivities or planning them. It is quite possible that the authorities of both are unrelated to each other.
[Green eyes turn back to the fire before he continues along that line of thought, always thinking of strategy and attempting to stay three steps ahead. Makes it a lot easier to see that other shoe coming before it finallly drops.]
Patience will serve us better under these circumstances, demanding answers is unlikely to earn us any favors with our captors and threats do little when you aren’t even aware who you’re leveling them at. For now, we should focus on collecting intel without raising suspicion.
[Yes, he is aware who he's talking to, but Yusuke could be trusted with strategy more than some might expect.]
[Truly, it's impressive how thoroughly Kurama is able to wrangle his temper simply by refusing to provide it any fuel. Yusuke just lets out an aggrieved noise and flops backward into the sand, staring up into the night sky where there's still traces of color from the fireworks. Perhaps part of what freaks him out about all this is how genuinely celebratory the atmosphere is, frankly. Nobody eyes them with suspicion or moves to the other side of the street or even to challenge them to see if they live up to their reputation as criminals. He's just some kid, and Yusuke's not sure how to deal with that. For all that he'd embraced his reputation as a punk and a thug back home, he's never actually been the sort of person who terrorizes people just trying to exist peacefully to entertain himself. He picked fights with the type of people who wanted them, with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove just like him.]
I don't even know where to start.
[He admits, finally, voice softer now. Without turning to look to his friend, he adds:]
I've never been great at figuring out how to solve problems I couldn't punch.
[His head tilts, glancing back in Yusuke's direction as he drops onto the sand. Kurama doesn't move, simply regarding him quietly until he speaks. He doesn't have the experience to think on that the way Yusuke does, he intimidated no one as a human and it had never been his looks that scared other demons. A metaphorical smokescreen, legends and rumors were used to invoke fear in others, they didn't even necessarily know what he looked like. No one was crossing streets or protecting their kids from Shuichi Minamino, he'd lived a rather privileged life.
When Kurama speaks, he's hesitant, cautious. As if afraid to say the wrong thing entirely and taking the time to really consider his words. The fox treading carefully here, keeping things vague enough, perhaps more aware that something is off than even he realizes at a conscious level.]
That's not entirely true...
[He smiles softly again, more fond than amused despite the words that follow, as if in direct contrast of his previous pointed sincerity.]
It is rare, but I've seen you use your head a number of times, actually.
[Yes, he absolutely does have to get that dig in there, just trying to keep the mood light.]
[Fffff. Thanks buddy, your faith in him is so touching!!]
Shut uuuupp....
[He half-groans, half-whines, though it's a weak protest at best. He's burned out his temper already, which really just leaves the unsettled anxiety coiled in the pit of his gut. It perhaps speaks to how much he and Kurama have been through together that he's willing to reveal his belly, as it were, to his friend, already speaking more frankly than he would be willing to do with just about anyone else.]
It's just -- everything that's happened since I became Spirit Detective, I knew what I had to do next. Get back the Dark Artifacts before Koenma's dad found out. Show Genkai I was the best suited for her powers so that Rando asshole couldn't have them. Bust into Maze Castle and destroy the Makai Whistle to save everyone from those bugs. Win the Dark Tournament so we wouldn't all be killed. Stop Sensui from opening the portal to the Demon World.
[He sighs.]
Going back to regular life after all that had just seemed so pointless.
[When Raizen's men had come for him, it had been something of a relief. A distraction from the boredom, a place to focus his frustrations.]
And now here we are, kidnapped by shady guys to some weird place, and we're supposed to just...what? Gamble on cards, eat snacks, tell scary stories over the fire? Pretend like everything's fucking normal while we just wait for someone to fuck with us? I can't stand it. Makes me wanna break shit until I piss someone off enough to show their face.
[And he seems quite pleased with himself about it, too. The amusement in his expression is apparently only encouraged by Yusuke's response, faintly smug as if he'd just told the best joke ever and nailed the landing.
When Yusuke's tone shifts to something more somber, the fox watches him carefully, ready to be a listening ear and hear out his concerns. As he recounts the events since their meeting over those Dark Artifacts, Kurama can't help but notice that he stops prematurely. As if life simply went back to normal after Sensui? Strange. He isn't going to ask though, whatever that meant, Yusuke was not bringing it up for a reason and if that was not wanting to talk about it, pressing would do no one any favors. The idea that perhaps he didn't know or remember anything past several years ago was troubling- but that was for the redhead to worry about, now was not the time.]
It sounds familiar doesn't it?
[He has already brought up the parallels with the Dark Tournament, but that theme seems to be rather persistent.]
Not being in control of our own lives, but expected to continue living them as if we are. We've managed before playing by those rules and here it seems we have even more freedom to do as we'd like. We're not trapped in a hotel on an island waiting out the next battle to the death, are we? I think for now, we should make the most of that. In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to use our time wisely and try to better understand this place.
[The lull after Sensui is what this festival most reminds him of, even if the Dark Tournament might be a more apt comparison. The fact of the matter is Kurama hit the nail on the head earlier when he'd said that it would've been easier for Yusuke if this were a violent kidnapping/hostage situation. He knows how to deal with people who directly and actively mean him and his harm. He doesn't know how to prepare for a threat he doesn't even know the shape of, one clearly trying to get him to lower his guard.
He doesn't reiterate the complaint this time, though. Instead, he grabs a fistful of sand, squeezing it tightly in his hand as though he could somehow make a diamond from the sheer pressure of his rage before he lets it stream out.]
How does playing games and watching fireworks tell us anything about what's going on here? We don't have any clues at all, or any idea who does.
[Hence, all his previous yelling. The only reason it has not continued is because he is not a perpetual motion machine, and can only sustain his temper for so long before he burns out of shit to lose.]
[Thankfully, he is more of an expert on the lull. The quiet waiting, the knowledge that someone may be about to stab you in the back or ambush you without warning. That's the life he had grown accustomed to well before any of them had even been born. That was the life of a demon, and without the luxury of things like festivals and arcades that the humans had taken for granted all their lives.
Kurama waits until he's sure Yusuke is done speaking before he answers, watching the sand sift through his fingers. An action that should be relaxing, but the fox isn't convinced anything would calm him any more than he already was. It wasn't as if his frustration wasn't justified, either.]
We listen.
[Strategy was never Yusuke's strong point. He was good at it, in his own way, and he definitely knew how to surprise an opponent given the opportunity, but he wasn't Hiei hiding in trees or Kurama pointedly waiting for an opening, always forming new plans. Yusuke saved strategy for the battle., this would certainly be much harder on him.]
That's all we can do for now, try to pick up on what is being said and find clues from there. Ask around to see if any others have gotten leads. Sometimes the best action is inaction, Yusuke. You'd be surprised what people will talk about when they think no one else is paying them any attention.
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expiationlogs2024-06-10 07:58 am
no subject
Even if Yusuke had a close enough relationship with his mother to want to stay in touch, patching technology to Demon World certainly wasn’t in his skillset. Regardless, neither one of them are able to communicate with home from here and that was the real issue that they would all be dealing with on this world. Well, except for Hiei, when everyone he bothered to care about was right here with him. Or, so he’d claim, at least.
Kurama, once again, does not let on to his amusement at Yusuke’s clear huffiness, perceptive as he is to the other’s shift in mood. He’ll just politely refrain from acknowledging it, focused on the topic at hand, instead.]
Perhaps. Although, it seems more likely that they are continuing on with their traditions despite our presence, rather than with us in mind. That said, we don’t truly know anything about who brought us here, but I do not imagine they have anything at all to do with the festivities or planning them. It is quite possible that the authorities of both are unrelated to each other.
[Green eyes turn back to the fire before he continues along that line of thought, always thinking of strategy and attempting to stay three steps ahead. Makes it a lot easier to see that other shoe coming before it finallly drops.]
Patience will serve us better under these circumstances, demanding answers is unlikely to earn us any favors with our captors and threats do little when you aren’t even aware who you’re leveling them at. For now, we should focus on collecting intel without raising suspicion.
[Yes, he is aware who he's talking to, but Yusuke could be trusted with strategy more than some might expect.]
no subject
I don't even know where to start.
[He admits, finally, voice softer now. Without turning to look to his friend, he adds:]
I've never been great at figuring out how to solve problems I couldn't punch.
no subject
When Kurama speaks, he's hesitant, cautious. As if afraid to say the wrong thing entirely and taking the time to really consider his words. The fox treading carefully here, keeping things vague enough, perhaps more aware that something is off than even he realizes at a conscious level.]
That's not entirely true...
[He smiles softly again, more fond than amused despite the words that follow, as if in direct contrast of his previous pointed sincerity.]
It is rare, but I've seen you use your head a number of times, actually.
[Yes, he absolutely does have to get that dig in there, just trying to keep the mood light.]
no subject
Shut uuuupp....
[He half-groans, half-whines, though it's a weak protest at best. He's burned out his temper already, which really just leaves the unsettled anxiety coiled in the pit of his gut. It perhaps speaks to how much he and Kurama have been through together that he's willing to reveal his belly, as it were, to his friend, already speaking more frankly than he would be willing to do with just about anyone else.]
It's just -- everything that's happened since I became Spirit Detective, I knew what I had to do next. Get back the Dark Artifacts before Koenma's dad found out. Show Genkai I was the best suited for her powers so that Rando asshole couldn't have them. Bust into Maze Castle and destroy the Makai Whistle to save everyone from those bugs. Win the Dark Tournament so we wouldn't all be killed. Stop Sensui from opening the portal to the Demon World.
[He sighs.]
Going back to regular life after all that had just seemed so pointless.
[When Raizen's men had come for him, it had been something of a relief. A distraction from the boredom, a place to focus his frustrations.]
And now here we are, kidnapped by shady guys to some weird place, and we're supposed to just...what? Gamble on cards, eat snacks, tell scary stories over the fire? Pretend like everything's fucking normal while we just wait for someone to fuck with us? I can't stand it. Makes me wanna break shit until I piss someone off enough to show their face.
no subject
When Yusuke's tone shifts to something more somber, the fox watches him carefully, ready to be a listening ear and hear out his concerns. As he recounts the events since their meeting over those Dark Artifacts, Kurama can't help but notice that he stops prematurely. As if life simply went back to normal after Sensui? Strange. He isn't going to ask though, whatever that meant, Yusuke was not bringing it up for a reason and if that was not wanting to talk about it, pressing would do no one any favors. The idea that perhaps he didn't know or remember anything past several years ago was troubling- but that was for the redhead to worry about, now was not the time.]
It sounds familiar doesn't it?
[He has already brought up the parallels with the Dark Tournament, but that theme seems to be rather persistent.]
Not being in control of our own lives, but expected to continue living them as if we are. We've managed before playing by those rules and here it seems we have even more freedom to do as we'd like. We're not trapped in a hotel on an island waiting out the next battle to the death, are we? I think for now, we should make the most of that. In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to use our time wisely and try to better understand this place.
no subject
He doesn't reiterate the complaint this time, though. Instead, he grabs a fistful of sand, squeezing it tightly in his hand as though he could somehow make a diamond from the sheer pressure of his rage before he lets it stream out.]
How does playing games and watching fireworks tell us anything about what's going on here? We don't have any clues at all, or any idea who does.
[Hence, all his previous yelling. The only reason it has not continued is because he is not a perpetual motion machine, and can only sustain his temper for so long before he burns out of shit to lose.]
no subject
Kurama waits until he's sure Yusuke is done speaking before he answers, watching the sand sift through his fingers. An action that should be relaxing, but the fox isn't convinced anything would calm him any more than he already was. It wasn't as if his frustration wasn't justified, either.]
We listen.
[Strategy was never Yusuke's strong point. He was good at it, in his own way, and he definitely knew how to surprise an opponent given the opportunity, but he wasn't Hiei hiding in trees or Kurama pointedly waiting for an opening, always forming new plans. Yusuke saved strategy for the battle., this would certainly be much harder on him.]
That's all we can do for now, try to pick up on what is being said and find clues from there. Ask around to see if any others have gotten leads. Sometimes the best action is inaction, Yusuke. You'd be surprised what people will talk about when they think no one else is paying them any attention.