[ stop judging him for his hiding place ... it was the next best thing he could find so far away from his house when he realised the toads were once more out and about? granted, it wasn't exactly the most ideal - he had no idea how he should be getting back to his place, for example - but at least it'd given him a chance to help mitsuru out in some way.
he doesn't flinch away when she reaches down for his hand; that in itself is a good sign, perhaps, even if vash does almost seem to be holding his breath in something like nervousness as she takes it in hers ... and even if it does take him another second longer after that to remember to hold her hand back, his fingers tightening a fraction. ]
Uh ... let's go? I'll be careful? Promise!
[ it's a little more of a softer question that he puts forward, ducking his head down and away as he needlessly fusses with the lid of the can with his free hand, before straightening up again nonchalantly. ]
[ That's...a lot of shock and awe on Ekko's face, considering that the last time Jayce remembers seeing him, they'd been in the Hexcore together trying to rectify the mistake he'd made. Logic would dictate that they'd arrive in the same dimension together, but he's also gathered enough information to realize that they might not be operating on the same timeline here. At least they're both from after they'd met each other, which makes things a lot easier. ]
You're telling me. I keep expecting to turn the corner and run into my mom...or Ambessa.
[ He gives a theatrical shudder of fear...well, mostly theatrical, he is genuinely terrified of that woman. ]
Hey, lucky you got the easy option! My, uh, tests indicate that revealing some sort of secret should be enough to set you free. [ In other words, he's gotten his ass glued down way too often. ]
[ Honestly, the only thing here more kind of fascinating than the powers themselves might be the way he's reacting to them. Somewhere between him apparently not even being sure of the fact that these are indeed his powers and then him saying they won't hurt her despite him being unable to control them-- It's a wild ride from start to finish.
Yet the girl doesn't look worried, despite the combined threat of the snowmen still left standing and those weird hands. ]
Then what are they? Demonic?
[ They kind of looks like they could be.. At least in the sense that they look wildly ominous, anyway. ]
Besides, how come you can't control them? [ IS THIS AN INTERROGATION NOW.. Sorry, Shigeru, apparently now you're also stuck with an overly curious girl.. ]
[ Sorry, Ekko. But the initial answer may be far from the one you could be expecting here.
Because it's a rather exasperated: ]
Seriously?
[ It's not even her questioning his desire to be let out of there. No, it's her hearing that name, and-- Ekko? Again? Just how many times is this place going to yo-yo that guy around?
It's not like she's going to keep him in there. Ange reaches out, pulling on the coffin's lid, and she finds it opening surprisingly easily from the outside. She hardly has to put any effort into it at all before the door swings open, allowing her to spot the person inside.
And without even giving him a chance to adjust to the light or anything else, she's already adding: ]
[ He does what he's told and sits still, even if his demeanor might be a bit tense. He's getting a little antsy about this whole thing, but... Yukina sets her hands over the ice and it does change things. The creep of the affliction slows then stops then begins shrinking away.
That's a relief! Kuwabara exhales and smiles, brow slightly pinched. ]
Yeah, of course.
[ It's not the normal feel of this kind of thing, the borrowing and syncing of energy or whatever, not where the ice specifically is concerned. She can probably feel that, too, but... Whatever works, right? ]
[ there is something odd to all this — like the world has lurched one centimeter to the right, and nothing is quite where it should be, a sense of something intrinsic being wrong... and viktor can't put his finger on the exact thing. it is the desperation with which jayce clutches onto him, it is the wild look in his eyes for a fraction of a second as he apologises, it is the way he looks at viktor like he's never seen him before —
it's wrong, wrong, wrong, because jayce shouldn't be like this. jayce shouldn't look at viktor and his body that is, here, preserved in a suspended state of mere days from expiring entirely, and think it's good —
because what is the alternative? if this, him as he is, makes his partner look almost elated, then... dread coils itself around his mind, digs tiny hooks into him, and he grips his crutch tighter, looks down, ostensibly at the shattered remains of his coffee cup.
he closes his eyes. when he opens them again, it is to fix jayce with a look, and with a nod of his head towards the table he leapt over a few minutes ago, ]
Take your things. I'm not having this conversation with you here. We'll go to the lab. It's a bit of a walk, but... [ he makes a face that seems to indicate "it is what it is" and "better not to be in the city center anyway", accompanied with half a shrug, what with jayce's hands still on his shoulders.
(and no, he's not addressing the whole "you look good" thing, at all. it's as if jayce hadn't even said anything — ) ]
[ Only a couple months? That doesn't sound promising, and Kuwabara's about to question it until the answer's presented ahead of time. ]
Years?! [ It's a bit of an outburst of noise and directionless gesture. And this kid's so calm about it, too! ] That's not... I can't be here years. I got shit to do!
[ with a name like that, he can't imagine it wouldn't have been something questioned often; unless it is a common one where he comes from, which havemercy himself has just confirmed to be untrue.
partly because they're going to be here a while so he might as well ask, and partly because he's genuinely curious, ]
And what is local, for you? Where do you come from?
[ If Kuwabara weren't already irritated, that might be a perfectly reasonable question. Most guys can't manifest swords, and most people would question that kinda thing when they see it. But he is irritated, so he decides it comes off as stupid. ]
Who else's would it be?
[ Or what else, maybe. Whatever. The point is that Scott's just seen him do it, right? So of course it's his ability.
He grumbles and tries a couple extra times to get through the adhesive goop, but no dice. The spiritual blade is gone as quickly as it had appeared, and he scrubs a hand over his face before he stands.
And then he suddenly remembers school and accurately predicting an earthquake and how weird it made everyone act towards him. Not even bad-weird, necessarily, but... Still. Weird. ]
It's just a trick, okay? Don't make a big deal out of it.
[ Maybe if Ange thinks about it harder - maybe when she'll look back on this later - she should have known better than to think that Echo calling her by her name means that she remembers this place. After all, even back when they met, Echo had already recognized her.
But she isn't thinking about that right now. Especially with how rare it is for someone to show up here again after such a long time. ]
More like still here, you know? Unlike you, I never left. [ See, that's one of those things she probably could've phrased better if she only had realized that this Echo doesn't remember this place..
But alas. Sorry, Echo, it's going to be confusing for a tiny bit here. ]
[It's so nice to see a new side of Aether like this, blushing and hesitant, so unlike the confident comfort he has give him in Ryoji's times of trouble. But he likes it this way, as if he's privy to a secret only he can know. And well, he has to admit, Aether like this is pretty cute, too.
The kiss doesn't last that long, yet it feels like an eternity all the same. Sweet and fulfilling, like savoring a tiny piece of sugar. The world goes still for that moment. Ryoji is blushing and smiling too, when their eyes meet each other once more.]
Hm, definitely a good memory. Thank you, Aether-san.
[He can't help but let a soft chuckle as Ryoji says that.]
There really is no need to thank me.
[They had to do it if they wanted to be freed from this bizarre situation of toads demanding kisses from them. And speaking of, Aether tries to move and with a smile realizes he can. At least the toads kept their promise.
The traveler never lets go of Ryoji's hands and after a moment of silence, he asks almost shy:]
Hey... Would you like to go on another date with me? Right now?
[Maybe it's a bit silly, but he doesn't really want to part from Ryoji just yet.
[czes's mind races. a simulation? that's way too sci-fi. and how is it possible he could suddenly wake up in a simulation, when he was located in an area with no internet or even electricity? maybe these...people...simply believe they're in a simulation. maybe it's not fact.]
O-okay. Let's go to the café.
[there might be other people there, who know what's going on.]
[how medieval. czes follows his gesture, turning and getting a good look at the garish coffin he was trapped in. he jumps a bit at the realization, and without thinking says exactly what's on his mind:]
Sheesh...I suppose at least I wasn't buried alive.
[for some reason his delivery there was less childish, though the tenor of his voice hasn't changed. there was a weight to it that wasn't present in his earlier words.]
[considering that on a list of people czes would like to see from back home, claire is so far at the bottom he's practically buried underground, it can't be said that czes's heart is warmed. more like it's dropping in temperature by the second.
still, he's slightly encouraged by the fact that claire didn't immediately start vivisecting him or something.]
N-nothing. Just - [he considers lying, then thinks better of it - ] - trying to learn more about this place. I figured the locals would have some kind of info, you know?
All the more reason to help with me, no? I'm part of the Armed Detective Agency too.
[Strange, to be on the same side as Akutagawa again. Although there's less of a hierarchy this time, considering that the Armed Detective Agency never operated in such an organized manner.]
He's also from your world, I believe. The Atsushi-kun I know is my subordinate too, but I have never seen him affiliated with the Port Mafia before.
[Levi starts to loose interest after about ten to fifteen minutes. He wonders if he could sneak away without this guy noticing but doesn't even try. It would definitely piss this guy off and it was really rude anyway. So he stays until the end, trying his very best to not look bored or fall asleep. When he's addressed directly he jerks upright a bit, like he's been called on in class or something.]
Y-yes! That was very interesting.
[He'll remember almost none of it.]
You, uh, you sound like a great king. Y-you shouldn't let me keep you from your castle building.
[He closes his eyes and waits and...that's it? He was expecting a kiss on the mouth but a peck on the cheek is much easier. Whew. He opens his eyes and give Ryoji an awkward smile.]
[ he simply nods — mostly because he doesn't trust his voice for the moment not to ask for details regardless. but as soon as he's swept the curiosity under the rug and thrown the rug in a locked room inside his head, he says, wryly, ]
Yes, indeed. Perhaps you will have a better chance with her. I've only spoken to her once, and it went... [ a half-shrug, and his eyebrows do a little wiggle that means so-so; and then there's the whole matter with silco, too, so really, maybe it's best he's not the one to try first.
still; they're close enough to lupin now that viktor focuses on getting them there, pulling the door open when they get to the bar. ]
This is owned by Vi, [ he says by the way of explanation, ] Jinx's sister. I do not know if your paths ever crossed. I only met her here.
Oh yeah?... You're right, that is classic. And Snow Mercy could stand to lighten up. He's got a lot on his shoulders, y'know.
[It's awfully insightful of Kurt, or was that just a lucky guess? Morph starts rolling their snow into a proper ball, before pushing it across the ground to gather up more. They're intending to work on the base of the snowman, to get that part of it out of the way.]
What about accessories? If we can't do it with veggies, I can try the ice carving again.
I never said I'm not from Zaun. Just that I'm not from the Lanes. There are more places in the Undercity than your black market area.
[ also not a slight; but with the slight raise of his brows, he feels justified in pointing out the flaw in the other's logic.
he files away the point about compatriots — vi, then, perhaps... he hasn't seen jinx around for a while, now, but then he's not exactly been keeping track of the girl, either. ]
Crystalized grenades? Hm, [ he makes a noise of both approval and curiosity. ] I wouldn't mind hearing of them later, if you want to tell me more.
[ but, for now, ] Yes. I've encountered these creatures before, here. They will prompt you with something to do — and the talking isn't what we are doing now. You will have to share something you normally wouldn't speak of so openly, for the adhesive to release you. It is an interesting mechanic.
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expiationlogs2024-12-09 08:17 am
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