006 - Connecting Lines, Connecting Lives

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Connecting Lines, Connecting Lives New Imprints ▲ Comments The Ground Shakes
It begins unremarkably enough, with the light tremors of the ground so small they might easily go unnoticed, or else dismissed as the movement of some creature nearby. As time goes on, however, those little tremors begin to grow in both strength and duration, the length of time shortening between each one. To begin with only small, light, unsecured objects are rattled loose by the rumbling of the ground, but as the tremors grow in strength there is a growing danger of much larger things being moved.

The realm’s clear lack of understanding of how things work cannot be relied upon in such a situation. If the tremors have grown strong enough to throw all the books of Hammerhead to the ground and throw over all the clothes rails and capsule machines and furniture in the Academy, then what if they grow strong enough to move the heavy blanket of snow atop Mount Silver? What if they grow strong enough to damage the caverns within?

Then there is the question of how, or why, the realm has made the land shake. It must surely have picked up the idea of an earthquake from someone, right? An answer to the question is not immediately forthcoming, but should one stay low to the ground and listen, they might well hear the muffled, distorted sound of screaming.

Creature Chaos
As the rumbling and shaking continues, it is clear to see that the local wildlife has been disturbed, and they seem remarkably active. Critters can be seen running and flying to and fro, and any who go out to investigate may find themselves the center of attention. Brushboys may paint arrows on the ground in an effort to lead them somewhere, or bluurgobos might actively offer rides, or the flying cat-like creatures will excitedly circle someone before attempting to lead them somewhere. Going along with them will lead to one of two places:

1. The meaty, pulsating, cavernous tunnels of Mementos shudder and convulse in a way quite unlike before, and closer inspection will quickly reveal why. The flesh has been cut and torn, hacked apart, leaving gaping and bleeding wounds to spill over the subway tracks. Whichever critter has brought someone here excitedly gestures towards the wounds, and as it does a giant and painful shudder goes through the tunnels and shakes the earth. All those earthquakes… could this be the source?


2. The road to the Hammerlocke Citadel Ruins are as long as winding as ever, and precarious with the risk of an earthquake dislodging snow and rock from the mountainside. The animal that has taken the lead is on a mission, however, as unclear as that mission might be. On arriving, it turns its attention to a group of the spiky, bear-headed beasts that are lazing about as though the land is not currently shaking and quaking around them, and tries to draw their attention. Clearly, these bear heads are expected to do something, and they aren’t doing it.

First Words
Though the tremors have finally stopped, they have left a significant change to the World in their wake. Where the ground above was once flat and untouched, there now lay cracks and fissures that glow with a strange, but enchantingly warm light. There doesn’t seem to be a single area that has been left untouched by them - though the number of cracks are denser in some places than others, it’s difficult to find a place completely devoid of them. Could this be the world’s attempt at trying to heal itself?

If all of that wasn’t enough to warrant investigation, the sound of whispers that appear to be coming from they might do the trick. Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes apparent that the whispers aren’t coming from the lights, but from inside your own head. Focus a little more, and some of the voices may sound familiar…

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Comments

SURPRISE PROMPT

[kimihiros]

(thank you, cole, kimihiro hasn't thought of it that way. he was fine back home -- he knew that inheriting the shop meant that he would have power. trading his ability to go to the shop unlocked his magic, not having the passage of time dehumanized the experience of growing old.

but it was fine. he was fine back home, he chooses this life. here, he has no idea what's happening to him. even if cole managed to appease some of his anxiety, was he going to disappear...? is this because of his existence that this is distorted? find the witch with his head in his hands, taking deep breaths.)

[theforgottenboy]

[Whatever this new water-mist is, it doesn't allow him to tell where someone actually is. So he's not specifically expecting to find Watanuki when he happens to follow this new crack in the world to the shrine, a chicken nug tottering along behind him.]

[He slows to a stop when he catches sight of him. He'd said thanks to him, so he thought he had helped, but...]

[Cole continues toward him.]

Are you still hurting?

[kimihiros]

(deep breaths, recompose yourself. someone might see, someone might worry. there's no need for that, it's not so urgent. he's probably fine, it's not worth the trouble. trembling hands pick up the pipe, taking a large drag from the tobacco it holds. cole's presence scares him, and he nearly chokes, but experienced as he is, it simply leaves his lips.)

I'm fine, Cole. Don't worry.

[theforgottenboy]

[As usual, this would be easier if he could tell what he's feeling. At least the new cracks let him hear more than he used to, but it's still limited.]

[He comes to a stop beside him, the nug waddling about and pecking at the ground.]

Are you sure? I didn't make it worse?

[kimihiros]

(mugetsu is automatically uncomfortable with the nug's presence, so he retreats back into kimihiro's chanshan, squeaking possessively just in case the animal meant any harm.)

It's not you.

[theforgottenboy]

[Mugetsu please, it's the most harmless critter imaginable.]

Can I help?

[kimihiros]

... No.

(because cole, knowing him, wouldn't accept a thing for it. it's not how things work with kimihiro.)

[theforgottenboy]

[Oh...]



[He sits down not far from Kimihiro with his legs crossed, and the chicken nug promptly climbs into his lap to settle in.]

[He just sits there, idly petting the nug.]

[kimihiros]

Were you ever truly human, Cole? Before you became... A spirit of compassion, was it?

[bluecastleace]

[Iwaizumi’s Kimihiro alarm bells must have been going off, because somehow, someway, he happens to pass by right as the other places his head in his hands, appearing to have some sort of panic attack. All attempts at a hard exterior evaporate - no jokes or jabs about grandmas or dumb asses. Iwaizumi flocks to his side with a brow furrowed in concern, not hesitating for a second to place his hand on the man’s shoulder.]

Hey, what’s going on here? What happened?

[kimihiros]

It's... It's fine. I'm fine.

(nope, he's definitely in panic, as the trembling hand touches the steady one on his shoulder. still, it's... too much trouble to explain. he thought he had learned his lesson - everything is give and take, but in this situation, it feels like he'd be taking too much. asking for too much.

comprehension, answers, all things that iwaizumi cannot give him. explaining his decision to stay in one place is bad enough, but explaining that he feels like he might be distorting the universe by simply existing may be a little too much.)

[bluecastleace]

I can see you’re not fine.

[He says this, his other hand coming to grip the trembling one as he crouches by the man’s side. His expression is uncharacteristically soft, though still with that hard edge that Iwaizumi never quite relinquishes. He frowns stubbornly, but his voice is gentle. He’s been spending a lot of time with Kimihiro lately - more than he’d probably admit - but he’s never seen him quite like this.]

When are you gonna learn that I can take what you have to tell me, huh? Who gives a shit if I understand, but don’t lie to me.

What’s wrong? Just talk to me.

[kimihiros]

(once upon a time, kimihiro took all the burden he and doumeki shared to himself, much to doumeki's displeasure. the other man simply stated -- "half the burden", and kimihiro, a child back then, should have understood what he meant. that's why they shared the same eye, after all, half of doumeki's after kimihiro's had been lost. this feels exactly like that, like he's a stupid teenager pissed off because someone is offering a hand. like he isn't worth the trouble, because really, what can any of them even do?

it made sense it had to be iwaizumi, with how his protectiveness reminds him of the stupid man who never left his side. it's hitsuzen at its finest, isn't it?)

You've heard it, haven't you? You know what's wrong.

[bluecastleace]

Tell me anyway, Kimihiro.

[His voice is impossibly soft now, and his expression as eased into that of a nurturer. It probably looks unlike him, to be so mild, but this is Iwaizumi when someone he cares about is in need, and he cares about Kimihiro. He cares about him a lot.]

Talk to me. Talk through it. Get it out and let me help you.

[kimihiros]

(what the fuck is just happening? this is not the iwaizumi kimihiro is so used to seeing, loud, bad-mouthed, and strong as a brick. it's slightly uncanny... and it perhaps freaks out kimihiro even more.)

... I don't know what's happening.

[bluecastleace]

Okay, so talk it through. I’m listening.

[kimihiros]

I'm in between two worlds, at home. I've come to a point where normal wounds heal immediately, no illness affects me. It's fine, where I was. It was a decision that I made, and if I turned into something other than human, I would still help those around me. It was my decision.

I'm sure you heard the others. I don't want to lose my humanity, but is that for me to decide? Apparently, I'm not the only one.

[feale]

[ She's still reeling from the experience of having heard voices in her head, trying to clear it somehow by getting some fresh air, when she stumbles across Watanuki, his own head buried in his hands, breath deep enough that she can hear it.

Anxiety attack?

It's the first thought that comes to her mind, and in the next moment, Yoshizawa is kneeling next to him, reaching out to press her hand to his arm. ]

Watanuki-san, it's me. I'm here. Focus on your breathing, okay?

p5 royal spoilers

[kimihiros]

(he didn't look up to see who approached him, but the dulcet, kind voice and respectful manner tipped him off. sumire touches him and that is enough to cut him off the anxiety trance, taking a larger breath than the ones he had been taking and trying to compose himself.)

... Sumire-chan.

[feale]

[ When he looks up at her, breathes out her name, it's a small smile that Sumire offers him in return, something she hopes offers comfort, and her fingers curl to find purchase on his sleeve, her head dipping in a brief nod. ]

Yes, it's me. I'm not going to go anywhere.

[ It's a promise made in that surer voice of hers that slips through from time to time, the young woman determined to remain strong when it's something he clearly needs from her right now. ]

[kimihiros]

(kimihiro has always been an anxious person. easily irritable, and in his younger years, afraid of his own shadow. he's changed to adopt a much better stance, a calmer posture, but the anxiety sometimes still gets the best of him. a cold hand touches hers, as to reassure.)

I'm ok, Sumire-chan.

[feale]

[ When his hand touches hers in response, a sigh of relief finds her lips. The anxiety is still written on him enough for her to see, but he's calmed himself down so much already. She doesn't pull her hand away just yet, just in case he needs the grounding, but the concern melts off her face a little, and she smiles tentatively. ]

What happened?

[ It's risky, asking him to revisit it, isn't it? But she can't help if she doesn't know what happened, either. ]

[kimihiros]

(sumire-chan sure is adorable, isn't she? if it's tough for him, it surely would be tough for her, too. a lesson that he keeps revisiting over and over ever since he has started to realize that people in this realm don't want him to disappear either.)

It's... I'm just confused.

[feale]

[ Confused? To her mind, he looked a lot more troubled than confused... but she doesn't say as much, even as the question shows clear as day on her face. Her head tilts. ]

What do you mean, confused?

[ She's not sure how much help she'll be able to be, but if she can help him, she will. ]

[kimihiros]

You heard it, didn't you?

(considering the whole debate was over the leyline. kimihiro wipes a tear, like it had never rolled from his cheek in the first place and retreats his hand. he'll be fine.)