tornheart | OPEN

Entry tags:

OPEN

Who: Chikusa, Mukuro, and potentially some stalkers idk
When: July 9 | Set during this innocent post
Where: Mukuro's dorm room
What: Apologies and Sundaes

[Truthfully, being assaulted by Chikusa Kakimoto hadn't been the worst thing that happened to him. Faustino, maybe, but that shell he had been before he had Awoken was a contemptible sort of person. Playing at mischief while thinking himself superior to most. And yet Mukuro would have to claw his way back to the way he was. To think Chikusa Kakimoto, the weakest among them physically, had beaten Faustino so easily was both a source of pride and another reason to be enraged.

Asking a non-combatant to win against someone as driven and ruthless as Chikusa would be near impossible, but if asked, Mukuro would have said the same thing about being kidnapped and brainwashed into believing this life. No, that was the real source of his rage. Being in this lie of a world against his will was a blow to his considerable pride, but there was one good thing to come of this: Chikusa Kakimoto obviously knew more about what was happening here than he did. Even though he had devoted his time after that battle to researching and looking at everything in this world through new eyes, there was still much he didn't know.

So when he heard the knock on his door, he didn't bother getting up, too intent on compiling notes.]

Come in.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Quietly, the door clicks open, and there's the trademark shuffle of Chikusa's footsteps as he goes inside. It clicks shut again, and then there's silence.]

[If Mukuro doesn't bother to look up, that's fine. Chikusa speaks after a moment.]

Maestro.... Is this good enough...?

[In his arms is a couple of bulging grocery bags, their contents able to be discerned with a bit of staring. Ice cream cartons, nuts, bottles of various syrups, caramel, various fruits... Even more things that aren't as easy to see. It'd been the most he'd ever spent, whether as Ciro or his own self, but it's worth it if it means Mukuro's forgiveness.]

[Even now, although it doesn't show easily on his face save for the way his chin is tilted down, he's horrified at what he did. While he wouldn't say he's never thought of wrapping his fingers around Mukuro's throat- hormones are his excuse- to actually do it makes him feel ill. He'd never raise a hand to the person he's devoted his entire self to. And yet...]

[Looking up would mean giving Chikusa some relief, and while Mukuro would be 'kinder' to his subordinates than he would be to others, that kindness still wasn't much to measure by. He only looked up when Chikusa bothered to speak, taking in his down turned chin and the ridiculous amount of groceries he was carrying.

The problem here wasn't that Chikusa Kakimoto had overpowered him. The problem was that if Chikusa could, anyone could. And then who would protect them? So perhaps he took pity on him or knew that Chikusa was his one steadfast ally in this fake world, so he stood up, taking one of the bags from him.]

We have work to do. Start with what you know.

[Which was as close to verbally forgiving Chikusa as he was ever going to get. Sorry your leader was such an emotionally constipated mess.]

[Listen, that's their entire group. He'll take it.]

[His shoulders immediately slump in relief, and he starts to shuffle off into the kitchen after him to put down everything. At the same time, he starts to murmur out answers.]

This isn't the first time that this kind of event has happened but apparently the group I was a part of was the first of a "do-over". The names that initially appear on the network are based on those of demons, which apparently are similar to the creatures we summon... At least mine so far has seemed accurate.

The symbols by the names indicate their... class. Combatants and Navigators. Combatants are better suited to frontline battling. Navigators are more... tactical.

Do you want me to continue on that, Maestro, or on something else?

[He'll do whatever Mukuro asks right now, so long as it means forgiveness.]

[Unpacking the bag was more than what Mukuro did normally, but he was curious to the contents, mouth watering a little as he looked over all the topping choices, before kindly getting out two bowls and spoons. He listened without comment as Chikusa went over some of the things he suspected, knew, or had no idea on, humming thoughtfully.

Once the bag was unpacked, he took a step back to let Chikusa get to work properly, settling down in a chair.]

'Do over'... Explain that.

[And perhaps, more importantly:]

How are we supposed to use the creatures we summoned? Only in battle?

[Because he had been trying without any success to summon it during the daytime in order to study it more closely, but nothing had worked. He wasn't keen on literally cutting his heart out to test it, since there was no guarantee he'd be able to survive that sort of trauma again.]

[Carefully, from the corner of his eye, he watches Mukuro. While it's not always easy to discern his leader's thoughts (although more often than people think), he knows what it means when Mukuro looks over everything like that. Chikusa could heave a sigh of relief, but instead he just obediently gets to making sundaes once Mukuro sits down. First is heating up some hot fudge...]

I'm still looking into it, Maestro. All I can say is that this sort of thing isn't the first occurrence of people regaining their memories, apparently, or getting those creatures...

[Luci, of course, is unhelpful, but what else is new. Now to spread peanut butter at the bottom of the bowl...]

I think.... only at night. The creatures we fought are related to the murders that have been plaguing this place... When I regained all my memories, it was also at night. Also, when you answered that second question- [You know, the ones where you answered you give a fuck] -that night had the rest of us change into that other set of clothing.... Although there wasn't any creature...

They're called Personas.... supposedly.

[The more he heard, the more irritated he was becoming. Perhaps it was his memories, raw and close to the surface, like fresh wounds, but the thought of there being 'rounds' of people being thrown into this game reminded him too much of the laboratory they grew up in. Where they were only fodder for adults amusement and ambitions. He didn't trust anyone who was anonymous, who said that this was for their own protection and safety. If that was the case, the powers he had would have been better suited for him than the cheap spells he had now.

He closed his eyes, leaning his head against the wall, resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose.]

How worthless.

[Though it wasn't as if they hadn't clawed their way out of an even deeper hell with worse weapons. Also don't bring up the second question he's not interested in that touchy feely stuff and he has erased it from his memory.]

Theories behind Luci's identity and who our 'enemies' are?

[Because honestly anyone who wasn't in this room was an enemy as far as he was concerned.]

[Mukuro isn't the only one who's getting memories of that kind of thing... The same comparison has quietly been nagging at the back of Chikusa's head ever since his own memories returned to him. Perhaps it's why he's been so quick to leap to murder.]

[What had solved one despairing hell perhaps could solve another. All that's missing is finding out where to aim the attack.]

Not quite. [A pause.] ...But there is something else that might interest you, Mukuro-sama... A place called the Velvet Room. Not a physical place- [Probably? What the fuck is going on in this place] -but there were two people there. They said his situation is tightly entwined in ours...

[It was telling that Mukuro didn't bother to berate or question Chikusa further on the matter when he moved to switch the topics, mostly because he trusted whole heartedly in Chikusa's ability to gather information and for never lying to him. He was able to discern a great deal, process it, and draw conclusions identical or close enough to what Mukuro himself would have, so when he said there was something else of interest, he opened his eyes, humming thoughtfully.]

An illusion?

[Because that was his working theory of this place until he saw otherwise. He did snort however, at his destiny being entwined with anyone's.]

Unimportant. Who are the two people there?

[The sounds of a knock would temporarily break the conversation, coming from the young boy currently peering through the - now somewhat ajar - doorway. Admittedly, he spent a solid five minutes resisting the urge to simply walk in without any kind of warning, as he'd done countless times before when he went by the name of Angelo (likely to the annoyance of the one the room belonged to).

Still, the rain guardian knew better than to try and waltz carelessly into the other's space without some heads up. Even more so, when he realized that it wasn't just Mukuro, but Chikusa as well currently visiting - causing him to quickly clasp his hands together apologetically.]

Ah! Sorry, sorry. Didn't realize you both were here, but I guess that makes things easier. [He'll lower his hands just long enough to let his smile widen into that cheerful grin, more so when he saw evidence of ice cream within their midst.] Hopefully I'm not interrupting?

[Mukuro, please don't just dismiss things.... Still, Chikusa nods obediently as he finishes up the sundae, sprinkling in some Reese's Cups both mini and enormous into the bowl before he picks it up.]

That's what I thought as well, Maestro. However, each time has happened while we've been asleep, so...

[Before he can continue, the knocking at the door does indeed strike him silence, and Chikusa pauses in the middle of the room warily as he shifts the weight of the bowl to mainly one hand. If anything wanted to kill them, he doubts it would knock politely at the door.... but they never stayed alive as long as they have by being not paranoid.]

[However, when it's Yamamoto Takeshi who steps through... Chikusa isn't sure if he'd prefer an enemy instead. Certainly, it'd be easier and he'd know what to do then.]

[In contrast, faced with someone that another version of himself had thought of as a friend, he stands awkwardly in the middle of the room staring for much longer than is socially acceptable before slowly looking away and finishing his shuffle to place the sundae in front of Mukuro.]

[He doesn't say anything. This isn't really new.]

[Why not, the mind is built to dismiss information that wasn't necessary in order not to get overloaded. This situation was much the same.

Before Mukuro could question Chikusa further, he turned at the sound of a familiar knock, so strange in this new context. Angelo had been one of the more frequent visitors of his, and he had enjoyed his... 'brother's' company where he had enjoyed few others. It was strange to have the veil of illusion ripped away from him, especially when the vestiges of it clung to him so strongly. Even now, at the sight of Yamamoto Takeshi's face ( for that was who he truly was, was he not? ) he still felt the urge to tease and protect him in turn. How odd.

The sundae being put down in front of him was enough to make him turn his attention back to what was in front of him. He gestured for Chikusa to sit down in case the other boy had forgotten how to act, smiling pleasantly ( if a bit sharply ) around his first mouthful of ice cream at Yamamoto Takeshi.]

You're not interrupting anything at all. Would you like to join us?

[This 'making things easier' was true enough. Sooner or later they would have had to have this talk, and Mukuro preferred it be sooner.]

[If Yamamoto was bothered by any awkwardness, he did a very good job of not showing it. That easy going attitude of his more or less helping him adapt rather naturally, and considering neither seemed interested in sending him on his way - well, that was a plus.

Didn't mean he wasn't giving Chikusa a small, little smile before attention diverted to the one speaking. Expression seeming to brighten almost immediately, though whether that was simply out of habit on his part or something else was anyone's guess.]

Yeah. If that's okay. To be honest, I kind of ended up here without really thinking about it, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to check in and see how you were doing.

[Words that have a trail of laughter, as he made the short distance over to pull up a chair. Something that he did without a second thought, as he was already making himself at home before he realized it.]

Guess that sounds kinda silly, huh?

[Well, Chikusa supposes he wasn't sure what he was expecting. For Mukuro to turn the Vongola Rain Guardian away while they were talking? It'd be easier but... There's never been any particular animosity between Mukuro and Yamamoto Takeshi (or anyone and Yamamoto? Chikusa is starting to wonder) unlike with some others of the Vongola. And...]

[Chikusa doesn't take a seat. Instead, he just nods his head slightly to Mukuro and steps away.]

I should go clean up, Maestro...

[Or. You know. Make another sundae for your gluttonous self when this one immediately vanishes.]

[It's not as if he's looking for an excuse or anything, no matter how much his subtle side glances to Yamamoto might say.]

Hasn't that always been your way?

[To do things merely by instinct and without thinking. For some it could be fatal, yet it proved to be fine for Yamamoto Takeshi. That being said, he took another bite of his sundae, considering.]

Have you found anything out that might be useful, Yamamoto Takeshi?

[His gaze however turned back over to Chikusa once he spoke up, mouth quirking up in amusement.]

Leave it for now.

[Because someone found the whole awkward affair hilarious. Sorry that this was your life Chikusa.]

Mm? Oh yeah! I guess that's true.

[It is said so airily, but he wasn't sure what part of him could relate to that more. It was still a weird feeling, to know the two of them so casually - but then not at all. Still, the smile was ever present as he turned to tilt his head temporarily at Chikusa, watching his friend when he spoke up and was about to offer to help when hearing Mukuro.

Something, that gets a pause before he's shifting into a more serious note. Or as serious as Yamamoto could get, as he regarded the Mist Guardian with a thoughtful look.]

Not really. At least, not anything you guys probably don't already know.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

OPEN

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject