(catch-all/open) hold up, i'm invincible

[invinciblemikey]

WHO: manjiro "mikey" sano & you

WHERE: the harbors, mirth, and the hinterlands.

WHEN: november 1st till... the end of november??? probably

WHAT: mikey fixes boat things, does hella partying, has his shadow take over, and then goes for the noticeboard hinterlands quest.

WARNINGS: well. hahaha. (possible) suicide attempt mention, (possible) ideation, lack of control, dissociation, crime boss talk, death, drug and alcohol use, violence, and maybe a murder might occur. hi, he's great

Comments

[koutsuanzen]

Um-- okay.

[He accepts the help, in a rare show. He's been in worse shape before, but nothing quite sinks into the bones directly like a Mikey hit, and he's feeling it. He'd definitely give another soft hack and take a hard breath before dailing up Takemichi--

To say that he was with Mikey, and Mikey wanted them both. To meet by his door; and no, he didn't know more than that.

His tone would be gruff, but calm; vaguely optimistic. The breathing a little labored.

But progress. This was progress.

Once the call had happened, he'd follow Mikey. As requested.]

[invinciblemikey]

(the trip to the shadowlands is never a comfortable one, always dangerous, tempestuous, and nerve-wrecking, but eventually, they make it. mikey'd take most of the steering, and well, hopefully, that makes them even, with how sore his arms are with trying to keep a boat afloat in the storm.

in front of his door he stands, sitting on the floor and staring a little at his own hands. he's silent, waiting for takemichi to arrive as he tries to dry his own hair, back to the door.)

[crybabyhero]

[The call ends, and Takemichi takes a deep, lengthy breath. Then he starts to run. He doesn't slow down until he sees Mikey and Baji in front of the door.

It's true. They're really here, waiting for him. Of course, Baji wouldn't lie like that. He has no reason to. But Takemichi still hadn't been able to believe what he'd heard. For Mikey to actually ask for him, even through Baji, is a miracle.

A miracle you never could achieve, whispers that little voice.

Takemichi opts to ignore it, instead focusing on his soaked sandals as he stumbles to a stop and gasps for air.]

I... [Breathe. Breathe.] I'm here!

[koutsuanzen]

...yo.

[Greeted, sitting out front, picking at something at his knee. He still felt like shit, so he was mostly focusing on posture, on keeping his lungs free and clear.

But hey, now that the gang was all here...

Getting back to his feet slowly.]

Now that you are, maybe Mikey will tell us what the hell this is gonna be about.

[And it better not be another escape act, though something was niggling at him; something dark, which seemed to stick a finger right in his fresh wounds and wonder why Takemichi even needed to be here.

Which was fucking stupid-- of course he did. The kid had something. Something none of the rest of them did, something vital and alive that Mikey needed. And he'd never begrudge anyone that, so why was the back of his mind hissing one? This place and it's fucking tricks.

Shaking it off as exhaustion, he'd give Takemichi a nod.]

[invinciblemikey]

(he's just going to roll his eyes to baji's comment, before coming into his feet, no greeting other than a motion for them to follow inside. within his door, the scenario is none other than the familiar dojo where mikey grew up in. all in its place, and if it wasn't all messed up like all the doors were, it could have been a good place to live in.

better than the ruins of a house he nests in, poorly renovated and falling apart. no penthouse for him yet.

once they're secured and the door closes, mikey is just walking towards the back, fingers touching the wood of the exterior part of the house until he turns around and speaks.)

Both of you are shit at taking directions. I decided on something. You two want to help, then you're going to help, and you want to talk, then we will be able to talk, and I don't need to be around you for that. That minimizes the risks. We're becoming soulmates. That way, you two get what you fucking want and I don't need to be around you for that, so you two can leave me the fuck alone.

(and, so, he'll guide. further at the back, there's izana. it's not truly him, naturally, as the image flicks and dances before their eyes. tan skin, empty eyes, grin, and the earrings matching the back of mikey's neck.)

Touch him.

[crybabyhero]

[Baji gets a sloppy, barely-there nod in return, the best Michi can muster as he fails to catch his breath. His body's desperate cry for rest isn't about to stop him now, however, and he dutifully follows the others through Mikey's door.

Straight into a scolding.

He can feel his heart squeeze at the thought that he rushed all the way here just to be pushed away again, just to get another earful about how dangerous Mikey is. (Honestly, what more can the guy do to him? Kill him? He already did!) Takemichi curls his hands into fists at his sides, and just as the pressure begins to burn in his palms, he hears the last word he could have ever expected.

The tension evaporates from his body, and he blinks, properly confounded.]

Soulmates? Mikey, what're you... talking... about?

[Michi trails off, wide eyes locked on Izana's image.]

Oh.