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Entry tags:
- ! mod event,
- arknights: shalem,
- bleach: grimmjow jaegerjaquez,
- bleach: jugram haschwalth,
- danganronpa: fukawa toko,
- encanto: bruno madrigal,
- ennead: set,
- fe3h: claude von riegan,
- fe3h: felix hugo fraldarius,
- ffvii: vincent valentine,
- genshin impact: tartaglia (childe),
- genshin impact: the traveler (lumine),
- hades: zagreus,
- htwmho: rudbeckia de borgia,
- jjk: fushiguro megumi,
- jjk: itadori yuuji,
- naruto: uchiha sasuke,
- orv: han sooyoung,
- orv: jung heewon,
- shadow and bone: the darkling,
- stranger things: steve harrington,
- the last of us: joel miller,
- vld: keith
(no subject)
I. PUSHING UP DAISIES
cw: depiction of hanahaki, mention of blood, mild body horror
The Frightful Harvest ended on a bloody, eerie note, but the Respite's most welcome interlude has proven exceptionally fruitful. The sky's darkened again, moons struggling to glow through turbulent clouds, but crops all over Stygia have grown dense and healthy, herbs and plants and flowers aplenty. Normally, it'd be a time to rejoice, even as sleet pours and winds grow bitterly cold -- and it might have been, had greens and stems and petals NOT elected to blossom inside you. Your lungs, specifically.
It's an uncommon side effect of the Harvest, affecting those who foster affection or attraction towards another, triggered only by a stray thought. Almost as if punished by Oblivium for harboring any kind of positive feelings. The worst part is that the object of your desire doesn't even have to be in the Netherworld for you to be afflicted. Over the span of three months, you'll gradually experience various degrees of the "harvest's curse", depending on the source of your feelings:
II. DO NOT PASS GO
cw: mention of blood, torture, branding, violence, forced captivity
Full-swing investigations concerning the Harvest's murders have begun, though the mysterious rider has yet to resurface. The day is young still, but no matter; the Hierarchy firmly believes that the creature was summoned by a group of renegades, fully intent on finding and dismembering the organization. Perhaps even literally.
If you've spilled blood not your own in the previous event, the Hierarchy finds you. Do they know? It doesn't really matter; they've targeted you for reasons they won't divulge, persuaded of your involvement -- and off to the Gallows you go. Each of you receives the same greeting when you arrive, held down by rough hands and branded upon the arm with the letter F. The mark signifies ‘forsaken’, and the painful scar is indelible proof that each of you has betrayed the Hierarchy's hospitality. Writhe and scream and glower as much as you want; next thing you know, something heavy hits you across the head, and you collapse.
When your vision slowly creeps back, your eyes adjust to a dimly lit stone cell. Your feet are secured by iron cuffs tethered by one long chain, and you lie in nothing but filthy, tattered rags. It's dark; the air is bloated and filled with agonizing shrieks. Dead vines scrap the walls of half-crumbled buildings, weather-worn stone pillars surrounded by withered clumps of grass. You may converse with your cellmates: the guards patrolling the Gallows couldn't care less, convinced that no one could possibly escape anyway.
III. TO THE RESCUE
cw: depiction of hanahaki, mention of blood, mild body horror
The Frightful Harvest ended on a bloody, eerie note, but the Respite's most welcome interlude has proven exceptionally fruitful. The sky's darkened again, moons struggling to glow through turbulent clouds, but crops all over Stygia have grown dense and healthy, herbs and plants and flowers aplenty. Normally, it'd be a time to rejoice, even as sleet pours and winds grow bitterly cold -- and it might have been, had greens and stems and petals NOT elected to blossom inside you. Your lungs, specifically.
It's an uncommon side effect of the Harvest, affecting those who foster affection or attraction towards another, triggered only by a stray thought. Almost as if punished by Oblivium for harboring any kind of positive feelings. The worst part is that the object of your desire doesn't even have to be in the Netherworld for you to be afflicted. Over the span of three months, you'll gradually experience various degrees of the "harvest's curse", depending on the source of your feelings:
► PHYSICAL/EMOTIONAL ATTRACTION & REQUITED LOVE
It starts with an itch. Your throat tickles, an odd sensation in your lungs, slightly constricted. Allergies? Not quite. It worsens overtime, and days pass by, perhaps weeks. You cough, a little more every day, a little deeper, and then it happens: petals, stuck to your lips as you wheeze and try to empty your chest. Marigold, carnations, daisies, peonies... Thankfully, for you, it's more of an annoyance, sporadic at best and leaving you exhausted at times, but you're in no immediate danger. Unfortunately, not all Restless share the same luck.
► UNREQUITED LOVE
It doesn't matter whether it is truly unrequited; as long as you think it is, whether you're fully convinced or distantly resigned, you get the whole package. It starts the same way the lesser variation does, gradual, and with unsavory (!) additions: lilies and dark red roses. The first slowly spreads its poison in your body, inducing fevers, skin rashes, blistering in your mouth and stomach aches. The second pricks your throat bloody, making speech difficult and breathing even more so. It spreads throughout Stygia, and if most wound up meeting their end in the past, some speak of a highly hypothetical cure. It's believed that if the object of your affection confesses equally strong feelings for you, the curse should rapidly subside. If this option isn't viable, Doran promises that all Healers in Hale are working extremely hard to find a solution. In the meantime, symptoms can be partially soothed with poultices and spells that you can find in the Marketplace or in Serene. Some merchants might even take pity on you and offer them for free.
It starts with an itch. Your throat tickles, an odd sensation in your lungs, slightly constricted. Allergies? Not quite. It worsens overtime, and days pass by, perhaps weeks. You cough, a little more every day, a little deeper, and then it happens: petals, stuck to your lips as you wheeze and try to empty your chest. Marigold, carnations, daisies, peonies... Thankfully, for you, it's more of an annoyance, sporadic at best and leaving you exhausted at times, but you're in no immediate danger. Unfortunately, not all Restless share the same luck.
► UNREQUITED LOVE
It doesn't matter whether it is truly unrequited; as long as you think it is, whether you're fully convinced or distantly resigned, you get the whole package. It starts the same way the lesser variation does, gradual, and with unsavory (!) additions: lilies and dark red roses. The first slowly spreads its poison in your body, inducing fevers, skin rashes, blistering in your mouth and stomach aches. The second pricks your throat bloody, making speech difficult and breathing even more so. It spreads throughout Stygia, and if most wound up meeting their end in the past, some speak of a highly hypothetical cure. It's believed that if the object of your affection confesses equally strong feelings for you, the curse should rapidly subside. If this option isn't viable, Doran promises that all Healers in Hale are working extremely hard to find a solution. In the meantime, symptoms can be partially soothed with poultices and spells that you can find in the Marketplace or in Serene. Some merchants might even take pity on you and offer them for free.
if your character has heard of similar diseases in their home world, they're absolutely welcome to share their insight on the netherwork or anywhere else
the evolution of the disease can be as gradual, as fast or as severe as you wish it to be
a mini quest to retrieve ingredients for a cure will be available in december or january
by february, all characters should be cured
II. DO NOT PASS GO
cw: mention of blood, torture, branding, violence, forced captivity
Full-swing investigations concerning the Harvest's murders have begun, though the mysterious rider has yet to resurface. The day is young still, but no matter; the Hierarchy firmly believes that the creature was summoned by a group of renegades, fully intent on finding and dismembering the organization. Perhaps even literally.
If you've spilled blood not your own in the previous event, the Hierarchy finds you. Do they know? It doesn't really matter; they've targeted you for reasons they won't divulge, persuaded of your involvement -- and off to the Gallows you go. Each of you receives the same greeting when you arrive, held down by rough hands and branded upon the arm with the letter F. The mark signifies ‘forsaken’, and the painful scar is indelible proof that each of you has betrayed the Hierarchy's hospitality. Writhe and scream and glower as much as you want; next thing you know, something heavy hits you across the head, and you collapse.
When your vision slowly creeps back, your eyes adjust to a dimly lit stone cell. Your feet are secured by iron cuffs tethered by one long chain, and you lie in nothing but filthy, tattered rags. It's dark; the air is bloated and filled with agonizing shrieks. Dead vines scrap the walls of half-crumbled buildings, weather-worn stone pillars surrounded by withered clumps of grass. You may converse with your cellmates: the guards patrolling the Gallows couldn't care less, convinced that no one could possibly escape anyway.
► Ironically, a magical barrier around the Gallows prevents magical/spiritual abilities from functioning. However, characters who roam free still can absolutely sneak in! Be careful not to get caught, though!
► Loud disagreements might attract unwanted attention. A single guard will come, and if he finds nothing else amiss, will threaten them to be quiet. A second violation earns the offender a rap on their bare feet with a club. A third violation will cause the offender to be gagged. Note that in order to beat or gag the offender, the guard must first open the cell.
► If you share affinities with Gargoyles, incapacitating a guard in any way will draw the attention of one. It'll show you to the gates where you'll be able to escape, taking care of sentries on your way. You should probably keep a low-profile from then on, and avoid showing-off your brand.
► A secret passage may be found through a mausoleum nearby; an arrow of flaking red paint marks the entrance. Or is it blood? Inside, it's nearly pitch-black. Perhaps, if you're lucky, your vision extends as far as 30 feet in front of you, but occasionally, the darkness is broken by clinging phosphorescent fungi or crawling luminescent creatures, and from out of the silence echo sounds of dripping water. You're underground, and Abysmals can be encountered here if you're too loud. You should also watch out for cave-ins, but as you get farther away from the general region of the Gallows, your magical abilities gradually come back.
► Eventually, a long, broken staircase will lead you to Hale. If you're injured, you'll be sent to the main infirmary; characters with healing abilities or knowledge are super welcome to help!
Luckily for you, there are so many prisoners it's a difficult task for the Hierarchy to always keep track of all of them. Your brand, however, is a dead giveaway, so you might as well try and find a way to get rid of it; you might hear through the grapevines that the dead skin of Badaliscus can be used as bandages, and overtime, the brand will fully heal and disappear.► Loud disagreements might attract unwanted attention. A single guard will come, and if he finds nothing else amiss, will threaten them to be quiet. A second violation earns the offender a rap on their bare feet with a club. A third violation will cause the offender to be gagged. Note that in order to beat or gag the offender, the guard must first open the cell.
► If you share affinities with Gargoyles, incapacitating a guard in any way will draw the attention of one. It'll show you to the gates where you'll be able to escape, taking care of sentries on your way. You should probably keep a low-profile from then on, and avoid showing-off your brand.
► A secret passage may be found through a mausoleum nearby; an arrow of flaking red paint marks the entrance. Or is it blood? Inside, it's nearly pitch-black. Perhaps, if you're lucky, your vision extends as far as 30 feet in front of you, but occasionally, the darkness is broken by clinging phosphorescent fungi or crawling luminescent creatures, and from out of the silence echo sounds of dripping water. You're underground, and Abysmals can be encountered here if you're too loud. You should also watch out for cave-ins, but as you get farther away from the general region of the Gallows, your magical abilities gradually come back.
► Eventually, a long, broken staircase will lead you to Hale. If you're injured, you'll be sent to the main infirmary; characters with healing abilities or knowledge are super welcome to help!
III. TO THE RESCUE
As you attempt to escape, or perhaps once you’ve successfully snuck in, you come across a terrifying spectacle: in front of you, impaled through the shoulder by a spear, a weary humanoid figure covered in blood. The body is being restrained by additional shackles on each arm and leg, which are linked to chains anchored within the walls. There's a guard nearby, armed to the teeth… and still you decide to free them.
The guard’s magic is just as useless as yours, and while impressive in size, dexterity definitely isn’t his main strength. He hits hard — with brass knuckles, a chain mace, and a sturdy shield — and his stamina almost seems endless, but it’s not. Keep evading, and he’ll eventually tire enough to topple over. It’s also possible to have him chase you around if you don’t go too far, which would allow someone else to grab the spear. Once he’s too exhausted to go on, you can either kill him or chain him to the wall. The keys are in his boots, and you’ll find a bottle of water as well as a small vial of ointment in a satchel on the ground, where he previously stood.
The prisoner is a young man, perhaps in his mid-20s. Once freed from his shackles, he immediately keels over, though he’s not unconscious. He thanks you with a deep and raw voice, begging for water. You can tend to his wounds if you’re able—the ointment quickly soothes—and when he finally stands again, he asks you a question: “I’m a stranger to you, and you could have died. Yet, you chose to free me, unaware of my past. Of my crimes. Of my virtues. Why?”
Regardless of your answer, he smiles, a private understanding that turns the stretch of his lips enigmatic. There’s a bubbling chuckle in his throat, very hoarse, and then he hisses, touching where you’ve helped him apply the ointment on his body. “You know what they say. If it stings...” He looks at you, deliberately pausing there and staring bold into your eyes. “... then it must be working.”
It might feel like there’s more to what he’s trying to say, though it’s pointless to ask: he bows, and then he slowly inches away from you. “Until we meet again.” White and thick tendrils of smoke envelop him, seemingly coming out of nowhere, and then just like that, he’s gone.
The guard’s magic is just as useless as yours, and while impressive in size, dexterity definitely isn’t his main strength. He hits hard — with brass knuckles, a chain mace, and a sturdy shield — and his stamina almost seems endless, but it’s not. Keep evading, and he’ll eventually tire enough to topple over. It’s also possible to have him chase you around if you don’t go too far, which would allow someone else to grab the spear. Once he’s too exhausted to go on, you can either kill him or chain him to the wall. The keys are in his boots, and you’ll find a bottle of water as well as a small vial of ointment in a satchel on the ground, where he previously stood.
The prisoner is a young man, perhaps in his mid-20s. Once freed from his shackles, he immediately keels over, though he’s not unconscious. He thanks you with a deep and raw voice, begging for water. You can tend to his wounds if you’re able—the ointment quickly soothes—and when he finally stands again, he asks you a question: “I’m a stranger to you, and you could have died. Yet, you chose to free me, unaware of my past. Of my crimes. Of my virtues. Why?”
Regardless of your answer, he smiles, a private understanding that turns the stretch of his lips enigmatic. There’s a bubbling chuckle in his throat, very hoarse, and then he hisses, touching where you’ve helped him apply the ointment on his body. “You know what they say. If it stings...” He looks at you, deliberately pausing there and staring bold into your eyes. “... then it must be working.”
It might feel like there’s more to what he’s trying to say, though it’s pointless to ask: he bows, and then he slowly inches away from you. “Until we meet again.” White and thick tendrils of smoke envelop him, seemingly coming out of nowhere, and then just like that, he’s gone.
so you’ve chosen to free him, which in turn has generated a future plot point that’ll occur some time in february. some of you WILL see him again.
what he says to you is a clue.
you can answer his question OOCly right here. it’ll have some bearing on the way your character will be approached re: future plot point.
if you've voted no and would still like to participate, you could always allow your character to be convinced or reluctantly dragged by another!
ooc note
► As always, check out the Notice Board if you'd like additional prompts! Older quests from previous months are always available as well. You'll also find the Calendar right here.
► You'll find already answered questions just here, and if you'd like to ask new ones, ask them here!
► For fun's sake and similarly to the puck adventure, you may play it out in different groups or on your own, and still obtain the same results as everyone else whether your characters threaded together!
no subject
Hibiki has been marking time since her last correspondence with Kaito, but it's not quite precise. The timing on this is going to be crunchy, she knows, especially since Mister Fatass Guard that's covering their block seems to have a short fuse. On the one hand, that means that he's easy enough to manipulate. But on the other, she might lose her window completely.
And that's where Mikey comes in. He's her contingency plan--if he chooses to play along. But judging from the quick look the two blonds exchange, he's down to party. Good.
Tilting her head back to look at him, a (faked?) grin spreading across her lips, she waves a chained hand dismissively. ]
Yeah? I'd like to see you try, asshole. I can be as loud as I want and you can't do shit about it. So piss off!
[ Taking a hold of the chain, Hibiki yanks it hard. There's no way that would normally throw him off balance, but she hopes that he's got enough sense to ham it up for their audience.
R̵e̷a̴d̴y̵ ̷t̴o̴ ̸s̸w̷i̴t̸c̶h̸?̴
Her shadow probably can't hurt him (hell, she probably can't on her own), but after leveraging that as part of their truce, Hibiki takes a deep breath before her consciousness takes a step back.
No killing.
As Hibiki gets ready to headbutt Mikey, the cell door swings open as the guard grabs her by the hair and yanks her back hard. Accompanied by another armored individual, he stands in the doorway after she is pulled out and slammed into the ground. It knocks the wind out of her, and while she's been doing a good job at blocking the pain Kaito feels through their link, this breaks through that barrier.
His hand still grasping her hair, the guard puts a foot on her back, yanking her head back as Hibiki grits her teeth. As soon as she is able to turn her head, the blonde spits at her captor, who seems entirely unfazed. ]
They're gonna love you down at the Forges. I can't wait to see what they turn that defiant soul into.
1/2
After a brief meetup with Sakura to get extra supplies and inform her of his plan, Kaito made tracks for the Gallows—only to run into some pipsqueak blond punk right outside the prison. At least it's not in an alleyway this time?
Wait, this isn't Mikey. Mikey's shorter.
Takemichi's his name. A brief introduction and some mild mutual deduction leads them to the same conclusion: that they're making a beeline into the Gallows to bust someone important to them out. Kaito had intended to hoof it alone while other teams invaded the gaol, but he's not gonna turn down a helping hand right at the gates.
The plan is straightforward: get in, play Metal Gear Solid, bust their friends out, and start a riot with the other infiltrators. Kaito has a pretty good read on where Hibiki's being held, so he's committed that approximate location to memory for when the barrier seals his powers. Sneaking in through a poorly-patrolled hole in the wall, it's surprisingly easy for the duo to either sneak past lazy guards or (relatively) quietly knock out those in the way.
By the time they get within earshot, he can hear Hibiki haranguing the guards—when a sudden jolt of pain erupts in the back of his head and the dull echo of flesh slamming into stone sounds off. ]
2/2
[ O̷i̶,̵ ̸h̷o̵t̴s̴h̴o̷t̷.̸ ̴Y̴o̶u̸'̴r̴e̴ ̶k̵i̸n̸d̴a̸ ̷r̶u̵i̷n̵i̶n̵g̴ ̵t̵h̷e̶ ̶p̵l̷—̸
His Shadow suddenly clams up, and not because of a hissed rebuke from its Self. Something radiating indignant fury has all but completely consumed his aura, and the only one who can currently perceive it is the voice in his head.
It decides it does not want to get in the way of whatever the fuck is about to burst out of Kaito.
Hurried strides become rapid, thundering stomps, each slam of his boot against concrete an impending omen to the pair of guards who notice far too late and a clarion call for their reinforcements. The door's watcher turns around first. He doesn't get the second syllable of his bewilderment out before Kaito's fist plows into his cheek—and the well-armored goon is launched off his feet into the fatter one, bouncing off his back into an unmoving (but notably still breathing) heap.
Fatso, thoroughly confused, lets go of Hibiki's hair and whirls around—only for both of the masked intruder's gloved hands to wring around his stump-like neck. What follows is fluid and effortless, with Kaito raising the guard off the ground until his arms can't stretch any further. Gold pools are filled with a manic energy that borders on murderous desire. The guard's kicks and flailing don't budge him, let alone faze him.
Two* of the three (okay, Mikey might not give enough of a shit or even remember him) Japanese Goldilocks may notice something is Off. Kaito's fairly strong, sure, but he's not someone you'd imagine forward smashing or deadlifting hundreds of pounds of meat and metal like it's nothing unless his powers are involved. Adrenaline is one hell of a drug, sure, but—
Without any fanfare, not even an annoying one-liner, the empath rotates his hips and hurls his overweight victim into the ground. A spiderweb of crater cracks erupt from the point of impact as the big lug ragdolls. He's out. There's no way he's not out.
There's a brief moment of relative silence where Kaito stands in place, hunched over, breathing heavily behind his mask as if he's contemplating finishing the job. It's been radio silent in the telepathic link he shares with Hibiki. Yet after several terse seconds, he kneels down, rips a set of keys from the less-fat guard's belt, then shuffles over to Hibiki and starts figuring out which one of these will unlock her shackles.
He still isn't talking, even as he releases her from her binds and stands back up to look over his shoulder for Takemichi. If he followed, Kaito's tossing him the keys. If he didn't, he'll just drop them by Hibiki's hands. ]
no subject
Apparently he wasn't the only one feeling desperate.
Kaito doesn't give him a word of warning before marching out of the shadows and into full view of the whole damn cell block.]
H-Hey! Hey!
[Takemichi hisses through his shock, frantically gesturing for him to return. Kaito still doesn't look back. Everyone else does though, and as the panic bubbles up in his chest, Takemichi makes the hasty decision to run after his rogue partner.
The plan is fucked. But it's okay. He can handle this. This is what he has more experience with anyway. Time to rush in without thinking.
By the time he's caught up, the entrance is wide open and Kaito's got the last guard in a merciless death grip. He obviously doesn't need help, so Takemichi beelines for Hibiki. He props her up, checking for any sign of serious injury before pulling her to her feet.
That's about when Kaito wrecks the floor with the prison guard's face. Takemichi can't help but stare at the comatose body left behind and the chunks of debris surrounding it, expression tightening as the color drains from his cheeks. He would have kept staring if Kaito hadn't tossed the keys his way, but even after he catches them, he doesn't say anything.
Now's not the time.
The important thing is that Hibiki has someone else to look after her, and now Takemichi can focus on what he came here to do. He ducks behind Hibiki and crouches down in front of Mikey.
He takes a deep breath, holds up the ring of keys, and forces a smile, waiting for Mikey to present his cuffs.]
I told you I wasn't gonna leave you alone.
no subject
woah. if he recognized him, he'd bring attention to the fact that he's a cheater, it's not that impressive after all, but since his mind thus decided he doesn't - oh, well, he's a bit charmed. and of course, it does not slip his attention that takemichi, once again, against his very strict wishes, is now in his view. he doesn't know whether to be thankful, to pinch the bridge of his nose, or to shake the boy until some sense falls into place in his damn brain.
takemichi can't live a life cleaning after mikey's mistakes. he's here for a reason -- but now that there's going to be repercussions for his actions, most likely here is not the best place to be. mikey's a torturer, not a torturee. so, once takemichi stares at his cuffs, he presents them, but, let the record show--)
You never learn, do you? You shouldn't do this.
no subject
Honestly, it could have been a lot worse. While her face probably looks like a mess and she will probably be feeling the impact once the adrenaline dies down, what hurts the most is the crushing weight on her spine. She can't see what's going on, but as her assailant is lifted and thrown across the walkway, Hibiki raises her head to see Kaito unlock her cuffs.
Only... he seems off. Even as Takemichi helps her to her feet, her eyes are on her partner. There's dead silence from him--chilling, haunting silence--which she meets not with words, but with a steady hand placed on his upper arm before giving it a gentle squeeze. She's right here, don't worry. She's been through a lot worse.
Keeping that point of contact until he shies away (if he does), she turns her head toward Takemichi and Mikey. She looks like hell, face scraped and bloodied from getting slammed (thank god she knows how to break her fall), but sees completely unfazed. ]
Glad to see you two found each other.
[ You should have never told her this guy's name, Mikey. Her attention draws back to Kaito, a deep frown on her face. ]
We've probably got a couple minutes tops before more of these guys come through; and they're gonna keep coming. So we've gotta move. Takemichi-kun, wanna pass me the keys? We can get you more easy.
[ 'You can't see my aura in here, can you? So what do you wanna do? Help bust people out, or create some chaos?'
Sorry, team, but there's only so much she's willing to broadcast, and Hibiki is not about to let a potential weakness in this duo slip out. ]
no subject
Kaito's eyes never meet hers, but he doesn't dare pull away now that she's got her hand on him. Instead, he quietly reaches behind him to grab a satchel of ointment and some gauze. A couple minutes is generous. He's fairly certain that other parties are starting to make their moves around the Gallows. It might be a minute before everything goes to shit.
That doesn't stop him from dropping to a knee. With a ginger touch and steady movement, he removes his gloves and starts applying salve to her legs and feet.
'I'm going to return the favor, like I said.'
The voice that finally breaks the silence between them is quiet but warm. He works quickly, only bandaging her calves. 'Sorry. Gotta conserve this.'
Once he's finished, he pushes to his feet and replaces his supplies. For a moment, he tugs the black cloth obscuring his face down around his neck. Golds glance Hibiki's way. They meet her gaze. A storm of emotions churns behind a paper-thin layer of controlled calm.
Kaito turns to the other two blondilocks. ]
Hibiki and I are going to keep breaking prisoners out. You and... [ Attention flicks to Mikey. Oh. ] You and your friend are free to join us or go on your own. Fatass should have another set of keys if you want to part ways. Backtrack to where we snuck in or look for a red arrow painted in the stone. I picked up some information that there's a secret passage out of the prison near that arrow.
no subject
[He retorts without a lick of remorse. And just to prove that he really doesn't learn, he unlocks Mikey's leg cuffs before looking him dead in the eye and adding insult to injury.]
Besides, you're the one who doesn't learn if you thought I wouldn't.
[With a satisfied huff, Takemichi stands up, dusts off his knees, and passes the key ring to Hibiki, finishing their glorified game of hot potato.]
Sorry, I wanna help, but... [A quick, not-at-all subtle glance at Mikey.] I've gotta stick with him.
[After all, there's no way Mikey will agree to work together with them so long as Takemichi is involved. Or so he assumes as he ducks his head apologetically.]
Thanks for getting me this far.
1/2
no subject
(once hibiki gets to know him better, hopefully she understands the pull and push. the 'don't come near me' and also, why he's holding on so tightly. it's complicated when he looks at her and sees someone who's passed. someone he couldn't save himself.
so, he looks at takemichi, a sharp look that tells him they're going along.)
Did your punching get any better in all these years?
(AND IF YOU'RE THINKING IT'S WEIRD THAT IT COMES FROM A THIRTY YEAR OLD TO A SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD, YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.)
no subject
'...I'm sorry.'
Guilt.
Taking the keys from Takemichi, she frowns deeply, ready to voice some concerns on the plans to split up before Mikey surprisingly digs his heels in. She isn't going to question it, instead offering a quick, appreciative nod before blinking a few times. "All these years"? Yeah, she knew the two of them connected, but Takemichi still looked like a teenager. But that's a future Hibiki question to answer.
Absently reaching down to hook the keys to her hip, she remembers the state of her wardrobe and slips a slender hand through it instead, gripping the keys in her palm. Practical, and it'll pack a punch! ]
Like I'd let you out of my sight. [ Prison buddies for life, Mikey. ] And since we're all running together, how do we wanna tackle this? Eventually we're gonna come across people who don't wanna fight. I'm all for taking out as many guards as possible though.
[ Hibiki pauses, not because her resolve wavers, but because she questions if this needs to be said. But someone here won't hesitate. ]
Taking out, but not killing.
1/2
'Don't you dare apologize. You're only undermining all the pain you put yourself through for us to make this work.'
'I won't fucking allow it.' ]
2/2
Well, it's not his business and isn't important right now. Yanking the cloth back over his mouth, he gestures to the cells around them.
Clanking metal indicative of incoming reinforcements grows louder. ]
Okay. We'll clear out as many of these as we can. Hibiki and Takemichi can go in opposite directions, but don't separate further than three cells. Anyone who tries to give you two trouble is gonna take a nap.
If there are no objections—
[ A guard rushes into their cell—only for Kaito to dart in, duck under his stockier frame, and proceed to give him the Hurricane Hibiki special: a smooth judo throw. He follows up with a kick to the head. ]
Steal weapons if you need them. Let's go!