ardent | 008. [Action - Catchall post/Nightmare Castle]

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008. [Action - Catchall post/Nightmare Castle]

[A - Daytime.]

[In some ways, some things never change; after the first twenty-four hours in the castle, Ishimaru is mostly sticking to the downstairs. He's always been a believer in the devil-you-know method of coping with things; even back in Hope's Peak, he was reluctant to explore the upstairs levels after they'd been unlocked. Things haven't really changed here; if anything he's...well. For all intents and purposes, the kid's studying; he's taken to sitting in the library for long hours, taking down extensive notes on what's written in those books and cross-referencing them like mad.

He still hasn't found his Pokémon yet; it's making him anxious. Studying is keeping him centered, at least.

There is one thing that's a bit different from the usual, however, and that would be the sword he's got strapped at his side at all times. It's not the sharpest thing in the world, and likely wouldn't hold up well in any sort of fight against a properly-maintained weapon, but it's something to defend himself with just the same.

So clearly, he's been upstairs at some point...]

[B - Nighttime.]

[Of course, nighttime is when he's actually putting that sword to good use; as much as he's usually a noncombatant, he's surprisingly adept with it, and since he's become aware that there are both kids and horrific goddamn monsters here, he's been refusing to stay in the safe zones at night, instead wandering the halls and trying not to be too jumpy himself.

He wasn't able to properly protect people back home, and he's convinced people have died due to his mistakes; he's not going to allow that sort of thing to happen twice.]

[OOC - take your pick on whatever you want to do with this one, and if you want to go with something else entirely I'm good for that as well; just specify A, B or whatever it is you want in the comment subject!

ALSO if you need a pink sigil, this idiot is like the last one in that he's got one.]

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[John too, is on the prowl through the castle at night. The sound of a fight is what inevitably drew him to Ishimaru, because what if someone needs help?]

[Ah, protagonists.]

[John's weapon of choice is a dulled but rather heavy-looking mace instead of a sword. And unlike Ishimaru, he's not alone. At his feet prowls a sleek, unfriendly-looking Umbreon and over his right shoulder lays a small, shiny Whimsicott. She doesn't seem quite as unfriendly as the Umbreon, though she does seem to poof up upon catching sight of Ishimaru. Almost like a cat would when they're trying to look menacing. John taps her on the nose and whispers something to get her to calm back down because, lord, Phoebe, chill, this boy is a friend and you are not even remotely menacing no matter how poofy you get.]

[John rests his mace over his left shoulder and raises his free hand in a wave as Ishimaru finishes of whatever monster it was that he was preoccupied with. To John, it kind of looked like a clown but lord only knows what it actually was.]

Man, I hadn't taken you for a fighter but I'm glad to see you're okay! I just heard a struggle and came running just in case... [Since there ARE a lot of non-fighters that got mixed up in this mess, after all.]

[Well, whatever it was, it certainly wasn't a clown on Ishimaru's end; more of a bear, really. Either way, finishing it off is far more satisfying than it has any right to be; Ishimaru's expression is still marked with the usual severity (something that just kind of darkens a little when he looks at the blade and doesn't see blood on it, which probably shouldn't surprise him given that the thing just kind of dissipated but still, man, that's unnerving), but he seems oddly satisfied with himself as he sheathes the weapon and turns back to John now that that's dealt with.]

Ah, I'm usually not - it's something I was studying back home, but it's not anything I ever expected to put to use quite like this! Unfortunately, it seems these creatures can't be reasoned with...

[He glances back toward the spot where the, uh...thing probably should still be lying.]

...whatever they are!

[It's then that he seems to notice the Pokémon; he looks at John curiously once he's gotten a look at them.]

Ah, did you get yours back - you found them?

[...Jesus, is there anything this kid DOESN'T study? John's beginning to think the answer to that is a firm 'no.']

Hehe...I think you'll find that a good majority of monsters can't be. Pokémon obviously not included in that. [Because Pokémon are smart and obviously not goon monsters like these...whatever the fuck these things are.] But yeah, I found these two, at least! I can't speak for the rest of my roster but I'm hoping they are all safe back home. Plus these two kind of had...weird circumstances before we all showed up here.

[He pats his Whimsicott on the head somewhat absent-mindedly, eyes still on Ishimaru. Truthfully, those nightmares still bothered him even after having regained the two subjects of them. He'll probably be hard-pressed to let Phoebe or Lestat out of his sight for a while.]

Have you not? What color is your symbol thing, do you need help getting all the doors open? [He has a hard time believing someone as sharp as Ishimaru hadn't figured out the door thing yet but since he doesn't see any Pokémon with the other boy, that seems to be the case. Because John has a hard time believing that anybody would want to keep their Pokémon inside their balls after being reunited in a place like this.]

...Oh! I... [He glances down at his right hand through habit before drawing it up in front of him, showing John the back of it.]

I haven't been able to locate anything that corresponds to that, and I've spent quite some time getting separated from people; it's made it difficult.

Oh, you too? I was beginning to wonder if maybe I was just imagining things or if people just didn't want to be around me or something, haha. I swear you can turn around and people will just suddenly be gone? It's weird. [But what about this castle isn't weird?]

I can show you where the pink door is though! My friends and I had a hell of a time finding it too. For some reason it's hidden, because I guess they couldn't all be simple and obvious. [He waves a hand, turning to walk towards whichever direction the stairs are from here.] I can get you in the blue door too, since it's on the way.

I'd appreciate that!

[Well, he'll just be trotting after you, there, John; he doesn't mind in the least.]

Are many of your friends here as well? I've seen a few of mine, but it's been difficult keeping an eye on all of them...I know at least three of them are here, though.

[And up the stairs they go, doot doot, walking along. John's Umbreon brings up the rear, sniffing Ishimaru's boot and looking up at him with narrowed eyes, briefly. But then it's just back to following so obviously the other boy checks out. Or...something. Who knows.]

A few of my friends, yeah! If we're talking just friends from home though, it looks like it's about three for me as well. I tried calling Jade earlier but I got an error message so I assume that means she's not here. Which...might actually be lucky for her, in all honesty. Lucky for me that some of them were here though, I probably would have had a much harder time getting these two back if they weren't.

[He likes puzzles and quests and all, but more often than not he just happens to stumble across the correct answer as opposed to actually solving things.]

[...that Umbreon would get along well with Sayuri, if she were here; Ishimaru's Espeon has always been a little like that. Not quite to that extent of suspicion, but just about as unreadable.]

Well, I'm glad to see you're in one piece, John-kun, even if being here isn't an ideal situation at all!

[The name's a bit strange, as though he's not sure if he'll be corrected, but from what he's seen the Western kids don't seem to mind it quite as much, and the conversation is easy enough that it seems more comfortable.

Kinda weird, but nice.]

[John certainly doesn't seem to mind the name change, weird though Ishimaru might find it. But then again, half his friends use his first and last name interchangeably anyway. Between that fact and the everything else going on right now, the switch barely even registers.]

Hehe, same to you. Though, look on the bright side, it could be a lot worse than this! At least these are fairly little monsters and wow I'm going to shut up before I jinx us all.

[Aaand up the stairs we go.]

[Oh hey it's a Vanille - bouncing around, looking around - Oh! Isn't that!]
Ishimaru!
[He's here too... and look at that sword. And all those books - Vanille is suddenly going to just... be behind you, with a smile.

She can hold back the tears. After all - this is their first meeting in-person!]
So that's how big you are!

[VANILLE YOU CAN'T JUST DO THAT TO A GUY - yes hello there though, it's...still sort of a relief to actually see people he knows, though it's a little awkward all things considered given that being here isn't a good thing.]

Ah, Vanille- [is she older than him she looks older than him let's just play it safe and assume she is shall we] -san, it's good to meet you!

...Though it obviously would have been nice if it were under nicer circumstances!

[god she is much older then you
even if sleeping a while doesn't count...???]
It'd be nicer in Johto, true. And it'd be even nicer if we met on Gran Pulse.
[There's nobody listening - she can name her home area. Imagine being with all her friends in Oerba, with her family... she'd love it.]
But! This is where we are - do you have a brand too?
[A hand-mark. Vanille just shows hers, with a smile. Even if... well. She is thinking this is relating to her own home world and is terrified.]

[He looks at her for a moment before holding up his own, the pink mark perfectly clear.]

I think we all have one - ah, but you have a gold one! That's...

[...huh.]

I think I've seen that mark upstairs.

Mhm! There's a door there, and I opened it, and I got Fang back!
[Just. So happy. That is why there is a snoring Mamoswine nearby. With a Yamask on top of it, half-awake.]
I guess these ones give us the power to open doors.
[A lot better then what she got as a l'Cie - magic and then certain doom. But, she nods (since this is after she helped keiko out i guess??)]

[Ishimaru gets up at that; he is abandoning his studying for this, Vanille, clearly this is important - ]

Show me. If you wouldn't mind, that is!

Of course! Fang, get up - I hope you can keep up!
[The Mamoswine does suddenly stand - and Vanille leaps on it.

And the two start to walk off. If this is what she thinks it is, Vanille will just help as many people as she can.]

[Oh, he'll be able to keep up, don't worry.]

Should you really be riding that indoors?

[...all right, not without a bit of rules-enforcing along the way, but...]

Of course!
[Vanille says, as she strokes the large beast.]
Don't worry - she's not gonna walk up the stairs? Are you, Fang? Are you?
[...she is making baby talk at her mamoswine

vanille
it isn't that cute]
Wouldn't you do the same, if you'd just found a friend?

Ah...well, I guess that's a good point, isn't it?

[...yeah, he's probably going to be dragonlording like hell once he gets kamina back ngl]

Mhm! I wonder if Veh II is scared...?
[As they go, though, Vanille can't help but look at the Tapestries once more. Did anybody do the wrong thing...?

Yes, she is getting her Pokemon to speed up. They'll be at the stairs soon.]
Oh. Veh II is the only one of my friends I haven't gotten back yet - she's an Alakazam. She's II because Veh number one vanished. Which Pokemon did you dream about?

Well, there was Kamina - he's a Gyarados now, though he was the one that I started my time here in Johto with! Mitsuyo is a Munna, and the third was Aiko, she's a Misdreavus; they're very important to both my brother and me, so it's important that I get them all back.

You've got a Gyarados too? Ore... I didn't dream of Ore, but aren't they strong?! Even if they started just being able to flip and flop!
[Yes, she's trying to distract herself.]
My starter isn't here, though. I started with Scoop - a Vanillite. Oh - and this Yamask is Lucy.
[The Yamask who has settled into her arms.] She used to be a person, you know. I guess that's why she was in those dreams.
[...

...

Oh! The stairs! Vanille gets off of Fang, and withdraws the Mamoswine, kissing the Pokeball.]

[Ishimaru shivers a bit at that mention; one of those dreams of his had involved Ghosts who used to be people, after all...

Either way, he shakes it off quickly enough.]

I have a lot of Ghost-types myself, but I've never seen that one before; I have many Psychic-types as well. The Pokémon here are fascinating, though - I've liked raising them, even though I never got along with animals very well back home!

[He's aware that he's just rattling on about nothing, but it's better than silence, and it's definitely better than dealing with the general atmosphere here.]

They really are!
[She says, as she steps up in that quick, anime-way.]
The monsters of Gran Pulse weren't this friendly - I can't imagine what would happen if you tried to catch them in a ball! I did have a pet back then, though - Bhakti.
[And Vanille is just rambling, as well. Said pet was a robot. Which she doesn't know the fate of.]

[SO MUCH ENERGY DEAR LORD he is just going to be trying to keep pace what on earth]

I've actually never had pets before, and the Pokémon...well, it feels wrong to consider them just pets, they're more like companions, aren't they?

But what was Bhakti?

He was a robot! He was super smart - but I hadn't seen him for a while, before coming here.
[Because she slept for so long...]
I wonder if there's a Pokemon which looks like him. I'm not going to replace Bhakti, but!
Oh! This way! This way to my door! [They're up the stairs - come on, pick up the pace. Vanille is cheerful speedy girl geeze.]

[All right, all right, he's coming - ]

So there should be three of these doors, then? I've only managed to find two of them!

Which ones have you found? I found the yellow one on my own, and then, with some help, Keiko and me found the pink one, nice and hidden!
[Which leaves blue, for her... she'll find it. She'll get that help, she'll find somebody with a blue mark of their own.]

There's a blue one across from the armory - I haven't found the pink one yet. That'll just leave blue for both of us in terms of getting the doors open, if you can show me where the pink one is!

Edited (jfc my brain went one way and the sentence went another, sorry) 2013-10-29 06:42 (UTC)

But, of course! Family sticks together, right?
[vanille he is not part of your family]
And that means you get to see every door I've seen!

That's true!

[...]

You know, outside of the monsters at night, this isn't...that bad. The entire situation, I mean.

[Ishimaru isn't the only one who wants to take out the monsters to protect the others, Mondo's out and about with the exact same goal in mind. He isn't doing it because he couldn't protect people back home; he's doing it to make up for what he did (does? technically it is "does" since he hasn't done it yet) back home. He feels like he has to look out for the others, but that doesn't change the fact that there's some sense of excitement. After all, he hasn't gotten to properly fight in a long time.

And then he ran into another version of himself.

It hasn't occurred to him that this other version of himself was a monster. He didn't get a good enough look at the other version of himself to tell that there were some things that were just a bit off; in the daytime it would have been obvious that this wasn't him, but things went by so quickly he didn't have time to really get a good look at his attacker.

Mondo's coat is sporting several new rips, but he's unharmed for the most part. There's a thin line of blood running down his right forearm, but he's still gripping that pickaxe and doesn't seem to notice that he's bleeding. Mondo's breathing is shallow and quick; he just barely got away from that other version of himself and he's terrified it'll pop back up and he won't be able to escape this time.

He doesn't notice Ishimaru at first, instead quickly moving down the hallway in an attempt to put as much distance between himself and the other version of himself as he can. He hears footsteps and whips around, eyes wide and expression openly afraid for a moment before he gets control of himself.]

Shit, Ishimaru, don't sneak up on a guy like that!

[Never mind the fact that Ishimaru wasn't sneaking up on him...]

...Wait, what the fuck are you doing out here? It's dangerous! There's fucking monsters running around, apparently!

[Not that he's seen any besides the other version of himself, but that's not the point.]

[Ishimaru jolts hard at the sound of the voice; it takes him a moment to place it, it doesn't sound right (though maybe that's just because of all the sounds he's been hearing, all the voices that have been sounding off and he can't tell if they're all inside his head or coming from someone else entirely at this point) and he's got the sword up as though to block any impending strikes, shifting back into a more guarded position before he seems to realize what he's doing. Who's in front of him.]

...Kyoudai?

[He stands up straighter at that, allowing the sword to lower a bit, though he's still looking wary.]

I could ask you the same thing - I know about the monsters, I've seen several!

Ah, yeah? Have you? I haven't seen any.

[Mondo tries to relax a little, but his posture is still tight and his hands are still clenched. He doesn't want to worry Ishimaru any more than necessary, and he knows how Ishimaru tends to worry about every little thing.]

You know I can look out for myself. Are you any good with a sword?

[He nods at that, shifting his grip a bit and letting his fingers brush up against the crossguard.]

It's something I was studying back home - this is different from what I'm used to, but I'm managing well enough!

[He hesitates for a moment, though; something...isn't striking him right, and it doesn't take him long to work out what it is.]

...You said you haven't seen anything. Why are you bleeding, if that's the case? And your coat...

Ah, yeah?

[That's definitely interesting and something worth keeping in mind, but Ishimaru's question catches Mondo's attention and he immediately diverts his gaze to the ground, reaching up to rub at the back of his head.]

Oh, that. Uh well...

[He doesn't want to talk about it, but Ishimaru needs to know. If he runs into that alternate version of Mondo, he could easily be killed just on merit of not knowing about him and trusting his "friend." Mondo doesn't want that to happen to Ishimaru, so he feels that he has to discuss it.]

...I ran into a guy and we fought.

[...But damn is this hard to admit to!]

Another version of me, actually. Same pickaxe and everything, but he wouldn't listen to reason or anything. Just focused on trying to kill me. So uh... if you run into me and I start trying to kill you... then that's who you're dealing with.

[...Well, that's...

...that's weird as hell, kyoudai, what on earth.]

Is that what you've been seeing? I haven't come across anything like that, or anything that looks like anyone we know - but I'll keep that in mind!

[...]

Are you all right? And don't lie to me about that.

[It's not pointed or backhanded, as much as he dislikes having to clarify that last bit in the first place; it's just a request.]

What do you mean "what I've been seeing"?

[He doesn't like the sound of that. That's implying that other people are seeing other things, and if that's the case, then that other Mondo was probably a monster, right? Why would it take on his appearance then?

Because of what he did back home. Because he is a monster.

Mondo's thankful for Ishimaru's question since it drags his thoughts away from that, but he does flinch at the statement. He's been good about not lying to Ishimaru, but he hates how it's still a question. It's understandable, of course; Ishimaru has no reason to trust him after all the lies he's told, but it hurts just the same.]

It doesn't hurt, if that's what you're worried about! I'll be alright.

[Ishimaru tenses up a little at that flinch; he shakes his head a bit. Mondo...]

I believe you, then, kyoudai - but you just told me that you hadn't seen anything when you obviously had. I didn't even ask anything and you lied to my face right away; that's why I asked like that.

But it's okay! I'm not mad.

[He glances around the room as he speaks, making sure there's nothing immediately threatening in the area; he adjusts his grip on that sword again.]

I think different people see different things; I saw Celes-kun earlier. She mentioned seeing...well, something - but she kept referring to it as female, so it obviously wasn't you, and while I've seen a few things that may have been human it was always from enough of a distance that I couldn't tell whether they were a boy or a girl.

Huh?

[It takes him a moment to get what Ishimaru is saying, and by then Ishimaru's simply moved on. Mondo lets it go, but he makes a mental note to beat himself up over it later. Lying to Ishimaru is something he promised he wouldn't do again.]

You think that's what it is? Shit, that's... that's fucking messed up.

[He rubs the back of his neck again.]

Look, I... I'm sorry I lied, alright?

[Ishimaru tips his head at that last bit, finally giving Mondo full eye contact; he doesn't seem bothered so much as he does a little lost.]

Ah - like I said, I'm not mad, kyoudai; it's fine! Don't keep worrying about it, okay?

I promised you I wouldn't lie to you. I should've been upfront about it in the beginning, but I didn't... I didn't wanna worry you, y'know? 'Course I figured that it'd be better if you knew, but I never should've lied to you in the first place.

[He can't meet Ishimaru's eyes, instead staring down at the ground.]

[Ishimaru just steps a bit closer at that, reaching out to lay his free hand lightly on Mondo's shoulder, allowing the sword to lower as he does so.]

But you told me eventually, right? You're not going to be perfect at things in one go, just because that's not how learning works; it'd be discouraging if it was, and no one would get anywhere! So it's okay if it takes a while, or if you need to be reminded - I won't be mad about that, just as long as you're working on it, all right?

[Mondo is struck by the sudden urge to latch on tightly to Ishimaru and never let go, but he manages to settle for a brief, one-armed hug. He doesn't understand why this is getting such a reaction out of him, but if he stops and thinks about it, it does kind of make sense. He's always put such pressure on himself to be perfect, especially when it came to those closest to him. He has to be the perfect gang leader, the perfect brother, and he's never allowed himself any room for error.

Ishimaru's not expecting that of him. He can actually relax and things will be okay.

Once he steps back he rubs at his eyes for a moment with his sleeve. When he removes his arm he's grinning, and his eyeliner isn't even too badly smeared.]

Thanks, kyoudai. I guess I needed to hear that, y'know? I won't be perfect right away, but I'll work on it. I won't let you down and... and I won't beat myself up too badly over it, alright?

[Judging from the way he's smirking, that last part was a joke. Maybe.]

Kyoudai...we're going to have to work on that next, you know!

[That's not. Entirely serious.

Maybe.

Anyway, he seems pretty content with that, though something seems to occur to him after a moment.]

Ah - have you gotten the doors open yet?

[He shifts a bit, showing Mondo that glowing pink mark on the back of his right hand.]

I was shown how to do it earlier.

[[He's certainly not the only one hitting the books. Once Rose had her fill of searching the castle, she decided to comb through the library for answers. And she really just hasn't stopped. At some point, she moves to collect another book and spots Ishimaru. Taking the new book and her notes in hand, she decides to sit by him.

Two heads are better than one, right?]]

So what does that book say? Anything useful?

[...Oh. Well! Hello there. He's perfectly fine with Rose sitting next to him, though he does glance over when she joins him; he tips his head a bit at the question.]

Well, that depends on how we're defining useful - the one I was looking at earlier was talking about something horrible that happened in a place like this, where a lot of people seem to have been killed at some sort of party or gathering...while it was possibly coincidence, it might not be. It talked about poisoning, but the food so far has proven safe...

[Hmm.]

This one seems to be mythology - local lore and the like.

Local lore? [[That's right up her alley. She tilts her head though, taking in what he said about his previous book.]]

Somehow I doubt this is a party or gathering. We were all sort of kidnapped. Hopefully this means we won't be poisoned, because I would hate to let that be the thing that kills me in the end.

[He twitches a little at that, but whatever that elicited from his brain, he's quick to push it away for now.]

Well, there are worse ways to go, but I agree! We've been all right so far, though...there haven't been any demands made or anything, to my knowledge, and I think that's a good sign.

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008. [Action - Catchall post/Nightmare Castle]

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B - Dangan Ronpa spoilers in here!

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