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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.]
[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.]
no subject
[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.
no subject
...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.]
no subject
[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.
no subject
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.
no subject
[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?
no subject
Ah - like I said, I'm not mad, kyoudai; it's fine! Don't keep worrying about it, okay?
no subject
[He can't meet Ishimaru's eyes, instead staring down at the ground.]
no subject
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?
no subject
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.]
no subject
[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.