008. [Action - Catchall post/Nightmare Castle]

[ardent]

[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.]

Comments

[diamondo]

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?

[ardent]

[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?

[diamondo]

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.]

[ardent]

[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?

[diamondo]

[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.]

[ardent]

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.