EVENT ✨ Nightmare on Elph Street

[avalonmods]

QUICK NAV: LOGS ⚔️️ NETWORK ⚔️️ MEMES ⚔️️ OOC ⚔️️ NAVIGATION This is the event log for IC comments only! Ask questions in response to this comment HERE or use the FAQ for general questions. Click here to view top-level comments only.

 

 

The ritual-wiping ritual wasn't the best news for Avalon and magic has been wacky for everyone since it was performed. However, if there was a time for it to happen, it happening before the Spring Equinox was just about the best time it could happen. The Spring Equinox, after all, is a time of renewal and rebirth. It's what you'd call a silver lining. As long as enough people participate in the Spring Equinox rituals, it should be fine... right?

CONTENT WARNINGS:

• 1st Prompt: --
• 2nd Prompt: --
  
• 3rd Prompt: --

This part of the event takes place on March 20th.

Though there is no Spring Masquerade this year as there had bene the last, there is a much smaller token of appreciation from the castle of Camelot to all of those who live within its borders: a gift basket with a salad of edible flowers, eggs, breakfast sausages, and a small bottle of champagne (or sparkling seltzer for those underage) and a bottle of orange juice to make mimosas with. Those of the vegetarian through vegan persuasions will receive vegan white chocolate eggs filled with coconut cream frosting and a mango puree 'yolk' and Avalon's best plant-based sausages. It's not quite a feast, but no one should go hungry on this day of celebration! Brownies will help to deliver these overnight, so you'll find them on your doorstep in the morning with a special spell to keep everything fresh through most of the early afternoon. Since there is no party this time, everyone will have the chance to see Avalon's plants begin to overgrow at a rapid pace within the city.
Those who saw it last year or locals who are normally residents of Avalon will tell you not to fear, this happens every spring. The plants grow around and not through structures, the buildings still safe and sound beneath large vines and leaves and pools and flowers. Most notably, huge beds of vines, open seed pools, and giantic flowers large enough to take a bath in have started cropping up around town, and they all seem to be filled with a vibrant, glowing liquid of some kind.  Each of these floral wonders, locals will tell you, is called a vernal soul pool. Upon entering one, you'll enter a lucid sleep state that connects you to everyone else in Avalon and the island itself. Doing so will cause your magic to be amplified and grow and stabilize, but also allow you to be cleansed and refreshed as a person. How much detail the person you're talking to gives is up to you (in case your characters would back off of it if they had the following details but you still want to experience it). Once someone enters, they will immediately feel as if they are at home and the pod will close over them gently, leaving them in a pool of that mysterious glowing substance-- vines grow further to encase, the pool closes, flowers close into buds instead of open blossoms.  Under normal circumstances, the pools would remain closed and in this state until the witching hour and slowly and gently awaken those within. However, even the magics of the spring aren't stable right now, and what ends up happening is the pools suddenly spill open before anyone's dream sharing can truly get underway, dumping their passengers out onto the ground into a state of jarring awakeness. With them, they will find they are unable to access their Avalon magics but instead have one of the following: Unstable, uncontrolled access to their canon powers. They may start shooting off random magic, they may be unable to shut down a normally passive ability gone into overdrive, or when they try to use their abilities, it goes outright wrong-- "Accio Excalibur" in an attempt to save the multiverse might result in all figurines of Excaliburs within 10 miles to come hurdling toward you, for example. Access to the beginner, untrained level of canon powers of someone whose shared consciousness you entered. Even if you don't have canon powers of your own, you will be able to access someone else's with this option.   This part of the event takes place late night on March 20th through slightly past midnight on March 21st.
	The fairy queen's envoy, Princess Bluebell, sends out a panicked emergency message (complete with the obnoxious alarm that sets off phones even on silent) after a couple of hours of this, and casts a mirror-travel spell to Nicnevin so that any may quickly arrive just outside of its borders, next to the river. The message states that the dream world and reality have melted together due to the majority of magic being funneled into the time freeze spell or the equinox ritual, which uses Queen Mab as a vessel through which the vernal soul pools channel everyone's magic. The Spring Equinox renewal did NOT go as planned, needless to say. Otherworlders must head to Mab's Cavern to locate Queen Mab and absorb some of her energy by touching her to stabilize their magics and drain the spring equinox's out of her before even bigger disaster strikes!
Mab's Cavern is typically a place forbidden to enter under normal circumstances. It is the world of dreams and nightmares takes from our subconscious what we most desire and what we most fear and our memories and turns them into reality. This is what your character will have to face without their Avalonian magic and the above either unstable or beginner-level powers. Mab normally goes into a slumber and connects herself to the whole of Avalon during the Spring Equinox to allow the vernal soul pools to utilize her magic, so she cannot let everyone in or help anyone navigate her realm. Mab's Cavern looks like a normal mountain from the outside, covered from head to toe in pink cherry and plum blossoms trees, shrouded in a fog that's pink itself from reflecting the petals. The entrance to the inside of the cavern is an ancient door, carved from white marble and enchanted to be impassible without an offering and engraved says: "Offer me your most secret dream and enter this forbidden realm. Dream with me for eternity." The offering, in this case, is simple: speak your most secret dream out loud for the door. The open door will allow one person to pass through per offering, and leads into a hall entirely coated in flowers of a variety of colors. These flowers speak, and will ask you how you are, warn you to turn back, tell you and whoever you're walking with that you make a cute couple, sing the national anthem of their people, whatever. They seem to get more and more chatterbox-y as you head inward and the lights grow dimmer until there is no light left. Even if you light one, it seems as if you are in a black space where nothing exists but you and whoever you walk with (if anyone), and voices.

This portion of the event contains a FOURTH WALL EVENT element and takes place on March 21st.
 

That is, until you hear a new voice and the chatterbox flowers hush. Anyone from any canon can appear and team up with you within Mab's Cavern as this is a fourth wall event. Guest characters will have access to their canon abilities, but cannot leave Mab's Cavern or affect the environment outside of it. Your new party member can accompany you through Mab's Cavern, which takes the form of a location from in-game characters' memories. Within it, their darkest fear will turn into a physical enemy and attempt to hunt them down. (How you interpret this is up to you as a player-- please create your own monsters based on your character's fears, even if they are more conceptual than physical.) Within it, their deepest desires may find fulfillment (we leave this to player
interpretation again, but be sure to ask permission if it involves another character who is in the game or a part of the fourth wall) and their new party member may need to convince them to leave instead of staying in the dream world forever. Characters who are able to get past both desires and fears will find themselves able to see a door that wasn't within their memory before. Upon going through it, they will be able to find Queen Mab, asleep in the center of what appears to be a glowing, underwater pond with stones that raise above the surface that lead to her bed some hundred feet in. Beneath the surface, more of the talking flowers start to cry about their woes-- unveiling that they failed against their fears and desires, and those who do will find themselves turned into flowers within Queen Mab's cavern, only able to escape if they are able to touch another living person!  If you've trusted the flowers, you'll find yourself in trouble. These are actually souls who crossed Queen Mab and attempted to steal their desires away from her cavern and bring them into reality. Their curse? They can escape if they trade another soul for theirs. Now would be a good time for a partner to help pull you out because as soon as you touch one of the flowers, they will turn into vines and attempt to wrap around you to pull you under the water and drown you! The "water" itself is the same liquid used within the vernal soul pools, so you'll find your life literally flashing before your eyes as this happens, making it very difficult to escape without someone else's help. If you die in the water, the flowers who did it will transform back into their original selves and flee, and you will be transformed into a talking flower yourself. If you make it to Queen Mab, you'll need to place a hand on her and all dreams and reality will sort themselves out within you-- that is, your broken powers will disappear and your Avalonian magics will return. As you head out again, the guest character brought in to help you will begin to fade away slowly enough that you can say your goodbye before they are gone. There is no way to stop this. All memories of fourth wall visitors will be retained as part of game canon. After enough people have come to take Mab's powers enough to deplete the effects of the Vernal Pools, the Fairy Queen herself will come to Mab and run a strange-looking dagger through her heart. All of the Spring Equinox magic that was being filtered through her will be released into the land and stabilize magic for everyone, and a flower will blossom out of Mab's heart around the dagger. Within the center of the bud glows a small child version of Mab, and anyone still in the cavern will find themself just wandering around in a dark cave. The Fairy Queen glows in the dark and will lead them out with little magic glow bubbles that try to make them follow if they get separated from her vicinity, but is still not speaking to anyone. She will also transport anyone who has been turned into a talking flower out of the cave via some kind of levitation spell and give them to someone they know-- whether they know them in a positive or negative light is up to you, she can only register connection on sight with magic, not emotion. A little research will reveal the following solutions to restoring your character: Siphoners and countercurse potions can remove the curse to get them back to 100% normal. Animal mages can transform them back into their original species (but they will still smell like flowers for the rest of their life). Green mages can use their magic to cultivate them into flower people-- who look like themselves, but now require sunlight and water to survive instead of food and occasionally sprout a flower or two in their hair.

Comments

Kuko Harai | Hypnosis Mic | fourth wall

[punkmonk]

[A)]

Where the hell am I?

[Kuko called out in the underground cave as he walked around. The last thing he remembered he finished his chores at the temple and decided to take a quick nap before hitting the store. Now he was in a cave with no way of telling what was happening around him. Kuko closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and centered himself. Alright, first thing first, he needed to figure out where he ended up at. The next thing he needed to do was kick the ass of whatever appeared behind him.]

If you want to fight then face me! Don't sneak up behind me!

[Kuko turned around to see a black humanoid figure approaching him.]

You betrayed him.

You're the reason everything ended.

You lost your best friend.

[Kuko ignored the growing tightness in his chest from those feelings he wanted to keep pushed back. He balled his fist and charged at the figure.] You shut up! You don't know anything!

[If anyone wants to help Kuko fight the creatures or lead him away from danger feel free!]

[B.]

[As a monk Kuko didn't actively desire anything, however there were places that bought him comfort whenever he visited. One place happened to be a in front of a familiar convenience store where he would grab the recent issue of Jump along with some snacks. The street was empty a bit too quiet even early in the morning there were some people walking around. Kuko froze when he saw the name of the convenience store.

It was the same one he used to go all the time in Ikebukuro.

He needed to leave now. If there was one thing he learned it was to trust his gut when it came to situations.]

[C. Wildcard]

[Got anything you'd like to do with Kuko during this 4th wall let me know! Hit me up in his inbox or Sunny#5819 on discord!]

B!

[glossophobia]

[ As refreshing as it is to be able to see Japan once more, this certainly isn't Osaka, and Rosho isn't sure why its so darn desolate and empty around here. Its making him sort of uncomfortable. He can even hear the echo of his footsteps down the street. There are no cars, no people, no chatter, nothing. Every single building he tries to peek into is completely empty. At least from the looks of the area he seems to be in Tokyo but, why?

All of a sudden as Rosho walks out of another empty building, off in the distance, he finally sees a figure with what appears to be bright red hair. ]

Ah, hey! [ He calls out and immediately starts walking hastily toward them. ] Do you have any idea whats going on?

[punkmonk]

[Everything looked weird with no one around or the normal background noise that came from the city. He didn't know if it was actually Japan or someone playing a trick on him. There had to be a way to get out of here. Kuko started walking down the street to try to find a clue on what happened to Japan or this version to Japan when he heard another voice. He turned to see another person walking towards him.

Kuko shook his head.] I don't know what's going on. I'm trying to figure out if there's a way to leave. All I know is I don't have a good feeling being here. Did you see anything where you came from?

[glossophobia]

[ Ah, so they're both pretty lost, but at least finding someone else to share in the confusion sort of helps. This person's pretty young too. No need to keep them wandering around on their own now that Rosho's found him. He gives a shake of his head. ]

Unfortunately no. I haven't been able to find a single person other than you.

[ And now that he's closer and has a better look at him he sure is a unique individual. Rosho almost has his type pinned down until he comes to realize that the clothes underneath the jacket are exactly that of a monk. But, everything else is... the complete opposite. Yet he's still even got his beads with him? What a strange child. ]

I only know so much about monks, but you don't really have the traditional look about you... is that even okay?

[punkmonk]

[They were the only two people here that added another weird layer of confusion to this situation. He would suggest that they go look for another person, but there's probably nothing here. Kuko wanted to know who put them here, but first they had to get out or at least find some other area that didn't remind him of one of the few events that haunted him.]

Let's look for an exit. There's got to be one around here somewhere.

[It wouldn't help to stand around or worry about the area they were in. Kuko looked over to guy next to him. He looked like he worked in a library or a teacher, one of those jobs looked like it would fit him the most.] Hmm? Yeah it's fine I'm outside the temple. If I wear my jacket inside the temple I'll never hear the end of it from my dad.

[Who hasn't achieved nirvana yet! But has enough opinions about how he dress! Well, it's not like he's here to stop him or anything.]

[glossophobia]

[ Rosho gives a nod of his head, and while he has the impulse to take the kid by the arm to help lead him around, he has a feeling he probably wouldn't like that. He knows enough about punks that he can predict what sort of behavior they do and don't like. A monk's son though? That he's never experienced before. ]

Having a monk as a father seems like it'd be sort of... interesting.

[ That's said as lightly as possible. Rosho doesn't want to offend or anything. ]

I wonder if this is still even Avalon? I don't think so, nothing there is as modern as these buildings. I think, we might be in some kind of simulation of Japan? It certainly can't be real.

b; yooooooo I'm sorry this is... a lot... bat sans kuko has been having A TIME

[roppou]

[One minute he had been in the cave, so dark that the light in hand only illuminated his figure and the small square foot of ground around him. The solid, slighty damp, earthen ground of a cave that followed a long path forward until he'd found himself at a door that looked decidedly out of place. Heavy, metal, with a horizonal push bar halfway up to unlatch it from his frame.

With no other break in the path, and no where else to turn, Hitoya pushed his way through into a world striped in the warm colors of a spring sunrise. A path crisscrossed below by empty black asphalt and above by train lines and electric wires. He stands in the shadow of Zepp Nagoya where Jyushi has performed countless times. Looking back inside he makes out the shadow of the ticketing and merchandise booths.

But the streets almost empty, like hollow ghosts of their former selves, like whatever has put this world together doesn't quite have the energy to sustain it fully. He's not sure if this is the reality of what their world is dealing with now or just an illusion of it, hoping for the later.

Turning the corner he passes by his office which should be a whole neighborhood away, the next bring face to face with the long steep steps of Kugenji Temple. He turns away from those too, reluctantly, shoulders hunched with mounting unease at each passing second. When he looks up again he's somehow made his way into the center of the old Todai medical school campus. The stately brick building with it's arching columns tower over him, leave him with the dread sensation that something is coming, something he's not prepared for, until it snaps and he takes off at a run.

Out of the school and back onto the streets of what could be any major city in Japan but he somehow knows is none of them. Heedless of the only other person in the road. He crashes into them without ever getting a good look. Just something about that flash of red that seems familiar like a long forgotten dream.]

Shit! Sorry! [Give him a minute he's still collecting himself.]

I didn't see you.

[At least it's not a comment on Kuko's stature for a change. Not until Hitoya finally goes to offer him a hand, face lighting up in the full range of conflicting emotions.] Well shit.

It's fine! What's been happening!?

[punkmonk]

[Kuko walked by the different buildings, trying to figure out how he could get out of here or at least contact somebody when someone crashes into him hard enough for him to fall.] Hey! Watch where you're going!

[Kuko looked up to glare at the person who hit him to give him a piece of his mind when he stopped at the familiar person in front of him. A few different emotions pass through his eyes, until he grinned and took his hand.]

Well, look who's here. Hey shitty old man. [He pulled himself back up on his feet and looked at him. It had been too long since he bothered him and he needed to make up for that lost time.] So, do you know anything about this? [He asked as he gestured around him.]

[roppou]

[After everything that's come to light these past few months Hitoya doesn't quite know what to make of what he's looking at. The revelations about Ichiro and Sasara. And especially Kuko. And their wholly messy affair in Ikebukuro. They're still up to their arms in the refuse, trying to clear it away to bring the full picture to light.

And now Kuko is here. Or... something that looks like him. March marks a full years since Hitoya first arrived in Avalon himself and he's long since shed the skeptical part of him or any illusions that this wouldn't be a protracted engagement. In a way, Jyushi and Hitoya had probably come to accept, without ever saying so, they were on their own without their leader at this point.

Which serves as the only explanation for what he does next, ready to accept whatever punishment follows. Dream or not, this is still Kuko in some form.]

Yeah, nice try.

[Instead of releasing him, Hitoya only takes a tighter hold of the teen, pulling him closer. He grips him by the shoulders turning him this way and that, a hand on his head if he doesn't lose it to those sharp teeth, inspecting every inch of this Kuko for a sign to confirm his suspicions one way or another.]

[punkmonk]

[Kuko waited for Hitoya to start in on some explanation when he pulled him tighter instead. He immediately started kicking against him as he turned his glare up to him.]

Hey! What the hell are you doing? Put me down you shitty lawyer!

[Kuko wasn't sure what was going on, but something must of taken over him. He wiggled harder against him, balling his fist to hit any part he could, and twisting his head as best he could away from his hand.]

I don't know what has gotten into you, but put me down damn it! It's me! Is your eyesight so bad that you can't see that it's me!? Are you deaf? Listen up! It's me! Put me down now!

[He waited for the hand to come back around for him to sink his teeth down into it. Hitoya was going to let him go one way or another then they would have to talk about this or he would kick him in his shin. At this rate both would happen.

[roppou]

GODDAMNIT!

[Kuko's teeth sink into the fleshy part where his thumb meets his palm, sharp enough to draw blood and Hitoya draws back to a few knew bruises on his legs to match. The pain pools in his hand as a dull throbbing, once for each beat of his racing heart.

That's what makes this real. Without looking up at Kuko, the space he occupies in front Hitoya, now buzzing like a hive of angry hornets, is full of the life of a person he once knew. And deep down has hoped to know again through all the crazy shit that Avalon has thrown at them in the past year.]

Got it! You've made your point.

[Somehow, he doesn't have any terribly harsh words for Kuko for a change. Almost like he doesn't know what to do with the kid, now that he's here. Instead, the way he regards their leader could almost be called fond. A rare display for Hitoya. A year is a long time after all. And Kuko's question had been a loaded one.]

Figures you'd loiter in here on your own terms and not do Jyushi or me the favor of letting us know you were here. So when did they dump you in the lake? Was it a couple weeks ago?

[Any longer than that and Kuko would really have some explaining to do.]

[punkmonk]

Finally! Don't know what got into you since you were acting so weird. [Even if he was happy about seeing Hitoya again things better not turn into that again. It's not like he felt warm when Hitoya gave him a fond look either. He doesn't care! He may have cared a lot more than he wanted to admit. But he could think about that later, now he needed to figure out what the hell Hitoya was talking about.]

A lake? What are you babbling about? I ended up in this cave then I ended up in this weird place that looks like home. Believe me, after I figured out where I was I was going to look for you and Jyushi next. Wait, how long have you guys been here?

[roppou]

You... [That throws Hitoya for another loop. During his time here, everyone from other worlds have shown up in Avalon more or less on the same schedule, under more or less the same circumstances. But Kuko doesn't lie. Bend the truth to his will maybe but it's not in his nature to lie.]

You're serious. [Which can only mean the magic boundary protecting them from the end of the world is in an even more precarious state than previously thought.

Shit. Where to even begin. And what does this mean for Kuko's existence here?]

We might want to find somewhere to sit down and talk. [A beat.] It's been a year. For Jyushi and me.

[punkmonk]

[That got Kuko to stare at him while he thought about what Hitoya told him.]

A year? You guys have been here for a year? How? I didn't even see you guys leave!

[This place was much weirder than he thought. Well, there was no point in worrying about that, it was time to figure out what was going on. At least now Hitoya won't be acting strange at him anymore. He looked around for a place they could go before he nodded at Hitoya.]

Yeah let's find a spot, I want to know more about this.

A!!!!

[ichibukuro]

[Ichiro has really got to stop doing this. He's only just recovered from the events of last month and yet, here he is, wandering down a cavern after being unable to ignore Princess Bluebell's panicked message.

It's not long after he passes through the door that he hears an oh so familiar voice echo through the cavern. The familiarity of it compels Ichiro to walk faster in the direction of it and completely ignore how the flowers at his feet seem to stare at him as he goes. The shock of red hair stops him in his tracks.

No. No way, no way, no way.

He's aware this could be a dream. With everything that's been going on recently, his mind has been on Kuko more than usual so of course a place like this would bring him into being. But... what if it's not a dream. What if that Kuko is very real, just like the others here in Avalon, and he's probably about to get into more trouble than what it's worth?

Ichiro can't take that risk. He's never been able to turn his back on Kuko anyway.]

Kuko- Don't! [With his powers gone, Ichiro can't do anything from afar so he runs to throw himself between Kuko and the figure. He catches Kuko's punch in his fist - just thinking of how a simple touch from one of the knights of the Hunt had made him so, so sick. They're not the same but Ichiro doesn't know what to expect anymore.

He twists his wrist so he can grab onto Kuko's forearm and then tries to make a run for it.] C'mon, run!

[punkmonk]

[Wait, that voice...it couldn't be. Kuko knew this place was weird, but he had no idea it would bring the person that has been on his mind for a long time. His suspicions were confirmed when Ichiro caught his fist, one of the only people in the world who could stop him, as his eyes widened at the person in front of him. Before he could open his mouth to talk to him he followed Ichiro's decision and ran. He still wanted to beat that figure's ass for bringing up something so private out in the open, but he could let it go for now.

Kuko looked over at Ichiro on the way. Was it really him? After everything that happened he still helped him out, but that was Ichiro.

He may have been relieved that that side of Ichiro never went away.]

Hey! What is that thing?

[ichibukuro]

Don't know, don't care. I've learned not to fight the shit that shows up around here. [He'll explain later but for now Ichiro just wants to get as much distance between them and the creature as he can.

Once they are a good ways away, no longer able to see the humanoid figure over his shoulder, Ichiro slows to a stop. Then he can finally take a good, long look at Kuko. He looks similar enough to the last time they saw each other but there are slight changes that not even Ichiro's subconscious would be aware of, and where Ichiro is grabbing him is solid. Warm.

This Kuko is real.

The realization leaves Ichiro's mind blank, speechless. He can only continue staring before he finally snaps out of it and releases Kuko's arm as if it suddenly burned.] Uh - sorry.

[The awkwardness settles in. The juxtaposition of wanting to fall into their familiar banter all over again versus not knowing how Kuko feels about him in this moment. It's the worst.]

[punkmonk]

Those things are normal here? [He had more questions about what kind of creatures were in this world, but he could save that for later.

When they stopped running Kuko took in Ichiro in a similar way. His hair was longer, his outfit different than the last time he saw him, but it still suited him. He knew Ichiro changed in more ways that he couldn't see, yet he could feel. How long has it been since they were together like this? Even Ichiro taking him away from a fight felt nostalgic to the times he used to do it when they were outnumbered or Ichiro told him the situation felt off.

Then there was his hand. Still warm, still leading him when he needed. One of the few people he would follow.

Kuko shook his head as he slowly touched his arm.] ...It's fine.

[Kuko hated once the silence settled in. If only that thing didn't happen then they would be cracking jokes with each other. Now they stared at each other as if they were strangers. He hated this.

Well, there was a reason they met like this. Away from their groups in a place outside their home where their responsibilities didn't weigh them down. A place where they could have the chance to set some things straight. Kuko wasn't one to question why certain situations happened. They definitely happened because it needed to happen. He shouldn't take an opportunity like this for granted.

Kuko walked over to Ichiro and looked up at him with a rare soft look. One that Ichiro saw during those moments when he let his guard down. He had to do this. He avoided Ichiro for too long.]

Hey, is there a place where we can talk?

[ichibukuro]

[Fuck. Kuko can't look at him like that. Not so soon, so suddenly. His face warped in disdain has been Ichiro's last memory of Kuko for so long that the difference is jarring. Overwhelming. But this is Kuko. This is the real Kuko he actually remembers.]

I don't know. Here's probably best. 'Cause if there's a way out of here, we have to find Mab first and I don't know how long that will take.

Just... keep an eye out for that thing. If it comes back, we gotta go.

[punkmonk]

Alright, we'll run if it comes back.

[Those monsters were the last thing on his mind. Now it was time to face one of the few things in the world that scared him. He wasn't afraid of much, it was much easier to take things as they come instead of worrying about it, but talking to Ichiro has become a situation he's run through his mind way too many times. Now that he's here in front of him it was time for him to say what he rehearsed in his room since that day he left Ikebukuro. Since the day their group disbanded...

Kuko swallowed as he placed his hands in his jacket pockets.]

So, this might sound like I'm making this up, it might sound like it's not real when this is what happened that day. The last thing I remember is leaving with Sasara. We took a shortcut down my familiar alley when we heard someone behind us. I couldn't turn around to look because it felt like someone took over my mind. I know this sounds like I'm making it up, but I'm not! It felt like there was someone controlling me and I couldn't break free. I heard everything I was saying and I couldn't stop myself. All those things I said is not how I feel! I don't secretly hate you or anything. If there's anything about me that hasn't changed it's how I will let you know what's on my mind.

[Kuko took his fists out of his pockets and balled them up at his side.]

I could achieve enlightenment and meditate when it didn't even help. That's why I went home. I...I wanted to become stronger so next time that doesn't happen. Everything I said has been the truth! Even...even if you don't believe me it's the truth. I...I...

[Kuko grit his teeth as his fists started to shake with the pent up emotion he's kept buried deep down inside his mind for far too long. He turned his piercing gaze up to Ichiro.]

I'm sorry! It won't happen next time. If you don't want to accept my apology I understand...

[Though part of him hoped that Ichiro would believe him. Kuko wasn't one to lie, but he can't deny that his story sounds strange. He never worried about many things in his life, however when it came to Ichiro things were different. Ichiro was one of the few people in his life who opinion Kuko actually cared about.]

[ichibukuro]

[It sounds like bullshit.

Did Kuko really expect him to believe that? They weren't in some game; "I wasn't myself! I didn't mean what I said!" wasn't going to cut it here. It sounds like a flimsy made up excuse.

But Ichiro fights the the gut instinct to balk. He fights to keep his heart open because he knows Kuko. The Kuko from back then hadn't been right: he'd thought that in the moment and he's only confirmed it with Hitoya and Jyushi.

This Kuko looks up at him with such intensity, such conviction in his own words, and such honesty. They're completely different. The Kuko from back then couldn't look at him like this. The walls Ichiro's put around himself shatter and he immediately feels the heat that always hits his face first before tears start prickling at the corners of his eyes.

He, too, grips his fists at his side almost painfully.] You think I'm gonna believe that crap? [He does.]

I - [He gasps, sucking in a sharp breath. He then closes the distance between them, throwing and wrapping his arms around Kuko's shoulders as tight as he can.] - you bastard. Punk ass, wannabe monk!

[It's impossible to keep his voice steady now. The tears have started and they're not gonna stop.] Keep your apology. I don't want it. Never wanted it. Never, - dammit.

[Even if this isn't real or even if it's all a dream, Ichiro's missed Kuko so much. This is all he's ever wanted since that day.]

A

[plenilunium]

[Jyushi typically tries to avoid anything too dangerous. He knows his limitations and sometimes that's a strength of his own. There's other ways to help and he tales solace in that. However, as he heard Princess Bluebell, Jyushi can't just ignore that.

And so he's here, in this cavern facing his own demons. Iyogi mocking him, his grandmother begging him to help, and the sounds of her own death replaying. But this isn't Jyushi's first time having to confront these horrors, not even in just this world, and so even as he's crying he's still just trying to make it through.

Until he hears Kuko.

It takes Jyushi a second, wondering if this is really Kuko. He's been hoping for Kuko since he came because honestly? He feels aimless without him, knowing Hitoya feels similarly. But ever since things started happening with Ichiro, finding out about Naughty Busters, and wondering just what happened in Ikebukuro; Jyushi's been hoping for Kuko to clarify things. It isn't abnormal for Jyushi to sigh Kuko's name, wishing he was here more than ever.

And now here he is, possibly ready to get himself hurt. Is it Kuko? Is it a dream? He doesn't know. But he's running forward anyway and wrapping his arms around his waist:] Kuko-san, don't!

[Jyushi heard it and he has his own questions but that's not what is most important right now.]

[punkmonk]

[Kuko raised his fist ready to hit the creature in front of him when he stopped at the arms around his waist and the familiar voice.]

Jyushi!?

[It looked like he had been crying. If this monster in front of him made Jyushi cry then it definitely deserved to be punched!]

Why not!? Did this thing make you cry? If so, then it's going to pay!

[He may have been happy to see Jyushi, but he's not going to show it just yet!]

nice to C. kuko! ✨🥁✨ haha hehe hoho

[whosaysdajare]

[ This place!? Why, it doesn't look half bad after the darkness fades out. But he's sorta lost his posse on the way, ya see... Ahem! If only Rosho and Rei were here to take this tour as a throuple!! Sasara's gotten himself two peas in the same pod with him, they're all foodies here. Err, when they're here.

Well, looking around, he knows this place ain't the real deal—when's he ever been to Nagoya outside of business—but it looks solid enough. When in Nagoya... Teh! There's just one guy Sasara actually knows. Thinking about it, Kuko'd be about the perfect guide. For him to pop up here, though? It's such that Sasara thinks he's dreaming up that spiked red head of hair when it does come into his view. He rubs closed eyes, even though they don't open any more.

G-Geez, so when'd he show up!? ]

Yo-hoo! Kuko!! [ A-hah! That one's a question better left for later. Sasara is about to throw his arm out, waving obnoxiously. ]

XD the clown strikes again

[punkmonk]

[Kuko walked around the streets of this version of Nagoya. He would say that it was just like home except for the lack of people around. At least he wouldn't bump into anyone, still it was pretty odd to see how things looked. He continued to walk around to see if he would run into Hitoya or Jyushi when he turned at a familiar voice.

Kuko raised his hand as he waved back.]

Hey! [Alright, so he may have been glad to see someone he recognizes. Kuko walked over to him as he shook his head from the way he was waving.]

Hey Sasara, what's up? Isn't it weird how there's no one here.