Entry tags:

Alone

Who: Shouto and Allen + Dabi
What: June Event Prompt One. A few hours after THIS.
When: June 8th.
Where: The Farther Shores a mile away from the cherry blossom tree.

“Alone”

BY EDGAR ALLAN POE

From childhood’s hour I have not been

As others were—I have not seen

As others saw—I could not bring

My passions from a common spring—

From the same source I have not taken

My sorrow—I could not awaken

My heart to joy at the same tone—

And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone—

Then—in my childhood—in the dawn

Of a most stormy life—was drawn

From ev’ry depth of good and ill

The mystery which binds me still—

From the torrent, or the fountain—

From the red cliff of the mountain—

From the sun that ’round me roll’d

In its autumn tint of gold—

From the lightning in the sky

As it pass’d me flying by—

From the thunder, and the storm—

And the cloud that took the form

(When the rest of Heaven was blue)

Of a demon in my view—

The nightmares started in April with the death of a friend.

Lying in a pool of Paleblood, clinging to the dying, the first seeds of corruption sank their teeth into his heart spreading doubt and fear. His brother's warm presence that first night kept him from spiraling to that end that forms every Beast in Trench. The next day, it was Amaterasu's guardian sapling that kept his nightmares at bay. He slept under the tranquil aura of the cherry blossom while he waited for his friend's return. For a week, it's calming influence kept his corruption levels low. Afterwards, it was Allen's kind and radiant presence in his home that maintained the sapling's work. It was only after Allen moved into Sancturary and Shouto returned to active duty with the Hunters that his levels started to rise. His omen kept strict watch on his levels waging war every time corruption started to spread, sending him back to the guardian sapling when his levels rose.

It usually happened late at night when his dreams turned against him, and he woke up in a frozen room with his heart beating frantically in his chest. He clung to Kizu those nights, burying his face into the snow leopards winter coat, finding solace in the cold. Ice crept past his sheets those mornings, covering both Sleeper and omen in a layer of frost. Yet, he managed to keep himself together. Foregoing sleep for more shifts with the Hunters until exhaustion forced him into a dreamless sleep after a few days.

Keeping his corruption to manageble levels was easier in the presence of his friends. His deep connection with them, kept the dark thoughts from finding purchase in his mind. Maybe that's why he spent so much time with them that second month after Allen's death. Accepting their invitations more readily, joining them for dinner, walking them home, going to parties. Their presence gave him a safe heaven, a place where dark thoughts didn't press on his mind, a respite from the nightmares. So, he slept, taking naps at every turn. Somehow, he managed to keep his corruption levels from spiraling out of control up until June when the demon arrived.

Prime for a takevoer, the demon found him in the midst of another nightmare and latched onto him the first day with Kizu nonethe wiser. It fed on him, plagued his every dream until his body couldn't keep up anymore and he stopped patrolling altogether on day five too tired to complete his rounds. Scrapes and bruises started appearing on his skin on day seven, and on day eight it sent him into a nightmare so frantic he lost control of his quirk, burning his surroundings. Terror set in then, afraid of himself unaware of his rising corruption levels. With the demon clinging to his back, his thoughts turned dark too quickly. Afraid, Shouto sought out his friends and found Allen's network post from a few weeks ago and he replied in search of a familiar face.

A hero agency.

The concept reminded him so much of home it eased some of the terror from his heart. Already feeling a little better, Shouto couldn't help but respond to ask him about his plans, offer his help. It'd give him an excuse to see him in person instead of conversing through the omini as they usually did these days, but the conversation turned sour when the Hunters were mentioned.

Dark thoughts crept into his mind so quickly, spreading like a disease. The demon was fully grown and it's influence more acute. Well fed, it was bigger than him now. The demon dug its claws into him, influencing his thoughts, turning them against him when the omen interfered but it was too late. It had grown too strong, held far too much influence and plunges him into a nightmare long before he reaches the guardian sapling.

When Allen arrives at the cherry blossom tree on the Farther shores, he'll find it empty. If he looks around, he might find a strange sight about a mile away. Upon inspection, he'll come across a glacier jutting out of the black sands, three stories high, and at it's center - at the level of the sand - lies an unmoving figure distorted by ice.

Shouto lies sleeping on the black sands, covered in frost, within an open space at the center of the glacier, cut off from the world. The demon clings to him, feeding readily while the carbon dioxide levels slowly increase.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Allen groans faintly after a couple minutes, weaving unsteadily as he pushes himself up to his knees. The ground won't stay still and he feels dizzy from how his head is hammering -- no, ringing. He's aware he should hear something else but can't just yet. Aaah... that could have been really bad if his cowl hadn't come up when it did. His face feels tight from the burns there, but the hood smothered the flames in his hair at least.

(It is really bad, but it's a combination of adrenaline and his own dismissiveness that makes him shrug it off.)

His head jerks up and he swings back around to Shouto a second later though, in alarm and concern as he gets his bearings. The demon-Beast is still there, his eye is still active and throbbing about it, but it's not even Allen's immediate concern. Had he lost himself to its madness? His own, though he should have been purified? No, he seemed unconscious too, but standing in watch over him, that's... ]

...Kizu? [ It's warbled. Distorted, as he can't hear himself to regulate his own voice. Timcanpy draws close to him as well, the normally cheerful little omen's demeanor so very sober and serious as he watches the other Sleeper's omen quietly.

Why... why are you on fire ? ]

[ Standing to her Sleeper's height, white flames shroud her massive bulk. An imitation built from smoke and blood; no heat emits from that fire.

She prowls restlessly in front of Shouto's prone form moving back and forth every few steps, her eyes set on Allen. A cold fire burns within her, fueled by anger and betrayal. She won't allow a second strike. ]

Edited 2022-06-22 01:13 (UTC)

[ No response... he can't read feline expressions well either, but Timcanpy's able to and the omen's severe and worried demeanor is enough to give Allen pause. The flames around her though, they're so unusual that it gives him pause. What does that mean... and her appearance now, was that a good thing? He had to be himself to a degree for his omen to even form, right?

Weaving a little, he pushes himself up with a wince, needing to rely on Crown Clown to help force his body to move, but he reaches to pick up his sword that had clattered to the ground nearby in the process. Not to wield it, but to return it to his body in the form of his clawed hand once again in a small burst of light.

He wobbles, the ringing in his head still deafening but starting to abate a little, the blistered and peeled skin on his face beginning to register in agonizing detail, and takes a step towards them both. Will keep walking towards the boy on the ground unless she moves to intervene. ]

Kizu, is he...? [ He can't bring himself to say "all right", not after those screams. ]

The beast....

[ Fur bristling, the white blaze comes to life the moment he picks up that sword, and Kizu jumps in front of her Sleeper letting out a raspy, harsh, guttural sound.

A warning.

One that doesn't let up until that sword disappears from view and even then, the growl only diminishes in volume, a soft vibration within her throat that rises when he steps closer along with the intensity of the smoky white flames.

She continues to growl, betrayal strong in her mind but so is Shouto's trust in Allen. It keeps her from attacking, allowing him to approach. ]

[ The growl catches him a little offguard, startled and sobering, but -- it also doesn't. It's not the first time she's growled at him, even if it hurts to think about, and after how his sword affected Shouto... he doesn't blame her. So he hesitates for a moment, his mouth dropping into an uneasy small line, before he continues forward, half walking and half dragging himself, quietly but with determination. Demeanor gentle and heavy as his gaze flickers for a moment between Kizu's stare and Shouto's form. He's alive, he has to be, between Kizu acting like that (right?) and the demon still clinging to him, but... that doesn't do much to calm his own racing pulse or the knot of dread in his stomach. He pushes it down instead.

He looks back to Kizu and give her a watery sort of smile then. Not even apologetic so much as so very deeply, uncomfortably guilty. ]

I know you're not going to hurt me. [ Does he? Maybe he does and maybe he doesn't. But he does believe it. ]

Sorry, Kizu. Shouto... It looks like I made a bad call again. [ And hurt you in the process.

If she's letting him, he'll kneel beside the other boy and reach out with his human, Innocence-gloved hand to check his state, if he'd just knocked himself out (and has a pulse) or of it's worse than that. Then again, even if Kizu doesn't want to let him and makes a move against him, he won't care either and will let her. Though Tim would have something to say about it.

He's warily aware of, but pointedly ignoring looking at the demon after noting that it seems somewhat weaker now, or at least quieter. While it clings, is revolting and makes threats, doesn't seem able to attack him either like this. Unlike Tyki's Noah that he just enraged, maybe it needs time to recover. A parasite of some type like the Noah, maybe... ]

Shouto? [ It's soft, gauging how conscious he is, and reaching to carefully brush back some of his hair to try and see where the bleeding from before was coming from. ] ...Shouto?

Edited 2022-06-22 04:46 (UTC)

[ The growl rises at the direct address and flame-like smoke climbs in intensity. Standing guard a few feet in front of her Sleeper, the omen looms over Allen like a calamity of old ready to strike down on another hapless fool.

Remove it.

The command invades his mind like a sharp knife, not an attack but a decree filled with anger, betrayal, and a hint of anxiety for what she cannot see; doubt for what she does not know. That thing that's invaded her Sleeper despite her diligence has also infiltrated her senses and deceived her. A week spent warring with corruption unable to root out the cause that another saw with just a glimpse. She despises him for it, brandishing her own inadequacies, and admires him for it for she can do what she cannot.

Help him.

Too soft to be a command this time. An image flows from one omen to the other laced with fear, depicting internal injuries from the explosion. Light starts to recede along with her form, disappearing from view leaving them in darkness. She then slams back into her Sleeper, where she always belonged and raids his subconscious pitilessly. She forces him to wake from the nightmare the demon conjured up to keep him within its control.

Not this time.

Shouto wakes with a start, heart slamming in his chest, and grabs onto the folds of Allen's sleeve by instinct before his body jerks in pain. He gasps at the abrupt movement of Kizu's wake-up call and folds into himself, curling into a fetal position to breathe through the pain. ]

Edited 2022-06-24 05:21 (UTC)

[ Honestly, despite his words... he half expects her to bring retribution down on him. Half expects the flames to burn him before he realizes there's no heat being given off. When it doesn't come however and that order does instead, that affirmation of his intent, he whips around in surprise. You can sense it too then... and believe him.

His eyes widen in horror however at her parting message, not the plea to help him (he will), but the quick flash of imagery and senses through his bond with Tim he doesn't understand. Understanding comes with it a moment later though, and the panic he had held at bay from the moment he saw Kizu untethers. He almost jumps because of it when Shouto gasps and grabs at his white sleeve, but his heart thuds hard against his chest in relief. ]

Shouto? Shouto! [ He nearly falls over himself in reaching out for him, would hug him in joy that he's alive and conscious except for the injuries he can't see that are causing him so much pain, and the demon still there on his back. So he hovers over him for a moment instead, fretful and uncertain, before gently resting his Innocence-gloved hand on his arm with a small, grounding squeeze. To give him a point of contact to focus on other than pain.

He bends over and leans down both to speak more softly, and to better hear him as his head is still ringing. Leaning his weight onto his clawed left hand he keeps pressed flat against the ground. ]

Please try not to move. [ It's urgent, composed because he has to be but also laced with the fear he's not able to hold back anymore. ]

You're hurt. It'll only make it worse.

[ The shadow on his back sharpens into focus. Dark scales, red eyes. Its claws dig into his throat, laying physical claim. Kizu breaks him out of his prison, and Shouto breathes through clenched teeth as a sharp pain runs up his side where he hit the ice on detonation.

He can hear Allen in the background, his mind abuzz with his voice even if he can't make sense of it. He keeps still, years of abuse making him accustomed to it while in pain. Keep breathing. Don't cry. Endeavor always berated him for his tears until he learned to stop shedding them. He breathes through his nose, teeth clenched, forcing his movements into gridlock while the initial surge washes over him, leaving only a warning pulse of pain to keep still. ]

Where.

[ Red flames flicker through his hair, Kizu's anger becoming his, and spread down his collar. ]

Is it.

Edited 2022-06-24 06:42 (UTC)

[ Allen stills lightly for twofold reasons: the demon re-solidifying its shape, which draws a thinned grimace and soberly grim countenance from him, and then the flicker of flame beneath him that draws his attention back to Shouto. Fire, his hair--

Having learnt his lesson maybe, he pulls back partially so his face isn't so close but squeezes his arm again, more firmly this time. His arms are fine, being either Innocence itself or fully covered in it. But that ground out statement causes him to press his lips together, recognizing that sort of barely contained rage that make his own emotions swing back in check. ]

Still there. [ His voice is softer when he speaks, still urgent but in a quieter and more sober way. Calm even if he feels anything but calm. The demon isn't actively making a move against either of them right now, but if he tries to burn it off while it has its claws on his throat-- ] I wasn't able to cut it out.

[ His fingers twitch lightly for a moment, a conflicted pang and feeling a cold sweat as his mind races. Sorry. But what else can he try, Shouto is too weak and hurt to try that again. And even if he wasn't... if this is responding like a Noah would it's unlikely to work with just a second strike, especially when it knows what to expect. And because of that similarity... ]

I think it's become a part of you. It's some kind of parasite, but one that means to try to take you with it.

Edited 2022-06-24 07:14 (UTC)

[ The heat thrums through his blood ready to burn it off but he knows it won't work. After everything that's happened. The ice, fire, and explosion, and still it clung to him. He keeps the fire contained, smothering it all together when he sees Allen pull away. He shifts right. Breathes in a hot breath that chills in his lungs. The hard shift takes its toll on his body exacerbating his injuries. ]

Cut it out.

[ He forces the words out in one breath, his breathing stopping altogether to lessen the pain. ]

It's-- [ He coughs starting a cascade of agony from the spasm of stomach muscles clenching against the pain. He holds his right side, mottled purple under his uniform, and spears the thought through by sheer force of will. ]

-- it's weaker.

Edited 2022-06-24 07:55 (UTC)

[ Cut it out? Don't you know what kind of state you're in? Of course you do! Physically, at least. Allen was able to pry those claws away once in a moment of surprise, but a second time...

He jerks forward. ]

If I do that you'll die! [ Or it'll leave your soul permanently scarred. It's a bit frantic and scolding both, leaning in. Don't you dare ask him to do that. And he chews at his lip for a moment, frantic for another idea, as his clawed hand digs into the sand. Using the pressure to focus his mind and school himself. To take a breath. ]

Please try not to exert yourself. [ It's lower and gentler, moving to touch the side of the other boy's face with a calmness he doesn't feel and letting his Innocence-gloved hand rest gently there. Just breathe. Trying not to show the anxiety he feels over the realization he's had. It's riskier in an entirely different way, might even be a worse idea entirely, but in terms of invasiveness... ]

There's something else I can try.

Edited 2022-06-24 08:14 (UTC)

[ Now that he knows it's there, he cannot --will not let it sink him into another hellscape like the one Kizu broke him out of. He trembles from the memories or the pain, he doesn't know. He can do something about one at least. His temperature drops, numbing his side, smothering the agony in an arctic storm.

When Allen reaches for his face, he'll find it cold to the touch with flakes of ice slowly crystallizing on his cheek. He can't feel his hand, but he follows his instructions and focuses on regulating his breathing. ]

Do it.

[ No questions asked, no further explanation needed. If he says there's something he can do, he believes him. Trust him. ]

[ He can't feel the cold, it's muted as he's insulated from it by the Innocence that makes up his glove in this form, but he can see it and his expression flickers slightly because of it. But he composes himself, locking eyes with him and giving a steady nod. Alright. No hesitating then.

He lets out a breath, getting the last of the shakiness out of him, and glances for a moment over at Timcanpy. Just to exchange a wordless and sober kind of you know it's time grim acceptance before he shifts. Sitting next to Shouto instead of kneeling in a rippling of voluminous cloak that moves in a way against gravity, the feathered edges shifting restlessly. No move to pull some new weapon, no grim battle readiness -- his demeanor is as soft and gentle-seeming now as the downy feathers that drift in the breeze on his cowl. A tranquility that, as it's also the first time he's invoked his Innocence since the appearance of Amaterasu's guardian saplings... is the same sort of aura as the trees, albeit much fainter. Something he'd noticed better when he wasn't reeling still from his death and found the one at Sanctuary, recognizing the feeling immediately; a spark of divine grace. Even if his own isn't shaped by the all-encompassing love of a mother like Amaterasu, but the all-encompassing love of someone so lonely and love-starved that he needs to reflect what he treasures the most.

And he leans in again like that, closer. Bringing a scent like new snow and the fresh electric smell a thunderstorm leaves in its wake that mixes with the ash and snow, fire and ice that still hangs in the air. To touch his forehead gently against Shouto's, and linger there. Sealed off from the rest of the world like that just by the sheer mass of his feathered cowl. He won't mind the cold, even if it's bitter and hurts. ]

Just try to focus on me. [ Locking eyes with an unwaveringly kind of certainty, Allen's are strangely calm; pale grey mismatched with alien, pitch black and glowing red framed in long white eyelashes. The rings of red shift back and forth, like a camera lens trying to focus -- like trying to peer close. He won't tell him to try and be calm, but focus on him instead of the pain and the demon. Will that help what he means to do? Maybe, he's not sure. But maybe it could just help him center them too.

After all... Allen isn't entirely sure how he did it with Dabi before (Touya), since he hadn't meant to. Still isn't sure how much of it was because of his cursed eye, his ability to see corrupted souls... and how much of it was his awakening Paleblood abilities. The one ones he and Atsushi had been studying records of similar happenings for the last few weeks. Had poorly tried to practice or recreate.

Guess he's going to find out. Because if this thing is so wrapped up in Shouto's soul his sword can't safely separate them...

He moves his human hand to grasp Shouto's free one, squeezing lightly. With gentle certainty; determination. ]

I'll get it. I promise. [ Or literally die trying.

He lets his eyes close then, exhaling quietly though his fingers becoming tense as he prepares himself. To try and recreate what he had done when he stepped inside Dabi's soul, as all he remembers was trying to use his eye to look deep within and see the young man without scars he could barely see.

But his eyes never open.

The moment Shouto lets his own close too, whether to prepare himself as well or because Allen did... his mind slips. To somewhere else. Somewhere deeper. Darker.

Both of them. ]

Edited (fixes typos on the sly at work) 2022-06-24 14:20 (UTC)

[the farther shores. he's been here numerous times. these black shores, the obsidian sand scrunching beneath the soles of his boots, the ominous ocean alternating between lazily washing the forlorn beaches and furiously crashing into them as if to gouge out permanent marks. many interesting things could wash up on these shorelines and dabi regularly combed them, looking for things from other words to gather up and bring back to his growing hoard. you never know what could be interesting to someone else, and interest brings value. for a society that encouraged everyone to play their part, touya was content to keep himself separated from it, a lone wolf that looked out and relief solely on himself, unless it was to his advantage to get involved. a hunter. a night walker. sure he'll play those roles when he needs to, but neither are of much importance to him. so he finds himself on these shores plenty. and his visits to the sanctuary had grown rather infrequent compared to the initial few weeks, after he found the sapling (as much a "sapling" as a full-grown sakura tree could be called one) growing on these dark coastlines.

it's that very same sapling he stands beside now, one hand on the trunk and turquoise eyes focused on a something a mile or so away. he's not here for beach combing today, not here for leaking out some corruption under the pink boughs. instead a certain text has brought him here. irritated that allen thought he could "summon" him like some kind of dog without any sort of explanation. but dabi's not an idiot and he knows these hero types enough to realize the only reason this man would contact him with such a truncated message was due to something happening to his brother. it's not a comforting thought, knowing this relative stranger likely knew more about the todoroki's past than anyone else in trench outside of shouto and himself. even more annoying that without endeavor here, there was really not way to weaponize his past like he had before in his own world.

which leaves touya with naught but his father's little masterpiece puppet.

the ominous words in the message led him to believe that shouto's either gone rampaging as a beast or he's about to die. the former is rather amusing and he'd like to watch--not get involved, just watch. but the latter? ... if shouto was going to die, and not by his own hands, that doesn't sit too well with him. while he certainly doesn't like his sibling at all, a sweltering combination of jealousy, frustration, and despair fueling his raging hatred towards him, touya trusted the kid to survive a lot of things. actually, he expected and hoped shouto would survive everything that came his way.

except for him.

dabi. touya. that's where the puppet's survival stops. that's what he planned on, what he intended. even when he had the chance to kill him twice before, dabi held back because endeavor couldn't watch. unfortunately, endeavor's not here, and "death" in this place is merely a stopgap to return. shouto's death would merely cause him to be returned later, a fact allen already proved. but... that didn't mean he wanted to give something or someone else the pleasure of offing his pathetic little brother.

so that's why he's here, a vulture now approaching the spot on the beach allen had send him, hands in his pockets and coat blowing behind him in the sea breeze. with his burn scars casting a skull-like visage to his face beneath the ghostly white spikes of his hair, clashing with the dark clothing and white shirt, dabi looks the grim reaper in strange form coming to collect the wispy soul of one balancing on the edge. the large black wolf walking beside him likely offers no comfort either, a few black flames flickering off its shoulders and haunches, tongue lolling between its teeth as a haunting blue glow emanates from its eyes and inside the back of its mouth. if shouto's going to die, guess he should be here to witness it, huh.

or help it along.]

[ In his stroll through the Farther Shores, Touya will encounter chunks of ice floating in the water. Heavier pieces have run aground on the shoreline, melting against the crashing waves. The closer he gets to ground zero, the smaller the chunks of ice become, but the more he'll encounter, scattered in every direction. In the distance lies an open crater with black sand billowing around it. Vitrified sand lies at the center of the crater. The black glassy surface looks almost like obsidian and just as brittle. If he stands at the center, the glass will crack but not break, the thickness of the melt half a foot deep.

Seated a few meters away from the crater are two figures. With his Innocence invoked, Allen's cloak covers up the youngest Todoroki, but a shift in the wind reveals a blue uniform and a dash of red hair. Shouto sits seiza style, lying very still as his temple touches Allens, the two of them caught in a spell interwoven between them. Touya might recognize the familiar power emanating from Allen from their last encounter, except this time, it's not an invasion; it's a rescue.

If Touya approaches, he'll meet no resistance from Shouto or his omen, who is absent as usual. If he chooses to stay, he'll find the sight of them rather dull since they don't move a muscle for quite some time. Shouto grimaces a few times, eyes tightly shut against a nightmare he can't escape. At one point, he'll make a noise and jerk unexpectedly as a white light shoots out from his chest and a small ball of fluff hits the black sand. All this happens in an instant without breaking his trance-like state.

If Touya approaches, the little ball will unfurl to reveal a snow leopard cub no more than two feet tall with paws too big for their small form, not yet grown into them. The once-imposing figure of Kizu will whine softly while attempting to get back to her feet, collapsing several times. After being destroyed in the nightmare world trapping her Sleeper, she's reverted to a shadow of herself, no more than a reflection of Shouto's heart without a personality of her own. Cut off from her Sleeper, she cannot return to where he is and finds herself alone and useless in a state where she cannot protect herself or her Sleeper, yet the moment she spots black flames flickering in the dark, she yowls in warning, tail sticking up, to scare off the black canine. When she fails to get it to back off, she jumps forward, ready to chase it off, when she spots another figure in the dark.

The little cub instantly recognizes him from his place in Shouto's heart, and a soft whining mewl escapes her. A surge of hope smacks everyone and everything, the little omen unable to control her telepathy abilities. After the initial whine, she runs to him, trips on her own feet, goes rolling a few times, regains her footing, and continues her headlong charge - that's not quite a straight line - for Touya. She ends up half a foot to his left but quickly turns around and jumps to her hind legs, placing her full weight on his leg while she looks up, and up, and up, and she falls over. Rolls herself back around and paws at him, sharp claws digging into his leg. Through it all, a feeling of Help! Help! gets transmitted along with Up, up! ]

Edited 2022-06-25 03:34 (UTC)

[ Timcanpy knows he's coming. Expects it, and as soon as he appears on the horizon he twists about to watch his progress. Sitting beside Allen and Shouto as a small ever-watchful defender, his tail twitches back and forth lightly as his only movement. Allen's "trust" of Dabi (Touya) is debatable, existing somewhere between tenuous and not as far as he could throw him. At least where Shouto's well-being is concerned, and Timcanpy is a more skeptical reflection of that as he doesn't trust the older man with Allen either. And they're both vulnerable right now. Vulnerable to someone like Dabi, and Timcanpy is only Timcanpy: a small, grapefruit-sized golem of an omen with wings.

It's why he gets up as Dabi and his much more ominous-looking omen approach, raising himself up to his full height on his very tiny and stubby hands and feet (it gets him another centimeter). Not growling or showing offense, but distinctly guarding the two unconscious young men. So intent is he on it that he almost doesn't notice the appearance of another omen and Kizu's familiar aura, except that it's different and--

??

The little golem recoils in some comic surprise at the cub-sized version of Kizu that tumbles from Shouto and is barely any bigger than he is, if you count the wings. It knocks him right off his defense game as he stares as she tries to menace the wolf off, before being almost bowled over by the strength of her sudden telepathic emote. That sort of burst of... hope?

He gawks as she runs off, picking himself back up on his little hands. He'd expect that sort of thing more from Allen than Kizu.

Timcanpy's hesitant, instinctively wanting to stay stay with her and protect the other little omen as well as she barrels straight towards Dabi's questionable approach, but the instinct to stay and guard Allen and Shouto is stronger so he stays where he is and warily watches how the other pair treat her. ]

Edited 2022-06-25 05:28 (UTC)

[that's a lot of ice in the water... looks almost like the artic. shoving flows against the shore while smaller chunks continue to bob about on the waves. initially he thought it was wayward attacks, but upon seeing some of the sizes, it slotted in his mind more like a glacier that'd broken up. shouto must've been using his ice a lot out here... though, considering what happen had to deal with in regards to touya, perhaps it wasn't "shouto" that had been involved. close to death or corruption, huh. so that's what's going on. he works it out easily enough, the glass sand bursting from the crater he comes towards all but confirming what'd happened. his little brother turned into a beast... and the priest's bleeding heart refused to allow himself to simply end shouto's suffering with a mercy kill. hmph.

wouldn't it be ironic if this time, it was touya who "killed" allen for accidentally misinterpreting his intentions towards his brother? unfortunately he's already been made aware of that and isn't one to act on his emotions as often. though it's tempting, made even moreso when he finds the pair of them seated nearby, looking somewhat peaceful as they engage in some sort of ritual. that's the only thing he can call it. just missin some kind of ouija board or incense pot in the middle to complete the picture.

yeah, he recognizes the power coming from allen. it doesn't sit well with him. that power's invasive and doesn't give a shit what's supposed to be or wanted to be kept private. it's also fucking ridiculous in regards to power. he's still not content with allen's death being chalked up more to shouto's ice skewering him than burning him into cinders with his own flames...

anyways. tempting as it is to pour out his fire onto them, touya merely entertains himself with the thoughts and avoids doing it in reality. makes for a good way to kill time while these two sit there and have their little seance. well, since he's here and doing nothing, might as well comb the beach and look for something interest-]

Hm?

[light juts from shouto's chest and only then down dabi realize the puppet's kitten hasn't come out to growl or look at him weird. he lingers, watching the ball of light unravel and tumble out into... well, well. look who's actually living up to her "kitten" title. for all the annoyance that cat's given him over the months, the crap part is, touya still has a thing for cats. dogs too, if you mind his own omen, which seems to be likewise debating on eating the little feline or ignoring it. watching kizu stumble around on the black sand, devoid of her sleeper and obviously unable to protect herself, he's taken back to that time. a brief memory. four people standing in an alley, laughing and drunk, kicking something around between them like a ball. one of them happened to look up and see him approaching, yelled some kind of obscenity at him for his appearance, and touya roasted the four of them without a problem. then spent a little while crouched down with the cat the four of them had been tormenting, petting and playing with it while its tormentors burned up beside them like a fireplace scene.

wolf isn't at all afraid of the yowling creature in front of it, merely glances up to dabi as kizu charges past it and makes herself a pest around his feet. pawing at his leg and digging her claws into his pants. great. just what he needed. his leg being turned into a scratching post by shouto's cat. tsk... annoying. clicking his tongue, touya reaches down and quickly seizes the small omen by the scruff of the neck, tugs her claws free of his pants, and then lifts her up. before lazily placing her on his shoulder so she can stay up there like some kind of clinging parrot.]

Stop it. [head turned enough to glare at her through his lidded eyes.] Ain't shit I can do to "help" cept stand around. Just lemme know when the little brat's back to normal. [she can stay up there on his shoulder for the time being, hopefully not finding it a good opportunity to chew on his earrings. as for the other one... dabi turns his attention back to the petite golden dough ball allen calls his omen. tim-something. he'd noticed him upon arrival and didn't bother him much beyond a glance. wavering between letting wolf try and eat him or not. it's a good fat mouthful after all. after all that staring and attempting to guilt him after the priest's death, he doesn't have fond memories of timcanpy. so it's a good thing omens can't die and touya's not one to waste his energy on something pointless.

so long as the little golem stays where he is and doesn't try to bother him, then the villain doesn't plan on siccing wolf upon him. guarding's fine, the lack of growling and offense keeping that tertiary peace between them. touya's expression flattens some at tim's response to kizu's appearance and subsequent attempts to assult his leg. wow. what a threatening beast you have protecting you, priest. it's almost laughable. either way, there's no interaction between the two of them, villain and golem threading that potential ceasefire betwixt the two. with kizu on his shoulder and wolf not being permitted to eat tim (and from the flame-like saliva, it's pretty clear the lupine omen would prefer to). dabi leaves the immediate crater, opting to wander around and comb the nearby beach while he waits for allen to finish up with his brother.]

[ Unable to control her powers, Kizu blasts another telepathic Up! Up! to everyone and everything within a hundred feet. That little stunt will have caught the attention of any beasts in the area. None the wiser, she keeps pawing at his leg until he grabs her by the scruff of her neck, and she reflexively goes into a trance-like state. Her ears go back, tail tucks under, and her legs come up close to her body. Her claws recede as she's lifted, going completely still. No sound or movement comes from her but the moment he sets her down, she springs back to life, twisting away from his hand, grumbling at the treatment. Paws at his neck, slips on his coat, and goes tumbling off the side.

Twisting mid-air, she digs her claws into his back and makes the climb back up. Head pops up, over his shoulder, back legs dangling behind her trying desperately to get a paw-hold. Her whiskers press against his cheek in her struggle, and she stills once more. Mismatched eyes, same as her Sleepers, turn to look at him. A quiet moment passes between them, then her paws dig into his back, and she jumps all the way to the top; front paws on his head, back on his shoulders.

She can SEE the other omen from all the way up there and calls out to him excitedly. Tim! Tim! When he looks up, she'll throw an image of a cozy blue fire with a lot more force than necessary, shoving it into the wolf's head while she's at it (and anyone within the vicinity). Soon after, she quiets down, dropping her front paws on his collar, then proceeds to drape herself on him. Right paws (front and back) hanging over his chest, left paws (front and back) hanging over his back. She curls herself around his neck like some living scarf. Finally, she stays still for more than a second, not listening to a word the blue fairy says, preferring to snuggle into his neck. ]

Edited 2022-06-28 00:44 (UTC)

[hopefully that previous "stop it" also entailed cutting off the telepathic blasts. could do without the yelling in his damn head. touya doesn't know that the beasts around them could hear kizu's thoughts, but considering they're on the wide-open beach, unless something from the sea wants to come crashing up onto the shore for an attempted snack, there's little he thinks that's going to be a threat to them. and if something does show up... touya might be in the mood to kill it. if he doesn't end up trying to kill this furry little gremlin clawing onto his shoulder and back to keep herself from falling off...

he's glad for his coat to avoid the worst of those claws, and goes still to give her time to get herself back up and settled. knows that trying to grab her or help her adjust will only make things worse. not the first cat he's given a ride on his shoulders to. the whiskers on his cheek are only half-ignored, turquoise eyes flicking to the side to look at those mismatched eyes peering at him. like a certain other person with those same eyes who'd once before had his head dropped over his shoulder while touya carried him all the damn way back home. this better not be turning into a habit between them...

oof... now he's got her paws on his head, stuffed into his hair, and other paws on his shoulder. like a damn meerkat looking for danger. the image of the fire, all cozy and warm, smacks wolf in its head and the omen immediately responds with the same image, though the fire abruptly flaring into a raging blaze. possibility... other than that, there's no real warning or response. touya waits for kizu to finally get herself settled and comfortable across his neck and shoulders. like some kind of furry scarf. he flips the collar of his coat up, though it's askew since she's lying on the lapels. whatever.

touya's still going on a walk, not once leaving eye contact of the pair on the beach, but certainly not standing over them like the grim reaper ready to take off their heads. wolf, however, does remain by them, sitting in the middle of the glass-strewn crater and watching them with unblinking flaming eyes while the pair wait for signs of recovery.

or attack.]

“Alone”

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laughs weakly at the irony... :')

*not "here" currently*

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/does not understand this irony

#shouto?

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not "here" currently