deercountry | (no subject)

[ ...he's agreeing.

It's unexpected. Robby figured there might be some protest, or something about how he could stay back. Yet that's not a 'you', but a 'we'; a 'we' that has Robby staring at Mob in disbelief, but then dropping his gaze in a feeling close to shame.

It's okay to run, but it doesn't always feel great. ...still, Robby nods all the same, managing to get out a ] Yeah, [ as he comes down the steps. Relief shakily spreading over his limbs, even if the tight feeling that's gripping over his chest hasn't left. He should tell Mob, he knows, though it takes Robby a moment to build up the courage, half-tempted to just walk. But...

But if he keeps his head down, it feels easier just to get it out. Easier if he tells himself it is. ]

There was, uh, this place. People just ended up there from Trench, and it had these churches there, filled with crazy people who believed in this Patron, Riteior. They, uh...

[ A deep breath. ]

They were killing people. Non-believers. [ He fiddles with his fingers, mostly kept held in fists. ] I don't trust whatever's going on with that feeling or what it means.

[ He can't. He can't, not if it has anything to do with Riteior or those people. ]

[mob just regards him back, missing a lot of the cues here but deciding robby probably just needs a minute. there's so much going on he can't blame robby in the slightest, even just being in the city is overwhelming with the rancid ghost vibes and the whispering cruelty. let alone whatever has him so spooked.

he half expects them to start walking aimlessly to find something else, but robby seems to have something to say instead. something that explains a lot, really, making mob's gaze slide to the church.

robby's really been through a lot here, he thinks. even he can gather there's more to this story for robby.]

Ah, groups like that are terrible. [a small frown. just thinking of LOL cult but frankly that was baby shit compared to this riteor nonsense.] Maybe we should leave a note on the door, so people know it could be dangerous.

[ Other people are more hardened than him, Robby thinks--the note or uneasiness wouldn't bother them (it didn't even bother Mob, did it? He wasn't going to back away if it wasn't for him). It's why he's unsure, something wry in his voice as he says-- ]

We could. But I think most people came looking for danger.

[ Or expecting it. Regardless: a note wasn't going to stop most people. ]

I don't have any sticky notes anyway. [ Again: a misplaced joke, but this time Robby looks at Mob, his mouth pulled into a grimacing smile. ]

We could just run instead?

[ Not literally, but you know... Robby's definitely hung around here long enough. ]

[honestly good point, mob can't argue that. he wouldn't really know what to warn anyway, it was all so unclear.

what is clear is robby, and having robby's back, so he nods after a beat.] Run and go back to the Trench?

[back home, or as close to home as there was here. he's not sure if that's what robby means, but the voices stir and he's willing to admit,] I'm tired of the voices, and the feeling here.

[maybe he wants to run too.]

[ ...well, Robby hadn't meant to go as far as all the way back to the Trench, either, but when Mob continues like that? He isn't opposed to the idea. It even momentarily makes him forget about his own state, thinking back to Mister LaRusso and his worry about the both of them coming out here in the first place. Robby had gone because Mob had wanted to, and he figured at the very least, Mob would get to see how this world could be, but at least with plenty of other people around - and himself, too - to make sure nothing went terribly wrong.

...but, it's kind of funny too. To come this far and to throw in the towel.

Robby can't say he dislikes the idea, though. ]

The voices didn't bug us outside the city -- you wanna go and take a break? We shouldn't head back on our own, but we can stay out at camp.

[ Let's pretend people were responsible enough to have a gathering point outside the city.

But Robby pauses, and scoffs a little as he adds: ] Unless this is the part where you admit you can teleport us all the way back into town. Which, I'll be making you train karate all day for making us walk.

[ Sensei LaRusso is too kind... Robby can be more intensive!!! ]

[the dream of responsible camping point people can be real, and mob nods after a moment, a little relieved. now that a break is a possibility he allows himself to accept how much the voices are bothering him, the general terrible malice of the place. as much as he wants to help robby he can't deny it would help him too.]

Yeah, I would. I liked the camping. [sure the beasts were awful but it wasn't so bad, with so many people around, with the careful attempts to make everything as smooth a journey as possible.

the bit about teleporting makes him genuinely pause to consider if that's something he can do, because of course it does. could he?? he has no idea actually.] Well... I could fly us but it makes me nauseous.

[will he get in karate trouble for that... ]

[ ...Robby doesn't need as long to think, his expression something of a grimace. ]

...I don't weight train to get picked up and flown around by a guy with less body weight than me. So we're good.

[ Does that change the fact Mob can do it?? Shut up, we're never finding out, as Robby's turning on his heel. ] C'mon, I think the way back was this way.

[ He could use the compass, probably, but let's save the charge for now. ]

Camping's alright, but the weather and walking for days? Would be better if we had more than monsters and winter trees everywhere.

[ Bare, bare winter trees. ]

Oh good. [relief. he does not care for getting telekinesis flying motion sickness, even if it's pretty useful sometimes. rarely.] It's probably good training to walk anyway.

[body improvement is a lifestyle, obviously.

either way he follows after, a nod to that assessment.] Camping in the winter isn't very interesting. [also monsters are bad, there's that.] Did you camp much, Robby?

[and after a moment, a tad brighter,] Or sit under waterfalls for training? [he still has a very weird view of what karate is. to be fair he hasn't been as far off thanks to how karate drama is just that weird sometimes.]

[ Robby could complain about the idea of walking for 4 days being good training, but he's already complained some, so he won't!! Plus, the camping question does distract him. ]

Waterfalls? [ --but not as much as the waterfall question. ] Isn't that something Buddhist monks do?

[ but, well: ] Mister LaRusso took me out to the woods once for some training, but we didn't do anything crazy. 'Cept he made me balance on a tree and do some moves.

[ ... hey. Looking at Mob. ]

I can show you, if we find a good tree. Now that'll be good training.

I guess? I think it's supposed to make you tough. [surely the same thing karate people must do. baffling.

and see, this is exactly why he thinks of weird shit with karate. tree balancing... not super weird but still the image it conjures.]

Really? [faintly excited. he wants to see this...] I want to see that.

[he continues to just enjoy watching robby or daniel do Cool Karate Stuff. he is 14, sue him.]

[ Sitting under a waterfall makes you stronger? ...it feels like the kind of karate Mister LaRusso would teach, he guesses.... (you stick kids in a freezer once--) ]

I mean, I'll be showing by telling you what to do, and you do it. I need to watch you from the ground. Make sure you're keeping it up. [ Very, very serious. ]

It took me hours to get it right.

[see? this is the true face of karate. the idea of being the tree balancer makes him nod though, vaguely determined to give it a try]

Okay, I'll try my best. [...] Could you show me once, though?

[he still wants to see cool stuff.....]

[ Mhhhhrrrr-- ]

Alright. [ Fine! He'll do it! ] But if I fall-- if, [ he has to repeat!!, ] it's been a while, alright?

[ You can't judge him!! ]

[yes!!! have a swift nod]

I'll catch you. [with his powers even. otherwise they'd both be hurt really.] Karate training is pretty intense, huh?

No pain, no gain, huh? It's fun, [ he'll admit, ] once you do it. It's like everything coming together after training so hard.

[ Which: ] You ever get there with your club back home?

[that makes his lips quirk] A little. I don't pass out as much during our runs. And I got farther in the school marathon than I ever did.

[he might have not passed out even! if not for the knee scrape. amazing.]

Hell yeah, good job. You plan to get back into running when it gets warmer? Just remember to keep some incense on you whenever you do.

[ Important!! Safety first!! Check the news for zombie holes! ]

Yes, I'd like to. [a pause, wait-] Would you like to come with me sometimes?

[he's not sure he'd call runs fun but he does enjoy them, in some way. and robby seems the type who might too. ]

[ Hmm, better question is, does he have time for running? Ehhh- ]

Sure, let's say once a week 'til I see what my schedule's like. Mister LaRusso's got me focusing on ice training. I feel tired before I've done much of anything; maybe a run'll wake me up after, or before? What do you think? You use powers -- you ever feel ready to sleep if you use 'em too much?

[ Mob gave him a power boost earlier...but being a warmblood using coldblood powers does him no favours. ]

Yeah, lately when I use too much power I sleep for a really long time. It takes a while to wake up. [just a nod there, sounds legit. being new to powers at all must make it even more exhausting he imagines.]

I wonder if it'll be like training muscles. With time maybe it won't make you very tired at all.

It better, [ ha, ] or using blood magic's only gonna be worth it when I'm paired up with you.

[ Not bad, but disappointing. :( ]

But hey, 'til then, you can keep up your own training with exercises. You ever done a burpee? That'll get you warmed up.

[ A real name.....of fear. ]

[he'll have your back regardless robby!! still he thinks if anyone can figure this out it's robby, so no worries here.

the real worry is the fact robby just introduced burpees into his life, robby why....] I don't think so. Is it like squats?

[sweet summer child.]

Mmmm- call it an upgrade from squats.

Don't worry, [ reassures the biggest liar and traitor. ] --I'll show you. But those're good too -- and push-ups.

I'll ask Tory about getting you some dumbbells too. But you keep everything up? You'll see improvement for sure.

[ Enjoy your rest of January and February, Mob..... ]

[wow, upgraded squats. robby how could you do this to him.] Okay, I'd like to learn them.

I hope so. Sagawa said that by the end of the year I might be as strong as a normal middle schooler. [truly lofty goals with this one.]