deercountry | catch-all.

WHO: Robby.
WHERE: Outside the dojo.
WHEN: Approx 3/10.

[ Every time he comes to karate class he feels more and more like he sucks at this, and Ritsu isn't used to sucking at anything - except being an esper, of course. It's just, the concentration aspect isn't his thing, he's in his head too much. Right now more than ever; Shigeo's decision to do a brotherly bond with some other guy really hurt, and he can't even say anything about it lest his brother becomes too volatile again. It's like his old fear, but worse because it's not just psychic stuff now but blood corruption, literally poisoning the land and others.

Honestly, he's lucky that he hasn't started corrupting over this. He's surly, at least, his usual smooth and friendly demeanour a little shorter-tempered, less likely to stay later and be social. Anyway, he has a lot of stuff to do, being an independent minor is hard, and the stress of that is building too.

So he skips a class. Probably tells Sensei he isn't feeling well, but Robby can easily catch him after, not even in his gi, just chilling plainclothes as he writes in one of the books he carries with him, homework or a diary. He doesn't seem pleased to look up and see the other guy, the last person he wants to see right now. ]

Oh, hey.

WHO: Chozen
WHERE: In the mean Trench streets.
WHEN: 3/14
Content Warning: Bloodthirsty sentient plants, that do mild injury to a teen.

[ Ritsu's new blood powers are sporadic and kind of make him feel light-headed, and his ESP is weak lately too, so he should really just call his brother to come help him out with the plants that have got him cornered. Especially since his sad little bursts of ice are about as effective as throwing a snow ball.

His Omen has put herself in between Ritsu and the main serpent-like plant that seems out for blood. Not your normal Wooper, she's grown in size protectively, but the extent of her abilities is to spit a little water. Together they can freeze the plant... but there's more tendrils coming, an absolute shibboleth dragging itself out of the alley and murmuring about Ritsu's delicious blood. ]

Uh, no thank you!

[ Ritsu shields, but the vines that whip out smash through his telekinesis and wrap thorned vines around him, digging into his skin deep enough to scratch and tear. Ritsu cries out, high and shocked. His Omen darts around the vines, scampering down the street to try and find an adult or someone with powers: ]

"Somebody, help!!"

Edited 2023-03-10 03:36 (UTC)

WHO: Shigeo.
WHERE: Makima's Crenshaw house.
WHEN: 14/3.

It's late when Ritsu limps into the house, late enough he probably already had to send an im fine. A lie that now becomes absolutely clear given the state of him, his arms covered in bandages from where the thorns had scratched him up, another gash on his temple, limping to keep his weight off a swollen anger.

Shigeo's usually athletic little brother looks like a mess, and he's picked most of the leaves from his hair and picked the dirt out of his scraped knees but he still needs a shower and some clean clothes before he looks presentable. He's kind of hoping he can get on top of that before Shigeo sees he's home, slinking through the dark house with just his Omen's lamplike eyes to light the way.

[ Robby's been wanting to chat to the younger brother. Give him some time to get settled in (whatever that means), then see how he's doing after that. There's stuff he wants to talk to him about dojo and powers-related things too--he's been getting to know his brother's powers, it might be good to chat with Ritsu about that too--and, well--

So he wants to talk. Nothing that has to be heavy, and certainly not when he hears Ritsu's left class early. He's dressed out of his gi too, a warm smile when he sees the younger guy despite the less pleased looked on him. He could read into it. He's not going to, right now. ]

Hey, sup. Wanted to catch up--you got time?

[ Ritsu seriously considers brushing him off politely, and probably the pause when he does so is fairly loaded in and of itself. But then his curiosity and friendliness both get the better of him and he nods. ]

Yeah, I'm not doing anything important.

[ Just trying to keep his mind sharp with a problem set — he's in the habit of studying every free minute he gets, even here where school is just blatantly not as important and exam scores even less so. A world just made for people like Shigeo. And Robby, probably. ]

How can I help, Robby-san?

[ Robby leans against something, hands in his pockets, giving a small nod at Ritsu. ]

How you been getting used to being here? Know it isn't exactly like home, though I hear you guys have a lot of ghosts and all sorts there. [ A pinch of a grin. ] But, I mean, 'side from the esper stuff, I know I felt pretty out of place coming here. Even with family around.

You feel you're getting a hang of things? Or still finding your feet? [ Admitting, a small tug of his mouth: ] It has been just a month.

[ Basically that long, so yeah, probably the latter, right? ]

Ritsu's text didn't really make Mob feel better. At first it did, hearing he was okay, just then time when on and he started to worry a little. He wants to text just to ask where he was, who he was with, to assuage his worries. He doesn't, but he thinks about it, then scrolls the network and talks to people on his omni to try and distract himself.

It's just a learning experience, getting used to his brother being in such a dangerous place like this. Ritsu is capable, can take care of himself usually. He knows he needs to learn to be a little less worried about everything. It isn't good for him, for corruption.

Mob touches the pendant Robby gave him a while ago, the one that helps calm him, and that helps. They have a bond now so he needs to make sure not to worry Robby with his own pointless worries anyway.

And then Ritsu comes home.

Of course Mob comes downstairs when he feels Ritsu's aura, ready to ask if he wanted something hot to drink. They could sit down and talk about their day or something, but-

"Ritsu?" Mob's tone is typical, though there's a faint hint of concern as he goes down the stairs. That walk becomes hurried the moment he starts to see better, a rare showing of using his powers mundanely to flip on the lights and get a better look. "Ritsu! What happened to you?"

Caught! Ritsu freezes when the lights come on, like a teen caught sneaking home from a party. Except worse, because he clearly hasn't been off having a good time. He grimaces awkwardly, then tries to cover the expression, stay calm and cheerful. It's important than Shigeo doesn't start worrying about him, and he also doesn't want him to lose control and go burn the city down trying to stop the plants.

"Ah, yeah," he says, keeping his tone casual, trying to put weight on his bad ankle so it isn't obvious. "I must look like I got dragged through the bushes, right? Ran into some weird plants on my way home."

[ Oh, he's being checked up on? Ritsu blinks, looking briefly surprised that Robby would even care, before looking up at him. ]

Yeah, it really hasn't been that long, huh? Time passes fast here, but you're right that it was a real shock when I first washed up.

[ Just stalling a little, saying aimlessly agreeable things where he considers how careful he wants to be. Didn't this guy have a bond with Shigeo now? As much as that pisses him off, it means if they get into a fight it could end up affecting Shigeo's powers... ]

I do live a pretty normal life in Miss Makima's house. Actually, I feel like I have even more chores now than I used to. But I can just use telekinesis for most of them.

[ Unlike his brother, Ritsu uses his powers for normal stuff to make his life easier all the time. ]

(58%)

"Plants?" That made sense. He's seen them, avoided them. They gave him a bad feeling, apparently with good reason. "Are you okay? Let me get the first aid kit."

He turns to do that, the faintest hint of tension around his eyes from worry. There's one in the kitchen so that's where he goes, trying to keep quiet. Sunny and Makima were probably asleep if they were home after all.

But Ritsu will stop him; "No, it's okay, I already got bandages on everything." He did all his first aid before coming home, apparently. "It's fine, I'll just get ready for bed." Everything is fine, Mob! No need to help in any way.

Of course, Ritsu was so reliable, he would handle this himself. It leaves Mob stopping, fingers twitching a little with the want to do something productive for his brother. It's the first time he's dealt with getting hurt here. Mob always knew it would happen but... well, it's different to see it.

He glances back to Ritsu. It's different to see it. (59%)

"Okay," he says, a touch uncertain before he continues despite that. "You can call me if you're in danger. I can get there pretty fast." It may make him queasy but he'd use his powers for that. Protecting Ritsu.

"Oh, um, I got someone else to help me, so it's fine," Ritsu says. He's repeating that word a lot, winces internally. Tries to smile brighter. "I won't be any trouble for you while we're here, don't worry."

"Ritsu..." There's a lot wrong with that. They've been here before, Mob thinks. Saying things were fine when they weren't, smiling to defuse and deflect. They were supposed to be getting better.

"You're my little brother, you'd never be trouble for me. I want to be here for you," he tries. "I want to worry about you."

"You want to worry about me?" Ritsu echoes, shaking his head. It's hard not to take that poorly, read something into it that just isn't there. Of course Shigeo would be glad that in this new place they were back to the old way of things, where Ritsu needed protecting. Even better when that was what mattered most, and not the things Ritsu was actually good at, like sports or schoolwork.

"This world..." he says, looking down at his feet, breath coming a little faster as his fringe falls in his eyes. "It really was made for you, wasn't it? No wonder you aren't even trying to get us home again."

Does he believe that? Well, maybe a little, but with all the bleeding scratches beneath his bandages, and the attempt at using coldblood powers for the first time despite his warmblood, Ritsu has a little bit of corruption loosening his tongue and increasing his stress and paranoia.

Mob hesitates over answering that, unsure. It wasn't bad to worry about Ritsu, that's just what being an older sibling was, right? Or caring about someone. Sensei, Sunny and Robby worried about him, so did Miss Makima. Did he say it wrong?

He'd ask, or try to, but Ritsu continues. (61%) The words have implications he doesn't want to think Ritsu meant, a world full of monsters and oddities being made for him. It stings even as he tries to ignore that.

"Ritsu." Calm toned, bland, just pushing everything down as per usual. It's not a tone that will likely help. "I don't think we can go home. I'm sorry, I know that's really hard, but it's just... the feeling I get." One he wishes he could explain, but he's never been very good at that. "We're here though, so we should try to make the most of it. Master Reigen always said we should try to work with what we have."

Yeah? [ Robby huffs, a small chuckle in the breath, lips widening. ] I tried telling Mob he should make it easier carrying stuff, but he says he's making up for using his powers too much. I would, though.

[ He tips his head playfully at that point, no shame in the raised eyebrows and the face he makes. ]

What about school, or finding stuff to do?

[ Going, not going? ]

Of course I'm going to school, Robby-san.

[ A little sharper, politeness with a knife. Study is so important to him, probably his number one hobby, and while the school and curriculum isn't exactly on par with what he's used to he isn't going to start slacking just because he's in a new world.

The famed good nature is already wearing a little thin. He should talk about more things he's doing, ask Robby to join youth group, but instead: ]

Um, should you really be asking this? It's a little...

[ Classic Japanese passive-aggression, letting the implication dangle so that Robby can finish that sentence however he wants and save face, rather than overtly using rude words like overbearing and none of your business. ]

[ Well, that feels out of nowhere. His mouth twitches at first, but then his good mood eases into something more taken back, before becoming more neutral. He shifts some where he's been leaning, but doesn't move off. ]

What?

[ The question isn't asked cluelessly, but it's not edged, either. It's an invitation for Ritsu to finish. What do you want to say? ]

[ Ritsu meets his eyes very directly, his expression still polite. ]

Well, aren't you overstepping? We don't really know each other.

[ He doesn't look away, his own hold more casual. ]

You're a new guy, you're Mob's younger brother, you're part of Miyagi-do. All of that's reason enough to me to check on how you're doing.

[ He's not dumb. Maybe the guy isn't being that hostile now, but he remembers what Mob said about his younger brother being upset about the bond. He's even taken it more to heart than maybe he should--it's not like he didn't show up and watch something similar.

Still, he'll wait. See what the guy says. Ritsu isn't him. ]

"I know that already!" Ritsu says suddenly, his own tone kicking up an unwise notch, loud in comparison to Shigeo's flat affect. "But are you really not even going to try? What else is that kind of power good for?"

[ Ritsu breaks first, looking off to the side with a frown, his fingers of one hand pressing into the material of his jeans. He isn't very aggressive by nature, tends to deal with his upset by becoming spikier, more introspective, turning his negative emotions inwards. It doesn't help that Robby mentions Miyagi-do, which has only made him more frustrated today. ]

You don't have to include that last thing. I'm probably not going to be a member of Miyagi-do long. And you're not... you're not my brother, so why don't you just leave me alone.

[ He breathes, and there it is, isn't it. He catches the inflection in that 'my', and he looks down once before back at Ritsu. Straightening somewhat, but not stiffly. ]

I'll leave you, but I want you to know that Mob always talked about you. Before you showed up, and about the bond, too. He wants to get one with you as soon as he knows it's okay.

[ But it doesn't help, does it? He knows it doesn't, another scenario in his mind, another time: watching his dad accept being taken into another household, hugging Paul, the one who was here before him.

Robby's come off from where he's been leaning, and he takes a step, as if readying to walk. It's okay, he can be hated--it's only fair. He's the same way. ]

I'll never be Mob's brother. You are.

[ And he'll walk, if there's nothing that Ritsu seems to want to say following that. You don't just stopped being pissed about something that just happened.

You never stop being worried about being replaced. ]

[ Ritsu watches him go, and maybe it's a good thing he doesn't have a bond yet because he's a whirl of feelings, the pages of his book and caps of his pens trembling with his telekinesis. But Robby leaves, and they settle, and he goes back to writing in his diary with an even stronger furiosity than before. ]

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last tag should have said "ankle" not "anger" omg.

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