SHOWTIME ⦁ open w/closed prompts.

[deathrespect]

Who: Samatoki Aohitsugi deathrespect & co.! Open with closed prompts.
What: Event things.
When: 9.8 and on throughout the month.
Where: Prompts will have locations.

Content Warnings: Event-typical warnings. Missing person trauma. Slight self-harm + PTSD flashbacks. Bad management of breakdowns.

001 ⦁ GROWING PAINS | cassandra district | open.

( Not long after the 8th Samatoki can be seen outside of his home in Cassandra, looking over a small slip of paper with burnt edges. It says "have a nice trip!" and is written in blood-ink.

He has his mask fixed on his face as he buries the slip of paper after folding it into a neat square. Once his claw is drawn across his palm, pale blood spilling onto the soil below, a red spider lily blooms and stretches towards the sky.

There's a hidden smile from behind the mask when the flower doesn't change its bright color. NO rotting, no wilting. He knows, then, that the Blood Minister path is the right one for him.

He turns to see someone a little ways off; not removing his mask, he stands. )

What's good, boss?

002 ⦁ POST-GROWING PAINS | cassandra district | closed to orpheus.

( Heading towards Lumenwood is Samatoki; he's been location-scouting lately for an idea he has ... There's a craning of his head and a stop in his tracks when he sees someone with a guitar, heading down the street.

Makes him think of doing music again ... Even if his music was typically heavy beats, rhyme and flow. )

Ah, hey. You good with that thing?

( He calls, pulling his mask down and fixing it to his belt. Not weird at all. )

003 ⦁ RIVER OF REGRET | ???? | closed to atsushi.

( Ah, fuck. )

The fuck is this?!

( The day is idyllic and pretty, sunlight and trees and a peaceful river. The only other one in the boat is Atsushi, that kid he'd talked to the other day ... )

You got any clue?

004 ⦁ POST-RIVER OF REGRET | lumenwood district | open | self harm + PTSD flashbacks warning.

( His claws itch and flex; it feels like there's something under his skin that keeps him moving, laced with pure anger and anguish. He chainsmokes. He walks.

This isn't Hakagemachi, where his walking had more of a purpose, where he knew what to really bury himself in. Right here and now, in Trench, everything feels fucking pointless. He stops along a fence, leaning on it, breath shaky and uncertain but deep all the same.

Visions of his sister, mangled with her middle pecked out by hungry birds ... He clenches his fist and punches through the fence on reflex.

Then he beats his fist against the top of it, splinters of wood embedding themselves in his skin. )

Stop ... Stop ...

( His breathing is labored; the opposite hand is digging furrows down his face. )

Fuck ... Nemu ... Nemu, please ...

( Anyone happening across him now might recognize he's having flashbacks, eyes turned unseeing to the space in front of him ... )

005 ⦁ BLOODSPORT | prufrock district | open.

( Oh, this is certainly a way to let it out.

He's all too quick to put on his mask again, a comfort of sorts, and tear into monster after monster.

After felling his third on his own, he's not had enough. )

Gimme another. Fuck, gimme two. Things are fucking weak!

006 ⦁ WILDCARD.

( want a starter or something else? hit me up @ vandalisto if you would like to plot/discuss! )

Comments

for wesker.

[deathrespect]

( Damn raven feather. Damn Never Mind. Samatoki sits back a little on the seat, looking up towards the sky, only barely registering the other occupant. His claws flex anxiously. )

Not again. Fuck, are you kidding me?

Re: for wesker.

[subject_013]

[Samatoki's companion stirs in the bottom of the boat, then slowly sits up, taking off his blue-lensed sunglasses, shaking his blond head slightly as if it to clear it before replacing his glasses and straightening the sleeves of his mantled black leather coat, knocking a few raven.]

Another boat? The Pthumerians seem to have an affinity for the waters and the wild.

[He says this dryly, even a hint of wry wit in his baritone voice.]

At least the scenery is intriguing, with this sculpture garden.

[He's looking up at the sculpted canyon walls around them, admiring the view, but keeping himself alert and watchful, as if bracing for anything.]

[deathrespect]

Have you been on this fucked up ride yet?

( There's a low level of panic in his voice.

He doesn't know if he can do this again. )

[subject_013]

Not yet, though if it's anything like the delights which this world's predecessor had to offer, it's bound to take a literal turn for the dire.

[The other sounds almost resigned to the fact, but for the edge of irritation coming into his tone, as if he's bracing for anything and not thrilled about it.]

[deathrespect]

Yeah. I-I. I've been on this before.

( He looks around, screws his eyes shut, jaw set. )

'Bout to get real bloody.

( Then they round the bend, and it begins; he stiffens, claws tearing into the side of the boat. )

[CW: Blood mentioned]

[subject_013]

That arms you with the knowledge of experience, but what experience that must have been, to gauge by your reaction. Dare I ask if you've been here in this world a long time?

[There's no sentiment of sympathy in his reply, but there is an understanding. He may be new to this place, but he's no stranger to shocks.]

[Silence from the man in black, then a creak of wood in an iron grip, and a strong smell of blood.]

...Why those... Is this meant to trip some kind of survivor's guilt?

001

[hauntedsavior]

Yo.

[anna uncrosses her arms and takes a few steps closer. she saw the whole thing, but outside of the language of the flowers she's not sure whether this is good or bad. either way she's trying to pass it off as casual, like she hasn't been hovering around other people all day trying to decide whether she should plant one. she doesn't immediately recognize samatoki with the mask on, not that she expects to be recognized herself, exactly. most of her robot stuff is covered up, and the only probably identifying feature is her eyepatch.]

Making some final farewells to someone along the path to the spirit world? That's the spider lily, right? Bit behind on my hanakotoba.

[deathrespect]

Aye.

( He steps a little closer, pulling the mask off to fix it to his belt. )

Never got into flower language much, but ... Kinda. You do this thing yet or nah?

[hauntedsavior]

Oh, shit, what's up, Sama-kun? [at least her shit-eating grin isn't going anywhere.] Haven't tried it myself yet. Mostly just walking around, seeing everyone else do it. Can't be too careful with stuff like this, right?

[really, she has a fair amount of history with dangerous flowers, and she's definitely not taking any chances. but this is probably fine, she figures. doesn't make a lot of sense to introduce stuff that will end the world right now.]

So what are you looking for an answer on?

[deathrespect]

( No one's called him -kun since Jakurai from the beginning of their relationship. He has to laugh. )

Careful? Yeah, I get what you mean.

( He sniffs. )

In the old joint it was like you couldn't win no matter what you did when this kinda shit cropped up. I guess I was ...

( He looks down and furrows his brow. While Anna isn't like Kanae in the slightest as far as personality goes, they're both terribly easy to talk to.

That's a bit dangerous. )

Getting rid of something I can't do anything about anymore. Trying to see if that's the move or if I can still find something out.

[hauntedsavior]

Huh. And you can actually interpret your results right?

[she's asking mostly because she hasn't given the disciples a lot of regard, but she generally knows good results from bad ones by now. it's a good question to ask, and god knows she's got a few things she'd like something that clear-cut about, but. well. there's a lot of reasons she hasn't done it herself yet.]

Like right now. Say you're still trying to find something out and that thing blooms. Maybe it's telling you to keep looking. Sure as shit ain't telling you where or how to do it. [she shifts her weight and her line of thinking.] Or maybe it's telling you it's time to go bloom on your own and leave it behind. You trust it?

[she doesn't sound incredulous when she asks. it's a real question, like she's asking for his actual input instead.]

003

[undermoonlight]

[Maybe under other circumstances, this would be a nice surprise. A welcome break from the dreary rain of the Trench... but given all that he knows about the previous nightmare, Atsushi can't find any relief in the sunlight. It only makes him anxious.]

No idea, but it's probably not anything good.

[The tiger enhances Atsushi's senses, so he's aware of the distant but off putting smell and the sound of birds' wings flapping.]

[deathrespect]

( Samatoki nods and surveys the scene a little harder; there's no real way off the boat, no way to change its course. )

Guess we're stuck on this fucked up theme park ride for a bit.

( As they float, he inclines his head towards the bend on the river they're about to turn. )

If something pops outta nowhere, I got it. I've been itching to fight lately.

[undermoonlight]

["You're not the only one," would have been the truthful thing to say, but Atsushi bites his tongue. He's learned by now that his violent outbursts have only led to worse ones. The last thing that they need is for him to turn into a giant tiger while on a tiny boat.

Though he should thank the tiger, even if only quietly. His senses help him recognize a familiar odor and he feels his hair stand on end.]

... I smell blood. A lot of it. So yeah, let's be on guard.

[deathrespect]

( Great. Great!

When they turn the bend, blood dominates the river in gallons and gallons. He stiffens, glancing around as though there should be a source.

That's when he sees a body impaled on the bank. )

S ... Sasara?

004

[bolstafir]

[Qrow knows the look of a man whose mind is somewhere other than his body. It's the sharp noise that accompanies the smashing of the fence that gets his attention, but those eyes that keep it. For a moment he can only stare helplessly, before he strolls up, catching the man's hands before he can do any further damage to himself. Normally, he wouldn't risk touching someone in a state like this, but in this situation, he'd rather risk taking on a swing himself than letting the man continue to ruin his hand and face.]

Hey, stop. Nobody's there.

[deathrespect]

( When Qrow grabs his hands, there's a sharp intake of breath, all surprised and deep. The scenery that plagued him so melts away from in front of his eyes. Horror and embarrassment flood him when he realizes what was going on; he swallows thickly, pulls his hands back. )

... Guess not. It was real convincing though.

( A weak laugh. )

cw: brief mention of alcoholism recovery

[bolstafir]

[Ah, good. He's snapped out of it. Qrow wasn't sure it was going to be that easy, but he's glad it was, for both their sakes.

Qrow's also not one to pry, so he doesn't ask who Nemu is, or otherwise address the content of the man's panic at all. Instead, he just rolls a shoulder, almost casual.]

Yeah, it was like that in Deerington, too.

[He doesn't quite feel comfortable leaving the man to his own devices just yet, though.]

...You know, there's a pizza place a bit up the road from here. Food's always a good distraction when I feel like shit.

[There's an offer there, though he doesn't state it quite so openly. A bit over a year ago, he would've offered to share a drink instead, which he imagines would be more helpful in this situation. But staying sober is important to him now, and he isn't about to risk that by going into a bar, however concerned he might be about this stranger.]

[deathrespect]

It's nightmare after nightmare.

( He shakes his head to further dislodge the thoughts that threaten to take hold. )

Ah. Yeah.

( His hand comes to the furrows on his face, gently skirting them this time. Fuck. )

Food might be good. I ... don't think I've been eating right. Even since I got here.

[bolstafir]

For what it's worth, you do get used to it.

[He doesn't even sound particularly resigned about that, honestly; Deerington and Deer Country, for all their frustrating qualities, are still far preferable to being back in Remnant.]

...But it can take awhile. You got any friends or family around here that can remind you?

[Currently his suspicion is firmly in the realm of "no". But this is a stranger. Checking up on someone to make sure they're eating right would be uncomfortably sentimental for someone he's close to, let alone someone he doesn't know. But maybe he can quietly nudge this guy in the direction of one of his teenagers that mother hens habitually.]

Feel like I'd forget half the time if it wasn't for Oscar shoving casseroles at everyone at our place whenever he can.

2

[themuseabandonsyou]

Hmm?

[ Orpheus stops as he notices the man in the mask talking to him, looking at it quizzically as he takes it off and attaches it to his belt before glancing back up at his face. It takes him a second to catch up and remember just what he's been asked, but when he does he smiles, glad for the interest. ]

I like to think so, [ he says, brightly. ] Why?

[deathrespect]

Eh, I just ...

( He feels a bit stupid to ask, now, but ... )

I miss makin' music myself. It's dope to see someone with a guitar even if that ain't my medium.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Dope?

[ Orpheus's brow furrows slightly in confusion before he manages to pick up on what the man means from context. His expression lights up, curious and a little more fully engaged with the conversation now that he knows more or less where it's going. ]

Oh! You're a musician too, then? What is your medium, if it's okay to ask?

[deathrespect]

Voice, I guess. I rap, but it's kind of a ... special case, hah.

WOW sorry for the delay

[themuseabandonsyou]

Rap?

[ Orpheus frowns thoughtfully, trying to remember if he's ever heard the term before. If he had to guess he'd say it sounds like a kind of percussion, but the stranger said it had to do with his voice, so...

He shakes his head. ]

I've never heard of that, before.