[Closed] 🔥 Apricity ❄️

[swellter]

Who: Todoroki and Bakugou
What: Learning about Deku's Corruption
When: An hour after THIS.
Where: Prufrock: Gate Lamp Location


[ Half an hour after her conversation with Katsuki, Kizu wakes Shouto up, rousing him from sleep. As his omen, she knows he would not fault her for giving one of his friends his location, but being taken off guard was not something either would appreciate. With a long strech of her hind legs, she relegates the conversation she had with Katsuki through telepathy. It's something they've been working on and the images flow smoothly. Not long after, Kizu retreats, floating in the spiritual realm inside of him as was her custom. She had yet to reveal herself to anyone in person and today was no different. Caught up with the latest development, he chooses to send Bakugou a message at the 40th minute. ] 

Meet me at the Gate Lamp Location of Prufrock in 20 minutes. 

[ Streching out his back, and whipping off one last yawn, he goes to change into his hero costume. When he's ready, he unclips one of his canisters from around his waist where he keeps his lamp friend. The little skeleton immediately perks up and Todoroki smiles back in turn. ]

Can you take me to Prufrock Gates? 

[ His lamp friend friend moans cheerily and bursts into smoke revealing his lamp. Accompanied by more friends, the trio moan a song of travel. Todoroki takes hold of the lamp and teleports to the lamp gates of Prifrock District. Once there, the lantern turns into smoke and he helps his lamp friend back in the darkened canister, nodding at it as he closes the top and clips it back around his waist. 

When he arrives, the sound of practice reveberates throught the area. Today there's no games being played so the gates massive arena is used for physical training with a few of the Sleepers scattered around the arena using the open area to practice their blood magic. Todoroki's blood powers don't require this kind of enviroment for practice, so instead, he picks up a sword and starts slashing at a dummy, working on his footwork the way he's been taught for the last five months while he waits for Bakugou. ]

Comments

[detonating]

[He doesn't exactly know how that any of that lamp location shit works either, just that his bag came with a weird fucking lamp friend or whatever it is--that he hasn't done anything with yet, so that's why Katsuki is walking in. Maybe a couple of minutes later than he'd intended. He's never late, and that's just a part of the reason why he seems particularly sour when he finally does find his classmate. The stupid start to his conversation with Todoroki's omen wasn't helpful to that cause, and neither is the fact that he feels like shit. Existing in general aches, and he can't say that he's sleeping super well.

Moving? Even worse, and it's probably why he's running late against his better nature.

As much as he tries not to show it, Katsuki looks as tired as he feels under the hood of his new robes, and the power of his stride is lacking from what it usually is. Little signs that could be picked up on, if someone who knew him wanted to look close enough. The blond finds Todoroki swinging a fucking sword, which has him cocking his head and an eyebrow alike.]

...you picking up sword fighting now?

[It's not necessarily a judgement, it seems like this world is the kind of place where you want every skill you can get and it makes sense, it's just... weird to see.]

[swellter]

[ Traveling by lamplight is instantaneous, giving him time to spare. Feeling jittery, he grabs a sword and starts a standard set to expend the excess energy buzzing through him. Halfway through his second set, he spots Bakugou across the arena and steps away from his target. He looks sick. He thinks, watching him maneuver through the chaos. Setting the sword back on the equipment rack, Todoroki goes to greet him. ]

Among other things.

[ He's 17 now, birthday come and gone, but aside from the slightly longer hair, and two piercings on his left ear, he hasn't changed much. ]

Kizu brought me up to speed. You and Uraraka -- [ He hesitates. ] I'm sorry you were pulled into this.

[ First, Midoriya. Now, them. His brother. It's a lot to process in a short amount of time, but nothing compared to what they must be going through. ]

I'll help you with whatever you need, but first. [ And this is where things get tricky. ] I'd like your help in finding Midoriya.

[detonating]

[Katsuki as well. He just had his 17th birthday in Nippon before everything went dark, and despite the year that's apparently gone by, it's a lost year. He doesn't look any different from how he did back home. Frankly, it's annoying as hell--it makes him feel stunted in a way and he's content to just skip it this year... but that's neither here nor there.

Reaching up to pull the hood down, Katsuki just grunts his response about the swords. Maybe he can give a shit about sword fighting next week, or the week after, but they have more important shit to discuss. And unfortunately... the answers he was going to get from Todoroki are apparently not going to come. Not if he needs their help finding Deku.]

We've done this before. Didn't come from home. [It's not actually a dismissal of the offer, though it could easily be taken that way. He isn't good at accepting help, and as seen here... isn't great at offering reassurance either. But they'll be fine, and aren't the priority here. Cocking his head to indicate that Todoroki should follow him, Katsuki moves to find the nearest bench that he can drop down onto it.] Someone told me he was just in a battle. Couldn't track him down for me though. [Which was concerning, but he isn't going to fucking say that out loud.] You were gonna be the one with answers about him, so I guess that's where we're at. Any chance that asshole drew the lucky straw and got sent home?

[swellter]

[ There's a pause in his step, head tilting slightly at the comment. It's not the first time he's run into a Sleeper that arrived from another place, wholly different, but same similar circumstances. Mass kidnapping is usually a thing. It leads him to believe Trench isn't the only place to be wary of.

He's silent for a good half-minute, processing the information, recontextualizing their arrival. He said 'we'. Kizu reminds him. ]

How long were you captured?

[ He's been gone for almost half a year. How long were they?

As for Midoriya, that's not nearly so complicated. ]

He's here, but he may be corrupted. [ No beating around the bush. He starts stating facts, quickly bringing him up to speed. ] That's why he's hiding from me.

We spoke a few days ago. He's ignored my attempts since then.

[detonating]

[Leaning in, Katsuki just rests his elbows on his knees and watches Todoroki from where he is. The pause, the processing of that he's said, all with his default scowl on his face.]

'Bout four and a half months. But we've lost almost a year in between here and Nippon.

[Short and to the point is better. Especially when he feels like the worst kind of dog shit. Yelling about him being stupid is going to take effort, and while he won't hold back for even a second despite how badly he feels, he'd prefer not to right now. Better to have no reason to.]

What happened in the battle? Did he seem corrupted, or whatever, when you talked? [He has no reason to think that Todoroki wasn't there with him. He also has been told a bit about corruption and what it leads to, but it's not nearly enough for his liking. Katsuki meant to find the archives he was told about to get a clearer picture, but then crazy shit started happening. But he knows enough to know that if something bad happened during said battle, then that could definitely put Deku on a path to that shit.] And d'you have any clue where the hell he'd go to hide from everyone?

[swellter]

[ Four and a half months... Far longer than he expected. If he were more expressive, his surprise might have shown, but he's not. So, he merely questions what's obviously wrong with that statement. ]

You were gone less than five months, but you lost a year?

[ That doesn't make sense. ]

I wasn't there.

I was trapped inside a cocoon for a long time and woke up after the battle was over.

[ Hence, his plight. ]

[detonating]

Had my birthday a few weeks before... this shit. But it's coming up again. Tells me that we lost a about year in between.

[It does make sense, he just didn't care to give the right details for the context. He's fucking tired, okay?]

The fuck? A cocoon?

[Katsuki does look a little taken aback. Just cause it's fucking weird?? Your turn, Shouto. Details, or answer his other question. Y'know, the important one about where Midoriya could be?]

[swellter]

Or you haven't experienced it yet. You haven't grown.

[ Still shorter than him. ]

It happens sometimes.

[ You know, sometimes your body gets wrapped up in a cocoon of your own making. Just Trench things. But that's not important right now. ]

After the battle, I tried to look for Midoriya, but he never showed up for work or went back to his apartment. I tried to contact him, but he never responded.

A few days ago he did.

[ And it didn't go well. ]

He doesn't want to be found. Thinks he's turning into a beast. He may have been corrupted during the batle. Locating him has proven time-consuming, so I sought outside help, but he's managed to avoid everyone's who searched for him so far.

[detonating]

Screw off. You're still an idiot!

[Point and case. God dammit, there goes the vein pulsing in his head with his desire to just like. Fucking shake this dude until his head falls off of his shoulders.]

Which fuckin' part?! Losing time or getting trapped in a cocoon??

[Katsuki just scoffs after, and waves him off.] Don't answer that shit. I don't actually care. [He takes a second to just. Pinch the bridge of his nose to try to chill the hell out. Even that change to his blood pressure thanks to his temper was enough to make everything ache even worse. Particularly his head.] They aren't us. He ain't gonna get away this time. We just gotta get into his stupid nerd head and think like him.

[Looking up again, he looks a lot more serious. And a lot more tired, but that doesn't matter either. Katsuki takes a moment to reach into his robes, pulling out the map that had come in the notebook from his welcome bag. He pins it between two fingers and then points at the other teen with it.] Process of elimination. We need to mark every place that's been searched already, weigh the likelihood of him going back to any of 'em and go from there.

[swellter]

[ Todoroki is about to answer when he gets shut down. There's a pause on his end, short-lived, then finally: ]

That's why I'm recruiting you and Uraraka. You're both close to him.

He'll listen to you.

[ He takes the map from Bakugou and settles down on the seat to mark every place he's searched so far. After a few minutes, he hands it back. ]

We can start the search whenever you and Uraraka are ready.

[ Tomorrow, at the earliest, which leaves him only tonight to continue his solo hunt for his friend. ]

[detonating]

[Close to him. That statement has his jaw clenching in reflexive anger at the mix of other emotions a statement like that gives him, and the blond says absolutely nothing he watches Todoroki mark the map up. This isn't the time or the place to let anyone see just how complicated their relationship is, because it doesn't even fucking matter right now. Finding him is priority.

Katsuki just takes the map when it's offered back, taking a moment to look at every spot before folding it up and tucking it back into his robes.]

Let's go get her up to speed, then. Once she hears all this, she ain't gonna want to wait. [He doesn't either, but again with the things he's fine with leaving unsaid. He just pushes himself up from his spot with a heavy breath, slowly straightening out before just. Starting to walk the way he came.

Maybe he'll ask some of the other questions he'd sidelined in favor of hashing out the start of the find fucking Deku plan.]

[swellter]

[ Todoroki will follow suit and explain the same to Uraraka as he just did with Bakugou. He'll go over the map he marked and explain the terrain and what to look for. He's spent the last five months patrolling Trench. The beaches. Woods. And inner-city. Together, they'll narrow down the search to a few key places and mark others for another sweep. When they're done, they'll have a battle plan formed. Todoroki will leave them to rest while he goes on another patrol with Kizu at his side feeling a renewed sense of hope. ]