april catch-all

[planetary_bonds]

Who: Yusei Fudo (planetary_bonds) & you!
What: event aftermath and also april shenanigans
When: all throughout april
Where: Wyver, possibly Thesa?
Warning(s): stuff that happened during "Taken" will be referenced, so all that torture n' trauma stuff.



[i. a dull-eyed man]

[Yusei's one of the less injured people to get rescued from the tower's prison room. He's bruised and battered from the interrogations, and he's been dropped on his head a little more times than what's healthy, but otherwise he just looks like he's been mugged. The injuries will fade with time, the healers say - other than the gouged out wounds on his neck and wrists. They're so different from the rest of his injuries, what with his constantly opening and reopening them with dirty rocks, and it looks like he was trying to carve out his own skin. They were already infected by the time help came, and the scars from that will likely never fade. It's almost sad, really, that the only lasting scars from this ordeal are the ones he made himself.

Not that he's in any state to appreciate the irony. He was one of the less physically injured prisoners, sure, but he seemed to have internalized the poison's effects more intensely to make up for it. He'd fought his rescuers part of the way out because of mixing them up with the shamans coming to interrogate them again, and now that he's actually aware of his surroundings he's become even more morose than usual, glowering from his resting place without actually seeing what or who's in front of him. Any attempt to address this leads to him giving a hollow-eyed stare for a few unnerving moments before he finally manages to focus.]

...Sorry. [His voice somehow sounds duller than usual.] Did you need something?

[ii. recovery is a long and hard road]

[Yusei's out on the streets of Wyver looking for repairing supplies. His bike had been damaged in the scuffle that had resulted in his kidnapping. Even now, looking at the mess that had been made in his own part of the house, he can't help but feel irritated by his own stupidity. He'd known that not all the shamans were trustworthy, and yet he'd let the ones claiming to be Sanzo's coworkers in so easily...stupid, stupid, stupid!

Frankly, everything's making him feel inadequate lately. He doesn't care to question whether it's a side effect of the poison playing to his self-derogatory nature or if this is a natural bent to his thoughts, because to him it all seems so logical. He wasn't able to do a thing for anyone when they were captured together, he was barely able to save himself when given the opportunity, he wasn't able to do a thing to stop...to stop...

Thinking about the burning, fiery death he'd witnessed makes his stomach twist painfully and his thoughts become more scattered. Even before this, he wasn't able to do anything! What has he done? He hasn't helped anyone, he hasn't done anything, all he's done is fled from one city to another, he hasn't...he hasn't...

CLANG.

Hasn't got a good grip on his supplies, that's what. His muscles are still weak from the poison's effects, after all, not that Yusei sees it that way. Instead, it's just more evidence of his lack of ability.

He really can't save anyone, after all. And here, his efforts don't bear fruit. It's just...It's just...

Yusei lets out an uncharacteristic growl, looking way more visibly frustrated than someone should from just dropping their stuff. It looks like he's having trouble focusing.]

[iii. wildcard]

[if you want to come up with an individual prompt, i'll make a toplevel for you! pm me or plot with me at emexceedschangezearu!]

Comments

ii.

[beatupgrass]

Easy, kid.

[Rocket's voice has a bit of a dull edge to it- even though he took to the recovery a lot better than most, it was still a frustrating, harrowing experience, and he's pissed. He's so very pissed.

But he has nothing to take it out on, hence the feeling of impotence, leading to him being irritated moreso than usual. His latest projects have been a welcome distraction, but even that isn't as good as some warm ale and a few good money-making schemes. He's on his way to see what he can see about achieving both of those things when he happens upon Yusei having a... Moment.]

There's way more practical ways to channel all that anger.

[planetary_bonds]

[Yusei continues to glare at the pile of metal and sundry, seemingly not hearing Rocket at all. For a while, it looks like he'll never respond - then he blinks, looking...lost. Tired.]

Right. Of course there is... [And of course, he's not good enough to utilize it. When will he finally actually be worth something...?

He looks down at Rocket, affecting a tired smile. It doesn't quite reach his eyes.]

What, you're telling me this?

[It comes out sounding a little harsher than he intended. The hesitant smile shows that it really was just meant to be a friendly jibe, but...Yusei's clearly not in the right state of mind, if he's letting venom leak into his words like this.]

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket snorts, not taking offense to it.] I shoot things. I build things. I do things that make me money, which, in turn, makes me feel better. So yes, I'm the one tellin' you this. I could set up a shop for how overqualified I am for tellin' people this.

[At least he can be himself with all of this going on- then again, it's hard to kick someone when they're already down.]

[planetary_bonds]

But would that kind of shop bring you money?

[Okay, that's a little more like the Yusei we all know and love. He's at least bending down to get a better look at what he dropped and check it for any dings or damaged bits.]

[beatupgrass]

Kid, if I could make money off tellin' people how stupid they are I wouldn't have to do all the other things I just listed.

[But that's more like it. He circles around to look at the equipment Yusei's been gathering.] What're you workin' on these days? Something to remove that stick from Sanzo's ass?

[planetary_bonds]

That's been postponed to next week.

[Very funny, Yusei. Although maybe he should figure out something for that soon, considering how Sanzo's been abusing that little trinket he got for being a hero.]

Some of the things in the house were damaged when... [He grimaces.] Those men came calling. I'm fixing them up.

[The way Yusei's expression sours, it's pretty clear he's talking about his own kidnapping.]

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket cringes, teeth bared.] You too, huh? They must've taken you to a different place than us. They were all over it seems like.

[He scratches under his chin, awkwardly.] I've been finishin' up some stuff for Highwind. I could swing by and offer a hand, I guess.

[planetary_bonds]

["Too?" Yusei shakes his head.]

So I heard. The way Sanzo was griping about how far he had to go... [Ha. He'd tell that story to anyone who'd listen to the exploits of the Brave Heroic Priest now.] I'm surprised they managed to get their hands on you, though. What sort of sneak attack did they have to use?

[He'd imagine Rocket to be...very hard to get hands on, otherwise.] Don't trouble yourself, if you still have your own issues to address.

[beatupgrass]

Don't worry about it. They did it, and I'm out now. I'd rather focus on literally anything else.

[He has plenty of his own issues to address, but he will be addressing none of them. He'd rather just stay busy until he falls asleep and then repeat the process.] So if you don't need a hand, I'll just go and insert myself into somebody else's business, and you can continue screaming impotently if that's what suits you.

i

[poolhall_killer]

[Having spent most of his time checking up in Olympia, Venom hasn't gotten much of a chance to visit Wyver. He's more or less had to sneak in in order to see his friends here.

And that includes any of the residences and recovery areas. He sucks at lying, and honesty isn't going to work, so he slips past guards and such like he's on a mission, determined to check on people

When he sees Yusei, he's more or less crushed. His hatred for these kidnappers grows, but he tries not to dwell on it.]

There's no need for apologies, my friend. It's me.

[planetary_bonds]

[Yusei's eyes lighten a little at recognizing a familiar face, but it dies out soon enough.]

Venom.

[He tries to affect a smile. It's not quite successful.] Thanks for coming. [It was getting a little dull in here, he wants to say, but he can't quite muster the willpower to do so.]

[poolhall_killer]

I'm glad you're alive.

[Though they way Yusei looked at him earlier, Venom's worried about his physical and mental health. He gives the younger man a glance over, to see if there's anything he can do about the physical pain.]

How are you feeling?

[planetary_bonds]

[Well, at least someone is. Yusei doesn't feel quite so charitable - although he can't really tell Venom that.

The answer he ends up giving is truthful, but lacking.] Tired. [After a few moments, he realizes that maybe he didn't say enough, and he tries for more.]

A lot happened. [Better.]

[poolhall_killer]

[Truer words have never been spoken.]

I know. I just hope everyone involved can heal.

[He's not sure if he can, not after the blood he saw. Not to mention his friends' injuries.]

Speaking of, have they been treating your wounds?

[planetary_bonds]

It'll...take time.

[He doesn't just mean their physical wounds. He might have been blindfolded almost the whole time, but that didn't mean he wasn't aware about how hurt everyone was, what that time of isolation had done to them.

Yusei smiles wryly, then taps at the bandages around his neck. Yes, Venom, they have been treating his injuries. There's only so much they can do when most of your symptoms are related to exhaustion, though.]

[poolhall_killer]

I know.

[And he'll be checking in as regularly as he can, or as long as he can dodge Wyver's guards.

When he sees the bandages, he almost asks what happened, but he doesn't. He fears he'll open more psychological wounds if he says anything further on that. These people were monsters...]</small. I'm glad you were rescued in time. I don't know what I would have done if I learned otherwise.

[planetary_bonds]

I was, at least. Some others were...

[He clams up, averting his eyes. The ones who didn't make it...it wasn't because the rescuers weren't quick enough, it was because he couldn't do anything...! That man, holding up the flaming debris and rebar to let them escape, at the cost of his own life...even now, that figure haunts him.]

...

i.

[smithandwesson]

[Sanzo had left Yusei mostly to himself upon his return home. Not because he didn't sympathize, but more so because he related. Going through such situations was never easy to endure, and sometimes you just needed time to yourself; time to figure yourself out, to sort out your own thoughts. And so he left the kid alone, for the time being, keeping their small apartment comfortable but quiet.

Yet, as a few days passed the sulking became, quite frankly, depressing. Even to Sanzo's usually unempathetic realization.

And so he approached Yusei, giving the kid time to get out of his own head before answering him.]

Here.

[And with that he offered out a mug, a warm rich smell coming from the cup.]

I used up the last of the rhocea that I gathered back during the winter. Also, put a little bit of my own special mix in there. So you better drink up.

[The special mix being alcohol. But hey, that made it one damn expensive hot chocolate.]

[planetary_bonds]

[It is scientifically impossible to not react to the heady smell of strong chocolate. The brain just automatically focuses on it. So even though he's retreated so far into himself, he can't help but turn to focus on it.

And immediately, he feels guilty. Like even this simple drink is something that he doesn't deserve. But he can't refuse Sanzo's kindness either (and the fact that he's eve even doing something that can be described as kind means the old man's going out of his way for this).

The end result is that he stares bemusedly at the cup, then at Sanzo, then back at the cup for a few moments before taking it in his hands. Without his gloves on, it feels...warm. Warmer than he's felt in a while, honestly.]

Thanks, old man. [His voice sounds a bit lower and rougher than usual.] Didn't think you had it in you. [Aw, Yusei. You didn't need to be that sweet.]

[smithandwesson]

Don't think so hard about it. I just didn't want this damn thing going bad on me when it's supposed to be some sort of "rare and priceless chocolate milk ingredient" in this world.

[Sanzo is not used to doing nice things for people. But there's just something about seeing the sulky and genuinely depressed expression of a hurt teen that had a tendency to get to him.]

So don't waste a drop. Got it?

[He says as he casually turns away. Perhaps trying to play it off smoothly?]

[planetary_bonds]

Of course.

[His lips curl upward somewhat as he puts the cup closer to his lips. It's not quite a smile, but it's something.]

I'll try not to waste your kindness.

[smithandwesson]

Damn right.

[Stepping away, he walked over towards the small couch that they had managed to acquire during their few months of sharing the same dingy apartment together. Plopping down and reaching into his robes in order to pull out a pack of cigarettes. Popping one casually into his mouth before continuing.]

You know, I've been wondering...

[planetary_bonds]

[Yusei takes a small sip of the hot chocolate. Beneath the rich sweet sensation and the heat that scalds his tongue, it tastes...more bitter than he expected. Huh. Somehow, it's just enough to keep the other two factors from being overwhelming, and he mildly wonders just what this "blend" is.]

Mmh? What?

[smithandwesson]

[Oh don't worry yourself too much Yusei. He only put one shot of whiskey in there, it should be just enough to calm the nerves, not get you wasted.]

Nothing too important just--

[Digging around the sleeves of his robes he finally managed to pull out a lighter. Taking a pause in his sentence to light the stick in his mouth before continuing.]

Don't you got any friends or anything? Sucks seeing a young bright kid like you skulking around on your own every time I see ya. Almost depressing.

[Just like Sanzo to both compliment and insult a person all at the same time.]

[planetary_bonds]

[Okay, now Yusei's definitely hearing things. Did you just call him bright?]

Mmm...? Well...

[Does he? He's got some people he considers good company, at least, but...do they consider him a friend? He doubts it.]

It's just a habit. [That's...not a lie, either. He just really tends to go off on his own projects a lot.] Why?