WHO: Yuji Itadori (eyescar) & open
WHAT: October arrival and catch all
WHERE: Around the City in various places
WHEN: October
WARNINGS: Yellow tea (hallucinations, violent reactions) in one prompt; possible spoilers for JJK manga (up to chapter 212)
[ a jovial bark, as though he were a little too excited about the prospect — or its inverse, that he's as pleased as can be to be stuck here with him. a pointer finger gestures to the doors behind Itadori, wide panes of glass that won't break regardless of what's thrown through them. a resilient city like that, refusing to kowtow to its citizens. ]
[ to believe him, he'll have to check. to check, he'll have to turn his back. what a predicament! but Getou isn't moving, and he won't, regardless of how Itadori flutters around in the space — a bit like a spider watching a fly, perched comfortably. waiting. patient. ]
I didn't tell you because the flowers already did. Now, would you like them to continue talking, or would you like to come and give us a cuddle?
[ the seat on the bench next to him is given an inviting little pat. a cog is a tool, a cog is a tool, they crow. ]
[ Yuji had been deliberately ignoring the flowers - he didn't want any more reminders of his own negative self-worth, thanks - but he tries to focus on them a little more now. Liar, lying, he doesn't understand that Getou might be lying about, but that does ease some of the tension. Or is he the liar, lying to himself? His mind goes back to all the times he's called himself an idiot, and he sighs.
This kind of thing keeps happening. He finds enemies, and he fights them, and something new emerges that twists his perception of what this world is about. He recognises, at least, that they're all a little less dangerous here than they might be at home, their powers stripped from him, and he thinks even without his cursed energy he's probably still strong enough to fight a man with one arm.
Probably.
Narrowing his eyes, he slowly steps closer, settling down on the bench as far away from Getou as possible. He's still on edge, absolutely so, but at least he's given in to one of the whims. ]
[ an angular gaze tracks him to his seat, tilting with an openness and a perpetual smile as he draws near and eventually relents onto the bench. nothing happens immediately — heartbeats pass, the hissing continues, everything shifts and writhes with life around them, but for that moment, Getou is very still, as though he were trying to impress upon the boy that he isn't a threat. ]
[ well, not unless he wants to be. ]
[ and then he twists, uncrossing his legs but hiking a knee up on the bench in between them — only so that he can get more comfortable extending his only hand, on the far side away from Itadori, across the space to him. ]
Indeed they are, [ he agrees, his smile losing some of its sharpness. ] So take my hand.
[ it's his choice — but if he does, the whispers will silence entirely. might be good of Getou to disclose that ahead of time, but as they had quieted when he put his arm around him, it seems rather evident, doesn't it? ]
[ Yuji definitely doesn't trust him, but there's no denying the fact that being closer to him seems to drown out the strange, hissing whispers of the surrounding plants. This man - Getou, Kenjaku, he's not sure of who he is or what to trust right now - but he knows that he can be careful about this and somehow get out of it alive. A part of him notes down, in the back of his mind, that he's going to have to find Gojo after this and talk about everything that's going on, but that can happen at another time.
Every movement the man makes is scrutinised, Yuji's eyes never flickering too far from him, even with the heavy weight of the rest of the whispers still hanging around on his shoulders. He doesn't want to hear another reminder of 'cog' or 'murderer' or anything to do with Sukuna if he can avoid it.
Frowning, he stares at the hand and back at the man before, slowly, he reaches out to take it, gritting his teeth.
The shock on his face when the plants are quiet is enough to make his eyes widen, almost dropping Getou's hand before he looks back over, his expression tightening. ]
[ so it goes. Getou's smile doesn't flinch when that rough palm is in his — hand-to-hand fighters, the both of them — and he doesn't squeeze down on it any more than what it takes to keep them connected. no need to alert Itadori to just how much of a disadvantage he would be without Sukuna, should a genuine fight break out; not that he's thinking about it in those terms, only acting on the deception that has always come natural to him. he almost laughs. ]
Do you always treat people trying to help you with this much suspicion? That must get tiring. Lesson number one, [ he lifts their linked hands to bring them to attention, ] this place is much easier with a friend.
[ which is not what they are, that much is certain. there's the hope that, if he keeps things vague, the boy will slip and unveil just enough. that's all he needs, really. just enough. ]
It'll be a while before the doors unlock. [ said rote, like this isn't the first time he's done this. ] Shall we play a game until it does? I'll let you pick.
[ Which is fair, given his experience. Yuji isn't really in a good place, mentally, and this strange place isn't helping, rubbing his nose in it. If he lets go of Getou's fingers he's almost certain he'll hear more whispers of murderer, shaming him, calling him a cog, hissing the sound of enchain that is enough to make him want to punch something. He's glad they're quiet, but he's obviously uncomfortable with being so close to this man in particular.
He doesn't have the energy to keep fighting back against this guy, though, and he sighs, bowing his head and forcing himself to accept that they're going to have to be this way for a while. As soon as they're done, he's going to get out of here and find someone - anyone - that he recognises.
Frowning, he stares at their joined hands, and the only thing that comes to mind... ]
Questions. We can ask each other questions. You can start.
[ that much vitriol, it could almost be a barb aimed to wound his charming good looks... but no, his ego and a strict dedication to binary logic inform him otherwise, maintaining his suspicions. the jujutsu world is small, and this boy's entry into it was after his death. a face he knows... he's the right age to be Gojou's or Utahime's student, and although one is chatty and the other gullible, neither would be able to stomach his name in their mouths. ]
[ brows lift at the suggestion. there's a pause and his thumb rolls circles on the back of his hand; it isn't an affectionate gesture, just an absent-minded one that accompanies deeper thought. rather than pitch forward to keep looking at him, he leans back against the bench, casting his eyes lower — and only then recognizes that telling gold and black swirl button holding Itadori's jacket shut. ]
[ of course. and, putting their ages together... ]
Who else have you spoken to since you came here? Gojou-sensei, Ieiri-sensei? Fushiguro-kun? [ even if he attended Kyoto, he'd have to at least know who they were, right? ]
[ Yuji is normally pretty good at dealing with his enemies, at trying not to let his emotions get the better of him - there have only been a handful of cases where his anger have propelled him forward, and that's because of Mahito, Sukuna and Kenjaku. This guy. It's hard to push that away because of the burn of necessity, and he grits his teeth as he feels fingers brushing against his own; it doesn't feel right.
It feels strange, and uncomfortable, and a small, angry, hurt part of him hopes that this guy feels just as weird as he does.
Glancing away, he forces those emotions back, and he nods his head. He promised to answer the questions, after all, so he might as well be honest: he's bad at lying either way. ]
I've seen Gojo-sensei and Fushiguro. Sensei told me to see if Ieiri-san wanted to check me out, but I'm feeling fine.
[ Despite the loss of Sukuna and his cursed energy. Glancing up, he hesitates, before he goes for the throat - ]
[ a different sort of smile graces his features then — something that slants to Itadori in his peripherals and seems... proud, or at least amused, that this is the first question that comes tumbling out of the young man's mouth. if nothing else, he's brave. stupid, maybe. but brave. ]
Shouldn't you know, or do you just want me to say it? I lost a battle against Okkotsu-kun and Rika-chan... [ for a moment, his eyes cloud. there are so few moments in his past that he's been forced to relive these past few months that he willingly embraced; a memory of the last fight he had when he went all out is chief among them. the shivery feeling of spending every last drop of curse energy into something and not knowing what's going to happen... ]
[ but. well. this city keeps him surprised, when it comes to who takes the seat next to him on a park bench. ]
That wasn't my question, by the way. [ this is what he breaks his reflection for... ]
[ Yuji knows a little bit about what happened before, with Getou and Gojo and the others, but he's not an expert. Those aren't things that people want to talk about very often, nor are they things he had much time to investigate. When he met up with Yuta he was trying to stay alive, and later their focus was on trying to free Gojo-sensei from the box. After that...
It's a little weird, to hear someone talk about a time when they were hurt enough that they died, or the moment they died. In a way, he can relate: he has died twice, sort-of, if you consider what Yuta did to him a real death. It didn't feel the same as the first one.
Glancing over, not wanting to give in to the sudden urge of strange, twisting sympathy he feels, he shakes his head instead. ]
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[ a jovial bark, as though he were a little too excited about the prospect — or its inverse, that he's as pleased as can be to be stuck here with him. a pointer finger gestures to the doors behind Itadori, wide panes of glass that won't break regardless of what's thrown through them. a resilient city like that, refusing to kowtow to its citizens. ]
[ to believe him, he'll have to check. to check, he'll have to turn his back. what a predicament! but Getou isn't moving, and he won't, regardless of how Itadori flutters around in the space — a bit like a spider watching a fly, perched comfortably. waiting. patient. ]
I didn't tell you because the flowers already did. Now, would you like them to continue talking, or would you like to come and give us a cuddle?
[ the seat on the bench next to him is given an inviting little pat. a cog is a tool, a cog is a tool, they crow. ]
no subject
This kind of thing keeps happening. He finds enemies, and he fights them, and something new emerges that twists his perception of what this world is about. He recognises, at least, that they're all a little less dangerous here than they might be at home, their powers stripped from him, and he thinks even without his cursed energy he's probably still strong enough to fight a man with one arm.
Probably.
Narrowing his eyes, he slowly steps closer, settling down on the bench as far away from Getou as possible. He's still on edge, absolutely so, but at least he's given in to one of the whims. ]
I want them to shut up. They're annoying.
[ Petulant, like the child he is. ]
no subject
[ well, not unless he wants to be. ]
[ and then he twists, uncrossing his legs but hiking a knee up on the bench in between them — only so that he can get more comfortable extending his only hand, on the far side away from Itadori, across the space to him. ]
Indeed they are, [ he agrees, his smile losing some of its sharpness. ] So take my hand.
[ it's his choice — but if he does, the whispers will silence entirely. might be good of Getou to disclose that ahead of time, but as they had quieted when he put his arm around him, it seems rather evident, doesn't it? ]
no subject
Every movement the man makes is scrutinised, Yuji's eyes never flickering too far from him, even with the heavy weight of the rest of the whispers still hanging around on his shoulders. He doesn't want to hear another reminder of 'cog' or 'murderer' or anything to do with Sukuna if he can avoid it.
Frowning, he stares at the hand and back at the man before, slowly, he reaches out to take it, gritting his teeth.
The shock on his face when the plants are quiet is enough to make his eyes widen, almost dropping Getou's hand before he looks back over, his expression tightening. ]
What is going on?
no subject
Do you always treat people trying to help you with this much suspicion? That must get tiring. Lesson number one, [ he lifts their linked hands to bring them to attention, ] this place is much easier with a friend.
[ which is not what they are, that much is certain. there's the hope that, if he keeps things vague, the boy will slip and unveil just enough. that's all he needs, really. just enough. ]
It'll be a while before the doors unlock. [ said rote, like this isn't the first time he's done this. ] Shall we play a game until it does? I'll let you pick.
no subject
[ Which is fair, given his experience. Yuji isn't really in a good place, mentally, and this strange place isn't helping, rubbing his nose in it. If he lets go of Getou's fingers he's almost certain he'll hear more whispers of murderer, shaming him, calling him a cog, hissing the sound of enchain that is enough to make him want to punch something. He's glad they're quiet, but he's obviously uncomfortable with being so close to this man in particular.
He doesn't have the energy to keep fighting back against this guy, though, and he sighs, bowing his head and forcing himself to accept that they're going to have to be this way for a while. As soon as they're done, he's going to get out of here and find someone - anyone - that he recognises.
Frowning, he stares at their joined hands, and the only thing that comes to mind... ]
Questions. We can ask each other questions. You can start.
no subject
[ brows lift at the suggestion. there's a pause and his thumb rolls circles on the back of his hand; it isn't an affectionate gesture, just an absent-minded one that accompanies deeper thought. rather than pitch forward to keep looking at him, he leans back against the bench, casting his eyes lower — and only then recognizes that telling gold and black swirl button holding Itadori's jacket shut. ]
[ of course. and, putting their ages together... ]
Who else have you spoken to since you came here? Gojou-sensei, Ieiri-sensei? Fushiguro-kun? [ even if he attended Kyoto, he'd have to at least know who they were, right? ]
no subject
It feels strange, and uncomfortable, and a small, angry, hurt part of him hopes that this guy feels just as weird as he does.
Glancing away, he forces those emotions back, and he nods his head. He promised to answer the questions, after all, so he might as well be honest: he's bad at lying either way. ]
I've seen Gojo-sensei and Fushiguro. Sensei told me to see if Ieiri-san wanted to check me out, but I'm feeling fine.
[ Despite the loss of Sukuna and his cursed energy. Glancing up, he hesitates, before he goes for the throat - ]
What happened to your arm?
no subject
[ a different sort of smile graces his features then — something that slants to Itadori in his peripherals and seems... proud, or at least amused, that this is the first question that comes tumbling out of the young man's mouth. if nothing else, he's brave. stupid, maybe. but brave. ]
Shouldn't you know, or do you just want me to say it? I lost a battle against Okkotsu-kun and Rika-chan... [ for a moment, his eyes cloud. there are so few moments in his past that he's been forced to relive these past few months that he willingly embraced; a memory of the last fight he had when he went all out is chief among them. the shivery feeling of spending every last drop of curse energy into something and not knowing what's going to happen... ]
[ but. well. this city keeps him surprised, when it comes to who takes the seat next to him on a park bench. ]
That wasn't my question, by the way. [ this is what he breaks his reflection for... ]
no subject
[ Yuji knows a little bit about what happened before, with Getou and Gojo and the others, but he's not an expert. Those aren't things that people want to talk about very often, nor are they things he had much time to investigate. When he met up with Yuta he was trying to stay alive, and later their focus was on trying to free Gojo-sensei from the box. After that...
It's a little weird, to hear someone talk about a time when they were hurt enough that they died, or the moment they died. In a way, he can relate: he has died twice, sort-of, if you consider what Yuta did to him a real death. It didn't feel the same as the first one.
Glancing over, not wanting to give in to the sudden urge of strange, twisting sympathy he feels, he shakes his head instead. ]
Sure, okay. Ask your real question then.