GRAVEYARD

[foundationmods]

[On the instant of your death, you're suddenly outside of your body - probably staring down at the remains it's become.

Yet, you're not alone. For all of you (except Szayel), a young man appears from behind you, his face set into a firm, yet sad, scowl. His shaggy strawberry blonde hair is pretty eye-catching, along with the black and white Shihakusho he wears and the large sword on his back, even as he gently tries to lead you back into the lobby and away from what was once your body. You can still clearly hear and see the living, if you want to try - but they can't see or hear you.

'Welcome to the world of the dead in this Resort,' he says, quietly. 'Looks like you're stuck here with the rest of us.'

He hands you a tablet, just like the one you had before. "You'll need this if you want to keep talking to them,' he explains, looking sad.

It looks like you've passed on, and yet...You still feel like you have a role to play in all of this.]

Comments

TUESDAY

[bladeisme]

[Sometime later in the day, Ichigo finally returns - though he's looking much, much worse for wear.

He's covered in blood, both still fresh and dried - and there are claw marks on his chest and arms, along with brusing in the shape of a clawed hand around his neck. He looks...tired, mostly, and as he gets into the lobby and speaks, his voice his hoarse.]

...I'm back. It's - not as bad as I thought it would be, but it's still pretty bad.

First off - The brain's really weird. It's all dark and everything constantly moves around in there, and it's swarming with white blood cells. ...The good news, though, is that they're weaker than the cells in the rest of the body- most of what I'm covered in is from them, and they didn't really get to hurt me at all.

As for Gabe, he's....

[Ichigo trails off, looking away as he rubs his neck.]

...He's gotten bad. But there's still a chance to save him - and the living are the ones that'll have to do that. I - tried, but...it didn't work.

[He's silent for a moment, before he shakes his head, trying to shake himself out of it, getting that determined look back in his eyes.]

We...We can do this. At the very least, we can take out the white blood cells and make it so that the living have a clearer path to get him out. I know that it's possible if everyone works together.

...That's - all, I guess. I'm - going to go sit down, if anyone needs to ask me anything.

[dereban]

[ . . . while she's tempted to punch him for what happened yesterday instead she just gives him a rather concerned look with a single question. This is more important. ]

Are you okay?

[bladeisme]

[He just - looks over at her, and she can tell he looks more upset than he has the entire time she's known him, briefly - before he hides it, slipping his determined mask back into place.]

I'm fine, Inaba. I just need some rest and sleep, that's all.

[dereban]

Don't lie to me. Not right now. Not like that.

[ Her voice is immediate and clipped, although she keeps her voice low to hide arms folded over her chest as she stares him down.

That brief moment is enough for her to catch it - and more importantly. She could tell even without seeing that expression or the way he hides it. His words are enough. Because she's said those same words before, to someone else, so to have them thrown back at her is rather telling. ]

[bladeisme]

[He opens his mouth to protest - but her tone of voice brooks no argument, so he just closes his mouth with a click and looks down, rubbing at his neck silently.

He doesn't know what to say. He doesn't -

Maybe he can just sit in silence for a while.]

[perfeccion]

[ As soon as Ichigo comes back on Szayel’s radar, he rushes to him]

Kurosaki! I hate to admit it but you were.... [He trails off, seeing how winded and torn up he is. His admission of defeat will have to wait. He cautiously touched the claw mark ] What on earth? This looks like....

[bladeisme]

[At Szayel touching it, Ichigo flinches a little - but he just says two words - two that Szayel will know why he's so upset, and why he's so hurt instantly.]

...He's Hollowfying.

[perfeccion]

........

[His face drains of color ]
..............

What?!

W-when I said that the other day... I was just joking! Shitposting! How on earth...?!

[bladeisme]

He said 'Moira' did it to him, but...I think that Kurotsuchi was involved, probably.

[Ah, is that how he looked when he saw Gabe? It's - interesting, seeing it on someone else, but he's too tired to really pay much attention right now.]

...He showed me his chest, which had the beginning of a hollow hole forming. He said - it'd been cracking, but after he stopped the last trial, it opened up - and his powers can't turn off.

...I was even attacked by what I think is the start of his own hollow...somehow.

[purrtagonist]

[immediately pressing a hand against his face, his outfit shifting from his normal day wear to Joker's leather jacket. a Persona forms behind him-- Ishtar-- and a simple Dia spell washes over Ichigo's form]

[bladeisme]

[The dia makes some of the more superficial claw marks disappear, and the bruising around his neck lessens a bit, though it's still there.

He looks over at Akira, giving a faint, tired smile.]

...Hey, Akira.

[purrtagonist]

[reaches out to him immediately, hand resting against his shoulder]

Hey.

How are you feeling?

[bladeisme]

After the healing? ...A little better, but -

[He pauses, looking up at Akira, showing just how tired and deeply upset he is.]

....I can't help him anymore, Akira.

[His voice cracks when he says that, and he looks down.]

[diesifkilled]

[There's a definite moment of concern because holy shit that's a lot of blood, but Shirou's relaxing when it becomes clear that Ichigo isn't seriously injured.

And since there's not really anything he needs to add to what's already been said, he's just going to sit close to Ichigo and watch him to make sure he's okay.]

[bladeisme]

[He appreciates the closeness - and after a moment, leans on Shirou, head and hair spilling on his shoulder.

Let him just - stay here for a minute, okay?]

[duskhound]

The white blood cells... Clawed you? But don't they mostly use... weapons?

[What is even going on in the brain at this point... It might be worth checking out those wounds in more detail, but...]

[bladeisme]

No.

This was - from Gabe.

[Ichigo seems a little more tired when he says that, his eyes looking down and away.]

When I left, he was covered in shadows - though that might have just been because I was there.

[duskhound]

...Well, for now, let's focus on what we can do and review the situation. Is there a variety of white blood cells, or are they just the basic ones?

[...Will we have to fight more Eosinophils....? Or even multiple at once...?]

[bladeisme]

The basic ones - there's a lot, but they're all pretty weak, like I said.

[He appreciates Ellie trying to focus on what's important, here.]

I didn't see any others, which makes sense. The Brain's pretty delicate - so you don't want a bunch of different types mucking around in there.

[tacticalespionageaction]

Gotten bad? What does that mean?

[bladeisme]

...The claw marks I have aren't from the White blood cells, Snake.

[He pauses for a second, rubbing his neck - and then sighing.]

They're from Gabe. His power won't listen to him anymore - and it attacked me.

[tacticalespionageaction]

...It?

[He narrows his eyes.]

When you say they need to save him, just what does that mean?

[thejusticewagon]

...Okay, I think I'm gonna ask you why you didn't ask anyone else to go with you...?

[bladeisme]

I wanted to be the only one putting myself at risk at first. Now that I know what's going on in there - it'll be easier for a group to get in there and help fend off things.

[thejusticewagon]

Well... people would always get on my case when I did stuff like that, so I feel kinda obligated to do it when someone else does.