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

WEEK 1

[foundationmods]

Early morning, November 30

[perfeccion]

[Well. That was that, wasn't it? Szayelaporro, back in his usual white Arrancar outfit, watches as the jorogumo wraps his dessicated gigai in brilliant gold webbing with a knowing smile, though he does rub his neck -- a phantom pain from the spider's fangs] Well... it seems I won't be able to possess you after all, you tricky beast! Still... you'll be regretting that in... oh... half an hour or so. I'll be watching~

[He recovers fairly quickly from his newfound state of being, brushing off his clothing and ensuring Fornicaras is safe in her sheath. He hides his Reiatsu once more, and smiles too widely as he notices the unmistakably powerful reiatsu now on his radar]

Thereeeee~ you~ are~!

[he blurs into Sonído, heading back into the lobby and zooming in on Ichigo Kurosaki]

[bladeisme]

[Yeah, so. The moment Szayel dies, Ichigo instantly feels it, and his hands instantly go to Zangetsu. There's no way he can hide himself that quickly, and honestly? He hadn't expected the first victim to be Szayel of all goddamn people.

So the best he can so is press his back to a wall, a cold sweat rolling down his face as he readies himself for anything, although -

When Szayel gets there, he'll see Ichigo is visibly injured - There's bandaging down where his Shihakusho shows his shoulder, and rips in his side where bandages show. There's also bite marks and slashes along his arms - though those are obviously older.]

1/2

[perfeccion]

[NYOOM. Szayel almost trips as he skids to a stop near Ichigo (but wisely out of immediate reach of his gigantic zanpakutou). Normally he would be completely mortified by such a show of indignity, but he is too excited to care. Christmas came early!!]

KUROSAKI ICHIGO!! Finally... I see you with my own eyes! Feel you with my own senses! MMmmmmmmmmm!! It's just as incredible as I'd dreamed--! TRUE perfection, perfect balance, the ultimate--

2/2

[perfeccion]

..... [he trails off, noticing Ichigo's wounds. He then seems mildly horrified. There was something here that could injure Kurosaki?] .. My god, boy, what happened?

[bladeisme]

[Okay, he actually flinches during the weird ranting - what is so incredible about him?! - but when he sees Szayel's frankly scary enthusiasm die down, he relaxes a little.

Not enough to put down his Zanpakuto, but a little.]

The Nue's pretty playful. Also...I tried to fight one of those things - the one that's a ghost, and looks like a wolf. It didn't go well.

[Which, frankly, is an understatement. It clawed and bit him, then zoomed off before Ichigo could try to stop it from grabbing a host.]

It's about the same strength as an Arrancar, but it's fast as hell - and by the time I'd finished reeling back from my wounds, it was gone.

[perfeccion]

[Ichigo has no one told you yet that you are a perfect being and as close to a god as we pitiful souls might ever get close to seeing???? no??

So the Nue was a spirit, and there was some sort of powerful ghost dog running amok. Lovely.

Szayel takes a step forward, holding his hands up]

May I take a look?

[bladeisme]

[No?? And frankly that's kind of terrifying and not flattering to think about???

Anyway, As he steps forward, Ichigo narrows his eyes - and moves, pressing Zangetsu (a new zangetsu, trilling with hollow power with a hole in the middle) to Szayel's neck, just enough so it doesn't cut the skin.

Yet it's a threat all the same, and his reiatsu is even more potent up close.]

You think I'm that dumb? I know what you're like, Szayel. I'm not going to be an experiment for you.

[perfeccion]

[Szayel hisses as the blade presses against his throat, his reiatsu enough to make his knees buckle. That sword -- amazingly powerful, brimming with power, so unique...]

You are no fool. Again -- it is a fact that you could kill me without ever even lifting a finger.

[carefully, slowly, he places his hand on the sword, pushing it away]

I can heal your injuries -- but I would like to examine the energy left behind by the wolf beast. If you want to save the others, I need to collect as much data as possible.

[bladeisme]

[Ichigo pauses - looking Szayel dead in the eyes, which look worn out and tired - apparently trying to gauge how much of the truth the Espada is telling him. His eyes flick down and back when Szayel mentions the others trapped in here, and the possiblility of saving them - and it's that hope that makes him lower Zangetsu and place it back on his back with an easy, practiced movement.

If it's for all of them - for Shirou and Akira, who was so much like Ren it made him miss everyone from Camp - then he's willing to sell his soul to the devil.]

....Alright. But just that, alright? If you do anything out of line...

[There's a harsh flash, a glint of yellow in one of his eyes. He assumes Szayel will get his meaning.]

MORE NORMAL MORNING, November 30

[perfeccion]

[Well then.

After an eventful night of dying, meeting Ichigo, healing Ichigo, and then accidentally giving birth to a puppy (???), Szayel did manage to get an hour or two of sleep. He is the master of the power nap. He has his tea and breakfast long before the others awaken.

The actual competent people, thankfully, head to the courtyard. But there's... something going on... by Yoshi Nanase's door]

... What on earth are those morons doing now.

[bladeisme]

[Ichigo's done about the same thing, beyond not having had breakfast yet. Though he's learned to sleep in odd ways since coming here.

Anyway, he's staring as....that clusterfuck happens, and eventually he just lowers his head into his hands.]

...Don't they know that water makes a web less sticky?

[perfeccion]

Well. I didn't exactly have time to administer an IQ test.

[He watches as Kohaku gets hopelessly stuck, along with Vanitas' keyblade]

It was a thought. That key-shaped weapon is supposed to be able to unlock anything. But it's... not really a lock, is it?It's webbing.

[bladeisme]

Wait, it is? I thought it was a damn weird weapon, but...that'd make sense, then.

[GUESS WHO DIDN'T PLAY KINGDOM HEARTS

THIS NERD

He's been too busy :(]

And yeah, that'd stop it. You can't unlock a web, after all.

[perfeccion]

Mm. [he responds simply, pushing up his glasses] I managed to research the canons of the test subjects, briefly, before I came. That boy Roxas has one of those ridiculous key swords as well. [and he made sure that the safe he requested from the Staff was keyblade-proof. He's no fool.

Unlike these guys.]

Usually I enjoy watching buffoons struggle but this is sad.

[bladeisme]

[Honestly? While he wouldn't use the same terms, it sure is hard to try and defend these people who are currently getting stuck in all the fucking webbing.

He just - groans, shaking his head.]

I hope the people who find your body know what to do, instead of....this.

[perfeccion]

It's amazing. Isn't this the definition of insanity...? [his body, eh?] ....Hmmm... [Szayel casts his senses outward, toward the courtyard] --Ah, it seems Mrs. Ripley is out there. She's by far and away the most competent individual here, aside from myself. Calm under pressure, intelligent, thoughtful... It's going to get her targeted by the Mafia, of course.

[bladeisme]

...I'd hope she can live, but...you're probably right.

[He sighs.]

I'm going to go back to bed.

After the Trial

[bladeisme]

[The moment someone innocent was announced, he was angry. But when it turned out someone else was going to die, and was also innocent?

He couldn't stop himself from flipping over the goddamn table and storming out, reiatsu whirling around him so harshly it could crush someone. He was just too angry to even try to rein it in, but -

he'd had hope. Camp had been horrible, but they had always found the one responsible. But this? This was too cruel, too upsetting - and he hates that he can't stop a single goddamn thing about it, just like how he couldn't in camp.

When a Staff member approaches, he just barely manages to apologize for flipping over the table without snapping, which seems to pacify them.

And so - he's just sitting in the lobby, on one of the couches, trying to rein in his own reiatsu and staring at windows that only reflect an empty black, breathing hard.]

[perfeccion]

[Oh my. That was quite the violent reaction. It was a shame that the others couldn't feel it, it was incredible. And enough to hurt.

Szayel gives Ichigo a few moments before following him back down to the lobby, dragging Atsushi to his feet as he leaves.

He keeps a distance from Ichigo, even in the lobby, not wanting to provoke his ire. He clears his throat]

Kurosaki...ah... Kurosaki-san. [that's the proper Japanese, right?] I realize you're upset, but when the Medic joins us tomorrow, you can't be throwing tantrums like that. You'll crush him.

[bladeisme]

I KNOW!

[As he roars that out, the weight of his reiatsu flares out - and settles on Szayel, heavy and dark and crushing. His emotions are running wild, and he hasn't had anyone around for so long - he's forgotten how to properly control himself so his massive energy doesn't wipe out everything around him.

Sorry, Szayel.]

[perfeccion]

Gck--!

[the pressure is too much, and Szayel falls to his knees, forced to kneel from the sudden uptick in gravity. How many times had Aizen done this to them when Grimmjow ran his mouth? When Starrk didn't show up for meetings again? When he himself was caught doing unauthorized experiments? He grits his teeth, managing to glare at Ichigo from behind his glasses and mussed hair, speaking lowly ] J-just like Lord Aizen...

[bladeisme]

[And just like that - the energy stops, as Ichigo is snapped out of his anger at those words.

He whips his head over, seeing Szayel kneeling on the ground - and his heart drops, because he'd never wanted to do that to anyone, and even if it was Szayel, who creeps him out on the best of days...

He quickly gets to his feet, practically shunpoing over and offering a hand to help Szayel up, his face twisted in concern.]

Shit, I - I'm sorry. I let myself get too wound up. Are you alright?

[perfeccion]

[the air rushes back into Szayel's lungs and he gasps, holding his hand over his chest. He almost feels weightless after the intense pressure. He looks at Ichigo's hand and waves it away, too prideful to accept even the hand of perfection. He gets to his feet himself and fixes his hair with his fingers]

It's fine. I'll be fine. You needn't concern yourself with me, Kurosaki. [he offers his best approximation of a sympathetic look] But the Medic would be killed by such a display. I do have some devices that can limit reiatsu output, but I think you might overload them.

[bladeisme]

[Well, he figured his hand might be slapped away - so he doesn't protest, just drops it at his side and straightens up, running his other hand through his hair.]

....I can hold it in, Szayel. I'm not that bad at it, just...

....It's happening again - all of this. Another goddamn killing game, and for what?

[After all, Ichigo was a survivor of a Ritual meant to feed Sol - so he knew the pain everyone was going through right now.]