entranceway | 001 ▸ action & video

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001 ▸ action & video

[ACTION] CLOSED ▸ SAYAKA MAIZONO (SPOILERS WITHIN!)
ENTRANCE HALL - DAY 1 22:30

[ (Continuation from the third-person sample.)

Afterlife.

That's the only way to rationalise what Mondo sees here. A realistically bright blue sky within a huge mansion, a place so strange it must've only existed in the world of dreams. There's no way you can see the sky from the first floor, if this is the first floor as he assumed. Even with that aside, this whole place just gives him some unpleasant vibes, not to mention the smell of incense.

It can't be a dream, dead people don't see dreams. He was supposed to be dead, after all. The reason why he felt nothing was because... well, whatever those electric noises he heard were, the voltage was probably so high his body couldn't take it, and he immediately died. Yeah. Makes sense to him.

So him being able to move around right now, unscathed, can only mean one thing.

He's in hell.

He never believes the existence of afterlife, let alone heaven and hell. But here he is, alive and kicking after execution. There's no way he's in heaven, he killed someone ー heck, two people. His own friend, and his own brother, at that. It's only right that he's roasted to death perpetually. Scary as that sounds, it might make him feel slightly better. Maybe.

Though, this place sure isn't what he imagined hell to look like, even if the eerie silence is creepy in its own right.

His eyes scan through the room, finding themselves following the candles lighting the area. Heh, he's got it. They gonna drop and set the whole space into fire, right? He'll wait, then. There's no point running away when he has no way to hide. With his eyes closed, Mondo folds his arms in front of his chest, waiting for the 'true punishment' to befall him. ]

[VIDEO] OPEN ▸ ALL
HIS ROOM - DAY 2 09:00

[ Unless you're a heavy sleeper, you might have heard thunderous noises from the video transmission in the middle of night last night. (Note: Please read the first-person sample only and don't scroll up if you want to avoid DR spoilers!) Before anyone could respond, the video transmission cut off last night, and he would've missed any responses until now since the palm pilot was switched off following the violent throw.

Miraculously, when he tries to switch it back on, it's still working. It's a lot more resilient than it seems, and Mondo's 'considerably' calmer after a good night's rest. He's aware that there must be some use to this device, and after fiddling with it for a while, he attempts to do another video transmission. ]

Uh, so. Can anyone tell me why we're here? How do... things work 'round here?

[ He's not looking right at the camera, simply because he doesn't know how front camera works, but his glare is very... glaring. Agitation is still there, and it's pretty obvious. His pompadour is a splendid corncob now as opposed to last night's rather disheveled state.

Does he know how to turn off the transmission without throwing the phone? Looks like someone needs to give him some 101.

Anyway, a few options for this prompt:
a) send him a video response of last night's chaos, shout at him back for waking you up in the middle of nothing, tell him to calm down, etc;
b) go on video call with/send video response to him following the morning transmission;
c) text in response;
d) wildcard, which means... GET WILD! ]

[ACTION] OPEN ▸ ALL
HALLWAYS - DAY 2 12:00

[ A relatively big (187cm or 6ft 1.6inch) young man will be wandering around, trying to figure out where is what. He still has a scowl on his face, but isn't going to eat you if you talk to him. At least not right away... he's pretty hungry. If you're Kiyotaka Ishimaru, he's gonna bolt the shit out of there moments after he spots you. If you're not, then congrats, he might talk to you for a bit. In fact, he might just start the conversation if you don't. (Feel free to start the conversation and not use this prompt!) ]

Hey. Y'know where the dining room's at? We can eat for free?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[His fists at his side, Ishimaru tries to stand his ground against his brother, to defend him from himself. On his side, it's a wonder that there's still any water left in the body for him to be leaking so many tears.

At first, he stands with determination, even if he winces at the threatening tone. Again, he mentions the ludicrous idea that he killed Fujisaki!

And he even suggests that he could kill Ishimaru himself. But that can't be true. That absolutely cannot be true! Ishimaru's ready to keep on combating Mondo's words. To prove that he could not have been a murderer at all!

Before he can raise an objection, however, Mondo adds something else.

And that takes the wind right out of Ishimaru's sails.]

Wh-what...? [He breathes weakly, his eyes growing softer as he considers that concept. He remembers how Mondo would talk about his brother so fondly... and now he says that he killed him?!]

Your... your brother... Why. Why...

[Now, he turns intense again.]

Why would you lie about something like this?! There's no way you could have killed him!

Ah?

[ The look in Mondo's face slowly turns to one of an ironic amusement, preceding a scoff that escapes his lips not so quietly. ]

Heh! So you're sayin' you know me better than I do myself.

[ He may be smiling, but his eyes certainly aren't. ]

Then tell me, Ishimaru. What the hell d'ya know about me? About what I've done in the past? All those things that people associate with biker gangs didn't jump out of fucking nowhere, y'know.

[ The sinister calm in his voice hasn't changed a bit, despite the way his words get rougher around the edges. With the lack of gap between them, another step he takes only means a shove from chest to chest while he looms over the other teen. ]

I'm talkin' 'bout all the stuff a goody two-shoes like you hate.

[Mondo does sound very sinister. It's an unwelcome change, and it's a scary one.

But it also feels like a false one.

No matter what the truth may be, as Ishimaru looks at Mondo, it feels like he's trying to steer him a certain way. To not just make him accept these events... but to see him as a terrible person.

Mondo looks over him. Ishimaru's eyes widen as he looks up to the pompadour casting a shadow over his face, and a startled breath escapes from him.

But he looks past that and within that. This evil, sinister form of Mondo... It's like its just clothes he wears. It just doesn't match up to the image of Mondo that he knows so dearly.

Ishimaru looks up towards Mondo and, like a small dog barking at a larger dog, he shouts up at him.]

I know exactly what you are talking about! I know... because when I first met you... that's exactly what I thought of you! That you were just some thug. An immoral brute who uses violence to get what he wants. The worst kind of person. The kind of person I could never get along with!

[It may be redundant to point out that he's saying this through tears again. But, he is still crying out through tears.]

But you showed me that I was wrong. We had our duel, and we bathed together. You bore your soul to me, and I saw who you were underneath all of that toughness that you wear. You are a responsible man who is trying to do his best for his brother's legacy! You raised a beautiful dog, and you aim to move on to carpentry! You want to build things... You're a truly incredible and dependable man! That's what I learned about you! That's the image I've held in my heart all along... Your true self, Kyoudai!

[He pauses a moment to sob, while still looking right up at him.]

Are you going to look me in the eyes and tell me that was wrong all along?! Was that not the real you?!

[ See here, rejecting the truth is the one thing Mondo has obsessively done the past few years in order to keep Crazy Diamond together ー even that is partially a lie, as it's also done in order to bury his weakness deep inside. So more than anyone else, he knows what it's like. That's exactly why, what Ishimaru's doing pisses him off so much. He sees himself in the way Ishimaru vehemently denies the facts that are handed to him. They both are trying to protect Mondo. The selfish, rotten parts of him that the truth's threatening to reveal. All those empty beliefs, desperate attempts to cling on the good image Mondo has somehow given to him, are just going to break him in the long run. ]

My true self, huh.

[ Mondo will be adding one more to his pile of lies if he says that those fat tears leaking out of Ishimaru's eyes and the sobs aren't doing anything to him. Because in fact, he's stepping away now, just so he doesn't need to see it in a close proximity. Had this been anyone from Crazy Diamond, he'd definitely give them some good whack in the head and tell them off for crying. But Ishimaru isn't part of the gang. He isn't under his wings, and he...

He's the first friend he's made out of the gang.

Even if for a short while, he's had a lot of fun with Ishimaru. It was truly a genuine kind of fun, in which he could laugh from the deepest of his heart. The times they've spent, the stories they've shared, they are important things he can't deny. He doesn't want to.

But this and that are two different things. He knows himself. People don't change that easily, even if they put in the efforts to. He chooses not to answer the question. ]

What you're telling me 's what I told you in one freaking night. You seriously think with that you know everything about me? You're just holding onto it 'cuz you don't wanna associate with some goddamn criminal.

[ No, that's not it. Mondo knows that's not the case, and yet... ]

[Ishimaru maintains his position and shakes his head once more in response.]

That's not it! I know that I don't know everything about you. I would not presume that much!

[His fists tighten.]

But I still know you! It may have just been one night, but it was enough to forge a bond of brotherhood. Enough for me to see your sincerity as you said that! And enough to see through the way you are presenting yourself right now!

[Ishimaru closes his eyes, blinking back more tears, and he bows his head as some of his intensity deflates.]

I... I don't know what to believe... about these claims you are presenting... [He admits that much. With Mondo's insistence, Ishimaru is shaken and horrified by the idea that they may be true.]

...But if there's one thing that I truly know to be false, it's the way that you are presenting yourself! If you want to convince me... if you want me to believe any of this... I- I need you to hear the truth from the real you! [And now, his eyes open again, accompanied by a dramatic point.] Please, stop hiding behind your criminal image and speak sincerely!

[ To be fair, he can agree with some of the points that Ishimaru brought up. It was unexpected, but they did manage to forge a bond of brotherhood overnight. He didn't think he would shed a tear for another guy, but he did. Even if only for a little bit, it felt great sharing burdens with each other like that. It felt like he could trust Ishimaru, and maybe even more with time. If only Monokuma hadn't interfered, surely someday...

'Surely'? Can he say that with confidence?

He draws a long sigh at what Ishimaru said, because once again, it isn't entirely wrong. This is an attempt to push Ishimaru away ー he wants Ishimaru to hate him and stay away from him. Whether or not he's the Ishimaru back home, it's pretty darned obvious that they're the same at the core. Getting associated with Mondo can't be a good thing when he has ambitions and aspirations for the future. It's already bad enough that he's making Ishimaru doubt the truth like this. At this rate, he'll just be a worse influence down the road. If the residents here were telling the truth, there'd be a chance for them to return home. If it really happens, a future to be built is waiting for Ishimaru back there. A future... that doesn't have Mondo in it, because he's dead and thus doesn't matter anymore. ]

Dunno what you're talkin' 'bout. I am a criminal.

[ He sets his focal point on the grand piano in the room, feeling that he won't be able to speak calmly otherwise. ]

I've told you about Crazy Diamond, but not everything yet. 'm not gonna repeat this, so open your ears wide.

[ This is his chance, the chance he didn't get to have the previous time. He can't fuck up. ]

I joined the gang 'cuz of my big bro, Daiya. He was the one who created and led it to be the greatest gang in Japan. ...Don't think I need to explain how fucking charismatic he was. He taught all of us a lot, it felt like we could follow him till the end of our lives. But we knew deep down it'd have to end someday.

As the no. 2 of the team, I was in line to take over him after his retirement. Obviously, there were a whole lotta pressure having to lead the team that's seen his leadership. It was so friggin' suffocating.

So I challenged him to a race on his retirement night. I thought, if I won, everyone'd acknowledge me as their leader for sure.

[ This time, he'll make sure Ishimaru accepts the truth. ]

But in both skill and speed, I was no match for him. I became desperate and started riding recklessly, even crossing to the opposite lane to overtake him.

...You know what happens when you do shit like that. A vehicle was speeding towards me then. [ A slight pause. ] The next thing I knew, I was on the other side of the road, and big bro was lying in a pool of blood.

[ This time, he'll make sure Ishimaru understands what he means. ]

All of that happened 'cuz of my own weakness. I killed him. Big bro... he didn't blame me until the end. All he asked from me was to promise him to never let Crazy Diamond fall apart. It was a team... that we both created, he said...

[ Shit. His attempts to keep his voice from trembling bear no fruit. The fact that he's going to 'live' ー as long as this place lets him ー with this confession, unlike the last time he did it, is game changing. It's terrifying, even if Crazy Diamond isn't here, in this world. It's painful, now that he's being forced to face it one more time, without any chance of running away. His knuckles are turning white from the intensity of his fists, frown deepens between his brows. ]

I didn't tell them about what happened. I let them believe... that big bro killed himself 'cuz he was gonna lose to me. I was scared that if I told them the truth, I'd be the reason the team broke apart.

[ He turns to look at Ishimaru. Sorrow, guilt, anger, fear, shame ー the emotions mix and stir within, reflecting on the thistle-coloured eyes of his. ]

In the end, I couldn't even keep the promise I made with him.

You were right. I'm a loser.

[Ishimaru listens patiently as Mondo tells his story. Well, as he listens, he also trembles and starts to feel weak.

Because now he truly feel it... the sincerity in Mondo's words and his assertion. All in a story that truly does end in the death of his brother.

It's a more painful story than he ever could have imagined back when he first heard about Daiya. Now he feels like he can truly see the weight that Mondo has been carrying all this time. But all he feels is hurt and sympathy. He still cannot find it in him to condemn his brother at all. Or to consider him anything other than a brother.

So Ishimaru continues to look up at him with tear eyes. His voice is weak as he speaks back up.]

That... that has to be the saddest story that I've ever heard...

[Still, then he manages to summon some passion to call out.]

B-but you're no loser! You may have acted recklessly... but you couldn't have meant for any of that to happen! That was no murder! Your brother chose to save you, a-and you... you then tried your best to keep your promise to him!! That's not the same... that can't be the same as killing him!

[ Sad. Hah. Hell yeah it is. He'll never be okay about that incident. But that's not the point here. ]

Goddammit, you're fucking obstinate... D'you still not get it?! If I didn't challenge him to a race, if I didn't get fuckin' scared, if I just accepted the truth that I was weak and tried to think of some other way to get them to respect me... none of these would've happened!! Of course he'd save me, that was just the guy that he freakin' was!!

[ His fist slams against the nearest wall, sending a buzzing sound to their ears. ]

Don't say it as if it was on him for choosing to save me.

[ What follows after the boom, is a sudden plunge in the volume of his voice. It's nothing like what he used on Ishimaru earlier on ー none of those threatening tones. In fact, it's almost pathetic. Desolation and frustration envelope it with perfect harmony, making it sound almost like he's begging for help while rejecting it at the same time. ]

[He winces at the fist slamming into the wall. His throat is starting to feel hoarse from all of this yelling, and he takes a moment to breathe while wiping his sleeve across his face to collect stray tears.]

I... I don't mean to blame him for what happened! But you can't blame yourself, either. Not even he wanted to!

You can't treat yourself like a murderer when you wanted none of this to happen... It sounds like it was all a terrible accident!

Edited 2017-08-31 17:33 (UTC)

[ Was that all? Is it ok to clean up all those mess with one simple, irresponsible word like 'accident'? Mondo can't see it that way, but he's also losing the steam to argue further about this matter. He runs a hand across his face roughly with a grunt, getting increasingly tired of this tug of war. As much as agreeing to disagree isn't a preferable option nor will he ever allow it, he has to drop this case for now or at this rate he'll never get to the main problem. ]

Even if you don't wanna count him, I still killed Fujisaki with my own hand. I'm still a murderer.

[Kiyotaka Ishimaru was ready to keep on debating with all of his heart. Because the alternative would be to just... give up and accept this vision of Mondo that he is trying to present to him. It may not make sense to keep arguing against things that Mondo is sure of, but that's the battle that his heart wants to wage. It's different than any debate that he's ever taken part in, though. Instead of a thrill that comes with debating different political points, he only feels more and more drained after each salvo of words is exchanged.

For a moment there, though, he thought that he was reaching a turning point. A glimmer of hope started to shine through his eyes. Because maybe he could change the way that Mondo looked at his brother's death... Maybe he could help him move on. Maybe it was working!

But that moment dies quickly, as the weight of Mondo's following words are dropping down onto his head.

He instantly whimpers and bows his head, looking all the more pathetic as he recalls Fujisaki's body, the trial, and Mondo's new claims.]

N-no! No... That can't be true, right... It- it must have been Togami-kun! You wouldn't...!

[But now, his attempts at a defense sound weaker and more desperate than ever.

It's not your fucking birthday anymore]

[ That's right, your birthday is fucking over. ]

That asshole didn't do it. [ Sad to say. ] He saw me leaving the girl's locker ー if anything, he was an eye-witness. You've heard up to the e-Handbook stuff, you should've known that much.

[ He takes a deep breath and exhales it, getting ready for part two of this mess.

And then halts. ]

...How much do you know, anyway?

[ Fujisaki's secret... has Ishimaru found out about that, too? How far has the e-Handbook talk gone in his time? ]

[Ishimaru responds with a startled gasp. It's starting to feel like a dark and repressive atmosphere is closing in on him...]

A-an eyewitness?! No... I did not know anything about that!

[He pauses and takes a shakey breath as he collects himself.]

How much do I know... Of that case? I... I can summarize it. We learned... that Fukawa-kun is an immoral serial killer, but she apparently did not commit this crime. And we learned that Fujisaki-kun was a boy all along. Simply unbelievable!

[His gaze now focuses on the ground.]

B-beyond that... Suspicion fell onto you because if what you said about the jersey. There was some talk about the e-Handbooks and how they played a role in the crime. ...The last thing I recall is discussion of what the handbook's weakness could be. I... I was brought here before I could find out what it was, however. I have no idea what it could have been!!

[Or he's been avoiding thinking about it entirely.]

[ Is he cruel for making Ishimaru recall all these things again? For sure. But this is for the best. For both of them.

Honestly, the fact that Ishimaru has known about Fujisaki's real gender makes everything much easier. Mondo could never tell him about that secret if he wasn't informed in the first place, and that'd make explaining a lot more complicated. He tries to resist the urge to sigh in relief. ]

That's right. I found out that the e-Handbook's vulnerable to heat 'cuz I broke mine during our sauna duel.

[ He pauses for a moment, as if letting it sink in on Ishimaru, though it's actually for him to gather himself. ]

They've got some e-Handbooks of the... dead ones [ For the lack of better wording. ] lying over at the entrance hall. Took one of theirs to get into the girls' locker room and moved everything over there.

[ For what reason, he probably doesn't need to spell it out for Ishimaru to understand. Maybe. Either way, he's moving on. ]

Anyway.

[ Here goes. Story time part two. ]

You already know why I couldn't let my secret out. If the team found out, everything... big bro's death, the guilt that I'd been bearing on my own for so long... they'd be all for nothin'. ...Let's be real, I was scared.

Those thoughts swarmed me for the whole day, and it just became worse and worse as the time limit was dwindlin' down. I seriously had no fucking clue what to do...

[ His voice begins to tremble, so he swallows, and then huffs for a bit, but doesn't stop. ]

I met up with Fujisaki that night 'cuz he wanted me to show him how to train.

That was when he told me about his secret, that he was a guy. So I asked him why he told me, and he said that he wanted to change, he wanted to beat his weak self who'd been running behind lies.

I realised then, that we were the same, but he was much stronger than I am. [ Even now. ] It felt like a knife on my gut, like he was telling me that I was just like his weak self.

[ He stares down at his balled fist. ]

He said, that, 'cuz I was strong, it wouldn't be a problem for me if Monokuma exposed my secret. It felt like sarcasm.

But now I know that it was envy on my part. I was so fucking envious of his strength that it blinded me. I kept fighting the words in the back of my mind, I tried convincing myself that I was strong, strong, stronger than everyone else, stronger than him ー even stronger than my big bro!

Iー!

[ The volume of his voice goes on a crescendo, before falling completely quiet as he turned to look at Ishimaru. ]

I didn't want to face my weakness.

Before I knew it, I saw Fujisaki's dead body drenched in blood, and a bloody dumbbell on my hand.

[ He grits his teeth again, voice jittering more than ever. ]

Y, you get it now, right? Ishimaru...

[Ishimaru remains with his head bowed, gripping at his knees as he listens to Mondo's story.

A sharp gasp escapes from him as he mentions their sauna duel. He had been trying to avoid thinking about the possibility this whole time, but their duel really did provide a missing piece of the puzzle... and all along it proved to be one more step in Mondo's step towards this unspeakable thing.

Walking through it, step by step, he feels that he can understand almost all of the steps that Mondo took. The way he was trapped by his dying promise to his brother... Ishimaru recalls how he tried to encourage everyone to announce their secrets openly and be done with it. To destroy this motive's power over them! ...Looking back, he feels like a fool for believing that there could have been such a simple solution.

He bites his lip as tears drip down to the ground while the bitter truth suffocates him. In the wake of this, he feels a lot of emotions. He does feel anger and rage... but he can't feel it towards Mondo. No, it's towards the situation created by Monokuma, towards the idea of his brother being driven to kill! All he can feel for Mondo... is pity, disappointmet and hurt.

As he feels Mondo's eyes train on him, he raises his own eyes to meet him. For once, coming up with anything to say is a struggle. He has no speech to make, no moral to deliver. In this moment, all that he can do is quietly sob out:]

Kyoudai...

[ Mondo swallows hard as he keeps his eyes at the other teen. He can't run away now, he's the one who told Ishimaru not to run in the first place.

But the weight of that conduct is much heavier than he thought it would be. It drops down on him the moment their eyes meet ー threatening his knees to buckle, urging his face to hang low in shame. He's been anticipating for this, but it doesn't get any easier. It doesn't change anything about him letting Ishimaru down, hurting him. ]

...I'm not your kyoudai.

[ His voice is pathetically thin and hoarse, slipping within the grits of teeth that continue with every attempt to keep his emotions in check. ]

I'm a murderer, and you're not an idiot.

[ He closes his eyes for a moment, just allow him one short moment. After this, he'll be okay.

A deep breath, and he opens them again. ]

That's why, stay away from me.

[ This is okay. This is more than okay. He's been given a second chance in life, and he's gonna make use of it to do better. He's not here to find happiness, not to make friends either. If antagonising himself couldn't make Ishimaru avoid him, then saying it directly like this should do the work, shouldn't it? ]

S-stay away...? [His face goes pale as Mondo says that. And he's at a loss of words for a moment as he considers that. Mondo's still trying to renounce their brotherhood. And leave him. Why?]

B-but... You've finally come here after all this time, a-and...

[He pleads like that for a moment and he trails off. He feels so weak... but he remembers that he's still on his feet.

Now he glares fiercely at him.]

...And... You can't just say that! You can't just take back a brotherhood and end it just like that! I... I can't allow it!

[Then, the strength fades from his voice as he tries to take a step closer to Mondo.]

N-not when... you must need me more than ever...!

Edited 2017-09-05 22:08 (UTC)

ーKh!

[ Just when it seemed like Mondo had delivered the final blow, Ishimaru came up with more things he couldn't deflect, because... they were right.

Brotherhood is essentially a man's promise. He can't break it just like that.

Andー who's he kidding? He's more than aware that, deep down, he does need Ishimaru. ]

Get it already, Ishimaru... I've got no control of myself. I could lose it anytime and kill you.

[ Still, just because he needs him, doesn't mean he must have him by his side. He hasn't become strong enough to be sure that the same incident won't happen. What happened to Fujisaki can happen to Ishimaru at this rate. If that happens, he'll never be able to forgive himself. No punishment can pay for that sin, nothing can ever ease off the despair that comes with it. In the end of the day, he's just one selfish asshole. It's all for his own sake. ]

......

[ He bows, as deep as he can go. ]

Please. I know it's fucking selfish, but think of it as doing a favour for me.

[Both of his hands tighten into fists, pain and anger both surging through him as he responds.]

Y-you won't just suddenly kill me!! I refuse to believe that, no matter what! Even if you truly did intend to... then that's a risk that I'm willing to take!!

[He takes a breath and sniffles in his sea of tears. Mondo is bowing before him now, and he knows that he can't just ignore a gesture like this. Something that Mondo seems to want with all of his heart, even if it twists and breaks Ishimaru's further.]

...If... if this is really what you want... I can leave you alone for a while. I can give you your time, Oowada-kun!! [He takes a shallow breath.] But... I can only go so far with that favor. I cannot leave you alone forever!! So please, please...

[Now he mirrors him, bowing down even lower and just narrowly missing bumping their heads together.]

...come back to me eventually!! ...I can... be selfish too, you know!

Edited 2017-09-06 14:24 (UTC)

[ Just what the fuck's he saying? 'Even if Mondo truly intends to, it's a risk he's willing to take'? That's hella absurd! Would you normally trust someone this much? ]

For god's sake...

[ Mondo doesn't lift his head. He doesn't want to ー he knows what to expect.

And yet, every single word that comes out from Ishimaru's mouth still surpasses his expectation, boggling his mind even more. Why? Why would you go that far for some piece of shit like me? He hisses under his breath, wishing he could cover his ears to what's being said to him. I'm a fucking murderer, goddammit! How many fuckin' times do I need to repeat that to get it through you?! Each one of them is so warm, so desperately reaching out to him, so darned... painful.

When he senses a presence before his bowed head, he halts his breathing and closes his eyes, readying himself for what to come. ]

ー!

[ He releases his breath with that, eyes shot open.

Mondo has lost the place to return to. He no longer exists in the world where Crazy Diamond does. Daiya-aniki and Chuck have left him long before that. But Ishimaru's right here, offering him what he's always longed for. Ishimaru wants Mondo to be there, with all his heart, with a sincerity shining so bright it's impossible to avert his eyes from it. He can't pretend to distrust those words. ]

...

[ He hesitates, eyes darting around him. ]

...Eventually.

[ It takes a while, but he finally repeats, implying his agreement to the promise exchange. ]

[ It's 'eventually', after all. There's no 'when'. Maybe, before he comes back to Ishimaru, Ishimaru will return to the real world, where the future awaits him.

Mondo can do that.

He can ignore the stings within his chest. He can ignore the voices shaming himself in his head for taking the cowardly route yet again. This is what he's decided. This is what his second chance in life is for. This time, he's gonna protect what's important to him. He'll do it, in the coward's own way.

He straightens his back, eyeing the other teen's back of head for a moment.

His eyes narrow as a hand raises up ー only to clench and drop back down.

He turns on his heels. ]

['Eventually'. That's better than nothing. Better than this absurd idea that Mondo's been throwing around of never seeing each other again.

Kiyotaka Ishimaru is an only child. He doesn't know what it's like to have siblings. Or at least he didn't, until he found Mondo. Even though they've only truly spent time together for about three days now, Ishimaru still feels this bond that cannot be broken. Things may feel twisted and heartending with ever truth he's learned about Mondo today... but this feeling of brotherhood is surviving this test.

It helps that Mondo provided him with a stellar example to follow. Ishimaru might not have ever met the man or witnessed his last moments... but Daiya sounds like he was the truest brother one could hope for. And it sounded like he would not give up on Mondo even at the bitter end, no matter how much Mondo holds himself responsible for what happened.

So Kiyotaka will follow that example. He'll do everything that he can be to be the brother who Mondo needs in these trying times.

He sniffles and wipes at his tears as Mondo starts to leave. It's already over. Still... Ishimaru manages to get some last words in.]

If... if you have any questions about this place, or need anything... anything at all... I will always be here for you.

[And then, to punctuate that, he practically weakly breathes one last "Kyoudai". Let that be his heart's signature on this entire encounter, while he's left to wrestle with the difficult truths that Mondo has left in his wake.]

[ Ishimaru's words are so warm it's suffocating. They're wasted on someone like Mondo.

He's become a monster since he killed Daiya. A monster who can't control his own emotions and fears. A monster who can only unleash his frustrations by breaking things, breaking people. He wonders, would it change anything had he met Ishimaru sooner? Would it stop him from being a murderer? Would it stop Ishimaru from spilling so many tears like he did today, and the day before?

He pretends as if he didn't hear anything and closes the music room door behind him. There's no more use lining up theories. It's all in the past now, and this is the best decision he could've ever made. He knows.

And yet, why is it so hard? ]

Shit.

[ He stares down his trembling, clenched fist, fighting back the urge to punch something.

Instead, he runs. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

001 ▸ action & video

through udder chaos

spare them cattle tiddies

that's a load of bull

look at the twinkling eye on my darling bovine

we could fill a whole cattle-ogue of puns

we steer-ed it this way

yep we really took it by the horns

gotta be sure not to lead it ass-tray

That would be a don-key concern

but let's not mule over it too much

or we'd risk becoming a one-trick pony

wheyyy you got it brotha

neigh

watch out we've got a baadass o'er here

unless you've got my goat

milks the goreat

so long as it behooves you

gdi you needa get pasteurised

at this point, i'm just living on a prayerie

ah, we're doing so swine 1/2

2/2

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