dreamcrystals | Entry 001

Old friend of mine, and the best sniper I ever saw. [World renowned back home.] She always made a cup of tea after patching me up.

[Sometimes drugged it to make him go to sleep, because it was sometimes the only way to make him rest. Wasn't going to add that part, but it was a memory.

Was a gesture for Kazuma, a quiet sort of 'pick one up if you want' since the jars of honey were right there.]

I know I'll heal. [On the run for nearly seven years made bad habits, but he lived.] Been through worse- but I get it.

Edited 2021-11-10 06:19 (UTC)

I see. [Did her tea also taste like ass? Cause this is unfortunately not your typical nice kind of tea. He'll go ahead and pick one of the honey jars then, admiring the galaxy colors within. How is that even possible...?]

. . . It's wounds that could have been avoided entirely. [He's gazing at the jar with a frown on his face.] I've had a few talks, and it seems my anger was misplaced. [A quiet admittance.]

Her sniper rifle these days contain darts filled with a healing liquid. [Guess as to just why that probably worked with him. The tea did also taste like ass at times and incredibly bitter. Healthy she'd call it, when not meant to just be sipped and enjoyed.

He leaned back a little, an arm rested across his thigh.]

Possibly, but it's water under the bridge. [He didn't hold anything against Kazuma. It was his own handling of the situation that ended up with what he had.] Information you weren't able to have with how long you carried it.

Help to have some of the answers now?

Ah. I see how she proves to be rather efficient with you. [He kind of wants one of those rifle gun darts now. Use it on Ryunosuke.

He sets down the honey jar on his lap, resting his hands on the lid.] I already knew a few things back in the Realm of Stories. Words from someone I hardly knew though, can only go so far without any real evidence.

[He takes a deep breath.] The truth is...far more sinister than what I was led to believe.

That, and she threatens to sleep dart me. [Had slept dart him as well.

76 was quiet for a moment as he listened and- well. Wasn't that surprising, was it? Truth could be far worse than ever imagined, more so when certain things could get involved, and he half wondered if it was politics and egos.

Didn't ask, however.] More complicated as well, I imagine.

[He appreciates 76 giving him some insight into how much of a pain he's going to be.

That aside though-] You could say we were both pieces of a bigger picture, pawns. Taken advantage of our grief. [His brows furrow, a pensive look on his face. A hand rest on the hilt of his katana.]

. . .My father was eventually proven that he wasn't the serial killer, but he was guilty of taking one life. The killer himself...and someone who was very important to the man I was trying to take down.

[Was always easier in his min to take care of others and just let himself coast; there was enough done to him that he could run on the bare minimum. Injuries would scar and he'd keep going.

Came back harder when he'd lost everything. Cared even less for himself.

... Hell if that didn't sound familiar. Different players, different circumstances-

Some things didn't change, no matter the world or time, huh.] Given enough facts to play on that grief, and paint the wanted picture. Didn't matter what else it caused, so long as the wanted outcome was the main result?

Makes sense for what's happened.

[A slow nod.] I suppose you would have had a similar experience in your lifetime. The true mastermind, unfortunately is not here. [Or maybe fortunate to some. He starts to massage the back of his left hand.]

I thank you for preventing me from making a terrible mistake. There are things I must reconcile with that man, but before that...there is a problem.

I'm still hunting for answers myself. [Couldn't do it here, obviously, but still.] I lost everything I had ever fought for and believed in, even while watching it fall apart unable to stop it.

[Reason he understood a need for answers and a want for revenge. Oh, someone art of the group he thought responsible was here, might've had some answers but- well. Complicated, that.

76 hummed, the sound low.] A problem.

[Hearing the old man still seeking answers after everything he's apparently suffered through, he sympathises.] Even now, huh...? [After everything, if he could, he would offer to help him. The best he can do is whatever he can offer while in this world.

He sets the honey jar back on the ground once more, proceeding to work on taking off his right boot.]

I've been unable to cool myself down, feverish conditions almost since that night. I thought it would pass after a few days, but then... [As he removes his boot and reveals his foot, some of the toes have turned into clawed ones.]

Rotted from the inside. International peacekeeping group. [Just to give an idea of the size and... well. It would have to be something that ran deep and big to take it down like it had. Why he was still looking for answers.

Had to take some time to recover having a building dropped on him, and get feet under himself.

He leaned forwards a bit, watching Kazuma work on his boot with an eyebrow slightly arched- and then he saw the reason why. Words that went along with it, and hissed softly under his breath.] Think it has something to do with Noctaere bullshit?

[Gloved hands might have moved, but only so that one grasped the other thumb rubbing against his own covered wrist. 76 had a hunch and not for most reason that could be thought.]

Most likely the case. [Seeing his feet partially turned is like looking at a poison slowly spreading.]

I...vaguely recall taking in those creatures that had turned. [He frowns, glancing off to the side.] I suppose it would have been too simple to think everything would have been fine after that.

[76 grunted, agreeing on part of it before he was working one of his gloves off- slowly. Reluctantly.]

You took in a lot, got a lot bigger, too. Before you think it when I show you, this was something before I came after you. [One glove finally worked off and, well. The skin of 76's hand was black, as if he had rubbed on a thick layer of soot. A few streaks went through, almost blue, that branched like lightning.

His own nails were pitch black and claw like. 76 flexed his fingers, but held the hand up a bit.]

This started after I encountered and fought a Noctaere, and why I say it's best to not come in to physical contact with one. Was just the fingertips then, of course. Been spreading slowly. [Ha... ha.

There was a big reason he kept those gloves on at all times recently. Long sleeves, too. Still, if Kazuma was going to show his- why keep this hidden, too?] Definitely lingers.

It can be managed, however.

-!! [He stares in shock, taken aback. Though knowing who this is, it really shouldn't be that much of a surprise to him and yet...]

Is it a good idea for us to be in close proximity? [They may not look like Noctaere, but there's clearly something wrong underneath. He doesn't like hearing that it's spreading too. His next remark is insisting he get some help, but he ends up stopping himself, realizing how pointless and contradictory it was to ask. Instead he just laughs uncomfortably with a wry smile.]

We're both in a fine mess.

[The other glove came off just as slowly, letting them both drop against a thigh. Same condition, rubbing a thumb against his palm. Been a little while since he had them off, and it was reassuring he still had feeling in them at least.]

Think we're fine, far as I can tell. [Nothing felt different, or strange. Just the usual, no worrying sort of change that wasn't the 'norm' for this entire place. So shoulders shrugged lightly with those words.

Willing to chance it, some dry laugh escaping him then.]

Can't argue that. Like I said, it can be managed. Just have to keep some watch of it. It's all energy, even if... well, nightmare?

[SIR. HE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ONE ARM.] ...Maybe consider cutting back on fighting Noctaere for a while. [He's not sure that actually helps? But it can't get worse if you don't expose yourself to more of the bad stuff.]

Or rather, maybe we should look into a means to remove that energy. Unless you know how. I'm sure we won't be the only people to be affected like this.

I have been, at least. [IF ONLY IT WERE JUST ONE ARM. If only it were. Did lean back for a moment, where he had a bag, and at least it was not a jar he was pulling out.

More a little bag, shifting through it and pulling out a piece of dried meat, and held the bag enough the offer was clear as he took a bite of that self-made jerky.]

Not sure if it's doing the trick or it's some coincidence, but some positive energy makes a small but visible one. Positive in the most basic terms- been doing fine just getting excess energy out to keep it from building up. [Has it really been doing just fine, tho.]

...But you said it was still spreading. [Clearly, it's not doing enough. Or maybe it is and 76 just needs more happiness in his life. He blinks at the jerky being offered. He's not really that hungry, but he can take one.]

You also didn't take any noctaere into you, right? [He eyes down to his clawed toes.] Our cases may not be exactly the same.

It's been hovering the same length- until recently. It's actually gone down. [That was the truth, at least. Even if he wasn't sure he was ready to talk about... how it went down. Or at least not exactly why-] Some positive energy is why it went down, even if only enough to tell the difference.

I didn't, no- but I think I came close to turning in to something in a dream. [It is not his fault he was extremely willing to go completely feral and rip in to a man very literally. ~~Wait.~~] That was when I noticed the first time this stuff spread.

[Looking over one of his hands, fingers flexing and looking over claws there.]

I might have been on the edge, but was forcibly knocked out of it before it took.

[That only makes him wonder how much further back it went, if this is considered having "gone down". The rest of the information doesn't come as too much of a surprise. He had his share of near breaking dreams, some of which 76 has managed to pull him out of. He's been lucky to have come out still himself.]

You better tell me if anything changes. I'll come knock some sense into you. [He'll probably just check in more often anyway.] I'll tell you if anything changes on my end as well, of course. [He likes to hope that things will be better for him after clearing such a big misunderstanding, but...this world might have other ideas.]

[76 was, unfortunately, very good at hiding things and acting as if nothing was wrong. How he always dressed helped to further hide any sort of changes. The fact that the spread had gone back down to just his elbows? That was definitely an improvement.

Not better, but not worse.

Hard to disguise the low noise in his throat.] Make it an agreement then; you tell me, and I'll tell you- not in that order just, whatever change.

Good or bad. I've go your back in this. [That was a hand held out to Kazuma in the universal sort of 'shake on it' way. If they were going to do this, may as well, right?]

[He looks to his extended hand for a moment before giving his to shake on it. He then keeps a firm grip afterwards.]

It goes both ways, Jack. [The handshake makes it professional and all, but he wanted to reiterate that 76 can put some faith in him. He values this man's life after everything he's done for him. He'll damn make sure he stays okay.]

[The corner of his mouth twitched a bit, and not just at the firm grip that remained. Alright kid, alright-]

It does, Kazuma. [Hard as it might be to stick to, that was at least a very solid and firm agreement. Acknowledgement perhaps being a good word for it as well, saying and agreeing to it out loud as if that made it more real.

Didn't stop the little tug, making it easier for 76 to reach up his other hand to ruffe hair.]

Grants full permission to call my ass out for it.

H-Hey- [Caught in another hair ruffle! He's not even trying to fight against it though, chuckling instead, leaning into him.]

I would have done it without your permission, but good.

[That chuckle sounded warmer when it came, even leaving his hand right where it was for the moment.]

Might need it if I let myself get too buried in things going on. [Or stuck in the habit.] I know I'm a stubborn old goat.

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