synflux | TRAVEL LOG #1

TRAVEL LOG #1

TRAVEL LOG #1

CONTENT WARNINGS: potential mentions of drugs, suspected mind-control, alcohol, and gambling, gore.

▶ 001. A RUDE AWAKENING.

On the morning of the 15th, the Outsiders will hear an alarm sound in the early hours. No matter what you’re doing, the alarm will not stop sounding, and it’s because they’re playing directly into your oculars. If one is sleeping, they may even be roused by the spark of colors on their oculars dictating an emergency. After a few minutes of this, the following message will appear:

PLEASE REPORT TO THE DATAPORTAL AT THE TOKYO BRANCH AND BE PREPARED FOR DEPARTURE.

"Captain Yamakawa speaking. You’ve done a great job in testing the data portals. Now that we are able to travel, we were sent a call for help in another city due to lack of personnel and resources abroad. You will be looking for evidence of a new kaiju around the rendezvous point. It may be a difficult journey, so prepare yourself. SYNTHIA will still be online to help you make it to the city. Report to the POD CHAMBER where we have installed an international dataportal and prepare for transportation."

Following the success of the dataportal testing, the engineering department was able to fine tune its abilities and widen the reach of the portals. The portals can connect even abroad now!

Despite their best efforts, however, they cannot guarantee that the same symptoms won’t appear, and ask all Outsiders who are utilizing them to practice caution. Additionally, through all their testing, they found that people who hold hands or make contact with others as they pass through will be hit with less issues.

▶ 002. WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS.

When one passes through the data portal, they will see the refuge city of Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Similar to Neo Tokyo, it is also rich in life and known as the city that never sleeps. Incidentally, it is also famously noted as a place of endless vice. The city is built up around a strip of land of roughly 4.2 miles. A vast majority of the city was built up over the wreckage of the old, and some fixtures were simply made new with whatever was left preexisting. The Mojave Desert has expanded towards surrounding cities, though it will take a vehicle to get there in a timely manner.

The city has no shortage of hotels and with each hotel, a casino. While Outsiders here are on a mission, there’s no stating they couldn’t participate in the fun of Vegas while LILITH crew begin their investigation. While some hotels will be clearly abandoned or less traversed, there is no end to all card tables and slot machines, all asking for your KRYPTOS.

The hotel the Outsiders are slotted to stay over the course of the next few days is one where they built directly over the hotels of the old. While it offers a decent place to sleep, it’s not without a refurbished pirate themed bed, or the columns of what appears to have been from Caesars Palace. Is that a giant clown face staring at you in the room? Don’t worry about it. The hotel offers that this is the best place to depart into the desert from. For this mission, Outsiders may bunk up with whoever they would like, and each hotel provides two queen sized beds.

Excited to venture out into the city? Even under the threat of kaiju, the city doesn’t sleep. Outsiders may venture through the Las Vegas Strip and treat themselves to a fun night of drinking, gambling, shopping, partying and circle-style performances. The Grand Canal Shoppes, a Venetian-inspired high end mall, boasts a man-made canal with gondola rides for a fee, along with many retail outlets and restaurants. There are also numerous spas and carnival-style rides to enjoy. Las Vegas was once known as the ‘Marriage Capital of the World’, and in a world besieged by kaiju, the people don’t seem to think they have anything to lose. Outsiders may spot a few bride and grooms-to-be partying in the street.

(LILITH does not have a stance on whether or not Outsiders are permitted to get hitched as long as it does not affect their performance. )

▶ 003. TROUBLE BREWING.

It’s normal for fights to break out with so much alcohol being passed around, but something … isn’t quite right with some of the locals here. Outsiders who keep an eye open might notice people acting erratically, and not just from being intoxicated. There are people ready to pick a fight from just being looked at, people falling into despondent sadness and lethargy, people wandering mindlessly and people becoming distressed from seeing things that aren’t there. Ask the locals and they will tell you these cases seem to be popping up more often the past week.

The most concerning of all are the stories of people disappearing completely. One little girl will tell you she cried as she saw her mother mindlessly walk into the desert, as if called by a voice no one else can hear. There are many other accounts of this happening. In fact, all the people acting erratically seem to disappear within a few days …

Outsiders may interact with civilians who are acting erratic and aggressive, but asking questions they may receive answers that do not make sense, are perverse and inappropriate or may trigger aggression. Any Outsider to gets into a fight and is severely injured may report to a local hospital here and will find they are pretty packed with other civilians acting strange, hurting each other and themselves. Certainly, this was the main cause for concern that got LILITH's attention anyway.

▶ 004. FOUR FOR THE ROAD.

Within a day or two, the Outsiders will once again be called to action by a blaring notice in their implant.

YOUR VEHICLES ARE PREPARED. ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE THE CITY IMMEDIATELY.

When they gather at the location provided to them, they will find a fleet of armored campervans waiting for them. Each campervan comes equipped with beds, a kitchenette, and bathroom facilities, and will fit about 4 people. Within the campervans, they will find desert-appropriate attire designed to protect them from the scorching sun. These campervans also come with some basic artillery such as a mounted machine gun. There are also supplies in the form of water bottles and MRE ration packs.

Those who have driven large vehicles in the past are encouraged to take the driver’s seat. If the group does not have any driving experience, they will be given a crash course on driving recorded by the man himself, Seok Dang. (He probably shouldn’t be doing this with the stunts he’s pulled, but the Commander does not have any time to be teaching anyone driving, and Seok Dang volunteered so eagerly…)

"Listen. If you’ve ever handled a ▄▄ before, the joystick is exactly like that. You gotta tug it, but not too hard. Gently, yeah, like that, that’s the path to ecstasy … "

If it eases anyone’s worries, the campervans are armored and highly shock resistant, so they should withstand a crash or two.

(Those who finish his course and successfully drive 100km while supervised will receive an international driving license.)

▶ 005. THE HUNT IS ON.

With everyone settled into their campervan, the large scale road trip begins. LILITH has a general idea of where the biggest energy signal is located for the rift and they will feed the coordinates to the Outsiders. The journey will take about a few days into (and around as LILITH is searching for both people & the source of the rift energy) the Mojave Desert, and Outsiders will be permitted occasional rest stops to give drivers a break and to investigate the terrain. The terrain itself is a harsh desert, with cacti and small local fauna abundant. (Those not wanting to eat ration packs can take this time to hunt the local fauna such as birds, lizards and desert foxes.) While there is nothing else around, observant Outsiders may notice signs of human life - footprints in the sand, a shoe or torn piece of clothing being left behind, and even the odd human carcass being torn apart by vultures.

The logical conclusion would be that those missing humans have been here, and the only thing left to do is find them … but Outsiders and civilians aren't all that lurk here, and time will tell what lies beneath the desert surface ...

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our very first travel log! Each campervan will accommodate anywhere between 3-5 people, with 4 being the ideal and 5 being a squeeze. Players are encouraged to connect with each other to fill up a van but the mods will not be enforcing it. If you need help finding roommates, there is a FIND A ROOMMATE header below that you can make use of.

If you'd like to test your gambling luck, we also have an IC SLOTS HEADER for you to comment to for you to see how well your character does at the slot machines. This is entirely for fun, and of course you are always welcome to have your characters winning or losing at the slot machines as much as you want in your prompts so long as they aren't winning jackpots.

Following this log, all characters who have purchased style upgrades will receive an update to their chip enabling them access to desert attire and popular styles within Las Vegas.

All tags on this log are worth 2 points.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Don't call him out on that!]

Hmph. It'd better be during a stealth mission.

[Katsuki looks around the room as he comes in, noting the used bed. What a clingy brother. It's kind of cute, though having never had a sibling in his life, the blonde's not sure he'd be up for it all the time. Granted, he's slept over with Yuji a few times. And now Denji sleeps over. Right, he still has to tell Yuji about that. But knowing his friend, he's glad Choso is around to help support the other boy. Waking up to nightmares or getting lost in depressing thoughts... sucks to do alone.

Octopus Choso. Actually Katsuki can imagine that, considering he had to try and get the guy to stop curling up on himself in the tub that time. Those arms and legs are stupidly strong when he wants to keep them somewhere.

Katsuki sinks down on the bed, arching a brow when Yuji opts to sit on the floor in front of it. Then just leans over him, resting his arms in a lazy X across Yuji's collar and chest. This isn't gonna last long. Either someone's gonna get a kink in his neck or in his back. Yet it's still kind of cute.]

Sounds good. I'll smash through whatever record that arcade has.

I’d definitely be bad at those.

[ Yuji had done a decent enough job tracking down the animals on the black market before, but he’s not naturally good at stealth. He’s the guy you send in when you want stuff beaten up without worrying too much about it being a secret. Kind of like the demo guys in all the tv shows and stuff. He knows what his role is.

Settled, Yuji doesn’t flinch when arms wrap around him; all he can do is move and tilt his body back into Katsuki’s, letting himself sink into the embrace. He’s been allowing himself to have more of this these days, letting himself bask in the comfort of a warm touch when he’s feeling down, so he doesn’t overthink the embrace. Friends hug each other and hold each other, and that’s normal.

That’s what he’s starting to believe anyway. ]

If you do, I want at least one of the prizes. There was a really cute tiger plushie as big as me.

[ As if he needs a cuddly toy when he has a cuddly aniki, but… ]

There’ll be some team games too, won’t there? Let’s do one of those.

[ Turning his head, he smiles brightly. ]

There's duct tape.

[Ironically, Katsuki's not good with stealth either. He can up to a point, but eventually impatience or some idiot he's with would spark the fuse and boom. Skulking around in the shadows like a shitty villain is ridiculous. Stake out, watch, plan, then move in and take them out in one decisive strike! ... Not that ninja aren't cool.

Yuji's warmth settles into his arms and his chest breathes easier. What is it about this boy that makes him feel so uniquely like this around him? There are others who can elicit unique feelings in him as well, but so few and rare in between. Maybe it's because so many of their interactions in the past involved a touch like this. To the point that keeping his distance from Yuji feels strange now. Or perhaps Katsuki knows how important it is for the sorcerer to have that physical link.]

Then you better go first, so I can wreck your score and we'll get two.

[Which he'll pass off to Yuji because yeah right. But that's belief Yuji can get a top score as well.]

Hell yeah. We'll mess them all up.

[Katsuki's lips twitch in a grin in response.]

How'd you handle the teleport? You weren't puking? [Like a certain someone...]

[ For Yuji, the physical is easier for him to handle than the emotional. He's a little like Gojo-sensei in that way, learning to lean into people, to steal into their space, to accept touch and kindness through a hand in his own because it's easier than talking about how he really feels. He cuddles Megumi, now, he spends time with Raidou, he's touchy with March-chan and the others, and it feels right. It makes him feel as though he's really, completely okay.

It helps anchor him to this place.

Maybe he should blame Choso a little for it, the way that he's constantly in Yuji's space, stealing his body heat, holding onto him, squeezing him and not letting go. Yuji's learned to accept physical touch as a sign of safety and comfort, as a sign of affection that can't be beat, and that's not a bad thing for him.

One hand lifts to touch Katsuki's wrist gently, stroking absently over his skin. ]

A competition again, huh? Well, that's fine, as long as we have fun.

[ The nausea, though... Shaking his head, he pats Katsuki's arm gently. ]

No, I held someone's hand so it was fine for me.

[Something they both agree and disagree on. Katsuki would rather avoid emotional things, heavy/sappy emotional things, but he's also not touchy feely with people, preferring his own space. All his life he was growing into this person, too proud to accept any kind of help from someone else because it would make him look weak. A hero, he thought, should be able to accomplish anything on his own. Sharing victory with someone was irritating, showing weakness to someone was humiliating.

But slowly... slowly he beginning to learn it's not the shattering of his image if he lets other people in. Accepts some help from time to time. Leans on someone he trusts for support every now and then. But those someone's are few and worked (or stubborned) their butts off to get that privilege. He went several months here with no one from his world, no one he really trusted to get close. Learning to let others in without all those shared experiences too time.

It's what makes his relationship with those few special. What makes his relationship with Yuji special. The hand on his wrist playing with his skin gets a small hum, pulse beating gently through his veins.]

Kinda hard not to have fun with you. [He accepts the answer, glad Yuji didn't wind up with anything negative during the teleport.] Good. Teleporting Quirks are really rare in my world. I only know of two.

[ Yuji has never minded being someone that other people relied on, or leaned on - that's what he wanted when he became a sorcerer, after all. He was desperate to be the type of person who could help others, save others, no matter what it cost him. If it's as simple as being the person that Katsuki can be a little more open with than others, well, to him that's enough. He can be here, in whatever shape his friend wants him to be.

The level of trust and devotion Yuji has for the other boy is something inexplicable. The kind of devotion born of fighting alongside one another, of being too used to losing people to handle not clinging to them with both hands.

His head is still tilted back to gaze up at Katsuki, film forgotten for a moment in the sheer happiness of being side by side with a friend. They can flick the television on whenever - checking in with one another is just as important, especially with how the upgrades had been making him feel before. Yuji can understand why his friend might be feeling a little cautious about things. ]

Gojo-sensei can teleport, but he's the strongest sorcerer in my world. I wonder if I'd be able to get that point, if I kept growing and eating things.

[ Could he eat something with the cursed technique of teleportation? Does something like that exist?

He hums, tilting his head back more, closing his eyes. ]

At least we're here and we're okay. I wouldn't have minded taking care of you again, though.

[And in that way, they are similar. Katsuki wanted to be someone people could rely on. A super strong hero that showed up and everyone around him would know they were going to be fine. Why? Because I am here. Too bad he has zero of All Might's interpersonal charm... Best Jeanist tried to get that message across, but it failed badly, despite Katsuki taking some words and ideas to heart. Helping others, protecting them, saving them, he does that by winning. Eliminating the threats before more damage happens.

But that's battle. When it comes to emotional support, Katsuki's bad at it. Proud, standoffish, aggressive, he thinks people should deal with their shit on their own and grow stronger for it, rather than relying on others like a crutch. Or he used to... Being someone Yuji can come to for comfort or some kind of freedom is important. Katsuki wants to be that kind of hero-- no, friend --for the sorcerer. To be able to say "I'll be fine" because they're together. And... the hero wants to, and does, feel the same around Yuji. Whether it's leaning against him, holding his hands, kicking ass beside him, sharing a meal, or whatever.

It's nice to see Yuji without any flickers of pain or discomfort in the head. Nothing heavy causing tears of frustration or teeth grit in anger. Their past few interactions had been difficult. Yet they got through it each time. Yuji's smile is too important in Katsuki's life to want to go without too long. A true smile. Not one plastered over his pain. He'll see through that easy.]

Teleport or just move really fast? [There's a difference between the two. Katsuki snorts when Yuji mentions growing stronger via that kind of process.] C'mon, Gari Head. Are you gonna start eating ever cursed item to see what powers it might give you?

[Look, if that's how Yuji powers up and gains techniques, he's not going to decry him for it. It's no different than robot warriors taking in parts of fallen enemies to gain new power ups. Or demon hunters crafting their prey's corpses into new weapons. Hell, All for One could steal Quirks and use them to get stronger. Sometimes people do that.

Katsuki combs his free hand through Yuji's hair, fingers wandering from brow to nape and blunt nails grazing his scalp.] Find me when we go back and you can hold my hand.

He can teleport. One time he came back to the basement I was staying in to teleport me to a fight he was doing so that I could learn about domain expansion.

[ Because that's totally normal.

There are a lot of things that Yuji wishes he could do, and the upgrades here had done that for him - healing, teleportation... He would've taken the strength one too if he thought it would work for him, but the doctors had said that one would be pointless with how strong he already was. Wrio-san had suggested it, since he had it, but... Maybe Yuji is strong enough, at least physically. When it comes to schoolwork, well, his exam results had reminded him of his failures there.

Absently, Yuji leans into the touch to his hair, the gentleness of it - the kind of thing that other people might not have ever expected Bakugo to do, but Yuji knows better. They're good friends now, the two of them, sharing the kind of secrets that no one else knows. Katsuki is one of two people that Yuji has talked to about what has happened to Megumi (Gojo-sensei and Maki-senpai already knew) and that shows the level of trust, the depth of affection that he has for this one boy.

Not even Raidou knows about the death womb paintings.

Humming softly, he closes his eyes, basking in the gentle comfort. ]

Yeah? That would be better than trying to make Geto-san hold my hand a second time. We'd probably end up fighting again.

[ It feels good, nails against his scalp, and he sighs softly. ]

He reminds me of All Might. Is there anything that guy can't do?

[Oftentimes a question attributed to All Might himself. Two men who stood at the top of their respective worlds, amazing power and feats that seemed to bypass all others beneath them. Katsuki's heard a few things about Gojo from the other sorcerers, but never really asked to much about him. He sounded like their world's top echelon of power.

Katsuki would've sided with the doctors on that one. Mostly because he's seen the kind of strength upgrades that those implants give, specifically with Wriothesley (or "Wolfie"), and that's still less output than Yuji can already do. The guy's insanely strong, with even more raw physical strength than Katsuki has. And while the young hero's kind of accepted that strength gap between them, the speed one is STILL IN CHALLENGE! He intends to break Yuji's record at the dash. Shave off an entire second of his own time. Which is not at all easy to do... Thanks for the goalpost, Gari Head.

He continues the gentle touches. Good friends. Perhaps more than in some aspects. There's a trust and connection Katsuki feels towards Yuji that he doesn't towards anyone else. Things he's told him or let him see unique to him. He keeps Yuji's secrets as well. Responding to those emotions with his own and admitting things from his past and experiences. He both appreciates and acknowledges the trust and affection Yuji has towards him, and Katsuki genuinely wants to return the same. He'd probably answer truthfully anything the guy asked of him, even the awkward, embarrassing, or difficult things others would just get a glare for.]

Judo slam him and step on his chest. [That would still count as hand holding, with a double point of the stomp being a second connection. See? What a helpful transport partner.

... no they should totally find each other and go back together. He continues the lazy hand motions through Yuji's hair.]

I've never seen Gojo-sensei try something and not do it immediately.

[ With Six Eyes and Limitless, Gojo is beyond anyone else in their world, beyond anything Yuji could ever imagine. He had believed, truly and completely, that his teacher would be able to defeat Sukuna and find them some kind of peace, but in the end... It wasn't that his faith was misplaced, it was that their hopes had been ripped away from them, crushed under the heel of the King of Curses. Yuji still isn't entirely aware of how it had all gone wrong, but... It had.

It had gone wrong, and he's the one who's left to take up the mantle.

The hand strokes through his hair, gentle, and Yuji is letting his eyes close as he sinks into the touch. It's comforting, and he basks in it, even if that wasn't the purpose he had in bringing Bakugo to his room: he really had been interested in spending time with him and hang out a little, but he'll take what he's given. Slowly but surely, Yuji is learning to recognise that he deserves, perhaps, a little of the comfort he so freely offers otherwise, without any kind of hesitation.

He does laugh, though, at the idea of Judo slamming Geto-san. It would serve him right. ]

If he has no one else to take him, I'll keep my offer to him, but otherwise I'll go with you. I don't want to throw up or anything by trying to go back alone.

[ A sigh. ]

He just has to stop calling me "monkey" and stuff.

Natural genius, huh.

[Katsuki knows that feeling. Even the internal thoughts Yuji is going through. They all used to think that All Might could do anything. When peace was around every corner. But after that day... when All Might's final embers went out... The world was plunged into uncertainty, forced to face a dark reality that existed behind that glamorous curtain. You're next. All Might's last words as an active hero. Katsuki could only watch as the World's Greatest Hero was forced to retire. His final battle.

All because one kid hadn't been strong enough to prevent himself from being kidnapped. Something Katsuki has only confided to Yuji.

Like Yuji, Izuku was left to take up the mantel. But they weren't willing to let him take it up by himself. That was proven to them after the first war, when Izuku almost crashed and burned out there by himself. No one else could be All Might. No one else could be Gojo. But together, with everyone supporting that one mantel, they would together become greater than either of them, and finish the fight their successors couldn't. That's what Katsuki believes.

He moves his hand down to the side, tracing along Yuji's temple and around the back of his ear, then over the top of his head again, fond touches turning into a soft little massage for no other reason than because he wants to. This is just another form of hanging out, right? The television can turn on eventually, find something to watch before they go out. But taking some time to focus on Yuji a bit seems fitting. Katsuki can be a little selfish around his friend.]

He can find someone else. Unless he's a dumbass and doesn't get back on time. Then he can puke all over himself. [Katsuki's got every intention of going back with Yuji. Geto getting back with a buffer's on Geto now. He rolls his eyes at the mention of the moniker.] Sounds like a piece of shit himself.

[You know, since monkey's throw...]

Exactly like that. He was born with great techniques, so it's always been that way for him, I think.

[ Unlike Yuji, who was born with none (as far as he's aware).

Yuji knows that Gojo-sensei is far more complicated than he seems, but to him he's always just been his most beloved teacher. He's thankful, of course, to Kusakabe-sensei and Utahime-sensei and all the others, for Yuta-senpai and Maki-senpai, all the people that have trained with him over the last few weeks, but... There's something special and unique about Gojo, about the connection they share. Yuji's devotion to him is unwavering, his belief in his teacher as the best and strongest still burning inside of him even with the losses. That's the kind of person he is: giving 100% to his relationships, to the people he loves, burning himself out along the way.

There's no part of him that thinks that he could be another Gojo, any kind of replacement for him, but if he can be even half as strong and proud as that man, maybe he could do it, in the end.

Leaning into those gentle touches, Yuji closes his eyes, letting himself enjoy it. It's quiet, in the flickering light of the bulb above them, and it's safe. Katsuki and Yuji will take care of each other, and Yuji believes in that - he trusts in it, because he knows that they're both that kind of determined. He doesn't imagine anything will go wrong, necessarily, while they're locked away in a Vegas hotel room, but that comforting faith is helpful all the same.

He'll have to pay him back sometime.

Resisting the urge to laugh is impossible, so Yuji lets it out, a soft chuckle as he nods his head. ]

He is, but he has a right to be mad at me. I really beat him up when he first arrived, since I thought he was someone else. I think he was Gojo-sensei's friend, once, but I don't know what really happened.

Aa. Most people born into that kind of life always have it.

[He should know. Katsuki had the same experience. Born into a well-off family to loving parents, developing a powerful Quirk, naturally gifted in intelligence and physical ability, popular and praised... Golden child. And then there were people like Yuji and Izuku, born without many of those things. If they both met each other a year ago, Katsuki would have dismissed Yuji as a nobody. Strong, sure, but without a Quirk, no real family, nothing special at all. As painful as it is to realize this, he would've laughed at the very idea of Yuji wanting to be like Gojo. Degraded him for wanting to train under him because no loser would be able to gain someone like Gojo's attention. The very same things he said to Izuku when it came to All Might... A worthless, useless, Quirkless Deku... who grew to become one of the greatest heroes Katsuki's ever known.

Someday, Yuji deserves to hear that truth. He doesn't know why. But every now and then, it presses against the back of his tongue. Does this guy realize what sort of person Katsuki was? He's seen Yuji look at him with affection and trust. What would even telling him that accomplish? If you met me earlier, I'd've thought you were trash. How would that help anything? Foolish. Yeah. But...

That's not who he is anymore. That foolish, stupid boy. Katsuki looks down at Yuji resting so close to his lap, the contented expression on his handsome face. There's a quiet envy inside, not the jealous kind, but the admiration at acknowledging someone else as a greater hero than himself. Izuku. All Might. Yuji. They all have something he never will. Because Katsuki thinks that something is crazy. But it makes him want to protect his friend even more. Lights like these heroes should never go out. If it came down to it, Katsuki accepts that he'd die to make sure Yuji lived... but Hell itself would need to weave something fucking amazing to get Katsuki to such a point. Because he's determined with every fiber of his being to live for Yuji, with Yuji.

He rubs his thumb over the shell of his ear, curling under to massage the back of his jaw, then heads into his hair again for another few lazy strokes and combs. He's happy to have Yuji as a friend. More than a friend.]

Haa?! When the hell did you start beating the shit out of just anyone? [Katsuki thinking Yuji randomly mistook the guy for a whole new person and launched an attack. Granted, the hero might do the same if he saw Shigaraki or All for One suddenly show up.] Who'd you think he was?

I don't mind it, really. Gojo-sensei is just... Gojo-sensei, to me.

[ Yeah, he's also the Strongest, that's not a reputation that Gojo can leave in the past, but to Yuji he's the guy that saved his life, for whatever that is worth. Gojo had taken a child who had been prepared to die immediately to save others and given him a purpose, a reason to keep fighting, had taken him under his wing and trained him, worked with him, fought alongside him, trained him... The debt he feels towards this one man is one he can't really hide, nor does he want to. That's just how things are.

There's a lot behind Yuji's smiles, too, the easy way that he leans into Katsuki and accepts his affection. He doesn't know how much of this he deserves, with the things he's done. How much of his strength is his own, and how much is it from cheating? Swapping bodies, eating the death womb paintings, using Kusakabe and Yuta for his own benefit, all for the hope of being able to deal with Sukuna... He would never have been strong enough on his own, no matter what his convictions were. No matter what kind of person he became, he'd never be good enough. That's why he kept losing people.

Sighing, he closes his eyes, lets Katsuki do what he wants to do as he explains, waving his hand absently. ]

It wasn't just anyone. I thought he was the guy that imprisoned Gojo-sensei in the prison realm, back home. But he wasn't, that guy just used his body. [ It's complicated, isn't it? Let alone the fact that Choso thinks stitches guy has something to do with his heritage, or the reason why they're brothers... Yuji knows that Choso was born from Noritoshi Kamo, but surely... ] But when I realised it wasn't him I stopped right away. I felt really bad.

A friend and a teacher, huh.

[Katsuki can't help feel a slight envy towards Yuji for the relationship. It had been obvious to him from an early point in U.A. that All Might, his idol since childhood, was far more invested in Izuku than anyone else. He'd grown up dreaming of the time he'd be standing side by side with his idol, wanting to be his sidekick and eventually surpass him, yet Izuku got to spend so much time with the man. He learned why eventually, but it still bruised his pride hard. Yuji likewise got to develop that kind of special relationship with the All Might of his world, yet he found it far more a casual friendship and adored mentor than the fanboy adoration that Izuku had for All Might. Comparing the two, their similarities and differences, is kind of incredible.

Deserving is a very difficult concept. Katsuki doesn't know all the things that Yuji has gone through, but he does know the ideology of becoming strong all on his own. And realizing the times when it can't be done. Training with other people, utilizing outside sources to gain strength, relying on the support of others, even if they're accepting the role of shield or ramp rather than being an offensive drive. Is it really a detriment to "deserving" when a unit works together to achieve a goal, even if the unit ends up building up their one shining silver bullet to end it all? Katsuki wouldn't think so.

But he can't control Yuji's self-depreciation and guilt. All he can do is argue it whenever it comes up.]

That's the fucker that made Choso and his brothers? [Katsuki's heard of him, but not by name, just that he's a body swapper and apparently can't keep his dick in his pants. Cause he's a weird freak that likes making babies. Ugh. But Katsuki's also smart, so it takes a few seconds to place things together in his head.] So this is the original guy before he got killed and hijacked. That explains why you beat him up.

[Eh, can't tell Yuji not to feel bad. It'd be pretty damn awkward.] He'll just have to accept your apology and deal with it. Not either of your faults his body got used by some fucked up villain.

Something a bit like that.

[ For Yuji, Gojo-sensei was the ultimate, but he can't discount Nanamin, either. Then there was Higuruma-san, and Kusakabe-sensei... There are so many people he looks up to, the people that he feels as if he owes in ways he can't repay, so at least here he has a bit more time. He can enjoy his life with Gojo, with Megumi, with Kugisaki and the others, and try to avoid the harshness of his own reality creeping up on him every single time he goes to sleep.

It's a nightmare he'll never really wake up from.

Nodding, Yuji leans back into Katsuki's touch as he tilts his head, considering for a moment. He doesn't know a lot about what happened with Choso and his parents, other than the little that he was told by the others, and he hasn't wanted to pry in case it upsets his brother, but... Choso had asked if his father had stitches in his forehead, and Yuji was sure he didn't. Grandpa wanted to talk about it, way back then, but he'd also thrown that away too... Does it matter, when he and Choso found each other, anyway?

Choso believes they're brothers, and Yuji can feel the connection with his new technique. That's enough for him, with the madness of his world.

Closing his eyes, he breathes out softly. ]

Yeah. Noritoshi Kamo, or Kenjaku, or something like that. Choso went crazy when we saw him the first time in Shibuya, and it was my turn when I saw him here, since he did that to Gojo-sensei... But I should've been more careful. I felt bad, even if he was kind of a jerk.

[ Smiling, he shakes his head. ]

I'm gonna try and be nice to him, and maybe he'll cut all that stuff out eventually.

"Something"?

[Dammit, Yuji. First it was not seeing Nanami as a mentor, when he clearly was his sensei. Now Gojo being "something" like a teacher and a friend when he was obviously both. Katsuki wonders how the other boy categorizes people in his life. Maybe he doesn't put them in categories, but rather just focuses on how close he feels to them? Friends. People to protect. Mah, it's not really his business how Yuji associates people in his life. So long as he knows he cares for them and protects them.

Katsuki keeps his own nightmares silent and private. His image is too important to him to admit a nightmare woke him up in a cold sweat.

He heard some parts from Choso, but the guy didn't know a lot of details either. So Katsuki made his own assumptions and conjectures enough to get a rough idea of what happened. Swapping bodies, extended life, All for One has managed to do both of those things in his own long life via Quirks and science, though come the Final War, the rebirth of the Demon King wasn't going as smoothly as All for One wanted. Still, it at least makes the idea of it happening in Yuji's world much easier for Katsuki to nod and go along with. Relatable experiences and techniques help.

He trades the hand on Yuji's head for his jaw and neck, massaging the tendons and muscles. Guess he's gonna leave this boy a melted mess by the time they finally get ready to head out. No apologies.]

Tch. If All for One or Shigaraki showed up here, I'd attack them instantly too. [Telling Yuji not to feel bad wouldn't stop him from feeling bad. Katsuki already pointed out it wasn't his fault and they can just move past it. He scoffs and lowers his head, mouth resting against Yuji's brow since he's got his head tilted back and all.] You try to be nice to almost everyone, Gari Head. But don't waste it on people who don't return it.

He's my teacher, obviously, but he saved my life, too... I guess he's a bit of a 'hero' in that way, as well.

[ To Yuji, who had been on death's door for such a long time, the six months of time as a sorcerer, there are so many people that have come to mean so much to him. Some are easier to categorise - to put into the box of 'friend' or 'enemy' or 'senpai' - and others are more complicated. People like Megumi, who he is so willing to die for, the person he is fighting with all that he has left to save and protect, to push and push until there's nothing left inside of him but his own will.

The desire to tear Sukuna apart to scratch through and find his dearest friend beating and alive inside... That's what possess him.

Closing his eyes, he basks in the touch, letting himself sink into it. There aren't that many people in the world he'd be so willing to let take care of him like this, not when he feels as though he has to do it alone, that he owes the others the chance to enjoy happiness without them, but Katsuki is one of them. He trusts his friend to carry a little of his burdens, and he hopes to do the same in the future - that if Katsuki needs someone to talk to, to lean on, Yuji can be that person.

He can carry things for him, too. ]

He was polite enough when we travelled here, just asking questions about the school. [ Sure, he might have been spying, but nothing that Yuji said was necessarily incriminating. It was just things he could find out by looking at the people here anyway. ] He used to be Gojo-sensei's friend, so I'll give him a chance for now. If he ends up being weird again then he can figure it out alone.

Ah. Just not in spandex. [Look, a lot of heroes in his world do wear spandex.] I know how that feels. All Might saved mine too.

[But he's always been Katsuki's hero. Even if Katsuki never got to have the close intimate friendships with All Might that Izuku got to have with him and Yuji got to have with Gojo. He sometimes wonders about how Yuji sees other people, since so many can obviously fit in different categories. It's not like Katsuki doesn't have complex ideas as well, ranging from rival to friend to enemy to annoyance to teacher to mentor to hero to more. Izuku falls into several, someone that Katsuki has always seen as superior to himself to the point of hated rival, yet beneath that injured pride, he still cherishes his best friend to the point of being willing to die for him if he has to. Even if Izuku annoys the fuck out of him plenty of times too...

It's really hard to massage yourself alone, Yuji. Katsuki knows what it means to let someone else take over and tend to him, willing to let them see him quiet and relaxed, vulnerable even. It's why he does it so rarely, only a handful of people permitted. As much as he's angered about Yuji taking on so much by himself, Katsuki's hypocritically doing that all the time. The problem with thinking others are owed happiness outside yourself is not understanding "you" are one of the biggest elements of their happiness. Izuku abandoned his friends in order to protect them, but didn't think about how much pain he caused them by leaving. Not until they smashed that reality into his face and dragged his ass back with them.

Katsuki has yet to reach a point where he's unable to handle a burden on his own... but when the time comes, Yuji will probably get a call. It won't be pretty either.]

That information's not going to do him any good here. [The jujutsu society, the hero society, neither of them exist here and LILITH couldn't give a shit about either of them. Unless Yuji's talking about the Neo Tokyo school, which went over Katsuki's head. Zoom. He doesn't attend in person; he takes online classes and self-taught things.] What about Gojo? He knows this guy's here too. And not the brain-swapped version.

I know. It's funny, how similar we are, isn't it?

[ Yuji can empathise, he really can. All Might and Gojo-sensei, or Nanamin, someone to look up to, to hero worship, to want to emulate... Yuji can really understand that. He knows that he and Katsuki are the same on that front thanks to their previous conversations, the way Yuji has let himself be laid bare and open in front of the other boy, being more honest than he thinks he ought to be. He's better at sharing, but he still feels...

Too much, probably.

Shaking his head a little, he sighs absently. ]

It's probably not important to know, since he won't remember when he goes back, but they're simple questions. I spoke to Gojo-sensei about it and all he said was that he was a curse user, and that he was notorious, so that's fine. I'm going to be careful around him.

[ The last thing that Yuji wants is to end up disappointing Gojo again, especially after being scolded so soundly once his operation had been completed. The idea of disappointing his mentor and teacher is one that he simply can't handle, so he shoves the thought away and focuses on the present and now, which is Katsuki and the threat - or promise - of watching a movie together.

Whenever they hang out they always get distracted... ]

What do you want to watch, anyway, dandelion?

Dunno. Some of it's kinda cool.

[There's a little curve at his mouth against Yuji's brow, teasing him a little. Yet there's depth to this, admitting those kinds of things to someone else. Katsuki was never shy about praising All Might or announcing his admiration to him and desire to surpass him. Knowing Yuji also has a heroic figure like that is amusing, but heartening as well. Finding those similarities and differences are pleasant when they pop up. Sometimes it does take opening up more to the other boy to find them though.

Katsuki occasionally wonders if there's more he should be sharing about himself to Yuji, who's already told him so much about himself. Does Yuji want to know more? Hm...]

If he's gonna talk to you about basic shit, that's your call. He would've been your senpai or another teacher if he hadn't gotten brainswiped. [Asking about the new school, how things were run, doesn't seem bad. Especially since it sounds like Geto was also a sorcerer, a good one, before his untimely end.] Wait, Monkey Shit was the notorious curse user, or the Brain was?

[Like hell is he not going to tell Yuji to be careful around this guy. Honestly he wishes Yuji would be more careful in general. Around plenty of things. If it takes a scolding from his teacher and his brother spraying blood all around the bathroom to get some of that message across, fine.

Oh right. A movie.]

I picked the movie last time. This one's your choice.

Yeah. It's both good and bad to have someone who understands these kinds of things.

[ It's not as if Yuji wants anyone to share in his grief or his pain, or to empathise with how hurt he is; if he could stop people feeling that kind of hurt then he'd do it without hesitation, of course he would. The fact that Katsuki can understand the sort of loss and longing that lies heavily on Yuji's heart is a comfort to him, sure, but if he could have made it so that hurt never happened in the first place... That would be fine too, as far as he's concerned.

He's here, at least, for anything that Katsuki might want. If he wants to share his thoughts, his feelings, Yuji will listen. He can be a sounding board and a rock, strong enough to carry that load, too. He can wait, for the times when Katsuki needs it. That's what friends are for. ]

I think a lot of things happened before that, but maybe! Anything is possible for a sorcerer, so maybe if things had been different... [ Yuji hums, sighing a little. The idea of Geto-san being Geto-sensei instead... He doesn't know enough about him to really picture that or imagine it just yet. Shaking his head, he waves his hand as he reaches for the controls of the television. ]

Geto-san was the curse user. I guess Kenjaku was as well? It's confusing.

[ He starts to poke at the movies absently. ]

Hmph. It helps you, so I'm glad I understand.

[Yuji has a bad understanding of people if he thinks that kind of mindset is going to fly while he has people he considers friends, or who consider him a friend. Katsuki wonders what makes the guy feel it's possible to be so disconnected from the very people he wants to connect with? Surely he had friends even before he became a sorcerer and had to leave that normal life behind. But by the same token, there's nothing wrong with wishing your own, or a friend's, pain never happened in the first place.

It's kind of like Neo Tokyo. Katsuki accepts the comfort of having companions here, but he'll never wish someone be kidnapped to this place even if it would bring a positive element to his life. It's not worth the price.

Eventually he'll start to open up to Yuji more than he does. It just... takes planetary alignment. You don't settle down with your friend on the bed, tracing each other's knuckles in one joined hand, watching the fan spin as you share gingersnap cookies, and then "I died before" out of nowhere. (Okay, so with Yuji particularly, that'd actually not be the worst topic.)

But eventually...]

Anything's possible, huh? [Cheerfully optimistic for a guy who at one point said death was his only ending. But he's distracted by something else and looks down at Yuji again.] Huh? What's the difference between a curse user and using cursed energy?

[Didn't Yuji and the others all use curses? Megumi's summons. Nobara's nails. Yuji's strength and blood manipulation?]

Yeah? Me too.

[ Yuji shifts on the ground, turning so that he's facing Katsuki properly, legs tucked a little under the frame of the bed. It's easier to talk like this, despite the fact that they're meant to be choosing a film to watch. If it means they can discuss all the things coming to mind now before things start, then that's okay with him - it's not as if he minds films being interrupted, but he can see Katsuki finding it really annoying.

There's happiness here, in this little bubble, and that's okay. Yuji can cling to that with all that he has, and try not to let it slip through his fingers like everything else. He's lost too much to recover from losing more here, and the idea of waking up to someone he loves disappearing again... It's unfathomable.

Reaching out, unable to stop himself, he pokes Katsuki on the nose. ]

A curse user is someone who uses it to do bad things and hurt people. Having cursed energy doesn't make you a curse user, it's the actions that are important. From what Gojo-sensei told me, Geto-san was that and a cult leader, though he said he wasn't a leader any more.

[ A shrug as he leans forward, resting his head on his palm. ]

Maybe that kind of distinction doesn't matter any more, but it means something to me, still.

[That'll make watching something harder if Yuji's not facing the TV. But are they planning on watch something now? He's not sure. Doesn't really matter. Being able to spend time with the sorcerer, whatever way they do it, is pleasant. Yuji's not wrong about Katsuki being annoyed when people interrupt movies by talking. Occasional comment is one thing. A whole conversation is another. Asking about the manners of curse workings in the other boy's world is probably not moving conversation.

Granted he'd thought to chat about it while searching for a movie, but whatever. This is fine too. Katsuki looks into Yuji's eyes, seeing all those things that linger there. Happiness. Sadness. Pain. Determination. He wishes he could save this boy from ever having to experience those bad things ever again. As a hero. As a friend. Life's not that kind, however. All Katsuki can do is be there to support Yuji however he can.

And twitches his head back at the poke on the nose. What the hell?]

No, that's always how distinction works. What makes a hero or a villain in my world isn't whether you have a Quirk or not. It's what you do that makes you a hero or a villain. [With or without a Quirk. Granted, he's never come across a Quirkless villain, so maybe that's a moot point. Katsuki leans forward and bumps his forehead against Yuji's.] That's why I think you're a hero, and a jujutsu sorcerer.

[Because it means something.]

▶ 001. A RUDE AWAKENING.

▶ 002. WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS.

▶ 003. TROUBLE BREWING.

▶ 004. FOUR FOR THE ROAD.

▶ 005. THE HUNT IS ON.

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

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me not thinking sukuna and kenjaku = pinky and the brain

omfg but... you're right

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