𝓵𝓪𝓫𝔂𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓱𝓾𝓶 ❀ 𝓲𝓷𝓫𝓸𝔁

[girlybruiser]

ＩＮＢＯＸ 𝕥𝕖𝕩𝕥 💬 ✦ 𝕒𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕠 📞 ✦ 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 📹 ✦ 𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 🎬 𝕔𝕠𝕕𝕖 𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕥

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text; un: doc0203

[placation]

[ Ding! It's a message from your ex-counselor! Welcome to what Akira's life was like. And is currently like. And what everyone's life is currently like, frankly. This man do be texting. ]

Hi there, Okumura-san! This is Dr. Maruki.

I wanted to check to see how you're settling in. Have you decided on a place to live? If you have, and you're comfortable telling me where it is, I'd love to be able to drop off some things for you!

thanks for christening the inbox it will only get worse from here

[girlybruiser]

[ The man do be everywhere. Is this what unemployed life is like? Jk jk. ]

Hello, Dr. Maruki!
Yes, I think I am feeling somewhat more situated now. Thank you again for your help a few days ago.

[ She looks around at her cramped space. Beggars can't be choosers. ]

I'm staying in an apartment in Lumindeas. I wasn't quite sure where to go, but I heard we can rest here until we find something more suitable?

invitation - no need to respond!

[placation]

[ At some point during the week, Haru receives an invitation:

I'll be hosting a dinner party on March 22 and would love to see you there!

Feel free to come to the Horizons farmhouse any time after 5 PM.

Please do not bring anything! No food, no drinks, nothing but your presence. I appreciate the thought, but for me, the joy of this is being able to cook for a group of people, and I would like to handle it myself.

Hope to see you there!

Dr. Maruki

One gets the impression that if you go against his wishes to bring something anyway, it might stress him out...

When the mingle log goes up on the 22nd, please feel free to come tag around! ]

YOU KNOW WHAT

[enteloki]

[ It's a mess.

An attempt to reacclimate himself to familiar tasks and routines backfired the moment Okumura Haru stepped into view.

Jury duty is simple. Sit there and judge based on facts presented. It's boring, for the most part. Petty thefts and crimes that mean nothing in the grand scheme. He wanted to see Stellari's law in action, find solace in normalcy and of course-

Of course -

Of all the people casting judgement and mercy on those pews, she would be among them and of course-

Of course -

They're sharing a room now.

An attempt to switch hadn't bore any fruit. They're full, it's a small inn, it's only until the trial's over - all excuses given to them.

He should have known a prince and an ill fated princess were destined to share the same space. It would be poetic, if it weren't so goddamn annoying.

It's tense. Quiet. He makes an occasional dig that goes unheeded - wonders if a fight will set them free of this.

It's tense. Quiet. The hours have gone by slower than ever. It's late when Akechi speaks from his position on the floor. Haru has the bed - he doesn't particularly care about having it.

It's too hot anyway. Stuffy. The floor provides some room to breathe. He fixates on one, two, three cracks in the roof above them and- ]

What do you make of the case?

[ He doubts she's asleep. Talking seems dangerous after so much prolonged silence disguised as a mutual truce.

He hopes it is. ]

Arson is a bit more straightforward than a change of heart, but the victim's story is sparse and leaves a lot to be desired.

it's 12 angry men, except akechi is the 12 angry men

[girlybruiser]

[ Haru wonders what cosmic punishment she is forced to endure in this world and for what crime she's committed back home.

It's proving difficult to escape Akechi Goro in this vast land, just as it was in the sprawl of Tokyo. But circumstances led them all to one another, with Akira at the forefront.

But there's no Akira this time. They simply keep running into one another, tense energy each and every time she can feel building, harder to quell.

Having to share a one bed hotel room with the man who shot her father twice is definitely some sort of message from the universe.

Maybe she's a bit irate, but disguises it well, and the lack of an extra bed makes it difficult to focus on the fact she's locked in the room with him this whole week while trying to do what she perceives as the noble and right thing to do on jury duty.

She didn't argue when Akechi designated the floor as his bed, but maybe she feels a tad sympathetic. It's hot in here. The window only opens partially, but there's no wind tonight. Dead air. Dead silence until— ]

You're still awake?

[ Her back has been turned while trying to lull herself to sleep, though there's a voice in the back of her head reminding her that the gun he drew on her fake father is likely in this room, and on his perswon. Maybe she shouldn't have her back turned for long...

She sits up in the bed, pulling the covers over her to conceal her figure, as if she isn't fully clothed anyway. ]

While I do agree the victim hasn't shared enough information, they did seem visibly rattled on the stand and struggling with their trauma.

text; un: whitman (june intense event)

[diedeliberately]

[For someone who only sparingly used a telephone growing up, you'd think Neil would have a harder time adapting to a cell phone and a texting lifestyle, but here he is, texting his friends just like any teenager from Haru's time would.]

Haru! I'm sure you've seen what everyone's been doing. We can grant each other's wishes, just like the crystal does.

It's amazing, isn't it?

text | un: garden05

[girlybruiser]

[ She responds almost immediately, the sudden ability everyone has has her on high alert initially. ]

I saw a lot of it when running some business errands!
But I thought only the crystals allowed us to make wishes?

> june event

[placation]

[ The machiya is quiet.

That's a constant, despite how many people live there. It's set far off the beaten path from Somnius' town center, surrounded by a thick forest. One can't hear anything out there but wind through trees. It's at least half of why Maruki chose the location when he wished the house into existence. An oasis is a necessary thing in a reality like this, even if it can't always be a safe haven when chaos descends.

With Chihaya deposited safely in her bedroom upstairs and the rest of the residents either gone or keeping to themselves, Maruki leads Haru to a small tatami room near the back of the home. The sliding door is open, letting in a warm summer breeze and allowing them to overlook a small garden in bloom.

He sets down two mugs of coffee – nowhere near as good at Akira's experiments, mea culpa – and settles on one of the cushions across from her, concern scrawled openly across his tired face. ]

I can't thank you enough for bringing Mifune-san here. I know I keep saying it, but...

[ Guilt sits at the base of his throat. He should have been able to help subdue her. Should have dragged her back home himself. At every turn, he is failing to protect the people important to him here.

Haru isn't exempt from that. ]

You're an incredible help, Okumura-san. But you're taking care of yourself too, right?

[ When he wraps his hands around the mug of coffee, it's plain to see that he's been granting wishes so often the tattoos have eked all the way down to his fingertips. Any visible bit of skin bears some sort of mark. ]

[girlybruiser]

[ What a strange feeling to finally sit within the walls of the machiya, Maruki's home he had extended an open invitation to, but Haru kept herself away despite the burning desire to see where Akira was living nowadays beyond the attic in Leblanc.

To see if he was comfortable, happy, and safe. To see what his room would look like in this foreign land and what kind of interesting trinkets he had kept this time around.

She's ever so curious, but she doesn't wander or allow herself the distraction even for a moment while Maruki leads her into the tatami room.

Besides, she needs the rest. That's two of her friends she's faced back to back today.

There's an exhaustion that seeps into her frame from having summoned Milady twice in one day, alongside a discomfort after utilizing One Shot Kill. It had felt like some kind of blow back on Haru herself, which has her wondering if something has changed in her powers regained here.

It feels worse when her shoulder still stings where a knife was lodged mere weeks ago, when performing specific movements, and swinging her axe around has agitated it further.

When she reaches for the coffee, she notes Maruki's concern, her furrowed brows matching his uneasiness, before she's staring too long at the evidence of wishes laid across visible skin. ]

I'll be okay, thank you. I just need to rest for a little bit.

[ She takes a sip of the coffee, its warmth permeating her body and easing into a more relaxed state. ]

Chihaya-san will be alright, won't she? I did not want to hurt her, but she had been overtaken and I had to act swiftly to subdue her.

post jury-duty/pre-event

[petsthedog]

[He had just been out on a walk, really. There's so much time to kill in a place like this that Shinjiro sometimes likes to wander around Stellari and the neighboring areas just to explore more of the place, when he's not doing the occasional odd job for cooking ingredients and such.

These little excursions are generally uneventful; he avoids dangerous areas when he leaves the city, and Stellari itself tends to be peaceful outside of the strange things that happen every couple months. Today, apparently, is not going to be one of those days. Two dragonkin seem to have cornered a girl and close in with taunts and shoves, and Shinjiro doesn't so much decide to help as he finds his legs taking him there before he's even really thought about it.

One of them is grabbed by the collar and yanked backward, and he glares daggers at the second one, as though challenging him to take one step closer.]

There a problem over here?

[girlybruiser]

Please leave me alone!

[ Haru knows what these dragonkin want and it's revenge. They had barely kept a lid on it when she found herself pushed against the wall, crying out when sharp fingers graze over her shoulder where her wound is still healing.

They're upset about her participation in the trial. Perhaps Akechi was right there was something far more sinister going on beneath it all, but it's difficult to focus on when there are two of them and only one of her.

Perhaps it's time to draw her axe, and she's about to when— ]

O-Oh!

[ She recognizes him, but is too startled by his sudden appearance that she says nothing while the dragonkin look between each other.

They can take this guy on, can't they? They definitely try, one of them throwing a fist at Shinjiro. ]

Look out!

text; un: thoreau

[notwalking]

[ Six months in, and this level of technology is still mostly foreign to Charlie. He and Neil have both adapted as well as they can, and he never thinks it's weird shooting a quick message to him or Flat, but when he remembers he can talk to random people over the network, or one on one like this...

It's weird. All of it's weird.

Necessary, though. So he doublechecks the username Neil gave him, then the spelling of the name, then sends words out into the void. ]

Hey. Is this Haru Okumura?

un: garden05

[girlybruiser]

[ That's a UN she doesn't recognize. Who could it be, she wonders? ]

Yes, this is she.
I'm sorry, who is this?

semi-accidental text, around midnight

[petsthedog]

[Shinjiro has trouble getting to sleep, that night. Insomnia isn't especially new for him in and of itself, but among the many things his mind chooses to ruminate on every night features a special guest star, of whether or not Okumura did in fact make it to the cafe without being harassed again, and if she had any further trouble on her way home.

It's none of his business, is the line he tries to convince himself of multiple times. She didn't want his help, all but asked him to leave, and it's hardly his place to worry about someone he barely knows. However things went after he left isn't on him. This is what he tells himself each time he takes out his phone and starts to write out a message to ask, each time he backspaces and sets the phone back on his nightstand.

And it's what he's about to tell himself again when he accidentally hits send, this time.]

hey
you make it home safe?

[Shit shit shit. where the hell is the unsend option!!]

text | un: garden05

[girlybruiser]

[ Haru normally isn't up this late, but with bouncing back and forth between the cafe, her garden, and dodging any other craziness happening in Lumindeas, her days run a bit longer than usual.

She's barely asleep when she hears the ping! of her phone.

Who's texting her this late? Akira maybe?

She reads the text and the username accompanied by it, bewildered for a moment or two before she responds: ]

Yes, I did. Thank you for asking.
This is Aragaki-san, isn't it?

video message | un: upbeats

[amperor]

[ There's a video clip attached to a textless message from Akihiko's username, several minutes long.

It starts with the Okia turning on to record a video, seemingly sat down on a chair, if the wooden lip at the bottom is anything to go by. The chair is overlooking a small park in Stellari.

Centered in the video itself is a white Shiba Inu with a tan vest on and wings attached, sitting patiently. His mouth is open as he pants, clearly excited, and his tail wags so hard he might take flight at any moment. ]

You ready, Koromaru?

[ It's Akihiko's voice that calls out, and Koromaru gets up, barking twice. There's a pause, then a larger dog bounds into view: a gray Akita Inu, larger than Koromaru.

Koromaru sniffs at the dog, nose to nose, before he begins barking excitedly. Both dogs take off, tearing around the edge of the park in an oblong oval before disappearing out of sight. They return to cross over the camera's field of view several times, alternatively chasing each other or matching speed in a race.

Koromaru is the first to slow down, eventually laying down and whining slightly at the other dog. The Akita sneezes, walking out of frame again; Akihiko enters the frame from the same direction as the Akita left, looking a little flushed and sweaty. ]

You done, boy? Let's get some water.

[ He lifts the camera towards his face, and the video ends, cutting off Koromaru mid-bark. ]

text | un: garden05

[girlybruiser]

[ Haru has no idea what she's just watched, but is delighted to see dogs enjoying the outside and being adorable.

She recognizes Koro-chan from pictures, but when did Akihiko get another dog? ]

Akihiko-kun? You got another dog?
Is Koro-chan alright with that?

text; un: whitman

[diedeliberately]

Hello, Haru. Are you doing alright?

It was bad out there for a while. I'm just checking in.

un: garden05

[girlybruiser]

[ Oh, it's Neil! ]

I'm alright! Dr. Maruki let me stay over at his temporarily.
How are you feeling now, Neil-kun? Your friend told me you were recovering.

action at some point in july ig

[belheir]

[It is a BRIGHT and BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY. And Kazuya? He's at Maruki's place, simply soaking up a sunbeam, laying on the floor as his big, long, serval self right in front of the window.

His soft, kitty tummy, exposed to the world as he dozes so peacefully, so serenely. He truly is Just A Demon, and there's nothing demons love more than simply being comfortable and doing what they want.

And what he wants is to lay on the couch, taking up the whole thing with his length, as it sits in the perfect spot to soak in the sun. What a nice relaxing day. It would be a shame if someone ruined it.]

KITTYZUYA FOR ME???

[girlybruiser]

[ Maruki has welcomed Haru as a guest at the machiya, and she should take advantage when she can, like today. It's bright and beautiful; she wonders what his garden looks like in this warm sunlight.

Akira doesn't seem to be home, much to her dismay, but that's alright. She's distracted by an usually large cat that seems to splayed out on the couch as she makes her way through, a small potted plant in tow as a thank you for Maruki for tending to her injuries a while ago. ]

... what a big kitty.

[ Is it a cat? Or a wildcat? It's definitely not a Shadow, so there's no need to shoot. ]

rng - HAUNTED HOUSE

[enteloki]

[ It's a cosmic joke that forces them away from their initial partners to eachother instead. It's annoying. Borderline intentional, it seems, though Akechi can't prove the labyrinth has enough rational thought to make it so. Perhaps the new ruler has a sense of humor. His thoughts wander to the Moon, but-

Both of them are rational enough to recognize two is better than one in this scenario - there's one way to go, one room, and he keeps his antagonistic comments to himself as they enter.

The giant ghost, really, should have been an indicator of what's to come. He looks disappointed all the same when they wander into a set straight from Takeshi's Castle. The aesthetic makes the intent clear. The ailing cries that echo around them even more so. ]

How irritating. Ghosts? What a joke.

[girlybruiser]

[ The desperate groaning and crying of the spirits and whatever else is hiding in the dark does put her slightly on edge, but not enough for panic to truly set in.

After some of the other rooms, she doesn't want to let her guard down just yet.

Although it might be a strange blessing that this time she has Akechi alongside her. He's strong and she thinks the two of them can barrel through anything without issue. ]

I thought this would be scarier... but I guess not. [ Poor Mako-chan would be clinging to someone's leg by now. ] We should still be careful though.

[ With that said, her axe materializes in her hands. ]

[laserhawk]

Sorry.

[ that's all he says. he may not respond to this text but at least he apologized. ]

[girlybruiser]

[ The delay in a response isn't deliberate; Haru has been battling insomnia while also tending to a cafe that is seemingly busier this week, while also contending with another barista afflicted by too much sleep.

She notes the message and reminds herself to reply later, after work.

But she drifts to sleep for about ten or fifteen minutes in the storage room, wakes up all of a sudden with a panic, remembering she has to finish restocking and also reply to a message, while also telling Minato he doesn't need to come in if he's still tired, while also replying to a message, while— ]

Please don't be sorry
It was just a mug it's replaceable

[ Yeah. Okay, message replied to.

Was there another message? No, she thinks she got them all. ]

sept wobblehands quest

[enteloki]

[ It must be an act of god. One that sees both Akechi and Haru as playthings for its own amusement. It can't be coincidence they end up together again and again. In the labyrinth, in battle - he's growing tired of it.

The only benefit to it is that she's intelligent and competent. They don't need to go through some shitty song and dance about the touching, the physical labor.

He holds one of the bizarre tools tight. ]

We'll keep contact minimal. Shoulder to shoulder should suffice, unless you have a better idea.

[girlybruiser]

[ She needs to stop underestimating the nonsense fate or whatever it is will pull to put her and Akechi into the same situation, where either of them are too proud to simply walk away in polite agreement.

Not that having to work alongside him is the worst scenario in the world. They work well enough together, as long as they have a goal to work toward that allows them to fixate on it, rather than each other.

But it's funny he seems to be fussing about the potential contact.

She's not particularly keen to have to touch him, but she knows all too well now that Akechi is more than willing to sink his hands into her hair and throw her around like a rag doll.

She sort of wishes he was a child again right now. It might have made this a touch easier. ]

Shoulder to shoulder is adequate.

[ Very professional, very polite.

She holds up the tool, looking it over curiously. ]

Alright, shall we?

text; un: personyaa, early october

[arsenist]

[How many days does it take, before Akira can think straight? Before the panic, the grief, the despair - all of it becomes a distant pulse under his heartbeat, ever-present but giving away to something more... numb?

It hasn't overtaken him completely yet. It will.

But before then, he still has the wherewithal to send out messages he needs to.]

Haru, I won't be able to come into work for a while. I'm sorry it's so sudden.

If you and Arisato need help at the café, I might have a few people I can call in a favor with.

[girlybruiser]

It's alright, Akira-kun. Minato-kun and I can handle things on our own.

[ Hm, she wonders if it's... ]

Is everything okay with you? Do you need anything from me?

During October's intense event! (let me know if I need to change anything)

[maidenofrelief]

[She’s not as much of a regular as other customers may be, but Chihaya makes sure that her visits are still frequent enough that her rewards card is pretty full. Today’s excursion will be the last visit needed to fill it entirely and so she glides in particularly happy.]

Haru-san! How are- oh!

[She steps fully inside the cafe, looking around in awe at the plant life. This place already was a garden oasis but it seems that they have well and truly taken over. She approaches the counter, noting the spread of mistletoe across the counter and some white, bell-like blossoms peeking out of the decorative vases around the place.]

Feeling Christmas a little early this year? It looks lovely.

it's all good!

[girlybruiser]

Ah!

[ It's a delight to have Chihaya in when she decides to visit the cafe and it shows on Haru's face when the other steps through the door and makes her way to the counter.

The sparkle in her eyes quickly dims when she points out the plants that have overtaken the cafe and there's a small, slightly exasperated sigh from her. ]

They're far too beautiful to remove, but even if I do, they grow back overnight.

[ Luckily, the mistletoe hasn't been acting up and Haru does her best not to linger around them for long if she doesn't need to. ]

Do you want your order to go then?