Vertigo

Epyllion: Beyond Moonlight's Reach

𝐹𝑒𝓁𝓁𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔

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Fellwing noticed the ripples her question caused almost immediately. An uncomfortable silence descended upon the group like a blanket of snow, threatening to send shivers up the black drake's spine. She was no stranger to being stared at, though, and knew to keep her cool even as embarrassment churned her insides. Time and place, Fellwing, time and place. If she wasn't careful, she would rouse too much suspicion.

... She probably already had. Any more and she would basically spell out that she'd been visited by a vision. Besides, the sheer dismissiveness of Vipereyes' answer was telling enough, and the Seer didn't feel like pushing the issue would benefit her any.

As Fellwing glanced over at the older dragon, hoping her expression didn't give too much away, she was surprised to realize Vipereyes regarded her mostly with curiosity. She wasn't angry, hadn't sounded spiteful when she'd spoken of her house. For that, at least, she was grateful.

"Of course," Fellwing conceded, her tone humble if strained, as she turned her gaze back to the skies ahead. "As long as our mistakes don't overgrow us."

Expedition to Isekai

𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐭

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Goddamn it was noisy. Was it really too much to ask to be able to say goodbye to a comatose friend in peace!? Man...

Duncan shifted uncomfortably, trying to ignore the arguing going on outside. Whatever problems they had, he didn't care. He had to do this, had to say his goodbyes before he managed to trick himself into believing Yuki had hope again. But if he could hear everything outside, from the loudest yell to the faintest mumble, he had no doubt the other Awakened could also hear him, and that thought alone made him acutely aware of his heartbeat. He didn't want to say something overly mushy and hear about it later. Like, what if someone heard and told Hiroshi?! No thanks.

Besides, it wasn't like Yuki could hear him. He could tell, even with no expertise on the topic. Nothing seemed to affect Yuki's steady, shallow breaths. He wasn't... wasn't there to be moved by whatever anyone had to say, so any words he needed to get out would only be there to comfort Duncan himself. And if they were just for him anyway, he might as well just think them.

So, he tried. He tried to come up with a whole speech in the confines of his mind, free of embarrassment, but his thoughts didn't cooperate. They kept wandering to memories, to what ifs, to apologies, to realizing how fucking awful Yuki would have found all this. Eventually, Duncan gave up. Even if he did figure out how to do this, then what? Yuki would still be here, lying on the floor, unable to wake up. Words-- words wouldn't be enough. He had to let Yuki go, and not just figuratively in his head. He had to let Yuki rest, for real. He had to do something about those shallow breaths.

... But what?

They did it with a pillow in the movies. There wasn't a proper one around here though, none of those fluffy white ones. And it wasn't like he could just use his hands - that'd feel like murder.

Wouldn't it still be murder, no matter what?

Shit, shit, the movies never conveyed how fucking hard it was to even think about just... offing someone. With his strength he could probably just smack Yuki hard enough and it'd do the trick, but he wasn't about to beat his friend bloody. ... Blood. There was his blood. It'd almost killed Sasuke. Not in a pleasant-looking way, but could Yuki feel anything anyway? He could say it was a delayed reaction to the blood he ingested earlier if anyone asked. And maybe-- just maybe if he tried with his blood one more time, it would actually work and he wouldn't need to think about any of this.

One last shot. Then, one way or another, Yuki would be free.

Duncan inhaled slowly as he raised his shirt. There weren't any objects sharp enough to make proper cuts around, but how difficult would it be to tear open a scar? ... Well, probably very, but he was ready.

Except, before he could start, he heard footsteps. Immediately, Duncan yanked down his shirt and whirled around in his cross legged pose, coming face to face with Yukiko. Damn. He must've looked like a deer caught in headlights, but even if Yukiko noticed, she said nothing. Just walked up wordlessly and plopped down on the other side of Yuki, hugging her knees.

... Oh.

Silence settled over them, or over Yukiko, at least. It was never silent for Duncan and his newly found, superhuman senses. But it sure as hell was still awkward. He felt like he should've cheered her up, said something encouraging and hopeful, but really, that would've just delayed the inevitable. So what he said instead, was: "He won't come back, you know."

He let the words settle before continuing, not daring to turn to face her. He kept staring down at Yuki's sleeping face instead. "There's nothing more we can do for him, even with all the magic bullshit we got. You--- you did good, though, alright? So don't go blaming yourself."

Before Duncan could stop himself, he was speaking again, blurting out his thoughts the way he'd been unable to before. "He wouldn't want us to see him like this. If he knew you were coming in, he would've insisted on staring at the mirror for half an hour and groomed himself first. Like this dude brushed his eyebrows! Who the fuck brushes their eyebrows?! I asked him that once, and you know what this asshole said?"

He let out a wry, pained laugh. "'Stars like me.' Like he was... like he was mad popular, a celebrity in the making, with girls lined up at his door for every hour of the day. All cause of what, his Youtube channel? Daisuke and I were half his viewers. We watched every video. Multiple times. The numbers made Yuki so goddamn happy. He was sure they were all different chicks, all swooning, but really, it was two dudes and sometimes Maki, laughing at his antics with beers in hand. Oh, and kids, probably. Heard his vids were really popular with them. Somewhere out there's like an army of wannabe Yukis driving their bikes into lakes. They're gonna be devastated when--"

Duncan couldn't finish that thought, and he had to swallow a good handful of times before he was sure he could continue with a steady enough voice. "... We can't leave him like this." Duncan raised his gaze to Yukiko at last, brows furrowed. Not from anger, but from determination he hoped was infectious enough not to have her immediately freak out on him. "We... need to let him go, Yukiko."

Usually Duncan used first names without thinking, never quite having gotten used to the Japanese system of politeness and honorifics. This time though, he did it very purposefully — because even though they were practical strangers to each other, they were in this particular flavour of hell together.

Epyllion: Beyond Moonlight's Reach

If Fellwing is willing to discuss her vision now, I'd say the conversation is going to continue. Skobeloff would welcome the distraction.

@rush99999

She wouldn't discuss it with so many people present, sadly. She's tight lipped to a fault about the details even around her clutch a lot of the time.

Epyllion: Beyond Moonlight's Reach

A lot depends on the answer on my end! I might do a Study Someone check on Vipereyes at least, to see if she's hiding anything or knows something else relevant to Fellwing's issue at hand.

... Or I guess I could do the check now and then incorporate it. Hm.

Got a 6 so nop, carry on!

Epyllion: Beyond Moonlight's Reach

𝐹𝑒𝓁𝓁𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔

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The flight back home didn't fill Fellwing with the relief she'd hoped it would. Though the wind under her wings was pleasant and cool, and the chatter of the rescued dragons around her made for a pleasant background hum, she couldn't bring herself to relax. Her mind was so heavy with thoughts she feared the weight of it would plunge her from the skies.

The shadow dragon had left, but wasn't gone. Worse, she feared it was the least of their problems; a mere pawn, controlled by someone much stronger. Someone who hated all of dragonkind. Was it the creature called Bicorn from her vision, or someone more terrifying yet? Would the north of Yves hold answers, or was it too late now? There was nothing they could do for the elemental in her vision, that was for certain. She was gone. Gone like she thought unicorns were, hunted by their ancestors.

Irreperable damage to the world around them.

Fellwing felt her balance falter and quickly shook away all thought, focusing solely on keeping her wings spread and body straight. It was then she realized what the topic of the dragons around her was. Nature. Restoring the planet. The Seer felt her stomach churn at the coincidence.

"Sometimes that learning process involved taking some risks, pushing boundaries. That's what dragon society is built on."

But pushing whose boundaries? If dragons could not peacefully coexist with nature, did that mean... they were the unnatural ones?

The Darkness is a part of nature.

She was thinking too much, with a mind that was still too shaken to look at things objectively. It hadn't been that long ago since Darkness had almost gotten a hold of her. Trying to sympathize with the cause of someone who lost herself to it would only end in more trouble.

And yet.

"In all your learning and discovering," Fellwing mumbled out of nowhere, her question directed at Vipereyes, though she still kept her eyes at the skies ahead. "Have you or yours ever met a unicorn? Or are they just another pushed boundary of the past?"

Pokémon Journeys

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The impromptu round of introductions was followed by an abrupt end to Warden's big battle. The performer, Fae Ryan or some such, recalled his Snubbull in favor of forcing a selfie on the poor scientist dude. Cedric shrugged a shoulder and went to pick up his Growlithe before the damn thing ran off again. The pup whined but didn't struggle, and for that Cedric was unspeakably grateful. His leg was still on figurative fire, and he couldn't have handled having to manhandle a Pokémon right now.

"Yeah, sure, bet you were just afraid of losin'," he called out to the supposed-star-to-be, grin forming, when all of a sudden, hell broke loose. A truck veered into sight, unleashing a strange man and his Toxicroak upon the unsuspecting festival crowd. For a moment Cedric was impressed, thinking it was a preplanned event to introduce some action into the otherwise sleepy festival. But nah; the panic on people's faces and the horror in their screams was all too real, and so Cedric's budding excitement turned to horror. He hurriedly clasped a hand in front of Warden's nose, fearing the putrid smell of the acid alone was enough to cause harm.

"Who the hell's that?" he asked from no one in particular, glancing at the others to make sure they were seeing what he was — but Olivier was already bolting, taking off in the exact direction the crazy old dude was heading. And so were the other two, right on his heels.

"Whoa, whoa, wait!" Cedric gasped, starting after them with a limp. Shit. The guy wasn't stopping, and didn't seem phased by whatever the others had said. Cedric had no idea where the psycho was heading, but he could piece together the guy didn't exactly plan to buy Caterpie rolls. People were still running and shouting, distancing themselves from the man instead of... tackling him or rushing him or something! Damnit, if only he could've gotten there...

Cedric felt wiggling and glanced down at the pup in his arms. Warden was growling, little body tensed and ready to take off if given the go. Cedric knew the look in the Pokémon's eyes, could imagine the adrenaline coursing through his veins. But could... Warden really take on a Toxicroak?

"...You sure?" he asked, brows furrowed. Warden gave an affirmative bark. Cedric couldn't imagine a fate worse than being coddled or told no when you felt you had to go, so he knew he couldn't impose than on his partner, either. "Fine, alright, but keep your distance. Go and Rock Slide from afar, should get their attention! I'll be right behind you."

Warden leapt from his arms, barking as it took off after the man and his Pokémon. Cedric looked to the others further ahead, and shouted: "What are you waiting for? You got Pokémon too, right? Gonna let my damn puppy fight alone?!"

Epyllion: Beyond Moonlight's Reach

No but really sorry for the absence aiudaihskd, I'll toss a quick post in asap when I can-! Also am totally fine with Fellwing being an NPC for the sake of moving things along when needed, don't want to hold things up.

Epyllion: Beyond Moonlight's Reach

Welcome to OOC post 666!

@rush99999

Oh hey I was summoned

Expedition to Isekai

𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐭

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Tired didn't even begin to describe how Duncan felt, leaning against one of the newly constructed walls of the shelter. Most of the exhaustion was mental, courtesy of all the conflicting emotions he'd had to process earlier in the day - in the span of what, minutes? From the terror of witnessing Sasuke's blood-overdose to the relief of it not being fatal, from the hope he'd felt for Yuki's recovery to the disappointment and anger of it it still not happening, to the confusion of... whatever-the-ever-loving-fuck was going on with Ayana. Oh, and he'd yet to resolve the whole thing with Shun.

Still, it wasn't like his body had come out of the ordeal unscathed. This time, the tearing of his stomach had left behind a scar; a long, golden slit that still didn't hurt as much as it logically should have. He felt woozy, out of energy, like he needed a nap and three dinners with dessert - but not like a guy who'd bled all over the place for a solid ten minutes.

Ever since the failed attempt to heal him, Duncan hadn't left Yuki's side. He knew he couldn't really do anything more for the guy, definitely not without Asahi's help, but he didn't want to just abandon him either. He felt like if he walked away now, it'd be like admitting his friend was gone. Besides, if Yuki stirred, he wanted to be the first one to punch the shit out of him.

Despite his best efforts to keep vigil however, Duncan kept dozing off - only to stir a moment later when a nightmare crept into his vision, when he thought he heard Yuki move, or--

"Hey!"

When Maki fucking kicked him.

Still, at her words, he blinked his vision clear and glanced over at Asahi.

"Morn'," he offered with a lazy wave of his hand, only to be drowned out by the pinkhead's fussing. He groaned, but knew the guy was right. There was still a lot to be done. They needed food, Maki's arm was broken and needed fixing, and they had to take another look at Yuki.

They did, and the results didn't change. Slowly, the last bits of rekindled hope Duncan had managed to hold on to were beginning to burn out. Even Asahi couldn't connect with Yuki - possibly because there was nothing to connect with. Nothing but a husk. There never would be.

The others gathered for a group meeting, but with a tremble in his voice, Duncan insisted on staying behind. To rest, he'd said and gestured at his recently closed stomach, but he was really bad at lying, and those who knew him were pretty good at reading him.

Just this once, though, they didn't call him out on it.

And so, while the rest of the students conducted a meeting on their future outside, Duncan sat besides his friend and prepared to leave him in the past.

Epyllion: Beyond Moonlight's Reach

Man, the scene was awesome, coming up with follow up questions was hard. I've a bunch of small ones I'd like to ask, or ones that boil down to "would she know about this". Lmk if these don't work, I've backup ones:

- What did Greeny want out of the talk with Brume, if killing her wasn't the goal? To convince her of something? Would Fellwing have been able to pry into the objective, considering she did sense some of Greeny's emotions?
- What island does the vision take place in? Would the alpine forest give her a clue/would she have been able to try and pinpoint some landmarks (like mountains etc.) while in the vision?

Oh and one of those "would she know" questions that isn't really a follow up question-- what, if any, would she know about unicorns/bicorns, and are the latter normally a thing?

Was going to work on a post but realized I need to ask these first, oops. I can get a post up next week though!