phantasmalrift | DUNGEON - BELLMARE MOUNTAINS, PT 1

DUNGEON - BELLMARE MOUNTAINS, PT 1

Expedition day dawns with the androids in a final flurry of activity - this time, it's in the glider hangar, where they're furiously setting up racks of heavy coats, piles of warm socks, and snow boots, as much as they could manage to pull together. If you've already got your own, great! Otherwise, you can grab some here, though it will be in the usual amount of mismatched Keystone chic.

There's also a variety of emergency flares and the like. Strange is there to admonish everyone to take at least one - unlike Earth flares, they're magical and silent, and will recharge over time - just in case.

Because you're going up into the mountains, and even more so than the usual abandoned places that you explore, it's going to be dangerous just by the nature of the place, nevermind what you might find up there. Incendia was the biggest market for the Bellmare mountain resort, after all, and you're all quite familiar by now with how long that's been abandoned. More to the point, it's far easier to lose track of each other in the snowy slopes. Keep your phones handy and look out for each other, as well as anyone else you might find up there.

Indeed, in addition to the clothes offered for you now, Strange will push extra warm clothes on anyone with hammerspace, and Down, surprisingly enough, has emerged from their usual place with a good number of extra communication devices to hand out. You should still have signal in the mountains, even in a blizzard, but it's better to be prepared for things to screw up.

Once you're all bundled and ready to go, it's off with a wave, into the land of ice and snow.

[OOC: There is an exploration header for each area of the dungeon! Please limit yourselves to 3-5 characters per thread, and don't double dip in order to allow everyone the chance to explore! Otherwise, feel free to top-level as normal.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There it is. This is Kurama. The same Kurama who's always been here. Minato lets out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.]

My name is Minato. Yours is Kurama. We're... [It still feels weird to say it, especially under these circumstances. Does it still count?] ...We're friends.

[This time, he doesn't succeed in shoving aside the sting of being forgotten. It's fine. This is what he expected of life anyway, it's happened at least a dozen times already, it shouldn't....hurt this much...]

[That pain in his voice, on his face, the hesitation before saying they're friends... It aches, but Kurama can't even say he blames him. Who would want to say they were engaged to someone that forgot them? He reaches out to catch Minato's other hand, holding both the other teen's hands in his. His voice is intense and sincere.]

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I'm hurting you like this. I don't want to. There has to be a way for me to remember.

[He lets go of one of Minato's hands but only to lift his own to rest against Minato's cheek gently. His voice drops a little, softer and almost pleading.]

...please don't give up on me, Minato.

Edited 2018-12-18 03:01 (UTC)

[Hurting- He noticed. Of course he did. Even without his memories, Kurama is intelligent and perceptive, and has centuries of experience. Minato doubts losing memory would also mean losing skill or ability.

So he forces it all down. If he's showing that this is hurting him, it will only make it harder for Kurama. And.....those words... Minato smiles. Despite the hurt. It isn't even a little bit forced. This next is a promise.]

Never.

[Who would ever give up on Kurama? ...He's missing a lot of time. He's so...vulnerable, like this. Minato closes his eyes.]

It's alright. You don't need to apologize, it's not your fault. Until you can remember...I've got you.

Edited 2018-12-18 04:40 (UTC)

[Oh.

Oh.

That smile is deeply unfair to him personally? The promise only makes it worse. Kurama's face flares red yet again and his chest feels tight. Not in a bad way. He feels...wanted. Important to Minato. A little breathless?

He leans down to rest his forehead gently against Minato's, his own eyes closing. Minato's got him? Yes. Yes, he does. His fingers slip down from Minato's cheek to settle softly against the back of his neck.]

Thank you...

[Most might realize, by now, that this isn't quite platonic. Minato is not most. He and Kurama have spent hours sharing a mattress without it being anything more than friendship.

It just...feels a little strange to be the guardian for once. That's all. Right? That's why just staying like this for a little while sounds good. But...there's still no telling what happened. Why he's like this. As much as this moment feels special, Kurama's welfare comes first.]

Should get you somewhere to rest. Don't know what else the Fissure could throw at us.

I'll follow you.

[It's said easily, trustingly. Kurama's hand slips away from Minato's neck slowly. The other hand, the one still holding Minato's tightly? There's no sign he plans to let go this time. He's allowed, isn't he? This isn't a kind stranger, this is someone who's close to him.

The smile Kurama offers Minato is sweet and oddly innocent without the weight of centuries.]

Fissure?

[Minato's own hold is almost faltering, ready to let go if Kurama wants to pull away again. Minato understands. Kurama doesn't feel that way about him (has no reason to), and a lack of memory shouldn't change that.

Ready to let go, but reluctant to. Because selfish or not...Minato enjoys this. He isn't even sure what it is he's enjoying. He chides himself for thinking any of this is nice.]

World's unstable. Fissures are stretches of chaotic magic where anything can happen. Everyone here other than the androids got pulled in through one.

Anything... Do you think that's what happened to me?

[Kurama feels the way Minato's hold falters. He...must be expecting Kurama to drop his hand again, like he did before. It aches a little as he wonders how it made Minato feel, when he let go of him.

Kurama shifts his hold, slowly and gently. His fingers slip between Minato's, tangling their hands together firmly. His thumb brushes lightly along the side of Minato's hand.

He isn't letting go again.]

That's my best guess. [If it's the Fissure...it's probably temporary? He doesn't want to consider that it might not be.] If it is, probably only a matter of time. One took my hearing once. Got it back when I left.

[But...everyone was losing senses in Telovia. If this were a standard Fissure effect, wouldn't everyone have lost something similar?

And he can't rule out that this was the effect of some kind of attack, either, though what by he doesn't know. Still - as Kurama holds his hand tighter, Minato's own grip grows more steady, less cautious. If the redhead wants this....who is he to deny him?

There's a cabin some distance away...they should be abe to take shelter there.]

Your hearing... That sounds almost as frightening as this.

[Despite the words, Kurama doesn't sound afraid anymore. It's softly musing, thoughtful. As much as it scares him that he's forgotten his entire life, he feels safe with Minato. Protected.

He gives a little contented hum as Minato's hold steadies. He sticks close to the other teen's side as they make their way to the cabin.]

...Can't imagine it would be. Not for me, at least.

[At the time, he still didn't care about living. He didn't realize anyone cared, about him living. What a fool he was. So much has changed, since back then. It feels like it's been ages.

That was also the first time he and Kurama had really had a conversation. When he thinks about it that way, it feels like it's been no time at all.

He's content to leave the conversation at that, if Kurama doesn't continue it. Hopefully he won't have to bust the door to get it open.]

[Kurama is pretty content just to walk quietly with Minato, hands entwined. It's nice. Despite the cold and snow around them he feels warm.

The door, thankfully, doesn't need to be busted, just jiggled and shoved a little to work it open. Kurama looks curiously around the interior, humming thoughtfully. It looks like it's been abandoned for a while...]

[...Abandoned... But the ceiling looks to be in good shape, and there don't seem to be broken windows. Good enough to keep the weather out, at least. And there's a fireplace.]

....Relax, I guess. Will try to start a fire. [If he can figure out the magic stuff.

...

Right, so, he knows a thing or two about camping. Not a lot, but enough to start rubbing wood together in a way that should eventually turn into fire. He could just use an Agi skill, but....nnrgh. He'd rather do it the slow, hard way than accidentally set the entire house on fire. Long-abandoned it may be but the owners might still be alive. They'd probably appreciate not coming home to find their house burned down.]

[Kurama pokes around a bit, exploring, but he comes back to watch Minato's efforts with the magical firestarter. When Minato abandons it for mundane methods, he picks it up curiously.

He's intently focused as he tinkers with it. It takes him a minute or two, but Kurama eventually gets it to work, a small flame jumping from the crystal to the wood.]

Ah! I did it!

[Excitement brightens Kurama's green eyes, his smile natural and happy as he turns towards Minato.]

[Minato is so focused on his work with the wood that he doesn't notice Kurama's actions until there's fire. It takes a moment to process....ah. Of course Kurama would figure it out quickly. It crosses his mind to say something about that not quite being relaxing, but...

He looks so excited, so proud of himself. Minato's chest does a thing. That's....weird, but he brushes it off. ...Ignores it. It'll needle at the back of his mind but he doesn't have to think about it. Not...right now, when there's something more important.]

Nice going. [He...kinda wants to take a picture. Kurama, smiling like that, illuminated by the warm glow of the fire. It seems a little rude, but....

Kurama's the one who said it's okay to be selfish sometimes. Minato pulls out his phone.

Click.]

[The praise makes him look, if anything, happier. It's good to know that he isn't useless, even when he doesn't remember anything. He can still help.]

Thank you.

[Click?? Surprise is clear on Kurama's face after Minato takes the picture. He shifts around so that he can see Minato's screen, curious as a fox kit. His smile goes softer when he sees the picture Minato took, though he manages to restrain the blush this time.]

[Minato lets him see the screen. The photo turned out well, he won't need to tweak the colors later.]

Couldn't resist.

[One hand slowly rises a little, his instinct is to pat Kurama on the back. Though...really, he shouldn't be playing around, now they have the fire going. Akira and Goro need to know. His hand lowers again.]

Going to call some help. Might be able to figure out what happened to you. [He'll have to tug off his gloves to type. Operating the camera, fine, but a keyboard requires a little finer control. He texts both Akira (male edition) and Goro.]

Nobody is injured, so it's not exactly urgent, but you both should get here as quickly as possible. Kurama-san needs you.

[And he goes to the cabin window to get a photo of their surroundings, hopefully including something the others can recognize. But, for Kurama to note - Minato's fingers are bare.]

I don't mind.

[Kurama watches as Minato moves away and pulls his gloves off. He is listening to Minato's words; help sounds good. But his attention zeroes in quickly on Minato's hands. It only takes him a moment or two to process the absence of a ring and what that means.

The spot by the fire is warm but Kurama gets up and follows Minato to the window. His face is already going vividly, painfully red as he reaches out to touch Minato's left hand, fingers brushing the base of Minato's ring finger.]

Oh... I thought that- I'm sorry, I hope I didn't do anything that made you uncomfortable!

Huh?

[His first response is sheer confusion. Why would he be uncomfortable? Kurama made some mistake...?

It's a few more moments of staring while he processes. Left....ring finger...

Oh.]

That's not- I didn't- I'm sorry.

[His expression crumples. He messed up. Kurama isn't his in that way, at all. It's baffling enough that Goro and Akira are.]

[Kurama doesn't like that look on Minato's face, likes even less that he put it there. His fingers curl tightly around Minato's hand as he shakes his head quickly to the apology. Minato has nothing to apologize for; this is Kurama's mistake.

The guilt is more than obvious on his face, darkening green eyes before he looks down, unable to meet Minato's.]

N-no, it's not your fault. You told me we were friends. I shouldn't have assumed something else just because I liked the idea.

[Kurama is pretty much red to the tips of his ears as he admits that.]

[Bold of you to assume Minato can bring himself to look at Kurama. "Liked the idea"...? The hell could that possibly mean? Minato dismisses it as just words. There's no way it could be anything else.]

No... I- That's who I messaged. Your fiancees. [He lets out a soft, almost strained sigh.] Three of you went through some hell together, something I can't ever fully understand. Pretty obvious you were made for each other. Trying to add me to that somehow would just screw things up.

[Better for him to stay on the sidelines. No matter how much he wants to belong. It's alright, he doesn't mind.

This is how it should be.]

[Unfortunately, Kurama is still too flustered to notice the hint that being added might be something Minato wants. It doesn't help any that the more Minato says, the more nervous and uncertain Kurama feels.

Went through some hell together... If it's something Minato can't understand, then would he, as he is now? Kurama bites his lip. His voice is a little hesitant when he speaks.]

But I don't...remember any of that. Whatever it is we went through. Can I even call myself that same person?

[That....gets Minato to look up, distress replaced by a thoughtful look. That same person. Kurama - Wild.

If it's a question of self, then the answer is ready-made.]

Why don't we ask Inari?

He lost his memory. I don't know how.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject