EVENT & TDM 029

[sticksandbonesmods]

WAKE UP

A house springs up in Aldric’s Grove one day. That comes with the usual tidings of autumn — the leaves change colour, the air gets colder, pumpkins and squash start growing out of the sides of buildings and damaging rooftops, and people emerge out of caskets in square graves that have yet to be covered.

…

Yeah, all of that is normal. You may find that people here before you are willing to help pull you out of your grave, if you ask nicely enough. Maybe they’ll even tell you that you aren’t dead! Yet.

But don’t worry about that. Let’s worry about the house, which is inhabited by the dead — specifically a family of skeletons, who wave everyone, new arrival and old citizen, within their walls. A cloth sign hanging on the awning outside reads “BONE-JANGLES HAUZ! COM IN GET FUD”. The Bone-Jangles are a family of eight — Mr. Bone-Jangles himself wearing a sheet ghost costume for Halloween, Ms. Bone-Jangles wearing a pumpkin hat and an apron as she sets food from your homeworld on the table, and their six skeleton children (“children” may be generous, as these are full-sized adult skeletons, but is your baby not your baby no matter how old they may be?) are wearing various animal costumes. Bees, wolves, cats, the sort.

If you just crawled out of a grave, they permit you to use their shower before dinner. The water pressure is a touch too low, and the soap is several hundred years old, but it’ll get the dirt off.

You return to dinner with the skeleton family and several other Grove residents who came for the party, and despite the oddness of the situation, it’s a lovely time. At the end of the night, before everyone plans to head off to Roseroot — a city to the north, just over the mountains, which you are hopefully informed of by your peers before they all ditch you here to go on vacation — Mr. Bone-Jangles hands you a bag of microwave popcorn and an oversized chocolate bar. Trick-or-Treat!

A note attached to the inside of the chocolate bar wrapper reads in Ms. Bone-Jangles’ curly handwriting: “Be cautious on your journey tomorrow morning.”

You go to sleep holding the well-wishes close to your chest.

…WAKE UP?

What do you last remember?

You were somewhere. Not here. Not within this city. Were you at home? With your friends? At the bar, the cafe, one of the churches, the General Store? The Bone-Jangles’ house? …How did you get here?

…that’s right. The truck. A truck had barrelled through the woods a week ago, with two people stumbling out of it and telling you they could get you out of here. The truck was small, though — at most, it could fit six of you, and that was assuming all six of you packed light for the journey. You talked with who you were journeying alongside as you rode in the bed of the truck, while two others in the vehicle proper got to talk to the drivers. The ride had been bumpy, the car travelling at a medium clip through rough terrain. At one point, the car’s driver had shouted that those of you in the back should “hold on tight” and floored it, nearly jiggling someone next to you out of the back seat as you approached the mountains.

You did not remember the mountains being so close to the Grove. Weren’t they much farther away? You remember the—

The…

…

You’re in Roseroot! The truck comes and goes throughout the day, dropping people off before it turns around and heads out again. Some of your peers who were particularly fast or could fly might have opted to simply follow alongside the truck. Maybe if you can find one of them, they can help you bring your stuff further into the city? Where are you going to live from here, speaking of? In a house? A mansion? A hole-in-the-wall restaurant? You feel like you’re missing something as you wander the beautifully-paved streets on foot. You remembered to pack your toothbrush, right? A change of clothes?

The thought of “someone” comes to your mind, but the silhouette is blurry. A person nearby you asks if you remember two gargoyles with purple skin, and a shadowy woman with her turtle, and a kindly shopkeeper with salt-and-pepper hair, that they think they might’ve left behind in the Grove. You shake your head.

You would remember people like that.

THE CITY OF ROSES

Roseroot is a beautiful city, truly. Every building is beautifully designed, roses of all colors and sizes growing from the ground floor to window boxes to special trellises and even on the rooftops. It's almost overwhelming. A river flows through it, framed with stone sidewalks and curved wooden bridges. Warm streetlights line every few yards, illuminating it even in the dark. Museums and theaters can be found all over, and there's even an aquarium! … It's only got water and plants, but it's there. Truly, this is what one might expect from an affluent city dedicated to flowers and scholarly pursuits!

… It's just… empty. Not a single soul aside from the lot of you can be found. Businesses still provide services, but by who, and how? The answer eludes even the most curious of folk. If you choose to steal, dine and dash, break in to something, well. You can, and nothing is going to stop you. But the emptiness of it all is jarring, isn't it?

Of course it's not. This is how it's supposed to be!

As the days pass, however, the beauty begins to fade. Flowers wilt. A strange substance seems to grow out of cracks, creep up windows, grow. The beautiful sky gets darker, cloudier, drearier. A fog creeps in. And when you sleep- and you will sleep- you dream. Maybe it's the sweetest dream of your life, and maybe its a nightmare. Maybe it's something incredibly silly! What a pity that the dream doesn't stay in your head. Or stay as pleasant as your dream might have been.

Soon the fog is so thick, you can barely see the next streetlight. And you are no longer alone. But the trucks are gone, and the city borders seem to have vanished.

A PLACE YOU CANNOT LEAVE

The fog does not fade. But sometimes, you can hear something- just out of sight. The giggles of childish, cruel whispering. The sound of glass breaking, footsteps dragging across the pavement. Twisted beings born of your worst traumas shamble through the fog, lashing out, hunting, seeking, wanting. Every day the remains of Roseroot grow more dilapidated, some buildings even crumbling and collapsing while others cease existing all together. Roads vanish or twist to loop around into giant circles. Safety is growing limited, but how does one escape?

That may be on the forefront of your mind, but it's not something you can focus on- not while you're fighting off these monsters.

How does one get supplies when grocery stores are claimed by sudden bursts of an all-consuming rot? How does one sleep when those monsters could be anywhere, when one has to keep moving?

Fight on. Protect yourself. The way will show itself soon. You just have to outlast your pains made manifest.

MONSTERS ENCOUNTERED

This list will be updated as the event goes on, but feel free to pull from any monsters from our toplevel below as well in case updates are delayed!

An unholy, angel-like being found stationary in a warehouse. The top half of her body hangs down from a portal in the ceiling, and no matter which way you face, she can twist around to track you. Her wails and sobs cause hallucinations, panic attacks, dissociations, and crippling self-doubt; when characters are distracted, she will attempt to sever them with two oversized swords.

A shambling, undead, fully-armoured knight with seven swords stabbed into it, most of which through the back and one of which through the head. Each sword is engraved with words; five of them say “sacrifice”, one says “the one you loved most”, and the last says “hubris”. The knight wanders the city streets and attacks indiscriminately.

Seven assassins wrapped entirely in black robes and bandages to hide their identities. When they are being looked at, they become stationary, therefore they try to spread apart within their pack to keep most of them able to move. They move like glitchy robots with jerking and seizing limbs, yet are fast enough to slit throats in an instant, and largely stick to alleyways and tight corners to get a drop on someone.

A hand-monster called the Docent, who hides in the shadows and exacerbates negative emotions and insecurities. Even if you can't see it yet, if it's nearby, you will feel cold and miserable. Its physical form is made up of hands and if it catches you, it will add yours to the collection.

Mannequin-like people who look similar to Firefly, wearing plug suits and acting as mannequins in storefronts primarily. They will not "activate" until you come close to them, where they will be like dolls that creak and crackle and either start moving or pull themselves up off the ground to slowly chase you. They are dangerous in numbers, not as much as a single unit. They only speak if Firefly is around, saying things like "you let us die", "you didn't protect us", etc. By the end of the time in Roseroot, most will default be splayed on the ground all over looking dead, but they aren't.

The Swarm, a mass horde of diverse insectoid creatures with the sole drive to propagate and spread. They're big, and can hide invisible if they choose. They will start in small numbers, but slowly spread throughout the town during the end of their stay. They will swarm you and attack if they see you.

A young man with cat ears who has been burnt to a crisp and is still smouldering, who will wander the city and attempt to set people on fire.

A pack of small robotic bears with various weapons who run around indiscriminately and try to kill anyone they see. Despite how armed they are, they are easily defeated, but they roam in extremely large packs.

A phantom that specifically stalks Till, covered in blood and with several bullet wounds through various parts of his body. Characters who spend a lot of time around Till may have to watch out…

Shadows shaped like people on the walls, always watching, whispering, giggling, pointing. If one gets too close to them, they can reach out and attack like a particularly brutal child bully might- and like children, they do not know when they are going too far.

Shambling skeletons or rotting bodies dressed in strange village clothes, waiting to drag whoever they seek out into the earth.

An almost giant skeletal bird caught ablaze, trapped humans within its ribcage forming a grotesque heart. It does not fly, and molten poison drips from it.

Young men and women in a black uniform, half-gripping swords. Their footsteps sounds like bottles breaking. Soon enough they are accompanied by their killers as well.

A very tall priest in holy regalia... except his face is a mass of writhing blue tentacles of varying lengths, singing the song of the Seaborn. He shambles like he no longer remembers how legs work, swaying like a drunk almost, always wandering and reaching for his target. He sings a song of an unknown language, haunting and mesmerizing. If somehow you anger him, he will throw rocks at you... and if he gets his hands on you he will absolutely try to eat and/or assimilate you.

A monster that changes shape whenever you blink. It is normally faceless, and usually appears to look like some abomination-adjacent version of people you know.

A monster that wears clothing of a holy priest, with far, far too many arms. It "attacks" by trying to grab onto you and try to hug you almost comfortingly, while two hands strangle with rosary beads.

A creature that takes the form of something in the water- you'll never truly see what it looks like. But if you get too close to the river, something will reach out and try to drag you under.

A headless mannequin dressed in kingly finery, wielding a heavy sword. It wanders in search of one person, but will stop to kill anyone else it finds too.

An Ifrit, bleeding from a wound not unlike the ones Joshua inflicted upon Clive. It's furious. It's terrified. It will see your death done.

Shadows that, while not the most harmful things, will whisper, gossip and grab and pinch and punch and tear! They say things to characters reflecting their deepest insecurities. In short, the shadows are school bullies.

Two figures, a man and a woman, sewn together by the half. They bicker in a ghoulish language at each other, but are largely uncaring of others. When they find Zoey, they all but descend upon her, both wanting her for themselves and uncaring if they pull too hard in one direction or another. Their grip is like iron, and they're capable of tearing others in half.

A man-shaped monster whose head is a black skull. He wears a suit, tie, and gloves, and carries a rotating number of weapons- pliers, knife, scalpel, hacksaw, hammer, anything that might be used for torture, smeared with blood. Sometimes he just has a gun. He moves in an uncanny, inhuman jerk, and prefers his victims trapped and isolated. He will passively darken the area around him, turning working lights dim, and is accompanied by the sound of a power drill and his own creepy laughter.

Something dark, mostly shapeless, but the size of a large man, with bat-shaped spikes coming out of its head. Or maybe they're bat ears? He is able to shoot projectiles with deadly speed, sharp enough to gouge a hole in metal. They disappear like smoke once they've hit their mark. When faced more or less head-on, shoots a grapling hook at its victim with enough force to seriously maim, uses it to pull them close and break their bones. May appear suddenly from behind and break bones before you have a chance to react. He moves sometimes as a literal shadow, but when outside of shadow form, moves with grace and speed. Sometimes his presence is accompanied by flashbangs, smoke, and the sound of radio static or ringing in your ears. Otherwise, it is completely silent and doesn't even breathe.

A monster wearing armour and carrying tomahawk axes, with crablike appendages protruding from her abdomen that have pincer-claws. The semi-congealed gore that drips from them can be sprayed at enemies. As she talks, she claims to know "what you really are" and can absolutely back that claim up.

A brutish monster that is constantly on fire. He moves quickly enough to "blaze past" you, and likely set you on fire by proximity. Otherwise, he boasts impressive and inhuman strength.

A doll with swords through it that leaks toxic ooze as it moves around. Slow and moves around pathetically, looking as if in pain, and moving as if crying. Gives hugs instead of attacking, but the swords through it will hurt you if you let it, and the toxic ooze feels akin to acid.

A shambling amalgam of corpses and heads much akin to the Cramped Casket that pulls itself with its many arms across the ground. It easily spans around 12 feet tall. At the very front of it of it is the upper half of a young boy. It attacks by slamming itself into the ground where you stand, and is otherwise silent... unless you are Elsword, in which case it asks, "why didn't you save me?"

A monster that looks like a pirate that's on fire. Permanently. To most, it only appears to be leaving scorched earth in its wake. To Mizuki, it looks like everything around it is burning. It attacks with a cutlass, and otherwise looks mostly humanoid.

An ambling monstrosity that easily towers any house and building. It moves slowly, and seems as if it's "sliced" down the middle, with two "heads" and a mangled body. One arm carries a harpoon, one arm carries a kitchen cleaver. They mutter conflicting questions that, if you answer, you'll be contradicting the other. "Should we go left?" "Should we go right?" asked simultaneously, so answering "yes" would be answering both. Things like that. To kill it, you have to pick a head to cut off, and if you choose wrong, it instantly grows back and you'll have to try again.

A small, cute puppet with a circle of knifes protruding from its neck. It constantly cries and attacks by trashing around like a child. It doesn't even seem to be aiming for anything specifically, but its thrashing is so wild and erratic the knives in its neck are bound to hit you anyway if you don't put distance between the two of you.

An angel with wings and a halo of light that towers around 10-12 feet tall. It's head is replaced with a bouquet of flowers and it's hands are fused together in a constant prayer.Everywhere it walks, it leaves flowers behind, but they wilt and decay and rot within seconds and stay as a stain upon the land. It attacks by summoning blades of light from the ground under your feet. If you listen closely, you can hear soft singing.

A cloaked being with black crystals growing out of it who floats along the ground. It freezes anything it touches solid in blackened ice, and a trail of said ice follows after it. The air becomes frigid when it is close by.

A loud, ravenous monster that is majority mouth with waaay too many teeth. More dog-like than human shaped. Does not have eyes and thus cannot see, but can hear a pen drop. While it will bite to kill, it plays with its food. Lashes with claws and attempts to do anything it can to hurt you as much as possible before you break.

A mass of black crystals, the shape appears to be in that of Faust. Its arm is replaced with that of a crossbow. Its bolts are enough to shatter concrete. Despite being made of stone, it is very fast.

A monster that takes the shape of prey animals, starting off as smaller ones, then becoming larger ones as it stalks you. It does not necessarily attack, keeping a distance. But the more it watches, the more starved for food you feel. You haven't eaten in a while, have you? Are you hungry? Are you going to die because you can't eat? Aren't you just a waste of space if can't kill something to feed yourself? Killing it won't be easy, as it is fast, but if you do manage to, it will fall to the ground immediately as rotten, disgusting mass of meat that is not safely edible. The monster will spawn in again as it's smaller form all over again if not eaten.

A small army of husk-like creatures. They're just so hungry. Won't you help them? Won't you feed them? They appear like demons, with the stronger ones looking like some of Mystery's old friends...

A large, train-sized worm patterned in purple stripes. They have four eyes above their gator-like mouths which are full of sharp teeth. Their backs are ridged with green shark fins. Sandworms burrow through the ground at alarming speeds and feast on the dead along anything else they can catch. They aren't picky.

Spark Notes

summary

WAKE UP: Good morning! It's autumn! New arrivals are crawling out of graves, Mr. Bone-Jangles has invited everyone to his house, and everyone is having a nice little family Halloween get-together.
…WAKE UP?: Do you remember your old life? The people you left behind? ...of course not! You barely remember the truck ride over here! Welcome to Roseroot! Enjoy your vacation!
THE CITY OF ROSES: Roseroot is a beautiful, empty city. It's clearly a wealthy place, connected with nature, but you lot are the only ones there. ... That's how it's supposed to be, of course. But something forces you into sleep, and when you dream something awakens. ... Now that it's awake, something is making the city rot.
A PLACE YOU CANNOT LEAVE: The city is falling apart, rotting, vanishing and looping into itself and you are not alone. Monsters born from your trauma are out to hunt you down. Thankfully, they can be killed. You just have to keep fighting, even as places of rest and food dwindle rapidly.

out of character

Hello everyone! Welcome to our October TDM. This is a reminder that TDMs are considered game canon. This is our last TDM of 2025! November-December will be check-in AC and we will be back to our regular schedule with a TDM in January 2026. If there are questions, please hit up the toplevels below.

updates

None yet! Important updates about how characters interact with the log and change the course of events will be placed here.

submissions

❖ Questions
❖ October Plotting
❖ Past Life Plotting (Closed to Game Members)
❖ Investigations

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Comments

[tempurahair]

[Stunned silence fills the air. Senjuro would be forgiven for thinking that his brother might somehow be cross, at least if he did not dare to look the man in the eyes. What lies there, though, is not anger or frustration, but bafflement. The words the younger Rengoku speaks are not just wise, but exactly what he might have expected his own self to say to someone else.

Briefly, he feels the edges of his heart begin to ache. Already, he's missed so much. This growth, this confidence, it's the kind of thing he longed to see Senjuro blossom into back home, but never fully had the chance to cultivate it.

He should have known the boy would find it by himself.

Given the current state of Rengoku's chest, it's... not exactly feasible for him to pull Senjuro in for a hug. Nevertheless, he release his brother's hands in favor of resting his own upon those shoulders. He reels Senjuro in just far enough to press their foreheads together. It'll have to be a worthy substitute.]

You are right, Senjuro. Thank you for reminding me of that.

[averageineverything]

[the gesture is not only worthy, but touching. senjuro feels tears well in his eyes, but he manages to blink them away so that he can continue cleaning kyojuro's wounds. his work is careful, using no more pressure or time than is necessary. once the cuts have been sanitized, he takes the poultice in hand and begins applying it as well.]

I should be the one to thank you. I used to be so caught up in wishing that I could be more than I am. I won't lie and say I don't still wish that, but... If it weren't for your encouragement, I would never have let myself believe for even a moment that what I am is enough. I may not be able to fight like you, but I can still help you prepare beforehand and take care of you afterward.

[tempurahair]

[It's a good thing he does, because otherwise Kyojuro would have had to wipe them away, and Senjuro would have fussed, and it would have been a whole thing. As it stands, he can only sit back and watch those efforts. He's both efficient and gentle, seemingly in his element in a way that he never was with a blade in hand.]

You are more than enough, Senjuro. You always have been. [He lets out a careful sigh, breathing finally fully regulated.] ... I hope you can forgive me, for treating you as less than, and not trusting you with the depth of my injuries. I did not want you to worry, on top of everything else.

Or - [He closes his eyes.] For you to blame anyone other than myself, either.

[averageineverything]

[senjuro hopes that one day, he will believe that with as much conviction as kyojuro does. it helps that his greatest role model already does.]

Thank you.

There's nothing to forgive. I know that you're only trying to look out for me, and you didn't teach me to blame others for misfortune.

[before he finishes applying the salve, he glances back toward puck, who remains dutifully sanitizing the bandages.]

Puck, if you would, please use Splash. [the creature lifts the bandages from the alcohol slurry and proceeds to shake the liquid off of them with surprising efficiency. congratulations to the most useless pokemon move known to man finally finding a purpose.]

[tempurahair]

[What Senjuro says is true, in a manner of speaking. The trouble is where the line of others is drawn. Other people were not the cause of their misfortune. Other demons, on the other hand, were undoubtedly the cause of many misfortunes. Not once had he ever hesitated to cast blame on the monsters of their home.

And yet... here they are.

Kyojuro waits for the the whipping of cloth to finish, fighting the ghost of a smile at Puck's efforts. What talent, truly! It's only once things have settled once more, when Senjuro is in the process of wrapping his wounds, that Kyojuro dares to speak.]

I told you that there was a demon in the Grove. The truth is that I deliberately did not tell you which demon lurked here. [Kyojuro is confident in his own logic. Trying to explain it, and therefore gauging the reactions of others, is a different story.] Shortly after my arrival, I came face to face with Upper Moon Three.

These wounds - were sustained in my attempts to defend him during the circus last month.

[averageineverything]

[puck is so helpful, truly. once he hands over the bandages to senjuro, he nestles up beside kyojuro and nuzzles his "head" under the man's hand. pats, please, he knows you give the best pats. also, he's very good at being an emotional support pokemon.

on senjuro's part, upon hearing that upper three is present... his hands jerk, pulling the bandages a bit too tight before he eases up.] Sorry! I'm sorry! [still, he gapes at kyojuro, unable to just push aside this shock.] Brother, why -- why would you protect this demon?

[tempurahair]

[Kyojuro lowers his hand, gently patting the top of this sweet little crature's head, then administering some scritches toward the base of its "hair." It really is precious, how he resembles the family.

Definitely a nice distraction from the more emotional reaction that comes from Senjuro. Though Kyojuro doesn't flinch at the tug of the bandages, the response itself is more than enough to make him cringe.

Normally, Kyojuro would not be so forthcoming with someone else's personal information. What happened in the woods that day, the moment that changed everything, was meant to stay between them. And really, the average person didn't need to know about it, because Akaza had proven plenty trustworthy to those within the Grove.

The difficult was those from their home, the ones who knew what happened between them back home.]

When I first confronted him, I felt joy. It was my belief that this world was an after life of sorts. If we were both here, then at least he had met his end as well. And I was not wrong about that. [It doesn't fill him with the same sense of elation as before, though.] But during our fight, he was... preoccupied. More interested in moving past me, in order to step into the sun.

I offered him a deal then. This place is dangerous, as we have both learned. My hope was that, by keeping him around, we would gain ourselves a powerful ally in the fight against the creature that haunts this place. And perhaps... I sought to give him purpose. It is a difficult thing, seeing someone brought so low.

And through all of that...

[He meets Senjuro's eyes, unflinching in confidence when it comes to this decision.]

The demon who killed me died by Kamado's hand, Senjuro. It is no more. Because the man that I spoke with that day confessed to regretting everything. He has apologized and punished himself for what befell me, and I have forgive him. [Gingerly he reaches out, laying a hand atop Senjuro's head.]

But that is only my belief. I will not ever ask you to trust him of your own volition. What conclusions you reach will come with your own time and thought. Until they do, I ask only that you trust me. That I know myself to be safe and have thought this through to the last.

[averageineverything]

[puck gives a satisfied trill upon being patted. unfortunately, kyojuro's hand is abandoned in favor of returning to senjuro's side. the creature nuzzles against him, but doesn't get in the way of the work that senjuro continues to force himself through.

it helps him, after all, to have something to do with himself rather than spiraling and panicking. as it is, senjuro's mind won't stop racing. it's like he doesn't even register what kyojuro is saying until five seconds after he's said it. but after his brother has finished, and senjuro unwittingly takes what very well may be minutes to process, he only has one question. like kyojuro, senjuro meets his eyes to show his sincerity.]

Do you believe that this... man... would do the same for you? [protect kyojuro, as kyojuro did for him.]

[tempurahair]

[Kyojuro's own gaze is unflinching. There is no anger at the question, no arrogance at his outlook being questioned. If anything, pride continues to swell within his chest. Senjuro may trust him, but he maintains his own ideals and thoughts. He does not blindly follow.

And what an easy question it is to answer, even if he hates that it's true.]

He already has. [He tucks his hand a little closer to himself, toying idly with the bandages there. This is one secret he will continue to keep. It was, after all, a one time only occurrence. Akaza had said as much.] Before I found you, I was targeted by another group of slayers. I could not bring myself to lift my blade, considering who they were to me. He prevented me from being killed by their blows, was impaled twice through in his effort to do so.

[Almost unconsciously, Kyojuro finds himself casting his senses outward, searching for Akaza once more. Nothing comes back, much to his dismay.]

His healing is much slower here. We almost were unsure if he would survive. [For... more reasons than one. And though Kyojuro has resolved to not bring up the more sordid details of what came after, he does add:] The shopkeeper of this place is able to source... food for him. He has not consumed living flesh since arriving here.

[averageineverything]

[senjuro assumes that the movement of kyojuro's hand is intentional, an angle to help him secure the final bandage; he thinks nothing more of it.

once he's satisfied with his work, he kneels back on his feet and takes to burying his fingers in puck's "hair." the mimikyu continues rubbing against his side and sneaks one "hand" out from under its disguise to lay it over his. a good little ghostie.

as hard as it is to swallow, the fact of the matter is that senjuro trusts kyojuro above all else. he understands the gravity of his brother's convictions and knows he would never tell senjuro a lie. if kyojuro says he can forgive his murderer, he means it.]

I trust you, brother. So long as you wish, I won't cause a fuss for either of you about it.

[tempurahair]

[Kyojuro doesn't think he'll ever be able to put into words, the he feels watching another creature dote upon Senjuro. It's never been a secret, that the boy is the single most important person in his world. He's always deserved far more than the world has given him.

Finally seeing something, anything give that back is such a relief.]

Thank you, Senjuro. I promise it is not misplaced.

[He leans forward to bump their foreheads together once again.]

[averageineverything]

I know. [and if he leans into this for as long as kyojuro tolerates it, who could blame him?]

How are your wounds? We can stay sheltered for as long as you need, but will they hold if we need to flee?

[tempurahair]

[Kyojuro twists left, then right, testing the way his wounds sting and ache. Beyond the expected discomfort, it seems... mostly workable.]

I should be fine. [A small smile is flashed to the boy.] You did excellent work. I suspect even Lady Kocho would be impressed.

[averageineverything]

[for all his talk, senjuro is still a little unsure and a lot embarrassed to be on the receiving end of compliments.]

Ah, I'm just glad if it's adequate. You and father taught me, after all, so I hope I'm competent...

[tempurahair]

[Kyojuro only shakes his head. He won't press the matter too hard, not when he can see how flustered his sibling is.]

How are you feeling? You are not too rattled by what you've seen?

[averageineverything]

[puck squirms a bit underneath senjuro's hand, so that he can get a good look at his trainer. seems he's curious about the answer, as well.

senjuro strokes that mop hair once more and glances toward the barricaded door, then down to the old floorboards.]

I... I admit, Johto wasn't as dangerous a place as our home. Really, it felt -- safe, like nothing too terrible could even happen there. [yet again, his eyes trail along the exterior wall of the house. his lip trembles once.]

The... creatures here are like what I always imagined the Corps members facing, night after night.

[tempurahair]

[Kyojuro glances sidelong at the little creature, watching it fuss. Truly a sweet little thing, wasn't he?]

I do not know if I should be glad that you experienced such peace, or disheartened to know you were ripped away from it. [He sighs at the thought.] What I do know is that this is not the sort of depravity that anyone should have to witness. It is... almost worse than the corps, I think.

[At least most demons were not fond of toying with their prey. Some did seem to savor fear, creatures like Lower Rank One being a prime example of that. But generally, the average demon would make things relatively quick.

This place, however, seemed hell bent on dragging out the agony. It made Kyojuro feel ill.]

I know you do not need my protection as much anymore, but I promise I will do all I can to keep you safe all the same.

[averageineverything]

[despite the very real fear he feels in this place, senjuro is realizing something.]

I'm glad I got to be there, for the friends I made and the things I experienced. But -- in a way, I'm glad I'm here, too. I get to see you again, and know you're not alone.

We'll do what we can to protect you, too.

[tempurahair]

I -

[Kyojuro finds himself surprised, as the words lodge in his throat. He lays a hand against his chest, palm in the center of that haunting mark. He's meant what he's said before — he does not regret dying. He has forgiven his killer. But more than anything, he lamented what was left behind.

Having that very thing here is enough to choke him up. He draws in a steadying breath, but perhaps Senjuro might catch the shimmer in his eyes as he gazes fondly upon him.]

I cannot say I am glad you are here. But I did miss you terribly, Senjuro.

[averageineverything]

[unfortunately for kyojuro, there's no chance in hell that senjuro sees that face and doesn't threaten to weep in response. he's emotional on a good day, but to see his brother moved nearly to tears is not something he can just brush off.

mindful of the wounds, now that he knows where they all are, senjuro scoots closer to embrace him. it's everything he can do not to dig his fingers in and cling like he's afraid to lose kyojuro all over again in an instant.]

I missed you, Kyojuro. [his voice is hushed, small, as if he's unworthy to even say his name out loud but selfishly wants to.]

[tempurahair]

[Senjuro is not the only one. He's always been wary of his strength, but in this second that control threatens to crumble. As he returns the embrace, his fingers tighten against the back of his brother's shirt, knuckles surely showing white from the force. He keeps Senjuro close, a tight squeeze just one step shy of uncomfortable.]

I know you have only just scolded me for apologizing for things out of control, so I hope you will forgive me for this. [He inhales, breath quavering at the very end.] But I am so very sorry for leaving you alone in this world. If I had one regret, it was that I would not get to see you after that day.

[His laugh sounds faintly wet when it breaks through his lips.]

I have never been so glad to be wrong.

[averageineverything]

[really, the near vice grip kyojuro has on him is nothing short of comforting to senjuro. the embrace he never thought he'd get to feel again threatens to but would never smother him. where kyojuro's emotions are restrained, senjuro openly trembles in both body and breath.]

I forgive you. [like before, he doesn't believe there's anything to forgive, but he knows hearing that will be a comfort to kyojuro.] You saved so many people -- people who get to live the rest of their lives, now, when they wouldn't have otherwise. I -- as much as it hurts, I am so proud to be your brother.

[he sniffles in a half-hearted attempt to slow his crying. it isn't successful, but that's okay.]

But I'm not alone. Mr. Tanjiro writes to me often, and makes me feel like I'm part of his life. Even father -- your words reached him, ani-ue. He drinks less and less, and he lets me look after him. I think he doesn't know what to say, but I know he's trying.

cw: emetophobia, alcoholism

[tempurahair]

[In the end, Senjuro's words prove to be what breaks him. In those last moments, Kyojuro did not know if his words would ever matter, not to those who needed to hear them most. He had done his part, but it was up to those that heard what he had to say to heed them. Sure, some part of him was certain that Senjuro himself would cherish what he had to say.

But to know that his father did as well...?

That grip grows just the slightest bit tighter, while Kyojuro all but chokes on a sob. After over a decade, so many years spent trying and failing to find a way to pull his father through, he'd finally taken that step. No more fearing that his organs might just give out in the dead of night, or that he might choke on his vomit while too inebriated to save himself.

To say nothing of the fact that Tanjiro had opened his heart to Senjuro when he surely needed it most.

There were so many possible outcomes that could have resulted from his death. In his final seconds, before the visage of his mother had come to comfort him, he had found himself troubling over all of them. To know that none had come to pass was all he could have asked for.]

I am - so glad to hear that. All of it.

[He makes no attempt to hide his tears, wetting Senjuro's hair as he buries his face within it. The weight of any regret he'd ever had ebbs from his shoulders, and he swears that the smell of alcohol in the air grows lighter, if only for a moment.

Everything would be alright. He knew that now.]

Thank you for telling me. [And to no one in particular:] Thank you so much.