September Adventures

[mayoninofukucho]

WHO: Hijikata and ✨YOU✨
WHAT: TDM prompts (another trip to Lestari and the spirit guardian ritual back in Camelot), camping and moping around, needing help from animal- and bargaining mages with an armoured archaeopteryx, and an unexpected encounter!
WHEN: Throughout September
WHERE: Lestari, Camelot City, and a campsite by Lake Avalon close to Camelot City
WARNINGS: Branding/Tattooing and Power Imbalance in Prompt 2 (it's closed, but just for the record)!



1) Fizzy Lifting Bar

[It was only a few weeks ago that everybody set out to the Ash Mountains in search of the slumbering necromancer Kymbyr, but Hijikata doesn't mind joining the multi-day trek again. With King Arthur almost back to full health and the unsettling events of last month - the gruesome murders and the hunt for animal mages - apparently resolved (Hijikata sought out a local siphoner to get rid of his cattle traits before the first trek, mainly because his horse refused to carry him) he's keen to provide a safe escort for the traders and everyone else who's coming along.

Once in Lestari, however, he's baffled to see the traders invite everybody into the most suspect seasonal bar. The vials of colourful liquids make the place look like a mad scientist's laboratory, and the fact that they're not even meant to be drunk but rather inhaled as fumes really gives him pause. This is going to get them all totally drugged up, isn't it?]

I think I'm going to pass on this.


2) A Pain-Tolerant Badass and a Caring Badass (for corpsewarblade)

[Once back from Lestari Hijikata finds that preparations for the autumn equinox have gone into full swing in Camelot. He's rather aghast to hear what they entail, though... it seems like while he was accompanying the group collecting fairy coins another group headed to the Lands of Rot to capture undead creatures to be burned and have their ashes boiled in the most ominous couldron in the town square. It honestly makes him wonder if they're still the good guys. Is this really okay?!

He's reassured by several locals, however, that this happens every year and purely serves to ensure that the dead can pass safely into the afterlife, so he tentatively agrees to volunteer as a vessel for a spirit guardian. When he runs into Mukuro and she agrees to partner up with him the decision is finalised, and before long he finds himself shirtless on his stomach on one of the obsidian slates surrounding the couldron.]

This feels like a really dark ritual...


3) Summer's End

A ⦿ The Multiverse Gives, the Multiverse Takes

[A day after undergoing the spirit guardian ritual Hijikata sends a text message to Riou. He lives out in the wilderness, so there's a chance that he's been missing out on what's going on, and Hijikata knows that he's tough and brave enough to make for a good spirit guardian vessel too! However his message bounces back with a error. Hijikata stares at his phone. He knows what this means - he's seen it several times before, each time someone he knew and was close enough to send a message to disappeared from Avalon and had their MagiCast signature disabled as a result.

For it to happen to Riou, though... he's one of the few people Hijikata first met on Prismatica who saw everything through to the end - the final battle against the seven Beasts of the Calamity, the victory, the planet's restoration - and who remembered it. Somehow he never thought that he would disappear like this. But... sometimes people return, right? Several fellow outworlders got bounced ahead to their homeworld's future, or even to yet other worlds like Prismatica and Avalon, only to eventually end up back here with a head full of new memories. Usually that only takes a few days in Avalon time, going by previous cases, so Hijikata decides to head out to Riou's camp and keep an eye on it for him.

If anyone else happens to come by during daylight hours Hijikata will be either in the camp or nearby, practising his swordfighting or his elemental magic, but especially in the evenings he's more pensive than usual as he sits by the campfire, grilling some fish or game or maybe just something he got from the supermarket. If anyone walks into Riou's wire traps it'll alert him, and he'll come check on them, but those who make it through undetected may just catch him by surprise.]

B ⦿ An Armoured Archaeopteryx - Animal Mages Wanted!

[After a week in the camp Hijikata has pretty much accepted that Riou won't come back. Nonetheless he's still lingering, often thinking of all the people from different worlds he connected with on Prismatica and Avalon. Will he ever see them again? Surely not all of them. What about those who already died in their homeworlds? If they're pulled back, then... what will become of them?

While he's mulling over these gloomy matters there's suddenly a strong gust of wind as a large creature approaches from above. Hijikata is startled. Over the last couple of months he's sometimes seen a solitary big bird in the sky above Camelot, Celliwig and the open fields, but since nobody showed any signs of distress he assumed it was just a normal part of Avalonian fauna. Why is it coming down?! He gets ready to fight, but the creature, while interested in him, doesn't seem intent on devouring him, instead sniffing him, flapping its clawed wings and making all sorts of noises. Hijikata tries to scare it away with fire, lightning and his sword, but it merely draws back a bit before cautiously approaching again. Eventually he turns to AOL, starting a video stream without much preamble.]

If any animals mages are seeing this, I could use some help over here. This big bird won't leave me alone, and I can't figure out what it wants. It doesn't want to eat me and also hasn't tried to eat my food, so I'm at a loss.

[He turns the camera towards the creature. It's taller than an adult man and looks much like a bird, only more... archaic, in a way, with reptilian traits in its face, clawed feet, and arm wings. Its feathers shine like silver, as if coated in tinfoil. When it sees the phone aimed at it it yells, though it sounds more excited than anything else.]

If anyone could come over, I'm attaching my coordinates. Thanks in advance.

C ⦿ An Armoured Archaeopteryx - Bargaining Mages Wanted!

[Later on the same day Hijikata bombards the network with yet another unannounced video stream, clearly still in the same location as before.]

Okay, we more or less figured out what the bird's deal is, and I think I'm going to need a bargaining mage now. Sorry for the hassle, I'm going to stop spamming after this. I heard that making bargains is risky, so I'll pay for the service... or I'll just owe you one. I've got elemental- and death magic, just in case.

[Now the animals mage(s) who helped him earlier will probably also ask for retroactive payment, and yeah, he'll send some virtual gold over alright. He also attaches his coordinates once more.]


4) Questing or Resting?

[After Hijikata felt uncharacteristically unmotivated to pursue his usual knightly activities for a good while the experience with the archaeopteryx shook him out of his melancholia, and after checking out the QuestBoard he decides to spend a night in Camelot City again after a long time. Perhaps he'll be able to catch that rotten guy who's been roping innocent people into movie fights, or else he ought to check out that strip club where his fellow knights from Celliwig are being held... damn, he really dropped the ball, didn't he?

However once back in the city he soon notices that, as usual, his fellow outworlders are reliable. As dusk falls on Camelot he passes by several people he recognises who just so happen to be headed for an evening walk in the backstreets like him, and when he passes by the strip club he sees a couple of familiar faces being allowed entry. Honestly, it looks like on the whole they have this in hand. Is he even needed? Maybe he can really just take it easy this month. He lights himself a cigarette and wanders around until he passes by the large cauldron in the town square, still bubbling and boiling, and stops for a moment to contemplate it, reminded of the tattoo on his back and the unnoticeable spirit he's housing.]

I really hope this all goes well.

[Maybe someone else who also has misgivings about the ritual may want to chime in - or maybe someone is unimpressed with this knight just idling around when there are quests to be done, and wants to let him know as much?]


5) Revisiting the Forest of the Felled (for emet_sulk)

[Despite the setback in Hijikata's productivity this month he did continue to educate himself on the nature of spirits and ghosts, and given everything he learned of the history of the Forest of the Felled from the archivist's books he wants to at least try and identify some of the spells and curses that have been placed there.

This also provides an opportunity for him to test his new bond with "his" archaeopteryx (it doesn't belong to him, it merely agreed to be his companion and supporter as long as he's on Avalon, provided he doesn't lose sight of the righteous path). It's nothing like riding a horse - instead of sitting upright Hijikata has to lie on its back, keeping himself flat and still, arms wrapped around the base of its neck as it soars across the sky with him. A local animal mage kindly played interpreter for them, so the ancient bird knows where the samurai wants to go and finds the way without trouble. Once it sets down beyond the Bridge of the Pure of Heart Hijikata pets its head and waves goodbye as it takes to the sky again.

He spends a few hours trying to investigate the edge of the forest, but it turns out to be full of advanced curses and barriers that leave him stumped. On the upside its ghostly inhabitants with their volatile resentment of Camelotians seem to take no notice of him (perhaps thanks to the spirit-repelling spells on his cloak and shield), and he doesn't encounter a single one. He's about ready to call it a day, but before he signals his flying partner that he's ready to be collected he wants to pay a visit to the old man who lives close by and who welcomed him into his home so warmly about half a year ago when Morganna had called for him to be poisoned (or so Hijikata believed at the time). As he approaches the old man's hut, though, he spots somebody he least expected to meet here.]

...

Emet-Selch?

[Is it really him?]


[OOC: If you'd like any additional prompts please feel free to hit me up on my plotting post! If anyone wants to be Hijikata's caretaker for a day please assume that they were directed to the camp (Prompt 3A). Also here are Hijikata's permissions.]

Comments

a. summer's end

[concierto]

[Are there traps set up around the campfire perimeter he's come across? Venti pays no mind to them, somehow incredibly talented at dodging them with lithe feet and a few hops here and there. A jump and a skip and a small lift from kinetic magic and... done!

Venti sneaks right behind Hijikata and jumps his shoulders, arms wrapping around the other with a finger poking hard at Hijikata's cheek.]

Why the glum face, friend? All the way out here writing a gloomy story next to a bonfire alone?

[What the heck is up, Hijikata?]

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata actually jolts, totally blindsided by the sudden hug and poke, and nearly goes for his sword before he realises that it's Venti. This bard is so light on his feet, he didn't hear him coming at all! And he's being so cheerful while Hijikata is being all glum!! He needs to shape up quickly!]

A-ah, yeah, I, uh...

[Crap, he can't think this fast! He needs to win some time first.]

What are you doing all the way out here?

[To be fair, the lakeshore east of Camelot City is hardly the most remote wilderness, but still, surely Venti can't have come here in search of an audience? He just keeps mystifying Hijikata.]

[concierto]

[All the while Venti is kind of hanging off of Hijikata's shoulders because he is so much shorter than the taller man. Venti is dangling and not letting go. A true parasite.]

What am I doing all the way out here? I thought that was a question for you! I was looking for inspiration for a moonlight song, one to express the calmness of Autumn's return. That's all.

[He's kind of full of it, he wasn't really writing songs, he was just exploring about. He might be a little bit tipsy.]

Continued from above!

[mayoninofukucho]

[He spat it out..!! Hijikata suffers a mental record scratch. The disrespect! The ignorance! If it were anyone else he might well start a fist fight out of sheer offence and indignation, but Venti is lucky to have accrued tremendously much goodwill with him. The bard apologised, didn't he? He was honest because he felt that Hijikata deserved it. Still, rejecting mayonnaise is so incomprehensible to the taste-challenged samurai, he's grappling with conflicting emotions as he abruptly gets up to fetch a couple more chilled beer cans. When he returns he offers Venti's can to him without using wind magic, but instead with a clipped suggestion.]

One for the way?

[Is he kicking him out??? Cute little Venti who miraculously showed up in his camp just at the right time to cheer him up so gently and unobtrusively? Over not liking mayonnaise??]

[concierto]

Ehe??? Excuse me?

[Venti is astonished! He blinks in disbelief! He flails one arm even with the beer can in one hand!]

Are you sending me home for that, Hijikata?!

[The audacity! Venti will cling to him! He loops their arms together! He's sticking right here and he is not moving!!]

I don't think I'm ready to go home, as a matter of fact!

1!

[starshower]

[Tifa is a little wary of the drinks herself, after what she witnessed in Celliwig's bars and restaurants, but having to inhale the fumes of the drinks rather than drink them wouldn't be the strangest thing she's come across. The jello pasta and the caviar drinks take the cake, or maybe it was the beer that was to be applied like lip chap...

She's been at the vials for a while now, reading over the different, and very unique, flavours when she hears a voice from the other side. She pops up, straightening, and grins with half-amused laughter. The other half is in agreement that maybe this is a bad idea.]

What, you don't wanna try the... [She peers at the nearest one and her nose visibly wrinkles.] Uh... Smoked meat...?

[When she says it out loud like that, she's not sure she would want to try that one either.]

[mayoninofukucho]

[Oh, Hijikata holds a huge grudge against Celliwig's cuisine. That foam stuff may be enough for the floating doll people living there, but he's a warrior! He needs calories! He snorts at the suggestion.]

Call me old-fashioned, but I like having to chew my meat! If I were you I'd wait and observe everyone else for a while at least. Who knows what side effects this has?

[starshower]

[There's a sensible part of Tifa that would agree that he's right—there could be magic in these things that she's not privy to, and if something were to happen with it, she'd have no way of knowing how to deal with it... But on the other hand, there are already those who have started "digging in" so to speak, and they look like they're having a great time at the opposite end.

Her curiosity really is starting to get the better of her, and she pokes a finger against the one labeled "Strawberry shortcake", lips pursing together into an intrigued smile.]

How about I give it a go, and you watch my back? I doubt anything bad will happen, but can't ever be too careful, right?

[ ... ]

If it's all good, then what's the harm in giving it a shot?

[She really wants to try the strawberry shortcake one...!]

Continued from above (to prevent pagestretching)!

[mayoninofukucho]

[Yeah, given how viciously Celliwig protects its treasures it's better to be safe than sorry, even if Lestari seems more... chill, for lack of a better term. So Tifa comes from some dystopian place, from the sounds of it... regardless, Hijikata responds pragamatically.]

All cities are dirty. You can't move away to the countryside?

[starshower]

Not quite.

[The countryside she did live in was burned to the ground, so even if she did want to go back, she wouldn't be able to go where she wanted to be most. But...

Despite that, her smile grows warm. Fond.]

You can't just move away from wherever you've made a new life, yeah? I had a bar, friends, family. Hard to just leave that behind.

[She laughs to herself.]

I guess that's part of what makes a place like this appealing to so many people.

2

[corpsewarblade]

Yeah, tell me about it...you gonna be okay?

[Mukuro's act didn't have quite the energy it usually did today- everything that came out of her earlier network post still rattling around in her head. Just trying to untangle all of it, make sense of any of the comments people made...

Well, she was glad to see Hijikata all the same, despite their anonymous bickering. Helping him with the ritual would take her mind off things, right? And so it was that she found herself standing by with a pair of tongs and...a creepy black egg thing? Definitely suspicious.

Still, despite her mood, she was at least able to put up a small smile and make a half-hearted joke: ]

You've never struck me as the masochist type, you know?

[mayoninofukucho]

I'm not!! Don't say that!

[This is a sensitive topic back in his world! Once branded an "M" a Gintama character will be the target of endless streams of abuse and humiliation... which actually does apply to Hijikata, but unlike the actual Ms he doesn't take it lying down in the slightest and never fails to strike back.

Between defending his S/M status and the eerie ritual itself he's putting the revelations Gundham shared with him about Mukuro out of his mind right now. Even though he still has no doubt that what he was told is true it feels so unreal right now... this girl is the same person he's known for over 8 months now. She's his friend.

One of the people minding the couldron politely requests that they get on with the ritual - or, if either of them is having second thoughts, leave the slate and the egg to the next pair.]

No! I know what I'm doing!

[No, he doesn't. But he's not stepping down like a coward! No way!]

Junko, crack it!

[corpsewarblade]

[She'd definitely heard him bring up "M"'s and "S"'s in conversation before- and she laughed a little at his reaction. A little forced, maybe, but thankfully she was prodded into actually getting on with this ritual.

Right now? She had no way of knowing Hijikata knew the truth, after all, so there was no need to be tense.]

Alright... brace yourself-!

[She nicked her finger on the knife she always kept with her- the military-grade combat knife- and channeled her blood magic. Holding a hand over the egg, the droplets warped, changed, curling around it and hissing as the liquid met that heat.

And then, light flooded her body. A warm glow that was drawn into an intense flash in her hand, shattering the egg with the force of a flashbang right above him.]

Continued from above!

[mayoninofukucho]

[He sees the tension in her body, and his own instincts kick in immediately, but he doesn't reach for his sword or ready an elemental spell. Their shared dream didn't go on long enough for him to find out about the true scale of the Ultimate Despair's machinations (though what he did learn, also later on from Gundham, was bad enough), nor about Mukuro's actual resume - if he had he'd know for sure that her battle skills are superior to his. Unlike her he got injured in combat plenty of times and has the scars to prove it. He doesn't want to fight her, though. His voice is level when he responds.]

I can. I'm a knight of Avalon, and as long as you've been here you haven't harmed a soul.

[Not to his knowledge, at least.]

Whatever you did on your homeworld is out of my jurisdiction.

[That doesn't remotely cover how he feels about her deeds, but at the very least it should provide a comprehensive reason for why he can afford to leave her untouched by his blade or any shackles.]

[corpsewarblade]

[She saw that- the way his own instincts sharpened his stance- but he wasn't moving to fight. Not yet. Her own hand lingered near where her combat knife was strapped to her thigh- but she didn't move to grab it.

Mukuro would fight to get out, or so she told herself, but if he wanted to hurt her, then she'd accept that.

That comment was revealing, though- she'd barely told anyone about some of the things she did at home. Who told him??

Squeezing words out right now was hard, and she just stared at him with that same, cold, intensity. And the faked energy and enthusiasm dropped as well, replaced with something resembling defeat. Fear.]

You're not going to stand down, are you?

[That much was obvious, even with her warning.]

...You knew more about my world than anyone who wasn't part of it, and you knew "Mukuro Ikusaba" existed in connection to the Mastermind. To Ultimate Despair. That's why- that's why I told myself you couldn't find out.

5

[emet_sulk]

[ It has only been a few days since Emet-Selch started assisting the old man in the hut. His service is supposed to last until the day of their passing - which could be anywhere from a few months to a few years normally. Not a problem for an immortal like him, of course, but he wonders if the fae know something he does not. Do they know that the old man's time is soon coming...?

A more calculating person would hasten the process, he thinks idly as he kneels in the small garden, clearing weeds from the soil. There is no shortage of herbs and other plants here. An alchemist like him would have no trouble creating a poison to steadily add to the old man's food. But he won't do that - because this is his penance.

"Emet-Selch?" he suddenly hears. He looks up with a start, staring in confusion at the man standing on the worn path leading to the hut. ]

...What are you doing here?

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata kind of looks like he's seen a ghost (which, to his credit, at least wouldn't sent him running and screaming anymore, not for several months now). He heard of Emet-Selch's arrest, so he's all the more confused to find him in this remote place, by all appearances a free man again. He answers the question with some delay.]

...

I was investigating the edge of the forest. They brought a powerful necromancer to Celliwig last month, to help set the spirits free - which I honestly think will need a lot of careful planning, but I'm not exactly sitting at the decision-makers' table.

[He's not sure if Emet-Selch is all caught up on the events that happened after his very public battle against the leader of the fae gang, so there's a recap! Now comes the harder part... trying to address the murders the man committed without making him promptly end the conversation. Hijikata thought about visiting him in prison, but he's not so dense to not realise that he seriously hindered him in achieving his goal back then. He tries to start diplomatically.]

Are you alright, say?

[emet_sulk]

Oh.

[ He turns his attention back to his task, methodically (but carefully) pulling up weeds and dropping them into a basket. There aren't many; it's a well-kept garden.

He's not sure what to think about the news Hijikata brings. It's of mild interest but, unlike his own world, he isn't invested in the events of this isle. As long as they can accomplish what they were brought here to achieve, he couldn't care less what happens along the way. ]

I'm fine. I...

[ He trails off. What is he expecting? For this man to condemn him? He wouldn't blame them for it. ]

...I'm fine.

[ Like he's trying to convince himself as well as Hijikata. ]

Continued from above!

[mayoninofukucho]

So your world had them too, or something like them!

[That certainly helps make the archaeopteryx comprehensive to Emet-Selch. Hijikata takes his hand, pushes himself up and swings a leg across the horse's back. He's never ridden in the back like this, but how hard can it be?]

Weren't you knighted before me? What if the archaeopteryx that started observing me just didn't see you because you were always in your shop?

[He's teasing him, apparently having a rare playful moment... but he wonders if now that more outworlders have been knighted more archaeopteryxes may appear, and with Emet-Selch having such a long commute across the island so frequently he'd be a prime candidate for them to take notice of.]

[emet_sulk]

[ He gently urges the horse on into a brisk trot. With the weight of two on its back, he wouldn't like to tire the creature out before they reach the city. Unfortunately, it does make for a somewhat bouncy ride. ]

Hmm, perhaps. I certainly haven't had much cause to leave the city.

[ He seems to relax a little as they wind their way through the forest. ]

...Then again, I don't believe I have done anything remotely 'knightly' since I received the title. Especially not recently. [ He chuckles self-deprecatingly. ] I may have scared them off.

3a. SO SORRY ABOUT HOW LATE THIS IS

[plenilunium]

[Jyushi had texted Riou, asking if he could come and train with Riou with their animal magic. After not getting an answer for a while, he had wondered if maybe Riou just didn't see it and so he sent another. With no response still, Jyushi decides to just go out and see. It is a little worrying because with Riou being a former soldier, he's always on the defensive. It could be disastrous so he's announcing himself.

The only reason why Jyushi is able to get past the wire traps is because he had gone to train with Riou more than enough times that he knew about the placement. Although it isn't like Jyushi is well known for his stealth, especially as he's loudly saying:] Riou-san? Riou-san, are you here? I texted you but you didn't answer. I wanted to know if we could train?

[It's also taking him a bit to get through all the brush as he tries to guard his hair.]

No worries, it's all good!! ♡

[mayoninofukucho]

[When Hijikata hears Jyushi call for Riou his heart immediately sinks a little. It looks like he'll have to be the bearer of bad news for him... the prospect of seeing this poor boy upset again is so unpleasant that he'd like to avoid it altogether, but there's no way around it. He takes a breath, puts on a neutral face and walks towards him, raising a hand in greeting.]

Hey, Jyushi.

[He remembers his name from the will-o-wisps calling out to him by the river near Celliwig and he totally introduced himself at some point on the way home, too. Jyushi wanted to train with Riou..? Somehow he didn't strike Hijikata as someone who'd be able to keep up with Riou's military regimen - unless it's magic practice he's talking about. Well, either way, he needs to explain what's going on.]

Riou isn't here right now, I'm afraid. I'm looking after the camp, but I don't know when he'll be back.

[When, or if. God, it's really hard to get it out; Jyushi looks so utterly unsuspecting.]

[plenilunium]

Hijikata-san! [Jyushi had not been expecting to see him and really, he had wanted to seek him out so he could thank him for all that he had done for him. Although he had not wanted it to be quite like this.

Doppo had gone before and so this isn't new to him. He'd been told before to be prepared for people leaving and it was something that Jyushi worried about all the time. Knowing that it was Riou this time? It's a very big disappointment. Him and Riou had gotten along and Jyushi had really liked him. He was so nice and helpful, despite the intimidating aura he gave off, volunteering to help Jyushi learn to use his animal magic.]

Oh...

[Jyushi cannot even hide the disappointment in his voice, evident as always. He wears his heart on his sleeve.]

Um, do you think he'll be back? I tried to text him and he told me I could any time but he wasn't answering me...

[He wants to be hopeful. He wants to believe that maybe Riou will come back.

But hey, at least he probably looks hilarious with twigs in his hair.]

Continued from above (to avoid page-stretching)! 1/2

[mayoninofukucho]

[Oh Jyushi... if he ever ends up kissing a smoker he make quickly change his mind about it being cool. Hijikata smiles at his continued determination. He falls asleep early, huh... he really is like a kid.]

Let's find a place to sit and wait. If he doesn't show up within the next hour we can get ourselves some coffee to stay warm and awake.

[There's a bench not too far away, and while it doesn't allow them to look into the small side street it overlooks the area quite nicely. If nothing else they can spend the time discussing some death magic theory!]

2/2

[mayoninofukucho]

[An hour later there's still no sight of any ghosts, so Hijikata does go fetch some coffee (or, if Jyushi doesn't like it, a hot chocolate for him - keeping him warm is more important than keeping him awake, because if he does fall asleep Hijikata will wake him up). Since the ghost also doesn't show up while he's gone Jyushi doesn't need to actually follow Hijikata's instruction to speak to him if he does.

Whether they keep talking about magic and other things as the lights in the houses go on and the streets become more and more deserted, or whether Jyushi falls asleep on Hijikata, at around 10:35 he squeezes his shoulder and points ahead at the side street.]

Look.

[There he is! The pale, slightly glowing ghost matches the photo they saw with the other documents belonging to Robert's case. He's a well-dressed, somewhat portly man, probably in his 40s, and floating out of the shadows and up the street - not directly towards them, but it looks like he'll pass them by. He doesn't appear to take any notice of them despite the street light illuminating them.]