December Adventures

[mayoninofukucho]

WHO: Hijikata and ✨YOU✨
WHAT: TDM prompts (exploring the Land of Maidens) and a couple of dark web quests!
WHEN: Throughout December
WHERE: Land of Maidens, Camelot City, Underground Fae Prison, Forest of the Felled
WARNINGS: NSFW for prompt 3B ('Go Get 'Em, Tiger' Quest); I'll add more if necessary!



1) Arrival in Elphame

A ⦿ Searching for Direction

[Early in December Hijikata instructs his ghost subordinates to keep up their nightly patrol in Camelot City and look out for its people while he's in Elphame (where, he hopes, it won't be quite as winterly yet). Upon arrival in the Land of Maidens he tries to figure out where to go next from the small island in the lake and, after some fruitless investigation, ends up sticking his face underwater, which prompts the small fairies who are celebrating the shimmering holographic stones to start teasing him.]

Look, he thinks he can dive out of here! Hahaha!

Well, if that wasn't what you meant by "Keep your head down", what else was it?! Be more clear!

[Instead of elaborations he receives more giggles and an enchantment.]

I don't even need to know what you just did, you little cuties!

[?!?!? What? No!! He meant to demand that they tell him what they did to him at once, and the term he called them was anything but flattering!]

I'm sure you actually have nothing to do with this, so never mind. If you helped me I wouldn't know how to repay you, anyway!

[No!!! He meant to say that they better fix this, or else!! God, this is going to be an ordeal. He turns away from the giggling fairies, visibly furious.]

I had no idea this would be so much fun!!

[No!!! He knew exactly that it'd be a shitshow! (And yet he still came...)]

B ⦿ Off-Track

[Not wanting to endure the fairies' mocking laughter any longer Hijikata grimly takes a different pair of shoes out of the big camping backpack he brought and puts them on. They look pretty much exactly like the others - simply black dress shoes -, but they clearly have different properties, given that he confidently walks across the lake's surface in them without sinking in. Once he reaches the mountainside enclosing the gorge he tries to climb up, but the fairies, who curiously followed him, put yet another spell on him, and the wall freezes wherever he touches it, making it impossible for him to grasp on to anything.]

You're so cute!! I want you to spend all day with me!!

[His expression and tone make it rather clear that that's not at all what he wanted to say... but honestly, the fairies may just have done him a favour, because the aqrabuamelu living nearby have been attracted by the commotion. A pair of them are looking down from the clifftop. When Hijikata spots them he shouts up.]

Hey!! No worries, I don't need any help!! I'm having the time of my life!

[No!!! He wants help getting out! But the scorpiontaur-looking warriors don't seem to think that they want him up there with them at all, anyway, instead taking out their bows and arrows. Hijikata still doesn't look like he's entirely sure that staying with the fairies is the better choice here...]


2) Can You Imagine?

A ⦿ Whisper Bridge

[After some fellow outworlders finally figure out that the right way leads through the waterfall they all gradually make it to the three floating islands. Hijikata takes in the lush, gargantuan forest, ancient statues and friendly wildlife on the first one and the fairy-tale-ish castle on the second one, and after spending a while exploring the surroundings he realises with great relief that the reverse speaking spell has stopped working.

Once he hears about the demands of each of the sorceresses' tasks he really regrets coming here at all. What the hell kind of jobs are these?! He isn't cut out for any of this! Facing thorns that turn people to stone? He just got petrified by a basilisk last month, so no thanks!! He can neither sing nor play an instrument nor paint, so those tasks are out of question for him as well... and he doesn't have the slightest idea how to take care of a baby, let alone a gigantic one! Once he hears of the wolf transformation curse he vows to give that maiden a wide berth, too. Does he end up helping at all?! Maybe! In any case it's the final task that seems to lead to everyone's final destination (or so he mistakenly assumes).]

Crossing this damn unsecured bridge blindfolded... do they just want to do us in, or what?

[There's nobody else around... who's supposed to control whether they walk across blindfolded? He slides his blindfold up on one side and takes a few steps onto the bridge. Seriously, these fae give them nothing but trouble-- but his train of thought gets cut off as a massive, beautifully galaxy-patterned sky orca comes barreling towards him with a delightend noise. It's lunch time!]

B ⦿ The Island of Dreams

[Somehow Hijikata manages to make it to the third island in one piece. At first he's confused by all the unfamiliar people, beings and things he sees there, but before long he's filled in on the island's peculiarity and instantly creates a dozen Mayorins out of thin air. All his pissiness appears gone as he plays and laughs with the toddler-sized gnome-like creatures, who all seem to be wanting his attention.]

So this is our present for the winter solstice? All the trouble was worth it after all!


3) Quests

A ⦿ Who You Gonna Call? Ghostbusters! (for angel_of_death)

[Hijikata's bliss on the Island of Dreams was harshly interrupted when he found out that Camelot's criminal underground had been making moves against his hard-working ghost patrol back in King Arthur's domain. Why now of all times?! After some hasty information-gathering he returns to Camelot to meet up with his anonymous contact.

The city in front of him is still snow-clad, and he's easy to spot in his black attire. Now he can only hope that the mystery person will make it to his location before the Yuureisengumi's enemies do.]

⦿ Banyanished (for milkmycattle)

[Hijikata eventually managed to get his captured subordinates back, at least for the time being, though the incident forced him to rearrange them into bigger groups of four (they previously patrolled in pairs) and caution them to take no risks until he's able to figure out some safeguards for them - which may be rather challenging, given that unlike physical entities they can't be outfitted with warding gems or other protective items. Damn it, this time the dark web scumbags really set the Yuureisengumi back! That heist they were planning probably was a success after the ghosts, thrown into some disorder by the disappearance of several of their comrades, fell back until their commander's return.

While he's back in his "home" kingdom, though, he feels the need to follow up on some of the other quests on the dark web. One that immediately caught his eye when he saw it is the one concerning the underground fae prison - something he had no idea existed until now. Luckily he ran into Crow, so they're sitting in the library and mulling over the quest together. Hijikata taps the approximate location of the prison on a map with his finger.]

"Halfway between Dinas Emrys and the Forest of the Felled"... that's Elphame territory. It should be smack dab under the Valley of the Shearing. I know nothing about that area.

[Generally speaking a prison break really goes against his principles, but after everything the fae have done to the outworlders during his year on Avalon he's willing to at least investigate and give the prisoners a chance to make their case. Elphame's rogue justice irks him.]

C ⦿ Go Get 'Em, Tiger (NSFW)

[And then there's that other dark web quest... the one that hits Hijikata with an unwelcome, wholly inappropriate sense of near-nostalgia. It's not like he habitually participates in orgies, but the concept of generating healing energy through intimacy rings all too familiar. How long has it been since Prismatica? He visited ever so often after returning to his homeworld, but now it's already been almost a year since this new calamity froze it along with every other world out there.

Back home he had always rejected the notion that romance might be in the cards for him - a man who lives by the sword shouldn't get involved with an innocent woman. Prismatica, however, gave him plenty of incentive - such as saving the planet - and brought him close to people like him, soldiers who'd seen war and bloodshed. What reasoning could he have used to refuse them too? In the end being with them made him happy. None of his moonlacing partners are here on Avalon now, but he decides to improvise a little and recreate one of the moonblessing transformation effects he got to experience - purely to help the Forest of the Felled get back on its feet after being cursed for such a long time, of course. In no way does he selfishly want to feel good or anything!

Ultimately he wanders into the cold winter woods during the day (when his subordinates are hidden away in their various flasks and birdhouse-like structures) with his hammerspace camping backpack and sets up a campfire and a simple, small two-person tent he bought in Camelot, which he fills with a whole bunch of blankets and pillows. He overlooks his work, satisfied. Now only one thing is missing... he takes out the 'From the Void' recipe he won after braving the Celliwigians' spooky trials last month. He should probably best only start the summons once he's all set, huh? He gets in the tent, ready to close it from inside. No one's going to walk up and ruin this for him, right?

And also surely no one's going to come inspect the quiet tent by the burned-down fireplace the next day either (because damn, multiple summons at the same time really will knock a man out for a whole day)?]


[OOC: If you'd like any additional prompts please feel free to hit me up on my plotting post! Also here are Hijikata's permissions. If asked for his name in Elphame he'll say he's 'Agent Mayo 13' (yeah...).]

Comments

2A

[theskyaccepts]

[Tsuna doesn't really know what he's doing here. He's not great at trials, and rarely enters things voluntarily. (And somehow it's easier when your tutor is threatening you? Tsuna has a weird life.) But despite the thoughts running through his head, he's here and well, he might as well see it through.

Not without regrets because that that bridge does not look safe, and he does not like heights. He's prepared to attempt some optimism with a "well, it can't be completely bad if they want us to complete the trial..." but that's put on hold as the sky orca bursts forth.

And Tsuna screams, turning quickly to get away as fast as he can, trial forgotten.

Of course he trips in the process, stumbling towards Hijikata.]

[mayoninofukucho]

[Oh crap!! Now he has to save not only his own ass, but also Tsuna's-- but before he can do much of anything they already collide and crash down onto the bridge surface. Hijikata automatically shields Tsuna with his body as the orca sweeps past narrowly above them, massive jaws audibly closing, then he quickly scrambles to his feet and drags he boy along onto solid ground.

The orca halts its second attack about midway through, seeing that neither of the mortals is trying to cross the bridge anymore for now, and peacefully dives back into the clouds with a joyful trill.]

Holy shit!!

[That huge-ass creature seriously would have killed them if it had caught them... unless it's just an illusion or something, but at this rate he's unwilling to risk finding out. He pulls the askew blindfold off his head altogether and looks Tsuna over for any scratches.]

Are you okay?

[theskyaccepts]

[Tsuna does not answer immediately, needing to catch his breath and for his heart rate to go down to something assumingely normal. Though, if he's being honest, Tsuna is fairly certain that his heart rate hasn't been normal since he met Reborn. But those thoughts aside, he eventually gives a nervous laugh.]

Y-yeah, I'm...I'm okay Thank you.

What was that thing?

[mayoninofukucho]

An orca.

[That's not really a sufficient answer, but it's the best he can give ad hoc. He frowns at the bridge. There are numerous of those beautifully patterns but deadly creatures swimming through the sky in the distance, so this surely wasn't an isolated freak incident... what the hell were those sorceresses thinking?!]

I'm starting to feel like Elphame's trying to wipe us all out before we ever get to their capital.

[Why are they doing it in such a strange and roundabout way, though? And why the hell did they put them through all the hassle of the other tasks beforehand?! He's truly about convinced that all fae are sadists.]

[theskyaccepts]

[It's enough for Tsuna, but it's definitely more of an Orca than he's ever seen. Patterns and flying notwithstanding.]

No kidding. Why are we trying to go there again?

[He asks partway in jest but it's also partly a legitimate question.]

How are we even supposed to get across? I feel like the orca's gonna keep coming after us.

[mayoninofukucho]

Beats me, on both counts.

[He takes out a cigarette and snaps it alight with his fire magic. He needs it after that near-death experience.]

Let's go back. This is bullshit, and I suspect all the other tasks are too.

[What kind of moron would actually attempt walking across such a dangerous bridge blindfolded?! He definitely won't allow Tsuna to attempt it. Gokudera would end him if anything happened to his boss!]

[theskyaccepts]

[Tsuna is, not going to disagree with that sentiment. But unfortunately, the voice for Reborn, which is a constant in the back of Tsuna's head, pipes up. And Tsuna has a hard time ignoring that voice. It's the one that encourages and threatens him in the same breath.]

We're not going to try again?

[mayoninofukucho]

No.

[If it were for a more important cause, or under more desperate circumstances, or with someone else, then Hijikata might reconsider. But just for the winter solstice celebration with fae who are clearly screwing around with them, and with Tsuna of all people?! He'll need some serious incentive to change his mind! (To be fair, that may come sooner rather than later.)]

Gokudera'd blow my ass up if I let you end up as fish food.

[Orcas being mammals aside, just how sheltered does he think Tsuna is?]

[theskyaccepts]

Hie?

[Hold up, something just jumped the queue in front of the sky whales. Though we will circle back to those.]

Y-you know Gokudera-kun? And me?

[He knows that Gokudera probably talks about him a lot but still. He usually flies under the radar.]

[mayoninofukucho]

Yeah. I've known him for a good while; he was one of the first people I talked to when I arrived here. He told me about you.

[That's not quite the full story, though. During the spring equinox, when Hijikata got wholesale AU'd into Tsuna's world through Gokudera's dream, he infiltrated their school as an undercover policeman, and that's how he actually knows what Tsuna looks like and has a rough idea of his personality from being the boys' fake substitute teacher. However that would be truly convoluted to explain, so he leaves it at what he said.]

Is he anywhere around here, do you know? Did you come here together?

[theskyaccepts]

[Tsuna has to laugh at that, but it's not unfriendly. More unsurprised.]

Yeah, I figured as much. That's something he'd do.

But no, it's just me. If he were here, he'd be right behind me.

[Like a good right hand man always is.]

[mayoninofukucho]

Figures.

[He sighs. He'll have to nag Gokudera to accompany Tsuna into a potentially dangerous new area the next time! He's about to muse out loud about whether they should just cancel the entire solstice and head back to the relative safety of Camelot when someone comes their way, clearly headed for the Whisper Bridge. Hijikata flags the man down.]

Hold on! If you plan to cross that bridge, forget about that! Those orcas will have you for lunch.

Only if you mess it up! You've got to wear your blindfold properly!

I'm telling you, it's impossible! Don't do it; you'll die!

Mister, I've been on the Island of Dreams three dozen times already. Every year I cross the bridge to dream up as much cheese as I can eat, and I've got no plans to skip this year!

[He passes Tsuna and Hijikata by, clearly determined to go through with it. The samurai curses under his breath.]

Damn, what an idiot. I've got to stop him. Tsuna, you go back to the castle!

[theskyaccepts]

[Yeah, he's not doing that.]

Wait! Can't we just see how he does it? He's a local after all.

A-and maybe he's doing something we're missing.

[And if that fails, they can jump into action to save him.]

Continued from above (to avoid pagestretching)!

[mayoninofukucho]

[(Continued from here!)]

Wait, slow down--!!

[Oh shit. The whales don't seem to be coming, but Tsuna's direction is getting worrisomely diagonal. Whether he has too much momentum to reliably stop without stumbling or looks like he might lose his balance, once he's only a few steps away from the island Hijikata dashes forward, grabs him, and makes his way back onto solid ground with him in a few large strides.

Despite the action only taking a few seconds it's enough to cause a cacophony of angry orca screams. Several of the large, shimmering whales angrily swim towards them through the sky, pointy teeth bared, so Hijikata loses no time running further inland, throwing Tsuna over his shoulder like a sack of rice.]

Those crappy fish!!

[A couple of orcas snap their jaws after them, but apparently they don't like flying too close above the ground, because they quickly fall back. Hijikata keeps running for a little while longer, but then he slows down as he see the strangest assortment of... stuff.]

What..?

[He finally sets Tsuna down so he can remove the blindfold (if he hasn't already managed) and also take a look at all the strange things ahead of them - palaces and castles, a tall ivory tower, several amusement parks, strange massive trees and gargantuan candy canes and other and structures that look completely alien.]

[theskyaccepts]

[It is a strange mix of panic and nostalgia that grips Tsuna in this moment. Panic, because he can hear the angry orca noises and that means something has gone wrong and being picked up while blindfolded is another disorienting thing. The nostalgia comes in with the fact that, really, this is is life and he should be expecting these things more often.]

Wh--what happened?

[Tsuna asks as the blindfold comes off, but the question is momentarily forgotten as he looks around.]

Hie? Are we even in the same place?

[mayoninofukucho]

We're on the island, yeah.

...

They did say that everything you dream up comes true here, but I didn't expect everything to stick around. This has to be all the things people dreamed up here for decades, if not centuries.

[As they slowly wander around they see so much more - plants, animals, people of all shapes and colours, plus so many items strewn all over the place - that it's hard to take everything in.]

There was no mention of consequences or a price to pay, this time, but...

[He doesn't trust the fae!]

[theskyaccepts]

All stuff that people dreamed up...

[There's got to be a lot of weird stuff in these piles. Tsuna can't even begin to imagine.]

You don't think that crossing the bridge was the price? Or...are there more?

[mayoninofukucho]

That better have been it!

[Seriously, he's not up for any more twists in this crazy tale!]

Hold on, I'm going to give it a try.

[He closes his eyes and focuses on the original Mayorin brand mayonnaise bottle he wants, and poof, it appears in his hand.]

Ah..! It works! It works!

[Wow, talk about a mood shift! Suddenly it all feels like it was absolutely worth it. He immediately poofs another bottle into existence and laughs happily (perhaps a disturbing sound for anyone who's only gotten to know his more usual pissy mode so far).]

[theskyaccepts]

[Tsuna has had to deal with some pretty weird things in his time. Weird people with weird desires. Admittedly, mayonnaise? Not that weird in the grand scheme of things. Though the fact that Hijikata wants two bottles is a little odd. Especially considering what they had to go through to get them.]

That must be a special brand of mayonnaise.

[mayoninofukucho]

Yes, it's Mayorin mayonnaise from home! Do you see Mayorin here?

[He points out the image of a plump mascot decorating the front of the bottle. It's honestly kind of ugly, but his voice is soft and fond.]

I wonder if...

[He trails off, closes his eyes as if that would help his concentration, and according to his new wish a toddler-sized living Mayorin pops into existence between them. Hijikata's eyes start shining like in a shoujo series.]

Mayorin..!! You're really here!

[He crouches to hug the gnomish creature, and it's like he found his kidnapped child again or something, that's how much "happy reuinion" energy they radiate.]

I had to be without you for such a long time!

[theskyaccepts]

[Tsuna is legitimately confused. But he supposes that everyone does have their thing.]

I...I don't know if we have that brand of mayonnaise where I'm from. But I'm glad you found what you're looking for.

[Weird creature that it is...]

[mayoninofukucho]

Me too.

[His vibes completely turned around... Mayorin looks at Tsuna with beady little black eyes that seem to have nothing much behind them, but only for a moment, the he turns back to Hijikata and gives him a big bright smile.]

Say, Tsuna, are you going to be okay on your own? I'm going to make some more.

[Okay then. Whatever happened to keeping an eye on Tsuna so Gokudera doesn't blow Hijikata's ass up later?!]

[theskyaccepts]

Hei...are you sure, Hijikata-san?

[Maybe Tsuna seems paranoid, but he feels like something like this could get out of hand very quickly.]

But, yeah, I think I'll be alright.

[mayoninofukucho]

[Nonsense, Hijikata totally knows what he's doing! (He doesn't. But also Mayorins are harmless, if nothing else; they only eat eggs.)]

Okay, I'll see you later then! Don't-- get lost.

[He almost cautioned him to not dream up anything dangerous there, but bit it back at the last moment - otherwise it'd probably have had that effect where someone who's told not to think of a certain thing just can't help but think of it, and then Tsuna's worst nightmares might end up taking shape here... whatever those might be.]

[theskyaccepts]

I-I'll try not to.

[And really. He means it. Tsuna never actively tries for trouble and if approaching it, will find any means possible to go the opposite direction. Though of course, his mind wanders, and he finds himself thinking of the "camping" trip he was dragged on (which was really just Reborn's excuse to cause chaos in the wilderness). The one that ended with Enzio the Turtle growing in size and then squishing him.

So when he's suddenly aware that he's walking in shadow, a familiar sense of fear rushes up Tsuna's spine. And he's reluctant to turn around.

Maybe if he keeps walking, it'll go away?]