#( thread. ) mainverse

[doctoregonspengler]

@ashortdropandasuddenstop | Pieces on a chessboard

When Egon had left the nautical museum the night before, Ray had been waiting for him at Ecto-1. He had taken the time to update his friend on what had happened in the brig of the ship, and Ray had told him that he would look into ways to help the apparition. He had originally insisted on coming with him the following day, but Egon had refused. None of them had liked the idea of him returning alone to a haunt. But he was resolute, telling them to trust his judgement. The museum had closed an hour before he'd arrived. He'd had to pull a few strings with the staff to allow him in without the Harrington's knowledge. They were almost too happy to comply and the doctor had the feeling that Harrington may not have been that well liked.

With his briefcase in hand, he walked up the gang plank of the ship and paused. He didn't want to have to go back down to the brig, but he didn't know if it would be presumptuous to walk right in to the captain's quarters. He didn't have his PKE meter with him so he wasn't sure where the officer would be. After a moment's deliberation, he knock on the door and let himself in.

No one was in sight and he scouted the area out. Spotting the tea table near the harbor-facing window, he opened his briefcase and set up the chess set he had brought with him. He sat down on the side of the black pieces and waited, watching out of the window at the water. He didn't know how long he would be sitting by himself, but he was patient. He would wait as long as the ghost needed.

[monenblogi]

@draconicfool - from dis

"It's not up for debate, Eros, you cannot touch it."

[cyclend]

Once, Silco knew exactly who he was and what he was fighting for. Back then, it would've been near impossible to imagine where he's ended up now.

At least, he thinks so. It's hard to be sure of anything right now regarding the past. It lies out of his reach, a distant, nebulous thing that he can't rely on - but that in itself isn't so bad on it's own. It's everything else he's missing that he really hates. Motivation, purpose, meaning - they're all dependent on a stable sense of identity, and without that, there's nothing left to grasp onto... All that seems to remain in him are his emotions; always present, always acidic and unavoidable, even if there's nothing to anchor them to to explain what they mean.

Distrust clings to his bones like an old friend. And even deeper inside him is a pervasive, stubborn longing for something more than what he has... yet in spite of those emotions, right now, all he can seem to do is drift on aimlessly. The burning drive that once lit him ablaze has tempered out entirely, leaving him in a rather miserable state- that of a pathetic, broken man with very little left to give. He wants more - he knows he can't rely on anyone else for it - but he can't seem to bring himself to actually reach for it. Some piece of the puzzle is missing that might explain where all his motivation has gone... but as he is now, he has no way of knowing what that is.

Still. Before, Silco was someone who fought tooth and nail for everything he had. That part of him, he's sure - it hasn't gone away for good. But the exhaustion that seems to have buried his old self and the doubts he feels now... he wonders if he'll ever be able to overcome them?

"You've mentioned that before." he says, to the man who made him what he is now. Viktor is a mystery that Silco still hasn't quite figured out; but one who he has no choice but to rely on. It's been that way since he woke up.

"But I... don't think I really listened. What is it that you need from me, exactly?"

@holyf1esh ( starter! )

[aletheialed]

Right now, wine glass in hand and staring vacantly into the dark corners of the room in which he dwells - Barok can't help but think about his brother. To think about Klint during hard times, the man who he's always admired so much, has always come naturally to him - but it can't bring him any comfort now.

The truth is, Barok doesn't know what he should feel more betrayed about. The fact that the brother he'd wanted to emulate all his life was nothing but a killer, who's actions resulted in the ending and ruining of so many lives, including Barok's own? Or... is it that, until the very end, Klint was too afraid to share that horrible truth with him, even when that fear allowed him to be controlled into committing the most heinous acts imaginable?

It makes him want to laugh with a bitterness he hasn't felt in years. It makes him feel ill; desperate and angry and like a fraying rope about to snap. Perhaps it's sinful, and a sign of Barok's own weak character, that Klint's lack of trust in him might be what hurts the most. Had he thought Barok would break under the weight of the truth, and sought to protect him from that fate? What's worse is that Barok doesn't know how he would've reacted deep down. What's the scarier thought - that Barok would've turned away in despair and been unable to carry on just as his brother feared, or that he would stand with Klint, perhaps even turning a blind eye to his crimes...?

...There's no point in thinking about it now. But if he doesn't think about Klint, then there's no shortage of other things to take his place at the forefront of his mind. Such as the true identity of the Reaper, and how Barok had been complicit in his crimes for the longest time - allowing himself to be used and manipulated like a puppet on a string, even when he didn't see the full extent of it all.

His whole life, these past ten years in which he thought he'd endured so much, all for the sake of the people of London... what were they all for?

When he hears the knock on the door, it's tempting to ignore it entirely - he barely has the energy to stand, anyway. He doesn't know who it could possibly be, considering everything, but... in the end, he rises like a man possessed, and finds himself walking to open the door as if in a trance. What he sees when the door opens is the last thing he expects.

"Mr... Naruhodo...? You... pray tell, what are you doing here at this hour?"

@tenacquity ( starter! )

[sorrowveined]

It's strange to think how only weeks ago, Maria could never have imagined the depths of despair she would soon sink into, or the future waiting for her. It feels like those times - the times when her family was whole - were years ago, now; yet she remembers them perfectly, and those crystal-clear memories now only serve to torment her, leaving her shaking under the weight of the pain they bring.

Perhaps she's being melodramatic. But she feels she's earned the right to be, just a little. Her mother, who she may never she again, is a vampire - cursed to be hated and rejected by all, having become the thing she hated the most - a monster. She'll never walk in the sunlight again. And that fate was supposed to be Maria's... that's what hurts the most. The fact that she's desperate to escape but can never run away from, so agonizing it's unbearable - is that in the end, it's all her fault.

And her father's.

Maria feels her stomach lurch at the thought of him. Grinds her teeth together. It's not like she isn't trying to move forward, like she's sure her mother wanted for her - Richter, too... but it's hard, harder than anything she's ever known. She feels useless, too, which is a feeling she hates more than anything. Seeing Richter, though... while it doesn't exactly ease the weight in her chest, his presence reminds her that she hasn't lost everything, that there are still some things worth fighting for in this world. And she's grateful for that, at the very least.

"You're giving me that look again." she says, once she notices him staring. She's not the person she used to be, and it's no surprise that he can see that, but she feels so exposed and ashamed under his gaze. There's no judgement there, though. She can't see any, anyway.

"Are you worried about me? You don't need to be." The bitterness that colored her words before is gone now, because Richter doesn't deserve that directed at him. "I know you're thinking of leaving, but... I'm not completely useless on my own."

@knightfeared ( starter! )

[certaintricks]

It's not like Satoko is ungrateful for the life she's living.

She's surrounded by wonderful friends and creates fun memories every day. Rika, Keiichi and everyone else spend time with her and support her despite who she used to be, and while Satoshi isn't here, she knows that he'll wake up one day, too - as long as she keeps working hard. Even the villagers have become kinder as of late, something which Satoko could barely believe at first - but now, she can't wait until she can show her brother how different things are. That they can be happy, now.

So really, things are going well. And Satoko is happy. It's just... that makes it all the more frustrating when those other feelings start to slip in. Dissatisfaction gnaws at her, though she's unable to figure out what's causing it at all... it's like persistent background noise, and it's worsened by the guilt she feels for feeling that way at all. What's wrong with her? Why can't she just accept the happiness she's been given and be content with it?

Forcing a smile on her face, Satoko does her best to cover up her melancholy expression before it's noticed.

"Runa-san... ah, I must apologize. I've been rather scattered as of late! ...Did you need something?"

@rollinggirlrunahika ( starter! )

[guardiandamned]

"IV."

Ryouga greets IV with a curt, unimpressed voice, and lips curled into an irritated glower. In other words - everything is just the same as one would expect... or at least, it should be.

But in reality - things couldn't be further from that truth. Because Ryouga knows something that IV doesn't... that no human knows, in fact. And that's Ryouga's true identity as the Barian Emperor Nasch; the enemy to Yuma and Astral and the Astral world along with them.

He hasn't told anyone. Soon, the war will begin, and Ryouga knows by then it'll be too late to play pretend any longer. But for now... he's made the decision to act human for a while more - all in the name of collecting information and forming a plan that'll defeat Yuma for good. Of course, that means he'll have to pretend around IV, too - that nothing's changed, that they're still on the same side together against the Barians...

Does it hurt, to take the place of a traitor? To turn his back on the people he cares about so much? ...More than anything. But he can't let it stop him - so he'll drown out that pain with another, worse pain, and keep moving forwards. Luckily... he doesn't have to act all too differently around IV compared to the others - after all, they never really got along.

"You're looking as obnoxious as always. What do you need from me, anyway? Want me to kick your ass again?"

@eternalxloyalxspirits ( starter for iv / thomas! )

[mostpeculiarmademoiselleetmsieur]

@itisweselton

A warm breeze carried the light scent of roses up from the gardens and through the open window of Belle’s study. It was a particularly warm spring day; unusual for spring in this part of France, but enjoyable nonetheless. It made the work of managing the castle and surrounding towns and villages just a little bit easier.

The sound of a far-off horse’s whinny, also carried by the breeze, prompted Belle to ring for a servant.

“Please tell Cogsworth, Lumiere, and Mrs. Potts our guests will be arriving soon, and to greet them at the gate,” she instructed. The servant, a young girl from the nearest village—a new hire whose name she hadn’t yet had a chance to learn—nodded and hurried off to convey her mistress’s message.

Belle sighed and leaned back against the plush cushioned back of her chair. It truly was a difficult task, taking care of the duties of both the head of the household and lady of the household at once. If only her husband had returned on that stormy night so many months ago, rather than just his horse.

She missed him.

Life had been so cruel, to take Adam from her so soon after she’d broken his curse and become his wife.

But the past was the past, and it did no good for anyone if she simply allowed herself to languish.

—————————

The servants arranged themselves in the courtyard to greet the carriage bearing their arriving guest, Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts stepping forward from the group as the carriage door opened.

“Welcome, Your Grace,” Cogsworth said with a bow, nearly knocking his pocket watch from its clasp. “I am Cogsworth, the majordomo of this castle. This is Lumiere, the head butler, and Mrs. Potts, the head housekeeper. We three will be in charge of ensuring your comfort during your stay here.”

[braivoice]

"Del...?"

What he's seeing should be an impossibility. Basilio's well aware of that fact - and perhaps a smarter man would've doubted his eyes more; been suspicious that this was all just some trick, someone's cruel plan to take advantage of a wound that has never healed.

But Basilio - he can't help but hope. Even if it's a frightening thing, even knowing that he could be putting himself in danger... both of getting hurt physically, and of breaking his own heart when he realizes that his brother isn't really here. It's worth the risk, to Basilio. Besides, he's gone through all sorts of impossible things up until now, so what's one more for the road?

"Oi, I'm not dreaming, yeah? Del, that's really you?"

@stubbornstalwart ( starter! )

[duelbeats]

Once upon a time, Sachi, Sei and Kotori were all close friends. Granted, Kotori had always been close to Yuma as well, and she'd known him before ever meeting Sachi herself... but still, Sachi is sure that the way things have been changing is a much more recent development.

If Kotori doesn't want to spend as much time with them anymore, then that's fine, even if it's a little hurtful. Her mum says that sometimes friends drift apart, and Sei seems to think that Kotori will come talk to them about it in her own time. Which is fine! Really, Sachi isn't the type to get upset over something like this, even when others would be... it's just- she's started to worry about Kotori recently, too.

When she sees her in class, sometimes she seems like a different person. She's distracted easily, and nowadays seems almost melancholic at times; serious at others. It's no big deal, but something in Sachi's gut tells her there's a reason for Kotori's strange behavior as of late, and she worries it's a dangerous one. But is she overthinking it? She doesn't want to sit by and do nothing if Kotori is in trouble, but...

Suddenly, she notices Shark, and the sight of her upperclassman takes her from her thoughts for the moment. Honestly, Shark has always been intimidating to her. Normally, she'd avoid talking to him entirely, but something about him seems strange too, today... and eventually she finds herself calling out-

"Umm... are you looking for someone?"

@wriitethestory ( starter for shark! )

[monenblogi]

@draconicfool - from dis

“Sorry, I’m afraid I’m a bit more exhausted than I usually am today.” He offered up a sheepish smile from his seat on the train. What an unintentional way to ruin what was supposed to be a well-planned night, but that was on Welt. At least the cup manifestations were getting better. 

One such cup was currently being turned in his hands, he could feel the core trying to leech what little bit of power it could get returned to it. “Mm... I’m afraid I’ll have to stay here for a bit.” He sighed. “Just--give me a moment, okay?” 

[shadowedresolve]

Toshiro must have lost his mind.

He's thought that exact thing several times before, but it's never been as starkly obvious - or as utterly terrifying - to consider as it is right now. And yet somehow, despite the cold sweat he's broken into and the state of denial he can't seem to break out of, he clings to the thought like a lifeline, because the alternative possibility - that he is, in fact, completely sane after all - is even more terrifying to consider.

He wants to laugh to himself hysterically, and for a moment, he almost does just that - letting out a strange, high-pitched chuckle that honestly sounds rather desperate. But then he shakes his head and finally asks the question on his mind-

"You- what are you...!? There's no way you're human, right...?"

@tvstarkuma ( starter! )

[strangespectres]

As Keith smokes a cigarette with a weary exhale, he takes a moment to reflect on the situation he's found himself in. As a detective, he's gone to all kinds of weird places before for various reasons, but showing up at an abandoned art gallery after receiving a strange letter at his door - really? To be frank, this time around it feels like he's wasting his time.

Still, he won't be taking any chances. Not considering the subtly threatening tone of the "invitation" he'd received, and with the safety of his wife a concern on his mind. Really, though, it's likely he's being too paranoid... that's what he wants to believe, at least. Regardless, what a waste of an evening...

As he spots the man half-obscured by the shadows nearby, though, Keith straightens up. And even as he speaks, his posture is casual, but he gives off the impression of a man who's had a long day and an even longer night.

"You don't look like the type I'd expect to see in a place like this." For some reason, he's half-tempted to offer the stranger a smoke. "...Guess that's pretty judgemental though, huh. So? You need something?"

@fabricatedprince ( starter! )

[spdrlegacy]

After much deliberation and revision, I've decided to have May be in her 20s. Also, the divergence from her canon that I have added to the rules:

The Inheritors never came to her world, who would have murdered her father and taken her brother.

[sorrowveined]

Maria may be lonely, but she supposes it's nothing less than she deserves.

Before, just thinking of everything that's happened over the past few weeks had been so agonizing that she'd wanted nothing more than to tear out her hair and scream until she couldn't anymore. Now, that feeling may have dulled a little, and she's even been able to smile again since, yet... it doesn't feel like healing. Though the threat of eternal night may have passed, to Maria, the world still feels darker than ever.

But it's not like she isn't trying to move forward. Maria still doesn't want to throw away the things she values or let herself become useless in the face of injustice - and for that reason, she needs to find the strength inside her to go on; to find something worth living for even when she's now on her own. ...Well, maybe she's not entirely alone. There's Juste, who did save her life and call her family, even if he doesn't quite understand her in the way she wishes someone would. And then there's Alucard...

Maria doesn't really know how to feel about him. His stoic nature makes him difficult to read, and she never had the chance to speak much with him at all - all she really knows about him is that he's a half-vampire and the son of Dracula. But maybe that lack of knowledge is what's been making her so curious. Has he ever struggled with his nature as a dhampir, and as the son of someone who hurt and killed so many? Did it hurt him, to kill his father with his own hands? Has he doubted himself or doubted the world he lives in? Has he ever felt lonely?

...It's difficult to imagine someone as legendary as him as someone who lives and feels like the rest of them, but Maria knows that thinking that way is unfair. Deep down, though... maybe it's just that a part of her wants to hope that maybe he could understand. Their stories may not be the same, but the similarities between their circumstances - no matter how slight - are enough to make her want to confide in him, even with the possibility that she'll be let down. But in the end... she doesn't really know how to ask, or if she even can.

"Are you staying, then? Or are you going with Richter?" Gazing out over the horizon, she sits next to Alucard, watching the world as it goes by - a world utterly oblivious to her feelings. "Or are you going to travel again? Juste said that's what you were doing before."

@arvkado ( starter! )

[shadowgamed]

"Mokuba..."

How is Seto supposed to begin this conversation? This is his little brother. Speaking to him should be easier than anything else in the world - and yet Seto can feel his throat closing even as he tries to open his mouth to speak.

Maybe it's because of everything that's happened during Battle City... But it isn't until Mokuba's outburst at the end of that tournament that Seto truly realized everything his brother had been holding inside. Begging him to forget about his grudge... making him promise to go back to his old self, before they met the man who would ruin their lives... thinking about it fills Seto with an ugly emotion, one he doesn't want to face.

Is he angry? Or is it guilt that's weighing on him so deeply? How long had Mokuba been holding in those feelings? He had cried as he shouted, and the pain he felt was obvious, so much so that it had been like a slap to the face. ...And in spite of everything, in spite of who he's been up until today... Seto can't let Mokuba suffer like that any more.

It's not just a sense of duty as his older brother. Things like duty mean nothing to him. It's because Mokuba is Mokuba - that's all.

When he eventually speaks, it's bluntly, and without any hint as to the conflict he's feeling inside.

"...I think we should talk."

@universestreasures ( starter for mokuba! )