Kazuki
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You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class: 
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Oct 16, 2023 20:56:50 GMT 9
#s://a~l3n~co/i/qo9OUC~png Atsushi had survived, somehow. He evaded con security the whole day, thanks in no small part to M'Foxy, and other than a heart attack-inducing encounter with Tuesday in a stairwell, he managed himself and the damnable Moltres costume pretty decently.
Ren was, of course, laughing their fucking ass off while he was trying to strangle them at a hidden nook outside the hotel. “You’ve never looked better,” they wheezed, snapping photos.
They took the costume at least, saying they’d get rid of it. Atsushi was confident they would just stow it in the car, but he couldn’t find the energy to care. He let the overly-welcoming attendant scan his pass for a DREAMER stamp, having not enough words to tell him to fuck off. His leg ached. His clothes were basically plastered to his skin. And he still needed to wear a mask and cap as a failsafe. All he wanted now was a goddamn shower.
It was at just the right time. Most had left for dinner or were still at the venue, and after he waited for some brunette to take the elevator, it was his turn. It was empty. Dragging steps took him inside, lidded eyes staring at the buttons as he tried to recall which floor his room was on. He had just pressed it when he raised his head and saw someone making their way over. |
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Verai
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You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 877
Trainer Class: 
Player Name: Miyagawa Tarou
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 38
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Post by Verai on Oct 16, 2023 21:43:56 GMT 9
It was Verai, because there was no justice in this world, but a lot of sick humor. He held an arm out to keep the doors from closing, following Brianna into the elevator, who was still awake and talking.
"- it's kind of just? Changed the gaming landscape? And that's only the first game- which was intended to be a proof of concept-" She said, making an aborted start for their floor's button- which was already lit up, sick- before she turned to Tarou again. "Deltarune is actually the first real game- so it isn't a sequel or anything but-"
"Brianna." Tarou was tired, and regretted getting the dreamer stamp, which had spurred this entire conversation. "You're bothering him."
"You're allowed to keep talking in an elevator. It's not illegal."
Tarou glanced over at the poor man- to apologize- and went still. It was the man from the airport, the one who threatened to bash in his skull. Except now he seemed on the losing end-
"Please forgive her." Well, that wasn't his business, was it?
"Dad!"
And the elevator stopped, Tarou ushering Bria off, and following her down a familiar set of turns, the pair pausing as Tarou worked to fish out his keycard. "So, anyway, it's sort of like an adjacent universe, where the characters are all there but completely different-" |
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Oct 25, 2023 16:06:02 GMT 9
#s://a~l3n~co/i/qo9OUC~png The elevator was filled with the girl’s chatter, but it didn’t matter; ‘Deltarune’ could have been all that stood between life and death and it still would have slipped through Atsushi’s barren earholes, because in that moment his world was solely occupied by the white-haired man.
The ensuing conversation sobered him.
Atsushi blinked, finding himself back to earth, and even more pressingly, in direct eye contact with the man he’d spent the better part of the day chasing.
“I – uh, what? Sure,” he said, not knowing what he’d just forgiven. Before he could ask, the elevator doors opened, and opportunity began slipping from his fingers.
If he wasn’t so fucking exhausted, he would have laughed. The bastard was staying not just in the same hotel, not just on the same level, but basically right in front of his room, so it had all been pointless.
He lagged behind for a bit, just taking in the cruel blessing of life, before throwing caution to the wind.
Quick stomps on the carpet – his hand clamped around the man’s wrist, taking the key card hostage and delaying the anticipated sock to the jaw.
“I need to talk to you.”
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Verai
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 877
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Miyagawa Tarou
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 38
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Post by Verai on Oct 26, 2023 23:53:28 GMT 9
Tarou glanced over as his arm was grabbed, bristling. This fucking guy- He pulled his wrist free, passing the card to Bria, eyes never leaving the aggressive stranger. "Get inside." He said.
Bria... hesitated. "But-"
"Now." Bria frowned, eyes flicking to Atsushi as if this were his fault (which it was), the woman then slipping into the room.
It was only when the door clicked shut that Tarou spoke again. "What is it you want?" He was exhausted from walking around all day, and keeping up with Bria- and now this. And if his intuition was righr, he wasn't here to talk.
He was here to finish the fight from the airport. |
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Nov 2, 2023 20:07:44 GMT 9
#s://a~l3n~co/i/qo9OUC~png The stranger pulled free of his hold. It’s a feeling that stings through his hand, but Atsushi wills down the impulse to pursue—he wasn’t here to provoke, or to threaten, or god forbid, try and lay hand on the guy’s daughter. He was not here for a fight.
But from how the man was regarding him, it seemed damn well inevitable.
(Never has he cursed jet lag any harder—and, well, his lack of a chill pill in general. Fuck.)
The man asks what he wants and there is an urge on Atsushi’s tongue, a snippy comment because he just said what he wants is to talk, but be bites it down, knowing it’s a miracle he’s even getting the time of day. What he needs to do now is to ask the most pressing question.
Are you Verai? Did you lie? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here? Who are you?
A thousand words trying to battering ram their way past his teeth, and what comes out of his mouth first is:
“Are you married?!” |
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Verai
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 877
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Miyagawa Tarou
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 38
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Post by Verai on Nov 2, 2023 21:14:12 GMT 9
Are you married?!
It's an incredulous question, and an absurd one. Tarou just looked at the stranger, face edging closer and closer to a displeased snarl. What was it this man wanted?
He fought to remind himself that this was the guest of Bria's friend, and likely not someone connected to any of- that. But panic still rose in him at the bizarre line of questioning. Should he have done this at all? Come to such a large gathering, with so many people-
Breathe. A slow exhale.
"No, I'm not." He said, short, straightforward. "Is that all?" |
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Nov 2, 2023 23:15:09 GMT 9
#s://a~l3n~co/i/qo9OUC~png The answer took far too long to arrive, and by then Atsushi had plenty of time to put one hand over his masked face and just—will himself to explode. He has done it in-game, why can’t he do it in real life?
For whatever miraculous reason, the man does not smack him for the atrocious choice of words. It is still somehow not as bad as his first actual words to him, which he’s mortified to remember was “The fuck are you looking at?”
Whatever. He’s gotten this far. He will push his luck. “And what is. Your name?”
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Verai
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 877
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Miyagawa Tarou
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 38
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Post by Verai on Nov 3, 2023 0:16:20 GMT 9
Tarou could not, no matter how rude or strange the man was acting, attack one of Bria’s friends (by association). He narrowed his eyes, though, clearly unimpressed with this string of questions. This- this sudden, sharp prying into his personal life-
His name. If he had a partner to miss him.
“Miyagawa.” Tarou said. Answering, which was polite, and not giving any more information than the man needed- or already had. “It’s been… wonderful to meet you.” He said, hoping to get out of the conversation before he said something else out of pocket. |
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Nov 3, 2023 0:44:53 GMT 9
#s://a~l3n~co/i/qo9OUC~png Explode. Explode right now.
“Can it.” Apparently a day running around in the a humiliating costume was nothing compared to—whatever this conversation was. Holy shit. A second later, and you’d think the guy was going to pull out pepper spray.
He wouldn’t even blame him.
Turning around, Atsushi reached for—unfortunately—the door right beside the poor man’s room, swiping his card as if trying to cut it in half and then slamming it shut behind him. He dragged his feet over to the bed—the one that hadn’t turned into a laundry chair for Pokémon Merch—and collapsed, face-first and filthy.
And outside—the sound of someone sucking a straw in a plastic cup.
“Um, yikes,” Ren laughed, having materialized from the elevator at some point during the conversation. They were still wearing the C0D1E helmet. It could apparently be pried open, allowing them to shove a straw through and grin at Tarou. “What was that?” |
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Verai
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 877
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Miyagawa Tarou
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 38
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Post by Verai on Nov 3, 2023 3:50:06 GMT 9
Tarou bristled, watching the man turn and slam into his own room- disconcertingly nearby. Of course. Of course. Punctuated by none other than the sounds of someone struggling to get the last of a drink up a plastic straw.
Tarou turned, gaze leveling on… Bria’s weird friend. His disposition relaxed, a bit. “It was nothing. Please don’t worry.” He said, trying to dismiss the issue. “I fear that your… friend and I have gotten off on the wrong foot. I apologize.” |
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REN
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Weekend Warrior
Player Character
Posts: 26
Trainer Class: 
Player Name: Ren Kaneko
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 20
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Post by REN on Nov 7, 2023 2:06:23 GMT 9
SLLLLUURRPRPRPRP as Ren continued sipping their drink, unconcerned and untouched by the state of social collapse around them. Satisfied with their drink and whatever it is that just went on in their head, they popped the straw away.
“You two nearly killed each other at the airport,” Ren pointed out cheerily. “But yeah, it’s chill. Dude’s used to getting off on the wrong foot.”
They glance over to their hotel room for a moment, shrugging, before turning back to Tarou. “Mind if I come hang out? I brought my Switch and I gotta destroy Bria at Mario Kart.” They beamed. “For friendship!” |
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Verai
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 877
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Miyagawa Tarou
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 38
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Post by Verai on Nov 16, 2023 11:14:11 GMT 9
Tarou just considered this friend- Ren. Bria had met them online, and spent many, many hours just talking. About games, about life, about a great many things Tarou would never know. Apparently, they were fine- it was just their roommate who was… Tarou didn’t even have the words handy.
Exhausting came to mind, though.
Tarou sighed gently, unlocking the door and pushing it open, Bria back on one of the beds, trying to look like she hadn’t been eavesdropping. “Please, come in.” |
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Nov 18, 2023 5:38:52 GMT 9
#s://a~l3n~co/i/qo9OUC~png Ren grinned, unsurprised— undeterred. They slapped their little visor back down and strolled into the room as if they owned it— and they did.
It was hours later when Atsushi opened his eyes, groaning as he looked over from where he lay, finding the rest of the room empty. He swatted for his phone on the nightstand.
lol good morning sleeping nasty, im guessing u didnt shower before ur tantrum nap? Ren it’s the middle of the goddamn night, get back here ur not my dad bitch!!! besides im at bria’s room playing mario kart and having an actual challenge
Atsushi paused, hand tightening around his phone for a moment.
You’re with the Miyagawas? his first names tarou btw 💖 LMAO u jealous bitch calm down besides i have the spare card and i know ur too stuck up to carry out that threat properly 🙄 love u too bb 🤞 anyway hows about u go to the top floor? the spa’s 24hr and they got a hydropool still got 69 laps to finish. also call room service and have them replace the sheets while ur gone, dont just let ur gross man sweat ferment in the room
Atsushi rolled his eyes, and then rolled off the bed to nab some spare clothes.
Regardless of what anyone might say, Ren was a goddamn saint, so the first thing they did once Tarou allowed them to infest the room was cause havoc.
“I AM THE DRIFT KING!” They screeched, crashing their shoulder against Bria as they slammed the buttons of their Joy-Cons, Mario Kart blasting on the large mounted TV screen.
“Damn, Bria, did college make you slack? You’re getting your ass handed to you by Baby Daisy,” they laughed— loudly, obnoxiously loud. They doubled their volume by dragging Bria into it, cajoling and provoking her into competition after competition—
All to ensure Tarou would not get a single opportunity to sleep. |
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Verai
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 877
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Miyagawa Tarou
OOC Username: spibe
Arena Points: 38
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Post by Verai on Nov 20, 2023 1:46:43 GMT 9
That’s not to say Tarou didn’t try- He was adroit at sleeping regardless of noise level. However, he was unused to sleeping with two people screaming in the same room, and all the cartoon beeping and screeching and crashing.
All he was managing now was a stress headache.
“Bria,” He snagged his daughter as Ren vanished to the bathroom. “Are both of you aware of what hour it is-”
Bria looked heartbroken. “Dad- I never get to see them! I don’t even know where they live, and we’re only here for a few days-”
Tarou drew back, raising his hands. “Bria, Bria- Bria- I want to sleep.”
“Dad! Just a little longer. Oh-” Bria’s eyes lit up. “Ren told me about the hotel- There’s this pool on the top floor. It’s got a hydropool, so that should help you feel better, yeah?” She coaxed.
“Bria-”
“I’ll text you when we’re done!” She promised, scampering away to grab clothes, all but shoving them in his arms. Tarou sighed, recognizing when he was up against a force he couldn’t defeat, leaving the kids to their gaming. |
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Kazuki
•
You Can't Take Me
The Creed
Posts: 883
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Himura Atsushi
OOC Username: Sleepy
Arena Points: 113
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Post by Kazuki on Dec 22, 2023 18:03:47 GMT 9
#s://c~l3n~co/i/3QvTOA~png The sound of rainfall bounced off the walls. Water poured over Atsushi, set hot as if to peel tattoo ink like paint off a car. A day’s worth of grime and stress swirled into the drain, and he finally felt human.
The floor was barren. It was a shit hour, and with most of the hotel’s occupants being exhausted con attendees and travelers, Atsushi and the few employees manning the area were the only signs of life. The receptionist and a masseuse continued chatting together, having already been informed their assistance wasn’t needed (or at least coming to that conclusion after seeing the look on his face and his feral hog-like grunting).
The towel around his shoulders was tossed on the sun lounger by the hydropool, draping half on his duffel and half dangling off the floor. He stood by the edge for a moment, before slowly, gingerly lowering himself, mouth twitching as he bent his knees to slide into the bubbling water.
A quick spike hit him, numbing as he focused on the sensation of a water jet against his back. He hooked his arms over the edge of the pool and exhaled.
It was safe here. The employees wouldn’t bother him, he could take up as much space as he wanted and let all his ink breathe. Hydrotherapy was bullshit— he didn’t know how long it took to shut off most of the sensory shower’s settings and he did not want to know— but the pool felt good and made his sore leg weightless.
Alone, his thoughts naturally drifted to the day’s events.
A sharp smack was heard. Atsushi’s hand stuck to his face, peeled off with a grumble. Attacking his problems would not work if the problem was himself.
He would need to contact his manager about Tuesday. Adelaide understood discretion, and she had the brains for these types of politics. And then he would find Tarou and talk him down from filing a restraining order on him. He was not a creep.
He was just curious to the point he’d stalk him at a videogame con in a giant chicken costume.
Atsushi leaned back fully, hitting the back of his head on the pool’s edge to glare at the traitorous ceiling.
Fuck. Maybe he could rely on the tried-and-true Come to Brazil tactic instead.
The sound of footsteps pull him from his thoughts of Brazilian citizenship, and he lifted his head to glare at whoever had the gall to approach a big guy in full-body tattoos who had clearly taken dibs of the whole public hydropool.
“… You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” |
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