Who ⬤ Junpei Yoshino + Various What ⬤ March/April Goings On When ⬤ Throughout March/April Where ⬤ Around Jigoku-cho Content Warnings ⬤ Will add as needed.
[ If you’d like to do something from the current events PM me and I’ll make a top level! ]
[ Through a series of decisions that have now blurred in his mind, Junpei is currently a mess. He isn’t a mess alone, which is a good thing and also a bad thing at the same time. Good because there’s someone around to keep him aware of what is a hallucination and what is not, bad because his helplessness has a witness. It’s embarrassing, and thanks to his pride he’s been fighting trying to rely on Yuri too much as he waits desperately for the drug he’d agreed to take to wear off.
That ghost ukulele is being played horribly out of tune, however, and his face twitches every time there’s a sour note. It’s like a slow, truly evil torture.
He thinks it’s trying to play the Silver Shamrock theme from Halloween 3, which leads him to lean in the hallucination direction. ]
No ukeleles playing, friend, unless the sounds of an imminent street brawl sound like music to your ears.
[ Yeah, so probably not a good idea to go that way. Yuri gives Junpei's arm a tug and begins to lead them down an alternate route back to Sutoku territory. Junpei's complexion has been looking worse and worse as time wears on. Figures the youkai was deliberately omitting information about the risks of the drug. Money is money, though, and he'll do his part to look after the other until it comes time to collect. ]
You doing okay? I think it's best we get you back to your quarters.
[ It is entirely possible that Yuri could just abandon him at any time. Leave him to the mercy of the streets while he’s hearing sounds that don’t exist and seeing shadow creatures that probably also don’t. The thought has been heavy on Junpei’s mind, although he doesn’t voice it. What good would it do? There have also been little chills running through him, even though he’s appropriately dressed for the weather.
He’s about to say that he’s fine when, in trying to avoid a deep crack in the path that isn’t actually there, he stumbles and only barely avoids tumbling into the other. ]
Yeah ... it’s the hotel with the broken tanuki statue outside ... I can’t remember the name. Sorry.
[ Yuri will offer Junpei his arm when he stumbles, but it's up to Junpei if he wants to take it. People are bound to look and assume things, and he seems mortified by the whole ordeal already.
With only a description to go off of, Yuri takes out his phone and spends some time tapping around until he finds the map he's been using to get around. From the app, he's able to search up the hotels in the area, and oh, look, there's even pictures... though nothing appears to be broken when the pictures were taken. He turns the app towards Junpei. ]
A tanuki is what, exactly? Do you recognize any of these buildings?
[ After a moment of hesitation Junpei opts to take the offered arm. Yes it’s slightly embarrassing to be seen this way, but even more embarrassing to keep falling over or crashing into things avoiding various imagined obstacles.
He squints at the phone, looking over the pictures. When he sees the one that seems to be of his hotel he points to it. ]
That one. That’s it. I’m sure.
[ It looks seedy as hell, even with the statue in one piece, but then again everyone’s starting accommodations aren’t anything fancy. ]
[ Hmm. Seedy as hell, but the cheap-looking kind of accommodation a rookie can afford. If it turns out to be the wrong destination, well, it's still a place to stay. So Yuri tucks the phone away and begins to lead Junpei there by the arm.
The further they go, the buildings turn run-down and spattered in spray paint. Neon signs illuminate the sale of alcohol and other mind altering substances whose odors can sometimes be whiffed in the air. The only thing encouraging about the sketchiness is that it's confirmation they're going the right way. ]
Lovely neighborhood. Watch your step. [ Yuri maneuvers them around broken bottle shards on the ground. ] Shouldn't be long now. Any of it look familiar?
[ The roughness of the neighborhood isn’t something Junpei has adjusted to yet. When he was alive he hadn’t lived somewhere fancy - just an average small Tokyo apartment that his mother could afford as a single parent. Their neighborhood had been quiet and fairly clean, one of many just like it in the city.
He won’t admit aloud that the sketchy place he now finds himself makes him nervous. It’s not like he’s the only one having to survive in this environment, so he pushes any fear he has out of his mind and reminds himself he’s on his own now. He has to deal with whatever may come, there’s no room for tears or being timid.
At Yuri’s question he scans the area, frowning as the shadow gremlins pop out to distract him. When one gets close enough he swats at it, cursing under his breath as it vanishes before he makes contact. ]
Yeah. I think we’re only a block or two away now ... do you think they’ll follow us?
[ Yuri frowns when Junpei begins to swat at an invisible creature. Auditory and now visual hallucinations? Wonderful. ]
The drug must be playing tricks on you. No one's been following us. I've checked.
[ He's remained alert as they traveled here. Yuri, for better or worse, is too used to being in the sketchy parts of town.
They continue down the street...and soon enough, there's the hotel, and the statue of what Yuri assumes is a 'tanuki'. The poor creature is chipped and painted over like most everything in the area. ]
Here we are. Home sweet home. Let's get you inside.
[ At being told he’s hallucinating the pesky critters bothering him he frowns deeply. That means he must look absolutely ridiculous arguing with nothing. Does he even have any dignity left in front of this person? He sighs as they reach the hotel. ]
Room 37.
[ He fishes around in his pocket and pulls out a key. Not a keycard like all hotel rooms have in his era, just a plain old metal key. Not exactly the most secure thing, especially considering the abilities many here have.
It’s offered to Yuri, Junpei not sure he has the coordination to be able to even unlock the door at this point. He’s at the other’s mercy as it is, what more harm is it to allow him full access to his room? ]
I’d apologize for the state of it, but it’s not as if it’s my fault. It was like this when I got it.
[ Yuri's not judging, but maybe he'll tease him about it, later, when Junpei isn't under the cruel assault of hallucinations and a cut of the money's securely in his pockets. Until then, he can be benevolent. Don't worry that he'll leave you hanging.
Yuri takes the key to the lock. It's just as well. He'd have trouble knowing what to do with a card, or any sort of digital lock. An old-fashioned lock is workable. Pickable, even. ]
However much a dump it is, I've probably lived in worse.
[ The door creaks open, and Yuri looks for a chair or couch to help Junpei into. ]
[ Having only been in the room for a few days there’s not much in the way of personal items in the room. It’s incredibly basic and, though it’s likely lost on Yuri, very dated. There’s gaudy flower wallpaper that’s peeling off in several places, a single buzzing naked lightbulb in the ceiling, curtains with mysterious stains, a single king sized bed with a ratty green blanket, a sad little wooden chair, and a small nightstand. There’s a little device on the nightstand that seems to be attached to the bed. It reads: ‘Massage: 50 yen’. Very classy.
Junpei takes the bed, figuring with him seeing and hearing things laying down is the best option. Even if he absolutely loathes this bed and it’s tendency to start ‘massaging’ him unbidden in the middle of the night. ]
Thank you ... I mean, I know it’s because of the money, but ... thank you.
Edited (courier what the hell am I smoking ) 2022-03-14 04:11 (UTC)
[ ...hey, what do you know, it looks on par with the moth-bitten accomodations in the Abyss. ]
Don't thank me too early. You still don't know if you'll make it to the morning.
[ He answers in a dark but joking tone. The ordeal isn't over yet, and even if it was, Yuri would have deflected the gratitude some other way. He's not deserving of it. This is an arrangement. ]
If you don't mind a stranger rummaging through your kitchen, I can get you something to eat or drink.
[ He groans as he turns around to bury his face in the pillow as a way to at least keep the visual hallucinations at bay. He’d seen a shadow insect start to crawl out of one of the tears in the wallpaper.
His response is slightly muffled after, but still fairly audible. ]
There’s a cup by the sink, I just get water from the tap. For food I’ve been mostly eating from stalls, so I don’t have anything here. There’s not much room to store it. Sorry.
[ He could step out to purchase something, but even the fastest of trips is still enough time for someone hallucinating to get into trouble.
Yuri departs from the room and a minute later there's the sound of running water. Footsteps follow and he returns with a glass of tap water, setting it on the nightstand with a clink. ]
Need anything else? Sleeping it off might be best at this point.
Don't worry, I'll stick around. So you can rest easy. Nighty night.
[ Yuri shuts off the single lightbulb in the room once Junpei's set the drink back down. Then he carefully makes his way to the lone chair, though he'll do more than just sit sadly through the night. He takes out his phone to look things up as he has been doing every night since he discovered the vast knowledge stored in the little device. There's much about the modern world he has yet to learn, and it doesn't sit well with him to not know things. Tonight, he'll start by seeing what the internet has to say about hallucinatory drugs and its treatment... ]
[ For an hour or so, things are quiet save for the noises of the city outside.
Then, small sounds start to come from Junpei, becoming occasional low whimpers that grow louder as minutes pass. Sweat rivulets form on his face, and his expression starts to contort as if he’s in pain, his body curling up into the fetal position.
Without warning he shoots up from the bed, tossing the blanket in Yuri’s direction with incredible force as he lets out a scream that has the people in the next room over knocking angrily on the walls.
Seemingly all on its own the glass Yuri had set on the table is knocked over, a glowing orb is slowly manifesting where it had been. It bobs and weaves as if it’s in water, slowly taking the form of a small jellyfish. It seems to be in a frenzy, floating over to circle Junpei almost as if it’s nervously pacing. ]
No! Stop! Go away!
[ It’s not being yelled at the jellyfish but rather some random spot on the wall just above Yuri’s head, his eyes wide in terror. ]
[ Yuri is debating whether to wake Junpei from his nightmare when he bolts up on his own. Several things happen at once, and Yuri is on his feet, shoving the tossed blanket aside and eyes darting between the glowing orb and the screaming Junpei. ]
Hey now, wake up. What you're seeing isn't real!
[ Was that orb-like thing some sort of magic coming from Junpei? Meanwhile, Junpei has his gaze fixed on nothing, trapped in another hallucination.
Yuri crosses over to take him by the shoulder and shake him, keeping a wary watch on the agitated creature floating just above them. ]
[ Initially, the touch to his shoulder makes him cry out again. The attempt to wake him seems to work however as a moment later his eyes seem to actually focus on the world around him and he turns to look at Yuri in a panic. ]
... I thought ...
[ He then notices the jellyfish, and the moment he does it vanishes into thin air as if it never existed to start with. Neither the sight of it or its sudden departure seem to alarm him.
Clutching his chest as if to try and calm down his rapidly beating heart, he turns back to Yuri. ]
... sorry. I guess I summoned it because of the dream. It’s not dangerous unless I tell it to do something. Are you okay? I didn’t ... attack you did I?
Your odd little friend looked agitated, but all it did was fly in circles. No harm done.
[ Yuri watches the creature disappear just as quickly as it'd appeared. As far as spells went, it's not the worst one a panicked mage could have let loose in their small apartment bedroom. Still, what a potent drug... Nothing he'd read about hallucinogens in the past hour was all too helpful in this situation. Seems there's not much choice but to wait it out. ]
[ He nods slowly, though the way his pupils wander to just above Yuri’s shoulder seems to indicate he’s still seeing things that aren’t there. At the very least he doesn’t react otherwise, meaning he must be aware it’s another hallucination. ]
I was dreaming about things that happened before I came here ... only they weren’t quite right. I guess it’s because of the drugs.
Junpei had been exhausted, his social battery in the red from being among the raucous crowd all day for the festival activities. It hadn’t helped that he’d taken on food delivery work before night fell, rushing about in the chaos of the celebration while trying not to drop any of his wares.
The fireworks meant that soon the craziness would be over and he’d be able to go hide in his depressing little wreck of a hotel room again. Free from the responsibility of putting on a polite face and pretending he wasn’t a ball of stress.
At some point while the Daitengu was speaking he’d run into Ydris. He hadn’t even said anything to the dragon, just nodded a greeting, too tired to bother with words.
Then the explosion happened, followed shortly after by steam totally clouding his surroundings. Not even an inch in front of him was visible and he soon found himself being easily knocked around by others panicking to try and escape the area. Many of the people around and even more of the youkai outsized him, not giving him much hope of pushing his way out of the madness.
In his fear, he became paralyzed. Could he even die in hell? Was he about to be trampled? And what of the one he’d just been beside? As frustrating as they could be, he still found himself terrified they’d be hurt as well. ]
[Though Ydris could be a lot of talk, it was about time they prove those protective instincts they went on about were more than just words. The streets flood with wet steam, melting off their illusion and changing their senses in any instant. All the better, really, because they had been hovering within arm's reach of Junpei and thus do not lose track of him in the obscuring fog.
Given Ydris was interested in the speeches, the Daitengu's in particular, they ran into Junpei very close by the front of the stage are. The dragon doesn't have the best hearing, so being close by a speaker was best for them. It was also useful in this case, because as the chaos erupts it gives them something to shove Junpei behind to block him from the crowd. Indelicate, perhaps, but a projected hand grabs Junpei by the back of the neck. With a decisive pull, they drag him around the amp and stand in front of him.
A good thing, too, because they shield him in time from a couple stray bullets popping off so close to them. Ydris moves their head to catch two that shot their direction on accident. Wax absorbs both with a bizarre thump-thump sound, not at all the splatter one might expect from getting two slugs to the temple.]
Duck down and be still. [an orderly command from them, cutting through the chaos. When things calm down and some of that steam clears, Ydris is still floating dutifully before Junpei in their tucked away spot from the bulk of the now scattered crowd. They'd reform their illusion, but the bullets lodged into their head would make it more disturbing than comforting to create. They also don't want to be limited to such a narrow field of vision, it was easier for them to feel out Junpei through heat than with sight]
[ In the steam, Junpei isn’t totally sure who’s tugging him around, though he hopes it to be Ydris or at the very least someone not trying to get him into a position to be ... what? Beat up? Thrown? His mind is a mess. At the very least that means he’s easy to move where Ydris wants, too frightened to offer much resistance. Each sound of gunshot makes him jump, and without realizing it he’s summoned the currently very small and ineffectual Moon Dregs to appear. It stays close to him, bobbing up and down erratically, connected to his soul and able to keep track of him even in the thick steam.
The sound of the dragon’s voice confirming he’s the one nearby does help Junpei’s panic slightly, and he obediently ducks down as ordered, hugging his legs to his body.
For awhile he doesn’t even look up, going into his own head as a million possible scenarios play out.
When he does notice there’s more visibility he tilts his head upwards - and promptly lets out a shrill scream at the sight of Ydris’s waxy form. ]
[Ydris' fire just sort of shrinks real small in surprise at the scream. They'll be glad it was just because they're horrifying looking and not because Junpei is dying. Their ethereal voice, now lacking in direction, spouts out of them with utmost concern]
Are you hurt-!? [Ah shit- ah fuck- did they do a bad job, somehow!?]
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