seasonsrpg | Is Anyone Truly Invulnerable?

[Mukuro had suggested they go to the Heart Will Go On Glacier originally, inviting Hijikata to join her. It was just one of the many dangerous quests she had tackled recently- an attempt to be killed whilst trying her hardest to survive. That way would give her the despair she craved. Ever since the mission with those reflected selves… it really was true that most people she cared for had been killed here at some point or another, but through it all, she’d lived. Even as she got closer and closer to being able to save them, she still failed. That caused her most despair of all.

Only Junko had ever killed her. Only her. (And she’d failed Junko too hadn’t she? Her own reflection said as much.)

She’d even survived her recent expedition to the Temple of Death. And though she counted on the Glacier to be dangerous, she a portal to Hell was the last thing she was expecting.

For a moment, as they planned (and sung) their retreat, she wondered if she deserved to be in a place like that-…

Her battle instincts weren’t quite fast enough. Grounding her stance, Mukuro had grabbed onto Hijikata. Launched the bubble bath bomb into the firey pit once his own explosive was tossed out. Enemy continued its assault. Too many razor sharp tendrils. One that flashed right before her the moment she launched her attack-

It was only thanks to the adrenaline that she didn’t feel the pain immediately.

And in a flash, they appeared at the Summer Guild.]

Retreat successful- good.

[A faint throbbing pain itched at the edge of her consciousness. A splattering, dripping sound. Huh- why were the people nearby starting to panic?

It was only then she looked down.

Blood dripped onto the floor beside her. Her blood. Her sleeve, cut through at the middle of her wrist, rapidly soaking through.]

Shit-

[Mukuro ducked down into a crouch, tuning out the people around her as her battlefield instincts kicked in.

Apply pressure, elevate the wound- from her training she knew that much. Her shirt would do.

But the bulletproof vest would need to come off first- and she fumbled with the buckles. Come on, come on- this shouldn’t be hard, dizziness creeping in like radio static, or was that the nearby crowd- why couldn’t she- why-

It only struck her then that she’d been running on autopilot. Expecting her left hand to work with her-

A hand that was no longer there.]

Edited 2024-09-09 22:04 (UTC)

[Hijikata's heart was pounding the entire time during the ghoulish sing-off, much as he steeled himself and put on a brave face, inspired by his recent simulated excursion into Rinku's world - and when those heavy, stomping steps drew closer, he knew he had to get himself and Mukuro out, or they'd meet a fate worse than death, a fate they wouldn't simply be reborn from.

Among the bubbles spreading all over the place to cover their escape, he didn't see that last-ditch attack coming. The slicing tendrils hit him, their damage absorbed by his Aura with just a green glow showing where they impacted - and clearly, one struck Mukuro, who had no such protection.

When he realises that she lost her hand, it feels like his brain simply freezes for a second, like a blue-screening computer. Back home, he's seen his men die right in front of him, seen them get maimed and mutilated... but for it to happen to Mukuro, the girl with a reputation for never having been wounded on any battlefield, that seemed unthinkable.

It'll be fine. It's not a problem. I'll take her to Lake Hange. Erwin got a new arm. Levi got new fingers. Mukuro'll get a new hand. That's what he tells himself in his head, before snapping out of it and barking at the shocked people around them:]

Someone fetch a healer!!

[He crouches to get the bulletproof vest off his sworn sister for her, frantically talking to her (or, perhaps, to himself).]

It'll be okay. You hear me? You'll be okay. This is Ellipsa-- there are so many ways we can fix this--

[Why didn't you shield her?! You already got Rinku hurt more than once, and now this-- Levi got shot on your watch, too! How can you still think of yourself as the Vice-Commander of anything when you get your juniors maimed worse of every mission?!]

[Jean was a regular at the guild. This was nothing new to him or anyone who knew him. It was just another day, another quest he was turning in. He's about to leave when a commotion catches his attention.

He's contemplating on whether he should get involved or not, but then he hears Hijikata's voice, yelling for a healer. All hesitation leaves his body and he dashes to see what was going on-

It's not a scene he hasn't ever seen before. A lot of soldiers got injured. A lot of blood has been spilled. Even during their training people got seriously injured; he remembers one cadet nearly losing his leg over an accident with the gear.

Then there was Commander Erwin, who had lost his arm while outside the walls. Jean hadn't seen it up close, but it was enough to paint an image on his mind. Those who weren't shifters lost their limbs, never getting them back. Usually losing a limb meant an end to your career in the military - but not for Erwin. Erwin had soldiered on.

It was normal. Something he should be used to by now. But he never really got used to it.

These were also things he never wished to see again. Never thought he needed to, while away from home.

And now.]

Wh... What's going on...?

[It's a stupid question. He can see for himself what was going on. Mukuro was injured -- she was missing a hand and was bleeding out. Hijikata was panicking next to him.

Jean couldn't make himself move closer right away, instead watching the scene in shock, face pale.]

Oi... this isn't... this isn't real...

[Except without confirmation he knew it was very, very real.]

[Hearing her brother yell for a healer broke it's way through brainfog, just long enough to move and shrug off the bulletproof vest, letting it fall to the ground or leaving it for him to take, right now that didn't matter-

She was hurt. Badly hurt. Bleeding. And her hand was- gone. It was gone.

Nothing made sense. It was surreal. Nonsensical. She couldn't be hurt like that.

Her unfocused eyes lingered on Hijikata as he spoke to her. It would be okay, he'd said, they'd fix this.]

How was I... how'd I get hit...

[But all her mind could really do was spin in circles. As if her instincts and experience as a combatant kept wrestling control from a mind that just couldn't keep up with what happened.]

-Triage; Need to apply pressure. Raise the wound. Stop it bleeding.

[She untucked her shirt with her remaining hand, trying to wrap it tight around her wound as efficiently as she could- hold it tight- that horrible sensation beneath her fingers- it wouldn't be enough. She'd need thicker fabric, proper bandages, or- summer guild, fire, cauterize?- her eyes snapped around her from person to person and-

Jean- was she imagining that he was here too...?]

[Hijikata registers that Jean has joined the other observers (a few of which thankfully do run off to fetch help, which is apparently nearby enough to not warrant a phone call), but he only meets his wide, shocked eyes for a second before putting his focus back on their injured sister, now all the more determined to do something useful instead of just senselessly panicking.

The thought of cauterising the wound briefly does cross his mind - it's something he could do -, but not only would it cause Mukuro even more pain, it might also complicate whatever they'll eventually end up doing to get her a replacement hand. Having worn his Shinsengumi uniform (overcoat included) for the expedition, he quickly undoes his cravat and tightly knots it around her wrist stump, then helps her hold her lower arm upright. He can freak out over his incompetency later! (Why the hell didn't you give her a Feel Invincible?! She doesn't have an Aura like you do--!)]

We were ambushed on the way out! Our Smoke Bath Bomb obscured the attack, and we had no indication that they had those kinds of weapons.

[He says that both to ground her and to comfort her. It wasn't her fault or oversight. It might as well have been him - he certainly didn't see it coming either. His eyes dart over at Jean again, and he calls out:]

Jean, don't just stand there!

[He doesn't blame him for being shell-shocked, but he needs to snap him out of it somehow! Help is on the way, and it's not like Jean can do more than he can with the summer power set, but watching this play out like a movie can't be good for his psyche.]

[Jean doesn't hear a lot of what is being said, his mind racing and remembering horrors. Likely trying to imagine this as a scenery from home. A soldier he doesn't likely know too well. Not his sister, just a random person who he came across. His mind wanted to escape the reality.

This wasn't happening. This isn't happening. It's all just a bad dream- a bad memory.

But this was real. This was happening right now. It was happening to his sister.

No, it couldn't be. Not her--

Hijikata's yell snaps him out of the chain of thoughts. Right. He was just standing there. Probably even blocking the way. So instead he hurries over to his siblings, getting on his knees next to Hijikata.

What can he do here? He's not even sure. But he tries to rearrange his thoughts at least.]

Is... are there other injuries?

[The cravat did it's job, tight enough to stem the bleeding as he helped her keep up raised- settling it against her shoulder. Her remaining hand grabbed at Hijikata's wrist, gripping on tight to ground herself. (Oh, her tattoo was still there...at least she hadn't lost that).

She echoed his explanation quietly, as if her brain hadn't quite caught up with the meaning behind the words.]

Ambush...an ambush.

[An ambush. Yes. Whilst the bubble-smokescreen had probably saved them from being grabbed and dragged in, the enemy was able to turn that advantage on them, as well. That was what happened.

A falter in her judgement, an accident, something else- that didn't matter right now.

Her unfocused eyes turned to Jean next- any other injuries. Other injuries. She tried to assess her own state, see if she'd been hit anywhere else, but the throbbing feeling from her wrist-stump flooded her thoughts to the point it blocked out anything else. Any other sensation lost in that void.]

...hey, did they get you, too-

[Glance back to Hijikata, then to Jean, then to Hijikata again- there was every chance he had been hit too, but she couldn't quite verbalise the request for Jean to check him over.]

[He shakes his head.]

I'm fine. Don't worry about me.

[He keeps supporting her, not even thinking of checking himself over... and that's how he's entirely missing out on the nasty little demon(?) tongue piece crawling around on his back, looking for a path to get under his layers and eventually deciding to simply eat its way through with acidic secretions.]

[Despite his words, Jean takes a look at Hijikata. Perhaps to look away from the bloody stump, even just for a while. And a good thing he does, because something nasty and horrible catches his eye.]

... you have something like a tongue on your back?

[What the fuck is that even.]

What- I thought we burned it-

[A jolt of alarm right through her, tensing her body. That tongue- the graves with their names- his had disappeared, right?

Right?]

[It totally did! Hopefully, it hasn't reappeared back on that gravestone now... but well, they have no way of checking.]

!!!

[He all but jumps up, tears his coat off himself, and flings it to the ground - and as the tongue chunk tries to crawl away, he skewers it with his sword, holds the weapon upright so it can't slide off, and sets it on fire with such intensity that the crowd fearfully backs away from the blazing blade.]

Die!! Die, you-- you nasty thing!!

[While he's freaking out, the guys who ran off to get help return with some other people, presumably medical personnel as they're carrying a stretcher. They'll help Mukuro onto it (not without casting some concerned side glances at Hijikata) and invite Jean to accompany them as they get her ready for transport to the nearest medical facility.]

[Perhaps it's just the situation, but Jean jumps back at Hijikata's reaction. It even takes a moment to realize the people return with the stretcher until someone touches his shoulder to alert him and ask if he needs assistance as well.]

Uh-- Oh, no. I'm fine.

[The person insists Jean lets him know if he changes his mind before joining the others in helping Mukuro on the stretcher.

Jean remains closer to Hijikata, watching the fire die down.]

What... was that?

[She's still on guard, still listening out, ready to jump in to defend her brother as he starts yelling out- but by then, she's distracted by the medical personnel helping her onto the stretcher.

It hurt. Focus drifting in and out. The battle was won but... but...

The staff with her assure her that she's going to be alright, that they're taking her to somewhere she can get help.

So she could stand down... right?

As they rushed her away, she focused on her shaky breath as she tried to make sure she stayed awake.

It would be a long road ahead, but for now, she was out of danger.]

[Hijikata calms down just in time to see Mukuro carried off - if nothing else, she'll glimpse only crumbling ashes remaining of the tongue piece. Burning a demon (part) may be an ambitious endeavour, but no one should underestimate the heat of a samurai's panic!!

Belatedly registering Jean's question, he responds in a pressed, stressed voice.]

A demon tongue, or something like that. We went into the glacier, in the new territories, and it was hell inside. I'm not joking. They were singing shanties.

[Okay, maybe he sounds a little unwell...]

[Under normal circumstances, Jean would joke. Joke about if the sea shanties being so bad it was like hell. But not today. Not when things were like this.]

It was a demon that got Mukuro, then?

[A demon would probably be strong enough to injure the Ultimate Soldier.]

... why didn't you teleport out sooner, if the place was that dangerous? Did something stop you from doing that?

Yeah, a demon.

[He keeps mentally replaying the encounter. The demons only brought those sickle tendrils out when they were about to teleport away... he's sure that up until then, they were just playing with their food, so to speak.

The question that follows sends a jolt of guilt through him. They absolutely could have teleported out sooner - there was a perfect opportunity in between the assault at the tombstone and their descent down those newly appeared stairs. Why in the world didn't they leave while they could?! He was scared shitless as it was; why did he have to play it cool and continue the exploration?]

...

We should've left after our first demon encounter. I guess we were idiotic enough to want to get to the bottom of it, and we sure did.

[Both of them were reckless morons - but he's the older one. It's his responsibility.]

I should've called it off.

[Jean looks at Hijikata. It's not planned at all, but he grabs the front of his shirt, angrily and visibly upset.]

WHY DIDN'T YOU?! If you knew it was dangerous...! You should know better than to play with danger! And now Mukuro is--

[He stops, letting go of Hijikata. Knowing it was no use yelling at him now. Not when things had already happened.]

... she'll be alright... won't she.

[He doesn't blame Jean at all for his outburst - he's only applying externally what he's already feeling internally himself. When he relents and deflates, he can only do his best to reassure him, his voice calm and steady.]

She will be. Either she'll get a prosthesis, or she'll get her hand back by bathing in Lake Hange. It worked for Levi and Erwin, didn't it?

[Thinking of his fellow countrymen's successes with their phantom body parts ought to hearten Jean - if nothing else, it heartens Hijikata.]

[There are options. Options that had been proved efficient. It does make him feel... well, not better. Nothing will make this better.]

... she will still have a lot to adjust to.

Yeah.

[Losing a hand, even just temporarily, sucks, there's no two ways about it. He can't even imagine how much it would hinder him in just about every way, from fighting to tying his shoes.]

But we'll be there to support her.

[It's a pitiful consolation, really. He's kicking himself for losing Mukuro's hand - couldn't an experienced spring power holder have healed it back into place? Well, it's all moot now.]

... yeah.

[At least Mukuro lives with him, so he can definitely help her as much as he can. Mikasa can help her with the pain, too.]

We... should we go after them? She might appreciate the company.

[He nods, glad for the suggestion. Keeping Mukuro company beats dwelling on what he should've done differently.]

Yeah, let's do that.

[Staying by her side is all they can do for the time being.]

[Jean nods, gets up (a little shakily) and offers a hand to Hijikata to get up too. Then they can make their way towards where Mukuro was taking together.]

[She had told Makoto before her and Hijikata left that they were headed to investigate the far corners of the Winter Segment, travelling from the Airship Station and past the Tundra Hills to their first destination, the Heart Will Go On Glacier, and then onward to investigate the Survival Fortress- but they never actually made it that far before they teleported back to the city proper.

So it’s perhaps earlier than expected that Mukuro called her boyfriend.

She wasn’t sure what to say, not really. All the while, the nagging sensation that he’d be disappointed in her was loud in the back of her head, and even without that, it hadn’t really sunk in what had happened.]

Makoto- hey.

[Her voice was small. Tired. Dazed, almost, dazed and distant as she gave her report; ]

Um- we’re back in the city. Summer Guild. No fatalities.

[And then it started to waver. A few false starts as she tried to work out what to say- she didn’t want to worry him, to disappoint him-

But in the end, she only managed a small; ]

…I got hit.

[Makoto is very glad to get the message... but something about her voice feels wrong. The message only gets more worriesome.

She got hit?]

It's good to hear from you. I'll come to you, alright? Do you need something?

Edited 2024-11-17 19:58 (UTC)

[He was coming over... that was a relief. Given her brothers were bringing her food, she couldn't think of anything she needed right now- then again, thinking was difficult.]

I can't think of anything. I have provisions.

...I want to see you.

Alright. I'll just bring myself, then.

[It's a lie, he will at least bring her a snack of something sweet or a plushie.]

I will be there soon.

[It doesn't take more than half an hour before there's a knock on the door.]

See you soon-

[Sweet things and something she can cuddle would both be appreciated! It was only afterwards that she thought maybe asking him to bring clean clothes would be a good idea, given the state her shirt was in... but as she lived with Jean, perhaps she could ask him about that later. With how quickly she'd been taken care of, it wasn't completely covered.

By the time he arrived, Mukuro had at least been able to have a nap and something to eat, and she'd taken to sitting up and absently staring out the window from her bed. By now, the bloody wrist-stump had been tightly bandaged, and held elevated against her shoulder by a sling. Healing potions had been enough to stem the worst of the bleeding, at least, and the painkillers meant she didn't feel the worst of it.

...Oh. That was a knock on the door-]

Huh- Makoto... um, come in.

[Wait. Noncombatant. She should warn him before he saw anything (never mind what he might have seen in Junko's killing game!)]

Sorry- it's a mess-

[Naegi arrives with a bunny plush and a box of chocolates. He walks in when he's invited, prepared to just see her with a bandage or a broken arm or something not so bad.

Instead what he sees is something he definitely didn't expect. It's not as bad as some of the executions or murders he had seen, but it was still awful, nonetheless.]

Mukuro... your hand.

[He closes the door and walks closer.]

[Mukuro winced, giving a small nod.]

...ambushed, when-...we retreated.

[If Junko were there, she'd expect a barrage of insults to be sent her way- but the quiet shock was something different.

Please don't let him be disappointed in her-]

...Sorry.

[She didn't even know what she was apologising for.

All the same, her remaining hand reached for his, even as the rest of her posture seemed to shrink into itself.]

[Naegi takes her hand in both of his, gently squeezing it.]

You don't have to apologize to me. It's not your fault. I wish... I wish I could do something for you.

...being here with me helps.

[She squeezed his hand in turn- perhaps a little too tight to be comfortable- whilst she mentally started counting her breaths in...and out...

Something about his presence always helped to ground her.

That he was there to hold her hand, to stay with her even when she'd been knocked down and wounded like this, that helped more than he probably realised.]

Then I will be here as long as you want me.

[It is a little uncomfortable, but he bears it. It's something that helps Mukuro, so he's willing to suffer a little bit. It's not like she was going to break his fingers.]

Is Anyone Truly Invulnerable?

Hijikata & Jean (tw blood/injury/dismemberment)

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cw/tw: ptsd

tw dissociation

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I'll have her drop out after this one but feel free to carry on between you-

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Makoto; Audio Message

Walks in a few months late

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Action! (tw injury descriptions)

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