other side of the universe (open)

[slaughterous]

WHO: Agent Maine & YOU
WHAT: tattoos, training, and polar bears, oh my!
WHEN: early June
WHERE: all over Nightwake
WARNINGS: n/a


Frostreign — Winter Guild

Maine hits up the Winter Guild right away. Seems like the most sensible thing to do. If he's gotta learn magic—or seasonal powers, or whatever—then going to the Guild is the obvious first step.

The place is surprisingly cozy. A little on the cold side, but so is outer space. There are warm blankets scattered around, and the interior of the stone building gives Maine the impression of some faraway castle. Not that he's ever been in a castle before, but if he had, he imagines it would be like this.

He does some research, then sets about training. He's easy to spot: seven feet tall and built like a barge, with a shaved head and a determined look on his face.

Find him on the second floor as he attempts to create steam … but what he's creating instead is a fine veil of mist that swirls around his feet.

Or spot him later, when he's holding an elemental ribbon weapon and looking at it with extreme doubt plastered on his face.

Amberfall — Tattoo Shop

Magical tattoos? Now, this Maine had got to see.

They give him the option of a permanent versus a temporary tattoo. His instinct is to scoff. He doesn't need some pasted-on crap that'll flake off soon. But they assure him the process is the same. So he decides on the magical effects he wants (Danger Sense and Minor Regeneration Powers). Then it's time to figure out the design.

Catch him standing there in a tank top, muscles on muscles, as he studies various designs on the wall. Looking over, he asks in a deep, gravely voice, "These things work?"

Sunwaning — Weapon Training HQ

Today, Maine is training with a combat knife.

He has some experience with the weapon. That much is obvious from the ease with which he holds it, respectful but unafraid of the blade. But it's also apparent that this isn't his weapon of choice.

After practicing forms for a while, he moves onto the knife throwing range. There, he takes up a blade, aims, and flings it down the range.

SHINK!

It sticks! … Handle-first.

Solarpeak — Giant Pool

There is a polar bear in the pool.

How did the polar bear get there? Who knows! No one saw it arrive. One minute, everything was fine. The next, there was a polar bear in the pool.

The polar bear seems pretty content in the water, but should it be there? Maybe it'd be better to try and convince it to leave…

Wildcard

( ooc: hmu by pm or @ bicepsbrigade for any wildcards! will match prose or brackets )

Comments

[slaughterous]

Maine stands from his crouched position, still looking content despite his smile having faded. He tips his head to the side, curious.

"Couldn't get him one?"

Transforming is great and all, but it seems like adopting a real bunny would've been easier.

[happydreamed]

"Trauma."

...That's enough of an answer. Getting Russell an actual pet rabbit, again, would be... bad.

[mayoninofukucho]

This is the third one. First Prismatica, which was encased in crystal after a calamity caused by a group trying to ascend to godhood. Then, Avalon - we were called there to save the entire multiverse from destruction after a group amplified the powers of a magical sword and blasted it into the cosmos. Now, this mess here with the Darkness.

[He has to grin.]

You get used to it.

[slaughterous]

[ Maine grunts, considering that. ]

Always a crisis.

[ No wonder soldiers are summoned.

The next copy looks at him, speaking steadily: "True or false: you have anger management issues."

The look on Maine's face answers that before he can grudgingly growl out, ]

True.

[mayoninofukucho]

[Oh, this man is becoming more and more relatable by the minute.]

Hard not to have anger management issues when there are incompetent and annoying people everywhere. Don't get me wrong, there are many good ones too! But, you know.

[Stepping up to his own next copy, he gets hit with "You wish it had been you instead of your brother". This one, he has to think about long and hard.]

How about none of us? But, shitty as it sounds, I'm glad it wasn't me. He was able to still lead a happy life; I don't think I'd have it in me.

[That answer is accepted, and he explains to Maine:]

He took a bad hit for me.

[slaughterous]

Maine blinks. He could take a few guesses at what kind of trauma could come from rabbits—but honestly, he doesn't want to know.

So he just nods. Bunny trauma. Got it.

[slaughterous]

[ As Hijikata explains his own issues with anger management, Maine nods, relating completely. There are indeed incompetent and annoying people everywhere. Why should Maine have to put up with their bullshit?

When Hijikata's next truth comes out, Maine considers for a moment before nodding again. ]

Good brother.

[ He doesn't know if he'd have felt the same. Doesn't know how well he'd keep it together if his body suddenly failed him, as seems to be the implication.

His next copy looks him dead in the eye, almost challenging. ]

True or false: you regret following unlawful orders.

[ Maine raises his chin. ]

False.

[ He knows they were unlawful. Knows that following them got him in a world of shit. He'd still do it again. ]

[mayoninofukucho]

[It's so easy to be sincere with Maine when the man is so bluntly honest and unapologetic about his truths himself. It's their first mission together, and Hijikata already finds himself enjoying how smoothly it's going, how easily Maine rolls with anything he explains to him, how seamlessly he collaborates with him on both technical terms and by way of synergy and increasingly apparent common ground. A faint smile ghosts over his face at the acknowledgement of his brother's sacrifice, then he listens to the next "Maine's" claim, and the smile remains.]

Sometimes, you've got to do what's right, not what's lawful.

[At least, he hopes that that's roughly what happened on Maine's end.]

[happydreamed]

The actual answer is remarkably mundane, especially considering what kind of world Kantera is from.

“Have you ever had a pet?”

[slaughterous]

Maine shakes his head. He never had one as a child, and after joining the military it became impossible.

Although…

"Have a Squirtle," he says.

[slaughterous]

[ As far as Maine is concerned, that's precisely what happened. He followed orders and got results. Humanity is at war; how he got them is inconsequential.

So he nods firmly, pleased that Hijikata understands. Pleased that this man isn't someone who's going to yell about protocol when direct action would better serve.

There are only two Maines left. He looks between them, then strides to the one on the right. ]

True or false: you love Carolina.

[ … All right, this one is a little embarrassing. Maine puts his hands on his hips and exhales loudly, but says, ]

True.

[ She's Carolina. Of course he loves her. He'd take bullets for her, and that's not an exaggeration. ]

[wickedprayers]

[ Ah, climate controlled armor, makes sense. ]

Quite, actually. Perhaps a bit too humid. [ Nothing that's going to be too big of a detriment, he thinks. ] It would seem the weather makes a hard stop in the middle as well. Convenient. My kind don't do so well in the cold.

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata doesn't tease him. It's not like he hasn't been in love before (and still is, with the same people and with new ones, in different ways, because no love is the same). He could say something cheesy about how loving people is what keeps them going, keeps them fighting, but in the end, he just nods supportively before turning to his last remaining doppelgänger, who tells him: "You really need to stop smoking."]

Says who? No, I don't.

[And... there's their first crack in the sky! It's an awful sound, as if they're suddenly aware that they're in a huge snow globe as it gets damaged, and it looks utterly surreal, but Hijikata just shrugs.]

I guess sometimes, this trial malfunctions.

[happydreamed]

"Oh, those are very cute. And Pokemon are so intelligent that they're much easier to care for than typical animals. Do you think you'll be training yours?"

[slaughterous]

[ Maine's head jerks upward, staring concernedly at the crack in the sky. It doesn't seem like a malfunction to him; it seems like Hijikata's response caused it.

But they're almost at the end. So Maine shrugs, grunts in agreement, and turns to the last doppelgänger. ]

You don't know what to do without a war to fight.

[ This time, Maine is quiet for a long moment, his brows pinched in thought. ]

… Always a war.

[ That's not answer enough. The doppelgänger continues to wait, and Maine glances over at Hijikata for guidance. ]

[slaughterous]

Maine nods proudly. "Already started. Blue-chan's getting strong."

Yes, he named his Pokémon 'Blue-chan.'

[mayoninofukucho]

[Even Hijikata has to think about what to say. Can he really claim that there's no war in Ellipsa? There certainly is danger, and conflict, but is it a war that's going in between them and "the" people?

After a moment, he puts a hand on Maine's shoulder. He's never been in a war, but he knows someone who has, and that man built himself a family, a community, something else to live for, even though he still keeps having to fight, too (sometimes alongside Hijikata).]

It's okay not to know. If a war goes on for too long, and it's all you've known, how could you know what to do without it?

[It's fine to accept that as the truth. It's not a failing.]

We do have to fight here, so having you will be a big help. "No war" doesn't mean "peace".

[slaughterous]

[ Maine accepts the hand on his shoulder without flinching, having become comfortable enough with Hijikata during their time here. (Anyway, it's less contact than when they were riding the motorcycle.) He watches the other man's face, that thoughtful furrow still sitting between his brows. Listening carefully.

"No war" doesn't mean "peace".

Is it strange that the thought is comforting? … The fact that it is probably answers the doppelgängers question.

He nods his thanks to Hijikata, then turns his head to face the doppelgänger. ]

True.

[ Energy flows into him one last time. ]

[slaughterous]

[ Maine nods. If they wind up with a motorcycle like the last time Maine was in his mindscape, they'll have to stick to Thane's side of things.

Although he does wonder why his side is cold this time. Did something change? Or did he just not notice it before…?

Pulling away from his thoughts, he gestures to the green and blue threads of power cutting down the middle of their shared landscape. ]

Follow these.

[mayoninofukucho]

[He touched him very deliberately, feeling that it was an acceptable thing to show physical support over, so he's a little happy that his hand isn't caught or brushed away, that Maine seems to be as comfortable with him as vice versa, and seeing his response be accepted by the doppelgänger is gratifying.]

Well done. The sky didn't come down on us, so I think--

[He cuts himself off when he notices a ball - not line - of energy floating about near them.]

That wasn't there the last time.

[Or was it? He didn't see it back then!]

[slaughterous]

[ As soon as Hijikata notices something unusual here, Maine draws the rifle his mind supplied earlier. Ready to take aim and fire as necessary. It's a potentially pointless sort of readiness—but then again, maybe he was armed for a reason.

Looking up at the energy, he asks, ]

Dangerous?

[ Deferring to Hijikata's far greater knowledge in these matters. ]

[mayoninofukucho]

I don't know.

[He observes the floating orb for a moment, then adds:]

I don't think it's a creature... though it might be a will'o'wisp. It doesn't seem hostile, so I'll approach it.

[He doubts that a weapon that, presumably, deals physical damage of some kind can harm a wisp, if it indeed turns out to be one, but seeing how they're in a mindscape of sorts, he assumes that the worst that can happen is him getting kicked out of the it upon contact... but in that case, what'll happen to Maine? They need each other for grounding, don't they?

While he still ponders whether he should take the risk of engaging the orb, it darts away from him with an almost playful motion, then hovers nearby.]

Looks like it wants to play with us.

[slaughterous]

[ While Hijikata studies the orb, Maine turns to check the gate behind them, ensuring nothing else is sneaking up. As far as he can tell, the orb is the only unusual thing here. And it's only Hijikata's past experience that marks it as unusual compared to the rest of this … very unusual place.

He looks back to his partner in this, then at the orb. ]

Playful energy?

[ Is that a thing? ]

[mayoninofukucho]

That's the sense I'm getting!

[Well, no one can say that he'll back down from a challenge! He darts at the orb, feigns a side grab which it evades, dives down under it and successfully touches it - and it promptly gets absorbed into him without any alarming effects. He grins happily.]

It felt just like what our copies gave us! I guess it's a bonus for doing it twice, or something.

[And who doesn't love a bonus! But who's to say that it's just for him? Maybe there's a second one for Maine to catch... but maybe there isn't.]

[slaughterous]

[ Alas, there seems to be no orb today! It reinforces Hijikata's theory that it's a bonus for doing it twice. Maine nods, considering that. ]

Will take friend through. [ Then, with a little smile. ] Had good teacher.

[ That means you, Hijikata! ]