[ Closed ]

[gentilitea]

Who: Add & Jakob
Where: An orphanage in the Near Shore
When: July 2
What: Prayer #30
Warnings: Violence, hallucinations, abandonment issues, Add…

Though their latest mission seems a grim one—especially in light of Jakob’s more recently recovered memories—he nevertheless steels himself for the task ahead, this time confident that nothing can go wrong. Ever since he and Add had established some sort of rapport together he’d felt much more relaxed, as if he’d become that much more in tune with his master’s intentions.

And it is freeing to know that, if you’re not expecting the worst of your master at every single moment, then even jobs like this become that much more…pleasant.

“The orphanage should be close by,” he remarks, taking note of their more peaceful, suburban surroundings. Soon, a nondescript building looms ahead, and though there are no signs declaring that it is, in fact, an orphanage, it matches the description Jakob had found online. Despite its best efforts to look like anything but what it is—a shameful aberration of society nestled within the upright middle-class suburbs—the orphanage still looks a good deal more cheerful than the doorstep of that great, imposing castle from his memories.

It’s hard not to wonder at what any child must have felt at coming to this place, knowing they’ll never see their parents again.

He pauses before they reach the threshold, fighting back that horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach at the memory, before pressing a hand to his temples and taking a deep breath.

“My apologies. Please follow me.”

Comments

[gentilitea]

Jakob doesn’t even notice the ayakashi, or the children, or anyone that’s not Add standing before him, hidden beneath the repulsive guise of his parents. One misstep, and he might accidentally stab a child lingering in his way.

Yet he still doesn’t lower that knife.

“So you think me a fool, eh?” He takes a step toward Add and away from the portal keeping the ayakashi at bay, still keeping his weapon trained at his master as he brusquely shoves motionless children aside with his other hand, his body language filled with deadly intent.

“How does it feel now, to be left alone and abandoned in the midst of strangers? What sort of people would do that to a mere child? Answer me!”

[subtract]

Try as he might to stand his ground, Add can't help but take a step back when Jakob starts approaching him again. That look in his eyes is dangerous, and its more than just the ayakashi's influence at work. He can feel the echoes of his shinki's emotions, all fury and indignation and bitterness, all of it directed at whoever he thinks Add to be. It's far too strong to be just another part of the trick. Jakob's thoughts and feelings, even if misguided, are completely real right now.

It's not until he utters those last few words that the rest of the puzzle starts to click into place. What sort of people would do that to a mere child?

He lets out a small gasp, eyes wide with realization. An abandoned child...

Ah. Well, if that's the reason he can hardly blame him for reacting with such anger. Add's expressions settles into a hardened mask, his own anger beginning to stew alongside his shinki's.

He'll ask about that later. For now—

The portal finally gives out, snapping shut with a loud crunch as the ayakashi yanks itself free, black smoke pouring up from the corners of its mouth. It sets its sights on Add. He looks up for only a split second before tearing his eyes away, not wanting to get caught in the same trap—but either way he doubts the creature is going to let him do as he pleases.

"You'll thank me for this later!" he shouts over the snake's deafening hiss, turning to Jakob with an outstretched hand. "Chaki!"

He just barely has enough time to grab the plate and hold it up before a stream of pitch-black fire spews down at him, blighting his fingertips while Jakob's vessel deflects the brunt of the attack. Because the only thing worse than a giant man-eating snake with hypnotic powers is one that can also breathe fire.

[gentilitea]

You’ll thank me for this later! manages to penetrate his muddied consciousness, though it comes echoing to him from the taunting mouths of his parents. But before Jakob can take a swipe at his parents/master he finds himself quickly immobilized, his body transformed into a vessel even as his mind remains in the thrall of the monster.

To him it feels as though he’s been captured and tied up. The humiliation of that sudden capture is one thing, but when the ayakashi attacks he screams, black fire scorching through him as his parents laugh and laugh in his nightmares.

He tries to struggle free, but finds himself completely helpless and immobile, angry with himself for being so trapped, so…helpless. Never mind that he would’ve gladly taken the blow for his master had he remembered where he is.

“You—You cowards!” he cries out, a hint of desperation in his voice as he struggles against his imaginary bonds. “I’ll have your heads on a platter for this! I won’t let you get away; I won’t!”

[subtract]

Add bites down on his lip, willing himself to keep hold of his shinki even as the heat of the flames seeps through his gloves. If it were normal fire he'd probably be fine (fighting alongside Elesis, fireproof clothing was practically a necessity), but nothing seems to do much to stop blight for long. Only a vessel or borderline can truly block an ayakashi's attack... but with the state Jakob is in right now, he's not sure how long even that is going to last.

It doesn't help that Jakob is panicking so much, either. That desperation and helplessness... combined with everything else, it strikes far too close to home for him to be comfortable, and no matter how much he tries to stay calm it feels like he's being pushed to the edge of his limits. Like that first time Roxas put him in his vessel, terrified of the absolute power that could be used to control him... or worse, those deeply buried memories of what it's like to be chained up and abused, enslaved.

"I know exactly how you feel," he mutters only loud enough for Jakob to hear. Even if those words end up twisted against him...

The stream of fire finally comes to an end, his arms shaking as he's finally able to move again. His eyes focused away from the creature's head, Add takes two hasty steps backwards onto the platform of his dynamos. Well, now that he has the ayakashi's attention he can at least move this fight outside—closed quarters aren't good for his abilities, and it's probably a bad idea to be fighting in a room crowded with children. Add dives to the side right as the snake lunges again, gliding along the wall towards the closest window. The glass shatters with the sharp impact of a space crack before they reach it, and he shields his eyes with one arm as they pass through. The burst through the other side into the empty playground next to the building.

The ayakashi follows behind them only a moment later. Add spins around in the air to face it, still retreating backwards to give them a little more space—and, of course, holding up Jakob's vessel like the world's tiniest shield.

[gentilitea]

“Liar!” he retorts, stubbornly struggling to somehow transcend being dishware, and failing miserably. Whatever hold his parents have got on him feels outright inescapable, as if he’s to be denied even the relief of finally ridding himself of such loveless parents even as he’s been forced into circumstances beyond his control.

He can still feel their laughter ringing in his ears as the world seems to tilt and there’s a sound of shattering impact somewhere in the distance, and he still feels every bit the child, the disowned nobleman—the orphan—with his life literally spiraling out of control as Add makes his way toward the playground and the ayakashi chases after him.

Orphans…

Something doesn’t feel quite right about all this, but before he can dwell on this he sees his parents approaching closer and closer. In the real world, the ayakashi takes on the guise of his parents as its eyes dart around, seeking a blind spot, before spewing out another stream of black fire—

And Jakob screams—“Don’t come any closer!”—his vessel form trembling just a smidge in Add’s grasp, but it’s enough to create a short-lived borderline, quickly repelling the creature gaining on them.

[subtract]

The trembling catches him off guard, and for a split second he's concerned that Jakob might actually break free or be hurt from the ayakashi's power, but in the next moment a barrier of light springs forth to help block the incoming flames. He keeps a tight grip on Jakob regardless, relieved that his fingers are being spared another burning this time around.

If he's using his borders against the right enemy, maybe Jakob is starting to break free from the illusion? Add can only hope, but now seems like the best time to launch a counterattack. Once the flames start to fade again he pulls his shinki back with one arm, swooping in low to the ground to try and line up a shot...

He doesn't get much time to aim before the snake is after him again, though. He flings the plate forward like a frisbee, hissing out the end of the chant to charge it with killing-force— "Rend!"

And... well, it's not a perfect throw, but it clips the edge of the ayakashi's jaw, slicing through at least a third of his body before the plate flies off course. The monster screeches in agony, writhing in the air. Its body bulges grotesquely right before it crashes into the group, exploding into a burst of dark energy that's swiftly converged into a purifying light.

Add sighs, watching to ensure the ayakashi's destruction before gliding over to where Jakob ended up. The dark smoke wafting up from the plate is starting to disperse now as well...

"Are you back to normal?" he asks, an edge of concern in his voice. He doesn't move to pick up his shinki, either, so hopefully Jakob isn't too uncomfortable on the ground. The last thing he should be doing right now is spreading more blight around.

[gentilitea]

He’s had enough of cowering before his past. Whatever he’s done, his hallucinatory parents had recoiled at his outburst, and he feels a surge of renewed strength at the thought that he might be able to fight back after all.

He finds that he still doesn’t have complete control over his body, but it doesn’t matter at the moment. He feels strangely…light, as if all his thoughts and his cares are somehow lifting from his shoulders, from his mind, and as Add flings him forward Jakob feels a certain renewed energy welling up inside of him, likewise charging forward at the fading visage of his parents, until…

Light, then nothing. At least for a few moments, before Add’s voice breaks through, and Jakob feels at once heavy and detached from his surroundings, as if he is just waking up from a bad dream.

“Gods, my head…” he mutters, before letting out a gasp. “Add! The orphans, they’re—”

[subtract]

"Oh, right." The orphans. They should probably make sure everything is okay back in the orphanage. Add leaves Jakob alone for the moment, hovering over to the window to take a peek inside.

Everyone seems to have snapped out of whatever trance the ayakashi had them under. Several children are now bawling, the confused parents are desperately trying to calm them down, and the receptionist appears to be in the middle of calling the police to report a pair of knife-wielding maniacs that escaped through the window...

Add returns to his shinki's side with some haste. "We should probably leave," he says, and after a pause remembers to add, "They're fine, don't worry about it. Can you walk, Jakob?"

The name should allow him to return to his normal body, so hopefully he didn't sustain too much damage. There were a few close calls, but that fight didn't go too badly...

[gentilitea]

He can hear, vaguely, some crying from above, before he realizes that they are not in the playroom—nor indeed anywhere inside the building—and that it feels as though something has scooped out the better part of his memories and let them trickle back, piecemeal. A few stray images—of that ayakashi, of children falling into a trance, of the Castle Krakenburg looming overhead—flicker across his mind; and when he returns to his human form he’s rubbing at his temples, frowning at Add as if all of this is somehow his fault, even though Jakob hasn’t quite had the time to really parse whatever it is they’d just gone through.

But he rises to his feet, shakily, and looks his god over, as if he might’ve been the one to sustain the injuries Jakob hadn’t gotten in his vessel form. Out of all the muddled memories and hallucinations he does recall one thing vividly—that he’d tried to attack someone. Repeatedly.

So he remains stubbornly where he is. “I tried to attack you,” he states, completely ignoring Add’s question.

[subtract]

Add doesn't look like he's injured, but that's only because he still has his gloves on. He's trying not to move his hands too much (or touch anything, for that matter). Maybe if he's lucky he can get away with purifying the blight before Jakob notices...

When Jakob stays still he sighs, pausing first to jump off of Dynamo. "You weren't in your right mind, so don't even start with me. Anyway, it turned out fine." Or as close to fine as any of their prayers have gone.

"Do you want to get arrested, or do I have to carry you back to the temple?" he asks again, this time in a more warning tone.

[gentilitea]

Jakob can only manage a quick and cursory survey of his god anyway, which betrays none of Add’s more pertinent injuries to him. He takes another glance up at that window and decides that, after all, there’s nothing he can do here to fix whatever it is they broke this time around.

“Very well. We will deal with this later.”

[subtract]

At least they can be thankful there weren't any casualties. Add almost reaches out to touch Jakob for teleportation, hesitates, then opens one of his own portals instead. He'll just have to deal with the weird swirling timespace tunnel back to their temple. Add steps aside so his shinki can enter, giving him plenty of space.

"You remembered something. How long ago did that happen? You should've told me." He doesn't sound angry or upset, just curious. He does want to know more about shinki memories and how they could be recovered, but it was obviously something personal, so he can't blame Jakob for keeping it to himself. Still, "You don't have to give me all the details, but you should at least let me know if something like this happens again."

[gentilitea]

“About a month ago,” he replies, stepping into the portal and not really meeting Add’s eyes. He wonders how much of this he should talk about, really, before he blights himself somehow. He doesn’t really know what to make of having something like that shoved into his already messed up psyche to begin with.

“I simply woke up remembering, one day. I don’t know how it happened.” Let alone why. This is pretty much the last thing he ever wants to remember about his old life.

[subtract]

The answer is unhelpful, but not unexpected. The other shinki he's aware of that recovered memories had similar things to say... whatever the cause might be, it's going to be difficult to figure out just from observation. Add pauses, looking back at the orphanage one last time before following Jakob into the portal. The crack seals shut behind them.

There's some time before they reach the other end of the tunnel. The void surrounding them is dark and endless, broken up by distant black spheres and glittering fragments that look like crystals. They drift in silence for awhile, guided by the faint tug of reality drawing them back in.

"... Some people shouldn't be allowed to have children," Add mutters, staring blankly at a random space in the distance. "But... there are also good parents in the world. Whatever happened to them in the past, they deserve to find a place to belong."

He's referring to the orphans, of course.

[gentilitea]

The tunnel almost feels like home, if he’d remembered more of it, but the darkness, at least, doesn’t bother him. He stares ahead of them, trying to summon up some other part of his remembering that memory, but finding little else to tell his god.

When Add breaks the silence Jakob turns to him, his own eyes glimmering with some emotion he can’t quite identify himself—agreement? sadness? wistfulness??—but then he turns away.

“I will keep tabs on them, of course.” He can’t really stand it when orphans or, indeed, any child has been mistreated. Besides, this is the only way he can assuage his own guilt of somehow having made those poor children cry.

[subtract]

Add nods in quiet agreement... although, neither of them should probably be going back to that orphanage any time soon. He'll consider it an extension of the prayer to make sure the kids find good homes. The ayakashi was getting in the way of that, after all.

He can't think of anything else to say, so he leaves it at that. They eventually reach the end of the portal, falling out into... well, a very similar space, really, except more blue and full of the usual giant cubes. Now there's just one last thing to take care of...

"You go on ahead. I need to check on something." As if that isn't the laziest lie in the world, but he needs to find an illusion with water he can clean off his blight with. Better not to bring Jakob with him in case he notices and starts fussing.

[gentilitea]

The silence is fine with him. He’s already resigned to the fact that clearly he and his god don’t have much to talk about, since they have so very little in common. So he only stares at Add with his usual stern look before doing a mental shrug.

“Very well.” He’s probably off to build more of his strange doohickeys for all he knows. “I have other duties to attend to. Summon me if you need anything.”

And with that, he’ll proceed to a nearby illusion.