LOCKED TO blazingspirit

[diamondo]

[He doesn't remember much about his execution.

Oh sure, he remembers the lead-up to it; he remembers how the others looked on as he was led away and sure, he remembers Ishimaru's screams. He doesn't remember the death cage nor does he remember the sudden pain before it was all over.

It made waking up here incredibly confusing.

"Here" must be some sort of afterlife, but Mondo hasn't been able to figure out what it is, exactly. It's obviously not heaven (he's killed two people, he doesn't belong in heaven), but it doesn't seem to be hell either. Things are monotonous, yes, but they're not bad.

That leaves the option of purgatory, which Mondo is more or less fine with. It's better than spending an eternity suffering. It's probably not right for him to stay here instead of moving on to hell, but he doesn't know how or when that will happen. He's content to leave it at that for the time being.

This place is a rather large city - half of it is full of native English speakers, whom Mondo tends to avoid (his English is atrocious, after all), the other half is full of Japanese speakers. The city itself doesn't seem to be anywhere Mondo has ever seen, but it's large and spread out, with plenty to explore and do. Mondo hasn't seen everything there is to see though; he's only been here for a few weeks, and he knew if he wanted to make ends meet, he'd need a job first. Exploring could wait.

It's convenient that there's a carpenter's shop just down the road from the apartment Mondo woke up in. It might not technically be his, but he's been staying there until he can afford to properly rent it out. No one has complained so far, so he figures it's fine for the time being. The carpenter works him to the bone and he's never been so exhausted in his life when he comes home, but it's a good kind of exhaustion that means he's doing something productive. He can't make up for what he's done in the past, but he can help out here.

He's off work for the day, lounging around in what serves as the living room of his apartment, flipping through the newspaper. The dates here are all screwed up - it's almost winter here and he knows he'll have to put some money away toward buying proper winter clothes. That's only a minor concern though, because he has much bigger things to worry about.

In a city this large, it's possible that he's just missed seeing the others. He hasn't been looking very hard, admittedly. He's not sure what to say to them when he does see them. "Sorry" simply won't cut it for Fujisaki. He doesn't really want to see Kuwata, Enoshima, or Maizono either. He's sure it's only a matter of time before one of them finds him, or before someone else shows up here.

All he can do is hope that it won't be Ishimaru.]

Comments

[diamondo]

Ah, is it?

[That's a stupid question, of course it is. Mondo frowns.]

I wish I could say that there's something you could do to help me out, but most of the time there isn't. I usually just need some time to cool down on my own, y'know?

[blazingspirit]

Well, tell me that next time, and don't do this whole...freezing-me-out bullshit!

[He can hear himself starting to get defensive; he shuts up then, trying to get himself to calm down, though he's still shaking a little.]

[diamondo]

[Mondo wants to reach out and touch him, to at least try to comfort him somehow, but that would be awkward with what he's admitted, wouldn't it? He sits still, arms crossed instead.]

I'm... shit, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. You don't deserve that shit.

[blazingspirit]

...Look, that's how people would end shit with -

[me, but he cuts himself off before he can say it; it had felt more natural to go with that when he'd started, but that's not...right, is it? He'd never wanted friends.

He shakes his head a bit.]

...him. Ishimaru. They'd act okay with him for a while, and then they'd want nothing to do with him and they wouldn't fucking explain what he did. So I don't like it when people do that shit to me.

[diamondo]

[Mondo flinches at that and then decides against just sitting there, finally moving to touch Ishida's arm. There's no hesitance behind it.]

I'm sorry. Shit, no, that's not what I was trying to do. I'd never do something like that to you. You're always gonna be my friend.

[He can't exactly call Ishida his brother any more because of that stupid crush, but you know. Next best thing and all that.]

[blazingspirit]

...Yeah, I know you wouldn't do anything like that.

[He doesn't flinch away from that touch at all, though he doesn't do anything to respond to it; he's still shaking a little.]

I'm just being stupid, forget it.

[diamondo]

You know I'm not gonna forget it. It's obvious that it's bothering you. It must've hurt him a lot.

[Especially if it's bothering Ishida like this. Mondo moves closer after a moment, wrapping his arms around Ishida and pulling him close.]

I'm so fucking sorry. I'll never do that again, alright? You don't deserve that shit.

[blazingspirit]

...it's still stupid.

[That sounds sullen as hell, but he lets Mondo pull him over, at least; it takes him a moment, but he latches on eventually.]

It didn't happen, so I shouldn't be worked up about it. It's fine, kyoudai.

[diamondo]

So? You've got every right to be upset. You thought it was gonna happen, 'course that'd upset you!

[He runs his hand through Ishida's hair in what he hopes is a soothing manner, trying to get his friend to calm down a bit.]

I'm sorry. I'll never do a shitty thing like that to you. I won't freeze you out again either. I'll tell you if something's bothering me, no matter what, alright?

[blazingspirit]

[Well, that's just...going to get nuzzling out of him eventually. Hair-playing's cheating, asshole.]

...Thanks. It kind of freaks me out when you keep things from me, you know?

[...for...several reasons, um]

[diamondo]

[Yeah, he knows! But he needs Ishida to calm down!]

I won't keep shit from you anymore. Like I said, I just... wasn't sure how to approach it. And to be honest, I was kinda worried it would ruin things between us. Like you'd be... fuck, I dunno, weirded out by it or something.

[He's not stopping with that hair-playing any time soon, so get used to it!]

[blazingspirit]

Why the fuck would it weird me out? I mean, I guess it's kind of weird that anyone would think like that about me in the first place - I wasn't expecting that at all - but otherwise?

[diamondo]

W-Well, I mean... it's kinda weird to have that coming from your brother, y'know!?

[...God, the neighbors probably think they're the weirdest people ever. And most obnoxious, but that goes without saying.]

[blazingspirit]

[Well, as always, if they don't like it...

That said, um.]

...Oh.

[Just. Oh.]

W-Well, it's not like we're blood-related, right?!

[diamondo]

W-Well yeah, course not! It's just... really fucking awkward!!

[orz, Ishida. orz.]

[blazingspirit]

I don't think it is!

[orz]

[diamondo]

...How is it not awkward?

[No really, enlighten him. He's pretty sure this is the most awkward thing ever.]

[blazingspirit]

Well, it's awkward now, yeah!! But it isn't in general - that's a really fuckin' touching thing to say to someone!!

[diamondo]

[Oh, great. Now he's just going to be going bright red, thanks.]

I--! W-well--!! Y-Yeah, I guess so!!

[How does he handle this, we just don't know.]

[blazingspirit]

So of fuckin' course I'm not mad at you - and I don't think it needs to change things between us, either!!

[diamondo]

You... you sure?

[He was being pretty stupid about the whole girlfriend thing...]

[blazingspirit]

[He falters a bit at that.]

Should it...?

[diamondo]

Well, no, don't get me wrong, I don't want things to change between us! I just... wanna make sure you're okay with that, y'know? I mean, I was being pretty fucking immature about the whole uh... dating thing.

[blazingspirit]

[Ishida pulls back, giving Mondo a strange look.]

...Why are you so afraid you're gonna fuck things up? You're always acting like I'm about thirty seconds away from leaving you forever.

[diamondo]

It's not anything you've done. It's just... I don't wanna be alone, y'know? That's kinda... one of my biggest fears.

[It hurts that Ishida pulls away, and Mondo settles for resting his hands on his knees, staring down at the covers instead.]

I just don't wanna fuck things up.