&& fake wings -- ;;

Indie roleplay blog for Subaru from the ./Hack series Written by Jess. Read my rules before interacting.

[magelyapathetic-archive]

     With the conversation settling on something safe, something that he could control, he felt more at ease, turning towards their surroundings. His favorite spots were ones that were abandoned, but today, she’d caught him elsewhere, where grass was trimmed and neat and a cool breeze gathered about, lessening the heat to a comfortable amount.

     But, he doubted that was something she would notice.

     He could feel the cool breeze against his clothing and his hair, the way they flickered past his cheek. It was a strange sensation, knowing that this was all within a game. “There are fun things.” He answered. Being constantly chased wasn’t one of them.   

[passingencounter-blog]

What she noticed most was him. The usual scenery didn’t stand out much anymore, but when he stood there like that... Something did feel different. His back was facing her and she wondered if he knew that she continued to only look at him. 

Faced with growing curiosities about him, the only option was to move forward.

One her lips is a small smile. Unseen by him, but no less genuine. She needs not ask any question, just embrace the common ground between them. As shaky as they started out, it felt like things could change.  

“I too find The World rather enjoyable...” 

[magelyapathetic-archive]

     It was late in the afternoon when An decided to go for a walk. The sun was already beginning to set, but it didn’t deter the woman’s actions. She sat on the curb waiting as a little dog padded up to her feet, his tail wagging wildly. He was a warm, fuzzy little thing. She laughed a little when he’d pressed his nose on the leash in her hand. It’d been a while since they’d all gone out, and he was getting a little impatient.

     “We still have to wait, Inumaru.”

[passingencounter-blog]

The two she had fallen behind never got out of her sight, and once they did, that was more reason to catch up. As long as she kept this a reminder, her determination to keep it up stayed strong. There was no way she moved as fast when they were excited, but she came close. Close enough that she felt they couldn’t have been waiting too long. 

She joins them, giving no hints of any tiredness that may have been present after that. These two, after all, were very patient with her.

“Let us keep moving.” 

[magelyapathetic-archive]

     Much liker earlier, his first instinct was to toss back his usual remarks, but he refrained. She was different. An anomaly. It reminded him of Mimiru, tossing concerns his way. (When he didn’t want it. He didn’t need it.)  

     He lifted his head, focusing on her. Caustic remarks were easy, but it would be productive in sending her away. He’d already tried, but she’d persisted (and persisted). At the very least, he should be able to change the course of the conversation – away from him and back to her, ignoring her question and tossing his own.

     “This world … It’s fun, isn’t it?”

[passingencounter-blog]

So...it wasn’t just the questions that everyone was asking -- her knights included, that he avoided. Whatever his reasoning may have been, it told her something about him. Something that...she found herself relating to. A connection between them. For now, she’d keep it a secret. 

Quickly, a smile graced her lips as she made that decision on her own. It was gone once she heard his question. This was just as personal a question, but she had no intentions of repeating his actions. For her belief in her answer mattered to her.

“...I believe so. Wouldn’t you say so yourself?”  

[magelyapathetic-archive]

     In The World and outside of it, introductions weren’t exactly necessary. His name was easily found in the school handbook. Inroductions were taken cared of by the teacher on the first day. Having to do so himself was different. A reputation was gained and eventually a name comes from the handle the other user made.

     Either way, he didn’t care for their names.

     So, when she placed some special important in introducing herself–well, yes, he found it weird, and he’d found it even more weird that she was serious and ernest about this. It was kinda funny, actually, like an adult first learning to use a handle in the first place.

     “It shouldn’t?”

[passingencounter-blog]

Was it foolish of her to want to reach out? There’d always be a difference between her and other players, but... It wasn’t really something she wanted there in the first place. Had it been any other way, she would not be looking out for their best interest. To her...it was more than that. 

Her efforts were simply misunderstood.

“Ah... Then, you are not used to someone being interested in yourself?” 

Everyone wanted to know the answers to the stuff surrounding him. If he was tired of that, she couldn’t blame him for feeling that way. 

[kiiseru]

Are you searching for me?

[magelyapathetic-archive]

     It was strange, seeing her so off guard by his own question. It was a simple and obvious thing to point out, but her could see the weight on her shoulders as she spoke, reminding him of her position in that group of hers. 

     … Was she enjoying this world as much as he was?   

     When she lifted her head once more, he pulled away, glancing the other direction. Eye contact was still a bit too raw at the moment, but, this, he could manage. 

     “You’re … a strange person.”

[passingencounter-blog]

Who would have thought that she’d find herself faced with so many surprises. All from a single player. From the impossible things to the smaller things, he somehow managed to catch her off guard. 

Her PC shows this, eyebrows raised and complete with a questioning look. What he considered strange was...strange as well. Had he not been used to such things? 

“...Is my behavior really that strange to you? It should not be...” Well aware of her intentions and where they stand, she puts on a serious face. 

[magelyapathetic-archive]

    “Meeting someone is God’s doing,              but parting is what humans do themselves.”

[magelyapathetic-archive]

     Whatever was on the BBS, he only heard bits and pieces from Mimiru and Bear. Even then, he (pretended) not to care what was on there. The end result wouldn’t have changed. There would still be people snooping and attacking him just because he could do things no one else can, because this world was his.

     It didn’t matter if her group continued to pursue him, because she would make sure that he would be alright. With the powers he was given, how could he not?  

     His half turn became full as he kept his focus on her. The change in conversation was far more pleasant the previous topic. Almost welcomed, seeing as his expression had lightened, becoming one of confusion instead. “–but you already did that for me.” He’d said, stating the obvious. Tsukasa was wavemaster with a powerful guardian that hasn’t logged off in over a week now. 

     “I mean, what more could you want?” 

[passingencounter-blog]

What she wanted...? To that, she lowered her head and looked away. Nobody had really asked that, in the pursue of information. It had been so simple for her knights. Ask questions, and do whatever it took to get an answer. As for herself... Her interest in the things she noticed, or observed was far too great to just pass up. The knights would listen to orders as long as it benefited their main objectives. She couldn’t allow herself to ask anything that settled on more personal, for fear of being unheard. It was a difficult thing, but regardless, this much she could look forward to.

“Ah... You’re right.” Now she was looking back over at him. “...But.” It was not the point she was trying to make.

Still, the question was fair, but managed to leave a longer silence between them as she thought out a way to make him understand. Personal feelings aside, one thing seemed true enough. As they stood speaking, he had yet to harm her. Nor did she believe that he needed to be harmed himself. Would he accept that she thought he just needed someone to speak to...?

“I simply wished to hear it from you is all.” 

[passingencounter-blog]

i’m going to be using a different fc for offline things due to lack of content of irl subu but just remember that doesnt change her condition sfkdjgh 

[passingencounter-blog]

...mm man I just realized how difficult crossover verses are gonna be hard to work with unless the other mun has a .hack verse s-sweats. 

[magelyapathetic-archive]

     With his sleeve still pressed up against his face, he doesn’t quite hear the soft steps. Only the familiar prickling sensation rising at the back of his neck was the only clue he had of her actions – and her words shortly after. Her very surprising question.

    If she had been snooping around like the others, shouldn’t a question like that be one of the first things to come up?

     He brought his arm back down, only slightly turning to look over his shoulder in her direction. She didn’t look like she was joking or taking any of this lightly. “You …” He paused, his mouth dry, and tried again. “You don’t even know that much?”    

[passingencounter-blog]

Of course she had known. Wouldn’t he, too? Was it because he never checked the board, or...  She was leaning on that rumor being true as well. It worried her that he couldn’t see how much he was being discussed on the BBS. She shook her head, just a simple gesture for her. “That’s not it...”

 Her head lowered as she considered what action to take. She knew what she wanted to say to him, but could she warn this player? Would what she was slowly piecing together matter to her knights, who had dedicated themselves to finding out the truth...? They were determined to get to the bottom of this, and that was all there was to it. But, she was faced with a different problem. “I suppose that I wanted to hear an introduction myself.” 

[magelyapathetic-archive]

     She’s still there. 

     Tsukasa knows it, and he can feel her presence still. Waiting, but matching his own. As the air between them grows heavy, he knows it means she’ll be less likely to leave. Keeping aloof and detached as usual grows more and more difficult as her words struck a cord within him.

     This is no longer about the guardian, wasn’t it? And it confuses him. It … stirs something beneath his chest, painful and nostalgic. He doesn’t understand her or why she chooses to stay long after she received her answers or why she’s decided to pursue a question they both knew the answer.

                       “No.”  

     To him, this world is real.                    This was all he has.

     Even if he wasn’t trapped here, there was nothing he wanted from the other world. All of his memories: the screams, the beatings–from those familiar and not, he doesn’t want to return to any of it. Here, in this world, even if he can feel, he had the power to fight back or escape if he wanted. 

    The power he was given; it lets him travel wherever he wanted in this world, but –     

     Mimiru’s words haunts him. Even if this is a game, he knows he can’t stay here the way he is; he’s being hunted. His hiding spots have gotten less, and it was only a matter of time before he can’t keep up this sort of pace. 

     Crying is something he doesn’t do with tears, but his arm is brought up, rubbing his eyes. It’s stupid, letting his emotions get to him this way.

[passingencounter-blog]

It’s a single word that passes by. What matters most, are the actions that follow. They pass by just as quickly, but they’re real. It makes the scene between them feel like such. Not just feel, but play out. In front of her very eyes.

This is...real. It seems as if...it’s something of a reality for him. It was not for show. She felt that strongly, so much that she felt no need to confirm the gesture as being real. It felt so real, yet she knew this was considered impossible. 

The air around them remains heavy, and continues to remind her of how tense things are. She cannot leave it as is. Or perhaps...it’s her curiosity that guides her, causing her to take small steps forward in hopes that the bad feelings would be left behind.

“You are called...Tsukasa, correct?” 

[magelyapathetic-archive]

     He’s the first to turn away, no longer willing to meet her eyes. It makes him uncomfortable, the sheer strength behind them. He doesn’t like it, but, for some reason, he hasn’t tried to warp to another area. He holds his ground, somewhat, more than he expected.

     With his back turned to her, he still feels her gaze, but it’s not as nerve wracking as it was before. He’s more used to things this way, and he chooses to indulge her. Like the others, this PC carries her own opinions of him, but unlike them, she tries to ask, without any intentions of harming him – at least, not yet. He couldn’t be too sure. She is involved with them after all, but it doesn’t hide how raw his voice sounds when he finally answers her.

     “I just want to be left alone.” 

                ( I didn’t mean to hurt anyone in the real world. I didn’t                   know it could do that, but I know how to use it now.                   So it should be fine. Mimiru would be proud, right? ) 

     He let out a breath, “this … is a game, isn’t it?”  

[passingencounter-blog]

“...” 

It’s just a game, just as he says so himself... Yet, it feels truly heartbreaking to see him turn away like that. While she cannot pinpoint her reason for feeling sad all of a sudden, she knows he is the center of it. 

There’s...something more to his words. They are not something she takes lightly. This matter was not one to be considered a simple problem. There was more to it, and she wanted to know everything she could. Right where she stood, is the closest she was going to get to him. 

“Can you really say that and mean it?” 

Quietly spoken words are easy to miss when kept to herself, but she’s hopeful they’re heard. It may have been a game, but this meeting was still as real as any other encounter.  

[magelyapathetic-archive]

    “Meeting someone is God’s doing,              but parting is what humans do themselves.”

[magelyapathetic-archive]

    “!!”

    Beyond the fact that he had readily blurt it aloud, the way he tensed up was enough of a confirmation. It wasn’t as though he were trying to hide the twilight guardian anyways. Still, it was how others were so interested in what he was doing and telling him what he should and shouldn’t do that bothered him. 

     He didn’t like it, and he didn’t try to hide it.  

     “… is that all you wanted to ask?”

[passingencounter-blog]

Many of the game’s players -- including the knights that stood by her side were becoming concerned. Already, this conversation was taking turns that only seemed to make her concerned as well. 

The sooner she got to the bottom of this, the better.

Answering his question with a gesture, her head lowered before lightly shaking it ‘no’. 

“...I’m afraid not.” Then again, this situation was rather complicated. He couldn’t think things would be that simple. She raises her head, eyes once again meeting his. Because he’s still here and she has a duty, she has yet to turn away herself. 

“Tell me...what are your intentions?” Would things change, she wondered...? Would she get her answer? 

[passingencounter-blog]

silver knight: justice sure is hard work

subaru: 

[magelyapathetic-archive]

     The girl didn’t run. She didn’t react the same as Mimiru had when he’d spoken to her similarly. Instead, she’d continued with her approach, and that was something that brought Tsukasa to take a step back before grinding the heels of his boots into the ground. He wasn’t going to back down.  

     “Something …?” 

     He let his the words drop, as his gaze narrowed onto hers, realizing just what it was she wanted. It was always about his guardian and his strange power. He gripped onto his staff a little tighter before relaxing. If he wasn’t careful, he could accidentally call it over.  

     “If it’s about my guardian, I’m not telling you anything.”

[passingencounter-blog]

Things were inching closer to be more tense and she felt the vibes he seemed to be putting out. She refuses to be forceful with him and goes as far as to keep her own feet planted on the ground. Not another step forward is taken because she’s aware. This could end badly, for all she knew. 

Keeping up with the BBS and theories wasn’t much of a help idea. Not when it came to easing her worries.  

Her approach was not to rush in and swarm the PC with questions, but to take it slowly. Yet...she felt as if she was getting nowhere and that it’d stay that way. How the guards had yet to arrive left her with questions. They probably wouldn’t have much time either.

There was no choice but to be straightforward. Much like he was. 

“So...” There’s a small pause, as she does her best to cover up any worry with her usual soft spoken tone. “This guardian of yours truly exists then?” 

While he said he wouldn’t share any information, he gave her that much with his own words.