Shh, Be Quiet.

#body discovery #deluge of despair #dod #chapter 1

If I could save time in a bottle [Body Discovery]

Twenty-four hours isn’t a lot of time to come to terms with one’s mortality. You all had your own separate ways to deal with it - maybe you panicked and spent your time crying your eyes out in one of the submarine’s many rooms. Perhaps you were openly defiant, challenging your fate with a determined smile, clutching onto some semblance of dignity as you faced a demise most wet. Whatever the case, the night passed in a huff of silence and worried sleep, and you couldn’t help but worry that Susan was going to make good on his promise to drown you all.

It’s morning. You wake up in varying statements of refreshment, and even as you greet your fellow crewmates hello, it just seems to be another ordinary day.

Unless you’re Xana Skye, who bursts into both crew quarters in alarm, yelling something about the meeting room downstairs. You get up, hurried by the Matchmaker’s efforts, and sooner or later the fifteen of you are on the first floor- fifteen? An arbitrary headcount reveals that, yes, someone is missing from your group…But who?

An absentminded glance towards the red timer [3:36:46] is all that can be managed before you see what has Xana so riled up. Your blood turns cold.

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#chapter 1 #deluge of despair #dod

Higeru Hashimoto || Chapter One Start || The Scalded Cat Fears Cold Water || Open

Higeru couldn’t believe what he was fearing. In fact, it was taking a little while to register. They were…. no…. they were staying here forever? He began to shake. They couldn’t, they just couldn’t be forced to stay here forever, and….

Kill eachother?…. Higeru wasn’t too familiar with murder. He knew vaguely what it entailed, but he generally wasn’t too familiar with the inner workings of the concept, or of death in general. How does a person cause… death? So someone wont be around anymore, right? It was…. well, it was a bit alarming, to say the least, and completely baffling.

“What?… What are you…”

Before he could finish however, he was immediately struck by the sight of water coming rushing towards him. In a normal circumstance, he would’ve scampered out of the way, but he watched as Kurimu hurled in front of him. Confused and hesitant for a moment, he reached out to catch her, only to be socked right in the chest and gut by the girl barreling into him, as well as a fuck ton of water. It took Higeru a moment to come to his senses, but when he did, he was curled up on the floor, trembling and whimpering.

“Hhh… hhhhhh….”

#chapter 1 #dod #deluge of despair

Twenty thousand leagues under the sea, no one can hear you scream [Event]

The flow of time would seem rather weird down under the sea. With the absence of any natural light reaching the exterior of the submarine, you didn’t know how to judge how long it’s been since you’ve last arrived in your new home. There wasn’t really much to complain about, though, was there? The amenities in the submarine were top-of-the-line, and soon enough, you were all relaxing into the nightly grind of finding a room in the submarine to venture into, and ultimately making friends along the way. The routine lasted an unspecified amount of time, until one particular lull, when your ID cards crackled to life.

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Higeru Hashimoto || Prologue || Who let the cats out?

#higeru #ayato #chapter 0 #prologue #dod #deluge of despair

bonfire-hacker:

So much for getting the hat. Ayato took the pin- wait…just one pin? “Where’s the other pin?” He let go of Higeru’s shirt and stood back up. “This stopped being fun awhile ago, keep the other star or whatever Cat boy” Ayato walked away from the table and waited in one of the corners.

Higeru was safe and alone for now.

Higeru blinked, sitting down on the floor and examining the pin in his hand. He gave a small hum, before shoving it in his pocket contentedly.

“Hmph.... yeah..... walk.... away....”

He continued to sit curled up on the floor, turning the pin over in his hand and peeking out over his knees. He decided he didn’t like that boy.

The Birthday Bash | Kurimu | Prologue | Open

i-scream-queen

“Hmm?” Kurimu turned her head at an angle, and glanced upon the lithe cat-boy. “Ah, Higeru, was it? These are bowls of ice cream mix - I’m going to toss one into the freezer and see whether it can match the consistency of the batches I have at home.” With that, she placed the three bowls into separate compartments, before closing the otherwise empty freezer and setting the dial to flash-freeze.

“Thank you for the birthday greeting, by the way. I don’t honestly know whether it even is my birthday, but I suppose celebrating it couldn’t hurt.” She flashed one of her rare smiles at the boy. “What do you want to talk about while we wait? It shouldn’t be too long anyhow.”

#kurimu #higeru #dod #deluge of despair #prologue #chapter 0

Higeru would be smiling right now, if that was something that he did. He was genuinely comforted by the girl’s presence- the way she addressed him was always warm and friendly, and he leaned in closer with warm gaze. Well, as warm as his stoic expression would allow.

“You’re welcome.... onee-san... let’s talk about.... cats....”

He nods his head as if affirming the topic to himself, and lets it rest against his shoulder lazily. He seemed to be getting lost in his own thoughts about cats.

“I like... cute.. fluffy black ones... and... gray ones... with stripes...”

Unfortunately for Higeru, he doesn’t really know about different “breeds” of cats. Good luck Kurimu.

Look what the cat dragged in || Closed for Hisoka

@this-fucking-blows

Higeru padded quickly down the hallway, searching for a certain someone in particular. He was clutching his fist tightly, his other hand feeling about the walls and doors as he looked around. Finally, he found his target- Hisoka seemed to be minding his business in the common room, and Higeru began to sneak up on him quietly. It was sort of unintentional, really; he was used to sneaking places, and had already startled one or two people on accident because of it.

He slinked up behind Hisoka, and rested a gentle hand on his shoulder. At least he hadn’t been sudden.

“Nehh Nehh, Hisoka-san.”

The boy raised his fists, looking around warily before opening it to reveal a small, plastic gold star pin.

“I..... took this from Ayato-san.... like we were gonna do. Nothing big... but.... I wanted to... show you.”

Although fairly emotionless, he seems pleased with his snagged goodie.

#hisoka #higeru #dod #chapter 0 #deluge of despair #prologue

Higeru Hashimoto || Prologue || Who let the cats out?

Real gold? Ayato stared quietly at Higeru. “It’s just shiny plastic, do you really think I would be one of those idiots that wear valuables in plain sight?” He didn’t wait for a response from Higeru. “Look, just hand over the damn things and I’ll let you go, are they really worth the trouble Cat boy?

“Or…you can keep the pins and you give me that hat you’re wearing”

#higeru #ayato #dod #deluge of despair #prologue #chapter 0

Higeru blinked. Well, that was that, then. He wasn’t going to go through the trouble of stealing plastic- why would he? Plastic sold for practically nothing compared to real gold. It really wasn’t worth the effort.

“...Here...”

The boys hands back the pin calmly. He wasn’t about to fork over his hat, no way.

The Birthday Bash | Kurimu | Prologue | Open

Unfortunately for the benefit of everyone involved, Kurimu couldn’t quite remember what the date was. All she knew was that, the day before she woke up, she distinctly remembered making plans to visit home in order to celebrate her sixteenth birthday. Her little sisters had been excited because she was bound to bring some of her newest creations for an impromptu taste testing…But it would seem like time went on and her birthday passed her, so she was sixteen years - and a few days, maybe even months - old.

She certainly didn’t feel any older, let alone look any different, but perhaps that was part of the charm.

Nevertheless, she wanted to celebrate it - if not for herself to feel any older, then to see if she still retained the chops to create ice cream with substandard ingredients. Sure, the milk came in a carton that was sold by a particularly high-end brand, but she had no idea how fresh it was, nor was there an expiry date on the thing…Guess she just had to trust Susan the shark on this one.

So she got to work. Pretty soon, she had a few bowls of mixed flavours like vanilla bean, mango/raspberry and her signature rainbow out on the counter, ready to freeze. This was a test batch to see if the amenities were good enough, and as she hoisted the bowl with the vanilla mix into the freezer, she nudged against the slushie machine, causing it to roll off slightly-

…Huh. Hang on, when was the slushie machine ever mobile? There were wheels on it and all, meaning that it could be moved…And if it could be moved, why?

#higeru #kurimu #prologue #chapter 0 #dod #deluge of despair

Higeru knew birthdays. He loved birthdays. Granted, he’d really only been to... well, two each year- his and his sister’s- but both of them were always fun. He cautiously began to approach Kurimu, having heard vaguely about some sort of “birthday” type celebration that he wished to partake in. slinking up to the counter, Higeru rested a hand on her shoulder from behind.

“.... Happy birthday.....”

Despite his lack of a smile, his eyes seemed warm. Though he had come up to the girl from behind, he really didn’t mean to be creepy. It just happened... a lot.

Higeru eyed the bowls of ice cream with interest. If he were a real cat, you’d be able to see his tail lashing about curiously.

“What’s these.....”

Higeru Hashimoto || Prologue || Who let the cats out?

Ayato waited until Higeru took the second pin, this was almost too easy. “Well…” He quickly reached his free hand out and grabbed the other by his shirt, having no intention of letting him flee, not a very good plan because Higeru could easily escape

“Yeah, I’m not giving you the pin, I actually want them back. Freedom in exchange for them or if you refuse…. Well, you’ll see what happens” Ayato glared at Higeru.

“Do I make myself clear….. Cat boy?” He certainly hoped so.

#higeru #ayato #dod #deluge of despair #prologue #chapter 0

“Eh?-”

Higeru looked Ayato in the face fearfully, his body tensing as he was grabbed by the shirt. He glanced down at the pin once, before looking back at Ayato and calculating his escape He could maneuver his way out of the other’s grasp, but was it worth the trouble?

“Is this pin... made of real gold?”

Higeru Hashimoto || Prologue || Who let the cats out?

lapisluxuries-blog

“I can tell! Your hat is very cute,” they chuckled warmly, gesturing to Higeru’s rather unique headwear. Takara, naturally, had a highly developed sense of aesthetics, and even though it was a little bit ‘obsessive shut-in’ for their tastes, the other boy’s outfit was frankly adorable. Since this topic seemed to be effective in calming him, they decided they’d stick with it.

“So, do you have a favourite breed of cat, Higeru-kun? I’m partial to munchkins myself, because those stumpy little legs are just darling, but I also like elegant types like Siamese and Bengals… It’s a tough choice!” They were happy to defuse the tension in the air — they didn’t do well around nervous people. Plus, they genuinely did want to know.

#higeru #takara #prologue #chapter 0 #dod #deluge of despair

Higeru lights up. Talking about cats always made him happy. He didn’t really know specific breeds, of course, but did his best to relay exactly which ones he enjoyed.

“I like.... black ones, and.... gray ones... with stripes, and.... big yellow eyes... and soft fur.....”

He fiddles with his sweater, and look up at the other. It seems he really appreciates the conversation,

“O....Onee-san... thank you....”

Damnit Higeru.

Higeru Hashimoto || Prologue || Who let the cats out?

“Of course I was, It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I changed my mind” Ayato waited silently until Higeru took the bait and reached for the shiny pin. “I have another shiny pin” He walked back in front of the table and knelt down, holding the star pin out. “All you have to do is get out from underneath the table, alright Cat boy?”

#higeru #ayato #shi t #chapter 0 #prologue #dod #deluge of despair

Higeru looks slightly surprised. This sure was a sudden change of pace from earlier... perhaps the other was trying to make amends? Higeru gazed longingly at the shiny pin, and slowly began to come out from underneath the table.

“Shiny..... you’re..... really giving this to me?.... Thank you....”

He slowly reaches out for it as he leaves the shelter of the conference table.

Higeru Hashimoto || Prologue || Who let the cats out?

Higeru quickly fled before Ayato had even put his foot down. “Geez, you’re such a scaredy cat….I don’t like easily scared people" He made his way over to the table and stood in front of it. “Am I making things worse?….. Hm” He walked away from the table. Once he got a few steps away, Ayato took one of the star pins from his bag and threw it in front of the table.

He was testing if the frightened student would try to take it.

#higeru #ayato #chapter 0 #prologue #dod #deluge of despair

Higeru blinked, looking out from under the table.

“You were.... about to.... stomp on me....”

He continued to keep a heavy watchful eye on the other, eyes wide and unblinking as Ayato stepped closer, then moved back. He was confused- what was the other trying to do? As he threw the pin, Higeru’s gaze shifted to the object. What a shiny star.... Did the boy want him to.... have it? With a wary gaze up towards the hacker, he slowly reached out his hand to take it. He made sure to keep his gaze locked on Ayato, just in case he made any sudden moves.

Love Makes The World Go Round | Xana | Prologue | Open

loving-matchmaker

Xana nearly squeals in delight, the little bundle of cuteness had actually said he’d let her help him!!! She’s so excited that she can’t handle it. “Alright!!! Lets get to work!”

She clasps her hands together and leans forward a bit. “So, in order start us off, how about you tell me a little about yourself? I need something to go off of before we start getting into the matching phase of this!”

#higeru #xana #chapter 0 #prologue #dod #deluge of despair

Higeru blinks, and tugs at his sweater uncomfortably. He wasn’t used to talking about himself- or talking at all, for that matter. He responded fairly simply,

“Me?.... Uh... I like.... Cats, and.... Climbing stuff.... I have a.... sister....”

He avoided looking into the other’s eyes. He was nervous about delving into his personal life- The more others knew about him, the more likely it was that he’d be turned in, right? With all of this knowledge he was bound to be found out by some authority figure. He hoped that had been enough information.

Love Makes The World Go Round | Xana | Prologue | Open

loving-matchmaker

“Yeah I really love what I do, it makes me happy to see others happy!” She claps her hands together in excitement. “If I get to make people happy, that makes me happy!”

She looks at him and tilts her head. “I could always help you out if you want! I’m practically a master when it comes to the human mind.”

#Higeru #xana #chapter 0 #dod #deluge of despair #prologue

At the mention of this, Higeru begins to blush again. He’d never really thought about having a partner very much, living in such a secluded space. The prospect of someone doing to him what he’d only seen in books and pictures and such.....

“U-Uh.... s-sure, yeah... why not...”

He fiddles with his sweater and squirms. He was confused, but curious about what the other might do.

Higeru Hashimoto || Prologue || Who let the cats out?

“Do I look like a goddamn police officer?” Ayato kept speaking in a harsh tone, he really didn’t like people who were easily scared. “I hate them and would never join their ranks, now stop crying”

He brought one of his legs up and was prepared to stomp on the other’s leg, placing his foot evenly back on the ground after a few seconds. “Not worth the time right now”

#higeru #ayato #dod #deluge of despair #chapter 0 #prologue

As soon as Ayato raises his foot, Higeru scrambles out from the corner and hides away underneath the table, peering out at the other fearfully. He may be skittish, but he was quick, and almost never let down his guard. Even if he hadn’t brought his foot down, Higeru wasn’t about to wait and find out if he would. He kept completely silent, simply looking out at the boy. If Ayato wanted Higeru to stand up and be brave, this was not the way.

“Mmmmhh....”

His eyes darted over the boy’s frame cautiously, making sure he took in every movement. He didn’t want to get hurt, that was for sure.

Higeru Hashimoto || Prologue || Who let the cats out?

i-scream-queen

Kurimu had to bite back a retort about “How am I supposed to know?” in favour of continuing to console the poor boy. “I wish I could tell you, Higeru…But for now, just relax, alright? There’s nothing to cry over…S’not like there’s any split milk in the area.”

…That was a weak attempt at a joke.

She gently brought him over to one of the chairs to sit down, before rummaging in the interior of her short parka. “Where is…that thing…aha.”

She brought out a pink, flowery handkerchief, monogrammed with a double K, side-by-side. Using it, she gently wiped away his tears - it wasn’t going anywhere near his nose though. “Cheer up, okay? I promise you I’m not someone you have to be scared of.”