Smile while you can!

Welcome, welcome! Why, what a pleasure to meet you! Too bad I'm dead. Now that means I have a cool hologram thing! [DESPAIR APOCALYPSE]

[shslorthodontist]

Brace Yourselves [OPEN]

[shslpainterhiroki]

"…Ahaha, really? But even then we didn’t really talk that much…I was gonna talk to you more and then. All that happened. I wouldn’t even leave my room for the whole investigation, man, it was pretty bad.”

Hiroki had always considered himself totally unflappable, unable to be made sad! He was a perpetual-motion machine, a ray of sunshine, an utter delight! And yet this all came to a screeching halt the first time something bad ever happened to him. He considered his nice cursed room surrounded by empty ones and was almost glad they were stuck here now.

"Dude, if being tall makes you crazy, then sign me up. Eiiiiiither way I don’t really believe it, it’s just super cool, and you are super cool. Sorry, no take-backs." He looked up with an attempt at his regular thousand-watt smile but only ended up staring through Caerwyn’s arm. Uuugh, his hair, his poor ugly dumb sad hair, and it was getting metaphysically felt up right now and he couldn’t even feel it.

"Dull…" The skeleton of a smile clung to his face. "Okay, I can be dull and sane, I guess. Just a little bit. But this wasn’t…your fault either."

[shslorthodontist]

"Why would you do that for me? I mean, I was no match for... whoever attacked me. I still don't know, honestly. Even Saito-san could kick me in the shin and I would be sent straight to hospital! Or, in this case, an infirmary? Hmm."

Did they even have an infirmary here? He can't remember... Oh wait, that's not the point.

"I... didn't mean it like that. I'm just... messed up. Saito-san was right. I am a weirdo. A messed up weirdo. Now, apparently, a super cool, messed up weirdo."

He put his arm down and instead started tangling his fingers in his own virtual strands of hair. Staring down at the attempted smile, Akira closed his eyes, trying to remember how it first looked. It was... very bright. It could possibly light up the entire room. He could say beautiful but that would probably be weird. Once he got that image stuck in his head, he opened his eyes once again to compare it to the smile he saw before him. Was it... dimming? It looked sadder, too. Maybe even forced.

"Not that dull. I'm sure things will get better. ... Well, not entirely sure, to be honest. Anyways. It's that stupid bear's fault. I'm sorry that I couldn't do anything to help."

[shslorthodontist]

Brace Yourselves [OPEN]

[shslpainterhiroki]

The hologram didn’t feel like anything. For a second he’d imagined if he actually allowed himself to ruin the imagine it would feel like putting his hand in icy water, or he’d only be able to retrieve a stump of an arm. Instead it was just. A projection of a hand. Less substantial than a ghost. Automatically his fingers curled up as if he could hold it.

"I probably should have talked to you earlier, but this whole…thing really freaked me out. Definitely my bad. I didn’t think you’d be you but you are, you’re still something anyway, right? Or, man, I don’t know, what if I never actually knew you that well and this is just wishful thinking, maybe it’s the stuff Monobear gave us. Hey, Caerwyn-chi, do I look okay to you? Not crazy or anything?” 

Hiroki couldn’t even pretend he did. His face had taken on a nervous pallor and his smile felt uncomfortable on his face and his hair dye was fading, the worst tragedy of all, he felt like he was slowly going colorless. Just the expectation of his mind falling apart felt likely to cause it.

[shslorthodontist]

Almost right after, Akira jumped at the slight motion of his fingers and tried doing the same. Apart from the cold, he couldn't feel a thing. He can't touch, hold, or interact with anything. A growing pool of loneliness sat deep inside. Just talking is enough for him to forget about his death.

"No, no, it's fine, really! I understand. I really do. You knew me better than the others and that's an accomplishment."

Akira scanned him up and down. He looked... a bit off.  Not too different, but enough to notice.

"If anything, I'm the one who looks crazy. I'm a huge creep that towers over my patients, I'm surprised that I even have such a title!"

He tried laughing but it ended up coming out baritone and flat. No. This was supposed to be serious. Akira let out a sigh and attempted to place a hand on Hiroki's messy fading hair.

"Look at me. You look just like you did when I met you. Sure, you're... becoming dull... But everyone else is. So don't lose it, okay? I did and look at me."

[shslorthodontist]

Brace Yourselves [OPEN]

[shslpainterhiroki]

"Dude, it’s okay, I don’t get it either. I mean, if we’re gonna be trapped here forever, this whole giant self-sufficient city thing is way too much. Like, everywhere’s gonna get boring at some point so why do we need six hundred whole buildings? Is it gonna make us feel more at home or something?"

Hiroki tilted his head, putting out a curious hand as if he could still give Caerwyn a reassuring pap on the shoulder. The blurry edges didn’t help, but he could still imagine, right? The hand stopped an inch from the hologram like a mime hitting an invisible wall. From his vantage point it looked almost normal.

"Well…" he blinked, mind skipping on the half-word, a defective record player, before skimming past it completely. "I think…I’d rather still call you Caerwyn-chi or something, just ‘cause I knew—know—you as that already. And it sounds cooler." Somehow he found it in himself to grin widely. "You don’t even sound different at all. I missed you, man."

[shslorthodontist]

"Despite my size, I feel kind of small in a place like this..."

Staring at the hand that loomed over his shoulder, his own hand instinctively reached for the others but went right through. Akira frowned to himself.

"Whatever floats your boat... Um...  Souma-san. Heheh, I'll stick with whatever..."

His other hand brushed through his hair nervously. He was a wreck. What if even Hiroki didn't want to see him? What then? Then nothing. Hologram Akira would spend the rest of his days floating around, like a ghost.

Upon hearing the next few words, Akira perked up almost immediately.

"I m... I missed you too."

[shslorthodontist]

Brace Yourselves [OPEN?]

[rosasxs]

Walking mindlessly through the amusement park yet again, Hideki had just returned from the dolphin area, looking somewhat as cryptic as he had been looking for a while now. The best thing about dolphins was that they didn’t talk to you about insanity and just swam around like happy lil things. God bless dolphins.

"Akira-kun?" Hideki asked, watching the hologram walk by. He didn’t really speak to him much, did he? "Hey, Akira-kun!" He quickly walked over and looked at him, a bit before speaking again. "Hey, that’s really you, right?" s

[shslorthodontist]

Shoot. Someone saw him. Akira let out a small wheeze and hesitantly turned on his heel to see a bouncy boy in front of him.

"Ah, yes. It's me, Fukui Akira! Hahaha! Although, I would prefer Caerwyn. You're... Kamiya-san, correct?"

Akira tilted his head to the right, pondering. He didn't mind the name. It just sounded plain strange. He'll never get used to it.

"Although, I'm not actually me. I'm some kind of 2D projection... If you attempted to put your hand on my shoulder, it would probably go straight through! Haha, nifty for escaping a fight!"

Not that he could get into fights. The hologram lagging slightly, his laughter projected two seconds later.

[shslorthodontist]

Brace Yourselves [OPEN]

[shslpainterhiroki]

This motive announcement had been pretty obviously the most terrifying one yet. Hiroki could deal with not-so-secret secrets and destroyed things of not much importance, but messing with his head was where he drew the line! Not that there was really anything he could do about it. Except for fight it, of course, and wander around a lot to clear his head! Obviously he wasn’t going to succumb to this crazy thing!

This line of thought comically exploded when in the midst of his wanderings, having just exited the arcade in annoyance, he saw a familiar gray-and-blue silhouette. For a horrified second Hiroki considered he’d already lost his mind, before he remembered Monobear’s announcement about the holograms all that time ago, holograms he’d never visited out of guilt or shame or the possibility of an uncanny valley that’d taint his memories of those people forever. Either way, it looked like the dead wouldn’t be escaping him now. What was there to do but approach?

"Heh, hey, long time no see, Dutch brofriend! Oh, man, is that even a thing I can say anymore? Maybe just Caerwyn-chi. Or Akira-chi? Names up to you still. Did you lose weight, or is that just the whole 2D projection thing?" His hands were stuck sheepishly in his pockets and he rocked back and forth on his heels constantly. How did you address a recreation of a dead person?

[shslorthodontist]

Turning around, he saw familiar multi-coloured hair. Someone that was one of the last of the people he wanted to see. Not that he despised him or anything, more like the opposite. Because they were... Friends.

"Yes, yes, quite a while, unfortunately... I never really knew this place. Even my hologram self can't make it's way around without getting lost!"

Akira... It's going to take a while to get used to.

"Ahaha, call me whatever you'd like. I'll still call you Sir Paintsalot. A nickname that will follow me until I di-- Oh, never mind that!"

Akira chuckled nervously. He felt slightly queasy and rather embarrassed too. Weird. Holograms weren't supposed to have feelings. At least, that's how he thinks they work.

[shslorthodontist]

Brace Yourselves [OPEN?]

Technology sure is amazing, isn't it? Caerwyn-- No. Akira could see. Sure, he wasn't able to touch, feel or hold anything but that didn't matter. These... What were they called again? Right, holograms. These holograms are real nifty, it's like you never actually died!! Oh, how he would love to see the looks on their faces when... When... When what?

Did anyone actually want to see him? No. Impossible.

It didn't matter, Akira was eventually going to see someone anyway. Whether it was him approaching them or somebody confronting him themselves. Honestly, he expected nothing.

However, he did want to see the face of his killer...

[shslorthodontist]

Well. I'm dead. I got one of them cool hologram thingums now. So I'm always up for a chat!

So just post a starter and tag it if you need me! I won't be going anywhere.

Because I'm dead.

[sandpapershoes-blog-blog]

[shslorthodontist]

Be kind to your dentist. He has fillings too.

[shslorthodontist]

Smile While You Can!

Caerwyn looked down at his lifeless body. He knew it was coming. He was eventually going to get murdered and it happened! Sighing deeply, he couldn't help but feel terrible, more than usual that is. Sure, he despised himself, wanting to disappear, but now that he actually knew people, it was different.

It seems that he can't take part in that national trip with Hiro-- Paintsalot. That's right. They did pinky promise though... How about Susumu? He could annoy her-- Oh. Maybe going to Akiko for some jokes then? Zenoko? Hideki? ... Already, he missed being alive. This is going to take a long time to get used to.

Whispering hoarsely, even if nobody could hear him, he said to himself:

"Keep smiling, everybody. ... I'm sorry."

[shslorthodontist]

Unmasked [OPEN]

[zenoko]

He couldn’t help but notice that even with his dismissal, Caerwyn didn’t look his usual self. Maybe he as just used to seeing him with a mask.

"He took… it is hard to explain. My item was a carved wooden figure that I kept in a compartment in my belt. It had… value of a sort. To destroy it would…" He trailed off and looked down at his feet. If the items of others held this kind of value, he imagined it would not be long before someone succumbed to temptation. He shook his head and gripped his hands together tight in front of him.

[shslorthodontist]

Normally, Caerwyn would laugh in response and say something like, "To destroy it, wood?" Even someone as carefree as him, he knew how serious this situation could be for some people, himself and Zenoko included.

"... I see. It's weird how a robotic toy could have stolen these items without us noticing. As long as it doesn't get to incinerating your valuable, you'll be fine, I'm sure."

The orthodontist was tempted to cross his arms but one hand already had a job. He had to put up with a uncomfortable position, one arm propped against the other. It'll have to do.

"Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if a murder were to happen right now. Hmm, not exactly but I bet it's going to be sometime soon. Humans are greedy creatures."

[pierrexrenard]

Absent Things || Motive Two || OPEN

Akiko shivered, her bare shoulders freezing in the cool breeze. How the hell did he even get her cape? 

"What is this? D’ya think anyone’ll really kill over somethin’ as stupid as this? I miss my cape, but I wouldn’t kill one of my friends for it. I consider everybody here a friend, and killin’ ‘em over a piece of cloth would be idiotic."

However, her eyes widened when Susumu’s blanket was burned, and she shivered even more. Would that happen to her cape? It had a lot of memories, part of her performances, part of her signature look. She’d had it since she was five. And yet… Some of these objects were probably more important to people. She’d offer to make Susumu a new blanket, but it would probably seem tactless, as it wouldn’t be the same. Still, she’d try and find a way of cheering her up. That’s what friends do, right?

Turning to the person who stood next to her, she tried to smile. “I’ll just buy a coat from the store, or somethin’. I’m fine. But… Are ya alright? Would you… Like some candy?”

Would you like some candy?! You idiot, Akiko. Smile straining, she balanced on the heels of her shoes, the smell of burning blanket still lingering in the air.

[shslorthodontist]

Caerwyn gaze wandered over to Akiko when she decided to speak out loud. Honestly, he agreed but also disagreed at the same time. Out of all the hints it could've taken, it had to be his goddamn mask.

He didn't expect her to actually talk to him though. Most people talk to him once and never again, he didn't mind it.

"It wouldn't look the same. Even if you do cut it up into a cape, it won't replace it, hmm?"

Throughout the entire day, ever since the motive had been released, Caerwyn walked around with his hand over his mouth. How annoying. Taking away physical things. Couldn't they just remove personalities? Not entirely possible but it would be less of a hassle to deal with, at least, he thought so.

"I'm fine. Not sure how to feel emotionally but fine nonetheless. And... is that a serious offer? Candy?"

It wasn't meant to sarcastic, it probably did, but he was actually considering it.

[shslorthodontist]

Unmasked [OPEN]

[zenoko]

Zenoko had been wandering aimlessly ever since the announcement. To think that stupid bear had taken things from everyone. How had he even known their importance? Whoever was controlling the bear knew a lot more about them than seemed possible and the fight was looking bleaker. As he stumbled about thinking about what his options were, he bumped into a figure in front of him.

"Ah. My apologies, Witte-sama. I was completely lost in thought." As he spoke he noticed that Caerwyn’s hand was over his mouth, struggling to conceal that his mask was missing. Presumably this was his missing item.

"Please excuse me for asking, but did he take your mask?"

[shslorthodontist]

Caerwyn hadn't noticed the other boy until he spoke up, the small collision was left off easily. Nothing seemed to be taken away from him. It was probably something he didn't bring around. Or he could have missed it entirely.

"It’s fine, don't worry about it."

He spoke in a more serious tone than usual. The bright side of this motive is that he sounded clearer, without that mask muffling his words. (Even with that hand, it didn't cover up everything.)

"Yes, it happened to be my mask. Precious dear thing... Sigh. I'd prefer it if they just removed my entire room. That would be so much better. ... What did they take from you, hmm?"

[shslorthodontist]

Unmasked [OPEN]

Caerwyn just wasn't his usual self. His mask was nowhere to be found, only to be taken by a monochrome bear robot toy thing. Goddamnit. He decided to ignore this annoyance and just head to the newer area, hand over the lower half of his face. Anyone who were to unfortunately come across the guy would be glared daggers at. Not real actual daggers though, that would count as an attempted murder.

What baffled him was, how did Monobear get his mask in the first place? He never took it off, unless eating or drinking, but even then, he just pulled the mask down.

There was an idea of getting another one from the mall but the problem with that was that his mask was specially fitted. Damnit, Monobear, out of all the things it could've taken, it had to be the one that Caerwyn carried around.

[shslorthodontist]

Apologies [OOC]

I will be dropping the previous roleplays! I'm sorry, I'm terrible but eeeeuuuugghh things aren't going my way in real life and I just don't have the motivation to write. So! I'll post a new open for anyone to reply to!

Thank you for spending your time to read this.

[shslorthodontist]

Oh, The Irony!

[shslpainterhiroki]

(Were he an esper rather than just a casual fourth-wall-breaker, Hiroki would have paused for a good long snicker, because yes, it counted as a pun in his extensive and very tattered book. The best ones had no lead-up at all and were in fact entirely accidental!)

Trying to surreptitiously dust himself off only got it all over the floor, so he tried to will himself into attracting dust via static cling instead. Compared to all this pristine nonsense he probably looked like a coal miner’s ass. Who actually spent time cleaning ever? Especially on vacation to Reality TV Murderville. The same guy that wore a surgical mask all the time, he supposed, which was not all that surprising.

That little trail of soot he left might as well have been a trail of blood from a guy he stabbed in the stomach prior to walking over here. He was the worst.

"Ehh, I was just thinking, there’s so much other stuff to do here, right? I mean, if you’re that bored you could probably start building a scale model of the pyramids of Giza with ramen packets and it’d still end up more productive. Even if someone knocked over your ramen packets just when you got it all perfect and the cycle went over and over again it’d still be exactly as productive!”

Still looking pretty sheepish, he reached up to scratch his head, only for more dust to float out of his hair. “N-not that it didn’t look really good or anything.”

[shslorthodontist]

Caerwyn could only watch the floor get darker with dirt. He tried to resist the urge of cleaning in someone else's company, he really did but it was difficult, coming from the world of dentistry where everything was sparkling.

It was kind of funny, seeing him cleaning up after himself.

"Pyramids? Ramen packets? Hmm, I'll keep that in mind for next time when I have nothing to do..."

How cute, he's all shy. Well, that's what he thinks.

"Why, thank you! I'll take it as a compliment. I'm sure that your own room looks nice as well. ... I mean, it's is, right?"

[shslorthodontist]

Oh, The Irony!

[shslpainterhiroki]

"No idea, man. But if I had to explain it’d be even longer.”

He rocked on his heels, squinting critically at the pixelated image of Caerwyn on the door. Awww, so teeny. Hiroki himself didn’t clean up so nicely in black and white. He had an urge to step to the side and block all image of his door from view, but that would look sketchy as hell, so he leaned against the adjacent wall instead, looking innocently away. Nailed it.

"Well, I wouldn’t be a SHSL Painter if I hadn’t, right? I’ve tried all sorts of things, even dirt and clay. And soy sauce. Made for some pretty haunting stuff, too! So if this place is all sooty and grimy I could still make it work." It was nowhere near as fun as making that super-expensive Lapis Lazuli Ultramarine, but it sure made him feel more accomplished.

Oh, hey, unlocked door. They were progressing through the ranks of friendship at an incredible clip! Intense personal growth surely couldn’t be far behind! “Alright!” Letting loose something like a cry of victory, he yanked the door open and immediately darted inside. The only differences he noted were the lack of paintings, and that the place was so clean it was practically sparkling.

Meaning when he slipped off his dusty shoes and sat his dusty ass down on the bed, he immediately felt guilty about it. “Oh, uh, is that right? I couldn’t tell.”

[shslorthodontist]

If this were a game, Hiroki would be points ahead of him. He had pointed (Is this a pun? Not really.) out things that Caerwyn never really wondered about. There was more to this guy than he thought...

Seeing him cheer before he even entered caused him to jump, but he had a laugh too. Though, there was now a black trail leading to the other, he didn't mind at all. It's not like he's spreading dust around on purpose.

"Don't worry, it's fine, it's fine. It gives me something to clean when there's nothing to do."

After taking off his shoes and putting them away carefully, he pulled out a chair from the desk to marvel at his own room. Now that there was something dirtying the floor and sheets, only now had Caerwyn noticed how much he had cleaned the area. Congratulating himself, he nodded to nobody in particular. Good job, Mr. Creepy Dentist! Thank you, Masked Weirdo.

He was thinking too much. Hiroki probably said something while he was in his own thoughts.

"... Anyway, you were saying something?"