BUNNY 。００１
Who: Barnaby and YOU. maybe. hopefully.
Where: A street in Somni's business district.
Style: I'll follow!
Status: Open!
( possibly spilery for episodes up to 12. )
Where: A street in Somni's business district.
Style: I'll follow!
Status: Open!
( possibly spilery for episodes up to 12. )
Musing on the strange coincidence that both he and Kotetsu had somehow been brought to this dream world while the others remained at home, Ivan isn't exactly paying attention to his surroundings. When he finally looks up, he's quick to spot his fellow Hero. If it hadn't been for Kotetsu's presence upon his arrival, Ivan would've found Barnaby's appearance strange, since he initially thought himself dead. Regardless, he pauses on his way and calls out to the older man.]
Barnaby-san! So you've been brought here as well. I guess that makes three of us then.
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So instead of his usual quick-witted response to surprises, he’s left gawking for a moment, eyes wide in disbelief and confusion ]
Origami -
[He moves, quickly closes the distance between them to put a hand on the other hero’s arm. He doesn’t seem to need holding up, but when Barnaby last saw him - what Jake Martinez had done - there was no way that he could suddenly be okay.]
You should be in hospital. [He looks around them once more, urgently.] --Where did…
[His eyes meet Ivan’s again.]
Where did you come from?
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His train of thought is broken when Barnaby moves and places a hand on his arm, as if to support him. Of course, he's still not anywhere close to feeling 100%, but he's in a much better condition than the one he arrived in. As such, he's a bit shocked at the urgency in the older man's tone and actions, since the worst of his injuries have now faded at least slightly.]
Ah, but, Barnaby-san... [He gives a small shake of his head.] I'm fine now, I promise.
[When his fellow Hero asks him where he came from, however, he gives a quizzical look. Shouldn't it have been fairly obvious?]
Jake Martinez's hideout. It's the last thing I remember before waking up here.
[Which was something he honestly hadn't expected to do at all once he was discovered.]
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We found you in the hideout. [He'd been so badly injured, Barnaby isn't terribly surprised that he can't recall anything that came after.] We took you to the hospital.
[Hours ago, no less, and yet here they were.]
Where did you come from, here? Wherever here might be, this isn't safe. You're hurt.
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You found me in the hideout... then took me to the hospital? [At this he begins to rub his forehead, as if attempting to grasp some long lost memory.] I don't remember any of that.
[Normally he would panic at such gaps in his memory, but for now he ignores it in favour of answering Barnaby's question.]
This place is called Somarium, apparently. It's some sort of dream world, from what I've been told. I woke up here two days ago in the middle of a village. [He hesitates before offering:] Tiger-san found me.
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He knows him better than that, and he knows that Ivan wouldn't crack jokes like that here.
Logically, it can't be true. But all logic is saying the exact opposite.
And if this is a dream, it's pretty different from what Barnaby is used to.]
Have you found out anything else about what's going on?
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On the other hand, he also lacks any real explanation for what had happened to them or where they were. It certainly wasn't Sternbild, so accepting what the others had told him upon his arrival became a bit easier to do than he had anticipated.
Regardless, he's still not entirely sure of much at this point, which makes him feel a bit useless when asked for information by the older Hero.]
I'm not entirely sure of much, to be honest. [He looks down at this, because he feels entirely U S E L E S S . not like it's anything new.] I know that we're the only three here from Sternbild, and that this place apparently has the ability to broadcast dreams to everyone here. [That means all the nightmares, Bunny.]
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the thought is an oddly grounding one, but the idea that other people might see those things is enough to make him feel ill. They’re his dreams, his memories, shrouded in fire as they are.
Little as Ivan knows, it’s enough to make Barnaby frown suddenly, curious.]
How long have you been here for, Origami?
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(because all he had done was make things more difficult for them.)
Ivan stares at his still healing hands before speaking slowly.]
Ah, not very long. Two days, at the most. Tiger-san arrived not long before me, I believe.
[Although he had to admit that with all of the worrying he had done over the fate of Sternbild and his fellow Heroes -- despite Kotetsu's insistence that everything had turned out fine in the end -- it felt like much longer than a mere 48 hours.]
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[He stands back, dropping his hand from Ivan's arm. His gaze falters, darting sidewards, then focuses on him once more. He's still waiting - hoping - for this to all turn out as some stupid, stupid joke.
But it isn't. The realization is sinking in that this is actually happening, that this is reality.
And all he can do is try and make sense of it.]
Origami... I saw you... Only a few hours ago. Him - ['Him', of course, being his much maligned partner] - as well.
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The older man had sworn that Sternbild was safe and that Jake Martinez had been dealt with. Hearing conflicting stories from the two men -- stories which didn't match up with his own memories -- was both confusing and worrisome.
He supposed it was another mystery of this world -- one which needed solving.]
I'm not quite sure how it happens, but... it seems as though time is warped in this world. After all, you said that you found me and took me to the hospital, but... I don't remember that or the city being saved and Jake Martinez being stopped.
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The city was saved, his parents' murderer stopped, but what good was that to him? He should have been glad about it, that, however it was done, it was done. But the fact that he hadn't been there was stark in his mind, despite knowing how nonsensical it was.
Either he'd been robbed of his memories, or it was a question of time. And if it was true, did that mean it was his future? Could he rest, complacement in the knowledge that justice would be done?
It wouldn't be that simple. He gives a mute nod, pulling himself together.]
You, me, and that old man, then.
[He regards the younger hero for a moment.]
I'm glad you're alright, Origami, but all the same - you'll recover quicker, resting.
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He gazes at his surroundings, and at the older man's words, he gives a meek nod of his own.]
Yes, it looks like we're the only ones here.
[Ivan glances down at his wrist communicator before sighing softly and offering a small frown.]
Ah, Barnaby-san, I'm fine... really. Tiger-san took me to a clinic when he found me.
[The younger hero turns away in shame, because real heroes didn't need to be taken care of like a child.]
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Perhaps they all would. Perhaps it was part and parcel of being a Hero.
Origami had been a Hero longer than him, but at moments like this Barnaby realized that that didn’t count for much.
He didn’t quite manage a smile, but the frustration visible in every muscle eased somewhat.]
You did a lot for us, Origami. I just want to make sure you’re not pushing yourself too hard.
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Both Kotetsu and now Barnaby had assured the younger hero that he had done the best that he could, that he played a vital role in saving the city and stopping Jake Martinez, but... without the memories in place he could never truly feel any pride for his actions that day. In fact, hearing it almost makes him feel... guilty in a way.
He shrugs the notions off as best he can before turning back to the older man, giving a nod of his head and offering a hesitant smile.]
Thank you Barnaby-san, that means a lot to me.
[He fumbles over his next words a bit, hands threading together in a self-conscious gesture.]
Are you going to be staying with us? I mean, with only three of us here to defend the city... we should stick together... right?
[As in let's be a moe, happy family, okok?]
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His gaze tracks the wringing of Ivan's hands, then flicks back up to his eyes. His first response is no, of course. Even if it wasn't Tiger, the idea of living with anyone is honestly a little daunting. For the past few years, the space he's occupied has been entirely his own, and that suited him fine. And on top of that, it almost feels like intruding to Barnaby.
But Ivan might have a point, he thinks. They barely know anything about this place, or its dangers and threats. The more prudent option may well be living together.]
...I hadn't thought about it, [he answers fairly earnestly, if not a little wary.]
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