yogen | MISSION 1

[ Gundham's really out here telling Kazuki to believe in himself.

There is no immediate answer he gives Gundham. There is the same doubt, the same guilt, there's exhaustion and hopelessness and underlying all of that is resolve. It never was him wanting to die or he wouldn't still be here. He just didn't want to cause harm; there would have been no way to cause harm, whether he manages to get a hold of himself or not, if only the students would stay indoors. ]

I think we should give it a try.

( amami is watching, has been listening since gundham first spoke to the beast pinned down to the ground, and even if he's not as intuitive as gundham, he can still notice the absence of change. if gundham says this is uncertainty, then it's continuing, and this... isn't really the kind of question where you can take a "maybe" as a "yes". )

If it works, Kazuki-san will be able to stay, and maybe he can even help us figure out more about why we're here. If it doesn't work, at least we know he won't fight us on it. I don't think there's anything to lose in trying.

( if he wanted to die, he'd have just chosen to die. the fact that there's hesitation at all, in amami's opinion, speaks to the fact that it's only fear of the consequences of living that holds him back. if they can bind him successfully, the way that kazuki had said that they might be able to do, then maybe it doesn't have to come to that.

chose hope, kazuki-san. choose lore route. )

You mean complete the binding?

[ ... ]

The mask that he wore had a binding talisman on it before, so whatever we use likely would need to be large enough to fit another one of those on it.

[ Or...well, yeah. ]

Edited 2021-08-26 04:45 (UTC)

[ He is!!! Believe in the me that believes in you!!!!!

Gundham hums for a moment, in thought. Listening to Amami's words, and the intention in Kazuki. ]

...Very well. If you do have such a resolve to keep going, then also put forth that resolve into believing that there is a way to help you.

[ He turns back to the group. ]

We need a binding talisman and a tether.

[ Considering he uh, snapped the other one in twain. ]

Edited 2021-08-26 04:55 (UTC)

... It would be easier if we had more than an empty void to work with.

[he's kinda sprawled out in Lucifer's arms rn but Clamor is still here. he's paying attention.

if they cant fix the "empty void" problem tho, guess its time for everyone to empty their pockets. what junk is kazuki gonna be stuck to next.]

[Clamor is hold. Lucifer's not putting him down this time.]

Honestly... [And he huffs, tiredly at that.] What do we have on us? Normally something such as jewelry or sentimental objects of a sort work well with these sorts of rituals.

Is a tether the same thing in the sense that we were talking about? He said that a yorishiro is their most precious belonging, and that it gives a spirit their strength, but we want the opposite — we want to suppress that.

( and he's pretty sure their belongings won't have any real value to kazuki, will they?

he digs in his pockets though, checking for anything that could be of use, but they're... pretty empty, ngl. clamor's right as hell. still, amami pulls out a pda with a little swarm of eyes on a keychain attached to it, a piece of black fabric wrapped around a shard of a broken mirror, his adderstone, and some blue tiger's eye stone. out of all of them, the only thing that can reasonably be parted with would probably be the tiger's eye, so he holds that up. )

Sorry, I didn't expect to need anything, so this is all I've got with any surface to it.

( maybe doubling up on the protection aspect would make the seal double strong and protective??? )

If something smaller would work, I don't mind offering up a ring or anything else though. I have plenty, so it wouldn't be a big deal for me.

( all it takes is one look at his hands to know he won't miss one. )

While I don’t know what makes a good ‘tether’…

[ Shinobu reaches up above and behind her head to undo her butterfly hairclip. As she cradles it between her hands, she can hear Kanae’s tinkling laugh. She can hear the rest of the girls at the Butterfly Estate laughing with her, eyes crinkled and smiles wide.

She’s not giving up her sister, she tells herself. She’s not giving up her family. With or without her hairclip, she knows her memories of them will live on for as long as she does, but there’s still this innate resistance. There’s still a selfish part of her desperate to hold its ground. She’s not sure she’s ready to part with something that has so much meaning.

But it’s precisely because it has so much meaning that she has to. She takes a deep breath in, musters all the will she has left, then offers up her hairclip. ]

If we’re looking for something sentimental, perhaps this might serve us well.

[ Meng Yao takes out the chalk he pilfered. ]

Certain stones, including gems, tend to contain a bit of energy so I'd prefer we'd go for that. Obviously what I have is no good in that retrospect.

[ He'll put away the chalk right after. ]

If we're unable to place a talisman on it physically, it's always possible to improvise. Perhaps by folding it or using an array or combining our abilities in some manner - though whatever the case I imagine Kazuki would still need to wear the object we're using to repress that form with.

...Hm.

[ He thinks about it for a moment, before taking his earring off and putting the clasp back on it, holding it in his hand. ]

I also have my hellhound earring. [ It certainly has a little stone in it too! ] It can also be worn- perhaps this might assist us as well.

[ He hopes the kind woman he babysat a pomeranian for will forgive him- but it's going towards a good cause, so possibly! ]

Well it looks like we don't have any shortage of volunteers. I guess now we can leave it to the ones who'll be doing the sealing to decide what we go with, since you guys know what would work best.

( he says this like he's not, like, the only one here with no experience with the supernatural. anyway, amami's offers are on the table and he's not actually going to be involved in the process, so he trusts them from this point on. at least considering the entries so far, kazuki will be stylish whatever he ends up with. )

If it needs to have the spell drawn on it, the hair pin should be large enough... but we're trying to seal a portion of his power, right? We'd have to modify the spell a little, but we could use more than one binding to strengthen the effect. Go at it from multiple angles, so to speak.

[a binding seal to change his form, and then a few assistive seals to strengthen the binding... it'd be easier to repair or improve it moving forward, too. so even if this first attempt is a hack job, they can fix it when they get out.

now the gears are turning in his head... he attempts to dismount his bird, but even if Lucifer won't let him down he'll look to Meng Yao anyway] Would you let me see the binding talisman? It's not exactly the same, but magitech is partially based on sealing spells, in a sense. I might be able to scale it down.

[Bird dismount is a-go. Clamor wiggles and the bird understands this and sets him down gently.]

...I suppose it's true that it can't hurt to consider other options like that. And it could be a case of 'the more the merrier'.

[ It wasn't one he hadn't considered yet, but that is why they're a group...they figure things out together. Even if the going has been rough, it's just how things are.

Anyway, when Clamor asks Meng Yao, he will come closer to the other with the talisman, and then hold it out to him. He can take it whenever because he probably came around the barrier, or something (logistics are failing me but what's important is that it happened.) ]

I'll put my faith in your success, then. I don't think it's impossible, if there's some sort of link.

[IN FAVOR OF NOT FUTZING AROUND FOR ANOTHER 100 COMMENTS an attempt at re-binding kazuki: a summary

- Meng Yao + Gundham have the binding seals they brought with them, we're recreating that onto Shinobu's butterfly hairpin to try and replace Kazuki's mask (MY has pens/ink on him, talismans and all that)
- Clamor is slapping together a modified version of the binding seal that can fit on smaller stuff... this is probably an EXTREMELY hack job but look, it's fine, this is just a safety net and they can fix them later
- donated to the Things Kazuki Has To Wear Now: Shinobu's hairpin, Gundham's hellhound earring, one of Amami's rings, Clamor's pendant, and Lucifer has a small brooch of vague but probably nice design. MY aint got shit but it's fine since he's doing most of the work here, everyone else can give up a little something precious for now
- Amami's tiger's eye repels evil right... so they'll also use that, if they can. maybe just as part of the binding ritual to help Kazuki chill out and be less evil
- MY/Gundham/Clamor will do most of the actual binding magic stuff, Lucifer is on standby to use hexes if needed (is binding painful, idk try not to wiggle), Shinobu also on standby Just In Case... Amami is our mascot/cheer squad.

CAN they get Kazuki a new body with a human mouth and less bloodlust, c'mon team]

[ losing my mind at Things Kazuki Has To Wear Now, why are they making him wear everything why can't it just be one--

Anyways I'm very glad the tiger eye was included bc that's exactly what it does and how can I not reward the display of teamwork with success? He gets his own body back with a human mouth and ???bloodlust??? that they won't know until he's let go from being stuck on the ground. Maybe he's just lying there not wanting to get up on purpose bc what are people going to say when they see him next and he's decked out and also has no eyes, it took all my willpower not to google image search a reference image for what that would look like. ]

[Clamor is fucking tired after all that, so he's just going to sit right down on the ground. if Kauzki doesn't want to get up then that's fine maybe they can all just sit. i guess it's up to Lucifer if he's allowed to stand up.]

Sir spirit... if you're feeling more up to it now, I believe we're in need of a talk. [no more lying, no more avoiding questions, give us the LORE

he looks over at Amami, since it was his questions that got interrupted before]

[Lucifer will let up on the binds he made to restrain Kazuki earlier, so he's a free (very decorated) man now! Also he sits down next to Clamor because yeah.]

( amami peeking through his other rock when the binding process looks all finished up... what do he see...

oh but seeing clamor look at him all expectant, amami kind of... points at himself, like he's going "who, me?" and didn't expect to be called out to continue his interrogations. it's fine. he can come over and plop himself down on the ground too for their talks with kazuki, sitting cross-cross apple sauce with a smile that looks kind of sheepish but still rather pleased with this turn of events because he's assuming that this is? all working? it's fine. but lets be real, there's got to be a better way to do this than just throwing out blind guesses, so following up on clamor's words... )

It looks like we had the wrong idea before. Do you want to explain things yourself, Kazuki-san?

( they're friends now... fambly... you can trust them...! )

[ Kazuki's going to spend this conversation lying on the ground, flat on his back with his hands folded over his stomach. Lucifer isn't the only one who wants this to end so he can take a nap. The sun's going to be up soon... he still hasn't finished watering the plants... ]

...You have seen what I am and what I've done. There is no pardoning me of that. Moments of gentleness and kindness do not excuse one's true nature as a beast.

[ So no, in his opinion, y'all very much had the right idea of a man-eating monster who should've been slain on sight. The fact that he kept on existing all these years, the ghost of a man and a spirit of a monster, could only have been selfishness. ]

...I truly loved my students. That bond is my tether to this world. You never had a chance of breaking it.

You're right in that there's no pardoning you of how much pain you've brought to others.

[ As a cultivator he should've ensured Kazuki was slain (not that he has a black or white morality anymore that goes to somebody else), but also...well, in the end he's judged that the threat level currently to them is now lower. Or it appears to be.

Meng Yao may have acted a little impetuously in regards to the mask deal, however unlike the tree incident he can't say he feels like he regrets it all that much. For now, he'll be likely one of the few still standing, keeping an eye on him. ]

It's good to know that there appears to be some good in you, though. I'm sure you want at least a chance to make up for what you've done.

[ He says nothing else because he doesn't know what else to ask, so he'll just ... leave that as is. ]

[Hello hi it's time for Lucifer to Feel Bad™ because he gets the feeling of being a monster who loves, okay, fuck, that hit him in the face. Oof.]

...I understand where you come from. I'd like to think you and I are similar — damned by fate and circumstance yet monstrous in more ways than one. It's...

...

It isn't easy, ever, to be torn between your impulses as a beast versus your desires as a man.

[And then he pauses, letting that linger for a moment, and shakes his head. Time to give up on his vindictiveness... maybe there can be two horribly demonic murder entities at this school after all.]

...What can we do to help you?

Meng Yao has the right idea. We can't excuse your actions, no, but dying won't undo the damage that was done either.

[he's spoken to Noah enough times about revenge... and he has his own regrets as well. it's easy to accept a punishment decided by others. the far more difficult choice is to seek your own redemption, to live with your choices and try to make things right.]

... The wisteria tree in the courtyard. Is that where your students are now? [is that why he lingers, tending to the plants? because they've joined the souls in the tree?]

( when you're thinking of Relating(TM) to the feeling of not deserving forgiveness from people you love, but the scale is different and then the guy next to you relates to the monster thing and you know what, lucy can have this one. meng yao and clamor are right, and things are coming together, and they don't seem to need any help on the questions front, so he's just going to lean back against the palms of his hands and wait for these answers. looking at kazuki a little bit like wonder if npc-kun would make a new mask on commission. how many ugly raccoons would that cost... )

[ Shinobu was never directly responsible for the deaths of her parents, her sister, and her pupils, but she’s keenly aware of how much it hurts to be powerless to save the people you love most. Maybe that’s why her head hangs low and her face goes soft. Maybe that’s why she’s willing to give this demon—this frightening, bloodthirsty monster—a second chance. ]

… I am also willing to support you in whatever capacity I am able.

[ But if he steps out of line… well, she’s got a sword and she’s definitely not afraid to use it. ]

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that's it that's my tag

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we're giving him a cute makeover, next we'll do his hair and nails

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wait are you fr... yes lets makeover kazuki i have an entire folder with nail designs for ami to do

should've had kazuki eat all of you

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;______;

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