yogen | when the bubblegum pops

Entry tags:

mo dao zu shi: meng yao

when the bubblegum pops

Who: Rantarou Amami & you

What: September catch-all

When: September & some backdates

Where: Various locations

Warnings: TBA

01.) the world lights at your smile
•　open — 08/27-31, around the school

( it's true that, the morning after he opens his eyes in the courtyard once more, amami doesn't waste any time on checking up on the people he feels like he needs to speak to. at the same time, it's a pretty short list, and half of them are gone. how much of a difference does it really make if he comes back one week or the next anyway? if he doesn't go out of his way to find someone though, it's still entirely possible to see him around the school — borrowing a sketchbook from the art room, taking some notes in the music room, or moving what seems to be an obscene amount of money into his locker. noticing the presence of anyone he hasn't seen in a while, he'll offer a wave and a warm smile in the midst of whatever he's doing.

on the 27th in particular, he can be found rummaging through a locker that some might recognize is clearly not his. the first twenty minutes or so are spent haphazardly scribbling notes down from a series of stickies pinned up against the locker door. the remainder of the time is spent picking out belongings from the locker one-by-one to take a look at before he decides whether he should drop them into a backpack that's half-slung over his shoulder. to his credit, he doesn't seem to be interested in too much of it, putting the majority back in after a cursory glance, but it's entirely possible that it could stand out to someone familiar with locker 097. )

02.) and shines at the sound of your laugh
•　open — anywhere, any time

( have an idea? feel free to throw anything else my way, or if you're unsure, you can hit me up via pm or at kagehira! )

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( that sigh checks out. feels a little like he's getting in trouble here, which about falls in line with the kind of thing he's familiar with, even if it doesn't quite align in a way where amami can feel too comfortable with the fact. the way meng yao's gaze drops, the slight hesitation in his words — it's a little difficult for him to figure out what an "appropriate" response would be, since this doesn't tend to be the type of reaction these situations would usually net him. extraordinary circumstances and all, he guesses, and it makes it harder for him to brush this kind of thing off.

it looks like he's got to say something to that though, and given a brief pause, he'll settle on: )

Yeah, you're... not the only one who thought so, but I don't plan to let you guys get rid of me that easily.

( that's reassuring, right? totally. he glances off to the side, feeling a bit awkward. )

Sorry again if I had you worried, but things are fine now. Really.

[ There's a small moment, as he's digesting the other male's words carefully. Then Meng Yao looks back at him, and his expression has more or less evened out. In the end, what really matters is that Amami is all in one piece. ]

...I'm relieved to hear that. On both matters, honestly. I also apologize in turn if I sounded too harsh, but it is as you say that I was worried.

[ He feels saying that is a fair way to possibly bring things back to on the same level. ]

What's really important is that you're back with us, however. I imagine the others have probably expressed the same or will; including those in our group. After what we've done together I dare say that there was a type of camaraderie formed between all of us.

Camaraderie, huh? That doesn't sound too bad... ( he kinda likes it, actually, definitely looking a bit reassured by the comment.

on his end, he does definitely feel like he's met some reliable people through this — and that interest he'd had in meng yao seems to have been well-founded after all. in that case, it feels a bit strange to have somebody apologizing for something like worrying. actually, it's a little nice, even if he's not quite sure how he's supposed to respond to it. )

Anyway, there's nothing for you to apologize about. I guess I'm just not too used to it. Usually it doesn't matter how long I'm gone for as long as I make up for it with good news when I get back.

( he shrugs, offering up a smile. )

I guess it's kinda hard to get away with that without the "good news" part though.

( and he's not quite ready to share with the class, so he earned a little bit of a scolding, yeah. )

I'm glad you think so.

[ Meng Yao allows a smile of his own to finally come onto his face, like what part of him has been wanting to do honestly when he first spotted Amami. But now that they've been able to get those things out of the way and it's almost assuredly not a dream or an illusion, he feels he can allow himself that, in a way to show how relieved he is.

And how grateful that he is. ]

Well, I suppose that having good news would naturally be an effective way to distract someone from being kind of put out about something like that.

Though, now that I think about it, I suppose you coming back is a good news all on its own, isn't it?

[ Now he just looks a little sheepish. ]

( the sheepishness is met with about the same on amami's end, unable to help but feel a bit embarrassed at the idea of being called "good news," but it's, you know, the good kind of embarrassment. the kind that's easy to keep smiling through, relaxing a bit as he laughs it off. )

Haha, I can't argue with that — it's definitely good news for me.

( and not the only good news either, feeling a bit soft. actually, give him a minute and he'll feel a bit bad for dodging that one, glancing to the side again before he meets meng yao's eyes properly. )

But thanks. I do appreciate it... that you were so concerned.

( or maybe "concerned" isn't the right word but, well, that his showing up is something to be relieved over. anyhow, with all of that out of the way, amami will pocket one hand while he waves the other towards one of the rooms in this hall that's a bit more conducive to chatting, taking a couple steps to indicate his intent. maybe the sewing club's room or something — plenty of soft things to sit on in there. )

Anyway! I figured we should catch up a bit. A lot went down back there, and I wanted to hear your thoughts on some things.

[ Meng Yao catches his brief sideglance, but in the end he doesn't think anything bad of it, partly because he's done that a few amount of times himself. Well, more than that, actually. ]

It's not a problem...I'd think most people would be, actually.

[ But all of that aside, Meng Yao follows in step with the other so easily, as they make their way into the sewing club's room.

When Amami reveals the reasons for continuing their chat in a more private and comfortable area, he can't help but feel amenable to them. In fact, he was planning at least thinking of catching up generally and discussing what happened. ]

I agree; we've quite a lot to catch up on.

Where would you prefer to start? Going over what happened or whatever matters you wanted to hear my opinions on?

( once they're inside, he'll settle himself on one of the chairs to the side, sitting in the way he finds most comfortable in the moment. )

I was thinking that hearing your thoughts on what happened might be good, actually.

( so kinda like both? also, he's admittedly just looking for an excuse to express some things himself, but he'll wait 'til they hit the topics. )

There's a few things — the binding, the old school building, that tree we saw...

( he kind of trails off on that one, expression faltering, but manages to right himself with little more than a heavy exhale. sure, it's probably going to haunt him for a good while, but he won't get anywhere by avoiding it. face your fears head-on and all that, right? not that he had it in him to do it at the time, but... as long as he doesn't think too hard on it, talking on it should be fine. )

[ Meng Yao is still standing but then he slowly but surely sits in a chair, but his posture is rimrod straight, though he tries to relax in the seating it doesn't exactly happen ... it's just a habit, really. ]

Let's start with the most troubling one first, I suppose. [ He'll look a little sheepish. ] I believe first and foremost it's likely to have been there for awhile. Definitely before we've arrived. I'm not certain as to how or why people managed to become merged together like that, but it may have been the result of a terrible curse, or ... a ritual of some sort gone wrong. Needless to say it was more than a little ghastly and I've never seen anything like it before in my life. I should hope we're fortunate enough not to see it once more.

[ Nor would he want to again. Around this time, though, he'll finally reliquish the perfect posture, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees as he folds his hands so that he can rest his chin upon them. ]

If it is a result of a 'ritual gone wrong' it may have had something to do with how the binding was originally done incorrectly due to lack of experience, but I'm not willing to subscribe to that too heavily as of yet. Our current job, however, is liable to be enough for now because of the simple fact that removing marks from being carved in flesh would be a much more difficult procedure. Though it's not impossible for someone to try to do so.

...As for the old school building, I have a strong hunch that place was likely the first one built. And where it all started, for that matter. I'm not certain when Kazuki decided he wanted to live his life peacefully, but we all know that was a fact. His students seemed to try to do their best to assist him, though their inexperience didn't exactly solve the problem. It makes me wonder what was the catalyst that made him want to try living among humans at that time—was it for ease of a meal, at first? Or was it just simply unique circumstances? ...Though, I suppose those are questions better asked for him.

Regardless, it seems he wasn't the only teacher back then, what with those other two names I found in there...

But all of that said, those are my thoughts. In return, of course I'm interested in hearing all of yours. [ ...There is a pause, though. ] And please let me know how you're faring after all of that. We've all dealt with much in our lives, that much I'm certain of, and of course the troubles we've faced here. But, a lot happened at that time, and I would be a fool for thinking it easy for any one of us to brush off, so bear in mind I'm not simply talking about your physical state here.

( he's leaning in a little, attentive as he tries to soak up the thoughts on these matters, and cataloguing his own away for once meng yao is finished. that last part has him smiling in an almost apologetic way, but he'll wave his hand absently, as he often does with these things. )

I don't think I'm doing worse than anyone else here, so it's not a big deal. Honestly, what'd help most with how I'm doing right now, is if we could make some progress in understanding things better.

( if he keeps his body moving and his mind occupied at all times, he will avoid falling into a bottomless pit of despair. and now, onto the part that he know how to handle: )

About Kazuki-san, and when he decided to be peaceful — what did you think... of his face. When he mentioned it, he called it a disfigurement. That kinda feels like it implies it wasn't always like that, don't you think?

Those are good questions though. Now that he's here to stay, we can probably ask him ourselves. I was also thinking that we should check how that seal holds on the other side when we get the chance. He seems to be fine on this side, but it's good to make sure that anybody who gets injured in the courtyard won't be in danger.

( finishing up with that, he has his hand up to his chin like he's still considering more, but figures here's a good cutting off point. there's a few pieces he can backtrack for, but based off of meng yao's thoughts, those are the ones that come to mind for him. )

...I believe that's reasonable.

[ Meng Yao has admittedly been doing the same. For a time he'd been uncertain on what actions to take, beyond getting his bearings—but that too was difficult due to combating a massive amount of disappoint.

And now, here he is. ]

I considered that. The first thing that comes to mind for the reason of that is if he were attacked at all while he was in his normal form, and it left him that way. I'd say that it'd simply another product of the failed binding, but if that was the case, correcting it should have at least "set it right" on more than just a spiritual level.

But, in any case, you're right about that. The last thing we need is more of the same repeating, and though I suspect that we've done well to correct the mistake so to speak, it's never a bad idea to be certain.

[ And here's where he's going to start to consider teaching Amami things...though the thought's liable to return more seriously than an idle thought later on, it's at this time that it floats through his head. It's an unavoidable one nonetheless if the other intends to accompany him on excursions like this. ]

Yeah, I've got faith in you guys. You seemed to know what you were doing, but it's good to cross it off the list anyway.

( if he didn't figure they would be fine, he probably wouldn't have wandered off in the middle of everything.

anyhow, it's definitely interesting food for thought — the idea of some kind of sealing causing that change, and the implication that it could be damage as much spiritual as it looks physical. he'll bring a hand up to his chin, considering the suggestion for a few moments... well, he supposes if it's only in part, it should be fine. meng yao may have a better idea of what all of this could mean than amami can figure out on his own. )

As for what happened to him, it had to have been after the school was founded — I think we can be pretty certain about that.

( sometimes twenty days turns up some pretty interesting info. who'd have thought? anyway— )

Before, he didn't used to wear that mask. His eyes were fine, and he seemed happier... I'm sure you can see why I'm stuck on this, yeah?

( actually, putting it into words now, meng yao's suggestion does bring him to have some Thoughts... )

[ Meng Yao tries to keep a smile from coming onto his face but it doesn't exactly work out very well at the praise. Though it fades away into a considering expression soon enough, especially with what he manages to follow up with. ]

Because he was a teacher at what appeared to be that older building, you mean?

[ He quietly goes over what occurred in the night they had ventured out on that mission together. Every single little detail, every sound, every moment—it's something he found himself habitually going over even before their reunion. The question gives him pause, however, as he considered the possibilities. ]

I assume you are due to how he is now, correct? With the predicament he's been in that he has to keep his other self under a binding spell, one would believe that in the past it'd be different. That he'd be having the same struggle and it'd be taking its toll even before he'd even have had the chance for anyone to attempt the binding at all. But the reverse is true—at some point, the binding ritual was attempted, and he ended up as this.

I guess that's one way it could've happened, I'm just not sure how it all adds up. ( he's definitely trying to do the math though. )

If he was able to live there peacefully before, without any disfigurements, what could have changed that caused him to need to be bound? He said that was his true nature, but when you're on this side of the school, he still seems to be the same person as he was at that time — before whatever caused those injuries.

( and from the certainty with which he speaks, it's not about "believing" the past was different; it's about knowing. hmm... talking it out though, he's coming to the conclusion that meng yao's the right person to be bouncing these ideas off of. he helps build on them, giving them serious thought, and it helps amami to work out the possibilities too. maybe he'll suggest his idea. yeah. coming to this conclusion, amami'll point his finger, because he's making a point. haha........ )

I do think a spiritual injury is on the right track though. Actually, there's something I was told a while back: that supernatural entities, they can be changed and distorted and harmed by the way people perceive them. I'm wondering if something like that could be a possibility.

( trap people's souls in your tree, and their resentment turns you into a monster, or something...? )

[ It's something he's wondered about, though it's not something he's ever discussed with anybody until now. ]

It is true that spirits can be affected by changes in the environment, or other people's perception of them. Particularly elements that can bring forth resentful energy, which can be a major factor in the difference between them remaining relatively harmless or turning into a monster of some sort.

So, it's entirely possible that could've been enough to induce a change, even if Kazuki was already particularly dangerous. Even someone thinking that spirit is a threat of some kind and that building may be enough, depending on how many believe it, and the strength of that fear which would eventually give way into some sort of resentment.

[ In his experience, though? If someone already feels that type of resentment and it's strong enough, it may even spur them into action. ]

So it really could be something like that...

( he was taking a shot in the dark based on something that was mentioned to him in passing, but meng yao's confirmation gives him more confidence in the idea, even if he can't necessarily say it's certain yet. he nods along with the explanation, serious and attentive as he catalogues the information away for later. )

It'd explain the disconnect, don't you think? Between the Kazuki-san who's willing to speak with us, and wanted to keep the boundary intact so that he couldn't harm us... And the Kazuki-san who was immediately out for blood as soon as we were sent to the other side with Hanako-kun and the others. If it wasn't his choice, or something that he inherently was, but something he was turned into by others, that might make more sense.

( maybe? he still has no clue what he's talking about here. )

Based on that tree we saw, too. It isn't like there aren't any people who might have a grudge against the person who tends that tree, right?

[ It's a start, and sometimes that is all that they need.

Meng Yao is quiet for a moment, nodding at the other male's conclusions, and then finally, once he's certain the other is finished, he'll continue speaking once more with the intention of expounding upon this theory, and answering the question. ]

In the end, it really could be something like that. It could have made him lose inhibitions in such a wild way.

While I have always believed that his true nature is that of what he said, there truly did seem to be some sort of dichotomy present. Kazuki has presented himself as painfully honest and judgmental of himself first above all others; I couldn't help but think that there was more to that narrative than he presented. Of course, it could truly be as he said it was.

However, we do know for a fact that he was happier at one time and hadn't even been bound then. Knowing this opens up the likelihood that there's something more to it in general. The question is how willing will he be able to accept that idea himself? And how will we pursue it beyond asking him the right questions? We'll have to consider the right phrasing if we're able to glimpse more into that matter.

As for him being targeted of that resentment because he's the gardener of that...tree, I'm not certain. I suppose it depends on when he started doing that as well, but I can see it as another avenue for people developing resentment towards him.

Yeah... There's a lot more to figure out, and you're right that we'll need a plan on how to figure this out from him, and what it'll mean for us putting things together in a general sense.

( because, as much as kazuki is a person too, he's also a piece of the puzzle here... someone who can help them figure out this place and why they're here on a better level than he imagines any of the students could. he closes his eyes like he's thinking hard, and glances away after, as he tries to work things out aloud. )

As for the tree, I'm sure it was pretty early on. I don't know if it served the same purpose, but it's probably safe to say that it's connected to the beginning of the school. He planted it together with his first graduating class after all, so... maybe it's related to graduation somehow.

...

( glancing up, he offers a smile here, looking a bit sheepish. )

But that's just a guess. We'll really need more info if we want to work anything out for certain.

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when the bubblegum pops

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