route_1065 | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who:

veritadorata [closed]
Where: Violet City
When: The afternoon of April 3rd
Summary: Two magicians meet to talk about MYSTERIES.
Rating: G, PG at the highest
Log:

[Needless to say... in this storm, with those things wandering about, being outside wasn't exactly at the top of Kaito's list of things to do. But his last conversation with his fellow magician friend had left him curious and uneasy, and now that he was in Violet (the same city Battler claimed to be in) he was going to seek the redhead out for some answers.

He normally didn't pry any further into mysteries than what was necessary. Some things weren't meant to be known, and Kaito had long since earned a deep appreciation for the unknown. When someone brought up 'murder,' however... things were far, far different.

Right now, Kaito was darting through the streets of Violet City toward the inn, flinching as he brushed past a few flopping Magikarp and hopping Chinchou. If he didn't look at them, then he'd be okay... right? Right?

There had been no sign of Battler so far, but even if the spiky-headed magician was in a rush... he was keeping an eye out for a splash of red amongst the gloomy, rainy backdrop of the afternoon]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Battler wasn't exactly fond of rainy afternoons, and with good reason. But for now, he didn't seem to mind at all. He had left Maria and her new pokémon friends in their dry and warm room and told her he needed something and would be back later.

Which wasn't a lie at all. He needed time.

This board was becoming a monster. Pieces and moves and purposes and roles. They didn't make sense anymore. And then, it appeared: the room, the nippers, the sound of laughter from the outside, the chain (that stupid chain!), the warmth from the corridor-- but as soon as he opened his eyes again, he was still in Johto, a place with a Beatrice from a past game, an Ange from the Fourth game... his family and friends. A place where a smile could be an easy thing.

It wasn't. Smiling and joking was difficult when your mind was always around the same topic. The act he decided to put on while he solved this place was harder and harder to keep. And the latest mistake came back to haunt him as he remembered his last conversation with Kaito.

Why did he do that? It was a stupid move, no matter how he looked at it... at least, it was a stupid move if he were playing alone against the world. He did consider Kaito as a possible ally Piece, as he did with Maria. Lion was also a Piece he could think of as being on his side of the board. Even the Stakes, that he was so reluctant to speak with, were now labeled as "witch side" in his mind.

Agh... there he was again, thinking too much. At least the cold water (and the occasional Surskit) helped distract him a little as he walked outside the inn.]

[He almost missed it, the bright red slipping out of the inn, and if he hadn't been looking for it he might not have seen it at all. He hesitated, but only briefly, before his pace quickened and he rushed toward Battler as quickly as he could.

What are you up to, Battler-san...]

Ooooi! [He made sure to call out loudly, so Battler could hear him above the downpour]

Battler-saaaan!

[Hah... he could still hear Lambdadelta, and those words were colder than any rain falling on him.

You'll just be eternally trapped in a hell where you constantly think of ways to escape the closed room while denying the logic error.

Such a happy hell. Perhaps his mind did choose a hell worse than any other. A hell with a possibility of a happy ending--

--uh?

Battler turned around as he heard his name, and moved his wet hair out of his eyes, surprised.]

Kaito...san?

[Oh good, he wasn't running. A stark change in demeanor from their last conversation, where he had signed off so quickly Kaito hadn't had the chance to ask any questions.

The magician lifts a hand to wave as he approaches, slowing to a walk the closer he gets and offering his friend (yes, still his friend) a grin]

Heh. I had wondered where you were. Should've just checked the inn first.

[Hand. He looked at Kaito's hand, still wondering what just happened. All those theories he constructed about Johto and the people in it came back like a hammer on his head, leaving him with his eyes going from hand to face a couple of times before taking it, not without a hint of suspicion.

Why was Kaito here?]

You could've just called me and ask.

[Kaito shrugged, brushing a few drops of water out of his eyes as he did so]

You could've just hung up on me again.

[It was clear what he had been searching for Battler to talk about]

[That was a low blow... but there was truth in his words. He wasn't a coward, but he understood what could've happened if he had continued that conversation. He already lost much to add more wood on his pyre.]

Can't we let that one die?

[This was one thing Kaito wasn't going to give up on that easily]

Oi oi... 'm usually not one to pry. Everyone has their secrets, and I respect that. There are a lot of things in this world that weren't ever meant to be discovered.

[A beat]

But you mentioned 'murder.' That's something I can't let go. [His own moral code wouldn't let him]

There's something more to what you asked me, isn't there?

It was just a silly question. Morbid, I know, but nothing more than that.

[It was a question that left him with a bitter aftertaste for days. He wasn't someone who could enjoy killing a human being, it just wasn't in his nature.

But he was the Game Master. He was the Sorcerer. In a way, he wasn't human. Words were his shield, as much as closed rooms were his weapons... so, he knew he wasn't doing his job right when he managed to hit himself with his shield, even going as far as opening a wound. It was like someone else wanted to show him just how human he could still be.

And now it was the time to choose. Just as he had chosen to be Human with Lion, as he had chosen to be Sorcerer with Maria.

What would be his choice now with Kaito?

He knew Kaito would be someone he could trust, as soon as they shared their opinions on magic. He never realized there would be a time where a friendly chat would become a tough decision.]

...you don't mind if we walk a bit? I don't think we'll get more wet than we are right now. Besides, isn't this weather just perfect for a murder mystery?

[Sorcerer or Human.]

[Murder mystery]

... sure. [Kaito lifted a hand and jerked his thumb out toward the city]

As long as we avoid the piles of flopping Magikarp, that is. [He didn't want to risk another freak out]

It's a good thing there's a forest around? I don't think the Magikarp are brave enough to go in there. And, unless my luck calls a thunder right on the tree I'll be standing under, I think it would be a nice place to talk.

[... snort] I bet my luck'll balance that out. I've got plenty!

[But he's heading in that direction, waiting for Battler to follow]

[Half smiles as he walks beside Kaito. He doesn't want to go deep into the forest... just enough to talk without unwanted ears.

Battler feels like his stomach is full of ice cubes.]

[Kaito watches out of the corner of his eye, trying to gauge a reading on what Battler is thinking at the moment. Since his fellow readheaded magician requested they talk in the woods, Kaito's staying silent in order to let him lead the conversation]

[Even without paying much attention, it is obvious Battler is tired. Not physically, no... he looks emotionally tired. His paranoia has driven him to a point he didn't know he could reach at all. Whether they were real or not... driving his sister away, keeping his distance from those he loves... it was hard.

The Truth he holds is far more important, and he knew that... but he still feels a little alone.

No matter..... Battler finally stops, not far from town at all. He leans on a tree, his mind once again focusing on his decision.]

[Kaito can definitely tell, and he wonders, exactly, what Battler had put himself through while in Johto. They were friends, of course, but the redhead still mostly kept to himself... not that Kaito could blame him, really.

He had his own fair share of secrets.

He stopped walking, glancing up at the sky and shielding his eyes from the rain as it continued to drop down on them, though not nearly as heavily thanks to the shelter of the forest trees]

So... [He said after a moment of silence] Is it all still a secret?

Most of it, yes. For now.

[Closes his eyes and faces up, letting the water fall on his face.]

Say, Kaito-san. Let's play a game. You can ask 3 questions... I promise I'll answer the truth, even if it's hidden. What do you say?

Three questions... [Funny, this is usually a game Kaito is on the other side of. But he'll bite]

All right. I'm in. [He lapses into a thoughtful silence, trying to come up with a good first question... and he supposes there is no better place to start than with the conversation that left him confused]

Why did you ask me what I would think if you told me you were planning a murder?

Because I'm planning to kill my whole family and I wanted you to help me.

[He says it without even looking at Kaito. Battler's voice sounds emotionless, hollow.

It wouldn't be much of a game if he showed his feelings on the matter, right?]

[That answer was 100% times more blunt than Kaito was ready for]

Why? Don't skimp on this answer. Don't twist the truth with technicalities. I wanna know why.

Because that's what this game is about. I will use magic, kill them, and then watch amused how those humans break their heads wondering "how is this possible?".

[He did warn him the truth would be hidden in his answers... he just needs to play as fair as the rules they agreed upon.]

I'll pretend that wasn't your second question.

[Any sane person would probably think Battler was crazy at this point. Kaito is just trying to figure out what he's missing. There's more to this, I know there is, but he's not being upfront and I need to know why.]

... fine.

[He pauses to lapse into another thoughtful silence as he tries to think of another good question. Something that actually gets him somewhere]

Who started this 'game?'

It's a witches game. Fantasy against mystery. Witches against humans. There are a lot of old witches, so I don't know who started it. The Rokkenjima game was started by the Golden Witch, Beatrice.

[Opens his eyes and looks at Kaito, his face not showing any emotion. He remembered his old man always having the same smug smile, whether his plans were going good or bad. Kyrie-san was also an expert.]

[Game. Fantasy against mystery. Witches against humans.]

And you're... on the witch side. Or acting as someone on the witch side. [It wasn't a question; he didn't really need to ask at this point]

I am the Endless Sorcerer for a reason.

[Po po po pokerface po po pokerface.]

what is this tl;dr

it is something delicious

*cries*

/EATS

Noooooo

83

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

/off to work

o/!

no subject

no subject

no subject

cries