scorched, posts by tag: byakuya kuchiki - LiveJournal

[So remember this dumbass who was yelling about bunnies but not actually referring to rabbits the other day? Well, he's back. This time, in the clinic. What's visible of his torso, hands, arms, neck, and part of his face can be seen wrapped in bandages, a clue towards the very stupid thing he attempted to do that landed him here.

But Kotetsu looks in pretty good spirits about it anyway, and the Forge is sitting against a makeshift table/writing board on his lap, where he seems to be writing out a card. Next to it is a...very shoddily wrapped present with a crooked bow. Don't judge him, okay, manual dexterity is hard when your fingers are bandaged. Especially when you're ordinarily clumsy anyway.

When he finishes the card, he sets it on top of the box, both of which he then moves to the bedside table before addressing the Forge.]

I understand Anatole brings in people from a bunch of different places. [Worlds, even. He still needs some time to process that one.]

So I was wondering...what do all of you do for the holidays where you're from? Do any of you celebrate Christmas?

Maaa, back home, we have Christmas trees decked with lights all around, and there's a mall with a skating rink and a clocktower with a date countdown.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a good time, whether or not you celebrate.

[...he's. kind of worried about Barnaby dealing with today alone, honestly, but that's neither here nor there, so he doesn't bring it up.]

Oi, that reminds me. Miata, Ginko, Renji, and...Tabitha? [He's. checking his cards just to make sure he got the right names.] I got a few small things for you as thanks and Merry Christmas, if you wouldn't mind coming by to pick them up. Otherwise I can see about having someone here drop them off, but I wouldn't want to trouble them too much.

[A little. Self-deprecating chuckle from someone who tends to get himself injured a lot.]

...Aa, if anyone knows a girl with green hair, I'd appreciate it if you could send her my way, as well. I kind of owe her more than a thank-you.

[Ginko isn't looking at the Forge when it comes on--he appears to be sketching something. After a moment he says,]

So everyone knows, I'm working at the Clinic now. My name is Ginko, for those who haven't met me yet.

To the newcomers... welcome to Anatole. It's an interesting place, by all accounts.

[A slight pause, before he looks directly at the Forge for the first time since the video came on.]

Does anyone know how often this... surge of new people happens? [The question is asked with a curious sort of caution, but his curiosity has overwhelmed his caution temporarily... and no one's warned him away from asking questions yet, so.]

I swear...

I am not back here.

This has to be a bad dream.

Just...I can't even.

[It has been a month since the tiny white haired captain was last seen.  Most probably figured he'd gone home, but in his eyes, he'd merely fallen asleep for a few hours from some kind of Mist induced hypnosis while training.  You can imagine his surprise when he comes back to find the place has a comfortably settled coating of snow that wasn't there before.  It's pretty clear on his expression, either way.]

Perhaps Stark was on to something about the sudden onset of winter here.

[Kuchiki-taichou]

I should have reported in hours ago, but it seems the Mist got the better of me.  Pardon, taichou.

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Buffy,

I have a problem with unwanted attention. From some people. It is annoying that they will not leave me alone, unfortunately I am in no position to kill them for it. They are dangerous. It could also be against the rules to try that and I am trying not to become a criminal here, or die or be eaten. So I must find another way.

They are persistent and not very pleasant to talk to, either. I think they need new hobbies that do not involve me.

How do I get rid of them?

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[The Forge blinks on. To some of you, this should be a familiar face. Bright pink hair, large blue eyes and a smile that is says this is one person to actually be happy to be back here.]

Oi! Anatole! [She laughs.] I'm back!

[An arm behind her head, she's a little embarrassed.] You'll have to tell me how much I missed, I'm not even sure how long I was gone for. Or where I was...

Jen! Did you ever get that bar going? I still get half those profits remember! And Riza, hope you stayed out of trouble! Dawn, Yachiru, Priscillia, Nagi, I can't wait to see all of you! Oh! and all the new people who must have shown up!

[She takes a breath. Calm down, there is time for everything.]

So, tell me how you've all been.

[Hey, Anatole. Do you know what you haven't seen in a while? (Or maybe ever, but that time is about to end.) Catbutt. That's right. This is catbutt, the extreme closeup edition, and it's meowing out the other end as if the world is going to end.

Like it's asking a question. Turning and rubbing against the Forge as it trills out a series of cries that sound like a child asking why.

Endlessly.

It's a pretty good question, and Lilly is asking herself the same thing - has been since about three o clock this morning when all of a sudden it began to dawn on her that forty six cats?

WHY INDEED.

All colors. All sizes. All over the goddamn apartment. Is that a cat going up the drapes? Yes! Is that another chasing it back down? Yes!

That is a cat preparing to pounce a near-full grown duck, too! If the duck (white, with red cresting around her beak and eyes, and grey spots reminiscent of fish scales) notices, it doesn't seem to matter because she is waddling through the cat crowd — making weak, little quack quack quacks.

But then, Shirley sweeps into the Forge's view and scoops the duck into her arms. For a lady that never seems ruffled, she sure does look distressed at the moment.]

Enough. You cannot keep them all!

[Behind Shirley, Lilly steps onto the sill and reaches toward the lone cat still perched precariously on the curtain rod - while another kitten stretches up on its hind legs to bat at the hem of her skirt. (Yes, she is not wearing pants and it isn't even a costume party.) Stepping down, cat under her arm, almost tripping to avoid the gray tiny that's still soveryinterested in her skirt. (And now her ankle!)—]

I really meant to stop after the fifth. And the tenth. I don't even know how this happened.

[And that's a pixie zooming by, for the record.]

I can't put them back outside, but—

[Headtilt. Peering at the screen. Aaaaand suddenly aware that this is broadcasting.]

—look, we're famous.

[For a long, long second, Shirley looks as thought she might throw the duck at Lilly. Then, she takes a deep breath and huffs.]

Wonderful. Perhaps someone will put the sense into you that I cannot.

[(You mad, Shirley?)

A sigh and a direct question for the viewers—

—well, as soon as she's able to nudge the next cat away from the screen. More catbutt? It's like cowbell. There can never be enough.

Actually, there can.]

I can't keep them all.

We can't keep them all.

I—

[This is when disaster strikes: one particularly thin cat launches himself from a chair and right onto Shirley's back — who screams and drops the duck, who proceeds to flap her wings and fly for Lilly's head. All while quacking in stress.]

Get rid of them!

[The poor cat, he didn't manage to keep on her back very long. The same cannot be said for the duck.

Today is a day for learning. Just as she's learned that it is not a good idea to shelter forty six cats under one (increasingly small seeming) roof, she is also learning that it is a difficult process to gently disentangle duck feet from her hair. Without stepping on the cats.]

Anyone got a place they need to rent? It looks like there's a cat shelter in Anatole's future. Just not in this apartment.

[And this is for you, Kuchiki.]

By the way, I think I got all of them, Commander.

[With that, the Forge clicks off just as Shirley screeches in frustration.]

- [color key: Tonks, Lupin] -

[filtered again to Arthur, Byakuya, Hermione, Hughes, Lust, Merlin, Shirley, Trevor]

[ Video on: picture shadowed. Shadow lifts as Lupin finishes setting the forge down and moves away from it. He leans back and the light exposure adjusts. Viewscreen focuses on Tonks and Lupin both looking into it. Behind them is the fountain of the Clinic courtyard. ]

As promised, my report on what I learned of the Lestrange situation. To share with others, especially in the Alliance, at your discretion.

[ He looks at Tonks.

Tonks lets out a breath and for a moment, looks away. She then inhales another breath before looking back at the forge. Her lips form a thin line. ]

I lured Bellatrix Lestrange to the Ruins. I placed a symbol in the sky that she’d recognized and want to find the source. I had every intention of killing and then burying her.

[ Almost off-screen, Lupin touches her hand. ]

I didn’t do it though.

[ Briefly, she looks at Lupin before continuing. Tonks will keep this as matter-of-fact as she can. ]

I couldn’t make myself do it but I couldn’t just leave her there to and allow her to cause more harm. I tampered with her memories instead. I think I went back before she became a Death Eater but I’m not sure. I’ve never been terribly proficient with memory charms.

[ Lupin debates for a moment translating “Death Eater” for the uninitiated but decides to leave it for now. ]

Lestrange is currently confined to a private room at the Clinic. Tonks, Merlin and I have set up protective wards—spells—to keep her contained and… isolated. Access is limited to those who will check her health status.

I recommend she remain at the Clinic for the foreseeable future. First: because between Shirley and myself, there is a constant presence which will keep the wards strong and active. Tonks and Merlin have also expressed willingness to aid the upkeep. Second: she’s still unconscious. We can’t predict what she’ll be like when she wakes up. The clinic may prove the most appropriate place.

Third…

[ He glances again at Tonks, as if for confirmation. Not that this is a secret, he just keeps going back and forth on whether it’ll improve their… well, legal claim, if anyone’s concerned with such, or not. ]

Third: Tonks is Lestrange’s niece. On our world, and I believe most of yours, blood relatives have certain rights and responsibilities, legally, to make decisions; especially in cases of incapacitation or illness. I believe we can reach an official diagnosis that Lestrange is mentally ill.

[ Tonks grows silent as Remus speaks over the forge. Her posture isn’t meek but neither is it aggressive. ]

In our world, at least in my time, she was in prison. She was sent there for crimes that I’d rather not talk about in great detail. They were horrible.

[ Most know that Bellatrix had also held Tonks for more than a week. Does she really have to say that again? She doesn’t want to.

Almost seamlessly, Lupin jumps in again; ]

For those who don’t already know, it may be relevant to explain: on our world, Tonks is an Auror. That’s our title for an agent of the law, answering to the Ministry of Magic. Their jurisdiction includes the capture and detainment of magic-wielding convicted criminals. By the laws of our world, capturing Lestrange is Tonks's right and responsibility. We know if everyone started behaving only by the rules of their own world, Anatole's infrastructure would be in jeopardy… but in this instance I'd argue this action was compatible. In my ignorance, I also may have forced her hand.

We…

[ A pause; this time for thought. As much as he’s mulled this, he still hasn’t quite figured out how to articulate it. ]

What I was trying to say in my last broadcast— [rueful smile] …as it turns out, extremely badly—was: we may all be capable of tackling impossible issues on our own. Our homeworlds acclimated us to the idea that that was our role. But here in Anatole… even if we can try to take on something single-handed… we don’t have to. We can include and rely on one another. That way we avoid being at cross-purposes. And we don’t have to try and prevent each other. Because we are incapable of truly protecting each other. Certainly not from ourselves. Except perhaps by way of…

[ Remus looks again at Tonks, hoping the right word will come to him.

Tonks looks back at Remus, she half-smiles at him. She reaches for his hand and gives a squeeze.

He smiles back, looks again into the forge, and shrugs. ]

Well, you tell me.

Our next intention is to find Lestrange’s stronghold—which should be easier now that she’s not maintaining the wards on it—and, if she’s still there, rescue Freya. And anyone else who may be held there. We believe we can handle this ourselves, and it may be best for us to do so: as practitioners of the same magic, we’re best suited to identifying and disarming any remaining traps Lestrange may have left, which could put others at risk. But we’re not interested in behaving unilaterally. If anyone has anything to add.