avalononline | Eighth: Swaying (Video; un: Fashiondiva)

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Eighth: Swaying (Video; un: Fashiondiva)

(TW: panic-attacks, blood.)

Hey everyone! How's the summer heat treating you?

[Her smile seems even more forced than even her usual act- like she hoped that over-saturated grin would allow her to push her way past whatever it was bothering her.]

So July kinda... okay like, majorly ran away with me, so- So I'm gonna be hosting the Summer Fashion show on the 15th August, at the beach- we'll be doing... so, like, the morning theme will be summer styles, with swimwear in the afternoon. I'll put on a BBQ too!

I hope you guys are as- as excited as I am! It's gonna be, like, a total blast.

Any volunteers who want to help out would be super duper appreciated, so just... lemme know, 'kay?

[The camera seems to be trembling. Mukuro takes a deep breath, before her expression turns more troubled.]

S-so, uh- like I don't have any issues with the Traders normally, they've always given me good stuff but- just a heads up that after the Celliwig thing they're in a bit of a- let's just say weird-ass mood?? Or- or maybe it's just me, I dunno... Anyone else have any problems with them this month?

Like, I just turned up- I mean, yeah, okay I usually go earlier in the day but I didn't think they'd close up shop too early, you know? Anyway I just turned up and was taking my time making up my mind and-

And they were totally all 'Oh hey! We brought you some stuff we thought you might like because you're, totally like, a loyal customer and all that'. Not in those words but-

[Another pause, swallowing back the anxious tears pricking up in her eyes as she tried to work out what to say.]

Okay no but seriously- seriously what the flying fuck are they on?!

[And with that, she carefully lifted up something in one, shaky hand- a spear of such a dark grey metal that it almost looked black. It tapered into a sharp point, and had small grooves near the blunt side that were almost reminiscent of ballistic markings.

Most noticeably, the tip and centre showed hints of dried blood.]

I- I dunno what they expect someone like me to do with this kinda thing- you know?

[And with that faltering, she'll fumble with her phone- attempting and failing to flick to a private setting.]

...Hey, Darin, can you like, make it into a sword or- or anything? Um- crap meant to private that part- sorry-

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[He wishes he could make the spear disappear into hammerspace for the time being, but all he can really do is hide the bloody tip behind his back so she doesn't have to keep looking at it. He notices the pendant, and it immediately catches his eye due to its cute, romantic design, but she probably simply bought it for herself before the spear incident... unless it was a present from a fan or such. Anyway, first things first!]

Take your time. This is really foul play... can people order items from home on others' behalf? If so that was a really shitty prank.

[His voice is calm, but he's ready to snap whoever did this in half. What kind of asshole would do that to her?! Oh, wait...]

There's no chance that Mukuro girl turned up here, is there?

[If the mastermind who killed "Junko" not only washed up on Avalon but immediately decided to terrorize her victim there'll be hell to pay! (Never mind that he probably just scared her even worse without realising it.)]

[At least he was hiding it. Silly though it was, that made her feel better- and she knew Hijikata wasn't just going to turn around and stab her with it like Junko might.

'There's no chance that Mukuro girl turned up here, is there?'.

Her vision seemed to blur. And- fuck, fuck- a pain she couldn't describe shot it's way through her chest- She couldn't breathe.]

No- she's not here-

[Was that even her voice? It sounded like Junko. But she was Junko- Mukuro wasn't here because Junko was here. But no even then it sounded wrong.

She couldn't die from shock, she told herself.

...Couldn't she?]

Junko...

[Damn. Did he set off a traumatic reaction by mentioning her murderer? Her eyes are so unfocused, and he thinks she's hyperventilating... he's kicking himself. Why the hell couldn't he keep his suspicion to himself?! Now she'll worry herself sick over the possibility! He swiftly places the spear on the ground beside the bench, sits next to her, and takes her in his arms. It's painfully clear that he has no practice hugging other people; he's holding her like a big vase of flowers.]

Junko, I won't let her mess with you - if she's here to begin with.

[Still, he can't force himself to downplay his concern now that he has voiced it. Who else if not the Ultimate Despair would have any cause to send the spear to Mukuro?]

[Not many people had hugged her since she'd come to Avalon- and certainly not in the time before that either- and so, she didn't seem to have much of an idea how to react when he sat down to awkwardly hug her.

But it helped.

And in turn, she reached up to grip onto one of his arms, squeezing tight to try and ground herself. All she could hear was her own sharp, ragged breathing, the pounding of her heart in her ears-

But her voice did squeeze out small, uncertain words. Perhaps it was her state of panic, but it seemed different, somehow: ]

Why- did I die-... why would she-?

Where did I mess up-

[She always knew Junko would be the one to kill her, eventually, but- however many times the memory forced itself to the surface- she couldn't understand. Why then? Why her?

Why was she...]

[Her affirming reaction makes him relax a little bit, just enough to hold her less stiffly and more closely. Here's hoping she won't mind the cigarette smell in his clothes...]

She killed you 'cause you stood up to her. She knew you wouldn't accept her bullshit, so she had to crush the rebellion at the root.

[If only he knew how off-the-mark he is, that it had all been part of the plan... alas, he's still ignorant of the truth, somehow.]

[The cigarette smell wasn't on the forefront of her mind as she settled, perhaps for the best, as her grip moved to squeeze onto his shoulder once he pulled her closer. Perhaps she held on a little too tightly- but she didn't seem to realise.

Hijikata's explanation made no sense.

She was following orders. She did everything Junko wanted her to do. She'd played her part well, hadn't she?

So where did she go wrong...??]

I don't- know-

[Her eyes squeezed shut, just focusing on her breathing- trying to pick out sounds and scents around her- she had to calm down somehow...!]

[The more he talks about it, the more he stresses her out, doesn't he? So he goes quiet and just rubs her back, letting her hold on to him and supporting her physically at least. Damn, it's so unfair. Why was she dealt such a shitty hand by fate? In Hijikata's book she was the bravest out of all her classmates, the first to oppose Monokuma and the mastermind.

The mastermind... if she really sent the spear, then he'll find her, and when he does... well. He's not happy with her at all.]

[The touch- as unaccustomed to it as she was- was definitely grounding. The pressure something she could centre her focus on as she tried to steady her breathing.

Slowly, slowly, her training started to settle back in, quietly counting under her breath as she breathed in 1, 2, 3, 4...hold...and out 1, 2, 3, 4...

And by that point, she'd all but hidden her face in his shoulder. Sure, the frightened tears pricking at the corner of her eyes would smudge her mascara something awful, but that didn't seem to hit her right now.

It took a good while for her to finally settle herself enough to release the grip on his shoulder, and sit back to rub at her eyes. Her heart was still racing, but the terrifying, sharp pangs in her chest had stopped.]

...Sorry. I- I don't know what...happened...

[She'd seen plenty of different trauma responses on the battlefield before now, and in anyone else would recognise what that was immediately- but right now, rational thought had packed its bags and gone home.]

Don't worry. I shouldn't have talked about those things.

[He still keeps rubbing her back, just in case. It does seem to have helped. He doesn't want to distress her any more than he already has, but internally he ponders what they should do next. If the mastermind is here and knows about her whereabouts, then should they find a safehouse or something along those lines for her? But no, leaving her familiar environment would only cause her more stress. He'll simply have to be vigilant... and proactive, and fast.]

...

Are you sure you want to give the spear to Darin? Otherwise I can dispose of it for you. But honestly, I think making it into a weapon for you to wield is a good idea.

[Eat that, mastermind!]

[She shook her head at the first point. In truth, she did want a real answer from him- about why she was killed, why Junko had turned on her- but she couldn't ask. Not without revealing far more to him than she ever wanted to.

What...did she want to do with it? Tossing it into the bay and never looking back was one option, but her feelings towards it were complicated. Mukuro took a few minutes to think on it, finally giving a tentative reply: ]

...I want...I want to at least try. Changing it's shape, then wielding it...maybe a sword or something- I got on with Muramasha, so...

You think reforging it would be good too, huh?

Yeah.

[He's forcing himself to focus on the positives here. If she can really reclaim the spear as her weapon that should give her a bit of a new perspective for herself and her path forward, or at least a boost in confidence.]

Darin's the best person I can think of for this. You really did so well with Muramasha, I was surprised! If you do turn it into sword, then you should give it a name too. Maybe you'll become a knight as well, how about that?

[Okay, now he's just recruiting...]

A knight, huh...I mean, someone has to make sure all the cloaks and shit look all stylish, right?

[A weak, shaky laugh at her own joke- before her expression turned more serious.]

...Yeah, Darin's good at his work and- I trust you guys-

[It felt strange...and Mukuro couldn't help but feel her own words were insincere. After all, if she really trusted him, then she wouldn't be hiding herself from him, right?

...But the truth was, she still saw him as family. Even if he never knew who she really was, that was...that was okay. Besides, the real her was just a disappointment, in the end.]

[If he knew the truth maybe he'd stop sending her into a panic with his recurring threats against her true identity, if nothing else... alas. He squeezes her shoulder, relieved to see her regaining her smile.]

Do you want to go to the forge right away? I can go with you.

[This poor girl has been through so much shit, but he knows that Darin and her other friends will look out for her, just like he will.]

I got a message from him, I think he's gonna come by here and grab it...

Do you- do you mind sticking around until then?

[Right now, she really didn't want to be by herself.]

Of course I don't mind.

[Figures that Darin is already moving in to support her! Hijikata knows that she'll be in good hands with him. He's still angry about the whole incident and tense about his suspicions regarding the mastermind, but for Mukuro's sake he puts on a smile.]

I think a rapier or similar light sword would suit you well, but Darin's going to give you better advice on that. He's the expert.

Thanks...and yeah, maybe something with more reach than my knife. I'll ask him.

[She took a deep breath, fiddling with her new pendant to try and settle herself down.]

...They gave me this, too, but I've got no idea why. Said it suited me or something.

Can I see?

[Whether she lets him take it or only look closely, he inspects it with mild curiosity. It's very cute, something that would have suited his Mitsuba...]

It's nice, isn't it? I wonder if it's from someone who likes you? I mean, if you don't recognise it from your homeworld, then maybe someone sent it your way?

[Last he checked the traders didn't deliver random presents, but clearly this month there's a bug in the home regain spell or something. Mukuro definitely asked for the damn spear, after all.]

Huh? Sure.

[She reached around the back of her neck to unclip the clasp, handing it over to him.]

...I mean, I guess someone could have but I really doubt I have an admirer like that, you know? There wasn't anyone else around either.

Maybe it's a fan who's seen you at your fashion shows and such? You never know!

[He holds the necklace up against the sun once more, then gives it back.]

As long as it doesn't end up being a stalker or some other kind of creep..!

Tell me about it...thought if it is a creep I swear I'll kick their ass right into next week.

[A hesitation as she goes to put the necklace back on. Wait, she should probably say something a little more Junko like, right?]

In my line of work you wouldn't believe how many people try it on. Like, seriously, just because you do a cute pose for the camera, doesn't mean they can take the piss.

[He snorts, then grins.]

Well, you should be able to teach them to behave.

[He's seen her kick ass!!]

And if all else fails, you've got my number.

[He spots Darin's blue hair in the crowd and gets up, ready to pass Mukuro over to him]

And Darin's too. Don't hesitate to sic us both on any asshats.

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Eighth: Swaying (Video; un: Fashiondiva)

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tw panic attacks

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tw abuse

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Just remembered she was going to ask him about this

Right, she got the necklace too... forgotten CRAU memories!

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