[catchall] Caelus

[sixillusions]

This doesn't fit Kanda at all but I saw it while I was scrolling and I had to

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Weekend 0, Saturday

[sixillusions]

[Stuff!! Stuff and things!!!

Kanda's immediately changing back into his normal clothes as soon as it's available. He's got a second long coat over the first one and a sheathed sword in his hand, with his hair tied up in a ponytail and the robes they arrived in are rudely thrown on the ground.

Once he's changed, he will turn to Caelus, rudely,,,]

You. Have you seen any telephones? [PLEASE say hello to at least one person, Kanda]

[trashprince]

[ something about these vibes, they call to caelus, as if he'd become close to a stoic dark-haired person before. but that's a mere sensation, nothing to hang one's hat on should they have a hat. caelus doesn't. he has a baseball bat and spaceboy threads.

the rudeness? no effect. all good here. ]

Not yet. The tech around here seems low for it.

Week 0, Monday

[sixillusions]

[Is Mr. Raccoon having a good time so far. I hope he is still stinky

Kanda is not!! He has bathed... but his hair is also a little stiff now. Tragic.

Anyway, Caelus's existence doesn't offend Kanda (yet) so even though he won't start the conversation, he at least won't run off immediately if Caelus wanders over. Caelus can find him frowning at the plaque with his name on it; he's got his arms crossed even though he's holding his sword, but at the right angle, Caelus can probably see the number 2 on his chest, over his heart.]

[trashprince]

[ his stench travels far and wide. unmatched. unparalleled. but that's a spiritual property. in terms of physical odor, he's also made use of the haunted bathroom (that has a house around it).

the place that kanda has been assigned, it turns out! how lucky! caelus wanders over right away when he sees the familiar silhouette. sorry, he's latched. ]

Lucky. I'm in the barn.

[ ink on his neck spells out the word receptacle ]

Week 0, Thursday

[sixillusions]

[The way he actually doesn't mind Caelus right now despite his persistence, something that may instantly change depending on how he handles this

Because whenever Caelus spots him, he will notice that Kanda has one very large foot... and also is wearing an old, dusty cowboy hat that Caelus would probably recognize from the barn that I was allowed to manifest.]

[trashprince]

[ BIG FOOT BIG FOOT BIG FOOT.

it is taking everything in caelus not to ask how big that foot be--BIG--no. no. it's--it's okay. relax.

bigfootbigfoot.

the cowboy hat is a nice touch. ]

Hey, Kanda!

[ do not mention the foot ]

Have you been following the bulletin note wars?

[ the foot wars ]

Week 0, Sunday

[sixillusions]

[Thinks about how triggering this execution was for Kanda specifically. Thinks about how it's week 0. Smiles tearfully

The one good thing about this is that Boothill's body burns up, so Kanda doesn't have to barge in there and throw him on the pyre himself. Caelus can find him sitting near the stream when it's all said and done, his sword sheathed again and resting beside him; he's got his arms crossed, though Caelus can probably see the ink lotus on the back of his hand, showing through his arm cover.

Sae did they make it obvious they were castmates in trial I was out I GUESS IT DOESN'T MATTER BC KANDA IS HIMSELF BUT I NEED TO KNOW FOR MY OWN HEART]

[trashprince]

[ FOR YOUR OWN HEART, caelus did check aventurine's body and seemed pretty messed up about it (what kind of monster would have him do that???). he also spoke with boothill and was openly hurt when the trial was ending and shit took a turn. kanda does not need to care about any of that, of course. ]

Hey.

[ soft voice. kanda has that air, as always, that implies he might prefer being alone. while caelus has the aptitude and desire to ignore it most of the time, right now he won't force his presence on anyone.

but it would be nice to hang with kanda. sorry, that's just how he feels. ]

Mind if I sit here?

week 1, monday

[trashprince]

Kanda! You can pet the cows!

[ c'mon, man! come pet the cows!

right now, kanda is probably (unfortunately) anywhere near the ranch when caelus sees him from a distance and sprints over to tell him the good word. ]

[sixillusions]

[He is at the ranch because it's the only place on this island even remotely interesting to him, since it has pumpkins, which is not tempura soba but is one step closer to it.]

Aren't there normal animals around?

[JUST PET A CAT YOU WEIRDO]

Week 1, Friday

[sixillusions]

[PUNCHES THE GROUND MY HOUSE IS IN SHAMBLES

I assume Caelus is either tracking him down or walking past by chance, but either way, he can find Kanda by the pyre, studying the posters thoughtfully. He doesn't look any more broken up about this than he did last week... just focused and quiet.]

[trashprince]

[ YEAH BUT NOW WE MATCH!!! house shambling together!

tracking down, yeah. like a bloodhound that loves garbage and men who wish he was somewhere else. this is his element. and also, caelus might be pretty sad and require the presence of someone who has historically (once) made that feeling more manageable (did he??). ]

I bet Karma would have liked his.

week1 saturday, post-trial;

[trashprince]

[ did you think since i just tagged you twice i'd defer our pc to tomorrow? never. i live in the now.

but also finding kanda is a game of chance, most days. roll of the die. where could he be?? especially after... that. all that. perhaps between buildings? outside the ranch but not in a villager house??? ]

Hey.

[sixillusions]

[SCOOPS UP ALL MY THREADS

But surprisingly, Kanda isn't that hard to find; he walked away from the crowd after Nona died, but only to take up a guard position a little ways away from where Erin is being held by the barrier. He'll probably swap off with Lavi now and then, though, so the alternative is finding him out in the woods, running through his sword forms like he usually does.

Either way, he'll look over when Caelus approaches like ? what do u want (but not hostile)]

Week 2, Monday

[sixillusions]

[This doesn't have to be Monday but I just assume Caelus will come looking for him like a nosy punk and this town is so small. There are only so many places to hide. RIP Kanda.

When they cross paths, Caelus gets to see this memory! CW for mentions of child experimentation but you are canon familiar so I assume it's fine BUT JUST IN CASE]

[trashprince]

[ it's a day that ends in 'y' so caelus is wondering if he can sneak in some kanda time. he's hardy, already healed from their spar without use of anyone's power or a mystic swamp. maybe, if he catches kanda at the right time, when his defenses are lowered, he will want to go exploring together. maybe, if kanda is in a really, really, really chill mood, caelus can ask him for a specific favor.

pure speculation.

he spots his target, waves with his bat in his hand, then disappears into the other's memory.

kanda has mentioned names, but not alma's and not with forthcoming detail. if he weren't tied to kanda's point of view, caelus would wander the echoes of a time passed and view these strangers from every angle. nosy in sheer desperation to understand. however, he's tied to kanda's existence as it already occurred; no ability to veer off track.

stuck to a script.

Most humans have at least two names.

is that so?

this isn't how caelus wanted to find anything out. it should have come naturally, by kanda's choice. they should slowly come to know and trust one another through shared experience. even if kanda hates people. maybe, especially because kanda hates people.

the memory comes to a close and caelus is the one with embarrassingly wet eyes. a hasty rub of the back of his gloved hand against them. ]

Kanda...

[ should it be 'yuu?' would he be permitted? he won't test it. it's a tenuous moment. ]

Week 2, Friday

[sixillusions]

[Does Caelus understand why you don't make friends with people yet

Kanda's pretty easy to find; he's out meditating by the stream, as he often is, and he makes no move to leave at the sound of approaching footsteps. Imagine being openly upset about people dying. Couldn't be him.]

[trashprince]

[ apparently he has learned nothing since caelus is not avoiding kanda, the anti-comfort vortex.

he sits down and copies the other's posture and pose. after a while, ]

I'm sorry we couldn't save them.

[ not an apology to kanda but to the situation at large. announcement of one of caelus' feelings. he's sorry to cloud and to aerith and to iwatooshi and for kanda losing more people he won't call his friends. ]

Week 3, Monday

[sixillusions]

[Why is Kanda out of bed when he's still injured and bandaged up WHO CARES it's fine. More importantly we are at the tree. There is gold and red blood coming out of this tree? That's weird.

Kanda looks at it for a minute, then dips his finger into the bucket and licks it. Is this overconfidence week or just something he'd do normally? Who's to say.]

[trashprince]

[ caelus has never been more in awe by a man than when he sees kanda sucking either blood or monster ketchup off his finger, like, what a freak. he's so stupid. caelus can't not walk over after that.

since he's a nice and good alpha, he clears his throat upon approach, allowing kanda a head's up he's been witnessed.

caelus' hands are behind his back. ]

What's the verdict?

week 3, thursday, pre-curfew

[trashprince]

[ camille is dead.

gojo's a furry and vin is in a bad way, but also camille is dead and caelus was just talking to her. she was in front of him what feels like a moment ago. within reach. able to receive his support and tell him what was on her mind. and now she's gone.

and it will kill him, caelus, if the same happens with kanda.

so, what does a real alpha do? they decide it doesn't matter if their feelings can't reach the other person. they want to see them, so they will do a drive-by check-on if nothing else.

caelus perhaps finds kanda at that usual spot, in scawwy, by the water. he's holding a manga volume. ]

Hey.

[sixillusions]

[Is Caelus enjoying his crash course in the life of a DGM exorcist

But sure, after Camille's body disappears there's still enough time for him to get a little meditation in by the water. He's got his exorcist coat off for now, folded beside him with Mugen resting on top of it; it's a little easier to see that he's still bandaged this way. He probably should've used the swamp before today, but... his unwillingness to deal with the side effects won out, so. C'est la vie.

He opens his eyes at the sound of footsteps, and nods in greeting; if he's holding any grudges over what Caelus said before, he doesn't show it. His gaze drops down to the book and turns slightly curious, though he doesn't ask about it, just waits for Caelus to speak.]

Week 3, Saturday

[sixillusions]

[Just posts this to establish that he will be here by the pyre guarding Caelus's barrier like he has guarded every killer since the start.]

[trashprince]

[ then kanda will witness it as others come and go. caelus snapping back and forth between that smiley, broken not-him and then what may be himself, but shattered in another way. he tells a lot of people to 'go away' and 'leave me alone.' he makes fun of them for caring. then he cries, muffled, but with full body wracking sobs into his knees where he presses his face.

it's endless. the back and forth. he doesn't talk to kanda.

well. not until it's quite late. his voice is hoarse from all of the above. ]

... ... Go to the swamp.

[ a deep swallowing breath ]

Please. [ it's shaky. this might be the real caelus for the moment. ]

week 4, saturday, post-trial

[trashprince]

[ is it the park? will that be kanda's new meditative spot? caelus can't imagine him going to the apartment complex where he's liable to bump into a whole load of them.

the tie of his bartending is completely loose, knot undone. he's walking in long strides but not at an overly quick pace.

]

[sixillusions]

[You think he would be that easy to find after all this...

Imagine if I didn't tell you where he was and made you guess until Caelus would give up. I won't but it would be funny.

But no he can be found by the blood tree actually!! Wowie. He's not getting more blood. He's just sitting under it and meditating, trying to deal with. Everything. A lot has happened in the past 48 hours.]

Week 5, Monday

[sixillusions]

[Well

He's a cat

So have fun with this I guess. He's up a tree somewhere, exuding the emotion of rage. ONE-EARED BLACK CAT... LIKE UNO FROM TIKTOK... there's also a creature hanging out beside him.]

[trashprince]

Uh oh. I'm not great with cats.

[ that's another hoyoverse mc. caelus is best with people, strangely enough, even if present company wouldn't necessarily agree.

too bad they're a cat and can't voice any opinions whatsoever. ]

Hey. You aren't stuck, are you?

Week 5, Thursday

[sixillusions]

[belatedly slaps this down

I GUESS HE'LL JUST CHILL HERE UNTIL CAELUS GETS BACK OUT OF THE SPRING unless someone else is here to spirit him away, in which case Kanda will see him later... HOW'S HE DOIN]

[trashprince]

[ so, two things.

first: caelus' eyes are gonna regrow but it'll take until shortly before break-in so he taps around the edge of the spring as he leaves it. where did those bandages get off to? nobody wants to see what's going on while his eyes reconstitute.

second thing: his hair is now ultra-silky and luscious and goes down to his waist. it was not that long in cloud nines. ]

Is anyone still here?

week 6, monday

[trashprince]

[ it's caelus' delusional hsr au, he gets to decide where kanda slots in.

and today, in the memshare, kanda is a member of the astral express crew. he remains stoic and unyielding, his personality not terrifically altered, but he lives on the train. he's in the group chat (although caelus does most of the texting for the both of them). dan heng shockingly continues to exist, so kanda has his own story of exorcising monsters called akuma on a planet nearly overwhelmed by nihility. mr. yang somehow convinced him to abandon it shortly before they nabbed caelus.

a few scenes slide by. battles, mostly where they've been conditioned to fighting well on the same side. sprinkled in, flashes of moments on the astral express. time gazing at the stars. time with pom-pom.

the last scene presented is shockingly casual. kanda and caelus are strolling along the luofu's aurum alley, the great ship's culinary street. caelus chats with a pink-haired girl (march 7th) and kanda ought to be in a decent mood since they just ate soba from a newly opened shop.

Hey! Quick! Look this way. caelus to kanda who does look. he gets his picture taken on the trailblazer's phone. That's how you get him for one.

march sighs, But he's still not smiling. ]

[sixillusions]

[This week is a strange one.

Kanda doesn't like having his head fucked with. That was true long before he woke up here, and after everything he's been made to see, to believe, to forget, his hatred of mindfuckery has only grown stronger. When they snap out of it, there's a decent chance Kanda will be pissed.

But for once, this is so... innocuous. Simple. It's not like forgetting Alma, or seeing Lenalee die, or being drugged. This hurts no one, except, perhaps, through nostalgia and loneliness--or the realization, later, that this was all fake.

But they don't know that yet. To Kanda, it's just a harmless montage: enough that when it fades, he frowns a little, confused.]

Why would it share that.

[It's just a simple memory? All they did was get food? There's nothing traumatizing or deeply personal about this, which is weird, when it comes to memshares here.]

Week 6, Friday

[sixillusions]

[HEWWO CAELUS

For a little while, Kanda can be found... near the spring!!! Incredible!!!!!

But don't get too excited because he didn't go into it. That much is pretty obvious; at some point he half-assed a bandage wrapping on his wrist, but otherwise his skin is still cracked all over, as if he might break apart again at any time. His exorcist coat is off with Mugen resting on top of it, and he's turning a woven hair cord over in his hands as he stares at the wall, lost in whatever thoughts he's having.

He glances over when he spots Caelus, though he doesn't say anything; it's hard to tell if he even saw Caelus at the house earlier, given how disoriented he'd been after waking up.]

[trashprince]

[ the mote of excitement caelus was allowed to experience disappears as soon as he's close enough to see kanda is both dry and crispy. no spring dip? of course. naturally. ]

Hey. I've been looking for you.

[ believe it or not but he wants to the blood tree first this time. also believe it or not, caelus is carrying a first-aid kit. ]

It's okay if I patch you up, right? If you won't use the spring.

[ caelus is a criminal who reads people's mail. has an idea of where the woven hair cord came from but not its exact significance. ]

week 6, saturday

[trashprince]

What are they doing!

[ kanda doesn't require caelus hold back on this topic, right? doesn't need him to hide his frustration? ]

They didn't--what are they doing!

[ like he left a sports match only instead of taking home the championship his preferred team decided to idly watch their coach get murdered in cold blood.

kanda was allowed his crumbling space during trial. hope he relished it. ]

[sixillusions]

[HELP okay well

Kanda left trial watch several hours early and never came back so where is this happening. Is Caelus barging in on Kanda's room or is he tracking him down later, when Kanda goes out for his nighttime sword training. EITHER ONE IS FINE just so I know]

Week 7, Monday

[sixillusions]

[Ignores the state of my inbox for this

But also sets this before Kanda turns stinky. He's eying this salon so dubiously. Why did he let himself get dragged here.]

No.

[Ganba Caelus]

[trashprince]

I'm not going anywhere near your hair with scissors. I promise. C'mon.

[ OPENS FRONT DOOR WIDE. ushering gesture. go go go. ]

We can leave right away if you hate it.

week 7, saturday

[trashprince]

[ searching for kanda at that old spot he used to be able to be found, in scawwy, by the water. any chance of this being an easy find or we gonna cyoa it? ]

[sixillusions]

[Nah it's not that hard to find him. It would be overwhelming to have all these people around, but most of them were dead before this anyway, so he slowly got used to it. And besides, there are plenty of places for them to go now. It's fine.

So yeah, he can be sitting out by the stream; Mugen is deactivated and sheathed again, and he's cleaned up. Apart from being fully healed, he's dressed down in a simple yukata. He glances over at Caelus when he senses his approach and nods at him... apparently nothing will make him start an interaction first, god.]