How long has Hiyori been holding this in? Idols spend so much of their time putting on masks or persona to make other people happy. When do they get the chance to be honest with their own feelings? Hiyori's smiled and laughed, glowed and sparkled, pouted and fussed. Bakugo's never seen him cry. Not like this. True exhaustion, sorrow, relief. He remembers far too keenly the way Hiyori offered to embrace him a month ago when he struggled to stand on his own. Bakugo's a hero. Being someone else's strength is what a hero does.
He stays with him, listening to his quivering breaths, feeling his shoulders trembling around each hard breath. His hand settles on the back of Hiyori's shoulder, offering a few quiet rubs. Let it out, don't hold it in. Despite their differences in personalities and ideas, concealing their emotions is a habit both of them share. It hurts, seeing someone you care about locked away in this statue state, knowing they're no longer here to be with you. He can't hear his companions' voice in the morning or see them off at night. Losing someone you care about fucking sucks. At least there's some modicum of relief in knowing Jun's no longer captive here. He's back home... waiting for Hiyori to join him, once they find a way out of this place. A sensation leaking all over his collar in a warm spreading stain.
Hiyori's making a mess, sniffling on his shoulder, definitely a sticky yech of tears, snot, saliva. Ugly cry. Feels his shirt pull tighter at his chest thanks to hands fisting material over his back. He brings his hand to he back of his head, fingers grazing through his hair a few times in a quiet rub. It's fine. He'll deal with it later. Bakugo's eyes soften in a rare moment of sympathy and silent comfort.]
Aa. [He might've had far less patience with this if someone hadn't done much the same for him a few weeks ago. He brushes his thumb in small circles behind one of Hiyori's ears, shifts his legs so he can support him better, so Hiyori doesn't have to worry about sagging on his own.] He's back home. He'll be there for you when we all get out of here.
A hand comes up to pet his hair, comforting and kind. It's the kind of tender gesture no one would typically ever associate with Bakugo. Could Hiyori have imagined such a thing happening, say, a few months ago? Not in a million years, or at least not without the aid of another one of those cupid arrows. But this place has a way of bringing out seldom-seen sides to people, for better and worse.
Hiyori's shoulders shake with sobs and his crying continues steadily. But there's a bit of a hiccup, a pause, when Bakugo says the bit at the end—about Jun being back home waiting for him. "He'll be there for you," he says, the words a jolt through Hiyori's system.]
Home...
[He echoes the word against the cloth of Bakugo's shirt, sounding dazed. It's not the first time; Bakugo's said similar things about believing that people "go home" when they turn into statues before. He's always held firm in that belief, even when questioned. But Hiyori couldn't believe it, even though he wanted to. People have woken up from being statues, sometimes even with their memories intact. Not often, but often enough that it's a known occurrence. Bakugo seemed to think that in those cases, the person's soul or consciousness goes home, then gets pulled back into resort when their statue un-freezes. But isn't it strange to think about souls bouncing around back and forth across time and space, like a game of cosmic ping pong?
Still, everything about this is strange. And whether or not it's strange, this is proof, isn't it? Proof that people don't stay at the resort as statues forever. Jun's statue is here, but Jun isn't, and that makes all the difference. It's hard to believe after thinking the opposite for so long, but at last, he's coming around.
And at last, he slowly lifts his head from Bakugo's shoulder. Showing a red, blotchy, tear-stained face, the kind an idol should never show. But underneath the tears?]
... that's right.
[He's smiling. A tiny, dazed little thing, but there's absolute joy behind it.]
That's what you said before, isn't it? You had it right this whole time. You're such a good, smart boy!
[And then he abruptly hugs Bakugo again, full of excitement, possibly clinging even tighter than he did a minute ago.]
[He's mean, aggressive, and rough. He's not heartless. Despite his gruff resistance to anything "emotional", the blonde isn't immune to those feelings. He keeps them bottled up and compartmentalized, showing what he wants to show and keeping the rest close to his chest. But he's only human. Hiyori's sorrow and relief shake his shoulders in quivers, and he rests his hand on one of them to offer some quiet modicum of comfort.
If they aren't here, where else would they be? Of course Jun's back home! Where all of them should be. No one deserves to be trapped prisoner in some fucked-up place. He tilts his head slightly, peering down at Hiyori as something piques in the idol's mind. Felt him jolt slightly with his words. A quiet murmur, repeating a single idea...
Thing is, people say they woke up from being a statue. But he's seen this place fuck with people's memories before. It's drawn different versions of them from paintings. It's made people act, see, think, hear, believe differently than they otherwise would. Why the hell would anyone look at the resort and say with complete assurance it would never fabricate memories of being a statue in order to layer one more shitty reason why its captives shouldn't resist.
People come from different timelines in their worlds, different versions of their worlds, and there are people who show up at the start of every other month who never end up staying at the resort, leaving no statue behind. Is it better to think they're simple "copies" of their real-world selves who carry on living back home while their "resort selves" live on here? Bakugo still holds to his belief the resort doesn't have any power to fuck over another world or timeline.
Otherwise the people from his own world-- who are here --would've vanished from his world back home. Hiyori's string isn't pointing to the statue in front of him, but rather elsewhere. Probably "outside" the resort. Their statues are here, their "trophy" or "character select" or "placeholder" or "shell" or whatever the fuck you wanna call it, are here. But they aren't. Jun's not here anymore.
He's a stubborn person. And Hiyori's face looks like a damn mess. Bakugo clicks his tongue before he starts shucking the overshirt from his shoulders. Fabric presses to the idol's face, wiping at his watery eyes and running nose a few times to at least help clean some of the sobby boy off.]
Don't gush- omph! [WHY THE HELL ARE YOU TURNING INTO A KOALA AGAIN?!]
[Bakugo thoughtfully takes off a layer to wipe Hiyori's face with (more evidence he's a good boy), but Hiyori doesn't wait for him to finish. The fabric is still pressed to his tearstained face when he wraps dear Baku-kun in a bear hug. When was the last time he hugged anyone this hard? Let's just say it's been a while.]
But it's true! You're the best!
[His voice is high, full of enthusiasm, bursting with emotion. Sorry, the hugging will continue until further notice and so will the effusive praise, because he's so, so deeply relieved.]
[He wasn't gonna pull Hiyori's shirt off and wipe his face with it. As fitting as it'd be to do so... Now smushed against his chest and shoulder thanks to another face-plant dive of a hug. Gross. He stays his usual reaction with grit teeth and twitching eyebrows, holding it in for the moment. At least he's strong; there's no danger of cracking his back or making him hurt. Traps his arms at his sides since he couldn't escape fast enough.]
Of course I am! [Even if he can't say he's 100$ assure of his theory, he stubbornly clings to it despite evidence to the contrary. It's easier, it's better that way. People go home. To think otherwise is too crap.
Though after a while...] You trying to crack my back?
[Hug, hug. Squeeze, squeeze. The hugging will continue until morale improves he's shared all his feelings! And he has oh so many feelings to share, so much love and gratitude all for Bakugo. Bakugo is strong and reliable like a hero should be. He's surprisingly considerate, and he's smart. He's always thinking about how the resort works, and he's figured out things that no one else has. He's a good boy, in other words, and Hiyori wants to hug him tight. So, he does just that!]
Heroes don't crack, right? ♪
[That's all he says at first, his voice full of joy, his arms still wrapped tightly around the other boy.
But, alright: after a moment, he does loosen his hold, before finally drawing back to wipe at his eyes with the shirt. He removes all the moisture and then lowers the garment so he can face Bakugo with dry eyes. Dry eyes, and a warm smile full of gratitude.]
You were right from the start, hm? All I had to do was believe you.
[He could've saved himself so much worrying, so much strife, if only he believed petrified guests all went home.
[Ugh, he's not gonna let him throttle the air out of his lungs forever, dammit! Head tilting back slightly the longer this koala continues compressing his torso. Fingers twitch beside his waist, a vein slowly starting to twitch into view on his forehead, eyes narrowing and starting to spark. Temper holding has never been easy for him to do, and he's trying to keep it in because Hiyori needs the moments! ... But he's also in a better mood now, so why the hell should he let this guy continue crushing him?!
Part of him feels like shit for how much praise Hiyori's dumping on him too. He wishes he could be 100% assured and take all the credit. But it's still an informed hypothesis going against other similarly-informed theories. Fuck.]
Of course they don't!
[They still need air! Bakugo shoulders out of Hiyori's embrace once it loosens and he steps back with a grunt. Tugging at his shirt a little so it won't be bunched around his collar and chest like a figure eight. Hiyori can keep the shirt for now. He'll wash it later. They have more pressing matters to tend to.]
Took you long enough to get it through your thick head. [Both of them were operating off the information they knew and the guesses they made. Bakugo chose to go this route and believe it.]
Do you want to move the statue to your room?
[Noting the question in Hiyori's eyes. "What now?" Right?]
[He holds the shirt to his chest, still smiling warmly even as Bakugo calls him thick-headed. He'd rather have a thick head than have his original idea be proven right; rather be wrong than have Jun doomed to rot in the resort forever. Bakugo can pride himself in being right if he wants. Hiyori will gladly heap more praise on his spiky head.]
It's gotten through now. Loud and clear! ♪
[He chimes back. Though he does continue,]
But it's always been hard to figure out what's what around here. Baku-kun had his compelling arguments, but so did other people. And you can never get a straight answer from anyone about anything.
[He didn't want to believe disappeared guests were trapped at the resort forever. But he had his reasons for assuming. Reasons that float around his head even now, now that some of the joy and relief have worn off. The fact that some people woke up from being statues, and that some of those people reported vague memories of time passing, of being cold, of even of stumbling awake off of a platform. What did all that mean?
It's not that he doubts Bakugo. And it's not that he still thinks the statue could be Jun—not the string tells him it isn't. But he's still wondering about some stuff. Up until Bakugo jolts him back to the present with that question about Jun's statue, and that, at last, is when Hiyori's smile fades. The statue isn't Jun, he knows that, but there's still something uncomfortable about it.]
I guess that would make sense.
[He's the one closest to Jun, and his suite was Jun's suite, too. It makes sense for him to look after the statue. Yet he feels hesitant. If he moves it to his room, the statue will be a constant reminder of Jun's absence. A reminder of past nightmares and current uncertainties.
Because what does he do now? Again, he has to wonder. If the statue isn't Jun, and he doesn't need to work towards "reviving" it because Jun's already left the resort, then what does he do next? Continue playing Game 52? Sit in his suite with Jun's statue, drinking tea and watering his sunflowers? Stay at the resort, even though Jun's gone, and even though everyone else from his home has already left...?]
...
[Something isn't right with him, and it shows in the continued uncertainty in his eyes, the slight furrow to his brow. But Bakugo can't make his decisions for him. He tries to shake off those questions for now.]
[Hiyori is thick headed. Stubborn and stupid in certain things. Bakugo's not afraid to call him out on it. They have a choice what to believe here, since no one has the real answer. Even if someone comes back from being a statue and says they remember shit happening, who the hell knows if it's nothing more than the resort implanting those memories to make it seem like they were trapped? Keeping the illusion of "fear" and "threat" to encourage them even further into playing the shitty game. Wildcards during those "trial periods" never left statues behind, so it's not concrete fact.
Trusting anything the resort says or does 100% implicitly is a fucking surrender he doesn't want to give. Hell, he hardly trusts winning Game 52 means they'll have their wish honored. Someone had to have won before and wished the resort gone. It obviously didn't grant such a thing.]
Aa. This fucking place keeps changing up its own damn rules. [He accepts people have clashing evidence and different experiences. They won't agree. He's had his own convictions shaken a while ago, but Hiyori's reaffirmed them for him with a compelling proof here and now.] We won't know 100% for sure until we tear it apart or force it into complying.
But- [He looks at the statue.] -this thing isn't Jun. The resort created copies of us with our own memories and their own lives. Those assholes weren't "us" no matter what went through their damn heads.
[Why should a statue be any different? Their minds could be reprogrammed, memories taken out, implanted, changed, all to suit whatever story best fit the house's advantage. Hell, the "them" in the resort aren't even the "them" back in their own world. People from his world would've been gone while they were here in his own memories and they weren't. At best, they're copies made from a certain time and place in their worlds and brought here.]
It's your call. [Bakugo wouldn't want anyone else he didn't know coming around statues of people he was close to. Breaking them, abusing them, whatever. They didn't deserve to be stuck in the hotel like some damn trophy. It makes a little difference when they're with someone who cares about them. (Yeah, it's also kind of creepy, but fuck off. No different than a figurine or action figure or doll if you think about it.) He took in the two from his own world for a time until situations changed.
He glances at Hiyori, knowing what kinds of wheels twist and turn in his mind. Trying to figure out where to go from here. What happens now? Bakugo felt similar when he realized he was left in the resort with only two villains from his world, the rest gone. Then again, he's never had his classmates show up here-- thank fuck --so he's never had the experience of being around his friends in the resort.]
All right. [He's glad Hiyori agreed, but won't admit it for now. Letting the guy stay by the statue, he heads out of the courts and procures the loaded-up cart from the hall. Blankets, cushions, bubble wrap, rope, and tape.] You're gonna break a sweat today, so deal with it.
[He blinks a bit at the second thing Bakugo says, the mention of their copies. He hadn't thought to compare the Spades doppelgangers to the statues, yet didn't he and Bakugo talk about the possibilities of being "copies" once? And what was his conclusion then, when he considered the idea that he was just a "copy" of the self who existed at home?
That even a copy wants to live. That was his conclusion.
But the first words also nag at him. They hit his ears strangely, throwing his uncertainties into stark relief. "We won't know for sure.""Until we tear it apart." That's how Bakugo phrases himself, but is that "we" correct? Will he, Hiyori Tomoe, be around someday to see the end of the resort? And does he want to stick around for that, to help "tear it apart," when Jun is elsewhere and the others from home are gone, too?
Those questions swirl around in his head, creating a dark vortex. He's uncharacteristically silent as Bakugo talks, and silent still as he leaves to go get the cart. He's still absorbed in his thoughts. If he looks inside himself, he knows what the answer is: Bakugo may be a hero, but he's not. For all his frivolous talk about how heroes and idols are similar, he's no savior. He wants everyone to be freed, and he cares about the people he's met here. But more than justice or freedom for all, what he wants is to be with the people he loves: his family, his unit, his partner. But Jun's somewhere unreachable, so how does he...]
...
[It hits him suddenly, the thing he could do to escape. The one thing that might reunite him with Jun. Apart from completing his deck, which is harder and more time-consuming and relies on the staff granting his Wish. That's not a sure thing. If he wants to end up in the same place Jun ended up, then...
When Bakugo returns, he'll find Hiyori staring into space (though it could be mistaken for staring at Jun's statue). It takes a moment to get his attention, for him to slowly turn, and when he shows his face, his eyes are somewhere far away. His mind is elsewhere. He's slipping.]
[He manages to sound casual. Manages, even, to smile. Whatever he does next—whether he does what he just thought of, whether he follows in Jun's footsteps—he's here now. And while he's still here, he doesn't want to worry Bakugo any more than he already has. He'll pull his weight when it comes to moving Jun's statue, he won't break down in tears again, and he won't share what he was just thinking for now.]
First we have to cushion it, right? I can take some of that.
[And then he reaches into the cart for some bubble wrap.]
[Their painting selves were their own persons despite sharing their memories, appearances, and abilities. Bakugo faced himself from his future, other people he knew dealt with themselves from younger pasts. Yet each of them had their own lives and feelings, especially the ones which wanted to stay outside the paintings and replace their lives with the "them" existing outside in the resort. Did that make them their own people too? Whether they ended up fading away in acceptance of their lives or trapped in permanent vengeful natures inside the painting again, they had their ending. Is it any different than the statues? Hell if he knows. Doesn't particularly care right now.
Bakugo still believes the "them" in the resorts are little more than copies of their real selves back home. If the people here had really been taken from his world, he would've noticed their disappearance or they would've said something about the experience. And if people excuse vanishing and memories with "oh the resort handled it" then it makes no difference in the end whether they're copies or nothing more than a millisecond's fraction poof from their own world which changes absolutely nothing in the real world's timeline existence. No damn butterfly effect here.
Which is harder to believe? Which is easier to accept?
He can't offer any real words to Hiyori's whirlwind thoughts. Whether the idol's still here when the resort is finally put to the coals or if he's long-since gone home, Bakugo has no control over. Leaving him alone with his mulling, he takes more time than needed to get the cart and supplies. Giving him a moment by himself to think. Something in his stomach twists, ominous feelings slide over his shoulders like fingers spilling down his skin. A choice being made. One he has no bearing on.
Bakugo cants his head slightly as he stops the cart beside the other man. Spaced out and staring into nothing. Gears turning, all mental synapses firing. He hasn't seen Hiyori lost in thought before. Kinda creepy.]
Oy. [And bumps the idol in the hip with his cart's edge. Wake up, Parrot. Once Hiyori comes to, he realizes the guy's chosen... something. Not his business to dig. They have to move the statue.] Aa. Take this- [Hiyori's already grabbing for the sheets of bubble wrap and each rustling plastic foot spills out with his pull. Around and around it goes, Bakugo directs smaller sections around the statue's limbs, torso, and head. Then enshrouds the entire piece in more bubbling swaddling.]
[Hiyori can follow directions. Slowly but steadily, they get the statue covered up. By the end, he can no longer see that familiar face staring back at him. It's both a relief and a little unsettling.
It's not the only thing unsettling him. As they begin the process of lowering the statue into the cart (with Bakugo needing to do more of the heavy lifting than Hiyori, natch), different thoughts flit through his head. He wonders how strange it'll feel to be greeted by that statue every morning in his suite. Then he thinks about how this isn't even the first time he's seen Bakugo with a statue in a cart. Bakugo has lost people from his world before. Hawks, for one, although he came back. And then Till disappeared recently. And if he disappears...
His chest constricts, and his heart giving a sudden, painful lurch. Just moments ago, he'd been thinking about following in Jun's footsteps. But if he does that—if he lets himself turn to stone—will Bakugo do this with his statue?
The thought is disquieting. It hurts a bit, makes his chest ache and his stomach squirm. Not just from pain or loneliness, but also with guilt. Hiyori doesn't want to burden Bakugo by talking about his feelings or the decision he has to make, so he won't. But...]
Thanks for all your help.
[Once they're done loading up the statue, he says it. Smiling gratefully, showing his appreciation. That's all he needs to do: thank Bakugo for his kindness. But as they make their way out of the tennis courts with the statue in tow, he finds himself saying:]
... you've had to do this a lot, huh?
[Bakugo had all the stuff on hand: the cart, the rope, the bubble wrap. This wasn't his first rodeo.]
[Cushions work between limbs and tuck under any extended part of the statue. Keeping everything as safe as possible before they get to tilting anything. He's well aware of how unnerving it is to see the face of someone you know vanishing behind swaddling. Even if it's nothing more than a carved replica.
Bakugo takes the lion's share of the heavy lifting, focusing on the statue's shoulders and upper back while Hiyori manages keeping it at least balanced at the cart's level. Once the top half is on, he trades place, letting the idol take the cart's handles while Bakugo carefully slides the statue further onto the cart via its legs. When he had Hawks and Endeavor's statues in his room, it was pretty fucking weird and creepy at first. But at the same time, he grew up with action figures of All Might in his room, life-sized cardboard cutouts, and posters of his idolized hero. He got used to the statues in his room soon enough until they found new homes with people more fitting them.
Doesn't matter who disappears, whoever's left behind-- if they care about them --should take the statues and keep them safe in their rooms. Fuck the resort and its occupants; they don't care about keeping statues safe. In a way, it's both respecting what was, and flicking off the resort's sick games.
Hiyori should know Bakugo well enough by now to answer his own question already. One the blonde has no hint towards as he finishes getting Jun's statue settled on the cart. Straps of nylon weave, bungee cords, sturdy rope, and a secure harness spill out from the cart's underside. Bakugo begins hooking them together and to the card, lashing the stone figure with all the security of a straight jacket gone mad. This thing isn't gonna fucking budge even if the cart tips over. More blankets are interwoven with the straps as well, covering it along with the cart. Secure as fuck.]
Aa. [Answering both Hiyori's gratitude and his comment. Several times. Both for himself and others in the resort. He would've done it for the friends who vanished recently, but their two remaining friends currently opted to leave the statues were they were. He respected their wishes and stayed his hand.
He takes control of the carts handle and begins driving it forward, letting Hiyori walk in front to guide, protect, and clear the path.] This place can go to hell before I let it have the last word.
["Aa," he says. A simple affirmative. Hiyori accepts that answer without asking how many times, or for any names. But he assumes he's seen a lot of people leave.
As Bakugo pushes the cart with Jun's statue, doing all the grunt work while Hiyori walks in front, guilt sits heavy in his chest. Bakugo would he fine without him; of that, Hiyori is sure. He's a strong boy, after all, and he has other friends here. Yet it seems a poor way to repay him for him for everything he's done, for everything he continues to do. Giving him one more statue to haul away.
But "Aa" isn't all Bakugo says. He also says that other thing, about getting the last word in, about how the resort can go to hell. It's very Bakugo-like, spiteful but ringing with a fierce determination, and a well-timed reminder of his strength. Bakugo really will be fine, whatever he decides.]
... mm!
[He hums in agreement. Hoping, sincerely, for a storybook ending where Bakugo does get the last word, where the "hero" wins at the end. And then, still walking, he turns and flashes a smile back over his shoulder, eyes soft and sympathetic.]
We should do something fun together. Not right now, of course, but one of these days. We've both had a rough time recently, which means we both deserve it.
[After he's decided for sure, but before it's time to really say goodbye, he'd like to do something nice for him.]
[He wouldn't give times or names. Plenty. People leave, their statues remain, a garish trophy of who was here previously and managed to escape the hotel's clutches. He chooses to see it that way rather than the depressing option others seem to bow their heads under. Careful through the doors, he avoids any walls or frames trying to bump into the statue's body. Whatever pose Jun's figurine stands in, he's already memorized it and works on navigating the cart and its load through halls and entrances. Hiyori has to get doors and watch out for whatever's in front of them.
There will be more statues. There'll be more people leave. Who knows. One day, he might be among the departed. There are people here he would hate to leave behind, those he cares about and wants to protect and be with. But do any of them have a choice when they come or go? Ignoring those who dig their heels in and refuse to comply until the resort finally grows exasperated and kicks their asses out.
Brave people. Part of him's disgusted with himself he isn't willing to take that stand. The other part scoffs at himself for even considering being so cowardly and giving up when there are others here would could use his help. Their worlds aren't affected without them. His presence here means shit to his real life.
Besides, he wants to be around when all of this blows the fuck up.]
What're you thinking about?
[Narrowed eyes level on Hiyori's charming smile. Their versions of "fun" are vastly divergent. Coming up with something both of them will agree on... is gonna be hard.]
[What look? This is how he usually looks! Bakugo turns the corner with their payload, clicking his tongue in annoyance as they shed the hall and emerge into a more open area. He'll stick closer to the wall so only one side has to deal with passing extras.]
I've been slaughtering the arcade since I got here! You'll be paste compared to my scores!
[Though he's partial to a few things Hiyori listed. Sushi's good, the conservatory isn't a bad idea, ping pong will be killer.]
Oy, someone asked me about the birds in the Vale. Do they have raptors? Hawks, falcons, owls.
He heads into the open area, striding along like this just a normal walk. He did tailor his list somewhat (he knew better than to suggest they hit the beauty salon), but the activities he mentioned are all things he wouldn't mind doing. He likes to have fun! As for whether they'll see raptors:]
There's only one way to find out! ♪
[But he knows that's a cop-out answer, so he adds:]
I spend more time with my birds than I do birdwatching, but they have all kinds there. You're more likely to see owls at night though. But if you go at night, the Vale is all lit up by lanterns! Which is such good ambience~♪
Then why the hell did you ask!? [Now he's making them both waste their breath! Even if Bakugo does like bragging. Metal shifts slightly as he directs the cart into a clear area away from people. Minding seats and plants along the wall, Bakugo skirts perimeters with a generous berth, red eyes sharply skewering anyone who dares come near the cart. This place should have more "backroad" hallways for clandestine efforts.]
You've never seen one the entire time you've been there? [Then again, having raptors in the aviary would end up with attacks on other birds. Unless the resort somehow makes those special "gifts" somehow unappealing to birds of prey. Can't have random hawks taking out a couple's precious love bird.]
To invite you! Not everyone gets to spend a whole day with me just doing fun stuff, so you should be flattered instead of questioning me!
[Now it's a whole day, apparently.
It's times like these when he's thankful for Bakugo's death glare. Everyone's giving them a wide berth, and the cart moves easily through the hall. The cart, and with it, Jun's statue.
... it still doesn't quite feel real. But talking about birds provides a distraction, anyway.]
I'm not saying there aren't any. I think the different kinds of birds might stick to different areas, though. Which is fortunate, since I wouldn't want my birds getting attacked!
[Maybe there's some kind of magical barrier in place to prevent the exact issue Bakugo just thought of...?]
Yep, they probably hunt away from the lanterns! But since you're so curious, why not go there carrying binoculars? You can say hi to Hina-chan. And Hiro-kun! I'm sure he'll be delighted to see the person who named him.
Don't flatter yourself! If I feel like it, I'll come by, Parrot!
[Both of them know he'll come by regardless of grumbles or anticipation. Cause he gives a shit about Hiyori, even if he won't say it. Still, they're going to have to fight a compromise out on which person's "fun" will be had for the next hour or two each time the venue changes.
He's walked this same path and action before, carting a statue from one place to another. Something about it feels like giving the hotel a middle finger. Refusing to allow it's sick parading of past victims in public places. Letting someone who actually cares about the person the statue represents have their missing companion close by where they're safe.]
Hmph. Doesn't sound like there are any in that case. [Not like the Vale's reported sightings of wolves or tigers or fucking dragons crawling around attacking people out for a nature stroll. Bakugo hasn't even seen a fox while out on his morning jogs or occasional hikes.] Maybe the Vale doesn't have predators.
[Outside the human-shaped variety...]
Haa?! I go there twice a week for jogs or hikes! [He hasn't even seen a hawk flying in the air!]
["If I feel like it." What a wishy-washy answer. But it's Bakugo, so he'll take it for the grumpy-sounding yes it is!]
Great! Then "when I feel like" it, I'll challenge you to a dance-off! They have that one dancing game at the arcade. Dance Dance Revelation! ♪
[It's Dance Dance Revolution... (Though at night it becomes Lap Dance Revolution.)
Jun liked the arcade here. Hiyori remembers the first time they went there together, shortly after discovering their suit tattoos. Having marks added to their body without their consent was greatly upsetting for them both, so he'd suggested a trip to the arcade in order to distract themselves. They went and won each other plushies, plushies Hiyori still has in his suite.
It's been a while since then. So much has changed and so much hasn't changed. It hurts his heart a little now, remembering those days while listening to the cart groan beneath the weight of Jun's statue. But as he walks along ahead of it, he also thinks: "I've made so many memories with Jun-kun." They spent so much time together in this place, got so much closer than he ever thought possible. For all that he hates how the resort is run, he remembers more good times with his partner than bad. And that's how he wants it to be with Bakugo and his remaining friends, too.
He hopes they remember the good times. Not just the Hiyori Tomoe who cried, but the one who smiled.]
Perhaps not, but it is the month of Halloween. So if any monsters appear in the Vale, I'll rely on your heroics to protect me! ♪ And my self-defense training, but that goes without saying.
[Even his birds can put up a fight, as he witnessed last year. But rather than share that anecdote, he gets distracted by the last thing Bakugo says.]
Oh? Does that mean you have been meeting up with them? I had no clue! If you and Hiro-kun are good friends now, you should've said so earlier!
[Would he rather Bakugo snap off a "Like hell I will!" instead?! Hiyori's learning how to handle this guy and it'll pay off for him well. Lips curve in a scowl, bristling across his shoulders, yet he isn't rebuffing so far. Getting straight up challenged earns the idol a scoff as he lifts his chin in a cocky smirk.]
You think you can beat me at that? I'll slaughter you.
[Oh now this is haughty. A rough and tough hero challenging a professional idol to a dance off? Or more accepting said challenge. Of course he is! He's not gonna let Hiyori peck at him for being a coward and not taking his gauntlet throw down! (And Bakugo avoids the arcade at night, thank you.) He usually attends the arcade in the mornings to win high scores and cash in on the food, groceries, and clothing vouchers, but less so now thanks to being an Ace. He still has a fairly large cache of those vouchers...
For as much as he hates the resort and how it holds them all captive, Bakugo's not immune to feelings and bonds. There are people here he's grown close to, grown to care about, and doesn't want to lose. He wants to help them all get back home if he can, or at least have the option to come and go as they please. Hiyori needn't worry about how Bakugo remembers him. All the grumpy reactions and taunting won't have a chance to dull the illustrious shine of Hiyori Tomoe from his memories. He'll remember him as a brilliant idol, full of light and happiness, with his own sharp edges like fine emerald and cut peridot.
Bakugo won't forget him. Or his smile. Ever.]
Che! I can take out anything the Vale throws at me. [Zero lack of confidence in his skills there. He nods when Hiyori brings up his training. He's come a long way since the blonde first met him. Another turn and he guides the cart into a quieter area for easy travel.]
Haa? No, I haven't! They're your birds! [So he may have gone a few times and they were on the way... and he might have fed them or let them perch. But it's not regular. And Hiyori doesn't need to know. Hmph.] You need to train that greedy one to stop stealing shit.
[Those prideful competitive types are so predictable. Still he does add:]
Just remember who it is you're dealing with. I'm not merely "someone who likes to dance," but an idol! The leader of Eve, the "sun" of Eden, and someone who diligently practices even here. ♪
[He says that all while smiling a beaming smile. Even now, after so many months in a sex resort, and even while separated from his unit and his fans, he's still an idol. That's who he is, and it's who he'll always be.
Of course DDR isn't just a test of one's dancing skills, and in fact bears little resemblance to the kind of dancing he did onstage back home (or here occasionally at House Finch). He lacks Bakugo's degree of athleticism too, so there may be no obvious winner. But that just makes the prospect of competition even more exciting, right? For a hyper-competitive, eager-to-prove-himself boy like Bakugo, that's what it should do.
He gives the cart a wider berth as they round the corner, still smiling as Bakugo gives a predictable denial. Can he trust that denial, though...? It's hard to tell if Bakugo really hasn't seen his birds, or if he has been hanging out with them and doesn't want to admit it! Especially when he says that last thing, showing he remembers Hiro-kun well.]
"That greedy one" has a name, you know. [One that Bakugo gave him!] And I don't disagree with you, but it's easier said than done. Kids that age can be so troublesome. Especially that one, who inherited his greed from Rinne-senpai.
[Rinne, who loved gambling at the casino and dreamed of hitting the jackpot. It's no wonder Hiro impossible to discipline, given how hard-to-control Rinne was, how much trouble he caused back home. Ah, but maybe if he and Bakugo worked together—
The thought dies before he can give voice to it. If he does what he was thinking of, he won't be around to care for his birds. Indeed, he likely won't see them again. Of course he knew that's always what would happen if he got the chance to go back home, if he somehow got his Wish or if Esikko succeeded in opening up pathways, but he hardly ever thinks about it. He feels a pinprick inside his heart, and his stomach gives another squirm.
Saying goodbye really is difficult.]
Anyway, since Baku-kun's familiar with the Vale, and he's not afraid of anything, we should definitely go birdwatching after our trip to the arcade! I can try to discipline Hiro-kun, and Baku-kun can also say hello to him. Sound good?
[His tone is cheery, but his smile perhaps is a touch sadder. He's still walking a bit ahead, though, so Bakugo surely won't notice. ... right?]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 10/18/25 02:43 (UTC)But porn crying is some of the best cryingHow long has Hiyori been holding this in? Idols spend so much of their time putting on masks or persona to make other people happy. When do they get the chance to be honest with their own feelings? Hiyori's smiled and laughed, glowed and sparkled, pouted and fussed. Bakugo's never seen him cry. Not like this. True exhaustion, sorrow, relief. He remembers far too keenly the way Hiyori offered to embrace him a month ago when he struggled to stand on his own. Bakugo's a hero. Being someone else's strength is what a hero does.
He stays with him, listening to his quivering breaths, feeling his shoulders trembling around each hard breath. His hand settles on the back of Hiyori's shoulder, offering a few quiet rubs. Let it out, don't hold it in. Despite their differences in personalities and ideas, concealing their emotions is a habit both of them share. It hurts, seeing someone you care about locked away in this statue state, knowing they're no longer here to be with you. He can't hear his companions' voice in the morning or see them off at night. Losing someone you care about fucking sucks. At least there's some modicum of relief in knowing Jun's no longer captive here. He's back home... waiting for Hiyori to join him, once they find a way out of this place. A sensation leaking all over his collar in a warm spreading stain.
Hiyori's making a mess, sniffling on his shoulder, definitely a sticky yech of tears, snot, saliva. Ugly cry. Feels his shirt pull tighter at his chest thanks to hands fisting material over his back. He brings his hand to he back of his head, fingers grazing through his hair a few times in a quiet rub. It's fine. He'll deal with it later. Bakugo's eyes soften in a rare moment of sympathy and silent comfort.]
Aa. [He might've had far less patience with this if someone hadn't done much the same for him a few weeks ago. He brushes his thumb in small circles behind one of Hiyori's ears, shifts his legs so he can support him better, so Hiyori doesn't have to worry about sagging on his own.] He's back home. He'll be there for you when we all get out of here.
no subject
Date: 10/18/25 20:01 (UTC)Fair, I guess.A hand comes up to pet his hair, comforting and kind. It's the kind of tender gesture no one would typically ever associate with Bakugo. Could Hiyori have imagined such a thing happening, say, a few months ago? Not in a million years, or at least not without the aid of another one of those cupid arrows. But this place has a way of bringing out seldom-seen sides to people, for better and worse.
Hiyori's shoulders shake with sobs and his crying continues steadily. But there's a bit of a hiccup, a pause, when Bakugo says the bit at the end—about Jun being back home waiting for him. "He'll be there for you," he says, the words a jolt through Hiyori's system.]
Home...
[He echoes the word against the cloth of Bakugo's shirt, sounding dazed. It's not the first time; Bakugo's said similar things about believing that people "go home" when they turn into statues before. He's always held firm in that belief, even when questioned. But Hiyori couldn't believe it, even though he wanted to. People have woken up from being statues, sometimes even with their memories intact. Not often, but often enough that it's a known occurrence. Bakugo seemed to think that in those cases, the person's soul or consciousness goes home, then gets pulled back into resort when their statue un-freezes. But isn't it strange to think about souls bouncing around back and forth across time and space, like a game of cosmic ping pong?
Still, everything about this is strange. And whether or not it's strange, this is proof, isn't it? Proof that people don't stay at the resort as statues forever. Jun's statue is here, but Jun isn't, and that makes all the difference. It's hard to believe after thinking the opposite for so long, but at last, he's coming around.
And at last, he slowly lifts his head from Bakugo's shoulder. Showing a red, blotchy, tear-stained face, the kind an idol should never show. But underneath the tears?]
... that's right.
[He's smiling. A tiny, dazed little thing, but there's absolute joy behind it.]
That's what you said before, isn't it? You had it right this whole time. You're such a good, smart boy!
[And then he abruptly hugs Bakugo again, full of excitement, possibly clinging even tighter than he did a minute ago.]
no subject
Date: 10/19/25 04:53 (UTC)If they aren't here, where else would they be? Of course Jun's back home! Where all of them should be. No one deserves to be trapped prisoner in some fucked-up place. He tilts his head slightly, peering down at Hiyori as something piques in the idol's mind. Felt him jolt slightly with his words. A quiet murmur, repeating a single idea...
Thing is, people say they woke up from being a statue. But he's seen this place fuck with people's memories before. It's drawn different versions of them from paintings. It's made people act, see, think, hear, believe differently than they otherwise would. Why the hell would anyone look at the resort and say with complete assurance it would never fabricate memories of being a statue in order to layer one more shitty reason why its captives shouldn't resist.
People come from different timelines in their worlds, different versions of their worlds, and there are people who show up at the start of every other month who never end up staying at the resort, leaving no statue behind. Is it better to think they're simple "copies" of their real-world selves who carry on living back home while their "resort selves" live on here? Bakugo still holds to his belief the resort doesn't have any power to fuck over another world or timeline.
Otherwise the people from his own world-- who are here --would've vanished from his world back home. Hiyori's string isn't pointing to the statue in front of him, but rather elsewhere. Probably "outside" the resort. Their statues are here, their "trophy" or "character select" or "placeholder" or "shell" or whatever the fuck you wanna call it, are here. But they aren't. Jun's not here anymore.
He's a stubborn person. And Hiyori's face looks like a damn mess. Bakugo clicks his tongue before he starts shucking the overshirt from his shoulders. Fabric presses to the idol's face, wiping at his watery eyes and running nose a few times to at least help clean some of the sobby boy off.]
Don't gush- omph! [WHY THE HELL ARE YOU TURNING INTO A KOALA AGAIN?!]
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Date: 10/19/25 17:41 (UTC)But it's true! You're the best!
[His voice is high, full of enthusiasm, bursting with emotion. Sorry, the hugging will continue until further notice and so will the effusive praise, because he's so, so deeply relieved.]
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Date: 10/20/25 00:20 (UTC)Of course I am! [Even if he can't say he's 100$ assure of his theory, he stubbornly clings to it despite evidence to the contrary. It's easier, it's better that way. People go home. To think otherwise is too crap.
Though after a while...] You trying to crack my back?
no subject
Date: 10/20/25 16:27 (UTC)morale improveshe's shared all his feelings! And he has oh so many feelings to share, so much love and gratitude all for Bakugo. Bakugo is strong and reliable like a hero should be. He's surprisingly considerate, and he's smart. He's always thinking about how the resort works, and he's figured out things that no one else has. He's a good boy, in other words, and Hiyori wants to hug him tight. So, he does just that!]Heroes don't crack, right? ♪
[That's all he says at first, his voice full of joy, his arms still wrapped tightly around the other boy.
But, alright: after a moment, he does loosen his hold, before finally drawing back to wipe at his eyes with the shirt. He removes all the moisture and then lowers the garment so he can face Bakugo with dry eyes. Dry eyes, and a warm smile full of gratitude.]
You were right from the start, hm? All I had to do was believe you.
[He could've saved himself so much worrying, so much strife, if only he believed petrified guests all went home.
Although...
If it's that simple, now what does he do?]
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Date: 10/21/25 03:36 (UTC)Part of him feels like shit for how much praise Hiyori's dumping on him too. He wishes he could be 100% assured and take all the credit. But it's still an informed hypothesis going against other similarly-informed theories. Fuck.]
Of course they don't!
[They still need air! Bakugo shoulders out of Hiyori's embrace once it loosens and he steps back with a grunt. Tugging at his shirt a little so it won't be bunched around his collar and chest like a figure eight. Hiyori can keep the shirt for now. He'll wash it later. They have more pressing matters to tend to.]
Took you long enough to get it through your thick head. [Both of them were operating off the information they knew and the guesses they made. Bakugo chose to go this route and believe it.]
Do you want to move the statue to your room?
[Noting the question in Hiyori's eyes. "What now?" Right?]
no subject
Date: 10/22/25 00:06 (UTC)It's gotten through now. Loud and clear! ♪
[He chimes back. Though he does continue,]
But it's always been hard to figure out what's what around here. Baku-kun had his compelling arguments, but so did other people. And you can never get a straight answer from anyone about anything.
[He didn't want to believe disappeared guests were trapped at the resort forever. But he had his reasons for assuming. Reasons that float around his head even now, now that some of the joy and relief have worn off. The fact that some people woke up from being statues, and that some of those people reported vague memories of time passing, of being cold, of even of stumbling awake off of a platform. What did all that mean?
It's not that he doubts Bakugo. And it's not that he still thinks the statue could be Jun—not the string tells him it isn't. But he's still wondering about some stuff. Up until Bakugo jolts him back to the present with that question about Jun's statue, and that, at last, is when Hiyori's smile fades. The statue isn't Jun, he knows that, but there's still something uncomfortable about it.]
I guess that would make sense.
[He's the one closest to Jun, and his suite was Jun's suite, too. It makes sense for him to look after the statue. Yet he feels hesitant. If he moves it to his room, the statue will be a constant reminder of Jun's absence. A reminder of past nightmares and current uncertainties.
Because what does he do now? Again, he has to wonder. If the statue isn't Jun, and he doesn't need to work towards "reviving" it because Jun's already left the resort, then what does he do next? Continue playing Game 52? Sit in his suite with Jun's statue, drinking tea and watering his sunflowers? Stay at the resort, even though Jun's gone, and even though everyone else from his home has already left...?]
...
[Something isn't right with him, and it shows in the continued uncertainty in his eyes, the slight furrow to his brow. But Bakugo can't make his decisions for him. He tries to shake off those questions for now.]
Well, anyway. Let's get to it.
no subject
Date: 10/23/25 15:11 (UTC)Trusting anything the resort says or does 100% implicitly is a fucking surrender he doesn't want to give. Hell, he hardly trusts winning Game 52 means they'll have their wish honored. Someone had to have won before and wished the resort gone. It obviously didn't grant such a thing.]
Aa. This fucking place keeps changing up its own damn rules. [He accepts people have clashing evidence and different experiences. They won't agree. He's had his own convictions shaken a while ago, but Hiyori's reaffirmed them for him with a compelling proof here and now.] We won't know 100% for sure until we tear it apart or force it into complying.
But- [He looks at the statue.] -this thing isn't Jun. The resort created copies of us with our own memories and their own lives. Those assholes weren't "us" no matter what went through their damn heads.
[Why should a statue be any different? Their minds could be reprogrammed, memories taken out, implanted, changed, all to suit whatever story best fit the house's advantage. Hell, the "them" in the resort aren't even the "them" back in their own world. People from his world would've been gone while they were here in his own memories and they weren't. At best, they're copies made from a certain time and place in their worlds and brought here.]
It's your call. [Bakugo wouldn't want anyone else he didn't know coming around statues of people he was close to. Breaking them, abusing them, whatever. They didn't deserve to be stuck in the hotel like some damn trophy. It makes a little difference when they're with someone who cares about them. (Yeah, it's also kind of creepy, but fuck off. No different than a figurine or action figure or doll if you think about it.) He took in the two from his own world for a time until situations changed.
He glances at Hiyori, knowing what kinds of wheels twist and turn in his mind. Trying to figure out where to go from here. What happens now? Bakugo felt similar when he realized he was left in the resort with only two villains from his world, the rest gone. Then again, he's never had his classmates show up here-- thank fuck --so he's never had the experience of being around his friends in the resort.]
All right. [He's glad Hiyori agreed, but won't admit it for now. Letting the guy stay by the statue, he heads out of the courts and procures the loaded-up cart from the hall. Blankets, cushions, bubble wrap, rope, and tape.] You're gonna break a sweat today, so deal with it.
1/2
Date: 10/25/25 01:53 (UTC)That even a copy wants to live. That was his conclusion.
But the first words also nag at him. They hit his ears strangely, throwing his uncertainties into stark relief. "We won't know for sure." "Until we tear it apart." That's how Bakugo phrases himself, but is that "we" correct? Will he, Hiyori Tomoe, be around someday to see the end of the resort? And does he want to stick around for that, to help "tear it apart," when Jun is elsewhere and the others from home are gone, too?
Those questions swirl around in his head, creating a dark vortex. He's uncharacteristically silent as Bakugo talks, and silent still as he leaves to go get the cart. He's still absorbed in his thoughts. If he looks inside himself, he knows what the answer is: Bakugo may be a hero, but he's not. For all his frivolous talk about how heroes and idols are similar, he's no savior. He wants everyone to be freed, and he cares about the people he's met here. But more than justice or freedom for all, what he wants is to be with the people he loves: his family, his unit, his partner. But Jun's somewhere unreachable, so how does he...]
...
[It hits him suddenly, the thing he could do to escape. The one thing that might reunite him with Jun. Apart from completing his deck, which is harder and more time-consuming and relies on the staff granting his Wish. That's not a sure thing. If he wants to end up in the same place Jun ended up, then...
When Bakugo returns, he'll find Hiyori staring into space (though it could be mistaken for staring at Jun's statue). It takes a moment to get his attention, for him to slowly turn, and when he shows his face, his eyes are somewhere far away. His mind is elsewhere. He's slipping.]
2/2
Date: 10/25/25 01:55 (UTC)That's fine. We are at the gym, so...
[He manages to sound casual. Manages, even, to smile. Whatever he does next—whether he does what he just thought of, whether he follows in Jun's footsteps—he's here now. And while he's still here, he doesn't want to worry Bakugo any more than he already has. He'll pull his weight when it comes to moving Jun's statue, he won't break down in tears again, and he won't share what he was just thinking for now.]
First we have to cushion it, right? I can take some of that.
[And then he reaches into the cart for some bubble wrap.]
no subject
Date: 10/26/25 01:21 (UTC)Bakugo still believes the "them" in the resorts are little more than copies of their real selves back home. If the people here had really been taken from his world, he would've noticed their disappearance or they would've said something about the experience. And if people excuse vanishing and memories with "oh the resort handled it" then it makes no difference in the end whether they're copies or nothing more than a millisecond's fraction poof from their own world which changes absolutely nothing in the real world's timeline existence. No damn butterfly effect here.
Which is harder to believe? Which is easier to accept?
He can't offer any real words to Hiyori's whirlwind thoughts. Whether the idol's still here when the resort is finally put to the coals or if he's long-since gone home, Bakugo has no control over. Leaving him alone with his mulling, he takes more time than needed to get the cart and supplies. Giving him a moment by himself to think. Something in his stomach twists, ominous feelings slide over his shoulders like fingers spilling down his skin. A choice being made. One he has no bearing on.
Bakugo cants his head slightly as he stops the cart beside the other man. Spaced out and staring into nothing. Gears turning, all mental synapses firing. He hasn't seen Hiyori lost in thought before. Kinda creepy.]
Oy. [And bumps the idol in the hip with his cart's edge. Wake up, Parrot. Once Hiyori comes to, he realizes the guy's chosen... something. Not his business to dig. They have to move the statue.] Aa. Take this- [Hiyori's already grabbing for the sheets of bubble wrap and each rustling plastic foot spills out with his pull. Around and around it goes, Bakugo directs smaller sections around the statue's limbs, torso, and head. Then enshrouds the entire piece in more bubbling swaddling.]
no subject
Date: 10/27/25 02:18 (UTC)It's not the only thing unsettling him. As they begin the process of lowering the statue into the cart (with Bakugo needing to do more of the heavy lifting than Hiyori, natch), different thoughts flit through his head. He wonders how strange it'll feel to be greeted by that statue every morning in his suite. Then he thinks about how this isn't even the first time he's seen Bakugo with a statue in a cart. Bakugo has lost people from his world before. Hawks, for one, although he came back. And then Till disappeared recently. And if he disappears...
His chest constricts, and his heart giving a sudden, painful lurch. Just moments ago, he'd been thinking about following in Jun's footsteps. But if he does that—if he lets himself turn to stone—will Bakugo do this with his statue?
The thought is disquieting. It hurts a bit, makes his chest ache and his stomach squirm. Not just from pain or loneliness, but also with guilt. Hiyori doesn't want to burden Bakugo by talking about his feelings or the decision he has to make, so he won't. But...]
Thanks for all your help.
[Once they're done loading up the statue, he says it. Smiling gratefully, showing his appreciation. That's all he needs to do: thank Bakugo for his kindness. But as they make their way out of the tennis courts with the statue in tow, he finds himself saying:]
... you've had to do this a lot, huh?
[Bakugo had all the stuff on hand: the cart, the rope, the bubble wrap. This wasn't his first rodeo.]
no subject
Date: 10/27/25 04:52 (UTC)Bakugo takes the lion's share of the heavy lifting, focusing on the statue's shoulders and upper back while Hiyori manages keeping it at least balanced at the cart's level. Once the top half is on, he trades place, letting the idol take the cart's handles while Bakugo carefully slides the statue further onto the cart via its legs. When he had Hawks and Endeavor's statues in his room, it was pretty fucking weird and creepy at first. But at the same time, he grew up with action figures of All Might in his room, life-sized cardboard cutouts, and posters of his idolized hero. He got used to the statues in his room soon enough until they found new homes with people more fitting them.
Doesn't matter who disappears, whoever's left behind-- if they care about them --should take the statues and keep them safe in their rooms. Fuck the resort and its occupants; they don't care about keeping statues safe. In a way, it's both respecting what was, and flicking off the resort's sick games.
Hiyori should know Bakugo well enough by now to answer his own question already. One the blonde has no hint towards as he finishes getting Jun's statue settled on the cart. Straps of nylon weave, bungee cords, sturdy rope, and a secure harness spill out from the cart's underside. Bakugo begins hooking them together and to the card, lashing the stone figure with all the security of a straight jacket gone mad. This thing isn't gonna fucking budge even if the cart tips over. More blankets are interwoven with the straps as well, covering it along with the cart. Secure as fuck.]
Aa. [Answering both Hiyori's gratitude and his comment. Several times. Both for himself and others in the resort. He would've done it for the friends who vanished recently, but their two remaining friends currently opted to leave the statues were they were. He respected their wishes and stayed his hand.
He takes control of the carts handle and begins driving it forward, letting Hiyori walk in front to guide, protect, and clear the path.] This place can go to hell before I let it have the last word.
no subject
Date: 10/28/25 16:50 (UTC)As Bakugo pushes the cart with Jun's statue, doing all the grunt work while Hiyori walks in front, guilt sits heavy in his chest. Bakugo would he fine without him; of that, Hiyori is sure. He's a strong boy, after all, and he has other friends here. Yet it seems a poor way to repay him for him for everything he's done, for everything he continues to do. Giving him one more statue to haul away.
But "Aa" isn't all Bakugo says. He also says that other thing, about getting the last word in, about how the resort can go to hell. It's very Bakugo-like, spiteful but ringing with a fierce determination, and a well-timed reminder of his strength. Bakugo really will be fine, whatever he decides.]
... mm!
[He hums in agreement. Hoping, sincerely, for a storybook ending where Bakugo does get the last word, where the "hero" wins at the end. And then, still walking, he turns and flashes a smile back over his shoulder, eyes soft and sympathetic.]
We should do something fun together. Not right now, of course, but one of these days. We've both had a rough time recently, which means we both deserve it.
[After he's decided for sure, but before it's time to really say goodbye, he'd like to do something nice for him.]
no subject
Date: 10/29/25 02:55 (UTC)There will be more statues. There'll be more people leave. Who knows. One day, he might be among the departed. There are people here he would hate to leave behind, those he cares about and wants to protect and be with. But do any of them have a choice when they come or go? Ignoring those who dig their heels in and refuse to comply until the resort finally grows exasperated and kicks their asses out.
Brave people. Part of him's disgusted with himself he isn't willing to take that stand. The other part scoffs at himself for even considering being so cowardly and giving up when there are others here would could use his help. Their worlds aren't affected without them. His presence here means shit to his real life.
Besides, he wants to be around when all of this blows the fuck up.]
What're you thinking about?
[Narrowed eyes level on Hiyori's charming smile. Their versions of "fun" are vastly divergent. Coming up with something both of them will agree on... is gonna be hard.]
no subject
Date: 10/30/25 01:23 (UTC)All sorts of stuff! We could go shopping, sing karaoke, pet animals in the conservatory, eat premium sushi...
[He wags a finger and adds,]
... go dancing, play ping pong, go to the arcade... you must like arcades, right? I bet Baku-kun's the type who gets all competitive.
no subject
Date: 10/30/25 05:24 (UTC)I've been slaughtering the arcade since I got here! You'll be paste compared to my scores!
[Though he's partial to a few things Hiyori listed. Sushi's good, the conservatory isn't a bad idea, ping pong will be killer.]
Oy, someone asked me about the birds in the Vale. Do they have raptors? Hawks, falcons, owls.
no subject
Date: 10/30/25 16:23 (UTC)[Bakugo is so predictable sometimes.
He heads into the open area, striding along like this just a normal walk. He did tailor his list somewhat (he knew better than to suggest they hit the beauty salon), but the activities he mentioned are all things he wouldn't mind doing. He likes to have fun! As for whether they'll see raptors:]
There's only one way to find out! ♪
[But he knows that's a cop-out answer, so he adds:]
I spend more time with my birds than I do birdwatching, but they have all kinds there. You're more likely to see owls at night though. But if you go at night, the Vale is all lit up by lanterns! Which is such good ambience~♪
no subject
Date: 10/31/25 01:28 (UTC)You've never seen one the entire time you've been there? [Then again, having raptors in the aviary would end up with attacks on other birds. Unless the resort somehow makes those special "gifts" somehow unappealing to birds of prey. Can't have random hawks taking out a couple's precious love bird.]
Owls aren't going to hunt near lanterns...
no subject
Date: 10/31/25 23:03 (UTC)[Now it's a whole day, apparently.
It's times like these when he's thankful for Bakugo's death glare. Everyone's giving them a wide berth, and the cart moves easily through the hall. The cart, and with it, Jun's statue.
... it still doesn't quite feel real. But talking about birds provides a distraction, anyway.]
I'm not saying there aren't any. I think the different kinds of birds might stick to different areas, though. Which is fortunate, since I wouldn't want my birds getting attacked!
[Maybe there's some kind of magical barrier in place to prevent the exact issue Bakugo just thought of...?]
Yep, they probably hunt away from the lanterns! But since you're so curious, why not go there carrying binoculars? You can say hi to Hina-chan. And Hiro-kun! I'm sure he'll be delighted to see the person who named him.
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Date: 11/1/25 15:48 (UTC)[Both of them know he'll come by regardless of grumbles or anticipation. Cause he gives a shit about Hiyori, even if he won't say it. Still, they're going to have to fight a compromise out on which person's "fun" will be had for the next hour or two each time the venue changes.
He's walked this same path and action before, carting a statue from one place to another. Something about it feels like giving the hotel a middle finger. Refusing to allow it's sick parading of past victims in public places. Letting someone who actually cares about the person the statue represents have their missing companion close by where they're safe.]
Hmph. Doesn't sound like there are any in that case. [Not like the Vale's reported sightings of wolves or tigers or fucking dragons crawling around attacking people out for a nature stroll. Bakugo hasn't even seen a fox while out on his morning jogs or occasional hikes.] Maybe the Vale doesn't have predators.
[Outside the human-shaped variety...]
Haa?! I go there twice a week for jogs or hikes! [He hasn't even seen a hawk flying in the air!]
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Date: 11/2/25 16:41 (UTC)Great! Then "when I feel like" it, I'll challenge you to a dance-off! They have that one dancing game at the arcade. Dance Dance Revelation! ♪
[It's Dance Dance Revolution... (Though at night it becomes Lap Dance Revolution.)
Jun liked the arcade here. Hiyori remembers the first time they went there together, shortly after discovering their suit tattoos. Having marks added to their body without their consent was greatly upsetting for them both, so he'd suggested a trip to the arcade in order to distract themselves. They went and won each other plushies, plushies Hiyori still has in his suite.
It's been a while since then. So much has changed and so much hasn't changed. It hurts his heart a little now, remembering those days while listening to the cart groan beneath the weight of Jun's statue. But as he walks along ahead of it, he also thinks: "I've made so many memories with Jun-kun." They spent so much time together in this place, got so much closer than he ever thought possible. For all that he hates how the resort is run, he remembers more good times with his partner than bad. And that's how he wants it to be with Bakugo and his remaining friends, too.
He hopes they remember the good times. Not just the Hiyori Tomoe who cried, but the one who smiled.]
Perhaps not, but it is the month of Halloween. So if any monsters appear in the Vale, I'll rely on your heroics to protect me! ♪ And my self-defense training, but that goes without saying.
[Even his birds can put up a fight, as he witnessed last year. But rather than share that anecdote, he gets distracted by the last thing Bakugo says.]
Oh? Does that mean you have been meeting up with them? I had no clue! If you and Hiro-kun are good friends now, you should've said so earlier!
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Date: 11/3/25 03:04 (UTC)You think you can beat me at that? I'll slaughter you.
[Oh now this is haughty. A rough and tough hero challenging a professional idol to a dance off? Or more accepting said challenge. Of course he is! He's not gonna let Hiyori peck at him for being a coward and not taking his gauntlet throw down! (And Bakugo avoids the arcade at night, thank you.) He usually attends the arcade in the mornings to win high scores and cash in on the food, groceries, and clothing vouchers, but less so now thanks to being an Ace. He still has a fairly large cache of those vouchers...
For as much as he hates the resort and how it holds them all captive, Bakugo's not immune to feelings and bonds. There are people here he's grown close to, grown to care about, and doesn't want to lose. He wants to help them all get back home if he can, or at least have the option to come and go as they please. Hiyori needn't worry about how Bakugo remembers him. All the grumpy reactions and taunting won't have a chance to dull the illustrious shine of Hiyori Tomoe from his memories. He'll remember him as a brilliant idol, full of light and happiness, with his own sharp edges like fine emerald and cut peridot.
Bakugo won't forget him. Or his smile. Ever.]
Che! I can take out anything the Vale throws at me. [Zero lack of confidence in his skills there. He nods when Hiyori brings up his training. He's come a long way since the blonde first met him. Another turn and he guides the cart into a quieter area for easy travel.]
Haa? No, I haven't! They're your birds! [So he may have gone a few times and they were on the way... and he might have fed them or let them perch. But it's not regular. And Hiyori doesn't need to know. Hmph.] You need to train that greedy one to stop stealing shit.
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Date: 11/4/25 16:00 (UTC)I knew you'd say that, too!
[Those prideful competitive types are so predictable. Still he does add:]
Just remember who it is you're dealing with. I'm not merely "someone who likes to dance," but an idol! The leader of Eve, the "sun" of Eden, and someone who diligently practices even here. ♪
[He says that all while smiling a beaming smile. Even now, after so many months in a sex resort, and even while separated from his unit and his fans, he's still an idol. That's who he is, and it's who he'll always be.
Of course DDR isn't just a test of one's dancing skills, and in fact bears little resemblance to the kind of dancing he did onstage back home (or here occasionally at House Finch). He lacks Bakugo's degree of athleticism too, so there may be no obvious winner. But that just makes the prospect of competition even more exciting, right? For a hyper-competitive, eager-to-prove-himself boy like Bakugo, that's what it should do.
He gives the cart a wider berth as they round the corner, still smiling as Bakugo gives a predictable denial. Can he trust that denial, though...? It's hard to tell if Bakugo really hasn't seen his birds, or if he has been hanging out with them and doesn't want to admit it! Especially when he says that last thing, showing he remembers Hiro-kun well.]
"That greedy one" has a name, you know. [One that Bakugo gave him!] And I don't disagree with you, but it's easier said than done. Kids that age can be so troublesome. Especially that one, who inherited his greed from Rinne-senpai.
[Rinne, who loved gambling at the casino and dreamed of hitting the jackpot. It's no wonder Hiro impossible to discipline, given how hard-to-control Rinne was, how much trouble he caused back home. Ah, but maybe if he and Bakugo worked together—
The thought dies before he can give voice to it. If he does what he was thinking of, he won't be around to care for his birds. Indeed, he likely won't see them again. Of course he knew that's always what would happen if he got the chance to go back home, if he somehow got his Wish or if Esikko succeeded in opening up pathways, but he hardly ever thinks about it. He feels a pinprick inside his heart, and his stomach gives another squirm.
Saying goodbye really is difficult.]
Anyway, since Baku-kun's familiar with the Vale, and he's not afraid of anything, we should definitely go birdwatching after our trip to the arcade! I can try to discipline Hiro-kun, and Baku-kun can also say hello to him. Sound good?
[His tone is cheery, but his smile perhaps is a touch sadder. He's still walking a bit ahead, though, so Bakugo surely won't notice. ... right?]
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