thecrossinglogs | Quest: The Ghosts of Ghosts

Quest: The Ghosts of Ghosts

WHO: Sunny and Kel (Closed)
WHAT: July Quest
WHERE: Wooden docks
WHEN: Post-The Sleepover, Pre-The Next Crossing
WARNINGS Will add in subject, but most likely mentions of blood, injuries, memory loss related

Remembrance

[Things after the sleepover were… strange. Sunny could feel that Kel seemed a bit standoffish, and he didn’t know why (Sunny couldn’t possibly remember ~~Not when his own mind had wiped the fight from his memory~~. But… one thing he does remember is Kel’s message over the network about searching for Basil in the Mist.

Basil… was still a bucket of worms, in a way, for Sunny. He was a dear friend, and yet all the circumstance of how Sunny had ended up here remained stark in his thoughts. But… if Basil had found himself here (permanently, yet again), then Sunny wanted to find him.

One morning (maybe earlier than Sunny normally woke, as he had been up thinking about this for a few hours), Kel gets a message.

Can we go look for him?

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[It was... difficult being around Sunny. Kel did his very best but after their last encounter he couldn't help but feel hurt as well, after all Sunny pushed him away in every possible way, he ven hid from him, and it was awful. To think he tried his best to open his heart to his friend and he only managed to hurt both of them...

But now Sunny was reaching for him. In Basil's name. Kel knew he was the one who kept seeing the ghost in the mist, but at the same time- of course it was all about Basil. Again. Basil was the one who knew what actually was going on back home, right? that was why they fought, right? He wanted to feel angry, jealous maybe, after all he put so much effort in being the best of friends but... in the end it was a feeling as short lived as his anger toward Basil himself. Sometimes adoring your friends so much only made things awful, huh]

We can. But only if you promise to be careful about it. I got a boat and I learnt how to move it around, we can look for him.

[It was something Sunny couldn’t remember - pushing Kel away for fear of losing him - but the emotion of it still remained in the back of his mind sometimes. Like when he had thought about messaging Kel, there had been… something, like butterflies trying to make their way from his stomach. Before he could think on it too much, the feeling had faded into the background, the message sent and… well… Kel was responding at least.

Sunny still didn’t understand why he felt this way, or why his friend seemed touchy. It wasn’t something he could examine right now so… same as usual?]

Meet outside hut? [Their communal living space, he meant. The brief message was accompanied by the drawing of a thumbs up.

Of course Sunny would try and be careful; there wasn’t any Life Jam here to get them out of a pickle. And maybe if they took a boat, the spiders would stay away.]

[After the four years of 'silent treatment' (towar everyone) and all that went down, Kel should at least be used to this... but no. It still hurts. Sunny still is his dear, dear friend and he'd rather eat dirt than losing him. After all, Mari and Sunny were also the little he had left in terms of 'family', right? He'd probably feel hurt even more if he knew Sunny had 'bad butterflies' in his stomach at the thought of talking to him.

But same as usual it was. Kel wanted to find Basil if he was around, so...]

Sure. I'm on my way, give me 10 tho. I was already looking around.

[He's a busy boy, okay? And this 'pit stop' he's keeping himself busier than usual for obvious reasons. He'll reach the communal living area in minutes, at least, and sit outside waiting for Sunny.]

[Kel was a better friend than he deserved - Sunny knew that. And he really did feel bad about that lingering feeling (of fear? Of nerves?) when it came to Kel.

The body remembered even when his mind wouldn’t.

That being said, it’s not too unusual that Kel was up at this time. Sunny simply drew another thumbs up and sat by one of the windows near the communal hut entrance, peering out.

His mind still wandered, as usual, but when that familiar mop of hair came into view? Sunny waved.

Nothing wrong, they were still friends, they would always remain friends, I promised]

[The body remembered what the mind couldn't, true. That's why Kel couldn't fully shake off his uneasiness when it came to physical contact with the other. He did his best to step over it, though, because that was what a 'Kel' was supposed to be like, right? Overly friendly and overly touchy.

He smiled up in Sunny's direction, even if it was a bit forced, and waited below. the boat was nearby and if they were to look for Basil he wanted- no, needed Sunny to sit properly in it and be safe.

Falling in the water was unpleasant, to put it mildly, and he'd rather be the one taking risks over his friend.]

[Sunny hasn’t had the (un)pleasant experience of falling below the River’s surface since arriving in the Cavern, but he has seen at least Nagito take an unceremonious flop into the murky waters. Thankfully, he has no desire to repeat that.

(Even while not knowing that he would relive his death, memories he liked to try and not think about, his aversion to water still stood.)

Grabbing his backpack and making his way towards Kel is a challenge, though, simply because Sunny can tell he hasn’t been outside the communal hut in a while. His body remembers, limbs straining already so that by the time he makes it half-way to the boat, he’s already feeling the weight of exhaustion lurking about.

(He hadn’t left the hut in at least a week. There’s no way for him to know that, but after four years of staying in his room, the telltale signs of disuse are all too easy to pick up on.)

He waves once more, blinking as he looked over at the boat.] Were you… out…? [Kel had mentioned already being up and about, but Sunny hadn’t thought it might be something as meticulous as using the boat already.]

[Kel had a good amount of unpleasant experiences after his death, but fortunately enough he didn't fall into water. Yet. It would be very... unpleasant if he was to relive his death right in front of the person he died with, right?

(To think Kel loved water. Swimming used to be so fun but after finding himself in the river and jumping in it again to get Sunny out... he hasn't been able to trust getting into it.

He kept the smile up as long as needed, humming as Sunny approached. He did look a bit... sheepish? It was just him doing his best to act like his usual dork self, really, no matter how heavy things were weighting in his chest.]

Yeeeeah. Looking for our buddy as usual. I know things between you two have been... complicated? But you know me. Friendship is friendship. And the alternative is sitting around so it's a good way to spend my time, right?

I... so, you will sit on the boat and keep an eye our but stay safe, okay? I don't want to put my best buddy in danger while we're looking for our other buddy.

[On one hand, they were both fortunate enough to not have fallen back into the River. On the other… unless either of them had heard from Need, they probably weren’t aware of what happened below the surface. Even Sunny, who had seen Nagito fall in and helped get him out, had only focused on the why and not what did you see part.

It wasn’t normal to see things beneath the water’s surface. Even for him.

Kel’s sheepishness does have Sunny wondering if, maybe, he shouldn’t have asked. But the other didn’t seem bothered so… maybe he was just imagining it?

(Sunny had a good memory. Sunny was also aware of all the little tells, the small fidgets and such that filled his own existence. It was fine. Probably.)]

Right… [Things were complicated, and while Sunny would have said that sitting around (and daydreaming, that was the important part) were preferable to being outside, he knew Kel didn’t see it that way. Kel had always been a bundle of energy, ready to move on to the next adventure.

At least that hadn’t changed.] You.. too… no falling… in… [It wouldn’t help Basil if either of them capsized the boat, now would it?]

[It wasn't easy to just... move on from everything, was it? Kel could try to force his body language to act 'natural' and be the usual warm friend- to touch and hug and snuggle like he did with anyone who wasn't a basic 'I saw your face around' or one of the people he disliked- but he wasn't good at lying so small bits would escape him, some of his discomfort would be out in the open.

If asked, he could at least say 'It's because I don't know how you would feel about talking about Basil'... right? Right.

To prove himself his own point, Kel moves forward and tosses one arm around Sunny's shoulders, no matter if his stomach twists around in an unpleasant way.]

PSH. I've been on that stupid boat for... I think I can say 'days' now. I won't fall in unless someone pushes me down and I know I can trust my bestie. So... let's go?

[An affirmative reply would have Kel guide Sunny to a boat large enough for two people, it seems like he gathered some resources as well during that time but it's all been placed on the deck. To no one's surprise he's also ready to help Sunny on the boat and to row for both of them- in his own way he's still going solo, after all]

[Well, at least there is some truth in all of that. Sunny wasn’t going to be pushing Kel in for sure.

Though… the last time he rode a water-bearing vehicle with someone, it didn’t quite end well…

(At least Kel would keep his head. Right? Right.)]

Mmmm. [An affirmative little noise and nod later, and Sunny was sitting firmly in the boat. Maybe gripping the little wooden seat beneath them a bit too tightly, his fingers turning an even paler shade from the effort.]

S-sorry… [He feels bad. Kel is doing all the work (again), but Sunny also knows about five rotations into using the oars, he would probably be exhausted. Noodle arms only work out in fantastical dreams, it seemed.]

[That wasn't part of Kel's plan, no. To be pushed in and all.

overall, the idea of 'falling' anywhere was unpleasant to begin with.]

For what? I got you, buddy. And you're making me train! Heh, if I was back home, I'd be so happy to put up even more muscles. [He flexed, mostly for fun and making sure to hit some stupid poses too before sitting in place on the boat. He had to act... casual.] Me and Cris were planning to have a muscle contest at the end of summer. Turns out swimming makes you build tons of muscles, just saying.

[CAsual chat, casual chat..]

But, really, I'm just glad to have company. I... at least we both know what Basil looks like, right?

[Sunny has to wonder at that.] Muscles in… here too…? [Maybe it was possible. Kel had always been good at sports though, and put in a lot of work besides that, so Sunny knew he would be alright. He shivered at the mention of swimming, gaze trailing to the River beneath them. Nope.]

We’ll look… together… [It helped that both of them could identify Basil. Mari might have been able to several years back, but he didn’t want to worry her. Plus, if they did find Basil, four people in a rowboat would be cramped.

Sunny trailed off as he stared ahead, blinking. Was that… a shadow on the water…?]

[He let out a small chuckle at the idea of building muscles when he wasn't even... alive anymore. Even if he pushed his own body, Kel couldn't feel anything really hurting or straining (he only did during the crossing) so he doubted that could work.] I somehow doubt there's a crowd to impress here. Unless you tell me having a big body guard would make you feel safer, then I could give it a try but I doubt that'll be a thing. [no comments when the other shivers. Right. Sunnty's relationship with water was even worse than Kel's one since he dipped twice in the river.]

Of course we will. And if he's here we'll find him and give him a proper scolding for not appproaching on his own. [A small pause, then.] I still hope it's all in my head, though. I... I miss our friends but I don't want anyone else here of our group. Even because Basil was fine when I last saw him, so he... should still be?

[He did notice the other focus his attention on the distance and automatically turned around, his eyes squinting through the mist and-]

Is that blood?

[The person was a stranger, but the bright red on that boy's clothes was the first thing that caught his attention. Maybe it was just the mist hiding most of it- or the distance playing tricks to his mind.]

[As considerate it might seem that his friend is offering that kind of support…]

Kel is fine… as Kel…

[He didn’t need to change himself. Even in Sunny’s mind, Kel had always stayed consistently himself. If Kel wanted muscles, Sunny wouldn’t stop him. He might even cheer him on, waving a small flag? And if Kel didn’t… then that’s fine too.

(Consistency, things staying the same… those were comforting.)]

Mmmm. [Sunny nodded at that, lost in his thoughts. Basil was fine the last time that Kel saw him, so did that mean that Sunny succeeded? That Basil actually… was safe? But if he ended up here…]

A-ah… [The bright red had Sunny’s heart instantly hammering. It wasn’t just the way the color stood out stark against the dullness of the mist around them but… the orientation of that blood looked familiar.

And then the figure was turning, walking off into the mist again.] F-follow… Hero… [Sunny knew. There was something about the countenance, the surety with which the other stood, that familiar hair so close to Kel’s and yet distinct.

Even if it wasn’t Basil… one of their friends was here.]

Aw. And I think Sunny is perfectly fine as Sunny as well. You're sweet, though.

[A bit too much? Probably, but somehow Kel was still overcompensating the negativity he felt toward Sunny into... the opposite? It wasn't Sunny's fault if things went as they went and he was supposed to be the best friend in town, not someone who made others worry.

He at least felt glad Sunny seemed to think of him as 'enough'.]

I really like my friends, you know? All of them. And if we find Basil.. or anyone else we know, we must make sure they know we're all still friends, okay?

[WAs there a chance Basil did... something stupid after Kel and Sunny died? Yeah. Yeah, there was, at least in Kel's mind. He just didn't know what the situation between the other two even was and if he had to act stupid or something maybe-

Maybe they weren't going to have time to focus on that. Follow hero? That sentence was somehow worse than usual, but he had no time to investigate further- to think just a while ago Kel asked Sunny not to let him forget his brother, yet now he was merely worried about the *only* ghost he had seen so far with wounds.]

Yeah, yeah, I'm moving this stupid boat. But... am I the- I thought no one could get injured here!

[And all wounds somehow match the marks on Kel's shirt too, deep cuts going from side to side and a whole gash on the side. Back then, Kel didn't even know how he managed to walk up to his destination.]

We're totally going to play hero, yeah- keep an eye on that person for me, okay? I can't if I have to row.

[Sunny fidgets on the boat bench. It was… maybe a bit much. After all, there were some things that Kel didn’t know about, and he’d probably change his tune if he knew, right?

(Sunny couldn’t know that he knew already, that they had already had such a bad talk over it, not now.)

He agreed with a silent nod - even if Sunny himself had doubted if Kel had still wanted to be friends after four years of silence (even if he had been proven wrong), the reassurance that they were still friends was something important. Basil would surely like to hear that too, right?

I’ll… tell him… too-

[Sunny’s voice had been soft, more for himself than Kel’s ears-

(It’s not your fault. I don’t blame you. It was me.)

There was so much they needed to talk about… and it was long overdue… but everyone here had been reassuring him that talking was the right action, even if it was scary.

Maybe, someday, he could even tell Kel-)

But then his friend’s startled tone as he caught sight of the injured specter drowned his thoughts out. They… couldn’t get hurt here, that’s right. Not outside of a Crossing.

(Unless that’s changed, and that thought has Sunny’s blood running cold.)

It was an odd choice of words: to play “hero” and Sunny wanted to deny that but… there was no time. Instead he nodded, resolute, and pointed.]

Straight… ahead…!

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Quest: The Ghosts of Ghosts

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tw: blood mention

CW: blood mention, brief panic symptoms

blood talk, memory loss related stuff, wounds description (light)

Re: blood talk, memory loss related stuff, wounds description (light)