002 :: Written

[lifeandpride]

Hello? I have been reading some of this book, and I think I understand a bit more of how it works.

Since it appears I may be staying a while, I would like to introduce myself. I am Ukitake Juushirou, and I am pleased to meet you all. I hope to have the good fortune to meet some of you in person as well.

[He stops here a moment, as if to consider what else he should write.]

I have noticed a lot of children and youth here. Is anyone responsible for their well-being?

Things in this journal always seem so lively, so hopefully some of you will be getting back to me shortly.

[short pause]

...or else I have just written something very silly!


Father Abel,

Please forgive me for not getting back to you sooner. As you can imagine, I've been spending some time adjusting, and looking for a way back to my own world.

You had mentioned that there was more to tell me about this place, and I think it would be good if I listened. Perhaps we should meet again soon.

-Ukitake Juushirou.

Comments

[lifeandpride]

[He hands the man a teacup - he looked like he could use some tea - then takes his own and sits at the edge of his over-indulgent bed. He frowns slightly.]

Everyone is strong in their own way, Father. Sometimes, it takes some of us longer than others to realize that. ...but for what it's worth, I'm sorry I must make you relive some pain.

[He takes a sip of tea, then continues.]

What kinds of things might I mistake for another?

[bloodsugar]

[he takes the tea gratefully -- as ever, happy to greedily partake in his friend's brew, settling it in his lap for now.]

...The incident you mentioned... regarding demons invading the castle. Things like this have become less frequent occurrences, but... they need mentioning.

[he has a quiet frown at his brow. it's not a happy subject, after all.]

Sometimes, the castle and the area around it can... change, without warning. It usually happens at midnight when it does -- and our surroundings resemble worlds belonging to other residents or periods in time. During that one, the castle town and Cair Paradisa were sieged nightly by demons. For that week, it was something out of a nightmare. But... we were turned against our friends and family the last day. Some of them were 'possessed,' and until dawn, we had to survive against each other as well as the monsters beating down the doors.

[my the surface of your tea looks terribly interesting. yes. very interesting indeed.]

Not only that, but... people were driven to do terrible things to each other -- sacrifice those they loved most for power, after being driven to the edge of madness. Things like that... these are little more than 'games' the forces responsible for us being here deign to play. All we can do is survive and persevere.

[lifeandpride]

[Ukitake listens, quietly and carefully while Abel was speaking. He looks thoughtful, and has his teeth clenched a bit tightly. He's quiet for a few moment after Abel finishes.]

...Games of that nature are not... games at all.

[He notices the other man's interest in the tea cup, but doesn't mention it. It made him concerned however.]

Were you forced to kill me, Abel?

[The title was dropped for the moment. He didn't want to cause the other man any undue stress.]

1/2

[bloodsugar]

[--well, it's a good thing that he wasn't drinking because he'd be choking on it, right about now alskjdgsdf... his eyes snap up to meet the Shinigami's in shock. wh... what?!]

2/2

[bloodsugar]

N... no! No, I--

[he sets the cup down so he won't fumble it, before gesturing a plaintive denial.]

--No. You and I both... made it through alive and in one piece.

[lifeandpride]

[He's almost ready to grab the cup from him, since his hands look unsteady, but is glad that he placed it on the table. After that he tries not to look sheepish - automatically his mind jumped to the worst thing he could think of - a comrade killing a comrade, and he swallows hard to get the taste of 'Kaien' out of his mouth.]

I'm sorry... I should let you tell me what happened rather than taking guesses.

[bloodsugar]

[Lord Juu don't do that to him slkdjf... he still looks disturbed and more than slightly uneasy. honestly, it was the prospect that he thought he might've killed him that pinged old fears and insecurities rather than anything else.]

It's... alright.

[g... ghnn. he puts a small smile at his lips, trying to swallow the disruption to his calm.]

...There have been several incidents since then. The worst of which would be in spring of this past year... a creature known as 'Slenderman' started abducting children around the castle. They were picked off, one by one -- kidnapped into a dimension tied to a tree we were eventually able to use to get to them and free them, but... they were very shaken up. Luckily, none of them were seriously hurt.

[lifeandpride]

[Ukitake clenches his fist unconsciously. Children had been the target of one of these instances? It was unforgivable and only made him more determined to do his best to fix what he could about the situation.]

I see...

[He hesitates.]

Were there any other incidents of this nature? ...or do they change?

[bloodsugar]

Each year, there's about one incident a month -- though not all as large or as... terrible as those. Some are even... kind? Pleasant... trips to different cities in different worlds, or... harmless pranks and games.

[lifeandpride]

[This information doesn't seem to sooth him - people were being toyed with, no matter what was going on. He sighs.]

...I see. I shall heed your warning about these... instances. Is there anything else I should know about them?

[He'd momentarily forgotten about the tea, but now that it was getting cold and he was distracted, he takes a bigger sip than he had intended, which leaves him spluttering and coughing uncomfortably. Damn it...]

[bloodsugar]

[he had opened his mouth to reply, but-- that sound has him flinching SCREAM--]

--Ah-- are you-- alright? S-- sorry, I-- [didn't mean to stress you out ahhh AHHH]

[lifeandpride]

[It takes him a moment to catch his breath, though he's unconsciously clutching the right side of his chest where that arrancar had injured him... internally, it still wasn't fully healed.]

...I'm fine. [a breath] ...that was my fault. You'd think I would know how to drink tea by now.

[He look Abel over while he tries to even out his breathing.]

I take it you know about... that?

[You know. That minor inconvenience thing.]

[bloodsugar]

[...the furrow of a sincere concern should be answer enough, but if it wasn't... the slight nod of his head, is.]

...Yes.

[lifeandpride]

[Finally breathing normally and relatively free of pain, he relaxes again, though he'd splashed some tea on himself.]

Well... I would tell you to not waste your time worrying about me, but unfortunately you look as if that's impossible. It seems this other me has ruined that for me.

[A wry smile]

All we can do is move on.

[small, careful sigh.]

So... next order of business?

[bloodsugar]

[as ever... talking about such serious matters like it's of no importance ;(

he finds himself sliding his glasses back onto his face, like... some reminder of the facade that usually accompanies it. trying not to worry too much... it's difficult when this time around, he can feel the wrongness emanating from his friend like... a blight on his person. a source of sickness, of pain and wrongness.]

...If anything should happen, your journal is the key. It's your lifeline to the rest of us and a way to get in touch instantly, alright?

In a time of crisis, your best bet is to get in touch with the Peace Patrol. They're usually heralding the efforts to protect the innocents. [and he knows that's where your interest will lie when things get hairy.]

[lifeandpride]

[He would be a fool to think that Abel was only talking about using the journal for battle situations, but he wouldn't mention it.]

I have heard of the Peace Patrol but I'm not sure what exactly it is they do. It sounds as if they are some sort of law enforcement. I heard they might have some emergency system in place for the children?

[a short pause.]

It seems there are a few things I have to look into.

[bloodsugar]

Mm... things have been difficult, in terms of organizing and enforcing. They're the closest thing to 'law' we have at the moment. When things get bad, there are a few voices raised up to try and usher people to defend or to whisk those who can't protect themselves to places of safety.

Unfortunately, those systems don't always work and much of it comes down to decisions on the fly. But... when the situation gets darkest is when all of us show our true colors. [there's a small smile.]

...Considering how many worlds and perspectives we represent... you'd be surprised to see how well we can all come together when the cards are against us.

[lifeandpride]

...That doesn't seem so surprising to me, actually.

[How many different types of people had stood up to Aizen, after all?]

I suppose given the circumstances, it's better than nothing. I'm just used to things being more organized.

[...and usually being part of those who organized them, really.]

[bloodsugar]

The Peace Patrol has taken some hard hits in the past year. As you can imagine, it's pretty hard to maintain leadership and consistency among a group of people that could be sent on a strange loss or just plain sent home at any day, right? [he picks up his tea again, his hands having regained steadiness.]

But it's still worth looking into. Maybe with your experience, you could lend a hand in getting them back into shape. [okay so maybe his biased utter faith in Ukitake is shining through here... CLEARLY YOU CAN WORK MIRACLES.]

[lifeandpride]

[He's a bit flattered at that, but he can't help but wonder if Abel overestimates his abilities.]

I'm not sure if that I should spend my energies anywhere but trying to get home.

[A pause.]

Besides, the Gotei has been kind enough to me to allow for my... absences. I wouldn't want to be unreliable, especially if they're in need of consistency.

[bloodsugar]

[that... takes him by surprise. quite a bit of surprise, actually -- but he's quick to cover it up by replacing glasses on his face and nudging them up his nose.

...]

They're not mutually exclusive -- finding a way home and helping the people here, in the Peace Patrol or otherwise. I'm sure the word of someone with your experience would go a long way more than anything... 'inconsistency' or not. Right?

[lifeandpride]

[He sighs. Some of the latest events...have left him less confident than he used to be.]

It's something I can think about, if my efforts to return home prove ineffective.

[He puts his empty tea cup in the small sink nearby.]

Something else was mentioned to me, about the children's safety, though I get the feeling it's some sort of secret.

[bloodsugar]

I don't mean to be blunt, but... they won't, Ukitake. [sob. he shifts a bit...] I've been here going on three years myself. The oldest residents are going on their sixth anniversaries, and some of them possess abilities the both of us would go wide-eyed at. We've been searching for ways to get back for a long time, but... it's very difficult when the thing we're working against is so omnipotent.

...Mm, regarding the children -- your best bet is to talk to the Fifth Doctor. There's a filter we use... Code Blair? In times of emergency. You can filter to 'Code Blair' and ask for details if you're interested.

[lifeandpride]

...Yes that was it.

[He says those words flatly, then goes quiet, due to the other information. His division flower - the snowdrop - represented hope. He must never forget that, even in difficult times such as these.]

Three years... six years... it seems long, but when you've lived as long as I have, it's all just a drop in the bucket.

[He clings to that hope, desperately, like always.]

...Perhaps I was just due for a vacation.

[bloodsugar]

[...quiet, for a moment... before his voice is a little softer.]

Did you know... that this place is a gift, Ukitake?

[he cups the tea in his lap, offering the other man a small smile of encouragment.]

I know it might not seem like it now, but... Paradisa is a gift in many ways. As terrible as it can sometimes be, I think... it's merely like a coin. The price we pay for the wonderful things it can give us if offset by the occasional horrible trial we have to endure... but in the end, neither one of them will ever obscure the other. In a way, it might make us appreciate what we have a little more than we would, otherwise.

[he sets the teacup down, and rises to his feet -- approaching him, and holding out the ornate rosary draped over his stomach.]

...This castle can make us forget. It can hurt us, deeply. It can push us to the edge, but the human heart -- regardless of our species -- says we can endure, doesn't it? We won't break. And in repayment for our strength... it gives us second chances.

[...hm.]

I told you once, that time works differently here. That works in more ways than one. Comrades... loved ones who you've lost, or thought you'd never see again... people who time has separated from us... they can come here, Ukitake. Alive and well again... with us. We can see them every day, tell them all the things we would never say at home. We can learn things beyond our comprehension... we can touch people in ways we didn't realize were possible.

This castle is a gift. We're all going to go home, one day... but don't forget to treasure what you have while you have it.