hotelcaelum | Event Log #005

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Event Log #005

EVENT LOG
number 005

Happy February, folks! The hotel is chugging along as it always does and nothing really seems that out of the ordinary, actually. Mr Bennet is at the front desk as per usual, greeting new guests, checking out old ones, generally being mediocre at his job but there's something a little... off about him this morning. A little more Springtime focused. Is it the suit? No, no, that's the same as it always is. Is it the face? No, Mr Bennet's face is unable to be perceived by eyes as per usual. No, it's the —

The bunny ears?

HOP TO IT

It seems Mr Bennet has developed a pair of bunny ears and a tail overnight, but he's not the only one. Every staff member and guest of the hotel will find that they have grown a pair of animal ears and a matching tail when they wake up that morning. It's nekomimi time, y'all! But not just neko, characters will find themselves with all categories of ears and tails. Cats, dogs, rabbit, deer, fish. Whatever animal best suits the characters are what they'll find themselves sporting.

For all intents and purposes, these will be part of your characters bodies and real additional limbs. It will hurt if someone hurts them and they will bleed if someone cuts them. There will be some added bonuses as well as characters will also take on the traits of the animals they become. However players want to interpret this is up to them — it can be light like a cat person just being more aloof or heavy like a spider person having multiple eyes and limbs. Whatever is most fun for the player and most hectic for the character, of course.

This effect will last till the end of the month.

Of course, an additional note: For characters who already have animal ears and/or tails — they will either keep those ears and tails and develop more traits of that animal. Or they can become something entirely different for the month. Player preference!

ANIMAL CRACKERS

Mr Bennet has found this to be hysterical though so he has set up a stall in the main lounge that's advertising animal crackers. They're a little less cracker and more cookie though, and larger than the traditional animal cracker. They also come in all shapes and sizes. If you can think of the animal, you can have an animal cracker with it. There is a dog cracker. There is a whale cracker. There is a spider cracker. All kinds of things. Even fictional animals, like gryphons and dragons!

The only catch is — once your character eats the cracker they will become that animal entirely. This is probably tipped off by the bunny rabbit hopping around the lounge in a little hotel jacket, huh. Thanks Mr Bennet. The effect of these crackers will last as long as the player prefers and characters are free to eat another cracker and become another animal afterwards.

One thing though, as the animal, characters will still be able to speak in animal form. So there's that!

The animal crackers will also be available till the end of the month.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Yuji doesn't want to do this.

He doesn't want to be the one carrying these burdens, even if he had made the promise. He had sworn to bear the weight of Nanami's suffering, because it helped to keep him feeling strong and able to fight. He had sworn to free Gojo-sensei from the prison realm, because they needed him to stop Kenjaku and the Culling Game - to help deal with Sukuna, in the end, even if Yuta-senpai had promised to deal with Yuji if that happened. He hadn't anticipated what would actually happen, and it feels like a knot in his throat.

It's too easy to drop into Gojo's arms, to slip down to lean into him. He doesn't mean to fall apart - normally he's so much better at dealing with his own emotions, tucking them away and shoving them to the depths of himself, so that he doesn't have to feel his hurt - but this is too much. It was only days ago that he had watched as Gojo-sensei had failed to deal with Sukuna, the remains of his body making Yuji want to give up and collapse into grief. He hadn't been able to let himself, though.

Having Gojo-sensei in front of him, his arms around him, comforting, feels so good - but he feels as though he doesn't deserve it. If Yuji had been smarter, had refused, had just died to begin with, then Sukuna would've never been able to use the Binding Vow in the way that he had. It means that Gojo-sensei's death is on his hands, and the agony he feels makes him want to vomit. It should've been him from the beginning; he should've been the one to die, right at the start.

His hands are shaking as he leans into Gojo, his eyes squeezed shut, and even Gojo promising safety doesn't settle his racing heart, his ears flat against his head. Gojo-sensei would probably be calling him his cute student if this wasn't such a harrowing moment for him. He longs for that, when they were all happy together. When he still believed in his convictions and the idea that his life and death might be worth something.

Resting his head on Gojo's shoulder, he shakes his head, trying to breathe through his tears - mostly unsuccessfully. ]

Sorry... I'm sorry...

[ What for? Being a problem, causing issues, or for everything else? He's not sure. ]

[ Whatever he is sorry for, Gojo knows, without a doubt, that it isn't something he needs to be sorry for. That's always been Yuji's way, but the fact that he does so without a second thought, after falling into his arms...just what the hell has he been going through? And it's definitely going through, and not gone through. Gojo is not known for his emotional intelligence, but there are things that even he can catch onto, especially when Yuji is as distressed as it is. This isn't the kind of emotional outpouring that comes with things being finished.

...He's going to need to check in with Nanami, a mental note made for later. For now, all of his attention is on his student, on what Yuji needs from him right now. It's not the sort of role he's often called on to play at all, even as a mentor. Their responsibilities don't leave a lot of room for moments like these, but he can be the Strongest in this way, too. He can be someone for Yuji to lean on, to offer whatever reassurance he can.

...He doesn't need to be sorry; once again, their world is evidently cruelest to those who are kindest. ]

Hey, don't start that. [ It's gentle, as far as reprimands go, as his hand smooths between Yuji's shoulder blades in soothing motions. ] You don't have anything to apologize to for.

[ Especially not to Gojo. Whatever it is, past or present or future, it falls on his shoulders. He can't deny that he's eager to ask more, to hear what he's sorry for — but honestly, it's probably better that he doesn't. Yuji shouldn't be the one to bear the responsibility of breaking the news to him, whatever it is. He doesn't deserve any of it. He never has.

...Dammit. He really has gotten too complacent. ]

[ Gojo-sensei doesn't get it - but how could he? It's not as if Yuji has gone out of his way to tell anyone how he feels, to address any of the issues that have laid heavily on his heart. He's done the opposite of that, refusing to tell Fushiguro any of the things that have left his mind feeling numb, admitting to his senpai about being a cog but hiding it from other people, knowing what their reaction would be. He knows that it would just cause other people pain, but he can't manage to do anything else.

Being told he has nothing to apologise for is painful, and he shakes his head, feeling his gut twist. He doesn't want this. He doesn't want to be soothed, doesn't want to be forgiven. He feels as though being punished would make some of the guilt eating him alive, about all the mistakes he had made - because it should have been him. It shouldn't be Fushiguro dealing with Sukuna, dealing with Yuji's binding vow, because he had been the one to make it.

Yuji had wanted to live so badly, but he didn't consider himself worth saving or protecting in the end.

With Gojo-sensei's soothing, Yuji is able to try and wrest some control over himself, to stop himself from crying. He's going to make Gojo worry more if he keeps this up, and he's coming to the realisation that he can't tell him all the things that happen. He has to bite his tongue about the death, about the loss of Fushiguro, the kind of things that would leave his teacher in more pain than Yuji is feeling, surely.

It isn't fair, that he has to carry this, but he'll do it. He chooses to do it, because he has the strength to do that. He has to have the strength, because if he doesn't...

Nodding his head, he leans into Gojo and breathes out sharply, forcing himself to calm down. His tail twitches a little, flicking towards the body of his sensei absently. ]

... Mm. Sorry, sensei. This must be embarrassing.

[ Neither of them wants to hear it from the other — either the apologies, or insisting there's no need for them. They're stubborn like that, aren't they? Gojo can recognize it, so he'll be the first to relent, at least for now. No doubt whatever is going through Idatori's mind is going to take awhile to unpack, if he'll even allow it, if Gojo, further back in the timeline than either him or Nanami, has the tools to even begin putting things into place. Truthfully, it'll drive him crazy, not to know what's happened. Maybe the right thing to do would be to push Yuji further to share, to urge him to share the truth so it's not bearing on his soul alone, but shit. Is that the right thing? Or will that only make him feel more apologetic, more guilty?

He's supposed to be the sensei, the counselor, and yet he finds himself utterly lost. He hates that feeling. ]

Now you're apologizing for being embarrassing? [ To the most embarrassing man in the world? ] Yuji-kun.

[ He pulls back, but just enough that Gojo can meet his student's gaze, one hand resting at Yuji's shoulder, while the other smooths over his unruly hair, between his fluffy canine ears. ]

Listen to me very closely. [ He's about to drop some teacherly wisdom — or rather, a lesson that he himself has been learning and relearning. It isn't one that sticks easily, for men like them, but once again, he's stubborn. ] There's no shame in letting yourself feel everything in your heart that there is to feel. How else will you remember what you're fighting for?

[ So, he can cry all he wants. Should cry all he wants, more than he wants, needs, and more. A sorcerer's heart is a burden too heavy to bear alone. ]

[ It's supposed to make him feel better, isn't it? Gojo-sensei is being so considerate of him, despite Yuji knowing how much he's been suffering, locked away in the prison realm, and it isn't fair. He should be the one taking that pain and doing something about it, helping to protect the people around him - instead of failing, time and time again, and ending up doing nothing more than causing more problems.

He had been so desperate to do his own thing, to prove his point, to find proper deaths and have no regrets, that in the end it had snowballed out of control.

Sukuna had been right the whole time. People are going to die because you live. The list keeps piling up.

It's still hard to look at Gojo, but he knows he has to put himself back together. He can't be the one putting weight on Gojo's shoulders when he's not sure how much his sensei knows, and he can handle this. He can bury it down, deep inside himself, because he might be able to fix it. He had promised to save Fushiguro, so he doesn't intend to be in a position where he can't keep his word. No matter what it takes, he'll save Fushiguro - he'll fight anything, do anything, eat anything. This is what he can do, what Yuji Itadori is made for.

Ears flicking, he nods, once, sharply. ]

... Yeah. [ A sniffle. He's still crying. ] I'm trying to remember it all. I am.

[ Todo had reminded him of it, hadn't he? That's how he was able to get up after Shibuya. To keep fighting now, though... Only his own determination is enough. ]

It's really good to see you again.

[ That goes for both of them, although Gojo can only guess how long its been for Yuji since they last saw each other. He’s not even sure himself – the flow of time in the Prison Realm is untenable, and it seems like the hotel operates on its own time completely. What’s been months for him could have only been days for Yuji.

And he has no reason to suspect he might have been unsealed. Nanami hadn’t indicated anything of the sort, and even if he’s sure they’ll figure it out eventually…he hadn’t seen any need to rush back to utter solitude when he could stay here awhile longer. Now that just feels like an excuse, one he’s going to need to address sooner rather than later, but not until Yuji is settled in. Not until they’ve been able to spend some time together, and Gojo can ensure that Yuji can just…relax and be a kid, for awhile.

When was the last time he was able to do that? ]

…Yeah. It’s good to see you, too.

[ More than he knows. Maybe more than either of them know, considering all he seems in the dark on, but his words are nothing but full of fond concern for now. He continues to dutifully scratch Yuji behind his ears, his own flickering on his head. ]

Nanami is here, too. We might even get a smile out of him when he sees you’re around.

[ Little does he know… ]

Aha...I already saw Nanamin, sensei, and he definitely didn't smile.

[ That might be because Yuji had 1) crashed into a wall and started bleeding from his nose and 2) had a breakdown on him, in a similar vein to his Gojo-based breakdown. Neither of those things could be described as a happy reunion, despite the butterfly joy he feels inside of him, bubbling up. It might have been enough to chase away his sadness, if he was less buried in grief and heartache.

He bites his tongue, metaphorically, as he sits back on his heels and stares at Gojo. He looks different from the man who had been left behind, which makes sense from what Sumina had told him; the Gojo-sensei of this place came from the prison realm.

Gojo doesn't know, and Yuji doesn't intend to tell him a single thing.

Rubbing at his face, he breathes out sharply. ]

I'm glad you're here, Gojo-sensei. I missed you, so much.

[ Yuji won't tell, and Gojo won't ask — not now, or ever. His students deserve a break here way more than he does, and he's already had more time to relax himself than he ever should have. The last thing he will do is take that privilege away from Yuji, by asking for more than he's ready to give. If he decides to talk later, then that will be his choice. Maybe it's not as bad as Gojo assumes, but —

That's just it. He has nothing to assume off of, besides Yuji's reaction to seeing him and his breakdown, and the somewhat cagey way Nanami had answered his questions when he arrived. The latter he was willing to look past, because he heard what he wanted to, and Nanami deserved a break, too. For all the ways that Gojo puts himself first, in others, he puts himself dead last.

As Yuji leans back, Gojo moves his hands to ruffle his hair instead, before his hands grasp Yuji's shoulders. He's in one piece, even if he looks like he's been through hell...and he's here now. He's safe, even if Gojo doesn't know what from. That's a good thing. He'll see to it that it is a good thing. ]

I missed you, too. [ He'd been the only sorcerer here for months before Nanami arrived, and now Yuji, too...more of them ought to take some time here, as well. ] You deserve a break more than any of us. So make sure to give yourself the chance to, okay? That's your assignment, from your sensei.

[ He will be grading this assignment. It might be the first assignment he's ever actually graded... ]

[ The desire to unbuden himself and share his pain and suffering with someone who might be strong enough to handle it is overpowering, but Yuji is determined, and that strikes more than anything else. There's no way he's going to let anything ruin the happiness that Gojo-sensei and Nanamin seem to have found here, especially not him. Haven't they both already been through enough because they know him? Haven't they suffered enough because of their relationship with him?

He can't keep causing them pain. He can't.

The ruffle to his hair has him sniffling again, so pleased to have any kind of affection and positive reinforcement after weeks of training, suffering, watching Gojo-sensei fight and ultimately - well. He doesn't want to think about it. It's too fresh, and Yuji can feel his heart aching from the very idea of it all. The tighter he holds all these secrets against his chest, the easier it will be, in the long run. He's sure of that.

Finally, he manages something of a smile, watching Gojo before he nods. ]

... I'll do my best, sensei. Don't grade me too harshly, okay?

[ As if either of them really know what 'taking a break' means... Maybe he did, once, but that was months ago now, when he had a little more of a carefree attitude. ]

[ It's a lesson they can learn together, and at least Gojo has a little bit of a head start on him. He takes to relaxing activities like a duck on water, but it's the mental half of taking a break that's been much harder. You can't just tell yourself to relax when your brain is wired to look for danger around every corner, to expect it.

Part of him chastises himself inwardly, that he shouldn't have even let himself entertain the idea of taking a break here, when his students and colleagues were still out there fighting for their lives. Nanami's arrival had brought many of the same thoughts to his mind, but it was in only hearing his report that Gojo decided to stay. Now that he's seen the state that Yuji's in...

...He has a lot to think about. A lot to consider. But for now, they can just...take it easy, as best they can. He's glad, at least, that he hadn't decided to check out yet. That he's here, when Yuji arrived. ]

Ehh, you know me. I grade more for style over substance. [ An encouraging, trademark grin. ] You hungry? There's an all-you-can-eat breakfast nearby.

[ They can take care of Yuji's needs, one by one, and Gojo can't help the instinctive urge to hover around him, now that he's here. For as hands-off as he tends to be with his students in the field, the dynamic is distinctly different here. He doesn't want to sit back and watch Yuji grow into his own as a sorcerer; he wants him to eat a good meal and play games with the other guests and laugh like he has more to live for than their fight against curses.

It feels like...that light in him has gone out, now. ]

[ Yuji doesn't want to drag his sensei down into the pit of misery and sadness that comes from the truth. He doesn't know everything that the other man has been through, isn't aware of all the sadness and hurt in his life, but he knows enough. He wants to be able to give Gojo smiles and happiness, not to be a cause of discomfort or upset - and isn't he old enough, strong enough, that he can do that? If, in his own way, he can take some of that pain away...

Biting his tongue, he stops himself from giving up, from giving in to the urge to say more, and forces something of a smile onto his face instead. With Gojo-sensei here, he thinks he can find something a little bit like happiness. Maybe he won't ever have to go back... Even though he knows he has to.

He can't give up. He refuses. ]

A little? I haven't eaten for a while.

[ His lips twitch, a more genuine smile as he rubs at his eyes and forces himself to stand up. ]

I bet you know all the good spots now, sensei.

[ It's a welcome sight to see his smile, even if Gojo has to wonder at first if it's sincere — and he hates that, for someone like Yuji, who has all the warmth and sincerity of the world in his heart. Smiles should come easiest for him, and yet, hasn't he seen it before? In someone else he held so dear, who cared too much, felt too much that eventually it broke him?

...He can't, won't let that happen again. Yuji won't given in, and neither will he. As Yuji rises, so does he, keeping an arm around the younger man's shoulders, as if he's afraid to let Yuji out of his sight again. After all...what the hell even happened to him while he wasn't watching?

A huff of laughter. ]

You know it! C'mon, I'll show you the way, and I'll tell you all about your new home away from home in the meantime! By the way, did you find your room yet? What floor're you on?

[ A little small talk that he thinks they both can use, to give them a little breathing room from the emotional impact of their reunion. ]

[ Yuji has never really complained about being close to Gojo-sensei, being able to lean on him a little, to accept the closeness. He'd never really been close to his teachers before now, none of them at all like Gojo, and the trust he has in the man beside him... It's insurmountable. He would give Gojo anything, do anything that his teacher would ask, because he knows it would be for a good reason.

Like watching stupid movies, or ending up inside a volcano domain, or trusting him to fight Sukuna. That makes his heart sting.

Hearing Gojo laugh makes it a little easier, though, and he nods his head, trying to push a smile onto his face and let himself enjoy the reunion for a second time. ]

Floor two! Sumina-san showed me the way, hang on -

[ He got distracted by the smells. ]

0201.

[ A nod. That's not too far from where they're at — not that anywhere is all that far, when you can teleport around as you please, but better to take things slow with Yuji right now. Just in case...

In case of what? Hell if he knows, but it'll be good for them both to take some time. ]

Got it. We can find it after lunch, then. [ With his arm still slung around Yuji's shoulder, he starts towards the elevator, guiding him along. ] So, you met Mina-chan, huh? And Nanami...run into anyone else yet?

[ Come to think of it, Sumina would have likely recognized Yuji, or at the very least his name. He'll have to touch base with her later, see what kind of spirits he was in around someone he didn't know. ]

[ Would teleporting with Gojo make him cry? Probably not this time, but is it really worth the risk?

Yuji sighs, moving to walk beside his sensei without hesitation. The arm is comfortable, soothing, a little, after the nightmare the last few weeks of his life have been. If he can rely on Gojo-sensei just a little bit, then maybe things would be okay... ]

Well, there's Juju-chan as well, and Rowan-san, and Kanji-kun as well. There's a lot of different people here, huh?

[ Obviously, though, Gojo and Nanami were the ones he was most excited to see, and the mention of Nanami's name has a small smile twitching onto his face. ]

[ Rowan-san and Kanji-kun don't ring a bell, but Juju-chan could be...

With his free hand, Gojo lifts two fingers behind his head, mimicking a pair of ears. ]

Oh, Juju-chan, with the ears? You can think of her like a fellow student! Akechi-kun, too, even if he's the kind of person who won't admit he needs any help. You'll love it here — lots of people to meet, lots of good food to eat, and no curses to exorcise.

[ The last bit takes some getting used to, admittedly, and Gojo still finds himself watching his back, senses always on the alert. It's when he doesn't that something bad will happen. Yuji's distressed appearance has just reminded him how important it is to never let his guard down. ]

It might take some getting used to. Nanami probably told you time doesn't pass while you're here, right?

[ It had been a particular concern of Nanami's, too. ]

[ Yuji nods his head, as if this is the most serious thing in the world. ]

Yeah, that's right! She was helping me look for you, before. I don't think I know Akechi-kun, though, but I'll make sure to pay attention to new people just in case!

[ If Gojo-sensei knows them... Well, he's not sure if he could say they'd be 'good' to know, but at least it would be interesting? Though, Gojo had introduced him to Nanami, who he adores more than a lot of people he's met over the last few months.

The idea of 'no curses' and 'relaxing' obviously doesn't sit well with Yuji, who just... Nods. ]

He did. If that wasn't true, then things would be different.

[ Nanami would be... He's not sure. He'd go home right now. ]

[ Things would be different, even though Gojo can't say for certain whether he would be here still or not. For all he knows, even if time were passing, he could still be in the Prison Realm for another millennia. God, he hopes not...and again, he itches to ask, when Yuji could tell him if they've made any progress on that front.

But the last thing he wants to do is pry any further, or pull the unstable footing that Yuji has found out from under him. Besides, Yuji said he missed him, right? So...probably still sealed. Sheesh...what a pain. Patience has never been his virtue, and finding himself in there completely powerless had been driving him stir crazy. ]

Yeah, I bet a lot fewer people would take extended stays here...but that means you don't have to feel bad for staying, okay? We can even work on some training — but not too much that you forget this is meant to be a break.

[ It'd be good for him, too, though. Even though he trains with some others here, it's different when it's a sorcerer, someone who lives and breathes the same kind of power he knows best. ]

[ Yuji can't say he's feeling much better after his tears, but he's at least more able to tuck it away and push the feelings aside for now, to let himself focus on Gojo and the knowledge that, at least right now, he's completely safe and nothing is going to bother them. It's going to take him a little while to really feel safe here, to feel at all settled, but... He can manage it, eventually.

He doesn't really have a choice, especially if he wants to keep what is going to happen to them in the future to himself. Gojo and Nanami aren't the kind of people to let him be upset and alone for too long, so a brave face it'll have to be. ]

I'll try.

[ But, oh, the notion of training - he speaks before he thinks, rattling out. ]

I've learned some cool new stuff, sensei! You have to let me show you, okay!

[ Trying is enough for Gojo right now, though he'll offer encouragement where needed, even if that means bodily hauling Yuji off to karaoke or something. This place has a way of disarming them, and Yuji is one of the most adaptable people he knows. He just doesn't want to see him bottle up when he's clearly hurting.

...Even if that's exactly what Gojo would do in his situation. Has done. This ain't about him. Anyway, more importantly — ]

You have?! You didn't find some new, less-cool sensei, did you? Better not be Kusakabe. He couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag.

[ With all due disrespect. ]

What? No, it wasn’t Kusakabe-san. He didn’t know what I was learning.

[ Which, now that he’s saying it, Yuji thinks he should maybe be keeping this to himself. Telling Gojo what he’s learned is a sure fire way to make sure that his teacher is aware of how bad things have been, but… He shakes his head, mustering his courage.

Whatever, he’s kind of in the deep end now, isn’t he? ]

My brother and Noritoshi-senpai were helping me learn.

[ And, well, isn’t that a spoiler for the kind of cursed technique Yuji’s been learning? Unfortunately, Gojo is the kind of person to put two and two together. ]

[ There's absolutely no way that Gojo can let him off the hook after hearing one of his students has learned something new, regardless of the circumstances, so Yuji saves them both some trouble, even if — ]

Eh —

[ Come again. ]

[ ...Noritoshi? As in, Kamo Noritoshi? And... ]

You have a brother?! When the hell did that happen? Wahhh, you let someone else adopt you?!?

[ What in actual fuck is happening outside that box. ]

Someone else? Sensei, you haven't adopted me!

[ What a weird thing to say to an orphan, dude! He shakes his head. ]

Choso starting asking me to call him "big brother", so I guess I just do it now. He says we're related.

[ …Whomst. He really has missed a hell of a lot while he’s been sealed, huh? It must’ve been a long time since Shibuya, if Itadori already has someone calling him family. That’s not really the part he should be getting hung up on, though — even if it’ll be food for thought, later. ]

So, if it’s a Kamo thing… [ God. He has so many questions he wants to ask, but he’s kind of walking through a minefield here. ] Blood Manipulation?

[ But also, it’s not like anyone can just acquire a new technique. Not unless they’re Yuta Okkotsu, and he’s a special case. Again, he holds back the obvious question, of how impossible it sounds that Yuji could just learn something like that. ]

Event Log #005

big ol' spoilers, cw: for ref to emeto, suicide ideation, negative thoughts

i just want to tuck him into bed and feed him soup

he needs it tbqh

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