Murderfam Mingle - shiptrap reunion because we said so

[meatery]

[One moment, you were in one place. The next moment, a black hole opened up under your feet and you fell through.

Huh. Weird.

Now you're in a dense forest, a top a huge mountain. It might take a moment to notice, but it's actually part of a chain of mountains. There's a small town at the base, but that's a long, long walk. Better to appreciate the vibrant forest, the rushing rivers and the plentiful wildlife, yes? There's monkeys in the trees, fish in the river and the occasional pterodactyl in the sky. You might even come across an old man, friendly enough and seemingly unafraid of strangers. He's the only human you'll find on this mountain, as he'll happily tell you, but it's probably worth exploring anyway.

After all, it's not just humans you're looking for.]

Comments

[meatery]

[Someone not human is, indeed, a little further up the mountain! It's been a year since Gi-ne arrived on Earth to start looking for Kakarrot and she's adapted to the local fashion. She looks like she's doing pretty well, healthy and bright. She's currently dragging what looks like a dead, medium sized T-Rex through the front door, huffing with irritation when the thing's claw gets stuck on the front step.

To her left, a small boy with black spiky hair, a tail and a blue gi is laughing, screaming and running around the tree in circles, as small children are prone to do. There's a bandage wrapped around his forehead, but it doesn't seem to be slowing him down and Gi-ne is apparently unconcerned.]

Come on! [Gives the T-rex a tug. It probably isn't going to fit through the front door.] Aw, I'm going to have to cut you up outside, aren't I?

I just got here and I'm already stressed

[hijiwanwan]

[ Okay, it's all good, right? Once before Hijikata was ship trapped on a murder island, and now he's sucked into a black hole and in a weird place? Yeah... Totally normal! It's fine! Of course, first thing's first, he does take the time to survey the area he's in... It's definitely not anywhere he recognizes. ]

And I thought after that all the weird shit would be over... [ Oh, sigh!

Well, either way he decides to start moving almost immediately. It might be better to just go up and look at where he is from a higher spot- that was his plan until he sees...

What the fuck.. ]

... ... What the hell are you doing here?! And... With that-?! [ Ah yes! Best first reunion greeting, hello Gi-ne! Honestly, he didn't mean to sound so rude, but that's just because he's staring at the T-rex; a very surprised look on his features, maybe even a hint of fear? It's not every day you see a prehistoric creature. Even if it's dead he's kind of keeping his distance from it because holy shit. It won't come back alive, right? It's dead, for good, right? Please say yes. ]

[hopefragment]

[Ugh where is this this isn't the island?? The other island. Jabberwock Island, that other island that had been full of murder and intrigue, where Hinata had once again had to use his protag skills.

He can't help but let out a frightened yell when he lands in a totally unfamiliar setting, wondering if he's somehow wound up in the Neo World Program again... or dead. Again. Really, there's a lot of things that could have happened here, and none of them are good. As far as he can tell, he's arrived here completely alone, too...

Well, nothing for it but to brush dirt off himself and get moving to explore the area. He's still wearing the same, somewhat-more-battered jeans, t-shirt, and tie combo he was wearing on the island, but he definitely looks different. Quite a few years older, closer to nineteen or twenty. A little less lanky and awkward, and a lot more confident... at least at first glance. He ends up following the sounds of some kid running around, stumbling upon--]

Gi-ne?!

It's a relaxing non-murder filled vacation, damn it!

[meatery]

[Gi-ne looks up with a start at the sound of another voice, dropping the dinosaurs tail in surprise.]

... Hijikata? What are you doing here?

[A little ways away, Kakarrot runs into the tree and falls over backwards. The T-Rex does indeed look pretty dead! At least until it takes a deep breath and it's chest rises. Don't worry, Hijikata, it's unconscious.]

[meatery]

[DROPS THE DINOSAUR wow when was the last time she heard a voice other than Kakarrot or Gohan's... She looks over at Hinata in shock. Kakarrot is still screaming and laughing, having moved on to chasing a spider monkey up the tree.]

Hinata?!

[She wasn't expecting to see him again, not after all this time but... She grins and leaps up into the air, landing briefly on the T-Rex's throat (does it make a grunting sound as she does?) before making a second jump and landing directly in front of Hinata.]

It's you! Look at you! Hinata!

[hopefragment]

[...Well, for the moment, his classmates back on Jabberwock Island are just going to have to do without their protag, since Hinata's currently wandering around that same little area the child had been playing in before. His normal jeans-t-shirt-tie combo somehow still fits him, even though an observant person would be able to tell Hinata looks quite a bit older than the sixteen he had been on the island; he actually seems to be closer to nineteen or twenty, and just a little more confident-looking... especially in the way he approaches people he knew well on the island before.]

Hey. It's been a long time, right? I mean, if you don't remember me, that's fine... I'm glad to see you, though. Even in this kind of weird circumstance.

...Which I didn't have anything to do with, by the way!

[JUST TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. Not a general this time!!

Alternatively, he can be found... whittling? Since when does he have that kind of skill?? It looks like he's trying to make a toy for Gi-ne's son, but really, that's weird. Hinata doesn't have any actual skills at all... right?]

[feel free to opt out of sdr2 spoilers here!]

[hopefragment]

H-hey, wait, is that thing alive?!

[There are too many surprises coming too quickly for the poor boy. He might have grown a lot since he'd last seen the other general -- seeing her, ending up in a weird place, a dinosaur???? -- but this is something that still manages to be way outside of his experience.]

Gi-ne, what's going on? Are we dead?

STOP THIS T-REX STRESSES ME OUT

[hijiwanwan]

[ The T-rex is (mostly?) dead, thank god. This is sure a lot to take in! Hijikata rubs the back of his head in a confused manner though. ]

Damn, I don't know. One moment I was just enjoying life and next thing you know I fell through a hole or something. How is that even physically possible? Ugh... It gives me a headache...

Did it happen to you or- [ Well, actually... He pauses. Gi-ne seems pretty adapted to life here, and there was that kid he saw just now so... ]

... You live here?

[meatery]

Oh, not for long, don't worry! [SHE'S GONNA EAT IT well, at least Gi-ne doesn't seem too concerned by historically inaccurate dinosaurs. So Hinata will probably be fine.

Puts her hands on Hinata's shoulders as she looks him up and down. He's older... Well, it has been a year. This all seems like perfectly normal aging to Gi-ne. She's glad he's not as skinny as before, and he still seems like the same Hinata on the inside so... She approves!]

No, no, this is Gohan's house. [Who the fuck is Gohan] You're on Earth! [... Frowns.] How'd you get here?

[meatery]

[Walks out of the house past the T-Rex in Hijikata's direction. The dinosaur stirs a little as she passes by but she just bonks it on the head with her fist and it's out again.]

Yeah, for a while now. This is Earth. [Well, she's been here long enough to know she should be a little more specific.] Um, Mount Paozu. This is Gohan's house, he invited me and Kakarrot to live with him.

[Well, more like he adopted Kakarrot until Gi-ne showed up but it all worked out.]

... You fell in a hole?

[hopefragment]

T-that's a dinosaur!

[GI-NE NO HE JUST GOT HERE PUTITBACK.JPG??]

W-who's Gohan? And- just where on Earth are we? I-I can't be seen outside of Jabberwock yet, it's dangerous for--

[...Well. Gi-ne apparently took down a T-Rex so it's probably not that dangerous no matter who the Future Foundation sends after him if they figure out he's wandering around.]

Anyway... I don't know how I got here. I was hoping you could answer that.

[unrulyprincess]

[Look, Clarine didn't want to end up in another world yet again, and she has a moment of fearful concern (DID SHE DIE AGAIN) before she calms down. No...no, it's fine. They fixed things. She's not dead.

Spell tome under her arm, Clarine wanders around, before she finally spies the little boy, and then a moment, later, a more familiar face.

She arches an eyebrow slowly.]

... Gi-ne? Is that truly you? [...] We are not dead again, are we?

[hijiwanwan]

... Earth?

[ Hijikata's having a really hard time believing that, yes, he's staring at the T-rex again. Then he turns his attention back to Gi-ne. ]

Yeah... That's pretty much it. [ A shrug. ] Kind of unfortunate since I have things to do, but... Well...

[ How do you say 'It's good to see you again I did sort of miss you' while still staying cool? Damn. His #reputation for being a demon captain? He needs it! ] Whatever, I'm here for now I guess.

It's kind of weird though, I thought I'd never see you again but it looks like you did the right thing forcing me to go ask Anna for my memories, huh?

[unrulyprincess]

Hinata!

[The exclamation comes rather cheerfully from Clarine, even as she hurries over to him and his whittling (what are you, Hinata, an old man?). She has a spell tome under her arm and overall looks a bit more settled, but otherwise she's much the same as she was back in murderland...

Except this is a much happier meet-up.]

Here you are as well!

[hopefragment]

[Ugh leave him alone he needs his nap??

He drops the half-finished toy and all but jumps to his feet at the sound of Clarine's voice, breaking into a wide smile.]

Clarine! I didn't think I'd get to see you again! How have you been?

[meatery]

Yeah, it is! These things are delicious, so I'm cooking this one up for dinner... Ah, it's perfect, you can have some too!

[Yeah, you're probably safe with Gi-ne.]

Gohan's a friend, don't worry. [The old man off collecting firewood further down the mountain right now.] Calm down, Hinata, I won't let anything bad happen to you now you're here.

[She doesn't understand this. She'd almost think it was a trick or a dream but... No, that's definitely Hinata. She won't complain. Gi-ne shrugs.]

No clue. I haven't seen anyone from the island since I arrived on Earth a year ago.

[hijiwanwan]

[ Ah, well... This whole predicament kind of worries Hijikata, actually! Since he's a busy man... Who's practically married to his work, please understand? He's a busy man? But anyway, after meeting up with Gi-ne he decided to just sit outside of the quaint house on the mountain.

Might as well relax rather than stressing out over things. If Hijikata can survive a murder island he can survive this weird place with dinosaurs and whatnot! Yes. Positive outlooks.

Well, he'll look up at whoever approaches him next and blinks. He definitely didn't expect this either... ]

So I'm not the only one that didn't get thrown in here, huh? [ Sup. ]

[meatery]

[By this point, Gi-ne has met Hinata and Hijikata and figured out something is going on! So she's trying to tug Kakarrot away from the tree so that he can a) meet everyone and b) not fall and hit his head again. She lets go when she hears Clarine's voice though.]

Clarine! No, I don't think so! I've been here for ages, it's fine!

[unrulyprincess]

[IT'S HIJIPAPA....

Clarine was actually perched on a rock, admiring her surroundings and taking the chance to just breathe after having met up with Hinata and Gi-ne, but seeing Hijikata surprises her. She blinks.

And slowly tilts her head.]

Hijikata...? [...] Do you...remember? [Or is that wishful thinking]

[meatery]

[It's totally Earth, Hijibaka. Totally.]

I don't really get it... I didn't think this could happen. [Bewildered. It's been a while since she saw anyone from her past.

But then she smiles.] I told you! You should always listen to me!

[unrulyprincess]

Oh, as well as can be when fighting in a war. [She waves a hand daintily, but honestly doesn't look too put-out about it. FE wars are still easier than murdergames.]

It is so very good to see you again! How have you been as well? And Rei?

[unrulyprincess]

Ah... I see.

[She blinks, as if properly seeing the place for the first time.]

Then...this is your home. And--your son?

[meatery]

It's- [Not her home.] ... Gohan's home! And Kakarrot's!

[Her home is gone, she's had time to accept that now, mostly. Kakarrot is clinging to his mother's leg and staring at Clarine in fascination. He's meeting more people today than he has in his entire life and Clarine looks particularly exotic.] Come on, Kakarrot, say hello!

surprise :-)

[hijiwanwan]

[ Oh... Oh right... He told Clarine that he would forget so... Oops.

So, deciding to play along first he looks up at Clarine and raises an eyebrow. ] Excuse me? What are you even talking about?

[ Small huff. Gosh! The nerve of this girl just coming up to Hijikata Hijikatason and nonchalantly asking if he remembers! Remembers what?! Wow! Of course... He's kidding. With a small smile he waves his hand a bit. ]

Joking. You caught me... I ended up changing my mind.

So, uh... Surprise. I guess.

1/2

[unrulyprincess]

[SHE ACTUALLY BELIEVES HIM. She believes he doesn't remember, and is preparing to make her apologies, a downcast look on her face and--]