[Open] It's A Bad Dream

[cursedwords]

Who: Toge Inumaki and everyone!
Status: Open
Where: Early May on the Plus Ultra crew ship, later on Manta board quests on islands.
What: Catch all for May/Return from canon update
Warnings: Toge has just returned from a massively traumatic incident, and he's returned with his left arm amputated. He was dealing with a mass casualty event, and the destruction of Shibuya in pretty much its entirety, with a death toll in the tens of thousands. He's seriously injured and tired. He's doing his best.


I. The Return

[ It’s a surreal experience being returned home, mostly because Toge didn’t remember what he was doing, where he was but he’d had a few dreams or strange impressions. Dreams of a pair of beautiful mismatched eyes, or the scent of saltwater on the wind, both unusual occurrences that he might’ve dwelled on but everything went to shit pretty quickly. His return home was not the least bit peaceful or relaxing because shortly after October began, pieces fell into place and the threat that was lurking in the shadows bared its fangs.

The mood overall was grim, the anticipation that something big was coming paid off, and they were caught off-guard and left behind in the wreckage of what could only be termed an unmitigated disaster. The sorcerers fought and lost – hard. There’s no victory that could be gleaned from the Shibuya Incident.

His first arrival in this land had been careless, he’d been dropped overboard to sink or be rescued. Thankfully the latter had happened. This time, no matter what kindness was shown in moving him back, it wasn’t going to matter. It was still going to hurt.

Toge reappears on the deck, not tangled up in any rigging, but landing hard against a storage crate as he collapses into a seated position. There’s a lot to take in about his bedraggled look. His skin was pallid, his eyes bloodshot and there’s bags thanks to him having been awake for well over twenty-four hours at the moment. He might’ve passed out a minute or two, but not much longer. His shirt is long gone, his pants look suspiciously two-toned, although the dark material mostly covers the root cause of that, but it wouldn’t be hard to guess. Bandages have been slapped around his chest, left shoulder and what remains of his left arm which has been amputated fairly high up. It’s not a final fix, as the bandages are hiding injuries that are still seeping. It had been a slap dash band-aid fix, with more to come later when Shoko had a moment to breathe.

He’s only human. The harsh landing sends his vision swimming and he curls in around himself, letting out a strangled cry of anguish, followed by deep heavy breathing. He might have a high pain tolerance, but this is definitely testing his limits. Anyone hearing his cry might get a sense that he is in distress, even before they see him.

A normal person might just take a moment and adjust, but Toge isn’t exactly sure where he is off the top of his head. He trembles. Mixed with his pallor and the severe looking injuries, it’s likely caused by the fact a significant amount of his blood has been dropped in Shibuya.

He drags his legs. They’re heavy and uncooperative. He puts his hands down on the deck. Okay, that’s a strange feeling because he now only has one, but it’s going to have to do.

Yes, Toge is about to drag himself to his feet and get up, no matter how unsteady he looks right now, undoubtedly accomplishing this he would look a thousand times worse. ]

II. Rest, Recovery & Recreation

[ Presumably once his arrival is sorted out and he’s been escorted back to his room under his own free will, or not, he’s certainly going to have to stay there, in bed or perhaps on the couch for a few days.

Toge could use some company to help pass the time. Really. It’s going to be really boring, but he looks a little bit peaky in general and Thornprick is hesitant to leave his side.

(So is Shoto for that matter.) ]

III. One Step Forward

[ Once he’s steady on his feet and can move around the ship, Toge can be found heading to the galley to rustle up something to eat, or perhaps just leaning against the rail, looking out at the sea.

Noticing company from his crew mates, he raises his right hand in greeting and offers a very tired, drained smile. ] Kelp!

[ His level of fine may in fact be dubious in nature. ]

IV. Landlubbin’ Manta Board Quests

[ It’s a chance to get to meet up with his friends who aren’t traveling with him. Seeing people he recognizes, or even if he doesn’t, they might get a cheerful smile behind his mask and a friendly wave. ] Kelp!

[ Wait, didn’t Toge have two arms the last time he’d been seen? He sure did. Now his left sleeve is empty, but he’s not necessarily drawing attention to that. He seems as cheerful as ever.

That smile does not really reach his eyes.

Whether it’s just catching him out in the middle of the street, at a tavern or on one of the many missions – such as helping harvest brussells sprouts with a decent amount of difficulty, being escorted so he can dress up as an adorable maid to lure people into cracking open their coin purses or investigating Snaxburg Secrets, Toge seems like he’s ready to just keep going. ]

V. Wildcard

[ So Toge has returned from a canon update and he’s returned severely injured, with an amputated left arm. So that happened. All in all he looks tired, but he would love to just hang out with people. ]

Comments

V; Yes.

[heir_conditioned]

It was like he had said to someone, Toge's entire room was still there. What happened with Alucard was entirely different and... that wasn't it. Nothing was gone, and nothing had been moved aside from Shoto doing so regarding his cat and a few items related to the cat. It meant that Toge would be back. Or did it? Maybe. There had to be something he could hold on to. His friends had been so good about not tiptoeing around it, about giving him his space when he obviously needed it and about offering support even if he didn't know he needed it.

But being around here? This was part of it. He knew that most people still had to go home, that tomorrow it might be him and even if he wasn't right about Toge coming back that they could entirely miss one another by that logic. It didn't stop him from being on that boat, helping newcomers along and trying to see if he could at least send them on their way less frightened. No matter what it procured, Shoto had settled on getting into his uniform and helping out. While it may have been for somewhat selfish reasons, he's staying on the boat, he does it none the less.

It's also not the first time he's heard Toge's voice, or heard someone in distress, or felt cursed energy. It sends chills down his spine and whatever he was holding, he drops with an unceremonious thunk on the ships' boards. "TOGE!" he calls out, loudly with an undertone of panic, looking up from where he was under the deck. Something is more than sincerely wrong and as he rushes up the wooden stairs, slipping on one of them, catching and righting himself with his hands helping him both get up the one last step and stand up. The hero bellows out Toge's name again above the sounds of water against the boat.

He has to be close, but where?

[cursedwords]

He could hear Shoto calling to him, but if he loses his concentration here he's never going to get to his feet. Right. Shoto. That voice that he'd forgotten until he heard it again and he's...

If he doesn't get up he's going to die. He's going to die right there on the ground in the remains of Shibuya. Sukuna will get him again. He can't sit still. His mind racing over these thoughts, he manages to drag his legs beneath him and use one of the boxes to pull himself to his feet, limbs trembling like he's a baby lamb taking its first steps. He's...

No. He's not in Shibuya. He's looking around at the darkness of the ocean. He can smell it. Is this real or is it something he's imagining?

Oh. Maybe he's dying after all?

Toge sways, visible on his feet, but he's going to fall onto his back again in moments.

[heir_conditioned]

Shoto barely registers Izuku's voice somewhere off to the side. He's busy scanning everywhere and has never felt so singularly focused in his whole life. Maybe he'll child himself later for not being more aware of his surroundings but hearing Toge's cry, feeling the actual feelings through it isn't easy to filter through. That's not just stubbing his toe though let's be real sometimes stubbing a toe...

It's Izuku's voice again and it's the first time that it isn't cutting through all of the noise, any of the noise, right away. It's only when he lets himself stop panicking that he hears his friend directing him. Sees Izuku's direction and rushes around the massive stack of boxes. Toge won't fall, it's true, because Shoto doesn't have time to take him in as a whole, his injuries or any like it. He's too busy hurrying over to grab the weight of his body and pull him upward around the waist.

"Toge-" He doesn't know what to say passed his name. Those mismatched eyes look at Toge's face, his other arm coming around to support him upright, to hold him on his feet, but only barely. He doesn't mind. It's the blood, the writing and what he only glanced at being a cast. He hasn't let that drip into his mind yet when he sees the state the other man is in. No. Fuck it. He can be mad he got babied after. "Hold on, Toge, I've got you." ...Most of him, because it's then that he realizes that he's down one arm and Shoto makes some sort of sound that was supposed to be words. Instead he mentally scolds himself as he tries to get his legs to move. The actual bleeding has to be tended.

Shoto switches up how he's holding Toge, one arm at the back of his shoulders, the other one under his legs to pick him up and carry him. ...Carry him where? He's looking but he's going somewhere that he remembers either by way of being pointed or way of his feet pointing themselves to set Toge down on a cabin bed that he's kicked the door open of.

[cursedwords]

To be caught in strong arms is not what Toge's expecting. He's not the most alert, considering how much blood he's lost, how exhausted he is, so things aren't exactly connecting like they would. There's no resistance for Shoto to pick him up.

He's pale, he's trembling and his wounds aren't quite closed, but he's just seeping a bit. Nothing too serious. Shoko took care of the worst of it. He vaguely remembers that. Maybe?

Toge's not quite sure how long it's been, time has lost all meaning at this point. Those eyes, the one's he'd dreamed of make him smile a little bit, as though he's oblivious to Shoto's panic. He kind of is. He feels like he's floating.

"Tuna mayo." He whispers. It's good to see Shoto, isn't it? He sounds tired and weak, despite his face being bare there's not much left in his cursed energy reserves. He's tapped out.

I + II

[fullgauntlet]

[Izuku had heard the commotion on deck the moment that it happened. It had been a terrible sight to see the rift opening back up so close to the ship. But even worse to see the condition that Toge was in when he landed back in this world. Izuku had screamed, electric sparks on his heels as he sprinted for the other boy to help him. All the while calling for the other boys to help him get Toge the attention he needed.

Everything is a blur after that. The days go by and Izuku is insistent that they keep Toge as comfortable as possible as he starts to slow healing process.

But there's so much on his mind... He's worried for Shoto. He has questions for Toge. So that's why he gently knocks on Toge's cabin door and opens it with a little peek of his head inside.]

Inumaki-kun? May I come in? I brought you something.

[cursedwords]

[ Days. Days he's been in bed. Three at least. This is ridiculous without RCT at the ready and while he's glad Shoko managed to stem the worst of it, he's got the experience of healing to enjoy.

It is not the least bit enjoyable. He's also been too cold or too hot. Fortunately Shoto has managed that despite his constant fluctuations. A side effect of blood loss.

He has not dragged himself up to get a mask yet. There's no point, he's in no real condition to muster cursed energy, his reserves are somewhat stuck until he's strong enough or has enough adrenaline to push it out properly. ]

Salmon. [ He responds, still soft just in case. He's sitting up, propped up by what must be all of his pillows and possibly Shoto's. That's good, because he hasn't regained much colour.

He shouldn't be sitting around like this. He knows better. ]

[fullgauntlet]

[Since Izuku's had more than enough hospital bed time in his life he kind of knows and understands the frustration. He has a small wrapped package with him but he doesn't give it over just yet. He wants to check on the other boy's condition first.]

It's good to see you awake. Are you comfortable?

[He comes closer with a small sympathetic smile.]

I + II

[catsgothistongue]

[Ranma was in the ship when it happened. Putting away the duck statue from a failed pranking attempt in the cabin of his room, neatly getting it on the shelf... just to almost drop it when the commotion and shouting on deck erupted. He put the duck statue away and ran to see what all the hullabaloo was about, spotting the others escorting their crewmate that he hadn't seen for the past couple of days. Whatever happened to him in the span of being gone... Ranma can't even fathom it. For gods' sake, he looked like a battle-worn soldier leaving a war zone and was missing a whole ass arm to boot! What in the hell happened?!

No, the time for questioning can come at a later date. Now was the time to act. The martial artist went through the motion, helping lead the ones escorting Toge to his room to treat him. First thing he did was use his ki to try and heal him, but... This wasn't sealing up a gash or a minor bump. His body was critically mangled with wounds up the wazoo, and Ranma's healing capabilities were only in the primeval stage. The most he could do was alleviate the excruciating pain Toge must be in and seal up any minimal wounds before it took everything out of him. There was nothing more he could do with his ki healing.

So he only did it sparingly, barking at the others to get him any first aid kit they can find. And once they were delivered, did his damnedest to patch Toge back up to the best of his abilities. Clean the wounds, get any apparent bleeding to a minimum, apply bandages, anything that was in his limitations he tried. Then they wait.

And wait.

And wait.

The days after Toge's return were a blur. Must be the shock of seeing someone come back asymmetrical and all. Ranma could stomach gore and gruesome sights, but something about seeing that on someone he called a friend unnerved him. It was a relief Toge wasn't going to die from his injuries, but now came the healing process. Ranma's turn to cook dinner came, and that of course meant he had to deliver it.

Approaching the cabin door with a hearty bowl of miso soup in one hand, he knocked rhythmically with his knuckles to announce his presence. Ranma creaked in the door, and lamely waved at the bedridden boy.]

Yo. Food's done.

[cursedwords]

[ A few days and he's in clean clothes, propped up on pillows so he's sitting up without effort and some of the colour is starting to come back into his cheeks. Between Ranma and Shoto and their gentle healing attempts, no matter how minor he's at least on the mend.

Toge does feel rather miserable, but he wasn't going to let that be an excuse to be rude to his friends. ]

Salmon. Kelp.

[ It's a greeting and an acknowledgement. This experience is probably the harshest crash course in onigiri language that anyone would have to suffer. He's still in pain, but that's going to be the case for awhile. He doesn't look it, but he finally had stopped trembling from shock and difficulty keeping his body temperature regulated. ]

[catsgothistongue]

[Looking better already, that's for sure. His skin's getting color back and he's not shivering like he's standing buck naked in the Artic. That's good.

With a nod, Ranma walked in and delivered his meal, setting the bowl aside Toge in a way he can eat in his current condition. Because Ranma isn't well-verse in onigiri speak, he's pretty much has to guess what the other's trying to say. Unless...]

... Need anything else? I can find you a notepad and pen to talk with.

[Since far as he knew, Toge didn't have his shellphone on him. Did he seriously leave this world and come back worse for wears...?]

5 Days After

[heir_conditioned]

Toge had agreed to come back to Shoto's in a few days, and so Shoto helped him pack what he needed. After three days, Shoto knows that Toge is going to try to get up. Going to try to move, and that isn't going to work. Not by the looks of him. But, none the less, the hero lets him try and when he's too dizzy, to wobbly, too still out of sorts by it... Like Toge had, Shoto raises his fingers, two of them. Just a couple more days.

After those days were up, they tried again. Shoto insists on at least being close where he can help him if he needs it and to gauge if he has to hold any more fingers up. Once he's sure that's the opposite of what he has to do, he begins to walk with Toge all the way back to his place. There are a lot of stops, places to get something to eat and to rest for Toge and then after their slow trek, they're finally back. Once he settles the man into his own room, Shoto sits on the edge of the bed with him. When he said he was going to protect him, he meant it. But he's also had some questions on his mind.

"Are you feeling up to talking for a moment, Toge?" Of course with the assistance of technology, but, he has to be sure he doesn't just want to sleep. "You can sleep first if you're tired."

[cursedwords]

The consideration that Shoto shows him just warms his heart completely. Toge can't express what it means for him when someone just adapts to how he communicates. Shoto doesn't have to go that far, but having the discussion with him that he had a few days prior in the same manner stirs some very warm feelings within him, feelings he hasn't really explored.

A long meandering walk seems to go fine for him. He's tired, yes, but he's not as dizzy as he was. He doesn't look quite so fragile. Toge would say he isn't, and in fresh clothes, cleaned up and on the mend, it's a glimpse at what his new reality is. He's not going to think about that yet.

Once he's settled in comfortably, the few things he needed or wanted in a bag in Shoto's room and Thornprick settling in at the end of the bed where admittedly Toge is glad to rest on for the moment after that long walk, he tilts his head at the question.

"Salmon." He's fine, and they've located his own shellphone back, so they can talk. He's sitting up but he crosses his legs to give Shoto room to sit with him.

[heir_conditioned]

Settled, indeed. But if he thinks that he's sitting beside him like a normal human being, no. Shoto lost him, and then almost lost him forever if that's what his world treats him like. So no. When Shoto is given the okay to ask questions, that Toge isn't going to sleep right away, he pulls out a little notebook and a pen, setting it on the bed. Toge can be king of the pillows later, because Shoto worms his way in behind him to act as pillow instead.

He jostles the cat and for that he will never be forgiven he's sure, but it's necessary. He can't write things and hold Toge at the same time if he doesn't do it this way. Once Shoto has himself all re-settled, and has Toge's back against his chest, he opens the book with one hand, holding the pen, and then lets his other arm slip around the other teen's waist to hold him. Keep him comfortable with the use of his quirk. "I know you weren't... you weren't well off when you came back." Shoto's fingers grab onto the fabric of his shirt, just to hold a little more. "You said some things I don't understand and... if you're comfortable telling me, I'd like to understand." He flips the page of the book, he's written them down with space beneath them so he can take notes. "...Whatever you tell me not to write down, I won't. Otherwise I'm writing this down for Midoriya as well."

No hang on, he's being fussy and pulls the blanket up a little further to keep the warmth in over Toge's crossed legs. "Please excuse me if I got any of the information wrong." He taps one of the questions, "You said Yuji someone named Yuji was involved, you said something along the lines of a domain expansion not being his fault. With a clear mind, was it?"

IV

[emet_sulk]

[ Emet-Selch has decided to help with the brussels sprouts harvest, thinking that the reward will be useful in case of a food shortage. Manual labour is not his usual habit but perhaps Toge will not be so shocked to see him considering that they've seen him carving up a seal corpse.

After a nod to greet the younger man, Emet-Selch glances towards the missing arm. ]

What happened there?

Re: IV

[cursedwords]

[ Toge greets him with a cheerful smile and his greeting. ] Kelp!

[ He has to stop working on gathering the brussells sprouts to pull out his shellphone. ]

I’ve actually been home for a time. This happened there. Things went really bad one night at work. I came out of it pretty seriously injured, but I’m probably going to be fine now.

[ He went to Shibuya and all he got was free trauma. Where’s the t-shirt? ]

[emet_sulk]

[ 'Went bad' sounds like an understatement. But more importantly-- ]

You returned home? How is that possible?

[ It had not occurred to him to ask since he had assumed he couldn't return home. ]

...Will you still be able to run the ship's kitchen with one arm?

Corsair Quest: Whatever Floats Your Boat

[yuezun]

[With all that was going on, Daqiang had not been able to check in on Toge since the boy had left the Phantom Moon to be with his boyfriend. The aftermath of Garuda's attack taking more than a week to recover from and putting so many of the God-Beasts near to each other, provided an opportunity to finally do so.

When Daqiang saw the Corsair quest for making a paddle boat out of found materials, he thought first of Toge. And followed that thought by sending a message to him, inviting the boy to meet him near the lake on Nogard. If Toge didn't make it, Daqiang would find another... but he did have a soft fluttering of home that one of the people he tentatively counted as a friend would come.]

[cursedwords]

[ It would be the kind of thing that Toge would definitely help with, although at this point it's gonna be a challenge - but he's never been afraid of one of those before. He comes jogging up.

Toge's wearing a smile, although it's not quite as genuine as it usually is. He raises his right hand in greeting. ] Kelp!

[ His left sleeve is now flapping loosely at his side, unfortunately, and looking closely at him he's still a little pale, but mostly in as good a shape as he's gonna get. ]

[yuezun]

[The smile not being quite as genuine is missed - Daqiang's own struggle with emotions makes that too difficult to take at anything but face value for the time being. But he notices the missing arm immediately as Toge approaches.

His arms drop to his sides and he steps forward to meet Toge and get into his space a bit. He does not reach out for the arm or to touch his friend, but his eyes go from the empty to sleeve to Toge's face with obvious concern. Much more expressive than he had been the last time Toge had seen him - even his voice had some emotion to it now.]

How?

iv

[unliminal]

[ Knowing what waited in store for Toge back home made it no easier to stomach it when he'd gone and returned, short one arm and with a hell of a lot of trauma gained. The events in Shibuya station feel...like a lifetime ago for Gojo, but he hasn't forgotten everything that transpired before he was sealed. How different things would have been, if he hadn't been sealed at all.

But the itch of old, familiar guilt isn't what matters right now. He's shit at comforting others and he knows it, so instead, he can try to make Toge feel just as normal as possible. Show him that even in the wake of something so terrible, life can go on, and even go back to normal. He'd spoken so fondly of the time he'd spent here with his friends and crew. He shouldn't have to be robbed of that, just because the curse of being a sorcerer was catching up with him.

To that end, Gojo agreed to harvest some brussel sprouts with him. Hardly the kind of work he would normally choose for himself, but he'll swallow his usual hunger to find something more fast-paced for now. This is what Toge can handle right now, and that's what matters.

...That still won't start him from complaining a little. ]

If they're going to go through all this effort growing giant crops, they could at least pick something less bitter. [ He nudges one of the brussel sprouts with his shoe. Gross... ] Ehh...so long as we don't have to eat 'em, I guess.

[cursedwords]

[ Just like all of the students, he didn't know what he was in for. Shibuya was a whole extra level and Toge's been on so many missions, the Elders happy to throw him into every situation they can and still this outpaced them all combined.

He wants to ask Gojo about being sealed, but he assumes he doesn't know what happened and so he won't. His expressions are a little more worn and tired, he's been recovering. It's surprisingly difficult to do that without RCT.

Normalcy is what he wants, but it's not going to come easy. The sprouts at least are in his wheelhouse, with his green thumb, but cooking is going to come much later. It's going to take practice. ]

Salmon. [ Toge agrees, because even though he probably eats the healthiest of their crew of unfussy sorcerers, and when he cooks at least people get vegetables in them, he doesn't like brussel sprouts. ]

Tuna mayo. [ He has no plans of eating them. Not at this time anyway.

This seemed like an easy enough task, but once he's got one that's a little bigger, Toge just can't get the leverage with one arm. Not even when he stands up and uses his legs. Ugh. That's frustrating. ]

[unliminal]

[ It's the sort of task that under ordinary circumstances, Gojo wouldn't even need to use his hands for. Just a little tug of his technique would be enough to pop the brussel sprouts out of the ground, but he's dealing with a smaller pool of cursed energy than he's used to, and even if he wasn't...even he doesn't feel good about flexing like that in front of his student who is still getting used to having only one arm.

It's also the sort of situation that he can't fix with jujutsu, and those are his least favorite kind of problems. The best he can do is offer his support, literally and figuratively.

Leaning over, he rests his elbows on his knees, trying to catch Toge's gaze. ]

Look, you can take this one of two ways. Either it's a lesson in digging in your heels and fighting for what you want, or a lesson in accepting the help of others. You decide. Are you gonna do it on your own, or not?

[ He'll only help if Toge wants him to. ]

V - Elemental Energy Survey

[general_affairs]

[ Reno was leaving the Manta office with a parcel in hand, and tucking a foreign-looking device into his coat. It had been as he was looking up that he noticed a familiar mop of hair and cloak.

He had taken a moment to squint and raise a brow--just trying to make sure that was whom he remembered before actually approaching the guy, since he just looked so off from the more casual demeanor he remembered. On getting a little closer, he was certain it was the same person, and so sidled up to him, announcing himself. ]

Yo, 'never got to thank you for keepin' me company out there on Rota.

[ His head tipped to one side, and his brows raised as he looked Toge up and down, quickly noticing the whole missing limb. ]

Shit, guess I'll be carrying these after all. I'm gonna head out and let these butterflies loose.

There's lunch in it for you if you wanna, on me.

[cursedwords]

[ Toge does seem a little preoccupied and a little less approachable. It’s just how he’s holding himself, but Reno’s interruption makes him turn to him with a smile. It’s not like before, sure he’s still got a mask on, but it’s not quite reaching his eyes. ]

Takana. [ His tone is polite. ‘It’s fine, he didn’t mind.’ that’s the kind of tone he’s using. ]

[ Toge brightens because he really enjoys doing the quests, and it helps keep food in their galley and he smiles. Ah, yeah, about that, but he could try and carry if he needs to. Seems like Reno doesn’t mean for him to though. ]

Salmon! [ He falls into step next to him, whipping out his shellphone easily with one hand. He’s a modern teenager, texting is practically like breathing for him. ]

It was no trouble. I can help you out and I can eat!

[general_affairs]

[ Reno is a fucking chatterbox when he wants to be, so he's in good company when it comes to phone proficiency. He was fine waiting for the other guy to type up his words.

He didn't bring any attention to the facade Toge was trying to keep up with that smile. ]

What, you think I'm gonna work on an empty stomach? Not a chance, yo.

[ A snort of a laugh. ]

I've been craving garbage for like a week now--there's gotta be some kinda place to get something sweet around here.