duplicate; detonate; desecrate | OPEN

[lempereur]

WHO: Yusuke + OPEN
WHERE: all over!
WHEN: throughout July
WHAT: A new project, a new recruit, a new horror, a new...different...Yusuke? And whatever else comes up.
WARNINGS: Vomiting and probably mentions of torture and blood



1. spread the love you have | Yuri | July 2nd

[ The calm before the storm. If one can consider picking out potential targets for heart stealing to be any kind of calm.

He might not consider it so now, but he will. These calms, for lack of a better word, are becoming shorter and shorter, every moment of peace interrupted by the unpleasant reality of the hole he's dug himself into. Yusuke wants to enjoy the day he's set in front of him, keep it light and fun with slight illegal conspiracy. Most of all, he wants to see Yuri, in part to make sure nobody is here to investigate the made up power he reported about him, but primarily just for the joy of it. The last time Yusuke came to him, he was tired and frustrated and fearful, and left full of warmth and relief. He has a way of stripping the distress right off him, and dressing him back up in confidence, like the best parts of him are being blown up in size and made neon.

Yusuke is pretty sure he doesn't even know he's doing it. It doesn't seem intentional. How can that even be?

He bites his lip to restrain a goofy smile and hopes, just hopes that he can do the same, before calming his face and knocking on the door. As simple as this was, it was still a Phantom Thieves mission. He's come in through the window, but you know. Daylight. ]




2. dancing on my grave | heropa #15 | roommates/visitors

[ It isn't unusual for Yusuke to hole himself up in his room. It's not that he's antisocial on purpose, or that he doesn't like his roommates. He's just busy. His work, legal, illegal, or somewhere in between (ie Phantom Thieves) means that he is out and about on the regular, and if he is home, he is working on his own projects, happily by himself. Yusuke being by himself is not unusual at all.

What is unusual are the violent, noisy, retching sounds coming from his room. Regularly, over the course of days. At first, one could write it off as the unfortunate effect of too much patriotic merriment, but that's not something that should last this long...

Someone should probably check on him. If anyone is so inclined, they'll find him with his head in his hands on the bathroom floor, sketchpad by his side as always. The normal one, not the dangerous, torturous one he keeps hidden elsewhere. ]




3. hope that starts the broken hearts | Visitors' Center, downtown Nonah | OPEN

[ This is what Yusuke has always wanted. A chance to make a name for himself in the art world without being held under the shadow of Madarame. A patron without much in the way of specification, a hopeful and powerful story to tell, and somewhere public and spacious enough to do it.

Now that he's here, empty wall in his face and brush in his hand, he can't. His thoughts are too dark today, as they were yesterday and the day before, to change anyone's mind about him and his fellow imPorts. This piece was supposed to be about their humanity, a condemnation of hero worship, an insistence that for better or for worse, they weren't so different from the people who had always lived here. Maybe that isn't true. Maybe they're worse than the natives, maybe they're a nightmarish scourge to be expelled. Maybe it's just him.

He can't concentrate like this. He needs, as he has been told, to take care of himself. Whoever's watching him may as well help, if they're going to stand there. ]

Excuse me. Is there somewhere quiet to eat, nearby?




4. i'm not myself, i'm someone else | around | OPEN

[ Wandering the streets at night, every night, is a familiar face. He looks like Yusuke, he talks like Yusuke, and he keeps his ear to the ground and a pencil in his hand like Yusuke.

But he isn't.

Let's call him...Newsuke?

He could be at any place at any time, or at least, any time between nine at night and five in the morning. Those are quieter hours, with a chance to bask in the misty and energizing light of sunrise before he disappears off to...wherever it is he goes. And for the first few weeks, that's all he does. The clone wanders aimlessly, watches the faces that pass, puts them down on paper. After a while though, it's starting to feel rather tedious, so he speaks up. He is blunt and abrasive, in the unknowing way that only Yusuke, or someone programmed to be as close a replica as possible, can be. He even gets violent, and destructive, he abuses the great power hidden inside him by summoning it over petty and stupid arguments, of which he will start many. He may even seek to destroy what his original has made here, because that Yusuke is weak and pathetic and everything his nightmares insist he is. He underestimates himself and cares too much, he could elevate himself above everyone if he would just recognize how much better he is than all of them.

There is no beauty here. Only vice. ]

5. any way you want it - wild card.

[ Go crazy! Add what you want! Or hit me up at dorsquee and we can work something out! ]

Comments

4

[pale_blue_arrow]

[Brendan's been having a rough... life, actually, but the last few weeks have been particularly hellish. He drank for four days straight, he had several emotionally exhausting talks with people about all the things that have broken him down and eaten him alive from the inside.

He finds himself taking long walks at night looking for trouble, either to stop or to get into, and then he starts thinking about how Emily would like that shop he passed or Brian would be thrilled with the tech on that one hovercar that goes by, and he loses himself in his thoughts. He walks for hours, aimless, mind loud as thunder in the silence of the night, waiting for something to happen.

Eventually, something does - he spots Yusuke. He'd have thought that the artist would look happier. He's free of the burden that is Brendan's affection, he's got the moral greenlight to go throw his feelings at whoever it is he's into, his art is actually being sponsored by people here.

But he looks as blank as ever, and concern tugs at Brendan's heartstrings. Despite himself, he walks over, not close, not close enough to touch, just enough to have a conversation. It's two in the morning, that time when things go totally still in even Heropa's busiest parts. They may as well be the only people in existence, for how vast and empty the world feels.]

Hey, [he says, softly. He tries to keep his face and voice neutral.] What're you doing out here, sirenito? D'you need me to call a ride for you to get back home?

[Please say yes. Say yes and get out of his life before you twist the knife you put in his heart any further, Yusuke.]

[lempereur]

[ The real Yusuke doesn't know what to say to Brendan, or how to say it, even on a good day, so the significantly less emotionally intelligent version doesn't stand a chance. He's sitting on the sidewalk, sketching something in an unfamiliar notepad, unrecognizable swirls of...something, a tower being struck in two.

When addressed, he looks up, smiles wider than Brendan will have ever seen his counterpart do so, at least sober. ]

Harikēn.

[ That's his new nickname. Deal with it. ]

I'm not lost, or hurt. I'm just drawing. I won't need a ride. But thank you.

[pale_blue_arrow]

[Brendan's going to assume that smile coupled with that nickname is some kind of insult. He probably has it coming. He's sobered up enough now to realize he was kind of an asshole about everything.

Which makes it hard to know what to do now that they're in front of each other.] Right. But even with Heropa being, well, Heropa, this really isn't the best hour for that. I - I'm not trying to boss you around, [he adds, because when he was sober and re-read their conversation via texts it was a trainwreck of mixed signals and confusing orders,] I just wanna make sure you're okay. How's things?

[lempereur]

If you're not trying to boss me around, then don't.

[ Yes, the words come out as if the clone is being short with him, but it's the simplest way to communicate. To the point, as Yusuke frequently is, but lacking in nuance. His tone isn't angry, at least, and he pats the pavement next to him. ]

I am fine, like I said. Sit with me. Or take me somewhere safer, if you insist.

3

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor had come out to Nonah to visit Miles today as well as follow-up on some skating business that he left for too long, feeling better than he had in weeks and actually wanting to get out an about. He'd been walking to his next place of business and only glancing at something that was obviously being setup up for ... something. Cleaning? Refurbishment? He didn't think twice about it until he heard a voice address him as he paused for those few seconds.

Then he really did a double-take when he recognized the voice asking him, finally focusing on the person where the voice came from which just confirmed who he thought it was. He spends a beat blinking at him, then tries to keep his voice even when he replies. ]

Oh, ah ... I think so? I passed by some cafés on the way over here.

post-Yuri date(?), pre-constellation call outs?

[lempereur]

[ If he had known it was Viktor standing next to him, he wouldn't have said anything, just let him be on his way. Oh well. He can be civil, of course, it isn't as if he has any other option, with how closely this near stranger was intertwined with so many other parts of his life.

Maybe it was a good thing that they ran into each other here. He told Viktor that he would let him know if there was any trouble, and there wasn't, but there...could be. ]

Hello, Viktor. They are quiet, these places?

[fourlevels]

[ Welp, that's about what Viktor expected to receive. ]

Hi, Yusuke. I think they are; they weren't by the busier areas of downtown.

[ He's about to describe where they are or at least nearby landmarks he saw near them (don't ever let Viktor give you directions, ever), but instead he takes a chance ... ]

Would you like to join me? My treat.

1

[beautiful_monster]

[Yuri's wearing his typical resting bitch face when he opens the door, but the look quickly melts into a bright and warm smile, clearly pleased to see him. He holds the door open wider for him and cocks his head curiously.]

Hey! Do you want to come in?

[lempereur]

[ He sees that face melt, fellow ice boy. It's all he can do not to melt himself, he'll come just close enough, giving him a just barely too-warm smile back. One hand on his bag full of sketchbooks and art supplies that goes everywhere with him, and another tucking his hair behind his ear, he accepts. ]

Sure, for a little while. I brought you some things.

[beautiful_monster]

Really? [His eyes flick curiously to Yusuke's bag as he steps aside for him to come in.] Something cool?

4, first week?

[couldbebeautiful]

[The thing about Veronica Sawyer is that her acts of reckless heroism aren't completely altruistic—some part of her would not mind dying to save lives, because that's a good reason, right? And she doesn't really act out very often, either, she's tired and she wants to just be.

Heaven Scent doesn't know that. Heaven Scent has only footage of her running into trouble with a croquet mallet, a bit of news about her one escapade as an "Amazon from outer space", and rumors about a girl setting up her own stand to sell slushies at a recent swear-in and FanPort, and footage of her drunk at a party. It's really no wonder, then, that Vee disregards the rules, the government, authority, everything. She's seventeen, she has an excuse!

So—she goes out at night, armed with a can of spray paint. It's as she's finishing off her latest work ("Teenage Wasteland") that she spies someone nearby. Oh, it's the artist.]

Hey, you! [She spins the can in her hand like an expert.] What's a guy like you doing out so late? [She damn well knows.]

[lempereur]

I am watching.

[ Spoken as if it's obvious, because it is obvious. The clone is down to watch and/or participate in all manner of crimes, but vandalism and graffiti is what speaks to whatever piece of Yusuke's soul might be in there. So he's been observing, waiting for the finished product to offer his analysis. ]

You should have gone with a glossier sheen.

[couldbebeautiful]

That'd defeat the whole point. It's a wasteland, there's nothing glossy about it.

[She shakes up the paint can, spray-paints a large V next to the graffiti. If there's anything Vee actually got from Veronica, it's Veronica's slightly pretentious tendencies. If there's anything she didn't get from Veronica, it's the way she turns to Yusuke's clone, all swagger and mean-girl arrogance.]

And I don't recall asking for your opinion.

2.

[arsiento]

[ Diablo is similarly antisocial, although for very different reasons than Yusuke; he holes up in his room mostly to sit alone penitently or to pray. Or sometimes to read. That's a big part of the reason as to why Diablo and Yusuke have yet to meet face-to-face yet, but even Diablo has a hard time tuning out the recurrent retching sounds coming from one of the other rooms.

At first he's just annoyed by it, but then the longer it continues, the more he starts to wonder if someone else in the house is actually having a serious problem. So he leaves his room to investigate, which means finding the room the noise is coming from and hitting his fist against the door once, hard. ]

Yo, what the hell's going on? You dying in there or what?

[lempereur]

[ There are muffled noises from behind the door, the pained and tired grunts of someone trying to get up and move when they have no business doing so. ]

I'm fine.

[ Clearly. Who even is that, Diablo? Since when did he talk to people? ]

[arsiento]

[ It's quite a conflict of apathy vs. that does literally sound like someone maybe dying, which is also not inherently something Diablo might normally feel like he needs to get involved with... but what makes him hesitate is the fact that, 1) this is happening in his (well, Jaime's) house, and 2) the person sounds somewhat young, in which case Diablo would feel somewhat guilty ignoring him now if something bad actually did happen.

So, with a resigned sigh, he opens the door to see what the hell is going on. He doesn't move over to help Yusuke immediately, just stares at him with a neutral expression and asks, deadpan: ]

Right. You sure you don't need no help, homie?

3

[ghoulking]

[ Kaneki is a literature kind of person, not really that connected to other kind of arts, but that doesn't mean he rejects them completely. Sometimes he enjoys spending some time looking at what is around and what is happening, specially in his city. A trip downtown is enjoyable on his time off from the coffee shop, too - he can't be working all the time.

As he walks around, he eventually comes to the Visitor's Center where he spots a familiar face. Kaneki doesn't come close at first, to watch what will come out of Yusuke's imagination, but it seems the man is having a bit of an artist's block.

When he asks for a place to eat, Kaneki blinks. He is not the best person to suggest food, since Kaneki can't eat, but he does know some places nearby ] I know a couple, I'm not sure if they have good food, though. [ there is always Kaneki's coffee shop, but it's not downtown, and it'd take a bit of a walk ]

[lempereur]

[ He smiles weakly, at the somewhat familiar face. It's the polite thing to do, sadly insincere as it is. ]

I am...mostly just looking for somewhere quiet, really. I need to be alone with my thoughts.

[ghoulking]

[ Kaneki reaches for his communicator, to locate those places. Honestly, he knows them because they have good coffee, so Kaneki hopes the food will be as good for Yusuke as the coffee it is for Kaneki ] I will send you the locations of the nearest places. I know they have good coffee - I'm not sure about the food, but I'll let you find out about that.

[ once the message is sent to Yusuke's communicator, Kaneki glances back at him ] Is everything alright? [ he looks down. And it's polite to ask too, but Kaneki also worries. ]

3

[glassfall]

[Cinders smiles at the familiar face, giving a friendly short of shrug.]

I've no idea. I tend to cook for myself, rather than go out too often. Still if you'd like a quiet place, mine usually is.

[She hasn't really seen Yusuke since the party. Glad to see he's not hung over anymore!]

[lempereur]

Your house?

[ He's surprised, it has been a while since they've seen each other. ]

I wouldn't want to intrude on you.

[glassfall]

You wouldn't be. Honestly, I've been rather lonely lately. I haven't even met my housemates, yet.

[Although that might just be because of the hours she keeps...]

C - outside of a thriving Hancock's Fabrics but also during closed hours

[darted]

[ Mai's spent the past 45 minutes waiting outside sitting a cart checking her communication device. She's been on the hunt for Yusuke for a couple of days, and, realizes that she's not really sure about his usual haunts. So she goes to the most surefire place to see him, the fabric store.

It's closed, but that doesn't mean she leaves. She figures that Yusuke might try to obtain all of this fabric illegally. I mean, after all, she met the kid when he was starving because he bought a sewing machine and not food. Once she sees Newsuke's figure, she hops off of the shopping cart. ]

Yusuke!

[lempereur]

[ He only spent his money on a sewing machine and not food for YOUR project, Mai!!

The clone knows all about that, of course, it's public information, even if he doesn't remember it. The same goes for Mai's attack on the side of Yusuke's house, and although she wasn't caught, he did tell Brendan about it, which is enough for the clone to know.

He feels nothing about it. But he supposes he's supposed to be angry. ]

What do you want?

[darted]

[ She's not actually sure what she wants. At the moment, she doesn't really want anything from him. She half wants to ask him about her upcoming concert, but she also is determined to do this without him!!! and then come back and offer him a platform to work once she's proven herself capable on her own. She wanted to make sure that he's okay, but, seeing him in public isn't producing the feeling of sympathy she thought it would. The whole thing feels off, but they didn't leave on the best terms anyways. ]

I didn't hit anything too deep, did I? [ She's not going to apologize. Not at first, at least. She's kind of determined to be in the right about this. ] I chose my least deadliest instruments to screw up your apartment with. [ Even if he wasn't the target, she's played with enough knives to know how it can be dangerous. She wouldn't use something obscenely sharp unless she didn't care about anything in the entire area. ]