Field Mission 4, Etude in Blue, Part One

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You're not leaving until you've got this shanty memorized NAVIGATION Click here for the RNG thread! 1. ETUDE IN BLUE: WELCOME TO THE SEA OF FALLEN STARS A. A WATERY LANDING You'll be going down from the Moon Base via glass spheres, shot by the flight technician staff member Avi. As usual, each capsule can hold up to 4 people, although it does get increasingly uncomfortable the more people are crammed together. You're shot down to the planet in the most horrifying way possible, seeing the landscape violently change quickly and without remorse or guilt towards your possible motion sickness or uneasy feeling. The landing this time, is a canonball. All along the middle of the Sea of Fallen Stars, blips of orbs will be falling straight down into the water. From the Moon Base, Lucretia watches on as the majority of you land. It's quite a spectacle to see the splashes from this high up. And once you're there, you're... kind of up a creek without a paddle. Without a propulsion or engine system to move your orb forward, you don't have a lot of choices here. If you're lucky, you might find a mercantile ship out in between voyages. If you're extremely unlucky, you're going to have to swim... or maybe you can pop the sphere hatch open and find something to paddle with. Be careful of the sharks? Definitely be careful of the sharks. Your destination? Lyrabar. 2. THE LAP OF LUXURY, THE DANGERS OF LYRABAR B. THE CITY OF MERCHANTS' DREAMS Let's get something out of the way first: Lyrabar is a gorgeous city — and when you step off the S.S. Codfather and onto the docks about a hundred yards from the edge of the city proper, you'll be treated to a clear view of the entire skyline: Ornate, twisting towers of marble, stone buildings and finely crafted wooden structures form the city into a neat semicircle, with the marketplace at its epicenter. At the far end of the city stands a castle, a nearly glittering, extravagant structure, a maze of hallways and towers that seems to be stretching high toward the other planes of existence themselves. Lyrabar is on an entirely new level compared to Vista Virs, New Aspen, or even the comforts of the Moon Base itself. This is by far the most luxurious corner of Faerun that you've encountered yet — even the standard-level rooms you might find in an inn around Lyrabar are well maintained, the sheets are clean, and the food is delicious. The food, though! Pretty much anything you can think of is on the menu somewhere, and, no offense to an enduring and malfunctioning robot back on the base, but his cuisine chops can't even compare to what's on offer in Lyrabar. If only the people of Lyrabar were nicer. Weren't so suspicious of anyone new who passes through those gates. There is a lot of gold passing through the city gates, after all. And the pirates who are slowly overrunning the city are well aware of that. C. THE HOBBY HORSE A lot of you strong archetype Reclaimers, and even the ones who aren't, will probably eventually find your way to The Hobby Horse, a tavern that is absolutely just a tavern, if a bit more crude compared to the other watering holes nearby and around Lyrabar, and absolutely not a place where pirates higher up on the pecking order go for a bit of Jabba-the-Hut-lair entertainment. Of course it isn't. That would be silly! In any case, maybe you've signed the waiver, paid your 20 GP, and had a go at The Death Cave — essentially a long hallway, leading from one ring to the next, with waves of aggressive monsters brought in from the ocean and beyond for you to fight through. And for some of you, those of you who have played a hand in reclaiming three Grand Relics at this point ... honestly, The Death Cave might seem a little too easy. The man taking your payments and signed waivers, a man who goes only by Old Numbers, a gruff, bearded old fart who seems to be more battle scar than human, seems to have a solution for that. He leans forward over the counter, eyeing you near suspiciously. "Oi ... if it's an actual challenge yer lookin' for, Old Numbers can whip you up somethin' more ... randomized. Y'seen those Sea Quartz around town, right? Those rainbow lookin' stars that the fancier folk keep grindin' up into shampoo. Bring me three of those, and I'll give you a fight worth yer chops." True to his word, you pay Old Numbers three SQ, he'll have you sign another waiver (essentially, you're going to have to name a next of kin — someone who's fit and willing to drag your corpse out of The Death Cave, because Old Numbers here sure as hell isn't going to do it), then he'll draw a random placard from a stack of three and affix it next to the entrance of The Death Cave. The excited energy in the crowd is palpable. Now the real battling betting begins. Your goal here isn't to defeat all the enemies: It's simply to make it to the final exit. Here's what the placards mean (As a further warning, these are highly dangerous encounters! You signed a second waiver for a very good reason.): ○ Sword: In the final room of The Death Cave, you will be pitted against a swordsman who seems to have been taken in by some sort of Faerun equivalent of malevolent corruption — and boy, is he having the time of his life. He is extremely fast, his blade is freshly sharpened, and he will not hesitate to strike down anyone who was unfortunate enough to roll him, while laughing about it. He does have what you might consider an ultimate attack: Gathering up energy into his blade, he swings it, channeling said energy into one devastating plume of magic shot directly toward you. You're going to want to find a way to avoid it. ○ Bow and arrow: As you make your way through The Death Cave, you'll be pursued by the, uh. Boss of this round, a ranger whose accuracy with her bow and arrow is unrivaled. Assuming you make it to the final room without being arrow'd, you'll have to face her head-on, too. She is nimble, and now that you've reached the end, she is much less keen on missing. To make it past her, you will want to disarm her — which means closing the gap between the two of you as much as possible, to force a melee. Wand: Woe to the Reclaimer who manages to roll the magic user course. When you step inside, you'll find that the entire cave is flooded at about knee height, meaning unless you can figure out a way across it, you'll be fighting while wading. The Caster — sorry, I mean Wizard — at the end of the line specializes in ice and electric elemental spells. Have fun with that! D. IN WHICH LITERALLY EVERYONE WANTS YOUR COIN For those of you who have gold burning a hole in your pocket, the shopping available in Lyrabar is near endless. The marketplace, located at the center of the city, seems to sprawl on forever, with stalls, storefronts and eateries that seemingly cater to every fancy, whether it's fashion or weaponry. If it's souvenirs you're looking to take home, the most popular items are necklaces made out of those ever popular Sea Quartz, that are being used at The Hobby Horse and ground up into shampoo, and very sarcastic postcards: Think, "I visited Lyrabar and all I got was this crappily printed postcard" sort of sarcastic. Generally, though, as long as the item is not magical, and as long as the tech is not more advanced than what you'd find on the Moon Base, you can probably find it at the Marketplace. If you're not sure about an idea, feel free to ask right here! Some other things of note about what you'll find while shopping: ○ There are a lot of pickpockets. Maybe you shouldn't actually have a hole in your pockets. Even with the people of Lyrabar as distrusting of each other, and of you, as they are, those looking to pilfer a little extra cash off an unsuspecting visitor will find no shortage of targets. Perhaps you're one of them. Perhaps you're the sort willing to start a brawl in the middle of the Marketplace to get your most valued possessions back. Maybe, if you look close enough, you'll see that many have the same insignia branded on their arm. It seems, if you'd like to join in with, or infiltrate a pirate crew, this band of kleptos might be a good place to start off. ○ The Auction House is located on one of the far corners of the Marketplace. It's large, marble and a bit chilly inside, and the biddings start at around 6 p.m. each night, but it seems there's something ... a bit strange about the auctions themselves. That is to say, you'll have a seat one evening, and about halfway through selling off half of the evening's inventory, you'll watch them bring out the next item: like a pearl, or a particularly large and beautiful clamshell — nice enough trinkets, but nothing at all compared to the other goods that have hit the auction block so far. And why are they starting the bidding at 1,000 GP? And why are the people around you actually enthusiastically going with it? Man, they can't be that blatant, can they? E. JUSTICE Maybe by this point you've had something valuable snatched from you, or you can't quite figure out how nobody's put a stop to some very clear money laundering happening at the Auction House, and you feel the need to serve up some serious justice to the pirates out there who have done you wrong. Who runs the justice joint around here, anyway? That inquiry will lead you straight to the royal guard — the captain of which is going to groan in exhaustion/annoyance at you questions, or even your bid to help out. You think he hasn't heard that story before? The second a silver-tongued charlatan charms their way into the ranks of the royal guard, they're looking the other way while their visiting pirate friends rob the rest of us blind. He's got no time for this. If you want to truly help, you are going to have to prove it first. And so, with that, you will find yourself immediately thrown into an undercover operation, one the captain doesn't mind doling out, because at the end of the day he loses nothing from it except for a few disguises. That's right: you'll be given a disguise, whether it's a smelly pile of peasant rags or, if he's feeling less charitable with his budget, a pair of these (look, it's not like he actually cares about your safety here), and a piece of paper with one or two names on it. Your mission? Bring these suspects back to the captain without causing a scene. Or, well, go ahead and cause a scene. He has little shits to give, remember? Pull this off, though, and consider a private audience with the one member of the royal family who still keeps an audience nowadays, Princess Irene, secured. Back to top 3. OUT ON THE OPEN SEA F. CONGRATULATIONS, YOU'RE THE NEW OWNER OF A YACHT Whether you've had your fill of luxury, bar fights, enforcing the long arm of the law in town, or just gorging out on incredibly tasty food, eventually you'll recall that Lucretia had actually sent you down here with a purpose. She asked everyone to find a way to obtain a ship- one that isn't the S.S. Codfather (thank you very much, Sans!)- as the investigation into the Grand Relic can only get so far within the streets of Lyrabar. To that end, there are a number of options and opportunities for you to obtain such a vessel. ○ Steal it. This is how pirating works in a place like this. You find something, you take it, and you put a nice new flag on it to make it yours. Of course, there are some complications with that. Get caught, and you're going straight to nautical prison- don't pass the Hobby Horse, don't collect $200. But the docks district of this port town is known to be rather quiet at night, when the merchant fleets are out swindling cash at the bar, drinking themselves blind, or maybe just settling home with their family after an honest day's work. There are hired guards keeping watch, but it shouldn't be that difficult to incapacitate them. When they wake up in the morning, they'll assume what it always is around here. Someone forgot to pay the red tithe. ○ Buy it. There's always the option of offering something in exchange for a rowboat. Maybe you've come across a bountifully magical item that you want to dispose of at the auction house, or maybe there's a collector out there who's willing to make a fair trade. Renting them doesn't seem to be that much an issue either; transport around the region is always done by boat. Just know that you're going to have to put a down payment and collateral down. You also... run the risk of running into some unscrupulous merchants who are working with the pirates on the down low. Be careful not to get swindled out of everything you own, only to walk up to a tiny rowboat. ○ Mutineer it. You could find some work on boats, but it's mainly hard labor. You'll be loading the ship up for transport, and taking a trip across the Sea of Fallen stars to destinations at other major port cities. You might not need to know that some of these ships are exchanging some rather questionable goods to get the hint that there's a fair share misconduct going on around the sea. Time to throw the captain overboard and take command of your own dreamliner. ○ Other. Well, depending on how crafty you are, there are a number of ways to get a hold of a boat. These were just some guiding ideas, but we think you'll find a way. You always do. G. 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA There's some adventuring to do out in the open sea, and treasures both vast and mighty. It's not entirely uncommon to find islands dotted along the landscape, and those are particularly good for docking and getting a sense of what's gone down around here since Captain Ferryn's taken command of the high seas. You might've gotten the sense that loose lips really do sink ships- that evidence is coming up pretty bill in your search for actual piracy going on around here. The good captain is incredibly skillful at both deception and infiltration, and with the Soul Blade helping him, there's almost nothing stopping him from completely dominating the entire sea and crowning himself the new royal in town. Mum's the word around these parts, so you're going to have to do some exploration. Pop some of those shrimp chips and head down to explore the underwater depths of the seabed. There are an unbelievable amount of ships that have been wrecked and forgotten under the violent chops of the aquatic basin. With a few hours' search, you're incredibly likely to find one, waiting for you to go down and pluck whatever's down there. Be careful, however, since The Drowned are fiercely protective of their death locales. Fight through them and live to the tell the tale, and you'll come back graciously rewarded. Many of the ships seem to have crates still on them- all with the official royal seal of Lyrabar stamped plainly on their lid. When popped open, you'll notice there's an abundance of sea quartz- the gems that are used to constantly provide a source of energy to the town. Hard to tell why pirates wouldn't be interested in that, when the trade is absurdly lucrative. You'll also find areas where ships aren't present. Instead, you might come across entire fields of sea quartz. But in their current state, they're pretty useless and look like the trinkets you might have found on the streets of Lyrabar. Devoid of any magical energies, they lay deep on the ocean floor, a nuisance and an eyesore to nature. You'll also notice that natural enemies like sharks and Sahuagin steer clear of these areas, for better or for worse. Good luck down there, and make sure you have a buddy system set up. Getting a glass sphere down into the water is near impossible, but Dr. Tank is on board the S.S. Codfather for emergencies. H. NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLES I'VE SEEN Know that the sea is not calm in temperament or safety. There are things to be weary of at every step of the way, and it's best to ensure that you have a good, seasoned crew to man your boat in order to keep you passing through safe waters. While you're out there, though, danger truly does lurk around every corner. Pirates, for one, are particularly good at various ways of warfare. Many of them don't even look or appear to be like the ones you might have heard of in stories or experienced elsewhere. Some even fly under the banner of Lyrabar, cruising safely without notice by anyone that would be wise to what they're up to. Sail out for too long without a purpose or linger in an area too long, and a ship will approach, lining up side by side with you. They'll tell you that they're part of the Royal Navy, and hell, they might even be wearing the garb of the official uniformed ranks, and when they announce they're here for usual inspection, they'll request to board your ship. Protocol, you see, because of the rampant acts of piracy out in the open waters. Refusing might make you look more suspicious, but letting them on board as inspectors and tax adjudicators can be equally dangerous. Some of them are legit, and some of them will look to take command of your ship and leave you out in the ocean to drown. You're going to have to be cunning to figure out which one is which. Storms rage all over the Sea of Fallen Stars. With the encroachment of the warmer months ahead, the weather itself battles for its rightful claim to the area. The signs of a storm coming are easy enough to spot, and they're frequent. Some will last 2-3 days and make travel nearly impossible. Getting out of the water is an important step in keeping your crew safe; and spending a night on an island or in a grotto is always better than running the risk of joining the armies of The Drowned below. Maelstroms are an equal threat of immense dread. If you happen to see a swirling vortex of water, start heading in the opposite direction immediately. There's a certain magnetic pull that they have, and once you've been caught in the outer rings, it's going to take a lot of teamwork to get yourselves out. Good thing you've had a month to build upon that, or else you might be toast. For those of you who are highly less fortunate, you'll notice yourselves getting sucked in, closer, and closer. You can look over the epicenter and- good god, is that a tentacle!? What is that thing!? The Prespuran Triangle also poses a major issue while traveling across the sea. Legend has it that if you sail too close to its navigable coordinates, your ship will vanish and you'll never be heard from again. It might seem like a wives' tale, but it's absolutely true. Come too close to it and you'll notice your compass begin to spin out like there's no tomorrow. Continue inward, and, well. You'll see something, alright. It's a tower that stretches into the sky, tall and unwavering. And also, completely impregnable and without doors. You're going to have to get yourself out of there somehow, and for your sake, let's hope you know the exact coordinates you came in through or else... you mind wind up on a completely different side of the world. Last but not least, the pirates aren't the only ones looking to hop aboard your newly crowned baby. Don't forget about the Sahuagins, either. They seem to attack only during the dead of night, when the moon is ripe and full in the sky. They bring with them charming magics and are particularly good at getting people to willfully walk over the edge themselves, without even drawing a blade. Back to top 4. OOC This is your story to write, and your setting to play with! Anything on the OOC post is fair game, and if there's something you'd like to try, please don't hesitate to let us know on the RNG thread. But most importantly, Reclaimers, be amazing. Back to top blurb code by photosynthesis

Comments

[bakucchan]

Just follow me. Who cares what you're wearing.

[That's grumbled a little bit as Bakugo shoves his hands in the pockets of his baggy pants, and moves to go stand by the door and wait for him to hurry on over.

He's still unsure about this but he'll give it some kind of try. He's still Deku, after all. Just more of an idiot now than usual.]

[shootstyles]

Oh!

[He's just going to quickly stumble into some pants because he doesn't want to wander around town in All Might boxers...

Then he goes and stands next to Bakugo's shoulder, looking excited but nervous. He really wants to make this work. He needs this to work.]

Where are we going..?

[bakucchan]

To the docks.

[That's all he gets as a reply. Short and to the point as he opens the door and heads out, not waiting for Deku because he knows he'll be on his heels like a puppy.

Even if he doesn't remember him, he still acts like he's the most amazing guy on Earth and honestly.. Bakugo doesn't know if that pisses him off more about all of this or less.]

[shootstyles]

The docks? Did you find something important about the mission?

[he tries to make conversation. It seems better than being silent and acknowledging the awkward relationship between them.

And this has to be about the mission right? Why else would he approach him after a week? Nothing's changed after all.]

[bakucchan]

...something like that.

[It's not related to any missions at all, in fact he hasn't really been able to focus on it this time around since the mishap at the Hobby Horse.

He keeps that to himself though, as he leads the other boy outside, continuing towards his destination.]

[shootstyles]

Oh, I see!

The more we figure out, the better we can do when it comes to retrieving the relics. We should explore every possible path forward.

[DOES HE SOUND ANXIOUS. Because he's so anxious. He doesn't know what to make of any of this except that it makes his stomach twist into knots. What could Bakugo want with him?]

[bakucchan]

Mhm.

[Bakugo replies, uninterested and distant like his mind is completely somewhere else. He pretty much falls silent after that, but the docks aren't that far away honestly. Just enough that people in the hotel won't hear them talking unless they really start yelling.. but Bakugo plan on trying (trying) not to explode this time.

When the two reach it, Bakugo stops and turns around, looking Deku over for a minute before he points to the end of the dock with a sneer.]

Sit.

[This will probably take a while.]

[shootstyles]

Um. Okay. You're... not gonna just shove me in, are you?

[HE COMPLIES ANYWAY. BECAUSE he's a bitch. And because he really wants to try and mend this relationship. He can't remember it, but without it... he feels lost. Like he has no yardstick to measure himself to the world by.

It's eating him up inside.]

[bakucchan]

Maybe I will if you keep asking me stupid questions.

[His eye twitches a little, getting annoyed with Deku's hesitance. He doesn't remember him yet he expects him to push him in.. it's like his brain has some kind of muscle memory to it or something.

Ha.]

[shootstyles]

Right. Sorry. I'll try to keep it to only the good questions.

[He swings his feet as the sea breeze further musses up his curly hair. He smiles at some birds fluttering on the rocks. He's the same person that Katsuki has always known.

Which probably makes it even more confusing.]

[bakucchan]

[That gets a roll of Bakugo's eyes, and he moves to sit next to Deku, with a good foot or two between them.

It's weird and awkward having this conversation, honestly. It hasn't even started and Bakugo feels embarrassed, ashamed he's upset by this in the first place. But if there's anything he's learned, more than anything else during his time in UA, it's to swallow his pride when he needs to. He loathes having to, but he knows now not to just stubbornly ignore his own weakness or emotions all the time... even though he still has a problem with people he's not close to.

But Deku's closer than anyone else he's ever known. In a completely different sense than the usual "closeness" would be. But he's always been there from the start, and even now he's still here.

Which is why he's swallowing his pride this time, so he can try to help Deku. Though it's not because of any emotions he has towards him or anything like that, it's because it's what a Hero would do. That's the excuse he settled on, anyway.]

...when you were four years old. A kid fell off a log into a river, and you offered to help him even though he was fine.

[He looks over at Deku from the corner of his eye, studying his expression to see if it jogs his memory at all.]

[shootstyles]

...

I remember I would play in the woods as a kid. We weren't supposed to but we went in anyway. I was both scared and... really excited. I was just to happy to be with everyone.

[He looks at his hands. From the way Bakugo is talking, he knows that's a memory that they have together. No wonder Bakugo was so mad. He doesn't seem like the sort who needs help. Or wants it even if he does.]

I remember helping someone but I can't... remember anymore than that.

[bakucchan]

[His gaze moves off of the green haired teen next to him, and he stares off ahead of him at the waves lightly swaying, crashing into the rocks and the side of the docks.

He doesn't remember, but he remembers going out with Bakugo and their other friends. It's less that he can't remember Bakugo at all, and more like something is erasing him from those memories. Like when you break up with someone, and draw over your ex's face with a marker.]

...yeah. That kid you helped was me. You followed me around because we were neighbors, and I "recruited" you to my stupid "Hero Agency" when we first met.

[He chuckles low at that, but it sounds bitter rather than nostalgic like you'd expect.]

We both were crazy over All Might. Those gacha machines by the corner shop would sometimes get these dumb looking mini figures of him, and we'd beg our old ladies for coins and fight each other over them if one of us got one when the other didn't.

[He lifts his right hand, sparks flying around his palm lightly to illuminate the both of them in the dark of the night sky.]

'Course, I won them every time. Someone Quirkless like you couldn't stand a chance against me.

[It's kind of funny, saying that. He used to repeat that over and over and over for years-- mocking Deku for being Quirkless. Mocking him for being unable to do what everyone else around him could. He was proud of that fact, happy that he had that over Deku but now honestly... it almost makes him sick saying it out loud.]

[shootstyles]

...I guess it makes sense that someone who's Quirkless couldn't stand a chance against a quirk like yours. But, it's not like I couldn't try, right?

[Because not trying is the worst thing he could possibly do. Honestly, he's not sure he's even capable of not trying.

He bites his lip.]

I remember All Might gacha machines and playing in the woods but... not you. Not at all.

[bakucchan]

[Bakugo nods silently. It honestly hurts more than he'd be willing to admit to hear that from Deku, and the fact that it hurts at all pisses him off. But he's not going to leave even though he wants to-- he'll keep at it.]

You remember your Hero name?

[shootstyles]

It's "Deku".

It seems pretty lame but... I kinda like how it sounds like "you can do it", you know? I hope people are able to understand it.

[He smiles to himself, twisting his thumbs together. He's so damn happy to be a Hero, even with a silly name. It's so obvious.]

[bakucchan]

[That-- that gets Bakugo. He grits his teeth, and the sparks lightly flickering in his palm explode suddenly in the palm of his hand, dissipating into a cloud of smoke and leaving both of them in the darkness.

And there's a pause, before he slowly lifts that hand and presses it against his forehead, trying to calm himself down because he can feel a boiling anger inside of him that makes him want to yell.]

It's an insult.

[shootstyles]

I know that! It's my dumb name read in a mean way!

[His face turns red and hot. He feels... frustrated. That this guy knows him and yet acts like he's stupid for not knowing anything. It's not his fault. He didn't want to forget. God knows, he didn't want to. He wants to remember everything and everyone that's meant something to him.]

I just wanted to turn something bad into something positive.

[bakucchan]

I'm the one who gave you that stupid nickname in the first place!

[With Deku getting frustrated, so is Bakugo. He clearly remembers all of the effects of Bakugo's presence in his life-- just not. Bakugo himself.]

How about the sludge villain incident, huh?! You ran in to save me from that motherfucking fucker, and it's the whole reason All Might chose to give you One For All!

[He raises his voice saying that, but it's not more than a yelled whisper because of the subject matter. But even then the expression on his face is angry enough that he doesn't need to scream it into the sky to get his emotions across.]

[shootstyles]

The sludge villain...

I went in because there was someone in trouble, someone who needed help. Someone I couldn't just watch die.

[He drops his face into his hands, his nails digging into the side of his face as he tries desperately to remember. It's clear that he didn't just forget, it's like something is blocking Katsuki out of his memories. A punishment for both of them.]

Why can't I just remember?

[bakucchan]

[It pisses him off. The fact that Deku just.. can't remember. The fact that he looks so genuinely torn up about it, as if it's eating him on the inside not being able to put a face to all of those times they spent together.

He wants to yell at him. To blame him for all of this, because in a way it was his fault. If he never jumped in front of Bakugo, he'd be fine. But on the other side.. if he hadn't, then it's very possible the situation would've been reversed. If Bakugo couldn't remember Deku he'd be even more angry than he is now.

So, thinking about it that way, Bakugo gives himself a minute to cool off before he speaks up again, quiet and through grit teeth.]

...it ain't your fault. It's the fucking Bureau.

[He picks a rock up next to him, that's been sitting on the dock with the two of them this entire time and tosses it at the sea. Watching it skip seven times before it plops into the water.]

I can't see colour, you can't remember who I am-- it's how this bullshit place works. You get your life back and they take something from you... or you just stay dead I fucking guess.

[shootstyles]

If...

They've taken it. Then that means, someday, we might be able to take it back. ...Right?

[He glances up at Bakugo, trying to asses his face if he could ever agree to such a wild notion.

It's Izuku's way of not giving up in the face of something so hopeless.]

[bakucchan]

[There's a pause. A really, long pause. A pause where Bakugo lets his arms fall into his lap, legs dangling off the dock as he stares out towards the moon reflected off the sea. He'd love to be able to laugh it off and confidently say he'll be able to take it back. The old Bakugo would have. But the truth of the matter is..]

...I don't know.

[He hasn't heard of anyone getting back what was lost after they were revived before. And he doesn't even know where to begin when it comes to getting anything back.]

[shootstyles]

...I know I have to try. Even if I don't remember, I know you're important to me. So I can't just let them take that away from me without a fight.

[He pulls his knees to chest, watching the moon's reflection distort and dance in the waves of the harbor.]

And even if I can't, I won't just give up on it. On us. I'll just rebuild everything myself.

[bakucchan]

[There's a part of him that wants to ask "why". Why he'd bother with this in the first place, if he doesn't even remember who he is. He doesn't remember all the bullshit Bakugo has said or done to him in the past, and you'd think he'd be happier without it all, honestly.

Yet he's here saying he won't let them take this away from him. That he's important to him. That he'll try no matter how hard it takes to rebuild everything, that he won't give up on them.]

..you can't rebuild a relationship on your own, you fucking dumbass.

[He'll help him, even if he hates the idea of having to do this in the first place.]