ohmyarceus | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER TEST DRIVE MEME

Did Mister Aizawa send you to get us?

[ Kirishima ventures, just as confused as his counterpart and desperate for things to make sense. But things just keep getting weirder and weirder.

The woman - Mom, as she introduces herself, and in such a way that anyone else would give their name that Kirishima hesitates to question it - utilizes their vulnerable state to direct them out of bed by insisting they've got a journey to head off to and a couple of backpacks in her hand. Of course more questions are asked, but ~~the yo-yo master did not answer, she just kept on yo-ing~~ Mom nimbly side-steps this by answering with things to ones they didn't ask. She lets them know it is Sunday, that their PokéGear ( whatever that is ) is in the bag along with their lunch. With utmost sincerity she asks if they know how to use a phone.

The fact they're not in either of their dorms, much less Alliance Heights becomes quickly apparent, which means Kirishima goes from just trying to keep Bakugou in check to actively signaling with his eyes and his gestures that they just better go along with things until they get a moment to regroup with each other. This is a civilian after all - a sweetly domineering one but a civilian all the same. Kirishima's not sure if she's in her right mind, but then again, he's not sure he is either.

They end up standing together outside of the shut door of a quaint little two-story house in the middle of what seems to be some sort of village, all open space with sandy ground surrounded by trees and what looks to be some sort of marina leading out to sea to their left. Kirishima's still wearing nothing but the black sweatpants he wore to bed and a look of utter bewilderment. In one hand is his brand new backpack and in the other there's an tri-colored orb of some sort that Mom handed him right when he was stepping out the door.

Now that they're finally 'alone', he turns the lost look on Bakugou. His brow furrows. ]

How do you tell if you're dreaming?

[ If this is a dream and his mind knows the answer to that, dream!Bakugou would be the one who gives it to him. If this isn't a dream and this is actually Bakugou, even better. The real guy's even smarter and it also means he's not alone in this crazy whatever-the-fuck that's happening to them now. ]

[ What a stupid question that is. Does she LOOK like the sort that Aizawa would send? Katsuki is about to tell his so-called friend what an idiot he is, but the lady sort of... Just goes on? And on and on like she hadn't heard Kirishima in the first place. To the blonde, it sort of feels like this is scripted; this is something that she has memorized.

It's a good thing that the redhead is there, actually. How many people can actually contain him when he starts to get angry? The more the woman, who calls herself "Mom," talks... The more confused Bakugou gets. This leads to agitation and there's only one way that the blonde actually expresses that. As soon as that backpack is shoved in his hands, he's gripping it tighter and tighter. If his quirk had been working - which he needs to figure out why the fuck it isn't - then that bag would have been nothing but ash. The only reason he's not yelling and threatening to kill a person for answers is because of that signaling.

As soon as they are outside though? All bets are off. He's throwing that backpack at the closest tree and yelling about how he is going to kill the bastard that's done this. ]

IF THIS WAS A DREAM THEN WHY ARE YOU IN IT, SHITTY HAIR!?

[ And Bakugou has nothing to take it out on. Except Kirishima. Oops? ]

WHAT'S WITH THIS SHIT!?

[ Because it's his dream? Maybe? More importantly: ]

I DON'T KNOW!!

[ He shouts right back, throwing his stance into a sort of star-like formation with his arms flung out and his feet planted. Both his items remain in his hands, however.

Of course, Kirishima's not yelling at Bakugou because he's angry with the other boy, he's just being loudly confused and frustrated with the entire situation. They're expressing! Emotions! ]

I WOKE UP THE SAME AS YOU! WE--

[ His attention shifts instinctively as something low and pink blitzes past them. It's... a cat? But some mutated version of one. Sure, where they're from some animals get a Quirk, but those creatures tend to become bipedal for it. Kirishima watches it haul ass towards a nearby house, apparently startled by something ( them ). The silence isn't actual silence, though... that cheery music is there, sourceless but louder and frankly horrific.

It's enough to break his train of thought and get him training tack. He gives the other a stern, serious look and squares up like they're about to throw fists. ]

Do it, man. Blast me.

[ If Bakugou can, that is. Kirishima's already suspected but has also been denying the truth: that their Quirks are gone. Looking at his own clenched fists and his forearms, seeing them stay just as smooth and soft despite flexing them as hard as he can, is sending him back to a pretty scary place. If Bakugou actually blasts him, it's really going to hurt... And Kirishima's hoping the fear of that will force his Quirk to come back.

But if he can't, well... ]

Edited 2020-09-16 03:10 (UTC)

[ Frankly speaking it isn't really Kirishima that the blonde is frustrated with either. It's this entire situation. There have been a lot of crazy things that have happened since they've enrolled in UA and the array of characters that either teach or attend are just as nuts. There are times one has to wonder if it is a school or a circus. However this just sort of takes the cake and Bakugou is just as confused as his self-proclaimed friend.

Yelling at each other is really the only way either one of them know how to express that confusion. Katsuki is a smart guy, but even he can't really figure out what the hell is going on. There's no quirk that can do this. Then again... Maybe there is. But for that to be true, the both of them would have needed to be hit by it and there's some doubt there.

Even if that's the case there is certainly one thing that couldn't happen and that's taking away their quirks. Katsuki is pretty sure that sort of ability is limited. He even takes a moment to stare at his hand while the redhead continues to flip out. Now that Katsuki's brain is kicking into gear to tear apart this situation, he's calming down. Sort of. ]

Don't be so damn dramatic. I've been trying to blow shit up since we woke up.

[ He doesn't like the idea that he's essentially quirkless. After giving Deku so much shit for it, knowing that something he had been born with it just ripped away doesn't settle well at all. But Katsuki is pretty determined NOT to show how much that thought unnerves him right now. ]

I can't do shit and neither can you.

[ Kirishima grits his teeth, clenches his arms... and relaxes somewhat. ]

...Yeah. Thought so.

[ Kirishima's Quirk is gone and so is Bakugou's. This is so distressing, he's starting to disassociate a bit. Bakugou's chastisement and strange calm actually calms Kirishima too, or rather puts him into more of the hero's working state of mind. This is... bad. And where most people under stress would be freaking the fuck out, they're the type of people who have been specifically trained to work well under it. Make no mistake, he is still quietly losing his shit right now. But outwardly, the redhead takes a breath. ]

We're close to each other in the dorms. If some villain came at us with some sort of dream quirk...

I don't know about you, but I'm never as strong in dreams as I am when I'm awake.

[ Back to dreams again. But really, what other explanation is there when you're totally unmoored from your last memory and watching a tumescent, pink cat run across a field? While sourceless music plays. What else could it possibly be? ]

[ Part of being a hero is dealing with high stress situations. Bakugou and Kirishima have already dealt with some pretty intense situations out of school hours and scenarios within school hours. So now that Katsuki is done flipping out ( for the moment ), he is stopping to think about what their next move should be. ]

That would mean that someone managed to get through security.

[ Which also means, more than likely, inside help. Bakugou also thinks that Kirishima and himself wouldn't likely be the targets. If anything the main target would be Deku or any other serious threats. Shitty nerd's quirk has a secret that Katsuki can't share with his friend so voicing these thoughts? Yeah, that's not going to happen. If they had been hit by a quirk, it's more than likely to keep them out of the way while they go after the shitty nerd or someone else.

Though he is starting to think that this is pretty elaborate for one person's quirk... ]

We need to get back to that room or find a book. Any book.

[ Because you can't actually read in dreams. ]

[ Kirishima doesn't ask why any more than he ever does during field operations, he just follows Bakugou's plan, moving to open the door of the house they just walked out of. He would have, rather. It's locked. So of course he starts knocking on the door with the hand still clutching the orb. ]

Mom!

[ A little cringe as he hears it out of his mouth. Of course she's not his mom.

The woman doesn't come, but on the third or forth knock, the orb in his palm expands to be much larger, causing him to drop it on instinct. The red and white orb splits in the middle on what he now realizes must be some sort of hinge, emitting a red laser that causes him to flex all over ( kind of sad, still trying to activate his quirk ).

The red light forms into a figure. It looks like... a small, grey man? Kirishima stares. The little man, who is nude but also seems to be lacking any genitalia, puts his hands on his hips and sizes both teens up with a pair of similarly red eyes. ]

Woah! Were you trapped in there, man?

[ Technology where they're from can pull off some phenomenal things, but he's only ever seen a Quirk be able to compress someone to a much smaller size before. ]

[ To be fair, at least Kirishima got something out of the blonde. More often than not, Katsuki is just walking away without offering any sort of words to express what is going on in his brain. He doesn't usually outright say anything. However, Bakugou figures that, just like himself, the redhead needs something to focus on. Some sort of task. It's purposeful, so it's not like Katsuki is just making shit up.

So while Kirishima starts to knock on that door ~~better him than Katsuki since he'd just break it down~~ Bakugou swipes the other teen's backpack. He's going to rummage through it without any sort of permission, looking for any signs or clues. Inside is the usual garbage that anyone one need for traveling. Clothes. Essentials. Kirishima should consider himself lucky that Katsuki isn't tossing it out to find what he's looking for, if anything.

He does find it though - a map. However there's also a guide. It's in his hands when there's that little beam of light that takes form. ]

The hell is that...

[ Just what is this thing that they are staring at!? What the fuck is up with this place!? ]

[ Given he has no real sense of ownership over the aforementioned bag and he understands what Katsuki's going for, Kirishima just lets it be taken. Also, there's a whole humanoid... thing? Person? Creature? That just came out of a ball that had expanded from palm-sized to a handful in short order. ]

Who... [ Kirishima corrects Bakugou - Quirks can make people look a whole number of ways where they're from, after all, though Kirishima's now wondering whether he's talking to an adult or a child. He gleans a steady sort of intelligence from the red eyes, which have both made a once-over accounting of them. ] Who are you?

[ The red eyes snap back up to Kirishima. He gets a split second to register a furrowed brow and a little smirk.

Then the thing leaps up and punches him right in the chest. Hard.

Maaaachop!!

Kirishima goes flying back off his feet with the incredible force of the blow, rolling ass over tea-kettle a couple of times through the sand towards the harbor. Altogether it's about three feet of pure air time and another four or so of rolling before he comes to a stop sitting on his butt. He wheezes, loudly, clutching his chest and staring at the creature. That fucking hurt - enough so he's not sure if a few ribs didn't pop. ]

[ The redhead can correct Bakugou all he wants. Katsuki isn't entirely sure that the thing that popped out of the red and white ball is human. Quriks can do a lot of things and change people in various ways, but none of this adds up. If this is the doing of someone else's quirk, then the grey thing would also be affected by the quirk - which implies that yet another person would have managed to get through security...

While he doesn't know everyone in the school, he's pretty sure that he'd remember someone that looks that fucking ugly. Which would mean a potential enemy and not friend. At least that is how it would read to Bakugou.

Which is easy enough to sort of believe when the thing sends Kirishima flying. So how is it that their quirks are gone but this thing obviously is powered up? Katsuki just watches the entire thing happen and, normally, he might snicker and laugh at the redhead and his obvious misfortune. Instead he's still rather focused, opening that guidebook. That he can read. ]

This isn't a dream, Shitty Hair. [ His eyes flicker between the guide and the creature that seems to be pretty satisfied with himself. ...Bakugou suspects that this might not be a villain's doing at all. This is far too detailed. Too elaborate. ] You might wanna come over here and educate yourself.

[ Coherent thought pretty much stopped the moment Kirishima took a blow to the chest. Of course this means nothing to Bakugou, who's pretty accustomed to watching the redhead get smacked around ( and done so plenty himself ). To Eijiro, however, there's more important things to do than go read. And Bakugou calls Midoriya a nerd...

But Kirishima does obey in one aspect. Once he shoves himself up to his feet he does come over. He just does so by charging down the grey creature. ]

WHAT THE HELL, MAN!

[ It would have been a roar if not for the fact his lungs are still trying to re-inflate themselves, coming out in more of a rasp. The grey creature shifts into a classic ready Judo stance, but Kirishima only understands it's not planning to dodge at the last second of punching down on its fin-ridged head. By then it's too late and he's punched the thing flat on its face in the sand.

Of course he was expecting a whole fight to start and immediately the redhead feels conflicted. It doesn't stop him from kicking up a little sand at the thing's legs, however. Now it's face down, he can see a nubby little grey tail sticking up; Ojiro's got one, sure, but more and more he's beginning to doubt the humanity here. ]

DON'T JUST GO PUNCHIN' STRANGERS! ALL I DID WAS LET YOU OUT! THAT FRIGGIN' HURT!

[ Little kick kick kick of sand. Of course, he's got too much honor to go for the face or actually kick the thing while it's down, but making a little sand pile on its back seems fair game to him.

It turns its face up to him, rubbing its brow, the look one of consideration and maybe some begrudging approval rather than anger. ]

Edited 2020-09-19 20:29 (UTC)

[ People tend to forget that Bakugou actually is studious. His temper usually makes people believe that he is a slacker and a delinquent. That because the blonde is hot headed he's not someone that takes time to actually stop, think, and analyze. Boy are people usually proven wrong about that. It's just that Bakugou doesn't always make a big deal of these things.

So while Kirishima charges in - reacting instead of acting - Katsuki does continue to flip through the pages. All of this is pretty old hat to him. If he hadn't been focused on getting answers, then chances are that Bakugou would be just as reactionary as the redhead. The guide, if it can be believed, is actually useful instead of what Kirishima is doing by beating up the creature in front of them. ]

Congratulations on beating up what this place thinks of as a pet. Do you feel manly now?

[ The jab is meant more as a "hey there's more important shit to deal with" comment. Not that Bakugou really questions Kirishima's "manly factor." ]

SINCE WHEN DO PETS LAUNCH YOU ACROSS A FIELD???

[ Kirishima yells incredulously, clenching a fist. He does stop kicking sand with his heel at the creature, though. A moment later and the weight of the words actually pierce through the thick skull. ]

You're tellin' me this guy's some sort of animal?

[ Make no mistake, Kirishima would absolutely punch a dog or a cat if it jumped up and started attacking him. But he'd feel bad about it after. He glances between the grey creature and Bakugou, still on his guard but done with fighting for now. The creature snorts at the blonde and pushes itself to a stand, brushing its shoulders off in a gesture that's oddly performative in the way it flexes its arms in doing so. Who's beat up, now? ]

[ Wow what a display... Katsuki almost snorts. Though congrats on Kirishima calming down enough to realize what the blonde is trying to tell him. He waves the guidebook around. ]

According to this.

[ Then he throws the thing at the redhead's head. Knowing that a villain couldn't have come up with this isn't at all comforting. At least if this had been a villain's doing they could kind of try to combat it. There'd have to be some way out or some time duration. Katsuki could come up with a way to work around it and get them out of this mess, he's sure of it. However, since this is unlikely... He needs answers about what is really going on. And just by looking around at this small village? It doesn't look like they are going to get them here.

Damn it all. Why does this shit happen to Class 1-A?

With a grunt, he shoves his hands into his pockets. Katsuki strolls over to where he had dumped his bag and starts to go through it himself. He finds another one of those red and while balls - containers used to house these creatures - and gives it a toss like the guide says.

And out comes a creme and black colored... What? Anteater? Porcupine without spines? ]

Is this a joke?

[ WHY DOES HE HAVE SUCH A PUNY THING???? ]

Why can't you just tell me what you found so far?

[ Kirishima protests as he catches the guide. Sure, he can read but uggghhh! And it's inefficient too, at least he thinks so. He does not know the same thing about reading in dreams as Bakugou, though the blond seems confident they're not in one now.

He begins to read as the blonde skulks off, pausing for a second to squint at the little grey man. ]

You're not gonna hit me again, are you?

[ It shrugs. Kirishima gives a suspicious little glower but stands his ground. He doesn't know of any pets smart enough to understand what he says at that sort of level of responsiveness. ]

Pokemon...

[ He murmurs to himself as his eyes light over the first page. Of course, he's distracted again when Bakugou throws the ball and it forms into... not another grey man, but some other little creature that definitely looks more like an animal. ]

Holy crap... It's... [ He narrows his eyes down at the critter. A smile begins to threaten the corners of his lips. ] Cute.

Because you've got eyes and a brain and need to exercise them more.

[ Oh please. Bakugou doesn't give the redhead all the answers when they do study sessions. Why would that change even right now? Hell, when they are doing practical lessons, a lot of times Bakugou doesn't even explain what's on his mind. He just leaves that for Kirishima to figure out. It's just how it is and it isn't going to stop any time soon.

Right now, though, he's watching this little creature - who chimes in with a 'cyyyyyndaquil!' oh so helpfully - look up at him. God, he already knows what is on his friend's brain even before the other starts to show signs of smiling. Katsuki doesn't even get a moment to cut him off before the cute comment slips out. ]

Oh shut the hell up.

[ He continues to glare at the thing, as if expecting it to do something to impress him. The Cyndaquil seems to get it though because before too long it's taking a deeeeeep breath.... And then fire starts to shoot off of its back. ]

...At least it's not completely worthless.

[ How about because you're both in totally new territory and this isn't a fucking study session??? JERK! Bakugou's got to be one of those people who tosses children into deep water to teach them to swim...

But Kirishima has a chance to get a small bit of revenge. Bakugou's got to know being told to shut the hell up just means he's making things worse and cracking his friend's expression into more of a toothy grin. So what if his weird little alien dude punched him in the chest and he's still not sure if his ribs are broken? Katsuki's got the most adorable little grill puppy.

The aforementioned alien dude begins to stride confidently towards the thing with its hands on its hips, at which point Kirishima's smile drops and he quickly moves to set himself between the two creatures, holding out a staying hand towards... his new pet? Pokemon? ]

Dude, if you punch that thing, it'll die. No.

[ It huffs, leaning to peer past Kirishima's hip. ]

They're both really different... But they're both Poke-mon? [ He does pronounce it as 'poke' and 'mon'. ]

[ He'd totally toss a child into water to teach it out to swim. But then probably reach back in and yank the thing out. Aggressively.

Right now Shitty Hair better watch it. Just because he can't throw a hand onto the other teen's face and make everything a bit singed doesn't mean he can't toss this red and white ball right at Kirishima's face. He totally can and he very well might if "cute" comments keep coming up in this conversation.

But then his face twists into irritation the moment that his friend calls into question the toughness of his little beastie. ]

Are you sayin' that mine's weaker than yours? Not fucking possible.

[ So now this is a competition? Surely sounds like it. ]

Let's go, then. Right here. Right now.

[ Guess what? Even if he can't harden up any more, it doesn't mean Kirishima can't take a punch and throw it back. EVIDENTLY he can, seeing as he didn't just die from a blow that threw him bodily away a couple of feet. Try him! A plastic-esque ball means nothing!

Bakugou throws out a challenge and it's all Kirishima can do to crouch down and catch the grey creature as it surges forth, apparently accepting the challenge given. It's easy to pick the thing up but hard to hold onto as it writhes in his grip, shouting over Kirishima's shoulder like an unruly little brother.

Maaachop-chopchop!!! CHOP!! - "Hey, you wanna go? Let's PROVE OURSELVES!!!" ]

No way I'm letting fucking animals fight for us! What the hell, Bakugou?!

[ Might mean something if he pelts Kirishima in the middle of the head.

Since Machop is into it, Cyndaqil seems to get fired up as well. Those little flames on its back burn brighter. Hotter. Higher. Oh it's ready to go and prove what it's worth to its new trainer. So come on! Let's go!

Bakugou just kind of smirks, approving of the gesture. Really they shouldn't be screwing around like this. They should be going out there towards the next town to see if anyone there doesn't act like a zombie. The boys need answers and none of these npc looking assholes here like like they are going to be of any help.

But now it's a matter of pride and like hell Katsuki is going to let all this go. ]

I gave you the guidebook to read, Shitty Hair.

[ Well more like threw it at Kirishima. Same thing, really. If the moron would actually take a moment to take in the information, the redhead would actually know that these creatures? They like to duke it out. ]

[ Machop isn't free just yet, but it can use leer over its trainer's shoulder while it slowly repositions its hands on Kirishima's shoulder, red eyes glaring hotly down on the Cyndaqil.

Not knowing any better, Kirishima accepts the seeming relaxation and shifting as compliance. His attention is more on the blonde. ]

Okay? Some people don't read a page in a minute, asshole! We're not sitting down in the library!

[ Like he's going to just sit here and read a book while they engage in what's essentially dog-fighting. His trust in Bakugou only goes so far. Bakugou's need to win is... Well, apparently Kirishima isn't willing to just follow his word in this instance. It's a rare thing that happens. ]

You want them to fight so bad? Tell me how that ain't messed up!

Edited 2020-09-21 04:41 (UTC)

Haa? You sayin' there's no value in reading outside of the library? No wonder your level of comprehension is so damn low! Maybe you need to replace that fucking punching bag of yours with a few books!

[ He scoffs. Then he's storming right over to Kirishima and ripping the guidebook out of those hands. Bakugou flips through the pages, landing specifically onto the battle chapters and trainer tips. Then he shoves it right back into his stupid ass friend's hands. ]

They're supposed to, shit for brains. Messed up or not, they wanna do it so why not let them? No different than you and me going at it!

No, I'm sayin' crap keeps happening and I got my hands full!

[ Which means he tries to petulantly twist and side-step away from Bakugou's attempts to put the guidebook back in said hands, looking absolutely ridiculous with Machop in his arms. But he's shortly freed of that ~~excuse~~ problem when the Pokemon shoves down on his shoulder and yanks its legs free with a surprising amount of upper body strength, using the redhead's arms to spring-board into a flip over his head before Kirishima can even really react. Totally used the boys' bickering to its advantage.

Machop lands nimbly in a crouch behind Kirishima, though it doesn't stay there. Like a sprinter it launches towards Cyndaqil, spraying up some sand in the process. ]

....

[ Kirishima moves to take the guidebook, though his eyes stay glued to the oncoming fight, his mouth a thin line of concern. ]

[ Look, he knows that they have things that they need to be doing. Things that require them to move on from this. However, Bakugou also has a feeling that they aren't going to be able to move beyond this unless it happens. This will go down eventually so it's best to just get it out of the way so that there's no more distractions. ]

You better show me what you got, you little rat.

[ Because he has no idea what he's actually supposed to do here. The blonde's read something about giving commands, but how the hell is he supposed to do that? He doesn't know what the shitty thing can do!

But it seems to. Because as the Machop kicks up sand, the Cyndaquil takes a deep breath and starts to pour out black smoke to fill the surrounding area. ]

[ Kirishima can't help a small little huff as the 'little rat' begins to gutter out smoke, reaching up to cover his mouth with his free hand to hide whatever the hell it's doing. ]

More like a short fuse to a smoke bomb. It suits you.

[ The thing really is cute and he's going to feel awful if this is more of a beatdown than a showdown. Obviously he's just as lost as Bakugou as to what his Pokemon can do.

This is a learning experience for everyone involved, as the Machop drops to its hands before where it perceives the Cyndaquil and swings a low kick towards the fire creature, stirring up the smoke in the process. The area isn't heavily obscured ( yet ) so Kirishima can make out the silhouette in the smoke. More and more he's having to acknowledge it does look like his Pokemon has some sort of martial arts training. But it's not his Pokemon he's worried about. ]

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