audio; un: GoldenGuard

[cardinalrule]

WHO: Hunter
WHERE: Zodiac apartments and networks.
WHEN: A few days after the event.
WHAT: Hunter goes home! Yay! And then he comes back. Boo.
WARNINGS: Themes of child abuse, child soldiering, being in a cult, kid having a breakdown. He's having a really bad time.


[It had been a few days since everyone returned from the valley. While it had overall hadn't felt very useful despite the promise from Zodiac of a stable portal, Hunter can't really deny that, upon returning to Kaisou, he felt a little more relaxed than normal. On a smaller, much more personal scale, it had somehow felt productive to him. There had been goals to meet, the chance to work with his hands in a way that didn't make him feel self-conscious about not having magic and, frankly, Julieta's cooking on a regular basis was amazing. It wasn't the worst trip ever, though he's happy to be back in Kaisou, happy to continue working on finding a way home.

And then he does. Sort of.

Hunter dives right back into his research as soon as he's back. He's working late one night, late enough that he winds up passing out at his desk. It's far from the first time he's done this so it shouldn't be a big deal - except when he wakes up, he's back in the Emperor's castle.

He doesn't remember a single thing about Kaisou, or any of the people he had met. All that's in his mind are Belos' words echoing in his ears, It would be such a hassle to find a replacement, and the Knee, and the need for Titan blood. He travels out to the Knee, to Eclipse Lake, and despite it all he returns home with the honest-to-Titan portal key. It's cracked and blood is leaking out of it, but it works. Belos has the key.

Several weeks pass. He works away as the Head of the Emperor's Coven, he does little assignments around the castle as the Golden Guard. He's bonded with the bird palisman that insists on following him around, whose name is Flapjack. The Day of Unity is coming. Everything is good.

Hunter is working away at his desk in his room, researching cures for debilitating conditions brought on by exposure to wild magic. He works late into the night and passes out at his desk, though it's far from the first time he's done this, so it shouldn't be a big deal. Except when he wakes up, he's back in his tiny studio apartment in Kaisou. Several days have passed, not several weeks.

It takes him a few minutes to fully process where he is. The memories slamming back into his head are jumbled and confusing, made all the worse by his terror and distress at being away from the castle again. Belos had told him to stay put and after the events at Eclipse Lake, he had listened. So why is he back here? What had he done wrong this time? There has to be something, anything, and as he struggles to deal with this he does something that he probably shouldn't.]



[Network]

[He's mashing the screen of his phone a bunch, eventually ending up with the audio recording function starting to post something to Libra. While he prefers text he isn't about to stop and try to figure the stupid thing out - it's been weeks since he's used it, and he was never very good at it to begin with, and it would take him about half an hour to manage to type everything he wants to say out. He doesn't have the patience right now.

So this message starts with Hunter making some very frustrated, stressed out noises.]

How do you use this - there?? - I swear to Titan - [Okay, okay he thinks it's on.]

Someone better be able to tell me why I'm back here! [Starting off strong! He isn't going to beat around the bush, nor is he able to push the anger coming through in his voice down to something calmer.] I don't know what kind of stupid game someone or something is playing, but they're going to have the entire Emperor's Coven to deal with after dragging me back here! I was here one second, then I was back in the Boiling Isles, like none of this ever happened! I went home!

[That last remark is tense, his anger quickly becoming overwhelmed with the anxiety that comes with knowing he fucked up. Badly. He draws in a short breath and pushes forward.]

There must have been some kind of time and memory magic working together through whatever portal I went through, because it was like I never left. It was the same time, and the same place, and I couldn't remember anything about this city -

[There had been nothing. Nothing to worry about, only his life in the Boiling Isles. And now he's back here, reaching for something that's just out of his grasp. His anger ebbs away further, his agitation really starts showing through. His voice is cracked, his lisp is coming through more pronounced, and he's smashing a fist down onto his desk. There's some worried chirping going on in the background.]

It was great! Things were going great! I made up for failing with the palismen by getting the key! The Emperor was - [Well. He falters, then picks himself up.] - everything was moving along - [It isn't video so no one can actually see this, but it's clear from the distress in his voice and the increased rambling that he's gesticulating wildly with his hands. He does that when he gets worked up.] All of it's ready for the Day of Unity - I was doing what he said - so why am I back here??

[It's like a thread snapping. The fear that Belos is going to replace him for this, no matter how irrational it is given the time shenanigans going on, is too much for him.

It would be such a hassle to find a replacement.]

I can't be back here! He needs me! The Titan needs me! I didn't do anything wrong this time - [There's several short, shallow breaths, and it kind of sounds like Hunter is starting to laugh as he buries his hands in his face. He sounds the furthest thing from happy. He failed again, and this time he doesn't even know how.] I can't believe this - I can't believe it - there's got to be some Zodiac personnel on this thing that can explain what's happening! Whatever sent me back, just do it again - I can't be here!

Comments

Audio, un: Mariposa

[nonmagical]

[THERE HE IS. Mirabel had been admittedly worried when he up and disappeared from school. He found a way back home?

She has a dozen questions, but none of them seem very relevant right now. Not when he’s this upset.]

Maybe… maybe it’s a mix-up. I can’t see why they’d send you home just to bring you right back.

[That would just be cruel.]

[cardinalrule]

['Upset' is putting it lightly. He doesn't bother trying to switch over to text, even though he probably should.]

A mix-up?? How could this be a mix-up??

[Nope, no way, obviously he did something to make this happen. It's another punishment. It has to be.]

[nonmagical]

It would have to be, wouldn't it? Some kind of mistake this place made, because it wouldn't make any sense to send you home and not keep you there.

We'll figure this out, okay? But you need to calm down first. Nothing's going to get solved if you work yourself into a panic.

Voice: UN: BRUNO

[wedonttalkabout]

[Oh...wow. The kid is blatantly not doing okay- but this is some...new information. So they CAN go home...and get pulled back, too. Bruno's not sure how to feel about that. Worried? Grateful? A mix? Maybe if he was more concerned with the ins and outs of this place, he'd be more focused on that, but that's not what's important now. Hunter's well-being has to take precedence. As tough as he is, he's still just a kid, and clearly, he's a kid who's going through a lot. ]

Hey, take some deep breaths, okay? In and out. Just focus on breathing for a sec.

[cardinalrule]

[It's a real bad time and Hunter hasn't had time to process any of it. Of course he hasn't, why would he ever waste his time doing something like that when he could be - should be trying to find a way to go back?]

I don't need to breathe! [Yes, yes he does. He's on the verge of hyperventilating.] I need to go home!

[wedonttalkabout]

Kid, you definitely need to breathe. You won't be able to go home if you're dead from not breathing, right?

[Just gonna hit you with some choice logic here.]

Look. You just said it was like you never left, right? So you don't need to go back right now. We've got time to figure this out.

video; un: undecided; private

[camaleonico]

[ Well, this sounds... bad. He's wondered where Hunter's been from school the past few days, but assumed he had a good reason to miss, considering how studious he was. Camilo had been starting to get worried about him, but before he took action on this worry, he saw... this. Camilo's fascinated by hearing that they can go home and a part of him wants to ask Hunter more questions about that, but now is not the time. He's figured out the privacy settings on Libra by now, and even though it's clear Hunter does not mind making a public emotional spectacle, Camilo himself feels like privacy is an important part of calming down. And he's pretty well-practiced at calming people down. He has a soft smile on, tender eyes, but wills the worry off his face, not wanting Hunter to feel pressured to feel one way or another in the face of all this. His tone is a little gentler than the usual sarcastic-joke-around-the-corner tone he so often wears, but not so much to be patronizing or sound like pity. Just even-keel. ]

Hey. ...Wanna vent?

[cardinalrule]

[Thankfully, since HUnter is replying to a private message his own message is private. He doesn't otherwise have the patience to make it private.]

No!

[That answer is coming reflexively. He's angry and upset and on the verge of a panic attack, he isn't really thinking clearly.]

What I want to do is get out of here! There has to be a way! I just - I need to figure it out! Why can't I figure this out??

[camaleonico]

Because you're too worked up to think clearly. Venting could help you sort your thoughts out. Just helps to have someone lend an ear sometimes.

voice | deadpeopletea

[four_quarts]

[Well, having had experience with this sort of thing, Ghaleon can't say they weren't somewhat expecting this sort of thing to happen, although Hunter being the first was not even remotely ideal. But now was not the time to dwell on that.

Now was the time for a soothing but firm tone of voice.]

Hunter. I know you're having difficulty with this, and I have information on this matter you need to hear. Before I tell it to you, however, I need to make sure you don't hyperventilate from the stress. You know how to breathe on a five count, I trust?

[cardinalrule]

What?!

[Predictably, Hunter tunes all of that out except for the part where Ghaleon says he has information. He isn't sure what to do with that, but he desperately needs to know more.]

Did you know this could happen?? Do you know how the portals work?! You have to tell me what you know! Now!

[four_quarts]

Hunter.

[Ghaleon's tone remains even and without anger, but leaves little room for argument.]

This is exactly why I wanted you to calm down and breathe. I need you to listen to all of what I'm going to tell you, not just what you want to hear. I'm willing to help you as a friend, but in order to do that, I need you to listen to me like you would a healer giving you instructions on how to care for a long-term injury. Do you understand?

Audio, un: clovertales

[keyofelde]

[Souta doesn't fully comprehend half of what's been said, but as far as he's concerned it doesn't matter. Whoever this is, he's clearly having a very bad time.]

[His voice is tentative as he speaks up, but just as gentle as ever.]

Is there... something we can do to help?

[He so very much wants to help.]

[cardinalrule]

[He's having an exceptionally bad day right now. It's rough, he has no idea who this is, and he's sorely missing the Boiling Isles right now.]

Not unless you know how the portals that have trapped us here work!

[keyofelde]

[Just a friendly face that wants to lend a hand. That is if he can. Admittedly Souta doesn't know much about how things in Kaisou work yet and he hasn't unlocked portal knowledge from canon.]

[Still, he feels like he's got to try.]

You mean the Spirit Realm portals? I fell asleep for the train ride through the gate, so I suppose I don't.

But I could look into it if you'd like?

Voice; un: antonio

[speaksanimal]

[Despite Antonio's initial encounter with Hunter, it didn't stop him from being worried. All he could do was listen to him vent before he gave out a small mumble or two.]

Do you want someone to talk to...?

[cardinalrule]

Why does everyone think I need to talk about this?! [It doesn't occur to him that maybe, just maybe it might be good for him.] I need to get home!

[speaksanimal]

But we still don't know how! We can't help you go home yet!

[Mumble mumble]

All we can do is to stop being mad and think.

Audio | un: pequeña_montaña

[neverbreaks]

[ That is...a lot of information to process. But Luisa decides to worry about the rest of it later, in favor of focusing on Hunter. Even if her feelings about him are still mixed at best, it still hurts to hear him so distressed. And really, she can't blame him. ]

Hey. I know everything is really upsetting right now, but you might make yourself sick with worry.

[cardinalrule]

Sick? You think I should be worried about getting sick??

[Oh Titan, that's ridiculous. It doesn't even occur to him that being a jerk to someone who is only trying to help isn't the right response here, but he's too upset and frustrated and above all scared to be thinking straight.]

I'm going to have a lot more to worry about than being sick if I don't get back there!

[neverbreaks]

But you're going to have a tougher time figuring out how to get back if you get sick.

[ And she doesn't mean just physically sick either. But she also doesn't tell him to calm down, because she knows that something like this would be difficult to calm down from. Honestly, if she was in his position, she'd be really upset too. ]

audio; un: rschwarzer

[motiv8]

Hunter? Hunter, hey... calm down. I know that's easier said than done, but you're not doing yourself any good by freaking out, okay?

[Rean's trying to sound as soft and non-threatening as he possibly can. It's fine if Hunter yells at him, but he absolutely doesn't want to make it worse.]

If no one even noticed you were gone before, I think there's a good chance that'll be the case this time. Time doesn't work the same here as it does in other worlds, we know that for sure from these past two months, right? And you just proved time in your world doesn't advance when time advances here.

[Rean can't be 100% certain of what he's saying, but he is actually pretty confident of it. It makes sense with the way portals have worked so far, it's hard to imagine the rules would just suddenly change on Hunter.

Sure, these things that none of them truly understand can be cruel and painful, but even magic has to have rules.]

[cardinalrule]

I am calm!

[He isn't calm, he's the furthest thing from calm and he knows that, but he can't stop himself from snapping that. He makes a frustrated noise, curling his fingers up into his hair, his pulse pounding in his ears.]

There's no guarantee that that time rule is consistent! What if that only happens once?? What if it was a fluke?! [What if he's screwed up again?? That thought continues running through his head, and it terrifies him.]

UN: ecraig

[fiddlestick]

[He had been wondering where Hunter had gotten to the past few days. It wasn't like Hunter to miss school without a word. To see this is what happened...Oh, his heart hurts for the kid. To think you're home only to have it snatched away. And to clearly be scared and think it's your]

Hunter...I'm so sorry.

Whatever's going on, it's not your fault. Take a deep breath, please?

[cardinalrule]

[He very firmly ignores that suggestion to take a deep breath, like a very good and mature teenager. Instead he focuses on the other part of Elliot's message, the part where he's completely, one hundred percent wrong.]

How can you know that?! You don't know anything about me, or anything back home! I've failed before, that's why I was here in the first place!

[So obviously, a second failure is why he's back here.]