Thistle and Weeds

[dishevelment]

Who: Cosmic Indulgence, Junkyard Carnival, their friends, and YOU
What: Things have changed in recent weeks, personally and professionally. People need to meet. Things need to be discussed
When: Latter part of March
Where: All around Vista City
Warnings: Carnies, Squalo, etc. Things get wild with these guys.



[Insert your prompts as needed, folks. This is a catch-all for everyone to react!]

Comments

[traumatizing]

[When you fall asleep all gross and sweaty and still wearing your makeup, a hot shower is more than necessary come the next day. Terry's usually quite patient, but right now he feels gross and he's already been waiting a little while, so. After another few minutes, he starts knocking on the door.]

You okay in there?

[dishevelment]

[--Right. Other people used this bathroom. Koumei had just been busy trying to recall the exact strategy he had been using at the moment when the javeline hit him, and figure out what exactly the puzzle he was looking to solve was at that moment.

Normally serious injuries are met with different emotions, not simple surprise and an odd sense of clarity.]

...I'm fine, [he said after a few moments' too long a wait, and easily shut the water off without even bothering trying to get his head wet.] Just fine, [he repeated, scanning around the small bathroom in his distraction. Where was a decent towel around here...?]

[traumatizing]

You sure?

[That doesn't seem like a normal amount of time for 'fine', but honestly Terry's finding it harder and harder to tell with Koumei.]

[But he's still concerned, so.]

[dishevelment]

Maybe had a little too much to drink last night....it was someone's birthday.

[But the lie was half-hearted. He was still distracted by looking for a proper towel...and he was glad to find that he was still wearing his pants.]

[traumatizing]

I've got some aspirin if you want.

[He can put on some coffee too. Such a helpful child.]

[dishevelment]

[There was no towel in sight-- and Koumei knew his options all too well.]

...I don't think asprine will help with this problem, Terry.

[He cracked the door open to peer at the younger man, and there was no disguising the haunted look that shadowed his eyes.]

[traumatizing]

[He's about to ask what's wrong through the door, but then Koumei's there and the look on his face is... It's a shock. He hides what he's been going through well, so this must be something serious.]

What's wrong? What is it?

[dishevelment]

[Koumei said nothing immediately, and just cast Terry a pointed look before wordlessly swinging the door open. He mercifully had his pants on, but the garment did nothing to hide the jagged vicious looking scar that was centralized just underneath his heart.]

You wanted to talk, didn't you? [He asked mildly, tipping his head slightly as if this were no different than talking about the weather.] Go ahead and ask any question you want-- I need to find a shirt.

[traumatizing]

[Wh-- how can he be so casual about this. Terry frowns, watching Koumei with a concerned expression for a minute before he can even think of anything to say.]

Um, okay. Well let's start with that nasty looking scar I'm pretty sure you never used to have.

[dishevelment]

[Blandly:]

It seems I've been impaled by a javelin during my lifetime in Three Kingdoms Era China.

[It was a....gross oversimplification, but he didn't even know where to begin describing the nature of what he was seeing in his dreams without the obvious comparisons-- even if he knew in his gut that his 'country' was definitly not Ancient China.]

[traumatizing]

Okay... [That's. Not a small thing to have happen to you.] How are you so calm about this?

[dishevelment]

[No, it's not....but neither is a lot of other things that he recalls. Koumei just sighed, and reached up to start twisting his thick locks of hair around his fingers.]

That's a long story, [he said at length.] Suffice to say, holding a rank in an Empire that has spent generations fighting in some war, some where, makes you expect an assassination attempt at some point.

I can't say I'm happy about it, but there's nothing that can be done, either. Worrying over things that are impossible to change does nothing for anyone.

[traumatizing]

You know you're allowed to not be okay, right? [He says hypocritically.] You can freak out a little. I mean, it sounds like you're dealing with a lot here.

[dishevelment]

Why do you think I've been locked in my room, Terry? Finding the memories of an ancient prince and military tactician in your own mind is quite a thing to deal with on it's own. And the things that were done in that country...

[His expression darkened, momentarily flickering with frustration and anger. His hands shook in his hair, even as he kept his lips pressed in a firm line as he kept his own feeling at bay.]

Let me say this: Lesedi Santiago's actions are tame in comparison to what I've seen in my mind.

[traumatizing]

Jesus.

[Okay. He's seen some shit, evidently. Some horrible and confusing shit. They all have, though Terry suspects his own memories are nothing compared to Koumei's. This isn't a contest though, Terry sighs softly and reaches out to put a hand on Koumei's arm in a gesture he hopes is at least a little reassuring.]

You know you don't need to deal with this alone, right?

[dishevelment]

...I know, [he said, looking away almost shamefully. Most of his reasons for staying quiet were to prevent others from worrying over him, but it seems to have had the opposite effect.]

I simply didn't think most people here would get it. Especially knowing that your King was here, only to realize it long after he had been fired from the other label.

[traumatizing]

Your King? [Terry frowns.] Someone you knew was in Virgo?

[dishevelment]

Yes-- my older brother. Hongyan Lian of Old Dirt Road and Hue & Cry. Also called Ren Kouen, First Imperial Prince and rightful Heir to the Throne.