WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL

[gatonina]

ARRIVAL

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PASSENGERS: 41 You know how the story goes by now. One minute you’re somewhere familiar, and the next you’re suddenly somewhere else. Unlike previous times before, the source of your rude awakening isn’t a mystery. A harsh jostle causes your body to lunge forward as a tire jumps over a pot hole in the road. Try as you might, it’s hard to ignore the steady thrumming of an engine and the gentle sway beneath you. The faint scent of gasoline seems to waft from the outside, but as you look around you’ll notice that the windows are locked, tinted, and impossible to see through. Likewise, the door ahead of you appears to be locked as well. Perhaps the scent is your imagination…? Regardless, though the lighting is a tad dim, it becomes apparent that you’re inside a large bus dotted with the occasional seat and amid a jumble of other bodies. The people you were last with may be among your fellow passengers. Perhaps they are not. But worry not; there’s plenty of time to look around and get to know one another on this long, strange trip. It may even be wise to examine the staircase at the other end of the bus. Who knows what awaits you on the other floors? Ah, but before you move too far it may be best to assess the situation. On the bright side, any injuries you incurred have been healed! Isn't it nice to have your limbs in place again? Miracles happen. But...what happened to your clothes? You’re fairly certain you weren't wearing this t-shirt before...and what's with the denim shorts? Maybe you were fortunate enough to get the knee-length version, but for those of you waking up in bootyshorts...well, we're sure you look great! And what better way to tie the whole look together than white socks and tan sandals? At least you'll be comfortable for the ride. Lucky for you, your new threads aren't the only gift you'll receive upon waking up. Attached to your waist is a high-quality bag filled with some fun goodies for every passenger! For those of you who unzip your bag to check its contents, you will find: -Dry shampoo -Wet wipes -Deodorant -Travel pack of toilet paper -Travel toothbrush + toothpaste -Poncho -A stylish travel guide No other items are on your person at this time, even if you were holding onto it as you began your previous departure. That's a bit troublesome, isn't it? Not really; it's still a bus. Be grateful for the extra elbow room, alright? Oh, and one last thing...on the wrist of every passenger is a small, equally fashionable white scrunchie. Not your style? Perhaps it's a good idea to give the travel guide another read. Searching the bus from top to bottom will net zero results in the way of an escape. All of the windows are similarly tinted and locked, and the only exit door appears to be the one on the first level that can't be opened at this time. But hey. You're all old pros at this, right? You know what to do next! Get to know the people around you, trade stories with your fellow passengers, and...well. Buckle up for the bumpy ride ahead.

Comments

[baori]

[ he'll ease up on the grip while feeling like he's aging so quickly. he's not the person meant for this job. this is awful. terrible.

still.... ]

You're Tanjiro's friend, right? Can't you take care of yourself?

[ did giyuu ever learn his name? who knows. what's important is that he doesn't quite remember him being this cowardly... definitely remembers him having moments though. ]

[swordflash]

Tanjiro? Who's that?

[ he shrugs the confusion away with the shake of his head. ]

Anyway, I wouldn't be asking if I could do that. Truth is, I'm horribly weak. And I can't hear anything, either . . . That's why I need your help! Please!

[baori]

[ who's tanjiro? now there's a question that giyuu doesn't even know how to answer so he's not. but he is going to lean in and slightly squint at zenitsu. ]

Did you hit your head as well?

[ he's no doctor or medic or whatever shinobu is so he'll look away once he's had his fill. he knows what he wants to do but he also, unfortunately, knows what he is going to do because life apparently likes to laugh at him and constantly deal him terrible cards.

boy he hates this. ]

Fine. [ giyuu removes his hand from zenitsu's head and rests them by his sides. ] But you'll need to become stronger as well.

[swordflash]

[ he probably did hit his head earlier, but that's not important. what's important is securing this man's protective service.

suddenly the pressure is on and he stays rooted in place, unable to climb onto his feet just yet. zenitsu gulps. ]

Stronger? How much?

[baori]

[ but did he hit it hard enough to forget about one of his friends? regardless giyuu is not entirely thrilled with how he's asking about how much stronger he needs to be because what kind of question is that? he's a demon slayer isn't he?

it's almost enough to have him miss tanjiro. ]

Enough to stand on your own.

[ to drive the point in— ]

As a demon slayer you should be expected to be able to do that much.

[swordflash]

[ oh, so it'll be fine as long as he can stand up. great. this is going to be fine. he has no trouble standing, but curiosity and surprise keep him down for a while longer. ]

You know about demons?

[baori]

[ he meant like stand up to the demons but it's fine. ]

I'm the Water Pillar.

[ surely tanjiro must have mentioned him? even in passing but given how he has said that he doesn't know tanjiro— ...he is not the person who should be doing this. it's good that shinobu will have found him as well. ]

Don't tell me you forgot what they are as well.

[swordflash]

[ the answer is much simpler than that, tomioka.

zenitsu stares wide-eyed at him before leaning in defensively. him, the water pillar? really? ]

Of course I know what a Pillar is! I've just never met an active one until now, that's all!

[baori]

[ if he was a sassy person then this is where he'd be like "tada" with all of the hand gestures of that sort. but he isn't, so he just allows zenitsu take in the image of the water pillar.

...using a bunny scrunchie as a hair tie in dad shorts with socks and sandals. was giyuu cool before? who knows, he but he definitely isn't now. ]

Good, so you remember that much.

[swordflash]

[ they're all wearing bunny scrunchies in bright t-shirts and shorts. tomioka is plenty cool.

zenitsu is, on the other hand, confused. ]

What do you mean, remember? Are you sure that you're not mistaking me for someone else?

[baori]

[ no... i refuse to have him be cool. ]

No, I'm not.

[ sadly, i wish giyuu would be more sympathetic to his confusion...but he's tired. ]

You're just as he describes. [ you know, as much as he would wish it not to be him, but, it's how things go. because tanjiro would very obviously write about his friends to giyuu in the letters he sends him. now if only giyuu had the decency to write back. ] It's more that you don't remember me.

[ which is fine for him. he doesn't need to make any real lasting impressions—just keep this one under his watch. ]

[swordflash]

[ what's with this vague conversation? he's starting to get frustrated. if this is truly a water pillar, he's lucked out. but he's not following anything this guy is saying. ]

Is this about that Tanjiro again? I'm telling you, I have no idea who that is!

All right, then. If you really know me, what's my name? You should know that, right?

[baori]

[ give.

give giyuu a wholeass minute because he's going to have to think about this because what is giyuu and paying close attention to people. this is why i keep stressing about shinobu for these things but given the names that he does know. inosuke, the weird kid with the boar head... so that means— ]

Zenitsu.

[ the part is easier. ]

You were trained by Kuwajima.

[swordflash]

[ oh. he actually got it right. zenitsu goes slack-jawed before gulping. ]

R-right. Gramps taught me for a year.

[ what does that mean? what does that mean? is he really the one with memory problems here? ]

You know my name, but I don't know yours.

[baori]

[ he'll nod. he has heard that much—whether it be from others or through tanjiro's letters who knows. ]

Tomioka Giyuu.

[ the second person that giyuu has given his name to. congrats. though he would have eventually given it to zenitsu one way or another given how he is a fellow demon slayer and tanjiro's friend. ]

If you don't remember Tanjiro, what is the last thing you remember?

[ is he the furthest ahead in their joint timelines?? or are things just different?? ]

[swordflash]

[ he nods slowly in return. tomioka. okay. ]

You mean, before the haunted house? I was on the road, waiting for my next job.

I don't remember meeting anyone by that name. What does he look like?

[baori]

[ one the road waiting for his next job... how benign and useless as to pinpoint what any of that could mean. they both would have plenty missions to speak of anyway. ]

He's about your height and wears hanafuda earrings. [ which is as generic as they can be but hey, it's valid. ] He would be traveling with his sister as well.

[ that should limit things down, right? giyuu is bad with descriptions. ]

[swordflash]

Hanafuda?

[ finally some recognition dawns on his face. it's not much, but it's there. ]

There was a guy like that at Final Selection. He was wearing a blue jinbei. We didn't talk, though.

Does his sister wear a butterfly pin?

[baori]

That was likely him.

[ giyuu can't say for certain but the timeline would fit and if he knows anything about urokodaki then he wouldn't be surprised if he lent him a jinbei to wear in addition to a mask.

though the question of the butterfly pin throws him off. did he meet someone instead of tanjiro first? he wouldn't know. ]

No, she doesn't. [ hmm. ] I think she wears a pink kimono.

[swordflash]

I haven't met a girl like that since before Final Selection.

[ so she wasn't there. but it means he did glimpse tanjiro for a bit. ]

You're saying that I'm friends with someone like that? He almost broke another guy's arm, you know. The atmosphere was so tense.

[baori]

Yes.

[ he's just going to take the whole nearly breaking someone else's arm thing in stride because, well, giyuu nearly killed his sister and tanjiro threw an ax at him so it's fair. what are first impressions?? ]

He's a very hard-working and honest person.

[ and some other stuff but giyuu isn't one to sing praises about anyone vocally. ]

[swordflash]

I know. I heard it all.

[ it's because he's so honest that he threatened to break that arm in the first place. he was incredible. to be friends with someone like that, zenitsu can hardly believe it. ]

But I don't remember talking to him.

[baori]

I don't know when, but you'll meet him and become friends after that.

[ describing all of this to zenitsu makes him feel a little weird but whatever. there are far, far worse conversations that giyuu can have with people about things that happened in the future than meeting someone who will be a good friend.

at the same time, if zenitsu wants to shrug it all off, he's more than welcome to as well. it's all on him. ]

[swordflash]

Hey, how do you know all of this? Is it really that I forgot? When I was at the house, I never got the feeling that I was missing my memories.

[ and if he really has been, some friend he is. the whole time, he thought he was friendless. isn't that cruel to tanjiro? he doesn't like the idea that he's been struck with amnesia this whole time.

it's also surreal that a pillar of all people would know so much about him. he's a lowly mizunoto. ]

[baori]

[ how does he know.....

how does he— actually, there's nothing else he can do about this other than just say it as it stands. might as well spit it out and deal with what comes next. ]

I'm from the future.