The Bear Woke Up?!

[wipeyourtears]

Characters: Kintaros and you!
Setting: 4-08, then wandering the floors looking for people
Format: Starting with prose, but I can match
Summary: Kintaros is disconsolate and in disbelief.
Warnings: None, really, but an upset big bear guy running around.


Being frozen even for so short a time upon waking is a new experience for Kintaros. He waits it out, staring at the ceiling, then slowly, stiffly sits up with a grunt.

He starts to ask himself what's going on, but stops as he realises his bulky frame is crammed into some sort of bodysuit and that he is in a strange room he doesn't recognise. The whole picture is doubly puzzling since the last thing he remembers is sending the DenLiner off while he stalled the Imagin army. The suit is a terribly itchy thing, all his fur flattened under it; he reaches for the neckline to pull it off and finds a collar in his way. He scowls, confused by its presence, and promptly tries to rip it off. To his surprise, it doesn't give, not even in the slightest.

"What the–?" Because he wasn't giving it his best effort the first time, he tries again. And again. And once more, with both hands this time. Same results. Mildly irritated and unsettled, he hooks his fingertips under the edge of the suit and unceremoniously peels that off, tearing it in places where his claws and shoulders catch in the fabric. He doesn't feel much better for the release of the effort and gives the collar another awkward tug. Then he finally spots the letters on the nearby nightstand. The first one he picks up gives him an idea of where he's awakened, at least, but not how he arrived here. He carefully refolds it, mindful not to tear the paper, and sets it aside, then opens the second letter.

For a long moment, he stares blankly at the words on the page, not making a sound. They don't quite sink in at first, the immensity of their meaning a little too much. His hands begin shaking.

Your world has been destroyed.

"But…" he blurts out only to fall silent again, his voice catching in his throat. His face burns; his heart aches; tears sting behind his visor. It can't possibly be, can it? Ryoutarou is a strong young man, growing stronger with every moment that passes. Surely he succeeded in stopping Kai. Surely, Kintaros tells himself, leaving Ryoutarou and the DenLiner wasn't for nothing. He knows his friend's heart; therefore, the letter must be a lie. But if so, why is he here? What happened to the others?


Once the numbness of the letter's revelation wears off, Kintaros is upset. Deeply so. Letter clutched in one fist, he leaves his room on a mission. He keeps an eye out for someone else, anyone else, as he aimlessly wanders. Anyone here must be able to answer his question, he reasons. It's a simple question.

He doesn't think about how he must look, lumbering along with his hands tight at his sides, grim expression on his face. Or what impression that will make on anyone he encounters.

Comments

[heavenscorpse]

Not many things do... And I didn't look like this when I was there. But things live on all the planets in the solar system - it's just that humans aren't good at detecting them.

[wipeyourtears]

Ah. That makes sense. [He nods; it's easy enough to accept as fact. Humans have their failings. He's not terribly familiar with Venus on the whole and most of what he knows relates to the influence of the planet in a person's life.] Would you tell me more about Venus? Or this… Land of Steel? [He's off looking for another weight even as he asks and he listens intently while he searches and tests each one he sees. He never quite leaves conversational range.]

[heavenscorpse]

Well, the Land of Steel is another name for Earth - it was called Earth before the planet died. Now, plants won't grow and animals can't survive. The only creatures there are human species surviving through technology.

[As one would expect, she sounds sad relating all this. The state of Earth is a pitiful one for anyone from a living planet.]

[wipeyourtears]

…Died? [Kintaros is eerily reminded of the future Kai tried to remake for the Imagin – a ruined Earth, empty of life. He pauses mid-lift as a chill runs down his spine, then turns an apologetic look on V/V once it passes.] I'm… sorry.

[heavenscorpse]

...It's all right. The important thing is that people still have hope there, right?

[wipeyourtears]

[The weight really isn't enough to offer him a challenge. He gives V/V a sad sort of smile, still distracted by thoughts of home.

Home. Which, if the letter is true, has been destroyed. He drops the weight – it hits the floor with a very heavy thud – to look at the badly-rumpled piece of paper tucked into his belt.]

Hope? [The word just sort of croaks out. He pivots on his heel and makes a beeline for the stairs.]

[heavenscorpse]

[V/V has to set her weight down before she follows him, so there's a significant gap between the two even when she chases with the most speed she can muster.]

[wipeyourtears]

I nearly forgot! [He isn't quite aware of just how far behind him V/V is and he can't quite hear her over his own heavy tread on the steps. It bothers him that he was so easily sidetracked from his goal.

Would Ryotaro be upset with him? Hana certainly would.

…That's when he finally realises he can't hear Ryotaro. Then that he can't hear V/V. He slows a little, trying to glance behind him without tripping over his own feet.]

[heavenscorpse]

[When V/V catches up, she doesn't look upset, just a bit winded.] What happened?

So, so sorry for delays.

[wipeyourtears]

[Now he's doubly unhappy with himself – both for forgetting about the letter and then forgetting that V/V is wandering this place with him. He doesn't rub his neck or chuckle self-deprecatingly this time; he just looks at the piece of paper with those ominous words on it.]

I forgot for a moment. About the truth of the letter. [He goes on a little more quietly.] I can't hear my friends. [And being cut off from Ryotaro's mind was never a very good thing.] Perhaps… I should come back to the gym another day. I'm sorry. But did you want to stay longer? [He'll wait if she does, of course.]

[heavenscorpse]

No, I think we can move along. I'm sorry about your friends though...

[wipeyourtears]

Sorry? [He tilts his head as far as the collar allows.] Why should you be sorry? You're here, the same as I am, are you not? This is no fault of yours.

[His laugh is less a laugh than a brief grunt, optimism tempered by the sobriety of the situation. His tone when he speaks is the same, and his steps are heavier when he starts walking again.]

Maybe it's only for this moment.

[heavenscorpse]

But you have friends to miss, so I don't have it as badly. That's how it works, right?

[Sort of? Human relationships are confusing. She falls into step.]