february catch all

[flowlikewater]

who: genji shimada + you!
what: a little bit of everything; tdm prompts, player plots, etc
when: tail end of january/all throughout february
where: all about the quarantine and various dreamscapes
warnings: potential discussion of ptsd, disassociation, dysphoria due to cybernetic body. will add more if needed!

[ feel free to plot with me for the month! hit me up on pm or at bonethief! ]

Comments

closed to shigeru 💖

[flowlikewater]

[ It's the first time Genji's been alone in the apartment or really at all since coming to the Quarantine. Gladio went back home through the portal and Hana is off on a mission. He tends to his flowers and plants and realizes he doesn't like the idea of sitting in silence the rest of the evening.

So he picks up his device as he settles onto the couch and sends a message to a certain special someone. ]

Your boyfriend is all alone in the apartment and it's a tragedy.
>If only someone near and dear to my heart could come and rescue me...!

[ He attaches a selfie of him with a hand on his forehead, faking a dramatic pose. ]

[mysophobic]

[ Genji what even is this text?! But he caught Shigeru at a good time since he was just finishing up making Genji and Hana some food for the week. He knows that it's hard for them both...and he likes going over. But if Genji is alone then that means...? ]

Are Hana and Gladio not around? I'd love nothing more than coming to rescue you. You don't have anything to worry about.

[ Quite the contrary. Being alone with Genji is...nice and they can definitely enjoy each others company after everything that's happened. The dream in particular comes to mind and his face is just flushed when he types up something else. ]

I'll be right over! [ And with that he's packing up the food he's made and heading out the door to Genji's place. ]

[flowlikewater]

[ Sometimes a cyborg ninja just has to be a little silly. He smiles when he gets the response, although it might be a touch sad for a second at the mention of Gladio. ]

I can fill you in when you get here. I mean, after you come rescue me.

[ He sits up and goes to his room to change out of his dirty sweatpants into something a little nicer. ]

I'll be waiting then.

[ He changes, makes sure his hair isn't a mess, makes sure the place is picked up and then heads to the door when he arrives with a smile. ]

[mysophobic]

I have...something to tell you too.

[ Shigeru smiles on his end. He's kind of excited to show Genji the ring he's gotten. Genji will get a knock on his door around 10 minutes later and there Shigeru will be, his arms holding various bags of food, as he gives Genji a loving smile and a soft kiss to the cheek when he steps inside.

Shigeru is...nervous because he hasn't actually told Genji that he can speak yet? It's a little...daunting and very silly to be nervous because he knows Genji won't care what he sounds like at all. Though he is curious to see the other's reaction when he finally does open his mouth.

So he'll swallow thickly before he actually speaks. ]

I. I wanted...to surprise you. [ He smiles warmly back at Genji when he speaks there and then. ]

[flowlikewater]

[ Genji has no reason to think the news would be anything negative, so he's very curious. At the knock, he opens the door with a wide smile and leans into the kiss. ]

Hello, love.

[ Genji takes some of the food out of his hands and starts to head over to the kitchen to place it on the counter. He turns to—

...hear him speak? Genji blinks a few times at him. Then reaches up to pinch his own cheek with a wince. ]

Am I in one of those dreams again...? [ But his expression turns into a bemused smile. ] You spoke! What— What on earth happened?

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru blushes as he moves inside and closes the door. He'll fiddle with ring underneath his glove. But he does laugh and it's actually audible not just a huff or a sigh or anything like that. His very own laugh, he's so ecstatic. ]

You're not! Not at all! I met someone, Adam Parrish! He made me a special ring that allows me to talk with the voice I would have!

[ Magic sure is something, isn't it? ] Isn't it wonderful? I-I never thought I'd ever be able to talk again! [ He's excited but he'll control himself just...after he kisses Genji on the lips like he does right now. He's sorry he just...can't help it?! ]

I'm...so glad that I can speak to you like this. [ But the ring does have a few drawbacks. ] It's a bit draining to use, and it only works when I wear it, but I love it regardless.

[flowlikewater]

[ Genji is still so very surprised?! He'd heard Shigeru's voice in dreams, of course, but this is so different. He leans into the little kiss and bring his hands up to cup his face like he always does, touch gentle.

He gets a playfully faux-serious look on his face. ] You mean to tell me some other man gave you a ring? I need to step up my game then.

[ He's teasing, clearly, and leans in to kiss him again. ] I am happy you are happy, Shigeru. I know this must mean a lot to you.

[ He moves to brush a hand through his hair, nodding. ] That makes sense, I suppose. Try not to exhaust yourself, okay?

[mysophobic]

[ It is different for Shigeru too. He never really...expected the ring to actually work? But when it did he was just so overwhelmed by it all. His thoughts on the matter are stalled when Genji says that however. His face utterly red as he gives Genji's arm a light tap with a clearly amused laugh. He sometimes just can't with the other, gosh. But his teasing is one of the reasons he loves him. ]

Genji! [ Don't tease him?! Although his tone is playful and entirely amused. But he'll lean into the kiss that smile touching the corners of his mouth. ]

I-I won't. I...I just really like being able to talk to you like this. But I'll try not to use it too much. [ It's so hard switching back and forth though. He'll lightly touch Genji's hand then. ]

You had...something to tell me too, right? Is everything okay? Where are Hana and Gladio?

[flowlikewater]

[ Genji snickers in return, always glad to see that red color Shigeru's cheeks. ] You have a wonderful laugh, I am glad to be able to hear it.

[ He moves his hand so he takes Shigeru's in his gently, moving his hands down until he rests them on the other's hips. ] However you are most comfortable. I am getting quite good at interpreting signs, for when you are too tired.

[ His expression shifts a little. ] There's nothing wrong. Hana is just away on a mission but Gladio has— returned to his world.

closed to cisco 🐉🕶️

[flowlikewater]

[ The first thing Genji realizes is that he's in the middle of some kind of firefight. Which is weird because that's absolutely not what he remembers getting into earlier... which, wait, what was he doing? It's strange that he can't really remember.

But all he knows is that he's crouched behind cover and there are the sounds of destruction and fighting behind him, along with plenty of strange voices yelling over the chaos. He's wearing his helmet, he assumes, and he looks around to get his bearings.

It's some kind of city, although he's not sure if it's the Quarantine of London or some other place he's not familiar with. Debris and crumbling buildings all around, a trash can on fire for no discernible reason.

He then comes to the slow realization that there's someone crouched with him in all this mess. Genji turns to the side to find— ]

Cisco? Is that you? [ A pause as he peers at his friend, from boot to sunglasses. ] What in the world are you wearing?

[ Although he's quick to realize he may not be one to talk, as he looks down at his hand and chest and... oh. This is not his usual armor. ]

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco becomes aware of his surroundings at the same moment Genji does. Thanks to his powers, he's getting pretty accustomed to blinking and suddenly finding himself someplace he's never been before. The disorientation is something he takes in stride, by now. But there is no characteristic tint of blue, no overexposure and strange distortions of sound. And aside from those surface details, it doesn't feel like a vibe. There's some sense in him, unnamed, that can just tell this is something else.

He takes it in - the cacophony, gunshots and shouts, the crackle and glow of flaming trash cans, the distant sirens. Wherever he is, shit's going down. Cisco takes a couple of long breaths, trying to center himself, when a movement in the corner of his eye makes him look, and he sees... ]

G...enji?

[ While he might be quicker to get used to the strange situation, Cisco is decidedly slower on the uptake when it comes to noticing his own ludicrous attire He notices that his chest and stomach are weirdly cold for some reason, but that is so far down on his list of priorities right now. ]

[flowlikewater]

[ That is definitely a bold outfit choice there, friend. Although it looks like Genji's in the same boat, and he doesn't even know what his helmet could possibly look like. ]

Yes, it's me. [ Is that 'transform' on his breastplate? Oh no. ] Do you have any idea where we are?

[ There's a rumble of an explosion. The fiery garbage can tips over with a clang. ]

Or what's going on?

[franciscoramon]

You look like a Power Ranger, dude.

[ It's definitely Genji's voice, though, unmistakable and familiar. And it helps, hearing it again and confirming there is at least one familiar thing in this whole mess. Cisco carefully lifts his head enough to peer over the concrete traffic barrier they are using for cover. He gets a quick glimpse of their foes before he is ducking quickly, the pair of laser blasts sizzling through the air just above his head. ]

It looks sort of...

[ He'd been about to say it looked like Central City, but trailed off. Because he knows Central City well, particularly downtown. These aren't the right skyscrapers. They're strangely generic. Cisco glances up at the shops near them, to look at their signs and see if he recognizes anything. But the letters don't seem to want to arrange themselves into words. He can't read the signs, and it's confusing for a second before it clicks. ]

We're dreaming.

[ Cisco says it aloud at the same instant that he thinks it, a hushed whisper only just audible over the the commotion. He looks over at Genji, waiting for him to agree, to say that must be it. It explained how he couldn't remember getting here, how some details are so vivid and others make his mind feel like it's blurred.

He notices the fingerless gloves on his arms, then, traces them up to the absurd shoulders of his outfit and looks down. ]

What the fuck?

[ Cisco tries to yank his shirt shut, thinking it's just lost a button... or two... but no, it is apparently supposed to look like this. He holds his arms in front of him, voice growing more definite and sharper as he asks: ]

Okay, if I find out this is somebody's idea of a prank, man have they got it comin'.

[flowlikewater]

[ Ah, well, that probably makes the most sense... wait— ] It's sentai.

[ —okay, not really the time or place for a nerd discussion. He watches Cisco peek over the concrete, reaching a hand out and almost touching his shoulder as he ducks. When he speaks Genji's almost confused before it all clicks in place, finally making sense. ]

You're right, that must be it. I had one of these a few days ago, where it felt so— real.

[ And then Cisco realizes what he's wearing and Genji can't help a faint little chuckle at his expense. He looks down at himself, noting the odd belt buckle he's wearing as well as the light up soles on his boots. ]

We're both making quite the fashion statement. Typical for a dream, I suppose. [ A pause. ] At least it didn't end up being a 'in your underwear at school' dream...?

[ There's another explosion behind them, and there's a distance but familiar sound of Omnic guns firing. ]

Should we play along, then? Since we're dressed for it and all.

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco continues fussing over his outfit, seemingly more distressed by its décolletage than he is by the lasers and gunshots whizzing past them. After all, he's died in so many dreams and visions before. It's practically mundane to him, at this point. But this is the real Genji he's talking to. He's sure of that. And this outfit is neither modest nor particularly flattering.

Face hot with embarrassment, Cisco does what he always does when flustered, and talks. A lot. ]

Pretty sure this is worse than underwear. Totally not fair. You look dope as hell, and I look like some kind of refugee from a shitty 80s space movie. I'm straight up Masters of the Universe over here.

[ He listens to what Genji says, about how he'd had another dream like this before, and that helps explain it a little bit. ]

Gotcha. So it's just another one of those things that's probably happening to a lot of folks because we live on a ridiculous moon full of ridiculous situations. At least it's only a dream. Doesn't feel all that real. I mean, I hear you, it's more real than a normal dream, but it's not, like, when I vibe. This is sorta the Goldilocks in between the two.

[ Cisco's grateful for that - it means that he's just lucid enough to feel in control of the situation, but without the feeling of urgency, the heightened emotional susceptibility and bleedover that he gets from his visions. He turns at the same time Genji does, towards the explosion. And while rushing into danger isn't his first impulse, even in a dream... well, what harm could it do? ]

We should check it out, at least.

[ He pokes his head up just a tiny bit, as a test, and another volley of lasers comes in their direction. But this time, Cisco at least saw the direction they were coming from. And if it is a dream... maybe this will be easier than when he's awake. He doesn't straighten up, again, just reaches a hand over the barrier and sends off a vibe blast in that direction, which results in, comically, a pitch-perfect Wilhelm scream. Tentatively, Cisco peers over the barrier. No one fires at him. He looks at Genji, and beams. Okay, maybe this is awesome after all. ]

[flowlikewater]

[ Genji is really trying to not laugh at your expense here, Cisco, beause he is absolutely full of sympathy but... he isn't making it any easier. ]

It could be worse. There could be sequins. Or far too many belts.

[ Genji nods. ] It seems to be some kind of dream sharing phenomena. It would be naive to be surprised such a thing could happen here at this point. [ And Cisco's powers continue to make Genji's heart hurt a little for him. This wasn't even exactly how it felt? He couldn't imagine.

He watches Cisco, now not too worried about what might happen, and raises his brows from beneath his helmet as he shoots out an energy beam. (Was that a Wilhelm scream?) ]

I take it that's one of your abilities and not something fabricated by the dream then? [ He reaches back and unsheathes his blade, a flurry of green lights starting to form seemingly from Genji's back. ]

Yes, I agree. Hopefully it will make for an interesting story later on. Or comic book.

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco gives a nod that seems to say you're right when Genji says things could be worse, and more sequin-y. Cisco is still going to grab the first jacket he finds and zip it all the way up, even if he has to steal it. He's not normally inclined towards criminality, but he's also not normally inclined towards showing off that much skin, thanks very much.

Genji's calm acceptance of the situation has quite an impact on Cisco's acceptance of it. He shoots off that blast, and it works, and Genji responds by taking out his own blade. So it doesn't feel like a crisis. It feels like... one of the programs in Beverly's holosuite. It feels like they're playing pretend. ]

Sure is. And I figure... they're probably not real people, right? They're just... phantasms, or projections, or whatever.

[ He doesn't let off another blast, just yet, but that same blue energy starts to gather and pool around one of his hands, shifting and vaguely hypnotic, a bright blue that tints everything around it. It makes Cisco's face look strange, and a little eerie, as he suggests: ]

On the count of three?

[ Then, he counts: ]

One... two... three!

[ The both of them stand (Genji with considerably more grace). And while the gunshots don't start up once more, there is a group of men rushing towards them, looking very much ready to fight. Cisco takes a tiny step closer to Genji, the energy around his hand thrumming audibly as he asks: ]

We doing this?

closed to hana 🐰

[flowlikewater]

[ Eventually the silence starts to gnaw at him.

No, he hadn't really been alone since coming to the Quarantine. It's almost been a year now, hasn't it? He can feel the fuzziness starting to creep in from the corner of his eyes one morning while Hana is still away on a mission. There's a part of him that keeps saying she'll be back soon, but that voice is getting more and more dulled.

He starts thinking too much, about everything that's happened. About his memories being forcibly shown to people, about opening himself up to help Cisco, about Shigeru getting hurt, Gladio leaving, Hana— about how he wishes, in the back of his mind, he could just deal with Dodger and how he hates that those violent thoughts still exist in his mind. (Brother, why!)

It's the morning when he starts to try to tend to a plant and then the next time he seems to blink the sun is setting. The clippers have long since fallen from his grip and onto the floor. He gets up, stumbles, and wanders over to the kitchen.

Genji turns on the faucet and stops short. He stares at... hands. Strange, foreign hands. Whose hands are these? They aren't his, are they? There's a very faint voice in the back of his mind yelling that they're his hands, it's his body, it's his but he's just... forgotten.

He stands there with the faucet dripping. He hasn't eaten in a few days, and a faint amount of steam is starting to seep out of the ports on his shoulders, dampening the fabric of his shirt. ]

[bunnyhopped]

[ Hana is returning from her mission exhausted, but with that comes that sense of accomplishment from a job well done. She's looking forward to returning home and telling Genji all about the mission while giving Pacchan all the pets and hugs that Hana hasn't been able to give her. And Gladio— isn't there, anymore. Losing their roommate is something that Hana hasn't had quite the time to really process, yet, because of this mission, but...

When she comes through the door, she's surprised by the lack of a 'welcome back' or really anything from her now sole roommate. Pacchan, of course, comes bounding over, tail wagging in excitement and relief that the human has not, in fact, disappeared forever. Hana kneels down and showers Pacchan with affection and lets the dog lick her all over the face. With a laugh, Hana asks: ]

Where's Genji, Pacchan?

[ Maybe he was away, too? But he would have let her know... In just a short moment, Pacchan turns and pads her way to the kitchen with Hana following, only to find Genji just... standing there. And is that the water running? ]

Uh... I'm back...

[ It's not until she steps closer, when she leans over to look at his face that she sees his far-off expression and notices the steam seeping out of his shoulders. She gasps. ]

Genji?! Are you okay?

[flowlikewater]

[ He doesn't know how long he's been standing there. He hears the sounds of footsteps and paws but it's muffled, almost like it's happening another apartment away.

His reaction time is slow and he stands there a moment before slowly lulling his head towards Hana. His eyes are glassy and vacant, voice a mumble. ]

Ha...na?

[ What did she ask? If he was okay? What a weird question. ]

I don't— Am I real?

[bunnyhopped]

[ That response does nothing to assuage Hana's worry, and in fact her brow furrows in concern. Tentatively, she reaches up and rests a hand against Genji's face, cupping his cheek, and when she speaks her voice is level, grounding. ]

You're real, Genji. Come back to us!

[flowlikewater]

[ The hand on his face makes his brows twitch, something in his eyes changing for a moment. Genji brings his still damp hand up and covers Hana's with his own.

That feels... a little better. More real. Her hand is warm against his, that's real. ]

I— I'm not. In my body. I can't tell if these hands are mine.

[bunnyhopped]

[ She doesn't quite understand what's happening - but her eyes are fixed on Genji's, like she's trying to search for him in his eyes to bring him back. ]

They are yours! This is all you, Genji. You're here with me and Pacchan. Come back?

[ And, having sensed all this time that something is amiss with one of her humans, Pacchan presses her head against Genji's leg. ]

[flowlikewater]

[ The feeling of Pacchan's cold nose faintly through his sweatpants jerks something else in the back of his mind. Genji's pupils seem to go back to a normal size. The steam spewing out of his shoulders starts to slow as his vitals start to calm down and his systems aren't in fight or flight mode.

He shakes his head a little and takes a breath, the confused and dull look on his face starting to fade. His head still seems fuzzy and his mouth feels full of cotton balls, but it's better than he has been all day.

Genji slumps a little, reaching his other hand out to lean against the sink counter. ]

I... oh. Right. Right. [ He closes his eyes, sighing. ] How was your mission...?

[bunnyhopped]

[ The whole steam thing is seriously alarming, so when it slows, Hana can't help but sigh a little out of relief. Hana's hand moves from his cheek to his shoulder, giving him a bit of a pat there before she rests it there. She offers a smile, hoping it'll help somehow. ]

The mission went fine!

[ But more importantly - ]

What happened? Are you okay?