[ Pickles now has a device hanging off the strap around his neck, and that's about all that's different as he toddles on over to Kanda. Does he smell like blood less than before?? He's here to find out. ]
[ The device is as big as a smartphone in the modern times, but its design is very retro. It doesn't appear to be an actual phone either and on the small square screen at the top of the device, there is an image of an apple with a cravat. It does not move.
[ Pickles moves his head from side to side a bit. He is fine with the weight! It's not heavy at all. Instead, he wags his tail in appreciation anyway. ]
[Well, if he can understand Order golems that don't talk, he can probably understand this. So after a moment he pats Pickles's head and then sits down on the ground near him, crossing his legs and putting his sword beside him. Time to sit and meditate with doggo for company]
[ Pickles also shifts, sitting next to Kanda with his paws together and closing his eyes. He will also meditate with him... he's actually excited because his favorite book is on meditations and he'd love to try these out. ]
[They can meditate together!! Left to his own devices, Kanda's actually pretty calm; he's very still and quiet, like someone who has done this many times before.
Unless Pickles talks or otherwise tries to get his attention, Kanda will do this for a while before he eventually opens his eyes. He doesn't get up right away, though--his gaze rests on seemingly nothing in front of him as his ink finally begins to show, an image of a lotus on the back of his hand.]
[ Pickles does not disturb Kanda's meditation all throughout the process. He opens his eyes a little after Kanda does and notices the image of a lotus beginning to show on the back of his hand. He leans in closer to try and sniff... ]
[I really had to think about this but unfortunately I don't think he'd talk about this out loud even by himself, so he doesn't elaborate and goes back to sitting quietly with his hands in his lap... he can truly spend so much time just quietly observing nature]
[ Pickles will continue to be a good boy and not interrupt Kanda doing his thing. He will do the same alongside him, even if the curiosity will be forever tugging at him. ]
But that means that if Pickles wants him to go somewhere, he will follow easily!! Aka I'm forcing you to pick the location but the world is your oyster. Wheremst shall we be.]
[ They're at the new location! And guess what Pickles is doing? Eating an apple. Ohhh sweet sugary fruitiness. How he missed you. The whole apple gets stuck in his teeth so he can't bite chunks off, so he pads on over to Kanda for help. ]
Pickles is fine with Kanda's pets and notes them as high value because he seems to be stingy with physical affection. However, he does step back when instructed. ]
[PICKLES... it'd probably make sense to cut this apple up but he's too lazy to go get a knife and he doesn't want to use Mugen on it so he just tears it in half with his hands. Here u go pupper.]
[ Pickles stares in amazement when Kanda just... tears the apple in half with his bare hands?? Holy shit. Me looking at my apple and trying it (whispering) what the fuck
Anyway, Pickles opens his mouth. Let him eat this. Thank you. ]
[Kanda has no idea anything happened so he just comes back to the house like normal. He needs a bath. Hello housemate this is a perfectly normal occurrence on a normal day.]
Pickles is... not even on his deluxe dog bed. He's actually in the cold bathroom by himself, so when Kanda opens the door, he'll see Pickles but there are some key differences: more parts of his fur is white and his indigo eyes and fur have lost their shine.
[The way I forgot about CYOA effects until just now and I was like "oh Pickles's fur is more white? this means he had a bath"
And honestly Kanda probably doesn't even notice the change in Pickles's fur because he's a fucking moron BUT he does notice the look in his eyes, at least, which makes him pause.]
[ Kanda was not really the friendliest person around with others and Pickles definitely remembers that. But maybe that's why he seems to be more calm with him for some reason.
The puppy says it found itself outside the fog until coming across a castletown, many died, it died, betrayed by the owner, lived in solitude in the forest for longer than a month, fought a mind controlling lady and ended up back here. ]
[Pickles is correct... and he's not the first person to find Kanda's presence weirdly calming? Probably precisely because of his tendency to keep distance between himself and others, something that extends to Pickles even though Pickles is his favorite dog here.
He doesn't ask how Pickles is doing, or if he's hurt--instead, he focuses on the most important details.]
His face--doesn't soften, because Kanda isn't a soft person, but it changes at those words, something like understanding in his eyes. He's quiet for a minute.]
It's not really something to worry about, Pickles realizes. Kanda can handle himself, so he won't bother him about that. However, he pads on over to lightly nuzzle his leg. ]
[ Anyway, they're at the blood tree aka the tree of nascent. Pickles is more interested in the stone plaque that reads "I am that I am". Fascinating. They say that the air feels sacred, so Pickles feels like he has to oblige by being quiet.
[No he'll probably get over it in a day or two... he's got too much other stuff on his mind to hold grudges over petty shit most of the time. BUT STILL.]
[ Wherever Kanda is, Pickles is there. With the rock exchange decided and the last person coming soon to the graveyard, the end is almost here. The same delulu/memshare is still being blasted--the one about the rain. Sorry, he can't help it. He feels a little anxious about the whole thing. They can't see what's going on with the living either and Pickles just feels tired with the short burst of utmost dread that pulsed everywhere.
Kanda's emotional state may or may not help. There's an undercurrent of worry, given that they've lost sight of the living--but for the most part, he is completely and wholly focused on what they need to do. If anything, he feels better now than he has for a while. An inevitable confrontation with unknown odds of success? That's just like every other mission he's ever done. At least now he can finally do something.
He saw the memory already, so fortunately, it doesn't catch him off guard. He just sits beside Pickles as it plays out and rests one hand on him. He's not petting him for reassurance, but--maybe there's an attempt at keeping him grounded in the here and now.]
[ The petting helps him stay grounded, because it reminds him that there is someone else—someone outside the madness of the Storm and that it wouldn't happen if they were here right now. That's right. It won't happen if Kanda is here.
His eyes regain a semblance of focus as he looks at Kanda. ]
[Yeah... he gets it. He's spent a lot of time trapped in his own memories; it's why he spends so much time meditating or doing sword forms. It keeps his head clear.]
Do you think things will look like that tomorrow?
[Or is Pickles just thinking about home, now that they're so close?]
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w0 monday
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He does smell like soap though. He bathed! Yay.
He frowns a little, crouching down to look at the device. Is someone harassing this poor dog... he doesn't know what this thing is]
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Pickles tilts his head. ]
Awoo?
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Looks at this dog... he doesn't know his name is Pickles... Kanda you fool
Anyway:]
This looks heavy. [Does he want it off]
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Unless Pickles talks or otherwise tries to get his attention, Kanda will do this for a while before he eventually opens his eyes. He doesn't get up right away, though--his gaze rests on seemingly nothing in front of him as his ink finally begins to show, an image of a lotus on the back of his hand.]
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Still, huh.
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[ What does Kanda mean by "still". Pickles sits after sniffing at it. ]
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Week 1, Monday
But that means that if Pickles wants him to go somewhere, he will follow easily!! Aka I'm forcing you to pick the location but the world is your oyster. Wheremst shall we be.]
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But affection week means that he is better with his petting attempts!!! So he pats Pickles's head before he notices the problem.]
Oh. [Crouches down... and frowns a little because he doesn't want to hurt him? Hmm. He grabs the apple and holds on!] Step back.
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Pickles is fine with Kanda's pets and notes them as high value because he seems to be stingy with physical affection. However, he does step back when instructed. ]
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He holds onto the apple as Pickles steps back!! And tugs a little. He's trying not to pull too hard and like, yank out Pickles's teeth or something.]
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[PICKLES... it'd probably make sense to cut this apple up but he's too lazy to go get a knife and he doesn't want to use Mugen on it so he just tears it in half with his hands. Here u go pupper.]
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Anyway, Pickles opens his mouth. Let him eat this. Thank you. ]
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But he will patiently hold the apple for Pickles to nom... this too is affection]
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Week 1, Thursday
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Pickles is... not even on his deluxe dog bed. He's actually in the cold bathroom by himself, so when Kanda opens the door, he'll see Pickles but there are some key differences: more parts of his fur is white and his indigo eyes and fur have lost their shine.
He looks up at Kanda, but doesn't growl. ]
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And honestly Kanda probably doesn't even notice the change in Pickles's fur because he's a fucking moron BUT he does notice the look in his eyes, at least, which makes him pause.]
What happened?
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[ The puppy has not seen you in over a month. Many things happened. ]
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But he crouches down, serious.]
What do you mean, a month?
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[ Kanda was not really the friendliest person around with others and Pickles definitely remembers that. But maybe that's why he seems to be more calm with him for some reason.
The puppy says it found itself outside the fog until coming across a castletown, many died, it died, betrayed by the owner, lived in solitude in the forest for longer than a month, fought a mind controlling lady and ended up back here. ]
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He doesn't ask how Pickles is doing, or if he's hurt--instead, he focuses on the most important details.]
That woman, is she still around?
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... ]
Woo...
[ The puppy says it can still see her sometimes. ]
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His face--doesn't soften, because Kanda isn't a soft person, but it changes at those words, something like understanding in his eyes. He's quiet for a minute.]
...You'll get used to it if it doesn't go away.
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[ The puppy wonders if that is something that you're also used to. ]
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Don't worry about it.
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It's not really something to worry about, Pickles realizes. Kanda can handle himself, so he won't bother him about that. However, he pads on over to lightly nuzzle his leg. ]
w5 monday
Then he sees the gold and red blood like "nvm". ]
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He ran here even though the tree is busted and no longer good for meditating... the emotion here is "I'll kill whoever did this to me"]
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My... Are you doing alright, Kanda?
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I'm not a goddamn cat! Who the hell thought this was funny?!
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Yes, we know. You are a full-fledged humanoid. Will you be tracking that person down after you revert to your usual self?
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[No he'll probably get over it in a day or two... he's got too much other stuff on his mind to hold grudges over petty shit most of the time. BUT STILL.]
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[ Since it's emotionshare week. Interrogating? Yeah. Pickles approved. ]
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Do you have any idea who it might be?
w7 friday
Things continue to happen on days. ]
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Kanda's emotional state may or may not help. There's an undercurrent of worry, given that they've lost sight of the living--but for the most part, he is completely and wholly focused on what they need to do. If anything, he feels better now than he has for a while. An inevitable confrontation with unknown odds of success? That's just like every other mission he's ever done. At least now he can finally do something.
He saw the memory already, so fortunately, it doesn't catch him off guard. He just sits beside Pickles as it plays out and rests one hand on him. He's not petting him for reassurance, but--maybe there's an attempt at keeping him grounded in the here and now.]
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His eyes regain a semblance of focus as he looks at Kanda. ]
Woo.
[ Thank you. ]
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Do you think things will look like that tomorrow?
[Or is Pickles just thinking about home, now that they're so close?]