gameofmana | you're hot then you're cold.

Entry tags:

you're hot then you're cold.

who: shouto todoroki and anyone else!
what: the latest arrival is having a hard time coping with his sudden loss of quirk (superpower)
where: outside of home
when: early evening
other: nothing to note. he's just a confused and upset (?) teen who can't understand why he can't freeze or set shit on fire anymore;;

[he felt it as soon as he got here. eyes opening wide, barely registering the room he woke up in. not being in the dorms? that didn't matter. there was such a significant emptiness in the very pit of his stomach that made him feel.incredibly anxious and sick. shouto's head was spinning and all he could do was stare at his shaking hands- trying so hard to will anything to happen. anything at all.

but there was nothing.

no familiar crisp in the air before the chill came, no ice coating the bed or floor around him. and he didn't feel the burn of his fire, the power he barely tapped into before because of shame and spite- a power he was slowly getting used to but now was gone.

what was going on?

quirkless people existed, they existed without problems and had fulfilling lives of their own. but to have been born with a quirk, have it manifest at a young age... it was just part of him. like a limb- like it was his essence? to have it stripped from him without warning was messing with him far more than he could even comprehend.

with shaky steps he had no idea where he was going. barely registering the fact that he was moving at all, mismatched eyes hardly taking in his surrounding. shouto should be better than this, he was taught better. always remain calm and alert regardless of situation or circumstance.

...but surely he could be forgiven this one time, right?

he... should be allowed?

breathing was hard, panic settling in heavily and rapidly with every step.

before he knew it he was outside, blearily looking up at the darkening sky. the fresh air was sorely needed but it didn't provide him with answers. it didn't fill up this gaping hole he felt with every agonizing breath.]

...

Am... I broken?

[said to no one in particular, not like he was registering other people right now of they were near or not. it was directed at the sky. the answerless sky.

he was either dead or broken.

neither were agreeable prospects.]

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_{[Ah, yes. Maurice knows that stumble--the stumble of a man who has had his world flip-turned upside down in one way or another. He departs from the bush he was grazing on, a few leaves still clutched in his fist, and gingerly makes his way over, ears forward. Someone had been kind to him when he first arrived. It was time to pay it forward.]}

Hey...you okay, dude?

[while mutation quirks were run of the mill, he has yet to see someone look like... this before? it would be interesting to look as his genetic line honestly. he's at a loss of words for a moment, automatically wary.]

...I'm fine enough, all things considered.

[which was one hell of a lie, but what if this guy was the enemy?]

Uh, no?

[As it happens, the answerless sky has a pony in it. These things happen when your ponies have wings. And said pony drops a little lower from her hover to peer at him.]

'Course I'm not the best judge of humans but you look like all the other ones to me.

[...huh.

he's certainly never seen a... quirk like this before? maybe he shouldn't judge though, considering the principal of his school was part rat part bear?

he takes a cautionary step back however.]

Outwardly I'm fine, I just... [she could be the enemy, right? he couldn't just blurt out the problem.]

I feel wrong.

Yeah, that's kinda been going around. Something about being here makes us all a little messed up. Not broken though.

[She waves a hoof around, encompassing the entire tree and environs with a cranky sweep of the foreleg.]

It's THIS place.

...A little messed up?

[he follows the gesturing hoof, finally taking a good look at the tree. and his surroundings. he could practically hear the sneer in his father's voice in the back of his mind.

how did he not notice?

it was pathetic.]

This... place.

[huh. flexing his fingers subconsciously.]

So, in theory, I should be able to get what I lost back?

[Who is she, Twilight Sparkle? Rainbow rubs a hoof through her mane, a bit bothered at the questions she couldn't answer.] I guess? I mean I dunno. I never heard of any pegasus losing the ability to control the weather before, but... I'm not any different. So it has to be undoable.

[ The scene before him is familiar. Zenyatta remains still, save for the slight tilt of his head. His forehead lights glowing softly. His hand lightly clasps the other. ]

What makes you say that you are broken?

[a talking robot was new, but there was something automatically calming by his presence and tone of voice. brows furrowing a bit he averted his gaze, looking back down at his hands.]

I can't feel my quirk anymore. It's gone.

This shouldn't be possible.

[ Zenyatta is mildly surprised, though he does not show it. He half expected a more aggravated response. ]

I cannot feel the warmth of the Iris nor channel energy. There is something about this place that distances us from abilities we normally have. If you are broken, then I am as well.

[he couldn't afford to be aggravated when he couldn't use his quirk anymore. the weight of the situation heavy on his shoulders. he needed to take a few deep breaths and steady himself. but shouto was having a hard time coping with this emptiness in the pit of his stomach.]

No... broken is too harsh of a term, I'm sorry.

[glancing down at his palm with a firm frown.]

More like... lost? Do you feel empty too? I can't shake that feeling.

I do, but I also know that I must accept and understand that feeling of loss. I cannot let it consume me.

[ And it could easily do so. He regularly meditates and reflects upon his inability to touch the Iris, but he also believes that the Iris is still present regardless. And that gives him some comfort.

Zenyatta's head tilts slightly as he sees the attempts at deep breathing. ]

... Would you like to join me in meditation? I have yet to do so today, and it may help clear your mind.

[Hooves like hers usually weren't silent, but this boy was so preoccupied with...something, that Alastirra could probably sound like a herd of talbuk and he wouldn't notice. Back on the Exodar, she'd bunked with others; this situation seemed similar, though she had no certainty of where she was, either. Not the Exodar, certainly. Nowhere she recognized.

Still, the look on his face--so troubled and heartsick or heartsore, without him speaking, she couldn't tell the difference--had her following him. The elements weren't whispering to her, and that was odd, but. It was something to be dealt with later.

The sky had no answers, but she would not let him go unanswered.]

You do not seem to be broken. Are you unwell?

[he could just hear the condescending sneer in his father's tone over the fact that his guard was down and he let his emotions and the shock of the situation push him this far.

so he's startled when she speaks, he feels ashamed for being seen this way and he can't meet her gaze exactly, brows furrowed in frustration.]

I think my quirk is gone.

[a pause as he clutches at his chest.]

...It feels empty.

[She can't read thoughts, luckily, or the shaman would probably have some choice comments about what the young man's father could do with himself. It wouldn't be polite, most likely.

Alastirra keeps her distance, not from lack of concern, but because he seems like if she did, he'd bolt out of...possibly shame, from his demeanor and his words. Neither of which, she feels, would be good.]

I fear I do not know what you mean by a quirk; but if it is any consolation, I cannot hear the elements, and that is unusual to me, as well. How very quiet it is!

It must be something about this place. Perhaps they are sleeping. Perhaps your quirk, then, sleeps with it?

[Really, she's only speculating, here, the Draenei has no clue. But her attitude is kindly, and she offers a smile, should the young man bother to look her way.]

My name is Alastirra. Who are you?

[she wouldn't be the only one who thought so, endeavor may have been highly regarded for his skill as a hero, but his family life and how he treated his youngest son was nothing other than deplorable.

he's easing his stance a bit, not really wanting to come off as weak or impolite.]

They sound similar. I can't explain it... [pressing a palm gingerly to his chest.]

It's like losing a limb.

[it may sound melodramatic but his quirk was an extension of himself, something that has always been there since he was a toddler so... it really was like losing a limb for him. but he manages to shake his head to get himself out of the mindset.]

Todoroki Shouto.

It is a pleasure to meet you, my young friend. Circumstances notwithstanding.

[And really, the shaman is so very easygoing and generally friendly, it wasn't very likely she'd think he was impolite. As for whether he was weak or not, in his current state, it was understandable. But not necessary to mention.]

I cannot say I have ever lost a limb before, but I--it is very jarring, to me. [She gives Shouto an uncertain smile, then.] I have heard the elements for centuries, and now...

[Well. Draenei are given more years than humans, so. She isn't really attempting to match him melodrama for melodrama, but it might come off that way...]

Still, I am sure there is an explanation for all this. Perhaps we should try to find it? I would be honored if you chose to help me.

[And maybe it'll take his mind off things...a little?]

[While Shouto is having a mild crisis, a low purring starts up at his feet and soon a petite but wrinkly body is rubbing up along his legs. A pair of large yellow eyes blink up at him, carefully observing his expression.]

[it was amazing how startled he became over such innocent purring- and hopefully no one saw that. shouto was known to be apathetic and stoic, so this was wildly out of character for him- but he would argue losing his quirk was valid enough reason to not be his best right now.

the cat was... not very pleasing on the eye, but he had a soft spot for them.

the deep set frown softening into something more neutral as he crouched, hand extended to offer scritches and pats if he's allowed.]

I don't suppose you have any answers, [mused softly under his breath.]

[With an air of satisfaction cloaking him, the cat bumps his head into Shouto’s palm gladly.]

That would depend on the inquiries levied, my polarized new acquaintence.
[Oh, right, he talks too.]

[oh. well.

...

is he even surprised? he's seen cops with animal heads so that's a thing. why not a cat with full on speech. alright. he'll just give gentle head pats and nice scritches behind the cat's ears.]

You wouldn't happen to know where my quirk went, would you?

[oh. ...was it rude of him to ask a question without introducing himself? probably.]

I'm Todoroki Shouto.

You may refer to me as The Judge, although direct communication such as that which we are participating in warrants an omission of the word prior to my title and thus is allowed.

[Was all of that necessary? Nope.]

As for your ‘quirk’, may I inquire as to the details of such a thing? It is an unknown quantity despite my reservoirs of knowledge.

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you're hot then you're cold.

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oh hello roommate

well hello

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