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Who: Larry Butz (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
failures) and you!
When: IC 2/12 (during the effects event)
Where: Various locations
What: Larry's effects cause him to occasionally phase through things...and into some unfortunate situations.
Rating/Warning: None at the moment
[Because Larry's life sucks, all of these things will be happening during the same day! Picture each prompt in chronological order.]
A: Residential District, Apartments
[Larry's had a terrible night's sleep. Since yesterday, he's been unable to keep himself warm. Literally nothing has worked, not even turning up the heat in his apartment or going out to sit in a hot tub! Burying himself under piles of blankets didn't help either, naturally, but that's what he did in an attempt to sleep.
He still barely got any sleep, so he wakes up groggily and finding little motivation to actually crawl out from under the covers. Alas, he has work today. His lifestyle doesn't pay for itself, unfortunately. So he flops the covers off of him, shivering in the process, and goes to get up off his bed...
...and promptly phases right through the floor.
That said, residents in the apartment complex may witness a screaming guy in his pajamas fall right through their ceiling and further through the floor. Or, the screaming guy will hopefully land on something soft when his body decides to stop phasing through things.
You know, soft things such as your couch or bed.]
B: Entertainment District, Art Booth
[Okay, as traumatizing as his morning was, Larry still has a life to get back to. So he bundles up as much as humanly possible and heads off to work. Today, he's doing some of his caricature art in the entertainment district.
He doesn't have too much trouble painting portraits at first...but eventually, the effects catch up with him again. There'll be times where his hand fades out for a moment, causing his paintbrush to drop and splatter all over his painting on the way down, effectively ruining it and forcing him to start over.
At more unfortunate times, his hand-paintbrush and all-will phase through the canvas. Larry can't really compensate the force he put into that motion since he wasn't expecting that to happen, so paint might get flicked all over the person he's trying to paint a portrait of.]
Crap-- Ah jeez, I'm so sorry! I didn't miss the canvas on purpose, I swear!
[If you're up for getting some caricature art, feel free to have either of those possible phase incidents happen.]
C: Shopping District
[Today has been incredibly frustrating, so Larry's attempting to not let it get to him by engaging in a little retail therapy. Maybe he'll get a new blazer or something, even if it won't do anything to stop him from feeling so cold. Or maybe he should get some new art supplies, considering so many of them got wasted this afternoon...
Deeply lost in his own thoughts, Larry isn't paying too much attention to where he's walking or who he might accidentally bump into along the way.
Fortunately, he won't manage to bump into anyone.
Unfortunately, he'll just phase right through those people he would have bumped into.
Um. That might be a little startling for said people.]
failures) and you!When: IC 2/12 (during the effects event)
Where: Various locations
What: Larry's effects cause him to occasionally phase through things...and into some unfortunate situations.
Rating/Warning: None at the moment
[Because Larry's life sucks, all of these things will be happening during the same day! Picture each prompt in chronological order.]
A: Residential District, Apartments
[Larry's had a terrible night's sleep. Since yesterday, he's been unable to keep himself warm. Literally nothing has worked, not even turning up the heat in his apartment or going out to sit in a hot tub! Burying himself under piles of blankets didn't help either, naturally, but that's what he did in an attempt to sleep.
He still barely got any sleep, so he wakes up groggily and finding little motivation to actually crawl out from under the covers. Alas, he has work today. His lifestyle doesn't pay for itself, unfortunately. So he flops the covers off of him, shivering in the process, and goes to get up off his bed...
...and promptly phases right through the floor.
That said, residents in the apartment complex may witness a screaming guy in his pajamas fall right through their ceiling and further through the floor. Or, the screaming guy will hopefully land on something soft when his body decides to stop phasing through things.
You know, soft things such as your couch or bed.]
B: Entertainment District, Art Booth
[Okay, as traumatizing as his morning was, Larry still has a life to get back to. So he bundles up as much as humanly possible and heads off to work. Today, he's doing some of his caricature art in the entertainment district.
He doesn't have too much trouble painting portraits at first...but eventually, the effects catch up with him again. There'll be times where his hand fades out for a moment, causing his paintbrush to drop and splatter all over his painting on the way down, effectively ruining it and forcing him to start over.
At more unfortunate times, his hand-paintbrush and all-will phase through the canvas. Larry can't really compensate the force he put into that motion since he wasn't expecting that to happen, so paint might get flicked all over the person he's trying to paint a portrait of.]
Crap-- Ah jeez, I'm so sorry! I didn't miss the canvas on purpose, I swear!
[If you're up for getting some caricature art, feel free to have either of those possible phase incidents happen.]
C: Shopping District
[Today has been incredibly frustrating, so Larry's attempting to not let it get to him by engaging in a little retail therapy. Maybe he'll get a new blazer or something, even if it won't do anything to stop him from feeling so cold. Or maybe he should get some new art supplies, considering so many of them got wasted this afternoon...
Deeply lost in his own thoughts, Larry isn't paying too much attention to where he's walking or who he might accidentally bump into along the way.
Fortunately, he won't manage to bump into anyone.
Unfortunately, he'll just phase right through those people he would have bumped into.
Um. That might be a little startling for said people.]
C
His shopping trip the day before hadn't gone that well, and he knows better today than to look at clothes or accessories. In a way, even going to the shopping district at all is twisting the knife a bit. But some days you just feel like twisting. So Leon's not sure what he's looking for; maybe it's shopping, maybe it's company, or maybe it's just pretending everything's normal and he's not losing his mind. Whatever. He'll come across it eventually, whatever it is.
He's stepping back from a window display and back onto the sidewalk, not even a little bit looking where he's going--he's also lost in his own thoughts, after all--when he bumps right into Larry. Or rather, he doesn't. There's a whoosh, and the bizarre sensation of the entire world blacking for a second while his head is inside a dude's body, and then he's just standing there on the sidewalk trying to figure out if what just felt like happened is actually what happened.
If it did, it's exactly what he's been fearing would start happening. Shit shit shit shit shit. Shit. Shit! Shit shit shit.
Shit.]
D, did you just--?!
hahaha oh no this is tragic
Oh god. That's super weird even for him at this point.
He quickly whirls around to apologize.]
Whoa, hey, sorry 'bout that. I know it's weird but I--
[Oh.]
L-Leon?!
[Shit is right. He can tell right away that he's scared the hell out of the kid. Panicked, he shuffles a little closer with his hands up to show it's okay.]
Hey, you gonna be okay? I swear I didn't do anything bad to you! If anything, bad things are happening to me!!
[LARRY THAT'S NOT EXPLAINING THINGS.]
TWO SHIPS LITERALLY PASSING THROUGH ONE ANOTHER IN THE NIGHT
[He'd been so panicked in the moment that he hadn't even taken in yet who it was. And now he's got a lot to take in at once: it's Larry; Larry can see him, and recognized him immediately; he seems to be acting like he expected that to happen, and like it's his own fault, not something wrong with Leon.
But that's a lot to take in in a couple of seconds. Especially for Leon, who's not the sharpest knife in the bathroom at the best of times, and even less so when he's panicked like this. So before he can process it all, he just blurts out a question with a really obvious answer instead:]
Can you see me?!
YEP...
Whiiiich probably isn't the best response for Leon's state of mind, but don't worry, Larry's getting to it!]
Well, yeah. 'course I can. Why...?
[He's just really confused. That's the first thing he asked? Not, "how the hell did you just pass right through me?"
It doesn't occur to him that Leon might have something up with him too. You know, never mind the dozens of people dealing with weird bodily effects right now.]
no subject
[He casts a sidelong glance at the window display he'd been looking at before all of this happened.
It's a swimsuit display, with mannequins in bikini tops, which is a pretty normal thing for Kuwata Leon to stop and look at. But there's more than that to see in the glass; there's his reflection there too, kind of. Just a quick look confirms that nothing's changed. It's almost completely smudged out, a colorful, semi-opaque smear blurred across the glass, nothing resembling a human reflection at all--it's more like street lights through a really dirty car windshield.
To Leon, anyway. To Larry, it would look entirely normal.
But Leon doesn't know that, and he tears his gaze away with a grimace, feeling his stomach tighten at the sight of himself. Or, more accurately, the lack of sight of himself.]
. . . You really did just walk right through me, didn't you?
no subject
[He follows Leon's gaze, stopping to stare at both of their reflections. And totally not the bikini tops. Totally.
He glumly nods in response to Leon's last question, looking down at his gloved hands as he does so.]
Yeah... It's funny that you brought up being see-through though, 'cause that's exactly what's really happening to me today. I keep...going through things, like I'm a ghost.
[There's definitely a lot of concern in his voice, and in his expression.]
It's really freaky, and I've got no clue why it keeps happening! Like, I...I'm not dead or something, am I??
no subject
[Well, not the dead part.
He knows he's dead.
But the rest of it--he's kind of relieved to hear he's not the only one with really messed up crap happening to him, and in fact, it sounds like he might even be a little better off than Larry, especially if he does look normal. This is freaky and he hates it, hates it, hates it, but at least no one else needs to know!]
I can't--I can't see myself! I mean I'm all messed-up lookin', in the mirror, or lookin' down, or whatever, it's like I'm startin' to blur out! I thought I was goin' outta my mind! Am I goin' outta my mind?!
[Except for how he just told someone, but he's been holding this in for two days now; it had to come out. It's all a stumbling rush of words out of his mouth that he's barely even thinking about, his face still pale and eyes still wide despite his relief.]
But we're not crazy! Right?!
no subject
[Jeez, poor kid. He can only imagine how terrifying it had to be for Leon when he first discovered what was wrong. He didn't have the best first experience with it himself.
However, he's just about as determined as Leon when it comes to proving the validity of their experiences.]
No way! There's no way we're crazy! I mean...I'm pretty sure we both didn't just imagine me going through you, right?
[He looks around to the crowd passing by, wondering if anyone else saw it.]
And 'sides, with a place as crazy as this, there's gotta be other people out there dealing with weird stuff. That's just what this place does.
no subject
There's no way we imagined it! What the hell, man . . . so this is just us gettin' screwed with all over again! I really am gonna go crazy if I don't get a friggin' break sometime!
[He flops against the window display, crossing his arms. Whatever! It's late enough that the shop's closed anyway, so he's unlikely to be harassed about loitering around these very, very nice bikini tops. If only he could appreciate them right now.]
You end up in the hospital thing too? What about those tours they did? I'm tellin' you, it never ends, they're always jerkin' us around!
no subject
[What is it with CERES and putting them through this crap? He really can't remember the powerpoint presentation saying anything about dealing with horrifying events on a near weekly basis. He thought they were being saved, brought back to help restore their homes!
Or...something. But it definitely wasn't about anything like this.
Larry joins Leon against the window, shoving his hands into his coat and scrunching his body up as much as he can in an attempt to warm himself. He know it won't work, but he's trying.]
I didn't do a tour, but I was at the hospital, yeah. I got stuck hugging dudes for like an hour. It was pretty bad.
[He knows Leon would understand his pain here.
...]
But even then, I'd take another round of that instead of walking through crap or falling through floors.
no subject
Heeeeh, I got hugged by Kirigiriiiii! Sure, she didn't let me touch her back or anythin', but I still got one! It was awesome! I guess I oughta be countin' my blessings I didn't end up with a dude! That's so friggin' awkward, ha ha!
[But there's laughing at a guy's hilarious past pain, and there's a guy's present, creepier pain. Leon notices the hunching up. That's weird; it's not that cold, is it? Does it ever get that cold here?]
Huh, you okay?
[And then, after a beat, because he can't resist:]
You need another five dudes to hug to warm yourself up or what?
no subject
[But still, even while Larry's clearly pouting about his misfortune, he is glad that it got Leon to smile. It even helps him smile a little! It's good to forget about the crappy times even for a couple minutes.
He turns to tell Leon about the coldness issue, but instead he practically sputters at that little jab.]
Oh shut up.
[There's no actual anger behind his words, it's more in a tone that he understands the joke. He knows he'd totally take that opportunity if he could too.
But as for that answer...]
I've been super cold the last couple days. Not even getting in a hot shower or curling up with a ton of heating blankets has gotten rid of it! I put on all these layers but they're not really helping either...
[Apparently phasing through things isn't punishment enough.]
no subject
[But even as he says it, he has a sneaking suspicion it's not something that would be helped by that. It's not like he's considered going to a doctor for his crazy eye stuff, and you wouldn't go to a doctor for walking through people.]
I guess there's no way it ain't more CERES stuff, though. That'd be way too bad of luck if they were screwin' with us and then you got sick too on top o' that! It's gotta be related!
[He's clipped, voice rising some with his irritation. When are they going to get a break, huh? It's a hundred times worse knowing it's something with your "code" that you can't do anything about until CERES fixes it.]
They wouldn't kill you with cold for real, right? Or make it so you couldn't eat 'cuz your hand kept goin' through it . . . they can't do that!
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[He visibly shudders. It's pretty clear that he's starting to picture a worst case scenario that this might never get better, especially now that Leon threw out a hypothetical scenario that CERES is trying to kill him thanks Leon.
Okay but now's really not the time to have a panic attack. He's gotta look strong in front of Leon!!]
Why would they even wanna kill me? I haven't done anything to them! I thought we were supposed to be helping them, anyway. [With a huff,] Next they're gonna tell us our suffering was for the benefit of their code-saving crap!
[Admittedly, he doesn't remember the powerpoint presentation all that well, but he's pretty sure CERES said their code was saved and pulled for a reason...]
no subject
[He reaches out to attempt to wave a hand through Larry, to demonstrate his point. He's caught up in the moment, this same old rant he's had on his mind (and expressed to more than one person) since he got here, and doesn't really think about . . . how that is, as a gesture.
It's totally a normal illustrative guide, to try and stick your hand through your friend(?).]
no subject
And by totally natural I mean Leon no-
He's lucky the intended effect actually happens or he'd be kind of awkwardly smacking Larry. Well, lucky for Leon and completely unlucky for Larry because it's pretty distressing to see things go right through your body like you're a ghost.
He aptly responds with a yelp of horror.]
Can you not, dude?!
[Ah, whoops, he didn't mean to yell quite like that. With a soft mumble of apology, he curls up a little more, worried that soon his own arms are going to phase through his shoulders as he draws them close.]
I think I really do wanna know why it's like this, though... They can't be doing it just to screw with us, right?
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Shit, I-I wasn't thinkin', that was so creepy! I didn't even think about it! I can't believe I just . . . let's pretend it didn't happen?!
[He wipes his hand on his pant leg. A totally pointless gesture. It's not like it has Larry all over it or anything! But he does it automatically, looking a little shaken.]
Ugh, this's all their fault! At this point I don't give a crap what their reason is, they're gonna pay for it! There ain't a single thing they could say that wouldn't piss me off!
no subject
[Larry knows it's not really fair to say that, but he's so confused and afraid of what's happening to his body, he's talking mostly out of emotion. He hopes Leon can understand that. Besides, Leon's going through some scary things with his own body, right?
Basically, things are shitty for everyone. Except maybe CERES. Eff them.]
D'you think they'd even say anything to us? You'd think they'd say something if this is happening to a ton of people...
no subject
But no, the problem isn't either of them; it's CERES, and it's not like he hasn't had that on his mind too.]
That's why I thought it wasn't! I was like--if it ain't just me, wouldn't they say somethin'? Don't they do press releases? Anything! C'mon, you can't just act like it ain't happenin'! They're just scared to admit it's all their fault!
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He nods along to what Leon's saying, completely in agreement.]
I remember some dude from CERES commenting on stuff that's been going on, but I don't think he said anything this time. So you're probably right- I bet they messed up real bad this time.
[With a sigh, he runs a hand through his hair out of agitation. Literally through his hair, as he's not even allowed to touch his hair apparently. It only makes the agitation worse as he stares at his hand with frustration. It really does look a little transparent now...]
Can you even imagine how the heck they could even mess us up this bad? What're they doing with our codes for us to keep getting infected with this scary effect crap?
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[He digs his own hand up into his hair, which thankfully CERES is allowing him to do, even if he can't see himself in a mirror to fix it after. Shit, I shouldn't be doin' that, I'm gonna be walking around with bedhead . . .
It's a scary thought, though.]
I dunno if it's better if they're doing this just to screw with us or not. 'Cuz if they're not, what are they trying to do? This is what sucks about getting kidnapped by aliens! Maybe if I understood any of this future alien bullshit, I wouldn't lose sleep at night tryin' to figure this crap out!
no subject
Y'know, I've been here for a couple months and never thought of it like that. Being kidnapped by aliens, I mean. That kinda makes it like ten times worse.
[But the more he considers it, the better of an explanation it makes. The whole code thing has to be alien tech, doesn't it...?]
no subject
[In a way, it's easier to talk about. It sucks and it's scary, but it's something he has a little context for, even if that context is just the media. Something like CERES outside of that context . . . it's hard to even know how to discuss it.
He tips his head back against the glass of the window, looking up at the sky. It's just beginning to go dark. Automatically, he looks for the moon, and of course it's not there; this isn't Earth. It's the first time he's noticed, since he's usually not thinking about it. It's only on his mind now because of the conversation, and the sudden realization has him frowning up at the unfamiliarity.]
It ain't like it is in the movies, that's for sure. I guess I'm glad I haven't gotten, like, probed or anything weird like that, but how much better is this really?
no subject
[Aliens experiment on the people they kidnap, right? What if that's what CERES is doing?
Larry quickly shakes his head, as if scolding himself for even going down that road of thought.]
Actually, maybe we shouldn't think about that. I think we're just gonna freak ourselves out even more if we do.
[He throws in a sheepish laugh, like hey, maybe they should try to go back to a lighter conversation like they were having earlier! But it's just way too easy to keep falling back to something dark, isn't it?]
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[As much as Leon hates the idea of coming to think this sort of thing is normal, or even being able to ignore it, it's even worse to think that these assholes might win by breaking their spirits. He pushes off of the window in a sudden fit of resolve, turning to Larry and jabbing a finger out at him. (Not through him, though, this time.)]
You're a hundred percent right! We gotta do something to get our minds off this!
no subject
[Now if only all this heat from their fiery attitudes would transfer to some actual warmth for Larry! Even still, getting pumped up helps him ignore the cold for the time being.
He clenches his fists in a fist-pumping motion.]
Let's go do something fun! Something we know we'll love! We could...hit the Entertainment District- I bet we'll find something perfect there.
no subject
[He punches a fist out this time, like he's looking for a brofist, but--will that even work? Will he go through Larry again? He's not sure how often Larry's able to touch things right now . . . it's a sobering thought. In other words, exactly the kind of thought he doesn't want to have anymore.
What will Larry even be able to touch--no, forget about it, that's it! They'll find something, dammit!]
What kinda stuff d'you do in your spare time anyway?
no subject
And the moment of truth...
Surprise! For once, Larry remains totally solid for this Totally Important Bonding Moment! He can hardly believe it himself when it actually works. But you know what? This is probably what they both needed right now. A little reassurance boost.]
Hey, it worked!
[He can't help but laugh a little. He laughs at the absurdity that he even has to worry about properly sharing a brofist with someone.
But let's not dwell on small miracles. Larry instead focuses on Leon's question.]
Mmm... When I'm not doing artsy stuff, I pretty much just play games or watch TV. If I'm feeling super ambitious I'll go out for drinks.
[Then, a thought:]
Are you even old enough for that?
[HE CAN'T BELIEVE HE HAS TO ASK, HE FEELS SO OLD...]
no subject
[This hasn't stopped being awkward yet. No, he's not about to turn seventeen, if everything Naegi and Kirigiri have told him about what went down at home is true--and he trusts them. He's probably nineteen, maybe even twenty, and that's . . . damn.
Messed up to think about.
Also, still not old enough to drink in Japan. But this isn't Japan, now, is it? He laughs it off, awkwardly.]
Whatever, I'm totally old enough, I went out with Hinata a few days ago! I don't even know if they've got laws about that stuff here!
no subject
And his Actual Responsible Adult senses are tripped a little bit by Leon blowing off the question like that. He eyes Leon curiously, as if trying to guesstimate his age himself. Does he look twenty-one? Maybe, Larry guesses. But Larry doesn't even know what the legal drinking age is in Japan so he could totally legal there even if he isn't twenty-one.
But then again, Leon brings up a really good point.]
That's true, they might not even care how old you are here! But I trust you either way.
[...Man, he feels like an uncool uncle for feeling some responsibility about this in the first place.]
So d'you wanna do that, then? We'll just hope I can actually hold the drinks.
no subject
[He interprets that in the slangy, non-literal way first, and laughs; okay, so he's not good at it himself, being brand new to drinking and all. He'd never done it before coming here. He'd been too young and too carefully watched as a star athlete. But dammit, if there's a time to learn how to drink and take advantage of the lack of law here, this is it! When your friends can't even touch--
Ohhh, that's what he'd meant.]
--Oh. Uh, yeah . . . that'd suck.
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I know you get it now, but I'll just say for the record anyway that I can at least hold it against my two lawyer bffs.
[He's probably making such an exaggeration here, but that's exactly what he does best.]
no subject
[He laughs; maybe uptight isn't accurate, considering Athena, but there'd been the texts from Trucy's dad after their date, and that was like, the definition of uptight--
Hey, wait a sec. He blinks at Larry, pausing mid-stride just as he'd started heading down the street in the direction of the Entertainment District.]
You don't mean Mr. Wright or whatever, do you?
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[He huffs to himself about that as they start to go. Phoenix and Edgeworth, always making themselves out to be busy with important jobs and stuff...how's that supposed to make Larry feel?! They clearly need to be more considerate and actually be social with their non-lawyer bff.
Oh...wait, did Leon just say "Mr. Wright"? Larry similarly pauses, a bit shocked.]
As in Phoenix Wright? Y-yeah, that's Nick! Whoa, I didn't know you'd already met him, Leon!
no subject
[PREPOSTEROUS. He's. He's. He's such a dad! This is a weird generation gap moment in a big way.]
I went on a blind date with his daughter! Man, she was cute . . . but when he found out about it he texted me to harass me over it!
no subject
[HE'S KIDDING...mostly. But he's not gonna deny that Phoenix can definitely be a big stick in the mud. Maybe he's noticing it more now that there's an eight-year age gap between them thanks to CERES.
...
BACK THE HELL UP A SEC. (This is a theme for this part of the conversation, apparently.)]
Y-You?! Went on a date with Trucy?! Dang, I feel like I'm always the last person to hear about these things!
[Probably because it's none of his business. But he doesn't understand that.]
no subject
[I mean that kind of seems to be what's going on with that world, to be honest.]
Anyway, we had a good time. She's super cute! But then her dad got on my case about it. It was seriously like some kinda TV drama.
no subject
[He says that like he's not still a swingin' bachelor...or like the two things are related in any way in general but details.]
Yeah...that sounds like Nick, honestly. He's always been kinda judgey about my dating life so I'm not surprised he's being picky about who his kid dates.
[The most he can do is offer a shrug though.]
I dunno why he'd have a problem with you, though. S'not like you're running around breaking laws!