Gohan // video // 001

[neededahand]

[Communicator clicks on when Gohan, face down and groaning, grabs it and tosses it gently into a post. Except 'gently' for a half-Saiyan is pretty forceful for a communicator, so it snaps on without him realizing what it was.

He rolls his weight to his right side, using his remaining arm to force himself to his knees, unsteady. He looks around, this way and that, confusion plain to read, before he starts thinking out loud.]

I don't remember... I'm pretty sure Dad and the others said you were supposed to go straight to Judgment when you die. There shouldn't be so much... city around here, should there?

[He gets up, and catches sight of the coral. He frowns at it.]

They said there were clouds everywhere, not... Shouldn't that be underwater? [He glances up and winces.] That answers that. I don't recognize the species at all, but it's been a while since I really read up on it.

[Wait. He glances up again, but this time like he's looking for something specific. And frowns, deeply this time, eyebrows very accustomed to this wrinkling. He glances to his left, notices the arm still missing.]

That's even stranger. Tien said that his arm came back after he died, and I should at least have a halo... Where am I?

Comments

1/2 REACTION

[fighting4afuture]

[...oh Kami.

It honestly was...

Trunks hadn't expected, hadn't hoped that he'd see Gohan again--not until he died himself. Earth's Dragonballs were no more, and they didn't know the location of New Namek...it was impossible.

Impossible...but there he was. Gohan, alive. Alive and here.]

2/2 aaand action.

[fighting4afuture]

[Trunks doesn't bother sending a message--it didn't even occur to him, or even taking his communicator. It's abandoned on the kitchen table as he tears out the back door and takes to the air, streaking toward the plaza. He stumbles as he lands, not because of weariness but because he'd almost talked himself out of believing that Gohan was really there.]

...Gohan.

[He steps closer, slowly, nearly dazed.]

It's...really you...

[No, he hadn't expected his mentor and his friend to ever show up here. The possibility hadn't even occurred to him.

Normally he wouldn't be so emotional, so impulsive--but there was really only one thing to do when faced with someone you cared about so much being suddenly alive and in front of you. His steps quicken, and unless Gohan cares to dodge the sudden incoming teenager, there will be hugs. Desperate, clinging hugs.]

action.

[neededahand]

[It's okay, he doesn't need those ribs, and Gohan hates himself for having to fight a reflexive impulse to dodge or clock the kid. But, impule fought, he squeezes Trunks around he shoulders. Surprised at how high up they are, and his heart breaks just a little, because this reaction, from a taller, older Trunks...

The first two words that come to mind are "It worked" and he hates himself even more.]

Of course it's me. Who else would let you get away with this in public?

action

[fighting4afuture]

[Yeah the impulse is understandable and Trunks probably would've had it himself, or been damn close.

His fingers curl into the cloth of Gohan's gi, in an effort to stop their shaking.

Stupid non-chalant remark HE FOUND YOUR BODY. God you asshole. You're lucky that shit worked, or you would've scarred the kid for life for nothing.]

S...shut up...

[Try not mumbling that into Gohan's shirt, it might work better.]

action

[neededahand]

[Gohan just laughs softly, and squeezes the kid a little tighter. He'd be lying if he said this wasn't exactly what he was planning to do to Piccolo once they met up in the afterlife. Assuming Piccolo hadn't gone to hell when he died, but he'd been fine to go to King Kai's with the others...]

I can't believe how tall you are. For what it's worth... I'm sorry.

[I know how much it must have hurt.]

action

[fighting4afuture]

[Considering his track record, he was probably fine. Dabura ended up in Heaven after all.]

It's been four years.

[Said in a tone that's sort of 'of course I'd be taller'. He pulls away, eyes bright but no tears falling.]

...why did you have to go?

[Without him, though that's implied. He knows why Gohan had gone to fight and wanted to go with him for the same reasons.]

action maybe i should memorize my damn keywords

[neededahand]

[But that was for specific purposes of irony! Gohan cringes noticeably, but lets Trunks go, still leaving a hand on his shoulder. He's maintaining a straight face, but looks Trunks over, head to toe. Grieving just a bit because -- clearly -- Trunks still is.

It wasn't all that long ago, and the anger flashes through Gohan's blood again. He grabs onto it, prodding it out until it infuses every cell of his body. Holding on to it keeps him stronger, he thinks, and he's half a heartbeat from Super Saiyan already.]

There was no other way.

[Video]

[redcladidealist]

You're in Vatheon.

[Despite Gohan's rough treatment of his SFC, the thing still works, transmitting the face and voice of a teenage boy wearing red. Lloyd blinks at the other boy curiously.]

You... think you're dead?

[Video]

[neededahand]

[Hold that thought while Gohan scrambles to connect that voice with whatever it is he threw, and then find it. He stares at it a moment, slightly embarrassed at being caught talking to himself. Normal people don't really... Do that...]

V-Vatheon? Definitely not where I last remember being. I-- thanks for the information, um...?

[let's not address the dead part just yet.]

[Video]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd's not about to judge him for that, especially when it's obvious that Gohan's newly arrived. He was pretty disoriented, too.]

A lot of people I've talked to say the same thing. What do you remember? I mean, before you woke up here.

I'm Lloyd. What's your name?

[Video]

[neededahand]

[Uh, death by ki blast? But Gohan doesn't say that, no use upsetting folks.]

It was raining. I know that.

My name's Gohan. Good to see a friendly face.

[Video]

[redcladidealist]

[Probably a good idea, Gohan.]

So you don't remember using any kind of Gate that might have taken you here, even by accident?

Yeah, it definitely helps when you're someplace you don't know if you have friends. I mean, not that we're friends yet, but we could be, right?

[Video]

[neededahand]

Gate? No. I've never heard of a gate that could take you any further than the other side of it. I was definitely in a city.

A city above ground, I mean.

[He does smile at that. He likes that philosophy.]

Right... my father made all of his best friends on new adventures, after all.

video

[ainohenshin]

'm pretty sure you're alive man.

This ain't the afterlife or anything. It's called Vatheon.

Re: video

[neededahand]

[Gohan laughs politely.]

My mistake. Thought I had some evidence to the contrary, I guess.

video

[ainohenshin]

Whaddya mean by that?

video

[neededahand]

[Well, he ruined 17's clothes, that was a good indicator...]

I just got in over my head, that's all. Bad fight.

video

[ainohenshin]

[ Too bad Kuwabara doesn't know that. ]

....Ya got into a fight before gettin' herE?

[ Not that he's surprised. ]

Eh, but either way you're pretty alive.

video

[neededahand]

[It is better this way. Gohan nods.]

It looks that way. Even if it is hard to believe.

[Glances upward.]

Especially with all that water pressure. I can't see much of any sunlight coming in, so we must be very deep.

Video

[saiyan_prince]

[Hmm. There's something... Vegeta just turns on a video and peers at Gohan, seeing if this person recognizes him without saying anything or revealing that he doesn't quite know him.]

Video

[neededahand]

[Aaaaaand Gohan, who hit his lifetime cap re: cunning with "It's a watch," and "Sure, you can fight the androids with me," totally. Falls. For. It.]

Vegeta?! Is that really you? How--

[Except. You look different... younger... Oh... my...]

Video

[saiyan_prince]

So you know me, then. Who are you? Are you from the future as well?

[Played right into that one, Gohan. Aren't you supposed to be smart? Vegeta is not impressed.]

Video

[neededahand]

[ Smart =/= possessing common sense sob. YOU CAN'T LEARN SNEAKINESS FROM BOOKS.

It's on the tip of his tongue to say he's Gohan, just grown up, but the differences in Vegeta's appearance... ]

I can't answer that without some reference points. Do you-- what do you know of the planet Earth?

Video

[saiyan_prince]

We sent Kakarot there to subjugate it. Evidently, he failed.

[And Vegeta somehow ends up sleeping with a human? He's not clear on the details.]

There was some sort of crisis that wiped out most of the population regardless.

Video

[neededahand]

[So you have been talking to Trunks. THANK YOU FOR NOT MENTIONING THIS, YOU MOODY TEENAGE BRAT. Gohan isn't sure who he pities more in this scenario. He'd been very careful about letting Trunks admire his father.]

That's correct... He was my father.