After...party...?

[diesifkilled]

[SO THAT SURE WAS AN EXECUTION, HUH

Shirou's just been kind of staring off into space, still holding on to Usagi's hand, ever since Kon and Natsume's deaths. Just when it starts to look like he might stay like that all hecking night, he suddenly blinks and looks around.]

I'm going to go get some food.

[And indeed, he disappears off to the lodge and returns a little later with a huge pile of beautifully made sandwiches and other snacks. Did he have them prepared, or did he just make them really fast somehow? Who knows.

Anyway, there are now sandwiches. And the shack might still be on fire. This is fine.]

Comments

After some time

[linearcrash]

[ He's not moving bodies this time. Nine vanishes after the group hug, and then comes back with bleeding and bruised knuckles. He couldn't keep his promise to Natsume. They didn't save Kon. They couldn't even save Natsume.

Hitting a tree didn't help take the edge off, but Nine is now physically exhausted after everything. He's not going to touch food this time, but he will be found by the fire. He's still missing a shirt and his blazer, but he has on his hat and pants still. Approach? ]

[seekingsunrise]

[He goes off to punch trees and Talcott is left sitting by the campfire a little bewildered. Ren is upset, Ichigo's upset. Everyone's talking about time out like it's some great tragedy. It made sense last week that Nine was upset because they usually sat together before bed. He was lonely.

But this seems like an awful lot of fuss. So he follows Nine, upset because his boyfriend is upset. He just comes up behind him, wraps his arms around his middle, leans his cheek against the back of his shoulder.]

It's okay, darlin~

[linearcrash]

[ He freezes it at the contact, but then he hears that melodious lilt to darling, and knows who it is. He swallows down what he wants to say, and then folds his arm over Talcott's. ]

I don't know if it will be, baby.

[ His voice is thick as he leans back against him. ]

[seekingsunrise]

Of course it will.

[Really, there's no reason to take this so hard, Nine. He squeezes a little, hooks his chin over Nine's shoulder.]

I know Natsume's a little... hmmm.... delicate? But one night in time out won't kill him. Maybe it'll toughen him up a bit. [A soft chuckle, a little teasing.]

[linearcrash]

[ He flinches like someone has just slapped him. Gripping on his arm as he curses a bit. ]

He- it's not that, Talcott.

[ Nine feels the anger and failure trying to claw it's way out. Reaching up with his free hand to just tug down on the hat. ]

I thought we could save Kon. I thought I could do that at least, that we could have saved someone...

[ His voice cracks there. Saving people? Defending people? That was never one of his priorities. And nothing makes sense. Nothing he does makes it better... ]

[seekingsunrise]

Save him from a night stuck in that shed with Natsume?

[He laughs, smiles, nuzzles Nine's shoulder. Come on, cheer up darlin.]

I think they'll be just fine sharing. [A giggle at the implications there.]

If anything I think Clarke being there might be the only thing saving them from breaking the ruuuules~

[linearcrash]

[ He can feel something crack inside of him. Like the bottle he carefully shoved everything in was breaking. He can't just nod along with the facade this time. He can't pretend like there's nothing to worry about or everything will work out for the best. ]

No! No, don't you get it. He got shattered, Tal. There's no coming back. They shattered him!

[ And Nine was stupid enough to believe they could fix it. Stupid enough to believe they could have gotten on top in the end. All the confidence in his own ability to come out on stop is starting to fray.

Nine has no masters to tell him what to do. And this trial is taking away his direction. They might not be able to save everyone. Not the kids. Not Talcott. No one. ]

[seekingsunrise]

[He doesn't understand, that much is clear. It doesn't make any sense to him but Nine is upset and that is distressing. So he kisses his bare shoulder, reaches up to coax the blond into turning around in his arms so he can cry on Talcott's shoulder where his own jacket rests now.]

It's okay... it's gonna be alright, darlin...

[This time when he sways it's meant to be soothing, just like the hand stroking slowly up and down his back. And this time when he starts humming it's not Stand By Me.... but something more familiar to Nine.]

[linearcrash]

[ His breath catches and he slowly turns around to bury his face against his shoulder. Nine's back and shoulders shake with quiet little sobs.

He sways with him, and when he hears him sing something more familiar he lifts his head up enough to put his chin on him. Wrapping his arms around him to hug him tight. He's only sang that the one time, and Tal...

There's a part that always stuck out to him when Ace sung it.

So walk on and become the light that guides the way. ]

Ace would sing that when he's feeling down, yo. [ His breathing is more even, but his voice is raw. ]

[finalguard]

[ Boa watches Nine from a distance for a while, then hesitantly moves over. ]

You alright?

[linearcrash]

[ Nine looks at Boa and considers shaking his head. Raises his hand and then just... drops it. ]
I will be, yo.

[finalguard]

[ Boa sits down closely next to him. Hugging more than necessary isn't his style, but he's learned by now that physical proximity comforts people. ]

Were you close to them?

[linearcrash]

[ He thinks about it... ]

Natsume was the first person I liked here. [ His tastes are bad. ] I tried picking him up, even.

[finalguard]

[ In another situation, Boa might have remarked on the taste issue, but this is neither time nor place for it.

He's also not sure if trying to pick someone up means you're close to them or not if you're.. Nine...

But one thing seems safe to say: ]

I'm sorry... I didn't know you knew him much at all. He'll be back, at least. In a way.

[linearcrash]

Yeah. [ He breathes out something like a sigh, his attention already seeking the rock zombies. ]

Yeah, he'll be back. [ He can't think about it. ] How are you holding up? You good?

[finalguard]

[ Boa nods. ]

I didn't really have anything to do with either of the three who died this week.

[ And there was no brains, though Boa isn't even sure if he'd care that much about a third brain anymore. ]

You should just focus on yourself. You seem pretty shaken.

[linearcrash]

[ Brains and bodies seem to really lobe Boa. Nine is relieved that he wasn't close to them, and still feeling guilt in that whole mess. Feeling guilt towards others is still new.

At those words, he steals a glance towards Talcott and then shakes his head. ]

I can't focus on that.

[ That means thinking or trying to actually figure things out, but none of that is normal for him. ]

Hey, I'll be fine.

[particlebarrier]

[It's pretty late by the time Lance makes his way back to the campfire, but when he spots Nine he approaches immediately.]

I'll get a new shirt for you from Stan to replace the other one.

[linearcrash]

[ It's been a night and his Zomboyfriend made him cry, so he's pretty drained. He doesn't react to Lance's approach or even make any faces when he talks. After a moment or two, he'll tug down on the bill of his hat. ]

We can split it. Was thinking of getting my summer uniform anyways, yo.

[ He wants his cape back. ]

[particlebarrier]

[Lance sits down besides Nine at about an arm's distance apart.]

You got it.

[He wouldn't have minded just covering the whole thing, but if this is what Nine would prefer he's not about to argue. But he's generally not about to argue right now either. He's tired as hell, and he sees that Nine is too.]

...Hey, Nine? Why didn't you tell people at the trial that you'd gotten hurt because of me? It's not like I wouldn't have deserved the earful, you know.

[linearcrash]

[ It has to do with what the uniform means to him. He reaches up to rub the scar across his nose bridge, something he started to do to avoid touching his hair. ]

Didn't need them worrying about me, yo. I'm supposed to be looking out for them.

[ He doesn't know they would fight someone for him, but he doesn't want to risk it. ]

Besides, I figured what we got from Mitsuru was punishment enough.

[ S'up Mitsusis ]

[particlebarrier]

Yeah, but.... you got burned.

[Lance leans forward, resting his chin in his hands. Nine seemingly having an even greater sense of personal responsibility for the lives of other campers than he does just makes him feel slightly ill. Not because it's Nine exactly, but because it's a reminder of what he himself should be doing, but isn't.]

It probably wouldn't have happened if... y'know, I could hear and all, but that doesn't make it okay.

[He sighs.]

But for the record, I'd never hurt those kids. It's just been a rough week. The moose grabbed Mami from right under my bunk... and I don't want that happening to me. Or anyone else. I don't like having to carry around weapons just in case, but... that's what this place does to you.

[linearcrash]

Hey, it's just burns. They weren't really bad, yo.

[ If Lance wasn't trying to dodge bi feelings and the light was better, he might be able to see some evidence from the scars on Nine. He just waves his hands as he shakes his head. Not a big deal for real.

Lance saying he wouldn't hurt the kids does get him to relax a bit. They mean a lot to him. ]

This place is getting to us all. [ He thinks of Talcott wanting to get Chloe's blood off Nine's hands immediately. How he was almost desperate about it... ] I would have killed you, you know. They're good kids. [ And he'd do anything for them at this point ]

[particlebarrier]

[Lance is too pissed off at himself for bi feelings right now, tyvm.]

And I'd do whatever it took to stop you, if you tried to kill me.

[Although it's obvious and probably doesn't need to be stated out loud, it's the first time he's voiced a thought like that out loud.]

I can't die here. There were only seven of us fighting to stop the Galra. With me here, that's six. I have to survive this place so I can get back to where I'm needed.

[linearcrash]

[ He does remember seeing it change into a gun. He knows how close he came over a stupid misunderstanding and paranoia.]

Yeah, I wouldn't expect other wise.

[ He's already expecting to die here and defending something. Well die or become a rock... ]

Huh, didn't take you as the fighting type.