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

[le_mat]

[It's been a long night. Ren has learned things that weigh on his heart and mind. So when he sees Usagi so broken he doesn't bother trying to talk to her.

Instead, he kneels in front of her, and just... pulls her into a hug]

[lovebun]

[ It surprises her. But she still appreciates it. She's silent for a few minutes, but then the dam gives out. The tears fall, and she clings to him, burying her face in his chest and just. Crying. Because it's okay to do that, and she needs to. So she'll just. Cry into his chest like this for as long as he lets her. ]

[le_mat]

[And he lets her. Ren even puts his hand on the back of her head and makes small, almost maternal 'tut'ing sounds under his breath.

It's okay Usagi, just let it out]

[lovebun]

[ It's easy for her to forget she's still only fourteen. That the two lives worth of memories don't make her older than a middle schooler who's still growing. She has the weight of so much on her shoulders, so that she can't really just let herself fall apart at times. But right now? ...Right now she needs it. She can pick herself up later and be Sailor Moon, reincarnation of Princess Serenity.

Right now, she needs to be just Usagi. ]

[le_mat]

[She's younger than even Futaba, and even if everyone else forgets, Ren can't.]

It's okay, I got you.

[lovebun]

[ She's not the youngest here, not at all. But she is, perhaps, the softest-hearted. Someone who still believes that you can save everyone. Someone who believes in the good of everyone, deep down. That maybe it's just buried deep away.

She just nods. ]

[le_mat]

[Eventually, when it seems like she's winding down, he pulls his neck scarf from his pocket and offers it]

[lovebun]

[ She'll wipe away her tears, at least, and give it back. She feels... A lot better. ]

...Ren...? I want to save everyone... But... I'm not sure I can.

[le_mat]

You might not be able to.

[He's not going to lie]

That's why you just... do your best. Life isn't a win/lose game, you know.

[lovebun]

There's usually a way. It's just... I'm not sure about Kon. Bringing people back to life, sure, but...

[ But what can you do for something that doesn't exist anymore? ]

[le_mat]

Until we know for sure we keep trying.

[lovebun]

[ "Someone once told me... That the world was full of ugliness and filth, and that there was no reason to fight for it. That... There was nothing to fight for. But I don't believe that. And there's nothing anyone can do to make me stop wanting to fight for the sake of everyone else. We made a promise to Lilith, and I intend to keep it!"

"You don't believe that, hmm? Hang onto that belief, then. You're going to need it." ]

...Yeah. I told Red, after that first trial, that... I refused to believe that this world isn't worth saving. There's so much ugliness and darkness, but that doesn't mean we give up.

[ You fall down. You scrape your knee. You get hurt. You get up and keep walking, anyway. Not just because you need to, but because you know you'll be okay in the long run. ]

...We'll... We'll manage. It's going to get worse before it gets better.

[ It always does. ]

[le_mat]

I've seen human hearts. They're twisted and full of darkness. But also beautiful. So... trust me, I understand.

If you... need to step back sometimes, it's okay. I'll cover for you.

[lovebun]

[ She's. Going to look out over the lake. Up at the sky. ]

...This world is beautiful. It's colorful, even if some of the colors are dark. And it's amazing to know I live among so many different people, even if I never get to meet them. We all have such different lives, backgrounds, thoughts, beliefs... I find it beautiful. All of it.

[ Because if anyone understood, it'd be Ren. ]

...I want to protect it. With everything I have. All those hopes and dreams... Because... I believe in a bright, beautiful future.

[ A deep breath. ]

...I'm fine. I just... Needed time to break down.

[le_mat]

[He listens quietly, nodding. Yeah, he truly does understand, even if he's not as good with words.]

Yeah, don't we all. If... you need to again, you can come to me. Okay?

[lovebun]

Thanks, Ren.

[ She really appreciates it. ]