raidraptors | Ryslig

[Definitely not a good sign.

Shun can't actually feel the parasite nesting somewhere in his body, but in the week passed he's been uncomfortably aware of it. Of what will happen to him, them unless they find a way of removing that damn– Better to keep his mind occupied with other things. Bavan has been on some weird trip in the past few days, unusual preparations for the newbie's upcoming first change… they aren't going out to riot in the streets this time, but the alternative is just a different kind of stupid.

None of it matters when Yuzu suddenly stumbles out of her room; without thinking Shun already moves to intercept her. Like hell he'll let her leave their apartment when she's only just regained control of her limbs again.]

Where do you think you're going?

[ She's warm to the touch—a good sign, compared to the chill and the paleness that accompanied her flesh during the worst of her sickness—but she doesn't burn hot. Still not recovered, and from the look on her face, she knows it. ]

Vandare. [ She says the name, and immediately shakes her head. ] I'm... There's something happening in Vandare. One of my friends just messaged me— something's happened to him.

[She is definitely better now, but well enough to go out, especially if something is happening (and between recent events and the timing, Shun is will to bet that it's nothing good)… Shun thinks not.]

You can't do anything like this.

[And he certainly won't let her.]

I know that!

[ The words are sharp, the pitch high, like coughing out broken glass. Her arms cross against her chest, hands gripping her elbows. She's weak; the fog has depleted one of her strengths, and the rest of her is still slow in recovering from the rest. But knowing that—it only makes her feel worse. Her heart beats so hard in her chest it feels like it's going to burst; her whole body still hurts.

Her gaze turns down. ]

I know that. I can't... I can't do anything, but I can't abandon him.

[Shun studies her with a frown, one arm automatically reaching to wrap around her shoulders and steady her, a half hug of maybe-comfort… he gets it well enough why she wants to leave, why she's pushing her boundaries. But understanding doesn't mean that he'll actually let her.]

If I go to look for him, will you promise to stay here?

[ She's shaking where she stands; it's a miracle she's still upright. ]

He's already dead.

[ There's no ice in her breath, but the words are cold. He couldn't say it, but from that message... from what she knows... she was barely strong enough to kill him that time, she knows what he's capable of. She takes a breath.

But all she can think of is the faces of those corpses in the temple, blown apart from the inside. ]

I. He asked for help. They need help. [ She takes a breath, but it's hard to keep the words steady when she's trembling this badly. He asked for her help and she can't give it; she doesn't have the power to help anyone. Everything hurts. ] They must be attacking the new arrivals.

[ A breath. Unsteady. ] You'll go?

[Shun's hold tightens a little at her words – they need to be as cold as they are, would be just as matter-of-fact if Shun brought the news, but loss hurts and it never stops hurting any less. He knows she understands that just as well as he does. He nods at her speculations; it's not really surprising to think, not given those damn bikers' presence in the town.

It will be a bit more dangerous to go there, but nothing he can't handle. …Probably.]

If you stay here.

[That's his condition.]

[ Her head is already bowed, but the nod — the agreement — comes without hesitation. ]

I won't go anywhere. I promise.

[He was almost expecting this to be more difficult… and if he wasn't so certain that she isn't physically able to get herself to Vandare anyway, he probably wouldn't quite trust her word. As it is, he squeezes her arm gently before nudging her back towards her room.

He's been itching to scratch his claws on something anyway; might as well be the bricks of Vandare's streets and with the Fog he won't have to worry much about the sun knocking him out in a bad spot until it lifts again.]

I'll be back in a few days.

[He is coming back; this time he has no doubt of it. Dying was unpleasant enough just that once. …Maybe he should leave Yuto a note.]

Edited 2016-05-01 16:21 (UTC)

[ His acceptance of terms is silently given; the tightening grip is a grounding force, but touch still leaves her jumpy. The whole affair has left her shaken, worse than anything else this dimension has forced on them. And how much of that is her fault? They were all suspicious; they all saw the signs. Why did she go? Why did she have to drag so many of them into that hell with her? And now when she's needed, there's nothing she can do—she has to force other people into danger in her place. If anything else happens, it will be her fault.

She's easier than ever to move around; as he takes her back to her room, her feet follow the steps as easily as dancing, but the shake is too much to bear. When his hand leaves her, her whole body sways forward, deliberate motion, and her arms wrap tight against his back. The weakness of her limbs makes it an easy hold to break, but the desperate frailty of dull claws against fabric makes it a pathetic showing. She hides her face against his chest, still shaking... ]

[Well Shun would have preferred if she had left and gone home after that third night, but he knows he would have stayed either way, would have gone even if she hadn't. His infection is on him alone and figuring out how to get rid of those damn bugs is their task for the next month. They'll make it through; the two of them at least. And well… Sawatari probably too; for all his stupidity and lack of common sense, he's a pretty tenacious bastard.

The hug catches him by surprise – it's not like she's ever initiated contact like this by herself – but he leans into it soon enough, one arm draped across her shoulders to steady and comfort alike. It's a little awkward; he's way too tall to do much more than he is without pulling her off her feet… it'll have to be enough. He can give her this moment, will stay as long as she needs.

A few hours more or less won't make much difference for the newbies in Vandare anyway.]

[ There are few things that Yuzu hates, but this is one of them: feeling small, and fragile, and weak, and knowing her feelings to be right. Her tremors are part grief, part fear, and even his arm across her shoulders isn't enough to suppress them completely. Her ears ring for the trauma of injury; it still hurts her throat to breathe too fast.

It's worse to cry from fear. It brings no healing with it, no relief, only burns the places that already ache and digs sharp fingers into the bruises of her heart. She hates that she speaks, and hates worse the way her voice catches. ]

I just want to go home.

[Shun lifts his free hand when he feels her tremble, dropping it on top of her head, careful not to scratch her with his claws as he starts combing her hair.]

I know.

[He isn't judging – Shun understands only all too well. There are times, too often, that he misses his own home, the city that used to be. Even if they make it out of here, there is no easy going back to that though, not for him at least. For her though… when they make it out of here, Standard will be waiting, so…]

You'll definitely make it back.

[They all will, no matter what it takes. He has to believe that.]

Ryslig | IC Contact

action!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, SHUN KUROSAKI. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 235.59.665.46 * XYZ-RAPTOR has joined 235.59.665.46 <XYZ-RAPTOR>** Keep it short.