(no subject)

[awakenerd]

Who: Rean, Crow, and Randy
When: day 28
Where: the garden

[Rean's been passed out since princess maker, so a good 40 hours at least. When he wakes up... well he's immortal but here's never been in a position where there's no ambient mana he can use to even function basically. He feels fuzzy and almost like he's sick for over an hour, and he runs into more than one wall and that's all so absolutely unreal to him he finally texts Randy and Crow a simple word Garden. It takes him three tries to spell it right before hitting send.

And he'll be there next to a chalk circle full of symbols.]

Comments

[awakenerd]

Aren't you ignoring something important here?

[ruinatings]

No.

[awakenerd]

Yes, you are. For one, it's not your decision what he does. I get that you're protective and that's sweet, but whatever Randy and I worked out about being my contractor, it was his choice.

[ruinatings]

Randy would let you break his heart and step on it without a word. If that's his choice, it's mine to get in the way!

[Maybe Rufus shouldn't be so aggressive, but he's been holding back a lot for a long time and he finally has a reason to let it explode, so. He is.]

If I didn't, you'd just go in circles forever. You'd hurt him over and over and never notice, because you're just that kind of idiot! You haven't changed a single bit!

[awakenerd]

[That's a lot of ire and while Rean is definitely listening to it all he's kind of stuck on one part.]

First I'm dating him then I'm breaking his heart? Why am I always the last to know??

[That's what Rufus just said.]

[ruinatings]

Because you're the most self-absorbed selfless idiot that's ever been born!

[awakenerd]

...

[Oh.]

[ruinatings]

[No response is asking Rufus to keep going, right???]

Everyone adores Rean Schwarzer. You're a hero and a champion of human bonds! The man who saved the world and the perfect person for this train! You're so kind and thoughtful it's annoying. But you're so convinced of your own insignificance you're completely missing your own impact.

I don't care if you like yourself, but Randy is something uniquely important to me, and I'm going to protect that whether either of you like it or not!

[crimeson]

[he's been standing there with his head in his hands, not sure how to intervene. but.

that's very charming but it's also veering dangerously close to Rufus showing vulnerability and Randy really doesn't want to know what the crash for this sort of thing looks like. he's trying to pull a hug stop, not flat out covering Rufus' mouth but trying to wrap around him again, voice low and rough.]

--Okay. That's enough. I think you've made your point. You don't need to say any more than this.

[awakenerd]

[Still stunned. Please hold.]

[ruinatings]

No.

[No he's not done yet!! And he doesn't want to be hugged, but he's not far gone enough to shove Randy or anything, so he's just leaning away from it.]

Don't defend him! If he's going to be a leech he can just go back to the void and give me my brother back!

[Oops maybe Randy's not the entire issue here. Maybe. As if that wasn't obvious.]

[crimeson]

[Randy flinches and goes quiet for a moment, but he's not letting go.

Then, softly.]

Please.

[awakenerd]

[Well. Damn. He doesn't know quite what to say now, so he just makes one of those soft noises while his brain processes.]

[ruinatings]

...Fine.

[He doesn't wanna chill but he's realising how worked up he is and, more, he doesn't like hearing that tone in Randy's voice. So he stops squirming and instead tries to catch his breath.]

[crimeson]

[rrrrelaxing, just slightly, hunching enough he can tuck his head against Rufus' shoulder.]

Thanks.

[awakenerd]

[He can feel how upset Randy is, and nothing Rufus has said seems... Wrong. And it sucks.

Right now anything he could say would probably make things worse. But is it better to resolve things now or is it better to wait until everyone has cooled off?

In the end he decides he'll have a lot of chances to talk it out with Rufus, and the person Rufus probably most wants to see right now is already holding him.]

We can finish talking later.

[That's to Rufus, but also Randy.]

I think Crow and I are going for a walk. You've given me a lot to think about. I need a little time to come to terms with it, but thank you.

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow puts his hand on Rean's shoulder-- it's not meant to be a comfort so much as a presence, I'm here. ] Let's get out of here. [ It's all he has to say out loud-- there's nothing he can add to this conversation that would do any good for anyone, and there's already been way too many feelings flying around this room. ]

[ruinatings]

Mmph.

[He has nothing to say to you two!! Especially Rean. It's just frustrating to hear Rean be positive about the experience. If Rufus tried to respond now, he'd just be a mess.

He kind of already is. But he manages to keep from losing it worse, at least til Rean & Crow have left. After that the tension drains so unless Randy catches him Rufus is letting his legs go out from under him so he can sit right there on the floor and fight the urge to scream or cry.]

[crimeson]

[it's a little bit like catching him, sinking down as well, slowing their fall so it's at least smooth. he's not letting go, but he's not starting up conversation either. just... holding Rufus.]

[ruinatings]

[That's fine for now. Rufus needs a bit to get himself together, but at least he's eventually holding Randy back, painfully tight.]

[crimeson]

[yeah... yeah let's just hold each other kind of frantically on the floor of Ginger's living room.]

[awakenerd]

Yeah.

[Annnd leaving Ginger now. To give Randy and Rufus some space. Though once they're out he's exhaling roughly and raking a hand through his hair, looking distracted. Feeling a bit distracted too, thinking about what Rufus said.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow's going to sling an arm over Rean's shoulders. ] C'mon, let's go to my cabin.

[awakenerd]

Oh. Sure.

[He looks up at the arm around his shoulders and smiles. He's pretty... Calm over all, for having been yelled at so much. There's definitely quiet thoughtfulness but he's not acting like he's mopey.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ You are absolutely absorbing this as your new reality, aren't you? Crow sighs. ]

You know he was trying to hurt you any way he can, right?

[ He's not going to say it was a lie, but it was an attack-- a deliberate, cruel one. ]