Event Six.

[awashmods]

If you see this hairy creature Your first choice should always be to run Otherwise you had better hope You have silver bullets in a gun.

he full moon hangs brightly over the Town, hovering so low that it almost feels as though you could reach out and touch it. It should be comforting. But as the howl of wolves fills the air, it's anything but. There are werewolves on the prowl, and their target is very clear -- the Town won't be able to last without your help. Welcome to Awash's sixth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to start your own posts or logs for this event as well. If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

Comments

[passio]

[ the more minato talks, however, the more dextera is inclined to trust him. he’s not a werewolf. a werewolf wouldn’t talk like that—or would it? he’s not sure, but he wants to believe that minato is safe. minato is his friend, even now. they have a bond. they talked about this. ]

…

[ there’s the sound of a lock, and dextera opens the door a little wider. ]

Hurry.

[messianic]

[... Oh.

He wasn't expecting that; there are the words "are you sure" on the tip of his tongue, but--

Dex is scared enough. He's not going to prolong his agony by making him repeat himself. Instead, he nods simply and moves to slip through that small space left by the slightly open door, closing it behind him carefully.

Still... he remains by the door, blinking at Dextera quietly.]

... Are you sure this is okay?

[He's grateful, to be sure, but he doesn't want to scare Dextera more.]

[passio]

[ dextera isn’t sure, and he shakes his head quickly in response to minato’s gentle question. he could have just invited a monster into his home, throwing all the animals and himself into danger, and his mind is screaming at him for it—but it’s minato, he tells himself. ]

Scared.

[ as if it weren’t obvious. he’s trembling, his fingers twitching involuntarily, and he stills them by firmly digging his hands into the fabric of his coat. ]

[messianic]

[Minato looks at Dextera, at those trembling fingers...and quietly sinks to a sitting position on the floor right in front of Dextera's door.]

... I know.

[It's really, really scary, and even so...Dextera let him in.]

Do you want to check? I'm not injured at all, so....

[It'll only be the work of a minute to check Minato for bites. He doesn't mind.]

[passio]

[ would accepting minato’s offer be a display of how little he trusts anything right now? surely, yes, but he’ll feel better once he sees for himself that minato has no bite marks. he can’t check everything, but he only needs to see enough to trick his heart. ]

…

[ dextera follows minato to the floor, on his knees, and motions for minato to roll his sleeves up. if minato is all right there, then maybe he can convince himself the rest is okay, too. ]

[messianic]

[He doesn't mind.

Just the sleeves? Minato's not sure that's enough peace of mind for Dextera, though he suspects that Dextera's caught between a rock and a hard place--wanting to trust him, but filled with that fear.

So Minato just shakes his head quietly to himself, and tugs off his shirt. At least it's easy, since so much of the clothing here is lacking buttons or the like.

Dextera can see all of it--that he's not hurt at all, that he hasn't been bitten, because Minato's not at all offended by the request.]

[passio]

[ dextera understands what minato is trying to do for him, and he exhales, tears of relief—and regret—pricking at his eyes. he’s glad to see that minato is unhurt, unbitten, for more reasons than just altruism. ]

You look well.

[ he takes a deep breath, rubbing his hands across his face once he’s said his piece. ]

I’m sorry.

[messianic]

You don't have anything to apologize for.

[Minato says that simple, easily, shaking his head and tugging his shirt back on as he remains seated there, in front of the door--more a protective position than anything.]

I'm glad that you're protecting yourself.

Please...don't be too hard on yourself for it.

[passio]

[ minato is too kind, and dextera can’t help but think he doesn’t deserve it. he’s here, doubting his friends—hating them. sometimes, it gets so bad that he can’t think straight, and he’s scared of what he would do if he weren’t holed up in his house. the werewolves are a danger, to be sure, but dextera is afraid of his own desire to lash out. ]

It shouldn’t be like this.

[ his hands are moving slowly, still, as if weighed down by the terror he’s feeling—but at least he’s getting better at saying what he wants to. ]

Nothing is right.

[messianic]

[Minato watches Dextera's hands carefully, and quietly, he nods. Dex is right, after all. Nothing about this... none of it is right.]

You're right.

I'm scared too. Sometimes, I feel completely paranoid, and I... I know that's not right. I've seen a lot scarier than this.

[Something's messing with their heads again, as happens so often in this place.]

I don't know what to do about it, though... or how to fix it.

[passio]

I’ve hurt people.

[ not here, which he will soon clarify, but it makes it obvious enough why he’s put himself away like this. his fear, his weakness, has made him prone to violence—and that was toward people he considered his friends, too. he’s hurt people, even killed them, in a selfish bid to understand himself. ]

In my world—I got scared. I hurt friends.

[ “friends” is a term he uses loosely—but even so. ]

Not again. So I’m here.

[messianic]

[... Oh. Oh. Then these effects must be even more miserable for Dextera, having experienced that.. Minato grimaces, shaking his head a little.]

... Not again. You won't do it again.

[Minato draws in a slow breath, meeting Dextera's eyes.]

But it makes sense. Staying in here to be sure. You're not...doing anything wrong, okay?

[passio]

[ dextera doesn’t want minato to know too much. it was hard enough, opening up to noctis about being the one who caused the apocalypse—telling minato, of all people, that he’s a murderer for some petty reasons sounds like an impossibility. ]

I should help.

[ he knows that, and yet… ]

[messianic]

[... Should help, huh? But in the end, all Minato can really say is:]

You have to take care of yourself, too.

[And there's nothing to be ashamed of in that.]

You have to protect yourself--and that's helping people too.

[passio]

[ maybe so, and if minato were giving that advice to anyone else, dextera would quickly agree. for someone like him, that kind of grace is undeserved. ]

…

[ he exhales. ]

What about you?

[messianic]

[There's really only one answer Minato can give to that, and it's probably the expected one.]

I'm... doing what I can to help protect people. Back home, we fought monsters a lot--me and my team, that is.

So... since I have the ability, I have to try.

[That all said:]

But there's still nothing wrong with protecting yourself instead. That should always come first.

[passio]

[ dextera nods. he fought monsters, too. he has power, a useful power, and he isn’t using it because he’s scared. it’s not that he wants to leave his friends to die out there, but… ]

Please help them. [ he squeezes his eyes shut, head bowed as he signs his plea. ] I can’t.

[messianic]

[Minato reaches out, and will gently lift Dextera's chin if he can. If Dextera allows him, gentle as Minato's movements are.

And, softly:]

Don't bow your head. I will... I'll help everyone I possibly can. And someday... there'll be a situation where we need your help in a way that only you can give...and you'll help us too.

I know it... so don't look so ashamed right now.

[It's just not yet time for that.]

[passio]

[ no one… no one ever speaks to him so gently, or touches him like he’s worth something. not in a context like this. the archangel has forced dextera to look at him countless times, but it was with contempt, with expectations in his eyes, and never… ]

…

[ dextera’s expression softens with a strange mix of gratitude and pain, uncertainty and fear still twisting in his chest, but the way minato talks sounds so sure. dextera wants to believe him, if only because it feels good to trust someone else. ]

Thank you.

[messianic]

[Minato just smiles at that, letting his hand drop to his own lap and nodding quietly. He knows he can't stay; if he wants to keep his promise to Dextera, and protect everyone else too, it means he needs to be on the move soon. But for just right now... he meets Dextera's eyes, and is nothing but certain.

Someday, they'll all need Dextera in their own ways, in whatever form that might take.

And Minato has no doubts that at that point, Dextera won't let any of them down.]

Thank you for trusting me. [Minato responds with that easily, flashing Dextera another quiet smile, and then his expression grows more certain.]

... I should keep checking on everyone else. I promise...when it gets dark, I'll do everything I can to protect everyone.

[passio]

[ minato is a truly good person, and again, dextera thinks he must have been through something terrible to become this way. what a pessimistic point of view, to assume kindness is forged in tragedy, but it’s all he can think every time he sees minato’s quiet, understanding smile.

he nods, and then, surprising himself with his own bravery—he reaches out, taking minato’s hand to squeeze his fingers.

a wish for protection, or something like it, before he lets minato go. ]

[messianic]

[Dextera grabbing his hand does surprise Minato a little, though he pauses willingly, blinking quietly--but the squeeze of his fingers is gentle and kind, and while Minato can't understand exactly what's going through Dextera's head, he's pretty sure he understands enough.

Dextera is truly kind, isn't he? Even when this scared... he still reached out to Minato to wish him well.

It's something Minato admires--he hasn't been truly, properly scared of much in a long time, but it's the people who fight through that fear to do what they can anyway who are really amazing. Like Dextera, reaching out to him even though he's terrified.

So Minato just meets his eyes firmly, nodding--message received, and appreciated--and when Dextera lets go, he turns to finally go. He has work to do, if he wants to be able to keep his promise. But... he feels a bit more rejuvenated now, and a bit more sure--everything's going to be okay.]