Event Nine.

[awashmods]

Thus, on Life’s gloomy sea, Heareth the marinere Voices sweet, from far and near, Ever singing in his ear, “Here is rest and peace for thee!”

t's a dark night, and the sounds of feet in the darkness are further dampened and hidden by even more magic, as they are lured away by the soft sounds of dreams that are too good to be true, leaving the Town much, much emptier than when it began. On one side, an island, and a ticking clock to a gruesome death. On the other, the slow realization that those bonds everyone has been forging might mean much, much more than they first thought. Welcome to Awash's ninth 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. Please be sure to very clearly mark where your characters are in your prompts, so people know which they can tag depending on which group they are in. Thank you!

Comments

[heartsteals]

I did. [ a beat; he adds, for the sake of explaining: ] All of us got sick. Some worse than others.

[ And he was one of those worse off. He doesn't include the information to downplay it - just to keep Cairngorm off his back for being "weak" again, since they're already heading down that road. Judging by the way they won't keep eye contact with him, he knows they'd use it as an easy way out of expressing any kind of positive feelings. Or embarrassment over said feelings.

They're cute, as usual. ]

And I'm glad that nothing happened to you, but it's not like I knew that until I saw you again. For all I knew, you could have vanished from the town like some of the others. [ ryoji, yusuke... he leans his head back, too, closing his eyes tiredly. ] I even went in the woods to look for you. You really gave me the runaround.

[ he'd been looking for the others, too, but they'd definitely been one of the friends at the forefront of his mind. ]

... It wasn't your fault, of course. Still... All that, and then having to break you into pieces afterwards...? For a gem, you're a real handful.

[unghost]

[ It's only when he's closed his eyes that they feel secure enough to look at him, conflicted and puzzled all the same. He's weird, like usual. They get this weird feeling when they're around him, like they are more important than they are, and they don't know if that's supposed be a good thing. ]

Why would you—

[ They don't know how to finish that question, though the sentiment is obvious, based on their confused tone alone. It takes restraint to cut themself off, but they do, letting out a sigh and continuing in a voice softer and more hushed than their typical assertive ways. ]

...You know you didn't have to do all that. I don't want to be responsible for bad things happening to you. [ It's different from the other times they've said that, more honest. ] This was my fault in the end.

[ They hug their mended arm closer to themself, sitting up more to start cleaning up the tools he'd brought, mostly to hide their guilty expression. Now that they think about it, yes, Ghost would certainly agree that this is all Cairngorm's fault, both the getting kidnapped + needing to get broken up into 6 pieces and the causing Lupin to run around everywhere + him getting sick. Product of living with someone who blamed them for everything or not, the end result is that they do feel liable the more that he goes on. ]

[heartsteals]

[ he could probably fall asleep like this, he's so tired. The killer headache's mostly gone since they started bringing people back - now all that's left are sore muscles and exhaustion. But Lupin started this conversation, and he's not very well going to pass out in the middle of it. ]

How? Because you were tricked? [ his eyes open halfway to peer at Cairngorm briefly. ] That doesn't count.

[ hell, he's gotten tricked here, before, too. That's just how the town works. This burden of responsibility seems to weigh on them constantly - for him, for the other gems, for themself - and he wonders how someone who wasn't even responsible for their own body most of their life can feel so blameworthy. Then again, maybe that's just it. He already knows they don't think much of themself. After a few seconds, he appears resolved, and sits up again, looking Cairngorm square in the face. ]

Listen, Cairngorm. You're not responsible for me or whatever happens to me. A gentleman thief values his freedom above most everything else - everything I do, I do because I want to, no more, no less. That's the way I've always been. [ a pause. His tone softens, then, and he offers a rueful smile. ] I did "all that" because I care about you. You're my friend. Is it that hard to believe?

[unghost]

[ They actually can muster the courage to make eye contact with him while he goes on, the rest of their body eerily still. Their gaze shows that they are hesitant to take his words for what they are, at least at first, until the initial skepticism gives way to quiet contemplation. As much as they'd like to remain aloof, they're still getting used to receiving outright admissions like this, and it shows in how they have to scramble for a response— just like they have every other time he's done something along these lines. ]

"Everything you do" is because you want to, huh... and because you care.

[ They repeat back what he says just to say something, darting their eyes away. Lupin is a free spirit, someone who does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, isn't tied down by the desires of others or obligations given to him. That's a freedom they have never been afforded, nor do they see themself being afforded in the distant future, so it makes it all the harder for them to understand his actions, when they're not framed as obligations or duties. ]

All this time, I thought you almost hurt yourself carrying me here because I asked you for help. But you did it because you care?

[ Maybe if they make light of the fact that Lupin was one of the only people they trusted to deal with this, at least before he stumbles upon that fact on his own, it'll be less embarrassing. And he won't get smug or anything... it'll help lighten the tone, not let him think they're pitiful, and it'll also communicate to him that they accepted his care, in their own joking roundabout way. ]

If I'd known you'd do that beforehand, I wouldn't have embarrassed myself asking that Guren guy to let you know about my plan in the first place...

[heartsteals]

That's right. I would have done it even if you told me not to, actually.

[ a cheeky response, delivered with a tired but honest grin. He's also not good at doing what he's told, provided he disagrees...

"Pitiful" is hardly the word he'd use to describe them. Sure, he thinks it's sad (and occasionally frustrating) that they don't seem to believe or even understand that someone would voluntarily take a risk for them - but that's very much a product of the life they've had to lead, and, more importantly, he thinks they're starting to learn otherwise. Like right now, for instance. Lupin is hesitant to read too much into that statement (maybe they gave Guren his name because he'd already helped them glue some fragments back on, for example), but at the very least, it's an indication that Cairngorm must think he's a little trustworthy. ]

Heh... Embarrassed yourself? Don't be like that. There's nothing embarrassing about liking me.

[ he jokes right back, leaning against the couch tiredly once more. ]

[unghost]

Shut up.

[ Is all they will offer to that, not confirming nor denying that last part. They turn back to what they were doing, placing everything the two of them had taken out back on the tray, before looking at him again from the corner of their eye. Now that they're not so stressed out about getting put back together, it is a little more noticeable that he doesn't look as he usually does— that is, having tons of energy and all that. Likely, it is a combination of his illness and exerting himself too much... ]

..Did you want to rest here, or something? [ Wait. That sounded too nice. ] You look terrible.

[ PERFECT. They give him a look that indicates that this is a serious offer; it's only fair after he went this far for them. ]

[heartsteals]

[ he does not take offense to being told he looks terrible, because a. it's definitely true, and b. he said the same thing to Cairngorm earlier... so he probably earned it. Lupin does seem a little surprised that they'd offer - but he also looks relieved. The idea of walking all the way back to Ruga is less than appealing at the moment, and he's slightly afraid he'll fall over if he tries. ]

If you don't mind? Sure. [ he stretches a little, and - even if he'd earned being called terrible - he can't help running his fingers through his hair just briefly, closing his eyes while he speaks. ] Geez... I'm so tired, even these broken-down Chroma couches feel comfy.

[unghost]

[ Normally they'd think of his exhaustion as proof that humans are inferior to gems in every physical way, but... right now, it's understandable. A century of babysitting the other gems during hibernation has made them surprisingly adept at how to take care of people who need rest. ]

I'll bring things for you, then. [ They muse, standing up with a stretch and a yawn of their own. ] I'd carry you somewhere more comfortable, but I shouldn't be lifting anything for a few days...

[ Carrying him might cause their arm to fall right off again, and then he might fall on it and break his fragile human bones or something. ]

Is there anything other than stuff for you to sleep on that I'm supposed to get?

[ they've read about a variety of strange cures for illness in fairytales, none of which they are sure are true... ]

[heartsteals]

No, no, no, this is fine, [ Lupin answers rather hastily. Getting carried around by Cairngorm outside of a life-or-death situation sounds kind of embarrassing. His pride!! ] I'm the kind of guy that could sleep on a picket fence. You don't need to get me anything.

[ he's slept on the ground and on the floor enough times in his life that a couch is actually pretty luxurious. In the back of his mind, he's got a list of other things he needs to do - check on Maya, check on Akira, check on Akechi, check on just about everyone, really - but the idea of taking a quick nap is so tempting that he can't resist it. When they move off the couch, he shifts to lay down, stretching out like a lazy alley cat and closing his eyes. It's a little cold, especially after sloshing around in the water like he had been, but he'll be fine. ]

Just give me... an hour, an hour and a half. Then I'll be out of your hair.

[ if Cairngorm leaves him, he will, in fact, fall asleep pretty fast. Normally, he'd be on edge about leaving himself in the open in someone else's house, but he feels pretty safe around Cairngorm, and he's also simply too tired to care, between the exertion of today and the sickness he's been battling all week. ]

[unghost]

I'm not gonna care either way. I'll probably be asleep until a day and a half from now, so I won't even notice...

[ He's free to stay for however long he wants, is what they mean. They wave a hand dismissively, sliding the tray off the table and holding it against their body while they give him one last stare. He said he doesn't need anything, and they're not the type to coddle anyone, but that does confuse them a bit given he insisted on giving them a blanket when they came over and they're... literally unable to feel temperature.

Maybe it's warm in here? They don't know. ]

If you're really fine, then— good night. [ uncertain pause, ] ...And thanks for carrying me here.

[ and definitely NOT for any of that other stuff ]