Who told you so, dilly dilly, Who told you so? ‘Twas my own heart, dilly dilly, That told me so.
ouch is one of the most intimate, romantic ways to be close to someone else. The Town knows this very well -- the Town wants everyone to be as close as possible.
Perhaps that's why this bonding is so...aggressive.
Because you're in for quite the shock on this otherwise peaceful day when you brush against the next person on your path.
Maybe you're going out of your way to touch people. Maybe you've got a terrible urge to just see what's lurking in someone's heart. Maybe you trip over a conveniently placed rock -- whatever the cause, you're getting an up close and personal look into someone else's heart.
Welcome to Awash's eighteenth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to make your own logs and posts for this event!
If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!
[ He gives a curious cant of the head at that. Oh man, it looks like she's been crying a while; he wishes he carried around a handkerchief, but alas. Regardless, he fishes through the numerous pouches at his belt with his free hand, even as he keeps his gaze fixed on Kaoru. ]
Sorry, I'm kind of new here -- is there something I should be scared of?
Well ... no, I don't think you're scary. Not at all. [ A pause before he continues, trying to keep his tone of voice relatively gentle and light. ] Why, do you think I should be scared of you?
[ As much as he wants to comfort her, he also doesn't want to answer hastily; words aren't his forte, and Jion gives a thoughtful hum as he dips his gaze for a moment. ]
... it was an accident though, right? When you hurt your mom? Accidents happen, you know? And ... I guess she might be kind of surprised by what happened, but I don't think that means everyone should be scared of you. She might just need some time to calm down?
B-but...dad left. [Hiccup.] Because of me! And now mom is--there was so much blood and sis is scared of me to and--and!
[And at that moment, all the furniture and doors around them started to tremble. She hadn't had this level of power when she was five, but this isn't...real. It isn't actually the past so as she reached up to clutch at her head, everything that wasn't bolted down began to shake as if affected by a mild earthquake.]
[ Oh boy. He does look around, slightly startled by the rattling going on around him, but Jion's quick to return his attention to Kaoru. ]
It's not your fault. [ Said calmly, but firmly, as he takes her hands in his. He tries to meet her gaze as he goes on, ] It's not your fault, okay? Sometimes people make mistakes, and hurt other people, but as long as you didn't mean for it to happen, you didn't do anything bad.
[ And then a little more fretfully: ] -- are you okay? Does your head hurt? Do you want to go somewhere more quiet?
[Her eyes go wide when he takes her hands, like she hadn't expected it at all. Everything around them is still shaking but it's noticeably gentler now.]
B-but...if it weren't for me...if I hadn't been born wrong...then none of this would have happened.
[Because that was the issue, wasn't it? Kaoru had grown to come to accept herself and her powers. She would never wish to not be born but a part of her still felt like she ruined her family's lives.
She shook her head in answer to his question. She really hadn't been hurt, but when he asked if she wanted to go somewhere more quiet she looked right at him, biting her lip like there was something she wanted to say, but then she only shook her head again.]
[ So that's ... a yes? A no? Man, he wishes he had a little more experience dealing with kids, he's not really sure how to handle this. Jion decides not to make any brash moves for the moment, but gently squeezes Kaoru's hands as he thinks. ]
... well, I guess you're right. Things might have turned out differently if you were born differently. But don't you think everything would have been different? Not just the bad things, but also the good things?
[ He's trying to keep from sounding too somber, but he still chooses his words carefully. ]
I think ... even if your family is scared of you right now, there are other people who think you're amazing. And if you weren't you, if you were different, then you might not have gotten to meet those people, you know? I don't think there's anything wrong with you. You're just you. And even if you happen to be a little unusual, that's not a bad thing. It's just part of who you are?
[ Oh god, he's not sure if he's even making sense. ]
[She's watching him carefully as he speaks, still with tears clinging to her lashes and some errant hiccups.
The words were familiar. Though maybe not the words themselves, but the sentiment behind them...it felt like someone else had said them. But they hadn't been for this version of herself.
She hesitated for a moment before she lets go of her dress and slowly lifted her arms out to him in a, one would assume, was a very universal request to be held. There was a very fragile expression on her face, like she was expecting to be rejected.]
[ He watches her reaction carefully while trying not to stare at her too overtly. At least she doesn't seem more upset? And though Jion blinks in concern at first when she raises her hands, he's quick to realize what she wants.
Of course he gives her a hug. Jion might be barrel-chested and bulky, but his embrace is soft and warm, his arms wrapping around her gently and pulling her close. ]
It's going to be okay. [ He gently rubs her back. ] You're gonna be alright.
[She froze, like she hadn't expected to be hugged at all, but after a moment, she wraps her arms around him...as much as she can anyway. Given that she's only five right now.
Or that's how it was, at first, her small little hands barely even reaching around him, but then she seems to shift and suddenly she's the Kaoru he knows again, sixteen but still with her face pressed to his shoulder.]
Thank you.
[They're still stuck in the hospital but this is definitely a good sign.]
[ He nods, giving her a reassuring smile, then gets to his feet; Jion makes a point of looking around, peering down the hallway to give her a moment to pretend she wasn't crying. ]
Hmm ... good question. I didn't notice any signs so far, so we might be looking for a while.
[ A quiet sigh as he scuffs a hand through his hair. ]
We just pick a direction and start walking for now, I guess? Unless you have a hunch?
[ He nods and takes her hand with zero hesitation, holding it firmly without squeezing too tight. ]
I'm here for you, wherever you want to go! [ A brief pause before he adds a little sheepishly, ] Although you might have to navigate. I'm not great at figuring out my way around new places.
[She wasn't worried he wouldn't take her hand. All the same, she couldn't help but feel warm and happy that he did. She squeezes his hand back with a bright smile.]
I can do that.
[It's been so long since she was last here, but she feels like...she knows where the place she wanted to go was.
So she starts down a hallway, passing the doors of various rooms until they make it to a particular one. The door plaque says, Akashi Akie. She stops there without opening it for a moment.]
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ouch is one of the most intimate, romantic ways to be close to someone else. The Town knows this very well -- the Town wants everyone to be as close as possible.
no subject
[ He gives a curious cant of the head at that. Oh man, it looks like she's been crying a while; he wishes he carried around a handkerchief, but alas. Regardless, he fishes through the numerous pouches at his belt with his free hand, even as he keeps his gaze fixed on Kaoru. ]
Sorry, I'm kind of new here -- is there something I should be scared of?
no subject
...me.
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Well ... no, I don't think you're scary. Not at all. [ A pause before he continues, trying to keep his tone of voice relatively gentle and light. ] Why, do you think I should be scared of you?
no subject
[Her eyes tear up again and they roll over her cheeks and fall to the ground.] I screwed up. I got angry and...I hurt mom. She won't even see me.
no subject
... it was an accident though, right? When you hurt your mom? Accidents happen, you know? And ... I guess she might be kind of surprised by what happened, but I don't think that means everyone should be scared of you. She might just need some time to calm down?
no subject
[And at that moment, all the furniture and doors around them started to tremble. She hadn't had this level of power when she was five, but this isn't...real. It isn't actually the past so as she reached up to clutch at her head, everything that wasn't bolted down began to shake as if affected by a mild earthquake.]
It's my fault! It's all my fault!
no subject
It's not your fault. [ Said calmly, but firmly, as he takes her hands in his. He tries to meet her gaze as he goes on, ] It's not your fault, okay? Sometimes people make mistakes, and hurt other people, but as long as you didn't mean for it to happen, you didn't do anything bad.
[ And then a little more fretfully: ] -- are you okay? Does your head hurt? Do you want to go somewhere more quiet?
no subject
B-but...if it weren't for me...if I hadn't been born wrong...then none of this would have happened.
[Because that was the issue, wasn't it? Kaoru had grown to come to accept herself and her powers. She would never wish to not be born but a part of her still felt like she ruined her family's lives.
She shook her head in answer to his question. She really hadn't been hurt, but when he asked if she wanted to go somewhere more quiet she looked right at him, biting her lip like there was something she wanted to say, but then she only shook her head again.]
no subject
... well, I guess you're right. Things might have turned out differently if you were born differently. But don't you think everything would have been different? Not just the bad things, but also the good things?
[ He's trying to keep from sounding too somber, but he still chooses his words carefully. ]
I think ... even if your family is scared of you right now, there are other people who think you're amazing. And if you weren't you, if you were different, then you might not have gotten to meet those people, you know? I don't think there's anything wrong with you. You're just you. And even if you happen to be a little unusual, that's not a bad thing. It's just part of who you are?
[ Oh god, he's not sure if he's even making sense. ]
no subject
The words were familiar. Though maybe not the words themselves, but the sentiment behind them...it felt like someone else had said them. But they hadn't been for this version of herself.
She hesitated for a moment before she lets go of her dress and slowly lifted her arms out to him in a, one would assume, was a very universal request to be held. There was a very fragile expression on her face, like she was expecting to be rejected.]
no subject
Of course he gives her a hug. Jion might be barrel-chested and bulky, but his embrace is soft and warm, his arms wrapping around her gently and pulling her close. ]
It's going to be okay. [ He gently rubs her back. ] You're gonna be alright.
no subject
Or that's how it was, at first, her small little hands barely even reaching around him, but then she seems to shift and suddenly she's the Kaoru he knows again, sixteen but still with her face pressed to his shoulder.]
Thank you.
[They're still stuck in the hospital but this is definitely a good sign.]
no subject
And though it's definitely a little startling to suddenly find her much bigger in his arms, he just gives a low laugh and squeezes her briefly. ]
No problem! [ Jion grins as he lets go and pulls back. ] Just let me know if there's anything else I can do to help, okay?
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[Then she stands up and brushes off some invisible dirt.] Now...where do you think the emergency exit is?
[Because, strangely, there are no exit signs in this place. Then again, it's not really a real hospital, was it?]
no subject
Hmm ... good question. I didn't notice any signs so far, so we might be looking for a while.
[ A quiet sigh as he scuffs a hand through his hair. ]
We just pick a direction and start walking for now, I guess? Unless you have a hunch?
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You asked me earlier, if there was somewhere else I wanted to go. [She holds out a hand to him with a small smile.] If I ask, would you take me there?
[She's not five anymore but...]
no subject
[ He nods and takes her hand with zero hesitation, holding it firmly without squeezing too tight. ]
I'm here for you, wherever you want to go! [ A brief pause before he adds a little sheepishly, ] Although you might have to navigate. I'm not great at figuring out my way around new places.
no subject
I can do that.
[It's been so long since she was last here, but she feels like...she knows where the place she wanted to go was.
So she starts down a hallway, passing the doors of various rooms until they make it to a particular one. The door plaque says, Akashi Akie. She stops there without opening it for a moment.]