psychedelica | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ she comforted him yesterday. Now it's his turn.

He's feeling a little more stable, a little more confident, after seeing that both Eichi and Akechi survived - and so he goes to find her a little while later once he's given her some time to herself. If she's anything like he is, she probably needs it.

Once he does find her, he reaches out to touch her shoulder. ]

Stephanie.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ she looks down at his hand, her expression mostly... lost. it seems like she's still processing what happened earlier. ]

Yes?

Tell me how you're doing.

[ it would be stupid to ask if she's okay when she obviously isn't - or wasn't. Belph had told her Varian was one of her favorite people here; he's glad he took him seriously now, seeing her like this. There's not much he can do but offer her his ear and his shoulder. ]

... Talk to me.

[ she's not sure what to say. steph was very close to evan, and also to varian, so realizing that varian was involved in evan's murder was heartbreaking. and then it got worse. ]

I'm just... tired.

[ of course she is. So is he. He doesn't even have the same stake in it that she does. ]

... Whatever friendship you had with him was real, even if he didn't know it himself. I'm sure. [ Hikage didn't know Varian was also "like him," so to speak - but seeing as he was, he feels confident in saying that Varian probably had true feelings towards people here that he was trying to ignore. ]

You can rest soon. [ a beat. ] ... It'll be okay.

[ if i could make just one of my lies into the truth-- ]

[ she shakes her head. she's trying not to cry again; she did a lot of it after she had dragged belph away with her right after the execution. ]

It'll be okay. [ she means that. she does. ] I just...

[ speaking of things he's slightly jealous about... but he can't be that jealous, because, well, he's gone to Belph during those times, too. His ability to keep a cool head makes him reliable and stable in a way Hikage isn't. ]

... You're strong. Much stronger than I am.

[ and she's tough and unwavering in a way that Hikage isn't. Still, he wants to believe there are things only he can do. ]

That's one of your best features. [ he doesn't move from where he's standing - he stays slightly behind her, refusing to corner her - but he lifts his hand, gingerly brushing it against her hair. ] ... But it's why people worry about you. You don't have to endure everything.

[ he doesn't want her to burn out. ]

[ her expression changes, becoming vulnerable for a second before she regains her composure-- or, as much as it as she can. she hasn't really had much of it to begin with since waking up this morning. ]

I... you don't need to worry. I'll be okay, in a bit.

[ That, he doesn't doubt. It still doesn't feel like enough. ]

Look at me.

[ his voice is a little softer, and he steps in a little closer. ]

[ she actually listens, for once, her gaze questioning. ]

What is it?

[ There's a brief pause as he shifts his hand, resting his thumb against her cheek. That's the only hesitation he shows this time. He leans down and kisses her once more.

Hikage isn't good at putting things into words. He wants to tell her that he'll support her, and that he's sorry for being a difficult partner, and that he's grateful for how she puts up with him - that he likes her stubbornness and her spirit, even if it drives him up the wall sometimes. That even if he's falling apart, he doesn't want to see her looking upset. He wants to be closer to her, but he doesn't know how.

But he's too proud to say any of that -- so the kiss, brief and chaste, will have to do. ]

[ it gets her to cry. she's not hysterical, like she had been earlier in the day; the tears fall down silently as she tries to come to terms with the fact that even though she failed to do one of the things that was most important to her while here, she can still have a moment like this.

when hikage pulls away, steph immediately goes to wipe at her eyes. ]

Thank you.

[ for still being here. ]

... It's weird if you thank me afterwards.

[ he was fine, but now he sounds slightly self-conscious. She's crying, but he's pretty confident that it isn't because he just did that. His lips press against the corner of one of her eyes, wiping away a few tears himself.

He doesn't think he'd go as far as calling this feeling love or anything so grand. But he likes her. And this time, he did it because he wanted to. ]

No, just... in general.

[ she'd probably be much worse off right now if she didn't have people behind her. steph is used to doing things on her own at this point, but it is easier to walk forward when you have someone behind you. ]

Thank you, Hikage.

[ he definitely knew what she meant, or he tells himself that he did, at least. Though his hand lingers on her shoulder, he puts some space between them now.

It feels odd to be thanked for anything. Really, this was just him being selfish again, wasn't it? ]

You can thank me after this is over.

[ though his words are as brusque as usual, he offers a fragile little smile to her. ]

[ realistically, there's a chance that she may not be able to do that, depending on how all of this ends. but steph isn't really the type to think about that, and instead focuses on the outcome that she wants. to her, there's no way they're going to fail this because there's simply too much hanging on their heads.

what makes her feel better is the fact that hikage's starting to have faith in that good ending, too. it's what makes her smile back. ]

You're pretty decent at the whole pep talk thing.

I had a lot of practice when I was alive.

[ he couldn't save his sister, but he spent so much time reassuring her that it became second nature. Even when he didn't remember his life, that instinct to comfort remained. He supposes some part of his heart had remained a big brother, even after everything.

He's not sure he can actually help anything. But she's smiling again, and that has to count for something. ]

... That look suits you better, anyway. I like your smile.

Admittedly, it's kind of hard to right now.

[ all of the deaths hurt this week. she was more or less friends with all of them, although she wasn't as close to waver as the others. but she figured that she would be able to get through the entire weekend just like all the other ones, because even though this is horrific, at least they'll save everyone in the end.

seriously though she was not fucking expecting him to get eaten. that may have broke her slightly. ]

But... I'll be fine.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only