she's just curled up, somewhere. maybe a bench. knees pulled up to her chest, hands laced across the back of her neck, elbows tucked in. she startles sharply when claude touches her, and looks up at him -- expression just. kind of wild? and then she reigns it in, and her jaw tenses.
she mostly just feels shocked. doesn't say anything either, just stares at him. hey.]
[ He's not entirely surprised. He doesn't need to imagine the guilt thanks to this week, his own concern hardly enough to counteract the wave she has coming off her.
He doesn't really know what to say either. Any platitudes feel fake and cheap. He's not here to erase her negative emotions. He just wants her to know she's not suffering alone.
So, carefully, he'll draw her toward his chest, as close or distant of a hug as she'll let him. ]
[she appreciates it. in fact, more than anything, the hug helps. he draws her in and she clings, gripping at whatever shirt he's wearing, hiding her face against his shoulder. she doesn't cry, but she does tremble.
her emotions just read like red alert! something is wrong, but we don't know what the fuck it is!]
[ He doesn't mind, holding her the best he can while they sit on this stupid bench, one arm around her shoulders and the other rubbing up and down her back.
There's hurt, and his own probably doesn't make things easier. ]
[it doesn't, sure, but it makes her feel less alone. she doesn't know what to say, so she doesn't say anything for a long moment, just trying to like - not have a panic attack while half in his lap. there's a very calm, meditative emotion that comes from the whirlwind of bad, after a moment.
[ He recognizes it, some familiar in this storm of negative emotion. Reminds him of his own mediations, before Wiwaldi, that he'd used to centre himself during the war.
[she calms down, eventually, pulls herself back from the brink. claude following her makes her feel like she's helping, and that's - better than anything else, really. to have such a negative effect, and then be able to make up for it, even in a small way.
when she thinks she can speak without bursting into tears (embarrassing, ugh) she just lets out a shivery little sigh, and closes her eyes.]
I don't know. It would've been really awkward for me if you told me to leave. [ He smiles back at her, it's kind of soft and sad, but still a smile. ] I don't think letting people be with you when you're hurt is easy.
[ He's thinking of Catra, briefly, but he means it generally. ]
[a shift.] Being vulnerable is the hardest thing in the world. [but - she senses a similar vibe, in claude. she thinks they're same hat about a lot, and he's never been anything but kind. so - maybe it's easier, here. just a little.]
Would've been easier to tell you to fuck off, but - I didn't want to.
What a fucking foreboding way to describe yourself.
[she says, amused, and also exhausted.]
Me too, though. [...] Despite everything, I've got my fingers crossed.
If someone else wins and brings anybody but Molly back, I'm going to have to prank every single dorm mercilessly, though. [it's a joke, but there's a jitter of pain at the thought.]
As long as you don't frame me for it, I'll support you. [ He amusement is a little subdued though. ] Whatever comes from it though, I hope it allows us to bring everyone back eventually. Doesn't seem reasonable to stop at one.
I think there's been enough Claude Crime around the campus, man, I can stand to take some heat. [she says, with a bit of a laugh.]
... Obviously that's my goal too. Bringing everybody back. I think we can manage that. The dead - the people at the daycare? They're racing up the administration building to change their transcripts, so they'll be allowed back on campus. I think they've got their own set of objectives.
So we just have to figure out ours. [...] But Molly's dead at home. So uh, I'd like a few more weeks with him before shit hits the fan, you know?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week 4, saturday, outside ig
When he stumbles across Beau, the sudden pang of pain is undeniable, but he wanders over, setting a hand on her shoulder if she lets him.
He doesn't say anything. ]
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she's just curled up, somewhere. maybe a bench. knees pulled up to her chest, hands laced across the back of her neck, elbows tucked in. she startles sharply when claude touches her, and looks up at him -- expression just. kind of wild? and then she reigns it in, and her jaw tenses.
she mostly just feels shocked. doesn't say anything either, just stares at him. hey.]
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He doesn't really know what to say either. Any platitudes feel fake and cheap. He's not here to erase her negative emotions. He just wants her to know she's not suffering alone.
So, carefully, he'll draw her toward his chest, as close or distant of a hug as she'll let him. ]
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her emotions just read like red alert! something is wrong, but we don't know what the fuck it is!]
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There's hurt, and his own probably doesn't make things easier. ]
Yeah, I know. I've got you though.
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breathe in, breathe out.]
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He mimics her breathing. In. Out. ]
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when she thinks she can speak without bursting into tears (embarrassing, ugh) she just lets out a shivery little sigh, and closes her eyes.]
... Thank you. [she mumbles.]
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Steadily, a sense of relief. And feeling of gratitude. ]
Thanks for letting me here for you.
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Weirdo. [but there's affection, fondness in that.] Don't thank me, not after all that.
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[ He's thinking of Catra, briefly, but he means it generally. ]
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[a shift.] Being vulnerable is the hardest thing in the world. [but - she senses a similar vibe, in claude. she thinks they're same hat about a lot, and he's never been anything but kind. so - maybe it's easier, here. just a little.]
Would've been easier to tell you to fuck off, but - I didn't want to.
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[ He sighs and just like... collapses a little. His strength leaving him. ]
Gotta say, opening up to people really brings a lot of heartache too.
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No kidding. [...] Don't go fucking dying on me. Not after all the heartache I've invested in you.
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I'm just a guy with a knife, but I'll do my best. [ Sighs. ] I've got... a little bit of hope though. About Annie and Riku's items. I don't know.
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[she says, amused, and also exhausted.]
Me too, though. [...] Despite everything, I've got my fingers crossed.
If someone else wins and brings anybody but Molly back, I'm going to have to prank every single dorm mercilessly, though. [it's a joke, but there's a jitter of pain at the thought.]
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As long as you don't frame me for it, I'll support you. [ He amusement is a little subdued though. ] Whatever comes from it though, I hope it allows us to bring everyone back eventually. Doesn't seem reasonable to stop at one.
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I think there's been enough Claude Crime around the campus, man, I can stand to take some heat. [she says, with a bit of a laugh.]
... Obviously that's my goal too. Bringing everybody back. I think we can manage that. The dead - the people at the daycare? They're racing up the administration building to change their transcripts, so they'll be allowed back on campus. I think they've got their own set of objectives.
So we just have to figure out ours. [...] But Molly's dead at home. So uh, I'd like a few more weeks with him before shit hits the fan, you know?
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He furrows his brows. ]
Do you believe in the business of being granted wishes?
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... Not really. [shrug.] That's the kind of shit they use as a carrot on a stick.
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[ Which is kind of a bummer. ]
The dorm heads believe in it, but there's no way to tell whether it's real or was implanted.