AUDIENCE 🚀 GREGOR

[dropoffs]

Comments

[bulls]

I mean, Kazuki's caught on quick. Perhaps it'd be a good practice - an influx of colds.

[ unless he catches one too. oh well. ]

A god of the Kin... she's the Earth. Where I'm from, you follow certain rules so as not to defile her... no digging, no cutting unless you're of a particular... [ searching for the word ] caste of the Kin.

[verminous]

... right. Think I get it, kinda.

[a bit. he's not a religious man and the city is not a religious place, but with the memories he saw-- he can fit things together.]

You know I'd help you out too, right?

[bulls]

[ a small nod, with a weary smile. ]

I know. I can count on you when things get tough.

[verminous]

When they're not too tough too, I'd hope.

[bulls]

Of course. That's easy - though I never did get to thank you for, ah, picking me up off the ground Sunday... so. Thank you for that.

[verminous]

Well, couldn't just leave you there, but-- are you all right, after that...? I know Callisto mentioned you guys said your augments hurt first.

[bulls]

Mmm... yeah. Had to take the weight off it for a bit. The port still hurt like hell, but...

[ pats leg a little. ]

Only thing making it hurt now's the cold. Feels normal for the time being.

[verminous]

...good, but... still worrying for almost all of you to go down from that at the same time.

[bulls]

Some of us are almost sure it was to keep us from preventing what happened. We were taking our turns, making the rounds. She wouldn't have...

[ a breath. ]

It wouldn't have happened if...

[ it's fine. just shuts up. ]

We're alright now. For the time being.

[verminous]

[...he reaches over to rest a hand on his arm, since they're both safely bundled up.]

Maybe not. Maybe she'd have just found another time and another way. It's-- what she wanted.

[bulls]

[ safely bundled. io just looks downwards. ]

It... it is...

[ they trail off. silence. unfinished thoughts as they just carefully pat his arm in turn. ]

... Shouldn't have had to. Sweet girl.

[verminous]

No. It wasn't-

[his fingers curl a little tighter around his arm.]

It wasn't right that it had to be her.

[sometimes all of it just makes him so--

...breathe, gregor.]

[bulls]

[ just. sliding his thumb through the hole in his jacket sleeve to cover his palm in fabric he just moves to hold his arm as well. he keeps his touch light in case too much pressure registers on rusted old wounds. ]

Easy... easy, my friend... breathe. With me...

[ steady... slow... but always steady. ]

I know...

[verminous]

I'm fine. Just... I guess it's just getting a little rough.

[losing people they never should have lost, both to death and to their hands being forced. to seemingly losing control.

the contact helps, at least, so he just-- breathes.]

[bulls]

[ concern etches itself onto his face for a moment, and then he sighs. ]

It is... even if you're seasoned at this sort of thing. "Good" at losing people. Everyone has a point where it starts to break.

I understand.

[verminous]

Mm. I don't know if I'd say it's a breaking point yet, but... ah, this is a long time to deal with this stuff.

[that's all.

looks at this weekend looks away. anyway.]

[bulls]

[ yeah. yeah. ]

Not to say you are at it, but rather tremors.

[ foundations shaken.

don't talk to me about this weekend i feel so fucking betrayed and i'm a mod. ]

[verminous]

Just cracks, maybe. Nothing that can't still get shored up.

[hehe? listen sometimes you have to slap betray...]

I'm still-- hoping it'll all work out in the end.

[bulls]

I believe it will... feel it in my bones.

[ a small smile. ]

Even with every disaster, I think we're getting closer.

[verminous]

Well, if those bones of yours say so, it must be right, 'ne?

[giving him a little nudge, with a small grin of his own.]

[bulls]

[ a soft laugh, closing his eyes with a sigh. ]

The faith in them is... appreciated. They're stubborn at least.

[ a chuckle ]

And frozen. How about something hot to drink?

[verminous]

Please. Think going from the inside out is the only way we're gonna be warming up at all, at this rate...

[a little shiver, as if right on cue. ughhh it's too COLD for a bug.]

[bulls]

[ bugs do not belong in the cold :nyeh: io will get up, albeit a little slowly with an "oof", moving to turn on a small electric kettle by the desk. a pair of mismatched cups. skimming a drawer briefly. ]

Don't have variety, so you'll get whatever I've got already made... sorry about that. But it'll be hot, so, I hope that'll do?

[verminous]

You say that like you think I've ever been picky, Io bud. If it's hot, it's all right with me.

[just watching him work, for the moment.]

Tell me if you want a hand.

[bulls]

Nah, it's soothing for me.

[ a huff and just prepping a couple of leaves. ]

Reminds me of the work left to do back home.