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[It's just one of those rare quiet nights that the two of them had a moment to breathe- though frankly, as rare as it seems, it still feels more frequent than it had been in the past.
Most people have gone to bed at this hour but not them. Even with there being the two of them to take turns staying up, sometimes it just ends with both of them being wide awake without any trouble. Going to sleep is a lot more difficult than staying up nowadays.
Luna sighs as he closes his book for the night, even he eventually gets tired of reading for too long. The night air in Koriko is freezing thanks to the current climate and it easily seeps through the old employees living quarters, but it's tempting to head out from their room than just sitting around.]
Mallory, I'm going to the bathhouse.
[He gets up from where he's sitting before nodding at his friend. It's a silent invitation to come with him.]
Most people have gone to bed at this hour but not them. Even with there being the two of them to take turns staying up, sometimes it just ends with both of them being wide awake without any trouble. Going to sleep is a lot more difficult than staying up nowadays.
Luna sighs as he closes his book for the night, even he eventually gets tired of reading for too long. The night air in Koriko is freezing thanks to the current climate and it easily seeps through the old employees living quarters, but it's tempting to head out from their room than just sitting around.]
Mallory, I'm going to the bathhouse.
[He gets up from where he's sitting before nodding at his friend. It's a silent invitation to come with him.]
[Sleeping never used to be an issue for Mallory. Work out and then pass out, that always worked for him. That was before his nights were plagued with nightmares while he slept and regrets as he lay awake; before sleeping with one eye open was the only way to survive. Even this peaceful new life isn't enough to ease him into restful slumber most nights, not even now that he has a familiar presence to look after him. If anything, it's worse now that he's the one who's determined to do the looking after.
On this particular night he's just sitting with his back to the wall, arms crossed and head bowed into his chest. He glances up when Luna speaks, catching that look, and after a moment he rises to his feet.]
Great idea. I could use a soak, myself.
[Maybe it'll be relaxing enough to help invite some sleep for both of them. They really should take full advantage of the luxurious facilities they're living right over, now. He grabs a couple of towels and yukata from the storage closet and dutifully follows after Luna.
If nothing else, at least it's some nice downtime to spend together.]
On this particular night he's just sitting with his back to the wall, arms crossed and head bowed into his chest. He glances up when Luna speaks, catching that look, and after a moment he rises to his feet.]
Great idea. I could use a soak, myself.
[Maybe it'll be relaxing enough to help invite some sleep for both of them. They really should take full advantage of the luxurious facilities they're living right over, now. He grabs a couple of towels and yukata from the storage closet and dutifully follows after Luna.
If nothing else, at least it's some nice downtime to spend together.]
Edited 2017-02-09 09:29 (UTC)
[And so the walk to the bathhouse is filled with absolute silence, but it's fine as it is. That's just the thing between them, sometimes conversations aren't necessary as they're comfortable enough with each other's silent companionship. They're equals, Luna reminds himself. It's still taking him time to fully believe in Mallory as he used to, but there's progress.
They strip away from their clothes soon enough when they were in the baths. Mallory's on his right, though he feels something amiss enough that he turns to confirm whether his hunch had been right or not. Almost immediately he realizes that his best friend had removed his prosthetic before they head to the baths, that must be inconvenient.]
Do you want to wash your back?
They strip away from their clothes soon enough when they were in the baths. Mallory's on his right, though he feels something amiss enough that he turns to confirm whether his hunch had been right or not. Almost immediately he realizes that his best friend had removed his prosthetic before they head to the baths, that must be inconvenient.]
Do you want to wash your back?
Huh?
[Companionable silence or friendly conversation are both equally welcome in Mal's book, but that particular question throws him off and even makes him a little self-conscious. He pauses halfway through seating himself at one of the rinsing stations, pulling his bad arm in defensively.]
Of course I'm gonna wash it...
[Those hard-to-reach places may be even more impossible than ever, but he has a system. It involves holding one end of the long washcloth in his mouth and dangling it over his shoulder while reaching around his front to kind of awkwardly grab the other end and make a futile attempt at scrubbing what he can, but... it's better than nothing!
Of course, now that Luna's brought it up, he's not so eager to show it off. It feels pathetic enough as it is, and he hates to imagine how much worse it looks to someone else. How pitiable must he be that he didn't even have to start that display for Luna to start looking down on him?]
[Companionable silence or friendly conversation are both equally welcome in Mal's book, but that particular question throws him off and even makes him a little self-conscious. He pauses halfway through seating himself at one of the rinsing stations, pulling his bad arm in defensively.]
Of course I'm gonna wash it...
[Those hard-to-reach places may be even more impossible than ever, but he has a system. It involves holding one end of the long washcloth in his mouth and dangling it over his shoulder while reaching around his front to kind of awkwardly grab the other end and make a futile attempt at scrubbing what he can, but... it's better than nothing!
Of course, now that Luna's brought it up, he's not so eager to show it off. It feels pathetic enough as it is, and he hates to imagine how much worse it looks to someone else. How pitiable must he be that he didn't even have to start that display for Luna to start looking down on him?]
Would you like me to help you?
[By no means does he want to disregard his friend's personal comfort, but it's the least he can do to help out. It was his fault he lost an arm to begin with, becoming an extra arm for him is something he's more than happy to do.
His gaze flickers downwards for a split second before forcing himself to look at the other man in the eye. Luna tries to keep his face neutral, but there's twitches and small tells implying clearly where his eye had looked before focusing on his friend's own nervous eyes. Luna is most definitely not an expert in an athlete's dietary and routine, but Mallory has always had a strong build that not even famine and despair got through him to destroy it completely. No, what breaks the illusion that the former boxer had been unbeatable had Luna's own doing.
Try to ignore as much as he can, even with his eye trained to look at Mallory's face instead of what's below, there's a strange pull to it tempting him to look down again. The only thing stopping him is the heavy guilt weighing in his shoulders and heart, against the morbid curiosity that's naturally programmed in his brain; the part of him curios to see how much damage he has done to the person he care about.
Fighting the urges, he adds;]
Though, only if you feel like it's alright, I don't want to trouble you.
[Frankly, he's done enough to cause this whole issue to begin with.]
[By no means does he want to disregard his friend's personal comfort, but it's the least he can do to help out. It was his fault he lost an arm to begin with, becoming an extra arm for him is something he's more than happy to do.
His gaze flickers downwards for a split second before forcing himself to look at the other man in the eye. Luna tries to keep his face neutral, but there's twitches and small tells implying clearly where his eye had looked before focusing on his friend's own nervous eyes. Luna is most definitely not an expert in an athlete's dietary and routine, but Mallory has always had a strong build that not even famine and despair got through him to destroy it completely. No, what breaks the illusion that the former boxer had been unbeatable had Luna's own doing.
Try to ignore as much as he can, even with his eye trained to look at Mallory's face instead of what's below, there's a strange pull to it tempting him to look down again. The only thing stopping him is the heavy guilt weighing in his shoulders and heart, against the morbid curiosity that's naturally programmed in his brain; the part of him curios to see how much damage he has done to the person he care about.
Fighting the urges, he adds;]
Though, only if you feel like it's alright, I don't want to trouble you.
[Frankly, he's done enough to cause this whole issue to begin with.]
[He's caught between a teasing you're nothing but trouble and a more sincere you never are. So he responds with silence instead, just holding the cloth out in Luna's direction while keeping his gaze downcast.]
...Thanks.
[Luna's seen weakness in him before. And vice-versa -- you don't spend the better part of a decade at each other's sides through thick and thin, hope and despair, without seeing glimpses of every facet of their heart. Mal's never liked feeling vulnerable in front of anybody, even the people he trusts most, but now it's not just his body that feels so naked.
In his effort not to look at Luna he focuses on himself instead, and for the first time he really looks at the damage from his botched self-amputation. Rather than neat surgical scarring, the end of his arm is a still-healing mess of puckered burgundy, crowned by darker lines where he made the first few clumsy, hesitant cuts. Even where he finally did slice through part of bone the shape's all uneven where he snapped it off with his own strength and desperation, and by all means none of it ever would have healed if not for the Witch's magic.
Not that he was ever planning to need it to.
How ugly, he finds himself thinking as he stares at the arm cradled in his lap. Followed up by a more recurring thought: what good is a boxer with only one hand?
Luna's presence now is all the reminder he needs that he would do the same thing all over again, though. Even if he can't be of as much use to him as he used to be, or if he's only looked on with pity from now on... in the end, it was a good trade-off.
He closes his eyes and leans back a little into Luna's touch as he works, his shoulders heaving with a deep but silent sigh.]
...Thanks.
[Luna's seen weakness in him before. And vice-versa -- you don't spend the better part of a decade at each other's sides through thick and thin, hope and despair, without seeing glimpses of every facet of their heart. Mal's never liked feeling vulnerable in front of anybody, even the people he trusts most, but now it's not just his body that feels so naked.
In his effort not to look at Luna he focuses on himself instead, and for the first time he really looks at the damage from his botched self-amputation. Rather than neat surgical scarring, the end of his arm is a still-healing mess of puckered burgundy, crowned by darker lines where he made the first few clumsy, hesitant cuts. Even where he finally did slice through part of bone the shape's all uneven where he snapped it off with his own strength and desperation, and by all means none of it ever would have healed if not for the Witch's magic.
Not that he was ever planning to need it to.
How ugly, he finds himself thinking as he stares at the arm cradled in his lap. Followed up by a more recurring thought: what good is a boxer with only one hand?
Luna's presence now is all the reminder he needs that he would do the same thing all over again, though. Even if he can't be of as much use to him as he used to be, or if he's only looked on with pity from now on... in the end, it was a good trade-off.
He closes his eyes and leans back a little into Luna's touch as he works, his shoulders heaving with a deep but silent sigh.]
Edited 2017-02-09 18:34 (UTC)
[It's a good thing that Mallory's facing away and it's just the two of them at this hour. He starts scrubbing from the top as his hands try to cover up all ground until he notices the strange mark near the shoulder blades; the way it starts one line and smaller ends spreading it. His paces slows down as his hands travel towards the scar, an index finger tracing it lightly in a moment of weakness and curiosity as he tries to recall if he had been to the bloodshed that caused this. It wasn't like Mallory's didn't had any other scars and markings around him, on the contrary, throughout the years he's seen how many fights his friend could get into and imagine the occasional missteps or sudden attacks that manage to catch him for a brief second.
His finger stops and rests on the scar, the mental image of a dark stain against white fabric plays suddenly appears at the back of his mind. The stain could have been anything considering the vision he had been born with, but there isn't any room for denial when he remembers how sharp the scent of blood had been.
If it's the exact same wound in his memory then at the time, Mallory shouldn't even have been walking. And yet, he was adamant of the scratches and bruises Luna has gotten to be treated first above anything else.]
.... Sorry.
[This is completely awkward, and he should focus on what he's doing now instead of his thoughts.
However he couldn't stop berating himself, all he could think off at the time was eliminating everyone in game until he was the one left standing. And it had been close to being a reality, if not for Naegi's intervention. Luna's started to scrub harder, trying to forget the memory.
Try as he may to ignore it again, he isn't able to ignore the magnetic pull of the scar below. The one that's been luring him to look and acknowledge the damage he has done.]
Did it attribute to any permanent nerve damage?
[The words come out quiet, not hiding one bit of the regret that it implies. If he was another person, he would have divert the conversation to something completely different but he's never the one for idle talk; even when he lies or hides his feelings, they tend to be close to the truth.
Who had gone close enough to do this, he wonders. By the time he had met up with Mallory again to see that wound, most of their heavy hitters have died one way or another as far as he knows.]
His finger stops and rests on the scar, the mental image of a dark stain against white fabric plays suddenly appears at the back of his mind. The stain could have been anything considering the vision he had been born with, but there isn't any room for denial when he remembers how sharp the scent of blood had been.
If it's the exact same wound in his memory then at the time, Mallory shouldn't even have been walking. And yet, he was adamant of the scratches and bruises Luna has gotten to be treated first above anything else.]
.... Sorry.
[This is completely awkward, and he should focus on what he's doing now instead of his thoughts.
However he couldn't stop berating himself, all he could think off at the time was eliminating everyone in game until he was the one left standing. And it had been close to being a reality, if not for Naegi's intervention. Luna's started to scrub harder, trying to forget the memory.
Try as he may to ignore it again, he isn't able to ignore the magnetic pull of the scar below. The one that's been luring him to look and acknowledge the damage he has done.]
Did it attribute to any permanent nerve damage?
[The words come out quiet, not hiding one bit of the regret that it implies. If he was another person, he would have divert the conversation to something completely different but he's never the one for idle talk; even when he lies or hides his feelings, they tend to be close to the truth.
Who had gone close enough to do this, he wonders. By the time he had met up with Mallory again to see that wound, most of their heavy hitters have died one way or another as far as he knows.]
[Mallory hasn't seen the newer scars on his back, but he's familiar enough with the entry points on his front side to tell exactly what Luna's fingers trace over. He never did tell him about his ill-fated encounter with Kizakura... And there's no reason to, frankly. All that came out of that false promise of an exit was humiliation and pain. A loss of control.
(A lead to the controls. He mustn't forget that.)
But he knows full well which wound Luna did witness, to put it lightly, and he puts his hand over the mark just below his chest. He wasn't the only one who lost control.]
Nn... Nothing major. You missed my spine, at least. [Might as well have plunged his sword right into his heart for the pain it caused him, though. Even now, there's a sharp heat in his chest, and it's not the kind Luna's company usually brings him.]
Quit worrying about what happened, already. You're not the kinda guy who regrets the past. You keep on fighting for the future.
[No matter what he has to do. If anything, Mal can't stop regretting that even for a second that future had no place for him. His head slumps forward a little and he breathes deeply, the hot, humid air thick with the scent of freshly-bloomed flowers from somewhere.]
That's what I... really respect. About you.
(A lead to the controls. He mustn't forget that.)
But he knows full well which wound Luna did witness, to put it lightly, and he puts his hand over the mark just below his chest. He wasn't the only one who lost control.]
Nn... Nothing major. You missed my spine, at least. [Might as well have plunged his sword right into his heart for the pain it caused him, though. Even now, there's a sharp heat in his chest, and it's not the kind Luna's company usually brings him.]
Quit worrying about what happened, already. You're not the kinda guy who regrets the past. You keep on fighting for the future.
[No matter what he has to do. If anything, Mal can't stop regretting that even for a second that future had no place for him. His head slumps forward a little and he breathes deeply, the hot, humid air thick with the scent of freshly-bloomed flowers from somewhere.]
That's what I... really respect. About you.
[What was that? Did Mal visit the library a lot to visit a certain someone that wasn't her? Well, she was here anyway. She was right at her desk, surrounded by her own books as well as a neat pile of customers' checked out books.
But she wasn't actually reading today, which meant there wasn't a book to cover her entire face so she could phase out of existence. At least not that way. She was instead very focus, furiously writing in a notebook. Her eyes never left her pages as she seemed to take this downtime to really hunker down on this particular project she came up with.
You could sneak up on her. If you cared to.]
But she wasn't actually reading today, which meant there wasn't a book to cover her entire face so she could phase out of existence. At least not that way. She was instead very focus, furiously writing in a notebook. Her eyes never left her pages as she seemed to take this downtime to really hunker down on this particular project she came up with.
You could sneak up on her. If you cared to.]
[Hey, it wasn't like he was just wasting all his time in the library like a lovesick puppy or anything! But he clearly wasn't showing up to satisfy some hidden bookworm tendencies, either. Look, it's just... He knew Luna didn't sleep well, and that he was used to having someone else around to take care of him - and with that special someone absent, Mal's taken it upon himself to at least make sure his bestie doesn't die of exhaustion or anything.
And while he's making one coffee delivery, there's no harm in surprising Riye with a little something either. Being a bit of a violently jumpy guy himself (emphasis on violent), he's not going to startle her on purpose or anything. But if she's so absorbed in her work that she doesn't notice his approach until the paper cup is heavily placed on the table beside her, well, whoops.]
And while he's making one coffee delivery, there's no harm in surprising Riye with a little something either. Being a bit of a violently jumpy guy himself (emphasis on violent), he's not going to startle her on purpose or anything. But if she's so absorbed in her work that she doesn't notice his approach until the paper cup is heavily placed on the table beside her, well, whoops.]
[She wasn't expecting anyone for a while, it was a slow day. Though it was her mistake to assume NO ONE would EVER come up. That would be her little slip up for the day. She was writing the middle of a certain sentence, finishing a thought, when a magic paper cup of coffee was oh so heavily placed.
The pencil slipped her her hand and she made a little "eep" noise in her throat.
That was embarrassing. Very embarrassing. She collected herself awful fast before looking up to see this tall guy. Ah. Mal. Hi.]
The pencil slipped her her hand and she made a little "eep" noise in her throat.
That was embarrassing. Very embarrassing. She collected herself awful fast before looking up to see this tall guy. Ah. Mal. Hi.]
[Haha, whoops. It is a little funny, maybe, but definitely not his intent. At least she isn't the same kind of jumpy as certain others who would draw a blade or lash out the second they were aware of another presence. Not even spooked enough to spill the coffee.]
Don't let me interrupt. I ended up with two coffees so I figured I'd drop some off here, that's all.
[He ordered two...]
Don't let me interrupt. I ended up with two coffees so I figured I'd drop some off here, that's all.
[He ordered two...]
Edited 2017-02-13 05:51 (UTC)
That's fortunate.
[Yeah buddy, ended up. She was kidding. That's okay, though. For as feisty and as big of a pain in the ass she is, she knew a nice gesture when she saw it.
She took a hold of the cup, feeling the appreciation. She was just going to quickly take a sip. Very clearly, she needed it. It was like she wasn't getting a lot of sleep either these days. Though for a completely different reason from Luna probably. Most definitely. She was just going to town creatively lately. It had been a while since she did.]
Thanks for that, really. Is there anything you're looking for here, or did you just want to be nice today?
[Yeah buddy, ended up. She was kidding. That's okay, though. For as feisty and as big of a pain in the ass she is, she knew a nice gesture when she saw it.
She took a hold of the cup, feeling the appreciation. She was just going to quickly take a sip. Very clearly, she needed it. It was like she wasn't getting a lot of sleep either these days. Though for a completely different reason from Luna probably. Most definitely. She was just going to town creatively lately. It had been a while since she did.]
Thanks for that, really. Is there anything you're looking for here, or did you just want to be nice today?
Just stopping by to make sure Luna has a little boost, too. [He makes a small gesture with the leftover cup.] Not even he should be handling all those double shifts.
[Not particularly wanting to be questioned further about his presumed 'niceness,' his gaze wanders over to the notebook.]
Working on the thrilling sequel to that one you told the kids?
[Or something more nefarious?]
[Not particularly wanting to be questioned further about his presumed 'niceness,' his gaze wanders over to the notebook.]
Working on the thrilling sequel to that one you told the kids?
[Or something more nefarious?]
Luna? Mhm, yeah, he said he was working as a guard too next to this. He comes to work and puts the same amount of effort each time.
[Just an observation she made. So far, she had a rather neutral opinion on the guy. He came here to work, was pretty respectful, did his job. All without fail. Professionally, so far, they got along fine.
She took a look into the cup, not really into questioning how he knew him. It didn't matter at the moment. That kind of personal questioning was probably when the social link was at a higher rank; or however that went.
Luna probably deserved the second cup too, but she already took a drink out of it. Too late now.
Though right on cue, she closed her notebook. Reflex probably.]
Something like that.
[Just an observation she made. So far, she had a rather neutral opinion on the guy. He came here to work, was pretty respectful, did his job. All without fail. Professionally, so far, they got along fine.
She took a look into the cup, not really into questioning how he knew him. It didn't matter at the moment. That kind of personal questioning was probably when the social link was at a higher rank; or however that went.
Luna probably deserved the second cup too, but she already took a drink out of it. Too late now.
Though right on cue, she closed her notebook. Reflex probably.]
Something like that.
Edited 2017-02-13 06:36 (UTC)
[Good thing neither of the cups are for Mallory. Coffee's too bitter in general for him most of the time, anyway.
It's also a good thing Riye's paying too much attention to her drink to notice the proud, fond smile that spreads across Mal's face when she talks about what a good worker Luna is.]
Heh. Yeah, that sounds like him.
[But he's going to run out of steam eventually...
He glances to the closed notebook once again, raising an eyebrow, but he knows better than to push the subject. He offers little more than a put-out sort of grunt. Of course, now he can't help but wonder about it. Not about the story, but if she actually is taking personal notes that could come back to bite someone in the ass one day.
Yeah, the last thing his paranoid ass needs is caffeine of his own.]
It's also a good thing Riye's paying too much attention to her drink to notice the proud, fond smile that spreads across Mal's face when she talks about what a good worker Luna is.]
Heh. Yeah, that sounds like him.
[But he's going to run out of steam eventually...
He glances to the closed notebook once again, raising an eyebrow, but he knows better than to push the subject. He offers little more than a put-out sort of grunt. Of course, now he can't help but wonder about it. Not about the story, but if she actually is taking personal notes that could come back to bite someone in the ass one day.
Yeah, the last thing his paranoid ass needs is caffeine of his own.]
[Funny thing is, if she knew the context, she wouldn't blame him for paranoia. But the paranoia with this one would be unfounded, like he would know now. She had no reason to collect any dirt on someone she didn't unfathomably hate.
She had Issues. Maybe she would have issues for a while. But whenever she was in her creative mode and wrote and wrote like she was with very little aim or purpose, she had to wonder how good it was. Was she writing just for her? She lost count but she had to have written fifty pages for a story that she didn't know if she would EVER share or not. Someone finally pointing out that she was writing from inspiration made her...self conscious?
Everything was weird.]
I admit, ever since dealing with those angels from above, I did suddenly get inspiration.
She had Issues. Maybe she would have issues for a while. But whenever she was in her creative mode and wrote and wrote like she was with very little aim or purpose, she had to wonder how good it was. Was she writing just for her? She lost count but she had to have written fifty pages for a story that she didn't know if she would EVER share or not. Someone finally pointing out that she was writing from inspiration made her...self conscious?
Everything was weird.]
I admit, ever since dealing with those angels from above, I did suddenly get inspiration.
Stop giving me ideas so I'd have to credit you.
[Hahahaha, she had remember he kind of got her weird sense of humor. Which was something she really missed. She tapped the top of her personal journal with her fingers for a moment before she figured she had to make a few decisions. Pretty crucial ones.]
The real version might have had a few more Communists with a bit more bloody brutality. But I haven't really done anything with Melody Powers since high school.
[Hahahaha, she had remember he kind of got her weird sense of humor. Which was something she really missed. She tapped the top of her personal journal with her fingers for a moment before she figured she had to make a few decisions. Pretty crucial ones.]
The real version might have had a few more Communists with a bit more bloody brutality. But I haven't really done anything with Melody Powers since high school.
Anonymity's fine by me. Having people think I could spin a yarn at all's what started that whole mess int he first place.
[Excuse him if he just sits his ass down on the edge of the table here. So she was this grim even in high school, huh? ...Well, it doesn't look like it was too long ago for her, but it's still an amusing little detail.]
You know... Writing like that in high school's enough to get you into a pretty prestigious one back where I'm from.
[Excuse him if he just sits his ass down on the edge of the table here. So she was this grim even in high school, huh? ...Well, it doesn't look like it was too long ago for her, but it's still an amusing little detail.]
You know... Writing like that in high school's enough to get you into a pretty prestigious one back where I'm from.
[Luna stops his tracks completely as his gaze finally drops to the stabbing one that he caused. Unlike the mysterious wound that went through Mallory's shoulder, the one below doesn't just end with a cut line and small veins; the cauterize effect leaves skin looking charred with old skin clumping together as a newer, lighter one takes center of it all.
Once again, fingers travels downwards in a slow motion until it reaches to that very same wound. The movement becomes more and more hesitant until it's at the edges of same clumped up skin, all before he gently presses in the center of the scar. It looks flat to him, but it's obvious that while the Witch's magic revived Mallory, it leaves most of the scars intact. Or, even more disturbingly, there's a rather evident depth in the center once you're near it. It's still a hole.
Exactly, how can he not regret this? Not when he's fully aware how he mutilated his own best friend in a fit of misplaced rage.]
When you fight for the future, you also have to fully acknowledge and learn from past errors. [...] But, further than that, this isn't something I could just regard as a impersonal issue.
[Luna pulls his hand away from the wound, going back to scrubbing places he hasn't reach and places he's been repeatedly scrubbing. He hates to admit it, but he never realizes how little Mallory holds himself. It's telling to both of them now that his friend just basically asks him to ignore it. Ignore him. Never, not when he still cares for people, he still cares for Mallory deeply even if he's afraid what's to come in the future.]
Mallory, you haven't got the slightest idea how much I value you. And, it's not just your loyalty and dedication for our- no, my dream.
[He slowly tips the wooden bucket, hot water spilling and ridding soap suds. It goes without saying what he means, but he can't say words so personal as freely any more.]
Once again, fingers travels downwards in a slow motion until it reaches to that very same wound. The movement becomes more and more hesitant until it's at the edges of same clumped up skin, all before he gently presses in the center of the scar. It looks flat to him, but it's obvious that while the Witch's magic revived Mallory, it leaves most of the scars intact. Or, even more disturbingly, there's a rather evident depth in the center once you're near it. It's still a hole.
Exactly, how can he not regret this? Not when he's fully aware how he mutilated his own best friend in a fit of misplaced rage.]
When you fight for the future, you also have to fully acknowledge and learn from past errors. [...] But, further than that, this isn't something I could just regard as a impersonal issue.
[Luna pulls his hand away from the wound, going back to scrubbing places he hasn't reach and places he's been repeatedly scrubbing. He hates to admit it, but he never realizes how little Mallory holds himself. It's telling to both of them now that his friend just basically asks him to ignore it. Ignore him. Never, not when he still cares for people, he still cares for Mallory deeply even if he's afraid what's to come in the future.]
Mallory, you haven't got the slightest idea how much I value you. And, it's not just your loyalty and dedication for our- no, my dream.
[He slowly tips the wooden bucket, hot water spilling and ridding soap suds. It goes without saying what he means, but he can't say words so personal as freely any more.]
Edited 2017-02-13 23:37 (UTC)
[Okay, now that he feels the pressure applied to the hollow scar on his back, yeah, the nerves are definitely fucked up there. Whether the way his muscles tense beneath the touch is because of that or just from being unused to gentle touches from anyone in general, who knows. It's just as unclear whether it's the water washing over him or Luna's words that feel so warm.]
...Ours.
[Don't count him out of it just yet.
He lifts his head, closing his eyes while he sifts through his own memories, despite what he just said about not living in the past.]
You and Yukizome... you were the first people who looked at me and saw more than just someone who could do nothing but fight, you know? You made even me believe I had more of a future than being washed-up and retired before forty. If I even made it that far... Heh. I've seen what happens to guys when their bodies start to fail, or when they've taken too many blows to the head.
[He'd considered more than once throwing in the towel on life itself before getting to that point. God knows what he would have done if he lost his hand back then.]
So it's only right I dedicate that future to you. And your plan of helping kids see that same potential in themselves.
...I guess that just sounds like a bunch of sentimental garbage now, huh.
[Nothing more than a pipe dream now.]
...Ours.
[Don't count him out of it just yet.
He lifts his head, closing his eyes while he sifts through his own memories, despite what he just said about not living in the past.]
You and Yukizome... you were the first people who looked at me and saw more than just someone who could do nothing but fight, you know? You made even me believe I had more of a future than being washed-up and retired before forty. If I even made it that far... Heh. I've seen what happens to guys when their bodies start to fail, or when they've taken too many blows to the head.
[He'd considered more than once throwing in the towel on life itself before getting to that point. God knows what he would have done if he lost his hand back then.]
So it's only right I dedicate that future to you. And your plan of helping kids see that same potential in themselves.
...I guess that just sounds like a bunch of sentimental garbage now, huh.
[Nothing more than a pipe dream now.]
Edited 2017-02-14 00:25 (UTC)
[...Boy, did that remark take her back.
It felt like yesterday when her sucky principal waltzed in a room with enough self congratulations to award two students a ticket to Pretentious Snob School For Gifted Students, Grove Hills, which would undoubtedly look good on her own record as an educator to bring such prestigious young people. So they had her, antisocial but gets amazing grades without even trying. Then they had Perfect Model Student.
She remembered how much she didn't want to even visit, let alone go to the school to be surrounded by people full of themselves and their "gifts". Deciding not to go ultimately all through an understanding with the Model Student. Understanding the worlds they both came from, respecting each other, but knowing that place would be the death of them both for similar and different reasons.]
Been there, done that. I had a stressful enough time in a normal high school. Going to a special one would just up my odds of losing it.
It felt like yesterday when her sucky principal waltzed in a room with enough self congratulations to award two students a ticket to Pretentious Snob School For Gifted Students, Grove Hills, which would undoubtedly look good on her own record as an educator to bring such prestigious young people. So they had her, antisocial but gets amazing grades without even trying. Then they had Perfect Model Student.
She remembered how much she didn't want to even visit, let alone go to the school to be surrounded by people full of themselves and their "gifts". Deciding not to go ultimately all through an understanding with the Model Student. Understanding the worlds they both came from, respecting each other, but knowing that place would be the death of them both for similar and different reasons.]
Been there, done that. I had a stressful enough time in a normal high school. Going to a special one would just up my odds of losing it.
Edited 2017-02-14 01:15 (UTC)
[Mal watches her out of the corner of his eye for a moment, cocking an eyebrow. She's just full of surprises, isn't she? He wonders just how many schools there are across the world (worlds?) that follow Hope's Peak's model.
Finally, he offers a silent grunt of agreement.]
You're telling me. It's more pressure than most people think... and it'd be a shame to see you resent your own writing. --Or whatever.
[Uh, along with plenty of other bad things that could have happened. He's not going to bring up the dark ending of that school's legacy, thanks.
He puts one foot flat against the ground, only half-committed to getting up just yet.]
I should probably leave you to it, huh?
[Make sure Luna's coffee's still hot when it gets to him and all.]
Finally, he offers a silent grunt of agreement.]
You're telling me. It's more pressure than most people think... and it'd be a shame to see you resent your own writing. --Or whatever.
[Uh, along with plenty of other bad things that could have happened. He's not going to bring up the dark ending of that school's legacy, thanks.
He puts one foot flat against the ground, only half-committed to getting up just yet.]
I should probably leave you to it, huh?
[Make sure Luna's coffee's still hot when it gets to him and all.]
[...He just kind of understood.
Like, with all of the projection of supposed apathy she gave out, it was maybe a bit scary for someone to point out that she would maybe grow to hate her writing. Not that she hadn't doubted her ability with insecurity alone. But she feared that people would maybe push all kinds of pressure next to dealing with the biggest tools on the planet. It would be like Lawndale High squared or cubed. People who would want to make you doubt your place, or people who would think you were less so because you got an "A" to an "A+". God forbid, need a break or not want to network and create a false ad of yourself.
No. Not for her. She knew that, and it ended up working for her. Maybe she missed out on such a grand opportunity, but it ended up being the best for her.
Yet, look where she ended up.
She realized she went a little quiet for a few seconds. She might've worked a small smile.]
It feels like yesterday when I told some jerk that you could be intellectually gifted and morally bankrupt. Doesn't matter what school you went to.
[Just when he was ready to get up, she placed a hand on her notebook. Considering something for a moment, but she fought it a little. Give it a moment.]
Yeah, you better give Luna that coffee.
Like, with all of the projection of supposed apathy she gave out, it was maybe a bit scary for someone to point out that she would maybe grow to hate her writing. Not that she hadn't doubted her ability with insecurity alone. But she feared that people would maybe push all kinds of pressure next to dealing with the biggest tools on the planet. It would be like Lawndale High squared or cubed. People who would want to make you doubt your place, or people who would think you were less so because you got an "A" to an "A+". God forbid, need a break or not want to network and create a false ad of yourself.
No. Not for her. She knew that, and it ended up working for her. Maybe she missed out on such a grand opportunity, but it ended up being the best for her.
Yet, look where she ended up.
She realized she went a little quiet for a few seconds. She might've worked a small smile.]
It feels like yesterday when I told some jerk that you could be intellectually gifted and morally bankrupt. Doesn't matter what school you went to.
[Just when he was ready to get up, she placed a hand on her notebook. Considering something for a moment, but she fought it a little. Give it a moment.]
Yeah, you better give Luna that coffee.
Edited 2017-02-14 02:34 (UTC)
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