vigilantics | week 1, saturday

[ he stares at the injuries in newfound amazement now, looking first at Steph's wrist, then to Ion again. He'd become familiar with her injuries; it's clear that it's the same one. So that was what happened to Akechi's scars? And the rest of these - he didn't even know where all of them came from. ]

That's... [ amazing? stupid? he's not sure. Hikage scratches his head. ] ... You're going to get yourself killed at this rate. It's only been two weeks.

[ she wraps the bandage around her wrist again after hikage got his look. ]

That's what I said. I told him he's not allowed to do it anymore unless he tells them beforehand what he's about to do.

[ there's a pause before she reaches down to squeeze ion's hand. ]

Please take care of yourself. You're important too.

[Ion laughs.]

I'm sorry.

[Important, him. If they only knew how untrue that was. He shoots a soft, self-deprecating smile as he looks down at Stephanie's hand around his own pale one.]

You're so kind...I don't want to do anything that would cause you to worry. And again, I'm sorry that I lied about this. Our gifts are supposed to be a secret, so...

Edited 2018-06-17 03:55 (UTC)

[ it's weird to hear someone call him kind, especially someone who barely knows him. Oh well. Maybe that's why he can say it. Hikage glances off to the side. ]

It's fine. I'm glad you told me. But you should listen to Stephanie - if you need some reason to stop, just remember your role's important to the rest of us, too. [ a beat. ] What title is that? I'm Cinderella's Prince.

[ he offers his own to cushion the reveal a little. Steph trusts him, so he figures it's fine if he does, too. ]

[ oh he's actually good with kids. that's cute.

she glances at ion. ]

[The easy admission startles Ion out of his emotional turmoil. He blinks up at Hikage, his big eyes so open and honest. There's no real hesitation or question of whether or not he should be cautious with his trust--even despite what happened just earlier today.]

I'm Humpty Dumpty.

[Keeping his staff cradled in the crook of his arm, his free hand unconsciously reaches up to play with the tuning fork that lays against his chest.]

...it's nice to meet you!

[Is that an odd thing to say? It's not like it was an introduction. Well, no taking it back now.]

Ah...I'm not familiar with any of these stories. None of the titles make much sense to me.

[ kids are his weak spot, don't tell anyone... it's why he was looking out for kyouka earlier, too. The weird, sudden introduction gets a crooked smile out of Hikage, and it actually seems pretty genuine. ]

It's a little late for introductions... but nice to meet you, too, I guess. [ as for humpty dumpty... ] Humpty Dumpty is an egg who sits on a wall, but he falls off, and no one in the kingdom can put him back together. Something like that. I don't remember if there were more details.

[ she frowns at his explanation of the story. it fits his power, but it's kind of... mean. no, it's very mean. ]

And so we're all properly introduced, I'm the Bear. [ she pauses, and then snickers at... something... no one here would understand why the term bear is funny, steph. ]

[Something changes in Ion's face at Hikage's explanation. An egg who breaks into pieces...with nobody who can ever fix him. His smile twitches just slightly downward.

Best not to think too hard about it.]

Someone mentioned they thought it was odd...that the story the bear is from actually has three different bears. Is that true?

[ it is mean... but so is everything else here. Hikage isn't the type to sugarcoat anything - even less so when they're all in mortal danger.

the bear joke goes over his head but steph is also definitely the buffest person in the room so it fits ]

Yeah. I assume she's a bear from "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." That one's about a girl named Goldilocks who breaks into the house of a family of bears and sleeps in their beds and eats their food... I don't remember how it ends, though.

[ hikage doesn't remember a lot of things, evidently, but for some reason, he recalls a lot of fairy tales. Weird!! ]

She usually runs away.

[ ... ]

I can check evidence. The amount of items change every week depending on how much is there. Like I knew that the lock was opened using an actual lockpick and that it happened after curfew. It fits the fairy tale because the bears were able to tell that Goldilocks used their stuff.

Oh, I see! That's really useful!

[Ion's smile comes easier as he looks up at Stephanie. I hope they're still holding hands honestly.]

Every gift really is different from the last, isn't it?

Is that what you did?

[ Hikage didn't know that either, actually. He nods his head approvingly. ]

I wonder if that actually had anything to do with the murder we solved, or if it was for the other kid. [ hikage you look like 18 years old ] But yeah. Both of you got useful gifts, so you better not die.

[ they're definitely still holding hands because ion is her son now. ]

... uh. You better not die either.

[ hIKAGE :/ ]

[Hikkkageeee...

A shadow crosses briefly over Ion's face, but he returns the nod.]

We'll all be as careful as we can be. I sincerely hope for a break in bloodshed, as...lofty a hope as that may be.

[Dream big, little Ion.]

... Isn't it a little late for that?

[ did he just make a joke?! it looks like he did. ]

Don't worry. I want to survive as much as anyone, whatever that means for me. [ existing might be a better word. ] We'll figure out a way to stop this.

... yeah, we will. I'm just sorry that it's taking this long.

[ there are too many dead, and there will be more tomorrow. they should have gotten out of all of this by now. ]

Ion, have you healed any more people after me?

[Ion shakes his head.]

You're the last person that I've healed.

[He looks guilty.]

I wanted to go to Natsuo, but...

[ hikage shakes his head. ]

Natsuo will be fine. Idiots die hard.

If you keep healing people like this, eventually it'll get too much and you'll die. Trust me.

[ and she doesn't want ion to die. or anyone, but... he doesn't deserve this. ]

[Once again, Ion avoids looking at either of them.]

I do trust you.

[He trusts that Natsuo will be fine. He trusts, most certainly, that he, himself, will die.]

I don't wish to cause anyone concern.

[ he recognizes someone being avoidant when he sees it. ]

I hope you're taking this seriously.

... I think he is.

[ she gets it though. wanting to do something even when everyone else is telling you not to. ]

I am.

[Ion takes a deep breath, and then squeezing Steph’s hand, looks up to face Hikage’s gaze once more.]

I just hate...feeling like there’s only so little I can do, that’s all.

... Yeah. I get it. But we're all in that same boat here. Staying alive is one of the things you can do.

There are other ways you can help, Ion. Ways that won't hurt you in the process.

[ :/ ]

week 1, saturday

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