Public Channel - Day 59

[pipers_son]

[He really didn't want this to happen, but...]

I think it's time we start keeping a list of those who's disappeared, been taken, or is otherwise indisposed.

I'll start.

Lauren has been buried in the ground, somewhere, and Steven Universe has been taken by the Rose Queen.

[He says all of this blankly, matter of factly, and there's only the sound of a shaky breath at the very end.]

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[pipers_son]

Not kidnapped, so a plus.

...I'll change the channel, hold on.

[Aaaand, go. His voice is a bit lowered as well.]

I think more than a couple of people aren't particularly happy with me for the choices I've had ta make.

[dontpokethat]

[Ah. Well, he supposes that's to be expected, and switches channels to listen to Joker. Good thing nobody else is in the barn at the moment, although... he starts for his trailer, just to be sure.]

...Always seems to turn out that way with things like this, doesn't it.

[He doesn't know if that's reassuring, necessarily, but it is true. ]

I know you did the best you could. ...What are they unhappy with?

[pipers_son]

Well, when Susan stops bein' a badger, he's not gonna be too happy with how I treated his brother, or that I left him buried in the ground.

[dontpokethat]

When Susan stops being a badger...

[Just give him a moment to process this.]

What do you mean, how you treated him? And... I'm guessing going back for him wouldn't have been feasible?

[He's also just... assuming Lauren is probably still alive, somehow, because 1. fae shit is weird, and 2. if he were definitely dead Joker would have said so. He hopes that's an accurate assumption.]

[pipers_son]

Well.... [Ugh, he.... really wishes he didn't like Ginko as much as he does, because now he's hesitating because he doesn't want to be judged by him.]

[In bad ways.]

I snapped at Susan and right after told the Rose Queen that I'd like ta punish them both 'properly' for her.

[dontpokethat]

...Mm-hm.

[Sorry Joker, that might be a little hard to read, but... well, to be fair, he's still figurig out what to think of all this.]

Punish them for what?

[pipers_son]

The two different times Lauren ignored every single one of us or what we were doin' ta attack the Rose Queen, mostly.

[he is so tired, ginko]

[dontpokethat]

[...Why are teenagers so dumb]

Yeah, see, that... that seems pretty punishment-worthy. [And no doubt, whatever Joker had in mind would be less horrifying than the Rose Queen's idea of a suitable punishment.

Like. You know, burying him.]

Damn. [He lets out a breath, pressing his knuckles to his forehead.] What a mess.

...We'll find a way to get them back.

[pipers_son]

[His only regret is not kicking Lauren's ass.]

I hope so....

Yuya isn't particularly pleased with me either, because- [A pause as he takes another breath. He'd rather do this in person with Ginko, instead of having to speak very very quietly into a radio. He can't groan without being obvious.] Lion got Steven, Yuya, and Hinawa out at first, right? Just in the next room over, but- she didn't see them and couldn't figure out where Steven was, yeah?

[dontpokethat]

...Yeah?

[Boy he doesn't like where this is going. Fortunately, he's reached his trailer now and steps inside, quietly relieved that Tanyuu is out at the moment.]

[pipers_son]

Well.

Steven and Yuya decided ta come back.

[dontpokethat]

...Ah.

Of course they did.

[Dammit.]

[pipers_son]

Of course they did.

[Do you see what he has to deal with, Ginko....]

Now.... Us, we'd been trapped in by those vines. Susan and Feathers had made a bit of a hole through 'em, and Feathers kept on workin' on it... But then Lauren happened, and then on one else would go through.

[Listen, he knows that he counts as one of them, but, Ginko, listen.]

Then when Steven.... I think he got bewitched by her, or somethin', when him and Yuya broke through, and, well.... Ya know how she gets.

[dontpokethat]

[Yeah you sure as fuck do, Joker. But... well, he can't very well blame him for not wanting to leave when nobody else would. Just so long as he wasn't just throwing himself into the line of fire again.]

...Yeah. I do.

[He wishes he didn't, but. Here he is.]

Then... Steven isn't hurt, at least, right?

[And they can get him back. Probably. Hopefully.]

[pipers_son]

Not in the physical way.

[Any other way, well...]

Anyway... While she was distracted by Steven, I was tryin' ta get everyone else out, but Yuya.... It felt like he kept fightin' me every step of the way. He even fought me on stayin' behind ta be the last one through.

I know I'm only the bleedin' Stage Manager, but bloody hell.

[dontpokethat]

That's... something. [The Rose Queen's influence can be broken, he knows that much. ...He just hopes they don't have to set Steven's face on fire to do it.

And that they can... you know, get him back to begin with.

He sighs, sitting back on his bed and pushing a hand through his bangs.]

Can't say I'm too surprised. [He doesn't know Yuya particularly well, really, but from what he's seen of him...] He seems like the type not to accept leaving anyone behind, even if it's the only option.

[pipers_son]

Tell me about it. And then ya combine him and Zaka together...

[s i g h]

....I didn't want ta leave 'im behind either. [It's a quiet, miserable confession.]

[dontpokethat]

...I know you didn't.

[He'd be shocked if Joker was any kind of okay with that.]

But you had to get the others out safely. You did the best you could, under the circumstances.

[He's sure of that much.]

[pipers_son]

I wish these kids could get that.

[Another heaved out sigh before there's a pause as he checks up on the rest of the group.]

Sorry for unloadin' all that on ya.

[dontpokethat]

Give them some time to cool down. Maybe they'll realize it on their own.

[That can't be guaranteed, of course, but... leaving them for now is probably better than pushing the issue, in any case.]

Don't worry about it. I'll keep my radio on in case you need to talk more, okay?

[By which he means, please keep calling him every so often while you're stuck out there.]

[pipers_son]

Would ya believe me if I said I was all tired out of talkin'?

[Don't, because it's a lie. Joker will talk forever, even when he's exhausted. The only cure is complete unconsciousness.]

But, ah... While yer there... Can ya keep an eye on Doll?

[dontpokethat]

Absolutely not. But, I would if you said you wanted to take a break, or talk about something different.

[He knows you, okay, Joker.]

Sure. I can do that.

[pipers_son]

Ha.... [Called out again.] Anyway, thanks. She's.... rather cross with me right now. And I don't want her ta do anythin'.

[dontpokethat]

[Only seems fair, given how much Joker does it to him.]

Sounds like it. I'll make sure she doesn't try anything rash; don't worry.

[Any more than he already is, at least.]