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.]

Comments

~IN PERSON~

[betheman]

[When Gongenzaka first began coming out of the door-way, he would have been slow, anxious, and glancing back. He then would have abruptly yelped, scrambled backward with the most awkward shimmy possible, and a few moments later come belting back as fast as he could squash himself (and a tightly vine-held Yuuya) back.

For all that he did something extra- and perhaps Joker had caught a glimpse before he went through, from when Gongenzaka's aura flared a visible and glowing blue beneath his leaves- the entire situation comes crushing down as his paws and hooves meet the ground. The first order of business- the radios. He tells Joker he will be contacting Security, and adds being unsure about the public channel.

'...Many have already rushed into danger due to this. ...Steven was...'

...He was among those who rushed out, after all.

But after his own announcement is over, and after Joker's is done, perhaps the latter notices the uncharacteristic 'slump' Gongenzaka takes from there. As if his arms, metal and otherwise, are filled with condensed lead, he sits more collapsed than anything else. They 'rest' at his front palms open, radio limply resting in the other while his head is bowed.

He doesn't move. Not except to quietly set the radio between his forepaws before letting his arms go weak and limp once again.]

[pipers_son]

[Frankly, Gongenzaka is like an open book. Some people are just like that, Joker's found, although most don't announce their thoughts or actions with their name, and a title. Yet even when he's not as loud and boisterous, well... It's hard to miss the body language of a guy taller than two people put together.]

[Joker tries to give him a little bit of time to himself. The radio is plenty busy, after all, so at least he has an excuse. After a while, however...]

Zaka. How are ya doin' over there?

[betheman]

[The answer is poorly. Extremely poorly. His radio is ready to receive from anyone out there, but he does not move.

Keen eyes will note that parts of the fur are stained with too light a red to be from any blood however- someone is REALLY not doing well.]

....I, the man Gongenzaka, had thought... ...that after causing myself, and others to be trapped in ice, I had truly failed as much as I could ever fail, today...

[He grinds his teeth, and chokes on those words.] ...But such thoughts were childish..! For more than anything, my actions here...!

[And he chokes again, ducking his head.] I, the man Gongenzaka, could not even call for him...! And with each word that I spoke, we came no closer to safety in the first place..! This, when I, the man Gongenzaka, am meant to protect-!

...I...

...My actions are truly unforgivable..!

[pipers_son]

[.....Yeah, that's pretty bad. Radio put away, Joker makes his way over to him and carefully starts to part fur away. Just to see what he's dealing with.]

Well, unfortunately, we can't protect folks from bein' stupid. That's not a judgment call on yerself, alright? Now tell me where it hurts.

[betheman]

Even so, there could have been more to do for them, at least..! Whether to protect them from sight, or to hold them firm, or-!

[It occurs to him what Joker is asking, and he looks up- rather bloodshot and watery eyes blinking.] A-

Wh-where... Joker, I, the man Gongenzaka, am quite uninjured, I assure you... [So he says, even as a vine wipes a bit of tears from the iris-less and scarred eye.]

[pipers_son]

Then would ya mind if I checked myself? Just ta be sure.

[Too late, he's trying to poke and prod anyway.]

Besides.... If that's the case, aren't I just as bad?

[betheman]

....Very well, [he mutters, ears flicking a bit uncomfortably. There is, at least, some pause-] Hmm?

....Ahhh... ....I, the man Gongenzaka, suppose we were both at least clipped by ice, then... [He notes, sighing.]

[pipers_son]

[Joker is at least gentle as he searches for any signs of particular bleeding areas. Everything seems fine so far, bu...]

Guess so.

But, y'know... Ya can't protect someone when they make the decision ta step out from behind a shield, or when they ignore orders that would keep them safe. Understand?

[betheman]

...

...Aah. I, the man Gongenzaka... [Yet his voice breaks, and his lips curl, the man's entire body tense.] ...I...

...An attack cannot be used...but even my words were useless, before anyone struck..! How can I, the man Gongenzaka, protect those with me from such things...

If I have nothing against them..?

1/3

[pipers_son]

Yer not listenin'.... The fact of the matter is that sometimes, ya just can't-

2/3

[pipers_son]

[...]

3/3

[pipers_son]

....Zaka, are yer tears red?

LMFAO JOKER

[betheman]

[...What.]

....I... ...Red, Joker..? [An interesting note- he's still got the red vines dabbing at his eyes, and what's staining the darker fur doesn't seem...red so much as brown.

It's only on the white, it looks like. Hmm.]

...What are you speaking of..?

[Also, he was totally listening, just let him wonder what the heck he's supposed to do against a faerie if he runs into one again-]

LISTEN THIS IS IMPORTANT

[pipers_son]

Yeah, red- [Gosh darnit, Gongenzaka, let him just.... Reach up to turn your head... Is he going to have to fly for this?] Look back at the rest of ya, c'mon.

[WORK WITH HIM, YOU GIANT TEENAGER]

[Yet even as he's trying to do that, he continues to talk.]

Basically, can ya change the color of the sky?

[betheman]

[Hey he's tall but not that tall-especially with his lower body on the ground. Standing should be fine for you, even if he does snort a bit when Joker starts feeling around his face.]

...

If it is as impossible as that, you yourself would not have attempted to speak at all, I imagine.

At the very least, when it came to distraction, you succeeded with far greater success. I, the man Gongenzaka...

...Did not. It did not work as such at all, when I myself spoke.

[pipers_son]

And if someone asked me ta be a human shield, I'd fail a good bloody deal at it, I can tell ya.

[Let him just... move your head.... to look at the white bits of fur speckled red...]

Besides, that was just luck, half of it bad, half of it worse.

[betheman]

Hmn! It does not feel as though we have been able to make use of that sort of shield for a while, [He mutters, though it is at least a little less grim. He grimaces a bit, but his head is moving anyway.]

...Is that truly all that it was, Joker?

[pipers_son]

Think of it this way: can ya imagine the exact same thing happenin' if instead of Lauren and Susan, we had calm headed Tanyuu, and instead of Yuya, there was Ginko?

- ah, see the spots now? [Seriously, it's that or he's losing it and seeing blood in times of stress.]

[betheman]

....

...No, [He mutters, frowning.] ...This is not the only time today, however... ...though I, the man Gongenzaka, shall admit that our encounter with the pixies did not end with such loss...

[That said.] ...When looking crosseyed, perhaps... [Tricky, tricky- Ah.]

Mnh- ...Are you certain it is blood? [He's noticing it now, and focusing his eyes again because god that hurts, but....He doesn't remember getting cut at the face!]

[pipers_son]

No, s'why I asked ya if ya were cryin' red. [Hard to miss all those vines and tears, after all.]

Anyway, if it wasn't as bad as this, then it wasn't as bad, right? If yer involved with more things, then yer gonna have a higher chance of runnin' inta bad luck, or gettin' disappointed.

The opposite is true, too, but.... Still. Do ya understand now?

[betheman]

Mnnhhh.... ...I, the man Gongenzaka, do not recall having red tears...

[Well, anyway. He still frowns. He's just like this Joker. Children, right?]

...It does not change the desire to do better, you should know. ...I, the man Gongenzaka, most assuredly see the truth in your words...

...But while it does not help what occurred, I, the man Gongenzaka, cannot allow myself to fail to seek improvement in myself, should such a thing happen again...

[pipers_son]

That's fine. People should always do that.

But ya have ta understand yer limits and what ya can't control, alright? [Letting go of Gongenzaka's face, Joker lightly thwacks his arm.] Or you'll always get lost thinkin' about how ya couldn't do somethin' impossible.

the Largest of Children...

[betheman]

[It is times like this where, in the face at least, his age actually shows. He's hardly pouting, but his eyes are wide, and with his actual blood glowing, a somewhat ashamed blush is peeking through the white fur. He refuses to duck his head, but it's pretty clear he's fighting off that urge to do so.] MNGH-!

A..Auh. ...Understood.

[OKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY....]

Big Boy

[pipers_son]

[Okay, holy shit- Joker manages to crack something of a smile, although it's not one of his best.]

Alright, what's that about?

[And why couldn't it happen at a time when he could really enjoy it because it's hilarious.]

[betheman]

[He blushes when he's embarrassed is what. Sort of like how he would normally be crying literal buckets only while cheering someone on, or something-]

MN- What is what, about!?