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

[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!?

[pipers_son]

That face ya made.

[The hilarious one.]

[betheman]

MN-

I- I, the man Gongenzaka, am not making any sort of face!!

[YOU ARE NOW]

[pipers_son]

Yer makin' one right now.

[Okay, maybe this is what he needed. Zaka and Reira.]

[betheman]

Th-that-!!

You are not even saying what sort of face it is!!

[Gon just admit defeat buddy you have Lost this argument-]

[pipers_son]

A hilarious one~.

[Another, lighter pat.]

Anyway, I'm here, alright?

[betheman]

[Nooooooooooooooooooooooo... but...Well, he does manage a smile.] A...Aauh.

...Thank you, Joker.

[He does at least feel a Little better.]