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

[pipers_son]

So ya don't trust or respect us.

[Yuya is free to look wherever he likes. For the most part, Joker keeps his eyes up ahead, trying to see whatever he can through the shadows.]

Because that's the problem with decidin' that kind of thing. It means ya don't respect what other people sacrifice for ya, and ya don't trust our own abilities.

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya's attention snaps back to Joker, only briefly shocked before his expression flashes with anger.] You're deciding it, too! If you just sacrifice yourself, aren't you deciding that you don't trust your friends to be able to make any difference with you?!

[There's a rising offense in Yuya's tone as he takes that probably more personally than Joker means it to be. But this is personal, for Yuya. He's tried, and tried, and tried to not be so fragile that he has to watch his friends suffer, sometimes for his sake, unable to do anything.]

[pipers_son]

[Finally, Joker looks down at him, expression drawn cold and serious instead of the usually warm persona worn so much.]

The difference ya made with comin' back and encouragin' Steven was that he got taken. Am I wrong in that?

[That sort of belief sounds very nice, but with what's just happened...]

[hippocarnival]

... You think it's my fault? [His posture slacks a little. He's not offended by that, but it wasn't expected and he goes quiet as it rings through his head.]

Steven decided to come back first. [In part because Yuya's reaction was just delayed in surprise, but it was a decision they came to independently. Their feelings just happened to align on the matter.] He felt the same way.

[pipers_son]

[See, now he feels guilty. Being in a position of responsibility sucks. Joker's expression shifts back to normal, although he's heaving out a sigh at the same time.]

I know he did, and I'm not surprised. I think it's both of yer faults, honestly, although I know ya both meant well. That doesn't change the fact of the matter that it was a, frankly, stupid decision.

Did ya even have a plan? [Considering what he was able to see around the Rose Queen, he sure doubts it.]

[hippocarnival]

Well, we didn't plan on leaving. [There wasn't a lot of planning the whole event. Yuya deflates slightly, pursing his lips.] I've been learning magic to protect everyone in case of stuff like this, but I can't use it if I'm not there.

[Joker said protect everyone after all, not that Yuya needed to be told to do it.]

... I'm going to help save him. And Creation is going to keep him safe until we do.

[pipers_son]

Good ta hear on the Creation front, but, judgin' by yer words, I'm gonna take it that ya didn't plan at all.

[Everything else can be addressed in a minute.]

[hippocarnival]

... No. [Go on and say it, he's ready to take it.]

[pipers_son]

[Take that light swat to the head, although Joker doesn't make it really hard.]

Friendship doesn't make up for lack of plannin'! Ya got a brain, so ya need ta use it, especially if yer gonna go harassin' a fae queen!

[Although it still wasn't as bad as what Lauren did.... but that is an incredibly low bar.]

There's no excuse for that. If ya have the time ta cobble together a plan, even if it's not a great one, it's better than runnin' in blind. Got it? Or else no one will bring ya on any rescue attempt.

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya flinches as he's smacked, ducking his head.] I got it, I got it!

... Sorry. [He would still come back, but they probably could have come up with something while they were digging through.]

[pipers_son]

Ya better be.

[C'mere, you, time to mess up that anime protagonist hair some more with a ruffle. Be glad he has a new hand that isn't wooden.]

Even if ya don't like it, ya do know that keepin' all of ya safe is part of my job, right? Not as much as the Warden, sure, but...

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya grumbles as his hair is tousled, though he doesn't push Joker away.] I know, but...

[His fingers curl more tightly around his staff. He doesn't look up.] I want to protect my friends.

[pipers_son]

[Ah. Yeah. His hand comes to a rest, and he lets out a slow breath.]

I know. Everyone does. But sometimes... That means knowin' when it's alright ta run. That's the decision I had ta make for everyone, even though I didn't like it.

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya doesn't look satisfied with that.] I don't want to run anymore. I want to be able to do something!

[It's not like he doesn't understand it, but he's been trying to be strong enough to not. So other people don't have to sacrifice themselves for him.

So when awful people come after his friends, he can keep them away.] I... I didn't think he was going to do that.

[pipers_son]

Runnin' is doin' somethin'.

[Sliding his hand down to his side where it hangs limply, Joker breathes out slowly. Not quite a sigh. It's nothing he likes either, but...]

For example... By doin' my best ta make sure the rest of ya got out, one way or the other, I've made sure that no one else has gotten taken, or that anyone died. Things are bad, but they could have been a lot worse.

[Somehow. Don't ask him how. It was already pretty bad.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya purses lips, averting his gaze. But he decides not to argue it further. It's not like Joker made the wrong decision... it just wasn't quite the one Yuya wanted to make.]