But he's still working diligently as he goes through the tailor's room, carefully sifting through fabrics with the heel of his hand to try to avoid getting any blood on them but - he definitely got a bit cut up when he was working through all the chandelier debris in the ballroom.
When he hears the door open, he'll turn toward it - ]
Ah, can I bother you for some help?
[without even thinking about who he might be asking]
[Jae-ha's expression softens just a bit once he notices that it's Kyouka - and he holds his hands out for her to see. He's cleaned them of blood, disinfected them - but there are certainly new, fresh cuts on his hands.]
I'm afraid I need a hand since I've gone and made a mess of mine.
[ Has she been given anything? She doesn't even have her phone anymore, the one her mother gave her and told her to never let go of. She couldn't even do one of the last things her mother told her to do. ]
I don't know if I'll ever have that. Not while we're here.
[ . .. and Jae-ha just sighs. He can rest his hand on her head with his hands like this, but he'll open his arms for her anyway in case she wants a hug.]
... that's why we're working so hard to get you out, right?
But whatever you need to do.... I won't blame you. I want you to do what will help you survive - and if you get to, you need to keep trying to help everyone else, alright?
[Jae-ha will go to find Kyouka when he has a second, humming softly to himself as he goes. He seems to be holding something behind his back, apparently in the tradition of showing her something new whenever they speak?]
And he laughs - but it didn't escape his notice that she received a vote on Saturday. That unsettled him more than he cares to say, and even if she doesn't seem to be bothered by it... he pulls out the item from behind his back. It's a fleece bundle even if it's not quite as cold as it used to be....
But he also embroidered a little happy bunny rabbit on it.]
I guess... I just felt like spoiling you. I haven't figured out a way out of here, to escape with you yet, so a little token of apology for being late on my promise.
[ when i misread that the fleece was somehow cold before and not the weather............. don't @ me dana
Kyouka holds the bundle closer to her chest, and her expression softens. ]
You don't... I don't... You didn't have a time limit. I want us all to be able to leave... to bring them back with or without that happy ending. [ Whatever that meant. ] Do you think that's possible?
[ The door to the castle is open. A ball bounces its way in, and a tiger cub isn't far behind, chasing after it.
Kyouka is a little slower but not by much. She's dripping wet and not caring that she's leaving a trail. It's not the tiger she has her eyes on for once; it's what the tiger is chasing.
When she spots Jae-ha, her urgency is clear in her eyes and her voice: ]
Jae-ha blinks in surprise - but he also acts immediately. He rushes over to the ball and goes to pick it up without question, because naturally if he stops the ball then he'll stop the tiger too.]
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week 2, friday
But he's still working diligently as he goes through the tailor's room, carefully sifting through fabrics with the heel of his hand to try to avoid getting any blood on them but - he definitely got a bit cut up when he was working through all the chandelier debris in the ballroom.
When he hears the door open, he'll turn toward it - ]
Ah, can I bother you for some help?
[without even thinking about who he might be asking]
no subject
Yes. What do you need?
[ There are very few things she'd say no to, if it's a request from Jae-ha. ]
no subject
I'm afraid I need a hand since I've gone and made a mess of mine.
[At least he still... sounds? Chipper?]
no subject
[ She remembers seeing that in one of the glass cases.
She grabs any bandages that are laying around still. ]
Or something else?
no subject
[He admits that easily - ]
Just the chandelier.
... I wouldn't give in to their game.
no subject
Is there nothing you'd do anything to protect? To save?
no subject
[ . . . ]
But if I were to kill innocent people in order to protect it, then the people that I'd want to see would rather that I didn't come back at all.
I don't know if my answer will change when I'm actually faced with it - but for right now.... when my head's clear - I don't think I could do it.
no subject
[ She thought she could change, but she's fallen back into some old habits without even thinking. What can she justify, and what can't she justify? ]
I'm scared I won't be the same, as you.
[ She's scared she'll be same as she was before. ]
no subject
... you shouldn't have to pick. You shouldn't even be in a situation like that. You deserve more from the world than what you're being given.
[That much he says with certainty.]
no subject
I don't know if I'll ever have that. Not while we're here.
[ And not even if she isn't here. ]
no subject
... that's why we're working so hard to get you out, right?
But whatever you need to do.... I won't blame you. I want you to do what will help you survive - and if you get to, you need to keep trying to help everyone else, alright?
week 4, monday
Dear, sweet Kyouka....
Do you have a second?
no subject
There is a pattern, but she has come to trust him, for better or for worse, so she just... goes up to him.
She points at his back, so that's a yes, she's got a second. ]
no subject
And he laughs - but it didn't escape his notice that she received a vote on Saturday. That unsettled him more than he cares to say, and even if she doesn't seem to be bothered by it... he pulls out the item from behind his back. It's a fleece bundle even if it's not quite as cold as it used to be....
But he also embroidered a little happy bunny rabbit on it.]
I have a gift for you.
no subject
Why is it cold..... ]
What is it for?
[ She hasn't done anything to deserve a gift. ]
no subject
I guess... I just felt like spoiling you. I haven't figured out a way out of here, to escape with you yet, so a little token of apology for being late on my promise.
no subject
Kyouka holds the bundle closer to her chest, and her expression softens. ]
You don't... I don't... You didn't have a time limit. I want us all to be able to leave... to bring them back with or without that happy ending. [ Whatever that meant. ] Do you think that's possible?
no subject
but he just shakes his head then and reaches out to pat the top of her head]
I do. I think we can figure out a way out of this. There's too many people working hard for us to lose - so long as we don't give up.
So leave it to big brother, okay?
no subject
[ That's the important bit that sticks out the most.
She doesn't know how to take this. ]
no subject
Ah... yes! That would be me - unless you have any complaints.
no subject
Kyouka shyly shakes her head. She opens her mouth to say something but ends up closing it.
Instead, she reaches out to tug his sleeve. ]
If you could... talk to the dead, what would you want to say?
no subject
... here? At all? In general?
I suppose it still... would depend on who I was talking to...?
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[ Is this subtle or obvious... ]
... At random.
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Is that... something you can do?
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[ This is her decision to trust Jae-ha. ]
Only here.
week 5, wednesday
Kyouka is a little slower but not by much. She's dripping wet and not caring that she's leaving a trail. It's not the tiger she has her eyes on for once; it's what the tiger is chasing.
When she spots Jae-ha, her urgency is clear in her eyes and her voice: ]
I need them to stop...!
no subject
Jae-ha blinks in surprise - but he also acts immediately. He rushes over to the ball and goes to pick it up without question, because naturally if he stops the ball then he'll stop the tiger too.]
This?