Chasma: Allen

[aono]

Comments

[aono]

Yeah, okay.

[Back to his room it is!

....it's empty and quiet and reminds him that van Zieks won't be here to harass anymore, but he pushes those thoughts aside for now. Right now he's just going to pull Allen into a tight hug.

He gets it, Rin is sure of that. So he doesn't need to explain how absolutely awful he feels right now.]

[lefthandpath]

[he does get it and that's why there's a bit of a cling happening in this hug.]

--I don't get it. I don't get how it got to that point? I don't...

[and why he's not actually going to be quiet because... HE REALLY DOESN'T GET IT?]

[aono]

[Oh noooo that gets a tight hug in return. He's pressing his cheek against Allen's head too, trying to comfort him with some dumb furry gesture because this is furry week.]

She was the only overlap in those last two clues. Even though the clues didn't really overlap that much at all, everyone just...jumped on them I guess. The three of us were the only ones who fit the perfume clue, and then Nanaly and rainbow-guy fit the arrow clue.

But...we could've read the clues wrong. We've been wrong with our hint items before.

[lefthandpath]

[... oh. he totally missed that part, judging the way he goes a bit still.]

Us? But... the investigating team ones were the ones who didn't add up...?

[aono]

One of the items narrowed down the clue to us three. But that doesn't make sense, right? Nanaly is innocent, I saw your daemon shift so I know you're innocent, and...okay, I can't prove my innocence anymore but I definitely didn't do it.

[lefthandpath]

You definitely didn't do it. You wouldn't have been able to stand it if it was you.

[i mean, same for him, but in fact, Rowan does shift out of her bird form on Allen's shoulder to prowl around in an almost anxious manner in her canine form.]

[aono]

[Rinkou is immediately waddling over to Rowan to try and calm her down my licking her head to groom her. At the exact same time, Rin is going to run his hand through Allen's hair to try and calm him down some.]

The clue from the Watcher said it was someone who hadn't killed yet. So it wasn't me.

So...we messed up somewhere. To have three innocent people in a clue like that.

[lefthandpath]

Or it was deliberately set up that way, even during the trial.

[he hates saying it, but his optimism points are low and his trust in others sometimes lower.]

[aono]

...hey.

[He's going to shift a bit so he can cup the sides of Allen's face in his hands.]

Stay with me, yeah? No falling down that deep.

[lefthandpath]

[he doesn't quite look at Rin, a bit guilty for saying it.]

It's hard not to when it just feels like I don't know anything about what's going on or why people are acting the way they are.

I didn't expect Miss Susato to be so harsh about Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi's defense of Kim Dokja-ssi. And I didn't expect half the people who challenged Miss Leveilleur's questioning Mr. Spike to be so insistent...?

[aono]

They're scared, that's why. Susato was harsh because people precious to her died this week, and she has a strong sense of justice. She was scared that she would be letting them down if she didn't catch their killer. Everyone said stuff to Alisaie because they were scared she had messed up her question and Spike could have lied on a technicality. I don't think he did- he's not as good of a liar as he thinks he is- but fear made everyone question what was said.

They're just...scared. It's been five weeks and we're no closer to stopping it than we were the first time around. Fear makes people do crazy shit sometimes.

[He can't even talk, given the lengths he was ready to go through for a moment there.]

...I was scared too. And I froze up when I could've spoken up to help Nanaly.

[lefthandpath]

... it's not that I wasn't scared, either...

[just last week was way more existential crises levels of fear.]

Maybe I'm just being unfair. But when I think about how there's four killers that haven't been caught out yet... and the majority of the people dead--

[except he stops short, conflicted.]

I know it doesn't actually matter...

[aono]

If it's bugging you, then it does matter.

[Rin over here going TALK TO MEEEEE TELL ME YOUR PROBLEMSSSSS]

[lefthandpath]

[he's quiet for another moment because it does actually bother him but also last week.]

Then, you know which team has the higher numbers dead? And I'm... getting more scared, being on that team. That people might hold more stock in that than I have been...?

I only know for sure one other, and I won't say who, but... I'm really scared.

[aono]

[Oh. Oh, Allen...

Rin's face gets a look absolute sadness on it before he tugs Allen into another tight hug.]

Nothing's gonna happen to you, Allen. I'll keep you safe, you hear?

I don't think people are killing for the team nonsense, and that it's actually just bad luck that it's been more Temporals that have died so far. But logic doesn't help much with being scared, I know. So just let me handle it, ok?

[lefthandpath]

Don't... say "nothing will happen". Because... the fact is, nothing has happened so far, and really... my luck has never been this good before, so it's really unsettling.

I don't want you getting hurt if I'm dragged off to one of those "adventures" or something--not for that part, at least.

[aono]

[Okay, point taken. Time to rephrase.]

Maybe a better way to put it is "nobody's going to vote you out at any trial because I'll intervene if they try, and I'm already thinking of ways to protect you at night too." Because I'm serious about those two things.

And if you go on an adventure, then it'll be okay. The feather I just got this last Friday is for healing, so I'll heal you.

[lefthandpath]

[someone saying they are thinking of ways to protect him--d-doki???

he's finally lifting his hands to he can put them on Rin's shoulders, as if to keep him from getting too far ahead with putting things on himself.]

I'm... getting tasks so I can get my Innocence back. I've already done the first task for it, and Yomiel's given me a second task to level it up somewhat. It's not like I can't fight, and I have a few feathers that are... good for sneaking around, actually.

[aono]

[Rin, internally: "I can't ask Yomiel to help me protect Allen, I think I killed their boyfriend."

He does not say that, but he is definitely thinking that.]

That's your hand, right? So you'll be able to punch people really hard? That'll help, yeah. Though sneaking around might be the best option.

Or like...what if we talk to the Watchers about getting you an item that'll wake me up if you use it? That way if you find yourself awake one night you can get some extra help.

[lefthandpath]

["punch people really hard"... understatement.]

Only if you promise to get one for yourself with the opposite function.

And it's not just punching people--my left hand is the one that can destroy, so it's actually quite... sharp.

[aono]

Maybe one item that links us, so that if one of us stays awake the other does too.

[That seems like the easiest way to do it honestly.

Then, as cheeky as ever, Rin smiles.]

So what I'm hearing is that I should hold your right hand from now on, huh?

[lefthandpath]

That might be an idea.

[and okay, he can't help smiling back.]

I can only use it twice a week for ten minutes right now, so you're probably safe for now.

[aono]

Hey, we match then! That's how much I can use my fire.

...I still have two uses left this week, if you want to see it.

[lefthandpath]

Maybe after tomorrow. Just in case?

[who knows if something insane might happen.]

I do want to see it.

[aono]

Alright. After tomorrow then.

[But tomorrow is tomorrow and for tonight Rin is going to focus on making Allen feel safe. The problems that face them later are for after the sun rises.]

...oh! But there is something I can show you now. I was gonna tell everyone at the meeting this week, but then we didn't have a meeting at all.

[He'll pull away from Allen to go to a drawer nearby and pull out...a cutting from a tree? It looks petrified but also completely preserved, even with leaves on it.]