Waking the Dead 2.0 || August 27, 2063 || Saturday

[icarusalsoflew]

[He told you to rest because you all definitely need it, and he plans on staying around in the Tower to make sure that happens.

Granted, he's also around to check up on you if you really can't sleep, and his sister's doing the same thing. So.]



OOC Notes:
+ Hikaru will be in to watch over you all and talk up until 8 PM; he goes on duty early, then comes right back to the Tower to see Josh because boyfriend time is a Thing. Setsuna will be around the entire day.
+ Feel free, as always, to start your own threads here.

Comments

OTA

[icarusalsoflew]

[You'll usually find this one in one of the more visible places within the Tower: the common area, the roof deck. You're probably going to find him smoking and drinking while working, or on the phone with whoever.

Shit just went down, but, as always, the Blade King is available for whoever needs him, wherever he is.]

OTA

[sadame]

[If she isn't patrolling through the area, on vigil for whoever needs a hug or a buck-up, in fox form or curled up close to her brother, you might find her just peeking in on you from wherever you are as herself.

Feel free to talk to her. That is what she's here for today.]

OTA

[larue]

[ The last few days have been interesting, but this one's taking the fact that today is the last day that the Hounds can chill out pretty seriously so he's up for anything -- as long as it has nothing to do with what happened this morning ( unless you need a listening ear and processing, then he'll make exceptions ) or focuses hugely on relaxing and fun.

Feel free to drag him off for whatever. ]

For Hikaru. Because Things.

[larue]

[ Josh wanders back to his room shortly after dinner. He's pretty beat, today's been exceptionally long in spite of all the R&R from this afternoon.

He's just finished with a shower when you come in: hair still wet, flopped down in bed wearing a white shirt and a pair of boxer shorts, one arm draped over his eyes. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[And he'll come in with a quiet knock, and --

-- and he's not quite coming in. He's actually just cracking the door open, blinking once when he sees you, and smiling. Or trying to.]

Hey. Sorry to disturb you.

[larue]

[ He's in the process of sitting up shortly after that knock and looking over with a slightly confused smile when you peer in like that. ]

Hey, it's okay.

[ Everything about his body language boils down to one thing, and he'll voice it too. ] You don't have to ask for permission to come in.

[ His space is your space, okay? ]

[icarusalsoflew]

It's the nice thing to do, you know.

[And while that's supposed to be a typically witty response geared towards making you see that he's okay, you're probably going to note that he's not moving nearly as fast or as casual as he should to comply. You'll definitely see how he just shuts the door behind him and... stays there.]

I've got to go on duty tonight. Just wanted to give you the head's up.

[larue]

[ Yep. Definitely noting all of that down and promptly rising from the bed to come over to frame your face in both of his hands before he slants a tender kiss over that mouth. ]

Duty already? [ Murmuring that as he's looking straight into your eyes with a question in his own. It's only what? A little past eight in the evening? ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[And he melts into that kiss a little in spite of himself. Maybe he's not as good as he thought he was, or, more like, he's more shaken up and overwhelmed than he originally believed.]

Yeah. There are a lot of them tonight... I can sense it. I'm also trying to make sure that I get back here at a reasonable time.

[larue]

[ Resting his forehead against yours now. ]

Do you want me to come with you?

[ Hands moving up and down your arms; the gesture as soothing as he can make it. You're shy again, just like that time in Ireland and all he wants is to reassure you that things are good. They really are. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[While it's doing some to settle him, he still can't quite meet your gaze again. Have him quietly shaking his head.]

It's okay. I think I need to be alone for this one.

[He has to clear his head, and think on his own. There are a lot of things to consider, and plans to make.]

[larue]

[ He gentles his tone when he replies. ]

I'll wait for you to get back then.

[ You'll be able to tell that he means it. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

Thank you.

[He'd normally ask if you're certain, because he doesn't ever want to impose on you too much whenever he knows that a lot of particularly difficult things have happened. Today definitely counts as one such case.

He's surprising himself, then, at how easy it is for him to accept your offer. He'll dwell on that later. For now, he's kissing you on the cheek, and pulling back in order to reach for the door knob.]

I'll be back as soon as I can manage.

[larue]

[ He catches one hand just as you pull back, just long enough to give your fingers a gentle squeeze. ]

I'll be here.

[ He'd been half expecting the usual responses from your end, and while it pleases him to hear you accept his offer to wait up for you with little resistance, he's going to momentarily shelve the concern.

You're okay. Everyone else is fine. Today was hard, yes and people died, but all of you are safe and Aidan is back. ]

timeskip /o/

[icarusalsoflew]

[He did a longer round tonight both because there were a lot of souls to reap and because he was hoping that going through the motions would give him something to do and present problems that he could solve. He had hoped that immersing himself that way would lend him better insight on the situation at hand, especially since he knew, for a fact, that he had to be more than just at his best. Everyone needed him: that was a fact. That wasn't just him taking on too much this time around. The Kings were compromised; Netsach had been placed in clear and present danger. Grendal was back; the Watcher was likely alive. Old enemies were crawling out of the woodwork.

Suffice to say, his strategy at calming himself down and hammering out some sort of plan did not quite work. It wasn't that he couldn't handle it: it was that it was hitting him at full force, the magnitude of what he had to handle.

The heaviness is written all over his face by the time he comes back, just shy of 2 AM. He's barely even aware of it as he knocks once, then lets himself into your room.]

[larue]

[ He doesn't hear that knock, he's actually lost track of time because after you'd left he'd allowed himself a few hours to crash only to wake up sometime half past one.

He's got his earphones on when you come in, his tablet is also out as he's writing out some notes for one of his classes.

Yeah, those are some of next week's readings from Lia in a pile on the bed.

Yes, that is Glitch Mob playing pretty loud. He likes his EDM, okay. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[And the sight of you looking like that is kind of like the first real indicator that he has that you're going to be okay. That leads him to his revelation: that he really isn't, or at least not as fine as he could be. "Overwhelmed" doesn't even begin to cut it.

He ends up shutting the door behind him by slumping against it.]

I'm back.

[Saying that just loud enough to carry. You look busy: he won't stay for long, then.]

[larue]

[ And he does catch that. And yes, he's tugging off his earbuds and turning to you with a smile that's bright and happy and pretty much--

--wait.

Yeah, this one's scrambling out of bed, who cares if his stuff falls to the floor, you don't look okay.

All concern now as his hands come to catch yours. ] What happened?

[ He's searching your gaze with concern. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[Trying - and mostly failing - to smile and meet your gaze properly.]

Just... just feeling a little overwhelmed, I guess.

[Which sucks because he's supposed to be the strong one right now. For all of you.]

Sorry. You look busy, so maybe I should...

[larue]

[ Really. Cat mode. Really.

You're getting a kiss cutting off that really awful suggestion, and him stepping into your space so that the both of you are flush up against each other. ]

You tell me, [ that's murmured against your mouth ] that I have to put homework that isn't due until Wednesday before quality time with you and we are going to have a problem.

[ He's teasing. Please see that he's trying to make you smile. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[It works, to an extent. The kiss helped: he ended up melting into that one in spite of himself, and letting the feel and taste of you settle him in just a bit.

By Elaine, he has missed you. Yes, you saw each other right after the fight. Yes, you saw each other the day after that. But Falner Estate doesn't always explode. Adversaries from darker times don't always come back. People whom he views as his brothers - whom he would kill for - don't usually fall apart, leaving him to pick up the pieces.]

I can always wait.

[His delivery could have been a lot better. As things stand, it's soft, and trembles in the air just a bit too much.]

[larue]

[ Leaning in now and resting his forehead against yours. ]

I can cram.

[ He totally could.

And yes, he's going to kiss you again and murmur softly against your lips, ] Tell me what's wrong?

[icarusalsoflew]

Can I talk about it later?

[The plea is in his voice and in his eyes when he looks up at you. He's tensing again, in that little tell that might tell you that he's right about ready to bolt. Distractions are in order first, before you bring him back down and force him to talk about things.]

[larue]

[ Before the Hour, before his talk with Wiseman Tagabigay, and even before Ireland he might have pushed -- but not tonight, and if he can help it, not until your ready whenever he finds you like this.

It might surprise you then, when he goes, ] Okay. Okay, later. When you're ready. [ Before he's slanting his mouth over yours all over again and whispering softly: ] Don't go. I miss you. Homework can wait.

Everything else can wait.

[ Please, he just wants to hold you. He's been looking forward to catching up with you all night. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[The certainty in your tone and the easy way you give in to him instead of fighting him on the matter is what really does it for this one. When he moves in to kiss you, you're probably going to see, for yourself, just how much he needs you right at this moment.

Many things have suddenly spun out of control, or shifted right beneath his feet. He's grateful, terribly grateful, that you're not one of them.]