hippocarnival | Lost Carnival

[Yuya's a bit delayed to the rear of them all once Gongenzaka finally releases him, tail swishing in agitation. He makes a couple attempts to try and dig thorns out of his skin before giving up--they already scratched him up getting through the vine walls anyway, a little more he's already numb to anyway.

When Gongenzaka stops, Yuya does too, coming around and collapsing to his knees before sagging against Gongenzaka. He's barely paying attention to the radio, his mind too consumed with how they just lost Steven.]

....We did what we could, [He eventually says. It's obvious what has them both in this mood, after all. Listening to the Rose Queen...does not help.]

...You reached for him....where I, the man Gongenzaka, did not.

[Ah. ...So it is that, then.]

[Yuya's not sure he believes that was everything they could have, but it's not like they can turn back time and try again.

He sighs, half burying his face against Gongenzaka. He's sore.] He responded. We--[He swallows.] We shouldn't have let her just take him like that.

To do anything else would end the same, while more of us were either buried, or sworn to her side, [He replies, though even Gongenzaka seems unable to stomach his words.]

...The moment she had him in her arms... ...we lost our power to negotiate, [he adds, choking on what he says as he looks away. Even so, some vines come from the bushes to hold his friend as if they were one of his arms-it's easier to reach the other, that way.]

We could have stayed closer to Steven. [Yuya grumbles.] So he wouldn't forget we're here.

[There's the brainwashing, but obviously something got through, when Yuya called for him. So what if they had been a stronger presence for him?]

We'll save him.

And do you feel she would have relented either way?

[There is a pause. And...]

...He heard you, Yuuya. ...Hold that in your mind. He heard you, and she reacted for that reason.

[....] ...A...Aah. ...We shall, [He breathes. He needs to remind himself of that. He needs to...breathe. And calm down. And...]

....When I, the man Gongenzaka, asked Creation for aid...

...I asked that it protect him, specifically. ...However it saw fit.

... Thanks. [Gongenzaka is Steven's friend too, so it's not like Yuya has to thank him. But it was Yuya who asked for help, even if that's not how he expected it to go.]

....It was all I, the man Gongenzaka, could do, after all.

[It's sitting rather heavily, suffice to say.]

...what comes next... ....it will no doubt not quite be what it was when we faced the Prince, but...

[It's going to have to be Some form of equal trade, and the Fae are in the greater position to bargain now.]

[Yuya hopes it won't end up like the Prince, and he's suddenly anxious to think about it.]

We shouldn't have taken the Blue Rose. [He doesn't recall the Courts pursuing them until after they stole it. These miracles are important them, personally, and now everyone's suffering for them.

His expression darkens, and he wraps an arm around himself.] They got Mr. Strange, too.

Do you feel leaving it was the greater answer?

From what they speak of now, and from what happened following Portland...

[He grimaces.] Yuuya... ...I, the man Gongenzaka, do not think this began with the rose.

At the very least, the Rose Queen has been searching from the start.

[They got Strange. ...Yes. He nods. They were both listening, after all...]

They didn't do anything until we took it! [Past grievances or not, the Blue Rose runs to be where the Court's priorities shifted. Yuya wasn't in on this quest to begin with after that, and this isn't changing his mind.]

We did not see that they did anything until we took it, [he points out.] Do you recall, while in Greysol, when the Ringmaster vanished for a brief time?

...I, the man Gongenzaka, doubt she would have approached the Prince for the Rose without reason. Not if he has had it this long.

[And he DEFINITELY had that thing...for a While.]

Juat because she made a decision doesn't mean it was a good one. [Yuya sulks a little further. Normally his trust in the Ringmaster is strong, but his faith in the miracle quest in pretty broken.

He's sure she doesn't mean to put them through this, but that's not stopping it from happening.

He pulls away from Gon, realizing when he does something feels wetter than before. He touches his cheek. Oh.] Wh--are you bleeding?

I, the man Gongenzaka, did not say it was the best decision.

What I am saying, is that there is merit to what is known from Wismuth.

Nightshade was spotted-but unable to come within the Carnival limits. That rose...has indeed kept it safe.

And the Rose Queen would certainly have pursued with or without it.

[It's true that things perhaps wouldn't have gone This way. But they would have faced her soon enough. Perhaps even sooner.

But there are other things to worry about- Gongenzaka flinches away from Yuuya's touch, before moving a finger up to it himself.] Mnhg-

That...is not blood. ..It is fine.

[you was cryin gon]

[Yuya pulls his hand from his cheek to look at it, then turns to Gon with mild offence. Just because it glows doesn't mean Yuya can't tell it's blood.

Not that he isn't bleeding a bit, too. It's just less noticeable when he's much smaller.] Let me see how bad it is.

AUH-

Th-There is nothing wrong, Yuuya..! It is merely-!

[Well, it'll be clear for Yuuya himself honestly. There are no cuts or abrasions after all, and the trail of 'red' just goes to the bottoms of the eyes. Or...sort of.

It looks more brown once it's over the fur mask. Actually, the fluid itself isn't even red, despite the stains and...

As a bit of red vine dabs at them (hardly a conscious action), he might figure it out.]

Edited 2018-05-17 18:11 (UTC)

[Yuya shifts up as he follows the trail, reaching to wipe some from Gongenzaka's face with his palm. He squints at his hand, looking between his hand and Gon's face. Potentially bleeding eyes is just as bad, he's about to say, but it's not as thick or dark as he expects on his hand.

Oh. Yuya's expression eases, because while he's seen Gongenzaka cry before it's never been like this. It's a subtle grieving that surprises him.]

Hey. [His tone is soft, and this time he reaches up to try and gently wipe some of those tears away with his thumb.]

[Not much of an answer- at least not until the boy's thumb meets his face, causing him to bow his head.]

...It is a shameful display, is it not? [he finds himself muttering quietly.]

For all of the choices I, the man Gongenzaka have made... ...I can only weep in the face of their consequences...doing nothing but that.

[One would-or at least perhaps, he would-even say he's feeling sorry for himself.

But he knows that isn't it. He knows the powerlessness trapping all of them right now, he knows what choices led them there... ...He is not sorry for himself but rather fearful, and trapped in a web of indecision.

There is nothing to be done but wait.

And it's horrifying.]

[It's funny, but seeing Gongenzaka weep actually clears Yuya's mind a little. He feels a little stronger because he has to be, and he wonders if this is how Gongenzaka feels whenever Yuya's grief gets ahold of him.

So he reaches with his other hand as well to clear Gongenzaka's face, not to discourage him but to preserve some of his dignity. The movement is a little awkward, at first, but Yuya doesn't think too far about comforting Gon. Only knowing that he needs to.]

It's not shameful. [He smiles a little, reassuring.] It won't end here.

It is tears with no purpose, [he huffs, ears folded back.] ...We know there is no end, and that we will prevail- and yet it is...something so simple as not yet knowing how...

[It should not be something he needs. He shouldn't need comfort, not because it's a weakness but simply because it means he isn't able to comfort someone else, and idly his thoughts veer back to when they had been talking over that scroll, but...

Well, old habits die hard, evidently.]

[Yuya's an enormous crybaby, so he can't really agree with the conflict of crying without purpose. And he knows if he pointed it out Gongenzaka will only come up with an excuse fot the double standard.

He doesn't want to have another back and forth about this. Gonenzaka is already weeping, anyway. So instead of trying to tell him it's okay, Yuya just continues to smooth his hands over his friend's face, smiling softly while he looks up at him.

He's a little scared they won't, truthfully, although that's a fear he pushes way down. Still, it makes it hard to find the words to comfort with.

Yuya lets the silence hang between them, so Gonenzaka can navigate his feelings at his own speed.]

Edited 2018-05-17 19:54 (UTC)

[Navigation to say the least is slow going- honestly, Gongenzaka is pretty sure he hasn't cried quite like this since Portland, and when that was the case he wasn't even entirely himself. Prior that...

...well.

He half collapses against the other, one arm draped over his friend the way it would typically before a hug, but going no further. He appreciates the silence. More than anything, he appreciates it- while the brunt of the crying is long over, the weight of emotions after all is not, and it's more than difficult to simply shake off years of training and dedication to a particular mindset. He'd come up with an excuse if it was brought up-

But without that, he can at least quietly come to terms with the idea of it being alright.]

[Yuya teeters a little, dropping his staff as his arms wrap around Gongenzaka's neck to catch him. Or brace himself, really, letting his weight sink forward so they're holding each other up.

He closes his eyes, letting the tension in his shoulders resolve as his fingers dig slightly in Gongenzaka's mane. It's scary and hard, but that's easier to bear when they aren't alone.]

... I'm glad you're here.

Aauh. [With a shuddering breath, he holds the other in a hug, as if afraid that letting go would mean they were never there at all.] I..

...I, the man Gongenzaka, am glad that you are here as well...

[Yuya nods once, settled in the embrace. They can catch up with the group in a bit, but for now he's content to just stay here and calm down together.]

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Should that be all here you think?

Sounds good o7