PCs with Gerome

[swordhandled]

[ some threads are nsfw ]

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[swordhandled]

[ grips his shoulders tighter, shaking him slightly. ]

Gerome, forget about who we are, who our parents were! I just... [ holds tight and pulls him into a hug

because fuck logic right now ]

[maskarang]

[ tensing immediately. he lets the hug go on for a few seconds before knitting his brows and roughly trying to push owain away. ]

First you ask I remember and now that I forget. Which is it, then? You cannot have them both, Owain.

[swordhandled]

[ nope we're huggers now enjoy this hug you fucking loser!! ]

Remember them, but don't let them be the sole reason why you do something!

[maskarang]

... I never claimed they were. From the start, you were the only one using them as an excuse. [ he's still angry, even if it isn't as much. none of this is why he looked for owain, all he's doing is being swept up by owain's indecipherable pace. with a tired sigh, he wraps one arm around owain's waist and the other around his back then onto his shoulder. ]

If it will end this, I will say it again. As plainly as I can so that even a child may understand it. [ shifting so he can whisper into owain's dumb ear. ] To lose you would only add to my burden. I would be heartbroken, and even Brady's sobs would be put to shame before my grief.

[swordhandled]

[ he stiffens at first, but when he feels gerome return the hug at least, owain allows himself to relax again. he's definitely warmed up at least since their time outside. ]

A burden... something I never want to be.

[maskarang]

Good. Let that be your incentive to live. [ he hates all of this too much to stay like this for very long. as soon as he's certain he won't yell at owain again out of anger, he pulls back enough to look him in the eyes. ]

You forced me to speak. Now it's your turn.

[swordhandled]

--What do you want me to say? [ he'll give him anything he asks for right now, tbh ]

[maskarang]

Everything. [ this was the actual worst time for owain to be so giving ]

[swordhandled]

The fear. It was nothing I've ever felt before.

[maskarang]

[ gently. do you need him to hold you more, he guesses like. he will? he is already here. ] Go on.

[swordhandled]

[ he's still holding on, but not because he needs it ] Like I said, it was completely out of my control. I have plans, ideas, on what I can do in every situation in battle. How can I parry a blade, how to dodge an Elthunder, how to confound an enemy...

But here? If one or two more had voted for me?

[maskarang]

... Or if a number decided your fate instead. The miscount may have altered the verdict, but until that moment you had a one in six chance at death. [ he can't read meta so he doesn't know owain doesn't need to be held. he would let go otherwise.

also, he subtly tightens his grip and pulls owain closer. ]

[swordhandled]

That's true. I feel that's far closer than I've ever been to death. [ but he's glad that gerome is tightening his grip ]

[maskarang]

Absurd when you consider all we've lived through. The frenzied town may pose a greater danger than the mafia. [ good. and he will just not think about any of this very hard because they were both afraid and that's all he needs to know. ]

[swordhandled]

Who would have thought that we could die because of a sick game instead of failing to stop Grima?

[maskarang]

I've thought the same thing ever since the trial.

[swordhandled]

But it seems we're truly stuck here... And, speaking truthfully--?

[maskarang]

—yes?

[swordhandled]

Even if we could leave, I wouldn't.

[maskarang]

Nor would I. Running away would be the mark of a coward. [ A beat. ] But I expect your reasons are more altruistic. You won't abandon anyone in need.

[swordhandled]

That's right... I couldn't leave anyone here, not if they could still die. Not if I could help do something about it.

[maskarang]

I thought as much. [ he smiles and this officially becomes the point where the hug has lasted too long. pulling away now. ]

[swordhandled]

But even if your reasons aren't as altruistic as mine... I'm glad that you would stay as well.

[maskarang]

[ a thoughtful "hm" as he tilts his head down and to the side. ] ... May I ask you a question?

[swordhandled]

Ask away.