waking the dead 2.0 || october 11-14, 2063 || the black forest

[icarusalsoflew]

WHO: The War Hounds, all NPC operatives on call for destroying the Nemesis, and whoever else
WHAT: It's a tense vigil, a bad fall, an emotional departure, and then some.
WHERE: The unnamed Zangyaku outpost of Tengu within the Black Forest.
WHEN: October 11-14, 2063
SAFE FOR WORK? Probably?
OTHER NOTES:
+ I'll have some open posts labeled with specific dates for people, and you guys are also welcome to make your own together with any planned threads.
+ You guys are actually free to re-thread any scenes between each other here too, if you like. I won't be able to re-thread the Brigade stuff, though.
+ You guys are welcome to call or text people who are not actually in the Black Forest.


[ OCTOBER 11: PRE-ENGAGEMENT

There is no way that you could possibly get used to it: the eerie, bestial shrieks; the worrisome tremors; the rotting trees. This place feels cursed, and every single other operative in the area beyond your group have the masks of men who are ready to die.

OCTOBER 12: POST-ENGAGEMENT

For what should have been a victory because there wasn't a single casualty, the air in the outpost is heavier than ever.

Can you blame any of them, though? Their leader nearly lost it today, and the fucking idiot who was responsible for that is passed out comfortably in his room.

OCTOBER, 13: AFTER DINNER

The War Hounds, it seems, has gained one man only to lose another.

Maybe this one was for the best.

OCTOBER 14: WHOLE DAY

The Blade King has not been cleared for travel yet, so you've got free run of the outpost until midnight, October 15.

]

Comments

[icarusalsoflew]

"Upset" is a strong word to describe what I'm feeling, Josh. So is "disappointed", but I think it's more accurate.

[ It's less about Brigade, see, and more about how he could have gotten all of you killed.

Among other things, of course. ]

[larue]

[ A quiet nod as he's tracing the inside of you palm with the thumb of his other hand. ]

If you're sleepy, you should rest. I can wake you when the food comes eventually.

[icarusalsoflew]

It'll be such a waste of a perfectly good day, though.

[ He's joking, of course.

...Mostly. Truth be told, he does like just being able to lie back like this. He just wishes that it didn't often entail being practically bedridden in order for such a thing to happen. ]

[larue]

I dunno, [ he presses his nose into your hair. ] Don't think you're missing much out there.

[ The creature -- Brig's nemesis -- is dead, and without it's shrieks breaking the silence, the forest seems a lot more peaceful. ]

And I admit, [ his voice dips to a whisper, and the look on his face is a little bit sheepish. ] I don't think I'm up to letting you out of my sight just yet.

[icarusalsoflew]

[ Smiling at you with even more fondness at that, and reaching out to stroke the side of your face. His other hand is straying down under the sheets now, and ghosting over your chest before settling on your stomach. ]

It's a good thing that I can't really go anywhere then, yeah? Keeping me within your line of sight won't be a challenge at all.

[ He really, really loves you. ]

[larue]

[ And he's reaching beneath those sheets to cover your hand with his. His smile is a little tremulous, but he shifts closer to you anyway. ]

I'm just really glad you're okay.

[icarusalsoflew]

[ He catches that (how could he not notice? He's fine tuned to notice just about everything about you, and all of the little changes that point towards the many gradients of your moods, your thoughts), and he very suddenly feels like the worst person in the Fifth World. Here you are, a boy so perfectly in love with him, miraculously capable of seeing who all that he is and not giving a shit about it, and here he is, recovering from a decision that could have meant you having to bury him when the story of the two of you has barely even started.

It's hard to find the words all of a sudden. He'll settle for kissing you instead. ]

I love you. And I'm glad I am too.

[ Both for your sake and for his. ]

[larue]

[ If he knew where your thought were actually going, he would honestly tell you that it wasn't your fault, that he is glad that Brianna had gone to you when she had because she had reminded him that he couldn't -- and that he's still holding on to the hope that everything will eventually be okay.

He leans into that kiss, falls into the comfort of you and moves even closer so that he can drape an arm around your waist. ]

I love you so much, babe.