[Day 05]

[backdrafted]

[so a couple things happen. one is the Chief pulls Roy away privately. It's hard to tell what they are talking about but mostly Roy looks mega pissed.

then Roy just BEELINES FOR THE BARN. DESPITE NO ONE COMES BACK FROM THE BARN




But then Roy comes back from the Barn.

looking HOLLOW AND SHAKEN.]

Comments

[calefactioned]

[A LIL BIT FREAKED OUT BECAUSE NO ONE COMES BACK FROM THE BARN so the first thing he does is put his hands on Roy, on his shoulders and then cupping his face like he is making sure he's still. There]

Roy? Roy...

[backdrafted]

[???

Roy stares at him, but his shock over his double touching him like this out of the blue can't quite shift him from the shock he's in already. When Lust touches his face he at least manages to focus on the world around him. He doesn't flinch or pull away, just stares at him. He looks numb and bloodshot.]

What?

[calefactioned]

['what' indeed. he glances back towards the barn as though it would give him some clue as to what to do. When it doesn't, he turns back to Roy, not taking his hands off of him yet. he vaguely remembers watching some of the soldiers deal with comrades who were in shock during the war; he hadn't paid much attention since it hadn't been a problem for him...

But getting out of the open was probably a good first step. he takes his hand, gently urging him to follow]

Come with me.

[backdrafted]

[. . .

ok sure

why not

he follows without resistance]

[calefactioned]

[he takes Roy to his house, with the empty first floor. He sits him down, hoovering a little uncertainly before he remembers blanket! and fetches one, coming back.

And then feeling like an idiot standing there with an armful of blanket. Roy doesn't look particularly cold]

... Roy. Take—take a deep breath.

[backdrafted]

[ahaha what

he makes the first noise of a laugh.]

Funny. I've done this twice now but that's the first time anyone's taken that approach.

[calefactioned]

[I do not know if any of this is good but at least Roy is talking]

Whatever works...

[backdrafted]

[looks up at him...]

Lust, huh. I wonder if Ling felt like he wanted to see Greed again, looking at you.

[calefactioned]

... Most people don't want anything to do with homunculi.

[just stating a fact, though he sounds sad when he says it, for Ling's sake. He hadn't known him very well, but they'd almost been related]

[backdrafted]

Ling fell in love with his.

[calefactioned]

... Oh. Did Greed—was he reciprocated?

[backdrafted]

He died saving his life.

[it's like he's about to cry! weird!!]

What is Xing supposed to do without their Emperor.

[calefactioned]

[:( wrapping the blanket around Roy's shoulders]

... What did you see in the barn?

[backdrafted]

[rubs his face...]

The same kind of disgusting insect creature as the Shimmering Lady.

[calefactioned]

[balks]

You shouldn't say that about the Lady.

[backdrafted]

[GOD

LAUGHS????]

Incredible.

She's playing a game. Why did I snap out of it?

She made me her Avenger, like some kind of incredible sick joke...

[calefactioned]

... Are you going to use that power?

[backdrafted]

I don't know what to do now.

The Hamadas came to me before my watch and begged me to let them run. They said they weren't demons, and the elder looked like he was going to be sick. He said this place others described wasn't real, that everything was a wasteland and the Lady was a beast.

I thought immediately that they were blasphemers. But they were only children. Even if it was hell out there, nothing but condemnation awaited them here. So I let them go.

And here we are this morning. And suddenly I see everything that older brother saw. And I find a peer of the Lady's in that barn. They have a bet.

They're playing a game with us.

[calefactioned]

You were right to let the Hamadas go. I'm glad that you did.

[that seems important to get out of the way. And he means it; the thought of harm befalling Hiro makes him shudder]

What... What's the purpose? How do either of them 'win'?

[backdrafted]

Who knows.

[calefactioned]

... This could mean the demons are not enemies, merely opposing pawns.

[backdrafted]

That's exactly what it means.

[hahah...]

But it must be too hard to really believe. It was for me. I just sound like I've been corrupted by the demons, don't I?

[calefactioned]

... I believe you. Because I am a homunculus, perhaps, I have been unsure about the Lady's condemnation against these 'demons' from the start.

The others, though...

[backdrafted]

... The Chief knows. It's why he's been trying from the start to keep everyone alive.

I don't know about the others.

[calefactioned]

—He knows? Then why... Has he not spoken just because he doesn't think he'll be believe?

[backdrafted]

Why would he be?

And more than that, what do we do?

[calefactioned]

... We can't speak against the truth as the Lady speaks it. But if we could find a way to use her own words against her, perhaps...

[backdrafted]

[.....

rubs at his faaaaaaaaace

this is just. too soon. if he could only calm down. but just hours ago...]

[calefactioned]

[gently takes his hand away]

You should... rest. Do you think you can sleep?

[backdrafted]

... [allows it...]

I couldn't possibly. He'd be disgusted with how useless I'm being. I need to think...

[calefactioned]

[he observes him quietly, looking at his face with more regard than he had felt comfortable giving before. He still holds his hand, not really aware he's doing it]

... We still have some time before the trial. But we can only prepare so much; the trails so far have all been... uniquely explosive, in their own way.

[backdrafted]

[sh..rugs...]

You're right. Just hours to kill.

[calefactioned]

[Fucking is probably not an appropriate solution, Lust]

... Food? Are you hungry? It may... help you calm down.

[backdrafted]

...[rubs at his face again]

Can't imagine eating.

[calefactioned]

You could start light... tea?