[OPEN-ISH]

[starseedling]

Who: Steven, Greg, Peridot, Zecora, and OPEN.
Where: The Doctor's medical tent.
When: After the attempted agent kidnapping of him and Peridot.
What: Steven gets shot with a gun, and has to go to the doctor. It's upsetting.
Warnings: Gun wounds, the left overs of violence.

When they port back into their real bodies, it's like everything's started all over again. The hit his body takes from it is instantaneous - and now there is a pain in his mind along with it that hadn't been there before. It's like the echo of what happened to him in the Matrix has overwhelmed his mind, and that his mind has inflicted it back to him. The mind makes it real, or whatever. He's just glad that he's not a full gem, for a solitary moment, because if his mind did this to him now, he doesn't want to consider what could have happened to his physical form if it was entirely reliant on it.

He staggers down onto the grass, the exit wound in his back burning, and blood bubbling out of his nose. Transitioning through realities has just made everything even more confusing, and he doesn't take much initiative besides letting Peridot carry him. They're back at the carnival. But they're not home.

It isn't until they've made it to the medical tent that the adrenaline has faded and things start to hurt for real. With some of the shock beginning to pass, the pain and fear is quick to catch up with him. He really wants someone to hold him, but he knows that he has to have his injury looked after first. He doesn't even consider trying to act tough, this time. Instead, he whimpers and starts to cry a little once he's laid down, too confused and scared to reason with himself or do much about anything.

[The open portion takes place after he's been patched up a bit and is resting, for anyone who wants to check on him.]

Comments

[starseedling]

[Technically true, even if it had given out too soon. One bullet is better than several bullets. Yet, at the same time, it's hard not to imagine ways that it could have been better.]

I know... I just... I didn't practice for it at all. ...I didn't want to.

just over uses this icon 5ever whoops

[otoko]

[....And suddenly, this feels more personally familiar.] ....What do you mean by that, that you 'didn't want to', [he asks, confused.] ...such things as this... ...what were you doing, before, that you would already feel you should be prepared..?

[He is no fool. He is well aware of his age, and the ages of his fellow 'lancers' at home. They were children blindly running into war, on enemy ground, attempting to do what adults had failed at.

And it showed.]

[starseedling]

Protecting the earth from stuff, I guess.

[It's more complicated than that, probably, but that's as much detail as he wants to go into at the moment.]

It... I just hoped that being here would be different. That I wouldn't have to, for a while.

[betheman]

P..Protecting...

[It's probably incredibly complicated, really. But Gongenzaka doesn't so much care for the details as the impossibility of it in his eyes.] Why would that be your task in the first place?? [he questions, shaking his head.] Why would that be your responsibility?!

[starseedling]

Because of my mom.

[That's really what it comes down to. He sounds defeated when he says it.]

I'm one of the only people who can. It's my responsibility.

[otoko]

You mean to say...you inherited this duty?

[It's not unlike his dojo, he supposes. He's due to inherit it...in time, at least. But that 'in time' is what catches him, this and Steven's own appearance. He looks young-younger than actuality, certainly, young enough that he brings to mind the students in the Junior division of tournaments rather than 'Junior Youth'.

It leaves him shocked silent for a few moments, before he can try to speak again.] But why would you be made to take up that responsibility now..? To protect that much..!

[starseedling]

[He looks at Gon as if he doesn't really understand the question. Despite everything, he doesn't really factor the fact that he's a kid into any of this stuff very much. His responsibilities are his responsibilities, and ever since he started training with the Gems he's wanted to be their equals.]

Uh... I dunno? I started getting my mom's powers and... and the Gems needed my help.

[He's at a loss, now, clearly not understanding why Gon thinks this is objectionable.]

[betheman]

[Well, it's a rather simple answer, if anything. honestly Steven could do well to question being a kid to the dog-thing's face, since they're the same age in actuality

Either it's too simple or it's just not a 'good one' in his eyes however, as now Gongenzaka merely squints.] ...In other words...

...You alone determined it was your responsibility.

[That's what he's getting from this. MAYBE HE'S WRONG but that's what he's hearing here! Even so, he sighs.] ...Well. Whether that is the case or not where you are from, that should not determine if you are responsible for the safety of others here, correct? That is not your job..!

[...A pause.]

...Unless there is a recent transfer to patrol that I, the man Gongenzaka, am unaware of...

[starseedling]

[He smiles very faintly, raising one of his hands to protest that suggestion. He looks uncomfortable, though, like it's not something he wants to think about. It's complicated, just like his situation back home.]

No... but I...

[The smile fades quickly and he lays down again, turning over.]

I can't even take care of myself.

[betheman]

Because you were shot? [Now that, certainly, feels ridiculous. He snorts, one of his ears even flicking at the thought.] Grown men have succumbed to far worse, in the past, even when warned and expecting it-for someone to come out of such a thing, without expecting it, if anything is impressive, I should think!

It shows you were able to take remarkable care, if anything.