⇨ THE EPILOGUE

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 61
Where: The Carnival
What: After all the rescues team return, it will be matter of tending to the wounded and getting the hell out of dodge. The Ringmaster can handle the fleeing part, but someone will need to look after those in the medical tent. Or, maybe, you just want to show up and ask what the hell happened.
Warnings: Some messed up consequences of faerie fuckery.

IN REPAIR↴ As the minutes tick past, all four rescue groups will eventually return. Everyone in the carnival is encouraged to help out, ensuring that the rescues and victims both are taken care of after the fact. You can tag in here as rescuers taking care of business around the carnival, victims recovering, or other workers checking in to see what's going on. This log is for general aftermath threads, made by anyone.

Comments

[mylastchance]

He shuts up, letting Susan cry against him as he holds his brother close.

[wild_magic]

He's happy for it, honestly just happy to not have to talk or acknowledge his feelings and just sit here, safe in Lauren's arms.

Eventually though he's cried all he can, and he pulls back, wiping at his eyes. It's only after a bit of thought that he speaks up again.

"I love you. But, you'd better not do that again."

[mylastchance]

Lauren nods. He already knows he that. He never should have been so reckless.

"I won't."

[wild_magic]

He nods, and after a moment he laughs a little.

"I thought I was the one who did stupid things without thinking."

[mylastchance]

And Lauren doesn't even know what to say to that. It as stupid and reckless. He should never have done it. He was lucky to even be alive. He knew all that, and he wasn't yet at the point where he could laugh about it. It almost hurts that Susan would laugh, but Lauren knows is brother is just tying deal with the situation in his own way.

Still he wonders how many other people will laugh at him and call him stupid. He looked even more freakish now than he had ever before, and he felt strange in a way he couldn't describe. There was a strange foreign quality to his own body now that made everything feel not quite right.

[wild_magic]

He looks to Lauren after his brother stays quiet, looking him over before leaning back in against him. He isn't sure exactly what Lauren is thinking, but obviously his comment didn't help.

"...Sorry. I was just kidding."

[mylastchance]

He shakes his head. He knew it was just a joke. Susan was right anyway. It was stupid. If Susan had done the same Lauren would have been sick with grief and frustration.

"It's okay." he finally says. He looks to the window. He wants to go outside. He misses the earth. What was wrong with him?

[wild_magic]

He stays leaning against him, and when Lauren doesn't add anything else he continues.

"Just... You don't want me to do anything rash, so. I don't want you to either. Please?"

[mylastchance]

He looks to Susan, surprised by the question, and then swept with guilt once more for making such a horrible decision.

"I won't." he says, voice quiet. "Never."

He meant it earlier when he had apologized.

"I won't even fight. Not anyone."

[wild_magic]

He shakes his head and looks up to him.

"No, fighting is okay! You're good at it. Just... Be careful. I... I don't want to lose you."

'Again,' is the unspoken ending to that sentence, but he just leaves it there.

[mylastchance]

But what if he made another wrong decision? What if he changed again? What if he really left Susan behind?

"No... I can't."

[wild_magic]

He frowns and looks away. Maybe later he can talk about it with him again. Maybe right now it's just too soon.

"If someone attacks you first, then, you need to fight back. But... It's okay if you don't other times."

[mylastchance]

He knows Susan is right, but for some reason the idea still makes him uncomfortable.

"... Something's wrong."

[wild_magic]

He looks back up to him.

"What do you mean?"

[mylastchance]

He looks to Susan, surprised by the question, and then swept with guilt once more for making such a horrible decision. He meant it earlier when he had apologized.

"I won't." he says, voice quiet, for some reason he's finding it harder than even he usually does to speak. Even forcing himself to say that much doesn't feel like it's enough though. He doesn't think words can ease Susan's concern. Still, there wasn't much else he could do now to reassure his brother. This was the only way.

"I didn't like... Being trapped."

[wild_magic]

"...Yeah. I don't think anyone would." And why would they? Being trapped is terrible. Watching your brother get trapped sucks too.

[mylastchance]

He nods, just thinking about it brings him back there, into the soil. He can still feel the pressure of the earth compounding him, changing him against his will. His hands clench into fists, the one still on Susan's shoulder squeezing tight without Lauren realizing.

[wild_magic]

He pushes Lauren's hand away when he starts to squeeze, frowning.

"Lauren... Quit it."

[mylastchance]

He startles, releasing Susan and then looking to his brother in surprise. It takes him a moment to realize what he must have been doing, and he takes his hand away. He stares at his hand afterwards, moving his new root like fingers.

"Sorry."

[wild_magic]

He shakes his head, looking at him in concern.

"It's fine... But are you fine?"

[mylastchance]

He thinks about it for a moment before answering.

"I'm not sure."

[wild_magic]

"...I want you to be fine. I love you."

[mylastchance]

He smiles weakly, looking away from his hand and back to Susan.

"I know."

[wild_magic]

He looks away for a moment before turning back to him.

"Can I help you feel better?"

[mylastchance]

Lauren frowns, hesitant to answer at first.

"I don't know that either." he finally says, looking away himself.