lostcarnival | yuya needs better friends

Who: Yuya & Strange
What: teenager goes to check on his stupid grown-up friend
When: shortly after the radio post
Where: Strange's trailer

Strange has decided people are stupid. First Lambert yells at him for not being mad enough, now the Ringmaster yells at him for not being mad enough despite the fact that she first said she thought the conversation was a valid idea and she gave him his stupid fireproof cape back, and now Yuya's going to yell at him for some dumb reason and he's not a Nightrider anymore despite the fact that it makes tactical sense and he's stuck in research of all divisions and everything is dumb and he's going to go live in the woods with Coco as a hermit.

And now that he's gotten all his childish pouting out of the way, accidentally burned one of his shirts, and threw a plate against the wall of his trailer (it didn't help), Strange is grumpily coming to the conclusion that he can't be a hermit and he's going to have to deal with people and he should probably think of the best way to sort all this mess out as best as possible.

Strange has left his trailer door open, partly so that he'll see Yuya approach and partly because his trailer smells like burnt fabric at the moment. Sorry, Syrlya. He's sweeping up the remnants of said broken plate as Yuya approaches.

"Give me a moment," Strange calls out, before trying to finagle the broom back in the corner to sweep up the tiny shards of ceramic into the dustpan. "Alright, I think that should be it. You can come inside." His hair's burning a bit more than normal and Strange is wearing a simple white t-shirt instead of the ruined one, but Strange is desperately trying to look like a man who is collected enough for what will inevitably be a talk that he really doesn't want to do.

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Yuya feels the same way, but he also understands why Lambert can't see that. He's sure Lambert doesn't believe Strange really sees him as just an emotionless killer, either, but there's a lot of pain in seeing yourself like that and there's a lot of pain in the struggle (and failure) to break through.

"I know. I know." He told Lambert as much in their dreaming, he's pretty sure. Absently, his tail uncurls and recurls around the chair. "You should definitely talk to him. He doesn't let on how much he's hurt, I think... and you're friends, so you should be healing together."

Because Lambert made an awful, cruel decision in what he did to Ignatius... but Yuya doesn't doubt the agony that probably directed his actions. Maybe he would have tried it anyway, but Yuya gets the feeling things would have been very different if Lambert didn't have to nurse trying (and failing) to kill Strange, and everything that means.

Strange stands up from the table and goes to pick up the radio, like he's going to call Lambert then and there, before he remembers wait, Yuya's here as well. Instead, he pockets the radio and turns to look back at Yuya.

"Thank you, by the way. I know that neither Lambert nor I can be the most astute of people at times," they're both fucking morons, "so having someone like you certainly makes a difference. And I know I've said it before, but you're a good friend."

Not many people would try and work through problems like Yuya did.

Yuya watches him go and collect the radio, but he doesn't say anything just yet. Although any observation of what Strange intends to do with is distracted by the praise, and Yuya grins wide.

"Well... I just understand how he feels." And a friend can make a real difference. It seems like this was the right thing for him to do. "But you're welcome."

He composes himself, pointing at the door. "If you want to talk to him now, I can go."

Strange wants to talk to Lambert now. But he's not completely heartless and realizes there's something they haven't really talked about during all of Yuya's attempts to mend bridges and talk down Strange.

"I do want to talk to him," he admits. "But first, do you want to talk about anything?"

Look at him, taking into account other people's feelings. Occasionally, Strange is a semi-decent person.

Does he want to talk about anything? Yuya blinks slowly, his expression shifting to something thoughtful. He'd come with the purpose of trying to connect to Strange, and he did, so he didn't think much of there's anything he's felt like he needs to get off his chest.

But he only ends up shaking his head, moving to get up from the chair. "No... I think I feel a lot better after we went camping. But I'll come back tomorrow so you can show me your mirror magic if that's okay?"

Now that they're not in forced but necessary break, it's more important than ever to keep up practicing. Strange once told him to be responsible for protecting other people in the carnival, and he intends to do that.

"Of course it's okay," Strange answers, with a smile. Why would showing Yuya magic never be okay. "I've suddenly gained a bit more free time, so we'll start your lessons again tomorrow after breakfast. I'll show you the extent of what I can do, you tell me which you want to learn."

He still hates the fact that he's been effectively booted from the nightrunners and still believes that he should be put back on the team. But this does free up his schedule a bit. And considering the amount of trouble the carnival might be in, anyone who wants to learn how to defend themselves should be able to defend themselves. Maybe he'll take that time he would spend writing up briefings or working with the team and focus on magic lessons instead.

Yuya laughs at that. "Yeah, I guess I do too now that there's no performances..." He sounds just a little wistful, but he recognizes it's for the best. They just don't have time, and what if they're attacked when they actually have guests?

"I'll come after breakfast. Thanks, Mr. Strange." He offers a wave before heading for the door, but he does stop just a minute before leaving. "And good luck!"

Which would probably be a more demeaning thing to say about an apology if Yuya didn't look so damn genuine about it.

It would be a demeaning thing to say about an apology if Yuya didn't look so genuine and Strange wasn't aware that apologizing isn't his strongest suit. He's far more likely to dig his heels in and be stubborn, he knows he needs all the help he can get.

"Thank you," Strange responds, with a smile. "I'll see you tomorrow!"

yuya needs better friends

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