balance_logs | Lunar Interlude 2

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Lunar Interlude 2

	Let's try to keep the paperwork to a minimum, shall we?
	NAVIGATION

1. NEW RECLAIMERS

A. WELCOME WELCOME! FAH WHO RAHMUS

For the nine of you who will be arriving today, the story is the same: though you may not remember it, there was a moment where you were living out your life, at home or wherever you were ... and then there was the moment the Hunger came. And amid the television static that is your memory of that moment, a hand reached out to you, beckoning your escape as the tendrils of darkness destroyed everything that ever existed about your world.

"Would you hurry this up, please? Your world no longer stands a chance. Come with me, we are the last bastions of hope for all universes everywhere. And we're going to need you."

And then, unceremoniously, you are dragged through the universal wringer and plopped down on the soft, though not quite cushioned, grass of the Moon Base Quad.

There are other people out in the grassy fields — they may even be people you recognize. They may just be strangers, other Reclaimers, who recognize what you're about to endure. The things they say may be interspersed with static — as if the words themselves aren't reaching your ears correctly.

And you have a few minutes to chat before you're calmly led away by Bureau administration, to do something about that pesky static problem.

B. THE VOIDFISH

The nine of you are quickly divided into two groups, and brought to the easternmost geodesic dome, to an elevator in a well maintained, but sparsely landscaped field. There's nothing particularly ominous feeling about the space — in fact, the two guards who greet you at the elevator entrance seem pleased with your arrival. You are, after all, one of the few chosen by the Director, the few who will reclaim what the Hunger has destroyed.

And in a few moments, you're about to find that out for yourself.

After a tightly packed elevator ride, your group is ushered out to a rather grand looking hall, banners of the Bureau of Balance adorn both sides of smooth metal walls. And inside the Voidfish's chamber stands a tank — impossibly tall, and soaked in a black ink that obscures whatever the tank may be holding.

You may notice the sound of someone speaking. It's a bard, on his second round of introducing Reclaimers to the Voidfish, and this time, he has chosen to demonstrate the functions of the outrageously vertical tank not by playing violin music, but by reciting a piece of classical, and highly valued poetry. When he finishes, he pulls at a drawer just at the metallic base of the tank. He solemnly enters a few scrolls into its basin as the tank begins to light up, like lightning behind dark clouds.

And suddenly, you forget what that invaluable example of universal literature sounded like.

"Yeah, man, like... don't think too hard about it, it's like that every time. I'm guessing you're here to be inoculated? Just a heads up, you might want to, like, seriously, hold your nose while you drink it down. It tastes wicked gross, man.

Anyway, I'm supposed to tell you that you have a choice. If you drink the black stuff, you'll be able to hear through the, uh... Huh, how do I describe it? Through the [TSHCSCHTSHCHSC] sound. You guys like, hear that? Anyway, it's all about knowledge or something. I don't know, I'm just here to, like, feed the thing. We call it the [TSCHHSCHSCH], by the way.

So, like. You get a choice. You can drink it and understand stuff, or not drink it and then hear that crackling noise all day every day. If I were you, I'd drink it. But, hey man, I'm not like, your dad or anything."

The bard takes five cups and draws liquid from a spigot connected directly to the basin of the large tank. Stormy, muddy looking ichor is drawn into them, one by one. He offers each of you a sip.

Drink it (he wasn't kidding about what it tasted like), and you're inoculated to the wisdom of the Voidfish. You try to remember the poetry this bard recited a few moments ago and the rhymes, the meter, the significance, all come back to you. And if you think back to your arrival, some of the things you may have heard other people in the Quad say, that simply sounded like static, are suddenly clear. Bureau of Balance. Grand Relic. Reclaimers.

Yet you still can't remember the Hunger or what it had done to your world. And as you look back to the tank in front of you, the water has become clear. There's a jellyfish, as tall as a building, floating within. You look into the body of the creature and you can almost make out a beautiful, tiny universe floating within it.

2. THE TEST OF INITIATION

With your new knowledge on the Bureau of Balance and your purpose here in tow, you are led without hesitation to the Arena, where the final phase of your initiation into the Bureau will be held. You are partnered up, whether it is with someone you drank the ichor of the Voidfish with, or perhaps even a veteran Reclaimer, who either stopped by to help, or simply out of curiosity.

One Grand Relic has already been reclaimed, you're told. They were a pair of bright red mittens, held by the mayor of a small village who may have meant well, but under the draw of the mittens' incredible space-bending powers, was corrupted into using them, and to nearly killing everyone who lived under him.

You may have noticed, at some point while glancing out into space while walking here, to the planet below, a massive evergreen fir that stretches past the planet's atmosphere, very nearly piercing the Moon Base itself. It appears to be decorated for the holidays. That tree is the direct result of those mittens, the actions of a man who could not resist the temptation to use them.

Resisting that very same temptation is your task here. And with that order in mind, as you and your partner stand in the middle of the Arena, the walls dissolve, and the simulation begins.

You're standing in the middle of a forest. Ahead of you, situated on a pedestal, is an item. It could be any ordinary item: a pair of gloves, a teapot, a simple decorative bowl. Whatever it is, it's yours for the taking.

Take that simple item in your hands, however, and the building blocks of the trees around you suddenly collapse like shattered glass, and reform into new scenery — it may even be a place from home that you recognize.

A voice in your head beckons you. Perhaps there's a mistake you made, or something that went wrong for you back home that you wish you had the power to undo. Perhaps there's someone you wish you could help, or even save. The item that's in your hands has the power to help you achieve this, if only you'd ever use it.

Resist the temptation. Take the item, and drop it into a nearby deposit box to be destroyed. Your partner is here to help you — because once you destroy it, you will be doing the same for them.

3. NEWBIES AND VETERANS, AROUND THE MOONBASE

Three or four days into the month, now that the newbies are settled in, something strange happens: The next time you return to your flat from whatever errand or exploring you were doing, when attempting to use your Bracer to open the door results in extremely obnoxious beeping that persists for an entire thirty seconds, and a message on the screen next to the door.

ERROR: HOME ASSIGNMENT MECHANISM MALFUNCTION. GO TAKE A WALK.

Welp. Looks like you're locked out for a bit while techs fix that. Here's a few places that might be worth checking out.

A. PIECES FROM HOME

Should you find your way to the Dojo, there's a door that still has that shiny, brand spanking new door look and new door smell to it off in one of the less traversed corners of the building. A sign next to the door demands that you empty your pockets before entering. A scanner for your Bracer will unlock it, assuming it's unoccupied, leading you to a plain white room with no furniture or objects at all in sight.

As the door shuts behind you, a pleasant female voice echoes from all corners of the room, greeting you by name. If this is your first time in the room, the voice has a simple question for you:

"What memory do you value, or think of, most?"

Once you've provided your answer, the walls crumble, much like they did during the Test of Initiation simulation, reforming into something that is, again, pleasantly, or even unpleasantly, familiar.

It's a space from home. Perhaps it's your room. Perhaps it's your favorite restaurant (though, the place is curiously empty, and the food you find, for some reason, tastes like strawberries). Perhaps it's a park you always enjoyed visiting, or a corner of the city you lived in.

Whatever it is, you, and whoever you may have brought along with you, seem to be the only ones there. And perhaps the details aren't quite right — like maybe someone built a model of your home to explore, but a few pieces were missing from the box.

But it's close enough.

B. SPEND YOUR DOUGH. SOLVE A MYSTERY

Whether you're a newcomer or a veteran returning from your first Field Mission, you've been provided with some spending money. You can use it to buy yourself one weapon and piece of armor from one of the blacksmiths in town. Regardless of who you choose to help you out with that, it'll take about a week to complete your order, so time your purchase carefully.

There's also premade weapons and a whole bunch of other bullshit for sale at FANTASY COSTCO. Shelves and pallets of an endless array of nonmagical items, pretty much anything you can imagine, can be bought here, but there's one particular, innocuous item that seems to have Garfield the Deals Warlock in a tizzy.

The more those vinyl covers that can be used to decorate your Bracers are purchased, the more the name seems to spread, ghosts of whispers around the entire Moon Base, of a person who may very well be a ghost herself. Who is Miss Zarves? Who was Miss Zarves?

A powerful witch with the power to scramble your memories, insists one cantankerous woman who pours you a drink at Madame Frione's Tea Kettle. A heavyset, flushed with drink sort of man sitting next to you disagrees — Miss Zarves is a practical joke Garfield likes to trot out every couple of months to mess around with anybody gullible enough to believe him.

Whatever the case, it seems that the name alone gives everyone a curious case of déjà vu. Someone has to have information on her — and this is the Reclaimers' opportunity to hone their information gathering skills.

C. A (PERHAPS MANDATORY) DAY AT STOP DYING 101

Whether you're in class voluntarily, or whether you were dragged there on account of dying the past Field Mission, today's session of Fatalistic Fauna, and Danger Sense to channel your inner barbarian is going on a little field trip to the Arena.

Because this is your first test to see if you can put all that information that's been given to you in the first few lectures to good use.

You and a partner are placed in the middle of the Arena, in a simulation of an expansive, empty field, up against the first monster you were introduced to in class: A Bulette, a fearsome beast that can burrow, lunge, deal severe piercing damage, and jump an absolutely incredible distance. And you and your Reclaimer partner are absolutely no match for it.

Your only option here is to escape. Can you? If you are dealt simulated fatal damage, then the Arena will dissolve back to normal, and you'll be given extra homework and reading material for the day. Sorry, them's the breaks.

D. OPEN THE DOOR, GET ON THE FLOOR, EVERYBODY DO THE DINOSAUR

There's a signup available for those looking to take Dance lessons at the Academy. There seem to be enough slots available for 50 or so people, and the form's name simply reads: "DANCE, NOW. WITH MS. CHARLOTTE." It's a pretty large time commitment- a crash course in dancing is a rather intensive affair. You'll be spending 4 days a week for 2 weeks, 2-3 hours per day, learning all the basics of the waltz, the tango, and the quickstep. Don't even think about trying the cha-cha slide here, it's simply not pasodoable. At the studio, you can borrow a pair of ballet slippers and join in with Ms. Charlotte, which, for anyone coming to the class for the first time should be rightly horrified.

The newest member of the Bureau of Balance is a spider. A delegate from New New Aspen, Ms. Charlotte comes equipped with a bracer of her own, has taken in the Voidfish juice, and relocated here, to teach at the Academy. She moonlights as a ballroom dance instructor and a coach, and boy... she's pretty demanding with her approach, but incredibly thorough. You don't want to let Ms. Charlotte down.

The sessions she teaches will get you to learn the basics. Natural aptitude, of course, goes a long way, but she's very 8-hands on with her approach at correcting posture and steps. Not without compassion, however, if you manage to get blisters on your feet, Ms. Charlotte's web bandages will set and help heal those sore, tired feet. The next 2 weeks of this boot camp are going to be brutal.

E. THE MOON IS YOUR SPACE OYSTER (WILDCARD)

There are plenty of other locations around the Moon Base that you can explore at your own discretion. Feel free to refer to the Settings page for more ideas on what shenanigans you can get into.

Additionally, we'll be fielding Bender rolls again this month! With the exception of the three items that have been removed from his recipe database, if a food item was destroyed in a failed roll previously, you may roll to try to fix it. Bear in mind, of course, that you may make it worse.

Successful food rolls will stay in place at this time.

4. THE DIRECTOR ACTS; A GRAND RELIC DESTROYED

Erika has obtained and delivered the Space Mittens to Madame Director herself. She struggles to remain calm and composed at the moment, but the amount of immense pride and relief at recovering the Grand Relic slips through an otherwise sturdy exterior of coolness and level-headed features. She congratulates the entirety of the Bureau of Balance for their hard work, and relates to Erika that she couldn't be happier that she had made this world one step closer to being safe. A message will appear across all bracers, everywhere, with the following:

Reclaimers, welcome home and congratulations on a successful first mission. Although there were certain drawbacks and difficult decisions that had to be made, I believe, without a doubt, that you all have irrefutably surpassed all expectations. Congratulations on a job well done. However, next time, please do be more careful out there.

For those of you who wish to watch, my office will remain open until 1600 hours today. The relic will be destroyed, and if you would like to attend to see how it's done, please stop by.

There will be light refreshments and coffee served, of course. If unable to attend, you can watch the ceremony later on your bracers. Don't forget to click Like and Subscribe.

At the appointed hour, a ceremony will occur. She calls forth Davenport to wheel out the structure that's been created and designed with the sole purpose of destroying these things. She dare not takes the relic herself, no, refusing to touch the item at all. It's a medium sized metallic sphere, and once opened and closed, can never be opened again. Pulling back the curtain to an observatory, the Reclaimers can watch as Davenport sports a nifty pair of goggles, and wheels the orb onto a raised platform. He waits for the Director's signal, which is performed by an agreeable stamp of her oaken staff against the floor, and a nod. Davenport hits the KILL SWITCH, and the light show from behind the glass is amazing and terrifying all at the same time. You watch as the Space Mittens are obliterated from existence.

An eruption of cheering breaks out. This concludes the first successful mission, and a deeply needed win, for the Bureau of Balance.

blurb code by photosynthesis

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ And now they feel like a jerk for pushing too hard over a misunderstand. Some partner they are. It's like they learned nothing from that mess at home after all. ]

... I think you're good enough.

[ They're off-kilter— and for a very stupid reason, the original situation didn't even involve them, they just heard the gunshot and saw those weird Pieces and the event happened regardless and— they need to stop.

Not everything is about you, Lion. Learn that already. ]

It's just- I mean... [ The words won't come. They want to curl in on themself, or leave, or do something to avoid the guilt coiling in their chest— but if they do what's merely a snipe gone wrong would turn into an actual problem, and from there into something worse. So they do the next best thing: shuffle off the couch, awkwardly cross the distance to where he's making coffee, and just bump their head into his ribcage somewhere for comfort.

It's not a hug. They're... not sure if he's actually comfortable with that? He's hugged them once (twice) but it was on impulse, not really capable of replication or anything resembling consent. But it's close enough. ]

I'm sorry. I shouldn't be hassling you so much. [ They don't know how else to express concern, but saying that aloud feels cheap. Bluh. ]

[ Focusing on things one at a time without much further thinking is easier at this point. Maintain current level of functionality at all costs. He was only answering the question about the insomnia, so the sudden brat, to him, is a bit out of left field. Or heading out into left field and smashing the poor outfielder in the face. Either way, the metaphor works. And more importantly: focus on things one at a time, in order of priority. The brat is sad.

The mug is set down on the counter, followed by resting the free hand on their head. Pat pat, there there, always making mountains out of nothing. Feels too much and doesn't know how to get the words out. Beats themselves up over something that was just a mistranslation. They really should invest in things less, logically, but no. That vibrant spirit is what got him in the first place. From the constant escalating arguments to smaller admittances like this. ]

And I shouldn't be pinning assumptions on you. [ So small and full of anxiety. Perfect as a chinrest. They'll work it out. Being in a somewhat-functioning partnership founded on actually trying to work things out together will do that. ] You don't get like this unless history's repeating. Wasn't Qrow's bad hobby. So what happened?

[ Minato's had such a long day. Four classes, with a three hour dance class preceding Qrow's qlass that got cancelled about fifteen minutes after he arrived. Goro's friendly demeanor from last time turned into a murderous rage. Qrow's warning about talking to him later. Not that he can blame Qrow, but still. So many people flooded him to talk about what happened or to ogle his Persona. He needs to apologize to Goro at some point too but not today. No, he's spending the rest of today eating instant ramen and listening to music until he passes out.

He enters his apartment and -- oh, looks like Will has a guest. He'll stay out of their way. Don't mind him grabbing a ramen packet and heating up some water. They'll have privacy once it's done. ]

[ At this point, a mistranslation feels... wrong. They thought they were better then that. And logically, yes, it's a learning process; mistakes happen, regardless of the brat's will, but being confronted with that reality when they're already off-kilter is unpleasant. They can't tell if there's actually something wrong, or if they only thought that because of their own assumptions, but it's not worth risking everything else to check.

You don't get a happy ending because you want one. You get one because you work for it, earn it after a journey of trials by showing your unshakeable determination and okay no that's dumb. But the principle is the same. The road is bumpy and full of potholes, but those holes don't make it worthless—they just mean you have to try a little more. Learn from mistakes. Maybe try listening with your ears instead of what you think you hear.

Ah, but he asked a question and didn't shake them off. So they'll keep leaning against him—still not sure about the hug, honestly, but they kinda want to anyway—and mumble the truth into his shirt. They don't even notice Will's mysterious roommate walk in. They'll feel bad about that later. ]

Akechi tried to kill someone in class. [ Oh hey, no honorific—

wait what. ]

[ Oh Lord, roommate's back. As if they needed another reason to avoid each other like the plague. First the mistranslation, now this. It's not necessarily a bad thing on his end - Lion was always the one who seemed more prone to keeping airs in public - but he can't exactly just break off from this position. Lion's already having a small meltdown. The best greeting he gets a glance and silent nod before getting written off entirely.

It's a decently long wait for Lion to find the words, but the answer doesn't have a 'wait what' moment. There were plenty of hints about it. Akira's reaction to a joke, Akechi's maddened desperation to be accepted, how many similar tropes he hits across the board. He is not surprised. Akechi really is the same cloth as Erika. Poor kid. Have to keep priorities in order.

Almost in order.

The sound of moment goes out entirely on one side, and a glance shows that said roommate has frozen in the middle of his cooking. Notes quickly get jotted down - most likely in the class, but he's a bit too frozen for just that. Either was nearby or was 'someone'. In either case he comes back from a shit day and here's Lion bringing it up again. Lion is still the priority. The hand doesn't move.

...But without context, it sounds like Lion's being a gossipy shit. Which is damaging to Minato, even if the scale of the damage is up to question. Abandoning one in favor of the other is unacceptable. ]

But he didn't. [ Pet pet, there there, no stress. And a silent apology is offered for the following words. ] No one's dead. It's not Rokkenjima. If someone tries to kill us again, I'll smack 'em off reality. Even if it's Akechi. Okay?

[ There's an instinctive freeze at the mention of the island—someday they'll be able to think about their home without that moment of cold fear, but not today—before they try and unpack it and move on. It's just a reassurance. It's okay. ]

He only didn't because Qrow intervened, and some other girl was there with a sleep spell.

[ Which is a whole bundle of worries by itself. The small part of them that even now learned from watching the Games can't trust that, even if the rest desperately wants to— all of this was fine until they got their magic, what if they're affecting things by accident— no, don't start down that rabbit hole, they'll never get back out of it if they do-

Breathe. It's okay. It's just Will, they're on the moon, this is a different life. ]

... Okay. I trust you. But you shouldn't have to.

[ This is two-fold. Hopefully things will be fine. And if they're not fine, they're helping, even if it breaks them. ]

[ He stopped in the middle of mixing his ramen and water together. Of course. And it's spreading like wildfire. The entire moon is going to be talking about his fuck up by morning. But Goro's name is attached to it, not Minato's. Minato could get away without repercussions!

That doesn't make him feel better. It was his stupid, careless choices that set up that situation in the first place. He should have questioned Qrow more. He should have kept it hidden.

He finishes mixing up his ramen and hears what Will says. They were almost killed? Just like Goro then. And Shinji. Ugh, he doesn't have the energy for this. He just wants some food and some sleep.

He's not even halfway to the bedroom when he stops. He has to try something to control this, even if it doesn't work. It's his fault, after all. Just like Nyx's coming was SEES fault. And they took responsibility for it.

He faces the two of them. ]

It's my fault. I shouldn't have done that.

Edited 2019-01-12 03:31 (UTC)

[ The reaction is immediate. Lion jumps, spooked by the apparent arrival of someone that they don't recognise, a stranger who saw them being normal and not the face they normally wear and oh, he probably heard Will talk about murder too, great, that's just great-

There's a moment of stunned silence as they jerk away, spin to stare blankly at Minato, and desperately try to come up with a topic that isn't home, murder, or talking about what just happened. Surely they can do that, right? What did he even say, they couldn't hear it over the sound of their own heartbeat- ]

....Aren't you the one who shot himself in class?

[ ... oh my god lion. ]

[ He had expected Minato just run into the bedroom and say nothing. So of course the prediction goes off-track, this is just going to be a Thing with the narrative now huh. And in that one second, Lion recoils so far back into panic they go flying backwards into stupidity. This is fucked. Beyond fucked. It's a clusterfuck. A clusterfuck of a magnitude he doesn't even know the full depth of - Akechi being the murderer detective trope, his roommate apparently shot himself????, does that mean Akechi tried to kill this tiny depressed kid?????, now with the added bonus Lion taking the no filter thing a bit too far to someone who's already fucked, and the final cherry on the bizarro reality sundae? Qrow is the only useful person of the day.

This Fragment is cursed and makes no sense whatsoever anymore.

For one pristine moment of silence, Minato can see the same apathy of 'I am so fucking tired just kill me' pass. He wasn't made for Guardian duty. Long periods with humans is sickening, and it doesn't help when they're just throwing their emotions and drama around recklessly. ]

[ And the moment ends. Quitting isn't allowed yet, the problems need to be Fixed, and the mantle of annoyance is taken back up again. First problem. Lion being a tactless idiot. Thus they shall receive the proper punishment.

The get smacked upside the head with no remorse. ] Who even says that to someone?! Don't make it worse!

[ Good enough for now. Second problem. Now Minato's the one getting wheeled on, but he's lucky to be far enough away to not get smacked. It is a very near thing. ]

And you! I've no idea what happened, but if you're apologizing for Akechi needin' therapy? Stop. That kid is a mess and he was gonna go off at some point. Blaming yourself for his mistakes is unacceptable! He's the one at fault here!

Now one of you, I don't care who, sit down and make sense for two damn seconds! Chronological order, no emotional outbursts, no hyperboles or metaphors!

[ UHH. Will is very upset. He thinks the smack to the head was unnecessary though. The guest is right.

He follows Will's direction to sit down, but he's been running circles in his head since this happened. Where does he start.

Boy he sure is glad he said something isn't he. ]

... Qrow wanted to see my ability.

[ Immediately: ] Owww....

[ It wasn't even super hard, you baby, but it got the job done. Lion gets stunned out of their feedback loop, missing part of the ensuing rant but also not getting an opportunity to make it worse. Again. Geez, they're doing that a lot today, what's up with that. But there's no real attempt to defend themself. They know they shouldn't have said that—Will knows why they did—so rehashing it for the other person in the room is unnecessary.

Either way, once they're done rebooting and devouring more of their tea, they attempt valiantly to contribute without sounding like an idiot. Or... more of an idiot, at least. ]

I... only heard the fallout. [ The gunshot. The weird Pieces—wait, bluh, he said no hyperbole. Try again. ] But Akechi reacted poorly to seeing... um.

[ shit they don't know his name. UH ]

Whatever that ability was.

[ #nailed it. ]

Edited (fix'd a thing) 2019-01-12 05:13 (UTC)

[ Minato's path is followed with the same gaze as before, up until the sentence. He's actually answering. Good. Or less good, because damn everything he did it again. The coffee is downed without reaction, mug set in the sink, then. Then what. Focus. Focus. One problem at a time. So the third problem is moved onto, regardless of one-handed difficulties.

Wait, why is Lion's voice closer. J'accuse. They get the long stare-down of someone about to get newspaper'd again. But no. That followed the demands of the answer. Acceptable. They are spared punishment. Or. Most punishment. The blonde is gestured to with the hot water kettle. ] Minato, this is my partner. Lion is doing their best and trying very hard. Please take care of them.

[ Fill to line, hold top closed with a fork, one minor flaw repaired. Only countless to go. Minato's noodles are set in front of him, as payment for what is going to be the obvious question that follows. ]

He didn't kill anyone, right?

[ Or not. ]

[ Ah, he didn't know Will was dating someone. Which isn't surprising. He knows very little about his roommate. It's not like he and Will have talked since that argument about his classes. He nods to Lion in greeting.

Back to Will. ]

No. [ Goro's only target was him and he's still here. The ramen is ignored for now. He'll wait for the interrogation to be over. ]

[ Wow, it's amazing how fast Lion scoots over to sit on the couch after that. It's almost like they have a deeply ingrained reaction to getting scolded about being in the wrong place at the wrong time or something.

But Minato gets a very awkward nod back, because polite, and also they are feeling sorry about throwing him into this. Maybe they should step up more...? ]

Ah, he only tried to attack Minato-san. And he didn't get very far before [ ... they really need to work on looking up everyone's names and faces, um. ] someone put him to sleep with a spell of some kind, on Qrow's orders.

[ Which is rehashing what they already said, but context is important. ]

The whole thing only lasted maybe a few seconds, at most? But it was still... [ They trail off. Too close to home, maybe. Who knows. ]

[ Good on Qrow. Mental note placed to get further deets from him. If they're both here after, that means the class got cancelled. Which means Qrow is most likely handling Akechi and whatever fallout happened from whatever-the-hell-happened. So run off known things so far.

Qrow asked for a demonstration of his abilities. This involved Minato shooting himself somehow??? Then Akechi flipped and tried to kill him. Failed miserably, was tranquilized and sent off for maintenance. Minato himself is most likely unharmed in that case - either healed afterward, or not something deep enough to matter. Emotional damage is the main factor here, judging by both of their reactions. Akechi is someone else's problem now, doesn't require consideration. Minato now has another reason to hate him, so any offer would be refused. Lion is still suffering from PTSD and will be for some time, which isn't really something that can be fixed overnight. Final notes: not worth further interference.

The book he was reading before all this happened is taken back off the table, leaving them both to talk about whatever as he takes one of the other chairs. Back to previous page.

Wait. Lion will devolve into anxiety without context. ] That's all I need to ask. Thank you.

[ ... That's it? This seems wrong. He can't remember a situation like this where he's ended up off the hook so quickly. He watches Will for a few extra ticks before turning back. He pulls his ramen towards him. It's still hot. He stares at it like it holds the answers. ]

[

wow, Will really did get matched with the perfect roommate for him, huh.

Contrary to the previous attempt, Lion is left to flounder in anxiety anyway, just for a different reason - because good grief, they're going to hold the entire weight of the conversation themself, aren't they? The new kid really did just say nothing in response to that. And Will going back to his book is entirely unsurprising, even if they had hoped he wouldn't immediately decide that he was done with his Allotted Socialising today and attempt to escape.

Except prying too hard into things that aren't their business got them into this mess in the first place. Should they leave? No, wait, that'd be rude, wouldn't it. Maybe they should just drink their tea and enjoy the silence for once. Everyone needs a quiet moment from time to time, right?

Except they try that and they're out of tea. Damn. ]

So... [ Wow this is awkward. ]

Edited (too many attempts in this attempt at attempting conversation attemptedly) 2019-01-12 07:54 (UTC)

[ Maybe only awkward for Lion, because Will is, in fact, done with the Allotted Socializing today and Minato is, in fact, a depressed orphan. Two introverts and the student counsel president. Shenanigans ensue. If the shenanigans were absolutely nothing happening at all.

The voice gets him to look up again, waiting for something to come after that never does. The only thing is Minato staring into his food like he expects the universe to make sense and Lion looks two seconds from a tea-deprivation-based anxiety attack. Why? It's just silence.

...Siiiiilence that was caused by him losing patience at them (twice at Lion) and falling back on old habits. They're humans. How do you even fix problems like this with humans?? They have a habit of reverting to avoidant personality traits when around stressors. Removing it??? ]

Should I leave?

[ What. Why would Will leave? He lives here. ]

Why?

Edited 2019-01-12 08:13 (UTC)

[ Please ignore the muffled thump of Lion burying their face in their hands. It's reflex, they swear. An allergic reaction to the acute embarrassment spawned from trying to fix things, not knowing how, and somehow managing to make it worse without saying anything at all.

Why is he so dumb.

Why is everyone in this room so dumb.

Why is this their life now. ]

... Will, this is your dorm.

[ Minato was about to get a proper answer, but then Lion reacted with that. And. You know what? That's perfect. The book gestures towards Lion. That? That right there is why. ]

It's not mine. I don't pay for it. [ Duh. ]

[ He follows the gesture. What did Lion do?? Why does that lead to Will leaving? Is it because they explained the situation? He doesn't get it.

Maybe he should just take his ramen back to the bedroom... ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Lunar Interlude 2

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very super mild seacats spoilers

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1/2

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