week seven afterparty

[clearities]

[ so how is everyone doing today? pretty badly, I'd assume, but there's so little of them left, not to mention that Bolin is going to get executed because of an accident. on top of that, there's the confusion coming from the public.

so what's going on.

today's going to be a little different - as Sakura seeks everyone out. she knows it's tough, but given the circumstances, she wants to invite everyone to meet her in front of the police station.

yeah.

we're having a jail cell afterparty, apparently. oh, and she's brought pancakes because... you all probably need that after. All of This. of course people can always ignore her request and just go somewhere else, but where are you tonight? ]

Comments

[robitussin]

[That gives her another pause, expression growing tighter, before...]

You don't have to... [Say that. Regardless:] I was just - scared.

[marmoron]

And I'm sorry for scaring you I was just ... [Deep breath.] .. trying to do what I thought was right.

Not saying I was, but...

[He rubs the back of his neck.]

Can I come in?

[Would prefer not to be talking about this in the hallway and all.]

[robitussin]

[She pauses and then nods, backing away from the door so he can come in. Once he's inside, she shuts the door behind him.]

I know you were. But I don't think you realize... How important you are.

[To everyone... But to her as well, definitely.]

[marmoron]

[He's going to hold off on saying the phrase because I'm not because he's realizing this is bad for Natalie's sanity, but he's clearly thinking it. Instead:]

More important to get us in better positioning for the end, you know.

[A beat.]

Look -- I don't. I didn't come here to argue that all over again. I'm sorry. That's all I wanted to say.

[robitussin]

...If it were really about that, you could have brought up someone who didn't have any combat experience.

[But she doesn't want to fight, either. Instead:]

I'm sorry, too.

[marmoron]

[He has thoughts on that, though again he didn't come to be distressing, so... instead, he breathes out and looks up at Natalie.]

... are you going to be okay? Going through with it, I mean.

[robitussin]

[She takes in a breath, moving back to sit on her bed before answering.]

...I don't know.

[It's the most honest answer she can give.]

[marmoron]

[He closes his eyes briefly. Her uncertainty is somehow more hurtful to listen to than bravado. Knowing that he's inadvertently driven her to that point has him sighing before he sits beside her a moment later.]

I'm guessing you'll only get mad if I tried to talk him into changing his mind, huh.

[robitussin]

...Yeah, I would.

[And besides that...]

I don’t think you could at this point. He already decided.

[marmoron]

[Silence and then:]

I wouldn't have volunteered except.. he mentioned that if nobody did, it'd be the electric chair. Bolin doesn't deserve that.

[robitussin]

I know. You don't have to explain yourself or anything, I promise, just...

[She takes a breath.]

I couldn't let you - do something like that. I tried to stop Millium from doing it, and Osomatsu too, and it didn't work either time.

[marmoron]

[He glances at her.]

You know I've had to kill people before, right.

[robitussin]

I know, but... That was different, right? That was, like... Enemies.

[marmoron]

But that doesn't mean that you had to protect me, you know. From that or anything else.

[Sounding a bit more tense:]

If you get hurt trying to do that, it's not okay.

[robitussin]

[She shakes her head.]

I wouldn't have offered if I thought he was going to hurt me.

[Which might be missing the point, but.]

[marmoron]

[...gdit, Natalie. He'll grab her hand.]

I'm serious. If you get hurt because of me, I don't know what I would do.

[robitussin]

[She doesn't pull her hand away, but she does look surprised, making eye contact for the first time since this conversation began.]

...This was my choice. And - I'm serious. I don't think he'll hurt me.

[marmoron]

Going forward then.

[Since they have a week left over where everything else can still go wrong.]

Can we just... I don't know.

[robitussin]

The same goes for you, you know.

[She pauses.]

Can we just... What?

[marmoron]

[...How does he articulate this.]

...Stop doing this to each other?

[robitussin]

[It'd be nice if she could say yes with no hesitation, but...]

I don't know. Can we? Now that we're at the end... If it comes down to a situation where one of us could protect the other, what would you do?

[marmoron]

What do you want me to say to that? That I'd pick the option that fucks you over and save myself?

[robitussin]

[She pauses, then looks away.]

No, I just... I'm saying that if you want me to promise I'm not going to prioritize you or whatever, that's not a promise I can make. It's the same for you, right?

[marmoron]

[Going quiet for a moment.]

I don't know why this has to be so complicated.

[robitussin]

[She gives a small noise that would be amused in any other situation, but sounds discontent more than anything else.]

Because everything about this place is bullshit...?