week 6, post trial

[robitussin]

[Their numbers keep falling. Three people have died already this week, with two more on the way tomorrow. With the outburst the townspeople gave them once the results came through... If anyone were feeling downhearted, it's to be expected at this point. Things continuing at their current pace is a frightening thought, after all. Like last week, the offer to spend time together or meet in a central location doesn't come.

Hawks and Dabi wait for the morning in their cells, but the rest of the tourists are free to wander about the town as they please; free to rest, to talk with each other, and to try to gather strength wherever they can. So, where does the evening find you, Cartesio?]

Comments

[robitussin]

...All of them.

[And that's not insincere, but of course there are people that dig at her more than others.]

Clarisse, Jughead, Dabi, Dazai... I couldn't even - I didn't even tell most of them how much they mattered before they were gone.

[marmoron]

We're getting them back.

[It's a quiet tone, but not one that suggests he has any doubts about it.]

But if you really don't think you're going to get the chance to tell them that yourself, you should ask Dabi or Hawks to pass on the message.

[robitussin]

That's not the point.

[Maybe it should be, but...]

Even if it gets fixed, I still couldn't stop it in the first place.

[marmoron]

There are a lot of fucked up things that happened here that you couldn't stop in the first place. Like the fact that we were here to begin with. You blaming yourself for that too?

[robitussin]

You don't get it, this is...

[She takes a breath, in and out, before:]

The... offers he makes us. Those are my fault, okay?

[marmoron]

[...]

...And how did you cause that?

[robitussin]

Because I'm an idiot, alright?

[She starts with that, and then continues on.]

I was talking to him the second week, after the time nobody listened to him and nobody killed each other, and I don't remember how we got on the topic, but... He said he was angry nobody had acted, and I asked him what he was going to do to change that. He said he was going to ask someone to kill again, but more forcefully this time around. And I'm - I was stupid. I just wanted him to realize he was being an idiot and give up before anything happened, so I told him that was never going to work, and he just... realized I was right, and told me he was going to try something else instead. Something to coerce us into it instead of just requesting. If I had just shut up for once, then maybe...

[marmoron]

[He's quiet for a moment, just trying to figure out how best to respond to this.]

....And you seriously think that he's stupid enough not to realize that or that this alleged genius boss of his wouldn't have told him to change up the formula. Weren't you the one telling me not to underestimate him?

[He's trying really hard not to sound exasperated here, but it comes out in a deep sigh.]

Look, he was obviously going to figure out his dumb idea was dumb, alright? You didn't tell him to start getting creative with the incentives so I don't know what you're beating yourself up for.

[robitussin]

[She doesn't quite think that, but...]

We might have at least had an extra week to figure things out.

[A breath, and a sigh.]

...Sorry. I know it's stupid. We can talk about something else.

[marmoron]

[Quicky:]

I get why you're mad at yourself.

[There's a reason why people don't come to him with their emotional problems though, and Keith is aware enough of how bad he is at coaching people through their feelings that he has to deliberate for a bit over his words.]

I don't think you should be, but if you're gonna insist on it, do it productively. Find a way to make it righ because you're not going to be able to help anyone by wishing you could undo the past. It's okay to make mistakes. It's how we move forward that proves what we're made of.

[robitussin]

[After a few moments...]

The same goes for you, you know.

[marmoron]

This is going to be a thing isn;t it.

[robitussin]

[After a moment, she laughs, stressed as it is.]

This is absolutely going to be a thing. You signed up for this.

[marmoron]

[Half hearted grumping.]

How do I un-sign up then.

[robitussin]

You want to un-sign up from me caring about you? That hurts. That stings.

[It's another small attempt at a joke.]

[marmoron]

No, I -- [...] ..guess I walked right into that one.

[robitussin]

You absolutely did.

[So blunt......]

[marmoron]

Last time I ever try saying anything encouraging.

[robitussin]

Yeah. How dare you, and all that.

[There's a smile to accompany that, more genuine than she's used to.]

...Thanks. For, um, for listening.

[marmoron]

You don't have to thank me for that.

[But all the same, he's relieved that she seems to be in a slightly better mood.]

[robitussin]

I’m not saying it because I have to.

[Then, a little softer, even if she knows he’s caught on:]

I’m saying it because I want to.

[marmoron]

[A moment and then he looks away, voice soft.]

...As long as you know you don't have to.

[Because you know. He's here for you and all that stuff that's awkward to say.]

[robitussin]

I'm pretty sure I could say that same to you, you know.

[Even if he isn't the one who thanked her this specific time.]

[marmoron]

[He raises an eyebrow at first, a half smile following shortly after.]

Weird timing for it though.