DICK;

[crashout]

Comments

[crashout]

Yeah. [Which. Bad.] We're at twenty-one right now and our time limit's coming up. That's...nine bodies this week which seems a little extreme even for our demons.

[unpredicktable]

There's no way we'd get that many. [ but-- ] Time limit's in two weeks, isn't it? That gives them some time.

[crashout]

...guess so. [Time is a weird, fluid thing.] I'm hoping to figure out some stuff before then so maybe we don't actually have less people than roles. I do great with deadlines, at least.

[The flattest joke in the universe.] You're getting something from the hosts today, aren't you?

[unpredicktable]

[ dick stills a little, though going by the flat look on his face it's at the joke. ]

Might be Friday. First week was Friday, then Wednesday, then Thursday. Fluctuates based on when I finish, I guess.

[crashout]

[You either hit your deadlines, or you're dead. That's how it works and he's pretty sure Dick gets that. So. Hah.]

...what was your task this week anyway?

[unpredicktable]

[ dick hums ]

... I'd rather not talk about it. [ his tone's mild ] But I finished it.

[crashout]

[He shuts his eyes again.]

Okay. [To both of those.] Maybe the reward will be helpful...I'm still gathering notes and stuff, I have people to talk to later.

[unpredicktable]

[ :| ]

Dude. There's no way I'm letting you out of bed before noon at least.

[crashout]

I just slept a lot. Which is more than I can say for you right now. [:|]

[unpredicktable]

Okay, take it from a guy who's had it happen a lot? Being knocked unconscious is not sleeping.

[crashout]

[He makes a face.]

I've been knocked unconscious plenty, thanks. [This is not a contest? But...hmph.] ...a compromise then. You've gotta make one with me.

[unpredicktable]

[ if it was a contest dick would be winning, and the look he gives junpei says as much??? hello been getting knocked around since he was nine???? but dick sighs ]

Alright. I'll humor you. What's the compromise?

[crashout]

[There's a lull of silence because it sort of sounds stupid, but he figures maybe it'll be fine and Dick will just think it's because he was knocked out for hours.]

Stay with me. [As if there was a choice, given he's still cemented to Dick's side.] At least for a few hours, like until eight or nine or something. [i.e. until Maougate which is god knows what time.]

[unpredicktable]

[ there's a lull of silence, and dick huffs, a little amused, a little fond ]

You know I was actually planning to sleep, right? I didn't get changed just to mess with you.

[crashout]

You usually sleep sitting up? News to me. [Look!!!! But...his head's slipping a little from Dick's hip to his lap.]

...these pants are kind of nice though. [Silk...]

[unpredicktable]

[ well, junpei might be able to feel dick's leg twitch and tense a bit when he moves his head to his lap, though dick's face doesn't change. ]

Said I was planning to, not that I was there yet. [ he's back to running his hand through junpei's hair ] Can find you a pair, probably.

[crashout]

[Not sure if good twitch or bad twitch, but he doesn't move yet even if he registers it. The hair-petting is nice though.]

It'd be nicer than having to put on jeans all the time. And the pair I found in that clothing shop downstairs aren't that comfortable anyway. [But he opens an eye to glare up at him.] Were you waiting for an invitation to sleep or what? It's morning already.

[unpredicktable]

[ ... dick tugs a little in the middle of his petting ]

I was worried, genius.

[crashout]

[There's a sound of protest but it smooths out into petting again and he's fine with that.]

...the good news is I didn't get stabbed. [Another poor joke.] Sorry, I didn't think everything through like I probably should have.

[unpredicktable]

[ dick sighs ]

... You know it wasn't really a challenge, right. [ that's in answer to the joke, but-- he hesitates at the other part ] I'm not mad. We all know the risks going into these things, but it's not like we can predict what'll happen in the rooms once we're in there. You did what you could.

[crashout]

I had a gun and a knife and I got defeated by a bunch of cables. You know how stupid that sounds, don't you? [But...hm.] Two other people walked away with injuries we can't even properly heal here, and...I got electronic fatigue, I guess. Maybe you're not mad, but I am.

[Sometimes...you have very high expectations because other people do.]

[unpredicktable]

What, did you want to shoot the magic cables? Sometimes you go into a job with the wrong weapons for it. It happens. You learn and adapt. Friend of mine nearly drowned twice in two days before she started bringing something to breathe underwater on missions.

[ it's an example, and just one off the top of his head, though at junpei's comment dick. stares, a bit ]

Okay, ignoring the part where you all got electrical burns-- you're mad the two trained warriors got injured worse than you did?

[crashout]

[There's just. A look.]

When you say it like that it sounds really stupid. [Maybe because it is.] That's not entirely what it's about though, no. I don't know, I don't know how to explain it.

[unpredicktable]

[ dick knows exactly what this is, though, because junpei is the person who's most like a bat on this ship. who's most like dick. ]

Let me guess-- you're mad at yourself for not getting it right and on top of failing, getting your team in trouble when you considered yourself responsible? On top of that they suffered the brunt of what you're considering your mistake, so it feels even worse? Stop me if I'm close.

[crashout]

[Somehow Dick manages to articulate it much better than he was hoping for, which means there's a low, almost distressed sort of noise from where his face is buried in Dick's leg.]

Is this the part where you say that none of this is my fault because I'm still trying to decide that for myself or not.