Week 3, Saturday Post-Trial - Natsuo

[fragileprophet]

[It's been a long and trying day. At the end of it, it's not surprising to find Natsuo collapsed in bed. Ion sits down softly beside him, putting a hand gently on his back.]

I'm here if you want to talk...about anything at all.

Comments

[randori]

[ A spirit like a raging fire, bright and warming and threatening to consume everything in its path just a few hours ago- that spirit of his can be dangerous, but it's bolstered by Ion's smile, and the hands Natsuo clasps in both if his, head bowed to press his forehead against the knuckles. ]

...I hope so. I want to be somebody everybody can look to and find courage- everybody's aniki. I wasn't a very good one today, but I'll try harder. I'll try harder to be happy [ somehow ] and make people happy [ somehow ]

[fragileprophet]

[Dangerous, but no less beautiful. Natsuo just needs to learn how to harness it properly, in a way that won't cause destruction.]

I think trying is the best thing that you can do. You'll keep learning, as long as you keep listening.

[Natsuo's skin is so warm--so much warmer than his own. It puts him at ease, if only a little.]

Everybody takes missteps from time to time...but what will set you apart is your ability to recover and reroute. You're not the sort of person who ever gives up, so I know that this was just another bump in the road.

[randori]

[ It depends on if he listens, though, right? Again and again, he's really grateful that Ion is his partner. —No, that's not right. He's grateful that Ion is his friend, who would take him aside like this and talk with him, calm him down and turn him towards the right path again. ]

—Got it. I definitely won't give up. You have this much faith in me, so I absolutely can't let you down!

[fragileprophet]

In that case...I'll do my best not to let you down either!

[Not that he ever intended to, mind you, but it bears saying.]

If neither of us can do anything else, we'll use our smiles to assist those who can.

[KILL 'EM WITH KINDNESS. But, like, don't kill them.]

[randori]

[ ...

He can't help it, seeing Ion's smile, the fact that he believes in the two of them. ]

Yes! We'll smile and help everybody through in our own ways!

[ And then he completely breaks down crying on Sunday but shhh, he'll bounce back ]