♥️♦️♣️♠️

[mwmtechs]

WHO: Everybody
WHEN: Day 78, Post Game.
WHERE: @ Fallout Shelter ( for the winners ) & south of Twilight Lake, 6ft under ( for the losers )

WHAT:

[ Team ❤️ ( Jill, Ciaccona, Megumi, Monika ) & Team ♦️ ( Lyney, Mydei, Kaveh, Ratio ) & Team ♣️ ( Diluc, Jing Yuan, Lahabrea, Vil ) will all come to in a claustrophobic coffin six feet underground in the field that all of this craziness started in. you're still suffering from the hallucinations, paranoia, & honesty! which should definitely be a good time for somebody trapped in a wooden box. as for the necrosis, well, that seems to have taken care of itself... but once you're able to move and inspect yourself some more you'll find that you've got shrapnel from the collapsing bunker lodged in you. nothing fatal, but it's definitely painful and very likely bleeding. it can *only* be removed *with help*. you can't remove the pieces on your own. ]

[ Team ♠️ ( Brant, Aventurine, Castorice, Jayce ) & EVERYBODY ELSE will get a text message once the game ends with the coordinates of the woods that your friends are currently buried in. a follow-up simply says bring a shovel. this is probably confusing to those who didn't participate, but they'll find out what's what soon enough. ]

Comments

[hextechwonderboy]

Slower, then.

[ Thankfully, he does manage to calm down a bit. Lets out a shaky sigh when Kaveh turns his attention towards him and immediately perks up, waving his free hand. ]

I, uh-- no, I... I'll... be alright. Probably.

[ Just having to come to terms with the fact I just KILLED you. ]

[noarchitact]

...slower. Like in [ he takes a deep breath. ] and out. [ and then expels it. ] And in. [ same thing. ] and out. [ and he continues to do this in order to keep from hyperventilating himself into a coma or something. ] Are you sure, because you look like you, uh, ...aren't going to be. Not that I can blame you, I mean, the game sucked. They always do. Suck, I mean, ...because they are meant to... But can I help in any way?

[hextechwonderboy]

Yes, just like that. In, out. Slowly. Counting, helps.

[ It's abundantly clear he's familiar with those techniques. Now that Kaveh's out of the grave he takes a moment to sit on the ground and rub at the bridge of his nose. ]

They do suck. And... I'm not sure, but what choice do I have, right? I'm sorry, I just-- it's partially my fault this happened to you and naturally that doesn't sit right with me.

Among other things. Not exactly a fan of being... trapped or stranded and being in that small bunker was torture.

At least I wasn't alone. There's that.

[noarchitact]

… [ hearing jayce blame himself gives kaveh pause, even in the midst of all of the panic. ] It wasn’t your fault. [ said as if it’s a statement of fact. ] We don’t have a choice in the matter… and even if we did try to find a way around the rules we’d be punished, or if we weren’t punished, then the other people would be punished on our behalf, so… we can’t even… do that much…

We have to play and we have to try and… no one can be mad at you for wanting to live. Survivor’s guilt is… it’s not easy to overcome, but… you don’t need to blame yourself for me.

And I’m sorry that this game triggered all of that. But look where we are now… outside, with all this fresh air, and… it’s nice. Open too. [ he reaches to pat Jayce’s leg. ] I’m glad you’re okay.

[hextechwonderboy]

...Hm.

[ Presses his lips into a thin line. 'no one can be mad at you for wanting to live,' Kaveh says, but he has no idea who he's saying that to. Not something Jayce needs to go into here, though. It's not fair to burden Kaveh with that sort of knowledge.

He shakes himself out of it when Kaveh pats his leg. ]

I... you're right. It's... nice out. We should-- we should get you back.

[noarchitact]

... [ he knows there's more to this than he's letting on, but he's not in the headspace to be able to help, and jayce is clearly not interested in sharing right now, ...which is fine! and fair!! ] Alright, ...help me back to my apartment if you don't mind. Please.

[hextechwonderboy]

...Yeah, of course. Let's get you back.

[ He takes in a breath, stands up, breathes out. At first he reaches behind Kaveh, hovering a hand over the small of his back when they start to move like he's trying to make sure he's steady, then he offers his arm for him to take, almost like he's doing this out of habit. ]

[noarchitact]

[ kaveh takes his arm to steady himself, but once he’s sure he’ll be alright he, instead, takes his hand… giving it a reassuring squeeze.e. ] If you wanted to stay over for a little while you can. [ so you’re not alone. ] I may need the company. [ we both probably need the company. ]

[hextechwonderboy]

[ Oh. He wasn't expecting that. His gaze goes anywhere but up; instead, staring at the ground as they walk. He's trying to be sort of subtle about it, but he's terrible at it. It's far easier for him to fool a crowd with falsified social graces than a single person, apparently. Maybe it's the fact that they weren't right next to him and holding his hand half the time. ]

Sure, it's... not like I have anything else going on.

[ Aside from pointless tinkering and messing around with things in his apartment, maybe. Staring at walls. Mild existential dread. Totally normal things! ]

[noarchitact]

...thanks. I'm sure Mehrak will keep us preoccupied. And, and if Alhaitham is home I can introduce you. I'm sure he'll be home. Although I... I'll need to shower, so... I hope you don't mind if I just... disappear for a bit. You can do the same if you like. All the digging... or, uhm, if you wanted to do so at home we can meet up after. [ can't stop won't stop rambling. ]

[hextechwonderboy]

[ He brings a hand up and rubs his own neck, looking at the ground. ]

I--er... wouldn't want to impose. Especially after... all of that. You should rest... and-- relax. Not worry about entertaining guests or anything like that.

[noarchitact]

It wouldn't be that. An imposition of any kind. Like I said, I wouldn't mind the company. I just kind of want to... take a shower. A nice, long shower. I think you should too. It could probably do us both some good, but... I really wouldn't mind getting to spend some time together. If you don't want to, then that's another story... but the invite's there.

[hextechwonderboy]

I--

[ Stops and clears his throat. ]

Kaveh?

[ Pinches the bridge of his nose. ]

...I realize I may be overthinking this and my head isn't exactly anywhere in the realm of thinking straight in the first place, but could you, I don't know, maybe reword that sentence in a way that doesn't sound like you're inviting me over to use your shower as a bonding experience?

[ His hand may be covering most of his face, but it is quite red all the same. ]

1/4

[noarchitact]

[noarchitact]

[noarchitact]

I think you're definitely overthinking it. I, I didn't mean that at all. [ and he didn't even realize it sounded like that, but he suppose his rambling could be skewed as a sexy invitation to a shower with friends. ] I just, no. Go home and shower, and I... I'll go home and shower.

[noarchitact]

And then we'll meet up and hang out afterwards. Later. Post showering alone.

[hextechwonderboy]

[ Jayce, you IDIOT. ]

I, uh-- yeah. Okay. Thanks.

[ "Thanks?" Why is he even saying thanks here?

For the clarification?

For giving him the greenlight to go home and wash the grime off himself?

For ending this conversation before it got even more awkward for them both?

All of the above, maybe. ]

I'll just-- we can-- you-- I can--

[ His mouth moves, words try to form, but formulating a full sentence is exceedingly difficult for some reason. ]

I'll meet you... after. After the showers. Plural. Separate showers. Two.

I have your number. I'll, um... I'll text before I swing by.

[ He turns on a heel and starts heading in the opposite direction towards his apartment since they're just about closing in on Kaveh's place and he doesn't want to show up covered in dirt and sweat. Stupid, stupid, stupid. ]