[network] @ASolomons; audio, morning of 265 [open]

[devoutish]

The fuck is going on?

[He sounds exhausted, as per usual, and his voice is hoarse and raw - he's been doing a lot of non-stop talking these past few days, trying to keep Royce engaged.]

Right - the lot of you, sound off. What happened, and what needs to be done?

Comments

@duster, audio; private

[bywolves]

[ This comes a little later, maybe midday. Royce is quiet and tired, like all of them. ]

You were kind to me. I won't forget it.

@Kid, audio; private

[equal_shots]

[Back in the cold, everything aches and his cough has worsened exponentially. It doesn't help that he's spent a good deal of time in tears.

Not that he'd tell Royce that.]

I was not kind to anyone, and you would do well to forget.

permaprivate

[bywolves]

Don't start. [ Royce says, and there's actually some sharpness, there, for as exhausted as he is. ] Do not underplay what I'm saying to you.

cw: suicidal ideation

[equal_shots]

S-sorry--I'm sorry-- [He withers under the sharp tongue, swallowing a hiccup of a sob. He can't do this, and he doesn't want anyone's kindness nor does he deserve it.

The Administrator should have left him in that building to rot. He can't do much of anything from there.]

[bywolves]

Stop. [ Royce says, his own voice shaking slightly. He takes a deep breath. Calm. Calm down. ] I'm trying to thank you. Don't throw it back in my face.

[ No. Be nicer. Maribor above, be nicer. He tries. His voice gets quieter. ] You did more for me than most.

[equal_shots]

[Kid hasn't really changed since their last in-person encounter, not really. Skittish, frazzled, and still very much a child.]

You're welcome. I...I wanted to help, when I could. [When he knew who he was. When he knew what was going on. When he could fight the brainwashing.] I'm glad it helped, even just a little.

[bywolves]

[ He's trying to remember that Norfinbury fucked all of them over. The converted probably feel just as bad as the sinners, but Royce can't find it in him to care very much.

This, though. This is a matter of paying someone back. ]

It did. [ Royce says, after a moment. ] I didn't feel pain for an hour. That was enough.

[equal_shots]

Good. [He's quiet, hesitant.] There wasn't any way to make it last longer, unless I didn't share it. I...it was important to make sure everyone got s-some kind of relief.

[bywolves]

You did what you could when you could. [ That's really what Royce cares about. ]

[equal_shots]

[Sorry, Royce. He's not really in a place to accept thanks, least of all from one of those who had been viciously maimed by the brainwashed converts.

Hesitant:] Thank you for letting me use your tablet. I never took it! But you let me...and I got confirmation from the Administrator about the system reboot. And from Steph, that people were coming to try and help.

[bywolves]

I know you didn't take it. [ And Royce is not in a place to do much comfort. He's barely keeping his own voice steady. ] You helped people get out. That's better than nothing.

[equal_shots]

[Kid doesn't know what to do. Frazzled and guilty, he's sure that being quite himself is not the right thing. So he tries something else, and imagines what his weapon partners Patti and Liz would do in this situation.]

Now I'll just need to get bigger so I can actually do some of the helping. That's what Patti would say, anyway. Making fun because I'm smaller than she is.

[He is. Trying. To make. A joke.

It isn't really funny. But he's trying.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce makes a low sound that could be a vague attempt at a heh. He's trying too. ]

You'd be surprised what small people can do. [ Royce knows, being like, 5'3. ]

[equal_shots]

Maybe.

[Kid hesitates. Then:] But you are much bigger than I am, so it is imprecise to make such a comparison.

[Are we still joking? DEFINITELY JOKING]