video;

[ringrust]

Yo.

[It's one of the Juzos, the one with the short hair. He's hunched over the table his jpad's on, resting his chin in his hand and looking generally unimpressed.]

Anyone see that lame bounty poster? Tell me nobody's stupid enough to go thinking they can win these monsters over by holding hands and singing songs... Your funeral if you are.

Oh. But whatever genius put that up better hope none of the little kids in town take it seriously and get hurt.

[NOT THAT HE CARES... yeah though he does care. Like. Come on.]

Comments

[alloutoflove]

I'm not trying to give in! I'm just-- [ She puffs loudly, then pauses to pat her own cheeks sharply. Never mind!! ]

--Where are you right now?

[ringrust]

That bar at the town square.

[He's not drinking, they just have nice late lunch specials!!]

You want to meet up?

[alloutoflove]

Yeah. I'd just really like to see you right now.

[ Technically she is seeing him with the video, but that's not the same! Not even remotely! ]

So, uh, just wait, and I'll be right there.

[ringrust]

I'm waiting for you.

[Might as well quit loitering and pay the bill to wait outside for her... loitering even harder, leaning against the wall and looking all tall dark and brooding like that.]

[alloutoflove]

[ It doesn't take her too long -- she'd been at the shared farmhouse, the central one, but she's walking briskly, even occasionally breaking into a trot when she's by herself. So it's fifteen minutes, maybe twenty at the most, before she appears, hurrying up to him. She brightens pretty visibly once she catches sight of him, hurrying over. ]

Ma~llo! Ry!!

[ Maybe also she's a little wheezy from the exertion but shhh, never mind that. ]

[ringrust]

[Oh... Jeez! He should have gone to meet her halfway or something! If he'd known she was somewhere far enough to be out of breath by the time she got here...!]

Whoa, hey...! Did you seriously run the whole way here?

[At least he can make these last few strides to meet her and put his hand on her shoulder. What he had in mind was grabbing her waist to lift her, but, uh. Ill-equipped for that.]

[alloutoflove]

...I really wanted to see you.

[ She's a tiny bit sheepish about it, though she smiles at him before she covers his hand with hers, squeezing. ]

I guess I was lonelier than I thought.

[ringrust]

Damn... I would have treated you to lunch if I knew you weren't busy.

[Maybe tomorrow, after their little bird-watching expedition.]

...I'm here, see?

[alloutoflove]

...Yeah.

[ She pauses for a moment, then tugs at his hand, pulling it up to her face so she can lean her cheek against his knuckles. The look on her face is probably incredibly embarrassing, let's be honest: starry-eyed and smiling adoringly up at him. ]

Good.

[ringrust]

[It really is. He loves that look and wants nothing more than to keep gazing on it in return, but-! He can feel his cheeks heating up just a little and he has to close his eyes before he just completely loses his cool.]

...Why be lonely when we are all together, anyway? Jeez.

[alloutoflove]

Mmmm.

[ She can tell he's embarrassed, at least, but she can't make herself actually stop with the sappy expression. Sorry, Mallory, you're not getting your hand back for a while yet. ]

Sometimes it's just like... you're all here, but maybe I want to have one of you here-here. I don't even hate being by myself, but sometimes you just wanna. You know?

[ringrust]

Oh, I know the feeling. Believe me.

[He can work with his hand being held hostage! He can still maneuver his arm easily enough to nudge Chisa into doing a bit of a spin so he can hold her up against him.

And rest his chin on top of her head because why not exploit that kind of height difference?]

Go figure... it feels like the longer we're together again, the more I realize how bad I missed you guys.

[alloutoflove]

I was really worried about you.

[ She doesn't protest that; when he tugs her, she moves easily, pressing up against his side. Anyone who has an issue with PDA can just deal. ]

I didn't want you to think we'd deliberately left you! Or that we didn't want you to come with us! But I couldn't figure out how to find you.

[ringrust]

Nah... I know better than that.

[He's finally been able to drown out that little voice inside him that tells him he doesn't belong, that there's no room for him. And then of course they go and get separated anyway. Thanks, fate. At least they're here now...]

Like I said, whatever's in charge of however all of ... this works is a real pain in the ass.

[alloutoflove]

[ She huffs a little at that, louder, then turns her head enough to press her face against his chest for a few seconds. She missed him! So much!! ]

After everything we've been through at this point, I think we're owed. Or at least, you guys are, and I'll come along too.

[ringrust]

You better...

[Ah. Right in the tiddy. He puts his hand to the back of her head just lightly, peering down at her with his lips pursed for a second.]

I thought the whole self-imposed outcast bit was my thing. Just because I've quit it doesn't mean you get to, now. 'We' includes you.

[alloutoflove]

The situations are a little different, silly.

[ She resists looking up at him for a long few seconds, then finally tilts her head enough to peek up at him through her bangs. Not enough to dislodge his hand, though, hopefully. ]

But at this point... even if it's selfish, I want to stay together. I'll follow you guys anywhere.