[ic] dynamite the dam on the flow

[pancakeboy]

[ooc: subsequent to this.]

With Raven hopefully reassured and now upstairs shepherding the kids, Magpie has swung into action.

The tangible shit is easy—check the first aid kit, start water for tea, make sure the stocks of bottled water, soup and so on are reasonably intact, and that nobody's left an upturned Featherman figure or spiky dinosaur anywhere too immediately lethal.

After a moment's thought, he switches on the kotatsu, even though spring is creeping closer. Then, with everything done that should be done, he checks over everything again, like an anxious hen. It's hard to shock him for long, and he's settling on a response, which is that if Sparrow's Ren wasn't already dead, he'd kill him.

Comments

[unfoggedlotus]

"I don't know if it's universal, but I do know it holds true for me!" Ren chirps.

[fogbornphantom]

"Freedom from rigid gendered expectations is quite liberating, if Naoto-san is any indication. Their decision to exist outside conventional understandings of masculinity and femininity was bold and admirable."

Hum de dum, time to grab a little chicken in those chopsticks. "If my boyfriend wants to be pretty, I support him. He's already attractive, isn't he?"

[pancakeboy]

And Magpie glances up swiftly, turning a little pink, "I wouldn't know," he covers. "It's true, then, about Shirogane-san?"

Yes, he's heard. He didn't even really object.

[unfoggedlotus]

"Yeah," Ren says, suddenly feeling a little...twitchy? "They're much happier now..." A moment, and Ren pivots. "Guess I still have to charm you with my...Ren-ness."

[fogbornphantom]

"Perhaps your manner of charming is simply for-Ren to him." He pauses, then facepalms. "...Forget I said that. That was terrible."

[pancakeboy]

Ugh. He wrinkles up his entire face, reaching for his cocoa. "More than terrible. I think I liked you better when you were crying."

Sipping his cocoa, he realises he's watching Ren, and looks away. Ren-ness. He's cursed with it.

[unfoggedlotus]

Ren-- okay, he has to laugh at the face Magpie pulls, even if the words sting a little bit. He knows they're just Magpie-brand teasing, but. No tears of sad for boyfriend. Nuh-uh.

"You guys do reinvent the meaning of the phrase "sexy cry"," he grins. "Love me a man who looks wet and pathetic."

[fogbornphantom]

"Are you trying to scheme some manner of roleplay?" Crow gives his boyfriend's hand a little squeeze, rolling his eyes. "Careful, Ren. We don't want to terrify Magpie..."

And at that, his smirk softens. "I, ah. Truly do appreciate that you were so swift to take charge, for the record."

[pancakeboy]

What? He glances to Crow, distracted from the horrors of the phrase sexy cry. "What else was I supposed to do? You both ran out into the night without a second thought. Sexily, probably."

[unfoggedlotus]

"Yeah...we owe you one for that." Ren pulls a face. "Not sexy. Nothing about that was sexy. That Ren and Sparrow...eugh. No."

[fogbornphantom]

"I do hope Sparrow will be all right. He was so terrified when he reached out to me, heartbroken when we delivered the news." He heaves a heavy sigh, taking a sip of his cocoa. "I may have to reach out to the both of them... but not tonight. I know for a fact that you two would confiscate my phone if I tried."

[pancakeboy]

"I'd make you eat it," he says blandly, setting down his cup. "Now that you're feeling more like yourself, what exactly happened down there? With that Ren and the Shadow?"

[unfoggedlotus]

Ren blanches, looking down at his food. "The other Ren...Shadow Sparrow ate him."

[fogbornphantom]

Crow squeezes the handle of his mug, cringing.

"By the time I arrived, it was already too late. I... I was so angry, I started throwing him around. Threatening him. If Ren hadn't intervened, I would have likely beaten him into submission and left him to languish in pain."

[unfoggedlotus]

Ren gives the hand in his a quick, supportive squeeze.

[pancakeboy]

"It's only a Shadow, Crow." But it's rote, automatic; he wants to step back in time thirty seconds and tear out his own tongue. He can see the photo of Saki Konishi's death that Raven had shown him so proudly. It had been gruesome.

After a moment, he reaches over and squeezes Crow's arm.

[unfoggedlotus]

"The Shadow ate a real person." Goosebumps prickle up his arms, racing through his nerves, remembering what he saw. He strokes the back of Goro's hand. "It was...it was really fucked up. I don't blame you for how you reacted."

[fogbornphantom]

The contact is nice. Crow relaxes a little bit, going almost limp between Ren's caressing of his hand and Magpie touching his arm.

"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how well I'll sleep tonight. The last time I saw Shadows consume someone was... far from pleasant."

[pancakeboy]

Rather than take his hand away, he leaves it idly on Crow's arm, the dregs of his soup forgotten. "Saki Konishi, right?"

[unfoggedlotus]

Ren shivers, rubbing Goro's arm comfortingly. He's seen the image, too.

[fogbornphantom]

"And before that, Mayumi Yamano. Konishi-san's death was more... personal, though." The contact is comforting, though, even if it doesn't completely ease his mind. "It's just that old wounds reopened. Sleeping peacefully may be difficult."

[pancakeboy]

Magpie watches Crow. Suddenly he looks a lot more like Raven. "Ren will be there. You won't be alone."

[unfoggedlotus]

"Yeah," Ren lets out a shaky exhale. "Yeah, I will be. But..."

He looks at Magpie. Gives him a very specific look, actually. "Crow has two sides. I can only hold him on one..."

C'mon, Magpie. Please. He's begging with his eyes.

[fogbornphantom]

"...I wouldn't be opposed." He looks at Magpie calmly. "But only if you're comfortable with it."

Though, hm. Just in case Magpie has reservations... "And for the record, I'm not expecting intimacy of that variety."

[pancakeboy]

He jerks his head around, away from poor Ren who he'd been favouring with his very best poker face. "Crow, please. At least pretend you wouldn't jump at the chance."

It's a joke. Probably. He purses his lips, "That said, it's not as if I have any plans for tonight. My room, though, not your lovenest."