[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]

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."

[unfoggedlotus]

Ren nearly jumps in celebration, but manages to keep himself on the ground with a little bounce. His grin, though, is megawatt, hurting his cheeks and glowing with the force of a hundred stars. "Awesome!! No sexy stuff, thief's honor."

[fogbornphantom]

Ren, why are you so cute? Just for that, have another lil' peck on the cheek. He does, however, at least rest a hand over Magpie's so he doesn't feel left out. "Your room is perfectly acceptable, though I'll probably need to at least fetch a change of clothes from upstairs."

[pancakeboy]

"I should hope so. Anything scarring and I'll throw you both right out." He's squinting at Ren, though, across the kotatsu table. That smile is like nothing he's seen, and it's both wrong and does things to him.

"Thieves don't have honour, I thought?"

[unfoggedlotus]

"Honor among thieves -- it's an old saying. Don't know how true it is, but it means something along the lines of "thieves don't steal from each other"." Ren's still grinning -- the way this'd apply to their current Crow-sharing circumstances is hopefully pretty obvious. "We should all get our PJs and stuff!"

[fogbornphantom]

"Also, we both wield Robin Hood, an honorable thief known for rebelling against the wicked monarchy." Hum de dum. He'd better finish his soup and cocoa before they settle down for the night, though, so... he'll do just that.

[pancakeboy]

His lips set in a thin line again, so he lifts his mug to hide them. Robin Hood is a subject better not spoken of. Finishing his cocoa, he simply says, "Don't argue with me when I've invited you into my bed. You're both already terrible guests."

[unfoggedlotus]

"Strange times, strange bedfellows?" Ren chuckles. "I promise I don't snore, though."

[fogbornphantom]

"Nor do I, I should hope." And with a few more sips, he has conquered his soup. Just let him blot his face off a bit. "We ought to brush our teeth as well, though. I doubt any one of us wants to fall victim to the dreaded dragon breath."

[pancakeboy]

"You have to tell him to brush his teeth? Worse and worse." Sincerely, if that's the case he might just go home and resume Plan A.

[unfoggedlotus]

Ren puffs out his cheeks. "I remembered about brushing my teeth! I just assumed we'd be doing it while getting changed." Slurpslurp of his soup. "Plenty of leftovers...wanna save some for the kids?"

[fogbornphantom]

"Oh, I was just thinking out loud." Awkward. Then again, he has an excuse. He's been rather out of sorts all night. "But yes. I do believe we can save the rest."

[pancakeboy]

... and, almost despite himself, Magpie catches Ren's eye and grins across the table. "Only joking. Don't take everything I say so seriously."

He gets up, resting a hand on Crow's shoulder as he gathers up his bowl. "She did bring enough food for... this house for one meal, I suppose."

[unfoggedlotus]

Ren feels himself immediately relax at Magpie's words. "Sorry...dunno why it happens, sometimes." He scratches his head, but perks up a bit. "I can do the dishes if you guys wanna start getting ready for bed!"

[fogbornphantom]

"Very well. I'll try not to take too long." He'll also at least carry at least some of the dishes over to the sink, just to leave less for Ren to worry about.

Once that's done, he slips upstairs to go grab a few essentials. Really, it's just one of his large Featherman T-shirts and some comfortable flannel pants. Once he's changed and brushed his teeth, he'll wait by the stairway for the others.