Game 013 [Voice/Action] - "Triumphant" Return

[neverplaysfair]

[ The feed cuts in to the sound of coughing, and a very soft ] dammit [ before Joshua speaks into the journal, his voice somewhat hoarse and higher-pitched than usual. ]

Hanekoma, come get me. [ Mostly he just sounds exhausted. ]


[ Josh is sitting against a tree on the edge of the forest, staring at the mountains off in the distance, his journal in his lap. He looks younger... 10, maybe 12 at the oldest. He's covered in burn marks and bruises, and his clothes are completely ruffled and smattered with blood stains, not to mention a bit oversized due to him not being his usual stature. There's blood-stained bandages on his arms, and more hidden beneath his clothes. In other words, he's in bad shape.

Not to mention shivering. It's cold and snowing, and he's not dressed for the weather. ]

Comments

[ action ]

[neverplaysfair]

I won that fight before. It wouldn't be this difficult if it were that simple.

[ In his head he's drawing parallels between Higher Plane Angels and Players, but saying it out loud would be admitting that he has absolutely no chance. He's proud, but he's not blind. ]

[ action ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

Alright, then I take it back. They're closer to Angels.

[ He gets up, rummages through the dresser again and throws an oversized shirt and pair of boxers to Joshua. Just looking for something to do with his hands. ]

[ action ]

[neverplaysfair]

[ Joshua looks at Sanae, then down at the clothes, then back again. ] There's a joke to be made here, you know.

[ action ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

I bet.

[ Sanae throws a raised eyebrow and a grin back over his shoulder, and Joshua you are just asking him to torment you. ]

Shame you're not older, Josh, or I might be givin' you a kiss right about now. Just to shut you up, but hey -- kissing you, undressed, in my bed. Wonder what that could lead to.

[ He snaps the dresser drawer shut all too cheerfully. ]

Guess we'll never know.

[ action ]

[neverplaysfair]

Do you want me to pass out? [ It's said quickly, simply, flat. ]

[ action ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

Be my guest. Sleep would be the best thing, right about now. [ He doesn't mean it. Doesn't wanna see Josh hurt himself trying. ]

[ action ]

[neverplaysfair]

Sanae, come over here. [ His tone is less commanding, more just serious. ]

[ action ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ A raised eyebrow, but he doesn't hesitate. Just returns to the bed. ]

[ action ]

[neverplaysfair]

[ Reaching up and trying to pull him into a kiss, then. Just because. ]

[ action ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ Oh, he was expecting that, for once -- but you know what? Hanekoma goes along with it. Doesn't pull away. He kisses Joshua back, just for a moment, and then he breaks it. Amused, faintly smug. ]

I don't like kissing kids. Get back to me when you're older.

[ action ]

[neverplaysfair]

[ Joshua makes a soft sound in his throat. ]

I was right. It didn't really do anything, anyway.

[ action ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

Good.

[ And he steps away from the bed, wipes at his mouth with the back of a hand. ]

Didn't do a thing for me, that's for sure. Now put some clothes on.

[ action ]

[neverplaysfair]

...

[ Without any warning, Joshua pulls off the underwear he's wearing and starts pulling on the boxers. ]

[ action ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ Sanae makes a little exasperated sound and finds something else to look at. No. Comment. ]

[ action ]

[neverplaysfair]

[ Oh, come on, it's not like there's much there, and he did say to change. Once Josh finally gets the boxers on, he pulls on the shirt, and... yeah, it's kinda big. He looks a bit ridiculous. ]

[ action ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ EXASPERATION. It's the principle of the thing, man. ...and he knows that if he looks, Josh will use that against him forever. Either way, the too-big clothes make him grin a little. ] Lookin' sharp, Josh.

[ action ]

[neverplaysfair]

And this is my fault, Sanae?

[ action ]

[soundfrequency]

[Well, Neku did say he was stopping by. So here he is! Since the café looks closed he's knocking on the door first.]

[ action ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

Well, I--

[ Pause. Was that...? ]

Huh. Thought I closed up shop. Mind if I leave you alone for a minute or two to see who's there?

[ action ]

[neverplaysfair]

... Hmm, that took him a while.

[ Totally talked to Neku while Hanekoma was off making soup. ]

[ action ]

[soundfrequency]

[More knocking! A little louder this time.]

[ action ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

What, you called in backup? Alright, back in a second.

[ And downstairs he goes! Hanekoma pulls the door open and stands blinking at Neku, with blood on his hands and smudged across his mouth, his shirt only buttoned up halfway. ]

[ action ]

[neverplaysfair]

[ What, you expected Josh to remind you about that before you answered the door? Of course not. ]

[ action ]

[soundfrequency]

[He was about to say something, but whatever it was just died and came out as a small startled noise at the sight of blood. That wasn't from Joshua, was it? Just stands there staring at Mr. H, looking slightly freaked out.]

[ action ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ And Mr. H seems caught off-guard, searching for the right words -- for all of three seconds, and then that fake casual edge is back. The feel of drying blood on his hands doesn't really register; he's practically forgotten it's there. ]

Phones. You here for Josh?