part 335 summer nights (tell me more tell me more)

[aphanon_meme]

Like did he have a car? Dodo--dodo--dodo... yeah! How is your July going so far, meme? Good? Bad? Okay? Scrumtrulescent? ... Question mark? This is a very rambling post today, I'm sorry, I'm in a tired rush. A tired tired summer rush. Which, in my professional opinion, is the most annoying kind of rush. I prefer a crisp winter rush! But oh well.

Enjoy part 335!

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Comments

[miss_neutrality]

[After being completely unable to sleep the previous night, she looks pretty terrible. She's all cried out, but her eyes are red and she looks exhausted.]

[She sits on the edge of the lake to wash her face without even looking to see who's around.]

[whorestria]

[The sound of the grass rustling tips him off before even the splash of water, and although it might just be a bird, he looks around sharply- where did that come from...

It takes only a moment to pinpoint the source of the noise, just a little way around the side of the water. He recognises that blonde head.]

Liechtenstein!

[It's a low call, but not as low or wary as it should be- he can't hear anyone else close by, and he trusts his hearing- and she's not a threat at all, of course]

[miss_neutrality]

[She looks up in what might be a good impression of a startled deer, her eyes huge in her face.]

[She wasn't expecting to see him here, but as soon as she does she hurries over and hugs him tightly.]

[It's been a rough day.]

[whorestria]

Liechtenstein-

[At first he's relieved to see her, about to ask her where she's been, how she is, but he frowns as she scurries towards him, noticing her face.]

What is the matter?

[Oof- she knocks him slightly off-balance, but he steadies himself, hands on her shoulders. She must be afraid.]

[miss_neutrality]

[She's not sure whether she wants to tell him what's actually wrong, but the guilt is making her feel so terrible and she has to tell someone...!]

I-I...

[She barely whispers the words into his shoulder, her voice shaky.]

I killed someone.

[whorestria]

[He has to lean down and strain to hear her, frown deepening as he makes out the words. Did she really say...]

Are you... [This is a stupid question, but he has to ask.] Are you sure?

[It's a difficult enough contemplation for him, let alone her- he's not sure what to say. To his knowledge she's never had to before.]

[miss_neutrality]

[She hasn't had to, and she also hasn't died before. That might partially explain why she's so terrified right now. That and the fact that she killed her boyfriend(?!) and stole his stuff.]

I'm very sure.

[She didn't mean to, not at first, and now that it's really sunk in...]

I know he'll come back, but...

[whorestria]

[The stealing is a bit inconsequential now, don't you think.]

Another nation?

[It's a slight relief, because he will come back, and what is a murder attempt or two between friends- but he knows she's not exactly the type.]

Were you defending yourself? It is sometimes necessary.

[miss_neutrality]

[The stealing led to the killing, so she's still distraught over it.]

No, I wasn't.

[She hates admitting that, but she has to take responsibility for her actions. America wouldn't have hurt her and she knows it.]

I... I killed him without provocation.

[whorestria]

[At that, he pauses, then gently pulls her from him, hands still on her shoulders, so he can look her in the eye. She looks just as she sounds.]

You were afraid? Did you suspect he would try the same?

['Without provocation' doesn't quite hold up in this environment, nor with her character.]

[miss_neutrality]

I was afraid, but not because I thought he would hurt me.

[Her eyes are wet again, and her lip trembles as she looks up at him. Here come the waterworks again.]

I can't stand this place.

[whorestria]

No one will fault you for that.

[Killing someone out of fearful impulse is unfortunately understandable, though he's not sure about her insistence that he (whoever he was) wasn't doing her harm.]

It...is the intention of this game...

[He sounds slightly uneasy. He knows some people will take eagerly to it, some will hate the idea- and he thought she was in the latter category. Not that she's eager, obviously, but that she managed it at all...]

[miss_neutrality]

[Her survival instincts are probably stronger than even she guessed, unfortunately for everyone involved.]

I know!

[And she's crying again.]

[whorestria]

You acted- as anyone might expect, it is natural-

[He can't very well say it's not her fault, or it's fine, or don't cry- he's not even sure he can truthfully say it was justified. But there's a first kill for all of them, and a panicked pre-emptive strike isn't unusual.]

...How did it happen?

[He'll pull her carefully back to his chest, now. It doesn't look like it was bloody or protracted, and he hopes it wasn't.]

[miss_neutrality]

Ah...

[She is not telling him she lured America there with an implied offer of sex. Or that she wishes now that she had just gone through with that.]

We were alone, and his gun was on the table right next to me... I didn't intend to kill him at first, just to take his gun, but then I wasn't sure what might happen.

[She hugs him tightly and leans her head on his chest.]

[whorestria]

[That knowledge might just be too much for him, it's just as well.]

It was certainly a risky situation, whether you thought you were in danger or not.

[It sounds quite understandable, now- alone with an armed opponent, who may have fought her for the gun.]

...There, there.

[Resting a hand protectively at the back of her head, he sighs. He can't exactly make it better.]

[miss_neutrality]

[She knows you're still giving her the benefit of the doubt, but she wishes you wouldn't for once. Although perhaps she feels bad enough about it without any added scolding.]

I'm sorry.

[And then suddenly she realizes (or perhaps remembers) that you're in this too and you're in just as much danger as she is. She sniffs and pulls away from the hug to inspect you.]

Are you alright? Are you hurt? Has anyone threatened you? Do you have a weapon you can defend yourself with?

[whorestria]

[What else can he do? He's not going around shooting people now, but his past is as checkered as anyone else's, and hers was always spotless.]

...Do not apologise to me.

[Apologise to the dead, if anything.

Oh, right. He's not actually a guidance counselor who's just dropped in for a visit]

No. ...To all of those questions.

[miss_neutrality]

[She wants to apologize to him, though. He raised her better than that even if he didn't keep to those standards himself.]

No? ...Have you been traveling with anyone?

[whorestria]

[Well...if he's honest with himself, he didn't do much at all.]

I was with Newsboy, but we became separated. I did spend some time at that- coffee shop, but I have come to no harm. I am also unarmed, regrettably.

[Points to his bag, near them on the floor. There's a roll of duct tape sitting on it.]

[miss_neutrality]

[She wants to offer to join up with him--she does have a usable weapon now, after all--but she isn't sure about it.]

I see... Would it be possible to build something with that?

[whorestria]

[He wouldn't mind at all, it would keep him from getting lost, at least.]

Hmm...possibly, but there is a dearth of materials. It is quite useless in a combat situation, except perhaps as a restraint.

[Sigh.]

[miss_neutrality]

Yes...

[She sighs as well, and while she still feels guilty she knows she could never do such a thing to you.]

Perhaps I could stay with you, for a time? If you don't mind my company.

[She can't change what happened, but she wants to think that America would have approved of her protecting others.]

[whorestria]

[Well. He hopes so, Liechtenstein.]

I would be much more at ease if you would.

[For a multitude of reasons, first and foremost not getting stuck in the woods again, but he can also keep an eye on her. She shouldn't be alone after that. And not only for her own good, but perhaps for others'...]

You are armed, still?

[miss_neutrality]

[She gestures to the revolver now sitting in its holster at her hip and nods.]

I also have caltrops, in case we need to defend an area for sleeping.