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

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

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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[There aren't any tears on Iceland's face, but his eyes are red enough, Norway can see. And a hint of red from where he had pressed his face to Norway's shoulder.]

'Course I can.

[Lifts his hand, cupping his brother's face and wiping away the smudge of blood in a matter-of-fact way. It's nothing. This is nothing.]

I can't do it proper, is all. Can't set you gone with a cup of tea like I'd do otherwise. My magic don't work here. But I can do it.

[He hopes his brother understands what he means. He doesn't want to say it.]

[His winces as Norway wipes that smudge of blood off. To be honest, he hadn't noticed it. There's no way he would even want to admit to himself that it was actually blood. He'd prefer to lie to himself and pretend it was just a bit of dirt; nothing more.]

[Iceland stands still, perplexed. It's a shocker, but he gets it. It takes a long moment of silence before it hits him, but he understands. The first reply he gives is an unintelligent and indecipherable sound.]

... No.

[He says it flatly.]

We're gonna get out of here. All of us. None of us are dying. D-Dan went to find you and Svi and said we're all gonna find a way out.

[With all the time he's had to prepare himself and deal with the reality that he's going to die in this game... When it comes time to actually face it? He can't deal with it. His desire to have his family and other loved ones out of this stupid game without any casualties is too strong. He can't kill, but he can't die. Hahaha.... He really is stupid and ignorant, isn't he... That thought drowns him as he shakes his head.]

There's only one way out, Iceland.

[He steps forward, closing the distance between them. Though he wants to pull Iceland into his arms again, he settles for taking hold of his hands - whether Iceland wants that or not.]

I've been through this before. Only one way to end it. I don't want you stuck in here longer'n you have to be, do you hear me?

[Iceland immediately pulls his hands away from his brother, stepping back once more - his body beginning to shake. He can't deal with the reality of the situation.]

No, Nor, I--

[He stops. What can he possibly say?]

D-Dan gave me a grenade! I can defend myself until we find a way out of here! A normal way! You don't have to kill anyone, Nor!

[Parts his lips to say something, then just sighs and looks at him for a moment.]

[A strand of hair falls in his face and he brushes it back, letting his gaze drop. Tucks it behind the ear. It's darkened by something sticky and he doesn't want to think about what it is.]

[He doesn't say "I already did". The words are on the tip of his tongue, but he doesn't say it.]

... Nor?

[Iceland approaches his brother. This time it's his turn to bring a hand up; ruffling the top of Norway's hair, doing his best to try to reassure him. It worked on Iceland in the past, maybe it's the same for his brother. Then he does his very best to give the subtlest of smiles; lips quivering as he does.]

It'll be okay. We'll find a way out of this so you don't have to do anything...

[... "Anything more."]

[Reaches out, pulling Iceland close again. This time, he wraps his arms around him, holding him tightly; it seems he doesn't plan to let go. Not again.]

I already know the way out. Already given it plenty of thought. Don't think I haven't.

[He speaks slowly, evenly, resting his head against his brother's head, wishing he could just get through to him.]

[He wants to struggle against that hold. There's an urge within him to push his older brother away and slap him right across the face, convinced that such an action would knock some sense into Norway. There's no way he can, though. Not when he can feel that warmth so blatantly against him and not when Norway is speaking the way he is.]

E-Even if I agreed to it, there's still others... There's too many people I...

["I care about."]

If I can't make it through this game, I can at least sacrifice myself helping someone I care about.

[But what could he possibly do? He's weak. He has barely anything useful. He'd get in the way, if anything... No. Don't think like that. He can be useful.]

I could help you, Nor.

No.

[He holds him more tightly, practically clings. Presses his face against Iceland's hair.]

Please, Ice. Just let me send you home.

[There's a tremor in his voice and though he wants to even it out, speak as calmly as he usually would, chastise his brother, he can't. The words are the wrong ones, and he bites his lip. He shouldn't have phrased it like that, not after what happened before, when he did things he shouldn't have and everything went wrong.]

[Iceland gets chills from that tremor in Norway's voice alone. It's so different from his consistently even tone...]

I...

[He can't think on what else to say. Send him home? That sounds so nice; but so unreal. It can't be that simple. Nothing can be that simple in this hell of a "game." Iceland wants to go home with everyone; normally. How can Norway not see that? This tight hold on him... The comfort it brought him just minutes ago is now suffocating him. It's frustrating. Frustrating enough to force tears to finally roll down his cheeks. His words aren't working at all. So instead he'll just grab a fistful of fabric from Norway's shirt; tugging on it lightly.]

Nor, please...

Don't.

[It's meant to be an order, but it doesn't have the sharpness it usually would. More like a sob than anything else. Norway doesn't draw away to look at him, even if he should. Just stays there, pressed to him, holding him. When he continues his words are softer, slightly muffled.]

It'll be all right. Understand? I'll see you again soon.

["Don't."]

[It may not have the sharpness of an order, but that makes it worse. Affects him more than any order Norway could ever give him. Iceland chokes out a sound, trying to speak, but his throat doesn't allow him. Even his breath suffers; finding himself unable to breathe as he's gripped in fear. He doesn't want to die. He doesn't want to leave everyone he loves. He's worried about everyone- They can find a way out, they can.]

[But as the moments pass and his body and body doesn't allow him the privilege of speech... He finds himself trapped by that inevitable, sinking feeling that there's nothing he can do. His face leans stronger into Norway's body; his tears growing heavier and everything starting to become just a little dizzier. There's nothing he can do. Nothing but...]

[... Iceland gives a small nod against his big brother.]

[Sags against Iceland. That's the answer he wanted. But now that he has it, it doesn't make things any easier.]

[Finally, he draws back enough to cup his brother's cheeks, wipe his tears away with the cup of his sleeve, making shhhhing noises just as he did when they were younger. When they were both younger. When things were different - but in some ways, no less brutal, not really.]

That's it. That's the way. You'll be all right.

[At that 'shhh' he allows himself a few ungraceful sniffles before he does his best to choke back the tears; to stop them. It's not as easy as he thought, and there's no way he can stop completely... But he can at least do his best to compose himself as much as possible. For his brother's sake.]

I'm sorry.

[He barely manages those words past his throat. He's sorry for so many things, but he can't bring himself to explain each and every single one; so those two words will have to suffice. For everything.]

Don't.

[There he is again with the don't, and this time Norway manages to gather himself enough to give it some of the calmness and confidence it usually would have.]

There's something I want you to remember. Two things. D'you think you can do that for me?

[As he speaks, he uncoils one arm from around his brother to slip it into his pocket.]

[A deep breath is enough for him to compose himself a little further; enough for him to listen intently to the other.]

T-Two things.

[He stutters, but he manages the words clear.]

I can... I can do it.

[His body involuntarily goes stiff when Norway uncoils that arm, and Iceland has to concentrate hard in order to not cringe. He has to remain calm and listen.]

I'll want you to call me once you get home. Leave a message on my answerphone. Just to say you got in all right, understand.

[He holds Iceland close as he draws the gun out of his pocket and talks as if it's just a trip. As if it's nothing. As he speaks he aims and this time there will be no slowness, no need for second shots.]

That's the first.

[As if it's just Norway being his usual nosy self, putting himself in Iceland's business, being particular about everything.]

The second-

[His words catch. But he has to say it.]

Reckon you already know this one.

[Dips his head, speaking by his brother's ear, softly. It's not a secret, but it's private, personal, and deserves to be said that way.]

It's that I love you.

[He doesn't even hesitate a second. He can't, because he can't stand to hear his brother reply to that. Not now. Later.]

[Though he knows he won't say it later, and they won't bring this conversation up again.]

[He pulls the trigger.]

[Phone call. Answering machine. He repeats those words in his head, trying to distract himself from the reality of the gun. It's easy enough, even as a bead of sweat rolls down his temple... He keeps it up. Keeps himself distracted. He nods, words once more lost to him. The second thing... Iceland felt like this was important. He would remember it. He would--]

["I love you."]

[And everything was dark. His corpse limp and bleeding.]

[He will remember.]

Edited 2013-07-19 07:50 (UTC)

[There's nothing after that.]

[He takes him away from that spot. He doesn't know how. Doesn't think about it. It's been years since he's carried his brother, but he carries him. He's sore from the injuries he got earlier, the ones he was able to hide well enough when talking with him, but he manages somehow. Carries him up from the edge of the lake to a large tree and sets him down there. Then he sinks down beside him.]

[There's blood, too much of it. Blood everywhere. From earlier, from before. And from now. And most of it isn't his.]

[Norway puts his head in his hands. Closes his eyes. Eventually he'll have to move. In fact, he should do so now. It's possible someone would have heard the gunshot.]

[But for now, he stays where he is, beside his brother.]

[finds the body under the tree a while after Norway has left]

[he would have been glued to the transmission of the scene that played out here... if the boss hadn't kicked him out because he wanted to take over]

You didn't do badly, kid! You made it halfway through!

[lifts him up gently]

[at least this one is more or less in one piece; he's seen some worse messes]

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

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