(no subject)

[sinkingship]

Who: Nezumi & anyone
When: Day 58, mid-morning
Where: The Shrine Room
What: A new face . . .

[There is somebody new in the Shrine Room this morning. He's wearing a battered grey cloak with the hood half pulled up over his hair, though he shakes it back after a few moments to take a look around. His posture is tense, expression closed-off and wary.]

[. . . there are also two mice with him, one on each shoulder, looking around much less warily '^']

Comments

[sinkingship]

And instead—what?

[everfixedmark]

...That's up to you.

[sinkingship]

No.

[voice strained]

You can't just say something like that, Shion.

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Well, I want to be with you, but I don't know what sort of resolve you came to out there! Nezumi! I can't just -- decide for you --

[sinkingship]

[looking at him helplessly, eyes shadowed, face pale]

["yes you can" is written all over it]

[everfixedmark]

I don't want to force my will on you just because I want to be with you!

[sinkingship]

. . . after everything. You want that.

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What do you mean, after everything? Of course I want that-!

[sinkingship]

You always did.

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[tearing up, covering his face] It's all I want... it's the only thing I want...

[sinkingship]

[I feel like I'm dying again, I feel like I ought to be dead . . .]

. . .

[everfixedmark]

But I don't want to scare you, I don't want to hurt you, so please -- Nezumi -- don't -- don't push me into telling you to do it--!

[sinkingship]

. . .

[drops slowly to his knees in front of Shion, fingers clenching in his jacket]

[everfixedmark]

Nezumi -- no, I'm sorry... [drops with him, reaching to try to hold him]

[sinkingship]

I should have . . . already . . .

[everfixedmark]

No, don't do that... I'm sorry, Nezumi. I got carried away...

[sinkingship]

Don't lie. You meant every word.

[everfixedmark]

I absolutely mean I don't want to push you into anything. That's the thing I want least.

[sinkingship]

[muffled]

Ay, but to die, and go we know not where;
To lie in cold obstruction and to rot.

[everfixedmark]

[puts a hand against Nezumi's heart]

This sensible warm motion -- but no, Nezumi, it's beating now. It is.

[sinkingship]

[voice dropping lower]

So dear I love him that with him, all deaths I could endure. Without him, live no life.

[everfixedmark]

Oh... [swallows] What's that from?

[sinkingship]

Paradise Lost.

[everfixedmark]

Nezumi... [swallows again and reaches to cup Nezumi's face]

[sinkingship]

[. . . leans into the touch with a shaky exhale]