[THAT WAS SO WILD AND AKIRA IS MISERABLE. . . so it's not surprising that he finds himself wandering again, meandering outside, drifting towards the duck pond where the incriminating footprint was kept]
[he stops when he gets there, because Ash beat him to it]
[lifts a hand to flatten his hair, but. it's always super messy, so he fails]
Mmm. Well, I can't say I agree with what either of them did. But it sounded like Nie-san had no choice, while Babo Kim just did what he believed is right.
. . . in the end, Hunter was the only logical choice.
[ yeah... he is master of the unbrushed hair look ]
... Self defence is one thing. And I get not wanting to say anything until someone puts the pieces together like Swirly did. But keeping it quiet and hoping that you just don’t get picked is on a different level.
[ there’s something rather cold in his voice at that
one of the ducks on the edge of the pond starts quacking insistently. why has the food stopped? reaching a hand into the bag, ash throws some more food to the ducks. ]
If it doesn't work, then the antidote itself isn't any good.
[so it isn't so much a waste as it is a test. there's a sharp exhale on Akira's end, because his mind has been going a million miles a minute ever since he started to suspect Hunter, ever since Hunter's guilt was confirmed. but. . .]
[he's also hopeful for what may happen tomorrow. he can't give up. not now. not ever]
Don’t think any of us can. He’s the first person we’ve saved, so this is uncharted territory.
[ he rolls the edges of the bag of food down, pinching the corners. ]
Maybe he’ll need someone to grab and give him a good shaking if he goes too far down the rabbit hole. Words don’t always get through the way you want them to.
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[he stops when he gets there, because Ash beat him to it]
Oh.
[quietly. lifts a hand in a two-fingered wave]
. . . hey.
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[ he mimics the motion, and then just holds out the bag without any more words -- feed the duckies, akira. it's kinda therapeutic. ]
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[huffs in amusement as he takes some duck feed, plopping down next to Ash before he tosses a handful into the pond]
[he doesn't say anything]
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after a moment though, ash just reaches out and ruffles akira’s hair slightly. ]
It’s not great, but it would’ve been worse if we’d picked the wrong person again.
[ ... ]
Doesn’t make it any easier, but— [ y’know. ]
1/2
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I know.
I think we did the right thing.
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Still feels like crap. But, yeah. It would’ve been wrong to vote for Swirly or the other guy.
[ it’s not exactly fair that hunter got the worst end of the stick, but... here they are. ]
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Mmm. Well, I can't say I agree with what either of them did. But it sounded like Nie-san had no choice, while Babo Kim just did what he believed is right.
. . . in the end, Hunter was the only logical choice.
[especially with the promise of an antidote]
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... Self defence is one thing. And I get not wanting to say anything until someone puts the pieces together like Swirly did. But keeping it quiet and hoping that you just don’t get picked is on a different level.
[ there’s something rather cold in his voice at that
one of the ducks on the edge of the pond starts quacking insistently. why has the food stopped? reaching a hand into the bag, ash throws some more food to the ducks. ]
Sounds like 45 has something in mind though.
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An antidote.
[he addresses the second part of what Ash says only]
Hunter told me about it. They found it in the morgue while fighting the zombies. There's no guarantee it'll work, but. . .
{it's better than not trying. isn't it?]
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If we don't try it, then we won't know.
'Course if it doesn't work, we've wasted an antidote on something but... [ He's thoughtful for a moment. ] Better to try.
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[so it isn't so much a waste as it is a test. there's a sharp exhale on Akira's end, because his mind has been going a million miles a minute ever since he started to suspect Hunter, ever since Hunter's guilt was confirmed. but. . .]
[he's also hopeful for what may happen tomorrow. he can't give up. not now. not ever]
I just hate that we have to wait until tomorrow.
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...
[ Can he feel any of that panic-brain? Either way, Ash reaches out again and raps a knuckle against the top of Akira's head. ]
Can't do anything about it. Hunter's safe in that cage, and will be until we have the chance to try something. It sucks, but it can't be changed.
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It sucks.
[it sucks so, so much, and Akira allows his expression to flicker, to crumble just a little bit]
Even if it works, Hunter's going to have to live with what the monster in his body did. Isn't that. . .
[a pause]
That's just so shitty.
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[ ash throws some more food to the ducks, before folding his arms over his knees. ]
Yeah. It will be.
[ it’s not like he can pretend it’d be anything else. ] He’ll either deal with it or he won’t. But he’ll get the chance to try.
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[Akira tosses the last of his food into the pond as well, before reaching over to yoink some more from Ash]
. . . Hunter's a strong guy. He's been through a lot, even before coming here.
[but?]
But I can't imagine what he's going through right now.
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Don’t think any of us can. He’s the first person we’ve saved, so this is uncharted territory.
[ he rolls the edges of the bag of food down, pinching the corners. ]
Maybe he’ll need someone to grab and give him a good shaking if he goes too far down the rabbit hole. Words don’t always get through the way you want them to.
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I know. And I know I have to let him feel what he feels, too.
But if he starts trying to beat himself up, I'll make sure to give him a very good shaking.
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Sometimes you just need a little of both.
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A nice, balanced mixture.
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[a huffed noise, somewhat amused]
You make things sound so easy, Ash.
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[ he just shrugs. ]
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And if we keep sulking about the things that have happened, we're just going to be super depressed the entire time we're here, right?
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