Let's end this spiral down, pick ourselves off the ground [W5, Sunday]

[hydrokinetics]

[It's early evening when the Bounty group gathers again. There's more to discuss now that they've had time to cope and pick themselves up again, ready to get back to work. Time is still marching on and it's nothing that they can waste.

Together again, they settle. The room is quiet for a time as they all gather their thoughts. With everything that came up this weekend? They need a new plan of action.]

Comments

[elemancy]

[milla, please don't cause him extra worry by exacerbating your injuries! even if it's kind of his fault for being a punk and suggesting it.]

I can't make you. I just... want everyone to know it's an option. If it's what we need to do to carry on—

[he draws in an uneven breath of his own. it's not like he wants this either, not even a little bit.] I trust you guys.

[thatsthespirit]

[NOCTIS THE BUTTHEAD]

[she feels that pang of fear again, that fear of loss that she felt the week of Yuna's death. this time, she quashes it quickly. this is his choice, she can't take it from him]

[she made a similar decision once herself, after all]

If you trust us that much, then if you die, we'll make sure we can bring you back so your country-- your world-- doesn't fall apart without you.

[he's needed, and even if he isn't driven by duty the same way she is, she won't betray that trust he's placed in them]

[elemancy]

[HE'S SORRY, MILLA. he really is, he doesn't want to upset her any, either. it's not like he feels good about it.

but yeah, he's a butthead.

either way, he lets out a bit of a weak, hollow laugh.]

Isn't that exactly why I trust you? [because he sincerely believes in their efforts, should it come to that.]

[thatsthespirit]

[he's a butthead and she's a hypocrite, it's all good]

I would hope so.

[she gives a little chuckle at that, and a smile returns to her face]

[elemancy]

No need to hope. I'm not really much of a good liar, anyway.

[but he can smile in turn, even if... well, it's kind of all shitty anyway. she deserves that much for the hellish circumstances he could potentially be thrusting on her with this suggestion.]

[thatsthespirit]

[she's Maxwell. she can handle it, and she knows she can. even if she doesn't particularly want to. it's her duty, after all. it all comes back to duty]

Perhaps that's why the Sheriff made you a Bounty? He thought it might be funny to put your lying skills to the test?

[she teases]

[elemancy]

[she's a good, quality spirit lord!]

Sounds like something he would do, doesn't it? Joke's on him, since I did pretty good with his stupid secret.

[he only got found out because he purposely dropped hints.]

[thatsthespirit]

You did. And the hints you gave that allowed me to find you were just right.

[ain't nothing like displaying surprisingly specific knowledge from the Bounty handbook to draw out fellow Bounties]

[elemancy]

Probably could've done without the little extra scare, but I survived it.

[it's fine, they're fine.] Probably better it was you that found me instead of Shinnosuke.

[thatsthespirit]

Oh? And why is that?

[elemancy]

We got to figure it out without me punching anyone.

[shinnosuke definitely would have been an even bigger pain in the ass if they didn't already know he was one of them,]

[thatsthespirit]

[amusement]

Fortunately for us, although I feel as though you came close to punching him when we first confronted him.

[elemancy]

I got by without it. I know when to hold 'em.

[which is usually. he's not really big into punching things aside from walls.]

Unless he does something really stupid.

[insincerely]

... I can hear you guys, you know.

[elemancy]

Oh, my bad. Thought you went deaf too.

[haha jk]

[insincerely]

... You know, maybe I should punch you.

[elemancy]

You'd have to be able to see where to aim first.

[thatsthespirit]

[. . . she has no popcorn, but]

[popcorn.gif]

[insincerely]

I did train with Teacher for this, you know. Maybe you should be the first person I put my practice to the test with.

[elemancy]

Guess it makes sense, since I'm the one who inherited her sword.

[which. sure is a thing but hey.

he's not saying no?]

[insincerely]

Maybe another time, then. It's not as fun if you're expecting it.

[elemancy]

Oh, good. Surprise assaults are my specialty.