voidseeing | [Accidental Voice/Action]

[The journal pops open as it hits the ground, the camera pointed straight upwards into the trees. There's nothing to be seen other than branches and leaves, and at first it may seem like just an accident... but the sounds that it picks up make it very clear this isn't just someone being careless and letting their journal fall out of a bag. In fact, the very first thing that anyone will hear is the sharp report of a gunshot, followed immediately by yelling.]

Law! Behind you!

On it. Room. [There’s a flash and the branches and leaves are now washed out by a blue glow. There’s the sound of a growl, the snap of electricity, and then an explosion.] Watch out! They’re swarming!

[Two more gunshots echo over the journals.]

Damn it... how many of them are there?

Can’t tell yet, Gai. [More explosions, and the crack of wood being torn apart. Then the groan and thud of trees crashing down.] They’re still coming out of the woodwork.

[Another shot.]

Guess we should be honored they felt we needed this much of a welcoming committee.

Goodness knows I’m flattered. [Metal clanging.] Perhaps this is what they think consists of therapy. [A crack.] Ugh. Well, if they’re offering, who am I to refuse? I’ve got a few issues to work out…

Too bad I prefer my therapy to be one on one.

[Another clang, then a thud. There's another wash of light, this time silver rather than blue-- a light that should be very familiar to a certain Shu Ouma if he happens to be looking into the journal while all of this is going down.

The sounds of combat continue for a while longer, at last dwindling down to an almost painful silence. This silence lingers for a long moment, heavy, until Gai's voice finally breaks it, exhausted yet triumphant.]

... they'd better not charge us for that session.

[Anyone who happens by the Battle Dome after this little spectacle will be treated to the sight of a battered and exhausted Gai and Law surrounded by droid fragments and damaged trees. They're in surprisingly good spirits considering what just happened, though some healing would be very much appreciated right about now.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mhm. I screwed up and I can't do that.

[Actually Gai...]

I threatened him and I don't think he'd be willing.

You did what?

I was trying to be you.

[How does it feel Gai...]

[At this point, Gai honestly doesn't know whether to smack his own forehead or smack Shu.]

What did you think you were going to accomplish by doing that?

That's not something I want to get into now.

I'll tell you later. [Shu doesn't want to tell Gai he wanted to know about his past activities through Law.]

[Gai just sighs.]

I'll talk to Law for you if you won't do it yourself.

Thanks. I'll leave that in your hands.

The last thing I want to do is get sick. How will I improve myself if I'm in bed because of the virus?

You can start by not worrying about something that might not even happen. My own virus hasn't been progressing nearly as fast as it should be otherwise-- the treatments Law has been giving me have been effective at slowing it down.

It's hard not to worry! I'm not you! I'm not used to being here. [Shu's nearly shouting at Gai. He feels terrible about it because Gai already offered to help him out. He decides to shut up for the time being.]

Sorry. I haven't been getting sleep or eating eating properly because I'm so worried about Inori and everything.

I didn't mean to yell at you. I'm just making things more complicated than they should be. I really am pathetic.

[Gai just inhales, then lets it out in a quiet sigh. He can't even say that he's surprised to hear that, because Shu is Shu and even as a child, he was never very good at looking after his own health. That's just another thing he'll need to work on if he really wants to be a good leader.]

Go take a nap and calm down before you blurt out anything else you'll end up regretting. The only thing that would be pathetic would be if you collapse from hunger or lack of sleep.

[He doesn't care that much about himself. At the moment, Shu's more concerned about Gai.]

But what about you?

It's not right of me to relax and pretend everything's okay when you were hurt badly.

[But Gai shrugs, as if Shu were making a big deal out of a paper cut.]

I know more than a few healers around here. They managed to fix all of the damage between them. All that's left now is the soreness, and that will go away in a few days.

[That sounds like Gai, yeah. Shu knows how capable Gai can be even though he's injured. Soreness shouldn't even be a concern. There's something he can do to remove soreness. It looks like Shu's been carrying some herbs and leaves with him this whole time. ]

Get me a bowl and some hot water. [He means business now.]

I'll prepare something that should help. I'm no healer, but this is just a precaution to remove pain or numbness. I learned how to do at least that much.

[The look Gai gives Shu is a questioning one, but he gets the feeling that this is something that's important to Shu, and that allowing the other boy to do it would do wonders for his self-esteem. So rather than protest or question, he just heads to get a bowl from a cupboard and then fill it with hot water.

Once that's accomplished, he'll bring it back and hold it out, waiting for whatever Shu is going to do next.]

You've been learning a lot here.

[So how was he supposed to do this again? Shu only saw an explanation of how to do this one time so he's not entirely confident that it'll work. He knows that he has no choice but to continue. Shu starts boiling some twigs and bark from a fir tree.]

I owe it all thanks to my new friends here. They know things that I don't. Iris says that drinking this should help your muscles relax. If you ever get the chance to speak with her, you should thank her.

[... wait, hold the phone. Gai was down with this until the word "drinking" was introduced to the equation. Now he just gives the water (with twigs and bark) a very skeptical stare.]

You expect me to drink that?

Don't complain. [Shu's tired don't give him another headache today, Gai. He might pass out at any minute from exhaustion.]

You don't need to eat the twigs. Just drink the water from it.

Then you'd better take the twigs out first, or I'm not touching it.

[And Gai is tired and sore and cranky, so that makes two of them.]

Fine.

[Shu makes an audible complaint before agreeing to it.]

[Meanwhile, Gai will just go take a seat on the couch like a good patient. Sort of.]

[Are they done? As soon as Shu knows that Gai's resting he decides to take a nap. GAI SAID TO DO IT.]

[FINE, SHU CAN TAKE A NAP. He did say that Shu should, and if it will calm him down, Gai is fine with that. Besides, he has two spare bedrooms; he can let Shu crash here for a little while.]

[Shu's talking in his sleep. Gai can probably hear Shu talk about Inori and how much he misses her while he's taking a nap.]

[For once, Gai will actually be a gentleman and not eavesdrop on what Shu is saying. What he will do, however, is drape a blanket over the other boy and shut the door to let him get some uninterrupted sleep.]