soul_logs | [OPEN]

Entry tags:

[OPEN]

Characters: OPEN
Location: Outskirts of Nevada
Rating: PG
Time: All day, Feb 27
Description: Shibusen offers a field trip to acclimate the guests to the Madness wavelength.

It's a perfectly pleasant day for the most part, if one is to look at the sky and maybe the horizon. For the attendees of the fieldtrip, however, things are naturally a lot more grim, if also lot more colorful. There are understandably no civilians in the area -- or any other signs of life apart from the group.

As promised, the location is extensively arranged to cordon off various areas of the place where Madness spikes have been identified. They are all properly labeled, both with text and visuals, and discreet agents kept an eye on all corners of the large field. The mirror by which the guest will come in is set in a corner, with some food provided next to it.

People are free to come and go, though the other end leads to the clinic instead of the Death Room. The rules are simple: venture into a level you think you can handle, and if you can't, someone will help.

In the afternoon, a light rain will come to add some variety to the endless desert. Make sure to take shelter in the open tents provided to protect you from the elements!

[ooc: Just put in open tags in the comments, [Character Name | Open/Close | Area/sort of madness targeted/whatever marker you want].

Plotting and information post was here.]

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Her blood was pounding in her ears. Every slight movement they made sounded amplified in the small room as they shifted. From her legs sweeping out from beneath the blankets to her feet lightly padding across the ground between them, it all seemed to echo in her mind.

She was careful with her, movements slipping into the bed beside him, making sure to keep her legs from touching his and maintaining the maximum distance that could remain between them. Naoto face's was nearly as brilliant as his, but she remained low and covered, shrinking beneath the sheets. There was nothing odd about this right?

He was rather glad for his coat collar, as (he hoped) it obscured that adam's apple that bobbed when he swallowed, tried to find an interesting spot on the ceiling as he felt the sheets shift and the mattress dip slightly from the added weight. Kanji pulled his hands inward, resting them on his stomach.

No... no, nothing odd about this at all. They could sh-share a bed. It was fine! Totally f-fine. Kanji was so okay with this right now.

In fact, he was so okay with this he slowly turned to face her, see if maybe she was feeling a little bet-- good god, she was close.

...

"Y-you okay?" He managed, barely above a whisper as his mouth suddenly dried up.

She was settled momentarily, but being so aware of his presence kept her nerves at a high. Both of them were obviously uncomfortable being within this small proximity of each other, but it was still comfortable having him near. He was there and she wasn't on her own should something happen.

"... Yes, thank you."

Naoto curled into a ball, biting her lip. "... If this is making you uncomfortable, I can return to my own bed."

Kanji quickly shook his head. It wasn't that he was uncomfortable - not by a long shot - but he still couldn't shake those year-old nerves. Just a few weeks ago, he wouldn't have even thought about something like this without his brain having a proverbial blue screen of death.

But he had to try to push past it, at least a little. She'd started to tense up a little, and he can't imagine sleeping being comfortable curled up like that.

As he worked to quietly settle himself down, the bullet charm jingled between them, jostled by his upper arm as it moved across the small gap of open bed space. There in the middle, his hand would rest palm up, an offer to be taken or left as his eyes turned away.

"...I wasn't gettin' any sleep, either."

Naoto watched him from were she lay, blinking when he shook his head. Was he sure this was fine? It seemed like he might fall off the bed very shortly.

Only after the atmosphere lessened enough did Naoto uncurl from her small ball, letting her legs rest straighter. Her eyes fixed on the charm as it jingled, attention soon falling to his open palm where it rested. Was that an invitation? Her fingers gripped the sheets a little tighter.

"It was... startling to say the least. It would be quite the feat to sleep easy after that experience."

As long as he didn't move, he had no danger of falling off the bed. O-or brushing a leg where it shouldn't go. Kanji had never been so intensely keen on his spatial awareness before in his life.

Can't come off as forward. Can't come off as a creep.

"Y'got quiet, so I thought you nodded off all ready."

A quiet sigh. Sleep was definitely out of the question, but he could always try and catch some shut-eye himself later.

"Maybe it'll be easier if I keep an eye out or somethin'. I can do that."

"No... I was trying honestly, but I could only recall what happened."

Slowly, her hand shifted. It took hold of his elbow and then moved over his arm. Without saying anything, her fingers curled between his as she took hold of his hand.

"I kept hearing your voice on the verge of tears and felt the phantom pains from my eyes being injured."

She shook her head. "You should try resting too."

He was still when she seized his elbow, eyes moving down. Followed when the hand moved along the bare arm. Kanji just barely managed to fight off a little shiver at the touch, yet his fingers would also entwine.

...Had he really sounded like that? Even if the whole experience was horrifying, his mind was all ready working to try and blur the images, do something to keep from recalling everything in excruciating detail. He couldn't possibly forget how he felt, that flash of complete helplessness, a loss of control over the situation. He felt a lump form in his throat, but swallowed it back down.

That wasn't real... but damn it if he isn't going to silently swear up and down that he never wanted to see that ever again, much less as a reality.

"'m fine. I'll letcha get first snooze."

She gave him a light, but shaky squeeze, a breath escaping her lips. The warmth shared between them was familiar now, balanced between them. It wasn't as though she was becoming cold and feeling his support for the last time.

"Kanji-kun, that isn't necessary..."

"It ain't about what's necessary or not, damn it...!"

He wished he could get his subconscious to realize that and fast, or he might not be sleeping too well for a little while. Still, his eyes closed, and he tried at least to settle down on the sheets. Sighed.

"I'd feel a little better if y'got some sleep, y'know? You're always bustin' your ass, and a lot just happened. Maybe I can't fight off what's runnin' through your head, but..."

Easy does it, now. His palm gave a light squeeze back.

"...Least I can do's tell you you're not by yourself. Y'gotta crush the crap outta my hand to make sure of that, that's fine. I got two of 'em."

Naoto was silent, watching Kanji calmly as he spoke. There was more to his earnest attempts to get her to sleep, she could tell, but what wasn't clicking. Did he see this has his chance to protect her after seeing her die?

"... I'm alive, Kanji-kun. Nothing will happen if you close your eyes."

They were safe here. There was no need to crush his hand when they were this close.

Perhaps he did see it that way. Could anybody blame him?

His nagging worry that he'll be bombarded with images the moment he closed his eyes was dismissed with the moment his eyes closed just moments ago. All he saw was darkness, and all he felt was rather stiff but strangely comfortable sheets; the warmth of a hand in his.

So maybe she was right. So far, so good.

"S'long as you know that, too."

He sounded a tad groggier than he'd realized.

"Why do you think I took hold of your hand?"

It was an extra form of reassurance. While her mind relaxed, she was still subconsciously aware of him. Perhaps it was her soul sensing him instead of her hand grasping his. Either way, it kept her mind blank.

"Get some sleep soon. I'd rather not wake up to find you've been hovering there for several hours."

"Point." A half-hearted nod against the pillow, and he tried to stretch his legs a little, causing the sheets to crinkle a bit against the quiet. He'd all ready mostly forgotten where he was... and sort of didn't care at this point.

"I dun' hover," he mumbled, and the thumb tracing her pinky stopped. In just minutes, his breathing had become slow and even, mouth hanging open just a bit.

He will most likely apologize later for going out first.

She chucked beneath her breath, watching as he dozed off soon enough. Of course she knew he was exhausted. This only proved her point, but she would resign herself from rubbing the fact in his face.

Shifting, Naoto made herself a little more comfortable, maintaining her hold on his hand before allowing her eyes to close. She too dozed off in a few minutes.

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