[week 1 - post trial. ]

[hairbrain]

[ well, that sure was a fucking trial. this time it's rapunzel seeking evan out -- returning the favor! in fact, she's going to look for him with another mug of hot cocoa, because in her opinion, it's desperately needed right now. for everyone. ]

Evan? Hiiii. How are you feeling?

[ kind of a moot question but she's gonna ask. ]

Comments

[selfinserting]

[He's heading towards the kitchen when she finally finds him, conveniently. It's another night where he knows he should eat something, even if the motivation to do so (or an appetite, for that matter) are hard to come by. He looks a bit surprised when he sees her, or more accurately, surprised that she took the time to find him. It's an instinct he can't quite shake. All the same, he pulls together a small smile for her.]

I'll... be okay.

[It's harder to sound convincing than it was last week, but there's a sincere effort to be sound more certain than he feels. Regardless, he takes the cocoa with a grateful nod.]

You didn't have to... I-I mean, thanks. For thinking of me.

[hairbrain]

[ yes, it must be surprising to him when girls talk to him. ]

Well, of course I'll think of you. We're friends and we have each other's backs. So...... you know. We're in this together.

[ cue high school musical number. ]

[selfinserting]

I know we are, but - still. Y-You'd probably thank someone for doing the same for you, right...?

[Anyways.]

C-Can I ask you something? I'm sorry if it's, um, if it's weird.

[hairbrain]

Well, yes, but I don't think it's all that strange for me to check up on you. It's just what friends do.

[ hmmmm. ]

What is it, Evan?

[selfinserting]

Oh, no, I didn't... I didn't mean to say you're strange. I-If either of us are strange, I'm the strange one, so - um, yeah. Anyways.

[As he gently wonders if there's some kind of device out there that can magically cut him off before he says something awkward, he continues.]

Most people... wouldn't be as, um, o-optimistic or friendly as you are in a situation like this. I was just wondering, um, how you do it. It's - pretty impressive.

[hairbrain]

Evan, you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. I don't think you're strange at all.

[ it's called common sense, u fuck, use it. ]

Well.... actually, last week, I was a mess. But Sousei told me that I should keep being determined, because.... it'd help people, so.... I don't know. I'm just trying to stay positive.

[selfinserting]

[He nods to that, but more importantly...]

B-But you shouldn't... If you need, um, if there's something you n-need to get off your chest, you shouldn't worry that you aren't helping people if, um, if you do that.

[hairbrain]

That's sweet, Evan.

[ you nerd. ]

I guess I'm just frustrated..... all of this is so wrong and I don't know how to stop it.

[selfinserting]

[A sigh, and a nod.]

It would be good if there was, was a way to get them to give us more information about what's going on and how to stop it. But... I-It's not like we have any, um, any leverage.

[hairbrain]

Leverage..... [ she strokes her chin, hmmm, maybe he's onto something. ]

You're right. I wonder what could make them talk.

[selfinserting]

[n o]

Wait, I didn't mean... Please, um, please make sure you don't do anything dangerous, okay?

[hairbrain]

Oh, don't worry about me. I can take care of myself.

[ flash forward to our latest thread. ]

[selfinserting]

That's, um, that's good, but that doesn't mean you should do anything that might be dangerous. It's dangerous enough just, um, just being here.

[hairbrain]

It is, buuuuut I'm not the kind of princess who just sits around and does nothing.

[ rip. ]

[selfinserting]

Then... I-If you do, at least, will you make sure not to do it alone?

[hairbrain]

That I can promise.

[ because.... pascal will be with her.... sorry evan. ]

But for now, I think I'm just going to try to gather information on them. So don't worry too much!

[selfinserting]

[the chameleon doesn't count smh!!]

Do you have something that will make them answer...?

[hairbrain]

Not yet. But! I do have my sunny can-do attitude and persistence.

[ yeah he does, rude. ]

[selfinserting]

I just think... maybe it's a good idea to wait until we, um, have a plan? And then maybe w-we could go, go together.

[hairbrain]

Hang on... you want to go with me?

[selfinserting]

I mean... N-Not that I think you couldn't handle it on your own, but - yes? If you wanted me to.

[hairbrain]

Well, I appreciate it. It's good to know you have my back.

[selfinserting]

...Of course I do.

[He gives her a soft smile.]

W-We all have to do what we can to help each other, right?

[He's not strong enough to stop anyone from getting hurt or smart enough to help much in the trials, he thinks, but he can at least do things like this.]

[hairbrain]

[ puts a hand on his shoulder! ]

And we will, Evan. Thank you.