I thought it might be useful for you too, considering...well, you'll see.
[He picks it back up, so he can write something on the picture he drew.]
Where I'm from, it rains a lot. And getting rained on means you'll probably catch a cold. So, having an umbrella and sharing it with your loved ones is important to staying healthy.
Walking under an umbrella with someone is like...what teenagers do when they have crushes on each other? I mean, married couples do it too, but it's this big deal for young people. Sort of like holding hands while walking around and stuff. So, a superstition formed! If you draw a little umbrella shape and write the name of you and your crush under it, then it's supposed to bring good luck in love or something like that.
[He sets the notebook back down and spins it around for Percy to see. And then he glances away as he carries on sheepishly.]
It's just a superstition kids believe in, but...you never know. Maybe making one will let you walk under an umbrella with the one you like.
[ percy listens to this quietly... and when he sees what atsushi has drawn, his eyes widen briefly before he looks to him.
and he smiles softly. something about the conversation, it coalesces around his heart. he thinks about her. he thinks about her long dark hair and her hands on his face and the mask coming off...
the mask comes off. it stays off. for now. ]
... I hope that perhaps one day you will walk under an umbrella with her, if that is what you wish. [ he looks atsushi in the eye ]
You would let me make one as well...? I'll tell you something important... about this... [ he makes a small circle with his finger around the umbrella drawing ] and then you may ask your questions.
[Atsushi isn't holding out too much of a hope for that. He thinks Vin can do so much better than him, and he's reluctant to say anything to her. But he'll keep quiet about that for now, since this is about Percy tonight.]
That's what I was about to ask you, actually.
[He'll pass the pen over, and Percy can flip to a new page and make his own umbrella.]
[ he will take the pen and notebook and he'll... begin to draw that umbrella carefully. his lines are straight, calculated and neat. then, he will write his own name, just "percy" on one side. and on the other... "vex'ahlia" ]
I like the sentiment... taking shelter together.
[ he'll then just... in pen (the audacity) slowly start to sketch the beginnings of a face. pointed ears. ] In a way, people provide shelter for one another as well.
[It's the name he had expected, after everything Vax had told him before. Still, he smiles warmly when he sees it, and he watches as Percy starts to draw.]
[ he fills her in--eyes. nose. lips. hair. everything is lovingly rendered with care down to a stray freckle, the feathers in her hair. the smile on her lips is placid. ]
That's why you didn't want to show me in the grocery store...
[Oh, how heartbreaking. But Atsushi nods in response to being told that. Four weeks in, and of course someone would try to fight it if they knew what was happening.]
You're strong, to have made it for as long as you did. Mind control is difficult to fight back against.
We thought... will was enough. Will has always been enough. We tried to distract it... games... tea...
[ he curls that hand into a fist ]
I don't think restraints would have worked. Not against that... rage I felt inside of me. That... heat. It would have burned through anything. [ he swallows tightly ] The bruises on his back... I threw him. Everywhere. I'm strong on a normal day, but this? This was... visceral.
[ quietly ] I know he was trying to wear me out. Wear me down. I was trying to do the same when we ran through the library.
You both tried really, really hard. Even if it didn't work out, you tried.
[That does make a difference, to Atsushi. Actions speak loudest to him, and the fact that they tried so hard to evade the inevitable says so much about both of them. It makes Atsushi want to reassure Percy, even if he doubts that any reassurances can be had now.]
Was all the orange blood on the ground from trying to wear you out too?
[ softly ] It was the first thing I summoned... inside, I suppose I just really wanted Trinket with me. [ he glances down ] Faithful bear... much smarter than whatever beast I sent upon Chang Geng...
I'm sorry. I know it probably doesn't help much, but I'm so sorry that you had to go through all of that.
[He's holding out his hand towards Percy now, because even if it's not touch week anymore he's found that having something to hold onto can help in tough times. So maybe it will help Percy now.]
[ he looks at the hand for a moment and gently slides it into it. gripping softly. ]
I'm afraid what will come out of me tomorrow... whatever happens... all I know is, if there's a monster... Vax'ildan will be able to kill it. I can only hope that that is how the die will be cast.
We'll keep Vax safe, and help him through whatever happens afterwards. And...I don't want to give you false hope, but if somehow you come out of it alive too then we'll help you.
[Because Damien and Riff both survived, so maybe there's a chance for Percy too?]
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I wanted to talk with you. If you want the company, that is.
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It's fine... people have been in and out. Like a zoo. Asking questions.
You may ask yours....
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[So instead, he pulls out his pen and pad of paper, and he draws a shape on it. Then he sets the pad of paper down and turns it so Percy can see it.
Yes this is really stupid but he's trying to lighten the mood even slightly before he starts in on what he has to say next.]
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Atsushi...
This... your... drawing from before...
[ the barest smile twitches on his lips. ]
Please. Tell me what this is... if I could learn one last thing before I go, it would be... this.
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[He picks it back up, so he can write something on the picture he drew.]
Where I'm from, it rains a lot. And getting rained on means you'll probably catch a cold. So, having an umbrella and sharing it with your loved ones is important to staying healthy.
Walking under an umbrella with someone is like...what teenagers do when they have crushes on each other? I mean, married couples do it too, but it's this big deal for young people. Sort of like holding hands while walking around and stuff. So, a superstition formed! If you draw a little umbrella shape and write the name of you and your crush under it, then it's supposed to bring good luck in love or something like that.
[He sets the notebook back down and spins it around for Percy to see. And then he glances away as he carries on sheepishly.]
It's just a superstition kids believe in, but...you never know. Maybe making one will let you walk under an umbrella with the one you like.
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and he smiles softly. something about the conversation, it coalesces around his heart. he thinks about her. he thinks about her long dark hair and her hands on his face and the mask coming off...
the mask comes off. it stays off. for now. ]
... I hope that perhaps one day you will walk under an umbrella with her, if that is what you wish. [ he looks atsushi in the eye ]
You would let me make one as well...? I'll tell you something important... about this... [ he makes a small circle with his finger around the umbrella drawing ] and then you may ask your questions.
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That's what I was about to ask you, actually.
[He'll pass the pen over, and Percy can flip to a new page and make his own umbrella.]
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I like the sentiment... taking shelter together.
[ he'll then just... in pen (the audacity) slowly start to sketch the beginnings of a face. pointed ears. ] In a way, people provide shelter for one another as well.
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They do, yes. It's what makes living less lonely.
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That's why you didn't want to show me in the grocery store...
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[ a faint smile. ]
Take it to my grave and all that.
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Thanks. And I'll keep your secrets too, if you want me to. This one, and the other one.
[He glances down to the sketch he's working on.]
Since I feel like we have a lot more in common than either of us realized.
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[ he looks downwards at his hands. ]
We were trying to wait it out.
[ he swallows tightly ]
And I couldn't. It... it wouldn't let me.
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You're strong, to have made it for as long as you did. Mind control is difficult to fight back against.
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[ slowly, he sets the notebook and pen down and removes his left glove. there is a hole there in his hand. straight through. ]
That maybe I could withstand whatever this Prism put inside of me.
[ he lowers his head ]
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But it didn't work out that way, because the Prism got to you regardless of your past experiences.
...what did you two try to do, to fight it off? Did you restrain yourself with anything?
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[ he curls that hand into a fist ]
I don't think restraints would have worked. Not against that... rage I felt inside of me. That... heat. It would have burned through anything. [ he swallows tightly ] The bruises on his back... I threw him. Everywhere. I'm strong on a normal day, but this? This was... visceral.
[ quietly ] I know he was trying to wear me out. Wear me down. I was trying to do the same when we ran through the library.
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[That does make a difference, to Atsushi. Actions speak loudest to him, and the fact that they tried so hard to evade the inevitable says so much about both of them. It makes Atsushi want to reassure Percy, even if he doubts that any reassurances can be had now.]
Was all the orange blood on the ground from trying to wear you out too?
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[ softly ] It was the first thing I summoned... inside, I suppose I just really wanted Trinket with me. [ he glances down ] Faithful bear... much smarter than whatever beast I sent upon Chang Geng...
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I'm sorry. I know it probably doesn't help much, but I'm so sorry that you had to go through all of that.
[He's holding out his hand towards Percy now, because even if it's not touch week anymore he's found that having something to hold onto can help in tough times. So maybe it will help Percy now.]
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I'm afraid what will come out of me tomorrow... whatever happens... all I know is, if there's a monster... Vax'ildan will be able to kill it. I can only hope that that is how the die will be cast.
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Whatever happens, we'll take care of it.
['We'. As in, all of them.]
We'll keep Vax safe, and help him through whatever happens afterwards. And...I don't want to give you false hope, but if somehow you come out of it alive too then we'll help you.
[Because Damien and Riff both survived, so maybe there's a chance for Percy too?]