steelo | pc catchall | seasonality

[ it takes a little while for ichiro to get moving as the gymnasium starts to clear out, because he's still sitting on the floor with hope. it's only when the number of people starts to fade out that he's ready to start moving - he starts to coax hope up to his feet, then hooks an arm around his shoulders and starts to hustle him out of the gym and out into the night.

not straight back to the dorms, though. instead, it's just out to the main path on campus - the night is dark and quiet and a little chilly, bracingly so, and it seems like some fresh air is at least a start into getting hope back into a headspace that looks less like his brain has reached full shutdown mode.

the arm stays for now - steadying, more than anything. ichiro's not quite fussy, but he's definitely worried, and feeling a whole host of emotions of his own on the evening that passed, but they're buried for now under the need to be a caretaker, to look out for someone else in need.

when they reach a long enough walk away down the path, he finally speaks up - ] Talk to me. [ or shout at him, yell at him, whatever. just get it off your chest; he can practically see the trauma on hope's face. ]

Hey, Ichiro.

It's not weird that I want to check in with you today after what happened last week, right?

hey, man
think we might've found an explanation for that weird marquee in the cafeteria
you're gonna think im nuts but i wanted to pass it on

[ almost immediately after the body announcement goes out, ichiro will be getting a text! ]

Were you able to check anything out today?

[ hewwo ichiro! wherever he happens to be this morning, hope will be strolling on up to him! ... well, he'll be hobbling over, yes, but at least he has a crutch now to make things slightly easier for himself! look how happy he is! (it's about the same amount as usual, but, you know.) ]

So... I might have gotten some vouchers over the last few days.

[ this weekend has been! a lot!! and hope looks tired as hell, but here he is with two to-go cups of hot chocolate, one of which he offers to ichiro somewhat sheepishly. ]

...Thanks for helping me keep my head cool yesterday.

hey man
quick q. are you planning on doing anything with the blind auctions?

[ when ichiro lifts his arm and touches his face, hope's eyes start to water before he squeezes them shut so he can concentrate. with one hand still focused on channeling his magic to heal and mend the older boy's broken body, he reaches up with his free one to grasp the hand ichiro has on his face, pushing the palm into his cheek. being this close, it's easy to tell that even though he's terrified from the way his entire body shakes, his resolve is absolute; he's putting everything he has into making sure ichiro will be okay. ]

Stop, don't talk– s-save your energy until I'm done, okay? I...I talked to Annie earlier, I should be able to heal you more than I was before.

[ about an hour after trial ends: ]

Hey.
Where are you right now?

[ the others can have their expositions, he can see the dead later—

hope just chases after ichiro when he sees the older boy take off. ]

Hey—

w0 post trial

( week 1 ) thursday

week 2 weds before the mini event!!

( week 2 ) friday

( week 3 ) tuesday

( week 3 ) sunday

w4 thursday

( week 5 ) thursday, immediately after cyoa return

( week 6 ) saturday

( week 6 ) sunday