deercountry | (no subject)

[ What the fuck.

It hits Robby harder than he was expecting any question coming to, and he stops after Mob says it, once it's registered, with Robby staring back at him like he just said something so insane.

And yet--and yet Robby knows it's been a fear of Mob's, but it doesn't make the request any easier for him. He's left speechless despite what he knows what he wants to say, stuttering on actually getting his feet moving again. He thinks he's going to turn into a beast, when that won't happen, it's not going to happen, Robby won't let it happen. ]

No. [ He'll say it staring at the younger teen, glaring almost; defiant in what he's being asked, at any of it. ] People come down from corruption from being around people they know, and warmblood can help. If anyone can help you when that happens, it'll be me. I'm not letting anyone hurt you.

[ And the defiance in his tone only grows, a hand at Robby's chest. Is anything he said useful for beasthood? Fuck if that matters right about now. ]

[mob slows to a stop when robby does, looking over with a little confusion. what did mob expect exactly? hard to say, he didn't really think that far ahead. he was aware robby would probably try to help him even if it was dangerous, even if he was dangerous, so maybe he sort of knew robby wouldn't be okay with staying back.

it's complicated, it always is. mob doesn't understand how dangerous this place is, hasn't seen it the way robby has. but robby doesn't know how dangerous mob could be, what he can do. what he has done. (72%)]

But... that's corruption. What about being a beast? [he asks. the fact robby cares so much makes his chest tight. (73%)] I'd hurt you.

Then I'll find what makes people come back from being a beast! [ He hands come out, gesturing with his words, the incredulous stubbornness that colours them. ] We come back from being beasts easier--I'll ask, I'll do what I have to, whatever--but I'm not letting anyone cut you down like-- some other monster.

[ He struggles to find the words, but isn't that it? The fact someone could find Mob like that and not care, or care, but not have the power to bring Mob back. And Robby doesn't, but-- but-- ]

I know warmblood works. I donate it, I know it works. [ It's what he always hears, the single good thing about his blood anyone really cares about, and Robby points outward as he goes on. ] And if you think I can stay back if you're out there like that?

[ The hand balls into a fist that Robby lets drop, and he pauses unintentionally, staring at Mob with a complicated expression. ]

I'm not letting anyone do anything to you.

[ 'I'm not letting anyone kill you,' is what he means. ]

[mob's at a loss for a moment, torn between understanding and a stubbornness of his own. the fact robby is so intent on this is- it makes him feel better despite himself. not in the idea that there's some magic solution robby could come up with, or that things will turn out well, but once again robby shows how much he wants to have his back. how much he does have his back.

robby seems to care so much about this and mob understands that, just the desperate need to keep someone you care about safe even if there doesn't seem to be any options for doing so. that it's turned so resolutely on him? another showing of how he isn't alone here. robby's a really good guy.

maybe that's the problem. robby's a good guy and mob doesn't know what he'd do if robby got hurt. if robby got hurt because of him. he doesn't think robby really understands yet just how dangerous mob could be, the kind that even had his own little brother live in terror for years. years mob didn't realize, because he and ritsu didn't communicate properly. they've been better and-

he needed to be better. he needed to try harder this time.]

It's just- even back home, when I lost control- [74%] I don't remember what happened. I um, I'd wake up and a school was destroyed. Or people were hurt. [75%] Ritsu was hurt.

I know... I know you understand this place better than me. And you're good at solving things, and helping people. I know you've been through a lot, I just- [his tone goes very quiet then, staring down at his feet.] I don't want to hurt you. Ever. I'm... really scared of that.

[ Robby hates that Mob's reasoning makes sense. Throw in a destroyed school alone, and that can do wonders for spelling out the gravity of the situation; paints a larger picture for how many people can be, even if a single family member hurt can do more. It cools the initial heat, because Robby isn't dumb: he knows he can't match up to those levels of destruction. He's been aware of the danger of Mob's explosions before, but--

But it leaves him standing, frustrated with the amount of power he has, uselessly low. An internal fight going on in him for words he doesn't know how to articulate, though his mouth opens and closes once or twice.

He doesn't want that to be the only answer. He doesn't want this to be the only way. ]

Will you let me help to find a way to help you? [ Robby finally says, softer spoken, if still tender around the edges. ] I don't want to accept there's nothing we can do, or we just plan for me to stay away and that's it. There has to be more-- because I don't want to think about you dealing with that alone.

[ That's the strongest reason most of all, the reason that Robby's tried to there for Mob so much already--because he's never wanted Mob to have to face all this by himself. When he already doesn't have his family, anything familiar, and how lonely must that be? Mob isn't him. He hasn't had family never around, or a family that comes and goes.

...and he doesn't have friends from there here, either. He's got a lot of shit, but he still had people he liked, and people who knew him back home. ]

We can look into it when we get back to the city, [ he goes on. ] We'll find out how people bring sleepers back from that, see if there's any safeguards. Find out everything we can.

[ He's rubbing his fingers together, knowing this next part won't help, probably, but... ]

...and I won't blame you if you hurt me 'cause you lost control. I've been sticking with you this long: I know there's a risk.

[ He huffs, a small glance down before he looks back. ] But I'd rather take my chances than back out now.

[frankly if mob hadn't already exploded with gratitude once he might have now. instead the feeling at least is familiar enough it's easier to process without it tipping the scale, just curling around his chest. even calms him just a little (73%) because he's being listened to, offered a hand.

a few of the trees nearby bud just a little with new leaves despite it as he nods to robby's offer.]

I don't want to burden you. [he's willing to admit.] I feel like I do a lot. But... I think I need the help. I keep- keep thinking of what could happen if things go bad.

I think that's part of why I wanted to come here. To see if there are places far away from everyone. [another careful admittance. it's not like he wanted to isolate himself like a hermit but knowing there was a place he could go where less people could get hurt, that meant something, right? it wasn't even a fully formed thought until now, a buried inkling.

honestly the last of it hits him like a gut punch (82%), that robby wouldn't blame him. his eyes feel a bit hot, stinging, and a swirl of mixed emotions get swallowed down deep again. his voice is very small but sincere when he says,] Thanks Robby. I'm really glad I met you, even if it was like this.

[ That's part of why I wanted to come here. That...kinda makes sense than a random curiosity; maybe not so random, but for a guy who's wanted to keep away from danger going through a beast-infested forest to another highly likely danger zone?

The fact of the reasoning sits with Robby more than if it was a good idea or not. He was hoping that maybe Mob had been feeling better about him, but it hasn't been that long, has it? And he's hardly a shining sample of letting shit go.

He gives Mob a sad, tight smile. ]

Same at'cha. [ A tiny huff, and he glances around them. ] You know, I didn't argue about you coming out here, 'cause I figured it would've been better for you to be around people when you saw how this place can be. And I'd be here to help out--'cause I said I would.

[ After all: ] If I didn't want to, I wouldn't. But you're a fun guy.

[ In his own way. ]

I'm fun? [this is very new to him. he's pretty used to being considered boring or forgettable when you know, dramatic psychic nonsense isn't happening. and that isn't fun exactly.

fun, huh? he has a tiny smile about that. who would have thought he could be fun?

but there's more than that to consider. robby really did keep his word.] I think I have a better idea of what things are like here now. The forests were a lot.

[even if it went well it was something to finally see beasts in action, the precautions people had to take.] I doubt I get it fully though, but I promise I'll take everything seriously.

[ Fun, Mob. Even Robby can figure why that's maybe a surprising thing to hear from someone, but he just smiles at Mob as he repeats him. Yup, fun--partially because of his powers, but mostly that mild, mild personality of his.

That's kind of what makes the powers fun, too.

His smile eases some as Mob goes on, but the warmth doesn't entirely leave him. ]

Me or Mister LaRusso can't prepare you for everything, but the more you learn before something big happens, the better you'll be ready. [ He walks over, pats the back of his shoulder. ] When that happens, remember everything you've learned. And to breathe.

[ ...he doesn't know if it'll help, but Robby hopes to god it does. ]

[robby gets a tiny smile. well, maybe the matter of how dangerous he could be wasn't settled but it probably never would fully be. a matter he'll avoid for now, because at least he was heard.

and everyone was making it through, struggling in their own ways.]

Do you think we'll always have to fight to survive like this? [he does ask after a beat. even back home it kept happening. a normal life seemed increasingly impossible.]

[ Hmrr, what a question. ]

Unless something big changes, [ Robby answers after a pause. ] Beasts have been around forever, or a long time; and there's the corruption and pollution, too. If there was something that could stop people changing, then-- that'd help, but...

[ But was that bound to happen in their lifetimes? Robby was doubtful. ...they'd probably end up back in the sea before then. ]

Best you can do is try and keep out of the way where you think it'll be dangerous. It's not always gonna work, but it's something. [ A beat, and optimistically??: ] At least incense isn't rare?

All the weird stuff too. Like zombies, or santa. [santa especially. he tries not to think of santa. (85%) ] At least the beasts make some sense. Like cursed energy or angry spirits.

[the rest? he's not sure there's any sense to that.]

That's true, and people are always helpful. [things could be so much worse, regardless of how wild everything was.]

[ God, Robby doesn't want to think about all those bodies just....under them, he guesses!!! ]

Yeah. Hopefully Viktor and everyone'll figure out something with the bloodstones. [ sorry, hal, time for a namedrop. ] Place has to be screwed up in the first place with how weird everything is, but all the magic can't be helping it.

Having all that pollution made from blood magic in the air... it's got to be about as good for everything else as it is for us.

[ So, not at all. ]

[cursed, who is this viktor. a mystery man mob will only hear about in passing, and nod to.] I wonder if there would be as much weird stuff if the blood pollution was fixed.

[the dream. it'd fix beasts which is what mob really cares about! so!] It wouldn't be a bad place to live if there wasn't corruption and beasts and stuff like that.

Sure. [ Probably. It's also hard to imagine it without all that either. ] 'Cept you've got the pthumerians too, they like to get us up to stuff too. People shedding and changing age? That's got something to do with the snake one holding the party this month.

My pthumerian dumped people into the woods last year.

[ Fun!! ]

Oh, that explains a lot. [at some point they have to have a talk about teen daniel (and johnny) because that's been a trip huh] That's annoying, they should stop playing with people like that.

[no respect for their Bullshit. but-] Who is your pthumerian?

[ Nobody needed to experience the first Karate Kid movie in Trench............. ]

Me? Cloverfield. [ Uhhh. ] The one that looks like he's out of a sci-fi movie? He just walks all over the place. Don't know what he's been up to, but he came up to me one day and dropped off a necklace. That's how I learned that out--they do that for you on Blessed Days.

[ But, a huff and a shrug. ] Dunno why. I guess we're connected to them somehow?

[and yet that's exactly what they all got, thank you trench.]

Oh right, I heard about those. They're like your birthday but sometimes they aren't. [well. bad explanation but he's not wrong.] It's meaningful or something? I don't really know why either.

I guess it's nice to get a gift though.

Oh yeah? So what's your birthday? We'll have to see if you get a visit that day.

[ And not for any other reason!!! ]

May 10th. [fool doesn't even realize the trap he's fallen into.] I think mine is Bausphomette. [he pronounces this weirdly but he tried.] She's like a big dog?

[she probably wouldn't love that description either.]

[ fool!!! Daniel's sticking that on the Miyagi-do birthday calendar!!! ]

Yeah? [ There's no sly faces here for Robby's achievement; just a conversation continuing. ] That one's... I don't remember that one. [ Hrm. ] I know about the Tower, Never Mind, and Mariana 'cause they've come up. And The Reckoning? I think they're a kind of law pthumerian.

[ Or...whatever. The Cop Pthumerian. ]

[absolutely duped... well played, robby]

The school talked about her a little when I asked. They said she's one of the nicer pthumerians. [which he's very glad about, surprise surprise.] I still don't really get it, they seem kind of like gods I guess?

[dimple would have loved this shit, he thinks, tried to be one of them or something.]