❪ event ❫ a moment in eternity

[natha]

TO THERE AND BACK     It has been a month of chills uncharacteristic of what you might remember as summer — cold days and even colder nights. The days are short and the nights feel eternal. With the recent disruption of the network and no sign of a resolution for the world outside of Nadril, one has to wonder what the future holds for El Nysa. What of Olympia, Wyver, and their residents? The animals you cared for - are they destined to remain as frozen as wretched Ysverai forever? What will become of the sleeping ones in Thesa when there is nowhere else to go but this icy city? Yet not all hope is lost just yet. The woman that appeared at the start of the network errors finally shows up again in another network post. Greetings to you all. I apologize for my abrupt appearance and departure before… My name is Nurray, and I am the closest thing to a monarch that you will find here in Nadril. Magda is... indisposed, so I am here to speak to you in his place. First and foremost, you will notice that your network devices are fully functional once more. Should you experience any further issues, please report them to me immediately so that it can be taken care of. Secondly… Investigating the strange frequency interference we've been experiencing has brought some troubling data to light. The passage of time outside of this colony has been halted, of course, but the hold seems... unstable. Whatever it is that Darma has done to contain the calamity, I doubt that it will last for long. Time is an unpredictable force, and attempting to control it can only have adverse effects on the world. You could stay here if you so chose, outside the reach of that magic... but to do that would be to abandon the rest of this planet to an unenviable fate. ...ah, but there is no need to take my word for it. You can see the effects for yourselves, if you wish — merely look outside. "Seeing is believing"... isn’t that the phrase? Nurray has a point: refugees have not been given a chance to see the outside. The frequent snowstorm barrier of Nadril has made it impossible to see what it's like beyond the colony. Soon after the network post, as though the snow has been "turned off," clouds will clear. With the barrier created by the snow gone, the red sun shines brightly upon the dreary city with its warmth. You can see a purple haze on the south horizon, a indication that Yservai wasn’t all just a dream. He's still there, so far away, yet so close anyway. Near the entrance, a mound of snow melts, revealing steps leading towards the underground. It seems to be a part of the subway station you might have found earlier during your exploration of the colony — this time, the station has been powered on. Two trains lie in wait — their destinations read: Olympia and Wyver. — El Nysa is waiting. FREEZE FRAME     The technology found in the subway station of Nadril is truly out of this world. The combined efforts of Natha technology and alien minds have truly created state-of-the-art transportation never before seen by the typical Nysan. It takes no longer than one hour for the intercoms to announce their arrival to the outskirts of the Dranbu Kingdom — though, even with the platform available, the train never stops; it instead continues for another half hour for it to reach the North Gate of the Olympian Empire, where it sits until it's time to return to the tundra. All in all, it takes a mere hour and a half for this high-speed subway travel from Nadril to Olympia. The second train does make a quick stop at the Olympian Station, but it will be another painless hour and a half until it reaches the jungle of the Wyver Kingdom. Because Wyver is its own island, connected only by a bridge, you might notice that a small part of the travel was underwater. The trip takes only a total of three hours, but there's plenty of time for sightseeing. After all, isn't that the whole point of this trip? BE STILL MY HEART. Leaving the train, you are immediately hit with the still, warm air of the underground. It's hot, much different from the winter of the north, but perhaps a welcome change. The station is old, but it still has a fairly new smell to it, and not just because it's been unused for so long. It feels out of place compared to the rest of this world, and this is especially true when you reach the surface. The entrance was hidden under the earth right near the North Gate. Upon leaving the station, you're immediately hit with the familiar wretched smell and atmosphere of the undead. Even if you're new, you won’tt be able to miss Ysverai, the risen Great Dragon. You see this massive creature on the horizon, mouth wide and ready to blast El Nysa into nothing. Yet he remains still — as are all the terrified residents of Olympia. You've only seen this on the monitors of Thesa Station, and now you're able to experience first-hand how utterly quiet and still the world is now. The native Olympians are all over — you see most of them running away from the Great Dragon. Others equipped their armors and rode their steeds straight toward the danger in hopes of protecting their Empire. And the civilians, having lost all hope, are huddled together — at least they would have been able to spend their final moments with loved ones. Up on Thesa Station, you felt dread when you'd observed Ysverai for too long — this remains true here. That dread reaches your heart and clutches it. You feel his pain and suffering, and for those too in tune with emotions, it may be too much for you to be near him. Best to steer clear from him, or perhaps return to the underground. There is much more to be seen, after all. PRAYING WITH FIRE. Another hour and a half south on the subway, and you'll reach the Wyver Station. It's far warmer here in the station this further south, but Ysverai's dread doesn't reach here. On the surface, you are instead immediately hit with the overwhelming humidity of the jungle. With summer in full swing, the layers you've brought with you from Nadril become a burden. In Wyver, the mood is far different. The Great Dragon Yservai was once a being that was respected and worshipped by the Wyver people — not to mention that the one responsible is none other than Prince Raysc — thus his revival is met with somber resilience. Most of Wyver natives, instead of running away, had gathered around fires in prayer. Trained dragons that were unaffected by Ysverai's influence bow by their master's sides in acceptance of what they feel in their heart is to come with the Great Dragon's final blow. You may even spot your own dragon, eyes beamed up toward Thesa, like it knows you were up there at the moment time stood still. It's hard to imagine where one can go from here. You might start thinking about clean-up efforts, how to achieve proper burials for the fallen ones... but with time frozen, you will find that you cannot actually move anything or anyone. It will be dusk, as Thesa's shines across the skies, when storm cloud gather before Thesa's light. And from the clouds is a familiar figure — Once again, she has descended. TIME & TIME AGAIN     Darma is glowing as bright as the naked eye can perceive. Her massive, true form floats before the world she's built from dust. Is this world salvageable in your eyes, Refugee? We held time in hopes that we fould find a way to dissolve this Ysverai back to the ashes from which he was reanimated. Unfortunately, we continue to be unseeing, thus uncertain of the future... after all, our powers are near depleted. Nurray was correct, Refugee, in that I cannot hold time for much longer. There is... another way, however. It is not ideal by any means, but we shall do what we must to keep Ysverai frozen. As for us... we have expended far too much of our energy — Refugee, I am too aware of the misfortunes you've experienced in your time here. I have failed in my promise to provide better living... perhaps, with more time, I may yet see a better future. Until then, I leave Thesa, our hearts, in your hands. Farewell, Refugee. Her brightness dims as she says her final words — at the same time, raises her arms, palms wide, then closes her hands into a fist. In that instant, time is resumed. It's slow at first, as though time is trying to catch up with reality. It takes a several moments until the slow-motion picture before them reaches normalcy. Darma turns her attention to Yservai, whose motion is also returning, but not for long. In her true form, they are comparable in size; Darma's glow continues to dim as she draws closer to the Great Dragon, and then she coils herself around him, holding him still before assimilating into the wretched creature. By the end of it, time has completely returned to normal, and all residents were able to witness the Natha holding time still for Ysverai — The process turns the Great Dragon, as well as Darma, into stone. HIT PLAY TO REPLAY     Darma has resumed time, and Ysverai is no longer a threat. However, it comes with a hefty price for the Natha. The massive, stone statue of Darma embracing Ysverai looms in the valley between the cities of Olympia and Wyver. It's no doubt an intimidating addition to the world, but there is some peace in knowing it's all over. When civilians finally come to, they can't help but look upon the statue in awe — and their respective cities. It's much to take in all at once. Much destruction has been wrought— buildings lay in ruin, and of the citizens still alive, many look to be in poor physical condition. 1. I. The Sanctuary has sustained much damage, and with the high demand of medical care, cannot serve as the central healing place for those in need. Instead, it is up to individual citizens to find resources and establish places of care. Those with a medical inclination or healing powers may set up medical tents, or work out of their homes. Not everything has been destroyed, and it is still possible to obtain supplies from the market or request them from The Sanctuary. There is also, unfortunately, the tragic task of transporting corpses to graveyards and giving fallen citizens a proper burial. The Temples thank you for your service. II. In order to have a functioning city again, buildings and facilities must be repaired and rebuilt. It's possible your own home was demolished in the battle. With so many important buildings needing to be repaired, city officials are too overwhelmed with the coordination of such tasks to double-check that buildings are restored to their original form. What's more, they seem to encourage design innovation, believing that a new, fresh look to the city will revitalize people's morale. Now is the time to put your own unique flair on the interior or exterior of Olympia's infrastructure. Even parts of the Palace need repair. Time has resumed, yes, but the magic that Darma employs isn't flawless. As powerful of an entity as she may be, to tamper with time is difficult. Some would say it defies the laws of nature. Nature seems to agree, and in the next few weeks, El Nysa will be facing a few hiccups as it finds its equilibrium once more and citizens try to return to normalcy. Strangely enough, El Nysa natives are not disturbed by the occurrence of these events. III. Characters may find that they occasionally (or frequently) suffer from lapses in memory. These difficulties with memory may range from light to severe, although they are thankfully not permanent. Within the span of a few minutes to a few hours, difficulties in remembering people and events are resolved. That isn't to say a similar problem won’t happen again tomorrow… IV. Is it just you, or is your housemate looking a bit old lately? No, it isn't just stress making some citizens appear older. For a short amount of time, some characters may find themselves advancing or regressing in age, both physically and mentally. This particular kind of time hiccup is rare and may be particularly disturbing to the affected person’s friends. Thankfully, there have been no cases of this effect lasting more than an hour. V. At times, it seems as though objects and people in El Nysa will feel a bit out of place. These are beings and things that belong to what some may call "alternate universes." Their presence is transient, and some will only appear for a few instances before returning to their rightful existence. The ones that linger a bit longer, however, may make your day more interesting. Before you stands a pet just like yours, except it talks...? Perhaps you'll meet another version of yourself, a more bloodthirsty version of yourself. Or maybe you'll run into a version of your friend that really enjoys your company. The possibilities are truly endless, and potentially mortifying. VI. Towards the end of the month, the frequency of the aforementioned disturbances will decrease. Following this will be an increase in a different sort of disturbance: one that will either make literal seconds seem like an eternity, or force you to move and talk at a speed you never thought possible. It's as though some higher entity is pressing the fast forward or slow down button on life, and considering your mind works at the same pace as normal, the phenomenon is as frustrating as it sounds. Hope you weren't planning to be on time for anything, because it might be awhile before the universe allows you to take that next step. But these phenomena does draw to a close — and with it, you may wonder what will happen now to those sleeping ones in Thesa now that Darma has turned to stone. After all, it will be near the time of which more refugees should wake... Repairs to Thesa Station should remain ongoing so long as parts can be salvaged from Nadril, at least. And with speed travel via subway possible, it should make travel far easier than ever before. Even with Darma gone, you will have to move forward. There is still much to be done. FINAL OOC NOTES     You may acquire REP for Nadril, and either Olympia or Wyver in this log. An AC-eligible thread for ONE (1) NADRIL REP POINT may be submitted HERE BY AUGUST 26TH, 11:59 PM EST. A second AC-eligible thread for 1 REP for either Olympia OR Wyver may be submitted HERE OR HERE BY AUGUST 26TH, 11:59 PM EST. Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

also references to institutional ableism throughout

[hedonistic]

[No, definitely no parents are on their way. He hasn't seen his parents in a couple years, at this point.

The question draws a more plainly confused look than before, though. He didn't know what was going on, but he'd been sure this man did. He had been expecting a brusque shutdown, possibly a taunt if he was a particularly mean guard, or maybe even a sympathetic non-answer if he happened to be one of the ones that felt sorry for them, being born wrong as they were.]

...Don't you work at the facility?

[stuns]

[ juno squints a little. ]

The facility? No. I'm self-employed.

[ he's pretty sure he hasn't heard of a place like that around here. not from the natives that he's run into so far or even the refugees that the natha have picked up universally. he rubs his jaw a second, trying to figure out what the hell he should do. maybe walk the kid around for a bit, see if anyone recognizes him? bring him to what's left of the sanctuary and try to see what to do from there? ]

I don't think you're where you think you are, [ now they're taking kids? jeez. ] Name's Juno... what's yours?

[hedonistic]

Kagari Shuusei.

[He provides it mechanically, automatically, like someone used to giving their name on demand. It's not a good idea for guards to learn their names; getting attached to latent criminals could harm their Psycho-Pass, after all.]

I don't understand, sir. [not "Juno-san"; he feels like that's still too familiar. It's best to be cautious.]

...But if you don't work for the facility, then you should leave. You can't be around me.

[stuns]

There's no facility he -

[ juno stops halfway through. he's so used to barreling into conversation that the name locks into place half a beat behind everything else.

because he's met kagari before. he's roomed with him back in nadril and he's chatted with him a couple of times on and off. and this... kid isn't him. well, isn't him at first glance. it takes juno a moment of confusion on his face, studying him briefly. the hair is off, darker, a brown, but the eyes - while young - are still there. something about a person's eye shape never leaves them, and while everything about the boy screams "caution" and uncertainty.

well.

what's he gonna do, just say "oh well" and ditch him? he's a kid...

kagari's... a kid?

damn it. ]

Kagari... [ he shakes his head. his first instinct is to infodump him. but he's... well he's already kind of shaken up as is, by the looks of it. ] Little late for that, I don't really plan on going anywhere. So. Want me to tell you some good news?

[hedonistic]

[...Why is Juno giving him that weird look? Ugh, he hopes this guy doesn't know his parents or something. Kagari can't imagine something more miserable than talking to someone about them right now. He doesn't want to know what they've been doing with their lives since handing him over, doesn't want to think about whether or not they would've tried again in the last couple of years.

He doesn't quite look Juno in the eye when he responds again, but his voice is--almost sharp? Something that would be close to demanding, if it wasn't so used to obedience.]

No. Go away. You'll end up like me if you don't.

[stuns]

[ very little tends to hurt juno, this is no exception. kagari's voice is sharp, but filed down just slightly at the teeth, like he's trying to take a bite for the first time in a while and can't bring himself to close around the hand reaching for him (metaphorically of course). ]

Trust me when I tell you that I'm not really worried about that at this point.

[ he shakes his head. ]

There's no facility here, kid. No one's keeping you behind bars. Not here.

[hedonistic]

[It's ironic; the reassurance in Juno's tone scares him more than cruelty would. He shakes his head in return, taking a small step back. His expression finally starts to take on some expression to it past the blank dullness from before, but now he looks stricken. Upset.]

That doesn't make sense.

[There's no escape from the Sybil System. It was designed to be perfect, to create the perfect society.]

Even...even if a facility isn't nearby, the scanners will still catch you. Y-you know it's a crime to protect someone like me.

[He shakes his head again, bending from the waist in a bow.]

Please leave me alone. Please.

[It's been a long time since someone's reached out to him in kindness, but the Kagari that's six years old remembers it better than the Kagari that's twenty-two. He's less inclined to be suspicious and angry. He just sounds miserable.]

[stuns]

Yeah, where you're from it is. Here? There's no scanners for any of that garbage.

[ he places his hands on his knees and pulls himself up to full height, hands resting in his pockets as he looks around the area. there's not much left standing except for the market and maybe a couple of businesses that are open for the sake of feeding the natives and refugees with whatever is leftover from the attack.

with a sigh, he leans back against a pile of stone and mortar, hands deep in his pockets now. he examines kagari briefly, eyebrows softened up a bit, gaze searching, but knowing he's not going to find anything all that familiar of the personality he knew in kagari previously. ]

Look, I can leave you alone and you can just stand around and not know where you are or you can come with me and I can get you something to eat while you figure this all out.

cw: suicidal thoughts

[hedonistic]

[This feels like some kind of trick or cruel joke. Like he'll follow this man and find out he was going to be killed after all. Or that someone sedated him and put him outside for this man to find and then a droid will come and take him away and it'll be his fault. His eyes start to prickle and grow hot, and he seems to be struggling not to let his expression crumble.]

Why....?

[It's all he's able to manage. His throat sounds like it's all but closing around that word, and what he wants to do is run away. Run until he ends up in some deserted place so he can starve to death there and be finished with it. After spending so long internalizing the idea that he's worthless and dangerous and unfit to be around people at large while being too young to really understand any of it, it's overwhelming to be told suddenly that none of that matters anymore. Maybe this person is lying. Maybe he does work for the facility and is about to kill him, but isn't telling him the truth because he was warned that Kagari might struggle.

When he thinks of it like that, he seems to calm down.]

...Okay.

[stuns]

[ the "okay" that comes from him sounds horrifically resigned. and for half a second, juno can relate. hell, he wouldn't trust himself if he were in his position either. it feels almost wrong to try and convince him to come with him, but first of all... it's kagari. and second of all, he looks thinner than a martian cat, and way too small to be at all healthy for his age.

food's a start and people aren't asking for cash in all this mess. it's not the time or place for it.

he doesn't reach over to take his hand, rather nods in the general direction of the market place and waits for kagari to follow. he keeps a steady pace with him, nothing that's too fast for smaller legs. he breaks a streak of silence with a random remark: ]

Do me a favor and don't call me sir, that's weird. Just Juno's fine. Okay?

[hedonistic]

[The facility feeds him more or less exactly as much as necessary to not have kids starving to death there tbh. There's only so much that can be justified without a PR crisis, after all.

Kagari follows obediently after Juno, only looking up to meet his eyes when spoken to. He nods, mechanically. Might as well play along; he's probably going to die soon, after all.]

Okay, Juno-san.

[It's in that same resigned tone. Eventually, they make their way to a stall, and when Juno finally hands him something, he stares at it for a long moment, like he's scared. No matter how tired he might be of life, confronting the actual moment of mortality is terrifying, and a couple of traitorous tears leak out as he takes a bite into what he honestly assumes is probably spiked with some manner of poison. It isn't the typical way of executing people in the facility, but nothing about this situation has been typical, from the moment he came to and found the sun in his eyes.

When nothing happens, he looks up at Juno again, confused. Searches his face for a reaction.]

[stuns]

[ the food in olympia isn't so bad, even after the disaster. what juno picks up for the both of them (he's been working all day - and he's starving) is just some kind of hot roll with whatever counts for meat in this place. it's decent anyways so when he finds a spot for them to sit a bit while they eat and hands it to kagari, he doesn't exactly expect tears to come leaking out of his eyes.

immediately juno's expression shifts from nonchalance to concern to... well. being somewhat baffled as the tears come down. he reaches out just slightly as kagari looks up at him, lets his fingers land on his shoulder softly. ]

Hey - hey, Kagari, hey... what's wrong, you eat too fast? Burn your tongue?

[ kids are sensitive like that, right? juno's done it more than his fair share of times. he remembers ben doing the same thing after burning his mouth on scalding hot dinner. ]

[hedonistic]

[Kagari stares up at Juno for a long time, trying to search for a lie in that bafflement, for evidence that this was an act. He'd thought he was being tricked, but all he can find in Juno's eyes is confusion and concern. Oddly enough for someone who'd just expected to die, it scares him. He jerks away from Juno's hand like it's on fire, yet more tears dripping from his eyes. It's a steady drip drip drip down his cheeks, now, not just a few stray drops of moisture.]

I--why---

...Don't...

[Kagari seems to try to re-gather his composure a couple of times, but he can only manage these snatches of words before the tears return and he finds his voice choked. Finally he just. Shoves the roll back into Juno's hands before he succumbs to his earlier impulse to take off at a run. Juno wouldn't leave him be, so he had to -- he had to get away. Clearly, Juno was kind, and he'd only suffer because of someone like him.]

[stuns]

[ it takes juno half a beat to register kagari running, if only because it all happens so fast. the theia immediately sets to work as if brought to life by juno's snap to reality and determination to catch up with kagari. it works quickly as he gets to his feet and sets off at a sprint after him. ]

Kagari? Hey - kid, come on, wait!

[ juno thinks about the look in his eyes just before darting off, remembers what kagari had mentioned about his world, about his life at such a goddamn young age. the thought of it turns his stomach and simultaneously spurs him on, the theia seizing at his pounding lungs so he can keep pace in a less huff-and-puff sort of way. ]

[hedonistic]

[At the least, it won't take Juno that long to catch up with him. Kagari might be running at top speed for him, but he's still a small child, after all. He gets far enough ahead at one point that he can't see Juno behind him, at which point he hides behind the nearest ruin of a building, arms loosely wrapped around himself.

If Juno really wasn't a guard, then what was even going on? Where was he? Was he .... free? That thought feels so forbidden he almost tries to stop it in his own mind before it occurs; it's foolish to dream so big. But then, is he a fugitive, now? He doesn't know how to survive on his own. Should he try to find some way to turn himself in, or would that just lead to him being killed after all for "escaping"?

These wild, rambling thoughts are interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Kagari turns around, and his eyes widen at who he sees.]

You...

[stuns]

[ juno finds him crouched down in the rubble, clutching at himself like he’s all he’s got and in all honesty... this is way above juno’s pay grade. kids aren’t really something he deals with in his line of work, at least not recently. still, his voice goes soft, albeit a little roughly, like he’s not used to it. ]

Yeah, me.

[ he figures it’s probably not the smartest idea to mention that the theia was helpful in picking up his heat signature in all the stone and destruction faster than juno himself could find a human shape in all that mess. instead he approaches, albeit a little more slowly this time. ]

I’m telling you, you aren’t where you think you are... you gotta calm down and trust me.

[ it’s laughable. trusting juno steel is usually a recipe for disaster, yet some people still do it. he doesn’t know what prompts him to say it beyond the way the kid had bolted off that bench, like a martian bat out of hell. ]

[hedonistic]

[He's only half-listening, caught up in the fact that Juno came after him, and he's still feeling nothing from that food, so it must have been okay. But then, why? He just doesn't understand. Why would he go out of his way for someone like him? Why doesn't he realize he's wasting his time? Kagari stares at him for some time longer, then his gaze falls to his lap.]

You shouldn't trust me. I'm...not right, you know. I'm not supposed to be around people.

[At this point, it's obvious Juno's not leaving. But Kagari can't figure out why he would stay.]

[stuns]

[ juno eases up just slightly when he sees kagari choosing to remain where he is instead of making another break for it. he really doesn't want to have to go chasing him down through the remains of olympia - doesn't sound safe to begin with. glancing over his shoulder, he reaches and eases himself onto a larger piece of rubble to have a seat, legs stretched a little as he sighs. ]

Good thing I'm an adult and can make all my own decisions, huh? This is one of 'em.

[ he shrugs ] They're wrong. Whoever said that. [ that sybil thing, but he feels like even saying it would make kagari panic again. ]

[hedonistic]

[He doesn't have to say it; Kagari's eyes widen sharply, and he starts looking around as though to make sure there were no scanners or droids in the area.]

Don't!

[It's cried out almost instantly, the distress in it apparent and of a different quality altogether than where he's spoken quietly and hesitantly before. Don't say that. Don't even think it.]

[stuns]

[ juno's eyes widen a little at the sudden yelp, so much so that his entire body tenses forward instinctively. well apparently that was useless... god this system fucked him up real good as a kid didn't it? juno holds his hands out again. placating. his voice is a kind, but a edging towards stern to get his attention away from the panic: ]

Kagari!

[ calm down. ]

It's okay. Just... relax. A little bit.

[ he digs a heel in. ]

Nothing here's gonna hurt you. And if it tries, it's gonna have to go through me, okay?

[ it's a declaration juno doesn't make lightly. he's only known kagari for a handful a days but if anything happened to this small child he'd kill everyone in this broken down building and then himself. ]

[hedonistic]

[Kagari doesn't seem mollified by the declaration, though. If anything, he seems, perhaps, more upset.]

Why? I'm nobody.

[Juno stands with his hands held up, and Kagari steps forward to shove him. It's a weak shove from little arms, but his teeth are grit, like he's putting all his strength into it.]

Go through you? You don't even -- we're not even related.

[With the implication that...well, it hadn't been enough to be related, to protect him like Juno is promising to protect him. His parents had chosen to obey Sybil instead.]

I don't want you to!

[stuns]

[ it is a weak shove, and juno doesn't move from that spot. he lets his hands come down to his sides, giving kagari a look as though it really matters whether or not they're related. fact is, juno's never let it stop him before - even if the threat isn't real here and now. he'd still do it. still protect him.

what else does he have left but the people here who he barely trusts to begin with? there's a city on a planet that's been devoured by a storm so he has to figure out some way to keep going. ]

Gonna have to push a little harder than that to get rid of me.

[ almost a dare. actually. no, it is a dare. ]

[hedonistic]

[Perhaps ironically, it's harder for dares to move him, as a child. But he's gotten himself worked up at this point, and when Juno continues to stubbornly insist on not going away, Kagari shoves him again. And again. And again and again and again, over and over until finally ... the very last time, he pushes his arms against Juno's chest, but the will to keep resisting crumbles all at once, and instead his fingers curl in the fabric of the detective's shirt; he clings like Juno is the last piece of driftwood surrounded by an endless ocean, and this time, the tears flow freely, with no attempt made to stop them.

Kagari's still a child, after all. He's lonely and afraid, and while he might have some of the bearing of a tired adult already, in his words and eyes, he's too vulnerable to be able to really resist the security and comfort Juno is offering here.]

I'm sorry.

[he mutters, into Juno's shirt. He tried to push him away, he really did. He tried, but Juno just wouldn't go. He doesn't have the strength to keep pushing, and he feels the guilt burn in his chest even as he keeps holding onto Juno's shirt for dear life.]

I'm ...

[stuns]

[ he lets kagari push and push as much as he needs to smaller hands trying to move him, but he steps up and digs his heels in. he barely budges from each shove until the last comes, something that's more full-bodied than anything.

and stops.

it's sudden, but almost a relief because kagari looked like he could have kept going. determination in children knows no bounds, at least from what juno remembers of being a child, so the fact that kagari is pressing into his chest, clutching his shirt, is movement from simply trying to shove him aside... and that's enough. juno doesn't immediately hold onto him at first, rather, lets him cling there, tears making the front of his shirt damp.

the hand that settles itself in kagari's hair is... heavy, but gentle. juno doesn't know what else to do. the other hand rests on his shoulder, standing there in a mess of a building, hearing kagari mutter apologies he doesn't need to be digging up in the first place.

but the fact that juno won't go is true. ]

You're fine. Don't apologize.

[ the hand on kagari's shoulder shifts to press between his shoulder blades, lightly so he can squirm free if he wants. it's support more than anything. a quiet message of "stay here as long as you need." he dips his head a little to keep his voice low. ]

Take your time. I'm not going anywhere.

[hedonistic]

[He's not fine, though. He's not supposed to be here, not supposed to be around others, but he is, and Juno wants to stay anyway. It scares him, because he doesn't know why or what will happen if he does, but he's out of energy to fight.

When Juno places his hands in his hair and his shoulder, though, he all but startles, the feel of another person's touch almost electric with just how long it's been. He looks up at the detective with eyes that have known too much pain and suffering to not be mistrustful, but hold something...maybe like hope in them. He's scared, but it's also the first time in a very long time that he's felt something close to safe. Nothing's going to hurt him, Juno had said, and oddly....Kagari wants to believe him.

He sniffles a little against the detective's shirt, before slowly, carefully, he releases one hand from it and then another, so as to wrap them around Juno's waist instead. He can't reach all the way, but he goes as far as he can, and clutches on there instead.

He remembers being held, a very long time ago. He holds onto Juno now like his very life depends on it.]