( semi-open ) they can take my breath

[regives]

Who: Leanne (regives) & various
What: Your girl's a fugitive on the run.
When: The first of October and the days following!
Where: All around Olympia.
Warning(s): None... for now.


a.)

[ A situation going from bad to worse should be relatively familiar to Leanne, but that doesn't save her from the overwhelming amount of surprise that hits her when news of the explosion finally surfaces. She of course experiences concern for who may be close to the blast, and then is immediately taken aback when the announcement that included her name also rings through.

Undoubtedly there's an explanation that needs to be made. But given her wavering trust there's no way for her to turn herself in, especially when she's being accused for a crime she didn't commit.

Though her luck continues to be a distant thing as the podcast is made when she's trying to make herself back to her apartment. Taking the back streets in hopes of avoiding those who are fully prepared to round up those accused without hesitation, she knows a little silver is enough to motivate anybody. So when she's peering around the next corner and makes blatant eye contact with another person she immediately shrinks back. Way to go, girl, hopefully they didn't notice? But if they did... maybe if she acts normal then they could go on their way without there being an unnecessary bump in the road.

Or not. She's a little glad she left the house with better shoes to run in today. ]

b.)

[ So are you trying to help her get from point A to point B without getting noticed? Great, you're a pal, and Leanne's got the greatest idea known to man: by acting like your terribly non-suspicious girlfriend! With an oversize jacket on her shoulders with the hood pulled up on top of her head she's pretty much the definition of ominous. And while she wouldn't say that she is some sort of award winning actress she does at least try to make the plan of her pretending to be your sick significant other work somehow.

Leanne keeps a hand firmly around the other person's arm. Holding onto them tightly as a heavy weight of anxiety rests on her shoulders. ]

I'm kinda surprised that this is working. [ Oh! Someone's looking, she pretends to cough. ] But I'm glad... sorry for dragging you into this.

( closed starters will be in the comment section below! her plotting comment is here but feel free to pm or pp me through vongaribaldi. )

Comments

[regives]

[ Has war flashbacks of never having someone to hold in her time of need hours before she was supposed to die. Mikazuki is oddly comfortable despite his stature but Leanne won't comment on it, at least verbally, humming softly when he returns the gesture and for the first time in what feels like forever (in today alone) she feels safe. ]

Heh, [ She chuckles lightly. ] that's such a cheeky question, of course that's what I'm gonna do. Just... slowly.

[ She finally softens her grip, putting some distance between herself and Mikazuki. ]

I could probably hide around the city but that sounds like a lot more work with people looking around everywhere. If anything I'll probably have to leave Olympia until things blow over.

[sparsity]

[ Just because he likes to state the obvious doesn't mean he's that cheeky about it. (Except when he totally is.) But being rewarded with a laugh makes some of that natural tension ease back as she moves away again. His palms stay upturned, rested against the angles of her arms. ]

I don't think staying here is safe at all. [ If he's being honest. Shielding a single person is a full time job, and they'd only moved Shino once. ] It's a hunt, now.

[ Saying that, he glances off into the street as a precaution. He's sure no one followed him, but he can't be certain they'll be left alone for long. ]

Where are you going to go?

[regives]

[ I hate that this is just a typical scene between Mikazuki and Kudelia. I wanna die. ]

That's a good question, actually... I came across another friend earlier that's in the same situation and he talked about escaping to the area when we first arrived here. Or if anything at least the outpost there, though that might still be risky.

[ But everything is.

And slowly she begins to realize that she is just leaving her hands there on Mikazuki's shoulders; fingers curled into the fabric of his clothes, she begins to detach herself from him completely. They'll cuddle later. ]

I also suggested we head to Wyver but... well, it'd probably be easier if we stayed somewhere relatively close.

[sparsity]

[ my love is dead

But this is how it's going to be so I'm going with it despite being more dead inside than Mikazuki is. Listening, he makes a brief thoughtful noise, dropping his arms once she begins to put some distance between them. He seems to consider where they are — how familiar Olympia is and yet also how foreign. It's always been foreign in its freedom to him, but taking it away so suddenly... well, that part, not so much. ]

Living outside the city would work for a while. There's resources.

[ Unlike back home, for him. Food, water, unregulated and hospitable terrain, for anyone who can hold their own. ]

Long term, though...

[ Weirdly enough his critical thinking isn't so terrible about this stuff. ]

[regives]

[ love me ]

I'm definitely not trying to be out there for long. [ She waves a dismissive hand, shaking her head at the same time. ] I'm going to make my trip there with the rest and then if no one else shows any signs of leaving I'll head to Wyver. [ On her own?? Yes. That's probably the dumbest idea out of the amount of options they have but she states all of this in confidence. ]

I mean it's probably a shot in the dark but it's better than nothing, in my opinion.

[sparsity]

[ Mikazuki can appreciate confidence in the face of overwhelming bullshit, so he doesn't raise any objections. Verbally, anyway. ]

I think so too. It's better to move forward when you can... but I don't like that you're going alone.

[regives]

[ Is that... concern?? For her well-being???? ]

Hey now, there's no need to worry! I'm far from a damsel and a lot tougher than I look, so getting around will be an easy walk in the park.

[ She hopes. ]

[sparsity]

[ no








maybe ]

Yeah, got it. [ Either way, he's not going to press the issue if this is her decision; it's the least anyone can do for themselves when things go sideways. Even though by his standards, this is essentially a full on argument, and he's aware of it. ] I guess I felt like I didn't want you to. I wonder why.

[ (spoilers: it's concern. spoilers again: he's slow on the uptake, particularly his own.) ]

[regives]

[ this would be cute if mikazuki wasn't so detached from everyday emotions

i mean it is still cute but i'm also sad ]

Maybe it's gotta do with... you caring about me? [ She's playing with him now, which is easy to define considering the wide smile on her features. Actually she probably knows that he's a broken man after their volleyball episode honestly rip. ] You're such a sweetheart, Mikazuki, even if you don't know it. How am I supposed to be acting like a wanted fugitive if you're going to be this cute?

[ SHE JUST WANTS TO HUG HIM!!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! ]

I promise that I'll take care of myself, and if anything does happen I'll let you know the second it happens. [ Somehow. Let's not get into any specifics. ] I'll even pinky swear!

[sparsity]

[ i can only work with what i'm given ashe i'm sorry ]

I guess that's it. [ At least he's not gonna tsun about it. He never got anywhere by denying he cared about someone. ...He never got anywhere by killing himself for it either but we all know that story. Discovering a better way to do any of this hasn't quite happened yet. ] It's not like I'd tell you not to leave if that's safer...

[ BUT ]

...pinky?

[regives]

[ KOU ]

Yeah! It's something kids and I would do back home. [ The kids that she had grown up with briefly within the laboratory. Something that she carries with a heavy heart considering all of them had died shortly after they had made the promise to see each other again.

But she holds out her pinky finger, the remainder curled into the palm of her hand. ]

We hook our fingers together and make our promise... simple, right? After that we can't break it or else.

[sparsity]

[ hai ]

I've never heard of it. [ This method. Which probably isn't all that surprising, but promises aren't new to him. His entire life had hinged on one. Maybe it still does, a thought that softens his expression. ] But I'm alive because of a promise.

[ Taking a moment to flex his fingers, Mikazuki finally mimics her, holding his pinky out. ]

So I'll make one with you too.

[regives]

[ She's unsure of how to react to what he says entirely. A little confused, yet happy that he's going to at least indulge in this little request of hers no matter how childish it may be from the perspective of someone else. Perhaps there will be another day where she receives a better explanation, but for the time being she'll shove her curiosity aside. ]

Then... [ She hooks her pinky finger with his. ] I swear that I won't get in trouble, but if I do then I'll contact you first thing.

[ Which should be easy to keep, but it warms her heart just by doing something so simple. ]

There! As simple as that, see?

[sparsity]

[ Once they shake on it, he nods, the odd twinge of familiarity enough to keep his attention neatly reined in. ]

Okay. If you're in trouble, I'll find you.