Higurashi aftermath

[sharpasafawkes]

[IN OUR LAST EPISODE Shaun and Cesare had a little trip down to the labs, if by "trip" we mean "a magical adventure full of torture-filled antics". Needless to say there's one historian laid up in a hospital bed, more or less asleep and bandaged like you wouldn't believe.]

Comments

[maleborgia]

Because you're from the future.

He told me about you, too.

[sharpasafawkes]

Aside from my research, how useless did he say I was?

[maleborgia]

He never said you were useless.

He did say you were smart. And sometimes said mean things, but that I shouldn't worry about it.

[sharpasafawkes]

[Closing his eyes again, keeping something down.]

So it wasn't always bad, at least I know that now.

[maleborgia]

*had paused in the petting for a while but starts it up again, thinking quietly*

[sharpasafawkes]

[A pause, not sure if he should say it but]

...I don't think I hate him though, I mean I could if he knew he was doing it all the time, but he's not. I mean look at you, I don't think he intended to use you to try and smooth things over, but he'll take advantage of everything he's got available.

[maleborgia]

*confused and a little hurt :< *

I don't understand.

[sharpasafawkes]

[Leaning into the tiny completely.]

I'm glad. ...I wish you'd never change.

[maleborgia]

*this is not a happy face, but he is giving Shaun nice attentive pettings*

[sharpasafawkes]

[Just letting himself be pet, and almost chokes up a few times, but manages to stave it off.]

Thank you, Cesare.

[maleborgia]

For what?

[sharpasafawkes]

I've got to be honest with you, I haven't felt safe for a long time. First there was the mess that got me here, then the bloody nightmares, and even before that I've felt like I was on the run for so long. I'm not sure a feel really safe now, but it's the closest it's been lately.

[maleborgia]

Why do you trust me?

[sharpasafawkes]

I just do, shouldn't I?

[maleborgia]

But my brother hurt you. And he tells me to do things.

[sharpasafawkes]

But you're not him, at least you act differently than him.

[maleborgia]

...Oh.

*so much internal conflict :< *

[sharpasafawkes]

[sees that and bumps Cesare with his head]

You'll turn out fine, as long as you learn from your mistakes, I still have faith in that.

[maleborgia]

I learned what you taught me when we were playing chess.

[sharpasafawkes]

That's a start, just remember that in real life the pieces have feelings.

[maleborgia]

I will.

[sharpasafawkes]

[fluffing and then starting to preen]

You said you wanted another game...

[maleborgia]

*sometime later, after another game and a snack and the tiny climbing back onto the bed and falling asleep with the bird in his lap, Camp has decided that right now would be the ideal time to suddenly reage Cesare.

he's very awake and growing angrier and more frustrated by the second.

stands up suddenly, causing Shaun to topple out of his lap*

What was the meaning of all that?

[sharpasafawkes]

Cesare, I was having a normal...

[oh, oh god, oh god no. WORST TIME TO BE A BIRD]

[maleborgia]

You can't just tell him things like that! I don't care how upset you are! Do you know how much effort it takes to get him to behave properly? And now he's questioning me! This could very well ruin everything!