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inbox @ comesailaway
( shiptalk | direct messages | group messages | action )
( shiptalk | direct messages | group messages | action )
( wow, if that isn't the most dishonest coping mechanism of a smile she's ever seen. )
Mizuki —
( equal parts an address, and a warning. slathered with the same tone disapproving dog owners use when their dog starts to gnaw on the furniture. clarke's never had a dog, but if she did and it continually offered to bite dangerous strangers for her...
well, what was the line between praise and rebuke? )
I'm not asking that of you. Can't it be enough that I promise I'll tell you if I need help? And that I know I could trust you to follow through if I asked?
Mizuki —
( equal parts an address, and a warning. slathered with the same tone disapproving dog owners use when their dog starts to gnaw on the furniture. clarke's never had a dog, but if she did and it continually offered to bite dangerous strangers for her...
well, what was the line between praise and rebuke? )
I'm not asking that of you. Can't it be enough that I promise I'll tell you if I need help? And that I know I could trust you to follow through if I asked?
[ Coping mechanism? Sure. Dishonest, though? Assuredly not. While he might still have some tangled feelings of guilt, he is genuinely happy that Clarke is so willing to give him a second chance. And even more so when she essentially says it outright. ]
Of course! If that is what you want me to do. You don't even need to promise that to me.
Of course! If that is what you want me to do. You don't even need to promise that to me.
...That's not how this is supposed to work.
( he'd more or less asked if they could be friends before, right? confidants. allies. just because clarke inevitable reneged on promises to all her friends doesn't mean she's not viscerally aware that's not how it's supposed to go. promises aren't light things, oaths of services even less so. and even if she doesn't quite understand the scope of what mizuki offers her on a regular basis, the weight behind his words can't be ignored.
it's supposed to go both ways. )
You promise you'll listen to me when I tell you what I want, and I promise to always tell you what I want. Even when that means putting me back in the middle of a hurricane, you understand?
( he'd more or less asked if they could be friends before, right? confidants. allies. just because clarke inevitable reneged on promises to all her friends doesn't mean she's not viscerally aware that's not how it's supposed to go. promises aren't light things, oaths of services even less so. and even if she doesn't quite understand the scope of what mizuki offers her on a regular basis, the weight behind his words can't be ignored.
it's supposed to go both ways. )
You promise you'll listen to me when I tell you what I want, and I promise to always tell you what I want. Even when that means putting me back in the middle of a hurricane, you understand?
[ Being considered on equal footing is... a strange place to be. He doesn't mind it, of course. But he's also not entirely sure how to handle it. It's fine, though! He can adapt. Hopefully. ]
... Okay. I promise.
... Okay. I promise.
Okay. Good.
( and honestly, if this whole situation had gone a different way and flynn scifo had failed up on the sports deck, her anger would persist. a passing fury can easily become an all consuming grudge, and clarke griffin holds a grudge like no one's business. but her capacity for forgiveness runs just as wide; this had been a horrible miscommunication, hadn't it? but they're righted it. mizuki promises and despite constant let downs, clarke wants to believe him.
there's a beat. an appraising sweep of her gaze, an ounce of the tension dropping off her shoulders. the next words out of her mouth are still gruff and abrasive, but beneath the performance is a burning need to make sure they all made it out of this okay. )
Were you hurt out there?
( and honestly, if this whole situation had gone a different way and flynn scifo had failed up on the sports deck, her anger would persist. a passing fury can easily become an all consuming grudge, and clarke griffin holds a grudge like no one's business. but her capacity for forgiveness runs just as wide; this had been a horrible miscommunication, hadn't it? but they're righted it. mizuki promises and despite constant let downs, clarke wants to believe him.
there's a beat. an appraising sweep of her gaze, an ounce of the tension dropping off her shoulders. the next words out of her mouth are still gruff and abrasive, but beneath the performance is a burning need to make sure they all made it out of this okay. )
Were you hurt out there?
Edited 2022-04-22 01:35 (UTC)
[ Mizuki sticks his arms out and does a little twirl to show himself off the best he can with his rain poncho covering most of him. ]
Nope. A little sore, but I'm okay. I tried to get as many...
Nope. A little sore, but I'm okay. I tried to get as many...
[ His words sort of pitter out, and his gaze falls to the floor. Very slowly, his arms curl back in and settle over his umbrella handle again. ]
… But I hurt you. [ It isn't as if he'd forgotten about that. There was just... so much to think about, and... ] Are you- Does-
[ … ]
...I'm sorry.
[ … ]
...I'm sorry.
( by this point, she has so many bruises and abbrasions all over her body that clarke couldn't even remember where most of them had come from. the split lip and gradually blackening eye aren't memorable, they only hurt when she touches them (or smiles, or talks, or eats, or blinks). so this second round of apology sorta... goes over her head.
clarke shrugs, leaning a little heavily on the frame of her doorway. )
I'll get over hurt feelings soon enough.
clarke shrugs, leaning a little heavily on the frame of her doorway. )
I'll get over hurt feelings soon enough.
F-feelings, huh? [ That's not what he meant, but sure, okay. Thanks, Clarke. ] Please tell me you've been taking care of yourself, at least. I've met some magical healers on the ship. Maybe they can help you?
( feelings. feelings. "feelings"?
betrayal was a hurt feeling, abandonment right along with it. they sting more than any superficial scratch and took much longer to heal. she's also one of the ships many healers, just slotted right alongside john watson in having exactly zero magical recourse for bumps and bruises. )
I'm fine. Nothing's broken and I have acetaminophen.
betrayal was a hurt feeling, abandonment right along with it. they sting more than any superficial scratch and took much longer to heal. she's also one of the ships many healers, just slotted right alongside john watson in having exactly zero magical recourse for bumps and bruises. )
I'm fine. Nothing's broken and I have acetaminophen.
[ Concerning. But he won't try to argue it anymore. He just nods. If she says she's fine, then she's fine, and Mizuki can accept that he just has to trust her.
Even if it's very clear that she's not fine. ]
… Thank you. For listening. For giving me another chance. I know that- I know I- [ Why are words so hard? ] I... appreciate it.
Even if it's very clear that she's not fine. ]
… Thank you. For listening. For giving me another chance. I know that- I know I- [ Why are words so hard? ] I... appreciate it.
( but honest question, was clarke ever really fine?
she's leaning a little heavier against the doorframe here, still listening and sizing up every word out of mizuki's mouth, but the exhaustion is compounding. it'd been a shitty week, this had been a shitty situation they'd needed to discuss. at her core it doesn't feel rectified, but he's saying sorry over and over again, and... one slight didn't matter. compared to the rest of what they're facing, tiny squabbles were best put to bed and smothered. )
Earn it.
( hard words, followed by a harder sigh. know what else should be put to bed? )
I'm going to sleep now. But I'll see you around, Mizuki. Take care of yourself.
she's leaning a little heavier against the doorframe here, still listening and sizing up every word out of mizuki's mouth, but the exhaustion is compounding. it'd been a shitty week, this had been a shitty situation they'd needed to discuss. at her core it doesn't feel rectified, but he's saying sorry over and over again, and... one slight didn't matter. compared to the rest of what they're facing, tiny squabbles were best put to bed and smothered. )
Earn it.
( hard words, followed by a harder sigh. know what else should be put to bed? )
I'm going to sleep now. But I'll see you around, Mizuki. Take care of yourself.
[ A nod. ]
Of course. If you need anything of me, don't hesitate.
[ And he leaves her with a wave. Does he feel good leaving it here? No. But he figures he doesn't have the luxury to try and press his luck. It's not like anything he wants to say is going to change anything, anyway.
This is a second chance. And he should suck it up and be happy about it. So he will. ]
Of course. If you need anything of me, don't hesitate.
[ And he leaves her with a wave. Does he feel good leaving it here? No. But he figures he doesn't have the luxury to try and press his luck. It's not like anything he wants to say is going to change anything, anyway.
This is a second chance. And he should suck it up and be happy about it. So he will. ]
[ Congratulations, Clarke, you're getting an unannounced jellyfish for the second time, only it's worse this time, because he's very excited to see you, and not dreading the conversation. There's a knock and also two texts that say, "Clarke! It's Mizuki!" and "Not the police, the I swear! (´｡• ᵕ •｡`)". Maybe you can just leave him out there. Or maybe he'll just sit there and send more texts. Who knows? ]
Edited (i forgot to pick an icon I'm the worst) 2022-04-26 06:18 (UTC)
( strongly debating just laying on the floor and pretending no one's home, but. mizuki has thus far done an excellent job giving the impression he could be like a dog with a bone; persistent, friendly, gnawing. and she'd been the one to break the short-held silence thus far, prying into his and venti's dynamic to fuss about the difference between killing a god and a godly mortal.
besides, she's not mad anymore. not at all. it wouldn't serve any purpose to continue brooding over the events of two weeks ago — it was done with. clarke inevitably feels the same compulsion to move on as she does to open the door and greet her companion. )
Hi, Mizuki. What's wrong?
( because, yanno. something's always wrong —or about to be — here. )
besides, she's not mad anymore. not at all. it wouldn't serve any purpose to continue brooding over the events of two weeks ago — it was done with. clarke inevitably feels the same compulsion to move on as she does to open the door and greet her companion. )
Hi, Mizuki. What's wrong?
( because, yanno. something's always wrong —or about to be — here. )
[ Mizuki beams at her with his usual smile when she answers, folding his arms behind his back. She looks... well, about as good as she usually does, which is to say "tired," but, hey, it really do be like that. ]
Hm? Nothing! Should there be something wrong? [ He ponders this for a moment, then shakes his head. ] I'm here to be a gift-giver and nothing more~.
Hm? Nothing! Should there be something wrong? [ He ponders this for a moment, then shakes his head. ] I'm here to be a gift-giver and nothing more~.
( again, something is always wrong or about to go wrong, but... in this exact moment, she doesn't have a ready example. so clarke just purses her lips in through for a moment, and mirrors mizuki's shake of the head with small, tight movements. until he mentions gifts, which throws her for a bit of a loop. )
...you brought me a present?
( on the one hand, she doesn't need anything. food, clothing, weapons, even dry novels that could pass as entertainment are provided by the ship itself. then on the other, when is the last time someone just gave her something... )
...you brought me a present?
( on the one hand, she doesn't need anything. food, clothing, weapons, even dry novels that could pass as entertainment are provided by the ship itself. then on the other, when is the last time someone just gave her something... )
Sure did!! It's not a... fun gift or anything. If I had toys to give you that weren't already just sitting in the store... Anyway, um, hold on-
[ He shuffles around in his bag for a moment, then pulls out a vial, and shortly have, a capped syringe, and holds them both out to her with a grin. ]
Ta-da! I managed to get my hands on an antidote, thanks to Ebalon! I wanted you to have one!! It can't be ingested, it's gotta be injected, but I figured you should probably have one. Just in case! Better safe than sorry and all that...!
[ He shuffles around in his bag for a moment, then pulls out a vial, and shortly have, a capped syringe, and holds them both out to her with a grin. ]
Ta-da! I managed to get my hands on an antidote, thanks to Ebalon! I wanted you to have one!! It can't be ingested, it's gotta be injected, but I figured you should probably have one. Just in case! Better safe than sorry and all that...!
Edited 2022-04-26 07:44 (UTC)
( this is a moment where muscle memory takes over — someone gives you a gift and you immediately extend your hands to accept it. but the second the vial and hypodermic are nestled in her palms, clarke's thoughts... scramble. short circuit.
the lines of her face contort, confusion and concern at far between her eyebrows. )
Have we been poisoned?
( we — all of us on board. why was she just now hearing about it? was it deadly? was it in the food, in the water, in the air? subconsciously she's wiping the back of her hand under her eyes and looking for streaks of black blood painted across fair skin upon pulling back. )
the lines of her face contort, confusion and concern at far between her eyebrows. )
Have we been poisoned?
( we — all of us on board. why was she just now hearing about it? was it deadly? was it in the food, in the water, in the air? subconsciously she's wiping the back of her hand under her eyes and looking for streaks of black blood painted across fair skin upon pulling back. )
... What? [ Mizuki knits his brows together, then- ] Oh! No, no, no. Sorry! It's an- ah. Anti- um. Antitoxin. It's for toxins. You're okay! We're fine! Emergencies, like I said.
[ A beat. ]
It's for my toxins.
[ A beat. ]
It's for my toxins.
The… sea jelly toxins? [ There’s a small tap of his chin. ] Wait, I told you I am a sea jelly, right? At this point, I’ve forgotten who knows and who doesn’t…
Mmh. I'm pretty sure all sea jellies are. But... mine can be especially potent. Not that I intend on stinging anyone or anything like that, but I figure it's better to be safe than sorry.
[ A gesture to the vial. ]
So I have a few of these now. I wanted you to have one. But in an ideal world, you won't have to use it. Ebalon said, um... something about the proteins getting messed up if you leave it out in the sun, so I recommend leaving it somewhere dark and cool.
[ A gesture to the vial. ]
So I have a few of these now. I wanted you to have one. But in an ideal world, you won't have to use it. Ebalon said, um... something about the proteins getting messed up if you leave it out in the sun, so I recommend leaving it somewhere dark and cool.
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