DR Side Thread: BRACING FOR INCOMING BITCHSMACKING

[paradetherain]

[So after that whole deal, Isamu needs... a very long nap. Which is why he's shut himself in his room, attempting to sleep.]

[And he does. For a little while. Except now he's staring up at the ceiling in the middle of the afternoon, still exhausted. Yue had told him that Hypnos had been trying to start something called 'the Fall' in his world, and that the Universe arcana could seal Nyx... is that why he felt so terrible?]

[... Probably. He felt like he had the flu or something. And if Yue or any of his friends got wind of what he had gotten his dumb ass himself into...]

[Yeah, he was gonna be in trouble.]

[[ooc; Bother?]]

Comments

[poppiesfield.livejournal.com]

Attempting to sleep? Someone called?

"Do you really want to die that much?"

Hypnos is sitting on his windowsill, grey eyes almost luminous in the shadows of the room. He's looking more tired than ever, and half of him wants to hit Isamu for being so foolish, and the other half wants to drag him back to the Mall and watch him die.

[arisato-isamu.livejournal.com]

Isamu looks up at Hypnos.

"... No." It's not that he wants to die, really. It's more that he wants to help people and doesn't always think things through.

[poppiesfield.livejournal.com]

"It seems to me that you do."

He laces his hands.

"Or will you risk your life to help someone who doesn't need it?"

[arisato-isamu.livejournal.com]

"I didn't know that she wouldn't be harmed."

He sits up in bed as well as he can, and sighs.

"I also didn't know that it would... affect me that badly."

[poppiesfield.livejournal.com]

"Idiots, all of you," he replies, but this time, there's a touch of fondness underneath all that irritation. "You go where angels fear to tread, if there is a life in danger."

Stupid humans :| He crosses the carpet and turns red a little places his hand on Isamu's forehead, and comparing it with his. "How do you feel?"

[arisato-isamu.livejournal.com]

"We're stubborn like that..."

Isamu blinks at the hand on his forehead, and closes his eyes.

"... Kind of like I have the flu, without the runny nose." Tired and achy and coughing from time to time. Maybe a slight fever, he hasn't really checked.

[poppiesfield.livejournal.com]

"You need to rest," he says, sitting on the edge of the bed and pushing him back down. He's running a temperature, that's what.

"Now do you realise what could have happened, if you stayed longer?"

This is weird, he thinks; why does he even care? He could've died and that's one less Universe in this nexus.

[arisato-isamu.livejournal.com]

He just... settles back under the covers, not bothering to protest. (Even though Yue is way scarier than you, Hypnos. Do not argue this fact.)

"I think so, yes." Probably worse than the pseudo!flu, that's for sure.

He's too tired to process why Hypnos is being nice. Or nice in his own way, whichever.

[poppiesfield.livejournal.com]

(Sob, your sister is scarier than Hera, sometimes.) He shifts positions, and sighs, drawing the curtains closed with a flick of his wrist.

"Isamu, why do you care about your fellows so much?"

[arisato-isamu.livejournal.com]

Isamu thinks about that question for a few moments.

"Because... if I don't help other people, then who will? As much as I hate to admit it sometimes, the world isn't entirely full of kind people. There's no guarantee that if I don't stop to help someone, that they'll get any help at all. And maybe by showing someone else kindness, they'll help someone else one day."

He knows it sounds like silly idealism. He also knows he doesn't care if it does.

[poppiesfield.livejournal.com]

"What do you get in return?"

Honestly curious, this time. Sounds idealistic and fine and dandy after all, but he can't be expected to believe that anyone with such pure ideals exist.

[arisato-isamu.livejournal.com]

"Most of the time? Nothing. Sometimes I'm thanked, sometimes I'm not. It doesn't really matter that much to me. If I can help make the world a little bit better - a little bit easier - for another person, that's enough."

The world he lives in is not usually a very nice place. If he can make things better any way he can... maybe the whole world can change, too.

[poppiesfield.livejournal.com]

[He bows his head, shaking it with a rueful smile.]

I do not believe I will ever understand you, little one. What you are saying is...you live for others. Is that it?

[arisato-isamu.livejournal.com]

... In a way. That's not to say that I don't have my own goals... but I try to keep them temporary. I was going to study to be a doctor for demons... and then I decided to try the basic Demon Buster training. I can help more people that way.

And... it's good work. I can protect the people and demons I care about. I get to travel all around Tokyo. I've become stronger, and I've met a lot of people.

[He smiles.]

I don't think that I'll ever be the best Demon Buster. I don't know if I can live up to how good Dad and Father are, or even how good Yue is. But I can try.

[poppiesfield.livejournal.com]

I do not believe in altruism, Isamu.

[You confuse him so much. He can't believe that you are all pure intentions; there are no untainted souls in this world. Or any world, actually.]

But I suppose what you believe in is just that. Your friends and family are perhaps very lucky to have you.

[arisato-isamu.livejournal.com]

I consider myself lucky to have them.

... What do you believe in, then? What does a god believe in?

[poppiesfield.livejournal.com]

Gods do not have anything to believe in.

[He smiles blandly.]

That is part of the price. What I believe, I can manifest; that is very dangerous.

[arisato-isamu.livejournal.com]

... I guess you have a point.

[Tugs his blanket around himself more. Different topic, he supposes.]

You haven't been having any more nightmares recently, I hope.

[Gentle smile.]