sticksandbones | reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated

[Okay. He's Friendship Beams Elsword now (not to Add).]

Hi. I'm sorry, I didn't notice you before. It's nice to meet you.

[Not gonna voice "oh you know me?" because he's honestly scared he just forgot this girl, so uh. Let's just not think about it.]

I can heal you, if you want. You've got bruises everywhere... [but she seems skittish, and he's still covered in dried blood, so he doesn't just reach out and do it like he ordinarily might.]

[His smile wavers again at Elsword's blunt accusation. Doesn't want to talk? They're talking right now aren't they?? Maybe Elsword should just learn when to mind his own business and stop prodding—

but those are comments ill-suited to a man of his composure, so. Smile harder, Add. Kill him with kindness...]

Nene is my patient. She'll be staying with us for awhile, so please be kind to her. [not that he really needs to tell this to Elsword, Friendship Incarnate, but stating the obvious is part of being a professional] ... The forest may protest her presence here, but if any issues do arise, I take full responsibility.

[he's pointedly not making eye contact with her... it's not exactly an apology, but he knows how much it took to get her to come here, and he knows her concerns aren't baseless. if something does happen because he brought her here...

if something happens, it'll be Add's fault. he won't allow anyone to place the blame on her. this is his decision, his risk to bet it all on.]

( nene nervously glances from elsword to add, and she sort of wishes she'd just... stayed behind the desk. holding one of the dynamo drones like one might a particularly sharp yet beloved teddybear, she nods quietly. )

... It's... um. Nice to meet you... but, it's... they'll just come back. The forest is... not gentle in it's love.

( there's a very deliberate, careful choice in her words. however much she disagrees, to speak ill of her master when it's everywhere is a terrible idea, so she acts the part it wants of her. devoted and loyal and full of excuses. )

[Elsword completely ignores Add, thanks. He's completely faced away from him, focusing instead on her. Add who? They're in their divorce era right now sorry Nene—]

...would you feel better if I healed you now anyway? [He can sort of pick up what she's putting down. After all, he's infested, too.] I know they'll just come back... but maybe it would help. You hit your head on the desk...

[ :( ]

[Dynamo is warm like a cozy heating pad... uhhh it's fine that needle probably retracts. i hope.]

I also treated her earlier. [just! putting it out there! he helped!] You didn't have to hide like that in the first place, you know. Elsword may have an intimidating face, but he's actually quite gentle!

[anxious little laugh... why does he feel so ignored now. like that's arguably what he wanted but why does it suck]

( nene just blinks, looking up at add. )

He came in angry and it startled me. ... And then it felt like... this was supposed to be a private conversation. But I couldn't get to the door...

( and she's not breaking her goddamn wooden legs to jump out the window.

or she absolutely would have. )

A-and that's okay- it's, um. It doesn't hurt sometimes! So it's fine. It could be way worse!

Tsk tsk... Elsword, this is hardly the way to treat a young lady—and after all she's been through! Barging into rooms, frightening and ignoring her... you really ought to apologize properly. This is no way to be representing the El Search Party.

[He's in a tough spot now. He should apologize to Nene, he knows that, but that also means acknowledging Add. Hm...

...]

It was supposed to be a private conversation, but that's okay. I don't mind that you heard. I thought someone was in Add's room... I've been keeping tabs on it since he disappeared to make sure anything he left behind didn't get messed up. [Again, not that he knows if that is or isn't true. He just assumed, when he wasn't forgetting.] If you're sure about the healing, though...

[Thinks. Then:]

There's a girl named Caoimhe here who can fix clothing. Since your dress is all bloody, she can probably help you.

[Notice how he absolutely is not offering this to Add when he knows Caoimhe could fix his coat—]

( nene glances between the two, visibly wilting at the tension in the air. after a moment, she clears her throat and smiles politely, but... doesn't let go of her dynamo. that's her friend now, they're chilling at the river later. )

I understand. I think in your place I would do the same. ... And thank you. You've always been sweet.

( she won't elaborate. )

... But, um. I think... it might be best if I step out. ... Add...? You really should tell him about what happened. Properly. And if you don't, I will.

( and unless someone stops her, she's... running the hell away, this is too much for her- )

[At least Nene is acknowledging him... but it still stings more than he'd like to admit, and it doesn't get any better when Nene swiftly excuses herself. His cheery attitude starts to deflate—he doesn't try to stop her, but he might have stood up like he thought about trying. He's not worried as long as she has Dynamo, but...

now, it's just the two of them.

You really should tell him about what happened. Properly.

He stares long and hard at the closed door. Well.]

... We'll discuss this later. If you feel like talking to me, anyway. [turning sharply on a heel, off to the desk to sort through his samples... this is a much better use of his time, now that he's not bleeding from the face. it'll take longer since his sight is hindered, so it's best to get starter sooner...]

You're dismissed, Elsword.

If I feel like talking to you?

[If Add thinks Elsword sounds downright furious, it's probably because he is — he got that emotion back, but it's normally diluted. Dye-in-water. This is more akin to being thrown into a burning pyre for him right now, with how strongly everything the last fifteen minutes have been pisses him off — it's an inferno, a volcano, and Elsword can't dig himself out of the magma floes fast enough to stop himself from sinking. Later, when he's clear-headed, he'll think to himself that he hasn't felt something like that in years.

Right now is not for thinking. Right now is for Elsword to hop to his feet in turn, to clench his fists and raise his voice. A dam is breaking somewhere within.]

What about you not talking to me, Add? Every time I try to reach out to you, you deflect, or push me away, or tell me not to worry about you! What if I am worried about you?! What if I just want to help?! This isn't about me, it was never about me, because I'm not the one who disappeared for months and came back missing an eye!

[Elsword takes a deep, shuddering breath after that, looking to the floor.]

I'll be at the house by the river. It's mine. You can show up whenever you wanna talk again.

[You're dismissed, Add had said. Fine. Fine, he got out what he wanted to say, and unless Add wants to drag him back... Elsword spins on his heel and heads out, slamming the door behind him.]

[It's so loud, so sudden—another phenomenal breakthrough, he should be praising Elsword for his progress, except—

except it's not supposed to happen like this. Add is supposed to be the one in the right, not Elsword. Add is the one who should have his shit together, the one who looks out for everyone and keeps them safe, the one that has to yell at him for acting reckless and getting himself into trouble, for losing his mind to the El, for thinking it's fine as long as the rest of the world is safe, for making his friends worried sick...

Add isn't supposed to be the one making people worry. Add isn't supposed to be the one getting hurt. That's a failure on his part. Elsword has every right to be mad at him.

He feels like a child being scolded, burnt and broken pieces scattered on the floor at his feet. You imbecile, you got it wrong. Elsword is right. He's weak, pathetic, can't even survive one trip by himself without coming back in tatters. Can't even properly mask his weakness like he's supposed to. What good would a smile and an apology even do, after all this? Something vile rises up his throat, a sting in his eyes, an ache in his chest—he can't move, can't breathe, not until the door slams and his whole body flinches, not until Elsword's steps have faded into silence

he grips the edge of his desk, coughing as he sucks in shallow breaths

he feels sick. he wants to curl up and die. he wants his mother to hold him again, just one more time, god, please just give him one more chance don't leave him like this don't leave

... slowly, he regains his composure. He doesn't have time to have a mental breakdown. Not here, where someone could still be listening through the walls.

Add picks himself back up from the floor, staring at nothing for a long moment before looking down at the blood on his hands.

He... should clean himself up. That's what he should do first. Everything else can come later. First, to make himself more presentable, then sort his samples, his clothes, clean the mess in his room, then much later...

(Somewhere outside, the Dynamo in Nene's arm trembles for a time... but it passes, much like everything else he's feeling.)]

reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated

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