[Day 12, Night: Ulaz, McGonagall, Ichigo]

[purrtagonist]

[WE'RE HAVING A PARTY IN THE INFIRMARY TONIGHT!!]

[have at it, folks. make your own top levels, tag others, threadjack where appropriate, and do your thing! no tag order, just chaos]

Comments

[suppressthedark]

[Ichigo wasn't doing the greatest during the day, all cooped up in here with nowhere to go and nothing to do, unable to check on people beyond the ones that came to him.

So when the night falls, he's even worse - though he's found his way to a wheelchair, and is currently just...going back and forth. And back and forth. And back and -

Yeah, he's pacing in the only way he can, which definitely is doing a number on his arms and shoulder, but he doesn't notice the pain. All he notices is his anxiety and worry, choking him like a cloud.

Eventually, he stops - to slam a fist down on the side of the wheelchair's arm rest, tilting his head up and just staring at the ceiling.

The boys are not alright.]

[purrtagonist]

[what do you mean they're perfectly okay]

[at the sound of Ichigo's fist slamming against the arm rest, Akira glances up from his position at the door. he stops bobbing his knee, tilting his head towards Ichigo in a silent question]

[suppressthedark]

[Completely fine! They're not totally balls of anxiety and dread right now, right??

When his gaze comes back down from the ceiling, he just shakes his head, running a hand through his hair for what has to be the fifth time today.]

...Sorry. I'm fine.

[He's not fine, but he'll never verbally admit it.]

[purrtagonist]

You're not fine.

[gently. pointing that out]

Cabin fever?

[suppressthedark]

...Part of it, yeah.

[He seems ashamed to admit it, but...]

And part of it's just...worry.

[Akira should know why.]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . yeah. he knows why]

It's out of our hands.

[he has to force those words through a clenched jaw, though]

[suppressthedark]

[He just...looks somber.]

...Right now, we're the grist.

[Calling back to his own poem? absolutely.

But he wheels over to where Akira's sitting, reaching out for his good hand.]

Are you going to be alright?

[Because he. saw the leg jiggling and how his hand went over the handle of his knife.]

[purrtagonist]

[blinks, but he shifts the knife into his lap and reaches out to meet Ichigo halfway, fingers curling around his hand]

Me? I'm fine. Have you forgotten? I'm tough as nails.

[said lightly. like he's trying to be tougher than he actually feels at the moment]

[suppressthedark]

Ah, I guess I did. But even nails can bend, you know.

[He's not trying to call Akira out - just gently letting him know that he's there if his boyfriend needs him, squeezing those fingers in his grip in a comforting manner.]

...You do look kind of cool, though. Waiting by the door, all ready to ambush anyone who tries to come in.

[He's both teasing and not teasing, because while he's trying to lighten the mood, it is also nice to know at least one of them is ready for action.]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . he doesn't comment on that, because Ichigo's right. and the silent show of support-- the gentle reminder that Ichigo has already seen the worst of him and hasn't judged his weaknesses-- is appreciated]

Why, thank you. I think I'd make a pretty impervious defense system, even in this condition.

[going along with the joke, at least]

[suppressthedark]

[He'd never judge anyone for their weakness - not when he's been weak himself, breaking down into more tears than he's let himself cry in 8 years.]

A living iron wall - that's what we should call you from now on.

[Why is it so easy for them to fall into lighthearted conversation and temporarily forget what's looming overhead?

Ichigo doesn't know, but he's grateful for it - if it wasn't for Akira, he'd probably be a much unhappier person here.]

[insurgeont]

Get some sleep while you still can. Tomorrow will be a long day.

[suppressthedark]

Can't sleep.

[That's muttered while he's still...staring at the ceiling. Yep.]

[insurgeont]

You certainly can't if you don't try to.

[suppressthedark]

I'm tired of trying, alright?!

[That comes out as a yell, Ichigo snapping his head down to glare at Ulaz.]

I don't want to keep sitting around!

[insurgeont]

Unfortunately, you do not have much choice in the matter.

[suppressthedark]

[Why can't you just let him be angry, alien grandpa!!

Ichigo just makes a frustrated sound, squeezing his eye shut.]

That's the problem, damnit...

[insurgeont]

[ Getting angry like this isn't productive!!! ]

...Do you intend to fight until you die?

[suppressthedark]

[It's the only thing he's in control of here!!]

I'm not afraid of death, if that's what you're asking.

[insurgeont]

It is not. Let me clarify. Do you intend to only fight until you die?

[suppressthedark]

The other options lead to people here dying. I'm not going to sit back and let the raccoons do what they want without a fight.

[piertotumlocomotor]

It'd do you good to rest, we do not know what tomorrow will bring.

[You won't want to deal with a murder if you're tired!]

[suppressthedark]

[Why are you and Ulaz so preoccupied with making him sleep!!]

I rested all day today - if I rest any more, I'm going to turn into a pillow.

[piertotumlocomotor]

[It's for your own good!]

I'd turn you into one if it meant you wouldn't throw yourself into danger anytime soon.

[Is she joking? Maybe]

[suppressthedark]

[Clearly that's a figure of speech, and he just gives an amused snort.]

I can't get into any danger for a while, anyway.

[Just. Gestures to his everything. He's pretty fucked up!]