synflux | [OPEN] Lost in paradise

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[OPEN] Lost in paradise

WHO: March 7th and anyone who wants to witness this
WHAT: Post-upgrade Problems...
WHERE: Around the base, around Japan
WHEN: April 12th and up to a week after that
WARNINGS: None so far!

A. Post-Surgery

[ Choices were made. March may or may not regret them a little, but upon remembering things like how badly injured so many of the Outsiders had been and Ishmael gritting her teeth while struggling to walk, she'd ultimately decided it was worth it.

Maybe not right now, though, not when she's kind of staggering around the base, looking very much Still In Pain and sheet-white. Of course, that's one thing. The other thing is that she looks completely disoriented and depending on where you find her, it's pretty obvious that it's not where she was trying to go. Maybe it's a non-Redemption wing. Maybe it's the cafeteria.

Maybe it's the rec room?? Maybe she's actually heading outside when she clearly shouldn't be??

If you're still not entirely sure what she's up to, she can be heard quietly muttering to herself in a shaky voice, definitely rattled-- ]

W-why is it so hard to find my room??

B. Compass Required

[ It's a day or so later! And she is.

... Not doing any better. Though at the very least, she's had some time to get the style upgrade implemented and is comfortably clothed in her much more familiar (to her) outfit from home.

But she hasn't actually been seen on the base all day, which probably isn't terribly strange, since March likes to go out and experience life, but at this point it's dark and if you're out at night, you might spot her. Talking to a few people who seem either amused or flummoxed by her current level of vexation. ]

No, sorry, I've definitely been to Shinjuku, and I know where it is on a map, I just--

I'm not drunk! Look, just tell me "this way" or "that way" and I'll figure it out from there!!

[ ... She has apparently been dealing with something similar for hours, given that she really does sound like she's on the verge of frustrated tears. ]

C. Bah Hummingbird

[ At this point, March has given up leaving the base on her own, so you can spot her in the greenhouse (though it's arguable whether she meant to be there or not), a cute little hummingbird perched on her shoulder. She's taking pictures of the plants, though she pauses to glance up when she realizes she's got company, offering a smile that is definitely a lot steadier than the mess she's been over the past few days. ]

These little guys are pretty cute, aren't they? I'm more of a dog person, but I gotta admit, they've got a lot of appeal!

[ OOC: Also fine with doing custom starters if nothing catches your interest! ]

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[ She did this to her, technically. Maybe not to the extent as it wound up, but you know.

Still, the pain is a little too much for March to even pretend to be okay or laugh off an earnest attempt to help; the instant Ryoji takes her arm and she's aware he's Right There, she slumps against him. ]

Y-yeah... thanks.

[ No protesting today! ]

[ That tells him enough about just how bad of shape she's in. It's unsettling, to see her like this, but he pushes the feeling aside. ]

Okay. I'll have you back to your room in no time.

[ He considers changing forms to more easily carry her, but she's small enough it shouldn't be an issue, and he'd draw unwelcome attention besides. A shame he doesn't have any teleportation spells...

As it is, he grips her shoulders tight with one arm before hooking the other beneath her knees to pick her up. ]

Who did this to you?

[ March closes her eyes with a little shudder, resting her head against his chest.

Yeah, please don't transform into the other form, she probably would not be in the right mind to properly comprehend it. ]

It was... just a procedure, but they didn't have anesthesia.

[ It's fine. ]

[ Yeah, there are better times to go full Death God. For now, he carries her gingerly but swiftly -- the sooner he can get her back to her room to rest, the better. ]

That's the stuff that's suppose to make you unconscious, right? [ Oh, sweet March... ] Did they at least make you numb?

... Nope.

[ She's not doing so hot right now. But it's fine. She's managing!! ]

[ This is not what we call managing?!? ]

You must have had a good reason. Either that, or they did.

[ Right? ]

They said it needed to be saved for the life-threatening surgeries, so I agreed to it.

... Just.... I think one's enough for the next forever.

[ Yeah. The people who do multiple procedures? Certifiably insane. ]

[ Even having a high pain tolerance, the thought is enough to make him shudder. ]

Yeah, I can't blame you. A procedure for what?

I wanted to get the healing ability. It didn't go so great for a lot of people last time.

[ herself included. ]

[ There's never enough healing to go around, is there? ]

That's very noble of you. Putting yourself through harm for the sake of helping others...it's admirable.

[ He's not one to chastise her for making the choice, at least. ]

[ At least there's someone like that. Whew. ]

I like to do what I can... and here, it was starting to feel like what I could do wasn't enough. It was frustrating more than anything.

[ Considering he'll more than likely do it himself eventually...yeah. ]

In situations like our last mission, I don't know that we can ever feel like we're doing enough.

You too, huh?

[ She's sighing. ]

I guess there's no real way to ensure no one gets hurt at all... I know that.

But you still can't help but want to mitigate the hurt as much as possible, right?

[ He shouldn't feel the same, his entire existence should be in service to the opposite of that, yet...he understands exactly what she's saying. ]

We can't save everyone. We just...have to save someone.

[ Even one person saved can make all the difference. ]

[ This really is kind of bizarre to hear from someone who's pretty much the personification of Death, and yet it doesn't surprise her at all to hear it from Ryoji. Maybe because she'd already decided to see him as someone who was doing his best to live, as humanly as he could. ]

Yeah.... [ It's a thin whisper. ]

I don't want to say that I didn't... do everything I could, when it's lives on the line. I don't want to say I just... accepted that.

[ It's bizarre for him to hear it from his own lips, honestly. The more time that passes, the more he realizes just how much the two sides of himself are at war, and conflict within feels...inevitable. He can no sooner deny either half, but life is ever death's dance partner, isn't it? He can appreciate well how important it is not to squander it, to cherish it. ]

Mm. In the end, I think that's the best we can do, while we're here.

[ A little fond twitch of his lips. ]

You're really remarkable, March.

[ The honorifics aren't as ingrained in him, but it's still a deliberate choice to drop it. ]

[ She doesn't quite recognize the importance of it, just that he's simply calling her "March" now, which makes her smile faintly. ]

It'd be nice if you told me that when I could actually find my room on my own...

Needing someone else's help doesn't make you any less remarkable.

[ Maybe it makes her even more so, when so many people won't acknowledge when they need it. ]

[ Okay, so we have a lot of stubborn tsuns on base, he's right-- ]

Well, I don't feel all that cool right now, but...

Maybe I just need to sleep off some of it.

[ He WILL shake some self-love and self-care into all of them, mark my words. ]

Right. There's nothing you need more right now than rest.

[ Speaking of...they've reached the Redemption wing! ]

What's your room number again?

First one.

[ Easy enough! ]

... Thanks again for this, Ryoji.

I'm just glad I could help.

[ Gingerly, he sets her back on her feet again, and keeps her stable with one shoulder so she can unlock her door. ]

Is there anything else I can get you? Water? Something easy to digest? They must have painkillers somewhere, too...

Painkillers... would be great, actually.

[ And she gets the door open, revealing a room March has very carefully fussed with to make her own. From the pink and purple bedspread reminiscent of dusk to the little strands of lights hanging from the wall to the other wall of photographs...

It's clear she's done her best to make it look less standard. ]

[ She's made far more of an effort to make her room her own than he has his, but then again, he's still new to having his own space. Immediately, he can see her personality in it, and it makes him smile gently as he helps her over to the bed. ]

Right. I'll go grab some and be back before you know it, okay?

[ And maybe he'll grab some simple snacks and water while he's at it, too. ]

Thanks...

[ She's not about to argue about it. Honestly, as soon as he helps her reach the bed, March all but collapses on top of it, curling into a little pink-haired ball with a shaky noise.

People who do these procedures? Fierce. ]

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