riverviewlogs | [open] we tried to bury it and rise above

[Taako has a big fat zero for his strength modifier, but Eichi is hardly heavy, so he manages to keep him upright long enough to guide him to the bed, not wanting to just dump him on the floor.]

Hang in there, bubbale. I've got something.

[Luckily, despite the fact his room is a fucking mess, he keeps all his potions in one place, and it's a quick process of running to his bag and fishing out a glass flask to bring back to Eichi.

Taako uncorks it, then offers it to Eichi.]

Drink this for me, yeah? It'll help.

[His hand is a little shaky as he reaches for the strange flask, but his grip is still firm. That's a good thing, since sometimes he can lose even that completely. Gladio has used potion-type objects on him before, even if he made him crush it in his own palm, so it doesn't take much convincing to have Eichi drink this. He simply waits between his coughs for just the right moment to calm himself long enough to take it.

He still coughs once more after, passing the empty thing back to Taako as his other hand covers his mouth, but if it's a restorative or anything like that, it should help him without any issues. Then he just needs a few seconds of a mental break.]

[The empty flask is set idly on the vanity for disposal later, since right now Taako's primary focus is Eichi. It should work quickly, it's designed to heal wounds and he figures that'll at least take the edge off from the kick and being manhandled. He remembers how hard Dodger hits.

He isn't sure what to say, now, so Taako just sits beside Eichi and rests a hand between his shoulder blades, figuring he can at least be a steadying presence, if nothing else.]

[It certainly does help. Any possible internal bleeding due to his body is taken care of, and the ache is a little less extreme, and his heart calms down a bit as his lungs take in a full breath. When he sighs out, he shakes a little.]

Thank you, Taako-kun. [His voice is rougher than it usually is, strained and stressed. Frowning, he stares down at the blood in his palm and closes it quietly. He'll deal with that later. There's Dodger's blood on his shirt, too.]

It's just that he was staring at me oddly, and so I approached, and I thought it was a game... but he became quite serious. [His free hand pats at his pocket, and he remembers that his phone is completely gone.]

[He sees the way Eichi looks at his own palm and reaches out to gently casts prestidigitation, cleaning the blood away.]

Hey, listen, Dodger is a really fucked up dude, there was no way to know it was gonna go that badly.

[Taako isn't sure if he wants to share what happened when he last tussled with Dodger, but maybe it'll help Eichi not feel shitty about it.]

Was he after something? Cause he came for me trying to mess with Eddie.

[He looks immediately grateful at the clean hand. Taako seems like a different person when he's speaking seriously like this, even if he still uses words like "dude" and nicknames. No, maybe a "different person" was the wrong way to say it. He feels like he's seeing more of Taako like this.

But he can't stop to be grateful of anything that came from this right now. He's still feeling overwhelmed.]

Is that the boyfriend he mentioned...? [That would explain that bad time he's sure Taako had mentioned, too. Eichi actually frowns.] He was trying to give me something called Lampyr as a trade for giving him information. I had just had a drink, so I thought it was only a game, but when he became aware that I was on the Eluvio before this, or specifically that I knew Reaper-san, he became extremely focused on learning about him.

It was a little disturbing, to be honest. Before you arrived, he told me he'd force me to take that "Lampyr" or break my arm if I didn't tell him more about Reaper-san.

[He just nods in answer to the question, figuring he doesn't need to say a whole lot more, and focusing instead of Eichi's explanation. It doesn't make a lot of sense, except in that Dodger seems like the kind of guy to fixate on people for better or worse.]

If he's got some beef with Reaper, that'd explain it, he could want dirt on him. Are you friends with Reaper?

[Taako sure as shit isn't, but he's not petty enough to bring that up right now.]

[If Taako will let him, then Eichi will lean to the side just slightly against him for a little support. He gets tired easily.]

Rather than that, it seemed similar to those fans who become so obsessive that they need to know every detail. That's the impression I got, but I suppose he could just as easily be an enemy. He was strangely interested in the Eluvio.

[He's breathing a little more normally now, though with the occasional deeper breath.] I am. Since we were both on that ship before this place, and he's saved me in the past, as well. You know Reaper-san?

[Not only will he allow it, Taako puts his arm around Eichi's shoulders, making it easier for Eichi to lean on him.]

I guess I can see it. [Dodger being interested in Reaper, they're both that kind of over the top edgy that Taako finds insufferable.]

And yeah, we've met. Didn't go great, but that doesn't matter.

Sometimes I can't help but feel that that's the sort of impression he tries to make.

["Not great," that is. But he'll be sure to mention Taako in a positive light, just to see if that helps. The leaning is helpful, at least. He still feels nauseous from all of the sparks and teleporting, but... that's to be expected.]

I really do owe you for that, Taako-kun. I think that if he were to break my arm, I'd certainly die. It's pathetic, isn't it? Even with that healing of mine, it was completely useless, since there wasn't a wound in sight. I need to buy a new phone, it seems, but I hope you don't mind if I take some time before I leave, first.

[Taako is quiet for a long moment, weighing up how he wants to respond to all that. He can leave the Reaper thing, he plans to have a word with the man, but that isn't any of Eichi's concern.

It's the issue with Dodger that's harder to talk about, for a variety of reasons.]

Sometimes dying isn't the worst outcome.

[Taako's world is kinder than most, but he's not obvious, he knows what would've happen if he hadn't won his fight with Dodger.]

And you can crash here as long as need, bubbale, no one can get in here if I don't want 'em. Do you want me to head back the the alley later and see if there's anything of your phone left? There's uh, storage card? Right?

[Where all the information is kept? He can use phones pretty well, but he doesn't understand the tech in them.]

I don't disagree with that point at all. To think that someone like that is walking around... and that he also has bothered Taako-kun... it infuriates me. I wish there was something I could do.

[He sort of trails off at the end there, like he's considering it despite what just happened. But really, he has no ideas. He's going to keep trying to think of them, but he has absolutely none.

Instead, he lets his eyes close for a moment and sighs.]

I saw him crush it with his own hand. There's no way any part of it would have survived, and I wouldn't ask Taako-kun to go back there alone even if there was some chance. Those memories I have of the people who are gone now will have to stay only in my thoughts.

If he steps one more time I'm gonna kill him, don't worry.

[So far he's been incredibly fucking restrained, because he knows that people like Eddie and Clark would be disappointed in him, but this is getting to the point where something needs to be done.]

Hey, for starters, Taako doesn't scare easily. And you've gotta have some of your stuff saved online, right?

...If anything needs to be done, I hope you can bring someone to help you. He seems the type of person that you shouldn't be around while alone.

[He's learned this, now. He opens his eyes again, but just stares at his lap while he's leaning.] I did save a few things, at least. I never did get my mobile game's transfer code.

[It reminds him of his roommate who went home, or he wouldn't be bothered at all.] Thank you. I have no idea how I can repay you, but please don't hesitate to ask me if you need anything.

I got people, it'll be fine.

[Lup is the most obvious choice for back up; she's not as chill with murder as Taako is, but "he nearly killed a teenager" would be a convincing enough argument, he's pretty sure. There's also Illya, who could likely handle things without anyone ever finding out. Not that he couldn't deal with Dodger alone, but if he had to, back up wouldn't be hard to find.]

You don't gotta thank me, pumpkin. The universe just has got good timing.

[He wonders if he should... thank Istus. Maybe she nudged things towards the right direction.]

...Perhaps it was something like fate, but I'm still in your debt.

[He can't ignore that. He'll remember it. Deciding that he's taken enough of Taako's kindness, he sits up straight again, bringing a hand up to his eyes to rub them gently.]

Do you suppose he'll let it go, just like that? [Eichi is thinking no, with how vicious Dodger had turned in that conversation. He wanted to know about Reaper so much...]

He will if he's got any sense.

[Which doesn't inspire Taako with a lot of confidence, so with a sigh, he gets back to his feet and grabs a random cheap plastic bangle from the vanity. All it takes is a couple of seconds to cast a spell on it, then he offers it to Eichi.]

This'll last you ten days. If shit goes sideways, break it, and think about wanting my help.

[He's baked two spells into it, essentially, contingency and sending, to let Eichi get a message to Taako if he needs to.]

If you're still worried after that, gimme a call and I'll redo the spell.

Something like that sounds too good to be true, almost.

[A convenient call for help. He reaches with both hands to accept it, immediately slipping it onto his wrist. He's going to be wearing this the full ten days, he knows it.] Thank you again, Taako-kun.

...If you don't mind me asking, what is your relation to that person? Why has he harassed your boyfriend?

You're welcome.

[He could say not to worry about it, but he feels like it might be more important to acknowledge Eichi's thanks than to just brush them off.]

Eddie's a cop, he knows shit about Dodger that the asshole wants to keep under wraps. [It's stupid, to Taako, because the smart thing to do would be to leave Eddie the fuck alone, instead of purposefully antagonizing him.] But I'm starting to get what kinda person Dodger is, and like, he's too much of a coward to go after Eddie, so he comes for me.

[Taako knows what he looks like, especially to someone like Dodger. He's the easy target, just like the crippled kid and the nineteen year old with some kinda heart condition are.

It's pathetic.]

People like that are truly cowardly, aren't they?

[He glances down to the cheap little bangle.] I'll let Reaper-san know, at least. He won't be happy with it at all, so perhaps he can do something. Even if you and him might not have agreed over something, he does mean well beneath that exterior he shows.

[So. There's that.] I'm worried that if I tried to walk back now I'd end up collapsing, so if you don't mind, I'll just rest here until I can leave to find myself a new phone.

[He wants to say that he really doesn't give a shit about whether or not Reaper means well, but it's clear that Eichi seems to like the guy, so Taako can bite his tongue.]

Do you wanna like, nap? I can clear this shit off my bed.

["This shit" mostly being clothes.]

As much as I'd like to refuse and say that I've received enough help today, my heartbeat still feels uneven, so I should probably rest.

[Before he has a heart attack or something.] A nap would be perfect.

[Taako is clearing the clothes off the bed before Eichi has even finished, idly tossing his shit in the wardrobe for future-Taako to deal with.]

Yeah, my dude, please don't have a heart attack on me, I've used my one teleport for the day. [He would have to call an ambulance, that'd be awkies.] Get some rest, I won't go far.

[Just in case Eichi is still feeling a little shaken.]

I'll be just fine after some rest.

[He really is still shaken, so the appreciation is clear on his face as Taako continues. He'd thank him again if he hadn't already about ten times, so instead he quietly reminds himself to do something about it later in return, and for now, to simply lie down and scoot onto the bed properly (after kicking his shoes off, since he hadn't been able to politely do that during a teleport) so that he can rest.

He'll knock out for a few hours, at least, honestly, so he definitely needed it. After that, he can be on his way, get his new phone, and then head right back to his own room.]

[open] we tried to bury it and rise above

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