April Catch-All

[leatherdaddy]

who: Gladio and a lot of scrawny dudes YOU
what: Two missions, and a whole lot of bad decisions social interactions
when: April catch-all means... all of April!
where: Various
warnings: Warnings will be in subject lines!




Mission: Brownout (closed to Reaper, Sans, McCree, Gladio)

Mission: How to Train Your... (closed to Gladio, Sans, Gooeygetsu, Eichi, Sasuke, McCree)

I Never (closed to mission-goers; tag in with your I, Never and threadjack away!)
 
Training Sessions (OTA who wants to play out survival, weapons training, etc)

Comments

[liquidate]

(he's nowhere to be seen, but that doesn't mean he's not there. and he hears sasuke's voice above the surface of the water quite clearly, that and the shift of pebbles under his feet that ripple at the shoreline.

it's no surprise sasuke's awake, but to come find him... maybe he's still drunk.)

I don't need a lecture. (a lagging reply, after moments of a night that's filled with frog chirps and the occasional splash of a bug-eating fish.)

[eyeforaneye]

[ He casts his gaze over the particularly inhospitable-looking spit of land next to the water, disinterested in sitting down on any part of it even if the drinks in him make him want to rest. ]

You're assuming I'll give you one.

[liquidate]

(the voice that's coming from the lake finally receives a body to connect it to. his head tilt out of the water with a measured breath, hair dripping into its standard style... albeit fused with the bridge of his nose and the sides of his face.

the look, however, is something unimpressed.)

What else would you be here for?

[eyeforaneye]

[ There's no visible reaction from him as his former teammate forms right from the water itself, the look he gives him measured. ]

To check on you. [ Simply enough. ] I didn't expect you to leave so abruptly.

[liquidate]

(sasuke's comment is unlike sasuke's comments those couple years ago. they really haven't seen much of one another, have they.)

It was either that, or try to kill him anyway. What would you've preferred?

[eyeforaneye]

I said it wasn't what I expected, not that it wasn't what was likely best. Don't twist my words.

Besides, he's the one I used up my lecture on.

[liquidate]

(squinting at him over rippling water.)

What am I supposed to say to that? Am I supposed to be satisfied with it, or something? (fingers lifting from the water to claw at the surface and slowly emerge, taking a knee.) What do you want from me, other than to completely obey you and just ignore that guys' mockeries?

[eyeforaneye]

You're saying that like I planned for us to be here together. [ What does he want from him? Little, nowadays; he's not in any position to keep demanding things from Suigetsu and they both know that. ]

It's better if this trip ends without any deaths amongst us. That doesn't mean I have to think he didn't say too much.

[liquidate]

What about after the trip?

(his eyes find his own reflection in the water, noticing the stars before noticing himself. where the hell are they?)

That guy's been up my ass since I first met him. You think you're above all that— you think I'm above all that? I'm not; I never needed a reason to cut him and he's giving me plenty.

[eyeforaneye]

[ Sasuke's gaze follows Suigetsu's, examining the mirrored and distorted image before he suddenly takes a step forward. One foot on the surface of the water and then the other, crossing distance between them. ]

I know what your urges are. But for now, save them for someone else... We still don't know what kind of person we're dealing with. It could also be that he ends up being useful.

[liquidate]

Useful.

(that guy. right. unlikely and irritating. despite his urges and his best efforts to seem normal, there's always one in a flock that'll bring the worst out of him and he doesn't want to face that if sasuke's passing judgement on him.)

Whatever you say, Sasuke. (falsely chipper.)

[eyeforaneye]

[ The tone grates as he comes to a halt not far from Suigetsu now, hand resting on the hilt of his chokuto. ]

Are you staying out here for the rest of the night?

[liquidate]

(studying him, eyes dropping to the sword before raising.)

I'm not sleeping near those guys. (not accusatory, he's as uncomfortable with it as sasuke is.) So probably. What're you gonna do?

[eyeforaneye]

[ At that he casts a look back to the camp, visibly thinking it over. ]

... I'll stay up. [ Well, that's decided. ] I don't know what all of them can do yet.

[liquidate]

They don't look all that intimidating, but I guess you're right.

(while fairly sure they won't have a problem, suigetsu's motioning to a nearby rock, flat enough on the top to make a decent perch on the lake.)

You can stay here, if you wanna. (like he owns the lake, IT'S NOT YOURS SUIGETSU.)

[eyeforaneye]

[ It would make him feel more at ease to stay near Suigetsu even if he suspects that his former teammate is the one with the greatest chance of being able to harm him. Even now, two years later... well, he trusts him.

Already he's turning, footsteps carrying him over to that indicated spot to look it over. ]

... it still offers a good view of them. Might be a good idea.

[liquidate]

I'm not really tired, either. I might try to sleep in a bit.

(a pause, watching him.)

This is familiar, huh? It's like we're on another mission together.

[eyeforaneye]

[ He has his doubts about the first comment but doesn't voice them, merely making plans under the assumption that Suigetsu will quietly pass out far earlier than he means to, surrounded by new water-bound friends. ]

I suppose.

... it doesn't really feel like it's been two years.

[liquidate]

I know. Feels like it's been ten.

(that's definitely not. where sasuke was going with that, but he can't read moods to save his life and — it really has felt like ten fucking years.)

You've been on the go, Karin says you're afraid of going back 'cause you'd be endangering the village.

[eyeforaneye]

[ Finally he bends his knees, taking a heavy seat on that rock with a heavier, alcohol-breathed sigh. ]

That's blunt. [ In a deeper tone as he settles. ] Is that what you think too?

[liquidate]

Would you rather I beat around the bush? ... I guess I don't have to tell you what we think about it.

(a sigh, relenting but rolling with the question. "blunt" and "honest" blur for him like they do for sasuke.)

Me and Karin have different opinions on everything, so why would we start agreeing on this of all things? ... I just figure they're sending you on a ton of missions for their own sake, like always. Kills two birds with one stone, protecting the village and figuring out what to do with you while you're gone, doesn't it? I still don't know why you wanna go back and work for those assholes, since the only one who matters there now is that Naruto guy.

(that's it, really, quieting down for a brief pause.

maybe it's a bit harsh, but — maybe he's a bit irritated.)

If your goal's still reforming the place like it was during the war, don't you have to return already? No, 'cause you're being held at arm's length, obviously. Change doesn't happen so quickly, definitely not in two years, and definitely not for those people.

[eyeforaneye]

[ The words weigh on an already unsteady mind, head heavy and tilting back as he lies flat against that rock. His hand rests against his stomach, one knee bent and the other leg outstretched as he stares up at stars he doesn't recognize; no matter where he's traveled the sky has always stayed the same. What a strange thing to feel nostalgic over. ]

It isn't that simple. [ The easy reply that means absolutely nothing, one that makes him want to sigh at himself. He's too drunk for this, he knows that. Suigetsu's words are finding a home with similar thoughts in the back of his own mind and that alone is dangerous. ]

... there isn't a better option for me. They're not going to be able to rebuild themselves if I'm there; I'm still a relic of a bad history for those that know my reasons, and for those who don't I'm an aimless criminal they blame their leader for freeing. I'm more useful if I'm away.

[liquidate]

(finally crouching to stare down into the water, before deciding to sink back into it, letting it envelope him to the shoulders. like this, he can drift carelessly and without worry, sasuke easing a mind tense with wariness where the others at camp are concerned.

the alcohol would've been flushed from his system, but he kind of likes the way a certain amount can numb his nose and make his body heavy; relaxed.)

That sounds like a lot of excuses, Sasuke.

[eyeforaneye]

[ It's almost enough to make him want to close his eyes... but not yet. Sure, the topic is a difficult one, but not one he expects to remain unaddressed forever. Maybe that's what inspires his next words. ]

Is that really what you want to say when you're back with Orochimaru?

[liquidate]

(pauses in his shift, the name causing him to sink down to his jaw, but...)

That's why I can say it. (simply, betraying how difficult the situation really is.) There's a couple other options, but in the end we settled. At least I'm not the one fooling myself, this time.