flameguard | mygod | pc catchall

[ WANDERING THE VILLAGE RESTLESSLY wow what a day. occasionally he shoots a glance over toward the pyre where erin awaits execution, but rondo is a suitable distraction. he heads right over when he sees him. ]

Rondo-dono. You did well today.

[ protecting the others, keeping erin's attention off the rest. that's probably the best they could hope for, under the circumstances. ]

[ rondo is sitting by the pyre, in fact! what a well placed distraction. it was like this last week, too - the fire is supposed to be eerie, but to rondo, the blue of the sacred flame is so comforting that it couldn't feel any other way. especially right now, where he just feels - bad. conflicted. you lack resolve.

he looks up - the compliment surprises him, and he ducks his head. ]

...I wasn't able to act fast enough. I should've... [ ...

he shakes his head, though, and tries again, tries for a tiny smile. ] ...you honor me, Sir Iwatooshi.

[ then he'll six next to rondo, shoulder to shoulder, leaning lightly against him. ]

Don't blame yourself. With something like this, it's best to exercise caution. We needed to know for sure, or we could end up taking an innocent life instead.

You drew her attention and protected the others. That's what matters.

[ he accepts this gratefully - though he's trying to keep it together, it's probably pretty obvious that the gesture means a lot to him, and rondo leans into it, turning his head down. ]

... I'm scared. [ he says, finally, his voice very, very quiet. ] I'm scared that tomorrow the ritual will choose someone who can't fight.

I'm worried, too. If it's anything like before, then we won't be able to step in.

[ which is so alarming when all you want to do is protect them. ]

Erin-dono doesn't appear to be the most experienced fighter, but we can't underestimate her or her monster's ability. Maybe the best thing we can do is just... be prepared for the aftermath, as we did for Karlach-dono last week.

[ there's a little nod, at that - he shivers a little, at the thought. ]

And we don't know who has the power to heal, or... if they even still can. [ terrifying. ] I just... I hope it'll be alright. I hate having to stand by and watch.

It's safest to assume they can't. We'll have to rely on our healers and the first aid kits that some of us have collected.

...It's the same for me. I'd rather face them myself.

[ ugh.

he doesn't say anything to that, for now - just kind of slumps against him and rubs his hand over his own face. ]

[ mood, kid.

iwatooshi shifts to wrap an arm around his shoulders, not unlike just a few days prior. if only they could do this under better circumstances. ]

It's frustrating to be faced an enemy beyond our reach, isn't it?

Mm.

[ not a problem he's had! in a long time!! rondo is the run in and attack kind of guy! ]

In so many ways... [ bleurhgh. bad. everything's bad. ] From the cult itself to the third person, too.

[ iwatooshi shakes his hand he also charges forth all the time. and he has one of the longest weapons available! he's supposed to be able to reach those no one else can! ]

...I would rather target the cult than the third culprit. They're the ones responsible.

I know, I would too, but -

[ ... but what if they kill again? what if they're overcome? what if they harm someone else? he cuts himself off and then shakes his head. ]

Its like War said... take out the root so the plant doesn't regrow. I just... don't know how to get to the root. We just have to keep trying.

[ gnashes his teeth. ]

I don't know yet, either. But there's no enemy that can't be defeated, one way or another. They won't be beyond our reach forever.

...We just have to move faster, if we want to avoid losing so many people again.

[ shark teef... he nods. ]

We do. [ they just have to figure this out faster. somehow. someway. rondo won't lose hope - he's good at that, but it's frustrating. ]

[ likewise, iwatooshi holds onto what little hope they have with a warrior's determination, no matter how hopeless it may seem. ]

We'll find a way, Rondo-dono. One way or another, we will.

[ there isn't much choice. they'll find a way, or every one of them will break. ]

mygod | pc catchall | iwatooshi

week 1, saturday

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