heartlands | limelight inbox

good thing i didn't assume wrong.
they're just leftovers from the meeting earlier, though, but i'm outside.

[coming to open the door!]

You know I'll never say no to leftovers. Come on in.

[stepping back to let him in]

[ smiles a little offering the plate of cream puffs. ]

Then you'll have to to tell me if they're any good.

[ stepping inside though!! and firstly: ]

Hi. How are you?

I'm doing okay. About the same as usual, I think.

[but, as he takes a cream puff:]

What about you?

[ shrugs a little as he steps furthers in: ]

It's been chill? The newer guys seem like they're settled in now, so.

Oh - have you told me about them yet? Or have I met them?

[ shakes his head a little ]

I don't think so.

One's this older guy. Mockingbird - totally the kind of adult who just glares at you and pretends he's okay when he's not and glares harder if you say something.

The other's Duck? He's about our age. Looks like he'd beat you up but is honestly chill and nice.

Ohh, those types... I'll have to make sure to meet them soon.

For now, though - did you want to go back to my room?

You should, definitely. You'd like Duck.

[ He thinks but he nods!! ]

Oh. I did want to tell you I sort of looked at the last one? Duck was unsure so I super hoped it wasn't a bad one cause all the ones are not like ones I'd share as a first time.

Oh - got it. Can I ask what it was?

... I did bring it with me just in case.

But it's so stupid. He broke into the witch's house to try and free her but got caught and tied up in a closet.

Ohh, not the closet...

[ hangs head ]

The closet and he didn't even resist.

... Guess it's not the stupidest thing he's ever done.

Did he get out eventually, at least?

[...]

Uh, no pun intended.

[ ... groans at the pun anyway. ]

It ended like right after he got locked in. But part of why he was there was to ask her to take him to the Witch's Road? So I can only assume the answer is yes.

At least it presumably ended okay! Even if most of it seems unpleasant.

Until we get to the Witch's Road and people start dying.

[ It's said a little more quietly before he shakes his head. ]

... which is probably why this one isn't going to be great, since the last two haven't been that bad and that's my luck.

[quiet for a moment]

Do you want me to check it out first?

[ He's equally quiet for a moment and goes to open his mouth to apologize, but Gingham speaks first. ]

[ And that quiets him again - kneejerk response saying no, it'll be bad but Gingham wouldn't offer if he didn't understand that and then there's - Well. He half lied to him about the one before last (is it a lie if it was delicate omission?) ]

... If you're sure you're okay with it.

I'm sure.

[giving his hand a squeeze]

As long as you're okay with it.

[ squeezes his hand back and stays that way a good few moments before answering ]

I'm not sure "okay with it," is something I'll feel if it does suck. But hopefully it doesn't suck, maybe it'll just be another family dinner.

[ He wants to hope it is, but given his track record he knows better as he pulls out the box of bandages and offers him one - ] I think you're just supposed to put it on?

[ and should he do so it's a memory of betrayal. ]

[quiet for a moment, surprised - and then glances at the ground, rubbing at his face.]

You sure you want to see it?

[ watching him more than a little apprehensively: ]

... When you ask it like that it makes me feel like I have to now?

I'm not going to stop you, but - I feel like I should at least warn you that it's bad. I think she did something really awful to you.

[taking it off regardless]

[ There's not hesitance so much as curiosity, quiet concern and wanting to listen to Gingham first. His mouth forms a small line as he gives a tiny shake of his head. ]

If it's who I think it is, that's not surprising.

[ He tries for some mild light-heartedness. There's only one person in his mind who could do something terrible that he's seen in visions so far - and she's appeared in practically every one.

But maybe some part of him believes she wouldn't, in spite of it all. Especially when he takes a new bandage from the pack and moves to apply it. ]

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