foreverphantom | CHARLIE

[ even in affection week, he'd just barely tolerate this. but right now he seems like he doesn't react to the hug at all. he's just letting it happen to this noodle body he's left rolling around in the dirt. ]

[ the huggeth happened.... it lasts 5 seconds ]

Did that help at all?

[ so, because it's affection week, the answer is yes

but he would sooner be tortured than admit that, so. he just curls in on himself a little more, almost as if he's hugging himself, as he says: ]

Why would it? It fixes nothing.

[ she sits next to him, still very close but not actively hugging ]

Sometimes it just helps when you're feeling overwhelmed.

And you're feeling overwhelmed, right?

I'm not overwhelmed, I'm weak. And powerless.

I'm also powerless.

Great. We can both be helpless and pathetic, then.

You're not pathetic, Brimstone.

[ puts a hand on his shoulder ]

[ allows it! ]

What other word is there for what just happened? [ the fight ]

An.... unfortunate fight?

[ leans against him ]

Unfortunate because of how pathetic I was.

[ allows it ]

I think you're being very hard on yourself. Saber is a master samurai, I'm pretty sure.

And I could wipe out entire cities, entire militaries, without breaking a sweat. A samurai would have been nothing.

Well-- why don't you work at being stronger as you are now? It's no substitute for the power you had before, but it could help a little.

[ also exercise releases endorphins ]

I--what?

[ as though exercise has literally never occurred to him before ]

You know, building strength! Look at Marcoh. I'm sure it took him a lot of hard work to get him to be that strong.

Like...working out? Lifting weights?

Yeah. And other forms of exercise.

[ DRAMATICALLY ROLLS OVER IN EVEN MORE DEFEAT THAN BEFORE ]

[ don't laugh don't laugh don't laugh don't laugh ]

Is it that bad of an idea?

...'ve never had to exercise for my strength before...

[ don't laugh don't laugh don't laugh ]

Well, there's a first time for everything, isn't there?

[ she should. she's allowed. ]

There's no way I can get back to what I had the slow, human way.

[ she will not ]

Maybe not, but it's a start, isn't it?

[ hunches in on himself a little more but otherwise doesn't respond. he's not sure how to. charlie has a point, but--it's hard to imagine. hard to stomach. ]

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productionhell - 2025-03-03 03:22 (UTC) - Expand