lucetilogs | Zompania Draft - Draftees only, days 1-3.5

Who: All Draftees
What: This is your death. Followed by your time-traveling life and desperate bomb hunting.
When: From May 22 to May 20 to early May 23 (days 1-4)
Where: Zompania
Summary: Information post here
Rating: Varies on thread, please mark explicit material.

This post is for the draftee-only portion of the Zompania draft--the day 3 death, time travel to day 1, and then the events until the arrival of the reinforcements. Be sure to use the above info post for any plotting needs you might have. Enjoy!

Please note that there is a specific top-level comment thread for:

The day 3 arrival of the draftees and the 6 hours that follow until the bomb is dropped
Death--This thread can be treated as REFERENCE ONLY. Responding to it isn't necessary.
Threads prior to departing for Zompania--post resurrection freak outs, arguments over how to proceed, etc.

All other threading, from day 1 until the reinforcements arrive, should be conducted as normal.

Be sure to tag this post appropriately: [canon] character name

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You did. [There's a gentle, yet sad smile as she pokes him. He never forgot.]

... We've been here two years, and this world... it's changed us in many ways, both good and bad. We've seen a lot of awful things along the way. But I haven't forgotten myself.

[Part of him hadn't realized how close they were at first, feeling his breathing tensing up as he looks down at her. But right now, it didn't matter.]

I haven't forgotten what you've told me. ... It's not that I'm rushing in because I want to sacrifice myself recklessly. I still want to help any way I can. That's just how I am - I can't stand to see people suffering. But most of all, I want to protect the people I've come to treasure here.

[There's brief silence as he takes one hand off her shoulder. There's an uncertain look as his hand stops, feeling more tension building up in his chest. But eventually, he moves for her hand, closing it over with his own.]

The people I treasure the most... I don't want to lose them.

It's hard to tell that you're not trying to sacrifice yourself sometimes.

[His reasoning was easier to understand after being stuck in the enclosure for so long. There were more than enough times where she hadn't liked the actions that were coupled with those reasons, but he just wouldn't be Rudy anymore if that changed. Whether she liked those actions was a more complicated story.]

You're... [She bit her lip and paused, staring at the hand covering hers. Suddenly, she shifted and squeezed it tightly.] I don't-- You're not allowed to die either, okay? I'm not going back alone. All three of us are going to make it back.

[It wasn't quite as grand a speech as his, but for her it was hard enough to get those words out in the first place.]

If you want to help, then do it. But if you do, you have to promise that you won't die, no matter what. Got it?

I won't die. I promise.

[Likewise, he'll squeeze hers in return, his thumb gently brushing over the back of it. As prone to self-sacrifice he was, he couldn't afford to die here for many reasons.]

We'll all make it. You, Jack, me... [He slowly nods.] I-- we're not going to let them kill us like this a second time. No matter what. ... I won't let them.

[His efforts to comfort her were...distracting, but she just shook her head in an attempt to dispel those thoughts. This wasn't the time to think about things like that! Focus!]

If you break your promise I'll be really mad.

[Although with some other emotions. She didn't seem ready to let go of his hand, either.] ...I'm not going to let them either. I'm not going to let them win without a fight!

I know. [There's a soft, sad smile.] Just promise me you won't die either.

[Then, there's silence. Nothing but the sound of screams and fighting, and yet still he glances down at their intertwined hands. Nevermind the fact how close they were right now.]

Y-You know, um... [He opens his mouth, as if beginning to say something. But he abruptly stops himself, glancing away.]

I made you promise, so I have to promise the same thing too, don't I?

[It only took a moment of silence for her to slowly separate her hand from his and reach out to cover both of his ears. That was the best she could do right then.

Although...]

What was that?

[Inwardly, he feels a sudden jolt at the sudden warmth covering over his ears, his lips parting without even realizing. The only thing he's hearing is his own heartbeat, his cheeks slightly flushing as his breathing's pace picking up. The only thing he's focused on is her eyes, scrambling to find the words he's wanting to say.]

I... [Of all the times to be finding himself inarticulate.] There's something that I, um...

[Her hands withdrew in surprise for a moment, even though it was only a little bit. Was putting her hands over his ears really so startling? ...Well, whatever. Even with that reaction, it was more important to keep those sounds out for the time being.

The only downside was that she could feel her own face turning red at such an intense stare.]

What? Don't keep trailing off like that.

[The warmth was nice - it felt nice, and suddenly it made drowning out those screams all the more easier. Or all the more harder, considering they've been replaced with a flood of his own scattered thoughts. Okay, Rudy, breathe...]

W-Well. There's something I want to...

["Tell you."]

... talk to you about. When we get back.

No fair, you've already made me all curious. [It was hard to be jovial, considering everything that had happened. That couldn't be helped, but he still seemed so tense. She wasn't even sure she was helping that much.]

I'll wait if you go back and try to rest soon. How's that?

[Rudy closes his eyes, trying to clear his thoughts. Trying to relax, control his breathing. If he lost control of himself, there's no saying what would happen to that seal placed on him.

Raising his hands, he gently places them over hers. Maybe... it'd help drown the voices out even more. Or maybe he just liked that warm feeling. For now, he's focusing on clearing his mind and concentrating on taking slow breaths. When he responds, eyes still closed, his voice is calm.]

... Deal.

[He'd tell her now, but... now wasn't the best time. Now definitely was not a good time, considering they were in the middle of a battlefield. Or maybe-- maybe he just lost his nerve, like always. He was never good at giving straightforward answers, after all. Especially in front of Jane.]

... [He seemed to have calmed down. The voices has really stressed him out, hadn't they? It wasn't terribly surprising, considering his usual softhearted nature, but it wasn't the sort of thing she wanted to see either. The real surprising part was remembering this was far from the first serious conversation they had ever had.]

Feeling a little better? [Her voice was soft. Almost quiet, even. Her heart was in the right place, even if it only occurred to her that he might not be able to hear her with his ears covered after the fact.

It also occurred to her that she really, really didn't want anyone to stumble upon them when they were already this close, so she took the chance his closed eyes gave her and took a quick glance around to see if anyone was watching them.]

Zompania Draft - Draftees only, days 1-3.5

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