damned_institute | Dayshift 42: Morning

Senna stepped off the bus to wind blowing through the clothes she was given. A sad face at one of the nurses allowed her a long red scarf as well, and once she had draped it around her neck and let it hang down her back, she had trotted off.

The park she had saw last time seemed a good place to be on the look-out for the chicks from last night. It was close to the buses, and a big enough place that if they remembered that they had a race date, it would suit its purpose. The girl ran to a place in the middle of the field and waited there, shifting her weight from side to side. After a while, this wasn't enough, and Senna traded back and forth between jogging in place and acrobatics--the easy flips and cartwheels keeping her warm.

Her mind had changed in the night before. She had gotten a taste of what leadership entailed, and she wasn't sure she had rose to the occasion or not. She knew she had tried her best, and had been willing to give as much as she had, but it hadn't been enough. She knew this. Hokuto, at least, had gotten hurt, and in the end, they still hadn't explored more than the schoolhouse. They really needed a different approach with that place.

She went back and forth internally, body going through the motions and reflexes of her movements.

[for... Falis, Hokuto, Meche, and Soma?--and down to here]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I'll be rejoining the Arts and Crafts club, but it'll be a little while longer before I assume command, assuming there are no objections," Hitsgaya answered. To him, it was the natural conclusion, but he was aware that people might object to a newcomer suddenly taking over. He hoped there wouldn't be too much resistance to his leadership.

"I just arrived yesterday, so I'm still being briefed on past operations."

"Understandable," Artemis said. It was only natural that Hitsugaya resumed command... of course. It only made Artemis wonder if he could bring himself to venture out with the Captain again, especially considering what had happened to him and why. It was his fault... If he hadn't been taken that night, the night of Renji's funeral, then everyone would have gone together and Hitsugaya wouldn't have been out by himself.

"The division needs a capable leader, especially considering Hinamori-san has stepped down. Matsumoto-san seems capable as well, however I believe we can benefit from your previous experience in a leadership position."

This was all wrong. So mechanical, so forced. But this wasn't the Hitsugaya he could prod and banter with. This Hitsugaya didn't know him--hadn't gotten to know him yet. He didn't know that Artemis had fought for him, covered up for him, nearly died several times for his sake. He didn't know that Artemis had bonded with his other self to the point where the boy could call him an idiot and they would still work together the next day. All of that was gone. There was a ghost in front of him now--taunting him with memories that would never become 'alright' or 'okay'.

There was a lump forming in his throat, and his eyes were slowly tearing up. He focused on keeping himself in check, nearly to the point of shaking. A lot of good it would do to start crying in front of this person who didn't know him.

As cold as Hitsugaya was, even he could see that his previous incarnation had meant a lot to Artemis. Comforting people was never his strong point, and normally he wouldn't even think of doing this for a stranger, to him, but after his encounter with Hinamori last night, he could empathize with the other boy. Or perhaps, Hitsugaya wanted to be useful to someone, because he felt like he had failed Hinamori last night.

"Don't force yourself," Hitsugaya said, turning his eyes off to the side and pretending to ignore the tears threatening to spill over in Artemis' eyes.

"I already heard from Hinamori that you were close with the other... me... The loss or injury of a comrade..." Seeing Hinamori lying in a pool of her own blood. "isn't something people should to get used to. When you're not on duty, you should recuperate and relax."

This was as close as Hitsugaya could possibly get to saying there was no shame in feeling emotional over a comrade's death, and that Artemis should reconcile his emotions while he had time, instead of later on, when he might not have the opportunity. It might have been simpler if he had come right out and said it, but that just wasn't Hitsugaya's style.

[So so SO sorry for fail! ; ; We can backthread if you want.]

Artemis wasn't sure if he was comforted by how predictable that reaction should have been, or if it made him miss his Captain even more. But he chose to laugh, sounding a little sad and forced.

"Well, one thing hasn't changed--you're still telling me to take time for myself when there's so much to be done."

He paused, wondering how to phrase this next part. "I... hope you will not take offense to my renewed mourning, even though you two are or were the same person. We were friends and you and I--well, you barely know me, and I'm not certain how to act around you."

[It's cool. Backthread? Love to!]

"Don't worry about it. If you've met my previous incarnation then you'd know that the only thing really I take offense to is disrespect. Aside from that, how you treat me is entirely up to you," Hitsugaya answered. Apparently, Fowl and his previous self had been close, which said a lot. Hitsugaya was one tough customer when it came to socializing.

"I can't presume to understand how you feel, but I hope that in the future we can have amicable relationship, if not as friends then at least as comrades with a common goal."

Hitsugaya wouldn't object to a friendship. He had few friends as it was. And while he didn't actively seek to expand that small circle, he wasn't against new relationships.

Haku had managed to lose Artemis in the sudden rush of people, in part because his nurse had seen fit to drag him away from his friend. After a minor scolding of how he needed a 'nice, warm coat' because he didn't want to 'freeze to death', Haku finally spotted Artemis.

And the infamous 'Captain'.

He walked over, sedately at first, as he observed their reactions to each other, then stepped up behind Artemis and ghosted his fingers along the other boy's back before coming to rest on his shoulder.

"There you are," he said with a smile. To anyone that did not know Haku (and there were not many), he was simply being friendly and warm. He was just barely restraining himself however, from ripping the white-haired boy's face clean off.

Artemis was about to open his mouth and explain that he hadn't been certain what their relationship to one another was (and the thought was possibly the unkindest cut of all), when he felt cool fingers on his back.

For some reason, he felt both incredibly relieved, and incredibly guilty. As though he had been cheating on Haku with the memory of someone who was gone. The hand on his shoulder was comforting, but it also gave rise to a feeling of desperately wanting to move away from the source of his upset.

"Haku," Artemis said quietly, turning to catch Haku's eyes. He hoped that Haku would see the silent desire to leave in his expression--but only for a moment. No doubt Haku had come to take him away, no doubt at all.

Hitsugaya saw the level of intimacy between Artemis and Haku, and decided it was time for him to leave. Also, despite Hitsugaya's efforts, his presence also seemed to be having an adverse effect on Fowl.

"Excuse me. I need to continue my search," he said, then calmly walked away, blending into the crowd.

Meeting with Hughes was more important than smoothing over feelings with a stranger. It might have been a cruel way of looking at things, but Hitsugaya's position demanded that he focused on the bigger picture.

Dayshift 42: Morning - Magus Park

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