I feel so unsure

[wounds]

Who: MANTICORE, visitors
What: Dealing with the aftermath of I Will Twist The Knife
When: December 9, evening
Where: MANTICORE penthouse
Warnings: References to I Will Twist The Knife

[It's been a few days, people have recovered. Some better off than others. And today MANTICORE is gathered to deal and talk about what happened.]

Comments

Sorry-- Mei's crashing for a little bit, but he brought gifts!

[dishevelment]

--Here.

[Sometimes it was better not asking how it was that Koumei arrived, but at least he brought snacks. In this case, he held an opened bottle of something alcoholic out for Genos to take, should he want it.]

We've been through hell and back, and nothing's going to make that better. But, drinks can numb the pain for a bit.

[wounds]

[Alcohol does nothing for him- but he'll still take it, taking a sip.]

Time can help sometimes.

[dishevelment]

With injuries? Sure.

[Taking a breath, he carefully sat down near Genos and opened his own drink. Taking a sip, he allowed himself to relax a little-- in his band's penthouse that wasn't so easy, not with everyone there who looked up to him.]

With this? Not so much. I'm just glad most of the kids weren't there.

[wounds]

[He sighs, it's long and tired. But really, who can blame him?]

Most of them, at least. Hope they're holding up alright.

[dishevelment]

Don't we all?

[It was a rhetorical question-- they both knew the answer to it.]

How about you? How are you holding up with the arm?

[wounds]

It's supposed to heal in two weeks if I don't do anything with it.

[Tsk.]

Wish I had a one handed instrument.

[dishevelment]

You can technically play parts of a song on piano one handed.

...If you wanted, I can show you some to take your mind off the wait.

[wounds]

Why not. I don't have anything better to do.

[He gives his usual smile-- it doesn't feel right. But he'll go with it.]

[dishevelment]

[Its okay-- they're all trying to forget what happened. Koumei offered an awkward, sheepish little smile in return.]

Maybe we could meet at my place a little later, then? It's a little tricky to carry a keyboard right now.

[wounds]

Sounds good. Don't strain yourself any worse.

[dishevelment]

[Koumei chuckled-- and regretted it. Although the worst of the injury had been healed, he had still required bandaging and stitches. It seems that the doctors weren't so kind of the wounds weren't of the fatal variety.]

Heh. You knew? I was trying to keep that quiet from most of the kids here.

[wounds]

I'm not a child.

There's no reason to hide that from me.

[dishevelment]

I know-- but I'm trying to avoid people worrying about me.

[He had his pride too!]

[wounds]

[The first thing he thinks, "We're not close enough for me to worry."]

Hide it if you want then.

[dishevelment]

[Whatever Genos thinks is fine-- Koumei appreciates the young man's rationality.]

I plan to, for a while anyway.

[wounds]

Until you're properly healed up?

[dishevelment]

Maybe even after. Some people can't afford to be seen like this.

[As one of the few of the newer members who were on the other side of 25, Koumei felt a certain responsibility to everyone. Someone had to be the rock in this storm.]

[wounds]

You're not responsible for everyone.

[Says the man who willingly stepped into acid to save a little girl he didn't know.]

[dishevelment]

You weren't here when people disappeared for a few days.

[The tone was still mild, but there was no hiding the seriousness of his words.]

I don't care if I'm not responsible for everyone-- when people are putting themselves in danger, someone has to step in.

[wounds]

You think making them think you're invincible is how you're going to do it?

You can get injured just as easily as the rest of us.

[dishevelment]

I know-- and I don't plan on being invincible. Fighting doesn't seem to be my thing.

[wounds]

Good.

[It's his thing- or it was his thing.]

[dishevelment]

But what I can do is talk people out of being stupid-- and get them to be a little more responsible for themselves whether they know it or not.

[wounds]

Fair enough.

[People could use a voice like that.]

[dishevelment]

They could indeed.

...You never wondered where that fish in the lobby came from, did you?