anthony is a sassy malaysian desert (helpline) wrote in invol_rpg, @ 2013-07-10 11:48:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! log, anthony liu, noah maloney |
WHO: Noah and Anthony
WHAT: Sorry, Bronte. AND EVERYONE ELSE OKAY :[
WHEN: SUPER BACKDATED right after the VS arrived to IVI after their mission
WHERE: Noah’s room
WARNINGS: None
STATUS: Completed
Anthony allowed himself to enter Noah's room. Right after he arrived at IVI, he had shot a text message to his friend. There was a grim look on his face. "Chris Barbary was killed during the mission." He wasn't sure if he already knew, Anthony had barely glanced at the network when they arrived. “Fuck. Mate.” Noah’s book slipped onto the top of his desk, forgotten. It took a moment or two for the words to register, and even then they didn’t sink in. Chris. Blackbird. Classmate. Molecular Immobilization. How could she be dead when he had seen her just days ago? “Sit.” He gestured to his bed. “Please.” He wanted to get up and go to Anthony, but his own legs felt immobilized. There were thousands of questions pinging around his head, coupled with denial and each ricocheting against tiny pinball machine lights that said WHY, but he forced himself to remain silent, presenting a plateau for Anthony to unload his words if he so chose. He complied, sitting down though his mind was still racing with what had happened. "They had to go in for a mission at an Indonesian school -- the VR was there. They killed her." Initially, he had been shocked, horrified, sad. Now he was angry, with VR and IVF. Anthony's clenched his fists, shoulders tense. Chris had been innocent; they were there because IVF had told them to secure the school and help the students. "This is probably going to happen again next time we see them." What happened that day had cemented that. “But-” Noah began. With a push of his legs, he sent his desk chair closer to Anthony; it ‘waking up’ halfway through and nudging itself the rest of the way. “I thought - I thought the VR didn’t kill other Vols.” Obviously not. “Sorry. Daft thing to say.” He didn’t know what wouldn’t be a daft thing to say; that they would all be fine, that it wouldn’t happen again. None of it would be true, and Anthony would know that. “How are the rest of them?” he asked eventually. "Not too good. Lilja won't stop crying," he sighed, rubbing his forehead as he remembered the look on her face when they found out about Chris. "They were really close." He pursed his lips for a moment before resuming, "I don't think it matters anymore. They'll hurt and kill anyone as long as it's good for them." Anthony's eyes were troubled. "And you know... I think our side is the same." It was a vicious cycle. “Yeah.” Noah’s hand came up to rub at own his forehead, mirroring Anthony’s gesture. There were the beginnings of a headache there. “IVF - VR; we’re caught in the middle between two unstoppable forces, if I’m to revert back to Physics. Best anyone can do is try to keep those close to them safe.” Anthony nodded silently. He opened his mouth to speak, "Could you---" then closed it again, hesitating. It seemed like an odd, morbid request. He shifted his gaze elsewhere, deciding then that after what had happened, it would make sense to ask. "If anything happens to me, could you make sure Claudia will be okay?" he finally asked. "She'll try to be rational and look out for other people but she forgets to take care of herself. And you know worried she can be." At this, Anthony rolled his eyes. Don’t talk like that, Noah wanted to tell him. It will be okay. But he couldn’t say the words; he didn’t have that power. Even Carter, Javier and other Vols with the ability to cheat luck - there was only so much they could do. “Of course I will,” he said. “We’re your surrogate parents, remember? She’s the fretful mother and I’m the cool, laid-back dad. With crap taste in football teams,” he added at an attempt at levity. “You’re going to be fine though, mate. Don’t think you can skip out on us that easily.” He reached over, gave Anthony a clap on the shoulder. "Gross," Anthony pulled a face, shrugging his friend's hand away. In the first place, he wished he didn't have to have this conversation. But when their own countries had deserted them, who else could help? "I don't plan to. A good healer is someone who keeps himself safe if he wants to help other people." He folded his arms, giving Noah a mock-critical stare. "Anyway, you'd better keep yourself out of danger too, since you've made a promise to me." “I’ll be fine. He-” Noah jerked his thumb towards where Oscar was slouching in the corner “-wouldn’t allow it. He’s getting ideas above his station these days. It’s all Taki’s fault.” ‘Sweepmaster,’ the only name that the broom would now answer to, considered himself to be a de facto member of VU, but even though Noah knew that his and Taki’s room wasn’t bugged, he tried to avoid mentioning their organisation outright. It was an easy thing to get comfortable about, and loose lips would sink ships. “I’ll check in on Claudia later,” he added, more seriously. “I don’t suppose there’s anything else I can do?” “That’ll be enough for now, I think,” In contrast, Anthony gave his friend a smile, feeling more reassured now that he had talked about what he had in his mind on the plane ride home. “Thanks,” there was a pause as his smile turned into a grin, mimicking Noah’s accent, “--mate.” “Terrible,” Noah deemed Anthony’s accent. “Absolutely terrible. They’d deport you from Liverpool in about five seconds.” He stood up, and the chair scooted back beneath his desk. In general, Noah’s animated furniture was more houseproud than the boy himself. “Want to get some air? Unless you have somewhere else to be.” It was an invitation, but it also gave Anthony an out if he didn’t feel like company. Anthony thought about this offer. “I’m a little tired, the journey home was a little rough,” he sounded apologetic as he said this. But he had just arrived to IVI after a plane ride, and needed some time alone to process everything else. “Maybe later.” |