[Nagito is one of the last to filter out of the room after the meeting; he's spent most of it against the wall, except for diversions like writing on the chalkboard and arguing with Dankovsky, and he seems willing to keep up this observational mode all the way through to the end.
But he catches Sunny before he leaves.] So, if we go into one of the other shelters now, nobody should notice. I won't take too long!
[Even as Nagito caught him, Sunny felt his heartbeat increase. He knew this was coming, had agreed to it, and…
He couldn’t back out now. Mari would probably agree that it was better to get it checked (and somehow Nagito checking his eye out was less scary than Mari or Mr. Dankovsky doing so).
So Sunny nodded like usual, letting Nagito pick where they would go for privacy. He… hadn’t really looked into the other makeshift rooms, knowing only the one he and Mari stayed in for sure.]
[Nagito leads Sunny to the one he's been using. It's the smallest one--Nagito picked it specifically because he assumed nobody else would want it. It's impressively clean inside. He herds Sunny to a chair.] Can you get that cloth off yourself? I want to clean that, while it's off. I can give you something temporary to use while it dries. Don't worry, I'm confident in my cleaning abilities.
[Sunny obediently sits in the chair, nodding. He could take it off. And… he opened his mouth to say so but… his voice was stuck in his throat.
It wasn’t Nagito’s fault, Sunny reasoned, as his hands shook while he removed the blindfold. He was mostly comfortable with Nagito. It was just…
Sitting in a chair like this. Questions simply being asked of him, simple actions to be done… it felt a lot like the doctor’s. Or therapy. And even though Sunny focused on taking calming breaths, on moving slowly, on the task at hand… that didn’t make a difference to his mind.]
[Sunny shakes his head, the situation still rendering him mostly mute.
It doesn’t hurt… it hadn’t since the hours after he had left the River upon arrival. That was something to be thankful for, right?
And yet… the memory of it, the idea that it could hurt, the thought that someone might be disgusted if he took that scrap of fabric off or if it had gotten worse…
That scared him.
What if Nagito was freaked out when he looked at it? What if he didn’t want to spend time with Sunny anymore afterwards?]
Alright, that's good! Pain can be a sign of infection, after all! [He sits down across from Sunny. There isn't a hint of squeamishness in his expression.] Now, can I see? Can you open your eye? If you can't, it's fine. Wounds act kind of weird here, anyway.
[Oh, good to know. Sunny wasn’t sure if the lack of any discomfort in Nagito’s expression was calming or concerning. Better that he wasn’t freaking out though.]
‘Weird’…? [How were wounds weird here? Focus on that, not on how his hands are still shaking as he unknots the back of the strip of fabric.]
All of the injuries the others got during the Crossing healed immediately. And I can't speak for anyone else, but I know my arm's hardly bothered me while I've been here. [He glances at his mechanical arm. He hasn't had any phantom pain at all since he arrived, and no soreness in his scars.] So it could be that your eye is a lot better than you're imagining, even if you can't use it!
[Nagito’s explanation… actually helped to calm Sunny a bit. Could it be better than he was imagining? The teen certainly had an overactive imagination, he would be the first to (silently) admit that.
So his hands trembled a little less, his breaths a bit surer, as he nodded.]
O-ok…
[It wasn’t really a response, more the small admission that Sunny could get out of his tight throat. Progress, though.
Even as he hesitated for a few moments to attempt opening his eye.]
[Nagito catches Sunny at the oasis and waves at him.] Good afternoon, Sunny-kun! [He very gently attaches a sticker to the back of Sunny's hand. It's a cartoon Makoto face with a speech bubble that says "KEEP GOIN".]
Yes! [Nagito shows Sunny the sticker book he got. Look at all those Makoto faces.] I wasn't certain if Ferryman-san would give us something like this--something that features one of us--but it's good to know they will!
[Sunny was equally as surprised - eye wide with wonder as he stared at the verifiable book of stickers. The Ferryman had been quite kind.]
There’s… so many…!
[And they were all so nice. Sunny looked down at his hand, where Nagito had placed the Encouraging Makoto sticker. He was never washing that hand again… except… Mari would probably be mad.
So, instead, he gently removed the sticker and placed it on the cover of his new notebook. There! Safe and secure.]
[The crossing is always emotional so it's a relief when Kel wakes up to find stuff right next to him- the basketball? It fills him with GLEE even if he's a bit intimidated by the 'I am dead inside' smile painted on it. the shirts though? They're both too small for him and the words printed on them...
The ghosts of afterlife must have delivered Chrismas presents wrong or something, but after trying both the 'I <3 Mari' (WAY too small) and 'I <3 Sunny' (WAY too embarrassing) shirts? He figures out who actually deserves them.]
Oh Suuuuunny- Where is my favorite Pet Rock champion?
[not him hopping near Sunny with both hands behind his back, hiding one of the shirts while the other has been tucked away. He'll go to Mari later.]
[Oh. Kel was not going to make things so easy. Not when he was in full 'annoying brat' mode and he had something absolutely embarrassing to give Sunny.
Oh, he and his sister were going to get matching shirts!]
Not so easy, buddy.
[Screw personal face, he moved right in front of the other and bent his back to be right in front of his face. The Grin? Not leaving his face. Not at all. The kind of face that made people want to bonk him on the head most of the time.]
[Sunny’s literal sense of dread just keeps Growing.
As Kel leans in - personal space be screwed, Sunny is used to Kel doing such things, and knows that Kel would back off if Sunny really seemed uncomfortable - the teen feels cold sweat forming on his back.
This was why Sunny disliked surprises. They were things unexpected, things he couldn’t plan, and often required (fairly normal) expectations of him.
Still… with a nervous breath he nodded and did as told. The dark that came after closing his eye actually helped.]
[Oh, please... as if Kel would ever hurt Sunny or not stop if things got weird or uncomfortable.
Still, he waits, And when sunny is with his eye closed, Kel finally raises the shirt up, passing it around his head and trying to gently tug it down. Ah, it's just a tiny bit too large, isn't it? Well, better, Sunny should be able to wear it above his normal clothes, which is even better.]
Okay. Hands up, slide them where I guide you. I promise you'll love this, it feels like it was made just for you.
[Definitely not for Kel. There was something innately wrong in the idea of declaring any form of love to Mari without making it super clear it was platonic, like he was stepping in someone else's territory. If their crossing talk had anything to do with it, that had something to do with the Hero guy... right?
Still. 'I love Mari' shirt could only belong to one person.]
People around here are going to envy you and call you Mister Handsome, trust me.
[It was such a strange feeling, being guided to put on a shirt while (almost) blind - not that Sunny knew that was what was happening. Trying to get his arms to coordinate through unseen holes and his floof of hair through the top without dislodging the orange eyepatch was quite an accomplishment.
Kel should be proud. Though the more his friend talked, the more concerned Sunny because until…
The shirt was on.]
U-um… [Was he allowed to open his eye and see what was happening? The teen fidgeted a bit in place, feeling somewhat awkward.
Why would everyone call him handsome? And be jealous of him? Would that be a problem? What exactly was happening???]
Oh, how handsome. How dashing. My heart is racing.
[Please do not mind Kel's tone, he's keeping his amusement as low as possible and his voice as neutral as he can humanly do. He's having fun, okay? And while he thinks the shirts are.... a bit too much? It's nice to have something to distract both himself *and* Sunny.]
You can look now.
[He takes a good step back, moving his fingers so they'll draw a big heart in front of himself. It's silly, but that black t-shirt with the obnoxiously bold letters printed on it? It's perfect. Truly perfect.]
Oh, and you're allowed to punch me. Just this once.
[The fact that Kel’s amusement wasn’t through the roof was almost setting off alarm bells in Sunny’s head. And then his friend was saying he could punch him, what was that about…?
Sunny opens his eye. He looks down…
What in the deepest darkest pits of Humphrey was he wearing…..???
Sunny’s expression went completely blank, the upside down letters sinking in. He glances at Kel, at the heart the other is making that mirrors the one on his new shirt, and…
The tips of his ears flush. He isn’t punching Kel, but both of Sunny’s hands are hiding his own face now in embarassment.]
[This is, possibly, the first genuine moment since he arrived there when his heart isn't troubled. It's small, it's silly, but it's just him being himself with one of the people he loves. Thank you, spirits of afterlife, for granting him two horrible looking shirts.
His grin only widens as Sunny finally gets to see his shirt.
It's perfect, isn't it? If Kel had siblings? He feels like he'd be loud and proud about loving them, there's nothing wrong in what Sunny's wearing from his point of view. That being said, the other's reaction is priceless.]
Nooooo... don't hide your face, you're looking great! Should I dramatically swoon to convince you? I can do that, you know?
[He 'breaks' the heart by bringing both hands to his knees and bending forward a bit.]
Everyone will be so jealous! Because everyone loves Mari, but that's clearly your shirt. And you know the best part? She's got a matching one too!
[He lifts one hand up, tip of the finger doodling against the remains of his orange shirt.]
[You know, Kel’s logic actually had Sunny lowering his hands, the flush still present but unsure on his face.
Wait that is right. He did care for Mari (even if he didn’t have any right to that feeling anymore, he felt), and everyone else seemed to be agreeable with her too, so maybe having the shirt wouldn’t be so bad…?
(As long as he could get over his embarrassment, that is.)
But then Kel mentioned that-
Mari had a matching shirt.
Probably with his face on it. With the words ‘I love Sunny’ on it. And that fact has him hiding his face all over again in embarrassment and… guilt?
It swam hot in his stomach, an eerie echo in his head.
I love you, Sunny.
Something had followed him within that space, imploring, begging, sickeningly sweet - those words repeated over and over and-
OK, maybe he might be hiding for more than his embarrassed sibling nature right now.]
From:
post-desert meeting
But he catches Sunny before he leaves.] So, if we go into one of the other shelters now, nobody should notice. I won't take too long!
From:
no subject
He couldn’t back out now. Mari would probably agree that it was better to get it checked (and somehow Nagito checking his eye out was less scary than Mari or Mr. Dankovsky doing so).
So Sunny nodded like usual, letting Nagito pick where they would go for privacy. He… hadn’t really looked into the other makeshift rooms, knowing only the one he and Mari stayed in for sure.]
From:
no subject
From:
CW: this whole thread for probably PTSD and eye discussions
It wasn’t Nagito’s fault, Sunny reasoned, as his hands shook while he removed the blindfold. He was mostly comfortable with Nagito. It was just…
Sitting in a chair like this. Questions simply being asked of him, simple actions to be done… it felt a lot like the doctor’s. Or therapy. And even though Sunny focused on taking calming breaths, on moving slowly, on the task at hand… that didn’t make a difference to his mind.]
From:
no subject
Does it hurt? I probably should have asked that earlier, actually.
From:
no subject
It doesn’t hurt… it hadn’t since the hours after he had left the River upon arrival. That was something to be thankful for, right?
And yet… the memory of it, the idea that it could hurt, the thought that someone might be disgusted if he took that scrap of fabric off or if it had gotten worse…
That scared him.
What if Nagito was freaked out when he looked at it? What if he didn’t want to spend time with Sunny anymore afterwards?]
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
‘Weird’…? [How were wounds weird here? Focus on that, not on how his hands are still shaking as he unknots the back of the strip of fabric.]
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
So his hands trembled a little less, his breaths a bit surer, as he nodded.]
O-ok…
[It wasn’t really a response, more the small admission that Sunny could get out of his tight throat. Progress, though.
Even as he hesitated for a few moments to attempt opening his eye.]
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:CW: brief flashbacks to a fight; panic
From:CW: blood mention, eye comments, fight talks
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:CW: eye discussion and mild gore?, dissociation
From:(no subject)
From:cw: talking about empty eye sockets
From:CW: more eye talk
From:Re: CW: more eye talk
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:From:
sticker time sticker time
From:
Sticker time! <3
A sticker. Of Makoto.]
From…Ferryman…?
[That’s the only place Sunny can think said stickers came from, unless Nagito found an electronic printer or something around here.]
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
There’s… so many…!
[And they were all so nice. Sunny looked down at his hand, where Nagito had placed the Encouraging Makoto sticker. He was never washing that hand again… except… Mari would probably be mad.
So, instead, he gently removed the sticker and placed it on the cover of his new notebook. There! Safe and secure.]
From:
no subject
From:
He's an ass and he won't apologize
The ghosts of afterlife must have delivered Chrismas presents wrong or something, but after trying both the 'I <3 Mari' (WAY too small) and 'I <3 Sunny' (WAY too embarrassing) shirts? He figures out who actually deserves them.]
Oh Suuuuunny- Where is my favorite Pet Rock champion?
[not him hopping near Sunny with both hands behind his back, hiding one of the shirts while the other has been tucked away. He'll go to Mari later.]
I got something for you, buddy-
From:
WHEEZE Kel is the greatest- XD (Also, finally got to use the icon labeled ‘oh no’)
Sure, he was adjusting to yet another new place, that was normal, but this utter sense of dread…
Oh no
That was all Sunny could think as Kel approached him with the brightest grin ever and…
what was he hiding behind his back?]
From:
Kel is channeling his gremlin vibes (also OH YES)
Oh, he and his sister were going to get matching shirts!]
Not so easy, buddy.
[Screw personal face, he moved right in front of the other and bent his back to be right in front of his face. The Grin? Not leaving his face. Not at all. The kind of face that made people want to bonk him on the head most of the time.]
Close your eye, Sunny. It's a surprise.
From:
He’s such a gremlin XD it’s perfect
As Kel leans in - personal space be screwed, Sunny is used to Kel doing such things, and knows that Kel would back off if Sunny really seemed uncomfortable - the teen feels cold sweat forming on his back.
This was why Sunny disliked surprises. They were things unexpected, things he couldn’t plan, and often required (fairly normal) expectations of him.
Still… with a nervous breath he nodded and did as told. The dark that came after closing his eye actually helped.]
From:
gotta bring in the spirit of Kel from the happier days!
Still, he waits, And when sunny is with his eye closed, Kel finally raises the shirt up, passing it around his head and trying to gently tug it down. Ah, it's just a tiny bit too large, isn't it? Well, better, Sunny should be able to wear it above his normal clothes, which is even better.]
Okay. Hands up, slide them where I guide you. I promise you'll love this, it feels like it was made just for you.
[Definitely not for Kel. There was something innately wrong in the idea of declaring any form of love to Mari without making it super clear it was platonic, like he was stepping in someone else's territory. If their crossing talk had anything to do with it, that had something to do with the Hero guy... right?
Still. 'I love Mari' shirt could only belong to one person.]
People around here are going to envy you and call you Mister Handsome, trust me.
From:
He’s perfect XD <3
Kel should be proud. Though the more his friend talked, the more concerned Sunny because until…
The shirt was on.]
U-um… [Was he allowed to open his eye and see what was happening? The teen fidgeted a bit in place, feeling somewhat awkward.
Why would everyone call him handsome? And be jealous of him? Would that be a problem? What exactly was happening???]
From:
Nah, Sunny's the perfect one. Or Mari. They're the perfect ones, at least in kel's eyes.
[Please do not mind Kel's tone, he's keeping his amusement as low as possible and his voice as neutral as he can humanly do. He's having fun, okay? And while he thinks the shirts are.... a bit too much? It's nice to have something to distract both himself *and* Sunny.]
You can look now.
[He takes a good step back, moving his fingers so they'll draw a big heart in front of himself. It's silly, but that black t-shirt with the obnoxiously bold letters printed on it? It's perfect. Truly perfect.]
Oh, and you're allowed to punch me. Just this once.
From:
I nearly died laughing while writing this, no regrets XD
Sunny opens his eye. He looks down…
What in the deepest darkest pits of Humphrey was he wearing…..???
Sunny’s expression went completely blank, the upside down letters sinking in. He glances at Kel, at the heart the other is making that mirrors the one on his new shirt, and…
The tips of his ears flush. He isn’t punching Kel, but both of Sunny’s hands are hiding his own face now in embarassment.]
….
[He has no words. Literally.]
From:
Kel is having a great time, sorry
His grin only widens as Sunny finally gets to see his shirt.
It's perfect, isn't it? If Kel had siblings? He feels like he'd be loud and proud about loving them, there's nothing wrong in what Sunny's wearing from his point of view. That being said, the other's reaction is priceless.]
Nooooo... don't hide your face, you're looking great! Should I dramatically swoon to convince you? I can do that, you know?
[He 'breaks' the heart by bringing both hands to his knees and bending forward a bit.]
Everyone will be so jealous! Because everyone loves Mari, but that's clearly your shirt. And you know the best part? She's got a matching one too!
[He lifts one hand up, tip of the finger doodling against the remains of his orange shirt.]
I. Love. Sunny. Heh.
From:
No apologies XD Sunny will love it… someday!
Wait that is right. He did care for Mari (even if he didn’t have any right to that feeling anymore, he felt), and everyone else seemed to be agreeable with her too, so maybe having the shirt wouldn’t be so bad…?
(As long as he could get over his embarrassment, that is.)
But then Kel mentioned that-
Mari had a matching shirt.
Probably with his face on it. With the words ‘I love Sunny’ on it. And that fact has him hiding his face all over again in embarrassment and… guilt?
It swam hot in his stomach, an eerie echo in his head.
I love you, Sunny.
Something had followed him within that space, imploring, begging, sickeningly sweet - those words repeated over and over and-
OK, maybe he might be hiding for more than his embarrassed sibling nature right now.]
Somday indeed. Also, oof, poor Sunny :(
From:This tag T.T <3
From:Poor Sunny... ç_ç
From:He’s got so much trauma T.T
From:Yeah, poor poor dear :(
From:/cries, also good job Kel, you avoided his knee jerk reaction
From:Can't escape when you're between Kel's arms, Sunny. All hope is lose.
From:Don’t let Nagito hear you say that XD
From:It's okay, it's not the worst kind of defeat- right?
From:CW: eye would description, blood
From:CW: wound description, fight talk, blood, suicide
From:Just continuing the CWs as they keep talking/processing
From:YEp. CWville over here. + bully related stuff + drowning risk + character death + suicide talk
From:ALL THE CWs
From:Even more of them, if possible
From:1/3 (OK, snowball activated, I’m so sorry Kel ^^’)
From:2/3 (CW: mention of suicidal ideation)
From:3/3
From:(no subject)
From:3… (Feel free to respond, countdown is for me ^^)
From:(no subject)
From:2… CW: we be spiraling down mentally~
From:Kel is trying his best and making the worst possible choices like a boss~
From:1… He’s doing his best T.T Sunny’s just at his worst
From:Kel noticed THAT at least.
From:0 CW: panic attack symptoms (Congrats, the shirt is saved!)
From:Ah, yeah, I'm sure that's the only thing Kel was concerned about.
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:shows up late with starbucks frapps in both hands
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: