[ voice ]

[underachieves]

[It's really, really quiet now. No crowds in the background or anything. He must be alone.]Yeah, save it

Comments

[action]

[unfeasible]

[he comes without prior warning. Naruto simply is there, sitting down uncomfortably and, without any announcement or greeting, just waits...mostly because he can't find the words.]

[action]

[underachieves]

[He's not nearly as upset about this as he would've been a few days ago. (Now that nothing can change his decision.) He comes quietly when the guards arrive to fetch him, and when he sits down he even gives Naruto a tiny smile.]

Hey.

[unfeasible]

[well, that's definitely encouraging. Naruto grins back and stands up when Shika's brought in, shifting weight awkwardly until Shika sits down and he follows suit]

Hey yourself. Man, when most people need a break they had for a resort'r something. You're one twisted dude. [his grin is faltering; he hopes his poor attempt at humor at least won't be mt with anger]

[underachieves]

Why go to a resort when this place gives you a free room, food, and clothes?

[He plucks at his orange jumpsuit wryly. He might look terrible right now, but he's in good spirits it seems. No anger here.]

[unfeasible]

[inward sigh of relief.] Shit, thanks for hogging it all for yourself. Selfish bastard. Always thinking of yourself first.

[underachieves]

I'll send you a postcard. Maybe a t-shirt.

[unfeasible]

'preciate it. 'Specially if it's half as cool as an orange jumpsuit.

[he falls silent for a minute and shifts uncomfortably, casting around for what to say]

You look better than I thought you would.

[underachieves]

I look like shit, dude.

[And he does. Heroin withdrawal doesn't paint a pretty picture, even if it's not severe. His skin is sallow and sweaty and he looks like he hasn't slept since before he was arrested.]

[unfeasible]

[quietly] ...Yeah. But still better than I thought.

[Naruto worries his lip, staring at the table and fidgeting with his hoodie's drawstrings]

I looked up...stuff. So I thought it'd be worse. I'd bring you that shit if I could. Metha...something. [he laughs a little nervously] Couldn't figure out what else to do for you, and I can't even do it.

[underachieves]

[He looks simultaneously touched and irritated, somehow.]

It's... bad with the Voids around, but I was already trying to quit so it's not as bad as it could be.

...

What's with that face?

[unfeasible]

What face?

[underachieves]

All the shit I've gotten caught up in, and you're worried about this?

[unfeasible]

Worried 'bout a lot of things.

[there's a half-hearted shrug before he stares awkwardly at the table again]

I'm trying to figure this shit out, but I dunno how to help you. I won't bust you out, and I'm not gonna yell at you for being stupid. Everyone's saying the same shit about you that they did about me. But if I were you... [he grins wryly] I would've done the same fucking thing.

[underachieves]

[And he looks down, too.]

...

I made mistakes in this, but pleading guilty wasn't one of them. I thought about it for a long time. And I know what everyone thinks about it, but it's not like that. I'm not... being reckless, or trying to be noble. I just had to simplify things.

[unfeasible]

From where I'm sitting, looks like you did a good thing. Whatever your thinking was.

[underachieves]

[He's so grateful just to have someone not yelling at him.]

It wasn't good. The good thing would've been to fight, to throw everything we could at the jury, to turn the case around and take Yaha down.

I just knew that wasn't gonna work.