⌈ how to survive in the nightlife ⌋

[erythrosi]

characters: The Grey General, open.
location: Solace streets and alleys, not too far from the parked airship.
time: Late evening?
rating: W. For wtf.
open/closed: Very much open, feel free to hop in with prose or action.
summary: Those odd shadows seem to be converging at one place and taking a form of their own.

Comments

[erythrosi]

The first few alleys had no other residents than himself, and a few stacks of empty boxes or dumpsters long rusted shut. He paid them no mind, moving quickly from one alley to the next, still searching. He was bound to find one of them sooner or later.

And coincidentally enough, it wasn't difficult to spot that tuft of blond fur in the next alley down. That smile disappeared the instant he noticed said fur tuft wasn't moving, and not to mention the fact that it was actual bunny fluff. He'd come to know that was never a good sign in the first place. At that moment, he didn't care if anyone spotted him as he hurried down the alley, stopping only once he was close enough to crouch on the ground and gently stroke tiny, fluffy ears.

... he hesitated to pick the little creature up. Momiji wasn't moving, to still to be having a nap in an alley. What if he was hurt and left here, and what if his touch only caused him further hurt? And there was also the darkened, dried blood coating his gloves, his forearms, and the rest of his uniform. If Momiji did wake up only to see him like this ...

But, the first priority was getting the boy in bunny form to wake up at all. Gingerly he reached under the little creature, lifting him up as carefully as he possibly could to cradle him in his arms, feeling the strings of his heart being tugged at and tearing at every second that passed. His voice could still possibly be picked up from the journals, so he was wary about saying anything just yet, so the next priority was getting somewhere more quiet and away from enemy soldiers patrolling the area.

The General could thank the gods that his abilities were back to working in top condition, because wasting time by running this way and that would do no good, and a quick teleport sent them further from the city gates where thankfully less soldiers were about. He continued gently petting those ears, holding Momiji close as he waited for something, any sign of life in him.

/ruins mood with derpy icons

[lostseptember]

Momiji was lost to the world just then, sensible to nothing and unaware that he was being handled. His small body was limp when picked up, still save for the slow rise and fall of his chest. By the time Isen teleported them away, Momiji was still unresponsive, body chilled to the bone. The only sign of life from him was the quiet wheezing of his breaths.

Then, eventually, one of those ears weakly twitched as Momiji sluggishly realized that he was being pet and had to wonder if he was dreaming. Or if he was dead like Papa. Then he came to the conclusion that he didn't care, and he liked the petting and that was enough for him right now. He stirred a little, shivering as he tiredly nuzzled that hand, eventually poking out his tongue to lick Isen's fingers in gratitude.

d'awwww ;;

[erythrosi]

There wasn't a word in existence that quite described the relief that Isen felt feeling that tiny bunny tongue against his fingertips. His bunny was alive, thank whatever higher power kept him here. It was a start, at the very least. Isen had a chance to make things better, to fix the promise he'd broken and make everything better this time.

Next thing to worry about was how cold the little bundle of fluff in his arms felt. Cold, that wasn't good. As carefully as he could he shifted Momiji to one arm, shrugging his coat sleeve off the other before switching the bunny to his opposite arm and repeating the coat-shrugging until it fell from his shoulders. The front outside of the coat was bloodied, but the inside was warm, and he used it as a blanket to wrap around the chilled little bunny, holding him close to help warm him up. And then he whispered softly, worried of frightening the poor thing if he could listen.

"Momiji ... Papa's here, it's time to wake up."

[lostseptember]

...oh? Now it was warm. The bunny in Isen's arms began to wriggle as the warmth thawed out his little arms and paws, and both his ears perked at the sound of Isen's voice. His eyes finally fluttered open, blinking blearily around as he tried to figure out what was going on. That sounded like his papa, but it couldn't be his papa because Papa was gone--

But there Isen was, staring down at him, and Momiji let out a disbelieving gasp, shifting so that he could press both his paws to Isen's chest.

"Papa!" Momiji cried out, unsure of how or why but not very much caring just then. The important thing was that Isen was with him again, and that was the only thing that mattered right now. "Papa, are you okay? I heard-- I thought-- Papa!"

Momiji worried because he could smell the blood. He didn't want it to be Isen's, hoped it wasn't Isen's. And yet, at the same time, he was a little bit afraid that it wasn't.

[erythrosi]

He missed being called Papa.

Isen found it in him to smile hearing that voice, glad to see that the bunny in his arms didn't appear to be hurt so much as fatigued and underfed. A proper meal would be first, he decided. But then came all the worries about what to feed him; if he was a bunny then it should be things like carrots, but what if Momiji didn't like carrots and refused them on principle, and he knew Momiji liked cakes and candies but if he was still a bunny at the time then that sort of food wasn't good for bunnies and--

... well, Momiji was awake. That's what mattered most.

"I'm sorry I've worried you, Momiji," he answered softly, gently stroking those little ears. "You haven't been taking care of yourself, I see."

[lostseptember]

Instantly, Momiji's ears drooped. He whimpered a little, nuzzling that hand as he tried not to look too guilty about the state of himself. He knew he should've kept hope alive somehow, but Keir had never come back and so Momiji hadn't expected Isen to either. Still. He should've believed in his papa, should've believed that Isen would never break his promises so easily. His papa wasn't like that. His papa was everything.

"I-I'm sorry, Papa." Momiji's voice quivered a little as he leaned up to nuzzle Isen's neck, hoping Isen wouldn't mind that wet nose against him. "I meant to. I should've. I just... missed you so bad. I thought I wasn't going to see you again. I-- I was scared." It was then that Momiji's voice broke altogether, and he buried his face against Isen's chest as he began to cry in earnest, in grief and fear and above all, relief.

"I was so scared, Papa. I thought I'd lost you. And-- I can't, Papa. I just can't. I can't lose you."

[erythrosi]

... oh, not the droopy ear pouty look.

"It's alright, Momiji, I'm not mad," Isen responded quietly, cradling the little bunny close to him. "I missed you too." He was a bit worried that the loosely held bandages around his neck would slip off and frighten him, but he would deal with that when the time came. Right now, it was just cheering his poor bunny up, and seeing that he gets a proper meal in soon.

Of course, once Momiji started crying against him, that was all it took for that last heartstring to snap with a little wail of it's own. He was never good at comforting someone as upset as Momiji was, but damnit he wanted to be. He kept his coat tucked in comfortably around the tiny bunny in his arms, hoping to keep him warm as he turned back down the alley towards the street. There had to be something he could find for him to eat. It didn't help that all the shops he'd known in his city were replaced with new ones, but there had to be something somewhere.

"You'll have to tell me what you're hungry for. Can't have you shriveling away from me after I've just returned, you know."