crazily | week 3 (tuesday night)-2

[Gilbert is awake, actually. Probably not surprising considering how little he sleeps back home, but it's even less possible to get a full night's rest in a place like this, so he glances sharply over to the door as soon as he hears the knock--

And then he's over there opening it up as soon as he recognizes the voice.

Needless to say, he's concerned about the towel and the fact that Break is here at ass o'clock at all, but he quickly steps to the side.]

Come in— What happened?

[ When Gilbert opens the door, the fact that Break is holding a towel over one side of his face is probably worrying enough, but there's definitely stains of blood on it. Even though he had been lectured about this countless times, he was still stubborn and had difficulty asking for help of any kind. He had just sat and waited, hoping that he hadn't scratched deeply enough to have to take care of it tonight, but of course, no such luck.

As a result, he's already bled onto the towel, which probably makes this more frightening to Gilbert, but Break seems quite calm about it. His breathing is a little heavier, since it still hurts, but he had also taken the time to calm down before resorting to Gilbert. He at least steps inside without hesitation, though he still hovers at the door, since he's not sure where to go. He doesn't want to get blood on anything in case Gilbert is a suspect again. ]

Just a stupid mistake.

[ Which isn't untrue, but it's definitely underplaying it more than a little. ]

I'm fine, but I can't bandage it up on my own.

[That's-- well. A lot of blood?! That's way more blood than he'd expected to see (which was none, to be fair), and he very nearly panics (more than he already is) until Break says "just a stupid mistake". Well, that means he wasn't attacked, at least?! It's... too early for murder anyway, isn't it?

But he's still worried, and so he immediately gestures to the bed that looks untouched and hustles toward the bathroom. He'll ask for the details once he's started treating it.]

Sit there. I'll get some— [He hadn't thought to bring any antibiotic ointments with him, which he's cursing himself for now, a little. But at least he has bandages! And because of the headaches he'd experienced a while back, he has painkillers, too. Once he's back, he sets the bottle of painkillers to the side along with the bandages, brandishing a fresh towel in his free hand.]

Is it still bleeding?

[ "Sit where," he almost asks, because he knows Gilbert just gestured to something, but he has no idea what. He's going to guess the bed, so he'll start towards that, but whether he picks the unmade one or not depends on which one is closer to the door. He's at least not being difficult about this, which is a small blessing, but that's also because he's had the time to work up pushing down his pride to come over here at all.

He pulls the towel away, and it really does work worse than it is with the blood that's caked and died onto his skin, as well as some that's fresher. It doesn't seem to be bleeding profusely or anything, but there's still a small amount. He's keeping the eyelid closed for now, since he's just guessing from experience that this might be something Gilbert has to work himself up to.

Break doesn't let many people get up close with that empty eye of his, because he knows that it's uncomfortable to look at. The emptiness is unsettling enough, but with the scarring and now the blood, he imagines it's worse. ]

A bit. It's mostly slowed down by now, though.

[ Which makes it clear that Break waited before coming over here. ]

[It's definitely uncomfortable to look at, though Gilbert has come a long way from that day in the field when he'd accidentally revealed Break's empty socket and screamed like it was the worst thing he had ever seen. ...Or, you know. The worst thing he could remember seeing, anyway. He grimaces, but that's mostly because of how bad the eye area itself looks, honestly...

And then:]

How long did you wait?

[A little snappish, if only because he always gets a little snappish when he's panicking. But really-- geez, it's like Break enjoys making things as difficult as possible on purpose. He's glad he wet one end of the towel now, at least, since he can use that to dab away at the dried patches. He gets to work on that, quick and efficient but with a careful hand.]

[ And here's the reason he had waited so long, at least in part. He knows that he definitely deserves that snappish respose, but he still has difficulty dealing with genuine concern. He can objectively know that's what's happening here, but he still bristles defensively all the same, though he tries to swallow that reaction. His designated sin was pride for a reason. ]

I thought it would stop on its own. Sneaking around in the middle of the night before a mur—

[ He winces as the towel passes close to the eye, since that area is still tender. It gets him to growl out a noise, but it's of frustration more than pain. In the true things of nightmares (that Gilbert remembers, at least), his eyelid opens. Most of the wounds themselves are inside, so clearly whatever Break had done, he had stuck it inside the damn eye socket like a moron.

Also, there's glitter. ]

An hour, probably. I can't exactly keep track of time on my own anymore.

[That's still not a pleasant sight IN THE LEAST... Especially since he can see those scratches and gouges in there and he knows what that means--

But the glitter is ??? WELL. He's... what. What??]

—What did you put in here?!

[Like, did Break just jab himself in the eye socket with a Christmas ornament or something... He's leaning closer now to face his True Nightmares and get a better look inside the socket, because... it's gross as hell, but he doesn't want to leave any gaping wounds untended or any obvious chunks of glass or metal or Rudolph inside there.]

[ Break is of course oblivious to the glitter crisis at hand. He doesn't even know he still has glitter on him, because he had bathed since getting glitterbombed, and without being able to see evidence to the contrary, it was reasonable to assume that it was gone. So even worse is the fact that it's ended up in his gross eye, and he has literally no idea. As such, he thinks that Gilbert is asking a different question, so he sighs. ]

My...hand. They're just from my fingernails.

[ Which are surprisingly long and manicured. I'm serious, go look at a panel of Break's hands if you've never noticed this bc it's hilarious. ]

[He can tell what damage Break's fingers have done okay, those long manicured nails are perfect for leaving HORRIFIC GOUGE-MARKS...

But that doesn't explain all those glittery flecks of green and blue in there. After a while of staring, he... he still can't figure it out, so he leans back again.]

No, not your fingernails - but we'll need to take care of that so it doesn't get infected. I meant the— whatever else is in there! It's sparkling?

...What?

[ The confusion is quite obviously genuine, since it doesn't occur to Break immediately to connect Gilbert's description with glitter. If he had been able to see it in the first place, he would probably make the connection easily, but for now, he's just as baffled as Gilbert. ]

There's something sparkling in my eye?

[Why is Break confused about this too. That just makes Gilbert even more confused, because obviously Break wouldn't have any reason to lie about this, but... if he wasn't the one who put the sparkles in there, who... who was... What happened.]

Yes! It's blue and green! I can't tell what it is, but it looks like there's, er— a lot of it...

[IT'S PRETTY GROSS, HONESTLY.]

[ Break still seems confused as he tries to piece this together, and he even stumbles over a syllable before it dawns on him. He just stares back at Gilbert for a moment, since he really hadn't thought that glitter would be that hard to get rid of. It hadn't occurred to him that there would be that much in his eye. Actually, he hadn't though there would be any at all?? ]

Er— I think I know what it might be, actually. I just... didn't think it would still be here.

[ He definitely bathed??? what the fuck is glitter ]

Have you heard of something called glitter?

[How many Victorians does it take to figure out what glitter is...]

Glitter? [WELL... NO. Not until recently, anyway - and it takes him a second to place it.]

Oh— Right, some people were throwing it around the place this week, weren't they? Clover and Undyne, I think? I heard that it had something to do with crafts...

[Now the question remains how has Break not noticed that his head is full of it.]

Yes... [ He sighs and shakes his head. ] I was one of the targets. They just dumped quite a lot of it on me, so it was perfectly harmless.

[ Well, minus the fact that they startled Break, and they probably narrowly escaped having Break behead them, but. Minus that. ]

I... didn't think it would still be on me. And I have no idea how it got in my eye.

[Ah, the dangers of dealing with phs when they're startled... Actual Death™, for one.]

If it's like sand, that might be why... It could have drifted in there without you noticing. I'm not sure how you could get it out, though.

[Rinse his eye socket?? Is that hygienic... Why does Break make him have to consider questions like this.]

I... suppose I'll just wash it out more thoroughly. It must stubborn if it's still there.

[ Though admittedly, he hadn't really scrubbed down so much as rinsed off. He underestimated glitter. ]

Well, don't worry about that for now, at least. I can take care of that part. I think? I haven't the slightest idea whether it's bad.

It doesn't look good.

[It's pretty bad, Break. It's pretty bad. But he'll trust in Break's ability to rinse weird shit out of his own eye socket, at least.]

Should I just bandage it up for now anyway, and you can take care of that part later...?

I... [ He pauses and makes a difficult noise before he admits it: ] I don't know.

[ This isn't something he's had to deal with for a long time now. Truth be told, he thought these days were past, but even think of it gets him to grimace in a different way, since for all their talk of glitter, there's still that painful, heavy grief just under the surface.

He huffs out a noise of exasperation at that realization. He reaches for the towel again, so long as Gilbert hasn't taken it away, since he supposes he'll just mop up the blood inside more thoroughly before Gilbert gets to bandaging it up. That seems to make sense, because even if Break's expression is starting to tilt towards something more bitter, he'll elaborate just a tiny bit more. ]

This... is something that Lady Shelly would always take care of. I don't really know how.

[Gilbert hasn't taken the towel away yet, so he's free to mop up his nasty mess of an eye socket... He'll release the towel over to him without fuss, though he does hover in that way he tends to do when he's particularly concerned. It's not exactly unfounded here...]

...You could rinse it out in the bathroom, if you think that might help. I can wrap it up after that.

[It's probably good not to leave glitter hanging out in there... And since Break is not really doing so hot right now, Gilbert will just give directions and guidance and try not to hesitate.]

[ He'll try and feel out an area that's clean and mop up what he can with that, but he's thinking more or less the same. Break nods as he stands, and he heads to the bathroom with all the certainty that really makes you question whether he's blind or not. ]

I don't imagine it would hinder things.

[ That's a deliberate choice of words, since he does think it'll hurt, but. Just physically speaking, and he's not as concerned as a result. That way of thinking may be how he got to the point in the first place, though. ]

I'll just... take care of that part. If you could wrap it up, I'd appreciate it, since that's more difficult.

[ He ambles into the bathroom and starts the sink running, though he'll wait for it to warm up a little before he starts washing out his gross eye wound. For a moment, Break considers explaining further, because when he's injuring himself, perhaps he should explain. But the feelings that come with that are something that he keeps locked up too tightly to want breached at all. So instead, he focuses on the practical for now. ]

This is going to be a problem, in any case. No one is going to believe I actually did this.

I will.

[Take care of the bandaging, that is. While Break is in the bathroom washing his eye socket free of glitter (Only In PH™), Gilbert sits on the edge of the bed and begins to unwind the roll of bandages in preparation. The statement has him glancing back up though, brow furrowed.]

Well... [HE'S NOT WRONG. Little do they know the mysterious disembodied voice will take care of this for them, but for now, Gilbert's brow creases with concern.]

I shouldn't be a suspect again this week, right? They haven't repeated anyone yet, so... I can testify for you. It won't convince everyone, but it should sway a few, I think.

[ The water is suitably warm, so Break leans down to start washing it out, though of course it isn't a pleasant feeling. ]

Shit—

[ Which is a rare thing to hear from Break, considering he's proper in his way. Though considering what follows, it might also be a sign of Break's friendship allergy. ]

I can't believe that actually worked. I trusted you completely, but I don't understand why that was so convicing for people that don't know you. Or...me, for that matter. [ Since anyone from home would have believed it completely too, if only by the fact that Break gave his trust. That's not exactly something that Pandora's top assassin gives out freely. ]

Ergh.. Maybe if I just left my room as it is until the trial, that could help too.

[He glances over in mild alarm when he hears the cursing, but since Break doesn't pass out on the bathroom floor or anything, he assumes they're still in business! Good work, team.

As for the rest of that... Honestly, he's not sure either, but he's damn grateful. He doesn't know what would have happened if it weren't for Break and Poland, who were most verbal about his defense.]

I don't know... Maybe they could tell it was genuine? [A GENUINE FRIENDSHIP MOMENT BETWEEN TWO ASSASSINS.] But it was a good thing, either way. [Even if Break got hives.]

But I think that's probably a good idea - leaving your room as it is. Just put up that "do not disturb" sign.

I don't regret saying it. It probably prevented you from getting picked, at least.

[ He grumbles, then sighs. ]

But I could have done without the commentary. Now they have completely the wrong idea. It's not even advantageous.

[ Because then it would be acceptable, obviously. He just continues washing out his eye, though there are slight noises of strain just because it definitely isn't comfortable. ]

I will. Hopefully they can tell that it's old and will believe that the blood is my own.

It's advantageous if they think you're a softer person, Break.

[Because otherwise people would leap and point fingers and be like "BREAK, THE TRUE KILLER!!" but maybe now he has some friendship credits!! Gilbert sighs either way, like he's aged 100 more years.]

If it's dried and old, it should be fine, anyway. There are people here who would be able to tell the difference between fresh and stale blood.

...What a terrible thing that would be. They would think I care.

[ Well, at least minus Gilbert. He does care about him, though getting him to admit that is near impossible. He finishes washing out the eye and straightens up, though he at least keeps the eyelid closed as he walks back into the bedroom area. ]

Perhaps if I pretend to be as naive and trusting as Oz, everyone would think I secretly have a kind heart and think differently of me. It's as valid a plan as any.

[ This is how "I can't vote for a friend" to Morrigan becomes Break being Break. ]

[THIS IS WHY GILBERT AGES SO MUCH, HONESTLY.]

Just don't go overboard with it.

[Gilbert's not really concerned about that, though. Like, if anything, Break would probably get a rash and keel over before he ever leveled up his friendship and kindness deceit game that high...

But he's got the bandages ready, so he'll shift over on the bed, making room for Break.]

Let me see it again.

[Gotta check for glitter...]

Please. I could hardly pretend to be that cheerful even if my life really did depend on it.

[ So no worries there... Break takes a seat on the bed, but it's at least not the the sort of plop on the bed that usually happens. He does seem to have less of a bounce in his step this week, since grief is something he's always held as close to his chest as possible.

He opens the eye and turns towards Gilbert so that he can take a look. It is indeed much cleaner, but there's definitely still some glitter. It's never coming out 100%. ]

Better?

...Better. You'll need to wash it again later.

[Little does he know THERE'S NEVER 100% ESCAPE FROM GLITTER...

But for now, he'll lean forward and start to wind the bandages behind the back of Break's head, pulling them to the front to start sealing his grody eye off from the world.]

Tell me if it's too tight or loose.

Well, I'll wash it a few times a day. If I get picked off by an infection, that would be a stupid way to go.

[ At least his rude humor is directed at himself and not Gilbert for once...

Though there's a downside he doesn't expect here, because this old, familiar routine is nostalgic in the very worst of ways. Feeling someone bandage up his eye reminds him of when he had no less than spilled onto the Rainsworth's estate, bloody and angry, and yet he had been given a kindness he hadn't felt he deserved. Normally, it wouldn't bother him, but without being able to see... He decides that he'd rather keep Gilbert talking to ground him. ]

How has this week been for you, anyways? Better than last week?

Don't even joke about something like that.

[Because let's be real WITH THEIR LUCK...

He'll sigh and continue to work in silence though, until Break pipes up again with that question.]

...It's - well. I didn't have a headache again, or any other strange dreams. You still have Emily, right?

[So hopefully that wasn't swapped out yet again or something... As for the grief motive:] This has been a little easier to deal with than last week.

[ He almost nods, but right, bandages. He stops himself from moving too much while Gilbert works. ]

I do. I keep her in the safe at night.

[ Which might just seem like Break being Weird, but it's more sentimental than that. Emily really is important to him, as odd as it makes his appearance, so he at least proceeds with the idea that if something happens to him, then Emily would be safe. ]

But good. You were truly showing your usual level of luck last week, you know. You have quite a talent for attracting it.

[Ah... Maybe Break wasn't kidding about Emily's origins, then. His expression softens a little, unseen, and he continues to work.

That has him looking a little dour, though...]

...I guess that's really true, isn't it. [HE NEVER WANTED TO BE A WIZARD, HAGRID.]

I'm— a little worried, too. About the people around me. [There was Urashima at the trial, and of course he's always worried about Break... Extra, now that he knows he's a BASKERVILLE AND ALL, and everyone knows about their bleeding awful luck. Too bad Break doesn't know he's a Child of Misfortune yet or they'd just have a great time.]

[ Break just laughs gently, since it's just like Gilbert to worry about something like that. Granted, it's fair, because Baskervilles really do have the worst kind of luck... But that's also the sort of empathy that Break could never extend so easily himself. ]

I know I'm asking the impossible, but try not to. As it is... There's nothing we can do about it here anyways.

[ Why is bad luck so literal in Pandora Hearts... ]

Just be careful where you can.

I know...

[But he definitely sounds Extremely Frustrated by it and Break's not wrong in thinking "I'm asking the impossible". Of course Gilbert's going to be worried about this... With Literal Bad Luck™ that can take out whole cities, it'd be foolish not to at least try keeping his distance from some.

Break is an exception since they've known each other for ten years and somehow neither of them have imploded yet.]

...I'll do what I can to limit contact. I think that's about the most I can do.

That's probably best for now.

[ He knows that's hard for Gilbert, though, because Gilbert was a naturally warmer person than Break was. It's easy for him to know that there's so many people here and to know that they'll die, to know that Break might be the one to kill them. But Gilbert has never been that cold. Even though Break had trained him to be one of the top assassins in Pandora, he still wouldn't exactly wish that upon him. ]

It's just practical, unfortunately. Even if you were to be friendly with them... There's the simple fact that nearly all of them will die. Even separate of what we may do, that's the nature of the game.

[It is difficult for Gilbert. He can talk a big talk and he can and will shoot whenever he feels it's necessary, with less hesitation and more bloodthirst than most would expect, but at his core he's still a soft and open person. It's one thing to say "I know almost everyone here will die", and another thing entirely to actually accept that. If he did accept it, he would be able to distance himself more easily, because it would hurt less than being attached.

Too late for that, anyway. He's also always been prone to quick bonds.]

I know... I know. Even if we decide to leave them be, someone else might not think the same. And with these motives, it's - impossible to predict who will make a move, or when, or who they might target.

[He finishes up with the last part of the wrap, securing the bandage well.]

—Done.

[ Break sighs a little once Gilbert has finished, but then reaches up to touch the bandages tenderly. It's just an idle gesture, since obviously he knows they're there and done well, since it's Gilbert, but still... It's irritating that he needs them at all. He's still silently cursing himself for this happening, but at least talking to Gilbert is helping stave off those nasty feelings. ]

Well, for once, I'm not criticizing you by saying it. If you carry all the deaths on your shoulders, then you'll be dragged down. Take it from your senior, hm~?

[ He pauses, then adds with a definite, genuine tone of gratefulness: ]

...And thank you.

...You're welcome.

[The gratitude is met and responded to appropriately, albeit with a little bit of exhaustion. Gilbert is tired of this game already and it's only week 3...]

But I'll try not to. I can't... let something like that happen. Being dragged down. ...Not now.

[Though Break knows Gilbert, of course, and knows that he does end up carrying more burdens than he should just because he can't let go.]

[ Were Break another one of their comrades, this would be the point where he would say something optimistic, like how things will all be fine, how they'll return home for certain. But this is Break. He's never been much of a fan of hopeless optimism, so he doesn't exactly have much to give. So instead, he just reaches out to give Gilbert an awkward, encouraging pat on the shoulder, as much of a physical sign of solidarity as he can muster. ]

Let's—

[ He's trying to make an attempt here, but ultimately, it also fails. He's at least making an attempt. ]

Friends. [ He makes a frustrated noise as he draws away, then shakes his head. ] Just... don't do something stupid. That's what I mean.

[...??????

Did Break just say something about being friends?? Is that what "let's friends" is supposed to mean?? He just stares in uncovered shock for a couple of seconds, like he's trying to piece this through...

Ah. The follow-up sounds much more like Break, at least... But still.]

I— won't? [?! LET'S FRIENDS.

But after a second to recover his composure:] I won't. I promised that too, didn't I?

[ He did his best!! His best!!! ]

[ But at least Break is self-aware enough to realize that his best is really, really sad, so he's not going to stay any longer and embarrass himself further. He coughs into his hand awkwardly, but then starts to stand. He won't even acknowledge that this just happened, because it totally didn't... ]

...In any case~. I'll be heading back to my room now. Try and get some sleep, since if you drink two more pots of coffee tomorrow, you'll probably just die from that~.

[ this is the break equivalent of running away from a conversation ]

[HE DID AND that's why Gilbert's so surprised... Break, giving it his all on the friendship express at ass o'clock after gouging his eye socket. What a whacky ride.]

—I won't drink two pots! ...I didn't drink two before! [GOD. But after he settles down a little:]

If you have any more trouble, come back over here, all right?

[He doesn't bother saying "you can stay if you need to" more directly, because that crosses a line of embarrassment even for Gilbert The Embarrassing... But the offer is still there, just in case Break is overwhelmed by his grief again and needs someone to distract him.]

Of course you didn't.

[ Break stops at the door, then turns to face Gilbert again. Granted, it's only to wave his hand in Gilbert's direction, but considering he's not making fun of him for the offer, that's good enough to say that Break is at least taking it seriously. ]

But don't worry. I won't be sleeping any more tonight, so it'll be fine~.

[ This sounds like the opposite, but Break already got his like three hours of sleep, he's good. ]

[If only Gilbert slept more than 3 hours a night, himself, he'd actually be able to tell Break to stop being a shitty old man with awful sleep habits.]

All right. I'll probably be up for a while longer...

[Since he wakes up at 5 normally he'll actually probably just stay awake too, GOOD WORK TEAM.]

Good night, Break.

[ He nods, but with that, he leaves. Which I may have only commented just to include that link in a tag, yes. ]

week 3 (tuesday night)-2

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here it comes

truly a hallmark moment...

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