week 3 (tuesday night)-2

[crazily]

[ All things considered, receiving a knock at your door at ass o'clock in the morning in a murdergame probably isn't something that's going to be well received. If Gilbert isn't already awake, then Break is fairly certain that the knock, soft as it is, will probably still startle that nervous idiot awake.

He shifts the towel on his face, then speaks through the door softly. He doesn't want anyone else to know that they're up and awake, since he already knows how suspicious this is going to look. ]

It's me. Just open the door, since I need your help.

Comments

[crazily]

[ 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.

[stupidly]

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.

[crazily]

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.

[stupidly]

[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.

[crazily]

[ 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.

[stupidly]

...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.]

here it comes

[crazily]

[ 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.

truly a hallmark moment...

[stupidly]

[...??????

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?

[crazily]

[ 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 ]

[stupidly]

[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.]

[crazily]

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. ]

[stupidly]

[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.

[crazily]

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