crazily | week 4 - after the execution (were you expecting this much sin to start)

[Gilbert's taken Break back to his room, and has set him on the unused bed! There's a tray with all of the accouterments for tea, as well as a large tray of assorted biscuits since he assumed Break would want plenty once he woke up.

Gilbert's come and gone a couple of times in those four hours, too, but only to do things like get a pitcher of water or a cloth to wipe the sweat away with. He's very good at the doting parent thing okay... Even though he also definitely gets more and more nervous as the hours tick by.

He's in the middle of leaning over to drop a fresh cloth on Break's dumb face when he wakes up so suddenly, and he's so startled by it that he doesn't react in time to dodge. SO, congrats Break, you just punched Gilbert in the face.]

—Ow, dammit!!

[A PAINED DAMMIT. He also drops the cloth, why.

But yes, the cane is gone...]

[ Break preferred this process the last time he deadass passed out. Dreaming of dying was unpleasant, but falling through water and trying to reach up to the surface wasn't so bad. He had been confused when Reim was the one to take his outstretched hand, but that hadn't hurt. When Break's fist collides with Gilbert's face, it definitely hurts, which has him regretting that reflexive decision, but before anything else, he's suddenly aware of that crushing pressure and pain in his chest instead. ]

Shit—

[ He spits that word out, and it's almost literal as he turns to the side. Break partially falls onto his elbow and start coughing into his other hand. Which still hurts. @vegeta: why???

I'm sure they'll both need a moment, so good job guys... ]

[Yeah, he's definitely rubbing at his jaw and cursing quietly under his breath... GIVE HIM A SECOND... Fortunately he's still got a little Baskervillean Durability™ so he can shake it off pretty fast.

And once he does, he's over at Break's side, though he's careful to keep a little distance this time. He rests a hand briefly against Break's shoulder, but that's more to let him know where he is, spatially-speaking.]

I have water, if you need it - but no medication.

[He was too paranoid to get any painkillers after the Kurisu fiasco...]

Re— Gilbert?

[ Gilbert might recognize the first syllable there, since he's actually heard it before. It's definitely the first syllable of Reim's name, because waking up like this is disorienting. He naturally expects Reim to be the person there to be cleaning up after him, but reality comes back to him quickly. He remembers Reim isn't here, this isn't home, and Break starts to grope with the bloody hand to try and figure out where he is. His eye is open, but it's looking around more frantically, even though Break can't see. It's an unusually frantic way for Break to wake up, considering how collected he usually is.

Still, it also quickly subsides, since even if his breathing stays heavy and labored, he's able to collect himself. It's honestly more just pushing himself too much than the deathshocks themselves, but the combination of these things with Break's unusual condition hadn't helped. His breath still sounds wet and haggard, but he at least stops coughing. ]

What... happened?

[ He reaches up to his chest, then curses again, because what the shit, that hurts, but he just grimaces after and tries to focus. ]

Where am I?

[He does indeed recognize that syllable...

But he doesn't say anything about it, since there are more important things to focus on currently. Like helping this poor blind dude reorient himself a little?!]

You're in my room. After the execution, you - er, well... everyone who's designated as "pride" went through those pains. You coughed up blood and passed out, so I brought you back here. It's been about four hours since then.

[A succinct summary... Though he'll also add:]

Urashima helped to carry your things back, so they're all here.

[ At least much like Reim, Gilbert remaining calm and just answering those questions also helps calm Break down further. His alarm just shifts into a more innocuous confusion as he reaches up to his head. This definitely gets blood in his hair too, but this isn't exactly a new occurence for Break, so he doesn't pay that any mind. ]

Ah... Right.

[ It's coming back to him now, at least as he reorients himself. Though dully through the more present pain in his chest, he feels a throbbing in his hand, and that reaction also catches up to him. ]

...I'm sorry that I hit you.

[ Murder apparently brings out the best in Break in some respect, since this game has been full of moments for Gilbert where Break is actually somewhat more humble than usual. Waking up in a frenzy and punching someone in the face is generally worthy of an apology without prompting, but by Break standards, that's truly miraculous. He groans, then shifts to the side so that he can flop on his back again. Now that he knows where he is, he can at least relax a little more. ]

It's fine.

[He says wearily, like the 100+ year old man he is... But it's his way of saying "thanks" without bruising Break's poor pride, which has already been kicked around the room nonstop for like 48 hours.

He'll move to sit on the edge of the opposite bed once Break turns over, watching with a pretty strong measure of concern.]

...How are you feeling now? I mean - besides the pain. That won't subside for another few hours.

[ Break is still having trouble breathing and is continuing to sweat, and he will be for the entire conversation, most likely. But at least he's concious, which for Break is definitely an improvement. At the very least, this isn't as bad as when he uses the Mad Hatter, since he tends to be out for far longer than a few hours. That occurs to him as Gilbert mentions that this won't subside, and he just laughs, though it's definitely humorless and pained. ]

Awful. Besides the fact that I feel as if someone has dropped an entire load of bricks onto my chest...

[ He trails off, and his mouth sets into a very thin, drawn line. The feeling that had incited him into acting so violently upon awakening returns to him in a fraction. It was fear, but more than simply fear. It was the same feeling of instinctual terror that he had felt when he met the Abyss so long ago. He knows that feeling well, but it still fills him with the same sort of bitter anger that has never lessened over the years. ]

I suppose it was a dream, but I doubt it was only that, all things considered. I dreamt of a young woman I've never seen before. She... [ He makes a difficult noise, then closes his eye. ] Even listening to her stupid little lecture, it's the same feeling, I'm certain. She gave me the same sort of feeling that the Will of the Abyss did.

[WELL, FOR ONE, he's still concerned about Break's well-being?! Considering he's a frail old man who just seriously had A Bad Weekend and coughed blood everywhere...

But the rest distracts him for pursuing that line of topic just yet, and he sits up a little straighter. The girl he remembered from his dream hadn't really seemed like the "lecturing" sort... being a vague terror and all... But--]

Was it the girl in blindfolds?

No, it wasn't. She looked very different from what you had described.

[ Break doesn't draw any attention to it, but that does reveal a bittersweet detail. Break can see in his dreams. ]

She wasn't like the Will at all. She had long hair that was a similar color to Sharon's, and similarly colored eyes. [ I guess... Describing features from a manga style is hard so we'll go with it. Break laughs shortly, though he also immediately regrets this, since it threatens to make him cough again. Luckily, he doesn't, but he does pause a bit longer before he continues to catch his breath. ]

She lectured me. [ He sounds just as offended by that prospect as you'd imagine from Break ] She went on for a ridiculous amount of time about how I'm shaming the noble name of Pride, or something like that. She expected us to fill up the survivor pool.

[ He laughs again, but this one is softer. ]

I tried to cut off her head at that point, but it was a poor decision on my part.

[He supposes it's not too surprising since dreams aren't relevant to the physical eyes, but it is bittersweet, and his brow creases a little.

But he listens carefully because what the heck is all this about, damn...]

...What the hell does that mean? So it wasn't Miata, it wasn't that screaming lady from Morrigan's trial, and it wasn't the person from my dream. A fourth person? Someone who wants those aligned with "pride" to survive?

[--Also literally what the fuck Break. He doesn't even ask "why the heck would you do that" because he already Knows, so instead:]

What happened after you tried?

Nothing. She didn't even blink or pause at all. She didn't feel right before, but after that—

[ He says that part with frustration, but then reaches up to massage his brow with his hand as he trails off. This is the part that's strange and equal parts upsetting and just frustrating. It's an incredibly difficult feeling to describe to another person, so he just hopes that Gilbert will be able to understand what he's trying to convey. ]

It was the same feeling I had when I met the Abyss. I'm sure of it. It's like... dread, but more than that. Something wrong, like something that shouldn't exist or be fought.

[ Considering that last part, maybe that was just for you, Break, since you're a dang maniac... This would be the sensible conclusion, but at least most of Team Pride also decided to go for McPunchins or McStabbins because of course they did. ]

I've not felt anything like that since I met her. To feel it again— [ He sighs, though this one is heavier and maybe even a bit embarrassed. ] That's why I struck without thinking, at least.

[Team Pride is a concerning team, honestly... But Gilbert does seem to understand, at least. If he hadn't had that dream of his own, he'd probably be struggling to grasp the exact feeling Break is trying to lay down, but he had this exact same problem a few weeks ago... There are only so many ways a person can describe vague "THIS FEELS REALLY BAD GUYS, LIKE, SERIOUSLY REALLY BAD FOR REAL" without actually being able to show the other person what it feels like, okay.]

Mm, I understand.

[Why he struck without thinking... And why he got clocked upside the head, damn.

That said:]

Was it - a little bit like the feeling that we all had when we first woke up here? Escaping from some situation, not being able to remember what it was but knowing that... it was-- terrible. ["It's awful" and "something about this is extremely wrong" seem to be the themes, anyway.]

[ He shakes his head ]

No, not quite that. It was similar, but... Not quite the same.

[ Break's brow twitches as he tries to think about how else he could explain it, but there aren't many ways. It was the same sort of terror he had felt when he watched that mad, insane tea party that Alyss had started. It was just the terror of being in the presence of something that he could never understand and couldn't fight against. For a swordsman, there was perhaps no worse feeling than that. ]

I remember it well. She really was just lecturing me, but that feeling was what she was, I think...? It wasn't really what she was saying or even a feeling that I was missing something.

Right— Similar, but not the same... [He's quiet for a second, trying to parse through things. He's sure that the entities they saw are tied somehow... He just has no idea where those ties are.]

The girl that I saw - it wasn't really a feeling of not being able to fight her, but— the feeling she left behind was something like, "nothing good could ever come from this person". [He'd said "it was an awful feeling" quite a few times that day, but it really didn't cover the actual feeling itself.]

I couldn't really pick up on anything else, though. [JUST THAT SHE WAS BAD NEWS BEARS.] Would you say the feeling you felt was similar to that?

[ Break considers it (and also that this is probably the most he's ever talked about his feelings, but), and he ends up nodding. ]

Yes, I think so... It's definitely hard to put it into words.

[ He rubs at his forehead, but then flops his arms to his sides dramatically. ]

Ahhh, what an annoyance all of this is~. The murders are bad enough, but this just complicates it further.

[#emotions

Break is doing pretty well at being a person today, though! Talking about his traumatic dream visitor and everything...!]

The last thing we need is some bizarre mystery to solve on top of everything else. I've been told people have been seeing ghosts around the schoolhouse, too... And this is the second time something strange and ominous has visited someone in a dream. [And then, because it's not like he knows all of Team Pride has had a bad time yet:]

But why only us?

Our naturally terrible luck?

[ He laughs, but Break is being completely serious here, since this is actually literal for them... ]

Between a Baskerville and a Child of Misfortune, we've probably caught something's notice.

[ He pauses to take a deeper breath, since even if he's doing a good job ignoring it through conversation, that pressure on his chest does still give him pause every so often. He reaches towards his pocket where he would normally keep a handkerchief reflexively, but realizing it's not there, he flops his hand back towards Gilbert and makes a gesture for Gilbert to give him something, as if Gilbert will just know what he wants without him saying it. ]

Unfortunately, I had been joking to think that maybe this had some connection to our own world earlier, but at this point? Who even knows. Perhaps that Abyss isn't so different from the one we know.

[GOD... Gilbert grimaces too, because DESPITE KNOWING BREAK'S EYES ARE RED he just entirely missed the Child of Misfortune connection... Probably because all of the memories about that are still locked up in Amnesialand, and the bias against Children of Misfortune don't exist in the current timeline.

Now that it's laid out like that, though, he's just basically thinking no wonder, wow, we're both deda.]

Not anything good, of course. [OF COURSE. Between "scary lecturing lady" and "scary nightmare blindfolds", it's a bad time to be a PH.] This place does have a few similarities... Beyond the abyss itself, I mean. But if that's the case, we'll have to be even more cautious from this point forward... If there are other things working behind the scenes here, escape definitely can't be as easy as "just secure yourself a seat of retirement".

[Or maybe he's just feeling extra pessimistic.

He also looks at Break's hand like what the heck is he supposed to do with this gesture??]

—Do you need water?

[ ugh listen don't make him use his words? but he at least will ]

A handkerchief, actually. I'm sweating terribly.

[ And probably water eventually, but for now, he'd just like to not feel so gross. ]

...But no, I very much doubt that it's that simple. To be completely honest, I didn't exactly believe that there even were seats in the first place, but if this woman was insisting on it so, then I may be more convinced. [ He scoffs softly ]

I'd like to blame Jack, Glen, or someone else, but if we're honest, this is more of an Isla Yura thing to do, isn't it?

[Stop being 5, Break.

Gilbert will obligingly get up to fetch a handkerchief for him, though... He moves the waterbowl and cloth closer to the edge of the table too.]

I have water for you to wipe your face off with over here, if you need it. [HANDKERCHIEF FOR NOW THOUGH which he hands over.]

...I'm not sure if trusting anything she's talked about would be a good idea. [If she gave Break a "THIS IS LIKE THE ABYSS" feeling and all...]

But I agree with that. There's... no way he could be behind this, though. ...Right? [GOD NOW HE'S PARANOID. Ciel screaming about Sebastian in a crocodile suit would be proud.]

[ His expression briefly lights up at the water, because leave it to Gilbert to be prepared. He wipes at his brow first, but he does dip a corner of the handkerchief in the water after one pass. The cooler water will probably feel better. However, that look is fleeting, but it's only because of the topic of conversation. ]

That person is a cockroach, so I almost wouldn't be surprised if he managed to live somehow... But I don't think he actually did this. As annoying as all of that was, Isla Yura didn't actually have any power. He just caused problems for the sake of causing them, and it was your—

[ Break pauses, since he was about to very viciously criticize both of Gilbert's brothers, but... At least one of them doesn't deserve it, he guesses. Or more accurately, even though he doesn't quite feel the sympathy for Elliot that others did, he's not looking to make Gilbert angry. He wipes the damp cloth across his face with a sigh. ]

The only person I think would even be capable of something like this would be Glen or the Baskervilles, but it still doesn't seem like their style.

[He almost says YOUR WHAT!!! but somehow, this becomes that 1-in-10 rare moment where Gilbert actually realizes it would be a good idea to not pursue a certain line of topic. Good work, Gilbert.

So he watches Break with a critical eye for a second - mostly critical because he's watching carefully to make sure Break's not about to keel over - and thinks about that.]

...No, I don't think they've had any hand in this. I'm still sure that the Intention isn't involved, so I don't see why they would be.

It can never be simple, though. Even if it's nothing to do with what we know, that part of this is still true.

[ Freak dream ladies... This is not a good time!! He ends up resting the cool cloth over his eye for a few moments just because of how it feels a bit more pleasant. Though of course, now that they have all of that out of the way— ]

Though that's another idea of mine that someone borrowed, isn't it? First using the rule of accomplices, and now a plethora of red herrings... I'd almost think someone was listening in on us, but I at least know that neither of those ideas were too original.

I know. I don't expect it to be simple.

[Ever... basically... THE STRUGGLE. He makes a little displeased noise in response to that, too.]

They weren't, but you probably aren't wrong about that, either. That they're listening in on us, I mean.

[ Break laughs, but this one is a more genuine humor that's closer to his normal clownish self. Too bad it's Break being... himself. ]

Ahhh, well~! If you are, our mysterious audience, please steal my idea for this week of cutting off someone's head as a sign, hm~? You can even make me a suspect if you'd like, since no one would believe that I'm capable after this.

[ stop him ]

Don't tempt them, Break.

[HE'S SO TIRED. With their luck, someone actually will get decapitated and the stress of being a suspect two weeks in a row will just straight up kill Break...]

...Anyway, we'll have the first half of the week to worry about all of that, at least. [And then, murder!]

[ Break laughs, but that one is definitely much more cheerful and more like his usual, annoying self. He waves a hand at Gilbert and smiles. ]

It's fine, it's fine~. At this rate, no one would believe I could do something like that anyways~.

[ until undyne called him a weenie and his pride got the best of him... god... ]

I'm just kidding, at least. For once, I'll just take it easy this week, I promise. Despite what Reim might tell you, I don't actually enjoy being in bed all day, but I know I need to rest. ♥

[Break is literally going to die because of his pride someday and Gilbert won't even be able to be like I TOLD YOU, DAMMIT since he'll be too busy wallowing in despair.]

It'd still be better for you to not make them feel like they could be doing even more. [HE'S TIRED. But "I'm just kidding" is enough to alleviate his concerns for like .5 seconds, at least.]

...As long as you spend this week resting, it should be fine.

I will be.

[ His tone gets more serious there to convey his sincerity, though his tone is still light overall. Even if he'll joke about it, Break isn't intentionally pushing himself, nor does he really even want to. ]

Though~! If you could at least do me a favor and find something to do, I'd appreciate it. I realize the options are limited, but I'd rather not stay in bed for a few days without anything to do.

Something to do?

[Something to do while in bed?? Good thing they're fake Victorians so they're used to having to entertain themselves through long stretches of Boring Nothingness anyway.]

All right. I'll check the store to see if there's anything for you there.

Or ask Miata if you're feeling adventurous. It'd be interesting to see just how much she's capable of, hm?

[ He considers what he could direct Gilbert towards for a few moments, then nods with a laugh. ]

Actually, if you can find anything to knit, I'll do that. I don't really need to see so much as count~.

I'll see about it. I still need to ask her if she's learned anything about my carcere, too.

[A SIGH... She just vanished and never returned and he hasn't spoken to her since, but he really should. He keeps getting distracted by murder...]

Oh— Knitting? All right. I'm sure there would be needles, at least. [Because what's a murder game without outlandish murder weapons??]

I'd appreciate it~. The last thing I knitted was that scarf for Alice, you know. We've been rather busy since!

[ But he also knitted that in the Abyss after dragging her there himself, so...?? Don't question this because honestly he escaped that lecture somehow and he's not looking to get it belatedly. ]

I can't promise anything color-wise bu~ut I'll certainly make one for you, Gil~bert~. [ it will be literally the worst thing you've ever seen ]

[Why is Break like this: the eternal question that Gilbert will never stop asking and will never get an answer to.]

Has it been that long? [IT FEELS... simultaneously like less and more time has passed. WEIRD. He also doesn't question that because he doesn't even remember Break just dragged Alice into the Abyss, what the fuck.

Gilbert also blanches in response to that super generous offer. No...]

Er— It's fine. I'm sure there are others here who need a scarf more.

[ He may not be able to see Gilbert blanch, but he can hear it. So even while having a not heart attack, Break is still in the mood to bully Gilbert. Is there ever a time that he's not? That's a question better left untested. ]

...Ohhh? Are you rejecting my generous offer, Gilbert? My feelings will be hurt, you know~!

[ ha ha as if break has feelings ]

[The sad part is, Gilbert has enough feelings for both of them so he feels like .5% bad about this even though HE KNOWS BREAK IS JUST BEING A SHITHEAD.]

I'm saying I don't need a scarf! My wardrobe came with plenty of those!

[ Ah, Gilbert really does make this too easy... Break is reminded of those halcyon days where he convinced Gilbert to pick up smoking or refer to himself like Oscar does. What a good time! ]

So you're saying you don't want my scarf.

[HE WAS AN IMPRESSIONABLE YOUTH AND BREAK WAS AN AWFUL MENTOR.]

Stop putting words in my mouth! I'm just saying that other people who have fewer scarves could use it more, that's all...!

[ listen both of these things may be true but come on gilbert break just made sure that you'd be exactly as much of a wreck as oz remembered you ]

Aaaaaah!! Gilbert is truly a cruel, cru^ee—

[ But there, his voice cracks, and Break just busts out into a coughing fit. He's an idiot that doesn't know when to quit, so his body is just answering that question for him. Good job, Break. ]

[He didn't need any help there, honestly...

But oh, oops, he almost forgot that Break was suffering from Extreme Chest Pains since he was acting so normal?! CONCERN. Gilbert's brow immediately furrows and he (very quickly) leaves the topic of scarves behind to go get a glass of water.]

Here— Don't push yourself too hard. The effects will still last until the morning, even if you're awake.

[He Knows.]

Bleurgh...

[ If nothing else, the coughing fit at least gets Break to shut up, because even if Break acts normally under stress, this is because he's more or less used to it. He's at least not coughing up blood, but he does sit up a bit as Gilbert gets water, since he'll take a glass now. ]

It's not that bad...

[ And comparatively speaking, it isn't. The pain and exhaustion that comes when he uses the Mad Hatter is far worse, and he's learned to bear that as best he can. He takes a glass of water and takes a generous swig of it before he pulls the glass away with a sigh. ]

It just... caught me by surprise.

[Gilbert's used to Break being a moron and turboing through things when he should be RESTING, but even he doesn't know the extent of turbo that's been going on this whole time...]

Even if it's not that bad, you should rest as much as you can.

[He doesn't even believe the "it's not that bad" part though.]

Fine.

[ Break responds extremely petulantly, but he quickly finishes off the glass of water before mopping at his brow again. At least now that he's conscious, he's getting used to death shocks in a way that only Break can. It's like he's used to pushing his limits and then breaking down because of it... Weird. ]

I'll rest as much as I can until Friday, at least. The end of the week is naturally more important anyways, so it's not as if I'll be missing anything.

[No one could possibly predict that Zarksees is accustomed to riding the literal paintrain into the ground until his body combusts!

But Gilbert seems satisfied with that response and nods.]

Then I'll do what I can to help. I'll see about that yarn, and if I catch wind of anything, I'll report it immediately.

[Now he's Break's ears too, apparently.]

week 4 - after the execution (were you expecting this much sin to start)

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please note the keywords here too, lord

WHY IS BREAK LIKE THIS

[pulls out flowchart] well u see

ugh im laughing... also say hi to eski

👌👀 look on my works ye mighty, and despair 👌👀

"whats going on in here-- oh mass murder again" tbh

at least we're consistent

i mean, tru

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