week one, friday...mid-day?

[varunastra]

[ Serph gives it a bit before he seeks Akira out, not only to give Akira time to process, or because Akira is now the most popular guy on the island, but also to give himself some time to find his center.

Nothing ruins an honest expression of sympathy like letting them hear your stomach growl.

But he does get his thoughts reined back in, after a bit (removing himself from the sight and the smell certainly helps), and waits for what seems like an opportune moment, or as opportune as one can be given the horrific circumstances, before he approaches. ]

I'm sorry about your comrade.

[ No preamble. But everyone's noticed by now that he's not great at small talk. ]

Comments

[jokered]

[and yet... akira seems to understand it.

the unspoken thank you. the look in his eyes. the meaning behind his words. akira can sense the weight, the feelings of sympathy and understanding.]

I know the situations aren't comparable, but loss is loss. It doesn't matter how it happens—it sucks. I think we both understand that.

[akira was usually the one who put his life on the line for everyone else. for his team—for haru. he would take the fall even if it meant the worst, so long as they were kept safe from harm.]

Necessary decisions aren't always easy ones. They're... usually not. [he's definitely feeling grief, anger, hurt, despair—fury.

but for now, he steels himself. this needs to be done and cared for.] This decision isn't for the others to make, though. She was my friend, so I get last rites.

[what they decide to do with other bodies, if they can use that to sustain serph—they'll work on that later. he'll help, of course, but when it comes to haru, he's making this choice.] She trusted my judgment, so I'll make sure her senseless sacrifice isn't wasted.

[there's a bit of a hardened edge in his eyes—akira is definitely working at it to hold back a lot of his emotions, but it doesn't seem like he intends to change his mind on this, despite the difficult position he's in.]

[varunastra]

[ A nod - a very firm one, this time. Akira's resolve is obvious enough, even without the words to back it up. Haru's sacrifice, and Akira's resolve, are not to be disrespected, and while Serph wanted to be sure that there wouldn't be any second thoughts or regrets when it was too late to take it back, he also knows the face of a man who's made up his mind and is going to stand his ground when he sees it.

It's incredibly fucked up that the best thing he can do to respect the two of them is to devour what's left of Haru, but what about this entire situation isn't fucked up? ]

Whenever you're ready, then.

[ He's ignored his hunger for a few days, he can certainly ignore it for a few more if need be. ]

[jokered]

[everything about the situation is fucked up, but akira acknowledges it. he knows it. he'll need a couple of days to really sort through things and make some sense of how he feels.

for now, though?]

I'll let you know. I'll try not to keep you waiting long, either.

[he'll do his best so that serph doesn't have to be hungry for too much longer, even if it's only a very, very temporary solution to the problem.]