(no subject)

[criminaljustice]

Who: Joker and whoever
Where: BAD END=DEAD END
When: post-A drama and onward through Day 76 probably

[anyway, a certain Wild Card is going to head to his room and flop face-first into his bed.

if anyone needs him, well. he's not hard to find.

how's everyone else on the unit doing?]

Comments

[artisticliberty]

Fox: what should i do

[criminaljustice]

[....... an even longer pause...]

Joker: i really wish i knew

[artisticliberty]

[...]

Fox: I'm sorry.
Fox: I know you must be overwhelmed with everything.
Fox: I should let you rest.

[criminaljustice]

Joker: you don't have to apologize
Joker: we're all trying to... figure this shit out

[artisticliberty]

Fox: May I come visit you later?
Fox: I think it would reassure me to see you alive and in person.

[criminaljustice]

Joker: of course
Joker: i'll let you know if bad end gets uncomfortable with all the traffic
Joker: but i think it'd be fine in this case

[artisticliberty]

Fox: Alright. I am going to try and get a few hours of sleep before then.
Fox: Goodnight, Joker.

[there's a fox is typing... message, but it disappears.

later, by mid-morning day 76, there's a knock on Bad End's door]

[criminaljustice]

[probably crawled back home after sneaking out to hide away in Lily's cottage napdome.

eye are a bit more clear, but it's evident he didn't sleep well and probably a few more bouts of crying. bed head's probably at its worst.

but he still looks really relieved when he sees it's Fox]

Hey.

/2

[artisticliberty]

[for a moment, fox has to remind himself to reign it in, to not overwhelm joker, to not just take him in his arms and never let go, give him space, he needs his space, you can't just--]

[artisticliberty]

[to hell with it.

fox closes the distance between them, his fingers brushing hair from joker's face, and he pulls him into a tight hug]

[criminaljustice]

[... oh.

yeah, tight hug is. well warranted.

Joker's returning the hug pretty quickly, even]

[artisticliberty]

[fox winds his arms around joker and holds him close, pressing his face to joker's hair and inhaling deeply, then exhaling with a shudder. his fingers curl tightly in joker's clothes. he doesn't say anything.]

[criminaljustice]

[letting him do that, just settling against Fox and letting his weight lean against him.]

M'okay...

[as in. he's in one piece. currently alive and breathing right there and now.

that's the important thing to keep in mind.]

[artisticliberty]

I know.

[he knows, objectively, that joker is here and safe and he can feel him breathing and warm in his arms. it's doing a lot to soothe the panic and fear and upset that's been simmering in him all night]

I know...

[gradually, his grip on joker loosens]

[criminaljustice]

... should come in instead of hanging out by the door...

[not that he's pulling away but like. they are kind of in the middle of the doorway]

[artisticliberty]

[ok ok. he lets go, and takes a good look at joker]

... did you sleep at all?

[criminaljustice]

A little. Here and there.

[not much though.

welcome to Joker coping: sleep is for the weak.]

[artisticliberty]

[starts fussing with joker's hair, alternately petting it and brushing strands from his face]

Too much stress isn't good for your health.

[criminaljustice]

[that... feels nice.

and he's gonna lean into it a bit, giving a huff of a laugh.]

This place isn't good for my health.

[artisticliberty]

[fox is beginning to understand the best way to soothe feral cats is with pets]

All the more reason you should take care of yourself when you can.

[criminaljustice]

I've definitely been working on it.

It's just... hard right now.

[artisticliberty]

What can I do for you?