Endgame

[idolpro]

Who: You lot
Where: Game Tower
When: Day 155, sunset

[ The house is silent; you awaken in your starter rooms, with injuries healed and the gripping hold of possession released as though it were all a dream.

It wasn't though, was it? The scars that remain, whether physical or emotional, are proof of that. If you need more proof, well - when the elevator opens for you once more, to take you back down to ground level, you'll find you can carry whatever is on your person back down with you as souvenirs, although their effects don't carry over.

Once you take the elevator down, you'll find most everyone else there too - most everyone, anyway. Some are missing, and . . . well, the doors to the outside aren't opening to let anyone out, although non-participants may enter to fret over their loved ones.

Soon enough, once the last elevators go down, the doors will unlock and you'll be free to hurry home, as the last rays of the sun disappear behind the skyline. Night is coming once more. ]

Comments

[softlyfalling]

I didn't really like what I did with a lot of ghosts in my head, either. Or, well—some of what I did without them, for that matter.

So I don't know about that. Even like that you still really wanted me to be all right, and—things feel warmer when you're around, I guess.

[ she puts a palm against his cheek, sort of like she did before, but this time she doesn't headbutt him—just rests her forehead against his. ]

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Griffin almost flinches when she puts her forehead against his, because-- that's what Maki did. That's what she did as she slowly opened his throat with a knife. But he suppresses the urge, instead leaning into the comfort of her hand - even if it was as cold as ever - and closing his eyes.]

You too. I wanna... I want t'live up to the things you see in me. I wanna keep stayin' at your side, for whatever happens.

[softlyfalling]

Me too. Me too.

[ she pulls back a bit, and brushes his hair back a bit from his forehead with one hand.

...long hair not bad ]

...you're really important to me, and—I'd like to be by your side, too. For as long as I can be.

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Griffin opens his eyes and stares into hers. Somehow, knowing she forgave him - that she'd still want him, after everything...

He just wanted to do things over and kill the regret hanging in his heart.]

If-- if it's okay. Can I kiss you now?

[softlyfalling]

[ !!!!! ]

...honestly, I'd like nothing better.

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Despite himself, a nervous smile lights up his face. It takes another second for him to steel his nerve - he brings his left hand up to caress her jaw, as though to guide himself as he closes his eyes and leans up--

By all metrics, it's just a chaste press of his lips against hers. But however plain and brief it is, Griffin's chest feels like it's about to burst.]

[softlyfalling]

[ she closes her eyes and leans into it, pressing back very gently, and it—feels just right, actually, for who they are and where they are.

she drapes her arms loosely around his shoulders, and when she opens her eyes she can't keep a wide smile off her face. ]

Was that all right?

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Griffin's beaming too, sheepishly.]

I feel like I should ask you that. But-- yeah. I liked that... a lot.

[softlyfalling]

Well—me too.

...let’s do it again sometime soon?

[gigadevilbreaker]

[He can't help but laugh - and for a second, the depravity and horror was momentarily forgotten.]

I swear I'll get better at it with practice.

[softlyfalling]

‘s already plenty good, but I’m happy to help with any practice you require.

[ she’s teasing a little, but also— ]

...I’m really glad. I didn’t think I’d be saying that here, but—can I kiss you back?

[gigadevilbreaker]

[D-doki

Tries to play it cool but the deeply bashful flutter of his eyes pretty much give away it away. Also, the stammer.]

I-I mean-- sure, go for it. [so cool]

[softlyfalling]

[ she’s not going first, but still, there’s a nervous flutter in her stomach.

she tilts his chin up with one hand, her other on his upper back, and leans down, lips just slightly parted and eyes closed, to press her lips against his. still gentle, still pretty chaste—trying to keep it slow and tender. ]

[gigadevilbreaker]

[His heart skips a goddamn beat when she lifts his chin up because - well, this was not a role he could've foreseen himself in and yet. There was a certain... exhilaration to it. Being gently and tenderly led kinda like that fanmail oh god he's going to die

Griffin's hands slide to her shoulders, and with a light gasp as her lips met his, he kisses back - with as much fledgling earnestness as he could muster.]

[softlyfalling]

[ shrike sighs lightly into the kiss, and runs her thumb along his jawline; even after all of that nightmare she's suddenly giddy, lightheaded. one hand cups his chin; the other slides up to the nape of his neck.

she lets him set the pace—she hasn't forgotten that he was just subjected to a lot of trauma, regardless of what he calls it—but returns his earnest enthusiasm until he pulls back, or one of them has to come up for air. ]

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Like hell Griffin knows how long kisses are supposed to last. But the demon in him is determined to keep up for at least as long as Shrike wants out of him, even when he starts feeling lightheaded - so when they do finally have to take a breath, he's practically gasping for air.

But the look in his eyes when he opens them is nothing short of unadulterated awe - just, head over heels. He breathes in deep, and parts his lips to try and put words to what he feels and... no sound comes out except a sigh of wonder.]

[softlyfalling]

[ it takes her a second to be able to speak; she's clearly at a loss for words, too. she trails a hand back through his hair. they're in a room full of incredibly freaked-out people, but everyone and everything else feels distant and out-of-focus. ]

Mm.

I, um, got a little carried away, but...

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Honestly, having a romantic moment in the middle of a disaster zone is also giving Griffin deja vu...

[Griffin, in a hurry to reassure her, blurts out,] It's okay! I don't mind. [ummm] I mean--

I... don't mind following your lead.

[softlyfalling]

[ she flusters spectacularly, and reflexively covers her mouth with her hand for a moment, looking both sheepish and very charmed. ]

Well—I want to be considerate, so.

...you're really nice to kiss.

[gigadevilbreaker]

W-well. Good. That's good...





[OH GOD HE'S SO UNCOOL RIGHT NOW WHAT SHOULD HE SAY. OH MAN OH GOD HIS STYLE METER IS AT D]

...Maybe we can, uh. Continue at home.

[softlyfalling]

That's, ah—

[ whoever thinks either of them is cool is deeply and hilariously mistaken, because she loses her entire train of thought for a couple seconds there. ]

Mm, that—sounds like a really good plan.

[ with a slight weariness bleeding back into her voice: ] ...it'll be so nice to get out of here.

1/2

[gigadevilbreaker]

[...Mmn.]

Yeah. We should get everyone and... just fuckin' buy dinner this time. Nitro suggested some oko-- okonoyaki? Something like that. [What's Japanese food]

And take the world's longest shower.

[gigadevilbreaker]

[A beat.]

SEPARATELY, I MEAN--I'm not, that's-- I wouldn't--!

[softlyfalling]

[ SHE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT UNTIL HE BROUGHT IT UP BUT— ]

I know, I know!

[ she gives a brief burst of laughter, muffled into her own hand, before catching her breath properly. ]

Soon we'll be clean and fed and safe and warm and together.

[gigadevilbreaker]

[That moment when you've outed yourself as more dirty-minded than your girlfrien Time to turn beet red!

He puts his hand over hers and laces through her fingers with his best attempt at a reassuring smile.]

An' everything else we'll figure out later.