05 // Voice

[sole_choice]

I was just kidding before! I didn't expect REAL prehistoric animals to start showing up! A-Ahem...

*There was some muttering before he spoke up into the walkie-talkie properly*

Is there a place where more people are gathering together to try and keep safe in bigger numbers? If so, I'd appreciate some general directions there because I just spent several hours getting out of a tree and down a small cliff to try and keep out of reach and another two getting back up when things decided I still smelled like prey.

Given that this is supposedly a dream world, this will let up and change eventually right? Dreams, even nightmares... they don't go on forever...

Right?

Comments

[sole-choice.livejournal.com]

*Shouichi pretty much ate everything he'd been handed and nodded when asked if it had helped*

I don't know if I can really relax in the given circumstances, but food and finding water and not being alone is helping. Are those vines fairly common and easy to identify then?

*Even as he asked he was pulling out the phone-turned-walkie-talkie again to contact that man from before once they were on their way. He had to focus on what had to be done now, not those scars and what it meant that he'd been so surprised by them, damnit.*

[1000marshmellos.livejournal.com]

Only if you're a silly botany major~

*Byakuran knelt and bundled up his jacket again, tying it with the vine and slinging it over his shoulder as he stood and ventured back in to the trees, stick in hand.*

I'll tell you once I see one. After this I might just start carrying a knife around with me. Haven't needed to for a while!

[sole-choice.livejournal.com]

*Shouichi rolled his eyes and followed after the white-haired man, keeping up without too much trouble*

May be a good idea actually. Apparently things like this just occassionally "happen" around here. Though the man who told me that said he'd never seen anything that was this drastic before at least. It should be over in a week... if he was right.

[1000marshmellos.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Good thing I came to find you then. Some scary beast would have absolutely eaten you by then. That would be such a shame..

*Who knows how serious he was being. He had pretty good poker face on.*

[sole-choice.livejournal.com]

I managed on my own for a couple days there while you were who knows where!

Though, there were a few times when... *Grumblegrumble under his breath*

[1000marshmellos.livejournal.com]

Mhm. You did a very good job of not dying. Ah! Here we go...

*He made his way over to what looked like a bunch of roots and used the sharp end of his stick to cut through it, then quickly through another part of it, hands pressed to the cuts so the water didn't leak out.*

Here. Careful not to spill too much. Don't let your lips actually touch the vine itself.

[sole-choice.livejournal.com]

*Shouichi stepped up and took one end of the offered vine segment and very carefully let the water from inside fall into his mouth. It was slightly sweet, but otherwise clean and so very good after the last couple days. When he was done, he made sure no more of what was left in there spilled out and handed it fully back to the other man*

T-Thanks.

[1000marshmellos.livejournal.com]

*He shook the segment a little and tipped it back to drink the remaining liquid. Mm, it was tasty. Once he was finished and it was empty, he tossed it aside.*

Something like that you want to drink within a few hours. It's difficult to save due to fermentation. There are other water sources in plants though. This is easier since I don't have a knife to carve a bowl to collect it.

[sole-choice.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. Not good for storage. *He looked back to the vines and took in as many of the characteristics as he could and memorized what they looked like, just in case. He pulled at his shirt a little, fanning himself and looked to the other. He'd had water and food and that made the next step what? Ah yes, continue surviving until things return to "normal"*

... So you honestly haven't run into anything trying to eat you yet? Or did something try and just lose badly?

[1000marshmellos.livejournal.com]

You know me; I'm very evasive! I've run into a few things here or there that just aren't worth talking about.

*Looked around a bit, spotting a large patch of moss off in the shade. He made his way over and yaaawned, lying down on top of it. It was a teeny bit cooler than in the sun and at least it was nice and soft.*

[sole-choice.livejournal.com]

*Shouichi made a quick transmission to Canas to let him know he'd found his companion before he wandered over and sat down nearby. He took a long deep breath and went back to fanning himself with one hand, leaning back onto the other. He hadn't felt at ease in Byakuran's presence in a long time, but he did right now. It was probably because of the last couple days, he mused. This was peaceful in comparison. Though he couldn't help worrying about the Vongola out there either. He hoped Gokudera had managed to contact and find the others... He frowned at himself and shook the thought from mind right now, glancing over to Byakuran instead*

Are you going to sleep?

[1000marshmellos.livejournal.com]

I'm considering it. The heat makes me sleepy... and the lack of sugar. Well. Empty calories. It puts me in a terrible mood. I thought I might stave it off with a little nap.

*Suddenly, lilac eyes focused on Shouichi, a sharp glint to them. His lips twisted into one of those sinister smiles as he quipped,*

Promise not to beat me with my own stick and steal my things if I fall asleep?

[sole-choice.livejournal.com]

Wh-What?!

Of course I wouldn't do that!

*That look had sent an icy chill down his spine, but he tried to not let on despite the small shiver*

Go ahead and sleep, it may be good for us to do so in shifts if possible anyway.

Besides, I know how you get without dessert. Please, sleep.

[1000marshmellos.livejournal.com]

Okay~

*A slight pause and then a far less scary smile!*

...I know you wouldn't. It's just that bad mood I was talking about starting to settle in already.

*With a yaaaawn, he relaxed there on his back, letting his eyes slip shut. Even with what he knew about the situation, what he did to him.. he knew Shouichi wasn't that dastardly. Well, probably.*

[sole-choice.livejournal.com]

*Well that sense of peace and ease was gone, that was for sure. Where had THAT come from? Did he know or was this just Byakuran's usual messing with him for no real reason but to get a reaction?

That was the likely answer, but...

Either way... He would still not do it that way. At least he wanted to believe that. He certainly wouldn't here and now. He was sure of that much and that at least kept the lump in his throat from getting even harder to swallow*

I'll keep look out.

*It looked like he'd be getting more time to think to himself. Joy... He was starting to really miss his headphones and masses of music. He really really was.*

[1000marshmellos.livejournal.com]

*Byakuran napped for just over an hour before he shifted and sat up with a yaaaaawn. Mm. It was too warm. Thus, he took his shirt off again and tossed it over by his jacket, crawling over to see if there was any food left - Shouichi would have been welcome to help himself to the other oranges and bananas he'd found.*

Ahhhh, it's hard to sleep! It reminds me of that week the air conditioning broke in our dorm building. You were so miserable~

Even if the heat isn't so bad, it does get a little tiring. I wouldn't mind just a small reprieve. We should play that game of Choice, though. It'll pass time!

[sole-choice.livejournal.com]

*Shouichi glanced over from where he was staring off into space, fingers paused from their drumming out a beat. He had eaten one of the bananas left there, but hadn't touched much else.* Too warm is an understatement though what's making this worse is the humidity. Ugh. I hated that week, but this one tops it. A lot.

*He frowned and fanned himself a little as Byakuran continued... He really had been hoping he'd forgotten about that. At least he hadn't heard or seen anything particularly large in the area for the last hour...*

You sure it's a good idea to split up at this point?

[1000marshmellos.livejournal.com]

Mmm... I know I'll be fine. Scaredy Shou-chan is the one with the problem. If you can plead your case adequately, I may decide that Choice is possibly, maybe, perhaps not the best thing to do right now.

You have thirty seconds!

*So Byakuran sat back then, grabbed a banana and peeled it. Consider the banana his time bar. He needed to convince him by the time he finished his snack! Go go go!*

[sole-choice.livejournal.com]

*About 10 different reasons came to mind just off the top of his head, about 2/3rds of which had large teeth, but he waited a moment, considering. Byakuran wouldn't buy those reasons alone, the possibility of danger not high on his list of priorities. Also... he had already agreed once.

He sighed before answering, arms crossed over his chest. Byakuran was not even quite halfway through the banana*

... I already agreed. But if something tries to eat me, I'm reserving the right to call a pause or truce or something.

[1000marshmellos.livejournal.com]

*Byakuran was silent while he devoured the rest of his banana. Once he finished and tossed his peel aside, he focused his gaze on Shouichi as he smiled.*

All right. I accept your conditions. Now... we need to figure out a prize. We should each get something if we win, shouldn't we? Now. What would you like your prize to be, Shou-chan? It can be anything! Don't hold back!

[sole-choice.livejournal.com]

*He paused in thought. If he recalled correctly the last time they'd played Choice, he'd won and Byakuran owed him still. So he couldn't just ask for him to owe him a favor this time either... Hmmmm...*

If I win... *Green eyes met lavender, unwavering* I want to know about those scars. The truth.

[1000marshmellos.livejournal.com]

*Byakuran's eyebrows quirked up the slightest bit, a little surprised that of all things, that's what Shouichi wanted.*

It's a deal. If I win... then I want to know your deepest, darkest secret!

*He grinned, trying to make it seem like a very childish and innocent request, going so far as to bounce on his heels in excitement.*

[sole-choice.livejournal.com]

*Shouichi couldn't afford to hesitate at that request, but he also couldn't just agree to that without trying to change it... After all, it was Choice, he didn't want to lie.*

That hardly seems fair unless those scars are an even bigger deal than you were making them out to be.

[1000marshmellos.livejournal.com]

Shou-chan... you know I wouldn't cheat at Choice. I think you should know that what I'm asking for is fair, compared to what you asked me for.

*That smile of his... did it just grow wider?*

[sole-choice.livejournal.com]

. . . . . . *He stared at him a long moment then nodded, even going so far as to offer an apologetic smile* I know that you don't cheat at Choice. Sorry.

A-Alright. Agreed, those are the stakes.