[a nod. the kid. the friend. the betrayal, sick and heavy, too confused to muck up anything just yet. no plans, no forward momentum. for all his restlessness, he'd lost inertia. couldn't think of what to think but at least they received the obvious course of action well: Kino's support, Tess's affirmation. so they'd bury him. put him in the ground and leave him to rot.]
[wouldn't get far. the planet was set to blow.]
[...]
I know where some are. [couldn't remember Tess going from standing to crouching, but it stalls his feet. catches the end words, gets the gist. catches the look - can't get his head on straight enough to change his own. it'd crash in later, all the realizations, anxiety and apprehension-- he knew it would, that was how it worked, these things came in waves, flooded the lands and receded until one almost got back on their feet, until a return and it'd almost be better to live at the bottom if only they could breathe there.]
[legs trembled. he took a step forward, this time angled for the two of them. if Kino didn't push people away--]
Let's go. [we'll be back fast. eyes don't stray from Kino's small form (smaller than him, weren't they?), but he hopes Tess catches that. knowing her, she'd appreciate time alone with the revelation.]
[not too much time, though. he couldn't think anyone would want that much time with their own thoughts (and a corpse).]
[if Kino made to stand, he'd be at their side, a hand reaching for their elbow or shoulder. a little anchor, nothing big. a few shovels, nothing big. like the original orange mission. it'd be fine.]
no subject
[wouldn't get far. the planet was set to blow.]
[...]
I know where some are. [couldn't remember Tess going from standing to crouching, but it stalls his feet. catches the end words, gets the gist. catches the look - can't get his head on straight enough to change his own. it'd crash in later, all the realizations, anxiety and apprehension-- he knew it would, that was how it worked, these things came in waves, flooded the lands and receded until one almost got back on their feet, until a return and it'd almost be better to live at the bottom if only they could breathe there.]
[legs trembled. he took a step forward, this time angled for the two of them. if Kino didn't push people away--]
Let's go. [we'll be back fast. eyes don't stray from Kino's small form (smaller than him, weren't they?), but he hopes Tess catches that. knowing her, she'd appreciate time alone with the revelation.]
[not too much time, though. he couldn't think anyone would want that much time with their own thoughts (and a corpse).]
[if Kino made to stand, he'd be at their side, a hand reaching for their elbow or shoulder. a little anchor, nothing big. a few shovels, nothing big. like the original orange mission. it'd be fine.]