week 5, tuesday afternoon

[cherrypuncher]

Roooobiiiiinnnn!

[hear that

that's the sound of yuna yuki's latest mission

sorry damian.

but anyway, here she comes sprinting right down the center of the town when she sees Damian wandering out and about, waving her hand over her head. You'd think she'd maybe slow down like?? At all???? Like because of coyote adventures if literally nothing else at all but no apparently not.]

Hey, Robin! Are you busy?

Comments

SHIPTRAP 2 ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

[cherrypuncher]

[Yuna listens intently throughout the explanation, frowning pretty intensely. She doesn't like that Damian's been given all this responsibility, likes even less to see how stressed out he is about it. She opens her mouth to start to speak and ends up just sort of...sighing quietly. None of what she says is gonna help with that, huh.]

I didn't think you were lying. I believe you, and I'm really glad you told me all this. But I didn't think we were doing anything stupid...

[she's trying her best and mostly she is just sad that it isn't helping :(]

Can you tell me who the other roles are so that the Madame and I don't have to waste time investigating them?

[She pauses, folds and unfolds her hands over her heart. She isn't so stupid as to be blindly, entirely faithful in everyone here, but...given an opportunity to help, to protect people, the Deputy's chosen to hurt them instead. They're trying to find Damian. They want to hurt him, too. Yuna can feel her heart sink, finds something as close to anger as she ever musters.

It isn't enough for her to want them to die, whoever they are. It isn't fair for the responsibility of that death to be placed on Damian. It makes that feeling that might be fury bubble a little more fiercely.]

I...promised the Madame I wouldn't tell... Is it okay if I ask and tell you later today?

[and that's only the beginning of the bad news]

...I can't stop staying with whoever's in the stocks. I'm sorry. [SHE'S GOTTA BE STUPID but she's speaking so gently, knowing already that this isn't going to go over well.] I'm worried that a trap won't be enough. I didn't know about it, but I could still notice and avoid it, and even some of the coyotes almost got by when I was there with Shinnosuke-kun... I can't just leave someone all alone and put them at risk when there's a way for me to help.

[bittybat]

[Naturally, Damian doesn't look too pleased about not being told who the damn Madame is, but... whatever! It's Yuna!] Then hurry and don't waste time.

The other two Bounties are Milla and Noctis.

I can't tell you who the Doctor is because-- [He grits his teeth and looks away.] Just ask Todd. He found her, but he made me promise not to tell anyone so she wouldn't get hurt.

She's able to pick items to help us, but only based on a collection of suggestions the Sheriff gives her. Aside from that, she can revive one person. [He looks back at Yuna again. This time, he's mildly angry.]

Don't be an idiot. You have a role. You're important to ending this game for all of us. Carelessly throwing your life away when there are better ways to protect whoever is in the stocks is ridiculous and stupid.

Do you remember what happened to Chase? That's what will happen to you if you are out there alone.

[cherrypuncher]

[Yuna pretty visibly perks up when Damian mentions Milla.]

We've been rooming together all this time and I had no idea...! [AAAA MILLA IS HER FAVE SHE CAN'T BELIEVE SHE DIDN'T KNOW!!!] Okay. I'll ask Jason. Thank you.

[But she takes a slow breath, and for a moment she avoids that angry look he gives her but it's fleeting, and she meets Damian's eyes.]

I wouldn't do this if I didn't think I could take care of myself. I can. I still have a lot to do here, and a lot to do at home, so I won't die for nothing.

[She's holding her hands at her heart again, though; she needs Damian to know how serious she is, how much this means to her, but she's still so stricken by the unfairness of him being left in charge of this.

(It didn't hurt so deeply when it was her at home, a Hero of the Taisha, but this doesn't occur to her now.)]

What would have happened to Shinnosuke-kun if I wasn't there? The trap couldn't have stopped all of those coyotes. I can't leave people all by themselves when they're helpless.

[She sighs, but it's light and small.]

I shouldn't have been there by myself with Shinnosuke-kun. I'm sorry. I still made it out okay, though, didn't I? [for...given values of okay......] I won't go out there alone anymore. Usually Milla comes with me, but I wanted her to rest since she was hurt so bad. I have to keep standing guard, but I won't do it on my own anymore.

[bittybat]

[Don't be a stupid hero, Yuna. That's a job for Damian Wayne and Percy Jackson.] Maxwell said you promised not to split up. You shouldn't have been alone with him. Without the trap, you could have been killed. There were too many coyotes.

Even if Maxwell can't come with you, at least ask someone else to do it. [Why... Why does he sound like his father??? STOP.

This is not what he wants to sound like, but--UGH. Too much Wayne.] Just because you have the capabilities doesn't mean you can be a moron. You still have to plan, and you still have to think of the consequences.

We could have found two bodies by the stocks because of carelessness. We would have lost someone with an important investigative role.

[He sighs.] Whatever. Forget it. It's done. There's no use wasting time arguing. Next time, don't stay without someone else.

[cherrypuncher]

[There's argument left in her, because that isn't quite right and Yuna Yuki is a Hero and she's going to be stupid for the rest of her life try and stop her, but he's right; it's done, there's no use. Anyone else, she might insist on proving herself to, but Damian's got enough to deal with.]

All right. I won't go out on Thursday nights on my own anymore. I promise.

[And now she crouches a little, hands on her knees and meeting Damian's eyes at his height. It isn't very often that she's taller than people around here!!!]

Thank you for worrying about me. I'm going to work twice as hard, though, to keep myself and everyone else safe so you won't have to anymore, okay?

[bittybat]

[????????????????? What the??

For some reason, Damian looks momentarily befuddled by Yuna's comment.] That isn't--

I'm not worrying. [He's absolutely worrying.] It's just ridiculous to act like an idiot in regards to protecting people! There are better methods!

I'm not relinquishing the duty of protection over to you!

[NOT THAT HE WAS PROTECTING ANYONE IN THE FIRST PLACE, LISTEN.]

[cherrypuncher]

[he's definitely worrying.]

I'm not asking you to relinquish anything to me. But you must be really busy, right? You've been looking so hard for me and the Madame, and you must be putting a lot of work into keeping everyone else together. You can't overwork yourself, though, so at least just let me borrow that duty for now so you can take a break!

Thank you for all your hard work, Robin.

[bittybat]

[STOP??]

I'm not too busy to be unable to protect others! [Except, you know, like 9284928 people have died already. No big deal. Not busy.] This is nowhere near the work I do in my own world with my father.

I can do this without people thinking they can "help." You'll all just get in my way.

[cherrypuncher]

[There's the briefest flicker of a sad frown on her face but it's gone in an instant when she declares—] Hero Club tenet! If you're troubled, talk to someone!

That isn't true. There's a reason there are a bunch of bounties with a leader, and why we have a Hero Club. I know you must work really hard! I've had to do tougher stuff with my Hero Club at home, too, so I understand. Still, that doesn't mean it's going to be okay for me to keep going here on my own. It's the same for you. You can't do everything all by yourself, and if you keep trying, you'll get hurt.

[Her voice and expression soften.] I'm worried about you, you know. You've been doing so much since you got here, and I know you're really tough, but it's still no good to go it alone.