gross au

[reanbeanmachine]

[Once upon a time, perhaps, a man named Giliath Osborne had been a good man, a kind father, a loving husband, a good soldier. That was a long, long time ago, long forgotten. These days, there was merely the Blood and Iron Chancellor. A man hellbent on a goal, ready to use everything to achieve it.

Currently, the latest tool from his little workshop was standing in his office facing him with a familiar face, but an unfamiliarly blank expression.

"Siegried" was the name of the doll in front of him, a creature with uses. Already, standing in front of Osborne was plenty of proof that this boy was only a shell that resembled a person, an empty vessel whose memories were sealed away.

He ran his fingertips over the boy's cheek, watching for any reaction, any flinch or concealed disgust. Nothing. Obedience. Perfect.

There was more he could test for this, and if that proved successful, this doll could be useful in very many ways indeed. His fingers lifted a lock of white hair, let it slide over his knuckles as he pulled his hand away.]

Siegfried, I want you to kneel.

Comments

[awakenerd]

[He definitely thinks it's his fault in some ways, he's responsible, but now isn't the time for that.]

It's not yours, either. Who knows where I'd be if not for you, right now.

[Probably even more insane, or having lost all of himself entirely, at this point.]

[filetofish]

[Everything Rean says hurts. It's exactly what Crow wants to hear, actually, but he's so angry at himself he can't believe it. What he can do though is get it together enough to turn this hand holding into a hug. He really needs one. He's needed comfort all this time but even now he feels weak and pathetic asking.]

Mmm.

[Words are too hard he's just gonna hide his face against Rean's shoulder and whine.]

[awakenerd]

[Oh good because Rean was going to do that in a second anyway. He so badly needs this hug himself that as soon as Crow moves for it he's nearly bowling Crow over in wrapping his arms around him and holding on tight.

He's not okay. He knows Crow isn't okay, but he's also. Relieved in a way? He hasn't gotten to cry on Crow for being alive yet even, it's a lot of emotions to be having all at once.

He's pretty choked up sounding.]

Thank you. For being here. For being alive. Fo saving me.

[filetofish]

[Crow is exceedingly easy to bowl over right now so if he weren't sitting against the door he'd probably have fallen. As it is he lets himself cling, finally, the way he's been wanting to this whole time.]

I... I couldn't have ever left you there. I never wanted to leave you--

[He left the first time because there was something he felt he needed to do. Wanted more than anything. But he hadn't actually wanted to leave. And he certainly hadn't wanted to die, when he was finally going to go home. So how could he have done anything but give his all to be with Rean this time?]

[awakenerd]

[So maybe a lot of things are traumatizing and bad but Crow is alive in his arms and it's a lot and that's all he wants to focus on right now. He's starting to sob.]

Don't ever leave me again, you big jerk.

[filetofish]

'M not gonna.

[He's not going to let go until he has to.]

We're gonna... Ah. Go to your place. And then find everyone.

[awakenerd]

...Okay.

[Okay! Okay. Okay. Going to Ymir... Will be good for them. If they make it there.]

First, you need to sleep, and eat. And stay here in my arms for at least four more hours.

[filetofish]

Can't argue with that.

[He's not sure he could get up right now if he wanted to. ...Actually probably he should get up so they can be inside, but he's so pooped he really doesn't know if he can. He'll chalk it up to emotional stress and not his body being threadbare.]