Dark Clouds, Silver Linings

[astonishing_xmods]

Who: Everyone!
What: The news of the day, brought to you live.
Where: Around any TV screen, computer, radio, or newspaper.
When: All week.
Warnings: Reference to major NPC death. If a thread goes into warning territory for anything else, toss it up in the subject line or take it to a new log.

"...not the cure that everyone has been hoping for, but researchers working with the virus ravaging mutant enclaves around the country claim to have reached a breakthrough -- a treatment which can stop the contagion from spreading from person to person. For more on this, we're joined by our medical specialist..."

"...ravaged by riots for the second time this year, District X citizens have been organizing to repair the damage that's been done not only the the buildings and infrastructure, but also to their sense of community. Several people are in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody in connection with the recent outbreak of violence, but few details have emerged so far..."

"...outpouring of grief from mutant communities and their supporters internationally after a high-profile member of the X-men's death was confirmed. Kurt Wagner, known to the public as 'Nightcrawler', was a long-time staff member at the Xavier Institute, rumored in recent months to have been suffering from the virus affecting mutants around the nation and the world. When asked for comment, a representative of the school asked for peace and privacy, and declined any further discussion..."

"...slight drop in mainstream support for candidates Norman Osborn and Graydon Creed attributed to their well-publicized outbursts against, among others, the mutant and pro-mutant protest groups that have been dogging them on the campaign trail. A video taken just last week of Osborn's rambling and incoherent response to a question posed to him by a mutant attendee of a meet-and-greet event went viral, prompting mockery even from some of the other candidates in the primary..."

"...international news, President Kelly has set a date for a new round of discussions with Genoshan leadership. Speaking with the press this morning, he said that he wanted to give his thanks to them personally for the help that their researchers have provided in the past weeks, and to continue making steps towards the normalization of relations..."

[OOC: As always, feel free to react to any of these prompts or even to related things that aren't explicitly posted here!]

Comments

[spes_phthisica]

[That is stupid. But Hijikata doesn't say no, and he doesn't mean that Souji's suggestion is stupid. This man who cares so deeply about everyone around them that he feels like he has to drive them almost as hard as he drives himself, because that's the only way he can tell himself that they'll be at least somewhat safe... Every time he finds that something is once again out of his control, all he can do is try even harder to not be so helpless the next time, as if with enough time, he should be able to hold the world in balance all by himself.]

It's not. It's not like you can just get it right and no one will have to die again. It doesn't work like that... and it's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong.

Hahaha that icon and that comment, why my heart

[koukai_kirai]

[Hijikata grits his teeth, and clutches the chalk so hard that it snaps between his fingers.]

[It's not enough. It can never be enough.]

C-c-c-c-combo

[spes_phthisica]

[Gently pulling the snapped halves of the chalk out of Hijikata's grip, he insinuates his hand into his instead, lacing their fingers together and squeezing hard. His other hand finds Hijikata's neck, rubbing his thumb up and down it in soothing, rhythmical motions.]

It's really scary, knowing that sometimes there's just no right thing to do. It scares me, at least. But torturing yourself and acting like you're responsible is only going to make things worse for you. [And not just you, but he doesn't say that part aloud.]

[koukai_kirai]

[His head bows slightly, his shoulders sagging like there's a great weight bearing down on him.]

[What is he supposed to say to that? It's not like Souji's wrong, but he needs to keep going -- he feels like he'll explode if he doesn't.]

[spes_phthisica]

[Finally he slips under Hijikata's arm, gazing up at him solemnly, threading the fingers of one hand carefully through his hair. It's almost as if he can see that great big weight that Hijikata carries, the one that keeps getting bigger every time he feels like he's failed somehow.

He knows there must be others that can see it, but during those years when Souji was gone... he wonders how many others Hijikata would have let close enough to help.

With a sigh, he holds out a fresh chalk.]

You should sleep. But if this is something you need to do... I'm staying here with you. All night, if I have to. You're not doing this alone.

[koukai_kirai]

[It takes a fair amount of leaning down for Hijikata to rest his head on Souji's shoulder, but he does it.]

[The years without Souji were the worst -- wracked with the worry that he'd failed him, too, and bereft of the person who understood him better than anyone else in the world, bereft of the greatest comfort in his life.]

[Now Souji's here, but with the pain still so near, it's hard to let himself be taken care of. He feels like a wounded animal, made desperate by pain and tempted to lash out at anyone foolish enough to get close.]

[But it's Souji.]

...You can't stay up all night. You have class.