pika pika

[revelate]

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sunday week one post-meeting

[revelate]

[Much like Kurapika, Noah is drowning in some sort of indescribable feeling when the saloon door creaks open. Noah lifts his head from where he'd been resting it on the bar, vision swimming, and studies the man who just walked in.

...Right. That's Kurapika. Noah isn't all there, obviously, but he's present enough to wave him over.]

Evening. If you've come for a drink, the bartender's taken off.

[revengier]

[ It's obvious just from a cursory glance that Noah is already out of it. The fact that he was resting his head on the table gave it away, too. ]

That's fine.

[ He can just as easily walk behind the bar and grab something for himself, which is exactly what he does. His voice carries over the bar as he digs for something to pour into a glass. ]

I wouldn't have expected you to be a drinker.

[revelate]

[Noah shakes his head slowly, carefully. The world's already spinning around him.]

I'm not, really. The opportunity to drink never came up back on Aoinios, so I gave it a try. It's safe to say I won't be trying it again.

[revengier]

[ He stands back up straight, setting a bottle of whiskey on the bar. ]

You need to be more careful, especially with our current situation.

[ But is Kurapika really one to say anything? He's literally pouring some whiskey into a glass right now. ]

Were you alone?

[ Would that be better or worse? He isn't sure. ]

[revelate]

I understand that. Believe me, I do.

[Noah shakes his head.]

No. I'd been here with someone, but don't fault them for leaving. In fact, it's better that they did.

[revengier]

[ He sets his glass down on the other side of the bar, in front of a seat a little closer to Noah. ]

Did things get heated?

[ Alcohol often leads to fights, after all. ]

[revelate]

Mm. Not at all. We were having quite the pleasant conversation, actually.

It's just... afterwards, I needed some time to think and get my thoughts sorted. Easier said than done while intoxicated, I'm realizing.

[revengier]

[ He settles on the stool, bringing the glass up to his lips. It's a familiar, but no less unpleasant, burn.

He'll never get used to alcohol. ]

What thoughts? About how we're supposed to leave this town?

[revelate]

[Noah shakes his head, bracing it on a palm, elbow on the bar.]

No. About something more... personal. Feelings, I suppose.

[revengier]

...

[ Ugh.

He bites back a "why are you even thinking about feelings right now" simply because he doesn't think Noah deserves that remark. ]

Such as?

[revelate]

[HELP I LAUGHED PIKA IS SO MEAN]

Personal feelings.

[Wait. He just said that. Uh.]

A friend of mine, I guess. What I'll tell her before her time is up.

[revengier]

[ This is his worst nightmare.

For a moment, Kurapika considers downing the rest of his drink, but he holds off for the time being. ]

Is she going to die?

[revelate]

[Noah nods.]

That's right. She has about two months until her homecoming.

[revengier]

Is that a euphemism or is there more to it than a simple death?

[ Death is never simple, but... you know. ]

[revelate]

A euphemism? Not at all.

[kurapika thinking about sweet deaths smh]

The Homecoming Ceremony is for those who have reached the end of their tenth term. It's considered a great honor to be sent to the heavens by the Queen herself... but I don't know that Mio will get that honor, being trapped in this place.

[revengier]

[ sweet death aka when he finally dies! ]

Does the Queen kill you, then?

[ Because if that's the case... hm. But he'll wait for Noah's answer before making any real assumptions. ]

[revelate]

No. We only live for ten terms max— ten years, in your words. If we're lucky, we'll get to live out that full time.

[revengier]

[ He doesn't really know what that implies, given Mio is on her tenth year alive and she looks to be his age, but he decides not to concern himself with all of that right now. ]

That's a short amount of time.

[ Something about that prickles at the back of his mind, reminding him of years he's filed off of his life in mere hours.

...

He downs the rest of his glass and stands to pour more whisky as it burns the back of his throat unpleasantly. ]

[revelate]

It is. And from what I gather, Mio and I are the odd ones out here.

[Everyone else gets to live to be wrinkly and old. Like, look at Walter White. In any other context, Noah would think that man were mummified.]

[revengier]

You are. Anyone else dying young wouldn't be from natural causes.

[ He takes a nice long sip of his drink. This is much more than he usually consumes, and it's already getting to his head. ]

So... what will you tell her?

[ He can't hold it against Noah for thinking about his feelings, not anymore. ]

[revelate]

...That's what I've been wondering myself.

[What will he tell her when the time comes? So many thoughts come to mind, but so few of those can make it past his lips. Words have a habit of failing people when they need them the most, don't they?]

That... I enjoyed what time we had together. That I'm proud of what we were able to accomplish. That she can rest easy knowing the rest in our hands. And...

...That I'll miss her.

[revengier]

[ In a way, Noah is lucky that he can acknowledge those thoughts and allow them to take root in his heart. Kurapika isn't bitter, but it would be a lie to tell himself that a part of him didn't wish he could do the same. ]

I think she should know all of that, especially that last part.

[ ... ]

Those are important words to hear.

[revelate]

Yeah. I figure.

[But is he ready to cement those feelings in his heart by acknowledging them? Right now, the idea of Mio dying doesn't feel quite real. If he says goodbye, that he'll miss her, he'll be forced to accept that truth.

Noah's brow furrows, forehead lolling on the bar counter.]

They're not easy words to speak, but they're important. I'll have to take your advice.

[revengier]

I hope you do, especially before time runs out.

[ There isn't much left of it, after all. He watches Noah's head loll around as a thoughtful look passes over his face.

Biting back a sigh, he takes another sip. ]

Try to feel some happiness over it. Feelings like those should be held close.

[revelate]

I wouldn't have expected you to be the type to say something like that. You're normally very logical, aren't you?