jinglebros | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ Santa leads June to his dressing room. His is almost the opposite of hers, crowded and looking super lived in. There's pictures that she drew as a child taped all around the mirror and kpop posters all over the walls. Shades of blue feature frequently and a giant teddy bear their parents gave him is in a corner. He points at the chair when they get there. ]

Sit, I'll stand.

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[She realizes she's said something wrong, but it takes a moment to figure out what it might have been.]

Aoi, no, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I only meant... I only....

[She takes a moment, and hangs her head to hide her expression before she answers, and it's only a bare dry-mouthed whisper, trying her hardest not to sound miserable.]

Why are you always the one who protects me? When do I get to protect you for a change? I've already made you do everything for so many years, when do I get to start helping?

...

[ He looks at her for a long moment in silence before closing his eyes and sighing. ]

Now. That's when.

[She laughs a little, and it's a little pained and a little desperate.]

You've been the one telling me you don't want me to try as hard, you and Junpei.

I never meant that I don't want you to try as hard, I'm happy that you keep getting so many votes. I only want to be able to try too, don't you see? You've been carrying me for years.

Then I'll let you. We'll try together, okay? [ He holds his hand out to her. ] We'll figure out a way we can carry each other.

[She takes it and stands, holding his hand and coming close as she does to press close against his chest and wrap one arm around his back to hug him, blinking back tears that she refuses to let come.]

I'm sorry. That's all I meant.

[ He puts his arms around her as well, hugging her tightly.
It feels good to properly hug his sister, it's something he's done once in maybe a year.</small.] I'm sorry too.

I'm not losing you, and I don't want to lose anyone else I care about here. That means I can't afford to coast, no matter what anyone else is doing. It means I have to work as hard as I can doing everything I can do, because we'll all need any advantages I can get by the end of this, I think.

We need to make plans, Akane. I haven't been doing that. If anyone's been coasting on, it's me, just riding along based on my own energy getting me votes. I haven't planned shit.

I'm useless for that without you.

Getting votes is important too, isn't that what we were just arguing about?

[She laughs a little wetly, just for a moment.]

I know, but there's going to come a time where that's not the only important thing.

[ He hugs her a little tighter. ]

Not the only one, no, but it's always going to be important. It doesn't matter what else you do if you can't get a vote.

We'll see if my lucky streak continues, then.

It's not luck, you're not giving yourself enough credit.

I feel like I've been fumbling without you.

[A crooked smile]

What do you mean without me? I'm right here, after all. Remember how I said I'd always be there?

[she is going to haunt you forever she made a promise]

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