Onward: Blue

[voidtreckermods]

On the second night the ground begins to shake. The islanders seem well versed in earthquake safety and there is no mass panic- from them anyways. They will help any voidtreckers who don't know what to do in such a situation. The shaking is over quickly and is not strong enough to do any major damage though there are some after shocks throughout the day.

More worryingly are the thick clouds that roll out, covering the sky. Despite the memories these might invoke in the void warriors they are normal clouds.

Or perhaps not that normal, dawn breaks into darkness, the sun barely penetrating. Shadows are deep and the temperature cooler. It is not too dark to see, more like an endless twilight.

The monsters do not retreat into the sea as dawn comes. Instead they continue their attack into the day, unrelenting.

The seas themselves are rough, large waves crashing down onto the beach. The current is strong, as if the very sea itself is fighting them.

Comments

[sobothersome]

Warm hands cupped his face and Maru couldn't help but lift his gaze to meet Madoka's. And then she spoke... and his eyes closed. A precious friend. But would a precious friend really drink the blood of their friend? Wasn't that wrong?

When he opened his eyes again she was smiling at him so sweetly. How could she do that?

And then he did something he had never, in his memory, done before. He reached out... and wrapped his arms around Madoka to pull her into a gentle hug. He'd slowly moved to his knees to do this better, since he was much taller than her. But he'd gather her up, holding her, his face pressed into her shoulder. "... My friend." he spoke quietly. Mahiru had tried to be that with him, he'd wanted them to be partners. But Madoka, she wanted to be his friend.

"Thank you... my friend."

[happyends]

It's true. For all the constant clinging and hugging Madoka has done ever since Maru showed up on the train - and especially after they made that contract - it was definitely always Madoka initiating the hugs, despite Maru giving little kitty nuzzles of his own. This is the first full blown hug on his part though, and it manages to surprise Madoka for the slightest moment as she feels herself being pulled into it.

It doesn't last more than a second though before instead happiness takes over. It's nice. It's not as if Madoka hasn't been hugged before, she's been hugged plenty.. but it feels extra nice knowing that this can't be common coming from Maru. And the way he says 'my friend' too.. It makes Madoka wonder how many friends Maru has before, if any at all.

Well.. if that's something she can give him too, then Madoka is only all the more glad for it. She won't even dismiss his thanks with the usual talk about how she doesn't need any thanks - it'd feel awful to ruin this moment with that. Instead the girl just leans into the hug, letting herself relax in the hold for a moment.

"You're welcome. You know friends are always there for each other, right? I'll always be here for you."

Sure. They're literally connected already because of their special bond, but that's not the point. Even if they weren't Eve and Servamp, Madoka still would be here with him all the same.

[sobothersome]

For a heartbreaking moment Maru was afraid he'd done the wrong thing. He thought to pull back, but not quickly enough. Madoka's arms lifted to wrap about him and... he relaxed. Okay. Okay this was fine. It was nice. She'd hugged him plenty of times since his arrival, but this was the first time he'd really hugged her back. He hadn't realised that doing that could make hugs nicer.

While he didn't think that this would be a common thing (he wasn't a hugger), he now knew he wouldn't burst into flames for doing it. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad...

Slowly he pulled back and allowed his hands to drop. He couldn't quite meet her eyes, but he did not. "Me too..." Maru looked toward the sea and sighed softly. "... I promise. To tell you when I need."

[happyends]

"Thank you."

That's all she wanted, after all. Madoka isn't quite naive enough to imagine it will suddenly make all of his troubles with that necessity disappear, but maybe it can slowly start feeling a bit more natural the more it has to happen. Or at the very least he can start to see that even if he minds, she really doesn't.

She follows his gaze, staring into the distance alongside him.

".. Let's do our best. Surely it can't be more than a few more days of fighting.." If the previous missions are anything to go by. Sure, it'll be tough, but they can make it. "And then when we get back on the train, you can have all the naps and snacks you want."

[sobothersome]

He'd need them. Maru was struggling as it was, but he'd push himself further. He'd do what he could to make Madoka proud of him and not regret becoming his Eve. So he nodded and cast a look her way, his lips twitched.

"We'll do our best..." So long as she stayed back then everything would be just fine. He'd go out and fight on her behalf.