post-snek recoveries

[neonleon]

[You know?

That weird temple wasn't good, but it wasn't the worst. Not by far now that he's back in this dimension. He floats a bit aimlessly, body broken, shell cracked and falling apart, some bones and insides shattered. His head aches in a way that he can't think.

All he can really do is hope Prime doesn't find him immediately right now. The light off his ring catches his eye and he looks at it, not fully registering that it's lit up.

A promise.]

Comments

[pyrighteous]

[ Dell's expression softens a little. ]

"Then he must really have bonded with you. I'm very glad."

[neonleon]

[Leo just start of pushes the last of his soup around in the bowl thinking about that.]

You really think so? I feel like I just kinda - met him then gave him the worst day ever as my introduction.

[pyrighteous]

"Not uncommon for this sort of thing."

[ Hunter laughs a little himself. ]

That's kind of what happened with me and Flapjack.

[neonleon]

...Yeah, come to think of it, you never told me how you met Flapjack.

[It seems like such an odd realization, that he never heard how Hunter met his best friend.]

[pyrighteous]

I - uh -

[ THERE'S A GOOD REASON FOR THAT ... Hunter swallows a bit. ]

I kidnapped a group of palismen waiting to be adopted so that I could take them back to Belos. Flapjack was one of them. If Luz and Kikimora hadn't interrupted me...

[neonleon]

[He puts those dots together quick. He doesn't know what exactly Belos was doing with them, but if he wanted them it couldn't have been good. Or survivable.]

I'm glad Luz got there. [He nudges Hunter with his stubbed shoulder.] And Flapjack forgave you pretty quick, from what I know.

[pyrighteous]

Y-yeah. He did.

-- Anyway uh. That was definitely one of my worst days. You at least have the benefit of not starting the day actively trying to feed palismen to your uncle.

[neonleon]

[OH IT'S WORSE THAN HE WAS PICTURING.]

...Yeah, well. I only nearly got everyone assimilated into an alien hivemind. Call it even.

[Sorry for the candidness, Dell.]

[pyrighteous]

[ Dell is. um. well he's decided to quietly get up and put dishes away JUST TO MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T MAKE ANY FACES,

anyway.

Hunter makes a dimly strangled noise. ]

At least that wasn't your GOAL. But uh. The point is that palismen make decisions on a lot of things!! Flapjack said later that he liked who he saw despite all of that stuff.

[neonleon]

[Leo watches Hunter thoughtfully, smiling a little.]

He loved you a whole lot. I'm glad you had him.

[pyrighteous]

Me too. I ...

[ He touches his chest lightly. ]

I hope he and Ori are keeping Viktor safe.

[neonleon]

[Leo shifts so he can wrap his arm around Hunter's shoulders.]

I know they are. They know he was important to you, they won't let anything happen to him.

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter nods at that. Then leans his head down against Leo's shoulder. ]

I - I think so. Yeah.

[neonleon]

[He tugs Hunter closer, sinking fingers into Hunter's hair and nuzzling into him a little.]

We'll see him again.

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter nods into that gratefully. ]

Soon. After ... after we figure this out, and get you home for a while.

[neonleon]

[This close, Hunter can feel how Leo goes still at the mention of 'home' before tightening his grip more.]

Yeah. Figure this out and visit around some.

[pyrighteous]

[ that's an odd reaction. Hunter isn't sure how to interpret that? he decides not to push it. ]

Let's rest first. If you're done with dinner.

[neonleon]

Oh, uh. yeah.

[Clears his throat before pulling away, but keeping his hand on Hunter's shoulder.]

Thanks for the dinner, Dell! It was great!

[pyrighteous]

[ Dell waves a hand at the two of them. ]

“Any time, boys. I’ll see you in the morning.”

[ And Hunter reaches out to take Leo’s good hand? ]

[neonleon]

[Leo does smile at that, watching Dell leave before taking Hunter's hand.]

Ready to go grab Lucky if he's ready?

[pyrighteous]

Yeah. I bet he’s all done by now.

[ He heads for the hutch, then, where there seems to be a lil circle of palismen seated outside. Palismeeting?? ]

[neonleon]

[Gasp.]

Palismeeting...

[He just holds on to Hunter's arm watching, not sure if it's like.. kosher to interrupt?]

[pyrighteous]

[ It’s probably at least a LITTLE impolite, judging by the way Hunter pauses rather than interrupt. Lucky’s at the center of it all, gesticulating with his tiny paws and clearly telling a story. All the others palismen are staring with RAPT attention. ]

I … think he’s telling them what happened at the grudgby match.

[ But the tone from the gestures is an over-the-top adventure sort of story, it seems. An exciting tale. ]

[neonleon]

[Oh... Something heavy settles in his gut at the idea of that story being told like it's a grand adventure. But... Lucky is choosing him. So it'll be okay.

He'll wait patiently with Hunter until it's over, Lucky ending the tale by laying on his back sprawled like Leo was.]

...I think maybe he's done. Or fell asleep, it's hard to tell.

[pyrighteous]

[ Look, Lucky has a flair for the dramatic just like Leo does. Including that back sprawl. ]

I think he’s done. Yeah.

[ He cautiously approaches the little meeting. ]

All done?

[ There’s a chorus of noises and Lucky springs back up, heading for Leo. ]