thebastion | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Colin Starfury, any meddling kids
Open: Open as the plains
When: Day 267, late morning and early afternoon.
Where: The Farmland
What: Doing another survey for more development
Format: Anything, can match
Warnings: Colin IS a warning

As far as plans went, this wasn't how Colin had wanted to spend this week. There were a lot of things that needed doing even before the plight of the Ura reared its head. But Colin was an engineer, and he knew well that the universe had plans of its own and it really didn't care one little bit of the plans of individual people.

The day before this had been spent doing research, and helping Rob build his new cart. That had taken a fair amount of time on its own, but it was work that needed to be done if they wanted to set up a supply line. Now that the transportation was done, it was time to set up the facilities that would give them the supplies down the line.

So here he was, setting out more stakes and flags, taking more measurements, and generally making it apparent that SOMETHING is going to be going up in this area soon. And if the layout of the flags and stakes are any indication, it's going to be something BIG.

Anyone care to bother the engineer at work?

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"Oh."

Long pause.

Because she doesn't actually know what those are.

But they still sound a hundred times better than "Jerky Cows".

"Good."

His question does get an uncomfortable look from her, arms moving to her stomach with the too-big sleeves draping over her hands.

"Are you gonna leave it alone if I ask you to... ?"

Colin smirks slightly at her observation, then he nods.

"Everyone's entitled to their secrets," he tells her. "It looks like it's bugging you, but I figure if you wanted to talk about it, you'd have come out and said something. Unless someone's in danger, I don't see any reason to force it."

"No one's in danger..."

That much was obvious. But what was equally obvious was just how miserable Rin was.

Rin is hiding something, and that something is making her miserable. He doesn't even think she knows how to hide it. But...

"If you want to talk about it, I'm here," he says. "If not, I won't push you. Just don't let it eat you up inside. We've got enough to worry about without being our own worst enemies."

Rin wouldn't know how to hide her feelings if her life depended on it.

A dry laugh escaped her, head turning away so she didn't have to look at him.

"I've already got that part down pretty damn well..."

There's a stretch of quiet from her that almost makes it seem like the conversation is over, but a sniffle sounded and her sleeve-covered hand came up to rub at her eyes.

"I... I did somethin' stupid and I need to talk to Yukio about it but every time I try to bring it up I freeze and I dunno how to just... just spit it out... !"

Colin's expression is sympathetic, and he is silent for a moment as he considers.

"Okay," he finally says. "Will not telling him make any difference?"

It's a genuine question, he's not trying to mock her.

"I-I don't-- I mean, he can help but... he's gonna be really mad at me," she answered, shaking her head. "He's gonna be mad at Ryujii, too."

It's not like she was afraid of her brother. In any normal situation she would just blow him and his nagging off.

So whatever was bothering her was clearly something serious to have her worried about Yukio's reaction.

"Are you just afraid of him being mad?" Colin asks, keeping his tone gentle. "Or is it something else that has you afraid?"

She wasn't going to open up easily, but he figured he could at least help her try to find her own answers...

"Tch... n-no. I'm afraid of him bein' pissed and tryin' to kill my boyfriend!"

That... might have given it away. Maybe. If Colin wasn't completely oblivious to all things relationship related.

There are not enough dots in the entire universe for this moment. He stares at Rin for just a moment, then he sighs, and smiles. "Do you think Ryujii can't stick up for himself?" he asks her. "Family may be protective, but these things happen."

... Colin.

Please.

"... Yukio is the better Dragoon right now. Ryuuji wouldn't stand a chance."

Don't get her wrong, she loves her boyfriend, but she's also seen what her brother is capable of after eight years of training.

"That's not what I meant," Colin said, chuckling and shaking his head. "Do you really think that Yukio would go after your boyfriend and try to hurt him? More importantly, do you think Ryujii wouldn't be willing to own up to loving you?"

"... well, no. Of course he'd own up to that," Rin said with a sigh, rubbing the palm of her hand against her head. "But that doesn't mean Yukio still won't be pissed at us."

"There's plenty of things that can go wrong," Colin tells her gently. "Plenty of things to be scared of. Yeah, Yukio might be upset if this was unplanned. I bet he'd be more upset if his sister kept stuff from him for so long just because she was scared of what he might think."

"But the fear's gonna be worse if you don't face it," he says after a moment. "You'll get tired of running long before fear does."

He was right about that. She was tired of hiding it. Of keeping to herself and staying in isolation for fear of some one else noticing.

"I don't even know how to start tellin' him..."

"'Hey, Yukio, I'm kinda nervous, but... can we talk? I need my brother to hear something,'" Colin tells her gently, watching her. "Sounds hokey as hell, but... if you get caught up in worrying about the presentation, the whole message is gonna get jumbled. The sooner you get it out of the way, the better."

He pauses, and reaches out to pat her arm. "If you need someone there, I'd volunteer for it," he offers. "I'm sure I'm not you first, second, or even tenth choice, but the offer's there if you want it."

"... you're right, that does sound hokey as hell."

But she's not arguing against it. It's probably a good tactic considering Yukio is involved in the situation.

"It's not that you're not my first choice or whatever. I just don't think havin' more people there is gonna do any good. It'd probably put Yuki more on edge than anythin' else."

Colin smiles, glad that she seems to at least be able to take humor in the stuff that's funny.

"You're probably right," he says. "Still, you need anything from me, you know where to find me."

A pause.

"You going to be okay?" he asks gently.

She's not completely miserable yet. Getting there, though...

"Yeah, I know."

A sigh left her, hands rubbing at her arms even though there was no need to in the sweater she wore and the generally temperate climate of the Bastion.

"Yeah-- ... maybe. I'unno," she answered with a weak laugh, "I guess that all depends on what happens next..."

"Won't know that until you take that next step," Colin tells her, shaking his head. "But I think Yukio will understand. ... After a bit of shock and some dismayed questioning."

"And probably saying something about Dad rolling over in his grave..."

Because really, Shiro probably would be just as upset if not more so if he were alive to hear something like this.

Good job, Rin. Good job.

"Your pop would probably be mad at first, and then he'd probably be happy for you," he says, smiling at her. "Parents are protective of their kids, and then, they're protective of their grandkids."

He nods to her. "Long as you love Bon, I don't see any reason why anyone should be mad," he says.

"Of course I love him."

She almost looks insulted at any insinuation that she wouldn't love him. It does little to assuage her worry, though. People can still get angry over things that are essentially good in nature if it goes against what they believe or feel should be happening.

"I doubt Dad would be that happy. I'm still a kid m'self," she admitted, shrugging a little. "... I guess he would accept it eventually, though. That's the kind of man he was."

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