driftfleet | the veil is thin . . .

[ On the night of the 16th, the feeling of tension and horrid anticipation comes to a head. Everything stops when the sun goes down-- even the ever-present music in the hoppingest part of the city center. One by one, everyone turns their eyes to the skies. The young and old alike pour out of their houses, some in bare feet, and they point to the velvety blanket of stars.

It takes a second to find it, especially if one is unaccustomed to the starscape. But even a casual observer can see it.

A brightly-shining star, larger than the others, and growing larger.

An announcement cuts across all communication channels that encourages people to evacuate to the space station, but it’s clear that these are just people and they’ll need some help. Supplies, equipment, organization, there’s something for everyone to do.

Civilization is disrupted by a panicked stampede of people vying for limited seats aboard spacefaring craft. Within hours, there will be crushed glass, looting, and chaos.

The clock is ticking. Will you help? Or would you rather watch the dying gasps of a Singing Planet from a safe distance? ]

[OOC: Please see this post for plot details. Phase two has begun! Feel free to use this post as a reaction post, mingle, etc. or make your own!]

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[it's not until she nods that he finally lets her go, lets her back away from his hands and slowly stands up. he rests a hand atop her hair, briefly, before withdrawing.

it could be a promise he can't keep. it could be a promise true only by the letter of the law, rather than the spirit; it doesn't matter. whatever gets uraraka to leave this planet, he'll do, and if that makes him a liar or damages her trust in him then he'll deal with the consequences later. at least she won't be the one in limbo, suffering from the uncertainty of whether or not she'll come back alive.

aizawa glances over at jayden, lips pursed. she's probably only going because she knows he won't go, and knows he'd want someone to look after his student. these are the times when it's hard, having to choose between the safety of other people and the safety of his students. he hasn't had to make that choice yet back home, and thanks to jayden he won't have to make it here, either.]

...thank you, [is what he finally settles on, knowing there's nothing else he could possibly say. she might not believe he'll be back; she's seen enough death, experienced enough death, to know how nebulous the definition really is. maybe all he needs to come back is for two people to believe he will.] You should go. They're lifting off.

[ Jayden meets his eyes, her own lips pursed and her gaze steady, as if maybe trying so damn hard to stay calm on the surface will actually work. But she's pretty sure she's not fooling him, at least.

She shakes her head. Don't thank her, it's unneccessary. She's doing what needs to be done, since his mind's made up. This is how it's going to be. Even though some part of her is screaming about it. Angrily. Distressed and upset and pissed off that this is what's happening, and she can't fucking stop it. She always gets her Fireteam out of the fray. They always come home. But this time, that's... not going to hapen.

She swallows hard around a sudden knot in her throat before she speaks. ]

Yeah. We're out of time. [ She's far too practiced in making sure her voice doesn't shake, her tone stays even. ] ... I'll look after her. Promise. So...

[ ... She can't even finish. "Come back"? "Remember you what you just promised her"? Both. Either. Doesn't matter. She really doesn't know if she believes he'll be back - there's a chance, and even if that shuttle doesn't come for him, there's still a chance... but he didn't have to be the one to take it. He doesn't have to do this. Except, yeah, she knows that he does. For the same reasons she'd do it. And she can't completely chase away the resounding echo in her head, It should be me staying behind. ]

[yeah, that's the selfish part of this. he knows she'd stay behind in a heartbeat; he wouldn't even have to ask. he'd considered it at first too, for just a split second, knowing that her ghost could revive her, that uraraka needed someone, but then he saw-

crack

-that. the way her head snapped to the side, the way she dropped, he'd heard the way her heart had pounded when she'd come back. saw the way she'd scrabbled at the ground when she pushed herself back up, nearly felt her exhaustion as she resumed the fight.

he'd do anything to stop that from happening again. even if she's used to it. even if she expects it. maybe because she expects it. that 'traveler' thing, her superiors, even her ghost might expect her to die over and over again for some grand cause, but not aizawa.

aizawa's going to make sure she lives.]

I'll see you later.

[maybe.

and he leans down, hand on her arm as he kisses the corner of her mouth. it's dangerous and stupid to get so attached when they're from different times, different worlds, different everything, but he's not going to fight it here and now. there's already too much he has to deny.]

[ She's still trying to figure out what the hell she could possibly say right now, how the hell she could possibly finish that thought of hers, but she can't. She hates it. But there's no way to just say anything that comes to mind right now. There's too much. And there's no time. But he's the one that cuts the silence. Just, "I'll see you later." ... And she swears to God she just felt something in her chest shatter.

She hopes it's true. Please, please let that be true. ]

I'll be here.

[ And she will see him later. Not maybe. She has to hold onto that. If she's going to let this happen, let him do this, then... He'd better come back.

He kisses her, and she closes her eyes, just so she can hold back against that damned feeling of oncoming tears she's refusing to let happen. Not here, not right now - especially not right now, she needs to get to the shuttle, needs to take care of Ochako, she absolutely can't do that with tears in her eyes.

But she does give into a different response, and lets herself throw her arms around him, stay against him for just a brief moment. She knows she has to go. And, yeah, she also knows it's dangerous and stupid to let this happen. But she doesn't give a damn right now. ]

[aizawa hugs her back, hard, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing as he presses his cheek to the top of her head, feels the strength like corded steel in her arms, listens to the way she grits her teeth so hard he can almost feel it before they pull back.

he lets his hand linger on her shoulder before he backs away and nods at the shuttle. go. the sooner they're gone, the more likely it is another will come...however unlikely that is to begin with.]

[Ochako had known for a while that they were close - pretty much since the ball - but seeing it in front of her, up close and personal, just makes her feel even worse. She'd never seen Aizawa so comfortable with someone before now, as he'd always been distant, almost cold to just about everyone. The rare exceptions earn his peculiar brand of care, but it isn't cheap or free. She's lucky. They both are. If she thought for even a second that he'd take it, she would offer to switch and stay behind instead. At least then they'd have each other.

Instead all she can do is stay close to Jayden when they separate, one hand gripping the edge of the shuttle door, her voice calling over the sound of the engines as they roar to life.]

We'll come back. We'll come get you...

[A stupid offer perhaps - if they're going to come back, why would they be leaving in the first place? - but she can't not say it. She has to believe that there's a rescue waiting for him. This is... just in case.]

[ He nods to the shuttle, and she nods at him, understanding. She turns and goes, putting duty before anything else. And when she reaches Ochako's side, she holds a hand out for her to hold, or an arm to cling to, should she want either. She can only hope she'll be able to take good care of her, be there for her however she needs, but she's sure it won't be the same. It should be Aizawa, here. But... she's going to try with all of her heart.

She squints against the wind kicked up by the engines, determined not to take her eyes off of Aizawa until those doors close. Because maybe that way, it won't all feel so... final, at least until it has to. She can't bring herself to echo Ochako's offer - she knows that if a shuttle is coming for Aizawa, it won't be theirs - but she nods anyway. Because the sentiment's the same. They will see him again, one way or another. ... Right? ]

[aizawa watches the entire time their shuttle ascends, watches until it's just a speck in the distance before letting out a slow, even breath. he closes his eyes for a moment, bowing his head before turning back to the remaining evacuees.]

Everybody who will need assistance getting into the shuttle, please line up on the left. And all of you, be prepared to leave your things behind; our next ride is going to be the last, and we need to save as much room as we can.

[the next ride never comes.

and when it happens, at least it happens quick.]

the veil is thin . . .

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