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[contract_star]

[And here’s Hei. He looks strained and battered and tired, and the mask of apathy is clearly forced. He appears near Misaki’s batting cages and stares at them for awhile. Eventually, he steps inside wordlessly and grabs a bat off the shelf. Then he turns on the pitching machine; the machine fires and he swings and misses.]

[It becomes rhythmic. Fire. Swing. Miss. Fire. Swing. Miss. And so on. The mask of apathy slowly begins to waver.]

[Then, finally, there’s a loud crack as the bat connects with a ball. It’s a good hit. Hei stands back and watches as the ball arcs high into the star-filled sky, falling down somewhere out of sight. Hei stares after it for a long while, ignoring the pitching machine which is still lobbing balls at him.]

[It’s only when the machine has run out of balls that Hei seems to wake up. He looks at his feet; the apathy is gone now. Anger and loss flash across his face, almost seeming to compete with each other. Hei plants the bat against the floor and leans on it as if he can no longer hold his own weight.]

[The machine continues to whir.]

Comments

[lamb_of_gold]

[Hovering, not sure if he should approach]

[contract_star]

[Something about the Saint sparks anger in Hei. He pushes himself upright and goes to reload the pitching machine.]

I know. Shouldn't grieve, right? Grief is pointless.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Shakes his head] It changes nothing, but that does not make it pointless.

[contract_star]

[Is swinging at balls again.]

But death is inevitable. Shouldn't give a damn about things we can't change, right? [Absolutely mirthless smile.] Especially when she's just going to be back in a few days.

[cyfor.livejournal.com]

[Big!Cy approaches timidly.] Bee-Kay?

[contract_star]

[Glances her way, then goes to reload the pitching machine.]

Cy.

[cyfor.livejournal.com]

[Tentative steps toward him.] I feel the big empty. What happened, Bee-Kay?

[contract_star]

[Goes back and starts swinging at balls again.]

Someone died.

[madamemoiselle]

{Just watching from a distance for a while, but once he leans against the bat, Diva starts to come closer}

[contract_star]

[Watching her out of the corner of his eye and not exactly happy to see her.]

Still insane, Diva?

[madamemoiselle]

{A little indignant} No, of course not.

[contract_star]

[Shrugs a little. She can speak now, so evidently she's Diva again. Still, he's not in a good mood, so he's not exactly being generous.]

What happened to you, anyway?

[witchmaker.livejournal.com]

[ Normally Angela would love the idea of the pitching machine-- it does look fun!-- but Li's body language is thankfully tipping her off that Something is Very Wrong. ]

Li..?

[contract_star]

[Sees her out of the corner of his eye and goes to refill the pitching machine, not looking at her.]

Angela. [Pauses.] I think I saw you in all the fighting. Are you okay?

[witchmaker.livejournal.com]

[ She nods, gathering her hands behind her back, not exactly proud of her injury. Not that it matters, he's focusing on something else. ]

I'm fine. [ She frowns. ] Something's gotten to you, though. Did I miss something?

[contract_star]

[Is swinging away again, missing each time.]

Misaki Kirihara died.

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

[Concerend Shun is concerned. He approaches hesitantly.] Li?

[contract_star]

[Goes to refill the pitching machine.]

Shun. How are you?

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

I'm fine. Are you okay, Li? [Is sure something is wrong]

[itsthecoat.livejournal.com]

[Jack walks up to the batting cage, now wearing a new shirt; he hasn't even bothered to button it up, however; his undershirt is speckled with blood. He watches Hei for a few moments, his own expression seemingly blank, though the pain is clear in his eyes. Finally, he walks up to him, silently placing a hand on his shoulder]

[contract_star]

[Eases out of Jack's grip, because he doesn't do the physical contact thing :| Heads over to the pitching machine to refill it.]

[Offhandedly,] I didn't lie about it getting easier. Be nice if it didn't take so long, though.

[itsthecoat.livejournal.com]

[Jack obediently takes his hand back, instead leaning against the fence of the batting cage, watching Hei] I would settle for there being a little more time in between deaths...

[leschath.livejournal.com]

Don't bother to pretend it doesn't affect you.

[How long has Milo been here? Who knows. He's just sitting around and watching Li go at it. He does have a sizeable bottle of Ouzo with him though.]

[contract_star]

[Hei glares at him briefly before he heaves a sigh. Then he goes over to switch off the pitching machine.]

Does nothing get past you Saints?

[leschath.livejournal.com]

Only because you're obvious. It's not hard to recognize something familiar.

[Milo tosses the bottle at him.]