[im / action]

[dandylicious]

[This is a face that hasn't been seen around camp much since Cosette's birthday party. He's been hiding around camp in various places so people won't find him, actually. This IM finds him hiding out in the forest... A shell of his usual cheerful self.]

Dad and mom are going away for a trip... which means I can see my sisters without seeing them. I'm--

[A pause and he sighs.]

I'm going home for a bit. If anyone wants to come with, you're welcome to it.

[Hover for translation to this terrible google translate:] Je dis les choses moins je ruine en ce moment, le mieux.

[He pauses a moment, like he wants to say more, mouth parted slightly, before he sighs and waves his hand through the rainbow.]

Comments

[dandylicious]

I don't know what prompted it.

[He opens his eyes and looks over at Jehan, fighting back the tears. He swallows the lump in his throat and shakes his head.]

It was-- it was so fucking dumb, Jehan. She thinks I want more, or that I expect more... and fuck it, I wouldn't mind but it's not like I was expecting...

[shylyintrepid]

[Nope, no tears. Jehan pulls Courfeyrac into a hug, resting his head on the older boy's]

She was scared, do you think? I know that girls can be more nervous about sex than boys...

[dandylicious]

I told her I'd wait! I just... I don't get what made her so nervous about it suddenly!

[But he's not arguing the hug from Jehan. More like, he's all but clinging to him.]

I really liked her. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her.

[shylyintrepid]

You didn't, cher. I'm not saying you didn't say something that upset her, but she panicked and--maybe she was encouraged by someone, I don't know. Girls are alien to me.

[dandylicious]

[.... But who would encourage her to think that way??? Courfeyrac's pretty sure he doesn't have a single enemy in camp unless someone's still super pissed about the mistletoe mishap.]

They're alien to all of us... I... Do you think someone said something?

[shylyintrepid]

You might have. Who knows, Courfeyrac? That doesn't make this your fault, though.

[dandylicious]

Of course it's my fault.

[shylyintrepid]

How? How is your fault? Even if you said something to make her worry, it takes two to argue and break up. Cosette is just as much at fault for this break up as you are, or she is until I get her side of things at any rate.

[dandylicious]

Because I should have been more mindful of what I was saying..

[shylyintrepid]

And Cosette should have known you better, or a thousand other shoulds. It isn't your fault alone, Courf.

[dandylicious]

It's just easier if it is, Jehan.

[shylyintrepid]

Easier isn't life, though. That would be boring and flat.

[dandylicious]

Then I'll be fine with this being boring and flat. I'm a fuck up and hurt one of the people that means the most to me. And there's really no way of fixing it.

[shylyintrepid]

Reynaud, if I ever hear about you calling yourself a fuck up I will first smack you, then toss you in the lake, and then hug you. You are not a fuck up.