gluttoning | SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (The World)

Hani...?

[It's a worn question, poked up through his seat on his hospital bed, a small pile of books and graphic novels next to him along with a little lion plushie with an anime bandana around its neck. His left leg has had some attention, all the animals Tylor had drawn on Sunday now colored in. He stops flipping through the cooking manga he's reading, turning it over upside down in his lap.]

Mn... I think it's afternoon now. They already served lunch. [A great way 2 tell time, though given that he still has some items sitting untouched on a nearby table, his appetite isn't having a great time.]

It's good to see you. Did Tylor come back with you?

Then good afternoon.

[ hani makes their way into the room, casting a glance at the dishes leftover, the reading material, the animals plush and drawn keeping bear company. they stop by the side of the bed, reaching out to touch his hand briefly - a greeting. in their other hand is a simple gift bag. ]

No, I just got back. I haven’t seen him yet. Did he already visit this week?

Yeah. He and Morgan have come to visit a couple times. I thought I remembered you being here, too, but...

[His expression goes tight with concentration, an unspoken apology in his eyes. But he'll hold out his own hand to meet their touch, a far more intentional action than he had managed over the weekend.]

...Where did you come back from? Did you go somewhere?

I was here with you on Sunday. We talked about umbrellas.

[ said as their fingers curl around his, like something of a hug. enough so he can feel their affection before they withdraw their hand to replace it with the bag.

the gift bag, a simple department black with no logos, contains little treats: chocolate delights, some bananas, assorted wishes, and a splash of milk. nothing fancy, but hani did pick some of their favorites. ]

Japan. I wanted to talk to CC Corp directly. What happened to you - I… couldn’t just sit here. Even if it meant leaving. [ they shake their head slightly. ] I knew Morgan-kun and Justy-kun would take care of you. And your family, too.

[He nods a little... that explains why he doesn't remember, then. Still, the apology lingers as he takes the bag, eyes softening as he sifts through the contents among the tissue paper. Snacks...

Time to put this on the snack table for when he knows he will enjoy it... excepts he pauses midway through the action, Hani earning his complete attention at what they say next.]

...You went all the way to Japan??? [Because of him? Why??????]

I-- Did they talk to you? Did they let you in the building at all?

I don’t like… [ slowly, firmly ] … that the people I care about are getting hurt because of their negligence. It has become a pattern at this point.

[ they huff, letting slip a bit of frustration, but not too much. this is a visit, not to vent but to keep a promise. ]

They let me in, but the lobby was all I saw and the receptionist all I spoke to.

[Mmm.... that's right, between himself and Morgan... and hadn't Hani been close with the player that had been unconscious for a day? He remembers them being together at the dinner...]

...Hani.

...

Mn. It's making me really mad. I don't like how they've treated anyone. Between Morgan and Shoka... I've wanted to give them a piece of my mind.

[But he's a little indisposed now, both physically and, at least in part, mentally. Damn painkillers.]

Did they let you do anything? Submit a complaint or somethin'?

I’ve written them letters before, but they’ve never read them. The receptionist did say my complaints would be noted, but…

[ sticking out their tongue. yep. ]

Whatever else I could find won’t help us much, so I think… the focus should be what we can do about the game rather than the company. Mmm, for now.

My lawyers are preparing paperwork to prove that this game and its user agreement did not sufficiently or correctly warn for addiction as a consequence of the negative effects of VR and MMOs. And that CC Corp’s hesitation to patch these log-out glitches in a timely manner further confirm their desire to manipulate players into becoming addicted to their game. [ hani recites all of that like they’re talking about the weather. ] But that will take time because proving addiction takes time.

[ so that will come when it comes. ]

In the meantime, I think you should speak your mind, Bear-kun. I support you wholeheartedly!

Never read them?

[Weird thing to point out, but he supposes they must think that for a reason. Especially given just how seriously they're taking this. Lawyers......... imagine being smart enough for lawyers. It really does get his brows to raise. How well off is Hani, anyway?]

Mn. Do you think addiction's really the problem here, though? If it's anything like gamblin' games can't they just get around that with a warning when you boot up the game or something?

[At their encouragement, he hesitates, blowing out a frustrated breath as he looks at his leg.]

...Yeah. Well... Here's hoping I can.

I might be able to go home by Friday if I can actually stay upright on my crutches by myself. Dunno yet.

No, not at all. [ they smile at him, proud. bear is right. it's not the problem here; plus, hani doesn't care about addiction. but it's a strategy their lawyers have laid out and hani thinks it's worth an attempt. ] Serving a lawsuit for addiction is more of a power play. We're forcing them to show their hand and be more transparent.

And... currently, we cannot sue them for your injuries. We simply cannot prove tangible evidence linking them to any of the real word cases that have happened.

[ glancing at his leg, too. ]

What do you want to say to them?

...

[His expression goes dark, a difficult one to read for how many emotions flit across it, only to get shoved right down into the same pit of exhaustion.]

I want them to care. About something that isn't their company. About all the things and people they're dismissing and treating like it can just be ignored or thrown away if it doesn't go the way they want.

[It's not said with confidence. But it is said with a deep, tired anger.]

[ hani gives him a tired smile as they listen. ]

As long as we don’t become complacent, something will be done. We’ll make it happen.

[ But they do think this problem is two-fold: outside of the game is a company that’s negligent to an almost callous degree, and inside the game itself something insidious is spreading. ]

We’ll just have to try to protect each other. All of us. Your words will help.

Edited 2023-09-21 08:04 (UTC)

There's only so much I can protect with words, Hani.

[He isn't good with them. Not like smarter people. He's always needed to do and be and use his strength.

An impossibility from a hospital room, an impossibility away from the game. Was anyone that he wanted to help going to benefit like this?

...]

I don't really have a choice now, though. So...

I'll have to trust in the rest of you.

[ … ]

… Hold out your arms like this.

[ hani spreads their arms wide. ]

[?

He does so to the best of his ability. IVs and equipment in the room are sort of getting in the way, but an attempt is made.]

[ hani leans in and hugs him, arms tight on his back. they don’t have to lean much given how short they are, but maybe they can cover where he’s weakest like this. it’s a warm hug, probably a little painful for him given the equipment, the leg, but that’s how it’s going to be. and that’s what it means to be alive. ]

Protect us like this.

[...

The hug is returned - first a ginger act, as though he's having trouble agreeing with the statement. Is this enough? How could this be enough when it wasn't enough for--

...

Slowly, his grip tightens, a firm press of Hani to his body, face burying in their hair.]

I don't know how. [It's mumbled, quiet.] Everyone deserves more than this.

So give us your smiles and your frowns, too. The line between your brow when you’re thinking, your straightforward eyes when you’re serious. Give us those things. You’re the only one who can.

[ more hugs would be nice, too. kisses, cuddles. but just this hug is enough.

they add, quietly: ]

I’m also… really tired, Bear. So this helps a lot.

[It's the addition that gets to him deeper than anything else.

Carefully, he adjusts his grip on them. He doesn't have the strength to pull them into the bed with him, not with his entire leg immobilized. But...]

...I won't tell if you need to take a nap here. Booker does it all the time.

You've been doing a lot, haven't you... you should rest.

Mmm… [ tempting… but… ] It would only be fair if we both nap.

And afterward, we can eat together? A real lunch.

[ not hospital food. ]

I could go for a nap if we can keep you off my leg and arms. That shouldn't be hard. [The power of painkillers, etc.]

I can't really eat anything more than what they give me right now. But you can get lunch and bring it back later, if you want. I'll try to eat with you.

[Try being the key word, given how many things are half eaten next to him.]

Deal. [ if it’s together, then hani doesn’t need much convincing, do they? they nod against him.

it takes some careful navigation before hani is settled by his side with a yawn. it’s not a tangle of limbs like during the picnic. the parts of the bear that are raw and broken won’t mend in a night, but he’s not alone. it’s cozy in the way a bear and a bird can come together and make it work, a shared space for both.

hani’s so tired that they drift almost immediately, murmuring: ]

…And later, one more bite than this morning… and one more bite than that tonight. Li’l by li’l…

[...Ah. Is Hani worried about...

...

He lets one arm drap overtop them loosely, fingers gently carding their hair. They're so small in comparison... He's still not sure how someone that isn't a child can be quite so small.

The nurses might throw a fuss if they come in to this. But right now there were no nurses or doctors or brothers or anybody else. Just him, and Hani, and the thrum of machines.]

...Don't worry, Hani. It's...

[...

His free hand curls against his stomach, his eyes drifting to the table. The urge to gorge himself scratches against the constant observation. The urge to just force himself out of bed is stopped by the pain. It claws like a caged animal. He feels miserable.

Hungry.

...]

It's not going anywhere.

SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (The World)

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Cw: ed mention