#unspecified posts

There wasn't much to hear aside from the pained wheezing as Sebek and Ace ran through the underbrush. Sebek for once, was more out of breath than Ace was.

"Don't stop," Sebek wheezed out, a horrible, choked, and strained quality to his normally loud and boisterous voice. It was too quiet, far too quiet compared to the volume it normally held. "Don't speak."

Ace didn't comment on this; he couldn't, not just because of the plea from Sebek but in part due to his own ability to speak being compromised by his harsh breathing.

He wasn't made for long-distance running, had never really trained up his stamina for it.

He could sprint- be as fast as possible for a short distance, he couldn't do this however, not long distance. Not off road. And yet here he was, hardly breathing, running some distance behind an out-of-breath Sebek.

Sebek had always been better at this sort of thing. The only one aside from Deuce who could keep up with Jack most days. It was something that made both of the other freshmen happy, although they would never admit it. Ace, strangely enough, had the feeling it made Sebek happy too.

"Krk-" he nearly choked as he tripped over a rock, almost landing on his face. He would have fallen for real had Sebek not looked back quickly enough to grab his arm and pull him along. All but dragging him.

He let out a stifled wheeze, trying to ignore the pounding in his head and arm. The migraine was an aggravating side effect of the dizziness, he thought. Like something tearing through his skull. The consideration, strangely enough, almost made him laugh.

Tearing through his skull?

The thought was incredulous, that shouldn't be so funny. It really shouldn't.

"Hurry up," Sebek's voice cracked halfway through, and Ace winced, the whimsy he was feeling draining. Taking in a deep breath and almost choking again from the strain on his lungs, he pushed forward. Hopping over any debris in his way, staying close to Sebek all the while.

The other was trying his best; he should too.

"Yuula," he says again, this time more clearly. "I don't think I'm comfortable being alone in the same room as Jamil anymore."

"Please." His eyes had this guilty watery shine to them that Yuula knew wasn't even needed.

He didn't need to beg for decency. No one should need to, really, but that was a conversation Yuula wasn't able to have.

"That's okay. I'll help," She assured, watching as he slumped.

Kalim, reasonably, can't leave, not the school, and not as housewarden. This whole thing was a mess for many reasons, but had it been any worse and Jamil's fears about him and his sister might have become true.

Yuu, despite how much she was angry at him, knew they weren't out of the woods, yet.

If Kalim and Jamil weren't careful, the metaphysical sword would be quick to end him.

Kalim had already realized this as well, even if no one else, aside maybe Azul had.

(But Azul didn't care, not like Kalim, and unfortunately, Yuula did.)

Yuula wasn't doing this for Jamil, but for Kalim. They both knew that.

Yuula hated Jamil too much to want to do anything for him. If anything, it was for Jamil's sister and Kalim.

"Ramshackle is always open, to just you," she emphasized, seeing him nod in relief. "However, I know you probably...I know...I have a lot ftime to myself when 'Yuu' is going to school and stuff, so I could always be open to studying or...partying." She looked away.

"Even if you just need a friend, Yuula would be open to it." No one knew Yuula existed; they only knew Yuu. So if Yuuto wanted to go to school in her place and attend to her duties, then Yuula could spare a few moments to play at being Yuula.

It was for Kalim.

She couldn't leave him alone with Jamil.

Next to her, she heard a shudder, then a wet and horrible sob.

Turning quickly, she watched as Kalim pushed away his tears.