[sock]

Originally Posted by Caspian

Moonjumper had expected Snatcher to not want the hug or to defy his comfort with snarky remarks, but MJ hadn’t expected Snatcher to completely break down in rage at him. Another mistake he’d made in trying to understand him. He listened to Snatcher spilling his worries out, his anger out. All MJ could do was listen. He knew if he tried to snap back, if would just make Snatcher feel worse than he already did.

Moonjumper was feeling absolutely horrible. Had he caused this? Had he broken what little composure Snatcher had left?

MJ wasn’t given much time to think about this, since Hat Kid and Bow Kid had both stepped into the scene, both shaving their own reactions after seeing the situation. Moonjumper wanted to say something, he wanted to explain, but words wouldn’t leave his mouth. He was simply watching Snatcher, panicking internally.

You know fight or flight? Turns out there’s a third option; freeze.

Moonjumper looked to Snatcher, then to Bow Kid, and then to Hat Kid. He had no words to describe what happened without embarrassing Snatcher at the moment, at least, more than he already had. However, MJ was slowly escaping his state of surprise and beginning to find something to say.

“I…” MJ began, he knew what to say, but he was also aware Hat Kid was a tad sassy, so this would be fun. (He thought the last part sarcastically.) “Snatcher just needs sleep.” Moonjumper said, not wanting to embarrass Snatcher. MJ wasn’t the kind of person to do that to anybody. Or was the prince not? He wasn’t too keen on drawing his attention to that question, at the moment.

@sock
(Oh no…. Everybody… run, hide, do whatever it takes to survive!)

Snatcher was too exhausted to give his own answer, and didn't really want to, anyway. So he ignored the kids, knowing Moonjumper would provide his own response to the situation. And just as soon as he finished the thought, Moonjumper had started to speak, stumbling over his words.

Bow Kid looked worried, a hand pressed over her mouth in surprise as she beheld the scene before her. Hat Kid stared at Moonjumper, then carefully picked her way over to Snatcher. She didn't know what to do -- he was obviously upset, and he probably had been for a while, based on the screaming she'd heard from the room -- so she simply stood next to him, staring uncertainly.

Bow seemed to consider something for a moment, then tip-toed across to MJ, as not to draw attention to herself. "What did you say to him? Also, why are you here? I thought you were in Subcon," she asked him quietly, frowning, head tilted. She glanced at Snatcher, watching as Hat Kid examined his crouched, shaking form. "He looks terrible," Hat Kid observed. Bow shot Hat a glare. Hat Kid shrugged. "What? He does."

Snatcher didn't care enough to make a snarky comment. He was so tired, and not just physically. He was tired of all these awful feelings that came with being human. Tired of the weakness. He wanted to be powerful again, wanted to go home, wanted to get away from all of these terrible emotions that just refused to give him a break. His hands became fists again, and he let them fall limp at his sides so he could glare at the floor.

Through his tears (which were somehow still flowing like mini-rivers), he could also see Hat's feet, which were covered in fuzzy socks in the likeness of cat-paws. She carefully lowered herself to sit in front of him, hands folded in her lap. Snatcher's hair obstructed the rest of his vision.