[ some other time sounds just fine — not least because charles is, by every passing minute, feeling more and more that he wants to hit a wall out of the sheer injustice that this is; that someone who's so good is cursed to be stuck here, slowly losing his mind while still doing his level best to not hurt anyone.

he's moving before he knows it, crossing the floor in two quick strides, dropping down in front of the box junpei's sitting on. ] Sorry, [ he says, genuinely apologetic. ] Meant that this is — looking like a proper trap room.

[ his words sound somewhat choked, again, and he — you know what, fuck this. ] I'm gonna give you another hug now, [ he declares, telegraphing his movements just in case, drawing him into a hug that's somehow both more careful and yet tighter than before, but just as fully meant, ] Because this fucking sucks and I'm so, so sorry this is happening.

[ he says all of this into junpei's shoulder. ]