Video: Ice Bucket Challenge x2

[maxwellsdaemon]

[Once again the teenage boy stands in front of the screen, clearly within one of the showers, there is a bucket at his feet. Once again he's shirtless, his braid down his back this time. Instead of a smile there is a cold look in the boys eyes, no emotion on his face as he looks into the camera. He tilts his head and when he does smile, there is very little feeling behind it.]

Cheater and a coward. That's what I was called for... well. I don't suppose it matters, eh? This is what everyone wanted.

Thanks for the warm welcome, guys. Time for take two.

[Duo bends forward and takes the bucket in both of his hands and lifts it as if it weighs nothing at all. Up over his head it goes... he upends it... and in seconds he is soaked in a bucket of ice water that is clearly more ice than water. For a few seconds he is still and then a near painful shudder rocks his whole body before he drops the bucket behind him and steps out of the shower.

He pauses before reaching out to turn off the feed.]

You'll get your three bears.

[The feed ends.]


[ooc: The shower Duo was in will be locked for at least 24 hours after this! ^^ He's done the challenge so everyone should be happy now~ Yes? Duo is a good boy again?]

Comments

video

[stealsyourheart]

Duo? You okay man?

[runs_on_batteries]

I want it to be clear, I don't approve of people's reaction to your first attempt. It was creative and amusing. The spirit of this is activity is that it was supposed to be fun.

[sweetnessandfight]

Thank you, Tony. I concur. That and what is wrong with encouraging free and independent thought? Twelve forbid we become complacent on this train!!

[Action]

[faithfulson]

[ Okay, this has gone too far. Luke knew barely contained trauma when he saw it, having struggled against his own more times than he cared to admit. He arrived swiftly to the showers, allowing some time to permit whatever involuntary actions may result from what Duo submitted himself to, before knocking gently on the stall he sensed him in. ]

Mr. Maxwell? May I have a word?

[Action]

[maxwellsdaemon]

[Definitely was not ready to gather the pieces of himself up and cobble together some kind of defence against the person who apparently hadn't taken the hint and had come to bother him regardless.

Duo didn't move from his position sat on the floor, knees pulled up to his chest and a towel thrown over his head. There were puddles of water he had't cleaned up yet. Definitely didn't need Luke to see those.

He forced a smile but didn't lift his head.]

Mr. Maxwell is away for lunch. Leave a message after the beep and he'll get right back to you.

...

...

Beep.

Re: [Action]

[sendiintheclown]

[Trowa has a large mug of a hot drink as well as a dry towel and his own hoodie. They're on the same team, it's fine.]

Gonna let me in or am I picking the lock? Got a hot drink for you here.

[Action]

[maxwellsdaemon]

[He'd really, really hoped that people would take the hint. But it was Trowa, so it was different... Duo didn't move though. He stayed right where he was, sat on the cold floor with a towel over his head.]

... Doors open.

Re: [Action]

[sendiintheclown]

[Trowa slips past Luke and into the stall, shutting the door behind him. He pulls the wet towel off and replaces it with the dry one before pressing the mug into Duo's hand.]

Drink this.

[Action]

[maxwellsdaemon]

[With his knees still up to his chest and his face pressed into them, he tried really hard not to pay attention to what Trowa was doing. But his hidin towel was removed and then he was forced to move his hands and a hot mug was pressed into them. His hands were cold and the sting of the sudden heat almost had him drop the damn mug.

A shiver racked his body and he clenched his teeth against it.]

Fuck...

Tro... take the damn cup...

Re: [Action]

[sendiintheclown]

[Trowa takes the cup and sets it on the floor. Stepping behind Duo, he takes the damp towel and starts using it to squeeze water out of Duo's braid.]

Take your time. Though sitting in this isn't going to do you much good. Sorry, should have brought more towels.

[Action]

[maxwellsdaemon]

[Very much appreciates the too hot thing being away from his too cold skin.

And also appreciates the sodden rope of his braid being moved off his back. He'd thought about moving it himself, but that would have required actually moving and he hadn't been interested in doing that.]

Mm... probably...

[Duo fell quiet. Guilt washing over him that he'd made Trowa have to come and deal with him]

... I'm sorry. Y'know... if you just give me a bit... I'd come out on my own...

Re: [Action]

[sendiintheclown]

[Trowa keeps wringing out the braid, working from the top down to the ends.]

It's my fault for challenging you. I thought your first go at it was perfect. Don't feel like you really owe all three bears. I'll pay for them with my points. You should only owe one for doing the challenge the first time.

[Action]

[maxwellsdaemon]

[A heavy sigh, muffled by the fact his face was still pressed into his knees.]

I'll get em... Wouldn't feel right anyone else doin it..

[It was a testament to how out of sorts he was feeling that he was even allowing Trowa to do what he was doing with his braid. Though if there was anyone on the train he would allow to touch it, it would be Trowa.]

... Thanks though.

None of this's your fault. Shoulda jus sucked it up'n did it first time...

Re: [Action]

[sendiintheclown]

[Trowa bit his lip for a moment once he'd finished with the braid. He wasn't the touchy feely type, but Duo was typically a tactile kind of guy. His friend's well being was more important than his own mental hang ups. So he carefully hugs Duo from behind.]

Our "leader" has no right to demand more of you than the challenge stated originally. He can donate the bears himself.

[Action]

[faithfulson]

[ Luke let out a breath, pursing his lips together. Part of him was tempted to just use the Force to pop the lock and enter, but he doubted that would endear himself much. Instead he let out a sigh, turning around and resting his back against the wall, just next to the door. ]

...what a shame he isn't in. I would have liked to speak with him, not as a team leader, but as someone that has endured his own unfair share of trauma.

[ He fell silent, waiting to hear a reply. ]

[Action]

[maxwellsdaemon]

[Duo winced. That was something of a low blow... Bringing attention to the fact his mind was fucked up probably wasn't the best idea. It wasn't that his own trauma was any worse or better than anyone elses. He didn't even think it was that bad in the grand scheme of trauma. He definitely had worse in the long list awful crap he'd had to deal with.

And right then, in that moment, his biggest problem was that there was a guy at his door and he couldn't damn well move.]

...

... Look. I get it... I messed up. I did the damn thing. Can we leave it at that?

[Duo lifted his head a little, violet eyes peeking over his knees and from under the towel draped over his head.]

It sucks you've been hurt, man. It does. But what's the point in dredging stuff like that up?

[Action]

[faithfulson]

I think, now that I have a better understanding, the only mistake you made was not being more firm and serious in your denial to do this.

[ Luke was silent a moment, folding his arms over his chest. ]

...it was none of our business what or why, but there are ways to get people to back off.

[Action]

[maxwellsdaemon]

[He actually snorted. Serious? Him? And ruin a habit of a lifetime? Besides, it wasn't his fault people had assumed the worst of him. Maybe he didn't have to play to those assumptions, but it had always drove him insane that he could predict that kind of behaviour in people...]

You really think that woulda helped, Skywalker?

[No, he wasn't going to fight this. He didn't sound angry or bitter, just kind of saddened by the whole thing.

And he was damn cold still.]

[Action]

[faithfulson]

Just Luke, please. And anyone willing to listen would. I know that doesn't say much for certain individuals here, but...

[ He was silent for a moment, distracted by the sensation of cold coming from the other side. After a moment, he let out a soft sigh, pushing himself away from the wall. ]

I noticed there was something in the food stores that's a bit of a delicacy where I'm from -- at the very least, it's not very common. If you'd like to towel off and change into dry clothes, I'll have some on the stove warming up for us.

[Action]

[maxwellsdaemon]

[Duo gave a little grunt then and decided not to answer. There really wasn't a point.

He heard sound beyond the door and wondered if the guy had given up and decided to go at last.

No such luck. Duo sighed. He wasn't going to be allowed to just sit and wallow in self-pity, was he? Fine...]

... Alright.

[Take the victory where you can, Skywalker! He'll do as you say, he'll just grumble about it the whole time.]

[Action]

[faithfulson]

[ By the time Duo finally cleaned up and made his way to the kitchen, Luke was bent over a pot on stove, carefully stirring as he stared down at it. He glanced up slightly once he sensed someone approaching, waving Duo over to take a seat where he could. ]

[Action]

[maxwellsdaemon]

[It took him a while to get himself up and a while longer to get himself out and back to his room to change out of his went clothes and into warmer stuff, including a hoodie.

His hair was still damp and he hated that. It hung across his shoulder, the hood of the hoodie was pulled up as he stepped into the kitchen with his arms wrapped about himself. Duo stopped and looked puzzled.[

Hell're you doin...?

[Action]

[faithfulson]

[ Luke treated him to a small smile, offering him a wink as he pressed a finger to his lips, before he finished up what he was working on. Gathering up two mugs, he poured the mysterious contents in each... which turned out to just be hot chocolate. ]

We didn't have this stuff on the planet I grew up on; my friend had to introduce me to it in my second year of school, and even on Prefsbelt is was very rare. It always made the tough days a little better.

[hashtagparkerluck]

[ And now Peter feels like a total and complete jerk. ]

Whoa, whoa. Dude! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to be all down on you. I was just giving you a hard time. I didn't want you to feel bad!

[dredefulchilde]

This whole thing is stupid, and people have been stupid about it. Are we quite done now?