(Catch all) Ominous October Threads

[insinning]

Who: Sinclair and You.
What: Dungeon runs, trauma bonding etc
When: All throughout October.
Warnings: Gore, Emeto, Psychological horror in one thread, NSFW stuff in another

“I see now that the path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being—one of many ways—and knowing the paths I have followed and the ones left to take will help me understand what I am becoming.”

Comments

[userunfriendly]

[ The near-miss should be terrifying, and it's not like Michel doesn't feel at least a brush of that. But much keener is the fierce sense of victory. Sinclair isn't folding anymore, isn't losing sight of himself completely. ]

He's as trapped here as the rest of us. Didn't you tell me? Rodya and Don will have found you. He has no knowledge otherwise... your own fears and doubts are preying on you.

[ Michel is perhaps too absorbed in his explanation to make much of a parry (3). But he's not fighting alone now. ]

[insinning]

You need to Shut Up and stay away--

[He snarls at the Kromer--Kromer Monster really. Sinclair launches himself forward without another thought, his spear wreathed in flames as he delivers a Vak Tornado (16) to the Kromer monster. He didn't realise he had this skill. But he'll use it - finally something that matches his element. He's done with being preyed on, he's done with being manipulated, followed]

Maybe...maybe you're right, but how do I stop it--I can't stop looking back, I can't stop worrying--

[cccorp]

[ She's getting so shafted here... the stake gets flung off with the Vak Tornado, but it's fine. She has another.

And she's annoyed! Angry!

Then she tries to go for the kill—the long stake right at Michel's heart (19+5=24). If Sinclait gets in the way of the path, then she'll just skewer both of them. ]

[userunfriendly]

You're asking me what you can do?

[ Sorry, Monster Kromer. The most valuable lesson he has to share with his one and only little brother is that you're not even worth his time. ]

Share that worry with the people around you. Stop letting it consume you. You don't have to become anyone else. But look around you and remember that you aren't alone, Sinclair. Look forward!

[ Hypocritical advice if ever he's given any. Michel doesn't care. He brings his sword up in another parry (11), the stake sliding against the metal with a sound that raises the hair on the back of his neck. If he can take that hit in the shoulder or the side instead, that would be good enough... ]

[insinning]

[There's no taking any hits from Kromer. Sinclair wont allow it. Michel's words finally break through. He's not alone. He's not alone anymore and he doesn't have to work this out just by himself. Wood element wraps around his spear and he charges forward with a shout, delivering a Juk Punisher (20) to Kromer's heart.

Kromer? Is nothing. He can be stronger than her. He is stronger than her]

[cccorp]

[ Sinclair's boost to confidence from Michel's strong advice makes the dungeon pulse, immediately weakening Kromer, who takes the Juk Punisher to the heart. She smiles maniacally as always and shrieks as she dies, crumpling onto the ground.

If only, we could be, forever naive and pure.

If only, we could lead painless futures.

If only there could be a forgiving world.

As the final boss of the dungeon is vanquished, the Sinclair estate and its entire property disintegrates, leaving Michel and Sinclair in the dungeon of what it's supposed to be: a meadow dungeon with a forest at the heart of it all. No more monsters are around.

As the two reach the end of their adventure, they hear gentle, quiet voices whisper.

"Welcome home, Emil. Allow us to bless you before you depart. We love you..."

Very familiar voices that the two heard only moments ago, but it also included the father this time as well. A small breeze blows as if to send them off.

The two have received a blessing to uncover the truth for themselves. Whether they believe it to be a curse or blessing is up to them.

With that, the voices' warm presence disappears. Goodbye for the last time, Emil. ]

[userunfriendly]

[ Had he ever really doubted that Sinclair had it in him? Maybe he just hadn't been allowing for any other possibilities. Michel's shoulders slump just a little in relief as the adrenaline begins to ebb again.

He had no intention of allowing Sinclair to be hurt. But he's a little surprised, and perplexed, to find himself in one piece. What is he even supposed to say now?

What words would he have wanted from Didier? ]

...Well done. You've gotten strong, Sinclair.

[insinning]

[Sinclair looks up at Michel, blinking slowly. It was over. He had...he had finally overcome it. It wasn't real but it was his own demons put to rest properly this time.

Well done. and We love you.

Oh.

Sinclair feels his eyes go hot but he doesn't try to hide it as the tears fall, staggering forward to rest his head against Michel's chest to cry]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. [And] Thank you.

[userunfriendly]

Ah—

[ He freezes for a moment in perfect surprise as Sinclair collides with his chest. But, he learned the last time, didn't he? He knows what Sinclair needs here.

Only a bit belated, he wraps his arms around him in a firm hug. It's strange... it feels as soothing to give one of these now as he remembers it having felt to receive one as a child. ]

No, I should be thanking you. I would have been— [ skewered, ] ...in a difficult position if you hadn't come to my rescue.

[insinning]

I should have listened. But I was so angry, I didn't want to--

[It's a warm hug. He feels steady with it, his sobs easing into something more even]

[userunfriendly]

Yes, you should have.

[ Did Sinclair think he was going to disagree with that? Probably not. But the hug doesn't falter, except for Michel to reach up and ruffle his hair gently. ]

...What you've been through is unimaginable. It's only human to be overwhelmed by pain and anguish, fear and doubt. But you were still strong enough to hear me.

[insinning]

[ Sinclair's shoulders shake a little more, wracked by heaving sobs] </small It's been--so--every day, it feels like I can't escape it--

[userunfriendly]

[ What can he say to a weight like that? Maybe Sinclair never will fully escape it. Those memories leave scars. He tightens the hug just a little as his silence lingers. ]

Even so, you've come this far. I think those final words in the dungeon are the message your family would have wanted you to take with you.

[insinning]

... even so...

[ He sniffles a little, his breathing ragged]

...she did do it, you know. She desecrated their graves.

[userunfriendly]

[ Ah. He'd expected that most of the things in that dungeon had their basis in Sinclair's memories. But even so, hearing it is a little sickening. ]

There really is no vile thing she wouldn't do. ...I can understand your anger. When did you hear?

[insinning]

A few days before the conference.

[ He keeps hugging Michel because it keeps him calm]

[userunfriendly]

[ He's only gotten very slightly better at knowing what he can do at moments like this. But as long as Sinclair continues to want a hug, it's one thing he knows how to do with certainty. ]

And since then you've been trapped here.

[ Unable to address the situation. He thought Sinclair's agitation was only from them being stuck here... which would be enough. ]

[insinning]

Yeah. I don't know what to do--and thinking, she was so close and I couldn't do anything to protect myself...

[Mithrun was wrong. Most likely. But in the depths of his spiral downwards, he couldn't see through that]

[userunfriendly]

You were afraid.

[ It's not like he can give Sinclair any true guarantees. He doesn't know any more than Mithrun. But he knows that there's nothing they can do at the moment, at least. ]

Do you trust those coworkers of yours?

[insinning]

...I do. [He has to think about it] Even if we don't all get along, they're not the type to go down without fighting.

[userunfriendly]

[ Things he decides after thinking about it have more weight, in Michel's opinion. He gives a nod, and another awkwardly reassuring squish of a hug. ]

Your judgment is good. Believe in that. You can deal with the rest once you're out of here.

[insinning]

...you're right.

[A shaky breath. If Michel believes in Sinclair's judgement, then...he can believe in that faith. He lets go after a moment, moving to wipe his face, only to frown at his level 50 armor. He's changing that to another simple Winter Wear.

Anyway, he glances around the grassy dungeon and holds those words close to his heart]

We should...get going.

[userunfriendly]

[ Michel gives a nod. He isn't easy to unsettle, and the dungeon seems to have melted into quiescence now. But in the current circumstances, it's still better not to linger in combat areas. ]

I'll join you back to your guild.

[ Where he presumes Oria still is... if he's guessed wrong, Sinclair can correct him at the chaos gate. ]

[insinning]

Okay.

[He doesn't try to argue that. He likes spending time with after all, even though he feels scrubbed raw inside all over. They pass through the Chaos Gate back to Mac Anu and...Sinclair promptly topples over in a dead faint. Act quick, Michel]

[userunfriendly]

[ It's a good thing Michel had his eyes on Sinclair to begin with. He startles, but lunges to catch him firmly, although he buckles under the unexpected weight.

Sinclair's avatar is light, but Michel is tired. The added burden brings him briefly to one knee. He kneels there, looking down at Sinclair and then wryly around at Mac Anu before he draws in a breath and gathers his energy to get to his feet and lift Sinclair outright. ]

...You pushed yourself too hard. Ridiculous child.

[ Sinclair isn't awake to hear, but he probably wouldn't be surprised by how fond Michel's voice is. At least there are no other witnesses. Michel can drop Sinclair off in his room at Moon Tree and then go back to his guild to sleep for at least a week. ]