10/29 --- Δ Haggard Traveler’s Reprieve?????

[gluttoning]

Who: ??? & you!
What: Something's starting...
Where: Δ Haggard Traveler’s Reprieve (Twilight Shoreline)
When: Sunday, 10/29
Warnings: Will be added as needed.

( Perhaps intrigued by the mail allegedly sent by CC Corp, perhaps visiting the Shoreline by chance, gating into the Area goes as it always does, until the music stays cut for longer than it should, and the black, liminal transition screen lingers for a little too long. The seconds tick on. They near turn to minutes. You can't struggle, you can't argue— you can only simply be, and it occurs to you that maybe you'll be trapped midway here, conscious, for maybe forever.

And then you hear static. Your vision warps; pixels strain into words, blurred and unstable. You see them combat for your attention; you see— )



( And then you load in. )

( POST NAVIGATION )
( Sign-in Comment (Mandatory) • How to Play • Mechanics

Phase 1 • Round 1 • Round 2 • Round 3 • Round 4 • Round 5 • Round 6

Phase 2 • Round 7 • Round 8 • Round 9 • Round 10 •
Round 11 • Round 12

Epilogue )

Comments

2/2

[threatmewted]

[...But you know what?

Hugs aren't so bad, actually.

So, he gets a return hug, too. A little awkward at first, but tighter once she commits to it.]

[gluttoning]

[You know what's nice about being hugged by a guy who's practically a walking furnace and with more body mass than the normal person? He is very warm and there is a lot of warmth to go around. Despite the tight hold, there's a gentleness he hasn't shown in a while, a care. Compassion.]

You must have been so angry this whole time.

I'm so sorry.

[threatmewted]

[...God. It's so good to have him back.]

I mean... not at you? At least, not after I realized what was happening.

[Which did admittedly take her a bit at times, but.]

I meant what I said before, you know. I'm not disappointed in you. Just... pissed that someone took your kindness and trampled all over it.

[gluttoning]

[His hands tighten slightly with a sniffling for breath against her shoulder. He's not crying if you're not crying, it's fine.]

...I really did believe in him for a long time. But...

He lied to me. He... lied about a lot.

I shouldn't have believed him.

[threatmewted]

[Have some soothing backrubs, big guy.]

...Yeah, he did. But I mean - that's on him for lying in the first place.

Plus... you've had it really rough? Can't really blame you for wanting to believe in him.

[gluttoning]

[He tenses further.]

No. You don't understand.

Everything that's been going wrong has been him. Everything.

Even my leg. He told me as much. Before he... he wiped my memory.

[threatmewted]

[...

She hugs him tighter, gritting her teeth.]

...Is it bad that I already kinda guessed? I mean...

Your leg breaks, and it ruins your life outside. Of course it'd make staying in the game sound way better.

[Targeting someone vulnerable. Trampling on his kindness.

She's going to kill Cubia if it's the last thing she ever does.]

[gluttoning]

[Feelings churn at how much it just clicks into place, too hard and intense in his chest. But at least it isn't the swarm anymore. At least it isn't the beast that Tarvos had become. So he grips, just a little longer, trying to force his breathing to even out.

Once he's steadier, his arms slowly loosen, letting Swallow move freely again as he presses a palm to his face, wiping away at the blotchy, paled skin that crying always tends to leave behind in its wake.]

He's become someone that's really cruel.

Even if he just wants to belong... he's okay with using people. Whether they want him to or not. And how he looked at me, wh... what he made me do...

I think he really is turning into a monster.

[threatmewted]

[It's okay, she'll hug him tightly back, releasing him once he does the same for her.]

...We'll figure something out. Save the others, and stop him.

[gluttoning]

Yeah.

[He swallows, letting his eyes trace the slow pattern of the waves that ebb back and forth against their legs, against his cast that still aches horribly.]

We can do it together. Even if I can't trust in what he told me anymore... I felt what all of you were willing to do. Even when we tried to split you apart or turn you against each other, or even on yourselves.

When I can... if I can... I want to fight with you guys for the rest.

[threatmewted]

...I dunno. It's a pretty major injury to recover from in a short time, you know?

But if you can make a full recovery... I know I wouldn't say no to some extra help.

[gluttoning]

...Yeah, I know. I don't know if there's any way I'm gonna make a full recovery here. The hospital said it'd be months.

But I have to do something. I'll... try to find something.

[threatmewted]

...

Did you ever level crafting?

[gluttoning]

Not really. I got a little distracted. [You know, being Lily-fied.]

I have some extra equipment, though. So I could try.

[threatmewted]

Crafted food is seriously useful right now. So, if you're ever well enough to help make any of that, it could mean life or death for us during those battles.

[gluttoning]

Yeah... that's a good point. I forgot the food had other effects. [You think he eats for buffs? Nahhhhhh.]

Okay. I'll see if Morgan can help me look through what I need.

Thanks, Shoka. For everything.

[threatmewted]

No prob.

I should head out for now, but I'll drop by again later. Message me if you need anything, got it?

[gluttoning]

Got it.

...

Get some rest, Shoka. Okay?

[threatmewted]

You know it.

[And with a lazy wave-]

Later.