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

[justonezero]

[He settles against Deto, letting his words hang in the silence for a moment. But then:]

I'm not... worth multiple other lives, Akira.

[Just the thought is intensely uncomfortable for him to consider.]

[deto]

[ yoshi can probably guess how he feels about that statement ]

But you’ll be right there at the next battle if there is one, won’t you?

[justonezero]

Of course I will.

[deto]

Right.

[ that’s fine because deto will be right there with him. but he does have to say, very bluntly: ]

You know… what they were saying… Tarvos before he died and Mithrun1 while I was inside him - a lot of that sounded similar to the feelings you have about yourself.

[justonezero]

...?

You think so?

[deto]

[ shifting against yoshi in a slight nod ]

And it seemed like those feelings were eating them up from the inside. They were in a lot of pain, and the both of them thought they were alone even though they were standing right next to each other.

Honestly, I think you’re better at recognizing that type of pain now. Before you were practically numb to it. I just hope you always remember that… I’m right here next to you. Whatever you feel, you’re not alone.

[justonezero]

...

[He ducks his head down.]

I think... if I keep talking, you're going to think I'm weird.

[Disgusting. An abnormality.]

[deto]

… If your feelings ever get twisted by Lily and you turn into a giant rabbit creature and eat me, please don’t make it so it’s a cold flesh prison inside you.

[ it’s both a light joke and a very serious request ]

I do think you’re weird though. You’ve been weird since I met you.

[justonezero]

[Okay, he can't help but laugh a little at that.]

...

[Lifting his face a little again - not really meeting Deto's eyes.]

I think... if Lily really did decide to change me, there wouldn't be much of a difference.

[deto]

[ deto’s been waiting to do this for what feels like ages so he’s not gonna miss his chance. once yoshi lifts his head, he leans in and gives him a light kiss on the lips

who cares if it’s in public they were just fighting for their lives ok ]

Um. [ rerouting his brain to remember what yoshi was saying ] What does that mean to you?

[justonezero]

[?!

P-public kiss?!!

Now he's distracted too.]

Um- wait, which part?

[deto]

[deto would smile if the subject matter weren’t so serious, but his brown eyes are warm for him ]

The difference part.

1/2

[justonezero]

-Oh.

[Looking distinctly uncomfortable again.

...It's strange, isn't it?

...No, it's definitely beyond just strange.]

2/2

[justonezero]

[When he does begin to speak again, his voice quiets.]

...When I talked to them in the week leading up to the fight, it was like... they'd been reduced to just programs instead of people.

...Like they'd been reduced to something like me.

[He's tense as he admits that. Like he's bracing himself for the worst.

Akira really does deserve so much better.]

[deto]

[ … ah.

he doesn’t immediately know what to say, but until he figures that out, he wants to be close. their foreheads press together, yoshi’s hair clinging to deto’s damp strands. and underneath that, warm smooth skin, some comfort that they’re both here together ]

…Someone, not something. Like they’d been reduced to someone like you, someone I love.

[justonezero]

[He doesn't deserve this warmth. Not in the slightest. And yet, he can't stop himself from pressing into it. Seeking closeness like he knows it won't last.

Everyone has a limit, when it comes to tolerating him. And no amount of trying to fix his broken self will ever be fast enough.]

...Sorry. It really is weird, huh?

We don't have to talk about it.

[deto]

If you want to, you can talk to me about anything, Yoshi. I’ll listen.

[ pulling away isn’t even an option for him, words or no ]

We can… call it weird, but that’s not the same as it being, y’know, illogical. There are reasons why you think and feel that way.

… If you can’t answer this right now, it’s okay, but think about it for me? Why do you think I love you? What parts of you do I love? What do you think I see?

[justonezero]

...

I don't know. I still... don't really understand it.

[Why Deto decided him and only him.]

I help others... but only because I like people. I'm doing it for myself as much as I am to help.

[Not the answer he would have given just two weeks ago, but.]

[deto]

That’s fine. That’s okay.

[ saying it to himself as much as he’s saying it to yoshi. he did expect that answer, and while he can’t say he’s happy about it, he’s at least… prepared to hear it. he understands in his own clumsy way ]

And - good. Keep doing things for yourself.

[ be a little selfish, ask for one thing everyday ]

[justonezero]

...Are you sure?

[deto]

About you? Yeah.

[ 100% ]

Mithrun1 said… Well. Something about how he didn’t know his own heart or the hearts of the people he loved. So he could only rely on what he saw and what he saw scared him.

I know my heart pretty well. I’m just a simple guy. And… I’m not scared that I don’t know your heart yet. I’m… learning it.

[ all the talking, all the listening ]

What scared me was… how I hurt you and the thought that you wouldn’t ever let me near you again. Like if I reached out and you flinched back. That scared me. But… [ he smiles. he loves this boy so much. does it show? ] I reach out and you always reach back.

[justonezero]

[He relaxes a little again, hearing all that. Looking at Deto properly.]

...Of course I will. I want to be with you.

[That was never in question, as far as he was concerned.]

And I'm... trying. [To fix himself.] To... understand.

[To be worthy of that love.]

[deto]

I know.

[ bright brown eyes meet red as he pulls back, taking yoshi’s hand, palm up. with a finger he writes two characters, six strokes, then four - which he promptly eats out of yoshi’s hand like kirby - nom ]

Thanks for the meal. Though I hope people come and thank you soon so we can leave. You need some serious rest, and I’m hungry.

[justonezero]

Misteaks messaged me. We can probably go now.

[Everyone else wants to reunite with their loved ones, after all... Other than Mithrun's moment of advice.]

Want to grab food somewhere?

[deto]

[ misteaks’ name just makes him hungrier, famished ]

Can you stay awake while we eat?