11/05 — ΣHeartless Snaring Cathedral...?

[userunfriendly]

Who: █████ & visitors
What: scheming
Where: Δ Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground (Hulle Granz Cathedral)
When: Sunday, 11/05
Warnings: to be added


[ Despite the ominous aura, the haunted tower has seen no shortage of visitors recently. But for those who gate in today the air itself is different. The skies are black, and the mist that had blanketed only the top of the tower now pours out across the plains, shrouding the ruined city from sight.

Anyone who goes looking for the master of the tower will find that the room he occupied before now holds only a single door, standing unsupported in the middle of the room. It beckons, tugging with a terrible compulsion — you know whatever sight awaits you is one you'll later wish you could forget, and yet... you look. But the door opens only onto the bridge leading to Hulle Granz Cathedral, where the first quiet strains of choral music through the open doors guides you on. ]

((Note: Characters are welcome to receive the location from any other player and gate directly to Δ Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground. Allowing those who found his tower inaccessible to come join, too, is cruelty.))

Comments

[ganymed]

[ Ganymede has been thinking about something. He's not so great at nuances, but Michel shifting into a ghost form, hiding into the darkness...he doesn't understand the mechanics, though maybe it is symbolic as well.

After he casts his spell, he calls out to him: ]

Hector! I need your help.

Can you toss a candle up here? I need to try something!

[ He's going to try to explain. ]

...He told me once that I belonged in the sunlight. Him hiding away like this - I think he might have thought the opposite of himself. We need to have him believe again. That he has a place in the light.

A place back with us! ...Back with me.

[secondthoughts]

[ Hector hears Ganymede before he actually finds him in the chaos. He's...way up there. He squints into the dim, but don't worry—he catches every word. ]

Got it!

[ If anyone here has the power to bring Michel back, it's Ganymede. Hector has faith.

He grabs a nearby candle, quickly blows it out, and throws it...

...Except it just lands a few feet away (3). Oops. ]

Uhh— [ Hector runs forward to pick it up again. ] Sorry! You still want this?!

[ganymed]

W-well...it'd be ideal if it was lit, actually -

[ But he will take it regardless...

...or not.

The candle lands on the ground, many ways from where Ganymede so happens to be by far. Alas... ]

...You tried. Maybe try it with a lit candle? I promise I'm good at catching dangerous flammable objects!

[secondthoughts]

Uh— Sure!

[ With the candle in hand, Hector touches the wick to a nearby lit candle to light it again, then throws it with all he's got!

Which turns out not to be very much (6). He smacks his hand to his forehead as it clatters to the ground, flame snuffing out. Maybe Ganymede should've asked a DPS character. ]

[ganymed]

[ But...Hector is big and muscley...even if he's short??

That sure just happened, though. ]

...Third time is the charm?!

[secondthoughts]

[ With a sigh, he picks up the candle, relights it, and throws it again—

And this time, it actually sails through the air towards Ganymede (16)! It isn't a perfect throw but it made it to its destination, still lit.

Hector barks out a triumphant laugh. ]

Third time's the charm!

[ganymed]

[ AND HE CATCHES IT

This was three tries and anti-frustration features are in place. What is he going to do now with it? He'll figure it out. ]

[userunfriendly]

[ What is he gonna do now, Ganymede? Gorre has been largely ignoring this as beneath his notice while I catch up on what all happened... also, since this is after Ganymede's attempted sleep move, Gorre probably took a power nap. ]

You are aware that those won't burn anything...?

[ Where is his data. Some of this... he is struggling to connect in any graph, any matrix. ]

[ganymed]

[ Ganymede has no idea.

I'm sorry he is mostly the kind of person who does these things on impulse. But he has to do something, holding up the candle to Michel's big face. ]

Does light always have to burn? It can be soothing, kind, and warm. Like hugs, and kisses.

It's not so bad, isn't it? To be held in an embrace, to be cared for. To be loved.

[userunfriendly]

You still won't listen. You always heard exactly what you wanted to hear. That's why... you didn't realize.

[ The light illuminates Gorre's helmet, and many eyes swivel towards Ganymede. The tone is still flat and cool, analytical. Probing for weaknesses in return as Ganymede does the same to him. ]

Your love could not reach him while he still existed. Who do you expect to hear it now?

[ganymed]

[ Ganymede is certain that there is room for enough weaknesses for Michel to probe, if he wants. He knows his life is rife with cruelty to last a lifetime. ]

Is it that I won't listen, or that I just refuse to give in to the despairing words that you send my way? You state that I didn't realize, but how you would even know that?

[ He isn't scared, the way those eyes turn to face him.

Instead, Ganymede smiles, in defiance. ]

Michel is his own person, who made his own way. But, if my love did not reach him before, he would have never held me, cared for me, or loved me in turn.

He showed me kindness, and that it was safe to cry on his shoulder. To listen when it was his turn to say whatever was on his mind. I know...that there were things that he was scared to tell me. But I also know bit by bit he overcame that fear.

In his letter he wrote to me, he wrote to me a reminder, among his words of love. It was a painful one, but one he wanted me to keep in my heart, so that I would know how far I had come. That even when he lost himself, to still keep that hope, even when he felt himself becoming lost.

I believe...for certain, even now, my words can reach his heart. My love will always be etched within him. But, there is one fact I'm sure of. He also said, in that letter:

"Let me see you at the apex of your dreams."

Michel believes, even now...that he can return to us. It was a letter of hope, an indication of determination, that he'd be able to hear me. To see me once again.

And I already said I would carve Michel straight out of you. From the darkness, into the light—

My dear (Αγαπητέ) belongs with me, in the sunlight.

[userunfriendly]

Do you remember the rest? All of it? Of course not. He was a coward every step of the way. Never baring his weaknesses. He never failed to withdraw from any situation that made him uncomfortable... so I'll remind you.

[ Although Ganymede, who knows Gorre much more intimately well than most of these others... he can likely hear the edge of aggravation in that voice. No longer purely impassive and factual. ]

"It's immaterial whether I'm there or here. Promise that you can still believe I'm by your side, even so."

[ Michel's intimate words, announced in front of whoever cares to hear them. If there were anything left of Michel, he would be writhing now. Ganymede and Gorre both know as much. ]

He knew he was already dead. He was asking you to believe in what you could not see. And you think that was hope?

[ Michel had given up on existing. But Gorre has not, had left his marks on Ganymede. And yet he thinks the traces of his love are still engraved on Michel? Finally, Gorre is unamused enough to shake Ganymede off. ]

[ganymed]

[ Gorre stop being jealous Ganymede chose Michel over you challenge. ]

You're wrong. He didn't withdraw from me when we became close and at first he was uncomfortable then...

Just admit I was right and you're mad about it!

[ Ganymede shouts as he's shaken off... ]