altimit | .:Oh shit it's November:.

[ Ganymede is staring at him, with that kind of response. What is that supposed to even mean...? ]

...What's that supposed to mean?

[ He pokes at it anyway, not able to understand. It isn't like his memory of kissing noses has been erased either, though he has no idea to interpret that either. Though, at the rest, he tilts his head a bit. ]

I do. Is the Black Forest an actual forest? Or a place named that?

[ He shifts back to lie against Michel's chest, but also tilt his head up at him. ]

And when we return, do you have an idea of the first thing you want to do?

Edited 2023-11-14 00:04 (UTC)

It means, "nothing's wrong."

[ Close enough. Approximately enough. It feels more untrue to say it — many things are wrong — but it's also more true than the opposite... he thinks.

He's going to give himself a headache untangling it. So he just kisses Ganymede's forehead instead. ]

It is. Though, it's an entire region as well. Germany, but near where I live...

[ They talked about that in Fragment. He wonders if Ganymede can still recall that as well. The next question draws a perfect blank on him, so he turns it back on Ganymede, wrapping his arms around him. ]

What about you?

...Nothing, in this instance. If something about this changes, tell me.

[ Ganymede blinks as he receives the kiss on his head, deciding to say that instead. He's not saying he distrusts him, but he doesn't want a repeat of before.

As for his recollection on that conversation, it is probably somewhere in his memories, but he also never wrote it down, so the exact logistics don't exactly reappear so quickly. He just ends up nodding. Wasn't there a place he mentioned before called Beta-beta? Or something...

As for the other matter, since Michel has given no answer (and he needs to stop fantasizing about weddings), this actually makes it easier for Ganymede, who closes his eyes, letting him sink into the embrace. ]

Introducing you to my family.

Edited 2023-11-14 01:57 (UTC)

I did say I would...

[ Not that he can fault Ganymede for feeling cautious now. Truthfully... Michel's trust is bruised in so many directions as well. He squeezes Ganymede very slightly in reassurance. ]

If, at times... I need a little time to think through my own feelings, that doesn't mean I'm keeping them from you.

[ Gently, but firmly, to establish that. He understands Ganymede's terms, and he doesn't think he's wrong. But some of this is a knot that won't be untied in an hour, or days. Or weeks.

Anyway, the change of subject seizes his undivided attention. ]

...Your family? Already?! But...

[ There's absolutely no way Ganymede's remaining brother or his parents would look warmly on how badly Michel has managed to take care of him so far... ]

[ As long as Michel doesn't feel at a loss, like he can't be honest again about when he's falling somewhere so deep that the chasm that's opened up can't be breached by anyone else...

Ganymede can accept that answer, giving a small nod, and he wants to kiss him again, so he shifts to plant one against his cheek so he can settle back down again. ]

...We almost died a lot of times.

I can't afford to be afraid of what my family would think now. And if you are, I promise it'll be okay. They'll be happy to know that you love me.

[ They don't need to know all of the that went on the game or that Michel basically had a bad time. Including a very kinky mid-episode. ]

[ He'd wanted to remember these things. And it's hard, remembering these things. The nervous, giddy energy in him when he'd returned from Greece. The budding sense of determination — the feeling that after all these years, he was finally ready to shake off the dust, to tentatively try living. He can remember the sensation; but he can't grasp it anymore.

He's quiet for a bit, although he does turn his head to press another kiss to Ganymede's temple. ]

...If I need to make any more excuses to your family, I really won't be brave enough. S-so please, make my job a little easier...

[ No more life or death peril? If avoidable? The kink episodes will remain their own little secret, thanks. ]

[ Ganymede is frowning a little, noticing the quiet in Michel. He doesn't know what is going on in his head of his, but he understands it's something. And he refuses to ignore it. Even with what he said before, little signs like this...

Maybe it's because of his words, the many times they nearly died. Or his own inner struggles. He asked for him to be honest about them. But the kiss against his head distracts him. Only a little, though. ]

...I'll make sure I'll make it to the end with you so we can see the light of that other world again.

You can be certain about that.

[ There is no such thing as avoidable peril, so Ganymede can't grant him that, and he won't bother saying something like that. Which...might not be a comfort. But, he has every intention of making good on what he said, more than anything.

He is getting out of here alive with him, no matter what. ]

[ He knows his little silences are worrying. Ganymede is trying, and he's trying... He nuzzles a tiny bit at Ganymede's hair, trying to grasp the feelings enough to put them into words. ]

...It's difficult for me to picture right now. [ Or to believe in certainties that are beyond their control. Many things, Ganymede can't do anything about. Others, he knows he won't change. ] But I intend to keep working towards that. With you.

[ He wants Ganymede to reach that world again. Sinclair, Oria, Justy, Hani. Yuui and Yael and Miharu and Noir. So, he'll keep trying. ]

[ They are both trying their best, aren't they? Ganymede is still freshly scared about what has just happened and ... he feels the light nuzzle against his hair, then the words that follow.

Which allow him some insight into his mind. ]

I'll make it easier for you to picture too.

[ He murmurs, sounding confident about that. When Michel states he wants to work towards it, then they should do better and better to hone in that confidence.

Otherwise, Ganymede knows, and understands now...that uncertainty can be used against him. Or any single one of them. And he personally wants Michel to be more confident too. As much as he can be, for his own sake. ]

With me by your side, you'll be as confident and certain as a god.

[ ...

Okay, maybe not that much. But, shh. ]

[ That comparison... he lets out a tiny chuckle and shifts Ganymede in his arms. Maybe, with food accomplished, more sleep wouldn't hurt... And he can reach out to someone who might have more ideas about what they can do for Ganymede's injury. ]

I'm fairly certain you're the one as confident as a god.

[ But he won't tell Ganymede otherwise. Even the thought of the taste of harsh words twists his stomach now. He wonders how long it will be before he can hear his own acerbic commentary in anything but Gorre's voice. ]

[ Ganymede happily is shifted in those arms; they feel slightly different now, but he thinks he has felt held by their weight before. The mind may have forgotten, but the body will always remember.

His cheeks do burn a little at the comment, though. He murmurs, softly: ]

...Only because you're here with me.

[ Is it true? Ganymede thinks that he has always been the type to be headstrong, but if he had lost Michel, there is no way he could have proceeded forward with any semblance of confidence. ]

[ Is that true? It's hard to imagine. Even with those glimpses of Ganymede at his lowest, quiet and emptied out. Michel reaches down to put his fingers gently to Ganymede's chin, looking down at his expression. ]

You carry your light inside of you.

[ Ganymede doesn't need someone like him, and never has. Or... is he just pushing his own notions of strength onto Ganymede? He rubs his thumb lightly along the line of Ganymede's jaw and lets go so he can snuggle in as he likes again.

He doesn't know how to feel about that. But a reminder that he's needed here in some way... perhaps that's not all bad. ]

Michel...I'm happy that you think that.

[ Ganymede says, gently, feeling the touch, and wanting to feel it again, but also desiring the snuggle as well, closing his eyes a bit, thinking about it all, shifting so he can settle more comfortably against him. ]

People say that I'm strong, that I have had a lot of hope inside of me, even when it feels like I don't. But, I do believe it too. Your words too.

[ 'You're hopeless.'

...Or perhaps some people have said things against holding such brilliant hopes. And it makes him happy, to hear Michel does not think the same, as always, and to have faith in him. He doesn't refute it either.

But, he would move forward as a shadow than a ray of light without him. His whole being, and that ring, would bear witness. ]

Edited 2023-11-15 02:31 (UTC)

[ Michel slides his fingers through Ganymede's hair before settling his arms around him again, just holding him close. Ganymede trusts his words so readily. He wants... to have the kind of heart that can reciprocate as easily, as warmly. He wants to be able to believe in the things that Ganymede can.

Wanting is still a start. He holds onto that thought and closes his eyes restfully, his palm tracing a gentle path over Ganymede's back. ]

You are. But I won't make you carry it all alone again.

[ He'll be here. He promised. One step at a time. ]

And... thank you. For believing me.

[ Always. Ganymede can trust any word that falls from Michel's lips...which is just because he is the way that he is with someone he loves dearly.

Though, he certainly is keeping closer attention to the smaller things now. He'll drag Michel with him into the sunlight. Without fail, without Cubia getting its disgusting claws around his boyfriend and loved ones again. ]

Okay...I'll remember you said that.

[ He raises a finger up to tap his nose. ]

You can thank me in more snuggles and kisses. But, it's only natural I would.

You did apologize sincerely.

[ Michel lets out a quiet laugh, his brow furrowing a little. He understands Ganymede enough by now to know that he's completely in earnest. And at the same time... he wonders if he'll ever completely understand him.

But it's an easy request, at least. He snuggles Ganymede closer and tilts his head to kiss the tips of those fingers. ]

Is it as simple as that to you? Then... you can reciprocate by resting for a bit and healing properly.

[ The Uta fight will be understood as extenuating circumstances. But after that, to the infirmary with him. ]

[ A light soft sound that is definitely a gentle little laugh. Ah...he pauses, he hadn't been doing much of that lately himself.

But the sound of Michel's is contagious and the kisses pressed against his fingertips? Yes, reason for joy. Small things, maybe, that both of them can enjoy (and he is so, so pleased to make Michel capable of involving himself in such things at all.) ]

Since you insist, I guess all I can do is be wrapped up in your arms until then. Alas, what will I do now except be at the mercy of your warm cuddles and love?

[ ...Does this mean when he gets to the infirmary Michel does do the head tippy to make him take the medicine when he makes a face? Because that truly would be good incentive- ]

Edited 2023-11-15 17:19 (UTC)

You're ridiculous...

[ But it's good that not memory loss, not injury, not physical and emotional trauma have changed that. If Ganymede somehow does make it out of this... maybe he can somehow keep that core of him intact. If everything that came before hadn't broken him, Michel should probably have expected that. ]

But... that's right. It's best that you accept your fate...

[ No, he can't talk like this even as a weak joke. But he can drop another kiss to the top of Ganymede's head. Soften him up now, so he'll be good and pliable for the inevitable gentle bullying and head tippy in the infirmary. ]

Destiny's forbidden cuddles...

[ Yeah...well, if only Michel knew that he doesn't have to be concerned with the aspect of Ganymede dying...

...Probably.

Anyway, what he does get is Ganymede laughing in earnest at the joke. For some reason he does find it funny. Bad sense of humor? Who can say.

Ganymede probably doesn't get out of bed until whenever Uta's announcement is out there in the wild, and then subsequently...everything else. ]

[ The future, however? Is less forgiving.

The aftermath of Uta's battle leaves Ganymede a bit lost, but other than being dragged to a meeting at Solar Eclipse, well, he is being miserable (no he was feeling awful then too.) After all, he mostly spends time with Michel and then there's the stuff about infirmary going up. He's in such a bad mood he can't properly express how amazing it is, but he is probably nudged to go along to said place eventually.

Once he arrives with Michel, he stares at some of the equipment around here, though. Signs of something good upon the horizon. ]

...They really outdid themselves. Everyone's teamwork is amazing, isn't it?

[ Michel's responses are still a little sluggish, as though every word he says has to go through a few more layers of processing than usual. Because he was always such a chatty and outgoing man.

He glances over at Ganymede's expression, searching for a slight sign of easing tension, of hope. And he reaches over to rub his palm soothingly against Ganymede's back. ]

Your cousin, Noir, Vogel... they must have been working hard on this.

[ And Zelkova, wherever he is again now. Perhaps that will be at least one worry off of Ganymede's mind. Michel nudges him gently along, trying to ease him towards an infirmary bed. If he gets him near enough to the radius the AI nurses will probably descend upon him. ]

[ It's okay. Ganymede can still be the chattier of the two here. He leans into the touch, and then, shifts slightly, wanting to hug Michel tight, close to him.

It is a moment like this he realizes how fortunate he is, that Michel hadn't wound up like Uta. That he's still here, with him. ]

...That's right, they have. All this time.

[ He says, gently—there is no despair in his expression, though. A deep sadness that persists which might be taken for that, and he allows the other to ease him on the infirmary bed. Though he will also pull on his arm, to sit down with him. ]

Join me. I can't imagine lying down—so sit with me?

[ And also, he asks, just as softly: ]

...Did you know Uta at all?

[ Michel lets himself be tugged down, settling beside Ganymede to wrap his arms around him lightly. As long as there are no witnesses at the moment, he won't be self-conscious about these little displays of affection. ]

You'll have to lie down long enough to rest eventually...

[ But he can understand if Ganymede doesn't want it to be right this moment. Dreams lower too many barriers, when an injury is still fresh. ]

...Only a very little. We talked about her songs, briefly. You knew her well?

[ This is how both of them get checked out by the AI hospital fam, I guess. He really pauses at the other saying as much and leans into Michel's embrace. If he lies down, does it mean Michel has to go away?

He doesn't voice the question because it feels stupid. ]

I don't need much rest, though. And I can't sleep like this so I wouldn't get any at all.

[ Unless he was held in Michel's arms. He'd be able to sleep then. Maybe they could both rest up here. Surely, Michel is tired too? In his own way? He went through a lot too...but he pauses at the answer, before nodding. ]

I didn't know her real name until the annoucement. But, we were good friends. We hung out and spoke a lot.

...I thought I could save her. No, not me. The four of us. [ His voice grows softer: ] Do you think that was stupid of me? When the signs were all there? That she was already dead?

[ Michel is deeply tired, too. Which is another reason his answer is slow, measured. He runs his palm lightly along Ganymede's arm as he holds him, just a soothing gesture to try to keep the pause from landing as awkward agreement. He's learned at least this much finesse. ]

...No. Of course not. In order to fight, everyone has been believing in the best possible outcome. It might be impossible to face these battles otherwise. I think... all of you share the sentiment.

[ Carefully, so carefully. He knows how blunt he is at the best of times. And he knows that right now, even Ganymede is a little fragile. ]

We had no way of confirming any information from the outside. Distrusting those reports is understandable. As is... needing them not to be true.

[ Had he accepted it so easily because of his naturally negative temperament? Because he hadn't been as close to her? If it had been Oria, or Ganymede, what would he have believed? He doesn't know for certain. ]

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1/2

2/2 [spongebob voice: one day or so later]

im going to send your mudkips into space

they're really innocent this time i swear

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