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

[ Michel gives a tiny nod, his gaze turning thoughtful for a moment. There's so much he's avoided saying about his real life — so much that slipped through between his fingers anyway, about his brothers, or... was wrenched from him, like his past. Is it because the years since his escape have been so empty that he had so little to speak of? ]

She's... the one friend I had, before this. I had two, once. One... stopped coming by. It happens all the time, online. [ A pause. ] I picked my handle for her, actually. She used to use "Snow."

[ So... "Winter." Even though she had no interest in these games, hadn't been online for — some time, now. If she'd seen him, she might have recognized him. It's not something he wanted to talk about... but having nearly lost it by not telling anyone before, perhaps it's time to hold these pieces of himself less close to his chest. ]

M-mhm. It's... a saccharine love story. But I think you might like it. We'll go see whatever adaptation of it you like.

[ He thinks Ganymede will like the ending most of all, probably. And the monster's transformation through his love for the beauty... ]

[ Ganymede listens carefully to Michel speak — he isn't a man forthcoming about his past, though knowing what he knows of him now, he has more than enough full context to understand why. ]

Snow and Winter...

Oh, now it all makes sense. I'd wondered a lot about it — why you'd chosen your name in Fragment, and I think I might have asked about it before, too, maybe, but...or, well made a guess. I don't know much about 'online' things, but it sounds just like how normal friendships are — people just come and go without warning.

[ At least, that's how Ganymede sees it. ]

There's a lot of versions of it? It must be popular...I think I'll probably choose whichever one's easiest for us to watch.

[ A sacrifice for a loved one. Followed by a monster's transformation through love for someone close to another...Ganymede will truly be tickled. He might be overcome with emotion too. ]

[ He does remember that. The thought makes him smile again a little, strangely nostalgic considering how recent that was. ]

I thought you were asking about my other handle at the time. From... a different forum. [ The bat jokes... it's too complicated to explain now, with so many memories missing. ] ...It is typical, isn't it? Most people are friends by proximity, or convenience. I wasn't disliked in school. But when I left, I never heard from any of those people again.

[ And honestly, he didn't particularly miss them. None of those names or faces particularly came back to him now, after all those years. He wonders... is it similar for Ganymede? How much had he withdrawn, after those four years? ]

Then, I'll find us the old one. It was beautifully done.

[ And not American, even. Ganymede can enjoy a little variety... and then the two of them can figure out what kind of movies they even like. Perhaps when Ganymede's memories return, he'll have ideas. ]

[ They're getting insanely wistful and nostalgic about previous events that seem like ages ago, but have happened just not all that long timeframe-wise. Maybe it is because things are really running head along into super deluxe scary mode. ]

How many handles did you even have?

[ Totally not an unfair question to ask, eh? Ganymede wonders if he ever had a handle other than the one shown in 'Fragment'. His head hurts still trying to wrap things around reality at times, independent of previous injury reasons. ]

Maybe, in a way, it just proves that whoever is meant to be with you, is. And whoever isn't, just...isn't. Even if you weren't super unpopular or anything like that.

I don't have memories of school, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same for me.

[ Except, well, his experience was actually kind of different even if he can't recall now. That aside, he blinks at the comment about Michel getting them the 'old' version, before nodding. There's probably some monsters up ahead by now. ]

...I can believe that. Just as long as it's 'good quality looking old'.

[ Time stretches into eternity when you're going through the trauma meatgrinder... Particularly when you lose chunks of your memories for a good stretch of that and nothing feels like it was put back in quite right. ]

I never counted? There's the one I use on my own site. Another for a different forum. I usually pick whatever appeals to me at the moment, since it's not as though I often post.

[ He doesn't care if it's not easy to follow him across different platforms. No, so much the better? He gives a little inclination of his head towards Ganymede.

Whoever is meant to be with him... In his case, it does feel more appropriate that way. It should be no one. The way things had been since age fourteen were by far the more natural flow of events, and Fragment was the aberration. ]

I wonder. I imagine you drew friends and admirers from everywhere.

[ But he struggles to picture a tiny Ganymede. That part of his life is a blank for him, no memories he can return. If they do have a chance to get back... it would be nice to see photographs from that time, he thinks. He has none from his childhood, but Ganymede's family ought to. If he's really being dragged to meet them, then...

MIchel blinks at the unknown monsters ~~which I will totally look up in the morning~~, drawing his thoughts back to the present. This is still a dungeon, and he can't be too careless. ]

That sounds like it could be a lot. Or, well, maybe just a few. Have you ever used something like 'Dark Knight'? Or 'Bat Knight'? I wouldn't be surprised!

If I had a handle on a 'forum' maybe I'd just put in my cat's name.

[ 'Thanatos', because in Ganymede's head he pictures a cute cat. He has inbox receipts to know he has a cat named Thanatos and he is ever the more grateful for these text message discussions. Also the handwaved inbox/forum cat photos he sent to Matoba too. ]

Why do you think I did? I'm definitely eye-catching here, but I don't know if in the other side, I still...

[ Ganymede has no idea if he was popular, because he can't recall. Just the captivity memory that returned, which, of course at the time he definitely was not thinking of his early school years, though... ]

[ Wait, no. Ganymede's memories are not too obliterated that he has forgotten what was said to him during that period in the small crumbs that have returned to him.

There is a perturbed, and then briefly troubled expression, for a moment. As if it clicks, though not for anything good. ]

...That was actually a stupid question. I don't even know why I asked that.

[ Apollo's words in his time of being held where he was, that Ganymede caught the eyes of a certain group, the mockery, the knife, the blood, and the reason he had been kidnapped was because originally...

Wherever his thoughts are going are distracted because the monsters are upon them. Mimics! Ganymede is quickly dancing, slowing them down in their tracks. He does hate it, though. The idea of having to think harder than he used to in order to reach for pieces that should be with him.

It makes him feel ever the more foolish in a way he hasn't observed until now. ]

I-I did. Use "Dark†Knight"...

[ Luckily, Ganymede probably can't hear the cross in it. That shame was known only to Hani and Sinclair... and each of them probably no longer remembers. It's impossible to feel relief at that, but...

He's about to answer Ganymede's other question when Ganymede trails off, something much darker crosses his face. He has so few memories left now, doesn't he? There's nothing good it could be, if it's what he saw behind Gorre's door. ]

It wasn't stupid—

[ He wants to expand on that thought, but unfortunately, he has to take combat with utmost seriousness now. No injury to Ganymede is allowable... and if he lands himself back in the infirmary experimenting with armor, he expects to get an earful from Miharu, if not others.

Mimics are non-elemental. But nothing is immune to the guaranteed critical hits of Be Not Afraid. Michel brings his sword down in an arc, the lightning crackling along his blade as he makes the best of the delay Ganymede bought him. ]

I was right. Knew it.

[ Ganymede is glad to know that he understands Michel well enough to potentially guess usernames, that helps kind of eat away at dealing with his own frustration with himself.

He hears Michel's aborted words, casting a glance at him, and then back at the monsters he's slaying. Critical hits means stunning happens and a quicker death than not. ]

...Why wouldn't it be?

[ If he has such few memories, shouldn't he have recalled faster?

Ganymede blinks as the Mimics all begin to summarily fall to the blade. Only one Mimic is left, to which he puts to sleep immediately. At least he will never get tired watching Michel kill things.

He doesn't tell Michel he imagines him stabbing to death their remaining two enemies too, though. The last mimic is put to sleep as soon as it looks like it's going to strike. Maybe he should have used his charm spell on some of these guys instead but he hardly ever takes advantage of it.

Not to mention, it's unnecessary with ~~archangel~~ Michel here. ]

[ If it were any monster more humanoid than a mimic, Michel might feel a little guilt at mercilessly striking it down. The most universally hated of RPG monsters...

Red Rose scythes through it, leaving the trail of crimson petals in its wake, the final damaging hits taking out the rest of its health. And then he glances sidelong back at Ganymede. He's playing his class excellently today, even more than usual — he wonders if there's a reason for Ganymede's focus on those buffs, on supporting him to set him up for attacks. Wouldn't be feel better venting some of his frustrations more directly? Or is this his wordless way of reminding Michel that he's more than strong enough to be relied on, and trying to make Michel feel less helpless after the series of disasterous fights? ]

...It's difficult to piece things together, when so many memories are missing. I felt the same when I was becoming Gorre. There are things you react to without knowing why, or things you wonder, and can only infer from the pieces you have...

[ So it isn't stupid to not be able to piece things together immediately, or to ask anyway. He knows, too, just how incorrect some of that extrapolated understanding could be. Too limited. ]

[ It'll be kind of hilarious if they had ever found a mimic properly posing as a treasure box in-game. But Ganymede just hates the way it looks on principle, so this is honestly, just. So true.

Hearing the way Michel talks, though, he's listening closely. Before, it hardly bothered him without the pieces, that's certain. But, it only is troublesome now because Ganymede is at least partially concerned with his own image.

That is something which still carries over. Not for everyone's approval, but for his own high standards. ]

...When you put it like that, I think I can get it now. [ ... ] And it makes me feel less foolish.

[ Before, Ganymede thinks even with those words, sound in logic, he would have not listen. He's...probably gotten less stubborn. And, well, he trusts Michel to say these things with as much truth as he can, being a logical-minded individual. Still, it does make him feel better, actually.

With the monsters defeated for this round, Ganymede steps closer, and just for those words, he steps on the tippytoes to give Michel a quick cheek kiss, before pointing ahead. ]

You aren't foolish. Or— [ Not quite true, is it? Michel's reflexive honesty catches up to him again and he amends, ] ...You aren't being foolsih about this.

[ That's better, he thinks. It's not a blanket reassurance, because if Ganymede were being ridiculous, he would tell him. He leans in to kiss Ganymede on the cheek in return.

He half wants to know what memory crossed through Ganymede's mind just then that had sunk his mood so precipitously. But, perhaps it's better to wait until they're out of the dungeon. ]

...Have you always been this bossy about dungeons?

[ He's fairly certain the answer is yes, actually. But he'll gladly take point again. ]

I should've known you would've said something about that...

[ Ganymede looks embarrassed, even if he is happy that Michel is saying that, so by the time he plants a cheek kiss, he can see the blush evident. ]

I have.

You just haven't noticed just yet. You don't mind, though. I'm right, aren't I?

[ Sticking his tongue out a little. Just up ahead are a trio of Spark Maidens, to really hammer in the thunderesque nature of this dungeon. But he is always ever glad to buff Michel for it, so he's doing exactly that...welcome to your physical strength buff! ]

[ What, Ganymede's foolishness? He can take that as a sign of Michel's slowly returning health, too. He's feeling well enough to tease him a little. The blush just gets a second, briefer kiss. ]

I see why Justy calls you "shot-caller"...

[ He doesn't mind, no.

Though the appearance of the Spark Maidens does make him regret, just a little, being unable to use his level 100 armor... What a waste of some very broken abilities, now lost to bad association. The tiny part of him that still feels a little affinity with games repents.

But he'll take that buff to deal out an Ani Revolver at all three, striking right for that elemental weakness. There's no feeling of showing off, when he knows he's doing a task Ganymede could and has managed for himself... but there's a comfortable rapport like this. ]

[ Michel is fortunate he doesn't steel his nose just then for that kind of reaction. How dare.

...But, no. He loves affection, and most of it, he cherishes and loves it from Michel. ]

To be honest, I was...kind of really happy he called me that.

[ Ganymede likes leading the charge on the battlefield, and delivering commands. Of course, it's also embarrassing to say that he enjoys strictly being dominated in the bedroom (look man he is a bottom there), it doesn't mean he doesn't prevent himself from being demanding there either. Anyway, he watches Michel take down the enemies with the strengthened blows, distracted by the way part of his shoulder peeks out at part of the armor, the power exhibited behind each swing.

The multiple slashes have the enemies stunlocked, just awaiting their deathblows in the face of attacking at the element weaknesses as well.

And Ganymede...? He's distracted. Sorry. ]

I'm not surprised. You enjoy being in charge.

[ For once, Michel isn't thinking of the bedroom at all. Just Ganymede's typical bossiness. The way he could command a space, how he draws himself up when he's feeling passionate about something... and he feels passionate about many things.

These enemies are simple enough, the flow of the fight going precisely as it should. Michel spins from one to the next to dispatch them, glancing over his (bare) shoulder back towards Ganymede as he does. ]

...Is something the matter?

You're distracting!

[ Ganymede's hands fly to his mouth as his face turns beet red. Muffled, he manages: ]

In a good way...I can't—I can't look away.

[ For once, he's the one who is in the position of being set off course by the way the other looks back. Or does anything (like, hello, does Michel not know how graceful he was doing that spin?! He has so much grace that imagining him as a professional dancer isn't a pipe dream. Even if he knows it'll REALLY take awhile...) ]

B-but I'm okay! We can carry on!

[ Michel blinks in surprise, pausing as the last Spark Maiden falls. He's... distracting Ganymede? Ganymede, the one who dances for all his moves? Whose shimmying hips are very much a distraction with his buffs? ]

You... like seeing me stab things?

[ That's how he's translating it.

Oh... is it an innuendo thing? That really wasn't what he was thinking when he chose his class, but... ]

[ Ganymede is in his very distraction era when Michel is now the one showing a bit more skin.

Though, the way Michel points that out gets him an embarrassed look. As if they have things to be embarrassed about with one another, considering what they've gotten up to (yes they do.) ]

...Well, yeah. I do like seeing you stab things.

But, it's more than that. You always look good to me, but I get to see a bit more of you, and you just...

[ ... ]

You just look really good in that armor, okay?!

[ Ganymede suddenly sprints ahead. It's embarrassing when what he says comes out in a flustered mess when he wants it to be a bit more smooth... ]

[ Oh. Oh. Well.

He'd been trying for a cool swordsman look when he drew this up, something mostly cribbed from another game that none of the others probably remember anymore. But... he hadn't really expected that result. Even though every time Ganymede parades a new outfit in front of him, he could just about walk into a wall.

He thinks... he likes this feeling. There's a little smug bounce in his step as he lengthens his stride to follow after Ganymede. ]

Do you want to design my armor next time...?

[ Although maybe the effect this time was mostly from the element of surprise? ]

[ Ganymede, in his extreme non-gamer hours, would never have seen such a design anywhere. Though, he did love fantasy stories and fairy tales...but, he's also not big on watching cartoons, either.

Still, if anyone asks him when memories return he'd say it's the pinnacle design of a fantasy swordsman. No criticism or differing opinions will be accepted.

Right now, for sure the tables are turned. Ganymede is going to be the one walking into walls. Or...enemies, given the three Ochimushas up ahead. ]

...Huh?! [ Oh. Right, a question. ] I-It'd be nice, actually. I'd always wondered what it'd be like to design something you'd wore.

The question is if you'd be prepared for that!?

[ He says that, throwing Michel a look with his cheeks red as a cherry. Ganymede isn't having ideas pop into his head with the other man looking the way he does. In fact, if he doesn't start looking forward again, he might just walk into one of the dungeon walls. ]

"Prepared"? Just... how much skin were you thinking of having me show?

[ The question is all the more imperative now that he's back in his own body... He's well aware that this outfit would have looked more striking on Winter, with his swordsman's muscles, than Michel's rangy build. Not that he has no definition, but, still...

If they actually did find a way out of this place, he might do something about that. In the future. When Ganymede comes perilously near to drifting into the wall, Michel reaches out to snag him around the waist with his free hand. The Ochimushas can wait another few seconds. ]

Is this what it's like to have a charm spell? But it only works on you.

.....

[ There's a small...telling silence to the question, because Ganymede has to gauge how much skin would that be. Is that considered a lot? Not to him, but would Michel consider it as much? He doesn't really know...and this doesn't help with the evading-walking-into walls problem.

Until his knight in shining armor reaches out to snag him neatly from it like Hercules rescuing Megara from Hades' machinations. What if he also just...leans into him a little bit too? ]

Maybe. But you're really charming...just, I get to see more of you in battle right now so it's like, amplified ten times more. Plus, the aesthetic is really not a bad choice fashion wise either.

[ Ganymede really wants to say it's not only because 'showing more skin' but that is part of the outfit/fashion design. So, like. That'd be a whole entire lie. ]

Edited 2023-12-08 22:08 (UTC)

[ Ganymede? That long silence is giving him cause for some concern... Just what is Ganymede picturing in that sunny little head of his? Midriff-baring? Shorts? He certainly isn't swinging a sword around in anything like Ganymede's swirling robes that would bare his legs and everything at one wrong move... ]

I'm glad it has your approval... I suppose this isn't a waste even if I haven't been able to test the armor effect.

[ He needs opponents that charm him, not the other way around. But if Ganymede is leaning in, Michel will lean too and give him a small and soft kiss on the cheek. They're almost done here already anyway. ]

[ With 'Winter's' avatar, some more impractical designs, and somewhat...well, less, maybe. It's fine. Even with Michel's appearance right now, Ganymede would be staring in either one of these outfits. He needs to think harder about this.

...At least flimsy robes are definitely out of the equation. He might have considered a form but for Michel ones that bare his body don't seem like they'd fit aesthetically (but apparently other clothing that shows a lot of skin does.) ]

Oh, right. You'd been hoping to...well, we've still got a lot of time on our hands too. Even if the effects test today was a bust. There's other days...

...And maybe you should consider a career in designing things.

[ Ganymede says, very serious because damn. Anyway, the kiss on his cheek makes him blink and his eyes soften before he returns it by leaning up. Then, pulling away reluctantly, he begins to head towards the three enemies in the distance. Though, not without giving Michel another physical attack buff one last time for the road. ]

.:Oh shit it's November:.

LMSDKLFJS I SAW NOTHING!!

\o/!

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