altimit | POST-GAME IRL PARTY LOG

POST-GAME IRL PARTY LOG

Who: All the living players
What: Reunion party
When: Post-game
Where: ?
Warnings: none for now

[ It has been several months since the incident. Recovering from your body being in disuse for around two months must have been hefty, as well as your other commitments as well. Hopefully, everyone has recovered to an extent, because no matter where you are, the living players will receive the following in their mailbox: an invitation to a reunion party at a location near the beach between the ex-beta testers of Fragment, a bank card, and a 4-digit pin to said card from "Oriade". The invitation card will mention the following:

- A very convenient location nearby you with access to a small, private plane. For security purposes, you'll be told to list your in-game name, real name, and class before boarding.

- The bank card contains $10,000 as some sort of "compensation" for everything that happened because of the Fragment incident. He knows it can't replace everything (like lost lives), but he hopes this will help some people (because some people live paycheck to paycheck and he understands that). Access will be revoked in a month, so you better withdraw it all while you still can. Any unused funds will be returned. The bank will not question you withdrawing all the money from that account nor exchanging it all with foreign currency. (But-- no buts)

- The servers have been located and he knows how much you guys want to destroy these, so the server bash (literally) will happen some time during the party.

Being rich has its benefits, surely. When the plane lands with their luggage and all (if you brought any. please bring some), they'll be taken to a house that doesn't seem like much, but once they walk inside, it is actually very big! There are numerous rooms inside the house. The kitchen is stocked with everything you can think of with some dude(?) preparing all the food (he's the chef. don't worry about him). There is sure to be loads of different kinds of food that can cater to everyone's tastes. Yes, there is alcohol. Get some free rich ass liquor. No, you cannot smuggle any. That dude(?) will be keeping tabs. Sometimes there's a maid or two(? or is that the same one) running around and cleaning up after everyone. If you want something, go get it yourself. Self-service only.

There's a walkway in the backyard that's also wheelchair-accessible that leads to the beach! Enjoy that too.

But for the main attraction, the server burning. ]

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[He holds his face, simply staring for a moment and looking him in the eyes. He’s assessing him, true, but mostly he just… wants to be absolutely sure this is Mehmet.

But he should probably answer his question.]

Nothing, I guess, but I wasn’t sure he’d know to invite you.

[Rich people sure do have it easy, huh… Money solves all problems.]

I certainly didn’t tell him you were still alive.

[ The longer Owen stares, the more bashful Mehmet starts feeling. Though his smile grows as he stares back, Owen will feel the heat under his hands as his cheeks start to burn. Maybe it's the tropical air, but he's way prettier than Mehmet remembers... ]

Seems like he figured that out himself, though.

[ Eh... He won't think all that hard about those details. He leans back up against the wall, as far as Owen will let him, a faint twinkle in his eye. ]

Kiss me again.

Seems like it.

[Or it was a lucky guess. However Oria found him is irrelevant, ultimately, but Owen will have to thank him, later.]

Again? Aren’t you being a little demanding?

[He says, like he’s not going to kiss him again anyways, leaning in and presses him against the wall.]

[ The grin on Mehmet's face widens as Owen leans in. So what if he's demanding? He'll keep demanding kisses until he can't anymore.

He pushes up against the wall and his hand, the one not clutching his cane, wraps around Owen's neck to pull him in closer, to go straight to deepening the kiss. It's weird, because Mehmet doesn't think they've ever kissed romantically before, but now he can't think about kissing him any other way.

...In true Mehmet fashion, he wants to keep talking, too. But Owen's got the upper hand on him here, so he'll just have to wait until he's done shoving him against the wall, he guesses. ]

[It might take a moment, but eventually Owen is satisfied with the kiss and pulls back. His cheeks are rosy, and his eyes and smile are equally bright.

He moves back, giving Mehmet some space, and motions his head down the hall.]

Should we go take a seat?

[Let the poor man with a cane put his feet down... Owen's also fully expecting they'll have some sort of heartfelt conversation, and he doesn't want to do that in a hallway where anyone could pass by.]

[ In the brief second after they part, Mehmet's lips part as he gazes up at Owen, smile beaming all over his face, too. He's about to say something, whatever idle thoughts were rolling around in his mind as they made out, but they're quickly snuffed out when Owen speaks first. It seems his mind still isn't back to its usual speed yet. ]

Yeah. Good idea.

[ His hand drops...to pat Owen on the butt. Go! Lead the way! ]

[Somehow, he wasn’t expecting Mehmet to go right for his ass, so he squeaks a bit at the pat.

He grabs for Mehmet’s hand, to keep him from getting handsy again, and leads them down the hall. At least this huge, sprawling house has a lot of spaces for private conversations, so finding a couch to sprawl on isn’t too hard.

Thanks, rich people.]

Alright, this is good enough.

[For a moment he wonders if going to a bedroom would have been a better idea, but the lounge is good enough.

He takes a seat, patting the space next to him on the couch.]

[ Heehee. The squeak is cute! Watch out, he'll do it again!

Mehmet lets Owen guide him through the house; he'll tug at him if he goes too fast, he can't move as well as he used to.

He'll slowly lower himself onto the couch beside him, pausing for a minute to take in the décor, before leaning against the back. He stretches his arm over the back of the couch to prop his head up and look at Owen. ]

I missed you. I'm...sorry I didn't reach out sooner.

You should be sorry.

[But there’s a lightness to his words that makes it obvious he’s not being serious.

Owen leans against Hector, resting his head against his shoulder.

He didn’t think he’d ever be able to do this - Hector’s death had seemed so final, and when he actually got a reply on Instagram… It had given him hope, but there had been a part of Owen that had assumed that would be where reconnecting ended. Why wouldn’t it be? He could have been fine, not seeing again, not wondering if Mehmet would want anything to do with him in the real world.

But they’re here, now.]

But I think you have a good excuse, this time. You had a harder recovery than the rest of us, didn’t you?

[ Owen leans against his shoulder, and Mehmet rests his cheek on top of his head. It does nothing to erase the little, comfortable smile on his face, which lingers even when Owen brings up the topic of recovery.

He exhales, and it takes a moment for him to find the will to speak. ]

I think...there was a short period of time where I was dead. Declared and everything. They say I was lucky that they decided to do the paperwork first before taking me off life support.

[ It fills him with a weird dread, especially coupled with the vivid memory of actually dying. That could have been it. And it was. But in the end, it wasn't. ]

...I don't remember a lot after waking up. I just know I had to relearn a lot.

[ So yeah. Recovery's been hard. ]

[It's hard to imagine, Mehmet being dead - legitimately so - and only being saved because of red tape. The fact that paperwork for a dead man came first isn't the hard part to imagine. It's the fact that they were so close to losing him and never seeing him again...

Owen had been ready to accept it. He had only messaged his account because he wanted closure, wanted to write off those feelings and air things out so he could move on with his life, and then he's spent the last few months wondering what everything would be like in the future. Amon would still move to California, surely, but then... what else?]

It certainly sounds like you were lucky - not many get to come back from the dead.

[Not in the real world - this sort of lucky break seems like it could only happen in fiction, but Mehmet is solid and real and alive.]

Memories are always fallible things, anyways. Learning who you are all over again or deciding who you want to be... it's not so bad, all the time. And you've got a lot of people who would gladly help teach you about what you've forgotten.

[Mehmet's not starting entirely from scratch, at least. Small mercies.

Owen snorts, gazing at Mehmet, a teasing grin on his face.]

Hopefully that part of you that tries to run away from people helping you is something you haven't relearned yet so we can actually get through your thick skull.

[ It's such a weird feeling. Some days the memories he has of Fragment are so much more vivid than the world around him, he thinks he's dreaming, caught in another digital vision, he finds it hard to really believe that he's safe, okay. Having people around to keep him grounded has been a humbling experience.

Maybe one day he'll go back to being his stubborn old self, prideful and all. But for now, he thinks it's okay to lean on others while he finds his footing again. Quite literally.

Mehmet meets Owen's gaze with a confused little look. ]

What are you talking about? [ He blinks. ] I'll always let people help me.

[ Is he playing dumb or is he really clueless? ]

[Owen stares at him, something like disbelief on his face. He didn’t know the true extent of Mehmet’s stubbornness, but he had seen enough of him to know he was a man who carried far too much guilt and he was going to make it his problem and his problem only.

Headstrong, far too focused on others, holding onto dark secrets… Owen knows the type.

But instead of calling this out, he just snorts and pats Mehmet’s leg.]

Just keep being a good boy and let yourself be taken care of, then.

[ He isn't fully self aware right now, which probably means he's going to be even more stubborn and bullheaded in the months to come, at least until he's reached some semblance of his old self. Owen and Amon have their work cut out for them.

Mehmet reaches to put his hand on Owen's, fingers lacing through his. ]

I'll behave if you're the one taking care of me.

[ And Amon, of course. But that probably goes without saying.

He sighs, content. ]

Talked to anyone else yet?

[It's fine. Owen's trained dogs and Bradley back in secondary school - he can train Mehmet, too.]

Is that a promise?

[Taking care of someone... Owen knows what he's in for, but he knows that he would have never entertained the thought of taking care of anyone besides himself before Fragment. The idea would have been laughable and he would have hated it, so now that it's something he wants to do...

He's changed a lot in the past months, hasn't he?]

Well, I've been talking to Amon as much as I possibly can. I can't say I've been keeping up with everyone, so I'm sure I'll have to make the rounds and catch up during this little reunion.

[He needs to at least hassle Yuui and see how the kids are doing, too...]

Keeping up with everyone from the game seemed like an arduous task with all the recovery and dealing with my family.

Yeah. A promise.

[ Mehmet chuckles and lifts his other hand, pinky finger extended for Owen to take. He'll behave... Well, he's about 95% sure he'll behave, but. It's the trying that counts.

When Owen goes on about his family, it occurs to Mehmet that he doesn't really know anything about his background. Owen just kind of existed in a vacuum in his mind. He has the memory of the mirrors—such a long time ago—but that doesn't mean he knows exactly what relationship those people had with him. Maybe, at this point, he'll get to meet them...? ]

How'd they take the whole thing, anyway? [ The beta, the VR, the coma, the aftermath... He shifts his head to get a better look at him. ]

[A pinky promise... Owen raises an eyebrow, but he'll lift a hand to intertwine their pinky fingers anyways.

As for family... Owen knows his situation is remarkably unorthodox, and Hector only knows so much. He should probably warn him, or explain things - somehow? Hopefully it won't be a dealbreaker.]

I called as soon as I was able to. I think he was more surprised I was calling him than that I got tied up in something stupid that put me in the hospital.

[That's probably just what he expects from Owen anyways...]

We talked a bit, about me going back to England. Just to see everyone again, because... I realized I'm really lucky I even get the chance to, but I'd like for you and Amon to come with me. Kind of already told White about you two, anyways.

[Calling him "White" instead of dad or father is an unconscious choice, but after all of this emotional torture and growth he'd be more willing to admit they're actually family.]

[ Owen's pinky is soft and warm... This is a gay thought. Huh. Is he gay for Owen?

Mehmet's full attention goes to thinking about what the other man says once his hand drops. What little information Owen tells him is enough to form a little picture in his mind—that he doesn't mention a mom or dad or siblings, just a "he" and a guy's name must mean things must be a little unorthodox. Mehmet isn't judging, though. He's just looking forward to learning more about him.

His eyes drift to Owen's, a thoughtful little look on his face. Huh. Invited to meet the family already... There's a weird feeling in his stomach and he doesn't know what it means. ]

Oh, yeah, sure. Of course I'll go. [ He's out of a job but still has some money to spare. But more importantly— ] ...What did he say?

[I don't know. Is he? Owen's probably not the worst person to be gay for, probably.]

He didn't seem to believe it was possible for me to care about a man who was sleeping with someone else, so that whoever the second man might be had to be someone special, too. Second man being you, obviously.

[He grumbles - White jokes and Owen knows it, but it doesn't mean he necessarily appreciates it. It makes it hard to have a serious conversation, which he would usually be glad for... but some things he actually does want to treat seriously. Amon and Mehmet and all of that have become something he takes seriously.

So now he's going to have to deal with everyone teasing him over it, but it's a sacrifice he's willing to make.]

I don't want to admit that it's an understandable surprise, because even if it's weird it's not like it's that weird.

[No, it's incredibly weird, but that's fine.]

[ Though he's dropped his hand, he slowly turns his whole torso to face Owen more fully, and drapes an arm over the back of the couch behind him. He's in prime position to pull him in for a cuddle, but he doesn't. ]

It might be kinda weird, though.

[ Mehmet's slept with both of them, albeit one only exclusively in VR (though it was real to him, for one part), and he's had an inkling that there's been something going on between Owen and Amon. If anything, he's kind of surprised that both of them keep coming back to him for kisses and touches, even aware that the absent third party still exists and is...interested? He's still cautious, now for many more reasons than just the reason why he was expelled from the military; one just so happens to be that messy, complicated situation with Yuui and Sheza. He's not hurting Amon or Owen by doing...any of this, is he?

He shoves that thought aside, for now, because— ]

...You think I'm special?

[ His expression is one of childish curiosity, because Owen thinks he's special...? If he were any less manly he would be blushing. And as you know, he doesn't blush :) ]

[Would cuddles make this conversation any better? Probably not, because this is just...

Owen hasn't stopped to think much about whatever it is between the three of them. It took him long enough to admit how much he cared for Amon - it took him dying (presumably, that is) before Owen could admit his feelings without doubting himself. Knowing he and Mehmet had a thing didn't bother him, because he liked Mehmet well enough. He was handsome, charming, and Owen owed a lot to him even if what Mehmet did for him in New York wasn't much in the grand scheme of things...

But...

He's just been acting on instinct, doing what came to mind first. Teasing him is one thing, and he might have jumped the gun and gotten him wrapped up in meeting the family, and here they are.]

Not everyone comes back from the dead after being crucified in an MMO, so I'd say you're probably pretty special.

[Even though Owen is well aware he doesn't mean in the general sense. Feelings are hard, and honesty is harder, especially because Owen has to think things over.]

...Though if you mean if you're special to me, then I suppose you are. You were a man I was never expecting to see again, much less in circumstances like this, and it's been... strange.

[So, sure, it's kinda weird! It's very weird!]

[ Man, don't remind him about the crucified part.

Mehmet hasn't really given it deep thought, either. He likes both of them, and going over those thoughts again really just reiterates what's been said before, but beyond that? The intricacies of a relationship between three people? Are they even going to have a relationship? Is he even capable of something like that? Not something he's thinking about right now.

He is admiring the way the light hits Owen's lips, though, which is pretty gay. ]

...Yeah.

[ His lips fold into a frown, because to be honest? He didn't either. Those first few months, when his memory was fucked, was filled with him reliving those last few days, weeks in Fragment. So many days he was sure he was never going to see Owen or Amon again. Because he was dead (he was not).

That's not something he wants to think about right now. So instead he bends his arm, the one over the back of the couch, so that he can lean forward and prop up his chin on his palm. A small, fond smile crosses his face as his eyes remain firmly fixed on Owen's lips. ]

But I'm glad I do get to see you again. I feel like...now's my chance to really know you properly.

[Ah. He's really close, and he's looking at him really intensely. Owen blinks, a brief look of confusion crossing his face - he has no idea what Mehmet's looking at, or what's on his mind, so he's a bit perplexed by the focus - but it fades as Owen shrugs it off. If there's something Mehmet wants, he can say what it is.]

I'm not quite sure I'll live up to your expectations - I can certainly tell you anything you might want to know, though. We've got this far so might as well, hm?

[Assuming that there are any expectations he has for Owen. He doesn't know why he would, but it's possible that he thinks better of Owen than he should. Owen doesn't want to drive him away, though, but it's so hard to resist the urge to ruin whatever it is that's happening in this moment. It's a quiet thought in the back of his mind, that if he ruins things now it will hurt less later, but he's tired of being that sort of person.

So Owen doesn't do anything, just sits there with his head cocked to the side as he looks at Mehmet. His eyes are so pretty... It's almost unfair, how they're still so nice even in the real world

Maybe Owen is just also having a gay moment.]

[ All Mehmet knows is that there's way more to Owen than he knows or realizes. And if he's going to keep him in his life, he'd better start getting to know him, right? Who he is as a person, friend—lover, even.

First things first, though, because he's been irresistible in these past few moments. Mehmet closes the distance between them for a deep kiss, one that lingers a little longer than is likely normal or appropriate. Even when he breaks it, he lets his lips linger on Owen's for a little while longer, just to savor the sensation on his. Damn, dude. He's losing his mind.

Another few inches, he pulls back, peels open his eyes, and smiles. ]

So wait, how old are you again?

[ First question. ]

[For once, Owen saw it coming. Maybe he's actually getting better at dealing with this affection stuff, or Mehmet was just more obvious than he realized and getting closer clued Owen in to what he was staring at. Who can say, at this point.

He wants to kiss him again, just throw this entire conversation out the window, but the question Mehmet acts startles a laugh out of Owen. Kisses will come later, then.]

Truly, that's what you're wondering? Worried I'm too young for you?

[It's a silly question! Well. Maybe not so silly, because it's not like Owen looks haggard.]

I turned 30 during the beta. We're not that far apart, I believe...?

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