altimit | [ closed ] Winter in September (October, November...) (dungeons + catchall)

[ The sharp-tongued exasperation in Ganymede's replies has become endearing at some nebulous point along the way. Michel isn't even surprised that he pounces on that ambiguity in his own way. But Michel's thoughts are hung up on something else entirely.

Ganymede is worried about him, and worrying about him being hurt over something trivial. But it's not quite that. ]

...Who said it was just for your benefit? I'm doing it because I want to.

[ And as casual as he tries to sound about it, there's weight behind the words. It means something to him. It means a lot to him. ]

I'll agree to make note of it. Will that be enough to satisfy you?

[ It's so strange to be the target of someone else's concern like this. It should feel confining and stifling. But it's not like that at all. ]

B-because...

[ It's only him who's benefiting from it now, right? Even if Michel gets hurt because of it—and knowing what he has seen it isn't just a minor injury. The idea that someone he cares about being put into a situation that is so debilitating makes him feel ill.

Even if honestly, he's touched. Though he looks away for a moment. ]

...It feels like I'm the only one reaping a reward, even if everything goes wrong.

[ And he hates it. But the fact Michel really wants to do this thing for him—really, when he was just having it for aesthetic purposes... ]

Yeah. It will. I'll definitely ask you about it too. And I'll give you proper thanks when you do manage to make the furniture. It's only fair.

You aren't. I haven't—

[ Michel's mouth shuts with a slightly audible click as he bites down to keep that comment from slipping out. He hasn't been able to get any of his jewelry crafts to come out reasonable. But Ganymede is never going to hear about that. ]

...Haven't been beta testing as much as I wish to. If I can create something useful while I'm observing the effects, so much the better. [ Stupid, stupid. Better or worse than just saying how much he wants to make something for Ganymede? ] I don't need any thanks. But I'll... answer whatever questions would put you at ease, later.

[ Your honor, the both of them just may be stupid.

Though he tilted his head for a second when his words seem to halt just for a scant moment there, before, of course, there is an amendment of sorts on Michel's end. So he is like internally, 'oh okay', without realizing two important facts, which he'd be unable to know anyway. For the moment??

But something about the comment seems a little strange. Though he argues probably not? Testing effects can be important too... or maybe he wanted to hear him say 'I wanted to create more things for you,'.

Yeah, stupidity at its finest. ]

I already plan to give you thanks, so there. [ Very mature of him, for sure. He's got this. ] ...I'll remember you said that. Got it?

[ So, does Ganymede also like stupid men?

Luckily, Ganymede's immature and stubborn streak is also infinitely charming to Michel. Would it be so terrible to be thanked? He did want Ganymede to like this... ]

It doesn't sound like I can stop you.

[ Nevermind the subtle brightening in his tone that might be hinting that he likes that about Ganymede. ]

Your memory is good. I resign myself to it.

[ Yes. Yes, he does. He is stupidsexual. ]

Exactly.

[ Ganymede coincidentally hears the slight brightness coming through Michel's tone, and is starting to look at least a little pleased with himself. ]

I was going to be offended if you said my memory wasn't. But, it looks like I won't have to be worried about that either. I'm not surprised though, since you're not the type of person to say rude things without a thought, unlike some people.

[ Sure, the other male is himself about in the way other people might think he's only rude, but Ganymede has already known he's more than that, and felt it too. ]

[ Is it better that Michel says rude things with thought? But he heroically curbs the impulse to ask, because he's the soul of restraint like that. ]

My memory is clear enough for me to realize that I need to choose my battles with you wisely...

[ Because Ganymede is the type to choose all of them, clearly. Although Michel thinks he came out on top of this little skirmish. He'll be able to finish making Ganymede some proper decorations, after all. ]

[ Curb your Enthusiasm: Ft. Michel ]

Is it because you basically lose all your battles with me?

[ Ganymede asks, knowing that's not true. He's just seeing how much he can get away with now, making his expression the face of an adorable, beautiful, and affectionate little punk. ]

[ Since when? Ganymede gets the longest, most deadpan flat look for that.

He really thinks he can just cute his way out of everything, doesn't he? Just because he is, in fact, exceptionally cute? Michel reaches over with both hands and very firmly pinches Ganymede's cheeks (face). ]

[ Since forever, he just might say!

But then he gets his cheeks pinched and flails. ]

H-hey! That's unfair!

Edited (shh) 2023-09-17 20:40 (UTC)

Which part, exactly?

[ Is it because he's winning, huh?

But he doesn't actually want to pull Ganymede's adorable face out of shape. He lets go after a moment, satisfied that he's made his point clear. ]

[ Rubbing his soft face with his own hands right now... ]

The part you did just now!

[ Because that makes perfect sense. Totally. ]

I don't remember that rule.

[ Because Ganymede made it up. Michel is trying to look as aloof as a cat, but he flicks a few glances down at Ganymede. He didn't really hurt him, did he? ]

And what rules do you actually remember?

[ Ganymede doesn't seem to let his hands linger on his face for long, huffing as he lets them fall back to his sides. So he seems fine, at least. ]

[ Ah, if Ganymede is fine...

Then Michel can just give him a little smirk that clearly says, "obviously, none." He can wait in patient silence for Ganymede to interpret it. ]

[ That's it. Recalling a certain technique, Ganymede leaps into action.

By this we mean with his tiny fingers he tries to poke at Michel's sides...! ]

[ This time, he has a shirt? And he's still not particularly ticklish.

He lets Ganymede try it for a moment or two before he reaches down to see if he can capture his hands. ]

So, there were no rules. That's what I thought.

[ UNFAIR ]

I didn't say there were no rules...!

[ He says with a big pout on his face, even as his hands are caught. Maybe he can try to climb him if he lets go of them. ]

[ Michel can see at least that far in the future, thank you. Ganymede's room seems like a particularly poor place to let that happen... Although with the mess of broken mirror still on the floor, he probably wouldn't get all that carried away. ]

Now you're just adding them after the fact.

[ Smash cut to Ganymede tracking down Michel some days later because you better believe that he wants to be certain this man did NOT forget.

But hey at least they've shared kissies and stuff since then.

Wherever he is, Ganymede will find him because he asked where he was and nyoomed on over. So if he's out material picking, the blond will drop kick in. ]

Michel? Are you still at it? What're you picking? I could help!

[ He hadn't really thought twice about sending Ganymede the keywords for the dungeon, especially since he's just harvesting. The rocky desert looks a little bleak, but it yields plenty of trees for his purposes. ]

Did you take up lumberjacking? I'm almost done. I thought oak might be better than beech after all.

[ He can't do much about aesthetic evaluations beyond "Ganymede likes light colors," but it did appeal to him that the oaks grow in fields that share Ganymede's elemental alignment...

He's not really thinking about the fact that he's still wearing his sleek, midnight-black armor that he only uses on solo dungeon runs. ]

Oh, no I haven't. It's too much for my hands.

[ ...

Is he being serious, because this is a game. But either way, Ganymede isn't exactly thinking too much about any potential complications either, because of course it isn't much of a surprise that as he's smiling, adding on: ]

But, I think I can at least give it a tr...

[ Then, Ganymede's feet stop in the ground, because those sure are effects that are probably, no definitely, hitting him at close proximity. Enough that his mouth suddenly snaps shut, and his expression goes blank, his eyes distant. ]

[ Michel snorts, not surprised by that answer in either case. It's entirely possible that Ganymede is just being silly... ]

It's level two. You can just...

[ You know, be moral support. Except that Ganymede stops in his tracks, and Michel blinks in surprise at the sudden shuttering of his expression. Did he do that? ]

...Ganymede?

[ He certainly was, until now!

Ganymede seems to be present, though it's hard to tell if he acknowledges the sound of his name being said out loud. The feelings that have been buried deep are yanked hard to the surface with nowhere to run or hide.

It's an overwhelming feeling. Suffocating, like hands wrapped tightly around his throat. His own. But it's somehow more than that, like he's here, but not.

He feels weak-kneed, to the point where he falls to the ground upon his knees, messy and uncoordinated so that he also continues the descent if not for his hands that hit the ground first when he tips further forward. After a sudden tailwind into positive emotions, being smothered in something so intensely dark, and crushing all of a sudden is a bit more than he can currently handle.

But he does look up at Michel, eyes unfocused. ]

Edited 2023-09-20 23:03 (UTC)

[ It takes a moment too long for Michel to realize what it is. "Just as broken and defeated as you are..."

He curses under his breath, fumbling quickly to strip the gloves from his hands. He's too flustered to remember the menus to unequip; his thoughts take the straightest path they can. The moment the gloves are dropped, vanishing into his inventory again, the broken set bonus should release the effect.

Michel doesn't wait to find out. He kneels next to Ganymede, reaching for his shoulders to shake him very gently. He's been careful not to wear the armor around other people. It would be a harsh thing to inflict on anyone, but on this particular person... ]

Ganymede!

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we are timeskipping now

HERE WE GO

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i guess a cw for disassociation

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