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

[userunfriendly]

Who ❄ Michel and friends(?)
What ❄ area runs & overflow
When ❄ September and on
Where ❄ dungeons, assorted
Content Warnings ❄ kidnapping, captivity, suicidal ideation, self harm, TBA

⬣ Chasing Sunshine's Two Wings

Comments

i guess a cw for disassociation

[ganymed]

[ 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. ]

[userunfriendly]

[ 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!

[ganymed]

[ With the pressure suddenly off of him, it feels like he can breathe again. Though the adjustment process is taking a bit longer than he might imagine, him blinking more than a couple of times, to the point where he barely registers who is in front of him until he speaks.

He feels the light movement of his shoulders, and then just leans against Michel. ]

I'm...I'm here. [ ... ] Y-You won't leave, right?

[ Ganymede's words come out jumbled, logic frayed. He doesn't even understand what happened. How it happened. Of course Michel wouldn't leave.

Even if he's like this. But he can't help asking anyway and he's shaking his head, trapping to quickly take back his logic into his own hands. ]

I don't know why I asked that...it's stupid.

[userunfriendly]

[ Michel shakes his head slightly, sliding his hands up and down Ganymede's shoulders. Wait, he'd read up on this somewhat, after the mirror incident. Why can't he remember now what you're supposed to do for someone in a state like this. ]

I won't leave. I'm right here.

[ Right. Anchor people in their surroundings... wasn't it? Michel reaches down to take Ganymede's hand in his, rubbing his thumb down the center of Ganymede's palm. Something you feel, something you see...? ]

...It isn't stupid. It was my fault.

[ganymed]

[ Ganymede blinks a couple of more times, and feels the hand in his. He's anchored here. Not anywhere else.

This place...right, he can feel himself grasping his bearings a bit more. It just is a bit of a struggle due to the fact that he isn't quite as put together as he likes himself to be. Even now he only recently acknowledged that those things that happened in the past could not be immediately moved past, but he was making progress to look forward truthfully. ]

Okay.

[ Michel is here. He won't leave. He curls fingers around the hand within his, even though it had rubbing a bit at his. Ganymede breathes, a bit easier now, enough to ask instead of accept that other comment: ]

I...I don't see how it's your fault?

[userunfriendly]

My armor. I don't use it when I'm entering dungeons with other people, but...

[ Whatever explanation he gives can't be more eloquent than what's already on the armor. Although maybe Ganymede doesn't make a habit of checking those.

He'll explain more thoroughly when he's satisfied that Ganymede is recovering a little more. He gently squeezes Ganymede's hand, willing the warmth from his to convey... something. He thinks Ganymede's eyes are beginning to look just a little less lost. What else can he do? ]

[ganymed]

...So basically you forgot to take it off.

[ He holds on tightly to the hand regardless, feeling the squeeze. He's still unreasonably scared that somehow his brain will disperse into the ether and he will forget where he is. That Michel will go away. ]

It doesn't affect you? At all?

[ These armors really are cursed if it's really the source of the issue. He tries to remember some discussion that was had on them...he'll have to think back to it later, though, stringing thoughts are hard even though his awareness and state of mind are back enough to process things. He squeezes Michel's hand finally in turn, but keeps gripping it tight, unwilling to let go. ]

[userunfriendly]

[ "At all"? Michel hesitates for a long moment while he weighs whether he can lie. After all, he doesn't know if it affects him as strongly as others. But if Ganymede checks the description later, he assumes he'll be twice as displeased. ]

I feel it... somewhat. It doesn't feel altogether different, to me. I think the effects vary by experiences...

[ He doesn't think it would hit anyone else quite as hard as Ganymede, because he knows full well what remembered experience ground into Ganymede's entire being it must have evoked. With his free hand he reaches up to run his fingers through Ganymede's hair, tucking some of it anxiously behind his ear. ]

Focus on your senses. What you feel, hear. Where you are now.

[ganymed]

[ Yeah if Ganymede found out later, he'd be more explosive than an eruption from Mt. St. Helens. What gets him, though, is that Michel's feeling this constantly.

No, it's a feeling he's well familiar with, but there are reasons why him feeling it brought to the forefront makes him unable to do much of anything. Feel as if he can't do anything. That's the kind of 'broken' that lies underneath the surface. But, despite it all, Michel can keep acting just fine.

But no he said it varied by experiences...his head hurts trying to think about so much right now. ]

It does? It still doesn't sound very pleasant.

I never cared much before, about making sets, but maybe you should get another one somehow.

[ There was a make your own set or something, right? He feels the sensation of the other running fingers through his hair, and afterwards. ]

...I feel, hear, and see you. [ ... ] Where are we again? A dungeon?

[ His mind begins to perceive his surroundings a bit better now but right now Michel is his entire world. That doesn't sound so bad either, but he thinks he's continuing to process things a bit more. ]

[userunfriendly]

I've been considering it, once I decide what to make.

[ It just hasn't been a priority, around everything else. After this... he might remember to actually get back to it, before he makes another mistake like this.

He makes a quiet noise of agreement for Ganymede's answer and combs his fingers through Ganymede's hair again. Just a steady stream of sensation to focus him and keep Ganymede's eyes on him. ]

That's right. A desert dungeon. There are no monsters here, just us.

[ Not that Ganymede seems to have the capacity to be afraid right now. Michel knows that feeling — that absence of feeling — a little too well. ]

[ganymed]

...I'd have no idea either.

But all black really does suit you.

[ Ganymede's comment is literally unhelpful, he knows it. He blanked out on potential ideas himself. Though, it can't hurt for him to have angel wings...it'd really fit his real name.

He is distracted from those thoughts when he feels those fingers run through his hairs once more. ]

That's convenient. Did you wipe them out?

[ Fear's the last thing he's capable of being right now. Especially with Michel this close. He doesn't even bother to glance at his immediate environment. ]

[userunfriendly]

[ ...No, he's being helpful in his own way. It's more than a little flattering that as Ganymede's thoughts are returning from whatever dark and quiet place they went, one of the first places they settled was on him.

He cups Ganymede's cheek in his palm, making as if to pinch it very gently but in the end just giving him a soft caress. ]

That's one requirement settled...

[ The most important, obviously. The rest, he can improvise. ]

I did. Before you messaged me. When you feel up to standing, we can return to your room.

[ Or his? He can't remember what state he left Ganymede's room is. The specifics don't seem too important right now. ]

[ganymed]

[ Incidentally, when Michel cups his face the way that he does, he feels like somehow it feels a bit more intimate, especially with the gentle touch that follows. It takes him a bit to wonder what he means by 'requirement'. Color, he must mean, he understands quickly after. ]

I can stand now.

[ He moves to stand to his feet because of course he likes both the idea of heading back to his "room" with Michel, and being able to do so at all, even if he does like also the idea of leaning against the other just so. ]

Can we go back to my room?

[userunfriendly]

[ Ganymede is so receptive and cooperative right now. Michel can't help but feel the weight of that responsibility, the edge of awareness that it's both his fault that Ganymede is in this state and that Ganymede is still trusting him to make it right. ]

...Alright. Can you accept my party request?

[ One task at a time, and he hopes that dividing Ganymede's attention between the present and the unreality of the game menus doesn't make things more difficult. Michel rises along with him, winding his arm around Ganymede's waist to support him before quickly tapping through the menus to make a party. As soon as Ganymede accepts, he'll get them back to the Guild. ]

[ganymed]

[ Sometimes, actions have consequences.

At least he doesn't seem angry? It isn't like Michel ran away and tried to deny he was responsible. Not that Ganymede expected he'd show that amount of callousness, though. ]

From you? Always.

[ He accepts the party request right away. After the small bits of things navigated and they're back at his place, it's probably not a disaster from last time? He is, at this time, leaning against the other male thanks to the arm around him. ]

We're here. Maybe we should try to cook up other ideas for that potential armor set...

[userunfriendly]

[ One or both of them have probably cleaned up since then! There's probably even a little extra furniture from before Michel went gathering. And a defense buff potion or two left on the table, although Michel hasn't been doing alchemy himself. Nothing worth wondering about.

He doesn't seem inclined to let go of Ganymede yet, although they're back safely. Instead he steers him gently towards the bed so he can sit down, his expression still pensive beneath his customary calm. ]

I'll take suggestions. Since apparently armor can have area debuffs, I was considering something that buffs the party instead. But your dances already take care of that.

[ganymed]

[ Is that code for Michel trying to give him gifts and be a cute tsun about it? He's adorable. He even has a quiet questioning glance towards Michel about the potions even if he can figure where the furniture came from.

Ganymede firmly plants himself down on the bed, though. He's still holding onto the other's hand at least once he does. The sense of wanting to cling tight is very much mutual. ]

What about something that increases the time of buff durations that can be allowed to the party, and can be stacked with potential accessories?

[ That's an easy one to come along too. Can one imagine elongated buffs time and stacking potential? It can create an easier time running dungeons. ]

[userunfriendly]

[ Is it tsunness? Listen, it's just easy to leave them like that and not make a big deal of things...

He makes a noise of consideration and settles himself beside Ganymede in case he wants to continue leaning. He's not going anywhere else with Ganymede still holding onto his hand, practically speaking. And until he's certain that Ganymede has returned to his senses, he's not letting go of him in return. ]

That would be useful, if the kit can manage it. Then there would be no need to change my equipment back.

[ He does dungeons alone more often than not, but all he needs is solid armor for his solo runs. ]

[ganymed]

[ Sure, Michel. Sure.

Ganymede turns the leaning into a bit of a cuddle, literally rotating himself a bit to manage it, raising his free hand to hold onto the other's back. ]

Anything's possible, right? I'd say it can't hurt to give it a try.

[ ... ]

...Were you the one who set down the potions?

[userunfriendly]

I'll drop by the shop later.

[ Michel might be incredibly awkward about this still, but he leans into contact like a flower — or a particularly persistent weed — growing towards the sunlight. He shifts himself obligingly into the cuddle. ]

Ah... if they're cluttering things up for you, I can leave them in my room. I thought you might have more use for defense boosts than me.

[ganymed]

[ Michel could never be anything like a weed to him. But he does feel a burst of warmth and happiness when the other shifts to make the cuddle more easy. ]

No, I want them here. They're not getting in the way.

[ Ganymede says immediately and firmly. ]

And...thank you. I'll be sure to use them if I need to.

[userunfriendly]

[ Oh. Michel brightens again a little, leaning his cheek casually against Ganymede's hair. He isn't any good at giving gifts, but that wasn't a complete failure at all. ]

Good. I can always trade for more.

[ Kara's going to get more furniture than she can shake a stick at. Or else he'll bribe Fai. ]

How are you feeling...?

[ganymed]

[ It's the opposite of a complete failure, really. ]

How many more were you thinking of getting me?

[ He should be thinking of making Michel something too. Or getting, for that matter. But, he has a hard time choosing when there are so many options available... ]

Better. I think I can stand on my own two feet again, and perceive everything around me well enough.

[userunfriendly]

If you use those up, I mean...

[ Ganymede, don't make it sound like he has no common sense! Keeping a steady supply here is just a reasonable thing to do.

Michel nods, a little more tension easing from his shoulders. He'd just been wondering if he should do something more. Get him a drink, or wrap him in a blanket, or something... ]

I'll leave the armor in my room, after this. [ No more accidents after this one. He's determined. ] ...It's a familiar feeling for you, isn't it?

[ganymed]

Oh, I definitely will.

[ ...Something went over Ganymede's head because he wasn't thinking Michel would get an unreasonable supply, help.

He doesn't seem to need much more, but the blond's also unwilling to let go, and might be a little off in ways that he think seems normal. That's fine too. ]

...You could tell? Or maybe, it's because you know what happened to me, those years back?

[ The feeling of being so broken. But maybe he had also had a feeling when he broke down in this very room. Though his reaction then hadn't been so...muted. ]