.:First Party Run, Recreational Runs & More:. [closed]

[ganymed]

Who ⬤ Ganymede and Co.
What ⬤ Dungeon-crawlin', exploring, talking with people. What can go wrong?
Now featuring some potentially cw-worthy memshares, or content involving that.
When ⬤ Following first meetings, and anything related to the below subjects.
Where ⬤ Coiling Friend's Tiny Beast, ΔHidden Forbidden Holy Ground, Root Towns
Content Warnings ⬤ Mentions of drunken behavior.
Further mentions and displays of captivity, kidnapping, stalking, and subjects relating to suicide.


[ Following some enlightening discussions that have more or less blossomed into actual plans, an unlikely band of four adventurers assemble!

Names added to friends' lists, details hashed out, which means one thing and one thing only, that the next point some adventuring is happening. Though, given that it is everyone's (probable?) first time, it seems that there is no way for anybody to choose specific places or areas they might like!

Thankfully, that's what the random Area Exploration mechanic is for.

Ganymede steps forward, and just decides to select a perfect set of coordinates for everyone...



...Not! As if even he can be decisive at this point. He lets everyone know that these are the keywords they'll be working with. "Coiling Friend's Tiny Beast", that is.

So once the Chaos Gate is utilized for them to all cross over...

Welcome to the wonderful location of Coiling Friend's Tiny Beast! Apparently it's an area that has a rocky desert-like appearance that stretches out for miles on end. Not to mention, there is a wonderful-looking flesh wall that is the proper beginning of the dungeon crawling, and entry point into the actual dungeon that is bound to be teeming with treasure and creatures.

But, they're not inside that wall as of yet. ]

RESULTS: Can be viewed here, for our reference!

Comments

[ganymed]

...

[ "Let go then," Are the words that begin to surface, acid on his tongue, recalling the singular room still where someone told him that...'hatred made for a wonderful way to pass time.'

But, he just said he'd never hold any resentment towards Hani for it. It isn't their fault that the world had—has—putrid people in it. Still, there will always be anger in his heart, whether he's conscious of it or not.

He wonders what, in that case, would that mean for his true result? Falling into those waters to become an eternally bitter leviathan waiting at the bottom of an ocean? ]

...Why is it so different now? Do you know the answer to that?

[ He closes his eyes for a moment, feeling on some strangely new stage that he has been assuming has already been reached. But, perhaps that never has been the case. ]

As it is, I don't know how to share those things with anyone. I never learned how.

But, I can tell you it's due to those bastards. They upturned everything ... I couldn't do anything. By the end of it, what else was I supposed to do?

I hated it...I hate the idea of being so weak. Of being nothing but a burden after I escaped. I could never change the past, but I could change the present by how I acted. About how it no longer bothered me. And still...!

[ And yet, all this time, that wasn't true at all. Even if he acts like everything is fine, he can't deny there are days where he feels as if time has stopped. Where there's an anger that sits deeper in his heart, that turns both inwards and outward. Where when he gazes into a mirror, he sees that man's eyes staring back at him. ]

[ganymed]

...I can understand that.

[ He blinks, as the other is holding it out to him. ]

I suppose having more can't hurt. When in Rome, as they say?

[ Ganymede also makes a gesture to a nearby stall too which is also selling some kind of drinks. Something refreshing to go with their snacks, as it were. ]

[ganymed]

[ A lovely montage that is a splendid catalogue of their most memorable moments (no) already, am I right? But, Ganymede certainly knows better, especially given the slight bit of hesitations in the other's tone there.

Yes, there is a bit of firmness he detects, but Ganymede has already managed to take to like a shark that gets a whiff of blood in water. ]

Am I really though?

[ Ganymede asks, while the memories of their trauma still remain fresh. But, he can feel those fingers brush against his hair just a bit, and tries to lean a tad into the gentle touch. Too brief to cherish, and yet definitely memorable enough to commit in his own head that it happened at all. ]

[ganymed]

...Something like that.

Greedy people tend to be selfish. They want more than they're satisfied with, at the expense of others.

[ Oria might be right on this matter. ]

[userunfriendly]

[ Ganymede definitely leaned into that, didn't he? Michel flexes his fingers a tiny bit, but the memory of the party slows his hand. What had possessed him to say so much then? Or to talk about Aimee even obliquely? Now it will look like he's flirting if he starts stroking Ganymede's hair, even soothingly...

The slow-grinding gears of his thoughts delay his response a moment, and he has to blink a few times to get himself refocused. ]

Yes. ...And you're trying to talk me in circles again.

[ Maybe. Probably. Maybe he'll let him. Maybe he should let him. It's easy to talk to Ganymede, almost. Or, at least, to let this directionless banter cover the fact that he has no idea what he's doing. ]

[ganymed]

[ He absolutely did.

As for where they are in all this, that is the question, isn't it? The both of them are stumbling around, in the aftermath of previously unknown—still new—territory. ]

I suppose I was caught.

[ He admits to that, since that is definitely easier than anything else. But so is poking the other male (metaphorically, this time) in some manner of banter. He has no problem engaging in such, even if Michel's still embracing him tightly. Maybe he's testing his luck...! ]

But, I would like to remind you that I do have a good memory. There isn't much I'm likely to forget—or remember incorrectly. I'll be happy to continue pointing it out in this instance—or I suppose I could mention that we both have a hard time conceding defeat in disagreements. That'd be two similarities, wouldn't it?

[dissimulative]

Yup.

[ Oria says that without hesitation. ]

I've met all kinds of people in business and let me tell you, no one wants money so desperately more than they do.

[tinged]

I don’t know. Winter-kun said I care about you. But didn’t I always? Haven’t I always?

[ but hani, as ganymede knows, has always been inherently a creature of selfishness and pleasure. wandering off as they please, living life beautifully, freely.

does truly caring for ganymede now make up for the freedom that was stolen from him? no, not even close. hani understands that at least. ]

I’ve realized now that I never learned how to properly care for anyone.

[ they didn’t need to.

now, they want to. ]

We can learn together.

But I’ve never thought you were weak, Gani-kun. I didn’t know you felt this way, but I don’t believe that feeling this way makes you weak either. The weight of all these feelings is so heavy, how could you be weak?

[userunfriendly]

You aren't particularly subtle.

[ Banter... is good, Michel is deciding. A fixed point of normalcy while other things still seem to be shifting under their feet. It still feels unreal that anyone could see that memory and still want to touch him, and yet, Ganymede hasn't yet signaled that he's ready to pull back. ]

And I'm clearly nowhere near as stubborn as you. [ That, he thinks, may actually be correct. ] But... my memory is quite good as well. So that should make two after all.

[ There are more differences than similarities, he thinks. But even so -- and even though some of the similarities don't bear looking at -- he feels strangely reluctant to put more distance between them by pointing that out. ]

[ganymed]

Of course. It's a fact of life.

It'd be more surprising if you hadn't...

[ Who goes into business to do anything else but make money, he wonders? ]

[dissimulative]

No, but like... in a really pathetic way. Kinda like hanging a dog treat over a dog that hasn't eaten for a while.

[ Oria looks at Ganymede. ]

You think if I did some speech on the podium, some old guys three times my age is gonna take me seriously? Not until I say the s-word.

[ Sponsorship. ]

Then they suddenly make me a king.

[ ew. ]

[fluorite]

[ He eyes the drink stall, perking up at how sweet the drinks seem to be. ]

Ah, a good catch. We should go there too.

[ Actually, he's not gonna wait for Ganymede to agree. He's just going to waltz on over. ]

[ganymed]

You have, but...I suppose I didn't ever expect you to display that sort of care like this. I simply thought you would never.

[ Beyond seeing what happened, being perhaps flippant in the way that he is, even if it would make most people angry. At the time, when Hani visited him in the hospital, when they spoke words that some might never consider to be appropriate, Ganymede supposes that he didn't care that they acted like that. It just meant it gave him a reason to dwell less on what happened, and it isn't like the other looked at him as a pitiful thing.

So because of that, he developed an expectation Hani would never seek answers. To never desire to. Never desire to shake the status quo, in a different way, but like everyone else.

"We can learn together."

...Hani has really changed, haven't they? Hearing that makes him believe that they can try. Not just them, but Ganymede himself. Figure what it means, to properly care for other people, and that means...Ganymede allowing them in. Though, as they continue to speak, there is even more silence on Ganymede's end. He swallows thickly, feeling the slight prick of potential tears.

And finally: ]

I'm...not? I can even be strong, like this?

[ganymed]

I appreciate your vote of confidence.

[ A little bit of normalcy in otherwise almost complete abnormal absurdity of the fact that such scenes are possible to have been viewed before people's eyes...

Either way, Ganymede doesn't think he has changed his opinion of Michel yet—not where it counts. It is inevitable that upon knowing more about another individual, it brings another new point of view, but he will never allow what he viewed to diminish the man's being to him. ]

You're not? ...You have your own determination to see things through. Different from my own.

[ So is that considered a difference after putting together those two similarities? ]

We're both quiet people. No one would call us the life of the party, I'd think.

[userunfriendly]

[ Considering how proud Ganymede had seemed before of being stubborn, that's probably a compliment. This time Michel decides to think it over seriously rather than instinctively brushing it off.

He has his own principles he's held firm on. He won't say that isn't true. Very carefully, he slides his fingers down a long strand of Ganymede's hair. He's finally decided that it feels strange to just stand here unmoving... or, something like that. ]

Perhaps... I know what ground I can't give up at any cost.

[ His stubbornness is in enduring, rather than moving forward. But just possibly he can count that one for both of them. He tilts his head a little at the next, though. ]

Is it different for you when you're dancing?

[ He can't imagine that, personally. The thought of having so many eyes on him makes his skin begin to crawl. ]

[ganymed]

[ ... The expression of his face doesn't need to be put into words. ]

...Then, after which, they're suddenly proclaiming themselves to be your vassals and searching for the nearest softest and most comfortable pillow for you to sit upon.

[ The mercurial attitude of such people are truly the worst. ]

[ganymed]

[ He is considering reaching for it, and then the other moves right on over to the drinks. He'll follow right on over.

Let's say they've got some cool sodas and slushie drinks?? ]

Aren't you in a hurry?

[ Now, to pick what kind of flavor. They've got at least cotton candy, blueberry, bubblegum, and others... ]

[fluorite]

[ He gets a cotton candy slushie for himself, grinning as he turns to Ganymede. ]

Who wouldn't be in a hurry? [ Most normal people, that's who. ] Want me to pick your flavor?

[ganymed]

[ Feeling those fingers slide down a bit of his hair is almost like a victory in of itself; his hair is definitely not short of long strands, and if he were some kind of hamster, he'd probably be wiggling his nose in happiness. Or something. ]

So, we're at four now, right?

[ Also, that is very much a fair question. One he sees fit to answer easily. ]

Yes. I am used to dancing in front of crowds; I think the sheer number of them at times might make you a bit antsy to imagine. But, as a theatre dancer, you can say I'm used to it.

[ Just people better not expect him to go socialize freely with a bunch of others in 'parties' or festivals nowadays unless it has something to do with dancing. ]

[ganymed]

[ Most normal people certainly wouldn't be...though Ganymede isn't rude enough to say something like that in those exact words. ]

Usually people take their time in carnivals going from stall to stall. Curiosity?

[ Or maybe, in a hurry to try to do more in order to help put aside further the remembrance of their traumatic events that they witnessed together. Ganymede doesn't let the thought linger longer than it should, though. ]

...Sure. I don't really have one in mind. Which one are you aiming for?

[dissimulative]

Exactly! You sure sound like you have it rough too.

[ To be able to just say it like that? Yeah. ]

[userunfriendly]

[ This had better not be the way to make a flat Ganymede...

It seems like he's going to get away with that. Or, maybe he's doing the right thing? He repeats the motion, touch as light as a butterfly alighting, not really daring to do more than that. ]

You seem to be rounding up.

[ Although Michel also isn't feeling much in the counting mood. He closes his eyes as he tries to picture it, the pressure of a crowd; despite himself, a tiny shiver passes through him.

Still. He might brave being part of a crowd to see Ganymede dance. ]

I would despise it. But, you... what drew you to it?

[fluorite]

[ He absolutely should, though. ]

Hmmm... I was thinking of getting the bubblegum one for you.

[ Simply because Fai has a feeling that's not a flavor Ganymede would typically go for. He glances over to see if he can tell that he's right just by the look on his face. ]

[ganymed]

[ Flat Ganymede: Coming soon to a universe near you!

Ganymede tries very hard not to lean into the touch but he does just a bit. If Michel notices that, well. It is what it is. ]

I assumed I was counting in whole numbers all along, actually.

[ Ganymede considers counting as a veritable way for them to help pass the time in each other's arms...and maybe his heart skipped a beat at that kind of thought falling into his head with those exact words. ]

All those in my family know how to dance. Having that kind of talent is something to be proud of. But, even if its tradition to pick up the act, I developed a quick fondness for it.

My father, my brothers, everyone...I remember how many times they remarked on my skill. It actually took me awhile to accept it, you know? That I was as good as they said I was. Some things seem unbelievable no matter how many times another person says it to you and they're an absolute fact.

[ He was far too humble at the time and even then, Ganymede thinks he's the type who at times be slower to believe things that most people would. It's always been in his nature, he supposes. ]

[ganymed]

I'm not in the field of business, but...I am actually very familiar when dealing with people who wish to suck up to you.

That kind of attitude is pervasive.

[ For the most part he was (is) used to it. Usually, it isn't much of a problem. The kind of greed that extends beyond performative boot-licking, though, that is where issues can arise (not that it can't in the other scenario, but you know.) ]