altimit | catch all >> september

[ Ah. It's like something clicks in Fai's brain with the way that his eyes widen ever so slightly. That's why Yael hasn't been around. He's sensitive, so hearing something like this would naturally mess with him, especially knowing that he's played a part in it.

Fai will have to go seek him out right after this conversation, but he knows he needs to engage in this first. He needs to see this through, even if his stomach turns. ]

Don't tell me how to feel, Amon. I want you to stay. Whether or not I should want it has no impact on that.

[ Fai will feel how he feels, other people's thoughts on that be damned. ]

Yes, well, allow me to be the selfish one for once.

[ You can't always get your way, Fai. ]

I wonder... if I left you everything, Yuui, would you come to Tokyo and take my snake home with you? I have yet to settle on how to rehome poor Caduceus. She should not have to suffer for my antics.

But I can’t take care of a snake, Amon.

[ Of course he would try, of course he would do it. ]

Her best life is with you. Alive.

She's a reptile, Yuui. She won't even realize that I'm gone.

[ Getting the snake home on a plane would be the toughest part but he'd leave more than enough to pay for two seats, easily first class, to Japan and back. What paperwork would be needed, though? He has to wonder. ]

You'll be able to get the proper tank setup from any pet store. The mice, too. Do get them frozen. Keeping live feed is troublesome at best.

Amon.

[ He finally stands, his fists clench. This is too much, he can’t take this, not when Fandaniel is so clearly planning and thinking this through. It makes him feel ill.

His eyes burn with tears and anger and hurt, but nothing slips, not even as his hands tremble. ]

I’ll go to Tokyo after the beta and stop you myself, you idiot.

[ Strange to see someone actually care but what does it matter? The threat feels empty, but only because Amon knows better. There's something shifty about the smile he offers Fai as he stands and declares that he'll stop him.

If only... ]

It will be interesting to see you try, then, if you mean it, but until then, take care. This game has become far more dangerous than it ever should have been.

[ And then he's turning to go, to leave, taking himself and those ridiculous fish flops with him before this conversation can drag on any further. ]

[ This isn’t the end. Fai won’t let it be.

So, he rushes toward Fandaniel, grabbing onto his elbow to keep him from leaving. ]

I care about you and I want you to stay. I like having you as a friend.

[ He sighs, his grip loosening slightly. ]

I brought Yael to lunch because I wanted all of us to get along. I wanted you to like the guy I was seeing. I know it was stupid, so you don’t have to tell me, but I figured I owe you the full truth.

[ Fandaniel allows it, stopping when his elbow is gripped and turning only enough to look back at Fai. He tries not to let his expression falter but Fai's certainly making this more difficult, isn't he? ]

Ah, well... it's nice to know at least one person will miss me. For that, I am sorry. The lunch, that was just. Yuui, that has nothing to do with this, not really. Some things have happened, that's all.

[ Which is so vague, but intentionally so. ]

This game has helped me see that this is the way for me. I won't turn back from it.

[ Fai wants this to be difficult. He needs it to be. ]

How has it helped you? How? Was it just the deaths? Is that all?

[ Maybe Fandaniel had thought Fai would leave it, would agree with this, but can’t. His heart aches with the need to know, to know if he could have done anything differently. This doesn’t all rest on his shoulders, but… maybe he could have helped prevent this outcome. ]

[ He turns to put a hand on the one Fai has hanging onto his arm. Why does he have to make this harder than it has to be? Why did he have to choose to play this game at all? How difficult this becomes when he has to face someone who actually gives a damn. ]

The deaths did help. I don't feel afraid of it anymore, of letting go. It'll be fine, Yuui, but you... You and Yael, the two of you should stop playing. Go to him, live your life, stay logged off.

[ He doesn't give a rat shit about Yael but if that's who Fai wants to be with, then that's what he should do. He never had to like Yael. That isn't his business, not in the end. ]

Though do be careful. He has a particularly violent streak that he isn't the best at burying.

I'm aware, much like I think you are also aware that I can manage it.

[ After all, Fai is the type to tell someone to go ahead and kill him if they threaten him. Matching someone's crazy is a little too easy for him to do.

His grip on Fandaniel's arm tightens, his fingertips pressing hard into his skin. ]

Do you really think I'll stop playing if the only time I have left with you is in this game? You know me better than that, you jerk.

[ Sorry, Fai. This will be the one time Fandaniel manages to out-crazy you, for the worst. As he continues to hang on, all Fandaniel can do is smile at him. It's a soft smile, at least, with none of that rude smugness or cruel or empty edge to it for once. ]

You make a fair point, I'll give you that, but I cannot guarantee that you'll still like me by the end of this.

[ As soft as that smile is, all it does is make Fai furrow his brows, his own lips pulling into a deep frown. ]

Why do you say that? What do you mean?

Because what will make it easier to let go of me, if not making you hate me?

[ Which may explain his next move, if nothing else. Partly to piss him off, partly to get him to let go, Fandaniel turns towards Fai and steps in closer, his free arm moving fast to reach up and tangle a fist in the front of his warlock robes.

He yanks the taller man down to his level, specifically so that he can kiss him. ]

[ It may be a brief kiss, but it's one that stuns Fai enough that he's frozen in place, wide-eyed, even after he pushes Fandaniel away. ]

...Amon.

[ He could lecture Fandaniel, tell him that he shouldn't be kissing Fai when he's taken and he's well aware of it, but that's the thing isn't it? Fandaniel knows that, knows that this would be the only kiss Fai wouldn't welcome from him.

He's purposefully crossing a boundary.

What else can he even say? ]

[ And with that, Fandaniel doesn't even have to wrench his arm away from Fai. He's pushed away instead and that's exactly what he wanted. ]

Yuui. [ He takes a step away, one arm sweeping behind his back and the other before him and at that point, he offers a mocking little bow to Fai. ] Let us enjoy the last few months we have together but! For now, I must take my leave.

[ Fandaniel pops back up from the bow and turns away, leaving Fine Wine's @ home -- and it's guild leader -- behind. ]

catch all >> september

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