[ well. there is. but his profile says he's 25, till, come on!!!! also help have you not heard him... here if you want a few not-very-spoilery lines. ]
No on the stabbing, at least outside Thursday nights. [ well, and one sunday. ] That one was new.
...Maybe look at it this way — if it had been mutual, after it wore off, you'd have to go through the whole song and dance of not knowing if there was actually somethin' there between you or not and potentially thinkin' there was only to find out you were wrong. This way you already know she's not interested and everyone understands the curse was responsible for everything. Less embarrassing than it could be.
[ he looks up from where he's flopped, considering this. ]
...I'd have felt worse if things got weird. I mean, the only thing that got hurt here is my pride. [ ignores being stabbed, that is a separate incident. ] You're pretty good at this advice thing, Fidelio.
[ blinks like really? because he is notoriously bad at managing his own feelings... but he is a strategy guy, so maybe it's not really that ridiculous. ]
...Reckon I'm a lot better at givin' it than followin' it meself, but. I'm glad you think so.
[ he doesn't think anything in concrete terms, and instead there's some flowers that sprout out of nothing but the bartop, red ones with black and yellow centers. ]
Hey, it's something. [ he says, sounding less pathetic. he's easy to cheer up at least. but he'll point at the flowers. ] Uh, by the way, what's going on with this? Things have been showing up whenever my thoughts start to go a little sideways.
Yeah, we get a new weird effect to deal with each week. This one seems... I don't know, a little broader than usual. The same way some concrete thoughts are comin' out as words, it seems like more abstract or scenery-like stuff is comin' out as images when your mind's wandering.
[ that's more fun than randomly forgetting and losing stuff, like he's been doing the last few days. he reaches out for one of the flowers and it curls away before he looks at fidelio expectantly. ]
Ugh, fine. Give me a minute to think of somethin'.
[ there are a few different scenes that cycle through in what look sort of like sporadic splotches from unfinished paintings as they enter his mind and he pushes them back out — the fancy interior of an opera house for a moment, followed by briefer flashes of whatever the fuck (cw for body horror) this thing is, then the cramped and dirty barracks of an experimental facility full of kids from the same tribe as him.
the one he finally lets paint itself all the way is a scene showing a differenttavern, this one with an elaborate underwater theme. ]
[ what the HELL is that thing. a lot of this makes till frown deeply, though the final scene isn't so bad, almost overlaid on top of the modest tavern of reality.
he shoves his hands in his pockets while he steps forward, not quite settled but sorting through what he's seeing and what he's seen. ]
It's called the Nightprowler. A tavern we usually go to whenever we're in Brilehaven — this big port city in our world. Place was founded by a paripus like us, which is pretty rare. Not many have the means to start their own businesses, and it can be hard to keep 'em open when they do, when most of the people with money wouldn't set foot in 'em.
It's got a reputation for bein' a rough place with a big criminal element where lots of shady deals go down. Not completely unearned, but part of it's just stereotypes based on the tribes that tend to patronise it.
[ that is a valid reaction to those things. the thought that comes through, though, that gets a bit of a warm smile from him despite the subject matter at hand. ]
Yeah, pretty much. People what look like Bas and me, we're considered just about the bottom rung of our society. And they've done a good job of makin' sure we stay there.
[ cute... the talk of fantasy racism is less cute. he makes a remarkably sour expression, immediately getting worked up. ]
That's what some of that other stuff we saw on the way as about, right? Well, fuck them! There's always some idiots who wanna stomp all over people to get a leg up.
[ he is buzzing now so he'll go and try to get a drink just to move around like a puffed up cat. ]
[ help he truly finds this kid so endearing. he appreciates the fury!! he is also furious!!! but he's been furious for 20 years so there's nothing shocking about it for him. ]
Believe me, I'm right there with you. Before we died, we were all fightin' for a world where the tribe and circumstances you're born into don't matter.
[ sometimes you just spend your whole life Mad about it!! but this is a clear point of admiration for him, so he situates himself at the bar and looks increasingly curious. ]
Does that mean you're gonna try to go back, once all this is done? I heard you guys might have the chance to revive yourselves?
[ seems like a good reason to pick up where they left off, if they can. ]
Yeah, if that's a real thing, we're gonna do it. [ he's still not completely convinced that it is, but he's trying to be more positive for a change. ] Sounds like they should be able to send us all back to a little before I snuffed it, so we can use what we know now to keep things from spiralling as bad as they did from that point.
Frankly, a lot of this has been its own kind of hell, so I doubt it'll be too rough of an adjustment period.
[ though it's a little half hearted, because while much of this really has been hell, it hasn't all been bad. there are also people he's come to care a lot about, and there's this tavern — their first shot at the dream they didn't know if they'd ever have another chance to realise.
this doesn't come out in his thoughts as clear sentences, but the sentiments are still there, somehow. the overlay of the nightprowler has already faded as his thoughts have come back to his current surroundings. ]
...Most of the time we've been here, I would've done almost anything to get him out of here. I mean, I was grateful we got the time together, but worryin' all the time about one of us gettin' caught up in all this murder and possession shite, it just wasn't worth it. Would've happily stayed here by myself if that was what it took.
But if we do get to go back, I'm glad it's together.
[ and if they don't... he wouldn't mind just keeping this place up together either. ]
...And I appreciate you gettin' invested in the cause of a couple of blokes you only just met.
[ why must i be in w6 wondering if my cute cr is giving me cute tags to die. he seems a little awed as he holds these thoughts and their attached sentiments. ]
Yeah. At least you've been here to protect each other. And you wouldn't wanna end up somewhere alone, right?
[ whether that means going back together, or staying here. Are all siblings like this? They're close. ]
And, i-it's just that it'd be lame for me to sit here while something harasses you guys...
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I'm judging me...
[ he'll take the glass though, thank you. he drums his fingers along it anxiously rather than drinking it. ]
So that happens all the time? People falling in [ guhhh ] l-love and stabbing each other?
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No on the stabbing, at least outside Thursday nights. [ well, and one sunday. ] That one was new.
Yes on the love, though it's... usually mutual...
[ so that was especially painful to watch. ]
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Oh... I see...
[ covers his head with his arms and tries not to die. ]
It'd have been awkward for her if it was mutual so I guess it's better this way... haha.
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...Maybe look at it this way — if it had been mutual, after it wore off, you'd have to go through the whole song and dance of not knowing if there was actually somethin' there between you or not and potentially thinkin' there was only to find out you were wrong. This way you already know she's not interested and everyone understands the curse was responsible for everything. Less embarrassing than it could be.
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[ he looks up from where he's flopped, considering this. ]
...I'd have felt worse if things got weird. I mean, the only thing that got hurt here is my pride. [ ignores being stabbed, that is a separate incident. ] You're pretty good at this advice thing, Fidelio.
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...Reckon I'm a lot better at givin' it than followin' it meself, but. I'm glad you think so.
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Hey, it's something. [ he says, sounding less pathetic. he's easy to cheer up at least. but he'll point at the flowers. ] Uh, by the way, what's going on with this? Things have been showing up whenever my thoughts start to go a little sideways.
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[ that's more fun than randomly forgetting and losing stuff, like he's been doing the last few days. he reaches out for one of the flowers and it curls away before he looks at fidelio expectantly. ]
Show me something cool then!
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[ or, you know, some bizarre nightmarescape, but either way it's all fun and games ]
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[ there are a few different scenes that cycle through in what look sort of like sporadic splotches from unfinished paintings as they enter his mind and he pushes them back out — the fancy interior of an opera house for a moment, followed by briefer flashes of whatever the fuck (cw for body horror) this thing is, then the cramped and dirty barracks of an experimental facility full of kids from the same tribe as him.
the one he finally lets paint itself all the way is a scene showing a different tavern, this one with an elaborate underwater theme. ]
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he shoves his hands in his pockets while he steps forward, not quite settled but sorting through what he's seeing and what he's seen. ]
—Where's this?
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It's got a reputation for bein' a rough place with a big criminal element where lots of shady deals go down. Not completely unearned, but part of it's just stereotypes based on the tribes that tend to patronise it.
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Right... I didn't get all that, but for some reason, people think they can look down on you and shit all over your reputation. That about right?
[ I like it here though... he feels comfy at the tavern, whether it's this one its new overlay. ]
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Yeah, pretty much. People what look like Bas and me, we're considered just about the bottom rung of our society. And they've done a good job of makin' sure we stay there.
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That's what some of that other stuff we saw on the way as about, right? Well, fuck them! There's always some idiots who wanna stomp all over people to get a leg up.
[ he is buzzing now so he'll go and try to get a drink just to move around like a puffed up cat. ]
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Believe me, I'm right there with you. Before we died, we were all fightin' for a world where the tribe and circumstances you're born into don't matter.
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Does that mean you're gonna try to go back, once all this is done? I heard you guys might have the chance to revive yourselves?
[ seems like a good reason to pick up where they left off, if they can. ]
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Yeah, if that's a real thing, we're gonna do it. [ he's still not completely convinced that it is, but he's trying to be more positive for a change. ] Sounds like they should be able to send us all back to a little before I snuffed it, so we can use what we know now to keep things from spiralling as bad as they did from that point.
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We'll definitely beat whatever fuckin' "entity" is out there and get you back then.
[ ... ]
It does suck to go back to hell, though. [ kicks his feet a little from where he's sitting. ] At least you've got each other.
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[ though it's a little half hearted, because while much of this really has been hell, it hasn't all been bad. there are also people he's come to care a lot about, and there's this tavern — their first shot at the dream they didn't know if they'd ever have another chance to realise.
this doesn't come out in his thoughts as clear sentences, but the sentiments are still there, somehow. the overlay of the nightprowler has already faded as his thoughts have come back to his current surroundings. ]
...Most of the time we've been here, I would've done almost anything to get him out of here. I mean, I was grateful we got the time together, but worryin' all the time about one of us gettin' caught up in all this murder and possession shite, it just wasn't worth it. Would've happily stayed here by myself if that was what it took.
But if we do get to go back, I'm glad it's together.
[ and if they don't... he wouldn't mind just keeping this place up together either. ]
...And I appreciate you gettin' invested in the cause of a couple of blokes you only just met.
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Yeah. At least you've been here to protect each other. And you wouldn't wanna end up somewhere alone, right?
[ whether that means going back together, or staying here. Are all siblings like this? They're close. ]
And, i-it's just that it'd be lame for me to sit here while something harasses you guys...