unknownseas | And we're all adrift together through the cold mist, 'til we're lifeless together

[The preparations hit differently this time.

Last weekend was at least an attempt at being festive, even with the light supplies they have; at being joyous, at giving people at least one nice thing to look back upon before things inevitably took a turn for the worse. And now two people are dead, and instead of trying to figure out structure placement and how best to keep everyone entertained and occupied and well-fed, the preparations now are given to much more practical purposes.

Large amounts of bottled water from the machine. Bagels and bread and muffins, light starchy things to avoid forcing anyone to keep meat or seafood down after seeing a corpse. Fruit for the sake of providing energy. Avoiding including bananas for any reason. Quietly pulling aside one of the first people she sees with any experience in the matter and asking them to help her make tea.

Once she's got one of the tables at the party zone set up and the tea is on its way to being prepared, she'll set around letting people know; the invitations are simple, written in Freyja's broad, elegant handwriting:

I think another gathering tonight would be beneficial. Not to celebrate, but to remember; perhaps more importantly, to ensure that no one is alone if they don't want to be.

Tonight is hard. There is nothing further to do but get through it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh? Tell me about it. "The Luminary" sounds like quite the fancy title.

[Hey look, a distraction??]

[A very welcome distraction at that. It lightens Sylvando's mood at the very least.]

Fancy is right! It is a title bestowed upon the bearer of Yggdrasil's blessing, and is often given when a powerful darkness threatens the world. The Luminary is a wonderful, unfailingly kind young man, and I met him during a trip to Gallopolis. After finding out about his little party's quest to vanquish the Lord of Shadows, well, there was no way I wasn't getting in on that too!

[Good, that's what he was hoping for.]

Ah, I can't say I'm surprised by that! [you are such a protag, sylv] Did you all manage to defeat the Lord of Shadows?

[Proud protag right here.]

We did! It wasn't easy, though... For a time, things looked pretty bleak. He did quite a number on poor Yggdrasil, and Erdrea as a whole... [His voice wavers a little there, because that journey also didn't come without sacrifice.] But in spite of it all, the Luminary persisted, and so did we.

I'm glad you all were able to succeed! What are your companions like? I imagine the Luminary gathered quite the interesting bunch!

[.......i mean he's comparing this to yuri lowell and the plucky orphans over there, which is not a favorable comparison, the luminary is definitely better smh.]

Oh, he certainly did! After all, I set a pretty good example, don't I?

[Wink!

At least he was able to muster up the cheer to wink, so that's something...]

He met a few members of the group before me. Erik is around his age, rough around the edges and mischievous, but he's a good kid, and his fierce loyalty to the Luminary is very charming. The other two are twin sisters, Serena and Veronica. Serena is incredibly kind and soft-spoken while Veronica is pretty much her polar opposite with a fiery temper. They're wonderful, and it's fun to watch Ronnie and Erik needle each other from time to time.

[Mmm... A-Anyway, moving on.]

We later met Rab and Jade in Octagonia. Rab is actually the Luminary's grandfather, and the former king of a region that fell to monsters shortly after the Luminary was born. They had been separated then, but let me tell you- their reunion was nothing short of emotional! He's full of spunk for his age and is incredibly knowledgeable of Erdrea's history- something that was invaluable for our journey. If only he didn't have such crude interests... [His expression sours a little there, but he's quick to move on.] Jade is the princess of Heliodor, and was a friend of the Luminary's family. She's the definition of cool, calm and collected, and you certainly wouldn't want to mess with her on an off day! But she certainly has her soft spots.

Last but not least, Hendrik was late to join our merry little crew. I actually knew him from back in my youth, and boy was his reaction to learning what had become of me hilarious. [That's another story in itself though.] Stoic and serious befitting his rugged stature, he has a strong sense of loyalty and justice. He is also very honest, almost to a fault, and is completely lacking in social graces. He's very cute.

[That's also a familiar name, if Yeager's spent time studying the profiles. But it's not from Sylvando's profile!]

My, what a lively bunch!

[Okay, so definitely not the plucky orphans over there, but same chaotic energy. You guys actually had adults though?? Wild.]

Oh, Hendrik... Is he Jasper's... friend?

["friend" is probably not the right word there.]

I recall seeing that name on his profile. He sounds like quite the interesting man.

[He sounds like a knightly type, but that doesn't mean he's actually a knight. Maybe he's Jasper's rival... is that a thing normal people do? He's pretty sure it isn't, but Zagi sure wouldn't shut up about it.]

[Sylvando motions his hands like a scale.]

It’s complicated. More like friends turned enemies? But the way I see it, they’re both dumb boys who could’ve avoided all of the fighting if they had just communicated their feelings.

[...]

Considering what I've seen of Jasper, I'm not exactly surprised he had trouble communicating with his former friend.

[...he did not say "boyfriend" but he was thinking it very loudly!!!!!]

[It's okay Yeager, he hears you loud and clear.]

Right? And Hendrik is as dense as a rock and apparently never noticed Jasper stewing over his feelings until it was far too late, so it really was a recipe for disaster.

Oh dear... Truly a tragedy of missed opportunities... I hope Jasper will learn how to use his words while he's here so he can confess his feelings to Hendrik when he returns!

[oh my god.]

[There is something incredibly Unfortunate about what Yeager just said, but it's not Sylvando's place to point out. Instead, he just smiles and nods.]

I hope so too, darling...I hope so too. With any luck, someone can get through to him. I'd try, but I don't know if he'd be interested hearing any of that from me.

He does seem like the sort to take it poorly...

[Jasper definitely thinks he's in the right here and doing nothing wrong, doesn't he.]

Well, who knows, perhaps you two will be able to talk about it here eventually! Stranger things have probably happened.

Ha, you do have me there. It's just, well...we weren't exactly on the same side before coming here. You know how it is.

[Jasper has a lot of reasons to be prickly at him.]

Oh ja, certainly. He seems well-behaved here though, at least.

[Because let's face it, you all were obviously the good guys.]

He does! It's...nice, honestly. I always thought if circumstances were different, we might've gotten along.

[Not that they're "getting along" here, exactly. But coexisting and being absolutely against one another are totally different!]

Well, at least you have the opportunity to see that now!

[Though Jasper will probably go back to being an asshole once you guys return home... if you return home... Hmm. Well, he's not going to mention it!!]

[Thanks for not mentioning that.]

That's true.

[He quirks a smile, glancing back at Yeager.]

Thank you for humoring me tonight, darling. It really helped to just...talk for a bit. If you wouldn't mind, would you tell me some of your own adventures sometime?

I certainly don't mind sharing my adventures with you, Sylvando. I certainly don't mind providing a little entertainment sometimes~ You can ask me whenever you'd like!

And we're all adrift together through the cold mist, 'til we're lifeless together

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject