John Constantine (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
scouserer) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
unknownseas2021-02-13 06:30 pm
scouserer) wrote in unknownseas2021-02-13 06:30 pm
(too late) you're at the party
[Well, it's safe to say that trial fucking sucked. Therefore, some sort of afterparty is in order. Constantine is admittedly not good at throwing parties without some sort of liquor or other drug involved, but that's where Data and Sylvando guide him.
First order of business--invites. Upon returning to your rooms, crumpled pieces of paper have been taped to the doors. Written in poor handwriting is the following:]
meet at the lounge
bring whatever you want
[Simple, but effective. The lounge itself has been livened up a bit with Sylvando's help. Some nicely patterned fabric has been draped around on the tables to liven up the place a little, and snacks from the café and vending machines have been placed out for people to peruse.
A few supplies from the first aid room have been gathered, as well, for those who may need it. But perhaps the help is unnecessary, as tomorrow will likely bring another New Years Eve. And with it, another week of despair and frustration.
But for now, they can forget about that and pretend that all that matters is the present.]
First order of business--invites. Upon returning to your rooms, crumpled pieces of paper have been taped to the doors. Written in poor handwriting is the following:]
bring whatever you want
[Simple, but effective. The lounge itself has been livened up a bit with Sylvando's help. Some nicely patterned fabric has been draped around on the tables to liven up the place a little, and snacks from the café and vending machines have been placed out for people to peruse.
A few supplies from the first aid room have been gathered, as well, for those who may need it. But perhaps the help is unnecessary, as tomorrow will likely bring another New Years Eve. And with it, another week of despair and frustration.
But for now, they can forget about that and pretend that all that matters is the present.]
deck
We've got to stop meeting like this.
[He winks, his joking on the subdued side. He can't help but feel concerned, though. Yeager seemed fine at the gathering, but...well, Yeager did find him under similar circumstances last week.]
Mind if I join you, honey?
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I never mind when it's you, you know.
[It's light and a bit more subdued than usual, though.]
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[He formally joins Yeager at the railing, looking out at the ocean in silence for a moment before turning to him.]
Are you up for talking tonight? You really look like you could use it.
[He wants to do what Yeager did for him last week. He can worry about unpacking his returned memory later.]
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[That's actually a genuine question, given the startled look. He thought he was doing fine?? Admittedly, he's been a nervous mess since the motive, but that's. fine. Don't worry about it.]
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Yes, honey. Yes you do. To me, at least. You can chalk it up to my intuition.
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Well, I suppose your intuition isn't wrong. I didn't exactly handle the motive all that well this time around.
[That isn't a secret; if you were present in that meeting, then you saw him being the quietest he's ever been, so at least half the boat probably has some inkling of that.]
But things are better now that I have that memory back!
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[Yeager still seems a little out of it to Sylvando. But...]
If you would rather not talk about it, that's okay. But I do understand. This motive was absolutely awful. Taking something away, just to make us worry if it's real or not...and then having to relive what you had hoped wasn't true.
[His expression falls as he speaks about it.]
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[Hoping it wasn't true, only to remember it... That does sound awful, honestly.]
I knew it was true. For me it was... Well, everything else more or less confirmed what the Captain's note said. So I never doubted it, it was simply... not knowing, I suppose.
[Which makes it sound like it wasn't all that important in the end, which... isn't right. Not at all.]
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[He just kind of started rambling before he knew it. But he listens closely to Yeager's experience...]
If I understand correctly...you kept the majority of the puzzle, just not the main piece that would give you the full picture?
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[It's Complicated.]
...But the important thing is that I have it back now.
[He lifts his shoulders a bit once that's out there.]
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I'm terribly sorry that the Captain took something so crucial, only to stuff it back in. If you're still sorting it all out, I hope it isn't too rough on you.
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[Though neither are pleasant!!!]
I suppose it is something I'll need to sort through properly at some point.
[...which just sounds awful, honestly.]
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[...]
I can hardly compare your problems to mine, but...I just want to offer that though the thought of finally confronting something you've been stewing on for a while can be scary and daunting, you'll feel so much better once you've gotten it off your chest.
[That is some unfortunate wording, Sylvando. Not that he would know.]
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Perhaps something to consider for the future then, hmm?
[No, never. It's not exactly something he can get off his chest, anyway.]
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[His smile is a sympathetic one- he absolutely understands that sentiment. He used to say that to himself all the time...
But he understands that now isn't the time, and that's okay. It's not something one can confront in a night. So he returns his gaze as well.]
You know, how about this? How about you tell me one of your stories like we discussed, hm~?
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[That's a much better topic from the sound of it, and Yeager shifts to prop an elbow on the railing, then his chin on his hand.]
Let's see here... Ah, I know! I've been all over Terca Lumireis and seen all sorts of incredible sights, but when I was just starting out as the leader of Leviathan's Claw, I had to pass through Capua Torim. Lovely port city, with a fantastic view, but it's one of those cities the Empire keeps a close watch on. The guilds and the Empire have never seen eye to eye, so it's not the sort of place I like to stay for very long if I can help it.
It was one of my first times in the city that I was ambushed by a thief! But not just any old run-of-the-mill bandit, oh no. This one was a little girl! Charming, adorable little thing, and she might have gotten away with it had we been in a more crowded area, or had I been less observant. She and her sister tried to escape, but I caught up to them fairly easily and asked them what was going on. It turned out that the two of them were trying to make money for the orphanage they were living in at the time - there were many deaths in the Great War ten years ago, and these girls' parents were among that number.
So I asked them to take me to see the headmistress, and I started personally funding the orphanage. And that's how I met and adopted my daughters!
[THAT'S ONE WAY TO END A STORY???]
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You adopted them on top of funding the orphanage?! [...] You're a father?! Oh honey, I never would've guessed! That's wonderful!
[Holy shit this is so much to process, but like, in a good way?!]
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[feel proud, sylvando, he hasn't actually told anyone else here that gauche and droite are his daughters???]
They're sixteen now, and they'll end up being far stronger than I am in no time! They're members of Leviathan's Claw as well, mostly because they insisted on it.
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Oh my goodness, sixteen! That's close to the Luminary's age- Serena and Veronica too! I could see them getting along swimmingly.
[Scrappy teens who can fight? Definitely JRPG party material if they weren't on the bad guy side.]
It must be quite the experience being the father of teenagers at your age! You're still so young!
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It does not matter just how prepared you think you are to have kids, I can guarantee that you aren't.
[...he still sounds pleased about it though??? droite and gauche deserved better.]
I like to think I learned quickly, though! It helps that they're very well-behaved and patient.
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[He speaks just as fondly though. He loves those kids.]
I'm so happy for you, honey. I'm glad they're doing well.