MATTERS OF THE HEART

[sticksandbonesmods]

Who: Livio, Wolfwood, Elsword, Mizuki, Add, Heimr
What: heimrquest
When: several days after the bar is built, late in the evening
Where: ???????
Warnings: mentioned child death, mentions of plague, paranoia, supernatural-driven insanity, survivor's guilt, death, possession, impersonation, body horror. more will be added as needed.

The General Store isn't always the most bustling place, least of all in a small make-shift town of only a handful of people, each one more troubled than the last. But at some point, each and every one of you has needed something from Heimr today. Maybe it was just a bag of candy. Maybe it was something more pressing, or some groceries. Regardless, one by one he's tended to your needs, and you leave the store with little fanfare save for the fact that it's unusually foggy out this evening- not enough that you can't see other buildings...

Until you can't.

All around you is a heavy mist, and the scent of a wood fire and warm spices floats through the air. There's no turning back, so all you can do is move forward.

On an OOC note, the Choose Your Own Adventure threads will eventually merge into one group thread. Once this occurs, mod tags will occur after each involved character has tagged, or after 24 hours have passed. That said, if it looks like good banter or development is happening, the Mod will hold off a bit or until dramatic irony strikes.

LIVIO | WOLFWOOD | ELSWORD | MIZUKI | ADD
LAYER ONE
LAYER TWO
LAYER THREE
LAYER FOUR
LAYER FIVE

FIN?

Comments

cw: death mention, illness mention

[sticksandbonesmods]

Aldric almost doesn't want to answer. But he looks up and he sees his friend over Wolfwood's shoulder, alive. Holding his son, waiting for his wife to rejoin them for one last dinner in their house.

"... Your mother got sick, durin' the initial journey. Travelin's no good for illness, so he stayed behind to tend to her... but when he rejoined us when we were building the inn, he came alone. You were his everythin', after that. ... But accidents happen. Before everything went to shit, a dying tree was losin' branches- they'd just break off and fall. Ain't a good way to go, but it was quick. ... Family friends took you in, after."

[lupusxylem]

He stands there and listens. He takes in Aldric's explanation, letting his words wash over him. He feels his teeth grind together, so hard that it makes his skull ache.

"So that's it, then? Even in some..." he throws an arm up in the air, looking incensed but for reasons that are, at least, not directed at Aldric himself, "fucked up past I don't remember, I still didn't get to be normal?!"

[sticksandbonesmods]

"... I truly am sorry. I wish I could rewrite things for you myself."

But he can't. ... Maybe in the next life, after this second fucked up parade of suffering, Heimr can finally take the reigns and give these kids the life they deserved. But for now, all he can do is let Wolfwood lash out, because what can you even say? For all he tries, he's still just a man.

cw: implied child abuse

[lupusxylem]

It's not fair for him to do this, he knows that. But it is really, genuinely fucked up to him just how cruel this all feels. To give him a family, when he already thought it couldn't be anything but fake? To show it to him, this fleeting glimpse of how things not only could have been, but were.

He lifts a fist, scrubbing under his shades with the heel of his hand.

"...guess it ain't like things were any different. Same shitty outcome all over again."

Except...he's wrong. Sure, he did eventually die, but...the Wolfwood- Nicholas, "Nicky"- that Aldric knew wasn't nearly so bitter and angry. He had a lot of loss in his life that he carried with him, but he turned it outward and instead focused his efforts on helping grow the town. He helped the children and acted like a big brother to them, those both with families and orphaned like he had been. He had friends.

It's like Zahliya keeps saying. He came back sadder than he was before, because at least Nicholas didn't suffer a life of suffering, torture, experimentation, and exploitation. He grew up...

Normal, as Wolfwood said.

"...I...I don't know what I'm s'posed to do here. I don't know how you can help me."

Re: cw: implied child abuse

[sticksandbonesmods]

"... T'be honest, I don't know, either. I wish I had all the answers- like everyone expects of me. But... I can promise you you were loved, in both lives. There are people here and there who love you, more than anything. And I am one of them."

Aldric squeezes gently, looking Wolfwood in the eye.

"You've already helped. So do what you think needs doin'. Some of the things you'll see, you'll only be witness. But I trust you and the others who made their way in where they ain't supposed to be. You're all gonna be fine. Promise."

[lupusxylem]

For what it's worth, Wolfwood doesn't look away. He doesn't pull away, either. He has...never had a positive male adult figure in his life. Every single one that's been around has been utter shit, and he doesn't consider them to be people worth respecting at all. He doesn't remember his parents, whoever they were, and only really had Miss Melanie and the other children at the orphanage, many of whom he was a caretaker for. He can think of several infants that he helped raise nearly on his own.

It's all very sobering. Especially when Aldric, with a completely straight face, tells Wolfwood he loves him.

He swallows, his mouth uncomfortably dry.

"I don't...deserve that." Love. His love. He's done nothing but be awful at worst and annoying at best, not just to Ald...Heimr, but to a lot of people.

[sticksandbonesmods]

"Don't you? ... People can only shine with love and support. Am I supposed to hate you when you don't get it?"

[lupusxylem]

"Well you sure as hell shouldn't put up with people like me," comes his reply. "Seems like all I've done since I've gotten here is get into shit."

[sticksandbonesmods]

Aldric almost laughs- "Oh no, the rowdy son of my rowdy friend is rowdy. Whatever will I do. ... You've been hurt. More than I can possibly imagine. You're going to lash out, especially when this place wants you to hurt even more. But I truly do believe you can heal. All of you can. I'm sure of it."

[lupusxylem]

...

Wolfwood's eyes close again, but only for a moment. When they reopen, it's to slivers, looking back at Aldric into those eyes that reflect more of Heimr than anyone else.

"...you're a good man. A really fucking good man," he murmurs, his head ducking forward slightly.

"...and. Whatever I'm here to do...I'll do it. I'll help you somehow."

[sticksandbonesmods]

It hurts to be told that again. But... Wolfwood isn't some bullshitter like that. Especially these days. Aldric smiles softly and gently ruffles Wolfwood's hair, before holding out his hand.

"I don't know what it is myself. But I've got faith in ya. Whenever you're ready, take my hand. You'll find yourself at the next step."

When he does, everything will fade to a soft light before returning to that dark smokey void and the scent of warm spices. Someone is waiting for him.

[lupusxylem]

Ugh. That...sure does make him feel some kind of way. His chest aches, but he's committed now to whatever this is going to end up being.

He'll take Aldric's hand, letting his last chance to take one more glimpse at the past slip away. He's not sure how much good seeing more of it would do him anyway.