The Post Death Aftermath

[mooninthewater]

Who: Mizuki + You!
What: Post-Death shenanigans, returning to the grove
When: After Mizuki gets back to the Grove
Where: the Grove
Warnings: Talk of death, and there's likely other things. Will be tagged accordingly.


[ Moder moving around the Grove in general is something that everyone should notice on a daily basis. A building-sized horror-moose just has that effect, really. But when she is full sprinting through the forest and getting back into the Grove, it's perhaps even more noticeable. Hard to miss you, Moder.

Regardless, Mizuki and Ain returned to the Grove and are... mostly unscathed. Mizuki looks completely fine, actually. Ain is a little scuffed and beaten, but perhaps that's not so easy to see when there's a whole sea jelly clinging onto him.

Though he will pry himself off of Moder and Ain once he realizes where he is and...

...

He has a lot of apologies and hugs to give out. He isn't sure where to begin, really. ]

Comments

Open

[mooninthewater]

[ He supposes the first thing he should do is go around and let everyone know about Elsword and pass on his messages. That's the first thing that's on his mind, anyway. Maybe go check on everyone to make sure nothing happened while he was gone? Oh, definitely go check on the Seaborn in the river. He knows what they did while he was gone, and while the nethersea brand has since receded since he was alive again, he still should go talk with the Behemoth and Sinann and apologize for what they did to their home. Maybe explain that they never wanted to hurt them? Maybe explain that to everyone? Maybe go let Gnosis know he's alive and well and he doesn't have to cope by doing sciency stuff again and forgetting to sleep?

Maybe he's overwhelmed and just happy to be back and feels really bad that he left everyone without even saying anything. He didn't know. He's sorry. He knows it's not a big deal or anything (???) and that probably only a couple people even noticed (????????), but...

Ugh. He can't go anywhere if he's crying, though. So he just kind of... stands dumbly by the forest entrance and wipes away at his eyes instead of actually doing anything productive. ]

[oleaeuropaea]

[Well, good news. You won't have to go very far, Mizuki. Vash is just sort of... pacing listlessly by the edge of the forest, as he's been wont to do of late, when he spots a very familiar sight of blue hair. Honestly, he doesn't even realize he's moving until he's practically on top of Mizuki, and then suddenly he's kneeling down and trying to take those hands into a pair of his own.]

Mizuki? Buddy? Is that really you?

[mooninthewater]

[ Good luck trying to take his hands when he realizes it's Vash. No no, he's getting the biggest hug instead. Complete with little squeezes. He wants to ask how long he's been gone, or what Vash has been doing, or soothe any worries he might've had, but... he's just gonna hold his friend for a little bit. ]

[oleaeuropaea]

[You know what, this is fine. It's Mizuki, and Vash has always had a soft spot for him. Who doesn't, though. Both sets of arms wrap snug around him, tight to the point of protectiveness, without quite squeezing the breath out of him. If the Forest wants to think twice about letting him go, they'll have to go through Vash first, thank you very much.]

I'm so glad you're - [He cuts off. The last thing he wants is to assume Mizuki is okay, when he has no idea what the poor thing has gone through.]

Re: Open

[amethystic]

--MIZUKI!

( which is to say, hi! a flash of pink is running for him, pulling him into a desperate one-armed hug. a little fluffball of a cat is running after her, meowing all the while. just one big long yell, you know the sort. ... she wishes she were stronger, more composed. but she's so relieved she's shaking almost, and tears are already welling up in her eyes. )

[mooninthewater]

[ Oh.

Yeah, remember when he told Elsword that he didn't make that much of an impact here? He's feeling guilty about that right now because he loves Felicity a lot, actually, and knows that she's done so much better as of late. He wants to say how much he's proud of her, but...

He wraps his arms around her tightly and buries his head into her shoulders. At least this time, he's crying, too. ]

[amethystic]

( felicity squeezes him tight, before she lets the both of them just... fall, only keeping them sitting with her own stubbornness. )

... m'sorry. I should have been there. I should have- I'm sorry.

( few know how it feels to die alone in this hellhole, and felicity knows it better than most. if she'd scouted around the house, if she'd been faster, would she have made a difference? could she have helped? )

punches you in the face lovingly

[sesa]

[Sesa has been. Not...doing great. These past 24 hours.

It's really not been that long. Hardly enough time to grieve. To process it all. And knowing Mizuki would (likely) return didn't make things better at all. Honestly, it just made the wait all the more excruciating, because he just didn't know. And then where would he be?

Lost. He supposes.

Anyway, he's cried until his throat is sore. His body aches from it and the seething rage that boiled its way through him over the traitor in their midst who had not only granted new power to the Creature, but had been responsible for Mizuki's death and the suffering of many others. He doesn't particularly care the reasoning. He's never felt the way he does now, but he thinks maybe...

Maybe he understands now. How Elliot felt, in Ibut.

He's been outside, checking up on the River, Sinann, the Behemoth, and the Seaborn. He probably(?) didn't sleep outside near it because of the Nethersea Brand and also Elliot who would have collected him if he tried, but he was this close to doing so. He's outside again planning to head straight back, wanting to ensure the area is safeguarded against whatever sowed all of this destruction.

He hasn't slept. He can't, and probably won't for a long time because every time he closes his eyes, he sees Mizuki's little body, limp and faded in his arms, or in the clinic bed. Gone.

Needless to say, he isn't expecting to see Mizuki there, standing at the edge of the forest. He's back, already. Alive.

It isn't until Moder and Ain step away that Sesa approaches, though it's tentative at first. What if this is all some sort of trick by the Creature, a Nightmare to make him complacent, only to kill Mizuki again right in front of him simply for the joy of seeing his suffering? But as he gets closer, he hears the soft noises Mizuki makes, and grounds himself by focusing on the feeling of foilage crunching underfoot, his own tail slapping the backs of his shins with the force of its movement, like a wary Feline.

...then, he breaks into a sprint. He closes the gap between them within half a second, falls to his knees and skids the extra foot right into scooping Mizuki up into his arms, lifting him completely off the forest floor with him supported against his chest. Sesa says nothing throughout, simply burying his face into the side of Mizuki's hair, holding him as tightly as he can without hurting him. He lets out a sound more animal than human, more dragon than person, that shakes Mizuki's body as it vibrates through him. It's sad and mournful, yet tinged with palpable relief.]

[mooninthewater]

[ Of the people he wanted most to let know he was okay was Sesa. Were he able to think properly on his arrival, he may well have found him first to tackle him with a hug, but… he doesn’t. Because Sesa finds him first to basically do the same thing.

Mizuki wraps his arms and several stingers around Sesa for the tightest hug. His eyes sting with even more tears as he nuzzled his face into Sesa’s shoulder. He’s so sorry. He hadn’t meant to worry him. He’s okay. He’s here.

Words he wished he could say.

Sesa is… such a good friend. He doesn’t wanna do anything that might make him this distressed ever again. ]

[sesa]

[Mizuki could squeeze him until he could no longer draw breath, and he would be okay with that. Just being able to feel him, knowing he's alive...it's enough. And for a while, that's all it needs to be. Sesa kneeling in the undergrowth hugging Mizuki tight, unwilling to let him go for fear he might leave again.

But eventually he's able to find his voice, muffled though it still is against Mizuki's clothing.]

'Zuki. M'...so sorry. I couldn't...save you.

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood holds back, just a little. It's not for lack of wanting to see Mizuki, it's just...he knows he'll be swamped, and given how involved with the shit with Affogato he's been, he feels it's best he wait until all of that has calmed down somewhat. He's been at the forefront of what feels like a hundred controversies in the past week, and he's exhausted.

So he won't be finding Mizuki at the forest so much as probably one of the buildings. The therapy building perhaps, given that's Mizuki's usual haunt. He's seeking him out deliberately, giving a soft knock at the door before letting himself in.]

...Squirt? You home?

[mooninthewater]

[ Mizuki is, in fact, in the therapy building. He's curled up on the bouch because... he's exhausted. Emotionally, mostly. He loves everyone so dearly, but there were lots of hugs and emotions flying everywhere, and he's sure Wolfwood knows how the conversation with Affogato would have vaguely gone. It's a lot. Mizuki cried a lot. He's really tired and his emotions feel like they're exploding.

He's fine, though, really. He sits up when he hears the door and gives Wolfwood the smallest wave. Then he pats a spot next to him for Wolfwood to come sit with him. ]

[lupusxylem]

[Oh, squirt...

Wolfwood shuffles in and closes the door behind him, suddenly aware of just how. Weirdly quiet it is. Usually there's some kind of sound, if not from Mizuki himself, but from one of his game systems, or the TV, or...anything.

Regardless, he will walk over and sink into the open space on the bouch next to him.

...he lifts a hand and gently places it atop Mizuki's head, ruffling his hair a little.]

Good t'see you again. You doin' okay?

[livlaughlove]

[livio was made aware of mizuki's likely arrival by the departure of his rescue party. despite his relief when everyone makes it back, he deliberately hangs back for a bit. like wolfwood, he doesn't want to overwhelm mizuki.

but after it seems like he's wrapped up with sinann and the behemoth, livio will finally approach, if slowly. he gives a small little wave, to see if mizuki is up for more company, or at least checking in. he looks a little different from when the seaborn last saw him, buzzcut and hat and all, but his expression is just as affectionate and concerned as ever. maybe more so, even, given the whole... you know. death thing.]

Welcome back. Missed you somethin' fierce.

[mooninthewater]

[ He'd be doing a lot better if people weren't upset. He knows that it's healthy to mourn and such, but anyone being upset and it being Mizuki's fault just makes him feel awful. Livio at least seems... fine, all things considered.

It's still not stopping him from getting the biggest hug from Mizuki, even if he has a few of the baby Seaborn dangling off his arms. Livio gives great hugs, anyway, so he's clearly going to try and get one out of him... ]

[livlaughlove]

[it's honestly a huge relief to livio that mizuki is up for a hug. the jebbly is gonna get a decently strong one -- of course, not enough to hurt, and very mindful of the babies. contrary to his initial attempt to keep a straight face... liv has been very much not okay with the whole mizuki fucking died thing. it's just that he'd been told that someone was going to fetch him from the garden soon.]

... Y'alright? Need anything?

[mizuki doesn't seem to be short any limbs, which... could be a blessing or a curse, really. livio can't imagine what abstract things might be as horrible.]

Affogato

[mooninthewater]

[ Since the nethersea brand has subsided, the Seaborn are behaving again. Specifically, the one Mizuki had given to Affogato. It lays on his face and occasionally wiggles it's little tendrils the whole while, until Mizuki is actually back in the Grove. Only then does it start chirping at Affogato.

It wiggles, it flops, it pews and plaps it's little tendrils against Affogato's face. Mizuki's back! We can speak to you through him! You should go see him! Pew pew pew pew pew- ]

[submittome]

[ Thankfully he returned slightly after Mizuki was resurrected, so he never learned little blobs can hurt, and upon being placed under house arrest has simply laid on his bed with it on his face.

Maybe hoping it took pity on him and suffocated him.

When it begins to chirp and become more active, he merely blinks and rubs it's small back with a finger. If only Affogato understood laser crocodile. ]

Do you need something, little one?

[mooninthewater]

[ Likewise, it does not understand any sort of language, so it just continues chirping at him until eventually it rolls off of his face in an attempt to start crawling for the door. How do Our kin who go on land deal with this?? It does not have legs. How does it swim through the air? There's a massive cliff (the edge of the bed), but surely it can just swim over

AAAAA FALLING- ]

Open; Behemoth/Sinann

[mooninthewater]

[ Mizuki is going to collect a few of the young Seaborn from the River, too, so he can take them over to the Behemoth and let them apologize to her. He doesn't know if she can even understand the baby chirps, and he knows she doesn't understand people without the bone ring, but he's going to do his best. Hopefully the intention is there. And if not, he's going to hug her snoot afterwards. And the same goes with Sinann, though it's less of a hug and more of a gentle pat.

Of course, you're welcome to come accost him to figure out what all the blue shit that was everywhere was all about. That won't happen again, surely. Right? ]

[sticksandbonesmods]

[They both forgive him, don't worry. They know Mizuki is just a little guy and it wasn't his fault. The Behemoth has seen the Seaborn before, she just lets them climb on her if they want, and she will put her big snoot on Mizuki's leg and bask in the sunlight.]

[mooninthewater]

[ Good, they'll absolutely climb on her and make their crocodile chirps. It's less frantic and afraid, at least, and more just content and intermittent. Mizuki will also be petting her head all the while. ]

Pure Vanilla

[mooninthewater]

[ Mizuki... sort of doesn't want to see Pure Vanilla. Especially after he learns all this was just to hurt him. How cruel. He'd hate to see him. He doesn't want him to be upset. He doesn't want to be another reason he's sad, especially after being gone.

So while everyone gets to see Mizuki after he's back, he doesn't see PV for the first day. Sorry, peepaw.

But the next, he does sheepishly find himself at the cookie house. He doesn't even blorp under the door like he usually does, there's just a very soft knock. ]

[purevanillacookie]

[ And Pure Vanilla is more than willing to give Mizuki the time and space he needs. Of course he heard about Mizuki's return, but with everyone seeking the young man out, he didn't doubt the poor boy would be overwhelmed.

Even as much as he loves, everyone has their limits.

So when he answers the door and Mizuki is standing there, he smiles and reaches out to gently tug the other into a soft hug, before stepping aside to let him in. ]

Welcome back, my dear. Please, come in. Are you hungry or thirsty?

[ Instant peepaw mode. ]

[mooninthewater]

[ He gives PV the tightest squeeze that won’t, you know, actually hurt. He does his best to look up at him and try to gauge how he’s feeling expression to let him know if he’s alright given everything.

The others who have gotten bit must be better, right? He’s probably had some time to think about things. He’s probably tired of being sad. He’s probably trying not to let the forest get to him. Because PV is kind and strong.

…

But it still makes him so sad to think maybe he just didn’t think much of Mizuki’s death. He nestles his head against PV to shake his head no in a way PV can feel it. ]