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

[mooninthewater]

[ A nod. He didn't have to cut himself off. Mizuki is okay! There's a couple things that are wrong, sure, but he's fine. He's just glad he made it back okay and that everyone at the Grove is alright.

He opens his mouth to try and tell Vash that much, but all that comes out is a strained huff.

...

Right. Can't talk. He frowns a little, patting Vash's back for a moment before he pulls back and digs around in his pocket to pull out his phone. He taps on it a moment and turns the phone around to show Vash. ]

I saw Elsword.

[oleaeuropaea]

[Vash waits for Mizuki to say something.

And waits.

... And waits.

The huff is the first indication that something is wrong, but ever the optimist, Vash wanted to believe it was just... irritation at how ridiculous he could be. But when Mizuki instead starts typing? It's hard not to let his mind race.

It doesn't take long for his fears to be confirmed.]

Mizuki - [He should focus on what is being said, not on his own concerns but - ] What about you? You can't... talk?

[mooninthewater]

[ It's hard not to worry people when he's usually such the conversationalist, he supposes. He's doing his best not to let it bother people. It's fine, after all, right? He's here. He's okay. That's what matters, right?

But he gives a shake of his head, looking more ashamed than anything. He was stupid, and he lost something because of it. It's not like Wolfwood or Felicity where their deaths weren't really their faults...

He types again and turns the screen back to Vash. ] 🌳🌳 took it.

[oleaeuropaea]

[Vash looks over his shoulder. He glares into the forest, silently cursing it for hurting one of the few people among them that could actually be considered a good person. It should have been him. Or anyone else, for that matter.]

I'm really sorry to hear that. Are you... okay otherwise?

[He doesn't mean physically, he can at least see that much. He can't imagine dying is all that good for the psyche though. Especially dying in the way he had.]

[mooninthewater]

[ Mizuki nods, happily holding his phone up again, this time with a smile. ]

Thank you for the concern, but I'm alright.
Nothing important was taken. I'm alive, I remember everyone, I feel fine.
I even got to see my Elsword again.

He wanted to let you know you can't let the corruption win, and that he's with you, even if he can't give you advice. He's sorry about Nai... and doesn't know where he went, cuz Elsword didn't see him that long before he up and vanished from the Garden.

[oleaeuropaea]

[Well, who can argue with a smile like that. And given most of what Mizuki has to say, Vash can't help but smile back. Sure, it's a little sad, but...]

That's Elsword, huh? Always looking out for us. I'll do the best I can, I promise. [And then he stops short. The smile dies on his lips, while his mouth goes absolutely dry.]

What do you mean... he's not there? I thought everyone that died had to, I don't know. Stay in the Garden.

[mooninthewater]

[ Mizuki pulls his head for a moment, unsure what to really say. His theories about it would probably just upset Vash, or cause him to go running head first into the forest with reckless abandon to try and find his brother. Fortunately, he does have a little more time to consider his words now that he has to put them down on his phone and not just blurt things out. ]

I didn’t ask, I’m sry.
People can theoretically leave without a guide, though.
But he hasn’t shown back up in the Garden? So he’s probably okay?

[oleaeuropaea]

[The good news is that Vash has been reconsidering... most of his actions. He's still a little reckless, but he ?probably? wouldn't run into the woods. Okay maybe it's a good idea to keep it from him still.]

I guess so. But the Forest would still take from him when he left, right? So he could be... injured or something out there.

[Hmm, he doesn't like this one bit.]

[mooninthewater]

[ He knows you hero types well, Vash! He knows you're too keen on protecting people at the cost of yourselves. He's seen it from like half of the people here already, and he's very upset about it. ]

Not necessarily! Mister Brook told Fellie that he was out in the forest fending for himself for a couple months. Not corrupted, and mostly okay from what I've gathered??
Nai may very well be in the same situation.

[oleaeuropaea]

[Vash makes a face. He doesn't want to rain on Mizuki's optimism, but...]

No one found Brook's body, did they? [It isn't like Nai, who he buried found and buried.

... but that's not the point. It isn't what he should be fixated on.]

C'mon. Why don't we get you back to the inn or something. You probably need a hot meal or something! And to see everyone that's been missing you.

[mooninthewater]

You'd have to ask Fellie. idk.
Still, he may very well just be out there at one of the star shrines.
You know - that map that Wolfwood and I found with all the stars on it?
It'd be worth checking out... maybe... once we are able to do so safely.

Anyway, I do appreciate it, Mister Vash. I'm really okay, though!!! I'm more worried about everyone else. Have I really been missed...? I don't understand. Why?

[oleaeuropaea]

[At Mizuki's suggestions, all Vash can do is simply... nod. His head is whirling, and he'll need time to really process it later. For now, though...]

Why? [Vash sounds pretty surprised at that question.] I don't think there's a person in the grove that doesn't adore you. You do so much for all of us, how could we not miss you.

[mooninthewater]

[ Sorry for even more stuff on your plate, Vash! Mizuki was trying to be helpful, honest-

Mizuki lulls his head from side to side for a moment at that response before actually replying. ] Everyone does so much for each other here, though, not just me. That's what a "community" is, right?

[oleaeuropaea]

[It's okay, he's great at compartmentalizing.]

You're right. But I don't think we'd have quite the community we do if not for people like you keeping people like me in line.

[Don't mind Vash, he's gonna loop his arm around Mizuki's shoulders and try to lead him back toward the inn.]

But that's more for later! Like I said! Hot meal, first!