FAMILY MEETING 2.0

[succiduous]

Who: Everyone. All Y'all. You Cannot Escape.
What: Info share because I know y'all got the plot
When: Late August, post Flower-Murdering
Where: The Inn
Warnings: triggers should be tagged appropriately in post headers! please and thank you!!


[Gnosis has government assigned himself "guy who bothers everyone about the plot" this time around. He craves information. You have information. You will give the information up during what he's calling a Town Hall, but was previously called a Family Meeting.

People who do not show up for the "what the fuck just happened this month" meeting will not be forcibly dragged into it, but will receive the most Disdainful, Judgemental look. Can you truly stand to be judged so harshly by a 35 year old man... no. You cannot. (You probably can actually he's not that intimidating.)

There are no snacks (currently) but there is freshly-brewed tea by Gnosis himself, and there's a framed corkboard he's brought downstairs (presumably out of his room) with notes on it, as well as some of those mysterious photographs that have been taken of everyone that he's asked to have. You know, so he can piece this puzzle together. Once everyone's gathered...]

Let's get started. Some of you have been here longer than others, so I hope you can volunteer information so we can figure out where we are and why, and anything else we later arrivals might have missed from the collective puzzle. Please try to stay on task.


[[ooc: hi hello this is your share-the-plot-ICly log, with the goal of a) catching up new arrivals and b) making sure information circulates ICly to avoid metagaming. which like that hasn't been a problem but you know, just in case. if you've never done one of these before they function a bit like this where everyone shares important info they've discovered with the class.]]

Comments

[simplicitas]

Wait, Add—!

[...

He's gone. There he goes.

Elsword slides forward in his seat until he's laying his head on the back of it, staring up at the ceiling. Ugh... this sucks. The One Dynamo is there to record things so that they can't shittalk, but Elsword remains oblivious to it, and it's as Add said — he doesn't think before he speaks.]

Maybe I should just stop trying...

[Unclear what he means, but he looks suitably miserable, which is ironic considering the whole emotions thing.

And yes, he has wings, but they aren't always out. They're attached to a ring-shaped artifact that floats slightly off his back, but lately he's been developing sensation in those wings... unclear if that's a bad sign of him and the El bonding too much, since they're literally made of raw magic. Anyway, that is to say that he feels it when she nestles into the wings, if she does at all.]

[amhran]

[ He is definitely gone, but she'll notice the weird lingering sentiment that was on his face - but she doesn't know him. Doesn't really understand what that could mean.

Caoimhe doesn't so much as nestle - but her hand reaches out to touch it for a moment. A sense of familiarity to it when she hesitantly wants to lay her hand along its length. However, she remembers that there are more important matters to attend to as opposed to her body instinctively falling into things her soul remembers but her current body does not. ]

Trying what? Do you mean... Reaching out to his heart?

[mooninthewater]

[ Add leaves, and Mizuki just turns to Elsword and expects him to be able to fix this somehow. He messed up big time, huh? He made his heroes fight. He caused them to be at odds with each other. He did this, he ruined this, he hurt them… He even mistook their relationship for something it wasn’t??? But it’s fine, because Elsword knows what to do and…

…

Ah…?? Stop trying? N…no. No, no, no. That’s not supposed to happen, he’s not— Mizuki twists the umbrella so hard in his hands it’s a miracle the metal rods inside don’t snap. ]

S-s… [ Sorry? What good will that do? Mizuki bows his head far enough down to hide his face before he speaks again. ] I messed up, I-I’ll fix this.

[simplicitas]

[To Mizuki:]

It's not your fault. The blame lies with me. I was the one who was hiding that from him. He... doesn't like to talk about the past, or open up much, so I thought it would make him mad. And it turns out I was right, but I didn't expect him to get mad at me... Like I said, I wasn't thinking.

[To Caoimhe, yes these two thoughts connect i'm crying—]

I want to keep doing that, but since he doesn't like to talk about himself, I don't know if I'm wasting my effort. I... want him to let me in. But I'm no good at this sort of thing, and I never have been. I'm not tactful. I'm not smart about it.

It makes it hard to get close, I guess. And it bugs me, because I want to be. ...that's all.

[hey family meetings are a good time to offload your repressed pining emotions right,]

[amhran]

S-Stop, it is no ones fault. There is so much going on, all around us. There is no need to take blame onto our shoulders, merely take on the strength to make what it is between us stronger. It is okay he is angry and hurt, let him settle his nerves. So should the two of you, less your heart waiver far too much into the darker shadows of your mind.

[ And let yourself be consumed by the beast, yatta yatta her culture stuff. ]

If anything we should take this moment to breathe, you have done so much Elsword and Mizuki too... We are all trying in our own ways, but you cannot force yourself into the heart of others. [ She seems a little frantic, worried for them both. Worried for them all. ] Accept him for how he is - I know that you care for him so. I know this because of the look on your face when you told me you did not want to forget him. [ She takes his hand and pats it. ] These tensions... Lay them into the winds and speak them, so that they do not build up inside your chest. [ She looks at Elsword's beautiful wings. ] That is what the Siren taught to us, speak your heart and let the winds bide them to open ears. I am listening, to you both. We are all here for one another. Let us not forget that.

[mooninthewater]

[ He picks his head back up at stares at the floor. It’s not fair to say it’s not his fault when it obviously is. If he had kept his mouth shut… ]

You’re too kind… But please don’t say you trying to protect his feelings isn’t you thinking. It’s the opposite. Especially when you say you feel like this.

[ Bluntly: ] Why don’t you just tell him you love him??

[simplicitas]

[HHH... Dynamo better be fucking recording this, Elsword still hasn't figured out that there's a single drone monitoring his teenage boy angst—

There's silence, while he thinks on Caoimhe's words, and Mizuki's. It's not like he wants to be silent, but what he wants to say, he can't think of the words for it. Lacks tact, as he says. Bad at this, so he claims.

He sits up and levels Mizuki with a half-confused, half-self-pitying look. Like always, the Illuminous Phenomenon is trying its best to stamp out anything he might feel. He is a construct of the El; he lacks the will to do anything but protect it; why must he fight against instinct? Against fate? Why must he struggle and thrash against the chains holding him?]

It... um. [Excuse the brain static, that question really caught him off guard.] It's...

I don't know what it's supposed to feel like. Or if I'm capable of it. The Illuminous Phenomenon takes away most of my emotions, and there are only a few I feel normally, but it always feels kind of like... [hhh] ...like, when you drop something under the couch and you can't quite reach it no matter how much you try. Even if the Trader is helping me, I'm a long way off from being "normal".

And if I don't know what it feels like, then I'd be hurting him, and that's the last thing I want to do again. He's too important to me to lose.

So I can't just tell him stuff like that. Not until I'm sure.

[amhran]

[ Caoimhe is taken aback by what Mizuki says suddenly - SO IT IS TRUE? ]

R-RIGHT NOW? [ She regards Mizkui very - WAIT HOLD ON NOT YET BRO!! ] Y-You m-musn't already add stresses upon the weights already laid bare. Let them solve the bearings of their feelings here and now, before jumping into the ocean of emotions that come with Love! [ LOVE!?!? It's such a big thing for her people especially like this, who would have thought they were in love? ] It makes so much sense why the two of you gravitate towards one another, how when I spoke to ADD sometime after I had showed you his image.

That he was so interested the moment I mentioned your name, he even spoke with me for some time about you. [ Dabs. ] I had not known, but I suppose it makes so much sense! That is why these reactions, are the way that they are.

[ Caoimhe places a hand upon Elsword, hearing him say the same things Caragh said to her long before, "I don't feel anything." No, but you do it only means that you feel the world so differently. ]

Whatever your normal is, whatever it means to be Elsword. It is okay. [ She nods her head promptly. Hand squeeze!! She looks at Mizuki like! Yes both of you are so valid and there is nothing wrong!! ] I know that ADD accepts you for how you are - even if he said moments before he did not... He was... Upset - it seems so much is eating away at his mind. I am sure we can all understand... It has been a lot at the Grove so far...

I-If it is that, that this is how love feels to you. Then it must be so - but I agree. Knowing and understanding what it is, is so important... I am sure myself and Mizuki are here to listen to your thoughts and whatever feelings are there.

[simplicitas]

[



he what— they what?]

Wait—

[Wait wait wait wait hold on. Now it's his turn to have momentary panic, in that way that he usually has a Big Emotion (through looking 90% less bothered than he actually is). It's clear in his tone, at least; something breaking through the surface, skimming the top of the water. Within reach. Oh God something is within reach and this is Very Bad.]

No, he's not— we're not— [breathe.] He's just my friend, and he's been with our group for a few years, so of course he was interested.

[hhh that's not a good argument—]

We don't— there's no gravity, it's just— we're just like that. [WORSE THAT'S WORSE REEL IT IN.] Isn't love supposed to feel way different? It's supposed to be stargazing and giving flowers and going on dates, isn't it? And caring for—

[Oh God nonononono—

Elsword puts his head in his hands please let him go through the stages of (romantic) grief real quick. He'll bring his head back up in a minute to sheepishly ask,]

So... I have... a question. Maybe you'll know the answer.

[mooninthewater]

[ God, he's gotta get all these losers to play otomes with him. He gives a short glance over to Caoimhe, then back to Elsword. She's a lot more eloquent than he is, but at the very least he can offer some advice here. He has like 20 waifus and husbandos, Elsword, trust him on this— ]

Love is never a going to be the same for anyone, Elsword. It can be stargazing and giving flowers, but for the most part it's just being able to tend to one's emotional needs and wants. Not that I'm an expert on the subject or anything, but… I'll definitely answer any questions you have to the best of my ability. Caoimhe might be a little better than me, though.

[amhran]

Oh! I do not know much of anything when it comes to romantic love, but I do know what of that I've seen from others like Maeve along with the books I read! I have read so many about love - the romances between Knights and their fair ladies are so charming. I did not know aristocrat high life could be such a way... [ She seems to beam excitedly, just friends talking about love. How normal! ] Perhaps we can learn together?

[simplicitas]

[Elsword suddenly like "dare I open my mouth about this in front of all these people", but yeah, he's gonna talk about this in front of God and everybody.

He is pointedly Looking Away, off at one of the walls and not at anyone the fuck else.]

I'm still not sure that's it, [no no he's like 85% sure he's got a Problem on his bisexual little hands,] but...

...

I... this is going to sound bad, but the other day, I had this thought that we sort of... fit... [puts his hands in front of his chest and links his fingers together,] well together. He, uh. Every time he's got his hands on my back... it just feels correct.

[...]

I'm screwed, right?

1/2

[mooninthewater]

[ To Caoimhe: ] Oh, really? Ehehe... maybe I am the most qualified, in that case. [ Finally all his otome obsessions are paying off- ]

2/2

[mooninthewater]

[ But his smile instantly falls the moment he's able to absorb Elsword's words. He was told it was okay and that it wasn't his fault already, but if that's the case, then why does this still feel like Elsword's stabbing little daggers into him with every syllable? He winces, keeping his mouth closed so he can think about what he's going to say since he knows if he tries opening it immediately, he's just going to blurt out another "I'm sorry" and he knows that's not what the situation calls for.

Spoilers: he's actually not all that good at this. He wishes the Doctor were truly here, then maybe he can tell Mizuki how he's supposed to handle this...

It's a lot, though. It's sweet. It's something straight out of one of his VNs. "Being with you just feels right." A feeling Mizuki couldn't relate to outside of his video games. What happened with those routes...? ]

Well, I think... that definitely sounds a lot like it, but... at the end of the day... I think only you can decide that. [ Beat. ] I think the way I would decide is trying to see if I could handle seeing them be happy with someone else.

[ No, Mizuki, that's not healthy--- ]

[amhran]

[ When Elsword speaks, Caoimhe's eyes light up and she smiles more gently. Thinking what he says is truly something along the lines of what is love, and a self discovery of it. However, Mizuki comes to speak and Caoimhe finds herself... Confused more then anything. ]

Y-Yes... I have never had a feeling much like that - but... To fit... It feels right? I am sure you do not feel that way with either Mizuki or myself, no?

[ 'I could handle seeing them be happy with someone else.' ]

Ah, you must be like me then...? [ Cants her head thinking idly. ] My people are... Primarily... Uh, have more then one lover. Though it is usually the women who do, the men do not often have more then another unless they are from the Kingdoms.

.. I myself... [ At this point she seems to get softer and feel a bit uncomfortable, not sure how to speak about it. ] It's not as if any person would share them self with me, [ An honest truth from her, it is hard due to her culture and her status among her people. Known as the Gift of God, but a statement that was "proved" to be untrue. Why would anyone among her people or otherwise, want to establish them self with someone like that? You wouldnt. Not at least romantically. ] if at all one, b-but I have always thought Id rather spend my long lived life with one person. Then have the hearts of many. So it is okay if you feel yourself sadden by the thought of seeing ADD with another, but if it is that you do not mind! Perhaps you are like my people, and would take on more than one lover.

[ Yes! See. She did it. Figured it out. Polyamory. Totally. ]

[simplicitas]

[Elsword is sitting here like "oh no I AM screwed" and yet again his magical amnesia disease is fighting him on this. Uhhhh. Please he's too dumb/oblivious/foot-in-mouth-syndrome to make this work properly at all, what's he gonna do. His emotions are running on empty all the time...

His face feels warm as he listens to them talk.]

I just want to see Add happy at all. Recently, he's been... [...] I mean, I can tell when he's trying to mask how he feels. I see it in his eye and hear it in how he talks.

If he wound up with someone, I'd want to be, uh... what's it, at the wedding, the best guy? [best man—] It's not about having someone like that, for me. I just want everyone to be happy no matter what.

[It's not really an answer, but it's kind of one? Elsword is just like this,]

[mooninthewater]

[ ??? What the fuck do you mean it's not about "having someone". What the fuck. Mizuki can't relate. He did literally just say that love is different for everyone, but also... ???????? Caoimhe seems to understand, at least, though Mizuki is just blankly staring between the two. ]

Umm... I think maybe I don't know much about this part, then. It doesn't really make a lot of sense to me... But I get wanting to see everyone happy. I'm the same way in that regard. However, umm... is Add a weird exception? Not necessarily that you don't want to see him happy, but rather that you want to be the one to make him happy? That you want him to be around because he makes you happy, too? That the whole universe could disappear, but so long as he was there you feel like you belong???

[ Maybe ignore that last part- ]

1/2

[amhran]

Ah! [ Thats it excatly! ] Yes! [ Her eyes seem to glimmer and she grips both of Elswords hands into her own squeezing them gently. ] Precisely! You would want nothing more for them to attain their own happiness with or with out you - all it is. Is that you have such immense love of them, that you would wish to see them succeed. Wish to see them flourish. Wish to know that every part of them can experience absolute glee, knowing full well your heart adores them entirely. It matters not what you are in their life, so long as you get to be apart of it. It matters not what they feel for you, for you wish only to see them smile and see to it their lives made full!!!

Yes Elsword! What is love if not that?

[ Caoimhe seemingly so TAKEN by this fact, looks over to Mizuki casually!! LIKE GIRL DIDNT HEAR HIM AT ALL OOPS!! ]

[amhran]

I am so sorry! Mizuki what did you say?

[simplicitas]

[He would be head in hands right now if Caoimhe weren't holding onto his... sigh. When did the family meeting turn into "give Elsword advice about how he's (allegedly) in love with his best friend who also just happens to be his doctor and probably the reason he's still standing"... on God he can see Gnosis standing over off to the side with Felicity looking at them. He does not need to be scrutinized by a 35 year old man thanks.

...]

If the whole universe disappeared, that would probably be because I failed somewhere. [THAT IS NOT. HOW THIS WORKS.] So I wouldn't think of it like that, but...

I do want to make him happy. I just don't know how. I know what sorts of things he likes, and we've toured most of Elrios and at least half of the Demon Realm together, [not so much a tour as a saving-the-world(s) mission though,] and we've been through a lot... but I guess I still don't understand how to do that. I can't force him to smile, but... I like it when he does, you know?

[shineprism]

( chung has- no idea how things got to be so bad so quickly. he hadn't even had time to say anything, or even process what was happening up until it all

just




exploded.

what does he do? (what does he have the right to do?)

after a moment, chung pulls elsword over, wrapping his arms around the other in an embrace. )

[simplicitas]

[elsword is in his depression era™

He sighs, clonking his head against Chung's shoulder. Chung is warm and soft like mashed potato...]

This is the second time... maybe I'm not cut out for this after all.

[shineprism]

... You're still relearning how to do this. You're going to make mistakes. Everyone does. ... I know you meant well. I imagine... if things could have been more private, maybe it would have been better. But... please, don't stop trying. I know it hurts, but- it means everything that you still do.

( chung is warm and soft like mashed potato, but he is also strong and sturdy against the storm. elsword was always so strong, too. it's all he can do to hold the other now, and try and be strong instead.

what a shame that emotional turmoils are so much more daunting than simple fights and sieges. )

[simplicitas]

[Please can they go back to the Demon Realm it was easier to just bonk Berthe with a sword a couple times. bonk bonk bonk bonk done boom bam fixed it. What is this... why is his life...]

I'm trying my best.

[This is All he can mount as a defense. He's trying. Everyone knows that, but damn...]

I wish I was better at words. I'm really, really bad at them. I don't think that's gonna change.

[shineprism]

You are. And compared to when I first reunited with everyone, you've made incredible progress, Elsword- so please, don't doubt yourself.

( chung is not what he needs to defend himself from- if anything, he is comfort not unlike the tide washing in gently. its just that he's not flowing back to the sea. not yet. not when elsword needs him. )