Who: Mephisto and You! What: Various Top Levels for this + next month When: March-April Where: The Grove Warnings: Will come up where applicable, but body horror, violence, and missing limbs are likely.
[ Till will at least be able to recognize Mephisto has dropped the dramatics. He’s no longer overly sing-song-y or scarily chipper or dead toned. He sounds… calm. His head is down and his eyes are shut and he is just relaxing. He does not know if he’s allowed to, but this just feels so nice.
He isn’t close enough to hear this now, but Mephisto’s exhales occasionally have a little dove-like coo. ]
I never claimed not to be one. It’s your fault for assuming I wasn’t, you know.
If you’re done and just don’t want me looking, it’s fine. My eyes are closed.
[It's kindof weird, him being this calm and quiet. Though, it's not like Till hasn't witnessed it before or anything. This is just especially unique, he feels.
He rolls his eyes at Mephisto's words as he continues to lean back against the wall, facing away from the door. With his head tilting back a little to look up at the ceiling, he ponders what to do.]
Was 'bout to leave.
[Come in, shower, leave. That was the plan. But...
He's never been to a bath house (obviously), and having poked his head in before he showered proper, he knows that there's just this big bath in there full of steaming hot water. You just go in there and soak, he guesses...?
[Till gives an exaggerated roll of his eyes, but doesn't let that deter him from coming in. Dressed already though he is, he wants to get a closer look.
Mephisto will hear the sound of footsteps as Till walks in, the sound of his bare feet padding across the damp floor. The bath itself is about as he expected when he saw it at a glance originally, large enough to hold multiple people comfortably at a time. Mephisto looks so small in comparison in the corner, and honestly you wouldn't clock anything unusual at first unless you were really looking...at least, not until spotting the prosthetics up on the edge of the bath nearby.
Till had suspected as much, when they were traversing through the Forest. He could be bitten by snakes without issue, and he was incredibly slow going the entire time. It makes a whole lot more sense as to why...but more than anything, seeing those black crystals where his legs end is mega fucking concerning. What is that? Till doesn't know what Oripathy is- he's seen Flamebringer's, but he assumed that was just a normal part of him- but now he recognizes it to be the same thing.
He comes closer, just up to the water's edge, and decides to sit down and let his feet hang in the water to soak for a bit. It's really nice, he has to admit.
Till does not say anything for a few minutes.]
Is it normal for shit like this to just be...around? Free for anybody to use?
Well, you said it yourself before. This place is full of "too kind" people. So, yeah, probably. But in my world, there were some public spaces that doesn't require any form of currency, yeah. Parks, some zoos, some springs, libraries, beaches... stuff like that.
[ It's better than normal hot water, which is the only reason Mephisto hasn't just opted to staying at home with a bucket of hot water himself. He imagines there's probably some sort of herbal remedies or salts in the water to help ease one's soreness. ]
[Honestly, Till has realized- through conversation with people- that his world, his circumstances, are some of the actual worst. He at least can say that they don't have Oripathy, and life is relatively...simple, assuming you're with a Guardian who likes humans and wants to take good care of you. But the large majority simply are not. And even IF you're one of the lucky ones, you still don't have free will. You don't get to choose what you do, or where you go.
As he looks down at the ripples around his bare ankles in the water, his eyes catch on the distorted lights reflecting above into the water, and for just a moment they look like they could be stars. He finds himself reflexively touching at the scarf around his neck, rubbing his fingers into it.
He never knows how much to say. How much he's comfortable saying. But...some people have already figured it out, without him ever saying it at all.]
I still don't really believe I've left. You don't...leave. I almost escaped, when I was little, but I went back.
[...]
My world is full of aliens. Humanity is outnumbered a thousand to one.
Ah... [ Mephisto tilts his head. On the one hand, he recognizes that Till is attempting to be vulnerable with Mephisto. He figures it's because Mephisto himself is in a very vulnerable situation right now. But there's something in his head that just wants to push Till away. Even if, out of everyone here, Till is perhaps the person he likes the best.
But he can't have that, can he? Since when was he allowed to have friends?? ]
I hope you don't expect me to go sharing a sob story with you, too, or anything like that. I'm not really the type. But if you're just looking for confirmation, sure! You're definitely not around those same aliens, but that doesn't mean you're not still outnumbered here. We've gotta lotta freaks here, and we're still in a cage. So, you're still not doing great~
Mm. Ain't really a sob story. You said my world must be rough, and yeah, it is.
[That's just kindof the fact of it all. It is, always has been, and he has zero hopes of anything ever improving even with the resistance. No matter if they fight back, you don't simply undo decades and generations' worth of oppression.
Mephisto's words kindof confirm exactly what he's been fearing this whole time, really. That he is still in a cage, and that the people here- though nice on the surface- could turn out to be his enemy at any moment.
...it sucks.]
But I'd take being here over there. Any fucking day of the week.
... [ Mephisto kicks his legs against the water, stirring around the mist and steam as he thinks on this a moment. ] I suppose we're in the same shitty boat, then. 'Cause it's better here for me, too. But there's no life jackets for people like us.
[ Sigh. ]
I don't like this conversation. Surely you must have something fun to say.
None taken. I think everyone is a little bit strange here. I read on the notebook some people are cookies where they are from, and there’s of course us, and it sounds like you don’t even have a planet. That’s a bit strange to me. Especially because my world, despite sounding more advanced than some of the other people here, doesn’t have any sort of space travel. [ Well. Not from Mephisto’s canon point, anyway. Haha- ]
Have you ever heard of a caladrius? It’s a type of fowlbeast.
It's not...not that we don't have a planet, exactly. It's..complicated.
[Fuck if he knows what planet he's even on anymore. Maybe he's been moved between planets in his lifetime, he wouldn't fucking know. The planetary system is vast, and the aliens can just kindof fuck off basically wherever they want, in this day and age.
They have feathers and fly. Hm... If you look at the church, there are some fowlbeasts that hang out on the roof there. It's those things.
Caladrius is a type of fowlbeast, with white feathers and are supposedly very kind and can take illness away from people. That's all just a myth, though. Caladrius are not like that. Because I'm a caladrius~
[Okay the dots are connecting now...he remembers Mephisto pointing out the feathers in his hair, and he's definitely seen more than one of the church pigeons at this point.
Till raises a brow, shifting his legs underneath the water.]
Not many people would just outright be so bold as to say "I ain't a kind person", yaknow.
[But hey, Mephisto IS holding on to that "I promise to be honest" part of the deal.]
Hmm? [ Mephisto props himself up with his hands to let himself sway from side to side. ] I wouldn't call it "bold". I'm just... aware of myself, I suppose. Besides, I already told you, it's the self-proclaimed "kind" people that you gotta watch out for.
[But would Mephisto say that about Sasha, one wonders...not that it matters anymore, since Sasha is both 1) dead and 2) not here.
Till has to concede to Mephisto having a point there. He sighs, looking up at the ceiling where the hot mist rises before dissipating.]
Yeah...I know. Just still not used to it, I guess.
[That genuineness. Not to say people being KIND isn't genuine, just...Till hardly ever believes that anyone could be kind to him, especially when all he's ever been is abused.]
You seem like you already got your shit figured out here, too. You're already making plans and stuff.
It's honestly more embarrassing that the people here haven't gone through these yet. [ They have. Shut up, Mephisto. ] But, no, making strategies and such is just a hobby of mine. I wouldn't say I have "my shit figured out" or anything like that.
[HAHA EMBARRASSING... Maybe Till's just embarrassed that Mephisto was able to construct a whole plan while the only thing constructive HE'S done so far is, uh.
Hide. In the inn...]
Well...better than just sitting around waiting to get attacked. I don't really know why they were so mad about it.
[Maybe because Mephisto was being a little rude in his wording people tend to not jive with that-]
Oh, I know why. [ Mephisto gestures around vaguely, not necessarily trying to imply the bathhouse itself, but the whole Grove. ] This is a tiny community full of people who are here against their wills. They are consistently on edge about an evil entity from the forest that has caused them many problems and even killed several of them - of which their deaths are not even permanent so there's no escaping its torment. They have attempted to make some semblance of a working system between the lot of them so they can feel safe and secure, and the slightest bit of a wrench being thrown into that system scares them.
People want you to be nice, to not try and assert yourself, to take whatever it is that's being thrown at you because it's easier that way! You won't make things worse.
But I'm not that. Especially so, since Flamebringer had made such a big deal about it in that notebook of ours. Really, I should thank him for that. Now I can skip all the niceties out of people and just go straight to the part where people are pissed about the wrench - me.
[Till listens...but even though he IS listening to what Mephisto is saying, something he just. Added in there, with no preamble, catches him so off guard that the rest is a bit of a blur. He sits forward, legs splashing a little in the water as he centers his full attention on Mephisto.]
Hang on, what did you say? How can somebody...die, and then come back?
[ Mephisto reaches around to grab his notebook from his bag, flipping through to Enciodes’ notes, clearing his throat before he reads aloud: ] “The Garden is where you'll end up if you die. Nene brings you back if you do end up here. Do not die. Do not end up here. Coming back will have you giving up something important.”
Doesn’t specify how it happens, just that it does.
[Well, judging by the look on Till's face...it's not clear if he really likes the sound of that. No, dying horribly and then waking up afterwards sounds like a fridge horror he can't fully get behind.]
[ Mephisto speaks without looking over at Till, simply stuffing his notebook back in his back. ]
That thing brought a bunch of people from different worlds and seemingly even universes. It sounds like it's extremely wrathful at that, too. So... Yeah. I'd believe it. What's better than to make sure the person your torturing truly has no escape - not even death.
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He isn’t close enough to hear this now, but Mephisto’s exhales occasionally have a little dove-like coo. ]
I never claimed not to be one. It’s your fault for assuming I wasn’t, you know.
If you’re done and just don’t want me looking, it’s fine. My eyes are closed.
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He rolls his eyes at Mephisto's words as he continues to lean back against the wall, facing away from the door. With his head tilting back a little to look up at the ceiling, he ponders what to do.]
Was 'bout to leave.
[Come in, shower, leave. That was the plan. But...
He's never been to a bath house (obviously), and having poked his head in before he showered proper, he knows that there's just this big bath in there full of steaming hot water. You just go in there and soak, he guesses...?
Till waffles for a moment.]
I'm coming in there for a minute.
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[ Mephisto doesn’t move or try to leave or anything like that. It isn’t as though he trusts Till or anything, he’s just incredibly apathetic. ]
I guess you might’ve missed that part on account of your hearing issues.
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Mephisto will hear the sound of footsteps as Till walks in, the sound of his bare feet padding across the damp floor. The bath itself is about as he expected when he saw it at a glance originally, large enough to hold multiple people comfortably at a time. Mephisto looks so small in comparison in the corner, and honestly you wouldn't clock anything unusual at first unless you were really looking...at least, not until spotting the prosthetics up on the edge of the bath nearby.
Till had suspected as much, when they were traversing through the Forest. He could be bitten by snakes without issue, and he was incredibly slow going the entire time. It makes a whole lot more sense as to why...but more than anything, seeing those black crystals where his legs end is mega fucking concerning. What is that? Till doesn't know what Oripathy is- he's seen Flamebringer's, but he assumed that was just a normal part of him- but now he recognizes it to be the same thing.
He comes closer, just up to the water's edge, and decides to sit down and let his feet hang in the water to soak for a bit. It's really nice, he has to admit.
Till does not say anything for a few minutes.]
Is it normal for shit like this to just be...around? Free for anybody to use?
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[ It's better than normal hot water, which is the only reason Mephisto hasn't just opted to staying at home with a bucket of hot water himself. He imagines there's probably some sort of herbal remedies or salts in the water to help ease one's soreness. ]
...Where you're from must've been rough.
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As he looks down at the ripples around his bare ankles in the water, his eyes catch on the distorted lights reflecting above into the water, and for just a moment they look like they could be stars. He finds himself reflexively touching at the scarf around his neck, rubbing his fingers into it.
He never knows how much to say. How much he's comfortable saying. But...some people have already figured it out, without him ever saying it at all.]
I still don't really believe I've left. You don't...leave. I almost escaped, when I was little, but I went back.
[...]
My world is full of aliens. Humanity is outnumbered a thousand to one.
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But he can't have that, can he? Since when was he allowed to have friends?? ]
I hope you don't expect me to go sharing a sob story with you, too, or anything like that. I'm not really the type. But if you're just looking for confirmation, sure! You're definitely not around those same aliens, but that doesn't mean you're not still outnumbered here. We've gotta lotta freaks here, and we're still in a cage. So, you're still not doing great~
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[That's just kindof the fact of it all. It is, always has been, and he has zero hopes of anything ever improving even with the resistance. No matter if they fight back, you don't simply undo decades and generations' worth of oppression.
Mephisto's words kindof confirm exactly what he's been fearing this whole time, really. That he is still in a cage, and that the people here- though nice on the surface- could turn out to be his enemy at any moment.
...it sucks.]
But I'd take being here over there. Any fucking day of the week.
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[ Sigh. ]
I don't like this conversation. Surely you must have something fun to say.
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Fuck, I don't know. I didn't know what a rabbit was until I got here. Is that fun?
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Yeah. I've never seen an alien so...humanoid. So seeing people like that is...weird. ...no offense.
[Sorry Steph he's trying not to be racist-]
There's rabbits, and dogs, and...dox-solo-ges? And like this weird Hart thing-
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Have you ever heard of a caladrius? It’s a type of fowlbeast.
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[Fuck if he knows what planet he's even on anymore. Maybe he's been moved between planets in his lifetime, he wouldn't fucking know. The planetary system is vast, and the aliens can just kindof fuck off basically wherever they want, in this day and age.
...he pauses though, at Mephisto's question.]
...a. Fowlbeast?
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Caladrius is a type of fowlbeast, with white feathers and are supposedly very kind and can take illness away from people. That's all just a myth, though. Caladrius are not like that. Because I'm a caladrius~
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Till raises a brow, shifting his legs underneath the water.]
Not many people would just outright be so bold as to say "I ain't a kind person", yaknow.
[But hey, Mephisto IS holding on to that "I promise to be honest" part of the deal.]
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Kindness is often fleeting, anyway.
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Till has to concede to Mephisto having a point there. He sighs, looking up at the ceiling where the hot mist rises before dissipating.]
Yeah...I know. Just still not used to it, I guess.
[That genuineness. Not to say people being KIND isn't genuine, just...Till hardly ever believes that anyone could be kind to him, especially when all he's ever been is abused.]
You seem like you already got your shit figured out here, too. You're already making plans and stuff.
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Hide. In the inn...]
Well...better than just sitting around waiting to get attacked. I don't really know why they were so mad about it.
[Maybe because Mephisto was being a little rude in his wording people tend to not jive with that-]
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People want you to be nice, to not try and assert yourself, to take whatever it is that's being thrown at you because it's easier that way! You won't make things worse.
But I'm not that. Especially so, since Flamebringer had made such a big deal about it in that notebook of ours. Really, I should thank him for that. Now I can skip all the niceties out of people and just go straight to the part where people are pissed about the wrench - me.
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Hang on, what did you say? How can somebody...die, and then come back?
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Doesn’t specify how it happens, just that it does.
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Do you believe that?
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That thing brought a bunch of people from different worlds and seemingly even universes. It sounds like it's extremely wrathful at that, too. So... Yeah. I'd believe it. What's better than to make sure the person your torturing truly has no escape - not even death.
cw: disassociation, suicidal ideation
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