sticksandbones

🤡

Who: Allen + You!
What: Holy clown boy coming to a Grove near you!
When: Beginning of March
Where: ??? Around
Warnings: None yet, will be in headers as the pop up.

I. I've tasted all your sin (Forest entrance)

[ There is, perhaps, not a single person who would say arriving in the Grove isn't jarring. Some woke up here from their own slumber back home, and that is perhaps the smoothest transition you can get, even even that has yet to be graceful. For Allen, one moment he's holding the hand of his friend, trying to wake him up from what he could only assume was a horrific coma, and then next he's... here. His hand clasps in on itself, and he's suddenly looking around in a panic. He knew that the place he'd ended up may very well kick him out of his consciousness. May lend just the right amount of strength for Nea to pull him out of the "driver's seat", so to speak, but... is that what's happening now? Now, when he was so close to saving his friend?

No.

No, no, no.

The panic sets in as he darts from out of the trees, attempting to look for something, anything that might help him figure out how to get back. It's once he gets into the Grove proper that his eye activates. He has his own questions about that - if he's not in control, where is that coming from? What would his eye see... in his own head? Before he can ponder it for too long, he at least gets one of his answers. What does his eye see? Well.

Death.

It's the first time Allen's seeing souls not attached to something else, but Allen doesn't have time to process that part. Rather, he is trying to remember how to breathe again, because as of now, seeing the horrible visions in front of him - death of his friends, of those he loves, of a fire that isn't really there - all has the air he's trying to get out caught in his throat. It's only once his eye deactivates, the sclera turning from black to white and the red of his eye back to a silvery gray, does he finally have some kind of reprieve from the overwhelm. It's not much. The panic has only gotten worse, after all.

He falls to his knees, gasping for air as if he'd been held underwater for too long. ]

II. You've lost your appetite (for sacrifice) (Timcanpy, the Inn)

[ Timcanpy is a little golden golem. He is here! He isn't sure why he's here, but he is! How exciting! He's gonna...! He's...!!!

...

Where is this!!!!!!!!!! He is going to float out of the inn room he Spawned(tm) in and??? chew on the first person he sees. Hello. ]

III. How can we terminate this parasite (Around the Grove)

[ Fortunately, although the panic attack hits Allen like a train, the fact that he's so fucking hungry does as well. Which means... this is definitely his body. He's not stuck in his head. That's?? Good. Probably. Well, it's not good that he doesn't know where he is, but it's good he's still Him. Does this make sense? No. It doesn't. Fuck, he's SO hungry-

He will very hastily try to find the first person he can and catch their attention with a friendly wave of his normal-looking hand, and in a thick, British accent: ] Cheers! Uh, I have a lot of questions, but... most important, do you know where a bloke might find some food? Preferably, a lot of it?

...

Oh, also, what is that? [ He's, uh, pointing at Moder. ]

IV. If you keep digging up the Host? (Wildcard)
HMU if you wanna do something else pls I have such a strong muse for my baby boy I'm gonna be SO annoying-

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No, it's not you. Don't say such things.

[ Allen supposes it's unavoidable. It's his fault for dragging Link out here and saying he'll show him to do something. To force him to try and have fun. To have Link trust him, even if Allen still hasn't even earned that much. It's sweet that he's trying, even now, to protect Allen's feelings, though. Thing is, Allen feels... guilty.

He gently coaxes Link in for a hug. ]

It's alright. I wasn't intending on leaving you. If anything happened to you on my watch, I wouldn't forgive myself, after all.

[Allen buddy you should never feel guilty about wanting to do fun things with your friends. Who hurt you (Cross Marian that's fucking who).

Anyway...Allen hugs him, and Link- caught off guard- feels his heart flutter like a bird in a cage before he catches himself, yet...of course he's going to return the embrace, because he's Allen. And Allen...he means a lot to Link.

More than a lot, really.]

I'm going to try swimming parallel to the waves instead of towards the deeper water. I think that was my problem, before.

[Because he's at least managing to stay afloat! That's better than nothing.]

If you also find that a wave is coming for you, you can shift yourself upright again. That will help to not go under - at least for these small waves.

[ These aren't your surfing kind of waves, at least. Anyway, Allen doesn't let go for another moment or to, a few waves beating against his back. ]

You have this, Li. [ And he parts with a small squeeze. ]

Edited 2026-03-20 01:52 (UTC)

[Allen you are so soft...soft and gentle and sweet. Ugh. Ughhhh.

Link nods though, taking a moment to gather himself as he treads water before he tries to actually swim a short distance again, this time following Allen's instructions to stand up in the water if the waves get too tall so he doesn't go under again. This time, he manages to swim in a sort of awkward, wide circle, breast-stroking his way all the way back to Allen with a breathless laugh on his lips.]

There! How was that?

[ There is the thought that if his Innocence is on the fritz because of whatever powers that be in this world, using Crown Clown is gonna be rough. Even more so if he can't use it to protect Link if anything happens. Allen trusts himself enough to be able to save him without his Innocence from something as simple as swimming, but the worry is there all the same. He really... relies on it more than he'd like to admit.

It means that he does look just a little anxious if Link gets too far from him. But he does so well! And Allen gives him such a relieved, proud smile. He goes to try and tell him he did brilliantly, and that he's so happy for him, but true to form, Allen never thinks about what he says before he lets it slip out, so- ]

I've never heard you laugh before. I like it.

[Link hadn't even realized he'd done it. Like Allen, it just sortof...slipped out? And now he's staring back at Allen for a moment like he's not sure how to reply, stumbling briefly over his words before he manages to say anything at all.]

O-oh? I...I suppose not.

[I like it? How on earth is he supposed to take that?]

Better that you're fond of it than find it annoying, ah..haha...

[FOND???]

Ahem. I'm...having a good time.

...? [ Is Link out of breath? Or. Or is he embarrassed? Had he not meant to laugh? Oh, he's being very awkward, too, suddenly??? Allen may miss social cues occasionally, but at least here he's noticing something is out of place. He supposes he could chalk this up to Link still being a bit tense from being out in the water?

Ugh. He's so cute, whatever the case. Allen isn't going to survive today, probably. Sorry, Kanda. Good luck, babe- ]

I'm glad you are! I am, too! Oh, but perhaps that's a given? I enjoy our time together, always. I just wish Kanda had stuck around, and it really would just be perfect.

You picked up the motions very fast, by the way. You did brilliantly!

Thank you, Allen. Swimming isn't that hard after all, turns out.

[Bold words for a man who nearly drowned twice just now.]

Speaking of Kanda, maybe we could try swimming to wherever he ended up...?

[Kanda out there swimming around like a fish WITH the fish.]

[Don't worry, Kanda has stuck close and has heard all of this. Also Tim has recorded footage of weird creatures in the sea. Unfortunately Kanda's man-bun has not withstood the ocean waves so he's very much going to look like the Grudge Girl when he surfaces in a second here.

Speaking of, the watermelon whale shark seems to have finally fucked off, and if Link and Allen aren't paying attention Kanda will silently swim up to them and then pop out of the water behind them.]

Boo.

...Speak of the Devil and he shall appear.

[ Which is to say, Allen is turning to Kanda and blinking just a little dumbly at him. Hi, you look like shit, dude- ]

[Well. Link fortunately doesn't, like...fall into the water again, but he does startle slightly when Kanda appears out of nowhere like the fucking grudge. Eugh.]

Hh- where have you been??

Around.

[Kanda is slicking his hair back with one hand and holding his wet bangs out of his face, wearing that stupid-ass smirk he gets sometimes. Haha he Got you.]

Miss me?

[ ...

Reaches behind Kanda's head...

...flips the rest of his hair into his face. ]

Hehe. You missed it, Li picked it up very quickly.

[Hey Allen, remember how you said you liked the sound of Link's laugh? You get to hear it again, except now it's more of a snort than anything.]

It wasn't so hard.

Pwwff—

[Brat. He flips his hair back into place and takes the tie off his wrist to start putting it back up. So much for the bun idea, truly.]

I didn't miss it, I was watching the entire time. I said I wasn't intending to let him drown, remember?

[ He wants to kiss your stupid face so bad right now, Yu Kanda. This is bullying. Allen is being bullied- ]

Oh, so you’re just saying you didn’ bloody trust me then, innit??? I see.

[ Tim pops out of the water with an audible “Gweh!” as he surfaces. Hello, Tim. Get Allen pats. ]

I’m glad you stuck close by. I was worried we’d have to go wrestle the sirens to get you.

Edited 2026-03-20 03:55 (UTC)

[As Tim resurfaces, Atuuda floats over (he's been floating around this whole time I just forgor about him), gurgling at him like :) hi my Master did not drown look at him]

Did we want to swim more, or do you two want to collect some firewood so I can get dinner started?

The sirens are much further out than I went, I think. They're definitely not this close to the shore.

[...hm. Dinner. Allen's probably going to want dinner, so:]

Yeah, I saw firewood near the cliffside past that crystal cave, not that far from here.

You know I won’t say no to dinner. Besides, it isn’t like the water is going anywhere. But we shouldn’t let Kanda’s food endeavors go to waste…

[ He would also like to sit around and rotate today around in his head 100 times to analyze it and his feelings, thank you. ]

[Right then! Link is going to wade to the shallower waters and stand up again, finding that his own hairtie has fallen out. So enjoy watching him pull it free and shake his mane apart. He’ll pull it back up before he starts cooking but for now…longe.]

I’ll go work on cleaning the fish in the meantime, then. Call me when the fire’s ready.

Sounds good.

[Alright he sees you and your fucking mane. After watching you and Allen flirt for the last half hour he's pretty sure the fruity is coming from Inside the house, but whatever man. Straight people regularly have hair like yours yep mmhmm.

Off he goes, though. He's gonna get firewood :) bye]

[ Allen has seen his hair down a few times. They’ve roomed together for ages now. And yet, he still finds himself staring, even now. Realistically, at both of them. They have such long and pretty and smooth hair. Allen grew his hair out and looked like a matted cat. He’s a little jealous they can rock that look. Or maybe he’s just admiring the both of them for looking so good??

Ugh. He knows they talked about separating to do productive things, but also. What the fuck. Why are his boys separating AGAIN. Ggghh. He supposes it’s fine, since he should really stop making a fool of himself in front of Link, but also goddamn. He bows his head to Link, leaving him with a “holler if you need us”, and catches up with Kanda.

Basically the moment Link is out of earshot, Allen lets out a disgruntled sigh. ]

If you were watching, you really should’ve stopped me from making a fool out of myself like that. I know I’m a clown, but even that was too much.

[Allen if you don't want them to split up then SAY SOMETHING DUDE—]

Doing what? He looked like he was mid crisis whenever you touched him.

[He sees you, you fruit basket.]

It was hilarious. [be nice.]

[ ITS THE CORRECT THING TO DO ALLEN IS JUST POUTING— ]

I know, I saw! [ So was Allen, but that’s not surprising anyone. ] But you know how he is! He- he’s so loyal to his beliefs. I can’t keep…

Ugh.

We’re friends. We’re friends and he acknowledges that and what if he tries to put me at arm’s distance again because I’m being… a fuckin’ prick.

Well his beliefs are fucking stupid. You think he's gonna make it here without having a heart attack every time he steps outside? The town priest is fucking gay. The tailor is gay. The people working at the restaurants are gay. He's going to have to get over himself eventually.

[This is bad word for gay city and Link is just gonna have to live with it.]

I also doubt he's entirely straight himself. He has that cornered deer look about him whenever you're near him.

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hi :)

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