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

[Ope, Kanda is catching him. Hi, you're not allowed to fall and hit your head, he has you.]

Easy.

[Gently cradle the Allen... Gently lower him into the sand nearby to sit.]

It's... pretty fuckin' huge. Did you mean to make it that big? [can they fit a whole hoshibi through the gate... discuss]

[ Probably! They are noodly, so it could probably work??

Allen leans into Kanda, keeping his eyes closed for just a minute while he tries to get his strength back. Using the Ark never takes it out of him normally, so this is... frustrating, to say the least. He's happy they're getting this done, at least. ]

Thank you. And... no... I don't often think about the size?? Ugh... this place has to... get it's shit together.

[Squishing his Beansprout.]

No fucking kidding. [The thought of "what happens if Allen invokes right now" crosses his mind, and then he decides he doesn't want this at all and puts that thought in jail where it belongs.] Do you need me to carry you to bed or what?

[ :) Don't worry, Allen's already tried this! It isn't fun- ]

No, no, I'm alright. I'm not useless, just give me a second.

[ He might need to be carried, because it feels like the blood from his head is all gone, but he isn't going to SAY this. ]

Didn't say you were useless.

[He can sit here with his arms around Allen though that's fine. Whatever. They can be gay in public (PDA is scary) now that Link knows. Surely this won't scare blondie off more. Whatever.

Gently holds.]

...More trying to convince myself. [ Allen gently tugs at Kanda's collar, picking up his head a little. ] Kiss me? That might get my energy back~...

Is that how that works now?

[Hm...

But yeah sure. Get kissed idiot. He'll even be a bit overly romantic with it and tilt Allen's head back for him.

Gayass.]

[So, Link has been gone...a while, while all of this has been happening. Atuuda had appeared in Allen and Kanda's vicinity not all that long ago, doing nervous laps in the air like :( please help something's wrong with Father. Otherwise, there's been no sign of the former Inspector. He's...out there. Processing. Crisising.

He does see the gate, massive as it is, when it appears, and that seems to be enough to pull him from his reverie so he can make his way back. Hard to say whether he's wanting to actually face Allen and Kanda right now or not, given that he's silent as the grave as he trudges back through the sand. His eyes ache, his head hurts.

Link stops, because Kanda and Allen are making out in the sand next to the gate. He might have tried to leave again without being noticed if it weren't for the fact the setting sun is casting his huge-ass shadow over them both.]

...

[ Nea, seeing all of this, and laughing his ass off while eating metaphorical popcorn:

Calling it "making out" is a putting a lot of stock into this kiss, but it is passionate at the very least. The boys are going to kiss like lovers who have been reunited after years of being separated and unknowing if they'll see each other again and, unfortunately, refuse to change in this. Allen can and will kiss Kanda like this everyday, thanks.

But he does startle when there's a shadow casted over them. For a moment, he's almost expecting Tim to have suddenly gotten Very Large or something, but... he (reluctantly) parts his lips from Kanda and twists his head. ]

Link-...?? [ Hey, buddy, weren't you supposed to be having a crisis! Allen's breakdowns last hours, what do you mean you're back already?? ] Ah. Um...

...I made a gateway. [ You sure did, Allen- ]

[Whoops oops—

Somehow Kanda cannot find it in his heart to feel even a little sorry for this.]

He made a gateway.

[Why are you like this.]

[He made a gateway!!!

He can see that, thank you both.

Link just kindof...stands there, staring at the two of them for a long moment. Not only is he still reeling from the revelation from earlier, he's been smacked right in the face with this, and it's all just...too much.

He takes a step back, looking kindof past them instead of right at them as Atuuda grumbles with concern.]

I- I'm sorry.

[And then he turns and leaves, except he's not headed...towards the gate, he's just disappearing down the sand the way he originally came. This man is about to bore a trench in the sand from his pacing.]

Oi!!! Link!!!

[ Tim responds to the fret in Allen's voice with a "Gwah!" of his own. He adjusts himself in Kanda's arms, desperately trying to stand despite the fact that his legs still haven't lost that numbness. Even his arms seem to not be wholly working with him, but he's still trying to stand.

He'll give Kanda a parting kiss on his forehead as he's finally able to get onto his feet, thanks wholly because he'd been using him as a support. Then he's turning to try to follow Link this time. Unlike last time, where he'd gotten out what he needed to say and was fine with giving Link time, it's, uh, not like that this time. The timing is awful!

He also won't be apologizing for kissing Kanda, though. That's his fucking boyfriend- ] D-don't apologize! [ He manages to take four long steps with only a mild disturbance in his gait. ] Let's just talk, Lin- aah-

[ And then the fifth falters, and he tumbles again. ]

Edited 2026-03-21 20:33 (UTC)

Beansprout!

[For fuck's sake—

Kanda gets up and runs to pick Allen back up before he swallows sand and chokes or something, shouting after Link:]

Oi! Get over here and talk to him before he hurts himself chasing after your ass!

[Kanda can leave, that's fine, but also! Also!!!]

[While Link doesn't...come running back or anything, he does turn around to look, seeing that Allen has eaten shit in the sand trying to follow him. Which, like...isn't unusual, but he's also realizing looking at him now that he seems unsteady on his feet, which is unusual.

And he can put his feelings aside for a moment, for Allen's sake.]

Allen-? What's wrong, is he okay?

I'm fine! [ He... snaps, but doesn't really mean to sound mad at anyone. He's frustrated. Not with Kanda, not with Link, not even with the chaotic magic, just... with himself. As per the usual with Allen, though, truly. He's trying to get back up on his own, swatting at Kanda's help. ]

I told you, I'm not useless, I can do something this bloody simple. [ He'd been fine using Kanda as support just seconds ago, but now his pride is bruised. He... loathes relying on people for things like this. He can get up. He can fucking walk. He is Allen Walker, he can get up and keep going, that's all he's good at doing! He can't be bad at that now! ]

I didn't fucking say you were useless!

[Good God this is not the fucking time. Kanda backs off, but only so he can go sit up on one of the cabana decks.]

He tired himself out with the Gate, that's all. Just talk to him, would you? I can leave if you'd prefer, I don't care, but at least talk to Allen.

[Link falls silent, full of Too Much Knowledge, now. It makes...a LOT more sense why Kanda was so defensive earlier, and hell it wasn't just for Allen's sake this time. The two...they're lovers.

Lovers, in a homosexual partnership.

Honestly, it would almost be easier if they broke out into a fight. It would be easier for Link to understand, he thinks. It would feel more...

He looks weakly at Allen, because now the ball is in his court. He isn't about to tell Kanda to leave himself, because that feels inappropriate in this scenario, but he also isn't running off himself anymore.]

I know you didn’t! [ Comes a strained response. Allen is… struggling. He sits up, and eventually stands with a bit of wobbling. Maybe he should’ve stayed seated? No no no. He’s got this. He glances at Kanda after, however, at least… realizing he’s being needlessly hostile when Kanda is just worried about him. ] …Sorry.

[ Then he looks at Link. ] I didn’t… I wasn’t trying to hide that from you. I just… worried about overwhelming you with too much information?

…

But I love Kanda. We… have been together for about a week or so?

[Looks up. God fuck has it been a week. Holy shit time is passing. What the hell.]

[Link doesn't really know how to articulate how he's feeling right now, other than vulnerable. He feels like all eyes are on him right now (which, they are), and he feels guilty for not being able to have an immediately positive, supportive reaction here when this goes against everything he's ever been taught. Never mind what he, personally, is going through right now with his own emotions.

He takes a long, slow breath, looking down at the sand in front of him as Atuuda floats over to hover at his side.]

Is it alright if I speak to you...alone, Allen? Back down the beach. I think it would be easier.

[Nothing against Kanda, but like. You know.]

[ Allen flinches a little. He... gets it. Sure. But also he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel a little... more comfortable with Kanda here. But Kanda definitely doesn't want to be here, so it's for the best.

He nods, looking at Kanda after. ] ...Could you...clear off the bed, and look after Timcanpy? [ 'Cause even if Link goes back to the Grove, Allen still intends to spend the night here. He could use the break. And giving Link space to have the house to himself would be good, too, probably.

He gestures for a very reluctant Tim to go with Kanda. He... mostly thinks that it's for the best if this conversation doesn't have a Tim-record on hand. After, Allen will start to make his way for the beach. There's a slight limp, but he seems to be doing... marginally better, if a little slow. ]

Sure. Take your time. If I'm asleep when you get back, just kick me.

[He's picking Tim up. He's gonna go put clothes on and shower the ocean off of him and chill with Tim for a bit, and also clear off the bed and y'know that whole thing you do when you're an adult with chores yeah. Have fun boys.]

[As much as Link understands that Allen would feel better if all three of them were there for this, Link is pretty confident that things might devolve into actual fighting if that were the case, and he wants to avoid that if at all possible. Seeing him limp along the way he is makes him feel awful despite knowing that the Gate caused this weakness, not anything he did...and given Allen's reaction to being helped earlier, he decides to keep his hands to himself even if his instinctual response is to want to help him stand.

For a while, neither speak as Link walks back down the path he'd taken originally, which Allen will see as his footsteps from before are being washed away. Atuuda is still in their vicinity, floating slowly behind them, staying close while giving the two space to just be. There's a place some distance from the cabanas that Link found earlier- a little cluster of rocks near the shore, nearer still to the tide pools where the sea monkeys live. This is where he walks over to sit, quiet as he waits for Allen to sit beside him.

And for an even longer while, the only sound is the ocean softly rolling in.]

I guess...I didn't notice.

[ Allen does not Like to be quiet, but he's also willing himself to not say anything first this time. Because that was disastrous last time. Also because he might still be trying to rest himself the best he can so that his legs don't have that constant pins and needles feeling. He's staring at the footsteps in the sand for a while until Link speaks, to which he turns his gaze to him instead. ]

It's... not really something you think about when you look at someone. Who they love, I mean.

...I'm still me. [ Which. Uh. Is a LOADED fucking sentence coming from Allen Walker. But- ] Things don't have to be different. We can both just continue as normally - I would be happy if we can still be friends. But I understand if... [ "If you let you faith dictate things." ] If you don't want to, I guess.

[That's just it, though. Allen Walker is FULL of love. He's bursting at the god damn seams with it. Maybe that's why Link didn't realize what was right in front of him. Allen just...loves everyone with everything he has, so it just seems normal for him. It would have been a lot more damning if Kanda were the type of person to show outward affection, but.

Link's brows furrow, because while he's listening to Allen, he isn't looking at him directly. He's still looking out at the water as it rolls in, still steadily eroding his footsteps until it's as if he were never there.]

...how did you know?

[He asks, suddenly. And before Allen can answer, he asks another question.]

It didn't scare you?

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