mid-week 11; un: monday

[vogelfrei]

[ With the regression of the city, working at Sunset Theater has quickly become less enjoyable than it used to be. Though the cast remembers the rapport McGillis had built with them, even if they're more standoffish now. And it's not as though McGillis had placed much stock in his interpersonal relationships to the random citizens, but... the shift in atmosphere serves as a tangible reminder. That this is temporary. That this world is susceptible to insane levels of mind manipulation. That he wants to leave.

Leave and... do what? That's the question that has haunted McGillis for weeks now, and the countdown is mercilessly continuing. Soon Braphine will release them from her hold, one way or another. Soon, he'll have to know. And so will everyone else. ]

Just a little over two weeks until we're free from this, if Braphine really keeps her word and the God of Conflict doesn't swallow up all her power. Until then we'll doubtlessly face a number of additional challenges and hassles, but while we're still in the quiet before the storm...

Are you going home to your own worlds after this? Or will you take Braphine up on her offer and come along with one of your 'bonds'? What is your world like? What is making you return? What is making you abandon it?

And if you're like me and cannot return to where you came from no matter what, maybe the answers can give you some perspective.

Comments

[beathollow]

From my understanding, Arven's world is very gentle, in a way that I'm envious of.

[vogelfrei]

It is almost hard to believe, but purely statistically... there have to be worlds like that out there as well.

[beathollow]

It does sound nice! But I know it's not what you specifically are looking for. But from first hand experience, it's hard to stay out of politics unless it's genuinely not a problem, which leads me to believe his world is generally more easy going, on top of a close relationship with nature and wildlife- especially given that pokemon have great power as well.

It sounds peaceful, healthy and kind.

( ... been thinking about it, mafuyu? )

[supherb]

Thanks for explaining it better than I could Mafuyu.

[beathollow]

Oh! You're welcome.

[vogelfrei]

It does sound like a good place to live - and you're right that that's exactly why I personally would not be interested in going there.

[cirquedesang]

Presuming the most optimistic of end circumstances proves to be correct...

You're going to go there on vacation.

[Workaholic to workaholic communication means you can't argue with him, it's the law.]

[vogelfrei]

Am I now? What wondrous news.

Will a certain three be accompanying me, perchance?

[ They should not be indulging the fantasy at this point, but...]

[cirquedesang]

[They really shouldn't be, but... Call it the calm before the storm.]

Oh, I'm certain Argenti, Fray, and Sayaka would love to join you.

[He knows damn well those aren't the three he was referring to.]

[vogelfrei]

How lucky that all my favourite people will be there, then.

[cirquedesang]

[...Okay, while the mental image of McGillis babysitting a gaggle of teens and the lovebird knights is very silly, the combo hit of Mafuyu's comment with the "favorite people" implications is enough to get him to relent. A bit.]

We couldn't leave you to suffer in such a peaceful world alone.

[vogelfrei]

[ Yeah. There certainly was an implication there - McGillis was just coming around to using the 'friends' category again, but then they all just had to go and burst out of it and become something different yet again. This is as close as McGillis can currently get to putting words to it. ]

I was counting on it, yes.

[ He'll go with the three of you, and sit under a tree in the bright afternoon sun. He'll look at each of them properly, this time. ]

[cirquedesang]

[If this is as close as he can get to putting words to it, then so be it - it's not a terrible selection of words by any means, and likely the same ones Celeste would have chosen himself. 'Friends' wasn't enough, certainly.]

Good. Perhaps you and I will even learn to relax. 😲
Or allow ourselves... downtime...! 😱

[He's dragging himself, too, but... it does genuinely sound nice.]

[vogelfrei]

Well, now you're just getting ahead of yourself.

[ He's not including any emojis, but it's hopefully easy enough to guess that he's smiling. ]

[beathollow]

If they don't I'll drag them over myself.

( she almost does type the next message, but- pauses.

'i want to see you again too, after all'. there's

implications. implications that she's not sure what to think of.

... )

Even if it's not to stay, it sounds like a wonderful place to visit.

[vogelfrei]

[ There are a lot of implications here... but he'll let Mafuyu take her time on reasoning them out to the fullest. ]

Don't you worry, I think at the least two of them would love to explore that world with you. 'Dragging' will be unnecessary - you'll only have to ask.

[beathollow]

I enjoy your company too, though.

[vogelfrei]

[ ... oh no. That's... really sweet. ]

Not to worry. I'd be tagging along. I can't exactly leave them unsupervised - and catching up with you will be a treat as well.

[beathollow]

Good!

Regardless of where we end up, you're like family to me. So I want to stay connected.

[supherb]

[After having read all of this thread...]

I don't really get it but I'll be glad to show you around if you come visit.

[vogelfrei]

Celeste was playing coy about it, but our travel group would be him, Eli, Izou, and myself. We've begun forming a kind of unit, recently.

[ the sfw version of whatever the hell is actually going on here ]

I already apologize for the trouble they will cause you in this hypothetical future.

[supherb]

Wow really? Now that's an unexpected friend unit. Well not really the other three but it's cool that you're getting along with them too.

[This is what happens when you're only lanternfam-adjacent: you are constantly surprised at relationship developments.]

You guys better take good care of Eli when you're not visiting.

[vogelfrei]

I'm dating Izou, it was only inevitable.

[ After he just spent a week doing damage control and telling people they are not dating.......................... well, things change! Get with the program!! ]

And we will - though he can take care of himself very well. He's stronger than he thinks or allowed himself to be in the past.

[supherb]

[Arven almost says he's not surprised but remembers that he needs to pretend to be shocked.]

Seriously??? Talk about the biggest plot twist of the century.

As for Eli, I'm glad you think so too. I guess I'm just gonna miss hanging out with him is all.

[Him writing this where Eli can read it.]

[vogelfrei]

[ Thank you for your feigned surprise, Arven, it makes them feel better. ]

Parting is a sorrow we all have to contend with eventually. The question is just whether or not we'll consider the meetings worth it despite that.