linkingup | AUBREY'S PALACE

[ Oh no, noooo, she's crying and he's right here, hugging her, and that means... it's impossible... he can't help it... It starts as a sniffle, then that telltale struggle to hold it together, but, as it turns out, Eli is... a big fucking cryer.

While Aubrey is crying, so is he. He can't help it. He'll even stay and hug her for as long as she wants. ]

H-hey, we know... we know you didn't mean to...

[ Eli doesn't really know at all, but that's just what you say, alright?! ]

Sunny and Kel were there... I just-

I really hope they were able to save him.

[But she can't know for sure as long as she's here. And it's driving her nuts.

Sorry Eli you're getting hugged a little tighter now. She really needed this.]

[ There, there, Aubrey. He'll just... keep on hugging. This is fine. ]

I mean, probably? They should know how to swim by now if they're your age, y'know?

...Basil can't. Sunny's not very good at it, either. He almost drowned once.

[And it had been Mari who jumped in to save him, but...

Mari's not here anymore.

Is it okay if she just buries her face in his shoulder? Because she's just going to do that right now.]

[ ...what kind of kids are these? Can't swim? Bad swimmer? Please, Kel, be useful, whoever you are. ]

R-right.

[ Eli, in a rare moment of wisdom (again, apparently, since maybe the hugging was also a wisdom), decides to stop talking and potentially make things worse. Instead, he'll let Aubrey hide her face against his shoulder and carry on hugging. At least he has good hugging' arms? He guesses? ]

[Eli is in fact very wise, because she really needs a moment to just... cry it out. Sorry about getting you all damp, dude.

But once she's calmed a bit, she draws back again, still a bit teary but less, you know. Full on crying. It's an improvement.]

Ugh...

[This is SO embarrassing. She even sounds stuffed up now. But still:]

...Thanks, Eli.

[ It's okay. This is one of Arven's shirts, anyway. His were all dirty. ]

Hey, no problem. [ There's a... slight pause after this. ] Uh, I won't tell anyone else about this if you don't.

[ Although, looking at the rest gathered here, who all SAW the hugging and crying, ughhh. He wipes his own face dry. ]

...can't promise anything for that lot, though.

[He knew that shirt looked familiar!!!]

[ lmao ]

...It's a deal.

[Please she can't believe this happened in front of so many dang people that even one less talking of it would be better.]

They'll keep their mouths shut, too, if they know what's good for them.

[Somehow though, there's not as much bite behind the words.]

Heh, yeah. They better watch out if they blab.

[ For the lack of bite in her words, Eli can't help but laugh softly. It's a little funny, okay? ]

[She gives a wry grin.]

You're going to help me find them if they do, right?

You know it.

[ He says with, returning a grin of his own. ]

[With teary eyes of his own...]

...Who would've guessed you'd be such a big softie?

[Arven can't help himself but poke a little fun. That was a really heartwarming display though. And hey, look where it got them.]

[ HE SHOOTS A DIRTY LOOK ARVEN'S WAY WHILE STILL CRYING. WHAT DID YOU SAY, HUH?! ]

...don't push your luck...

[ Growled softly through clenched teeth. Grrr. ]

[YOU HEARD HIM!!]

Heh. [sniffle] I won't, I won't.

...I'll make something nice and hearty for dinner, after we've had our baths.

[ FOOD? Man, it's like when a dog perks up at the mention of the word 'treat'. ]

Uh, y-yeah, right. After our baths.

[ He's totally going to take a bath. Yep. ]

[The way he says it...]

You're going to take one otherwise you're not getting dinner from me.

[ ! ]

...dang, you actually are a delinquent after all, threatening me like that. Geez.

If it gets you to not drag filth into the dorm, then fine, I guess I'll be a delinquent.

...right.

[ pretending like he doesn't regularly drag filth into the dorm anyway la la la ]

[HE'S NOT FALLING FOR IT.]

Eli...

What?! Hey, cut me some slack! I'm being super vulnerable and teary here!

[ Get off his baaaack, aaaah. ]

I'll take a friggin' bath, alright?!

Is that supposed to exempt you from being a slob or something?

[He's not being serious about that part, though. His exasperation fades into a gentle smile.]

Sorry, I'll lay off for real this time.

...You did a really good thing today.

[ It should!!!! Exempt him from lots of things!!!!! ]

C'mon, it wasn't anything special.

[ Just going to look away. Don't smile at him like he did something right for once, god. ]

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supherb - 2024-09-03 03:21 (UTC) - Expand