Argenti's Palace

[beautifulknight]

The stage is set they say;
They don their masks and shields,
Shadows creep and cover their minds;
Now, what beautiful role shall they play?

𝓜𝓮𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓷 𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓵𝓮


♫

Comments

[fullmoonmutt]

...

[ That... that was... ]

He. He killed the other knights himself?

[ They had been corrupted by something, though, hadn't they? It isn't an uncommon story for Eli. A unit running afoul of the wrong kind of demon, someone getting infected with something, and then—

Eli will carry on forward after a pause to settle his nerves. That transformation they saw had been far more disfiguring than his own, normally, when back in his world, true enough, but that feeling wasn't one he'd ever quite been able to shake. ]

[goei]

I think whatever turned them into those monsters's what really killed him.

[Carefully choosing his words, or at least as much as Izou can do such a thing, now that he knows a little more about Eli's situation.]

[fullmoonmutt]

It... yeah. It was. When someone loses themselves to a transformation like that, you usually have no choice but to put them down.

[ Harsh as a reminder as it is that one day, that could be him with someone he cares about having to kill him, he isn't going to pretend like it isn't a simple fact of life.

So he just shrugs. See? He's fine. ]

But after you do, you always find yourself thinking, what if there had been a way to save them, you know?

[goei]

I've never had ta deal with a situation like that, so I dunno.

[Thinking is neither of their's strong suit.]

But I feel like, if it was someone you cared about, probably they wouldn't want you to agonize over it, yeah? And if it wasn't, then who cares what they think.

[fullmoonmutt]

[ They're both bozos, but Eli has way more experience with this. ]

I mean, yeah? But that's never how it goes, right? You'd feel bad about offing me if I lost control, right? I'd still want you to do it, but I know it would hurt you.

[goei]

[Damn well when you actually put names to it like that...]

... Yeah, I guess that's right. Kinda like the reverse of me and Ryouma, ain't it.

[Where he feels like he should be mad but just can't bring himself to act on it.]

Shit like this is what alcohol was invented for.

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Or therapy? Maybe therapy? Can we consider therapy? No? Well, alright. ]

More or less. Just try not to drink yourself into a hole if it happens. That would piss me off even more.

[goei]

[What's therapy.]

Fine, fine... Why d'you guys care so damn much about how much I drink anyways?

[fullmoonmutt]

... [ should he say it, should he ] 'cause you cry when you get drunk alone and it's awkward.

[goei]

I don't-
[Well]

I don't cry. I don't even always get sad. Just sometimes.

[fullmoonmutt]

...you were totally crying when I dragged you to bed, mate.

[goei]

I don't remember that.

[Is he just denying it or was he actually blacking out at that point. Impossible to say.]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Hmmmm. ]

Well. You were pretty wasted.

[goei]

... Yeah I was havin' a bad night.

[He'll admit that much.]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Welp, then here, have a hearty clap on the back. ]

Then drink with friends on the next bad night. We'll even hold your hair.

[goei]

[The idea of reaching out to people when he's at his lowest... Well, no, Eli and the rest of that group already saw him at his lowest, didn't they.]

... Alright. Dunno what you gotta hold my hair for though, it's already tied back.

[fullmoonmutt]

...you telling me you've never gotten puke in those long-ass bangs of yours?

[goei]

'Course not, I'm a professional!

[A PROFESSIONAL WHAT]

[fullmoonmutt]

Huh. I see.

[ no eli what do you see explain it for the rest of us?!

he will not ]

[goei]

[Then he will pay;]

What, were you just lookin' fer an excuse to touch my hair?

[fullmoonmutt]

[ wow..... look, if izou wants to play this game, then, ]

I mean, yeah. [ Real quick, he moves to snag Izou's ponytail like he did previously. ] It's so fluffy and soft, Izou!

[goei]

[NO!!! BACKFIRING!!!!!]

Wh-Don't yank it!!

[To be fair. It IS fluffy and soft.]

[fullmoonmutt]

I'm just touching, honest.

[ Squishing the fluffy poof of a ponytail between his fingers and everything. Take that, loser. ]

[goei]

[.... Well you know what he guesses this is fine actually.

But he's also going to retaliate by stealing a page from Celeste's playbook and pat Eli on his head as well.]

1/2

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Wow, unfortunately for Izou, that earns the usual kneejerk reaction (and super hypocritical, considering) of Eli letting go of Izou's ponytail and snapping at him, ]

Cut it out! I'm not a dog!