♫ Memory, all alone in the moonlight ♫

[selfpreservationist]

Who: Amnesiac Idols
Where: The Hotel
When: Day 231, morning to midday

[who's ready for some memories, bright and early in the morning? or around 11:30am, i'm not here to judge, you do you]

Comments

Re: witness ok

[tenebraecious]

[y i k e s]

All the more reason to remember them fondly. Not the absence of them.

Re: witness ok

[we_meet_again]

[He runs his hand through his hair, tugs it. A stressed gesture.]

It's just. I--



...It still hurts. That the people I love suffered.

I can't tell if it's easier or harder to know what happens to people when the die. Which Hell did they wind up in? Are they okay? Are they still suffering? Can I get to them, somehow?

[he swallows, tight, wipes an eye.]

--Sorry.

I'm just. Sad. Scared.

Re: witness ok

[tenebraecious]

It's alright, but not everyone here is dead nor do all who die come here. Whether that thought gives you comfort is your choice . . . But that is what I believe.

Re: witness ok

[we_meet_again]

[He doesn't say anything, just sniffs and curls up tight with his face against his knees.]

Re: witness ok

[tenebraecious]

[unsure for a moment before deciding that a hug may be accepted and even welcomed, cheek against his shoulder . . . sighing before quietly reciting something familiar to her but not in a discernible tongue]

Re: witness ok

[we_meet_again]

[He leans into her. He takes a single, unsteady breath... and then he breaks, curling into himself.

It's quiet; the only indication is the hitching breaths and the way his shoulders are racked with inaudible sobs.]

Re: witness ok

[tenebraecious]

[when she finishes, she just leans a little more on him but lets him have the silence, rubbing the top of his arm with her non-hugging hand]

Re: witness ok

[we_meet_again]

[It doesn't last very long at all. He calms down within a few breaths, sniffs and lets out a long sigh as the tension starts to drain out of his shoulders.

It takes a bit longer before he looks up again, peeking up over the tops of his knees. His eyes are red and tired.]










...Thanks.

Re: witness ok

[tenebraecious]

[leaning to make eye contact and checking on him, sad smile as she pauses in rubbing his arm]

You are welcome. And — You are not alone. Whenever this returns.

Re: witness ok

[we_meet_again]

[His eyes skid away from hers, not quite able to maintain contact.]

Y-yeah... I know you're dealing with this stuff, too. Sorry.

Re: witness ok

[tenebraecious]

[straightening back up, small arm rub]

Not at all. The debt will be returned. Whenever fate sees fit.

[honestly, better off not seeing what happened to her family . . . ??]

Re: witness ok

[we_meet_again]

[would not recommend]

I'll be here. You can count on it.



[he sighs, calming down.

He reaches out to wrap an arm around her in a half-hug.]

Re: witness ok

[tenebraecious]

[oh, return hug, ok . . . slight freeze for a moment before relaxing]

Even more, since . . . I have retracted my invitation to Absinthe.

Re: witness ok

[we_meet_again]

[he felt that freeze and his touch turns light and trepidatious, easy to shrug off.]

Which invitation? Sharing memories with you?

Re: witness ok

[tenebraecious]

[going to return to leaning against him, it's fine]

Yes. I had hoped to prevail upon his better self, but I can't help but wonder if I was only giving him further satisfaction.

Re: witness ok

[we_meet_again]

Oh...

Sorry to hear it didn't work out like you hoped.

...Were you at least able to learn some things?

Re: witness ok

[tenebraecious]

Not all things can. Still, I did learn more about our world, about him — And about my brother. So, it was not all in vain.

I don't mean to distract you, but . . . You were in Altissia, weren't you? Capital of the Accordo Protectorate.

Re: witness ok

[we_meet_again]

Oh... yeah. I was.

Pretty iconic scenery, isn't it.

Re: witness ok

[tenebraecious]

It is, a jewel that crowns the sea. I fear, however, that you did not remain there for long. It was the resting place of Leviathan.

. . . I am sorry.

Re: witness ok

[we_meet_again]

What...?


...I don't understand.

Re: witness ok

[tenebraecious]

You saw that I forged a covenant with Ramuh. All six were required. Including Leviathan who is second only to Ifrit in her fury. All six were also targets of the empire.

I do not know who struck first, but I do not believe either would have left the capital unscathed.

Re: witness ok

[we_meet_again]

[quiet]



.....What?


[like, he heard, but he has to process this]



...But Accordo was annexed by Niflheim. They wouldn't attack there...?

Re: witness ok

[tenebraecious]

I doubt there is anything held sacred by the empire. Much less, a former sovereign nation.

Re: witness ok

[we_meet_again]

But you— She—

Leviathan wouldn't damage the city if you were there, right? You'd talk to her...

Re: witness ok

[tenebraecious]

She spoke of devouring all of humanity. After she tried to consume me. I may be able to commune with the Astrals, but I hold no control over them.