[Open] Canon Update & Catch-all!

[fiddlestick]

Who: Elliot & OPEN!
When: January 4th
Where: Mirror house & around Aefenglom
What: Canon update/Catch-All!
Warnings: Major spoilers for Trails of Cold Steel 3 afoot! Also CW mentions of death.

I. Mirror House
[Elliot didn't visit the mirror house very often. Aside from the times of new arrivals or checking to see if someone's left, there wasn't much reason to be there. But today, he felt compelled to go, by reasons he couldn't explain. Without really thinking about it, he wound up in front of mirror that was decorated in assorted carvings of music related items and his beloved friends. And still without thinking, he reached out to touch the reflective pristine glass.

And all of a sudden, came a whirlwind of memories playing on the glass. They start off nice: leaving home to go on tour, releasing his first record, concerts, seeing Rean again, getting the group chat going. But just as pleasant as the memories start, they quickly go darker: the truth of Hamel, the dark dragon, Azure Siegfried, the Curse, Angelica, the Gral of Erebos, the Courageous exploding, Millium-

Elliot, who was completely transfixed on the memories, collapses as soon as the glass goes back to normal. Once more, he's aware that he's back in Aefenglom. Not in the hellish Gral, watching friends die and knowing what was now spreading across Erebonia. They were all in danger, except now he was-]

N-No..! Not now, I can't...why?

[Whatever he means is lost, because he's completely overcome with sobbing. He'll probably be like this a good long while. Anyone bonded with him will feel waves of grief and fear coming from him.]

II. Aefenglom
[Eventually, Elliot's able to collect himself enough to pull himself off the floor and leave the mirrorhouse. From there...well, he doesn't know where to go. He doesn't want to go back to his house, how do you go home to your friends who are none-the-wiser and tell them such horrible news? He really didn't feel up to that just yet. Nor did he feel like continuing on his daily schedule, there was no way he could focus on music or anything else.

So eventually, he decides to just...wander. He starts walking, not even really thinking about the direction or where he'll go. If you pass by him, it's clear he's barely paying attention to his surroundings as he slowly walks. It doesn't even seem to register to him that it's freezing out. Or maybe you'll catch him standing still, near the river or the ocean, simply staring - completely lost in thought, sometimes quietly talking to himself ]

...What am I supposed to do now...?

[No matter how many times he asks himself that, he can't seem to find the answer]

[OOC: Elliot's been canon updated to the end of CS3! Clearly, it had a happy ending. ]

Comments

[fiddlestick]

[He's still sniffing a little. The tears have started up again and it'll be awhile before they stop again]

A-Altina's precious too though. Maybe I don't know her as well yet, but she's still in Class VII and still important...

[He...can't say he's surprised by Towa's confession. She's so self-sacrificing, of course she'd want to take her place instead of Angelica. Her and Angelica were incredibly close.]

I..I get what you mean by that. Though you know she would've disagreed with that idea.

[overworker]

I know she is. But that doesn't make having to let one go any easier.

[Towa can only imagine how Altina herself must be feeling right now. It's absolutely heart-wrenching.]

Of course she would. Even so, I...

[Towa bites her lip and closes her eyes. She can still see it clear as day. The chaos and danger that had swallowed the land...]

My students, my colleagues, my friends... everyone was in danger. But I could barely do anything. If someone had to die, then why...?

[Why wasn't it her?]

[fiddlestick]

....Don't even say it Towa.

[He knows what she's thinking. And boy, even if he can understand where she's coming from....it feels wrong]

Losing you would've been just as devastating.

We were all helpless to stop what happened, okay? All of us.

[overworker]

...you're right. Sorry. It's just so frustrating.

[All they've done, all they've worked for-- for this to be the result of it just felt so unfair.]

I promise, I'm not giving up. I don't know what happens next or what I can do, but... I'm going to be there, doing everything I can.

[That's the only way that she knows.]

[fiddlestick]

I know, and I get where you're coming from, but...

[He turns himself in her arms so he can look at her]

No more talk about how it should've been you okay? Or...anyone else. Those are...not good thoughts, and not helpful. Because you're right, we can't give up.

Though...not like we can do anything here.

[overworker]

[Towa swallows hard and nods with as much conviction as she can muster.]

No... no more of that. I promise.

[She doesn't want to be separated from anyone else either.]

There's still time. Maybe... there's a reason we're learning of it now. If... there's a chance we can use this knowledge to our advantage, then maybe it's trying to help us. Either way... we still have each other. We just have to stay strong, together.

[She smiles, even if her eyes are still red and puffy and wet.]

After all... Class VII is my family too.

[fiddlestick]

Okay.

[He gives a little nod, willing to take her word on that promise. He loves Towa, hearing her talk like she's expendable hurts]

Yeah...when we've had a chance to calm down, maybe...maybe we can compare notes and see if there's something we all missed. Just...work together, there's gotta be something.

[The words sound a little hollow at the moment, even if it's true. In time, they'll have to keep moving, even if he feels like curling up and never moving again at this moment.

He sniffs a little at her acknowledging them as family. There was a time when she wouldn't say that. He leans his head to press against her forehead, closing his eyes.]

Mm...we're family.

[overworker]

Right. It doesn't have to be now. I think we all need some time to process our grief in our own ways. But we shouldn't do it alone. After all... we're better together than we are by ourselves.

[She puts a little pressure on his forehead, leaning in just a bit.]

Of course we are. I don't know where I'd be without you guys.

[Two of the three closest friends she had were gone now. Class VII was the important foundation she needed in her life now more than ever.]

You guys are all my precious family that I wouldn't trade for anything.

[fiddlestick]

Yeah...you're right. Don't worry, I don't plan to run off into the wilde or anything.

[Since seriously he'd die so fast in there, he is a city boy at heart ok]

I feel the same about you...

[Towa was precious to him, and there was no replacing that. Losing her would hurt just as much as the rest of class vii....

Speaking of...]

...W-What should we tell the others?

[overworker]

[Yeah, please don't die. Literally no one could handle that right now.]

...it would feel wrong to hide it from them.

[The only fair thing to do was to face it.]

But... maybe the best way to start is to ask them how they feel about it. Whether or not they want to hear it from us or... if they'd rather see it for themselves. And... if they want to know, we can hold a meeting and share the information we have in the best way we can.

[fiddlestick]

[He gulps. He knows she's right, but...boy. He hates that she is]

Y-Yeah, you're right. It would be...

But would it be so wrong to put it off a little while?

[I DON'T WANNA TOWA]

[overworker]

[She knows she's right. However, she does want to think about Elliot's comfort. He has to explain things that she can't. And right now, he's still having a hard time.]

I don't want to wait too long-- chances are they're going to know something's up. But... what if we gave it until tomorrow at least?

[fiddlestick]

I know, I can't hide things from Machias and Fie. They know me too well...

[He lets out a sigh]

Tomorrow works. I just...I need a chance to process everything.

[overworker]

Take care of yourself Elliot. The others are important in all of this, but so are you. So... if you need me to buy you time... then I'll do it.

[She can't help but worry about him pushing himself.]

[fiddlestick]

[He hesitates for a moment, biting his lip. It's a tempting offer]

....Thanks Towa, but...there's a lot of stuff you don't know either. So I'll do it.

Not looking forward to it...but I promise I will.

[overworker]

Just... if you don't feel like you're ready when tomorrow comes, let me know. Nothing good will come from trying to tackle this is we aren't ready ourselves.

[She reaches down and squeezes his hands in her own.]

But no matter what, I'll be right there beside you, okay?

[fiddlestick]

I appreciate that...but sometimes I do best when I'm given a little pressure. So, I'm doing it tomorrow. If I don't stick to that, I'll just put it off forever.

[He knows himself okay. But aw Towa, he gives a soft look]

Thanks...And I'm here for you too, okay? Remember to take care of yourself too.

[Cause he knows SOMEBODY sometimes forgets to do that]

[overworker]

If that's what you need then. I understand.

[Towa gets it. Pushing herself is a big part of the way that she manages to keep it together as much as she does-- even if it's not an impressive amount. But that's why she's not surprised that he worries about her too. It's very much like her to try and do things on her own.

Unfortunately, this time, she knows doing that would only hurt her worse.]

I know... this... isn't something I can handle on my own.

[Rather, it's made the idea of being alone all that more frightening.]

The truth is... I need you guys now more than ever. I have to admit it. Otherwise, I'll... just be a mess.

[fiddlestick]

[...Right. He can imagine how much Towa didn't want to be alone right now. She just lost Angelica and George, in different ways. Two people she was closest to, ripped away from her oh so painfully.

No one would want to be alone after that. You need people to cling to. Even if Elliot wasn't sure how social he felt right now. ]

....Did you want to come with me?

I wasn't planning to go back to the house tonight.

[overworker]

[Everyone had their own way of coping with loss. As much as she didn't want to be alone, she understood that she would be imposing upon Elliot. He knew that too though when he made the offer. So it takes her a moment to think through it.]

...I want to come with you. I don't care where we go.

[She won't ask for much. She doesn't need much. She just wants to cling to one of the people that she loves for a little bit.]

As long as it's okay for me to be there... that's all I need.

[fiddlestick]

[He gives a nod.]

It's fine with me.

[That said, he reaches up to scratch his cheek a little]

Though I haven't exactly figured out...where I'll be going yet.

[He's kinda winging all of this, ok]

[overworker]

I would say that the Guild would be an option, but-- I told Crow he could stay there for a while. I could tell he needed some time too.

[With the most obvious choice out of the question--]

So I guess I don't really have a plan either.

[There are no shortage of things she's struggling with. Doing something entirely spontaneous isn't like her. So what comes out of her mouth is probably going to be a shock, and she knows it. Heck, even she doesn't know where it comes from.]

...what if we did something really crazy? Went to the most expensive place... ordered room service... used the spa...

Just... all the things we wouldn't normally do for ourselves... just do it.

[Can you even imagine it? She really can't but-- hey.]

[fiddlestick]

Oh....yeah. He must have a lot to think about, considering everything.

[And well, Crow wasn't good at handling emotions in front of other people, so it made sense that he went somewhere by himself for awhile.

Which left them. Elliot was mulling over ideas, maybe staying in the room he uses for music lessons, or even breaking into an abandon house a friend used to have. But then she speaks up...

And yeah. It's surprising. Towa never indulges like that]

W-Wait, really?

You want to do that?

[He sounds more surprised than anything]

[overworker]

[If it were just her, by herself, she'd never dare. But right now-- as crazy as it sounds, it sounds perfect.]

I know. It sounds pretty weird coming from me. But... tomorrow's going to be hard on both of us.

[Elliot especially. Which is all the more reason she wants to do it.]

So... I want tonight to be as perfect as it can possibly be. Whatever we want... Anything we want. No worrying about costs or anything.

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot goes quiet as he thinks it over. It is pretty uncharacteristic of Towa. She's very pragmatic, and not one to spoil herself. But then again...maybe that was the point. To do something out of their regular behaviors to contrast what they just experienced]

...Let's do it.

[He nods, agreeing to this plan]

If we pawn off a quartz, we should be able to afford it.

[Containers for spells they might be, it's not like they couldn't live without one of them.]