[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]

...Yeah, I do. [He can admit this about himself] I do try not to check in every time I feel you being restless.

[He really is doing his best to respect Eren's space and freedom, even if his own anxiety would flare up. Anxiety that....well, he's sure it's not going to improve anytime soon, considering what just happened.

He makes a slight face at the occasional dead things lying around, because that's just gross, but he bites back a comment since he did promise not to take anything. He's not up to arguing right now anyway. Maybe later.]

That's so far...so you could get to anywhere in these tunnels? Where are we going now?

[usurpers]

[ appreciated he mutters, but loud enough in all the tunnel’s dampened silence to be heard as clear as an outdoor voice. it wasn’t as if checking every time would change anything— and eren very much prefers it after with, h m what just happened x2. today is not a good day, or was it? was there ever a good day? (he can’t lie to himself or be unfair— there have been. maybe he just feels poorly about it, from time to time). ]

Almost anywhere important. [ eren points at the ground right in front of elliot’s next step. shards of glass. they were getting close to the first pocket at least. surprisingly, it’s warmer than one would think down here. ] We’re in one of the resting spots.

[ he says when he spews a flame to a torch buried into the wall. then another, and another— this one’s smaller than the main hub, but it’s sizable enough to rival an average room’s space. sharp things from your obvious knives to pieces of paper to slabs of iron and more can be found gathered into a hefty pile. anything you can think of. if it has a point, or a sharp face, eren probably has it. ]

. . . I don’t have a chair.

[ so he just kind of. gestures to the soft earthy bed, while he makes his way onto the pile itself. ]

[fiddlestick]

[Anywhere important. Well at least he had a vague idea of what's important to Eren, so it's a good thing to keep in mind in the future.]

One of the resting spots?

[That meant there had to be more, and probably a main hub somewhere. Eren really went all out for this place, it was extremely impressive. Though at the same time, it was only for him wasn't it? Did it ever get lonely? Questions for another time, probably.]

That's fine, dirt feels pretty right now for me anyway.

[That was said mostly as a weak attempt as a joke. But before he moves to sit down in the earth, he pauses. He has no idea how Eren is comfortable sitting on all that stuff, but...whatever, dragons are weird. Him on the other hand....]

There's no blades in the dirt pile, right?

[usurpers]

[ it’s more questions for the masses, tbqh. seems like possession overrides a social need to interact— for the time being. he still felt lonely and no one had been good enough to stay down here with him. on full moons, at least. eren usually jumps houses on a normal day, and prefers waking up to someone in a bed. and then leaving before they wake up, what a jerk.

eren’s plated scales keep any fine cuts and prods from happening overall. talons click on iron as he picks one of them up, and lays back as if it were all truly a bed. ]

There shouldn’t be. I keep everything in sight. [ but yes, one of. ] The bigger space is too far off. Across the Bright Wall and bordering The Wilde.

[fiddlestick]

[Eren that's so creepy stop Edward Cullening and at least stay until they wake up.

Elliot trusts him enough to take his word for it, moving to sit down in the dirt pile, stretching his legs out. Yeah. This isn't the most comfortable spot in the world, but it'll do for now. Sitting is easy.]

Across the Bright Wall? Is it safe from Cwyld?

[Cause uh bro, you're kinda weaker to the stuff than most]

[usurpers]

[ he ain’t stupid ]

It’s not that far out. [ and, lifting his fist up. ] And I bought protection.

[ it’s expensive as shit but hey!! he’s loaded ]

[fiddlestick]

[He's not saying you're stupid, it's a reasonable concern! Like building a house in a flood zone.]

I guess you do tend to be pretty careful about Cwyld...

[So, he'll take your word for it. There's still worry, but well, it's not Eren specific. He lets out a sigh, knowing Eren can pick up on the feeling]

Sorry...my mind's finding things to worry over.

[It's not hard to guess as to why.]

[usurpers]

[ building a house in a flood zone is a little insensate tho. eren opens his hand and observed the membrane that webs his pinky to the extra digit close to his wrist, then the larger one at his elbow to make up his wings. the veins in between them. the color it had with the fire’s light behind it. every detail to not think about other details that would be saved for his solitude.

it comes back down so he’s able to rest the top of his hand against his forehead, and stretch the membrane that connects the rest of his arm to his ribs. he can feel it sleeping into him and threatening any attempt he had in corking his own thoughts— thoughts that weren’t quite worries. just wandering, bitter thoughts. ]

Better that than what you just saw. [ but then, with a sigh. ] It’s impossible not to.

[ the sound of a quick slap rings out a thud; his tail against an ax. ]

We had perfect timing.

[fiddlestick]

I guess... [Eren had a fair point, even if Elliot wasn't a fan of it. So many things had gone wrong in their mission.

And the worst part was, Elliot couldn't chalk it up to their own incompetence or inability. They had done everything right with the knowledge they had. There was no way they could've known the curveballs that got thrown at them. Which of course, made the worry all the worst. What else could go wrong?

It'd take awhile to shake those fears from his anxiety. He could recognize that much.

Eren's last statement does confuse him a little, along with the bitter feelings coming from Eren.]

Perfect timing? What does that mean?

[He'd been so caught up in his own grief, he hadn't even noticed the oddness of how quickly his bond had reached him]

[usurpers]

[ even if was a bit of a sarcastic “perfect timing” because, mirrors, and they both hadn’t the best of times. eren is perhaps better at internalizing in the long run— and, that he’s getting what he wanted. there’s no room for complaint when he’s chosen this willingly. ]

You didn’t realize? [ his tail . . . is coiling around the ax. ] I was there before you.

[fiddlestick]

You were?

[His eyes widen as that fact dawned on him. He...had completely missed that]

N-No, I must've been so caught up in things I didn't notice, I'm sorry...

-- Wait. Does that mean you...you got another update?

[usurpers]

[ he doesn't mind if they skip the sorries— it wasn't as if elliot had the obligation to know he was there. he was just there, and mentally waves it off as fine. it's fine, really, no sorries needed. the rest doesn't get a nod, just sort of. recognition through an unreadable glance. ]

Yes. [ there should be a lot of emotions wrapped with it, but— there's so much, between crippling melancholy, upset and relief that they probably cancel each other out. it's just a blank void sucking things up, and perhaps a sense of dreaded accomplishment. ] I'm alive, and I did what I set out to do.

[ all that's left to do now is . . . finish. ]

[fiddlestick]

[Ah...what he set out to do. He remembered Eren and him talking about it, and how vague he had been about it. Just that it involved the time traveling. Between the vagueness and all odd detachment, the dreaded accomplishment.. something about it couldn't have been good.]

O-Oh...

[He could ask for more details, but Eren might be dodging them for a reason. And...well, Elliot's already dealt wit a lot of heartbreak and betrayal today. So maybe it's better to let Eren stay vague]

Is it something to celebrate or feel sad about?

[usurpers]

[ both? and then he just feels absolutely shitty about thinking of the possibility “both”. it’s a good thing, that eren was set on being vague from the start.

it wasn’t elliot’s fault, but it wasn’t as if eren would expect him to understand the intricate holes he’s dug himself into. their concepts of freedom were already different to begin with, as were their upbringings, their minds and their hearts. his bond is not wrong in it, though, and thus he respects him and his boundaries. this was professional, justly, and he should be sure to keep it that way. it would be horridly unfair, otherwise. ]

It’s complicated. [ he deserves honesty, at the very least instead of a complete brush-off and evasion. eren is truthful in the complexity of his feelings, and how they were feeling right now, was. well! just that. complicated. ] As is . . . Everything, for everyone. [ he glances back to elliot, but it’s understanding in his gesturing nod. like what the musician was literally going through. ] Don’t concern yourself over it. You have enough on your plate.

[ for starters. it’s just one more tragedy in a universe of tragedies. ]

—But, thanks.

[ for asking, he supposes. genuine concern still manages to get him off guard. ]

[fiddlestick]

[Bro I just want you to know there is absolutely nothing professional about you in any capacity. who are you kidding you'd get yourself fired from a burger king ok.

And...it isn't surprising that Eren is being vague. He always is. No matter what, Eren held everyone at arm's length even though he clearly needed people in his life. Just what horrible things were you scared of showing, Eren Jaeger?

But at the same time...Elliot gets it a little this time. Elliot knows he's not at his best right now, what with all the weight of his life happening. So he bites his lip a little]

...Of course, Eren. I admit I'm not the strongest shoulder to lean on today, but...

[....]

Well, I'd give you a hug if you weren't sitting on a pile of knives. You seem like you could use one...

[He could attempt to brave it, but getting a bunch of cuts does not seem like a fun time especially if his regeneration gives those cuts to Eren]

[usurpers]

[ i’d now like to eternalize that eren would never be able to work at burger king, the one place he thought he could have it all his way.

eren might have a few pricks already, but they’re hardly enough of a fuss to even feel correctly. when worse pain is existent, paper cuts don’t get much attention. after staring over to elliot, with his head against his arm as a cushion, he considers, glimpses at the ceiling— and begins to move off, the clicks and such of iron being pushed against as he crawls off the pile. ]

I’ll go to you.

[ in eren’s immediate thoughts, this is more for elliot. his bonded took a blow and expressed it far more than him, until it silently hits that that had been the only difference. elliot couldn’t hold it in. eren would die with it internalized. but— both were in need of a hug.

so, eren clampers over with little movement; just one step off his hoard, then one more, and he was already hunching his arms to the ground, adjusting to a seat where he can be shoulder to shoulder, and with an absent-minded sniff— raises his wing so his bond could fit in.

it was simple, and he supposes, it’s what he likes about elliot, beyond the anxiety. simplicity. he doesn’t lean on his shoulder, but his cheek does lean into elliot’s head, accompanied tongue flick and all. ]

[fiddlestick]

Oh, okay.

[Well, he's not going argue with that - it can't be good to sit on a pile of knives anyway. He sits up, waiting for Eren to come by. Maybe the hug was a little for Elliot, but it was mostly for Eren - in Elliot's eyes. There was no way he could get Eren to talk about what really happened, he had a terrible habit of that. And even if he did...there was a good chance Elliot wouldn't be able to handle it, in the truth he was in.

But as monstrous as Eren like to think he was, he was still human. He needed people as much as anyone else.

When Eren will close enough, Elliot will close that embrace, his arm leaning down so he can wrap it around his waist without disturbing the wing, while the other goes over his arm and around his back. As Eren leans his cheek on his head, Elliot will lean his own face again Eren's shoulder. As always, Elliot's warm. He's been casting a lot of heat spells to combat the winter cold, and it's made his body rather toasty]