[Open] Canon Update & Catch-all!

[bad_crowmance]

Who: Crow Armbrust and YOU!!
When: January 4th and thereafter
Where: Mirror House and around Aefenglom
What: Canon Update/Catchall
Warnings: Major spoilers from Trails of Cold Steel 3! Possible themes include death, betrayal, political unrest, mental manipulation, supernatural disasters... I'll update if needed!


I. Mirror House.

[ Crow did not, as a general rule, go to the Mirror House. That's not saying anything against it so much as he just preferred to look forward towards his life in Aefenglom with his friends rather than focusing too hard on a path with no future to it. Feelings get complicated and Crow is allergic to feelings, or at least he doesn't like having his on public display very often. But he'd gone to the mirror house today, almost as if he were compelled to. He didn't stop until he'd reached his own mirror, one that was familiar to him in more intimate ways than any other.

And then he touched it.

He wasn't aware a couple of his friends had been there-- or were perhaps with their own mirrors at this very moment. Either way, his experience was a little different than theirs. For one thing, they were catching up on a few short months-- Crow had nearly a year and a half all at once, flashing vividly behind his eyes in full detail. A life he hadn't expected to keep going, or rather-- to be brought back. Such as it is.

There are physical changes that come for him in a way that the others hadn't really gotten. A year and a half for Crow is enough to grow a little, to fill out just a bit more-- for his hair to grow in length, to become suddenly several shades paler. And at the end of it, Crow lets out a gasp as he finally--

He pulls his hand away from the mirror almost as if he'd been burned. But it only takes a moment of recovery before he's glancing around and then folding his hands behind his head. ]

Well, that's enough time reflecting on things. Heh...!

II. Aefenglom.

[ It's going to be pretty hard for Crow to hide that something's happened when you can take one look at him and tell just by the physical differences that something has. But this is Crow Armbrust and he's very willing to deflect as much as he has to. Of course, maybe you don't really know him-- maybe he doesn't have anything at all to explain. He's more than fine with that, he doesn't really want to talk about it anyway.

After his adventures in the mirror house, you might find Crow eating in a nice spot at a local café, a nice cup of hot chocolate in hand. Or you could find him by the docks, chatting with some of the workers there or else just looking out at the water for a brief moment before moving on. You might even find him wandering around the shopping district, looking for all the world like any other person out to buy whatever it is that's caught their interest. Either way, if you look like you want to talk to him, he'll lift his hand and grin. ]

Hey, what's up?

Comments

II.

[overworker]

[The figure that stands there so casually in the shop is distinctly different from the one that she’d been so desperately searching for. Painfully similar in every way, especially now that she can see him for herself from up close like this.

“Azure Siegfried”. Crow.

It had to be. But... would he remember? Was it even possible for him to remember? She didn’t know— and right now, she didn’t feel like there was much room for hope. But... she had to try. She needed to know.

If they had taken him from her too.

She doesn’t have a proper answer for him. Instead, she tosses herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and clinging to him tight. She’s never been so afraid of a simple truth in all her life, but she can’t let go.]

I’m sorry. Just... give me a moment... okay?

[Never mind she asked after she already did it.]

Re: II.

[bad_crowmance]

Haven't we already been through this part?

[ Though somehow that managed to feel like both a few months ago and a lifetime ago. So much had changed, nothing had changed. It's complicated. But he returns the hug with an amused sigh. ]

[overworker]

[There’s a stifled gasp through her choked back tears.

He remembers. It’s really him.

Towa can forgive anything, as long as he’s here with her. Stupid comments and all. She’s the one who should apologize. She knows she’s putting him through this again when he’d probably rather not.]

I know, I’m sorry, just... just a little bit longer...

[She knows, but even so, she’s asking to impose upon him again.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He'd Rather Not, but she's still one of his dearest friends so he'll put up with it for her. ]

Take all the time you need.

[ Not that she will, Towa's more likely to try and compose herself before she's ready, but he'll offer her the chance either way. ]

[overworker]

[There's a certain amount she's willing to give herself. It's not nearly as much as she could probably use-- but it's enough to keep her going.

And she's more than grateful for it.]

...thank you. Sorry... I'm okay.

[She's not. But she's better.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow considers calling her out on that for a moment but that'd give her an opportunity to do the same to him. No thanks! So he grins at her easily. ]

Of course, how could I blame you for wanting to get your hands on me?

[overworker]

[Towa knows that they're both full of it right now. She knows that as his friend, she should call him out on it. She should be better than this.

But she's a coward. So she laughs, even if it sounds forced and weird.

Towa gently threads her fingers through the hair that's grown out over his shoulder with a smile.]

You're horrible. I can't believe you've gotten even taller...

II

[fiddlestick]

[Since his own visit to the mirror house and a following sobbing session, Elliot's been aimlessly wandering the streets of Aefenglom, feeling a complete loss to what he should do next. How was he supposed to return home and explain to the others what happened? He was not mentally prepared for the conversation, especially if the others didn't remember.

But as the fates would have it, Elliot's path crosses with Crow. He's a little startled when he sees him, initially panicked because Crow was among those people he really didn't know how to talk to yet, but then he notices the hair, and the other changes to his body. He definitely didn't look the same as he did this morning at breakfast.]

C-Crow? [His voice is hoarse, he's been doing a lot of crying] You look... [different]

[bad_crowmance]

Handsome? Stunning? Like Aidios' gift to humanity?

[ He winks at Elliot, grinning the whole time. ]

I know.

[ He's hamming it up of course, laying on the ridiculous self-praise thick enough to cut through the tension, or so he intends. He does think he's attractive but he's not quite THAT egocentric. ]

[fiddlestick]

[Crow....why....]

...Older.

[He says flatly, trying to make it sound as unflattering as possible. Because even though he just went through a hell of a time today and it's a relief to know Crow sounds more like himself than that Azure Siegfried guy-- that was seriously over the top dude]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow is, however, completely undeterred. That's not the insult you think it is when Crow was not supposed to get older, bro. ]

I do! And I've gotta say, I think I wear the look pretty well. Maybe I should go buy some new clothes to go with it.

[fiddlestick]

[Fair point. Elliot meanwhile is reeling some, this is a lot of positive energy to lay on after the heaping dosage of terrible Elliot just dealt with, not to mention new information he has to process]

C-Clothes...right. [Clothes were a thing. Elliot had trouble comprehending why clothes matter in this moment, so he goes back to what's more on his mind]

But how are you...? Do you...do you remember...?

[Not just the events back home, but everything else. Was Crow really back? Memories and all?]

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow tucks his hands behind his head, still grinning. His tone's pretty casual as he speaks. ]

Which part-- Class VII? Aefenglom? ...Azure Siegfried? Yeah...

[ He only allows his voice to get a little softer for the next part. ]

...I remember everything.

[fiddlestick]

Y-You do...?

[Well, that certainly confirmed it. Crow got all his memories back. Elliot had been so far away from him at the time, and so many things were going on, but he does recall one thing...]

Wait, so when Ordine was holding Valimar back, that...that was you?

[It wasn't some ploy on the Black Workshop's part. Some order for Azure Siegfried. It was Crow. Trying to stop their friend from doing more things he'd regret later. On its own, it'd be news that'd make him so happy. Crow was back, as himself. Truly a wonderful thing.

But unfortunately, it came the same time as they lost someone else in Class VII. Not to mention possibly the rest of the world. That alone was enough to put a damper on it. His head lowers.]

...T-Then...at least one thing went right...

II

[activatingcombatmode]

[Passing by the docks that day Zack happens to find the familiar face chatting it up with some of the workers. It's been a while so Zack comes over with a short wave.]

Yo! Crow, right?

[He only met Crow the one time back at Elliot's little get together a few months back. So he might not even realize anything has changed. But still! Zack might have some questions of his own, eventually.]

Long time no see. How's it going?

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow nods in confirmation. ]

Yeah, that's me. And you're Zack, if I remember correctly.

[ It'd been a while since the party and a large heaping of memories have happened between now and then, but he's fairly confident he's got that right. ]

It's not bad. Just making some plans later this evening with the guys here.

[ Crow regularly gambles with the dock workers. It's how he makes his money. Don't judge him. ]

How 'bout you?

[activatingcombatmode]

[Don't worry, he'd be the last person to judge.]

Yeah! Sharp memory.

[He grins and nods, his wings flapping a little with the motion before tucking back against his back.]

Besides dealing with all the cwyld, snow and blizzards, not half bad. I hope you didn't get caught in the cold like half of us did.

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow winks at Zack. ]

My memory's usually pretty good.

[ Ignore the huge asterisk next to that statement. It's fine. ]

And nah, we all ended up locked in our house together. With uh, a few extra people. But man, am I glad that's over. I hate the cold!

[ Not that it isn't still cold, but snow man. Snow. ]

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack grins warmly.]

Better to be with people you like than stuck out somewhere alone, huh?

[The snow! Sucks!]

Luckily it doesn't seem like anyone got hurt. I was one of the people out trying to clear the snow.

[bad_crowmance]

Oh were you? Nice job, then.

[ There was so much snow. So much of it. ]

But yeah, I liked spending the time with my friends. I'm just more a fan when there's a choice to it.

[activatingcombatmode]

Yeah, really.

[Speaking of friends...]

By the way, how's Elliot been doing?

[Does Crow know about the seed-thing in his arm...?]

ii

[escardos]

Hm? Me?

[ upon returning from dorchacht, flat had taken it upon himself to do anything other than to stay in his apartment. it was too lonely, too cramped, and his own thoughts were threatening to close in on him whenever he was alone for too long.

so of course he took to the streets, if only to at least be surrounded by he crowd. he's more people watching than anything, but he also has a cup of hot chocolate in his hands as he looked through the window of the cafe. until the stranger caught him, that is.

he laughs a little, taking a sip. ]

I thought it was a nice day and decided to go out! How about you? Are you so bored that you'd talk to a stranger?

Re: ii

[bad_crowmance]

Why not?

[ Crow grins above his own mug of hot chocolate as he looks at the guy. ]

The only way someone stops being a stranger is if you talk to 'em, after all.

[escardos]

That's right!

[ flat smiles back, shrugging. ]

There's so many people in this place, both Mirrorbound and not...isn't it amazing? Like the most curious melting pot. [ there's another soft laugh. ] My name's Flat Escardos-- you?

[bad_crowmance]

It's really interesting! You can meet all kinds of people you never could've otherwise.

[ He takes another sip of his hot chocolate. ]

Crow Armbrust! Nice to meet you.