EVENT: ORIGIN'S ORIGINS (Aftermingle)

[fairwind]

Who: everyone
When: Day 32, morning
Where: the clearing

[As the final session of exploring the town ends, it's getting close to dawn.

There's a break of about an hour, while the explorers return, licking their wounds. Then, a flash of dark, violet sparkles, and a petite young man with many many wings appears, standing atop the train.

Some of you have heard his voice before, speaking of justice in Trials. You might've heard about him, and how there's "something wrong with him", too. This is The Angel, and his wings are dyed a deep black, with feathers falling out in a sickly way. He doesn't look too pleased, but he also doesn't look like he's about to attack.]

So, you searched. What did you find out? I want to know if you really think this universe is worth saving.

If it's not... Then there's no point to your existence, is there?

[Well. He's not attacking yet, anyway. He is taking a moment to gesture at your deertaur companion though -- a wisp of black wind is pulled out of his mouth.]

I'll give you one chance.

[At least your dead companions are safe? They're waking up now in their rooms, none the worse for wear. But they remember dying, and they have a deep sense that they've seen a kind of void no person should ever look into.]

Comments

[awakenerd]

[Hey you know who is hovering around waiting for everyone else top inish hugging Crow? This guy.

The relief is palpable to Rean, frankly, but with it comes the urge to cry. ]

[bad_crowmance]

[ This is the one he actually expected, so as soon as there's an opening he gestures at Rean with a smile. ]

Get over here already.

[ Rean is the only one who can actually feel that Crow is still in some kind of numb shock over the whole situation-- that he isn't sure how to process his own death like that. That there's something more lurking under the surface, some feeling he can't identify and is trying to ignore. What is it-- grief? fear? anger? He isn't sure.

He'd rather bask in the warmth of Rean's relief. ]

[awakenerd]

[He's definitely hugging Crow when there's hug room. Throwing his arms around him and holding tight, clinging in a way that is not cool at all, voice choked up.]

You idiot! What were you doing?!

[bad_crowmance]

[ Dying, apparently.

He's hugging Rean back at least, patting the back of his head as he does. ]

Figured there was one more room that needed checking.... Guess I got caught off-guard this time.

[awakenerd]

Don't brush it off like it was an "oops", Crow!

[bad_crowmance]

[ Why not, that makes it easier to handle? He has better sense to say that out loud, at least. ]

I'll be more careful next time. Is that better?

[awakenerd]

Marginally. You're REALLY lucky there can BE a next time though, you know that right?

Why didn't you call for me sooner?

[bad_crowmance]

I know, I know. The dead don't normally come back.

[ There's another throb of that feeling he can't identify, an ache in his chest-- not unironically, somewhere near the scar on it. ]

Anyway, I would've called you if I'd had more than five seconds between finding the problem and... well.

[ He's not even lying, at least-- Everything happened so fast that he didn't have time to think of calling Rean over. ]

[awakenerd]

Ughh.

[He buries his face against Crow'sshoulder.]

I wasn't going to cry.

[But hate he is, leaking. He knows Crow isn't okay, in ways he doesn't understand, and all he can do his hold him and cry. Not a very useful Divine Knight it turns out.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He would've been useful if Crow had called on him, if he'd had a chance to. He doesn't doubt Rean's power, knows he's only seen the barest edges of it. Next time, he thinks to himself, maybe he shouldn't leave Rean behind. ]

It's okay, you can take as much time as you need.

[ His shirt's already been cried on anyway, it's fine. ]

[awakenerd]

[Whatever. It's getting more wet now.]

Idiot...

[He said that already didn't he. But... he's the one who let Crow out of his sight, ultimately he's the one at fault here.]

It's okay to be upset yourself, you know.

[bad_crowmance]

[ He already said it, but that doesn't make it less true. ]

I know it is.

[ He sees that he is upset, acknowledges it even if he can't entirely identify what he's feeling about it yet, and is ready to move past it now thanks. ]

You know it's not your fault, right?

[ Because he can feel that self-recrimination, Rean. ]

[awakenerd]

[It is his literal job to protect you Crow. He's ignoring that.]

Oh no. You're not avoiding things by making it about me.

[bad_crowmance]

[ You're not the only one that can blow right past and ignore things, Rean. ]

I mean it, though. It's not your fault I didn't call on you so don't go blaming yourself.

[awakenerd]

Crow. Don't just... Act like this doesn't affect you.

[bad_crowmance]

[ He sighs, probably into Rean's hair unless he's pulled away at this point. ]

Of course it affects me. But there's really not much to say about it.

[awakenerd]

[He's still holding onto him!]

Is that really what you think?

[bad_crowmance]

[ Well, he's definitely willing to have this entire conversation while Rean is holding onto him and Crow's patting his head. ]

Yes.

[ Yes. ]

It is what it is. I see it, I accept that it sucks, I'm ready to move on with the rest of the day.

[awakenerd]

Nmmrmgh.

[He's making a very discontent noise here!]

This isn't like losing a bet or stubbing your toe, Crow!

[bad_crowmance]

[ He hums out an agreement. ]

It's a little different.

[ It's a lot different. ]

[awakenerd]

More than a little!

It's not just that people were grief-stricken about it either. But you... pretending it's not a big deal doesn't make it not a big deal!

Maybe it's hypocritical of me to say this, but you shouldn't ignore your own feelings because they're inconvenient.

[bad_crowmance]

I'm not pretending it wasn't a big deal. But I am refusing to give it any power over me.

[ He pauses for a moment, considers that. ]

...Well, except to maybe be a little more cautious next time. But I'm sorry for upsetting you and everyone else.

1/2

[awakenerd]

Ugh...

I'm not trying to make you sorry for it.

[He pulls back enough to look at Crow.]

[awakenerd]

I just... Don't want you to die ever again. Second chances don't grow on trees. And it bothers me that you're flippant about when I know it bothers you too.

But I'm not going to make you talk about it right now. Not if you don't want to. Just know I'm here if you ever do.

A lot of people here love you, you know.

1/2

[bad_crowmance]

[ "Second chances don't grow on trees."

But... He already knew that, right? And neither do third chances. At what point does he push his luck too far and Cardamom can't bring him back anymore? At what point does the clock on borrowed time stop? ]