auroraexpress | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: anyone
When: day 38, after noon
Where: in and around the train

[A gentle breeze keeps the afternoon cool. It seems peaceful around now, with the malice pushed back so far, unless you're heading to the island of concentrated malice of course.

It's a good day to relax and daydream.

Distantly you might sometimes hear the tick ticking of clockwork? Or it might be your imagination.

Speaking of imagination, if you think about things too hard you may find your thoughts and feelings shared with those nearby. Or even if you don't think hard at all.

At the mildest this might simply be like your thoughts and emotions being understood by others next to you, either in a vague or explicitly detailed way, but at the most extreme you might project shared delusions. Something like others getting to watch your own memories. Or fantasy sequences. Or inner monologues. Or maybe even blending you delusions with another's.

Whether it goes that far or remains a more telepathic/empathic thing is very random.]

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I only had that faith to win. [which didn't happen anyway]

At any rate, you should, perhaps, have more faith in others, they may understand.

Seemed a bit too quantifying to not have some belief in what you said.

..... [There is worry, but there is also]

[Fear there]

[He doesn't know why.]

I'd rather not blindside them.

Then do not. Simply explain on your own terms as rationally and calmly as you can.

Easier said than done with some people.

Who do you worry about?

Faito. [He kmows they know each other. What she knows, how they got there though....] Morning, Twilight. Possibly Noon, though thats more paranoia due to the Command Seals. Pretty much anyone nice.

Will all due respect, this seems a little insulting. "Nice" does not mean weakhearted. You have a story, as anyone does, and there is hardship. I understand wishing to keep it to yourself for however long, but you do a number of those individuals a disservice by thinking they would think less of you for it.

[only some tho she has no idea who the fuck the rest are,really. the point stands, however!]

I don't think they're weakhearted. [His first reaction, but then he pauses.] Do I....?

[He has to actually think about it. Does he think they're weakhearted? They couldn't handle a hard truth? No, it's not. Quite that. He thinks Faito must be able to. He knows Twilight was able to handle someone and Morning died and is still managing to smile. Noon he knows he's just uncertain with because of the whole Command thing, that's nerves.]

[He can't quite think that he thinks those who are 'nice' as weak as just...]

[There's uncertainty, concern, that fades as he thinks and then there's just a feeling of something melancholic.]

I guess I just worry when it's... [When it's him? Like some part of him...expects it.]

[Why?]

It probably is a disservice if it's that.

It sounds as though you have some matters to consider for yourself.

Yeah.

Another time, don't want to go down that rabbit hole with weird telepathy going on.

So how have you been? [Time to repress all feelings.]

We do not need to do this another time. I am not a friend.

No, I mean I'm going to consider all that another time.

I see, then. Very well.

Thus my very subtle attempt to change the subject.

[reality shifts, then. Trees are wisped and woven into being, lush grass painted against their feet, and the sun is filtered through dense leaves caught in a gently swaying breeze.

A forest.

Mistletoe in black, white, and green varieties hang overhead on ribbons tied between trees or attached to them directly. There is also piles of them for the taking and people do.

Oh yes, there are people here.

A few dozen wearing, and most of them wearing outfits themed around a single colour but there are two people of interest: a young woman with blue hair, lighter blue eyes and a mole to the side of her mouth. She wears glasses and is speaking to a much, much larger man with long black hair and rich brown skin, though his lips never move.

'Good day, Amane.'

"Ah, Uriel-sama. Good day to you." She bows respectfully to him and he returns the gesture with a nod.

Hold out your hands for me.

She obeys and the man, Uriel, pulls out a woodlark that hops into her hand under its own power and Amane's face lights up, surprised and clearly excited.

"T-this is! Ah, is this one of Uriel-sama's projects?"

It is the same one, finally finished. It is without a soul, but it can move as you will it nonetheless. Thus, it will follow us in our travels. If misplaced it will likely find it's way back to you, and there is no need for food or drink. Nevertheless, please treat this child with care.

Amane stares blankly suddenly, confused.

"It's...it's for me?"

The giant man looks uncertain for a moment. Did he err in his chosen gift? It is. It seems to be an appropriate occasion for offering gifts, and I thought that this one might find your favor.

He finds his answer in two perfect tears that roll down her face, quickly brushed away.

"O-oh pardon me, I'm unseemly I-I, thank you, I truly do not deserve."

He is openly startled now. Is everything alright?

"Yes, yes, of course, pardon me, it's only that it's such a wonderful, remarkable gift, I did not expect--"

With a small nod, he reaches down to pet her hair, not quite ruffling but smoothing it back. Then I am glad to entrust it to you.

Her hands keep it carefully away from her face so as to not wet it with her continuing tears. "I will cherish it always."

Thank you.]

[He freezes as the memory hits]

[And for a brief, a very brief moment, there is an instinctive feeling of terrified PANIC]

[He jerks back, tripping over his own feet, and hitting the ground with his ass and a muted grunt, looking around quickly. Assessing no threat, the panic subsiding quickly into startled confusion.]

[Then he looks at 80H. Opening his mouth, closing it, just staring as he wraps his head around what just happened.]

["Amane" and 80H might have the same eyes, it's impossible to tell with her blindfold but they sound exactly the same.]

It is only an illusion, do not be alarmed.

[her end of the bond was, at first, filled with surprise and then something approaching wistfulness and heartache, but now it's empty with a dangerous sort of nothing.]

[When you're used to people always hiding their faces, you start to look for other tells, other things that tell you about people.]

That....it's not...I wasn't scared it just showed up. [And he wasn't. He's not sure WHAT he was scared of. There had just bee something there, that had been.]

Amane? [He's calming down, but he's looking at her now because it's odd. Going from a mechanical name to something. Normal.]