auroraexpress | EVENT: The Very Hungry Nightblossom FINALE

Who: everybody
When: Day 10, sunrise
Where: mainly outside

[Sometime early in the morning, there's a deep rumble, as the ground shakes. The vines previously grabbing at the Aurora and its heroes multiply rapidly, completely coating the train and shutting out starlight. For a moment everything creaks, as if the metal itself is about to cave in.

But then it stops. Somewhere far away something roars, and suddenly the vines retreat, leaving only a few remaining cracks in the ground. Below, the caves have only the harmless glowing mushrooms which, should you choose to attempt eating them, prove to quickly fill one's stomach and leave them with a burst of energy. You can follow the tunnels still, though -- now that they're free of monster plant, you'll find it's one big connected network. There are various small caves in which iridescent white crystals grow, letting off a faint light reminiscent of the moon. From them drips a translucent liquid which feels soft and cool on the skin, until it seeps in. Once it's in your bloodstream you'll find yourself caught in a euphoria that encourages acting on your every impulse. If you want to steal something, you will. If you want to kiss someone, you will. If you want to kill someone...

...Well. It's possible to overcome the compulsions, at least. You need only picture someone you care more about than yourself, and concentrate. Unfortunately the high that comes with it can be addictive, so one must take care when exploring the caves.

It's unlikely anyone will get much exploring done before sunrise, but if you're not in the deep dark where signal is poor, you'll be woken at dawn by a loud and cheerful jingle on your Chain. Even if you were previously dead, you're sure up now! Accompanying it is the slight shift in the train that usually comes with a trial, and a message that just says:

come outside

If you follow the summons, you'll see that rather than a scary tower or spooky house, there's what appears to be a really flashy convertible, painted a shimmering deep rose. Leaning against the hood is a man who appears just over twenty, with long hair and bright eyes, both quite literally twinkling with stars.

His voice might be familiar, if you were one of the first arrivals. But the tone, rather than sad and soft, is... frankly annoyingly full of energy. As is his smile as he waves at everyone coming out.]

"Good morning, my lovely heroes!"

[[OOC NOTES: Anyone who died will be revived at the time of the prince's arrival, even if it's earlier than the 1 day revival timeline. Injuries can still be there depending on your character's timeline, but there are a couple of hours between the plants leaving and the prince appearing, so everyone should have had time to catch their breath and take a shower at least.]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I don't wanna ask how you're alive... it feels like it's inviting them to take it back like a bad joke.

[so much of this is veering uncomfortably towards liking himself, which is a line he thinks he COULD cross, but not one he wants to accept.]

It's true that I need to face down that weakness of mine... Being so easily exploited will drag everyone down. But... don't push too far with that, okay? There are some things I can't do.

Can't or won't?

...Won't. It might be possible for me to forgive myself, but I don't think that's actually acceptable.

Why would that be so terrible?

...It would cheapen it. All the wrong I've done. I can'd undo it, so forgiving myself would be letting me off too easy.

That's what I meant about self-indulgent masochism...

Tell me, does hating yourself fix anything? Does it help anyone? Does it undo even a single wrong you've committed?

If I let myself forget even a little, I might mess up and go back to that. And forgiving myself would be... setting it aside, to easier forget it.

It doesn't undo anything. Nothing I can do can undo any of it. But it's part of trying to be better, not just- torturing myself for the sake of it.

Hmph. I think you're not giving yourself any credit. Forgiveness and forgetfulness are only the same thing in trite sayings.

I believe you're more than capable of showing kindness to yourself without forgetting the things you regret, that drive you to be better. In fact, I think it's likely that, whether or not you realize it, you're only holding yourself back from growing by clinging to such self-loathing.

But I've lectured you enough, if at the very least we can agree none of this was your fault.

...Let's go back. It's spooky down here.

[IT'S NOT AGREEMENT BUT IT'S NOT DISAGREEMENT EITHER, JUST,,

it's a lot. more than he can really handle right now.]

...You know if you want to cry I'll pat your head, you big baby.

...Once we're on the train, 'kay?

Very well.

[he already feels a bit better just... having that promised, but. he's linking elbows with jusis now, no dignity for you, we walking back]

[Wow. He's not going to say anything but this is really embarrassing.]

[heeeee's stealing Jusis to Jasmine while he's at it, taking him all the way to his room and then finally letting him go so he can just. flop back on the bed, covering his face in both hands.]

[Please save him you can't just take him to your room when he has a giant crush on you, you jerk.

Oh well he sits next to Randy and continues to pretend he's indifferent to how hot Randy is. It's easy enough to just, focus on the fact that Randy is emotionally vulnerable and devastated and Jusis is bad for scaring him and also Randy's off-limits ANYWAY because of Rufus, so he scoots close enough to pat Randy's hair as promised.]

[consider that having a great big gorgeous beefcake of a man vulnerably nuzzling into your petting as he cries is uh, also kind of hot in a few ways?

oh right Jusis is M. in any case, it's cute.

weakly;]

Thanks.

[Being M doesn't mean he can't appreciate the emotional vulnerability or hot gorgeous crying beefcake, it just means he only appreciates the aesthetics and the trust as opposed to getting all excited about the crying. If anything it just kind of makes his care-taking instincts more pronounced but he's awkward and Randy isn't one of the little kids he's used to keeping company while they cry. But if he treats it like that it's a little easier not to get distracted.

He just keeps petting Randy's hair patiently and perhaps surprisingly gently, like he knows how to pet a crying person from experience.]

You needn't mention it. It's what friends do. There's no shame in letting out your feelings like this, either. Cry as long as you need.

Edited 2019-02-05 12:05 (UTC)

[It's honestly not so surprising to Randy, that Jusis knows how to softly comfort someone. It's been obvious to him from the outset that Jusis isn't just some cold asshole, so what softness he shows isn't strange to Randy, not when it's something like this.

Even so, he chuckles wetly.]

Same t'you, y'know? I know I interrupted you.

Hmph. I was done.

[Whether or not that's the case he'll keep petting Randy soothingly.]

Honestly you're such a baby.

Jus' a big ol' baby, that's me.

Yes yes.

[There's no mocking really. Just gentle petting until Randy calms down. ]

[eventually kind of just. rolling onto his side and pressing his forehead to Jusis' knee. mrrph.]

Better now?

By a lot, yeah.

[reaching up to paff vaguely at Jusis' shoulder.]

Y'sure you were done, earlier?

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