Etraya Inbox

[twin_blade]

Um, right.

*BEEP*

Comments

Un: TerribleTinkerer

[badnewsandshitlist]

Please be careful Vax'ildan, there is something wrong with this fog. It's far too thick, and heavy. My mask is utterly useless against it and I do not know why. It disturbs me quite enough and it presses into my lungs. Stay where there is light if you can.

Please be careful, I rather not lose you this soon.

un; champion (voice)

[twin_blade]

[ Vax is surprised to hear Percy's voice on the other end of the line. Hearing that the fog is already getting to him has Vax more concerned for Percival than himself. And for his sister, of course.

The last part gets a moment of quiet thought. ]

Stay away from it as much as you can. Aurora said the fog causes delusions and paranoia. Nothing good is going to happen for the next two weeks.

I don't want you to be a danger to yourself. Or to my sister.

text | un: bahamut

[oblige]

Good day, Vax.

My request for that ability was accepted, and I am now able to Prime on a smaller scale once again.

Might you have some free time?

text; un: champion

[twin_blade]

Really? That's good.

Honestly, I could use less free time. Does this mean I'll get to see it?

[oblige]

That was my intention.

I know not where you reside, is there somewhere you would prefer to meet?

[ He's uncertain what is convenient for Vax, and thus what to suggest. ]

[twin_blade]

I have one of the apartments, but I don't spend much time there. I'm in Charronway at the moment, but I can meet you anywhere.

[ What would suit Dion's needs for this? Or maybe it doesn't matter if he's going to be small.. so long as it works properly. ]

Have you tried it here yet? If not, maybe a place with some space. Just in case.

text | un: bahamut

[oblige]

[ Some time after their conversation on Chirper, Dion sends a text Vax's way. ]

Good evening, Vax.

May I bring that book by?

text

[twin_blade]

[ If only Vax's evening of texts had ended there. It takes him a minute to respond. He already told Dion he could bring the book by, so he's not going to change his mind. ]

Yes, come on over.

text → action

[oblige]

I'll be by shortly then.

[ True to his word, Dion knocks on the door to Vax's apartment not long thereafter, book in hand. ]

Re: text → action

[twin_blade]

Be right there!

[ It takes another moment, though Vax hates to keep Dion waiting. A deep breath, and he answers the door. ]

Hey. Thanks for bringing it over.

[ Vax has certainly looked better. His voice is soft, deeper, like he's trying not to draw attention to anything. There's some redness in his eyes. Was he drinking or.. ? As if conscious of it, his right hand quickly wipes past his cheek. ]

Um, do you want to come in?

text | un: bahamut

[oblige]

Good day, Vax.

As we anticipate a mission in the near future, I've taken the liberty of purchasing one of Aurora's revival passes for you.

[ He refuses to call it a "get out of death free" pass. Far too flippant, that. ]

We never know what we may face, but I hope such a measure grants you some peace of mind.

[ ooc: he sent this during a sane hour, unlike his player. ]

[action!]

[twin_blade]

[ Vax didn't expect the text, especially given the content. He has to read it a few times. The first was followed by a gasp, after which he read it twice more just to make sure he understood. Dion got a death pass for him?

Initially, he doesn't know what to think, but he does know he can't just let such a big matter stay in a text message. After pulling on his boots, he went upstairs to Dion's apartment, only to discover he's not home. Vax considers texting him back, but it occurs to him where his friend might be, and he doesn't want Dion to brush the whole thing off, so Vax sets out to find him.

Once he touches down after a flight to the library, Vax goes inside, knowing there's a strong possibility he'll find his friend here. Like a man on a mission, he walks past the aisles until he spots Dion, then quickly marches in his direction. ]

Dion, what the fuck?

[ From elsewhere, another unseen patron of the library goes, 'Ssshhhhh!' Guess that greeting was too loud. ]

[oblige]

[ Dion hadn't thought anything of the lack of reply to his message. He surmised that Vax must be busy going about his own business, so he'd simply kept to his own. In this case, that meant returning last week's books and perusing the shelves for something else.

He's rather engrossed in this most serious of endeavors, reading the back cover of some hefty hardbound edition of some trilogy reprinted into a single volume when Vax's voice cuts through the relative quiet of the library. Not having expected this in the slightest, Dion very nearly tosses the book and winds up fumbling after it, practically clapping the tome against himself to avoid somehow damaging the thing. ]

Vax? [ This is his cue to blink owlishly in his friend's direction, his voice decidedly a far more polite volume for the venue. ] What brings you here?

[ Evidently, Vax's choice of greeting didn't make this apparent to him. ]

Action - Backdated to 11/2

[herofhopeless]

[While spending time with Kirk had been more soothing than he originally thought it might be, Clive’s heart is heavy. The idea of going home to more memories of Vander sends a fresh wave of pain rolling through his body. Laughter, gentle touches, not so gentle touches, whispered and playful words, music, dancing, just existing with each other. Memories waited for him everywhere at Garreg Mach, as they did with all those that came before. He had thought those memories had been put aside, placed where they could be looked at with a fondness once the ache was gone.

But here he is, a wound barely healed, torn open once more. Clive stops at the door to the stairwell and leans against the wall. He runs a hand over his face and through his already messy hair. Everything hurts, his heart, his mind, his body. It all hurts.

Clive lets his body move without thinking. Much like he did the night he spent with Renoir, he trusts his body to bring him where he needs while his mind cannot. That’s how he finds himself in front of the door to Vax’s apartment. Could he lay yet another heartbreak at this man’s feet?

Before he can overthink it, Clive raises his hand and knocks.]

[twin_blade]

[ It's never a guarantee that Vax is in his apartment. He doesn't always sleep here, sometimes preferring other locations when he needs to forget he's in this world for a while. Camping out didn't suit him tonight, though, so upon hearing the knock, Vax sets the book he was reading down and goes to the door to open it.

He's surprised by who he finds there and knows immediately that something is wrong. ]

Clive. Come in.

[ It only takes a second for him to offer the invitation, stepping aside to make room for his friend. ]

What happened?

[herofhopeless]

[What Clive would have done had Vax not answered, he isn’t sure. The thought hadn’t even occurred to him until seconds after he drops his hand back down beside him. Would he just go home? This is ridiculous. He should go. It was another disappearance from Etraya. There would be more. He has to learn how to handle this sort of thing or he is only ever going to be hurting.

He is a moment from turning and leaving, convincing himself that he doesn’t need this, when the door opens. Seeing Vax pushes all of those thoughts aside.

He needs this.

He does manage to not practically throw himself at the man, though. Clive enters, quiet as he takes off his shoes and sets them aside. He leans on the wall, staring at the one adjacent.]

Did I ever tell you about Vander?

[His voice is soft, shoulders slumped. His eyes are no longer puffy from crying, but they are still a little red.]

text | un: bahamut | post-mission

[oblige]

Good evening, Vax.

Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but you've not seemed yourself. Did something happen?

un; champion (text)

[twin_blade]

[ Normally, Vax is quick to respond. Especially to Dion. It takes him a little while, which might be unusual, but he does respond. ]

Yeah. I'm on the roof. Want to come up?

[oblige]

[ Dion had reasoned Vax must be busy, but when the reply comes, it seems there may be another reason.

Regardless, his own response is prompt. ]

Very well. I'll be there shortly.

voice | un: bahamut

[oblige]

Good day, Vax.

[ The greeting is the easy part. The simple part. As for the rest, well. It drags a sigh out of him, equal parts weary and perturbed. ]

Another Mothercrystal has appeared in Etraya. This one... It was from my homeland. I did not request its addition, and I suspect I know how Joshua and Clive will respond once they take note of it, so it is my intention to investigate its present state.

[ Letting Vax know where he's going, as one does. ]

voice: un; champion

[twin_blade]

[ That sigh can't be a good sign. ]

I see. Could you use some company? I haven't looked at one of those things up close.

[oblige]

[ He knows how Rosfields feel about the big rock candy. Talking Clive out of trying to crack one was a challenge, but now that there is another... ]

If you've the time, of course I'd welcome your company. There may be hostiles, however, depending on how...faithful it is to the original.

backdated → mesa mission

[oblige]

[ After his last idea for an investigation had gone aggressively sideways, Dion has had time to re-evaluate. Much as he sees the sense in numbers when dealing with a wholly foreign world, he couldn't help the gnawing sense of guilt that had come with it. He'd very nearly brought Vax to the site of his own demise, and while he has a death pass, it would be preferable that he not have need of it.

Such thoughts lead Dion to reason that perhaps he ought to see what threats a location might have before asking others to join him. It would be fine, he reasons, to take a look for himself so there is some notion of what they might be dealing with.

And it happens, one fine morning, that he has a place in mind.

Dion is not a natural early riser, despite expectations to the contrary. He prepares to set out around mid-morning, expecting that Vax and Joshua will still be sleeping and Sephiroth...well. Sephiroth is likely patrolling the area as he seems wont to do.

Dion thinks it more polite to regard it as patrolling rather than lurking.

He crosses the living room with care, not wishing to disturb anyone. Every creak of the floorboards tenses his shoulders, but he presses on. The door is his destination, and he assures himself it's a short distance there.

Except he spots Vax's sleeping corm on the couch and that gives him pause. Not because his location is unexpected; it's no surprise he's there. But his blanket has fallen to the floor, and Dion can't leave that unaddressed. He backtracks to pick the blanket up, gingerly draping it over Vax anew to fend off the morning chill.

Once that is done, he turns to resume his journey to the door. ]

[twin_blade]

[ Since the attack at night, things have been pretty peaceful. No giant trees, anyway, and the lights have kept monsters at bay. That doesn't mean Vax is slouching at all. He still takes the night shift and squeezes in a few hours of sleep as the evening draws close to dawn. He's aware of Sephiroth coming and going as he pleases, while Dion and Joshua tend to sleep in. Usually.

On the couch, Vax lies on his side, appearing to sleep soundly. He wears his armor, even when he's resting, since he wants to be ready at a moment's notice. As the blanket is set over him and Dion departs, the half-elf opens one eye and glances at the door. Where is Dion off to?

When the prince makes his way through the woods, Vax follows, silent as a shadow. He can move without sound. Though he's best in city environments, he can manage the woods undetected, as well. So long as he keeps Dion in sight or earshot, he won't lose him, and Dion doesn't bother covering his tracks.

He waits until it's evident where Dion is going before he makes himself known. Just as Dion is about to enter the mines, Vax's voice calls out as he approaches from behind. ]

I thought you might be sneaking off for a secret rendezvous, but this doesn't look like a romantic spot at all.

[oblige]

[ Dion halts immediately upon being greeted, shoulders peaking under his armor. It's very nearly masked by the way he lifts a hand toward his holstered halberd, but he freezes midway through the motion. He knows that voice.

But he'd had no idea he wasn't alone.

Then, belatedly, he registers the words. ]

Imagine prioritizing such a thing in the midst of a mission.

[ He huffs out an amused breath as he turns to face his friend. Who exactly would he sneak off to meet, anyhow? ]

I thought you were asleep.