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.

[oblige]

[ Dion by contrast spends more time in his apartment, but he has books... And something he's writing... ]

It would have been irresponsible not to test it first, so I have made certain.

Since you are in Charronway, I shall meet you there.

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?

[oblige]

[ Dion gets no further than opening his mouth to ask whether Vax is all right, for he doesn't appear to be. Neither does he sound like he is. Concern is plain in his honey-brown eyes as any emotion ever is.

What might have transpired between earlier jokes about costumes and now?

Vax's question comes first, and Dion sets his own aside. ]

If you aren't opposed to company.

[ He may well have asked himself, had Vax not done so. ]

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. ]

[twin_blade]

[ Normally, Vax might smile in amusement as Dion juggles his book, and it is humorous enough for Vax to take note of it, but he's too preoccupied to comment.

His swift stride carries him between the shelves to converse with his friend, even if this is not an appropriate place for conversation. ]

What brings me here?

[ His voice has lowered, somewhat, but it's still a loud hiss. ]

I got your message! What the actual fuck?

[oblige]

[ Dion's surprise softens, but only into perplexity. Vax saw his message, which he thought was self-explanatory, so he finds himself uncertain what this reaction stems from. His eyebrows pinch together as he tries to derive deeper meaning from "what the (actual) fuck", but he comes up with nothing. ]

Have I offended you?

[ He's taking a stab in the dark here, but how else should he interpret Vax hunting him down to repeat this one phrase at him?

...Is that what it is? ]

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.]

[twin_blade]

[ Vax takes a quick step forward as Clive leans against the wall beside the door. The door is pushed closed as he keeps eyes on his friend to ensure he does not fall where he stands. After a moment, Vax steps closer to loop an arm around Clive's waist to offer some support. ]

No, but you can.

[ He hefts Clive's weight to lead the man over to the couch where he can sit. Once Clive is safely deposited there, Vax goes to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

As for the apartment, the place looks like every other unit in the building, since they're all pretty standard, but it looks about as basic as they come. There are no personal touches or decoration. One would not have known someone was living here for any amount of time, let alone an entire year. It's kind of empty. Lonely looking.

The only real addition is a throw blanket on the couch with a couple of pillows. The book he was reading is on the coffee table. It looks like.. a romance novel. Blame Dion's taste in literature.

As for himself, Vax is dressed in a simple black t-shirt and pants. He's slimmer looking without all the bulk of the feathery mantle of his cape. ]

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.

[twin_blade]

[ On top of the roof of the apartment building, the sky is mostly clear. There's a chill wind in the air for the season, but the cold doesn't bother Vax much. The elements generally don't when he's wearing his Matron's armor. After five weeks without it, having it back on feels good. Familiar. The only thing that is the least bit cold are his face and his hands.

Vax is sitting on the edge of the roof with his legs hanging over the side and the evening air stirring his dark hair. He stares out over the city where some lights in buildings indicate those who have returned after their time away. Not everyone, though.

After getting the reply, he expects Dion will arrive shortly. ]