[how dare you gremlin the gremlin. she puffs her cheeks out a little just :T but allows it...bully.]
If it keeps them going and focused, that's all we can ask for. Even if the news we have to deliver to them isn't...y'know. The greatest. [it is bad, actually.] How much longer do you think we actually have before the cult gets it together to proceed?
Hopefully. We tried to send them everything we could information-wise, but it's not gonna mean much if they can't figure it out and go ahead with a plan. They've got some hard decisions to make coming soon. [which like...yikes.]
I'm sure she's already found you, but Karlach made it safely. If you were wondering. [she has eyeballs.]
[ he's grumpy. he knows the dead arrive sooner but she waited until monday... scien is so stupid. but the grumpy gives way to fondness pretty quickly ]
Are you both looking after each other as the two people I know best who struggle carrying everyone else's weight all the time? How does that even work?
Hey. Give a girl some time to cope why don't you. [why are men. but she's picking up the fondness and is very :o and also :3 about it, because she's also stupid in a different direction.
also this call-out is so unnecessary hello?]
Given what happened and everything else, I think she's the one who needs the support right now. And when I need it, I know I can ask her. But for now I'm trying to help her how I can even knowing it might not be exactly what she needs. [a pause.] We did go clothes shopping though.
[ he doesn't respond because both aerith and karlach come to him for some pretty similar reasons. mainly that he is a person who does not require their comfort, so it means he's in a decent position to be their sounding board instead ]
I told her to go have fun. You are imperative to accomplishing that, as you often seem to be in the requests I make. But in this case, I do think it'd be good for both of you.
Stop worrying about supporting others and just do whatever young women do.
Like with Lucas, it feels a lot less like a request since I was planning on it anyway. I'm making up for lost time with a friend. [also he's not wrong. she has aqua and nona on the other side and she loves them dearly, but it's not the same as having a girl bestie. there's a blip of longing and melancholy for a moment, if only because she does still miss tifa, actually.]
In this case, it's try on clothes and gossip about boyfriends. [she says this a little dryly because she knows #unrelatablecontent but she does think it gets the point across.] I can tell she's not totally okay, and that's fine. She doesn't have to be, and I'm just going to keep doing what I can to try and help her work through everything she's thinking about herself.
[ this is so funny. scien's emotions truly remain neutral the whole time because it's so unrelatable to him but. there's vague notes of acceptance and fondness. if they're having fun, that's enough for him ]
It's a vacation. Just for a few days, until the weekend comes and everything falls apart.
[ a mild little shrug ]
Of course no one is going to be completely okay. You're all in a horrific situation trying to get sacrificed by the cult. But there have to be moments to recover and feel alright. The body needs equilibrium before it dips into more extremes.
This last weekend in particular was devastating to a lot of them. If anything I wouldn't be surprised if the monsters took it as a challenge to do something even worse. I don't mind taking a vacation until Friday. We know when to get to work and I think everyone could stand the chance to relax.
Not completely okay, no. But okay enough to be able to start finding a way to proceed. [...] Lucas was obviously very bothered about me and how I was treating what happened when he first arrived. One of the first things Rondo said was that he wasn't strong enough to stop Karlach. [the emotional vibe is faintly fond but also exasperated. my guy. she was possessed.] I don't know if she's hear, but it feels...hard to say when the person who attacked and killed him wasn't Karlach most of the night.
The knight is pretty emotionally weak and useless. [ SCIEN!!!! ] He talks such a big game but crumbles like tissue paper when pressured is applied.
We've said enough times that there's no way to stop the monster the first week they're summoned, because they haven't been weakened by the Saturday ritual.
the way she sort of smiles says she doesn't...entirely disagree. rondo has a very big heart but people with big hearts and big dreams often can be hurt when they don't live up to their own expectations. she can only hope that with time rondo will realize it wasn't his fault.]
The good thing is he has people here to support him when he does crumble a little. It's the best we can offer.
[moving on!!]
The point is that if Rondo's feeling that way it might be hard for Karlach just like Lucas had a hard time accepting I forgave him. So I'm doing what I can to try and normalize things and give her space to bring it up herself. That's fair, isn't it?
Mm. It is. Let her enjoy herself for a while. She had a miserable time.
[ and there's a little spark of something protective here, though it passes quickly. he knows karlach can handle herself, but he's gotten a bit used to taking care of her ]
She knows where there is space for her to cry, if she finds that she needs it.
[she tilts her head a little as she observes him.]
...I am glad she was able to find that with you. It's one of the things I wanted for her more than anything. [people to lean on when everybody else was leaning on her. yes, the irony is not lost on her. shut up.]
I'll keep her busy with something fun. Don't worry.
[luckily for everyone involved she's aware of what kind of person he is.]
Scien, I don't think you need to know a fourteen year old almost made me cry yesterday because of something stupid. Though you know I appreciate the sentiment.
[there is a reason she's bringing it up but also yeah that happened.]
Did you know it's difficult to try to explain to people you're dead only for one of them to decide they don't believe you?
[again, karma is a child, but aerith's entire relationship with karma is built around trying to get him to trust her and not lose his marbles repeatedly. he'd asked her for proof that death wasn't the end, and when she'd said she was proof herself he just trivialized her death on accident.]
He does. [little bit of worry, little bit of fondness.] We've talked a lot and I get where he's struggling. I know he can't fully process everything he's feeling and tends to explode and cause destruction because it's the only way for him to try and deal with it. Eventually after he was done destroying the school I asked him to try and explain. He had hopes that maybe there was a way to bring Daan and Karlach back to your side, like what happened to Camille. And it led to the conversation about how there are worse things than death, but that death isn't the end. So he asked me for proof, and I wasn't proof enough. I think he thought when I said I died that I was saved and came back after a few minutes.
[and she'd been too blindsided to correct him. also again, child.]
It's fine, we're fine, just...a lot after the other two times last week went a little better.
.... it is good for you to have shared with others.
[ he is proud of her for that. it shows in his feelings. noting that she is trying, and she is doing her best for it. ]
There is probably something to be said about what you learn from setbacks, but I don't care about that right now.
It's fine to be frustrated and feel invalidated. You don't need to be mad at a child, but if it stings, just say so. You tried to trust someone, and they didn't know the right thing to say. Even if it was accidental, it can cause damage.
[there's a faint blip of something almost like gratitude when he says "i don't care about that right now" because even if she doesn't often say it, she does take value in people understanding she's just as weak to some things as other people.]
The good thing in all of it is he recognized it made me unhappy and apologized for going too far, so I'd still call it a win. [...] "You're always so bright and warm and full of life. It's hard for me to imagine anything otherwise." It'd be pretty stupid to actually be mad, but it was...more difficult than I thought. Like maybe I thought people would automatically accept it.
[karma aside...]
Iwatooshi had a few confused feelings on it, I think, but ultimately understood. The fake Mikazuki said just enough for him to ask me. [...] And I chose to tell Lucas myself.
Most people should automatically accept that others wouldn't be blasé about their own death in a normal society.
[ scien is an exception because arpéchéle is a hellpit as aerith is personally experiencing, but also it's not a normal society. ]
He is a child. You do not need to make excuses for him. We already agree that he did not mean harm, but that does not change it was inflicted. You can be allotted time to process and heal all the same.
If the others accepted it... that is steps forward. You should not have to hide one of your troubles, if you want to share it.
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[ i'm sorry he just pinches her cheek. not sharply, but he does.... gremlin ]
... but yes, I think they will. And you're right that it was meaningful to them to discover that you all weren't gone.
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If it keeps them going and focused, that's all we can ask for. Even if the news we have to deliver to them isn't...y'know. The greatest. [it is bad, actually.] How much longer do you think we actually have before the cult gets it together to proceed?
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but looks thoughtful ]
... three weeks until the deadline for the ritual itself.
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[ what a chaotic weekend! ]
You'll likely hear about it in time.
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I'm sure she's already found you, but Karlach made it safely. If you were wondering. [she has eyeballs.]
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[ he's grumpy. he knows the dead arrive sooner but she waited until monday... scien is so stupid. but the grumpy gives way to fondness pretty quickly ]
Are you both looking after each other as the two people I know best who struggle carrying everyone else's weight all the time? How does that even work?
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also this call-out is so unnecessary hello?]
Given what happened and everything else, I think she's the one who needs the support right now. And when I need it, I know I can ask her. But for now I'm trying to help her how I can even knowing it might not be exactly what she needs. [a pause.] We did go clothes shopping though.
[so that's nice.]
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I told her to go have fun. You are imperative to accomplishing that, as you often seem to be in the requests I make. But in this case, I do think it'd be good for both of you.
Stop worrying about supporting others and just do whatever young women do.
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Like with Lucas, it feels a lot less like a request since I was planning on it anyway. I'm making up for lost time with a friend. [also he's not wrong. she has aqua and nona on the other side and she loves them dearly, but it's not the same as having a girl bestie. there's a blip of longing and melancholy for a moment, if only because she does still miss tifa, actually.]
In this case, it's try on clothes and gossip about boyfriends. [she says this a little dryly because she knows #unrelatablecontent but she does think it gets the point across.] I can tell she's not totally okay, and that's fine. She doesn't have to be, and I'm just going to keep doing what I can to try and help her work through everything she's thinking about herself.
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It's a vacation. Just for a few days, until the weekend comes and everything falls apart.
[ a mild little shrug ]
Of course no one is going to be completely okay. You're all in a horrific situation trying to get sacrificed by the cult. But there have to be moments to recover and feel alright. The body needs equilibrium before it dips into more extremes.
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Not completely okay, no. But okay enough to be able to start finding a way to proceed. [...] Lucas was obviously very bothered about me and how I was treating what happened when he first arrived. One of the first things Rondo said was that he wasn't strong enough to stop Karlach. [the emotional vibe is faintly fond but also exasperated. my guy. she was possessed.] I don't know if she's hear, but it feels...hard to say when the person who attacked and killed him wasn't Karlach most of the night.
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We've said enough times that there's no way to stop the monster the first week they're summoned, because they haven't been weakened by the Saturday ritual.
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the way she sort of smiles says she doesn't...entirely disagree. rondo has a very big heart but people with big hearts and big dreams often can be hurt when they don't live up to their own expectations. she can only hope that with time rondo will realize it wasn't his fault.]
The good thing is he has people here to support him when he does crumble a little. It's the best we can offer.
[moving on!!]
The point is that if Rondo's feeling that way it might be hard for Karlach just like Lucas had a hard time accepting I forgave him. So I'm doing what I can to try and normalize things and give her space to bring it up herself. That's fair, isn't it?
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[ and there's a little spark of something protective here, though it passes quickly. he knows karlach can handle herself, but he's gotten a bit used to taking care of her ]
She knows where there is space for her to cry, if she finds that she needs it.
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...I am glad she was able to find that with you. It's one of the things I wanted for her more than anything. [people to lean on when everybody else was leaning on her. yes, the irony is not lost on her. shut up.]
I'll keep her busy with something fun. Don't worry.
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[ this is so funny to him because he fucking sees it so exactly ]
Then you also know where to find me when you need a place to cry.
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Scien, I don't think you need to know a fourteen year old almost made me cry yesterday because of something stupid. Though you know I appreciate the sentiment.
[there is a reason she's bringing it up but also yeah that happened.]
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[ it's fine he's mostly just teasing
he makes an open handed gesture
go ahead and tell him ]
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[again, karma is a child, but aerith's entire relationship with karma is built around trying to get him to trust her and not lose his marbles repeatedly. he'd asked her for proof that death wasn't the end, and when she'd said she was proof herself he just trivialized her death on accident.]
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help me ]
Hades, does that kid have problems.
[ there's once again no actual malice or even irritation but just a feeling of being astonished. karma. ]
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He does. [little bit of worry, little bit of fondness.] We've talked a lot and I get where he's struggling. I know he can't fully process everything he's feeling and tends to explode and cause destruction because it's the only way for him to try and deal with it. Eventually after he was done destroying the school I asked him to try and explain. He had hopes that maybe there was a way to bring Daan and Karlach back to your side, like what happened to Camille. And it led to the conversation about how there are worse things than death, but that death isn't the end. So he asked me for proof, and I wasn't proof enough. I think he thought when I said I died that I was saved and came back after a few minutes.
[and she'd been too blindsided to correct him. also again, child.]
It's fine, we're fine, just...a lot after the other two times last week went a little better.
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[ he is proud of her for that. it shows in his feelings. noting that she is trying, and she is doing her best for it. ]
There is probably something to be said about what you learn from setbacks, but I don't care about that right now.
It's fine to be frustrated and feel invalidated. You don't need to be mad at a child, but if it stings, just say so. You tried to trust someone, and they didn't know the right thing to say. Even if it was accidental, it can cause damage.
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The good thing in all of it is he recognized it made me unhappy and apologized for going too far, so I'd still call it a win. [...] "You're always so bright and warm and full of life. It's hard for me to imagine anything otherwise." It'd be pretty stupid to actually be mad, but it was...more difficult than I thought. Like maybe I thought people would automatically accept it.
[karma aside...]
Iwatooshi had a few confused feelings on it, I think, but ultimately understood. The fake Mikazuki said just enough for him to ask me. [...] And I chose to tell Lucas myself.
[sorry she chose to blorbo your dog.]
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[ scien is an exception because arpéchéle is a hellpit as aerith is personally experiencing, but also it's not a normal society. ]
He is a child. You do not need to make excuses for him. We already agree that he did not mean harm, but that does not change it was inflicted. You can be allotted time to process and heal all the same.
If the others accepted it... that is steps forward. You should not have to hide one of your troubles, if you want to share it.
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