party rock is in the house tonight

[flashmaiden]

Date & Time: Backdated to sometime before Emil leaves
Location: Unit 103
Characters: Too many people idek. Roommates, Asch, Emil, Asbel, & Christopher??
Summary: Legitimate fixes to the apartment that do not involve duct tape plus a dinner!!
Warnings: I think this entire cast is a warning.

[After the whole duct tape fiasco, or maybe because of it, they'd finally gotten someone to agree to repairing it. And since they have extra guests, it makes senses to do something like a family dinner, right? Only probably is that they don't really have the space for that even, but it won't stop them from trying! If they could cram that many people in the apartment last time, this should be considerably easier. So after some finagling, a dinner had been set up! This is that dinner.

Set up will be in the comments! Tag around, get CR, HAVE FUN. ]

[KITCHEN | DINING/MINGLING | WALL...FIXING??]

Comments

[pactfulfilled]

Mana imbalances? That sounds kind of like eleth. It's because of the presence of all three types that the flowers on Lhant Hill bloom year round, after all.

I guess oil might be a little different, though, huh? Still, I'm sure there's an explanation of some kind for the current state of the weather...

[I can't remember any Ephinean oil, but I could be TOTALLY WRONG there, so ignore me!]

So, does the rain bother you, Emil?

[knightofcourage]

[HEY WHO PLAYS THE GRACES CHARACTER HERE nah don't think so.]

Just a bit. It'd be nice if we didn't have to carry an umbrella to keep from getting wet all the time, even for a little while.

[pactfulfilled]

[UM I THINK I SAW A COUPLE IN THIS POST??????!]

Yeah. Yeah, that would be nice. And a little sunshine would probably help to lift everyone's spirits.

[Wow, they really are talking about the weather. Asbel's not sure what else can be said about it unless Emil's seriously interested in this kind of thing and comparing regional climates and whatnot. Um. Oh, right!]

By the way, Emil, did you and Aster ever get a chance to talk? He seemed really interested in meeting you.

[knightofcourage]

[Well, he had to go and ask that. Emil stammers in response, not quite sure what to say of that. He'd been hoping to get it off his mind for just an hour tonight...]

I, um, not yet.

[pactfulfilled]

[Asbel honestly wasn't expecting such a nervous and dodgy response. The whole thing has been kind of...weird. Here are two people who could easily pass as brothers, and yet...]

[He's not sure if he should inquire further or not, but it's the way Emil answers that's got him concerned enough to ask.]

...Is something going on? I mean, I know it's none of my business, but if there's anything I can do, I'd like to help you work it out.

[knightofcourage]

...

[Emil falls quiet for a moment, picking at his food distractedly without taking a bite.]

It's not something anybody can help with.

[pactfulfilled]

Emil...

[Asbel looks down at his plate, not even really seeing it, then slowly shakes his head and turns his attention back to Emil.]

Look, if you want me to butt out, then I will. All you have to do is say so.

But I absolutely refuse to believe that! I may not have a solution to whatever it is you're dealing with, but at the very least, I can support you. No one should have to go through difficult situations all by themselves.

[knightofcourage]

...

[Emil doesn't really know what to say to that. He's gotten a little bit more comfortable with talking about who he is to people from his world, enough that he feels like he could tell Asbel about it if he wanted to. But Aster, Ratatosk, the real Emil - it's all too much to say, especially right here and right now. And Asbel probably wouldn't be so supportive if he knew what Emil had done. So instead of giving that much of its due thought, he retreats.]

Thanks, Asbel.

[Ladies and gentlemen: Emil Castagnier Defense Mechanisms, Exhibit A.]

[pactfulfilled]

["Thanks". Not "butt out". Not "shut up". Not "can we please not talk about this right now?". To one Asbel Lhant, "thanks" is usually a sign of acceptance, so whatever outcome Emil was expecting by activating his defense mechanism numero uno...Asbel just missed the memo.]

["Thanks" means Asbel is supporting him, effective immediately.]

Things will work out, Emil. I know they will.

[But of course he'd rather know what it is he's supporting Emil in. He can't help at all if he's left in the dark. He continues quietly.]

So...what is it? Aster insisted he didn't know who you were, but I'm guessing there's more to it than that. Do you know him already?

[knightofcourage]

[Emil doesn't believe him about how it's going to turn out, but he's still willing to at least provide a half-answer to his question, even if he's still mostly speaking in monosyllables.]

I do. He doesn't.

[pactfulfilled]

That's...because of a time difference, right? I've heard it happens sometimes.

[His expression turns sympathetic. If it's something like that, then no wonder Emil's having difficulties figuring out what to say to Aster. He'll never forget how surprised he was when Sophie told him he had become her father. Or when Pascal started talking about those weird girls that they had to fight...]

Sophie and Pascal are actually from the future, too.

[knightofcourage]

[Sure, Asbel. Let's go with that. You're not wrong about the time difference part, at least.]

Really? Oh, right, Sophie did tell me that a while ago. And what about your other friends?

[pactfulfilled]

She did? [This doesn't come as a shock or anything, but it still feels weird to be "behind" his friends.]

[Asbel continues slowly, looking very mildly troubled. As if something's on his mind.]

Well, I think the rest of us are about the same. Within a few days, I suppose? I'm not really sure of the details, since I was kind of out of it at the time.

[He shrugs a little and offers an apologetic smile.]

But Sophie's experienced six months of memories that we haven't, and Pascal's somewhere out there, too.

[knightofcourage]

Six months? That's...

[Well, he's not sure what six months means for Asbel actually, but six months was a good chunk of his lifetime as Emil Castagnier so he knows a lot can happen in that time.]

Yeah, that's a little while. It's usually the other way around for me, because I'm ahead of everyone else by a few years.

[pactfulfilled]

[A nod.] Yeah, it's a little while. Long enough for some things to change, at least.

[But what's a handful of months to several years? Several years ago he was back in Barona, training to become a knight. Dad was still alive, and his friends... It must be hard, being the only one who has that knowledge.]

I see. It sounds complicated. I'm not sure what I'd do if I was put in a situation like that myself. Things were so different then. Even just a year ago... So I think I can understand why you might not want to talk to him just yet, Emil.

But the two of you did meet, right? And he'll get to know you eventually. In a way, it's not such a bad thing. However you two knew each other before, you get a second shot at it.

[knightofcourage]

Maybe.

[And...that's all you're getting again, sorry Asbel. The subdued tone may or may not betray the fact that Emil doesn't really believe it. Asbel doesn't know what really happened. Surely once Emil and Aster meet and the truth comes out, Aster won't want anything to do with him.]

[pactfulfilled]

[It almost feels like Emil is trying to retreat into himself or something. He's gotten so quiet that Asbel feels bad for bringing it up in the first place - but he couldn't just leave him alone either.]

[But even Asbel realizes that he can't do much more for the guy other than cheer him on, not with so little to go on. What he choses to do is ultimately Emil's decision, after all.]

Just don't give up on him, okay? Hang in there.

[knightofcourage]

[Exactly right, Asbel. About the "trying to retreat into himself" part, at least.]

Right. Thank you.

[pactfulfilled]

[Asbel nods slowly.] It's no problem.

So...um. How's the curry?

[Don't judge him, at least he's not talking about the weather. And no worries, he's not about to start up another deep debate about seasonings, either.]

[knightofcourage]

[The weather in Exsilium is a perfectly good topic, okay. It's always raining, don't you wish it would stop too!]

The curry? Um...it's good.

[pactfulfilled]

[Well, yeah... It's dreary and cold and makes him think back to this one time he did a really embarrassing thing in the middle of a downpour. He's also come to realize that fighting the battle of white clothing and hair with any style to it at all is barely even worth it in this weather.]

I'll bet if you asked, Cheria could fix your favorite dish the next time we get together like this.

[knightofcourage]

Really?

[Emil shakes his head.]

No, that's all right. I wouldn't want her to go to that kind of trouble.

[pactfulfilled]

I don't think she'd mind. Besides, if it makes you feel any better, I'll help out, too.

[So it won't be any trouble. Really.]

You do have a favorite, right?

[knightofcourage]

Well, yeah, of course.

[What kind of guy do you take him for, Asbel.]

[pactfulfilled]

[One who doesn't like giving anything away. Not even his favorite food.]

And that would be...?