beneath the stars came falling on our heads

[bumbles]

Date & Time: throughout September.
Location: various.
Characters: Donny Casey/Atlas and assorted unfortunate souls.
Summary: Going to be throwing individuals starters in, but slam me a pm or grab me on plurk if you would like a thread sometime during the month! c:
Warnings: I will add these as necessary!

( Donny's actually feeling pretty good about this month.


But we all know that's going to go up in flames so let's prepare the popcorn. And here is a sly link to his appearance page in case you need to know what Atlas' uniform is like, ohoho. )

Comments

[inafadingcrown]

[Her smile visibly warms. She's heard and thought of many arguments in either direction, but this is one of the most considerate.] You have a kind heart. And you are right; it is, in a way, a piece of home that we carry with us.

[bumbles]

( Donny's brow furrows at the praise, gaze flickering back to Galadriel as Maurice pushes himself back off the ground, paws set on Donny's leg so he can snuffle at his neck. ) Yup.

( Ever the great wordsmith, and he winces a little at the sting of his own thoughts biting back at him, the automatic strike of Asteria wound into his head, into everything. Sometimes he's not even sure that he's a complete person, because so much comes back to Asteria. Or he wonders if any of it was her fault at all, and maybe he's just a mess. )

L-Lady Galadriel, then. ( A beat, and a bit cautious. ) I'm s-sorry to, um-- t-take up your time and, uh. ( Come on. ) Have you m-met um, L-Lady-- Lady V-Victoria?

[inafadingcrown]

[Ah. Though the woman had introduced herself to Galadriel by a different name (something she fully intended to discuss with her at some point), she had been watching the network with enough regularity to put the name to a face- a very particulate face, in fact.]

You speak of the woman who bears my face, do you not? We have met- and gave one another quite a start.

[bumbles]

Y-yup.

( There's just a brief moment where it seems like he might smile, before shyness gets the better of him and he starts to straighten up a bit, murmurs to Maurice to sit - and surprisingly enough, he obeys. )

My-- um, I m-met someone who, uh, who l-looks like m-my sister. And-- there are other-- other p-people.

( As if he's trying to reassure her, since she apparently didn't need the heads up, that it's not exactly unusual. )

[inafadingcrown]

So I am not alone in this, is that what you mean to say? [There's a laugh in her voice as she says it.] I do not know what to make of that either.

[bumbles]

( A nod, eager, before he realises maybe he sounds stupid, saying stuff like that - looks stupid, too, and he looks a little perplexed. Maurice is just snuffling around the ground again, though he gently headbutts Galadriel's leg, requesting more attention pls. )

J-just, um. That this p-place is weird, I guess.

( He feels so unhelpful. )

[inafadingcrown]

[Maurice is rewarded for his request with some scratches behind his ears.]

That much I gathered. [She glances back at Donny.] It is a shame we had not spoken before this; both you and your friend here are quite fine company.

[So relax; you're doing fine with her.]

[bumbles]

( Say what, now; Donny looks bewildered. )

Um.

( Scratching his forehead, and-- ) W-we um, c-come here sometimes. Often, I m-mean. It um, seems... safer for h-him than uh, than the Outlands.

( His smile is hesitant, the way just about everything about him is right now, but it's trying to suggest that if she likes, Maurice and Donny can be around at a time when she is around again. Maybe? Or Maurice can be around and Donny can go sit far away. ) Do you--

( come here often, he was going to say, before he remembers the time he said that here and someone thought it was a pick up line. Help. )

[inafadingcrown]

[Does she look like the sort who would be familiar with modern pick up lines, Donny?]

I come here regularly, yes. The greenery does me good.

[bumbles]

( Hey, man, you never know. In his experience, ladies know all. )

It's b-beautiful. I mean um, n-not-- it's not like uh, stuff at home? B-but I guess-- I guess everything else is so rough here, we c-can, um.

( A soft huff of air, and he sort of waves his hand vaguely. ) It m-makes it uh, easier to find the g-good stuff? It's more p-precious?

( Although he could say the same for greenery at home, too, really. It should be more precious. )

[inafadingcrown]

[She smiles] In the darkness, a single candle shines all the brighter. Yes, I agree.

[bumbles]

Oh. ( He's quiet for a couple of moments. ) That's uh, a b-better way of um, of saying it.

( A little apologetic. He does take too long talking. )

[inafadingcrown]

[A chuckle] I have been told I have something of a gift with words.

[bumbles]

That's, uh. I'm-- I'm uh, n-not-- I'm n-not g-- g-good at them. You're uh, being-- b-being good at them is um, is--

( He can't get it out, his mouth twists, trembles, and his head drops. He can't even speak. ) Sorry.

( Genuinely. ) I c-can-- this should b-be um, b-be p-- p-peaceful.

[inafadingcrown]

And what makes you think I do not find this peaceful? [She moves forward and places her hand under his chin, gently raising his head back up.]

There is no need to apologize.

[bumbles]

M-me.

( A beat, before he manages to raise his gaze to hers. ) And uh, m-my-- the um, the stammer. And--

( Something desperate, that he can't put words to. )

[inafadingcrown]

[She shakes her head] You do not trouble me in the least. And I assure you, were it otherwise, I would have made some indication.

[bumbles]

Oh.

( Well. He sure is stumped.

Donny stares at her for a moment, not quite sure what to say. Eventually, fingers knotting into his shirt, he manages, ) Th-- th-thank you.

( a nervous breath. ) That's uh, v-very-- very k-kind.

[inafadingcrown]

[She gives a low chuckle and backs away.]

It is not a matter of kindness, only simple truth.

[bumbles]

It's, um. Easy t-to-- easy to m-make the truth hurt. Or, uh--

( He's struggling to work out what he wants to say, what's the heart of it, and lapses into silence for long moments as he dwells on it. )

P-people don't really-- ( No, he can't figure out how to say these, and there's something a bit desperate in the way he looks at Galadriel, because look at him. I'm not someone people like to be around. )

[inafadingcrown]

There is suffering enough in this world without hurting others needlessly. [And that's the gist of it. He has been nothing but kind to her and that's reason enough to return the kindness. It really is that simple.]

People often fail to see beyond the obvious; I like to believe my eyes are keener. [A little smile. She sees something in you already, whether he sees it in himself or not.]