Cometh the Big Crying Wheel

[initiates]

Date & Time: Sept 15th
Location: A refurbished castle on the outskirts of Exsilium.
Characters: Anyone at the party!
Summary: Vanadi hosts a party that goes very poorly.
Warnings: Violence, probably! Let a mod know if we should update this.


It’s a lovely night for a party!

The venue at the outskirts of town is, unfortunately, a bit drafty — and actually rather sparsely furnished, as well. In fact, party goers are encouraged to mingle, drink, and enjoy themselves in the courtyard, as the castle itself wasn’t able to be renovated in time, and has proven to be a little bit architecturally unsound. Any explorative guests might find a small hail of dust and pebbles on their heads if they venture too far in — and who knows what else, if they continue on.

But the drinks and snacks both are plentiful and delicious, and the large canvas set up from castle wall to castle wall keeps off the sprinkling rain. The weather could even be described as warmish and pleasant, if one were feeling generous. A group of Exiles plays classic instruments in one corner of the courtyard, having been paid enough to even smile at any Transports that wander near.

All in all, it’s shaping up to be a good night. Until about 10 PM, that is. Come 10 PM, the Misery rolls into town, tearing down the canvas, nullifying powers, and crying corrosive blood everywhere. That’s the cue for all hell to break loose, as the final wave of mind-controlled characters snag their victims and make for the hills — or at least for the UE. The mind-controlled characters will also have the backup of a squadron of 20 of the Masked, the UE's special ops force. The Masked's main goal is to grab those on their list and get away, but they're certainly not above shooting to kill at anyone that gets in their way. They're also highly trained in hand-to-hand combat and physically enhanced by their suits, so they're a good bunch to try to avoid.

But do have a wonderful time until then, won’t you?

Comments

[retraced]

D-don't worry! I'll do my best to get them!

[Though, in the middle of his crepe-worrying, he can't help but think about the topic that spurred it all. Oz's incuse...

They're nearly at the other side of the room at this point. Gilbert reaches up a second time, this time letting his gloved hand brush over the side of Oz's arm, just above his elbow.]

The incuse...it hasn't moved again, has it?

[velveteened]

( that's a slightly difficult question to answer, so when he looks up again it's on a hesitation. but — honesty, right? he lowers his voice while answering, audible only to gilbert over the normal din of a party. )

You remember it was at five turns when w — ( we, and that's not wrong, but it's not quite correct either ) even when you got here, right? It went back that way in Reveil, but fighting with Leo made the hand move another hour. It's still at six here.

[retraced]

[His eyes go wide, but unlike back in Reveil, he doesn't make a scene now. One, there's no crepes to drop, and two, it's not anything close to an explanation that he'd been expecting. So the fight was worse than Oz tried to play it off as being...he shouldn't have been so blind as to not see that.

Gil stops walking. It's no worse, though no better than before, and at least it hadn't added to the damage done here. His hands tighten into loose fists, and he doesn't say a word. He just needs a moment to process all of this in his head.]

[velveteened]

( there is something a little different, something oz hasn't failed to notice — the influence of the chain got stronger, yes, when his incuse progressed here, but now he realizes only by a little bit compared to how it would have (did) under a normal course of events. the connection to the abyss is still here, but the thread is thinner.

he's only halfway into a step before realizing he's got ahead of gil now, pausing without looking back. )

I promise I wasn't too careless. ( for what it's worth. ) With the way things were going, it was unavoidable — but I didn't use any more power than I had to.

( or, at least, he tried. )

[retraced]

[It's worth a lot, though Gilbert is still a bit too anxious to realize how much. In this world, he'd promised to keep B Rabbit in check. Back home, it had been much more difficult to avoid confrontation at the rate Leo and Vincent were going. There really had been no other way.

Gil lets his head slump forward.]

Then all things considered, it could have gone worse.

[At least he'd been brought back here before it could go worse, but that doesn't mean that it never will. Eventually they'll all have to go back to that moment and continue on in the middle of that fight, and Gil feels his heartbeat speed up in anxiety. He steps forward, moving past Oz without waiting for him to keep up.]

I'll get you something to drink.

[velveteened]

Wait — 

( he hurries after, breaking off mid-sentence. it's not like gil can really be stopped once he's intent on fussing somehow, and anyway oz probably owes it to him. it's on that thought that oz chooses to stop and wait for gil to return with the drink — and sort out his thoughts in some peace. )

[retraced]

[The silent treatment only works so long, but it's enough time to give them both a chance to think. Gilbert knows that he can't let this get him upset. Oz had all but laid this out for him; he should have known better than to assume that nothing had happened when he'd returned home. His blinders had been up, but now he has no chance but to face it. The only thing he can do is continue to keep Oz safe from harm, just out of reach of the influence of the Abyss and hope that he can continue on here as normally as possible. Everything he can do to keep him alive.

He returns a minute later with a cup of punch. It's not exactly rhubarb berry flavored, but it tastes good enough.]

Here. [Is all he greets him with.]

[velveteened]

( he's left to wonder how different gil's reaction would've been if he'd admitted to this straight off, or even if he'd been fully honest about the state pandora's in right now. or, even, if he'd admitted everything leo had said when he was last here about things getting even worse, about how perilous oz's immediate future seems to be, apparently so much so that his claim as a future duke was surprising.

how many possibilities are there that could explain something like that?

but he's broken out of these thoughts by gilbert's return, however frosty it may be, and he takes the cup. )

Thank you.

( and takes a sip instead of breaking the silence further. )

[retraced]

[He bows his head and asks (probably not the best question to ask while Oz is trying to swallow):]

Is that all you haven't told me yet?

[velveteened]

( ah. supposing he answered his drink, rather than gil. )

No.

[retraced]

[He swallows against the sudden dryness in his throat.]

Is it important?

[velveteened]

( it's tempting to say "no" again, but he doesn't expect gilbert to believe that.

so, doesn't answer at all. )

[retraced]

[He stays silent as well, just to give Oz another chance to answer before he speaks again. It hadn't been so long that they'd been on opposite ends of this conversation. Gilbert had told Oz all of the most important things on his mind, but the other things - the ones that he couldn't stand to say out loud - he'd kept to himself.]

I see.

[He reaches out again, rests a hand on Oz's shoulder.]

Even though you can't tell me now, take the time to think about it, and then later, when it becomes something that I need to know, tell me at that time. Otherwise, I...I really will just be useless to you.

[velveteened]

( the parallel doesn't occur to him until gil starts to answer; and both his sentiments and touch are surprising when oz had been expecting even more cold withdrawal instead.

unexpected enough that it's almost hard to take and needs a long moment, all questioning expression and wide eyes, to sink in. )

I will. ( with more certainty: ) I will, Gil.

( he's been asked to make a lot of these lately, which is probably why it's so easy for him to conclude the way he does. )

I promise.

[retraced]

[His reaction is a little surprising, but promising. Whatever he's keeping to himself, Gilbert is certain he'd be honest if it was something he absolutely needed to know. For now, he'll simply help carry Oz's burden by reminding him that he's always here to take it from him, in small or large amounts.

He drops his hand back to his side.]

Then it's fine.

[He almost - almost sounds like he genuinely means it.]

[velveteened]

( it's a rare moment in all these weeks, before and after returning, to feel a real sense of reassurance like this. the one that'd brought him from reveil had been short-lived upon further examination of the situation and leo's warnings, though it's still meaningful; but with all of his fears about the strange happenings, with the things kano (not kano, somehow) had said, with renewed grief both of home and here, it's all been a little — much.

his returning smile is, therefore, immeasurably fond. )

[retraced]

[He smiles in return, but it's a short lived one. They've been taking a while now, and all around them more people are pushing by going one way or another. Gilbert almost forgot about them entirely in the sudden seriousness of the conversation.]

Ah...I should get back to patrolling the crowd.

[He starts to walk away, but then turns to glance back one last time.]

Don't get too far out of my sight, okay?

[velveteened]

( he literally waves gilbert off. )

I won't, don't worry! I'll see you soon.

[retraced]

[parting song plays in the background]

All right. Have fun.

[Enough fun for the both of them.]