exsiliumlogs | ( open ) happy moonsgiving, everyone! (forward dated to 11/15)

( open ) happy moonsgiving, everyone! (forward dated to 11/15)

Date & Time: All Day, November 15th, 3313
Location: Focused centrally on the Moon Base Cafeteria.
Characters: Any and all!
Summary: It's a feast on the moon under the guise of being a new sort of Thanksgiving! Food, drink, merriment, food comas... lend a helping hand, fill a few plates of goodies, and meet friends new and old!
Warnings: None right now. Please PM this account should anything go beyond a "my grandmother is also reading this and that is okay" level of appropriate.
Notes: Tag in action or prose, and please specify a time of day, location, or activity your character is participating in! (Set-up, the feast, clean up, etc.) Feel free to offer multiple prompts, as your heart desires! Also, Collette is asking for people to write something they're thankful for on butchers paper on the wall before getting their first plate of food. This is 100% optional!

In the morning, the setting up begins. It's hard to say what's a morning versus what isn't on the moon, but using the lighting system as a sort of guide, those who offered to help set up the feast or continue on with the cooking will all be there bright and early.

After things are cleaned, the cooking continues on while further set up of plateware and silverware and hard to break glasses are left to those helping hands with a mind for arrangement details. The whole of one section has been converted into a sort of buffet-style lineup, waiting for the dishes to be complete and set at ready. All varieties of the usual dietary fare have been offered, some in greater quantities than others.

Then comes the time where people stopping by or trickling in aren't just turned around or co-opted into assisting; it's feast time, though not before an announcement that each person getting a plate of food must write at least one thing they're thankful for on a large sheet of butcher paper taped up to the wall. There's a variety of colored markers and pens provided, from someone's personal (and eclectic) collection. It's a soft price to pay for free food and plenty of it!

When the feasting has wound down, so begins the clean up. Tired, drunk, well fed, over fed, or simply content, people will be shuffled out or dragged into helping turn the cafeteria back into working, normal form. What decorations were added will need collecting (or stealing), plates and dishes and cooking implements and pots and pans will need washing, and floors a good sweeping and waterless mopping before things are all back in order. Leftovers, if there are any, will need to be placed in sealable containers and put into refrigeration.

And then, blissfully unaware of anything impending on the horizon, to bed, or different haunts, for the night.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[But! But aren't you the one who just--?! Asbel gapes at him for a moment, then finally shakes his head. He'll never be able to predict this guy...]

Yeah, you're right, Christopher. We should...focus on the happier things. Like friendship and the people who support us, and everything we've been able to experience together.

[Except some of those experiences were kind of awful. But at least none of his friends (both old and new) had to suffer through them alone. He's been able to stay by their side for the most part. That's...something to be grateful for. Isn't it?]

Have you written a message on the wall yet?

[Christopher waves a hand, dismissing the entire subject as trivial.] I drew a flower peering up between cracks of pavement. Words are more honest than images, you know. A picture lets everyone read their own comforting lies into it. I've done a public service.

Comforting lies? [That doesn't seem comforting at all.]

But, a picture does sound nice. I just wrote a short letter.

[He knows better than to get into a deep discussion about flowers again, but if we're going for comforting lies here, such a flower would have to symbolize determination and strength in the face of obstacles. Congratulations, Christopher.]

What about? Wait, don't tell me! Asbel, you should know better. If you tell people what you're thankful for, it disappears.

[Christopher has apparently forgotten that this is not thanksgiving: it's birthday wishes.]

Oh, that? I was thanking my f--

[Asbel's answer comes to a non-screeching halt and he's left doing what he's usually left doing around Christopher: staring at him in confusion.]

Um? I don't really think that's going to happen, Christopher. It's not exactly something that can disappear...

[He chuckles at Asbel's naivety.] Anything can disappear.

[And then with no warning, Christopher loudly bursts off on a tangent.] That's right! What is it that determines existence? What if everyone forgets about something even if it really happened? What about things that people believe in that aren't true? You can say you're grateful for your friends letting you share in their lives, but perhaps that's just a delusion that you have of your experiences. It might not really be the case at all. Perhaps you can say that something is real for as long as you believe in it, but that just means that it will disappear the day you find out how very wrong you are.

[He waves a chiding finger.] Asbel, you can't just go around being irresponsible with statements saying that certain things can't disappear. There are rabbits whose very existence depends on the acknowledgement of others, and its the least you could do not to make reality harder on them.

Edited 2013-11-19 22:35 (UTC)

[Hold on just a second, Christopher already knew what he wrote on the wall! But Asbel doesn't get a chance to point any of that out, because suddenly he's being smacked in the face with a long string of suppositions and existential theory.]

[Somewhere in the middle of it, Asbel's expression shifts to seriousness. Is this like that deal with Kaneis, perhaps? Christopher just got awfully...loud.]

[When Christopher finishes, Asbel speaks up calmly and reasonably.]

...While it is true that we can't know the future or when we might lose something or someone important to us, it doesn't mean those things never existed or that they don't have meaning. If everyone forgets something that really happened - it still did. Maybe they can't remember it, but that moment occurred and maybe even led to something that's shaping their lives now. And even if something never happened at all or happened in a different way, it doesn't make the feelings and impressions a person experiences because of that belief any less real.

And maybe you're right. Maybe there are people who don't feel the same way that I do about our friendships. Maybe I've misjudged. But that doesn't really matter, does it? I've gained things from meeting and getting to know those people, and whether they realize it or not, their presense has supported me. I've treasured my time with all of them. Even if something were to happen, even if they returned home and we never saw each other again, they'd still be leaving something behind. That friendship and all the things associated with it could never completely disappear.

[Says the naive fool. Sorry, moon rabbits.]

[Christopher listens, patiently, openly. He listens and he feels envy. He is truly jealous of this person who does not need to worry about a gap that existence between himself and the world.

A wall that existence between them. A wall that Christopher cannot overcome, no matter how hard he tries to surpass the people on the other side.

Christopher weighs the words a moment. And then, serene, he smiles.]

My, what a compelling speech.

If it were possible, I'd like you to meet one of my younger siblings. Well, I wouldn't really want him to be in this kind of situation. But you might be able to make good friends with him.

[Or, Rail would get angry and blow Asbel up. Christopher isn't sure which is more likely.]

I didn't mean for it to turn into a speech...

[And yet it seemed wrong to wave off a long existential spiel.]

[Asbel's attention flicks back at the mention of siblings. Wow. His family's bound to be a pretty interesting group. Although, now that he thinks about it, he doesn't know too much about where Christopher came from at all. Asbel can't help but be curious.]

How many siblings do you have, Christopher?

[A kid brother, though. That sure takes him back. Asbel can't help but be fond of brothers.]

Yeah... I'm sure you wouldn't want to see him dragged into this mess. But if it were possible, I'd like to meet your little brother. Mind telling me about him?

[Asbel doesn't need to know the real reason he wants to keep Rail far, far away. Asbel couldn't understand it, and Christopher doesn't want him to.

Christopher taps his jaw.] How many? I forget. Can you count siblings? Is such a thing truly quantifiable? There must be at least fifty four. Let's see . . .

[He counts off each one on his finger.] There's Chi, the Poet, Sickle, Adelle, the Twins Sham and Hilton, Liza, Frank, and Rail. [So, nine. Nice effort estimating there, Christopher.

He happily continues.] Frank and Rail are the youngest. Rail is the one I'd like you to meet. He has an explosive personality and doesn't really like to get on much with outside people, but in fact, Rail really just wants to make a few good friends. I suppose you could say that he has gone through a few events in his life that make it hard for him to get along with people outside of the group of us. [He recalls Carol and his smile widens.] I recently met a young girl here from my world who says she was friends with him and Frank. It would be nice if we could send her home, too, and let her resume her friendship with those children.

[Christopher's expression softens, and he curls his fingers into his palms.] Really, what I'd like most is for Rail to become friends with lots of very kind and accepting people. He can be very acerbic and a little sensitive—emotionally, that is—but from the way Carol spoke about their time together, I'm certain that Rail is capable of making friends even with those who aren't like us. You could say that that kind of happiness would make someone like him truly blossom.

Edited (I'M DONE EDITING THE NUMBER NOW it's hard to guess) 2013-12-03 19:13 (UTC)

[Asbel sputters.] F-fifty four?!

[Maybe things are different wherever Christopher's from or maybe people can easily have that many children or maybe they're adopted. Maybe they're like Asbel's own friends who practically seem like a family to him. Where calling them his "friends" just can't quite do justice to the feelings he has for them.]

[But Asbel's being rude by interrupting and with a sheepish smile, he shuts up and listens.]

[Okay that's...nine. What of the others? It's impossible to tell if Christopher over-estimated or if there's some other reason the total has turned out so small. But it's this Rail that Christopher wanted him to meet, so...]

Yeah, that makes sense. I guess it's not always easy to reach out and let in strangers, especially if something happened to make it uncomfortable to do so. [Asbel scratches the side of his head as he considers all this.]

But if Rail could be introduced to some good people who'll take his feelings into consideration, I think he'd be really happy, too. [He smiles a little.] I've seen it before. You know, how people just light up when they meet someone who wants nothing more from them than to be their friend? And it already sounds like he and Carol and Frank get along pretty well.

[Christopher smiles as he listens to Asbel. He thinks that's true too. For someone like Christopher, it's probably too late . . . but Rail, Rail could have that happiness. Christopher is certain of it. Truly, Christopher would love that for Rail.

But if Rail came here, surely, it would be Hell. Being in close contact with Huey like this is like being back in the labs. And Christopher knows, he knows that Huey isn't done experimenting on him. Rail would certainly suffer that same fate.

If Rail had to endure what Christopher is enduring, would it really be possible for him to accept the friendship of other people as Christopher wants him to? Or would this be enough to completely break Rail? If Rail were dragged in here . . . would this become the place where Rail goes completely insane?

Christopher doesn't want that.

Without warning, Christopher extends a hand to Asbel, his grin broad and fanged.] I'd like to make another pact with you.

[For a few seconds, Asbel stares perplexed at the outstretched hand.] Another pact? How come?

[It's barely been over a month since the first one, but Asbel will reach across the table as if to take it, slightly amused now.]

They don't really expire, you know.

This one is different.

[Christopher's head tilts a little, so the smile he gives is lopsided. He puts his hand over top of Asbel's.]

If Rail ever comes here, I'd like you to swear to protect him against everything and everyone that might make him suffer. Even if he doesn't want you to, even if he tries to reject your help or hide the things that hurt him, I'd like you to protect him. That way, even if something happens to me so that I can't protect him, I know at least one person will be looking out for him.

[He chuckles a little and shakes his head.] Well, I suppose you might get stopped just as easily. Still, there's no harm in making a pact over it, is there? It's more like a special request for you to do something I know you'd do anyway.

[And making that a hand sandwich!]

[As Christopher explains, Asbel's amused smile fades to something more focused and determined. He's not sure if he's even the most qualified person to protect Rail, but he can understand this feeling. All older brothers have it, don't they? That sincere desire to keep their little brothers away from harm. And if one of his friends has chosen to trust him with such an important task...he can't very well refuse.]

[And besides, no one should have to suffer for any reason. He can't let the same thing that happened to Lambda happen to anyone else, the same thing that happened to Richard...]

All right. If Rail ever arrives in Exsilium, I promise I'll do everything in my power to keep him safe.

Marvellous. [Christopher would clap his hands together, but there's a sandwich of hands there. So instead he just beams broadly.] I'll hold you to it!!

I'll try my best!

[With a nod, Asbel removes his hands, looking a little reflective. Overprotective big brothers he can understand, but it seems kind of specific. As if Christopher expects something to happen. More than the usual around here? Maybe not...]

Christopher, is there a reason you made me promise that? Are you worried something might happen to Rail if he shows up?

[He did mention something about "events". What kind of events?]

[Time to shut Asbel down. Christopher gives Asbel a rather condescending look.]

I'm surprised you're asking that kind of question under these circumstances.

[The implicit 'yes,' of course, is misleading one. Asbel is on the mark, which is why he can't be allowed to stay there.]

[Asbel stares back for a moment, dread welling up in his stomach. Not this again... It's some combination of the last experience, and similar looks he's received in the past, that keep him from backing off completely.]

Yeah, we're not in the best situation right now, and I realize that. But that's not it. I just thought if I knew why you were concerned, I might be better prepared to help Rail.

[Wow, that's good. Christopher almost has to admire that. But he isn't going to tell Asbel about their situations, no matter how solid the reasoning is.]

That's very kind. But it's the circumstances here, that's all. Enduring them would be very hard for Rail.

[So, Christopher's little brother is someone who's been through hard times, someone with strong emotions and a potentially unpredictable personality who has difficulties making friends...? Asbel guesses he'll just have to wait until the day he meets Rail in person to find out more about him. Finally, he nods.]

I understand.

Good.

[And cue the moodswitch. Christopher reaches out and pokes at Asbel.] Now tell me about your family. I've met Sophie, of course. Who else are you longing for?

[Asbel reaches for his tea. Partly to hide a sudden flush of embarrassment. Who uses words like "longing" in everyday speech anyway?!] Uh, well, I guess there are a few people that I miss...

My family isn't nearly as extensive as yours. Dad passed a while ago, so besides Sophie, it's just my mother and Hubert and me. And Frederic, I guess? He's Cheria's grandfather, but he's been working for the Lhant family since before I was born.

Anyway, Hubert's my little brother. [Since they've been on the topic of brothers.] He's always been book-smart and kind of shy. [Asbel laughs quietly to himself.] ...Maybe not "shy" so much anymore. Nowadays he tries to act all serious. But he's strong, and focused, and he's really good at analyzing things and figuring out what to do in difficult situations. He tries to keep me in line, too, so sometimes it almost feels like he's the older brother instead of me. I bet I really get on his nerves. But I know he wouldn't bother to point out my flaws if he didn't honestly care for me and want me to better myself.

I...guess now that he's back on our world, he'll be returning to Strahta soon.

Edited 2013-12-10 04:06 (UTC)

[Christopher listens happily. He really does like listening to people talk about their family.]

Well, you know how it is. You never forget what they were like when they're young, no matter how much they grow and change. And isn't that shy part of him still somewhere in his history, if not his heart? Let's say that he can stay shy for as long as you remember him that way.

[He grins at Asbel.] Wait. That means you're the irresponsible one always getting into trouble and breaking the rules?

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/just going to cover my face and walk away in shame.

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Look what you made me do.

NO IT'S REALLY CUTE and sad