Ӿ 08 Ӿ

[grandbellknight]

[Croix was already at the Observation Deck when the fire pit appeared. ... Thanks for that. He probably would have had a slightly more comical reaction if he wasn't still a liiiittle on the angry side - as it was, he simply twitched, glared at it, and then looked around for any other changes in the room. And that scribbled message on the wall? Was definitely a change. Since then, he'd tried to make his way out, suspicious about what staying there could mean. No escape, huh? It figured.

So, he's been here. Pretty much just waiting for everyone else to show up. He's standing, arms crossed, leaning on his shoulder against the glass, and just looking out at the stars. Every once in a while, he glances back at that message on the wall.]

I think it's a safe guess that more trouble's on the way.

[And he is not looking forward to whatever is coming up next...]


((OoC: Do please come bother him! Or poke him via CAT if you're not quite there yet! Hell, if you want to mingle with others using this post, we can make this a mingle post. I don't care~ have at it, yo. o/))

Comments

[tactilekonesis]

[Right. Cadmus killed her; he was just... someone who didn't know she'd died until it was too late.] You're just trying to make me feel better. I can't hate you for that.

[He smiles faintly, more to keep his own spirits up than anything.] I can't really forget Tana, but I know I've gotta live for her now.

[grandbellknight]

[He matches Kon’s smile with one of his own.] Yeah. You’re right.

[He crosses his arms, wondering if a change in subject would help:] So, what was that about an apartment building?

[tactilekonesis]

That... [He chuckles.] So after Tana died, I got kind of depressed, right? So I moved out of student housing and moved into my own apartment.

All before I was even in high school, to make it even weirder. [There's a small pause, before he admits:] ... As it turns out, it's illegal for a 14 year old kid to be in charge of that much property, so I got sent home.

[grandbellknight]

[Okay, that makes him laugh a bit.] They sent you home? Wow. It... must be a world difference. I moved to Pastalia to join the Grand Bell Army when I was twelve. I mean, I was the youngest recruit they ever had, but they still let me own my own house once I had enough money.

[tactilekonesis]

Wait... you were in the army? [Somehow Kon managed to miss this bit of information.] At 12?

I don't know if I should be impressed or flabbergasted, since that's not exactly common where I'm from.

[grandbellknight]

Yeah. The Grand Bell Army. [He smiles faintly. He's proud of his accomplishments, yes, but some of what happened in said army still stings a little. Also, he's a little embarrassed from the, uh, semi-praise.]

It's really not common in my world, either. They usually wait until people are older. I came in early by at least four years. Maybe more.

[tactilekonesis]

[He whistles softly. It's praise, he just words it kind of weirdly.]

That's... yeah, that's really impressive. Most people don't join our army until they're 17 or 18 at the earliest.

Did you like being in the army? Or did you have to---[He bites his lip.] You know what? Forget I asked.

[grandbellknight]

[He nods.] That sounds a little closer to normal for us, too. Still older, but closer than I was.

[When Kon stops himself, Croix waves a hand dismissively and shakes his head.] Hey, don’t worry about it. Most of my duties were more like... keeping the peace. [He quirks a rueful little half-smile.] And anyway, you told me something big. I may as well explain myself a little too, right?

[Though with that, he can’t help but glance back at the words on the wall...]

[tactilekonesis]

If you're sure. [He doesn't want to ask, but he suspects that that sign's more important than it seems...]

It's kinda silly to be all accusing and go, "what have you done?" in this place. Everyone's done something or another by now, right?

[grandbellknight]

[Aaaand there it is! Just to confirm Kon's suspicions, Croix can't help but blurt out the following:]

I watched my adopted sister suffer from the same thing that made my mother kill herself.
I killed the guard captain, the man who trained me, when I abandoned the Grand Bell.
I didn't honestly understand my feelings for Luca until she lost her soul.

[Oh. Shit. Croix might be blushing just a little out of embarrassment, but more importantly, he's busy staring out the window to avoid eye contact for a second. Ahem.]

[tactilekonesis]

[WELL THEN.

Kon awkwardly rubs the back of his neck as he tries to figure out what to say next.]

Um... I don't know if you want to talk about it, but I can relate to that first thing, about your sister and your mom. It almost happened in my family.

[grandbellknight]

[He looks up again.] No, it's okay. I mean...

[He pauses, shakes his head and crosses his arms.] I was only four when my mother had an IPD outbreak. She killed a lot of people, including my father, and then killed herself. Cocona, though... she survived. And she's okay now. [He smiles, juuuust faintly.] So... at least there's that.

But... I'm sorry that you can sympathize.

[tactilekonesis]

[He whistles softly, before slowly wandering over and offering his hand. Kon's not good at hugs or anything remotely physical, but he's more than okay with offering.]

Yeah, at least your sister's fine. And no, don't worry about it. My mom didn't kill herself - it was just that she and my cousin Lori had something similar that could've hurt them. Mom passed away, but Lori's fine now. [Also, Lori's his cousin, not his sister. Details!]

Soo... do you wanna talk about the others? Like that thing about Luca?

[grandbellknight]

[Croix's not much of a hugger himself, so he just offers a reassuring half-smile and goes to shake Kon's hand instead. (Silly boy...)]

I'm glad your cousin is still okay. And... sorry about your mother.

[... Man. That one.] You know, I still don't know that I understand. Not entirely, at least. [Slight laugh.] But... she's alive, and she's one of the most important people in my life. So I guess I have a little more time to figure it out.

[Beat.] Oh, and I didn't kill Captain Leglius. I don't even know why I said that.

[tactilekonesis]

We all say weird stuff from time to time. [He grins, clearly not bothered by that confession.] I can't really blame you, not when Luministi's as crazy as it is.

[Just because he can, he instead lets go of Croix's hand and immediately envelops him in a hug. It's a little tight - Kon doesn't know his own strength - but it's enough to show how much he cares.] I'm not proud of my past, but it's given me a lot to learn from, at least.

[grandbellknight]

Yeah, good point.

[He returns the hug in kind, appreciative of the support. In a place like this, when they're all stuck with no real answers as to how to get home again, it's good to have friends. Besides, apparently he really did need a hug.]

That's a really good way to look at it. [He smiles. Then, he thinks for a moment, glancing back at the words... and snorts.] Maybe something like that is what they're after here. Only... probably not so beneficial.

[tactilekonesis]

[The hug feels nicer than Kon remembered. He needed it just as much as Croix did, even if he doesn't want to openly admit it.]

Of course not. Since when was anything here openly helpful towards us?

[grandbellknight]

[Sigh!] Since never. At least we can count on that much.

[tactilekonesis]

Yeah. [It's a sad sign when he's used to this place being horrible.

He pauses, starting to head out of the observation deck - only to find some kind of barrier over it. Kon frowns.] Looks like we'll have to figure another way out.

[grandbellknight]

That doesn't really surprise me either. [He leans back against the wall.] Maybe we have to find out something about someone specific. I don't really know where to start with that, though. It seems... invasive.

[But... huh.] Well, at least it's not quite as cold as it was before.

[tactilekonesis]

We might have to talk to everyone. [The idea doesn't really please him, but he can't think of any other way to get out.] I don't like it, but if it's the only---

[Wait.]

I know it's cold because of the snow, but it feels warmer? [He can't really feel temperature.]

[grandbellknight]

[blink!]

Yeah, a little. Though, if you can't tell, then maybe it's just my mind playing a trick on me. You know, like wishful thinking.

[tactilekonesis]

Nah, you're probably right. [He sighs.] I can't really feel if anything's hot or cold. I mean, I thought it was pretty cold when I came in, but it's nothing that'll bother me.

[... for now. He's not immune to the whole "getting frozen" thing.]

[grandbellknight]

Oh. I didn't know that. [He smiles a bit.] I don't know if that would be lucky or inconvenient, though.

[tactilekonesis]

It sucks if you're trying to pass off as a normal kid. [He rolls his eyes.] But it's fine; I don't make a point of telling everyone about it.