At least there's no elevator music...

[thespaceopera]

[At least two weeks have passed since the Drift Fleet passengers woke up on this strange wing of the Marsiva... Some new passengers have even joined the group instead of being Shuffled off to a fleet ship! The large monitor in the central room remains quiet for now, so how is everyone holding up?

Have you been relaxing? Enjoying the Earth media? If you can even remember them, how have Calibrations been treating you? Has anyone started getting a little stir-crazy?

Don't worry... This ship has no shortage of mysteries, and you'll be seeing a few more soon.]


ooc: here's another mingle for the current game event! players can start or continue threads here from any point during the event. the additional setting information is still being postponed due to sickly mods, but y'all are welcome to post additional topcomments for reactions and investigation once it's up!

Comments

[geonomy]

[Ah... that explains the clammy feeling - he knows the signs of someone having a fever, if only because he's grown up with the occasional friend or family member getting one. He brushes his hand through Allen's hair as he speaks, listening to every word and feeling a sort of ache along with it. It's hard, hearing this kind of thing... It's like talking to someone who had a long-term illness who hadn't felt the symptoms in a long time, only to suddenly get caught off guard by them once more. Only, you know, this one's kind of a menace to society and everything.

There's really not much he can do - There's no way he can deny any of that, and to do so would be utterly naive, and Allen doesn't need that at all.]

... I heard him say that he wasn't going to try waking up again until he was back on Earth. I know that doesn't help much. He's still there and - yeah, still waiting. It's something about the plans he had...

[He'd been stroking Allen's hair throughout that, but now he lowers his hand to tilt Allen's chin up, getting him to look at him as he gives him a light smile.]

I don't think you're disgusting. To me, you're amazing for holding on like this. And I'm with you whether this whole thing gets better or not.

[save_the_souls]

[It's comforting, feeling that hand in his hair, being close to Clay. Even if there isn't much Clay can say to help make the situation better...him being here helps. ]

[But...back on Earth, huh? Figures. He had already known going back home was basically a death sentence]

...He wants to kill the Millennium Earl. The Earl killed him the last time he tried, so he found a way to bring himself back so he could try again. [There's dry scoff] I wouldn't mind if he did, the Earl's my enemy too, but taking over my body and eroding me away to do it...

[He shakes his head. Hell to the no. Especially when Nea's shown himself to be as stable as the San Andreas fault.]

[But...Clay is sweet, reassuring him of that. He doesn't smile, but he'll give Clay's hand a squeeze and he can feel his shoulders relax a little more. Even if he felt so frustrated by the rest of his situation, he still felt so lucky to have Clay.]

....Thank you, Clay. That means a lot to me.

[geonomy]

... Wow. The whole possession thing I told you about does sound a lot like that.

[What with Daisy or whatever wanting to make Mia suffer as much as possible and possessing someone to do it. And, you know, since they're on the floor and all, Clay goes ahead and stands up, using their held hands to help Allen up as well, and start guiding him to the bed. You need some rest, honey.]

He should find some other way to do it. It sounds like that stupid plan of his isn't working out well anyway.

[Yeah, he doesn't know who this Earl guy is, except that that's the most southern name he's ever heard, and he's not sure why Demon Guy wants to kill him. But yeah, taking over Allen and wearing his body away? No. Hell to the no. Plus, well... Demon Guy's been away from Earth for years now, so it's obviously not working out in his favor anymore.

So yeah. Stupid plan.]

[save_the_souls]

[There's a beat as he recalls that tale Clay told months ago] ...Yeah. I guess it does in a way. [Huh.] I don't think this one will get solved in a courtroom though.

[Just a feeling anyway, with the Noahs. Don't seem like a bunch who'd even bother with an appearance in court.]

[With Clay's help, he'll help pull himself up, moving along to the bed. When he's near enough, he'll reach over and carefully climb onto it. Ugh. Yeah. Definitely still feeling like crap here. ]

Yeah, what an idiot. Not taking the possibility of kidnapping castles or space reality shows into account. [He says it dryly...but honestly, it's hard not to be thankful for the lucky breaks. Even if he doesn't find a way to stop this, at least these places have still given him eight more years he wouldn't have had back home]

...But really, all these places have done is delayed him. I don't know what I'll do if the augment stops working.

[geonomy]

[The dry tone gets him to snort and grin, even though the conversation is a serious one.]

See, that's the thing! You've got to account for every single possibility when you're crafting a plan. Even kidnapping castles and space reality shows. He definitely didn't think things through.

[But on to more serious things. When Allen's on the bed, Clay sits on the edge of it, and he gives Allen's hand a squeeze when he's more settled.]

If the augment stops working, then we'll figure something out. You've got a lot of friends who want to help you in any way they can. I know I do.

[Which... he knows isn't much. But all of them, together? Surely something can be done, not to get rid of it, but at least to help him with it.]

[save_the_souls]

[He'll look at Clay, and a small hint of a smile creeps across his face at his words. He knows it isn't much, but...well, having a little positive thought never hurt. And it wasn't like Clay was being overly optimistic.]

Just as long as you promise to stay safe.

[His tone isn't a chiding one, it sounded like Clay played it safe this time. But still, safety first love. But he'll let out a little huff of air that blows his bangs from his face]

Ah...I'm sorry. Usually I try to be more optimistic about this. It's not that I've given up finding a solution, I haven't, it's just... [How to say it] It's hard...not to feel a little discouraged sometimes.

[geonomy]

I promise.

[It's what he prepared himself for the moment he realized that Allen had this problem of his. Being safe in the midst of danger is what he's spent his whole life training for, what with his love of space and wanting to go there. It's a promise he has no qualms with keeping.]

Hey, don't be sorry. I'm glad you're talking with me about this. [It tells him that Allen's comfortable enough with him to talk about it, and though Clay wishes he could do more, he's glad that he can be confided in like this.] Sometimes it's just... too much, right? And being positive about it can be hard. It's okay to be discouraged every now and then.

[He offers a little smile back.] It's how you pick yourself back up after it all that counts the most. And I admire that from you.

[save_the_souls]

Right... [He uses his free hand to wipe at eye quick. Even if Clay couldn't do much about this situation, Allen could admit it felt good to have someone safe to confide in. Right. It was okay to have a moment to wallow. As long as he picked himself up after and kept walking, he wasn't breaking his promise.]

[That hint of a smile grows some and he scoots closer to Clay, leaning over to rest his head against his shoulder for support.] I will. After this, I'll pick myself up and go back to being stubbornly positive. I'll keep walking. Maybe I'll even shout that thing you always say - about being fine? That seems like a good pick-me-up.

I mean...if that's okay with you. [He knows from that calibration that Apollo taught him that. And if it was a special thing just between him and Apollo, he didn't want to intrude on that private space]

[geonomy]

Nah, it's fine.

[Now that Allen's leaning against him like this, Clay wraps his free arm around his shoulders and presses a kiss to his forehead. He still feels like he's trying to recover from a fever, and Clay will have to do something about that soon, but right now? He'd rather Allen be feeling mentally better before anything else.]

That whole thing was meant for anyone else to pick up if they needed it. I even got a few people here to start doing it.

[Granted, one of them isn't here anymore, but he won't bring that up.]

You're Allen Walker. You'll keep walking. And you'll be fine. Even if you don't think so at first, the more you keep saying it, the more you start to believe that things will be okay, you know?

[save_the_souls]

[Allen watches him, taking in the words that he was hearing. He was touched to hear Clay repeat his own mantra. To keep hearing him reassure him in a way that he could believe. Even if he still felt the pulls of fear and discouragement, he still felt so safe and comforted just being here with Clay, in his arms.]

Ah...I wonder what I did to deserve you.

[Since Lord, did he feel lucky to have this man in his life.]

[geonomy]

Come on, you did nothing but be yourself.

[Clay doesn't think someone should do something to deserve someone else, after all. They're both imperfect people; they just happen to fit together in a good way, in one that works.

He tilts his head to rest it against Allen's, a little smile on his face as he settles a bit. He'll stay for as long as Allen needs him, until he feels like getting up and walking on his own again.]

Take as long as you need.

[save_the_souls]

[He can't help but smile a little at Clay's words. He hadn't fully meant that as a bash against himself. Still, he'll tease a little]

Now who's the charmer?

[There's a slight nod at the second part, settling against Clay as he takes those words to heart. He won't need too long, but still...it's good, to just take a moment before he has to start moving again]

[geonomy]

Psh. I was always the charmer.

[Even if he hadn't meant it as a bash, might as well nip that sort of sentiment in the bud early anyway. Now that Allen's settled more against him, Clay traces his fingers up and down against Allen's upper arm, doing what he can to give him a comfortable, loving environment.]

[save_the_souls]

[That gets a snort. Those fingers definitely feel pretty relaxing]

Ah, right. My mistake.