[ backdated, semi-open ] heartwarming, the dream

[failsaver]

Who: Ket (failsaver), Kaz (belfire) & up to 9 others
When: IC 3/21 (Event 20, Phase V), before the forest fire
Where: Anywhere in the jungle
What: Ardeo gave Ket the gift of warmth. Ket wants to share it.
Rating/Warning: None

---

[ Ket's one of Caeli's. Ardeo had said that, and while Ket's not sure what that means – or what any of this means, really – he's decided to believe Ardeo for now. Ardeo's kind. Vibrant. And he's given Ket a gift he can share.

Ket's never been able to share power before.

If you're someone Ket knows (or a lost stranger, that works too), he'll teleport in front of you, beaming. Stuck down a hole? Sitting in a tree? No problem, he'll still reach you. If he does know you, enjoy the hug. ]

Comments

[senseandcecilbility]

[Kevin is not unused to teleporting or even being summoned...But why is he here, and why he is being hugged?]

...Sir?

[What if he gently tries to pry the lemon-loving young man away?]

[failsaver]

[ Unless he's prying really hard, Ket'll keep clinging, exuding a mix of joy and relief. ]

Ket! It's me, Ket! [ Has he even told Kevin his name before? No idea, but IT DOESN'T MATTER, because now he has. ]

Are you okay? Alive? Whole?? Breathing??? [ Just checking! Words are important. ]

[senseandcecilbility]

Ket? [Did he say his name before? Perhaps Kevin was too busy protecting his broccoli.

But yes, he is okay, alive and breathing. He is even feeling better than usual. Really, why does Ket feel...]

Ah...Mister Ket, sir. Why do you feel so...?

[Angelical?]

[failsaver]

So what? Don't just trail off like that! [ HUG HUG CLING CLING. ]

Are you okay???? [ Bro, answer the question! ]

[senseandcecilbility]

[What a cheerful young man. Kevin can't help but smile back. So many good feelings. It vaguely reminds him of being in God's Presence, not that Ket has anything to do with God, of course.]

I am fine, sir. You are merely very warm.

[Here, he will even stop struggling and give Ket a headpat.]

[failsaver]

Ah, yeah... [ He's glad. He doesn't know what powers Kevin may or may not have, and the jungle can be dangerous. And then Kevin pats him on the head, and Ket blushes. True, he dishes out physical affection without a thought, but being on the receiving end is...

Well, it makes him happy. ]

This is Ardeo's gift, Sir Kevin! I came to share it.

[senseandcecilbility]

Oh, is it Sir Kevin now?

[When did he stop being a vegetable? Oh well, he will continue this random display of affection. It is not every day that he finds someone so warm and cosy. Besides, there is nothing wrong with gratifying good children...unless you've got to slaughter a few firstborns to prove a point, that is.]

...Ardeo, you said? Oh my, I hope that is not some pagan god of yours...

[belfire]

[Kazuya had been sitting on a log that looked like it was in the process of being devoured by the jungle floor, looking thoroughly and utterly bored. One would think being in a Jungle would be exciting, but once you got into the groove of food foraging and dodging monsters, it was like being back in the lockdown, except greener and smellier.

So when Ket appeared, abruptly enough that he almost flinched, Kaz perked up. Ket was always distracting, even if it was a strain on one's mental fortitude. He opened his mouth to greet him, but Ket went in for the kill, and before he knew it...

-hug-]

Um, Ket...? [A warm flutter went through him, like he just stepped into a well heated room after standing out in the cold all day - that... wasn't a normal hug, and something buried deep in the depths of his soul shifted] Ket.

[failsaver]

Kaz! Kaz, Kaz, Kaz! [ "I want to protect you" isn't a hard thought at all with Kaz, what with him being a roommate and close friend. Ardeo's warmth is wonderful, isn't it?

Finally, Ket pulls back, keeping his hands grasped firmly on Kaz's shoulders. ]

Don't run off alone like that! [ Says the boy running off alone. Are those tears pouring down Ket's cheeks? Those are definitely tears. ]

[belfire]

[Ardeo's warmth was wonderful - it was like a lightning of the weight he normally felt, a kind, soft feeling... but at the same time, there was something deep inside of him that recoiled from it almost violently. Bel did not appreciate Ardeo's warmth at all, with how it kept twisting and writhing about, like a snake thrashing about in a trap.

It was a strange sensation to have - he'd never been more aware of its presence in his life - but he didn't really have time to dwell on it since Ket was crying oh god, why, he was not equipped for this!]

W-What- but- you- you run off alone all the time! [He tried to lean back - away - but Ket's grip was like fucking iron] C'mon, man, stop crying! Uh, please?

[failsaver]

[ Kaz will get a loud sniffle in return, along with a face full of hair as Ket shakes his head. ]

I always come back! [ Eventually. ] You were just gonna stay out here alone, weren't you? I couldn't find you anywhere! I thought I'd never see you again! [ FIVE WHOLE DAYS, KAZ, HOW COULD YOU. ]

[belfire]

...eh.

[Kazuya knew he could be prone to overdramatics himself, but this was something else. Ket was talking like he had expected to stumble across his cold, dead corpse, which was a little insulting...! Like, okay, he had arrived in this world on the wrong foot and all, having gotten beaten up by a tree, but still, he didn't appreciate getting potentially killed off in Ket's imagination!

So, very calmly and slowly, he lifts his hand and - flicks Ket's forehead]

Have faith in me, jeeze... [Honestly, who was the elder one here?] I wasn't gonna stay out here alone forever. I was just getting a feel for this jungle so I could help find out what's good to eat and where to get supplies. Y'know, survival stuff. Don't go killing me off when you're worried!

[failsaver]

[ Ket blinks at the flick, then grins. It was nice when Hiro did it, and it's still nice. As much as Ket initiates hugs, physical contact from others is a rarity, so this is a treat.

But still, that arrival is exactly why Ket was worried! Kaz can't even fend for himself against trees! And wow, it's not like Ket was imagining Kaz's dead body. He's not that morbid! ]

I didn't kill you off! I'm not a movie director, and you're a real person! [ PLS. ]

[particularity]

Eh?!

[You know what, teleporting is not something he's super on top of. Hugs are slightly less alarming but he still doesn't anticipate getting one in the middle of the forest when he's got twigs under one arm and some miscellaneous things in the other.

It might be a pretty pointy hug.] Ket? What--

[WHAT HAPPEN]

[failsaver]

Hinata! [ Pointy's no problem, Ket's been stabbed with worse. More importantly, he's glad to see his friend! ]

You're building a fire, right? To be warm! [ "I want to protect you." Ket always wants to protect others, and without warning, Ardeo's warmth will flow forth. A warmth that radiates throughout Hinata's entire being, kind and welcoming. ]

[particularity]

That's what I--

[--had been about to do, but Hinata cuts off. It's warm.

It's not the humid or cloying warmth of the jungle, but it's oddly relaxing. Without knowing fully why, tension eases out of his shoulders and those lingering painful feelings of his friends disappearing recently... recedes.]

What're you doing?

[failsaver]

[ Ket feels him relax, and he's glad. He leans back, still grasping Hinata's waist. ]

Sharing a gift. You feel it, don't you? Ardeo's warmth.

[particularity]

Ardeo-- the fox one?

[Hinata looks down at himself, puzzled, that warmth still there and lingering. He flexes his fingers slightly before moving one hand to give Ket's shoulder a brief and only slightly awkward pat.]

[failsaver]

[ It's okay, awkward doesn't exist on the Ket spectrum of emotions. ]

Yeah, that one. The not-Caeli one. [ Because clearly a fox isn't a cloud. ]

[digiteyesed]

[Being in this jungle full of predators has set Ene a little on edge, she's keeping her eye out for any sudden movements or creatures that might be stalking her as she gathers firewood. It would definitely suck if those vines came back.

As vigilant as she is, there's no way for her to see teleporting coming, and she jumps with a shriek when Ket suddenly appears. Then he hugs her and she turns BRIGHT RED.]

Ehhhh!? K-Ket??

[failsaver]

Ene! [ BOY IS HE HAPPY TO SEE YOU. ] I have something from you! From Ardeo! [ That's all the warning she gets before he wills the warmth into her. A warm that should fill her body, kind and welcoming. ]

[digiteyesed]

[She was about to shriek and pull at his cheeks, what do you think you're doing mister!! She doesn't even like Ardeo, she doesn't want any of his gifts. But when the warmth comes, and feels so comforting and safe and sweet, Ene freezes.

Oh, that's wonderful.

Ket did this? How? He wanted to give it to her?]

K...Ket?

[failsaver]

Mmhm? [ He pulls back a little, blinking. ]

It's Ket. I'm Ket. [ It's not like Ene to be lost for words... ]

[digiteyesed]

[Look she's just a bit stunned, okay, don't read into it!! When Ket starts to pull back she latches onto his arms suddenly, holding him there.]

H, Hey, what is this?

[failsaver]

... The hug? Or the gift? [ CLARIFICATION NEEDED. ]

Uh, the hug is the wrapping-my-arms-around-you part. Ardeo's gift is the warm part.