[open] casually returns after beating his own game

[unwaverings]

Who: sorey unwaverings & you!!!
When: ic 4/29
Where: ceres gardens & outside apartments
What: sorey's returned from his canon update and is already having a hard time
Rating/Warning: tales of zestiria ending spoilers will definitely be in threads

---

a; ceres gardens

[ It's only been three days since he disappeared from Cerealia, but to him it feels like it's been quite a bit longer (and he definitely believes it's been longer). He's caught a little off-guard by the sudden return, and he has far too much on his mind to really listen to the powerpoint a second time — he's focused on wanting to see if his friends are still here and thinking about what he's just gone through.

But before he can get too far into his thoughts, he's being dropped off back in Cerealia somewhere — namely, the body of water in the gardens. He's always liked to frequent this place since he's arrived here, just for its nature — it's a nice break from all the technology — and thanks to this, he knows there are some not-so-friendly creatures roaming the waters here. So once he quickly recognizes he's in the gardens, and more specifically in the water in the gardens, he hastily climbs out (at least they dropped him at the edge?), splashing about, and narrowly avoiding losing a limb in the process (and losing a bit of the tip of his cape instead). Then he rolls onto his back, sprawling out on the grass next to the water and panting.

An exasperated sigh. ] Phew! That was way too close! I could've seriously died there!

[ Aaahhh ... What a way to come back here. How welcoming. At least it's keeping his mind off things for a few moments. ]

b; outside the apartments

[ After his incident with the water, it doesn't take him long to realize there's some lingering negative energy here. The same negativity that made him ill before he disappeared. That's ... confusing. Had it really stuck around for that long? Was the colony okay? (Were his friends okay?)

It's giving him some illness even now, and it's making it difficult to walk, but he wants to get back to the apartments as soon as possible in order to check on everyone. So he trudges forward, still soaked from the water and clutching his chest in an attempt to stifle any pain and get himself to move faster.

So please excuse the soaked boy stumbling through the entrance to the apartments. ]

Comments

[a_meebo]

[Mikleo's of the same mind as Sorey with regards to whatever-it-is. He doesn't think anyone's up for a monumental battle with it. Not right now, at least.

Sorey's overly cheerful tone doesn't go unnoticed, but he doesn't comment on it. The seraph has promised to give his friend time to sort his thoughts, after all. So, instead, he goes for a small smile.]

Maybe not all at once or you'll just get sick. [Mikleo pauses to open the door for them.] But I don't see why I can't make enough for a few days while I'm at it.

[unwaverings]

[ Ah, then he'll enter the apartment. It's weird. He just experienced so much in his own world, but this place has hardly even changed. It's nice to return to, in a way. ]

If you make that much, I'm just gonna be tempted to eat more, y'know. [ And he will eat more. You know he will.

But he'll go ahead and wander around the room, marveling at how it's just how he left it, and stopping to put his hands on his hips. ]

Really has just been three days, huh.

[ That's more to himself than anything. ]

[a_meebo]

Maybe I'll put a lock on it, just to be safe.

[His tone is teasing as he enters the apartment and starts getting out what he needs to make the soft-serve ice cream. Out of the corner of his eye, Mikleo watches Sorey, still concerned. He decides to go with a light comment.]

Now you know how surreal it was for me when I learned you'd been here two months when I arrived.

[unwaverings]

Hey, don't do that! [ Pouting! He doesn't want a lock to be on it because then he can't keep taking more ...

But he can agree with Mikleo on that, and sympathize with him. All these differences in time ... it's weird as heck to deal with. ]

Yeah, I guess I can see that now. It's a strange feeling. [ Putting a hand to his head, and acting like his usual, animated self. ] Aaah, it's making my head hurt just thinking about it!

[ It's almost like he's talking with two different Mikleo's. He just saw one, in their own world. But this one is here, and he hasn't seen Sorey in three days, but Sorey hasn't been here for a long time, it feels like, and ... augh. Too complicated. Maybe he should just stop thinking about it. ]

[a_meebo]

[He pretends to think about it.]

Alright, I won't, but you have to promise not to eat all of it at once.

[Mikleo starts the prep work for the vanilla ice cream. He smiles a little as he decides to humor Sorey.]

I guess just think about it like a hiccup in time. [Although, this brings up an interesting question.] Sorey...did you remember anything about Cerealia while you were there?

[unwaverings]

Okay, okay. I promise. [ Ugh, Mikleo. Cornering him like that! No fair.

He'll try to think about it like some weird hiccup in time, though. He probably won't dwell on that aspect of this situation for too long, but it's still a little strange to think about, in all honesty. It's not something he can't move past fairly quickly, though.

But that's a good question Mikleo brings up, and one that's ... a little sad to think about.

He shakes his head. ] ... Nope. Not a thing. It's almost like being here never even happened until I came back. Even though I know it did.

[ Because he remembers everything before he left now ... just he didn't remember them when he was back home. The knowledge of this isn't going to change how he goes about making friendships and his general day-to-day life in Cerealia, though. It doesn't cheapen what he experiences with others here. Not in his mind. ]

[a_meebo]

[He does it out of love, Sorey.

Mikleo nods and makes a thoughtful hum. He'll wait to make a comment until he's done with the louder part of the ice cream making. On the plus side, this means the seraph is done and can start scooping the delicious, frozen treat into bowls!]

That makes some sense. Even if one of us told you what happened in the future while we were here, then when you go back, it won't diverge from its intended course. Unfortunately, that means forgetting everything else.

[It won't stop the water seraph from befriending the people here, either. In a way, it's no different than losing his human friends to time and continuing his life without them.]

[unwaverings]

[ Yes, good, start scooping, Mikleo ... He needs it ... It's probably not the best idea to be eating ice cream while soaking wet, but — whatever. He's not even thinking about that, honestly.

But he'll answer him. ]

Yeah, I think that's why it happens. [ Forgetting this place. And he smiles afterward, taking his usual optimistic tone. ] So we should enjoy the people we meet here while it lasts. [ No regrets! No thinking about how they'll forget them! Only living in the now and appreciating all the amazing people they can meet here, and all the things they can learn. ]

[a_meebo]

[Mikleo puts Sorey's bowl on the table, after putting in a very good amount of the treat in it for his friend's portion. His own sits on the counter, for now. He puts the rest away in the freezer.]

My thoughts exactly. It's no reason for us to not try to befriend them.

[He goes to sit down at the table and decides to try for some normal, light teasing.]

You smell like fish. What on earth did you fall into before you got here?

[unwaverings]

Right! [ Nodding!! He agrees completely.

But that last comment gets him to look shocked, and then down at his ... very wet self, and maybe sniff his sleeve a little.

He gives a sort of embarrassed laugh, though. ] I guess they thought it'd be a good idea to drop me in that water in the gardens. [ Casually staying quiet about that fish thing trying to eat him. But Mikleo may know about the dangerous creatures in that water anyway. ]

[a_meebo]

That explains a lot.

[Mikleo shakes his head, looking slightly annoyed. Of course they'd dump him in the dangerous pond out in the gardens.]

Well...at least you didn't get hurt. You'll need to take a shower, though.

[unwaverings]

[ He nods in response! But ... also ... ]

... Think it'd be okay if I ate my ice cream first?

[ This is important. He could really use this ice cream, and the whole soaking wet thing isn't completely bothering him. He'll clean up the water he drips everywhere later okay he's a good kid. ]

[a_meebo]

[Mikleo chuckles a little.]

I think you've earned it. Just don't forget, okay? Otherwise, you're sleeping on the couch or I'm not going to bed tonight.

[He's not going to sleep when Sorey is smelling like that gross pond, okay.]

[unwaverings]

[ Wow, Mikleo. That's not very nice. ... Of course, he can't blame him, but gosh he's not that forgetful! It's not like Sorey wants to go to sleep feeling gross like this either, honestly. ]

... Whoa, harsh. Don't worry, I won't forget, okay?

[ And he'll move to sit down where his bowl has been placed, moving normally while he pulls the chair out, but when he goes to sit down, it's unnaturally fast — almost like the moment he's sure the chair is under him, he just falls into it to sit down. His fatigue might ... be catching up with him ... But he's trying to be casual about it. ]

[a_meebo]

[Look, life just isn't as enjoyable if he can't be merciless in his teasing. His smile in response to the question is slightly mischievous as a result.

Mikleo doesn't fail to catch his fatigue, though. He knows that the corruption that still lingers isn't strong enough to be the sole cause of it. The seraph can only conclude that there'd been a battle back home, and given that the both of them had come from roughly the same point in time....]

You fought against Heldalf. [It's not a question. He eats a spoonful of ice cream before continuing.] A shower and then a nap are in your future, I think.

[unwaverings]

[ ... Wow, Mikleo. His friend's always been good at reading him, though, and considering there's not a whole lot else he could be this fatigued from ...

He just looks embarrassed. ]

... Yeah. But I'll be okay — I just need some rest, is all. [ Taking a bite of his ice cream. ] Guess I've got the rest of the day planned out then.

[ Ice cream, shower, really long nap. ]

[a_meebo]

[He doesn't hold back, that's for sure. Still, Mikleo gives him a faint smile.]

I know, and you do. I might join you, honestly.

[Since now that the adrenaline and worry over Sorey has left him, he's now feeling more exhausted than after the sealing. Mikleo's just trying not to let it show as he eats his ice cream and talks to his friend.]

[unwaverings]

[ Mmnn, he'll take a few bites of his ice cream then, before smiling at that. ]

Great! I bet it'll be a lot more comfortable with the both of us.

[ And he does ... really want to nap with Mikleo. It'll do wonders for his mindset to nap with his best friend. ]

[a_meebo]

That's something I can't argue with, honestly.

[Sorey is truly the reason he sleeps in the first place. It helps him to sleep, so why wouldn't he keep that up for his friend?]

[unwaverings]

Then it's settled!

[ They're napping together after this delicious ice cream (which he takes some more bites of, a little more enthusiastically than before) and his shower. And that's that. ]