[ open ] you wake up, this is not a dream

[sortileges]

Who: sortileges & you!
When: IC: 08/16 - 08/17 / OOC: 08/02 - 08/03
Where: Multiple places (ViViD, in town etc)
What: The Worst Time to come back from a canon update... aka event stuff + return stuff
Rating/Warning: None, will change if anything comes up!

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( ViViD: The worst train ride home, ever | IC: 08/16 )

[ If it weren't for the fact that coming back meant that there was a mix of memories in his head trying to sort themselves into place he might have noticed the warning signs sooner. The signs for Low Energy Levels that kept flashing up were mostly ignored as he just stands in the middle of nothing, hand against his head with his eyes shut tight because it's been a long while, so much has happened and it's weird to figure out that yes, everything is real.

Even this place where he had to get used to technology and a new way of life. His hair is shorter, he's older (though only a little more in age, but in wisdom and life much much more) as too much has happened.

It's a good, long ten or so minutes before he pays attention to the setting. The command prompt and so called "safe mode" mean very little to him so he presumes it's just part of the setting for ViViD this time. At least he knows enough about coming back after one of these trips to know where he probably is, otherwise this would have been even more disorientating. ]

...Hello?

[ Well, it's ViViD but usually there's someone hanging around. Instead it just... feels silent. Like there's nothing else there.

That is, of course, when the signs for low energy levels start going a bit crazier when he starts to walk--his throat starts to feel tight.

And he can't find the exit. ]

Of course the exit wouldn't be that easy to see here, because nothing could ever be easy.

[ Are you someone who was glitched here, or were you stupid brave enough to log in? Too bad, they aren't getting out of this unscathed apparently... ]

( 01: Energy Levels 93% | IC: 08/17 Morning )

[ He'd spent enough time staring at the change on his wrist to know that it probably shouldn't be there, but considering he didn't understand the majority of what was on the ViViD level the day before anyway he just brushes it off for now. He just assumes he should ask someone like Hiro who actually understands the technology here. Of course, that's until he's ran into the problem of Shigeru melting half the flat, his bed trying to eat him and a number of other things technology related.

Is this the real life or is it just fantasy-- it's hard to tell anymore. But. There are people he needs to see knowing that he's probably been missing for days now.

He makes sure he's dressed properly before he grabs his card and key and runs out the door. It's possible you'll catch him at the door if you've noticed he's back by now, if not, he's calling on doors or going to people's places of work or where he assumes they might be by now to check how they are.

By the time he gets there though, his wrist is probably glowing with 76% Weird. But he does force a smile and pretend like nothing has happened to some people. ]

Hello! Didn't expect to see you here. [ Nevermind????? That he came??????? to you??????? ]

( 02: Glitching 100 years into the future | IC: 08/17 Late Afternoon )

[ While the network might say he's back, if you haven't ran into him during the morning, there are some major differences now. For one thing, he doesn't really look like his younger self at all, nor is he acting quite as polite as he might normally be.

A poor alien might walk in front of him and he yells out: Are y'r eyes in the back of your head?! Watch where you're going! along with a sneer. One thing is for sure though... he seems to be enjoying himself??????

The next time though it might be you doing something that doesn't quite pass his idea of acting well, whether it's you pushing in front of him in a queue, accidentally walking in front of him, or just being there and him wanting to be a pain in the butt. Whatever you're doing might give him reason to decide to call you out on it.

What a rude old man. ]

Comments

[sortileges]

[ Of course it isn't. It's... cruel, isn't it? It's partly why his hand went limp against hers, so now it's just her holding on if she wants to. ]

Oh, it worked. But I used it as leverage. I gave Morgause the poison, so long as she stopped the attack on Camelot and left. Morgana lived. She was missing for months, we didn't hear anything from her for a long time but when she came back...

[ This time, he visibly winces. ]

But everyone else was blind to the truth.

[psycholawgy]

[ well, he'll probably notice that she isn't going to let go. not unless he actually pulls his hand away. ]

Why did she come back?

[ wasn't camelot her enemy then? ]

[sortileges]

[ He's half aware of it, but he isn't going to pull it away. ]

It's easier to backstab people if they believe in you. No one would believe me anyway. Not until it was too late. I've been fighting her in the shadows for months now while she gives everyone fake smiles and fake words of love.

[psycholawgy]

[ now it's her turn to close her eyes. she takes a deep breath, trying to collect her thoughts. she doesn't feel the silence surrounding them to be as awkward anymore, which is why she's more comfortable with talking again. ]

At least people know now. You don't have to do things alone.

[sortileges]

[ Well it isn't awkward, it's just... numb, actually. The guilt she'd have heard before has died down now, and it's hard to really grasp much at all. Maybe a little relief that the shadiness is over. ]

Do you really think Arthur would have the heart to do it in the end?

[ It's rhetorical. ]

No matter how many times she'll try to take his life... he'll struggle to do something like that.

[psycholawgy]

[ oh...

she falls silent then, glancing at him before looking back up for a while. and then she closes her eyes and thinks again. it makes her think about that time when he gave her the letter. she tried to understand him fully--everything about his situation--but it was difficult to find a parallel. of course it would be. ]

But she's not on the side of the law anymore, isn't she?

[ in the end, she compares it to accusing someone you care about of murder in court. she would react violently at first, but justice still needed to be served. it's the right thing. ]

... Or do you mean--when you said that you do things that Arthur shouldn't have to do?

[sortileges]

[ He actually huffs out a soft laugh at that, eyes shutting tight. ]

As if Uther could do anything to stop her. It's ruined him anyway, he never expected her to know the truth... and when she took the crown from him and took the throne, I think he lost his will to go on.

[ He swallows. ]

I don't know what will happen with him now, but... Now Arthur does everything.

[ And... ] But she's his sister. What is she to me in comparison?

[ Someone he admired, considered a friend... not family. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ she can understand, sort of? the bit with uther, anyway. certain events in one's life can really be so shocking that you're rendered useless. she would know. she blacks out all the time.

but what is she supposed to say to the other part? all she can really do is lend an ear. ]

I wish I could take your pain away.

[ or say something stupid like that, apparently. ]

[sortileges]

[ She would. Merlin just never had the luxury of succumbing to anything like that. If he did, the Kingdoms may be at war forever. England may never exist.

With great power comes great responsibility... yadda yadda. ]

Well I never got my hello kiss.

[ It's an attempt at a joke, at least, and the sad smile he gives her hopefully shows that. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ ah... that only makes her look away out of embarrassment and being shy. she has to bite her lower lip so she doesn't make any funny faces. ]

Can I?

[sortileges]

[ Finally his hand moves to touch the edge of her face, and he peers up at her as if studying her all over again. ]

I was a little disappointed you weren't happier to see me, actually. But I did the same before, didn't I? It was probably scary for you too.

[ Where did this matureness come from.......... ah ]

[psycholawgy]

[ she blinks a couple of times as what is happening sinks in. then she just looks at him, feeling guilty now. but he isn't wrong though. she thought she was losing him then. is this what he's feeling now too? ]

Sorry. [ and in a softer, gentler tone: ] I'm still scared now.

[sortileges]

[ Well he didn't mean to really make her feel guilty, just to see why he was affected. Why he was struggling to be okay again especially after that morning. His thumb slides up to graze her lip now. ]

It's okay to be scared, but tell me why. This morning... I thought you'd given up.

[psycholawgy]

[ her lips part slightly and she exhales through there. she doesn't stop staring at him though, as if she's fascinated by the sight. ]

I. [ this is hard. being vulnerable. being weak? is that it? ] I didn't want you to go away. But now... I just don't want to be left behind.

[ it's why she looks away, bobbing her head a bit so her bangs fall on her face. this is embarrassing. ]

[sortileges]

[ His thumb almost dips in a little before it pulls away to move up to brush her bangs aside. ]

We can fight to stop that from happening. [ He gives her a tiny smile. ] I mean, if it comes to it. I'm taking you home, if I can.

[ wow????????? ]

[psycholawgy]

[ she takes a deep breath. what he said gives her hope. and really, she'd believe anything he says at this point. she's probably foolish in that way, but it's what her heart's decided to do.

it's why she smiles genuinely for the first time in days. lord help her. ]

You promise?

[ a promise will only make things more complicated but it will make her feel safe about everything. he's kept his promise about coming back, so this should be okay to ask of him, right? ]

[sortileges]

[ It probably is, but look... he's more confident now. He has more power, is the Last Dragonlord and has a lot going for him. It's nice to just see her smile again now, which is why he gives her a rather dumb one in return. ]

Promise. [ There's a beat then as his hand moves away from her face. ] Now don't you owe me something?

[ Rude, tbh... as he taps his own mouth with his finger. This is not the way to ask a young lady for a kiss..................... ]

[psycholawgy]

[ yeah considering he's a grandpa now, she sure is a young lady, that's for sure.

but she doesn't hesitate to touch him now. she lets go of his hand so both of hers can reach for his shirt as she twists and moves closer. the kiss she gives him isn't a long one, but it's filled with love nonetheless. when her grip tightens on his shirt, she swears she can feel the energy at her fingertips, as if she's kissing him for the first time.

it will still take some time for things to go back to normal, but at least she's easing into the idea now.

when she pulls away, she has to fight herself from making a dumb face. ]

Welcome back.

i'm sorry

[sortileges]

[ just over a year doesn't make him a grandpa?!?! rude...

Still, it's weird for him to have this now, even if he's trying to make sure she isn't questioning anything. Really, his heart never left, but it's gotten muddled up with other things now and it's difficult to not think of a certain someone else when her mouth first presses against his. It's hard to not cry when she grips on, when she lingers just a little.

It's why when she pulls away he ends up having to rub his wrist against his cheek to smush away the small tear that did roll there. Ah...

Yeah, time is just. Important, at first. ]

Thank you. [ Well, it isn't like she can work anything out from this. It'll be okay. ]

Ah...

[psycholawgy]

[ she ends up wondering what he's crying about, because it's not like he's ever cried over a kiss before. (she knows so little...) but she doesn't ask. if he wants to, he'll tell her. but that doesn't mean this won't bother her. that doesn't mean she won't be concerned by this.

instead of saying anything, she runs her thumb below his eye just in case the skin is still wet. ]

Better?

sweats

[sortileges]

[ Thankfully she doesn't ask, but even if she did he'd just say he's just glad to be back. To be fair, he's had a fucking lot to deal with. His eyes flutter when her thumb rubs the skin, and slowly he tilts his head to kiss her skin. ]

Better.

[psycholawgy]

[ her hand just lingers there, cupping his cheek for a few good moments before she brings it down. he doesn't seem all that happy, and given what he's been through, it's fine... it's understandable. now she just wants to make him happy. to hear that pleasant sound his heart makes. ]

If you were gone for so long, that means I missed your birthday, right?

[sortileges]

[ Not happy, but content and relieved okay. He blinks up at her when she asks that question though, eyebrow raising. ]

You must have, but it isn't like I celebrated it anyway.

[ His birthday doesn't matter compared to Arthur's though anyway??? ]

[psycholawgy]

[ it totally matters, okay!! :( ]

Do you want to celebrate it?

[ because she does... it doesn't have to be a grand party. in fact, she wouldn't mind if it was just the two of them celebrating by eating a slice of cake. ]

[sortileges]

[ Well, to her it does... ]

Did you have something in mind?

[ He definitely doesn't want anything big after everything, in fact he's content enough like this which is partly why he reaches for her arm to hint that she should move closer and just curl up with him now aka please stop staying so far away?????? ]