logs | catchall

[ D doesn't need to ask him to keep personal matters like that a secret for him, it goes without saying. So when D tells Cedrik he hopes he can forget...

He almost tries to make light of the matter. Cedrik's nightmares have plenty of material to work with already, after all. One stolen memory, no matter how grim, will hardly make things worse at this point. The thought makes it as far as a humorless smile and huffed breath that doesn't quite sound like a laugh. ]

...I've never been able to control the Echo in any way and I doubt I'll ever be able to. Even so, it's only ever shown me things that I needed to see. The why is not always immediately apparent, but in this case...

[ He can understand D a little better, now. That's worth a little more grief. ]

[Cedrik had been skimpy with the details; D does not know exactly what Cedrik may have seen when there had been such a long time of enduring a lot of things.

But none of them were good, so in the end, it doesn't matter what the details are at all. It was a terrible thing, he thinks, to be pressed upon Cedrik's mind. He had been a child, but looking back now, he believes even then he had been as much of a monster as he is now. His kindness can never make up for what part of him happens to be.

Looking at Cedrik, he thinks the other man will tell him he's foolish for these thoughts if he ever said this aloud, so he keeps it to himself.]

What do you think it told you about me?

[ The answer comes easily, he scarcely needs to think about it. But he does give it some thought, making himself remember what he saw and what he felt. This could easily be discarded as empty words and it's important that D know Cedrik believes them, with full sincerity. ]

That you...

[ Are you really going to push this on him? Again? He's told you over and over how dangerous he is, how he doesn't want to hurt people, and even after nearly hurting you, you think offering your hand is the solution?

...

And if his Shadow is telling him not to, making his voice waver, it must mean he's doing something right. ]

That you need a friend.

[This answer… surprises him actually, and as wild as it is, the surprise shows a little on his face momentarily.

He’s had many times he could acquire friends, and sometimes they would technically be considered friends regardless. But any vampiric friends he would ultimately have hunted one day probably, and any human friends he would have outlived—and their children, and their grandchildren, and their great grandchildren, and so on.

That was his curse. To live in the space between on his own.

But he’s dead now supposedly. Does that change anything? Does this finality joined and experienced together with others change all of that? He had attacked Cedrik violently not long ago. It’s worrying.]

…

[He does not say anything in response to the declaration. The expression on his face isn’t irritation or dismissal. He turns and continues walking as they had before, steps careful and measured, slow. A few feet away, he pauses, glancing back at Cedrik and waiting politely as a friend would.]

[ For the duration of D's silence, Cedrik's Shadow is eager to be heard. This is a horrid mistake that Cedrik's made. Whether or not Cedrik thinks he needs one, D doesn't want a friend and for good reason. Insisting on this is inviting D to hurt someone, most likely him, and proving that he was right to be alone.

Cedrik breathes deep and watches, noting the glimmer of surprise from D and holding tight to it as his Shadow's ranting goes on and on. It's not the sort of battle he's used to, fighting with himself, but more and more he's learning how to stand his ground. ]

...

[ He does not expect any sort of enthusiastic acceptance but he's learned D isn't afraid of giving a blunt 'no'. The silence, as much as it lets his Shadow gnaw at his thoughts, gives Cedrik hope.

D walks past him and Cedrik turns to watch him still. A lack of rejection is a good sign but it's still not a proper answer...but it need not be given in words. Seeing D pause and look back at him, expectant, brings a soft smile to Cedrik's face.

He jogs to catch up, content with the quiet for as long as he need not endure it alone. ]

[No, don't smile!! Don't acknowledge his comradeship...

Once Cedrik gets to him, D continues slowly onward, side by side. Straight through the corn because neither of them have time for any of this maze's potentially Shadow bullshit again. He uses his left wrist and hand to part the stalks for them as they go. On occasion, they have to halt before stepping out onto the other side as happily shrieking maze-goers race by.

It's a surprise no one accuses them of cheating. Imagine staying in your own lane.

D does not say anything again the whole duration, but the silence at least doesn't seem awkward or suffocating. The maze thankfully spits them back out where all of it started, and it's as if they really had no previous quarrel inside. People are carrying on like nothing is amiss. He glances at Cedrik.]

What will you do?

[ Passing through the last opening is a welcome relief. His Shadow finally fades completely into the background of his mind. Not gone forever, of course, but at least no longer noticeable. Taking a few steps ahead, he draws his arms up and stretches them out with a satisfied noise. The marks D had left remain but the bleeding has stopped, allowing Cedrik to ignore their lingering sting as well. ]

Mmmn...hm?

[ Cedrik glances back at the question and ponders it over. As minor as they are, the responsible thing would be to seek out a healer for his cuts before anything else.

...

He smiles. ]

On my way over I passed dozens of games that looked like fun. I thought I'd play a few before heading home.

Would you like to join me?

[For a moment, he sort of just blinks at Cedrik when posed with this extremely unusual question. Thinking about how he looks really… The idea of someone earnestly asking a haunt like him to… play games and have fun.

Smiling no less.

It feels cruel almost to reject the offer. But also. CEDRIK!!]

You should have Sakura or Aspen check your injuries.

[He will not ignore this little thing that he has done to another person.]

[ His arms drop back down and his smile shifts from hopeful to exasperated. With himself, not D. D is only being a good friend, reminding Cedrik to take care of himself rather than continue being stubborn, he can't fault him for that. ]

You have the right of it, as always...

[ Not that he'll give up on the idea so easily. ]

...so, afterwards?

[ Fun and games could do a 'haunt' like D some good! Cedrik is convinced of this! And it's probably better than the duel idea, though that is absolutely something Cedrik would like to try, as soon as he can get a real weapon. ]

[...

Cedrik is not going to give up on the companionship, D realizes. Please feel him metaphorically rubbing the sockets of his eyes with a few fingers, but in a fondly exasperated sort of way.

He really could just say no thank you. He's very good at being curt when he needs to be. Though it's usually with people grating his nerves or getting in the way.]

I'll meet you afterward.

[HE DOES NOT AGREE TO PLAY ANYTHING!! He only said he would join...]

[ Cedrik never gives up. ]

We have a bargain!

[ And he'll hold out a hand towards D to seal the deal.

Just wait until Cedrik realizes that there are prizes. Even if D doesn't play he may still end up with a souvenir. ]

[How does he get roped into these things…? Ok.

His eyes settle on the extended hand. He glances up at Cedrik, then down again. Hesitation keeps him fro reaching out immediately. Maybe he’s thinking of the innocent rabbit he tore into as a starved child.

Maybe he’s just thinking about the suffering her put on Cedrik earlier when he couldn’t control the equally hungry Shadow inside himself.

Slowly, he finally stretches out his surprisingly warm hand and takes Cedrik’s own.]

[ ...D does know what a handshake is, right? Maybe he should have gone for a fist bump instead?

In truth, Cedrik can make a good guess at why D is hesitant. Even if it was hissing nonsense back in the maze, his Shadow was sort of right about one thing. This is something D has avoided for a long, long time...Cedrik doesn't believe that he still needs to, but that doesn't magically make it easy to do.

So he is patient, his smile softening into something gentler, until D finally takes his hand. The warmth brings a memory to mind: recent, of a young girl's voice.

'May we please be friends?'

Cedrik chuckles quietly. ]

Thank you.

[ For trusting him.

He squeezes D's hand and gives it a firm shake! Back to the brighter present and away from the bittersweet past. ]

I'll not be long. Meet me back here?

[Nooo, don't thank him. He doesn't understand. Well, he understands why, but not why. He has done nothing on this night except torment Cedrik horribly in a corn maze, and now he must worry it will happen again. That, one day, he may actually kill (again?) Cedrik.

Politely, he returns the handshake with a firm one of his own. It belies a physical strength he seems to be keeping strictly in check.]

Mm. If either of them think you should rest, don't come back.

[This would only fall on deaf rabbit ears, he knows. Cedrik would come back anyway.]

[ Cedrik has an idea of how strong D is, now. The trouble is that D has yet to learn the same of Cedrik. Clearly, as soon as that's fixed, D won't need to worry so much.

Though D has figured out a good deal about Cedrik already, since he's already guessed the man's opinion on going home to rest. He clicks his tongue, waving a hand at the very idea. ]

Tsk! If they suggest it, I will send word. Leaving you here to guess at whether or not I'm coming is just cruel.

[ The wounds are minor, barely more than scratches. If he finds a healer out there who honestly thinks to go and have a lie down over them...he'll find another healer. Okay maybe he also was slammed into the ground pretty hard, but that just winded him for a bit! He's been knocked around far worse. ]

[CEDRIK.

There isn't anything D can do about this, so he does nothing.] Alright. [He isn't sure how to say he doesn't mind standing around for whatever length of time since, to him, time moves differently. Or did. Even a day is a drop in the bucket for someone like him.

He'd really just stand out here waiting, and once it had been too long, he'd leave.]

Tell them I will pay them for the trouble.

[He's the one who caused it...]

[ Poor D. There are ways to convince Cedrik to stop being stupid...unfortunately, those that know them best are all still alive. The closest one could get would require going through Cedrik's Door.

Cedrik smiles and waves D a (temporary) fare well. ]

I shall. See you shortly!

[ And in this case he will keep his word. Unless he comes to suspect that doing so would land D in hot water. In which case it was all a bizarre accident and Cedrik has no idea who the culprit was. Not that there was a culprit.

...

So he'll probably keep his word.

And off he trots, with every intention of returning as fast as he's able. ]

[Thinks about Sakura and starts sweating a lot. Oh n.

It'll... be fine. While he doesn't want anyone to know about this incident, he is fully ready to accept the consequences of his actions. It can't be as bad as whatever punishment awaits him for going along with Laurent at the Parliament House where a guard was killed. Wow.

There is nowhere for D to go, and he doesn't care for taking another trip through the maze. So he walks from where Cedrik leaves him on toward where Cedrik will meet him, haunting a different place instead.

And he really does stand there not unlike a statue, waiting. Doing so doesn't bother him. If anything, he spends time watching other people come and go, do their things. The croaking voice from his left hand, after some silence, starts heckling him gently, then giving him scolding warnings like he's a child; D doesn't really respond much to either.

But then at length they manage to amicably discuss the Shadow. Shocking.]

[ Ultimately Cedrik returns, though it takes more time than he'd have liked. Granted, any amount of time is more than he'd have liked... Sakura was thorough but he's sure he managed to get through it all without getting D in trouble. She also asked that he return for a 'check-up' in a few days which he'll probably remember.

For now he's just glad to find D right where they agreed to meet. Cedrik strides up, his bandaged arms covered under a changed shirt, all evidence of that ugly business in the maze properly cleaned up so it can be put behind them. ]

There, all is well now, see? [ He holds open his arms, a teasing smile on his face. ] You've naught to worry over, D.

[Hoping Sakura kicks his ass later (no). Maybe he will be in Netherworld jail later because Laurent is insane.

His eyes immediately drop from Cedrik's face to Cedrik's torso and arms when the man comes trotting up again. He scrutinizes not the work but the truth of whether or not Cedrik went to get help. Even if he can't see much, he can smell the assistance and the lack of blood. Okay, good.]

Are you well enough to be playing games?

[The only reason he isn't satisfied is because it had happened at all. This is what happens when you're so rigid about self control, then lose it.]

They all look more relaxing than anything strenuous, and Sakura does good work. I feel fine.

[ His gaze sweeps over the long row of stalls. Most of them are unfamiliar but can be figured out at a glance. Some others look to be straight from the Gold Saucer with a different, sloppier coat of paint. There'd been something about being careful to avoid re-opening the cuts...so, all right, he can pick the less physically taxing ones if it will help put his friend at ease. ]

...if that changes, I will admit as much and we'll go from there. You have my word.

[ He gives it because he's positive that he'll continue to feel fine for the rest of the night, of course. ]

[When Cedrik turns away to look at the stalls, D continues to watch the other man quietly. He won't argue. None of it is really Cedrik's fault anyway. D is angry at himself.

In a way, he'd rather hole himself away for a time.

Finally, he follows Cedrik's eyes to the stalls. There's luckily a hodge-podge of games, and they aren't stuck doing a bunch of physical ones. Well. Cedrik isn't anyway.]

Choose one.

[ There will be no holing for D, at least not for the immediate future, not if Cedrik has anything to say about it. Clearly, if Cedrik is simply 'okay' for long enough, D will believe it's true and forgive himself as Cedrik has.

That's his logic and he's sticking to it. ]

This way, all the interesting ones are further along.

[ Along the row there are a few that draw Cedrik's eye. One looks like the Crystal Tower Striker and another take on Cuff-a-Cur, both very tempting. But they would most certainly break the 'nothing strenuous' rule so he moves on.

He'll come back to try those later.

Finally he comes to stop before a miniature shooting gallery. Well-worn toy rifles line the booth while cartoon monsters with targets painted on their chests move back and forth on hidden conveyors. Every so often a 'reaper' swoops down from an opening in the ceiling, much faster than the other targets. A sign confirms it: hit the reaper to win the grand prize.

Cedrik looks back up at D. ]

What do you make of this one?

[Quietly (as usual), he walks with Cedrik along the stalls, pace unhurried. His eyes flick over them, but none ever really snatch enough of his attention to pay them more than a glance. He is truly so indifferent to having fun because it's not something he's ever taken the time to do.

For clear reasons.

He stops by Cedrik's side at the shooting gallery. The pretend guns receive a cursory look before he peers at the object of the game as it goes along. Hm. He is honestly more of a sword man, but okay.]

Are you challenging me?

[Will this be a duel now, Cedrik...?]

[ Cedrik honestly only had fun in mind, but the moment D asks if it's a challenge...

Something sparks in the warrior's eyes. ]

Well now I am.

[ Has he ever used a rifle before? No, but he used to practice archery. It's the same principle, right? Though it's also been decades...

The point is, as a fellow sword man, this could end up an actual even match.

On the other side of the booth, the Restless barker eyes the two men and feels suddenly nervous. More so when Cedrik marches right up and takes his position, looking back at D with a fierce grin. ]

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