![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
cerealia » ic inbox
"You've reached Steven Stone. Leave a message, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
( audio ) ( video ) ( text ) ( action )
"You've reached Steven Stone. Leave a message, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
( audio ) ( video ) ( text ) ( action )
[ he does check his cerevice, and hot damn does he have a lot of messages and missed calls. while they range quite a bit from different people, frisk's are the most recent. his body is still frigid and numb from the hypothermia, but that won't stop him from answering their call. he owes them that much for making them concerned. ]
I'm fine, Frisk. You don't need to worry.
[ he hasn't answered all of their questions, but it's a start. ]
I'm fine, Frisk. You don't need to worry.
[ he hasn't answered all of their questions, but it's a start. ]
I try to keep an eye for things people miss. It's stupid to have your head up in the clouds if you can't even notice what's on the ground.
[ Sorey, Mikleo, Lailah, and Alisha are the dreamers. They have the ideals and ideas, the passion that moves others. But people like Edna, Zaveid, and Rose? They're the ones who make them happen. ]
[ Sorey, Mikleo, Lailah, and Alisha are the dreamers. They have the ideals and ideas, the passion that moves others. But people like Edna, Zaveid, and Rose? They're the ones who make them happen. ]
I can understand the sentiment, but it won't do us well to compare misfortunes.
[ he says "we" because actually considers his fate a little better than that of neji's, but that's not a fair way of thinking - it doesn't do well for feelings of guilt, either. he's just relieved that she's safe and in one piece now. ]
My statement still stands.
[ he says "we" because actually considers his fate a little better than that of neji's, but that's not a fair way of thinking - it doesn't do well for feelings of guilt, either. he's just relieved that she's safe and in one piece now. ]
My statement still stands.
So you do—
[which for a moment means he's looking around; he doesn't seem lost, but it is safe for this guy to just be out and about on his own like this?
where's his owner?
dymlos will offer him another warning which causes his body to tense slightly as the skarmory lands in front of him. but there doesn't seem to be any aggression, despite the sudden movement, and stahn is somewhat taken aback by what he sees.]
Wow... this is pretty amazing. I really didn't know they made them this good... [because they do look naturally forming, but a bird made of metal that isn't some kind of machine or robot seems totally foreign to him.]
[which for a moment means he's looking around; he doesn't seem lost, but it is safe for this guy to just be out and about on his own like this?
where's his owner?
dymlos will offer him another warning which causes his body to tense slightly as the skarmory lands in front of him. but there doesn't seem to be any aggression, despite the sudden movement, and stahn is somewhat taken aback by what he sees.]
Wow... this is pretty amazing. I really didn't know they made them this good... [because they do look naturally forming, but a bird made of metal that isn't some kind of machine or robot seems totally foreign to him.]
[ now that he's closer, skarmory's eyes will trail from stahn to the sword at his side. while he can't hear dymlos, pokémon tend to have a higher sensitivity to spirits than humans. he's not sure what it is, but there's something interesting about that blade. maybe this human is worth investigating after all... steven might be curious about him, too.
speaking of the devil, both stahn and skarmory will hear what appears to be a person whistling in the distance to call for something. it's a sound that the steel-type knows well, and that means that he'll need to take his leave... momentarily. he still wants steven to see this person, so he'll take a detour when he's picked him up.
he stretches his wings to prepare to take off, but not before leaning down to tap the ground with his beak, as if to tell stahn to "stay here". he'll be back. ]
speaking of the devil, both stahn and skarmory will hear what appears to be a person whistling in the distance to call for something. it's a sound that the steel-type knows well, and that means that he'll need to take his leave... momentarily. he still wants steven to see this person, so he'll take a detour when he's picked him up.
he stretches his wings to prepare to take off, but not before leaning down to tap the ground with his beak, as if to tell stahn to "stay here". he'll be back. ]
[ after returning from the giant traumafield that was Cerealia being Cerealia and returning Nico to where he requested he be left (that was the least he could do—nico saved their lives), he begins to make calls and check up on who he knows, to make sure they weren't somehow dragged into this big mess.
... he didn't think he could feel more exhausted, but somehow, the multiple times he tries to get a hold of steven and fails to do so does hurt him a little more each time; messages like It's Adrien. I hope you're okay, please get back to me? feel like they're being thrown into the void, and he feels like he failed again and Jaune died because of him and he's just. Very tired.
But he continues to try. ]
Steven?
Some stuff happened, and I was just checking up to make sure you're okay.
Get back to me when you get this... Please?
[ another one, to nothing. ]
... he didn't think he could feel more exhausted, but somehow, the multiple times he tries to get a hold of steven and fails to do so does hurt him a little more each time; messages like It's Adrien. I hope you're okay, please get back to me? feel like they're being thrown into the void, and he feels like he failed again and Jaune died because of him and he's just. Very tired.
But he continues to try. ]
Steven?
Some stuff happened, and I was just checking up to make sure you're okay.
Get back to me when you get this... Please?
[ another one, to nothing. ]
[ CAPTAIN'S LOG DAY TWO.
things are very much still not okay, but the days continue, and with steven not responding after this long... he can figure out what happened. he's begun crafting some kind of apology for jaune, even if he doesn't understand what happened; now, he's added how to greet steven how he returns, because he's certainly gone through something... not good.
again. it's really not fair what this place makes good people go through, huh. ]
You know, if it ends up being you actually did get all those messages from before, it's probably going to be a little embarrassing.
[ he's worried. ]
When you get back, let me know if you need anythin|
[ that... makes it so real.
he hesitates, and doesn't send it. backspacebackspacebackspace ]
Sorry that I blew up your phone.
things are very much still not okay, but the days continue, and with steven not responding after this long... he can figure out what happened. he's begun crafting some kind of apology for jaune, even if he doesn't understand what happened; now, he's added how to greet steven how he returns, because he's certainly gone through something... not good.
again. it's really not fair what this place makes good people go through, huh. ]
You know, if it ends up being you actually did get all those messages from before, it's probably going to be a little embarrassing.
[ he's worried. ]
When you get back, let me know if you need anythin|
[ that... makes it so real.
he hesitates, and doesn't send it. backspacebackspacebackspace ]
Sorry that I blew up your phone.
[ after waiting this long, it's very real. ]
When you get back, let me know if you need anything.
[ this time, he does hit send!
and it's so silly, because adrien knows he's gone for the time being, just like jaune, and he continues to send messages like he doesn't. ]
When you get back, let me know if you need anything.
[ this time, he does hit send!
and it's so silly, because adrien knows he's gone for the time being, just like jaune, and he continues to send messages like he doesn't. ]
[ this time, he calls.
and when it does connect, he's found that he still hasn't really finished figuring out what exactly to say, and he still feels so tired, like he hasn't really slept, but it connects and that's all that matters for now. ]
... Steven. [ clear relief. ] —Er. Hey. Hello. I, um— Sorry, all those messages, and I just...
[ ugh.
there's so much he has to say. everything from the past few days comes running to the front. ]
Are you okay?
[ there. ]
and when it does connect, he's found that he still hasn't really finished figuring out what exactly to say, and he still feels so tired, like he hasn't really slept, but it connects and that's all that matters for now. ]
... Steven. [ clear relief. ] —Er. Hey. Hello. I, um— Sorry, all those messages, and I just...
[ ugh.
there's so much he has to say. everything from the past few days comes running to the front. ]
Are you okay?
[ there. ]
[ he knows the feel, cat son. he's been trying to rest since making it back to his apartment, but the cold that's spread from his core to his extremities makes it difficult to find physical comfort. no amount of layers, upped thermostat, mugs of tea, or blanket burritos seem to help.
along with that, he has plenty of concerned messages and missed calls from those who had returned (relatively) safe and sound. the guilt that he has for making them worry continues to mount, but he's trying to shove it down.
the messages from those younger than him are particularly poignant; especially adrien's. he had seen him die once before, and having to process that a second time isn't something that he would wish on anybody, let alone someone he cares about.
thankfully, he sees his next contact with adrien will be a call. he's not sure if the numbness in his fingers would allow for proper texting. ]
You don't need to apologize for that, Adrien. For the most part, I'm fine.
[ there's no use in being untruthful. this isn't their first time at the rodeo. ]
What about you?
along with that, he has plenty of concerned messages and missed calls from those who had returned (relatively) safe and sound. the guilt that he has for making them worry continues to mount, but he's trying to shove it down.
the messages from those younger than him are particularly poignant; especially adrien's. he had seen him die once before, and having to process that a second time isn't something that he would wish on anybody, let alone someone he cares about.
thankfully, he sees his next contact with adrien will be a call. he's not sure if the numbness in his fingers would allow for proper texting. ]
You don't need to apologize for that, Adrien. For the most part, I'm fine.
[ there's no use in being untruthful. this isn't their first time at the rodeo. ]
What about you?
[ ah, good. there's a sigh when he hears steven's voice—it comes before he even realizes it. for the most part, he's fine, huh... so there's things underneath that, and that's certainly what he's focusing in for the time being.
it definitely helps ward off the thoughts of what happened down in the ye olde sewers, though when the question he'd asked is returned to him, he's not really sure how to respond.
despite adrien advocating honesty (and being particularly grateful that's what steven's statement was), this suddenly scares him. he wasn't okay, he lost control of his powers and he's not sure why, plagg's not sure why, and... he was the direct cause of someone dying for reasons he still didn't understand. but to shove that onto steven, after he's just come back... no. ]
I— [ just slip through it. ] —Yeah. Yeah, it was just... kind of hard. I was worried. I'm just... really glad you're fine.
[ ... ]
What happened? Do you need anything?
it definitely helps ward off the thoughts of what happened down in the ye olde sewers, though when the question he'd asked is returned to him, he's not really sure how to respond.
despite adrien advocating honesty (and being particularly grateful that's what steven's statement was), this suddenly scares him. he wasn't okay, he lost control of his powers and he's not sure why, plagg's not sure why, and... he was the direct cause of someone dying for reasons he still didn't understand. but to shove that onto steven, after he's just come back... no. ]
I— [ just slip through it. ] —Yeah. Yeah, it was just... kind of hard. I was worried. I'm just... really glad you're fine.
[ ... ]
What happened? Do you need anything?
[ ...hm. he doesn't like the sound of that hesitance, and knowing how his own escapades in the dungeon crypt had panned out, he has a feeling that adrien isn't giving him full details. ]
When you feel ready to tell me about it, don't hesitate to do so.
[ he'll leave that for him as an opening for whenever he wants to talk. right now might not be the best time to pry, seeing as he's not exactly at his best himself. ]
As I'm sure you've ascertained by now, my return to the colony wasn't exactly... peaceful. [ he lets out a breath, but it sounds more like a light sigh. ] No, I don't think so. The side effects that I'm experiencing should pass with time.
When you feel ready to tell me about it, don't hesitate to do so.
[ he'll leave that for him as an opening for whenever he wants to talk. right now might not be the best time to pry, seeing as he's not exactly at his best himself. ]
As I'm sure you've ascertained by now, my return to the colony wasn't exactly... peaceful. [ he lets out a breath, but it sounds more like a light sigh. ] No, I don't think so. The side effects that I'm experiencing should pass with time.
[ when he feels ready? there's another hint of something on the other end when steven says that—like adrien feels like saying something but he... doesn't.
it's good, that there's more than just that to focus on. there's the confirmation that steven had... died, of course, and adrien never really accepted the first death so much as he just... let it sit. and now here's the second, with more side effects; things steven doesn't really deserve.
things no one deserves, but especially— ]
... You shouldn't keep having to go through this stuff.
[ it's kind of tired, kind of indignant. ]
it's good, that there's more than just that to focus on. there's the confirmation that steven had... died, of course, and adrien never really accepted the first death so much as he just... let it sit. and now here's the second, with more side effects; things steven doesn't really deserve.
things no one deserves, but especially— ]
... You shouldn't keep having to go through this stuff.
[ it's kind of tired, kind of indignant. ]
[ yeah, he's tired too. he really would like to stop dying, but it appears that fate really has it out for him here. maybe CERES decided that after a life of privilege, he had a little misfortune coming to him.
or maybe it's just his own idiocy and selfishness, resulting in other people getting hurt. that sounds a little more accurate. ]
I'm afraid my own negligence is partially to blame. I take responsibility for what happens to me.
or maybe it's just his own idiocy and selfishness, resulting in other people getting hurt. that sounds a little more accurate. ]
I'm afraid my own negligence is partially to blame. I take responsibility for what happens to me.
[ ... no. no. that cuts through his fatigue, the hints that steven is blaming himself, or... no. the things that happen here, no matter how careful you are— ]
But... it's not! Here, they're— sometimes it's all chance. You're careful. And it isn't— you shouldn't take responsibility for it when they're the ones that put you in those spots!
[ —oh.
maybe that was a bit of a childish outburst. he thought maybe he'd reached his limit with things here before—that ceres couldn't possible be worse, but obviously that wasn't his limit then. maybe even this wasn't. but steven dying twice, and talking like that... and jaune.
for what? ]
But... it's not! Here, they're— sometimes it's all chance. You're careful. And it isn't— you shouldn't take responsibility for it when they're the ones that put you in those spots!
[ —oh.
maybe that was a bit of a childish outburst. he thought maybe he'd reached his limit with things here before—that ceres couldn't possible be worse, but obviously that wasn't his limit then. maybe even this wasn't. but steven dying twice, and talking like that... and jaune.
for what? ]
[ ............... ugh.
steven can't see it, but he rubs at his eyes with his forearm. ]
Sorry, I didn't mean to say it like... that.
[ silly. but it's what happens with him, those small frustrations just piling up, more and and more, until he needs to say something. like with his dad... both situations just fill him with no sense of control, but at least there no one was dying over it. ]
It's not your fault.
steven can't see it, but he rubs at his eyes with his forearm. ]
Sorry, I didn't mean to say it like... that.
[ silly. but it's what happens with him, those small frustrations just piling up, more and and more, until he needs to say something. like with his dad... both situations just fill him with no sense of control, but at least there no one was dying over it. ]
It's not your fault.
[ a childish outburst, maybe. but when it does come down to it, adrien is, objectively speaking, just that - a child that is reacting to something that he shouldn't have to experience. steven knows and recognizes that well, and it's something that he can never forgive CERES for. ]
Not to worry. I understand where you're coming from.
[ but while he doesn't exactly agree with adrien, he's not about to start arguing with him. he knows that CERES is quite responsible for placing him within the circumstances of his deaths, but his own actions played a part. he could have tried harder to resist that nagging urge to take on the monsters in the labyrinth, but didn't. he could have been adamant about not disturbing the coffins in the underground crypt, but wasn't. for that, he blames himself.
but adrien doesn't need to know that right now. ]
Thank you.
Not to worry. I understand where you're coming from.
[ but while he doesn't exactly agree with adrien, he's not about to start arguing with him. he knows that CERES is quite responsible for placing him within the circumstances of his deaths, but his own actions played a part. he could have tried harder to resist that nagging urge to take on the monsters in the labyrinth, but didn't. he could have been adamant about not disturbing the coffins in the underground crypt, but wasn't. for that, he blames himself.
but adrien doesn't need to know that right now. ]
Thank you.
Edited 2016-06-07 05:09 (UTC)
[ ... it's a thank you that rings hollowly within him. he wishes it was easy to convince steven it wasn't his fault that things happened this way, that it was easy to solve this entire thing and make it so that nobody had to die, and steven didn't have to live with the consequences of something like this. but alas, these things aren't akumas and they can't just... disappear.
steven believed it was his fault. adrien knew it was his fault. so maybe he shouldn't be talking about these things. ]
But you don't agree?
[ he knows. not that he means this in an accusatory way—it's an honest statement, just like... most of his words have simply been honest statements.
and adrien hesitates, again. ]
... You know, I get it too.
[ maybe. maybe he understands what steven's feeling, even if he thinks he shouldn't feel it. the guilt, the should haves, and maybe knowing that he gets it will help. he doesn't know. ]
steven believed it was his fault. adrien knew it was his fault. so maybe he shouldn't be talking about these things. ]
But you don't agree?
[ he knows. not that he means this in an accusatory way—it's an honest statement, just like... most of his words have simply been honest statements.
and adrien hesitates, again. ]
... You know, I get it too.
[ maybe. maybe he understands what steven's feeling, even if he thinks he shouldn't feel it. the guilt, the should haves, and maybe knowing that he gets it will help. he doesn't know. ]
[ So, Sapphire's got this tiny white sad-looking cat thing following her now. She's confused about the whole thing, but mostly she's not really understanding why it hisses at her for getting near it but still follows her. What's it want!! She'd help if it'd just let her get near it ...
And so she's talking to it as she walks backwards through some city streets, watching it follow behind her. ]
So yer just gonna keep followin' me like this? Even though ya don't even seem to like me? Yer pretty w—
[ Oops, it seems she's backwards-walked her way right into Steven. It would seem city streets are not the place to be moving backwards. ]
And so she's talking to it as she walks backwards through some city streets, watching it follow behind her. ]
So yer just gonna keep followin' me like this? Even though ya don't even seem to like me? Yer pretty w—
[ Oops, it seems she's backwards-walked her way right into Steven. It would seem city streets are not the place to be moving backwards. ]
...I think he wants us to stay.
[stahn mutters quietly to dymlos, and despite the heaved sighs of annoyance from his sword, he can only give in. partially because he's a sword and has no real autonomy... and partially because it's just stahn's nature to be this way.
so stahn will stick around, nodding his head at skarmory as if to confirm that he'll hang around and wait for whatever is about to happen. he's at the ready anyway, should it really become some kind of threat.
(he gets the feeling that's not it, though.)]
[stahn mutters quietly to dymlos, and despite the heaved sighs of annoyance from his sword, he can only give in. partially because he's a sword and has no real autonomy... and partially because it's just stahn's nature to be this way.
so stahn will stick around, nodding his head at skarmory as if to confirm that he'll hang around and wait for whatever is about to happen. he's at the ready anyway, should it really become some kind of threat.
(he gets the feeling that's not it, though.)]
Page 14 of 23