Day 1: Evening

[wizardseason]

Evening: 5:00pm - Midnight

[ IRL Timeframe: March 11th - March 18th, 2019 ]

The first day has come to a close, the only things left to do are get some food and get some rest. Fortunately the residents of Bamborough are hosting a party to congratulate the heroes on their first victory, unfortunately it's running for several hours this evening. There's only so much time for sleep. What kind of balance will your hero try to strike?

Unfortunately for everyone, the evil-allured knights will be treated to a rude wake-up surprise when they finally go to sleep. No matter when they finally set their head down to rest, they all wake up at the same time, in the same place. Only the evil-allured knights will have access to this post, click to see if you've been chosen.

The good-allured knights, meanwhile, are free of a visit tonight with the Princess and the Protector. The two of them, however, are due to have a chat. Questions have to be answered, after all! He's dressed in his usual attire:

He's the same height as Luka with dark skin and vivid blue eyes that match the color of the sky. He has wicked winged white eyeliner to accent his eyes and curly black hair with white tips piled on top of his head, it's a wonder how it stays up there. Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, he's wearing a pajama robe that looks either blue or silver depending how it's touched or how it moves. Most importantly is that he's got brass knuckles on both his hands, like he's ready to fight. But he's not here to fight, he's here to give a whisper about what comes next.

First Night Event: Bamborough: Everyone invited.

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The Weather

• Starry Night.
• 64°F / 18°C
• Quite breezy, all the trees are rustling.

---

Prompts:

• Bamborough Party: To celebrate the defeat of the first monster, a full banquet is being held near the beach in Bamborough. Unlimited food, unlimited drinks, and most importantly of all was a small stockpile of blankets, sheets, pillows, and toiletries to offer any knight who might've forgotten something on the way out here. Naturally, every item is sponsored.


• You're all over Social Media!: Videos were successfully taken of all twelve knights and the princess during the first battle, and now the world is abuzz about what happened! What are they saying about your hero? How did they even get this footage? Or worst of all, how bad are they dissing your camera skills for those that recorded themselves?


• A late night walk: The first day is over, the first monster is dead. How's your character holding up? Do they seek out support from a fellow hero? Do they spend it alone? What kind of night are they having now that it's all real?


• A late night meal: Anyone leaving the Bamborough party late enough will be able to spot that a local late night ramen shop is open for business. If your hero hasn't quite eaten enough, they can drop by for a bite. But be warned, a certain sleepy villain is getting a bite to eat herself. Care to share a ramen bar meal with the enemy?

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Procedure:

Reply to the appropriate toplevel comments for events below. Indicate if a post is a private conversation with "Private" in the subject otherwise all threads should be open to interaction with others. Plan OOCly how you'd like to toss everyone around.

Comments

[silentwords]

The moment Gyre says it's a little creepy, Seth just, deflates. Pretty much completely, hanging his head. The shrug and the latter statement is barely a consolation to him.

He should have known...how could he have forgotten how others tended to view his hobby? Zafika had been fine with it, but even they had only seen Abigail.
He still wanted to be Gyre's friend, after all he'd been kind enough to help him, not to mention know how to actually sign...but he was admittedly hurt that Gyre too found his hobby creepy, even if only a little.

"Oh...I...see..." His signing is slow, his hands faltering.

[sustainer]

Damn. This kid really does give a fuck what he thinks? Why?? He tilts his head as Seth deflates, wondering what could possibly be going through his head. He watches those faltering hands with pursed lips, and it takes him a few beats to figure out what he wants to say.

"I don't care. You can do as you please." Is he worried about being rejected? Hopefully this will reassure him a little, he supposes.

[silentwords]

Seth nods hesitantly, as Gyre ponts that out. He supposed he should be relieved Gyre said he didn't really care, Seth was always willing to take indifference, however...
He'd seen the way Gyre reacted when entering...and knowing, at least Seth believed so, it was because of his puppets...
Well it really hurt and just reminded Seth of why he'd become insecure about his hobby in the first place. Because it unsettled them and drove them away.
But since he still wants to be Gyre's friend...

He forces himself to smile...it's very clearly forced though.
"Oh, that's...that's good to know. And thank you for the help, really. I appreciate it. If there's something I can help you with just tell me, I'd be happy to return the favor!" He signed, and while he did mean what he signed, and was genuine about his gratefullness and offer, his heart wasn't really in it at the moment.

[sustainer]

He tilts his head at that false smile, wondering what it is exactly that Seth wants from him. Wondering why he thinks Gyre of all people is worth faking happiness for. What a strange kid.

Still, if he won't say what he means, then Gyre can't do anything about it. He files it away to ponder later, smiling back at him as he signs, "Of course. I'm happy to help." A pause. "And it was nice getting to know another knight a little better."

[silentwords]

Seth honestly found the facade hard to keep up, when the issue was so close to his heart...
And then Gyre told him it was nice getting to know him, another Knight, a little better and the facade just crumbles as Seth face falls as just suddenly feels horrible for trying to put on appearances in front of someone he's supposed to work together and trust in dangerous situations. He of course wanted to be Gyre's friend...but that didn't change the fact he'd tried to fake the happiness.

He buried his face in his hands, honestly just dissapointed in himself. He was just absolutely messing up his interactions with the other Knights, almost as if he was somehow sabotaging himself without realizing it.

"I'm...sorry I...god I'm messing up again, I don't...I just want to be friends with you but..." When he finally signs he looks ashamed but also just...so confused on what to do. Help him out here Gyre. Be forward and blunt when asking like the wild elf you are.

[sustainer]

"But?" he signs almost instantly. He's surprised once again, this time that Seth gave the facade up so quickly. He's seen these people hold on to those sorts of facades for months, even years, but his had crumbled so fast. This is better. He'd rather speak honestly then try to dance around whatever Seth was keeping in his head.

"But what? You don't need to apologize, but I can't read your mind, kid. If you say what you mean, it's easier."

[silentwords]

Now ain't that the truth...and Seth knows it too, he himself is always frustrated by people not meaning what they say, well he did mean what he had signed but still.
Ugh, now trying to put up the facade makes him feel dissapointed in himself on top of feeling horrible.

He sighs, looking hesitant, but did actually sign what was bothering him.
"...It...hurt...when you called my puppets creepy. I don't want others to call them creepy or weird. They're really dear to me, so it hurts a lot to hear others view them so negatively...it doesn't matter that I can anticipate it now, after over a decade of hearing it, it still hurts just as much, if not more. I just...I want to be friends with you, you were so nice to me and actually know how to sign. I just...wish you wouldn't say things like that about them..."
He kind of hugs himself, while waiting for Gyre to respond.

[sustainer]

He'll have to wait a bit. Gyre is looking him over, pondering what he should say. He certainly isn't going to stop thinking this is creepy, but if Seth doesn't want him to then he supposes there's no harm in that.

"Okay, I won't say it again. I can't do anything about what other people say about them though," he says with a shrug. Holding him to the standard of other people doesn't seem fair to him, but he also knows these people are like this. He can only do his best to navigate through it all.

"We can still be friends," he reaffirms quickly though, reaching up to put a hand on Seth's head. Shhh, buddy, you don't need to be so anxious.

[silentwords]

Seth's demeanor opens up a little hearing Gyre say he wouldn't say something like that again. The statement about not being able to do anything about other people gets a small smile, that was of course a given.

Seth blushes a little when he places a hand on his head, though looks visibly relieved to hear they can still be friends as far as Gyre is concerned, kind of instinctively leaning forward a little...and since they hadn't been at all against it last time, he, kind of hesitantly put his arms around Gyre. He could certainly use the hug, but wasn't completely sure if it was okay.

[sustainer]

It's fine. It surprises him! But it's totally fine. He lets his hand slide from Seth's head, wrapping his arms loosely around the other's shoulders so that he's not squeezing him close like last time, but is still definitely hanging onto him.

"Is that all that was bothering you?" he murmurs, trying to keep his voice as soothing as possible. This kid seems like a fucking mess honestly, and he's hoping he can maybe help him chill out a little, even if it's only for the few minutes he's here.

[silentwords]

Since Gyre responds so positively to the sudden hug, Seth dares to hold on a little tighter, breathing in deep, nodding against him.

To some it might be a small thing, but to him, with how dear his puppet friends were to him, it was huge. So having it cleared was a weight off his shoulders.

[sustainer]

"Okay," he murmurs, reaching up to run his fingers lightly through Seth's hair. Once again, he won't pull away until Seth does, letting himself breathe slowly and steadily. He doesn't know if it'll help him, but his kids certainly calmed down when he did this kind of thing for them. He's just glad Seth seems more content now honestly.

[silentwords]

Seth is a bit confused by what Gyre does initially, simply from not having expected it...but it quickly gets him to relax more, actually going so far as to close his eyes.

He could only vaguely remember his mother doing this when he was little, before she had divorced his father who he had ended up staying with...it was honestly really nostalgic and comforting.

...enough to have tears start to fall down his face? Oops???
He still had a very content smile on his face though???

[sustainer]

Oh my god?? He doesn't notice at first, honestly. His clothes are pretty sturdy, thick enough to ward off the usual scratches and scrapes that come from moving through a forest. It's actually not the wetness of his tears that alert him something's wrong. It's the way Seth breathes, the way his shoulders shake very slightly.

His stomach drops into his shoes, his eyes widening over Seth's head as he wonders what he could've possibly done wrong. Why would he be crying? Augh.

"A... are you okay? What's wrong?"

[silentwords]

Seth looked up to Gyre in clear confusion, nodding a bit since he was not feeling like detatching himself from the hug to sign.

Nothing was wrong? He was just really content and honestly enjoying what Gyre running his fingers through his hair.

...this kid hadn't really even realized he'd started crying yet, since the change to the way he breathes or how he shakes every now and then is so minor.

[sustainer]

He meets that confused expression with a confused look of his own. It takes him a moment to even formulate what to say, and even then he ends up just stating, bluntly, "You're crying?"

If Seth says he's fine, then that's fine with him. But the fact he doesn't even seem to realize he's crying is alarming to him, perhaps even more so then the kid beginning to cry from a hug in the first place. What a whirlwind this kid has taken him on.

[silentwords]

Seth blinks in surprise, removing one arm to touch his cheek and, oh wow wtf Gyre was right he was crying.
He had not at all expected himself to start crying.

He looks to Gyre sheepishly as he removes his other hand, for the moment, to quickly sign.
"Oh, sorry...I didn't even notice. I'm fine though, nothing's wrong I guess I just...was so happy about you...running your fingers through my hair? I really liked it."

And then he's pretty much diving to wrap his arms around Gyre again, planting his face against him, partially from being a little embarrassed, but mostly from just, not wanting to stop yet.

[sustainer]

The air gets knocked out of him as Seth smashes into his chest again, and he takes a second to just breathe and blink in surprise. What a weird kid.

He doesn't mind, of course, looping his arms loosely around him again. Now that Seth has specified what he likes, he also brings a hand up and begins to do exactly that thing. His fingers run lightly through the other's curls, gently pulling apart whatever knots he finds. One of his kids had inherited hair like this from his mother, and so he knows the exact way to be gentle but firm with these curls, neatening them up a little for now.

"This okay?"

[silentwords]

Seth absolutely smiles, relaxing against Gyre as he starts doing it again. At the question he nods firmly against him, breathing in deeply and closing his eyes again, and just enjoying this.

He was starting to become really glad he'd met Gyre.