|
Post by Nari on Dec 22, 2023 18:42:33 GMT
As Laurie started to talk, explaining the lies of the ascendants Leadership and what it did to him. He could still remember Cleo’s words of pure vitriol when they confessed to forcing the two’s break-up. Even if the situation didn’t directly impact him, he still felt some remorse for what happened. The revelation just amplified that feeling in him.
Cleo was mad at River that day because he chose to save Laurie and left Lucien behind. Laurie was only put in danger because he was helping Theo. As far as he was concerned, Cleo never once bat an eye at the fact they abandoned him to save Lucien. They liked to go on and on about ‘their people’ but he never once felt that list included him. They thought he was expendable after all.
But even after all that pain he’d gone through, he couldn’t say he agreed with Laurie’s reasoning. It hurt to imagine that the other boy thought that being with the exiled was the preferred choice. It felt wrong, off.
Theo’s expression was visibly saddened when Laurie explained that they weren’t lying. For a few moments he was quietly processing that fact, but a glimmer of realization seemed to pass through his eyes. He looked back at the other man.
“If you were on their side, you wouldn’t be coming to visit me like this, idiot,” Theo sat up straighter when he said that, offering a brief smile before he continued.
“I’m not going to argue with you about the leaders because what happened wasn’t fair to you. It fucking sucks and Cleo is awful for what they said. However, is this really what you want? If you want to be done with the Pantheon, that’s fine more power to you, but you admit that what the Exiled are doing is objectively worse. If this was fully your choice, you’re jumping from a hot pan into lava and claiming “Well the pan was hot too”, instead of the sensible thing of just leaving the lava and the pan.”
Soon he tilted his head to the side, making sure he worded what he wanted to say next correctly. “Your ex and current boyfriend are kinda like that too. River seemed to make you happy, but then he broke your heart. Now you have this new guy and, no offense, he’s a loser who flirted with other guys while in a relationship. In simple terms, you’re settling for less than you deserve.”
|
|
|
Post by pallas on Dec 22, 2023 19:24:36 GMT
At Theo’s statement that if Laurie were on the exiled’s side, he wouldn’t be visiting Theo like this, Laurie offered a correction. ”Just because I’m not an ascendant anymore doesn’t mean I stopped caring about my friends. You’ve done nothing but be a good friend to me. Why would I start hating you?”
He had to admit though, that Theo wasn’t wrong. It seemed that he was seeing through any wall Laurie tried to put up between them. Any screen he tried to use to shield the truth. That he had fallen for manipulation but was now beginning to see he had been lied to. That he was now beginning to understand exactly the trap he’d walked into. That the coercion that trapped him was slowly beginning to make itself known.
”I might be freer than you but surely you can’t think I could just walk out of here.” Laurie replied, ”I can’t leave and I can’t not pick a side. I never said it was completely a free choice, of course my choices were limited. But I made a decision.”
Of course he believed there was always a choice, depending on what consequences you were willing to consider. He could’ve refused Styx’s deal, for example, or broken up with Ripley. But there would’ve been terrible consequences to those.
The mention of Ripley deflated him a little again, though it was sweet of Theo to say he thought Laurie deserved better. Laurie didn’t know how much he thought he deserved, honestly, but maybe Theo was right about that. He had been lied to.
”He and I aren’t really a topic I want to discuss. I’m sorry, I know we had our deal that we’d both talk.” Laurie finally responded. ”He showed me kindness when I thought I’d lost everything.” He lied to me and I believed it. ”It’s probably difficult to understand, so I’ll leave it at that.”
____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
|
|
|
Post by Nari on Dec 22, 2023 20:47:00 GMT
Theo’s persistence on the issue seemed to produce the results he was looking for; an admission that Laurie couldn’t leave for one reason or another. Something else was keeping him there, something he was hesitant to talk about. Though, the boy didn’t think it was worth asking for specifics because he already had an answer.
That answer was the image of Esme getting handed over to Fenrir when she tried to flee the meeting.
“I never thought you could,” he responded, nodding slightly, “I just wanted to hear it from you instead of someone else.”
The only person who could explain Laurie’s situation was Laurie himself. He didn’t believe the Exiled gloating about how he joined them, everyone else’s horror because they thought he betrayed them, how Cleo regarded him in the worst possible light because they were upset.
In a way, he got what he’d been looking for when he turned himself into the Exiled, an answer from his friend. A small part of himself felt relieved by that, but the rest of him was growing dread. He got confirmation that something was up, but it didn’t change the situation. Theo was still a prisoner, and Laurie had to work with the exiled. A shit situation through and through.
Nor was it eased when his friend wasn’t willing to talk about his relationship. Only mentioning how he’d shown him kindness when he needed it. It was hard to believe given what Ripley’s done, but he wasn’t going to question it.
“Unfortunately, I do understand it somewhat,” Theo replied. For a moment he was keen to leave it at that, but when he looked back at Laurie’s face, he relinquished.
“I haven’t really mentioned it, but I had a relationship that ended before this whole mess started. A year of being with someone, and thinking they loved you, and it all turned out to be a lie. Didn’t even have the decency to dump me to my face, just left a letter and was gone. I never felt more used…”
He had a solemn look on his face as he explained it. Even though it had been almost half a year since the breakup, it was still painful to talk about.
“Worst thing about it was my parents. They never liked her, told me this is what she would do, and they were fucking right. My life kinda exploded after they found out about it.”
After recounting everything, Theo lowered his head in embarrassment, “sorry, that’s a lot. I just wanted you to know that you weren't alone with shitty dating stuff.”
|
|
|
Post by pallas on Dec 22, 2023 21:34:20 GMT
Laurie exhaled when Theo said he’d never thought Laurie could have left, but that he’d needed to hear it from him rather than somebody else. He’d never wanted Theo to know anything about his situation, because it wasn’t safe for Theo to know too much about it and it wasn’t safe for Laurie to be telling anyone. But Theo had pushed him into giving him that information at least, and he wasn’t sure he could say he regretted saying it.
Then Theo began to explain his own prior relationship experience, to which Laurie listened patiently. He understood that. Feeling used. He’d understood it before he even came to the pantheon and had his first real relationship.
”I’m so sorry that happened to you.” Laurie said gently, ”I know that can’t have been easy to share.”
They were friends, but they hadn’t had the time to know one another all that well. For Theo to share something so difficult with him was major. He appreciated and understood that.
”You’re a good person, Theo. I hope you didn’t come here because you thought you were worth less than anyone else. Because you’re not.” the Frenchman continued.
But he knew he didn’t have much time. The meeting could be ending soon and Fenrir could enter at any point. Or the guard. Laurie cast a glance toward the door.
”I’ve lingered too long already. I’d better go before I get us both in trouble.” Laurie commented. He didn’t want to end the conversation when Theo was opening up but he had no choice if he didn’t want to put them at more risk than it was worth.
”I don’t know when I’ll get another chance to get here.” Laurie explained as he rose to his feet. ”But I’ll try and keep an eye on you all however I can. Stay safe, okay?”
At that point he backed up towards the door he’d entered through. He said a quiet ”Bye, Theo,” as he reached the door. With that final goodbye he pulled the door open, and slipped back out into the hallway.
He didn’t have long to return the keys and get back to where he was supposed to be. With any luck, news would never reach Ripley or any of the exiled leaders that he’d been somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be.
____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
|
|
|
Post by Nari on Dec 22, 2023 22:24:25 GMT
Theo gave Laurie a brief laugh when he called him a good person, saying he wasn’t worth less than anyone else. “I didn’t think I was that predictable,” he stated, lips forming into a smile, “but, thank you.”
Soon it was time for the other man to leave, and the champion of Baldr wished they could have had more time to talk. It was a miracle they even got to chat in the first place, and it was unlikely that they’d get another for a while. The last thing he wanted was for Laurie to get in trouble because of him.
So when the Frenchman was leaving, Theo kept a smile on his face and waved goodbye to him. He waited until the other man was fully out of the door before his smile faded, and he lied down to try and sleep.
—-
“Didja have a nice chit-chat with your boyfriend?” A voice could be heard not far from the prison door, one of mocking amusement. Sitting against the wall was the young exile, Penny. She stared up at the man, her face not hiding the brief enjoyment she seemed to take in saying that.
That smile didn’t last very long, and soon she forcefully extended her hand out to Laurie. Her face shifted to a scowl before she demanded, “Now give them back.”
|
|
|
Post by pallas on Dec 22, 2023 22:41:46 GMT
’Didja have a nice chit-chat with your boyfriend?’
The sound of a voice made Laurie’s blood turn to ice. He faced the figure, expression uncertain as he took in the sight of Penny. He didn’t know if he should be terrified to he caught by Penny or whether he might have a chance of not getting into trouble for this infraction.
”Penny,” he felt a slight shake in his voice as he said the name. He’d prayed he wouldn’t be caught but apparently she’d been there for quite some time. She hadn’t come in to stop them talking, which could be a good sign. He wasn’t sure.
But then he finally processed what she’d actually said. He passed her back the keys as he spoke the next words.
”Please, Theo and I are completely platonic. Don’t make my romantic life sound more complicated than it already is, that sounds very stressful.” Laurie clarified.
It didn’t matter anyway. They had more pressing things to discuss.
”How much of that did you hear?” Laurie questioned, before quickly deciding it wasn’t important. Any amount of the conversation was potentially incriminating, just as it was for him to even be here in the first place. He changed tack. ”Please don’t tell anyone.”
He knew she hated Ripley so he felt like there was a good chance she wouldn’t tell Ripley. But that wasn’t to say she wouldn’t tell anyone else and if she did say a word to another exiled it was bound to reach Ripley’s ears eventually. That would be terrible.
____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
|
|
|
Post by Nari on Dec 23, 2023 0:18:24 GMT
“He’s a boy and a friend, what else would he be?” Penny sneered, practically baring her teeth at him when she said it. Of course she knew they weren’t in a relationship, but all that mushy stuff about feelings was enough to give someone that impression. It was something she could at least point out to see how he reacted.
When he finally saw fit to return the keys, the young exile quickly jumped up and snatched them from his hand before shoving them into her pockets. He started asking her how much she’d heard, and she looked back at him with a bored expression.
“Enough,” she responded gruffly, crossing her arms in front of her as she looked him up and down. Next he was begging her not to tell anyone. Yeah, his transgression of talking to someone. Oh no that’s so bad.
“Like I would,” she finally responded, upturning her nose in disgust, “it's just talking. Besides, it's not like Atticus tells me anything, so why should I tell him everything.”
Soon her expression narrowed, becoming almost unreadable when she lowered her head to look a distance away, “he told me Esme had left. Not that she died.” The fact he’d lie to her about something like that, that she had to learn the truth via Ripley of all people and the prisoners, it made her fume.
Once she was able to get her thoughts under control, she looked back up at Laurie, “Why are you still here? Go. Shoo.” She waved her arms to get him to finally leave, and once he did, Penny sat back down on the ground and glared at the wall in front of her.
|
|
|
Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Jan 3, 2024 2:39:25 GMT
Lorenzo stared at Dillon skeptically when he said he wouldn’t do anything stupid. He sure hoped the other didn’t, because things were already terrible as it was. He couldn’t take losing another friend because of it. He’d already lost Pascal, Haleema, Echo, and Laurie. His feelings for the other in front of him added to the grief he’d feel, but it wasn’t the root. Before all else, Dillon was his friend, and in his opinion, Dillon was his best friend.
When Dillon agreed to look around if Lorenzo wanted to, he beamed, grabbing Dillon’s hands and tugging him towards the door. “Yes, yes, you’ll love Venice! There’s so much to see, and there’s even better food just south of here!” He exclaimed, opening the door with a flourish and stepping out into the brisk air. There was a chill to the air due to the time of year, and he realized belatedly as he exited and locked the door that he had one of Dillon’s hands in his left one (the one he wasn’t closing the door with). With an apologetic smile, he quickly let go and turned tail towards the street, gesturing wildly, “so, uh…where to first?”
|
|
|
Post by pallas on Jan 6, 2024 0:23:14 GMT
Dillon couldn’t help but chuckle a little at the other boy’s excited reaction when he agreed to explore Venice with him. Enzo seemed to light up, and Dillon couldn’t deny that Lorenzo’s joy made everything else go away for just a moment. All the fighting, all the fear.
He saw that apologetic expression cross Lorenzo’s face when he realised he was still holding Dillon’s hand and promptly released it. He pushed down the sudden impulse to take Enzo’s hand again, because he knew he could not lead the other boy on. He had no intention of letting anything happen between them. It would be hypocritical of him and unfair to River and Laurie.
Instead he just dropped his hand back to his side, trying to ignore how the skin felt like it was alight with sparks from Enzo’s touch.
Then Enzo was asking where they should go first. ”Why don’t you show me your favourite places in the city? Anywhere you want that means something to you.”
Was there any better way to get to know a friend than getting to know their hometown? He couldn’t imagine a better way to gain insight into Lorenzo than to get to know his favourite places in the place that had made him who he was.
He let Enzo decide on a place and lead the way before he spoke again, dropping into step beside the other man.
”So, how has it really been out here?”he questioned gently, ”I know you’ve probably been trying not to worry me.”
He knew what Lorenzo was like. He wouldn’t have wanted to worry Dillon so he would’ve put a brave face on about any worries. Probably he even did the same with Irene to some extent.
____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
|
|
|
Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Jan 8, 2024 20:49:12 GMT
Lorenzo hummed when Dillon suggested Lorenzo pick the place. He smiled then, "What about Rialto Bridge?" He questioned, smiling then at his friend and crush, "it was first built in 1173, it's a population tourist attraction but it's also...a really good place to reflect on things, I think. It has a lost of history, and I guess for me that makes it a good place to reflect. It's near where I met Helios."
His guide cooed softly to him, only heard by him. "The feeling is shared, Lorenzo. You are the best champion I could have asked for."
He smiled back at the comment. Helios was rather kind and sweet. He was mostly quiet, letting Lorenzo do what he needed, but the reminder was sweet all the same.
His smile fell when Dillon asked how he'd really been, and he shook his head. "Compared to Irene? It's been...fine," he winced at the obvious lie. Ever since Gwen brought his ex into the picture, nothing had been fine. Felicia, as much as he refused to admit it for a long time, has been toxic and if he were to be honest with himself, abusive. Having to save her had been...difficult, despite his kind nature and apparent passiveness. He thought he was a pacifist, but he questioned if he could ever be called one.
"You have enough to worry about, with the others being missing and that mission that went wrong," he was referencing the failed stealth mission. He'd been alarmed to hear that Ariella, Theo, Chiara, and Luka had been hurt. Luka apparently had needed a blood transfusion, and that was the first time something like that was needed. Plus, Lane was mysteriously gone too. It didn't seem good, at all.
|
|
|
Post by pallas on Jan 8, 2024 23:07:37 GMT
Dillon smiled when Enzo suggested the Rialto bridge. He’d heard of it but he’d never dreamed he would get to actually see it. But most importantly it meant something to Enzo. He didn’t want to leave the city that had raised Enzo without understanding his story a little more.”Lead the way.”
As they walked, he listened to Lorenzo brush off Dillon’s concern and minimise what he was going through. Dillon wasn’t going to allow that. Enzo shouldn’t feel like he couldn’t talk about how he was feeling just because other people were also going through things.
”I didn’t ask you to compare yourself to Irene, though. Or me or any of the others.” Dillon said gently, ”It’s you I want to know about, Enzo.”
He wanted that to be clear. Of course he was still worried about Irene and about the meeting and about everything else. But it didn’t mean he didn’t have room for concern about Enzo either.
”If you don’t want to talk about that fight it’s okay, I get that.” Dillon continued, ”But I want you to know that what you went through that day, it wasn’t nothing. I don’t pretend to know the whole context with you and that girl but I could tell it wasn’t easy.”
Enzo shouldn’t have to keep it bottled up. Dillon knew that. If he didn’t want to talk about it he’d respect it but he wouldn’t stand for Lorenzo convincing himself he didn’t deserve to get to talk about it because other stuff was happening.
____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
|
|
|
Post by pallas on Jan 10, 2024 13:57:52 GMT
Lucien spent most of the walk with Lane back to the Medbay reassuring her that he’d had nothing to do with the missing helm. He informed her that other things were missing, just to ease any concerns that the helm alone had been targeted. He also told her that he suspected somebody else had taken it. Someone who had already taken Theo’s key.
He flashed back to the moment he’d thought he’d caught out of the corner of his eye when he was in the Medbay talking to Lane and Cleo. It couldn’t be possible, surely. But the evidence was right in front of him.
Still, as much as he thought this was Luka’s doing, or at the very least that she was involved, he had to have faith. She was his best friend. Maybe she’d be back soon and hadn’t actually traded herself over but had gone for some other reason. Maybe he had everything wrong and she hadn’t gone at all. He didn’t know yet.
Either way, by the time he’d escorted Lane back to the Medbay, she appeared to believe him that he hadn’t taken the helm. At the very least, she didn’t look like she wanted to punch him in the gut anymore.
He got the still-exhausted girl back into her bed. She had been agitated but he could tell that she was also exhausted. Overtired, still recovering. She’d sleep tight enough if nobody bothered her too much. Lane didn’t offer any resistance, her strength apparently spent by her little jaunt over to the meeting room. Go figure.
Once Lane was settled, Lucien finally took note of the fact that his body was still humming with adrenaline. He needed some time before he went back to the meeting room, to get himself calm again and to process his emotions about the possibility that Luka had left without a word like that. He needed to have his head together before he went back in. Anyway, he had his phone with him, given back to him after Dillon had fired off the text to Laurie’s phone, presumably still in the possession of the exiled. If the exiled texted back he’d have their response immediately and could contact River. There was no rush to go back to the meeting room.
With that in mind, he decided he might as well take some time to check the supplies were organised. That would help him straighten out his head. So after leaving Lane to her rest, he headed to the back of the Medbay to the supply cupboards.
Only to spot that Pascal was already there.
It was good, in a way. Lucien needed to talk to him. But he hadn’t had any time to prepare like he would if he knew in advance that he was going to see Pascal.
So Lucien started to work, carefully reorganising the supplies which had apparently been set in disarray by Lane earlier, and worked in silence for a few moments. There was a brief quiet before he cleared his throat.
”I’m sorry.” Lucien said, looking up briefly as he worked to meet Pascal’s eye while he said that. ”About everything that I said in the meeting yesterday.” He clarified.
Well that was a shitty apology. He could feel Apollo cringing in his head even though the god hadn’t said anything. And Apollo was no measure of social competence so if he thought it was bad it had to be.
”I could tell what I said hurt you. I never meant for that. And I didn’t want to suggest you didn’t do enough for the others there or like I could do it better or something because I don’t think that at all. I never meant to minimise what you went through.” Lucien had by now returned his attention to his task as he spoke, and in fact was intensely focused on straightening up the bottles of iodine. He’d learned from Pascal to store them as far back in the cupboard as he could because the iodine was highly photosensitive. It gave him something to focus on because it felt too hard to look at Pascal now.
He didn’t know Pascal that well and he wouldn’t say they were close, but he did care about Pascal. He was his mentor, and he’d helped to lighten a burden that Lucien had been scared to even share that he was even struggling to care with anyone. Feeling like he’d disappointed or upset him wasn’t an enjoyable feeling at all.
”And I’m sorry for suggesting an idea which would’ve left you with this to deal with alone when you’ve only just gotten home.” Lucien continued. ”The truth is that I’m really glad you’re back.” the boy finished. And really, he was. He was glad Pascal was safe and home.
All these apologies were not fun.
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
|
|
|
Post by Nari on Jan 10, 2024 14:28:45 GMT
After Lane had left the medical ward, Pascal had spent the time she was gone cleaning and reorganized the mess she’d created. While it wasn’t a pleasant job, it gave him something to do while his thoughts ran circles in his mind. He just wanted things to go back to normal, or at least the closest approximation of normal he could get.
Time passed, and while the champion was sanitizing one of the bottles that Lane touched, he became aware of Lane’s return when she was put back to her bed. Along with Lucien’s presence.
He didn’t know what to say to the boy and instead kept his mouth shut. What else was there to say to him after yesterday? As far as he was aware, nothing. His brain felt too scattered to even acknowledge him. So he kept his head down and worked.
At least until he heard him start speaking and apologize. Pascal’s head perked up slightly, and he looked over at Lucien. Once he’d finished, the champion returned what he was holding to the shelf and pulled out something else to clean.
After taking a moment to process what he said, Pascal soon spoke, “do you still plan on going?”
|
|
|
Post by pallas on Jan 10, 2024 14:45:36 GMT
At Pascal’s question, Lucien took a deep breath. It shouldn’t be a difficult question, and really it wasn’t. But it was complicated in its own way. His feelings on the whole thing even if the voting were still going ahead were complex. But he knew his answer.
”No.” Lucien replied, continuing to work alongside Pascal. ”I mean, after I put myself forward yesterday I wouldn’t feel right backing out now if people were to vote for me to go. But that won’t happen. But no. Everyone gave me more than enough of a lecture yesterday about how stupid I was.”
Lucien sighed, picking up a bottle to check the label. He knew he’d been stupid the day before to suggest it, and his conversations with River had been immensely helpful in understanding the knot of stress that had been inside of him since Hallowe’en. Even before then. That was his first step to unravelling it. But it didn’t mean all his feelings from the day before had changed. It just meant he knew better now than to act on them.
He made sure the bottle was clean and put it back in its rightful place. ”Obviously I never wanted to go. I just didn’t want anyone else to have to. And I felt so much like I needed to prove I deserve my role that I forgot what’s really needed of me right now.”
It was the conflict between his roles of healer and leader. Sometimes his duties as healer could hold him back from doing the things it felt like he should do as a leader. But he knew now that doing what he needed to do as a healer didn’t mean he wasn’t fulfilling his role as a leader. His job was to do whatever was best for the group as a whole. And sometimes that was not to lead at all, but to focus on being a healer, where he was most needed.
”None of it matters now anyway.” Lucien said, aware of how tight his throat felt again all of a sudden. ”If I’m right, Luka might have gone to hand herself over last night.”
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
|
|
|
Post by Nari on Jan 10, 2024 15:59:53 GMT
“Yes, you were stupid,” Pascal responded, returning the second bottle to the shelf once he’d finished cleaning it. Instead of grabbing another bottle to clean, he pulled up a chair and sat down. He was relieved to know that Lucien no longer had any intention of going, a welcome change to the empty feeling he had when he first heard the news. However the overall stress just left him exhausted.
The man looked down at his own hands as his student continued to talk, how he didn’t want it to happen to anyone and him feeling like he needed to prove himself. How Luka might have left to turn herself in as well. He let out a tired sigh.
“Fate’s cruel like that, isn’t it?” he muttered. He felt some sympathy for him, he was just a teen with the responsibility of everyone in the pantheon, and he’d been doing that longer than Pascal had. However, it didn’t negate his own feelings about what he’d said.
“Lucien,” Pascal started, his eyes trailing to the floor, “you have been healing everyone ever since we were brought here. Outside of what everyone had felt, you should have known better. I don’t understand the need for you to prove yourself in that way when you have been helping people already.”
|
|