week 1; wednesday with jae-ha

[alchemenace]

[ hey what's up jae jae your little brother did not cause someone to die (phew @ natsuo) and so he is just gonna casually go bring back the coat he borrowed to the tailor, but first he has magically washed it because i refuse to spend hours in investigation going over natsuo's blood being all over the place

anyway surely no one would want to interrupt him on his journey!! ]

Comments

[alttitude]

[false!!!!!

here's jae-ha, stepping out to fall into step with varian, and easily:]

It was quite a mess tonight, wasn't it?

[alchemenace]

[ varian blinks up (stupid tall people) at jae-ha when he joins him, but doesn't seem too jumpy about it, at least ]

Um, yeah. A mess is a good way to talk about that.

[alttitude]

[well that's good - jae-ha is then going to look varian over, examining him quietly]

How would you describe it?

[and more importantly:]

You're not hurt anywhere, are you?

[alchemenace]

[ he looks fine, though he rolls his eyes ]

Heh, no, you're right, when I'm involved, it's usually a mess. [ it's more bitter than he wants it to be, so he just shrugs at jae-ha's latter question ] Nope! Veronica and I were totally fine.

[alttitude]

[ . . . well that's fine.

Jae-ha reaches out to affectionately ruffle Varian's hair.]

I'm glad that's the case.

Now - no more little comments like that. Did you find anything worthwhile for your mess?

[alchemenace]

[ what comment? there was no comment!! Varian ducks after the hair ruffling, but it's with a grin. ]

Weeeell... There was a yeti living underneath the castle? We went through his house. He was pretty nice, actually, way better than the Minotaur.

[alttitude]

.... A yeti?

[what's a yeti]

What did he look like? Did he speak to you?

[alchemenace]

Like a big fluffy snowbeast?

[ how tf you want me to explain yetis man ]

I don't think he could speak, but he did lead us on the right path? So he seemed nice enough.

[alttitude]

[ . . . ]

Natsuo got stabbed and you got to make a friend?

How lucky.

[alchemenace]

[ don't remind him HE WANTS TO DIE ]

Haha... Yep... Lucky.

[alttitude]

[ . . . hm.]

Do you feel guilty?

[alchemenace]

What? No. Why would I? It's not like I stabbed him.

[ ... this is believable ]

[alttitude]

Do you think you're only allowed to feel guilty if you're the one holding the knife? Logical, but not exactly what actually happens...

[alchemenace]

[ if varian could run from guilt and blame physically, he would, is more like it. he frowns ]

No, no, but I-- I, I know it wasn't our fault. And feeling guilty isn't going to make Natsuo less... stabbed.

[ hm ]

[alttitude]

... you're not wrong. I'm glad that you recognize that but - it seems like there's still something troubling you.

[and he's trying to figure out exactly what that is]

[alchemenace]

[ there's a lot troubling him, actually. and none of it he really wants to talk about, but. he gives a frown. ]

... I guess sometimes it feels like whenever I try to do something right, I just... make things worse. I. I left that path, that Natsuo went on-- convinced Veronica to take the other one-- because I thought it would be easier, for other people. And. And it wasn't.

[alttitude]

[ . . .

He seems to think about that for a moment, pondering over what he should say.

But first:]

Would you like a hug?

[alchemenace]

Uh. [ is this a trick question ] Sure?

[alttitude]

[who hurt this child so he thinks hugs are a trick question

Jae-ha is just going to laugh faintly and move to open his arms and give Varian that hug]

Don't sound so uncertain about it?

[alchemenace]

[ mostly himself but also just all of Corona? It's complicated ]

It seemed sudden?

[alttitude]

Shall I give you a week's notice for your next hug?

[alchemenace]

No, I meant... [ he laughs a bit ] Maybe in writing?

[alttitude]

I'll have to find something to write with.

[But his laugh will match Varian's.]

... but I can do that.

[sometime next week (so this week?) Varian will absolutely get some napkin that just says 'advance notice for hugs throughout the rest of the time in this castle']

What I wanted to tell you - is that everyone makes mistakes, and you aren't only capable of making things worse. You've done plenty of good in your time here, too. So don't hold onto the accidents that happen from good intentions.

[alchemenace]

[ jae-ha no that's adorable ]

You... Really think I've done good here?

[alttitude]

[he's trying to be a good big brother okay]

I do.

Sometimes you get a little self-sacrificing, but you're responsible for a good number of answers we've gotten. As long as you practice more caution, I don't see anything wrong with your initiative.

[alchemenace]

[ what is this "caution" you speak of ]

I wouldn't go so far as to say "self-sacrificing", technically speaking--[ it's not like he wants? to die? ]

... But thanks. It. That means a lot.