and he will do just that! no response as usual, but. vax comes by late in the evening - his emotions are generally tired and melancholy, but he's not nearly as much of a wreck as he was last week, all things considered.
he's long stopped trying to snoop around shale's place, so he just announces his presence, calling out - ] Cad?
[ and looking around!! how are your new digs, shale...!! ]
[shale's archway is now a grove surrounded with tall, tall trees, whose canopies hang overhead, shrouding the place in a greenish-gray mist. a path leads towards the garden area, the gazebo, down the path is a very cozy looking cottage, made of stone and shaped with a steeple. colorful lanterns light up the path approaching the cottage, giving off a cozy glow.
the garden itself is quite different than it was before. there are a few separate patches - vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruit bushes, including an area of flowers and bushes protected by the canopy where glittering colorful butterflies flutter about. towards the back of the garden is an orchard of fruit-bearing trees. a hammock is strung between two blossoming trees. there is also a garden shed and a beetle habitat set up near the orchard.
the gazebo is next to a small pond, shaded by the canopy. lights also guide your way down the path to it. it is quite lovely, with a table meant for tea parties in the center of it, protected by a parasol, and a blanket spread out for picnics nearby. near the gazebo is a particularly tall tree, strung with lights from the branches, at the base of which is a small shrine with a crook and wreath symbol.
shale is waiting near the shrine, but when the archway opens, turns to look. sort of a confused twist of his face at 'Cad.' It doesn't seem to connect, quite.]
[ we worked very hard!!! your house is cute!!!!! yay....
ah, he recognizes the confusion, and frowns. it's - well, seeing the profiles and everything does make this a little weird. shale it is... but otherwise, he comes to join him, hands in his pockets, and ducks his head in greeting. ]
Hey.
[ the emotional vibe is that general tired melancholy. ] Can't stay too long, but... thanks for having me.
there's a little flicker of fondness to that - he rolls up his sleeves to the elbows, though, and brushes his hands off. ] Show me where you need me, yeah?
[ he nods, then, starting to head for the gardens! he's not averse to talking - especially not like last week, and especially not to cad, so. as they're making their way out, the melancholy vibe stays, and he's quiet for a moment, thoughtful. ]
... Felt productive, but - [ At What Cost ] ... Wish we would've been able to find them both. Soosh was right.
[ considering the goatening last week. ] I've got a guess who the other person might've been, but 's not like it'll do anything, if we learn - I still don't know how to help them.
Kind of interesting that he said that, isn't it? Knowing whoever else did it was probably someone in his shoes.
[he will get to pruning the flowers a little with some bright green shears.]
You know me. Retribution, punishment - I don't see much point in those things. No bringing Vanille or November back with it. But I still like to see you all work hard at those trials. Maybe in a way, Atsushi and I see it the same way.
[ off to pruning! he'll pick up a pair of shears and join him, steady.
he doesn't say anything at first, mostly because shale is too good and vax has been prone to the occasional bout of vengeance, but he also knows that's the truth. sure didn't bring percy back when they ruthlessly merc'd ripley. it took the love of their group and some powerful fucking magic, instead. so, there's just the quiet emotion of recognition, of mulling that over. ]
Knowing catching someone gives them a chance for a little absolution - that's good. [ so. he agrees with that, too.
as for guesses... he snips a bud off. i dont know how to garden. ]
... Hot Pants. Percy said she's got a big spray can. Could've made the... [ he reaches up and puts his free hand up near his own forehead, knocking gently. ] ... And, the fucking blood was a pair of pants, which sounds like a joke.
[listen. shale has been willing to hang around and chill for some bouts of vengeance. he didn't even know the nein yet when they merc'd lorenzo he was just along for the ride. he's offered very honestly to just murder trent if caleb would like this. but when you get down to it, it's all about feelings, there's not much point.]
Yes. I don't know about absolution, exactly. We haven't really talked about any of that.
[what happened with percy, all of that.]
But I think there's an opportunity to do something good. Or at least something better than turning into a goat.
[he prunes carefully, taking out a couple leaves, and heaves a sigh.]
Okay. So, you have a suspicion. What will you do with it?
[ well, yeah. that's maybe not the best word, but - he feels like shale probably gets it. the chance to be able to admit to what happened, or to at least recognize what you've done, that has to mean something. it would to vax, were he in those shoes.
"do something good", sticks, though, and he's quiet for a second longer. ]
...Something good. [ he echoes, though, it's got the faintest undercurrent of frustration to it. ] Just - I don't know what.
Last week, I felt pretty powerless. [ this he'll admit freely, plucking a dead leaf off of a plant. ] Like... I've got all these skills, at home, we've been in this situation [ with percy and the whole orthax thing ] before, we handled it, and....I couldn't do shit to help him, here. Just had to sit and watch and wait. I barely slept - kept thinking I was gonna wake up and he was gonna be a fucking rainbow goat, one day, and I'd have to put him out of his misery.
[ there's a swoosh of obvious anxiety, there, but he pushes pass it. ] ...guess I'm not that good at patient. I want to do the right thing, I just don't know what it is, besides wait.
Useful bastard. [ warm! warm. he's obviously very fond of his own cleric, so.
it's hard to just accept that answer - you are sometimes, powerless. (the difference between this pc and the one with raiden is truly incredible, actually) and he nods. his emotions aren't... happy, or comforted, really, but they aren't miserable, either. a sort of state of acceptance, agreeing with what shale says.
ah, the question keeps him from falling too hard into his head, though. vax makes a little noise. ] Better. [ there's some relief, there. ] Back to normal, feels like. Think that's all I can ask for.
Yeah. [ yeah, it is. another chance - a chance to bring him back to vex. ]
...if you get a look at him, can you tell me what he - [ vax sort of gestures at himself. soul?? refract?? ] ...what it looks like? Compared to last week? Whenever.
[ it might help soothe some of that residual anxiety, anyway. ]
[ it's not really surprising, to hear, but vax does deflate just a little. only a little. it's just going to have to be unknowns, and putting his faith in percy, for now.
there's a little pause. ]
... How're we doing so far? [ this question is a little wry. ] In terms of being worth believing in.
[gently because he knows you are not joking you dork.]
This is a group of good people. You see that, don't you? A lot of big hearts. [...] People are dying here. It's bad. But I've watched a few of you realize someone may be sick and dangerous, and work all week to find a way to help them. I've watched one of you leave messages in an alley to remember the dead, and another of you leave flowers behind, and every week a little bit is added to that and not one person is left out. You all...work together to find out what happened behind each death and then when you have your answer you show kindness. There are even people here who receive prizes they could trade back for powers to defend themselves, but they use them to help others instead. Protecting each other, or helping solve a case.
[he's quiet for a second.] ...Even heard, about a week ago, of one person who happened upon a power who could prevent a death from occurring, and rather than saving that for themselves, they used it to save the life of the first person who needed it. And now somebody is alive because of that person and they haven't said a word.
Each of those things are all miracles, and that's what I find worth believing in.
vax stays quiet as shale talks, just, tending to the plants, but it's obvious he's listening. his emotions sort of swell, as shale speaks - a quiet fluster, at first, as he mentions the messages and the sickness, falling into soft affection for the others, underneath all that melancholy. shale's right - the people here are good. for someone who has struggled so hard to trust throughout most of his life, he's found his way here. stumbling, sometimes, but nevertheless, found a way.
... the last part, though. that catches his attention. he sucks in a soft, surprised breath, emotion fluttering, and his head turns to look at shale. he can probably see the unvoiced question all over vax's face, as he just - ] Who...
[ ... but trails off, because he doubts shale will tell.
there's a long pause.
he swallows. ]
...yeah.
[ for a minute, that's really all he has, voice rough, and a little wet, feelings just a mess - hope, and misery, and gratitude, and exhaustion mingling all together, and leaving him tongue tied.
[well a lot of those examples were things you did, bud, but shale has no way of knowing that, probably. his passive perception would have to be insane for that to happen.
anyway, aww. it's arm around the shoulders time. it really has been a long day.]
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and he will do just that! no response as usual, but. vax comes by late in the evening - his emotions are generally tired and melancholy, but he's not nearly as much of a wreck as he was last week, all things considered.
he's long stopped trying to snoop around shale's place, so he just announces his presence, calling out - ] Cad?
[ and looking around!! how are your new digs, shale...!! ]
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the garden itself is quite different than it was before. there are a few separate patches - vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruit bushes, including an area of flowers and bushes protected by the canopy where glittering colorful butterflies flutter about. towards the back of the garden is an orchard of fruit-bearing trees. a hammock is strung between two blossoming trees. there is also a garden shed and a beetle habitat set up near the orchard.
the gazebo is next to a small pond, shaded by the canopy. lights also guide your way down the path to it. it is quite lovely, with a table meant for tea parties in the center of it, protected by a parasol, and a blanket spread out for picnics nearby. near the gazebo is a particularly tall tree, strung with lights from the branches, at the base of which is a small shrine with a crook and wreath symbol.
shale is waiting near the shrine, but when the archway opens, turns to look. sort of a confused twist of his face at 'Cad.' It doesn't seem to connect, quite.]
...Hey, Vax.
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ah, he recognizes the confusion, and frowns. it's - well, seeing the profiles and everything does make this a little weird. shale it is... but otherwise, he comes to join him, hands in his pockets, and ducks his head in greeting. ]
Hey.
[ the emotional vibe is that general tired melancholy. ] Can't stay too long, but... thanks for having me.
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Always happy to have you here, Vax.
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there's a little flicker of fondness to that - he rolls up his sleeves to the elbows, though, and brushes his hands off. ] Show me where you need me, yeah?
[ lemme get at that therapy gardening ]
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[gardening therapy is good.]
...But I want to talk about it, too. Tell me how today went.
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... Felt productive, but - [ At What Cost ] ... Wish we would've been able to find them both. Soosh was right.
[ considering the goatening last week. ] I've got a guess who the other person might've been, but 's not like it'll do anything, if we learn - I still don't know how to help them.
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[he will get to pruning the flowers a little with some bright green shears.]
You know me. Retribution, punishment - I don't see much point in those things. No bringing Vanille or November back with it. But I still like to see you all work hard at those trials. Maybe in a way, Atsushi and I see it the same way.
What's your guess?
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he doesn't say anything at first, mostly because shale is too good and vax has been prone to the occasional bout of vengeance, but he also knows that's the truth. sure didn't bring percy back when they ruthlessly merc'd ripley. it took the love of their group and some powerful fucking magic, instead. so, there's just the quiet emotion of recognition, of mulling that over. ]
Knowing catching someone gives them a chance for a little absolution - that's good. [ so. he agrees with that, too.
as for guesses... he snips a bud off. i dont know how to garden. ]
... Hot Pants. Percy said she's got a big spray can. Could've made the... [ he reaches up and puts his free hand up near his own forehead, knocking gently. ] ... And, the fucking blood was a pair of pants, which sounds like a joke.
[ some distant part of him thinks that november
probably thought that was funny ]
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Yes. I don't know about absolution, exactly. We haven't really talked about any of that.
[what happened with percy, all of that.]
But I think there's an opportunity to do something good. Or at least something better than turning into a goat.
[he prunes carefully, taking out a couple leaves, and heaves a sigh.]
Okay. So, you have a suspicion. What will you do with it?
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"do something good", sticks, though, and he's quiet for a second longer. ]
...Something good. [ he echoes, though, it's got the faintest undercurrent of frustration to it. ] Just - I don't know what.
Last week, I felt pretty powerless. [ this he'll admit freely, plucking a dead leaf off of a plant. ] Like... I've got all these skills, at home, we've been in this situation [ with percy and the whole orthax thing ] before, we handled it, and....I couldn't do shit to help him, here. Just had to sit and watch and wait. I barely slept - kept thinking I was gonna wake up and he was gonna be a fucking rainbow goat, one day, and I'd have to put him out of his misery.
[ there's a swoosh of obvious anxiety, there, but he pushes pass it. ] ...guess I'm not that good at patient. I want to do the right thing, I just don't know what it is, besides wait.
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Sure. I'm used to being able to bring people back from, well, a lot of things.
[they get what it's like to be missing tools.]
Sometimes you are powerless. But what I'm getting at is the exercise of finding out who it was seems like...a useful exercise.
How's Percy doing, by the way?
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Useful bastard. [ warm! warm. he's obviously very fond of his own cleric, so.
it's hard to just accept that answer - you are sometimes, powerless. (the difference between this pc and the one with raiden is truly incredible, actually) and he nods. his emotions aren't... happy, or comforted, really, but they aren't miserable, either. a sort of state of acceptance, agreeing with what shale says.
ah, the question keeps him from falling too hard into his head, though. vax makes a little noise. ] Better. [ there's some relief, there. ] Back to normal, feels like. Think that's all I can ask for.
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I'm glad. Whatever happened to him, whether it's gone or not, we have him now. That's a wonderful thing.
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Yeah. [ yeah, it is. another chance - a chance to bring him back to vex. ]
...if you get a look at him, can you tell me what he - [ vax sort of gestures at himself. soul?? refract?? ] ...what it looks like? Compared to last week? Whenever.
[ it might help soothe some of that residual anxiety, anyway. ]
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[he frowns a little.]
...I wish I could. But if he was, still, I wouldn't - I wouldn't be able to tell you that. Not without risking doing some harm.
Some of these things, unfortunately, I can only... do my best not to try to guide you to the right path, and believe in all of you to get it right.
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[ it's not really surprising, to hear, but vax does deflate just a little. only a little. it's just going to have to be unknowns, and putting his faith in percy, for now.
there's a little pause. ]
... How're we doing so far? [ this question is a little wry. ] In terms of being worth believing in.
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What have you done that would make you doubt you're worth believing in?
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vax opens his mouth, and then closes it, surprised, hands pausing where he was pruning a plant... then huffs, and ducks his head. touched?? ]
...was just joking, Shale. [ but, shale might get the sense it wasn't that much of a joke. they've fucked up a lot so far! whew!! ]
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[gently because he knows you are not joking you dork.]
This is a group of good people. You see that, don't you? A lot of big hearts. [...] People are dying here. It's bad. But I've watched a few of you realize someone may be sick and dangerous, and work all week to find a way to help them. I've watched one of you leave messages in an alley to remember the dead, and another of you leave flowers behind, and every week a little bit is added to that and not one person is left out. You all...work together to find out what happened behind each death and then when you have your answer you show kindness. There are even people here who receive prizes they could trade back for powers to defend themselves, but they use them to help others instead. Protecting each other, or helping solve a case.
[he's quiet for a second.] ...Even heard, about a week ago, of one person who happened upon a power who could prevent a death from occurring, and rather than saving that for themselves, they used it to save the life of the first person who needed it. And now somebody is alive because of that person and they haven't said a word.
Each of those things are all miracles, and that's what I find worth believing in.
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or not!
vax stays quiet as shale talks, just, tending to the plants, but it's obvious he's listening. his emotions sort of swell, as shale speaks - a quiet fluster, at first, as he mentions the messages and the sickness, falling into soft affection for the others, underneath all that melancholy. shale's right - the people here are good. for someone who has struggled so hard to trust throughout most of his life, he's found his way here. stumbling, sometimes, but nevertheless, found a way.
... the last part, though. that catches his attention. he sucks in a soft, surprised breath, emotion fluttering, and his head turns to look at shale. he can probably see the unvoiced question all over vax's face, as he just - ] Who...
[ ... but trails off, because he doubts shale will tell.
there's a long pause.
he swallows. ]
...yeah.
[ for a minute, that's really all he has, voice rough, and a little wet, feelings just a mess - hope, and misery, and gratitude, and exhaustion mingling all together, and leaving him tongue tied.
vax closes his eyes.
...it's been a long day. ]
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anyway, aww. it's arm around the shoulders time. it really has been a long day.]
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... he will accept this arm, leaning into it a little bit, and just exhaling. the tension comes out of his shoulders with it, just drooping.
... ]
Think you give better hugs like this. [ this is soft, a weak little joke. ]
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[soft. but yes enjoy a big fuzzy firbolg hug.]
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....thanks, Shale.
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