caughtinanetwork | 1 ♐ Voice ♐ A brief check up

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1 ♐ Voice ♐ A brief check up

[Wow, Darkleer is actually communicating with the network on a whole for once instead of being a miserable hermit. Must be a special occasion. Does anyone know his wiggling day?]

Now then. Have we all cleansed ourselves of the mess and done whatever strange death rituals foreign species feel the need to do?

[Okay, maybe it is just Darkleer being a coldhearted dick. Eh.]

I believe we should focus on the more important matter here. I have seen discussions scattered throughout the network, but it would be best to have all our thoughts and speculations focused in one place on both the destruction of those so-called faeries and on the recent appearance of that Carol individual.

For those of you who are oblivious and prone to missing the obvious, things are changing in this place. It would be best to be prepared.

[Don't be fooled, he's not doing this to be nice. He's doing what any troll knows to do: looking out for himself and the few he cares about. If that means even faintly working with others, well, he'll learn to deal.]

[Also, that's all the network is getting from him. Click goes the camera!]

[Filtered to Summoner]

[Darkleer hesitates before sending this one out, although his voice is just as stoic and stern as ever.]

Since your children in particular seem to be taking this badly, perhaps it would benefit you to know that those things which followed us were nothing more than mere robots. The technology may have been organic in nature, but it was still nothing truly living. No pain, no loss of life.

That's all.

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[And then he pulls a lower eyelid down and sticks out his tongue.]

No! Nyeeeeh.

[Sorry, gotta cover up this angst the best he can, and being as childish as possible will most likely work.]

[It's actually a relief to see Summoner fall back into such immature antics. That look from before... It made him feel strange, as if a cold chill was creeping down his spine and his glasses- a shield from everyone and everything- were useless. Yet at the same time, he doesn't want them to revert back to this... safety, he supposes. The flirtatious Cavalreaper and the stiff Archeradicator.]

[It sounds like a joke, sometimes.]

[Clenching his jaw, Darkleer brings Archermedes to his hands and notches an arrow loosely. If Summoner pays attention, he might note that the design is quite a bit different than the usual arrows he uses.]

Last chance, Cavalreaper.

[This fall back is easy, being immature, cocky, flirtatious, it's so easy now because he's just so used to it and it's a good cover for most situations where he wants to just hide, and sleep forever. But that's where the problem lies. he wants to just sleep like he used to as a kid. He used to escape when he rested, and now he can't even do that. Sleep is a foreign thing to him right now.]

[Also, he does pay attention! And his eyes squint at the bow for a moment before looking at Darkleer with his lips pursed, thin.]

...

[His mouth opens as if to say something, but he stops, sighing, a hand moving up into his hair, combing it back, only for it to fall into his face and messily around his horns again.]

Fine, put bessy back in the staples and I'll just, land.

[His first thought is to contest him, but he completely exhausted, and he'd really like to not end up with his wings torn.]

You first, then.

[The more he stays, the more a slight ball of concern begins to grow. Not that he should care, except... Damn it all and then quite a bit more, but he does. The other troll is engaging, interesting, even for all his flaws. Perhaps even moreso for his flaws. So to see him in this kind of state, not even arguing back now...]

[The looked on his face would be that of pain and agitation if he wasn't so tired, so it ends up being a mix of all those emotions along with something else behind it, woe, maybe? it's hard to tell through how very wear he looks.]

[Lysunder puts up his hands, sighing again, and glances to Darkleer for a moment before moving down to the ground, just barely missing branches here and there before landing on the grass below.]

[And there's that strange feeling again. Darkleer pauses in his own descent, bowkind held awkwardly in his hands before he puts it away.]

[He doesn't understand this. Any of this. But then, what else is new with the recent turns his life has taken?]

[The landing is a bit rough, shaking the ground to a degree before he straightens up. His hand goes up, brushing against the side of his head before he reaches into his sylladex and pulls out a thermos. Without saying much else, he holds it out to Summoner.]

[On the ground Summoner is currently battling with his wings a little, he snagged a few branches on the way down that he's just noticing now, no tears or anything, just bends and folds that are making it difficult for them to fold neatly behind him. The troll's efforts to straighten them seem rather debilitated, but eventually he fixes them, twitching slightly when they buzz behind him before awkwardly folding up.]

[Lysunder glances to the thermos and stares at it for a long moment before looking up to Darkleer and furrowing his brows. His reaction makes it seem like he's confused about what that is, like he'll get hurt if he touches it, some kind of fear that would otherwise be unexplainable.]

[The fear's right, but that's not why he's scared to accept it.]

Is that all?

[His voice quiet, dodging those words and letters that coax his stutter out. Lysunder keeps his gaze on Darkleer, staring into black sunglasses while he stands there awkwardly, almost a shrunken husk of what he would normally be.]

[Just... he's just tired, right? That's all.]

Just take it.

[No, it's not all. But it's the only thing he can think to give him, the only thing he thinks that would be acceptable. It's wrong to stay, it's wrong to care, it's wrong to everything. But he's already done the worst thing imaginable for his caste, hasn't he?]

[The issue tears at him. Behind his glasses, Darkleer avoids looking into Summoner's eyes.]

[Lysunder can't know Darkleer is avoiding his gaze. Those specs do well to hide what he wants them to. Instead he stares for a moment longer before reaching out and taking the thermos, hand slowly adjusting to the weight of it when he has it in his grasp alone.]

Fine.

Thank y-y-ou... Thanks, for this.

...The children will worry if they catch wind you're not treating yourself right.

[It's easier to deal with things like this if he pretends he's doing them solely for another, as if he's nothing particularly special, just a cog in a machine. With the thermos gone, he crosses his arms.]

How long have you been going without sleep?

[His tongue slides behind his teeth, jaw closed, lips tight. Lysunder stares at him for a moment longer, keeping still.]

[Finally he manages a smile.]

Eh, not long, thinking about heading to sleep in a bit actually.

I'll stay until you do.

[Which is sounding strangely like another event that wasn't too long ago but details. Darkleer isn't comfortable bringing that up again.]

[He also isn't comfortable asking just what's wrong, not yet.]

[A rather weary stare, mouth frowning.]

...Seriously?

[Ha. He didn't expect that one. Darkleer feels some bit of smugness at that, but keeps up his impassive facade.]

Is that going to be a problem?

[A barely noticeable whine grates in his throat, sighing in deep before stepping back, looking down, eyes searching the ground. Then angrily, he opens the thermos and tilts it to his mouth, drinking quickly, and wincing from the temperature of it. Lysunder pulls it away from his mouth, caps it, and turns to start walking.]

[Yes, it is a problem...]

I'm sure there are others things that need to be done. Instead of linger around here, that is.

[Fortunately for at least one of them, Darkleer doesn't particularly care if it is a problem. Undoing his hair tie, he begins to follow after Summoner. If he wasn't talking, he would be no more noticeable than a shadow.]

Everything I need to do can be accomplished, presently, over the communicator. Besides, I would not be merely lingering.

[He would be making sure Lysunder doesn't do anything idiotic. Like not sleep. Or not take care of himself.]

[The way Darkleer is following him is unnerving. Lysunder feels his hands shake a bit more, curling his fingers tight around the thermos, his other hand balled tight into a fist. Worried, why's he worried, is it because Darkleer is following him like that? So silent, stealthily, it's nerve wracking. His wings flicker and he swallows, looking back again, still there, but he can't hear him besides his words. Why's he following him?! What does it matter!? Leave him alone, this is frustrating and annoying and kind of terrifying and dear god he's getting really anxious. A deep breath and he stops, looking over his shoulder, a heavy swing of his horns revolving around him.]

Just leave me alone, what...what--wh...UGH. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO ACCOMPLISH!? [Says turning around quickly, stepping back. His head shakes, letting out a shuddering breath. The scream came out a bit clearer than his voice was allowing, perhaps due to the tea and just how loud he yelled. It echoed around the trees and even made him jump. The Summoner's eyes quickly closed, hand slowly moving up to press at his eyes as his lids squinted tight.]

I won't sleep.

So just go. Being here w-w-w...[Swallow.] Won't make a difference.

[The intensity of the scream makes Darkleer jerk back as well, eyes wide and hands balling into fists. He can feel his heart pounding in his ears. This was a bad idea. He should have recognized that from the beginning. Those final words carry a sting to them, but isn’t it true? Even he wasn’t sure what he was doing when he first even thought about sending a private message to Lysunder.]

[Just because they’ve had some conversations with one another doesn’t mean anything. If there’s someone he wants to see, it’s certainly not him.]

[For a moment, Darkleer only stands there, stance suddenly and quite clearly submissive: head down, shoulders hunched, and fingers finally relaxing to simply dangle at his sides. More than a couple of times, he looks up as if he wants to say something, hand twitching, but he always returns to the default.]

[Finally, he persuades himself to speak.]

…I know.

[His gaze is hard, staring at him, eyes glassy.]

Then w-w- [He closes his eyes, lowering his head as he sneers.]

Then why even try? I'll be fine. Okay? I'll always be fine.

[He... he knows why Darkleer tried, why he messaged him, why he's acting like this. He's pretty sure he knows, and is pretty sure Darkleer doesn't, or is at least reluctant to admit why. Summoner is empathetic if anything, and he can tell, but he doesn't want that to be the issue. It'd be easier if Darkleer was still an emotionless wall to him, still contesting him as he did when he first arrived. That would make this all easier.]

[This place is a lie, a false paradise that will only go away and it's useless to make anything more of his time here besides calm leisure before his unending war wraps around him again. When the cries of his men and the sounds of lance and claw echo around him, drowning out the screams and illusions in his mind. Unlike this place which is so quiet, there's nothing else he can hear, and there isn't even anything he, or anyone else can do to stop it. And that's fine, it's his burden alone. This blue blood executioner will only confuse himself further by continuing these encounters, and Summoner really doesn't need-- He sees the other's hand twitching, subtly, Lysunder's eyes dragging slowly up to look at Darkleer's face again, as if scared to lock gaze with him for a second time, despite his spectacles--

He really can't afford to make attachments.]

Okay?

...No you're not.

[If it wasn't for the utter silence all around them, his quiet words might have been missed.]

I don't think you've been fine from the second you arrived here. Maybe before then.

[Darkleer has always had a carefulness to his voice in general, the tone and speed of someone who considers his words carefully and with some thought. Right now, however, they're even more careful, almost tentative, as if he's not sure he's allowed to speak.]

[It's been obvious since day one. They're little things that appear in conversations, slips of the tongue that reveal more than the immature child the Summoner plays himself as. It's easy to forget those moments in the face of such an overwhelming personality and act, but they're still there.]

[Darkleer doesn't raise his head.]

If you don't care for my presence... I will not bother you.

[And he takes a step back.]

[He swallows, a weight in his chest causing his whole body to feel like it will collapse at any moment. Though, that probably isn't helped by his exhaustion.]

That's not-- that isn't the case here, it is not that I don't care, that is not a thing that is happening.

It's. [He finally manages to lock his eyes on where Darkleer's should be, irises and pupils moving around before finally staying still at one point, right in the middle, no longer searching for a gaze he can actually see.]

You, you-- You shouldn't care. You, you have those kids to look after anyway, right? I can handle myself, and. Um. What, whatever problems I may or may not have.

But this isn't about how I feel about yo-yoou-- you.

...I do.

[There's just a small roll of his shoulders, a miniscule shrug.]

But... they have survived on their own for a long time yet. They... don't need me to hover over their shoulders. But you...

[He trails off and shakes his head, abandoning his own words halfway through the sentence. It's not his place. It's not his place and it will never be his place. It would be better for both of them if he left.]

All I know, Cavalreaper, is that I do a great many things I should not do or have done, but... I have regardless.

And you do not take care of yourself well, only others.

How can I take care of myself here? W-w-what is this place even? I don't know anything about a life so...

Quiet. I can't handle this, y- you. You can't hear it. I can hear it, it's like, I'm asleep right now, I, I- [He drops the thermos and brings both his hands to knead hard at his forehead, covering his eyes.] I wish sleeping still worked, but now, now it's just ...

When it's loud I don't need to hear it, I can't, everything else drowns it out, but here, here that snap and boom, it. It was- was so loud. It's all I can hear now. [Summoner sighs, wings slicking back behind him. it would be better for both of them if he left.]

[So that's the problem. Of course. The explosion of the faerie devices. And couple that with someone who's so used to constant war, who was taken from the middle of one...]

That's not going to be something you'll get over on your own. Not properly at any rate.

I don't need to get over it, I need to go back!

[His eyebrows furrow, slouching into himself more, hands gripping at his face harder.]

I need to go back, and see them, and be there for them, and know that I can be there to support them and... I, uh, d-d-d-damnit!

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