Aurora - Rean Heart

[awakenerd]

You float in a void--darkness around you, above, below, in every direction, nothing. You stand on nothing, you even breathe nothing. But you do not feel in danger, you are not suffocating. You are simply existing in… Nothing.

Crow | Towa | Dusk | 80H | Rufus

Comments

[ruinatings]

[Oh, interesting.

He's immediately picking it up and poking it for weaknesses.]

[awakenerd]

Well about that... When Rufus touches the box it grows and grows until it's a scene and the scene is around him and he's... In a different place.

The town may be familiar to you, though there have been many changes. It’s snowing a little, and the baron’s mansion and the little garden in front is the same. The general store, the inn, the Phoenix Wings, the snowboarding course, the church, the foot bath are all there. There’s more modern additions, ones you wouldn’t recognize. But this place is a mix of unfamiliar and familiar. It’s certainly Ymir, and there’s a peacefulness to the sleepy village that seems not to change.

Something warm leans against your leg and a dog looks up at you, it looks like Badeaux. Or maybe one of his descendants. It’s hard to say, the features, like the village, are hard to pin down.

[ruinatings]

[Wow the last time I was here I was beating up children.]

[ruinatings]

[...Well. Might as well pet the dog.]

Of course it'd be something like this.

[awakenerd]

woof woof tailwag. At least the dog doesn't seem to hold anything against Rufus!

[ruinatings]

[GOOD cause he likes dogs.

He's gonna wander around, though. See if there's any immediately clear things he could fuck with.]

[awakenerd]

Well heading back into town leading his horse is... Teo.

"Ah. Lord Rufus. It's been a long time."

[ruinatings]

[Hey Rean did Rufus ask to be presented with complicated feelings? No?

He's thinking "fuck off" at Rean but he's also just smiling pleasantly.]

So it has. I hope I find you well.

[awakenerd]

Suck it up.

Teo smiles gently and inclines his head.

"I need to put Arthur to the stable, but would you like to join me inside for some tea?"

[ruinatings]

That would be most welcome. If you require assistance in the stable, I'd be glad to join you.

[Animals are better than people, anyway.]

[awakenerd]

"That would be welcome."

He'll lead the way, and the dog will follow. Putting Arthur up is just normal horse nonsense, and Teo doesn't bring up anything that isn't... Well. Horse nonsense. Asking Rufus for the curry comb or handing him the tack to hang up. Just mundane stuff.

[ruinatings]

[That's kind of nice honestly!

Goddess. Why did Rean get two cool dads and Rufus got none? It's SO LAME he's so jealous he could just die.]

[awakenerd]

Whether Teo notices he doesn't say, but he smiles when Arthur is in his stall and munching hay.

"Thanks for the help. Next time you should come hunting with me again."

But he's going to head for the manor.

[ruinatings]

I'd love to.

[And he would, actually, if it wouldn't also be repeatedly stabbing himself in the heart.

Speaking of which, when talking to "himself" he tried very hard not to think about who else should have a fragment wandering around in here, but with Teo that's a lot harder.

He'd ask, but what would he even say to that man at this point? It's better to avoid asking, so he'll just politely follow Teo around.]

I wonder... did you live well in the end?

[After all that happened, if Rean became a divine knight, did his family do alright? Did Rufus' family do alright? It's a lot to think on.]

[awakenerd]

Teo opens the door for Rufus and gentle claps a hand on his shoulder as he follows him in, reassuring and kind and strong and supportive and intuitive and everything a good dad should be.

"I like to hope so."

There's already hot tea in the sitting room waiting for them.

"Make yourself comfortable."

[ruinatings]

Thank you.

[He'll sit! It's been a really long time since they've just... talked. Even back then he was always scheming something, always thinking, and this isn't the real Teo now, but part of Rufus still wants to do or say something about it. Like, maybe apologize for his part in things. But that's beyond his comfort zone so he won't.]

What is this place meant to represent, then?

[awakenerd]

He pours tea for Rufus and sits back in the comfy chair with his own cup.

"Home. Family. Nostalgia. A place that can't really be returned to. As well as the foundation of who Rean is. We all grow up, but in the end, if you want to know what influenced his... nosiness, this is probably one of the beginnings.

Giliath isn't here. But he is in this heart. If you wish to see him you can."

[ruinatings]

[No why are you bringing him up?!

Rufus goes quiet for a moment, awkwardly, before taking his cup and sipping at it to distract himself.]

I don't think that would be prudent, as much as I appreciate your introducing us before.

[awakenerd]

Because you thought about him buddy!

Teo smiles, a kind of complicated expression.

"What can I do for you, Rufus?"

[ruinatings]

I can't quite say. The mission is simply to "prove" a connection to him. I suppose we're meant to interact with something useful, or make an improvement, but my connection to Rean is, as you're aware, somewhat tumultuous.

[awakenerd]

"A tumultuous connection is still a connection. You've been watching him for quite some time, and to him, the connection has been a much longer one."

[ruinatings]

So I've found.

[Unfortunately!]

I have a mind to make him less meddlesome. In its own way it should help. He can focus on himself if he's not being so annoying all the time.

[awakenerd]

"Do you think so?"

[ruinatings]

I do. Of course I offered to do it more kindly, but apparently he's so incredibly selfless that isn't even possible. So I'll elect to be selfish.

[awakenerd]

He sighs and drinks his tea, expression distant.

"I wonder if you will. It's not beyond your capabilities, but it may be beyond your wishes.

His meddling stems from love, after all."