[GAME] IC INBOX + OVERFLOW

[freecshow]

𝔾𝕆ℕ 𝔽ℝ𝔼𝔼ℂ𝕊𝕊 - (aeflengom)

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text | letter | audio | video | action | overflow

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(specify format in your subject line, pls! gon tries his best to get back to people promptly and generally does, but is prone to distraction and isn't a lover of technology...)

Comments

action | early septeril

[foundfamilies]

[The problem with having a vampire and a child work on the same quest is that there is a limited overlap between when it is dark enough for the vampire to safely leave the house without lots of precautions and when the child should be sleeping.

Leslie has enjoyed working with Edelgard on trawling the bottom of the river for the Merrow’s lost courting gifts, but she also doesn’t want to take up too much of Edelgard’s time (despite months of evidence that Edelgard is happy to take time for Leslie). Maybe she should spend some time looking in the day while Edelgard is asleep, too.

The reason she’s working with Edelgard in the first place, though, is that trawling is not something a small child without boating experience can do on her own, and though she wants to not use up too much of Edelgard’s time, she also really doesn’t want to go behind her back to find a new partner, even though Leslie has worked on quests in multiple groups.

Her compromise is to attempt the much slower method of searching the river floor of taking a wooden pole several times longer than she is and poking it through the mud of the river bottom. As at night, she’s dressed in a yellow raincoat and a sort of bucket hat despite a lack of rain. It’s for the sake of keeping dry around the river, but it’s perhaps less likely to be useful than the big, stompy rubber boots she’s wearing (kept from being too loose on her smaller feet by stuffing it with socks).

For a while, she thinks that maybe this method will work, slowly, despite how unwieldy the much longer pole is for someone as short as her (though luckily no longer super weak and delicate like when she first arrived). But then the pole gets snagged between a couple of rocks at the river’s bottom and, as she tries to unwedge it, she trips. And doesn’t let go of the pole.

So now Leslie is clinging to the top of the pole that is now stuck poking straight out of the river, looking around as she tries to figure out how she got into this mess and, more importantly, how she’s getting out of it, preferably without taking a dunk in the algae-encrusted water.

This might require some assistance.]

[freecshow]

[Gon's just been wandering and exploring as he's still won't to do, even with all his time in Aefenglom so far. and in this particular case, he's trying to get strength back in his body—and his new legs, which he's also seeking to get used to walking on. it's quite a bit different from anything he's used to, especially when it comes to having so little surface-ground covered per step—at least half of what he's used to, and thinner, weaker legs to balance on to boot. suffice to say, some of his usual traversing has been met with slipping from bad, over-confident hoof placement.

in particular, slick surfaces have been challenging. normally, a sane person would avoid such terrain given Gon's new circumstances and anatomy, but Gon's historically too unafraid of bodily harm, so it doesn't stop him... even with a couple of scrapes on his face, and underneath the waxed canvas of his jacket, on his arms and his side.

and while Gon is distractedly moving along, about to cross the river, he—spots a little girl, dangling from a pole. he blinks, carefully trotting up, his ears flipped up in curious alert, and his tail mirrors the motion.]

Hey!

[Gon blinks, standing a bit taller as his legs extend a bit.]

Um. Do you need help??

[Gon knows the answer is obviously yes, but Gon approaches it as an option—some people don't like or want help! like himself, though he's taken loads more assistance than he'd care to admit. now that he's fully transformed, hopefully he can start paying that karmic debt back. starting here.]

ah, genshin impact came out and suddenly I could not drag myself out of it. sorry for the delay!

[foundfamilies]

[Leslie is so focused on waving a boot helplessly in the air as she vainly hopes to find some unnoticed rock in a place she could safely hop to, that her expression is a little blank when she first looks up. Need help with wha — ?

When the obvious answer presents itself, her face slowly but steadily turns red. Embarrassing as it might be to be found in this awkward position, though, she gives a very small nod.]

If...if it’s not too much trouble. I might be able to get down on my own, but I would definitely be getting my clothes very wet and muddy.

text.

[killuwatt]

(( cont'd from here ))

sending me such cheesy stuff in the middle of the night... jeez

[ Killua replies too fast for him to have been asleep. It seems like a normal, lighthearted response at first. He hits send, hesitates, wipes the dampness of tears off his watch and adds: ]

thanks Gon. that's really nice



are you sleeping?

[freecshow]

[Gon's response is delayed, such that it might seem like he's indeed asleep—he sees the screen light up, indicating that Killua's responded, and for some reason Gon hesitates to respond. like he might give himself away, or something...

but he can't resist. he likes Killua too much, and even though they're always together, Gon feels like he misses him all the time. he feels like he misses Killua even when he's with him, sometimes—it's perplexing, and Gon doesn't quite realize it's him misdiagnosing his feelings of wanting.

Gon sniffs a couple of times, wiping the messy tears from his face as he squirms in a shimmy closer to his watch again, hiccuping quietly around a few more silent waves of tears. Gon sniffles again as he reads Killua's responses, and manages a shaky smile when Killua thanks him. says it's nice. that makes Gon feel a little better, and his heart swells, brittle as it is at the moment, to see Killua confident enough to express himself that way.

he wipes his nose grossly, then his eyes again as he lets out a deep, shuddering sigh... and sees Killua's next response.

he blinks through watery eyes, blinking his vision clear by pushing the tears down his cheeks. and with wet fingers, he manages to respond with some difficulty.]

no

i had A weird drea m so I woke up

[killuwatt]

[ A... weird dream?

Killua hesitates again, unsure. Could it be--? It seems strange, even impossible, but then he remembers they're Bonded; he'd been warned that something like this was a possibility between Bonded, but everything he'd heard from other Witches was that the sensation of dream sharing was usually more abstract, more sharing glimpses and emotions than literally experiencing the same dream.

This has felt... so real. ]

I had a weird dream too

[ he confesses finally, already tugging on his socks and shoes. He heads toward Gon's place, just to make sure. Just to... see him. ]

[freecshow]

[Gon, though normally intuitive emotionally... is also an idiot, and doesn't parse text as well as face to face interaction. the possibility actually goes completely over his head, especially because he's still frazzled from his emotional disarray.]

Real y?

Thats weird.... kind of bad luck lol

[look, he finally learned acronyms! but Gon is typing a little slower than even usual, more like when he'd first arrived. he texts quicker than when he first got there, but not when his hands are all wet with tears, and his screen is smeared from them.

frustrated, Gon sniffles, then huffs, wiping the watch screen with his blanket.]

I hope it was just weird and not bad

maybe the moon is doing something...

[like Gon doesn't keep track of that shit by second nature. he knows the moon phase has nothing to do with it.]

[killuwatt]

no... it was pretty bad

idk about any weird moon things right now. but you

[ he hits send too quickly, hands shaking. It's cold outside, but that's not why.

Killua walks quickly, head down. Already, the details are slipping away, but enough of it sticks that he's sure it isn't only in his head. He just really wants to see Gon. Now. ]

you feel sad

it was a bad dream wasn't it?

[freecshow]

[oh. right. bond stuff. as usual, Gon's been too self absorbed, too consumed by his own big feelings to even notice any creeping sadness from Killua over the Bond... just throw that on Gon's currently mile-high self-hate heap. he'll get over it (for a time), though.

Killua can feel that Gon is sad. he really doesn't have his head on straight right now, does he? shoot...

well, no sense in lying.]

Yea......

Its ok though, the feeling never stays for long. it was just a dream

[Gon says that, but he curls a bit involuntarily, ears pressed back as his chin dimples, eyes welling as he stares at his screen. just a dream, but he still feels so much pain from it—from the noose of his own making, ever saddled by his remorse.

everyone has bad dreams... so hopefully Killua will be satisfied with that and go to sleep. maybe it would have been better that Gon didn't contact Killua, but if Killua was already awake, he'd be feeling Gon's distress anyway. and Gon doesn't regret sharing his positive feelings...

but dang if Gon isn't just hiccuping and crying again, trying to wrangle his sobs in with varied success. he wishes he could get his shit together enough to ask Killua if he needs anything, but he just keeps falling apart every time he's almost back together.]

[killuwatt]

[ Killua isn't sure what he thought. Maybe that he would just walk past Gon's house and make sure he's home? Just glance through the window -- not creepy at all -- to convince himself Gon is okay?

He never intended to go in. But his hands feel so shaky, discomfort prickling on the back of his neck, breath erratic and anxious. When he approaches Gon's window, the curtains are drawn. The door is locked. The anxiety spikes, memories of the dream and the hospital blending together. Of Gon in the forests of NGL facing off against Pitou. The look on his face when he utterly gave up. The wreck of him when he'd fallen, when Killua had finally caught up to him and it had been too late.

He feels dizzy. He can't breathe. ]

frontdoor

[freecshow]

?

What abou

[the second text isn't sent, when the realization suddenly dawns on Gon and he gasps, shooting up in bed. WHY DIDN'T KILLUA TELL HE WAS COMING. panicking, Gon hurriedly and sloppily wipes his face over and over, first with his hands, then his blanket, then his pillow (with a frustrated whine), and he leaps messily to his feet—er, well, hooves, and slips, falling square on his face. he isn't quite majestic with his new hooved twigs just yet, and while he's normally pretty graceful these days with them, when he's all scattered and half asleep and not thinking, the...calibration is definitely off; he'd just moved expecting to have his old legs, for some reason. maybe because he never sees himself as a Faun in his dreams?

Gon manages to spring back up almost immediately, though, and he scrambles in half a crawl, then manages to get his balance.

and he answers the door, face still sort of wet in weird places from his haphazard cleanup—but his eyes are puffy and red, and his nose is running again, and his cheeks are a bit ruddy... as is the whole center of his face, from smacking it against the floor of his cabin.]

Killua, [Gon manages, trying to keep his voice strong—but it doesn't work. it wavers on the end syllable, his chest swelling as his expression bends in a frown, chin dimpling as his brows slide back, ears dropping backwards. his tail is in a sad, limp drag on the floor. he probably wouldn't have lasted either way, but seeing Killua in his own state undoes Gon pretty immediately, fresh tears welling.]

[killuwatt]

[ Killua doesn't register the tears still trailing down his cheeks until he meets Gon's watery eyes, and his heart sinks. Any remaining doubts fizzle away; he's sure Gon had seen it too. At least, that Gon had seen something.

But just at this moment, Killua can't focus on that.

He's not prepared for the crash of overwhelming, mind-numbing relief that washes over him, leaving him a little weak-kneed and wide-eyed. ]

G-Gon--

[ Without further warning, Killua steps forward, lifting a hand to reach for Gon's.

He feels stupid instantly, though, the uncertainty seizing him so quickly it's just as dizzying as the relief. His fingers brush Gon's and fall away. ]

Sorry. I just really felt like seeing you all of a sudden.

[freecshow]

No—

[Gon's hand chases Killua's as he loses confidence, dropping away, but he receives Killua's want, closing both of his hands around Killua's. he steps back, guiding Killua forward, encouraging him inside.

Gon sniffles messily, blinking down another fat set of tears...but he's not weeping, like Killua; Killua is more actively crying... and Gon realizes he's never seen it before. not in real life.]

Don't be sorry...

[after Gon leads Killua in, he gives him a shaky smile, and his thumb brushes across Killua's knuckles with one hand, and he wipes his tears with the other.]

I wanted to ask you if you needed anything, but I was having a hard time typing. [and it wasn't like he wanted Killua to hear his voice... he probably would have been so incoherent even aside from the fact that he didn't want Killua to know he was so upset. so much for that.] If that's what you want right now, then it's good...

[still holding Killua's hand, Gon extends the hand used to wipe his own tears to brush away some of Killua's. one cheek, then the other, then closer to the bags of his eyes. there's a pause in this, before Gon speaks up again.]

Killua...

I'm frustrated...

[Gon's hand stills, sort of rested on its side against Killua's jaw, soft but present.]

I feel like I never do enough for you, especially since we got here.

Modranicht gift

[thejoyrider]

[On the day of the holiday, a plate of homemade cookies and a sample of herbal tea mysteriously appears on his doorstep. The wrapping is decorated with a fresh lily flower (actually a Fae magic product, designed to fade away from existence in a few hours) and a ribbon. The attached handwritten note reads as follows:]

Happy Modranicht! Let’s have another great year here in Aefenglom!

M⚜️

[freecshow]

[Gon is a little surprised to find the package, and inspects it curiously. he's pleased immediately, though no less puzzled—tea and cookies are two things he loves. and when he reads the note, he beams, happily wheeling sharp on his heel to bound back into the door from whence he came, eagerly and immediately babbling to his friend about the mysterious gift—and as the door close, his tone falls a little sullen to not recognize the signature.

it's well appreciated through the week, all the same!]

action | may full moons.

[killuwatt]

[ It's late. Very late, two or three in the morning, with the full moons still high in the sky but the night in deep shadow, overtaken by the creeping eclipse. It clears Killua's head -- just a little. Enough to bring him to his senses, and start pushing him to make his way toward their cottage.

He's not sure what happened earlier. The night was a blur of revelry at times, darkness at others, a mix of pain and fun. For some reason, he had the distinct feeling he was dreaming for the longest time. He thought he was dreaming, in fact, until just a little bit ago... when he realized how wrong it felt. How wrong he feels. The lack of something. Of connection.

Of... Gon.

Killua swears, waking up from his almost trancelike state when he finds himself still in the middle of a party with a bunch of strangers, with the unfamiliar weight of horns on his head and a strange bluish tint to his skin. He'd dreamed of changing. At least, he'd thought it was a dream.

Now, he's running away, shaking off the unknown Monsters inviting him to drink and eat and brawl with them one more time. He finds somewhere quiet along the path home, and finally pulls out his Watch with shaky hands, newly-tipped with dark, sharp claws. ]

Gon?? where are u

answer ASAP!!!

[freecshow]

[Gon has been doing his best not to let himself be too firmly stitched to Killua's hip. which is hard when they live together, often sleep in each other's beds, do the same jobs, are Bonded, and...everything. recently, Gon's realized his own isolation into his world with Killua, particularly because of how intoxicating it is—Gon, as much as he's one for comfort, is not the type of person who likes feeling out of control... or to be too cooped up. which he's been doing.

so he and Killua have been making some separate strides, though it definitely feels a little awkward. a little unnatural. and then, Gon realized, he felt like their Bond was maybe weakening—just a bit. at first he worried that Killua maybe wasn't feeling as strongly, or he was less attuned to Gon's presence—but he realized that the feed of his magic even felt different. distant. kind of muted. like Gon needed more of it, which, unfortunately, gave him the instinct to cling harder to Killua for the symbiotic purpose of the Bond, making...other habits easier to enable.

but, still, they've been managing. tonight, Killua's impulsively gone off, and while Gon was dozing, no less. when he'd awoken, he couldn't lie that he felt annoyed that Killua had just gone somewhere without him—or, er, without telling him! what if something was wrong?

it's then, that Gon realizes, something is wrong. he blinks, shooting up with a start, blood running cold, and he clutches his chest, blinking as his ears flatten.

he doesn't feel it.

Gon whips his blankets off his bed, immediately kicking his bedroom door open and doing similarly to the door—his first instinct is to go see if there's evidence that Killua's disappeared, gone off back home, his mind racing, his feelings of fear and despair swelling and seering—

and then he stops, blinking. he pads his pockets, and his face pinks, realizing he'd left his watch inside. that would be a more efficient way to check first...

embarrassed at himself, Gon trots back into the house, then dives back into his bed, frantically groping around for his watch. when he finds it, he sees Killua's texts.]

>i'm at HOME where you LEFT ME!!!!

STUPID

you scared the he ck out fo me!! I thouhgt you went bac home!

where are YOU?? CALL ME OR COME HOME i hate typing when Im emotional!!

[killuwatt]

[ That's such a relief. Just seeing the message from Gon, even if Gon is yelling at him, loosens the tight knot in Killua's throat. ]

coming

[ --is all he replies. He runs all the way home.

The absence in his chest feels stranger and stranger, the closer he gets and the more it stays the same. The Bond is gone. But Gon is still here. For now, that's all that matters.

When Killua bursts through the door a few minutes later, he looks different.

His skin, always incredibly fair, has a strange tone to it now, a pallor that takes on a powdery blue hue rather than his usual cool paleness with its underlying pink. His eyes shine in the dark, a bright, intense blue unbroken by any white. ]

Gon?

[freecshow]

[Gon physically startles when he sees Killua—he almost falls off the couch he's waiting on, actually, which is just as well, because Gon springs to his feet.

his mind races immediately, taking in his altered appearance—is this something because of the Cwyld? even in that context, it looks totally unfamiliar—Killua looks like a monster, but... Gon doesn't recognize that, either!!]

Killua!!

[Gon scrambles towards him, and his hands immediately thrust forward to grab onto Killua's horns, eyes wide—and he pulls Killua's head down, inspecting him roughly (on accident), both curious and alarmed. he then arranges Killua's head back up, blinking his wide eyes. he grasps each of Killua's cheeks, staring into his bright, strange eyes.]

What happened!? What—why do you look like that?? What is this? Do you feel okay? Did someone take you again??? I couldn't feel where you went, so—!

[so Gon has no idea. it hits him, suddenly, how scary it is for them to be unbonded, given those events. so much for having felt over it. Gon's voice is getting as watery as his eyes.]

[killuwatt]

[ Killua gasps when Gon grabs him, a little bit in pain but mostly in surprise, shocked to feel something he's never had before being yanked. The horns are very small, barely poking up through his tousled hair, and apparently very tender.

When Gon smooshes his cheeks and stares into his eyes so intently, Killua actually looks... unsettled. A little lost. He blinks slowly. ]

I... don't know.

I thought it was a dream.

[ But apparently, it's not.

Suddenly, Killua moves, wrapping his arms around Gon and pulling him forward against his chest. Still no sense of connection from the Bond, but at least Gon feels familiar against him. Killua presses his face into the crook of Gon's neck and shoulder, hugging him tight enough to ache. ]

[freecshow]

[Gon is a little startled by Killua’s sudden hug, and though his emotions don’t quell, they don’t escalate, either—it’s grounding, in a way, and Gon turns his head to cuddle into Killua’s soft, fluffy hair, liberally breathing in Killua’s scent. Gon’s arms tense to give Killua a squeeze as Killua tucks against him, even as Killua’s hug kind of crushes him. it hurts, but Gon doesn’t react. or mind, really.

after a moment, Gon does gather Killua’s face back up into both of his palms, guiding his face so that he’s looking at him again.]

Let’s go to the Coven. They should know what’s going on, right? And...

[Gon takes another confused (slightly frantic) once over on Killua.]

...I mean... in this place... You’re one thing or the other, right? So... we should be able to Bond again, right? We can make an appointment after to reinstate it tomorrow.

[killuwatt]

[ Killua clearly doesn't want to let go, but he allows Gon to pull back enough to look into his face again. Gon looks worried, but strangely, Killua isn't anymore. They're together; that was all he'd been afraid of, was losing him. Now, he stares back into Gon's face, eyes drifting down to his best friend's concerned little frown. The urge hits him, suddenly, to lean in and--

Killua blinks. ]

No. I don't want to go right now.

[ It spills out before he thinks better of it, uncharacteristically; he's already shaking his head as Gon speaks. But after a moment, Killua pauses to consider what was actually said. ]

I told you. I don't know. I had a dream, but then-- it's not a dream now, right? I had a dream about the mirror, and a party, and these horned guys from the boats. The ones who came in on that shipwrecked vessel a couple weeks ago.

[ He pauses again, looks down at his hand, finally releasing Gon. ]

I don't know how it happened, but I think I'm turning into one of them.

[freecshow]

[Gon blinks when Killua shoots Gon's suggestion down like that, but it's not the first time Killua's given him pushback for that kind of thing. but considering it's about their Bond...

well, it doesn't matter. they could always address it tomorrow. it seems like Killua's more preoccupied with processing this, which is probably a better first step to jumping right into trying to find resolution without answers...]

Oh!

[Gon blinks, his ears swiveling upwards.]

Yeah!

[Gon pushes back Killua's bangs, peering at the nubs on his forehead. they look familiar. like when Gon's horns were just growing in. not that they'd gotten much bigger...]

I wonder how that happens, though... I guess magic could do that? Transmutation, maybe? Maybe magic can undo Bonds, too...?

[Gon's a bit preoccupied himself, not catching himself for the way his expression falls a little. but then another thought thankfully distracts Gon, and he instead looks thoughtful, brows furrowing as he tilts his head a bit.]

But then... why target you specifically? Just like the cult organization thing?

[aaaand now he looks a bit cross, his teeth setting in a clench of his jaw, the skin between his lip and his nose twitching a bit in a subtle, stifled snarl.]

It's like this world knows I can't do anything if it messes with you...

[well NOT FOR LONG. Gon's gonna get all kinds of weird tattoos and start punching everyone in the dick immediately.]

[killuwatt]

I have no idea. I don't think it has anything to do with the Cwyld. It doesn't feel... like that.

[ Killua also reaches up to touch the tiny horns poking up from the sides of his forehead, brows furrowing in annoyed confusion. He doesn't move any further way from Gon, though, instinctively wanting to remain close to him -- close enough he's definitely still in Gon's personal space.

That comment (complaint) makes Killua blink, and the heat rises in his cheeks. ]

What are you talking about? I doubt this has anything to do with you, idiot.

[freecshow]

I know it doesn't have anything to do with me directly! [Gon whines, and his hands follow Killua's, brushing his hands over the horns as well. this time more gently. curious, and exanimate.]

What do we do...

[Gon's expression falls with worry again. probably nothing, at this exact moment.]

Do you feel okay, Killua? Does anything feel different besides the Bond thing, and your body?