[closed] they told me all of my cages were mental

[ordinar]

Who: Wilhelm & miscellaneous
When: throughout October & November
Where: Thorne, Horizon
What: Catchall for dramatic bitch fall
Warnings: will adjust as needed


Closed starters to follow. Maybe some open starters eventually.

Comments

[ordinar]

[It's strange to him too, the abrupt absence of that weight that so often presses on his chest and boughs his every thought. Unaware that he's once again stumbled upon some magic, Wilhelm supposes it's just because he's shifted his focus away from all his problems. (Though, it's never been this easy before to untangle his thoughts from them...)

Standing up, he offers Elrond a little grin.]

So, do you want to see more of the castle? Or we could explore the town. I know a few good spots.

[politicians]

[ elrond shifts on his feet. the weight is cloying, squeezing him in. something has taken hold and his attention span wavers. ]

The town sounds lovely.

[ordinar]

[Busy pulling on a jacket — one that's padded for the chilly weather — Wilhelm misses the sideways shift in Elrond's demeanor. He's planning out where to take his new roommate. The sun won't be up for much longer, so maybe one of the taverns would be a good place to land.]

Okay. Well, if you're ready...

[He slants his head toward the door before he starts walking.]

[politicians]

[ elrond lets out a quiet, shuttered breath. he hasn't felt like this since — since — ]

Yes. I'm ready.

[ordinar]

[Now Wilhelm notices — maybe because he himself has tried to steady himself with such a breath hundreds of times. Concern pinches his expression, and his hand pauses on the door.]

Hey, is everything okay?

[Maybe the full reality of the situation is sinking in, slow like a pebble drifting to the bottom of the ocean. Maybe Elrond's collected calm isn't as easy as he makes it seem.]

[politicians]

[ elrond sees no reason to lie at this juncture. ]

My heart feels like a stone. I do not know what has come over me.

[ordinar]

[Nudging the door shut again, he fidgets with the handle behind his back.]

We don't have to go, if you're not feeling up to it. No pressure.

[He gives what he hopes is a reassuring smile.]

[politicians]

[ elrond shakes his head. ]

If I give into despair, then I have ceded that ground forever. And I cannot afford that.

[ordinar]

[Whatever he anticipated Elrond might say, it wasn't that. Combing a hand through his hair, he tries to work out what to say to that, but no response seems commensurate with its...profundity.]

That was...kind of a badass thing to say.

[That, and a little laugh, is the best he can come up with. Then there's nothing to do but push open the door and hold it for his roommate.]

[politicians]

[ there's a wry twist to his smile. he wished elros was here. elros would remember this feeling well. but elros is gone. dead for hundreds of years. no family, no home. just elrond.

despair, it seems, is not done with him. ]

It comes from experience.

[ordinar]

[As they set off down the corridor, he claps a friendly hand to Elrond's shoulder and gives a light squeeze.]

Nothing a little booze can't fix.

[Half joke and half not. Healthy coping mechanisms remain a mystery to Wilhelm. Much like that guy who hacked the knot in half rather than take the time to untangle it properly, he chooses the easy route of dulling himself with distractions or feeling it all too much and hiding out in his bed.]

[politicians]

[ elrond tilts his head in confusion. ]

"Booze"?

[ordinar]

[He looks a little taken aback, before he amends:]

Oh, uh, alcohol. There's a good bar I can show you.

[Tavern. Whatever.]

[politicians]

[ hmm. ]

This is a common meeting ground then?

[ordinar]

Yeah, people are always hanging out there.

[Wait, does he know what hanging out means?]

You know, like, getting together.

[politicians]

[ getting together, huh. ]

A common past time for men, then.

[ordinar]

[From the way Elrond says it, Wilhelm guesses that it must not be all that common for him. Wow, he may have actually met someone whose social awkwardness outweighs his. This discovery heightens his sense of responsibility toward the guy. He gives him a smile.]

Yeah, it'll be fun.

[He hopes.]

[politicians]

I'm sure it must be.

[ probably. hopefully? but new experiences are always worthwhile. ]