amber;

[sirpisspot]

[Arno has had an eventful few weeks. When others ventured out, Arno stayed put. Why? Well, for one, he wanted to see how the tree faired and keep a close eye on home base. Someone had to.

Other reason? Well, let's just say someone went under and Arno just couldn't bring himself to leave.

Call it reflex, or not. Arno couldn't find it in himself to abandon anyone he cared about. This made communication with him not "rare" per say, but he wasn't around much.

It was especially harder when Steven suddenly vanished. But he had a feeling on that one, that he was fine. But as a former roommate and...yeah, a friend, he felt like he had another duty to uphold.]

In case anyone hadn't noticed, Steven's gone. I think like others in the past, though, I'm certain the boy is fine.

Just wanted to say, I know he left quite a mark on a few people.

Comments

[formerslave]

...blighted Tree.

[sirpisspot]

[Their small child was gone, seemed to have hit them both pretty hard.]

We know the boy, he's probably fine. Or home.

All of his belongings are gone.

[formerslave]

Do we know that people are sent home? What if he's just lost in the mist like some others have been?

[sirpisspot]

[Oh no, Fenris. No, that is a horrifying thought. He had to keep himself sane. So he tried to think of legit reasons why, any at all.]

Would he take all of his things and not breathe a single word? That doesn't sound like him.

He's a bit too silly, or honest, to be that sneaky around us.

[formerslave]

I'm sorry, my friend. I do not trust this tree and what happens in it, but Steven is a capable young man.

[The boy was fine. He had to be.]

[sirpisspot]

[Arno's head just sort of hang low. He couldn't argue with Fenris despite his gut wanting him to. He doesn't trust the tree, Arno couldn't either. So maybe it was Arno's faith in Steven more than the tree, did that make sense? Meaning Steven would have no reason to take his things and leave, he felt. Not without the reason that he was just plain gone.

Or was it denial. He just sighed and sat down on a mushroom chair.]

It's going to seem a bit quieter without the small one.

[formerslave]

[He closes his eyes before looking at the amber again.]

...I'll be back soon. We'll find some drinks and have a toast to the kid.

[sirpisspot]

[Ping.]

Hold on, we can both search. No reason why I have to leave that burden to you alone, mon ami.

[He was done feeling sober, okay.]

[formerslave]

[He curses softly under his breath.]

I'm still trapped out here on the damned ship.

[sirpisspot]

Bored? "Homesick"? Surely something interesting had happened out there.

[Pfff.]

[formerslave]

Seasick, mostly.

I'm not fond of any of this. You better stay safe.

[sirpisspot]

Right, I will.

Don't get yourself killed out there. Then I'd have to drink all the spoils myself.

[formerslave]

I'd come back and haunt you if you find something drinkable without me.

[sirpisspot]

At that point, I'd be be having toasts for two. Or without the small one, three.

But perhaps drunk for two.

[formerslave]

You're a good man, Arno Dorian.

[lady_bug]

Oh? He didn't go on the trip with the others?

[Gosh you sound kinda sad, Mister Butterfly.]

[sirpisspot]

If he did, he didn't tell any of us. I doubt he'd leave without letting any of us know.

[He is pretty sad.]

[lady_bug]

Oh, dear! I hope he hasn't wandered off and gotten into trouble!

[sirpisspot]

Again, I doubt it. It wouldn't make sense of him to take all of his possessions just to leave without a trace.

He values good manners far too much to do anything without word.

[lady_bug]

He took all of his things? Does that mean he doesn't intend to return at all?

[Agitha has yet to experience someone just up and disappearing like that, so it strikes her as rather odd.]

Goodness, why would someone do such a thing?

[sirpisspot]

I don't think he left on his own volition, that's the thing. I don't trust this tree so-

[Ah, he didn't want to get into all the serious tree stuff with this little girl.]

Regardless, I'd like to think he's happier where he is.

[lady_bug]

Oh! Then he must be fine! It's quite rude of someone to leave without saying anything, though.

[hairsay]

Who's Steven?

[A classy interruption from a classy cockroach-faerie right here. Despite her uncertainty over barging into a conversation, Jolene has been avoiding people more or less since she arrived. She doesn't have as much information as she'd like, though at least she's been surviving. It's time to reach out. Moreover, she's concerned about that tone of voice. Others going away? It leaves her feeling awfully discomfited.]

[sirpisspot]

[Must be a new one, Arno figured. Steven was someone who made a presence known after one meeting.]

Small child that had a permanent grin on his face.

[hairsay]

Sounds kind of--[she cuts herself off before she can say 'creepy'. This guy and everyone else she's heard chipping away at his loss seems pretty brought down, and she really shouldn't take a dump on that, should she? Rallying, she substitutes]--kind of different.

You think he managed to escape or something?

[sirpisspot]

Well he was different. He was probably the most positive young man but you couldn't underestimate either.

I had to admit, his charm was infectious.

[He smiled a little. Then frowned a bit once more at the mention of "escape".]

I'd like to think he made it out, he's a good, strong one. It's hard to doubt him.

[hairsay]

Sounds like he would have left some kind of message if he was trying.

...You said there were others who were gone. [Jolene chews on that word like she's a little nervous about it. Where she comes from, being 'gone's taken on an entirely different connotation--'gone out of their mind' more than 'disappeared'. She's been on pins and needles all week, waiting for something awful to drop...

For all she knows, this might be it, in bits and pieces.]

I... I'm guessing you don't know how or why, either, huh?

[She pauses, attempting respect.] That really sucks.

[sirpisspot]

There are mysterious, strange parts, mademoiselle. In my months here, I still can't explain them. Wish anyone luck who ever even tries.

[hairsay]

['Mademoiselle'? Jo's not sure she's ever been called that before. She bites her lip, attempting to keep civil during this conversation. Anyways, a snort right now through a broken nose would be more pain than it was worth.]

So you just take people disappearing... for granted?

Aren't you going to throw some kind of... I don't know, search, or wake, or going away party or something? This boy obviously meant a lot to you.

[sirpisspot]

[Arno wasn't quite sure he liked what this lady seemed to be heading her words. He kept a straight face, not in the mood to start arguing.

He tried searching, he tried his very best considering another friend was in her coma.]

I can't take for granted what I can't explain. I've searched all over for any trace at all. We can't pass the mist and we can't go to where he came from personally to see if he's there.

I simply have to trust the boy made it, because I know he's stronger than he looks. It keeps me sane.

[hairsay]

[She holds a hand up and ducks her bruised face, feeling the tension in that statement perhaps more than is actually there.]

Alright, alright, I guess maybe this isn't the right place to be asking. I didn't mean to barge in, I just... I don't know what the fuck is going on and people talking about other people just disappearing is freaking me out. I haven't been here long.

[That, admitted in a hesitant manner. Should she be admitting this? If there are less than a hundred people living in this tree and around it, she feels like maybe she'd better put her chips in. She's already tried living on the outside... she's seen what that gets her.]

[sirpisspot]

We were all confused, still are confused. The numbers here are increasing, so more and more people are getting confused.

[Shrug, what an odd woman. Her mannerisms were something he wasn't getting.]

The most we have done and can continue to do is search, and be aware of the tree and its surroundings. Simple, but its what we've done.

[hairsay]

How long have you been stuck here?

[Better to turn this into a question rather than draw on his--what was becoming quickly apparent--limited patience, especially in a time of grieving, or something like it.]

[sirpisspot]

Around three...or four months.

Long enough to be used to wings and not long enough still to be used to everything.

[hairsay]

[At this, the dark-haired woman's eyes bug out a little, but then it might just be the dark bruise across her bridge and unhappily purple bags under her eyes doing her an injustice.]

That's a whole fucking quarter of a year! You been here since... since... spring? Winter?

[Jo clasps a hand in front of her mouth, thinking hard. She hadn't expected this to be that long term of a thing. Through loosely spread fingers, she says,] that sucks. That really sucks.

[monster_san]

I'm sure he's happy with his friends at home now. [not 100% sure. but Fenris already brought up the prospect of the mist, sooo.] I think anyone who met him even once would find him remarkable.

[sirpisspot]

I'd like to think that.

[He couldn't ignore Fenris' mist theory, but it just didn't seem right. Which was why he wanted to think the optimistic route.]

On both counts. He had that way about him.

[monster_san]

And still does. [No past tense!] He might get into some trouble for his puns, though.

[sirpisspot]

Oh, I am sure he never runs dry of those. Ever. Not in a thousand years.

[That actually got a grin.]

I lived with the kid, I could write the worst book about them.

[monster_san]

I suppose your house will be like a desert without them. [runs dry, y'know. SADLY PUNS AREN'T HER FORTE.] Perhaps you can help Orcelito-san with his paper and really commit them to posterity.

[celena]

[Celena is a stranger, but his pain is obvious. She inclines her head solemnly]

I am sorry for your loss, sir. I pray to Jeture that he returns to where he's loved.

[She's silent for a moment out of respect, but she doesn't drop the call. It feels wrong to disturb a stranger while he grieves, but she's desperate for answers]

Were there signs that the Tree had chosen to send him before he left?

[sirpisspot]

[Honestly, Arno expected people to have questions. Plus, there were new people who still had no clue about how things worked. He wasn't offended, but, yeah. Here he was.]

I will be alright, I'm still here after all.

[Hrm.]

None, I've looked all over and everything he owned is gone. Without a single trace or mark.

[And Assassins were ace trackers, he found nothing.]

[celena]

[She's growing uncomfortable with probing at him at this time, which is why she's sitting straighter, putting on her soldier's mask even as she keeps her voice gentle]

I don't mean to intrude upon your pain but I must know: are you certain he's returned to his place and time? How can you be sure he hasn't been sent elsewhere?

[sirpisspot]

[Probing him was right, and Arno cocked a brow at her before getting just as serious. This woman didn't need to know of any pain he had, he wasn't a man who liked to emanate drastic emotion at hard times.]

I'll be alright, any "pain" will pass.

[He looked at the woman squarely.]

No, I don't know for certain. If there's any clue otherwise, then I will find it. For now, I have searched and found nothing. It was like he was never here.

So yes, I am being optimistic. I don't have anything that proves otherwise.

[celena]

[Those are the words she feared hearing. She swallows but tries to echo this man's optimism]

Had Steven attempted to fulfil the quests that the Tree has set us? Perhaps his release was a reward?

[Or a punishment for failure, she thinks, but doesn't voice]

[sirpisspot]

[That was probably the most optimistic theory he'd heard.]

That's possible, I suppose.

[Though Arno's opinions on the riddles were very neutral, he doubted that solving a riddle would earn such a reward. They never did before.

He doubted it, greatly.]

[celena]

[He's neutral enough that she notices. It drains the optimism she's trying to draw forth, as she's sure he would use that tone unless he thought she was wrong]

Will you tell me what you think is the most possible? I have found since I've arrived that many of my assumptions do not match those made by other people trapped with me, as we are from different worlds. Am I misunderstanding something about our situation?