Sticks And Bones IC Inbox

[cursedwords]

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after he's stepped out of the family meeting

[amethystic]

( hey, toge, what'cha doin? ... doesn't matter because the next moment you blink, felicity's there. she's got... a thermos of tea. )

Hey. How're you doing?

[cursedwords]

[ He's not doing anything exciting, he's just sitting around in silence. He does that a lot. What else can he do?

He's a little surprised but he tilts his head. ]

Takana. [ He's fine. As fine as he gets. ]

[amethystic]

Mm... Do you want the marker back for a bit? Or your phone or whatever else.

[cursedwords]

[ Part of him wants to protest, but he doesn't, he nods a little bit and holds out his hand for the marker.

Her flower was still in place, he didn't wash it off. ]

[amethystic]

( she gives it back and then snaps her fingers- and it's lid turns pink. he'll be able to write in the air again now. )

... I just wanted to see how you were doing after that. You kind of reminded me of myself for a moment.

[cursedwords]

[ This might be marginally easier than typing on his phone with one hand. It's a real toss up. ]

I'm fine.

How do you mean?

[amethystic]

Did I ever tell you about my magic?

[cursedwords]

[ He shakes his head. She didn't tell him, and he didn't ask. Partly because it's really rude to ask people what their techniques are. They're closely guarded secrets in his world. The biggest exception being the most prominent clans, and even then most have their secrets.

Inumaki clan is not permitted secrets. Everyone knows his technique. ]

[amethystic]

I'm a walking fountain of misfortune. When I was a child, even stepping outside of my house... Cars would break and crash, trees would fall, power would short throughout the block. Worse, really. I've probably caused outbreaks of disease with my presence alone... I know there's a lot of blood on my hands passively.

I was kept in total isolation for a good chunk of my life, and even now it leaks out- its why I trip so much and drop things. ... And, if I get upset, it leaks out at times in bursts.

Two days or so after the meeting.

[alligatus]

[ Depending on where Toge is... Lancelot does not entirely seek him out but more inevitably, they just cross paths. He just looks him over, with a questionable look and says, ]

Hey.

[cursedwords]

[ Toge raises his hand in greeting. ]

Kelp! [ So, hey. He doesn't seem to be phased at all by crossing paths with Lancelot. ]

[alligatus]

What are you up to?

[ He takes note of that, follows the sort of vibe. No need to then, say anything really. He just shows concern, and interest as a bottom line. ]

[cursedwords]

[ Toge responds with an exaggerated shrug and then he holds his hand out in front of him and wiggles his index and middle finger like feet moving.

So he's just taking a walk. ]

[alligatus]

I see.

[ He presumes it just mean's, 'Im not doing anything.' Along the lines of, I don't know what to do right now. Lancelot waits a bit but says. ]

I want to go back out, and through the paths the others used with the item from the Shopkeeper. Do you want to come? I wanted to go in another direction, different from where you took off.

[cursedwords]

[ Toge's eyebrows raise, but most of his expression is hidden by his collar. He's a little incredulous that Lancelot would invite him to run headlong into danger, considering what he was saying and the impression that Toge got of him and Gnosis' opinion of his actions.

That said, he nods a little bit, nonchalantly. ]

Salmon.

[alligatus]

[ He said: DONT GO FUCKING ALONE! So he is leading by example. ]

Alright, I'll let you know what is planned. I mean to speak to Irene about it, I prefer lower numbers. The two of us should suffice.

[cursedwords]

[ Toge nods although he can't figure out the motivation to invite him. Perhaps to keep an eye on him? That seemed possible, and likely in fact. ]

Salmon.

[ He nods. It's fine, just point him at where he needs to go. It's something he's used to. The argument such as it was, has given him the impression that there are definitely people in charge here and he's to defer to them. ]

couple days after the fammeet // arrives 15 days late with starbucks

[succiduous]

[Knock knock to Toge's inn door, it's the father you never asked for a bird!]

Toge? I apologise for the abrupt visitation. ...I was hoping to talk with you, if you'd be willing.

Sweet, Starbucks!

[cursedwords]

[ It doesn't take too much time before he opens the door, blinking at him. ]

Salmon. [ He beckons Gnosis into his room, the huge panda that he got is propped up in the corner, like he drapes himself over it regularly, because he does. ]

Tuna mayo? [ Added to his question, he moves his hand at the same time. ] What's up?

[succiduous]

[He steps into the room and closes the door behind him, staying near it and not otherwise sitting down. The panda catches his attention momentarily before his eyes flick back to Toge.

Gnosis figures that the best way to keep up their sign lessons is to keep signing while he's talking aloud, so he instinctively raises his hands to do just that.]

I owe you an apology for what I said during that disaster of a meeting. I realise that, in stepping in, I made things far worse for you. [...] What I said about caring about your wellbeing still stands, or I wouldn't be here now, but I am still deeply sorry for upsetting you.

[cursedwords]

[ He's had a bit of space to breathe since the conversation and Toge's hand hovers in the air a moment before he shrugs a little bit, shoulders slumping. ] Takana.

It's fine. [ He says by way of explanation. He pulls out his phone though because for the time being it's faster. ]

You don't. I cursed you. It's more than enough of a reason to be kicked out. I lost control and that's on me. I owe you an apology for making you suffer. I don't care if I suffer, but I didn't intend to make you suffer.

I don't care if it's stupid. It's my job to protect ordinary people. It's the only thing I can do.

[succiduous]

[He shakes his head at that, lips pursing for just a moment. He'd like to be careful with his words so that Toge doesn't feel like he's being talked down to again, but Gnosis knows words only when it comes to business ledgers and technological sciences; he truly doesn't know how to say something so simple as "I care about your wellbeing, please don't do that".]

I understand that. I work for a company whose Operators are often the same way, and one of our primary missions is to protect the ordinary. With that being said, even if you don't care about your own suffering, many people here do. I do.

What you do with that information is your decision, but I hope you won't turn people away when they tell you they care.

[cursedwords]

[ Toge is listening, he was listening at the meeting too, it was just difficult. It's hard to believe they care about his well-being. Almost no one cares about it, they barely know him. Why?

He decides to just ask outright. ]

Why? [ He signs, brow furrowed. He's not sure what he's done to receive such a charitable outlook from others. ]

[succiduous]

Why not?

[Gnosis breathes out a sigh.]

I'm not sure what your story is, and I don't need to know that information. Most people with half a brain will care about people, even complete strangers, simply because it's the right thing to do. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone here who disagrees with the notion of caring simply because they should.

[And then, more candidly, although Gnosis is not normally the type—]

I've seen how you stick your neck out there for others. I don't have to know you personally to know that you're someone who deserves the kindness you show to others.

[Take it from someone who was never shown that in his entire life.]

[cursedwords]

[ Toge is too soft-hearted for his own good. He always has been, even though he probably shouldn't be. Kind to people he shouldn't be. However his eyebrows raise a little bit. ]

Not me. [ Toge answers, sighs a little bit and gets out his phone for the ease of it. ]

I was born like this, I will die like this and everyone's afraid of me. Smart to be. I get it. But nearly everyone I've ever met wishes I was dead.

[ He's never really been shown kindness. ]