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- !event,
- akira kurusu,
- all might,
- connor,
- dave strider,
- john egbert,
- jotaro kujo,
- keigo asano,
- kisa sohma,
- kohaku hearts,
- lottie person,
- minato arisato,
- nico di angelo,
- okuyasu nijimura,
- percy jackson,
- phosphophyllite,
- prompto argentum,
- reim lunettes,
- sierra mikain,
- tonbokiri,
- tristan (archer),
- valvatorez,
- zelda
Event Twelve
 | |
All my oats are cradled. But I am too chilled, and too fatigued to bind them. And I hunger. | |
Welcome to Awash's twelfth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. | |
ou know what's probably amazing? Waking up to your previously normal front door suddenly being covered by a huge, autumn-themed wreath. Or perhaps you're close enough to the center of the Town to look out your window and get an eyeful of that effigy, staring soullessly at you?
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[What's the worst that can happen, after all? It fortunately seems to be a regular maze with no spooky surprises lurking for them, too, even if Toshinori has quickly learned to expect anything in this place. It's even kind of peaceful, getting away from the bustle of the festival for a bit.]
Kid... Back there, I know it was the food making you act that way... But I hope you're doing okay.
[In general, he means. Since he figured the food probably incited a feeling already there, there has to be a reason Ari feels so attached to him.]
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If there's one upside about being here in Chroma, instead of back in his home world, it's that there's no risk of random ghosts attacking them through the maze walls. ]
> "Oh... sorry about that... I'm feeling mostly better now? But that was weird."
[ He's not used to thinking much about his feelings, so the way they suddenly surged up and became all he could think about had caught him off-guard. ]
> "I guess... um."
[ Ari tends to just say whatever's on his mind, even if that means rambling a little, but now he hesitates. ]
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You guess...?
[A verbal nudge for him to continue, along with a squeeze of his hand. If he's willing, that is. It's just the two of them out in this maze, after all, so he hopes he feels comfortable enough to speak his mind.]
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> "If I try to think about why..."
[ This time his pause is thoughtful, rather than hesitant. Toshinori is right to suspect that there was a kernel of truth at the core of Ari's reaction, even if he would never normally fall apart in such a way. ]
> "Um, do you remember when you went into the woods and you... faded? Your color came back later, and I'm glad, but I wasn't able to do anything."
[ That alone doesn't explain everything, so he tries again, this time starting from a different point. He's not very good at explaining things concisely, especially when it involves his feelings. ]
> "When I got here, I felt so lost. I'd just finally gone home after a long journey, and instead of everything going back to normal, I ended up here. I didn't know anybody, either. No one's heard of my world. So I felt... alone, I guess. But then I found out that I was supposed to go to a certain place, and that turned out to be the same place you were supposed to go to, too."
[ The way they met might've been a little odd—Toshinori rushing to hide from Shouto, then later failing to even notice Ari was there—but ultimately it made a positive impact on him. Toshinori chose to stay, giving Ari an anchor in this strange town with its strange happenings. ]
> "I've never really been on my own before. So I was glad you stayed. I wanted to pay you back, somehow, but I'm not really good at anything. I don't really know what I can do that would be any help. So I guess, if I had to think about why I got upset like that, maybe it's because I'm still sorry there was nothing I could do for you."
[ The boy smiles sheepishly. It's kind of dumb, maybe... but it's the only reason he can think of. ]
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[Toshinori's expression is grave. Ari feels bad for not being able to help him, even though Toshinori's decision to go into the forest was entirely a risk he took on himself.
This is why he keeps himself away from other people. He can't help but want to do things, take risks, even at his own expense. And the people who come to care about him, however briefly they've known each other, wind up getting hurt when he disregards their feelings of care and worry. Isn't it easier if they're not in the picture at all?
Of course, he can't tell him that much. It would be too cruel. He's already taken responsibility for Ari upon himself, and he can't just turn his back on that now, can he? So perhaps he should try being a little more honest with him, instead.
He stops walking, and lets go of his hand.]
Kid, I wasn't exactly truthful when I said I just went for a walk. Me and a few others wanted to see how far we could go in the forest, and that was the result. So... Don't feel too bad for me, okay? I knew the risks. It's not your responsibility to fix whatever I bring on myself.
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> "You were trying to learn more about this place, right? Since no one really knows why we're here or where 'here' is."
[ Rather than upset, or even surprise, Ari's response to the reveal is one of understanding. He himself asked as many people as he could, the first few weeks he spent in Chroma, about this town and their purpose here, only to gradually realize that no one had any answers. So he can't blame Toshinori for trying to do something about that. If the forest is impassable, then they're all stuck here until they can figure a different way out.
When Toshinori tells him that it's not his responsibility to fix the older man's problems, the boy nods slowly. He knows it's not. Arguably, there isn't even the excuse that they came from the same world. Ari has no obligation to involve himself in Toshinori's circumstances. And yet... ]
> "Sometimes bad things happen. Sometimes it's because something you did, or sometimes bad things happen for no good reason at all. But I think it's easier to get through bad things if you don't try to do everything on your own. People can do some really amazing things when they work together, even if the odds are against them."
[ Ari gestures, sheepishly. ]
> "I mean, you didn't go into the woods alone, right? So you shouldn't have to go through the rest alone, either. At least, that's what I think."
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Helping people even where it's not asked for... You're definitely hero material, young Ari.
[How could he possibly discourage something like that? He can't. So he'll just have to accept Ari's (unasked for) help.]
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The boy smiles, embarrassed by the unexpected praise. He was only speaking from the heart. ]
> "Well, that's just what I think."
[ Toshinori is stuck with him, probably. ]
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[He looks apologetic for sidetracking them, beginning to walk again.]
Just don't involve yourself with me too much if I mess up. It's fine if you want to help, but no one should pay for my mistakes.