thecrossing | Post Crossing Meeting

WHO: Kel and anyone who wants to discuss The Crossing
WHAT: Second 'Town Meeting'
WHERE: Oasis
WHEN: A bit after the crossing, when everyone has time to calm down and breathe.
WARNINGS Talks of death, definitely, mention of blood and wounds, other CWs to be added.

[Kel has seen people scatter around and, despite still acting like a foolish fool around Mari and Sunny... he is doing his best to try to coordinate things as he can. Armed with a set bright of pink pencils, definitely merchandise of the Sweetheart brand from his place, he prepared a whole wall in one of the shelters to work as a rough chalkboard and, written on it, there are his few observations from staying behind.

- Nothing beside the wraiths did show up. What are we running from?
- Ferryman honest or not?
- When you don't pay the tool, you may still lose memories
- Our bodies can get hurt as if we're still alive.
- Discussion About Crossing from both sides?

It's not much but try to get stuff to appear properly on a blank wall when all you have is a bunch of pencils that don't even write that well. He's trying, though, he really is. A message is sent out to everyone after he's done gathering enough pillows for everyone to sit in, inviting people to come and share experiences, and... that's all. He did, at least, prepare water for everyone to drink.... it's somethin, right?

"Why, thank you for coming! Take a seat, mingle and let's get down to businesses!"

OOC: This is a mingle thread. Feel free to interact with each other and have discussions about things. The 'chalkboard' will be updated if anything is brought up to Kel's attention, I'll leave an open post for that.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sunny nods, as he usually does, in agreement. Even if he can’t stop his heartbeat from increasing at being in a room with so many people…

The last meeting had been in a more open space, but with the sudden sandstorms and stuff, it really was safer to stay indoors. No matter that it made him that much more jittery.

He absentmindedly tapped the pencil against his notebook, a nervous tick that left little dark dots on the page.

Still, his words were true when he did speak.]

I’m glad… too… [That Kel was here, he meant, though he couldn’t get that many words out of his hoarse voice. The desert air really wasn’t good for his already deteriorated throat.]

[It was going to be all fine, Sunny. The people are the new 'family', the new friend group, call it as you want- and should Kel notice the other being overwhelmed, he wouldn't hesitate to step in as distraction or to carry him away.

A double thumbs up followed the pen tapping the notebook and he tried to be optimistic.]

You're glad? That's nice to hear. It's really good to see all people coming together, isn't it? [Not what Sunny meant but how Kel read it, at least.] Remember what I told you about last meeting? For anything that you feel like it's.. too much or if you need someone to help you talk, I'm here, mh? We all got this, whatever this journey is.

[He… guessed it was nice to see everyone working together? It was better than them yelling at each other - that would have Sunny holing in another one of the huts faster than someone could say ‘noodle.’

Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.

Sunny did seem to relax at Kel’s assurance though. Mostly because… he knew it was true. Kel had made sure of that at the last meeting too.]

Mhmm.

[It was, indeed, incredibly nice. And Kel was going to hold dear to his heart the fact that everyone seemed to at least cooperate for now. He dealt with enough stressful fighting back home, this was... actually nice.

But there were things that did worry him. A lot.]

Always glad I can count on you, Sunny. Just... huh... can I ask you something? It's a very silly question, really. I just did a lot of thinking, lately...

[Sunny’s nod this time was mixed with a very evident dose of confusion(TM).

The way Kel had pivoted… it seemed like a harmless question. But something about it also worried him.

Still, he could try and answer… whatever it was that was bothering his friend. Kel certainly did that enough times for him.]

[Why did he feel so... nervous? Kel pushed a strang of his hair behind his ears and took a small breath. It had to sound like nothing, like his small talk with Mari didn't even happen.]

Hero... [This strange, unfamiliar name. A stupid one, actually, whose parents called their kid 'Hero' of all things?] How... would you describe your relationship with Hero? If you feel like talking about it?

I'd just... love to hear about some memories we shared with them, to make sure I'm not forgetting anything too important.

[Mari's reaction told him he already did- Kel was not the brightest person, in terms of books smart, but he knew how to read people.]

You can just... scribble the answers down. Or not answer at all, you know?

[The question took Sunny by surprise. Why… would Kel be bringing up Hero right now? In the middle of a meeting? And there was something about that phrasing… but Sunny didn’t want to look deeper. He was great at ignoring things he didn’t feel comfortable with.

Maybe… it was just Kel missing his brother. Sunny knew how that felt, in some way, even if his feelings towards Mari were… complex.

So he takes time to write it down in his notebook. Memories combing over the three days before he had ended up here.]

He’s supportive. You heard from him more than me. He came back from college before… all this. He’s taller. [Sorry Kel, he’s not letting the one inch height difference slide.]

[There was just the smalles, uncomfortable shift over the pillow. Supportive. Kel heard from him more than Sunny (not a big surprise, but still...) and he was a college guy? He didn't know anyone who went to college, even if he could assume Mari would be there if she... lived long enough.

There was a long pause as Kel... just nodded. He didn't know what to say.]

Right. [He came back from college and Sunny met him? So he was around during the last three days before... everything? He felt his stomach turn and twist at the idea, he had been around people he thought he loved during those past few days and if Sunny interacted with him, he couldn't be just a random person. Right? Mari knew him, Sunny knew him...] Ouch. Please, I'm plenty of tall. Look at me, Sunny. I drank so much milk, despite my stomach getting upset over it, just to be tall and handsome. And I'm positive I nailed one of the two.

[God, who even was this Hero? He swallowed, trying not to focus on... the mess that was his memory, apparently. He did NOT sell any of his memories to the ferryman. He...]

Sunny... [He was terrible at lying and he felt like he couldn't talk about this with Mari for whatever reason, but maybe...] Me and Hero are pretty close, right?

[That… definitely has something like a cold chill running through Sunny.

He wasn’t sure why. Why did Kel need this sort of validation, from Sunny of all people? But it made sense, he guessed - the only people that knew Hero were the three of them, and Mari’s memories were outdated.]

Y-yeah… [Was his answer but… Sunny really couldn’t tell. Kel and Hero had still seemed close, opting to sleep in the same space during their impromptu sleepover the last night at Sunny’s house. They had joked and talked and laughed together. That… meant you were close, right?]

[It can't be worse than how Kel feels.

Someone he was close with... and now he's just gone from his memory. Was it a... close friend? A boyfriend maybe? Nah, he wouldn't date someone much older, but Mari and Sunny seem sure he's at least a bit close to him, right? At least he's almost positive he won't have to add 'forgetting about my boyfriend' to the list of things he already did since death.]

Such a close bond, right? [Hero. Hero... nope, not a single bell ringing in his head. He couldn't... he didn't want to forget people that were important to him. He wasn't ready for that. Ah, what if Sunny or Mari-] Hey, huh... whatever happens, promise me you'll stick with the Ferryman and not do the stupid thing I did by staying behind, 'kay?

[At least that gave some control over which memory people lost, there.]

Now, why don't we talk about happier things? Like, found anything cool around the place? I only got some Clem, that fake currency from that fish based game. What was it again? I can't even remember the game, just that I sucked at it.

[Sunny honestly could feel worry boiling up from inside him like a tangible mess. Did… he have any right to worry? He had let Kel go off on his own during the last Crossing. But… Kel was his friend. Just because Sunny made mistakes, that didn’t mean… didn’t…]

[But then Kel is making a request and Sunny’s previous train of thought can’t quite keep up.]

A-ah… [He stutters, if only because he doesn’t know what to say. The Ferryman had been kind and kept everyone safe… so sticking with them was probably best, right? Especially if Kel thought so.] O-ok…

[A pause, and then Sunny pokes Kel’s shirt.] You… too…? [No more running off. Not that Sunny could stop Kel even if he tried.]

[Kel’s findings have Sunny perking up. He pulls something else from the backpack he’s carrying - another Captain Spaceboy volume, this one set conspicuously in a desert.] Found… another…!

Post Crossing Meeting

Kel T.T So supportive

Just wait until he finally has a breakdown, he'll be the one needing support.

No Kel T.T watch them both have a breakdown together

Oh, that could be fun!

Fun for us XD sorry to these poor kiddos

I mean I'd be down for it if we find a good reason for that to happen.

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