maplebrook_box | (no subject)

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❄ HOLIDAY BASH ❄

Welcome to the totally rad holiday-themed party happening in a pretty sweet castle in the middle of nowhere! You were invited here by someone who was invited by someone else and--actually you have no idea who's hosting. You know how these things work. You think you saw Leonardo DiCaprio on a balcony when you were walking up the driveway, but it was probably just your imagination. Or a ghost. Spooky.

Whether you end up running into familiar faces or not, there seems to be plenty going on!

There's a food table covered with all sorts of sweet and savoury delights alike next to an open bar for all your rum and eggnog needs.

There's a piano trio playing jazzy holiday music in the corner who are also willing to provide karaoke instrumentals if you're feeling up to it.

Near the windows is a big Christmas tree with countless gifts beneath--you'll probably find at least a few with your name on them!

Need a break, or looking for some privacy? There are several small rooms branching off from the main room with comfy couches available for a quick nap. (Or other things, but keep in mind that a place as nice as this probably has security cameras everywhere.) Fresh air can be found easily out on one of the various balconies! What a romantic view.

Oh, and don't forget about the mistletoe! If you're found under one with someone else, you might find your wrist tied to theirs with a length of pretty red ribbon that'll stay there until you smooch. (What kind of castle is this?)

Anyway, the party seems to be carrying on 'til at least New Year's, so remember to sleep, eat, and stay hydrated, and most of all, have fun!

[ Threads have been set up for general areas of interest, but please feel free to post a new top comment if you have other ideas! Also, the mistletoe is literally everywhere so you have total freedom with when and where you happen to get tied up.

Lovingly yoinked from

altarianite! ]

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I like both equally. [Lyserg glances away from Fubuki for now... if only to look directly at the spirit. He can see you, little guy.

Morphine lifts a hand to her chin, tapping her cheek and frowning in thought. After a moment, she snaps her fingers. She points to herself, to Lyserg, then back to herself.

Then, she points to the spirit, to Fubuki, then back to the spirit.

'Is he your shaman partner?' is what she's hoping to convey.]

[Fubuki goes back to looking at the scenery, not a care in the world. Morphine could fly right at his face and he wouldn't notice. He's a normal human. Mostly.

Atsuya, on the other hand...glances suspiciously between spirit and shaman. It's Lyserg noticing him that tells him exactly what's going on.

"Stay away from him. He's not a shaman at all."]

[Lyserg turns--so he can face the spirit fully, without Fubuki seeing what he's doing.

First, he holds up his hands in a placating gesture. He and Morphine have no intention of hurting him. The dowser glances between the spirit and the other human before he starts tracing something in the air--Morphine uses a little magic to allow it to linger for Atsuya to see.

"家族" Kazoku. Family.

Lyserg then tilts his head, as if to punctuate that with a question mark.]

[And Shirou is out of this conversation for the time being.

Atsuya bristles. Good guess. Not that it's hard, since Atsuya looks a like a younger Shirou. ...He's a lot like a cat that thinks it's a guard dog.

"Yeah, he is. I'm gonna protect him."]

[... Well, Morphine seems to have made that comparison too, she's giggling a little (albeit silently). The fairy immediately sobers up when Lyserg shoots her a stern look, though.

Lyserg offers Atsuya a small, warm smile. He, for one, doesn't doubt the spirit's abilities to keep Shirou safe, and it shows in his expression. The next bit that Lyserg traces in the air is a question--sort of.

You're quite the brave one, aren't you?]

[Don't laugh at him! Protecting Shirou is serious business. Apparently, the less pleasant kind of spirit is attracted to kids like him. He wasn't always suspicious of every spirit who crossed his path.

"You bet I am! What of it?"]

[It was an observation. He's lucky to have you.

... As much as Lyserg has no idea to what extent, he is aware that if Shirou has a spirit hanging around to protect him, he, more than likely, needed it a lot.

Lyserg himself was lucky in being a shaman and having Morphine, really, but he's had his encounters with the more malevolent sorts.]

["If he were 'lucky', he wouldn't need me. Either of me."

I'm sorry, did you think they had normal people issues? Atsuya knows he can't protect Shirou from everything. He can only fight off other spooks. In the meantime, he has to watch his brother's inner demons tear him apart.]

[...

Given the circumstances, I would call him lucky. I'll readily admit that I don't know the full extent and that you can't guard him from everything, but having you to protect him is better than not having any protection at all--

Lyserg shifts there, pulling his arms closer to his body. The dowser frowns and casts his glance to the side.

Mildly touchy subject? Mildly touchy subject.]

[He's sorry, Lyserg... Atsuya is just frustrated. He's only eight. Not counting years after dying, anyway. He's only eight, and he can't do anything for his brother's real problems.

He casts a sad, lonely look at Shirou before looking back at Lyserg and Morphine.

"He's mine."]

[Lyserg's just... tense and Morphine, sensing her shaman's (mild) distress, is a little agitated in return.

Lyserg takes a breath to calm himself, glancing at Atsuya and Shirou. There's a long stretch of silence as Lyserg thinks things over.

...

Eventually, Lyserg finds himself asking one thing--

Do you want to talk to him?

... Whatever the dowser has in mind is earning him a Look from his fairy companion.]

Edited 2015-12-25 08:03 (UTC)

[For a moment, Atsuya perks up! He wants to talk to Shirou so badly. He misses him - they were supposed to always be together, and they are, but Shirou doesn't know that...it's just like being alone.

But his excitement lasts only a moment as he casts a worried look Shirou's way. The other Atsuya....has been unstable lately. What would it do to him to speak to the real Atsuya again?

"...I dunno if that would be good for him right now..." But he sounds so hurt and heartbroken.]

[Lyserg swallows, glancing over to Shirou worriedly. There was something going on, huh... But really, it's Atsuya's tone that tugs (... really, yanks is more like it) at the shaman's heartstrings.

It's really tempting to say something like 'you never know until you try,' but... he doesn't know the circumstances. Is it really his place to speak like that?

He'll stay silent, as if to allow Atsuya to think it over.]

[Atsuya is silent for a few moments, then hops up to sit on the banister of the balcony. He gazes out at the scenery the exact same way his brother does.

"He's an orphan, you know? Mom, dad, and me all died at once... I don't think he knew how to handle being alone. Dad said we would be perfect together, right before..."

Silence again, for a minute or so.

"He found a way around it, at least. But I don't think it's making him happy anymore."]

[There's the briefest look of sympathy at the mention of Shirou being an orphan. He doesn't say anything regarding that, but the way he shifts says plenty for him.

Instead, what he's doing is just making things worse...

Or so Lyserg's assuming. Morphine flits over to land on Atsuya's shoulder, if he'll let her.]

[That gets anger out of Atsuya, though it's not directed at anyone present.

"It's not him! It's that woman! She's only using him!"

Morphine can land on him, if she still wants to after that outburst.]

[Well, initially, she darts away to hide behind Lyserg. After a moment or so, though, she'll fly back over and land on Atsuya's shoulder. Shhh, little one, shhhh.

Lyserg frowns at Atsuya's comment. And there's no easy way of...

... 'Getting rid of her' just sounds bad, no matter how you try to phrase it.]

[He can't do anything. He's so frustrated. There's so much at stake for everyone involved, and the only way forward hurts his brother. ...Maybe....the reason he can't protect him is that Shirou was always the defender.

"Not without probably sacrificing the only friends he has." Because while Atsuya would protect Shirou, he couldn't protect the whole team. He doesn't want Shirou to be alone again. Look what that did to him. Getting rid of Hitomiko...would probably let the aliens slaughter everyone.]

[So it's that kind of no-win situation...

Lyserg makes a face at that. I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could do.]

[...Well.

"Can you fight aliens?"]

[... Give him a moment to make sure he parsed that sentence correctly.

... I'm sorry, what?]

["Can you fight aliens? If someone else could get rid of the aliens, then Shirou-nii and the others wouldn't have to fight! They could all go back to playing normal soccer!"

You know. For a given definition of normal.]

[What the hell is this Lyserg can't even

Well, he did want to help, so...

... You know what, I'll definitely see what I can do.

Do you mind if he ruffles your hair a little, Atsuya?]

[Welcome to Inazuma Eleven.

...Hair ruffles feel nice, and he leans into them like a dog. He's been so starved for contact since he died.

"Thank you."]

[Dammit, he stepped into the wrong shounen series

Lyserg smiles and closes his eyes, content to keep ruffling Atsuya's hair.

He'll figure out how to go about this later.]

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