COURT: Heart Game!

[upmoving]

[Your consciousness drifts in to the sound of discordant whispers. It sounds like a hushed argument in another room, something you can't quite catch. You're cold. Your skin tingles slightly, and then...]

Comments

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

[He will not come out. But you do eventually find him cowering in the pantry. When you do he just stares up at you in open terror.] --Ah...

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

[How very strange! Why would Ariel ever be scared of him!! How silly!]

...Ariel...

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

[I dunno why would he?? But he is, shrinking back as far as he can and lifting his hands defensively, like he thinks Tristan's going to hit him or something.]

P-Please leave.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

Ariel...

[Kneeling and reaching for his hands, gently.]

Why are you so scared of me?

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

[He flinches, pulling his hands away.] Don't-- Don't touch me. This place is fragile, Tristan. You're dangerous.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

Ariel.

[He is frustrated, frowning slightly.]

And what do you think I'll do to you here?

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

[He just shakes his head. Nope no telling that is also dangerous.]

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

Ariel.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

[cowering intensifies?? like huddling in the corner with his hands on his head shaking kind of cowering]

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

Ariel stop this.

[TAKING HIS HANDS trying to draw him out.]

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

[You can do that. In fact he seems even weaker, physically, than the Ariel he represents, and unnaturally light-weight as well. He does resist, but there's almost no force there and he's wincing as if Tristan's grip is much harsher than it is.]

Ah-- No, I-- Ow!

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

I'm not hurting you.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

[You can say that but by the time you've dragged him up he's whining softly, and it sure sounds like a pained noise.] Let go...

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

Why are you so afraid of me!?

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

[He tugs at his hands, trying to free them, making little whimpering noises as he does. He's definitely scared out of his mind that is for sure, but he also has zero physical strength to pull with.] I don't want you to kill me...

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

Why would I kill you?

[He loosens his hold a bit, not actually wanting to hurt him.]

I love you.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

Not this part. [With a loosened grip his hands shift at least, and you may catch a glimpse of skin gone a dark, ugly purple. You certainly were never holding tight enough to remotely hurt a normal person, but this Ariel has bone-deep bruises everywhere you've grabbed, and they've already fully blossomed.]

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

[He lets go, surprised and inspecting the bruises. That shouldn't happen at all.]

Is this what you want to be?

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

[He told you it was fragile Tristan! He pulls his hands close to him, avoiding any further touch and looking like he wants to run away again. But resisting got him hurt already so he'll tell, with the tone of someone fully expecting to be retaliated against for what he says.] What I'm becoming. What I could be, if I keep changing.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

Ah...

[He looks him over, and the kitchen as well, before crossing his arms and leaning against the counter.]

Tell me about yourself.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

What? [why does he get the sense he's on trial??] What do you want to know?

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

About you, this you you're becoming. You're growing up, so I'd like to know who it is you are, now.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

Oh... [Well. How would he describe himself to someone who doesn't know him? That's a start. He tries, a bit haltingly, still afraid Tristan's going to erase him if he doesn't pass muster.] I-- I like sweets, and soft things, and storybooks, still. But I also like when it rains, just enough to go out in it. And snow, and watching people being happy. And I'm not very good at it yet, but I'm learning to do my housework, and I want to be able to do it all on my own, without using magic. I want to meet someone I can fall in love with properly some day. But I really-- I want to... be better. Than I was. I want to make things better as much as I made them worse, before. And I wish I could do that for you... but I don't think I can.

Re: a quiet afternoon

[royallyfuckedup]

Ah...

[He listens, with just a slight, faraway smile. An expression as frozen and obscure as possible, but not harsh. Just exceedingly closed off.]

[To be honest it breaks his heart. But it feels deserved as well. If Ariel is to be anyone happy, giving up on Tris is probably a good step. And if he damages this fragile part what power will it give the brother he thought he'd unmade? His chest aches, the worst of him protests this, Ariel should never leave him or give up on him. How dare he. How could he. But all he does outwardly is touch his own lips in a vaguely thoughtful gesture.]

You sound like someone I'd be happy to know. What will make you stronger?

Re: a quiet afternoon

[upmoving]

I have to make myself stronger. But-- Outside, having friends helps.

[Tristan's distant look keeps him nervous, but at least it's an apparently positive reaction?]