daybreakacademy | a lonely tune

Entry tags:

a lonely tune

Who: "???", Vivi, and you...possibly?
What: Something mysterious visits Daybreak's outskirts, and the beginning of Vivi's player plot.
Where: Around campus.
When: 28th February
Notes: I'll match your format!

A. A greeting

[ If you've been wandering the campus outskirts, you might see a hunched, almost pitiful figure. It sparks and crackles with magic, and alternatively can be seen limping along the boundaries of the Academy or hunched under one of the trees that borders the campus, one bright eye glaring out from underneath its hat. It's staring, looking for something. ]

B. A farewell?

[ Vivi is a recognisable sight by now, having been on campus for a few months. What's more unusual is that Vivi is terrible at keeping secrets, and yet he can be seen sneaking off furtively under the cover of night, when everyone is busy, to greet that hunched, shrouded figure.

What they're saying to one another is hard to hear. But Vivi seems almost entranced, and the figure is beckoning to him, the gesture unmistakeable; come closer, come with me.

The only real thing that separates them is the boundary between the campus and outside of it. And Vivi looks awfully close to crossing it. ]

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[Vivi was always the open, honest type. So when Gunvolt spied him bolting out of the dorms at night, trying not to be seen, that instantly set off a red flag or two. GV quickly abandoned his plan to cook up a snack of instant noodles, and followed Vivi out into the snow and cold, keeping his distance.

He had figured, hoped, that Vivi was running to a different building to fetch something or see someone. But as his trajectory took him further and further from central campus, a sense of dread pitted in GV's stomach.

Once they reached the edge of the schoolgrounds, GV pressed himself against a tree, peering around it. Who the hell was that? What the hell is that?! He didnt jump to conclusions, but when the beckoning started happening, GV had enough. He leapt out from cover and called out, keeping one eye on the stranger at all times.]

Vivi!! Wait! Where are you going?!

[Okay, what the hell. Therion could be doing the things he's supposed to be doing, like going to class or maintaining sociable relations with people he cares about, but an early morning walk to get some quiet before Daybreak's craziness leads him to see... this, under a tree.

Therion watches it in turn from his side of the boundary, not bothering to hide himself, eyes narrowed. After a while, he deliberately crosses its line of sight, careful to stay within the border, to see if its gaze follows him.]

[ It might have been easier if Vivi looked like he'd snapped out of a trance, if it was an enthrallment; something magical compelling him to leave. But he just looks up, and around, and looks...more than a little sad, but not surprised.

The stranger curls fingers around its splintered staff and fixes an eye on Gunvolt. Just staring. Waiting. ]

There's someone I have to go see. [ He fusses with the brim of his hat. ] They can tell me about what I'm missing, I think...

[Night time was his element, so seeing a familiar face attempting to be sneaky caught his attention, he considers the best approach to this - before deciding that being straightforward would work the best]

What's going on, Vivi?

[For now, Gunvolt plays it cool. His own gaze meets the stranger's waiting stare, and the boy takes a moment to size up whoever that is. He's not willing to jump to violence, not yet, but he definitely has a very bad feeling.

The lack of an obvious tell that Vivi might be compelled to leave just worries him further. Something about this really felt off, but if Vivi had his faculties, it may be less insidious than it appears. But he's still not quite ready to drop his guard.]

...But why sneak off at night, meeting with some strange individual at the edge of the barrier? Especially with all the trouble that's happened with dangerous things getting through this year?

[He shook his head.]

I know you've been carrying some heavy burdens, but why not say anything to anyone about this?

[ Its gaze follows him for a moment, becoming piercingly intense, before it seems to just...lose interest, almost entirely.

It's still paying attention to him, but in a wary sort of way; it shifts back and forth, feathers shedding on the ground. As if it's not entirely sure what he'll do next, and wants to be prepared. ]

...I didn't...want to bother anyone. [ Vivi has trouble keeping things to himself, most of the time. When things worry him, it's written all over his body language and his face.

Apparently this is one thing that he seems to have no trouble clamming up about at all. ]

It's just...stuff that's about me, that's all. It doesn't need to involve anyone else...

[ It sounds honest enough. But there's a note of fear in it, too, some kind of hesitance, like he's not sure what he'll find.

"...all the feelings I'm having...they don't feel like they're mine. It feels like someone else's emotions in me..."

"I was happy not knowing, but...I don't think I can do that any more." ]

Oh! [ He stops, blinking. ] Um, I'm going to see someone.

[ Well

at least he's honest about it. ]

Who is this someone?

[he prompted gently, his hands clasping behind his back, there was some concern given the late hour - he wants to hear it in Vivi's own words]

...I dunno. [ Concerning! ] ...They don't have a name. I don't...think they know why people have names.

But they're like me, I think. They look..lots like me, but they're bigger... They know more about me, too. Stuff I don't know about myself...

[ He fidgets with the brim of his hat. ]

I don't know if I want to know it. But I think...I have to.

[Another like him...? That would be reason enough to be going off like this, though his expression softens at that. 'they know more about me. Stuff I don't know about myself' - that hit a lot closer to home than it would have a few months ago.]

You don't know what would happen if you find out... the fear of the unknown is not that strange, I know you planned on going alone - would you like someone to come with you, even if just a dog?

[It's not safe to go alone, but he can't discourage Vivi's curiosity or desire to learn about himself, the offer was to make sure someone is there - in case something happens]

...I didn't really want to bother anyone, but...if that's okay.

[ He rubs at his arm, looking a little downcast. ]

Is it weird to be scared...? About finding out more about myself...

Oh, Vivi...

[Gunvolt walked over closer to him, and kneeled down to look at him more closely and at his eye level. He, of course, believes his friend when he says those things, even if he sounds afraid. The boy reaches out, and gently places a hand on Vivi's shoulder. It's not forceful, and in fact his touch is feather light.

He's not fool enough, however, to completely lower his defenses, but...]

Maybe it doesn't need to. And maybe whatever you face is something only you can deal with. But that doesn't mean it has to be alone.

[GV's expression turns melancholy, a small smile on his lips, but a sadness in his eyes.]

...You helped me through a rough time. If you'll let me, I'd like to do the same for you. And I think... a lot of your friends will want to do that too, and it won't be a bother.

[Desidera had been busy with some things of her own and thus hadn't noticed Vivi herself, but hearing Gunvolt drop everything and take off like that definitely caught her attention. After a moment, she'd gone and started following, herself.

It's at this point that she fully catches up, and she'd managed to follow closely enough that she heard most of what's going on. Her eyes fall on the stranger and more or less stay there, and she wants to ask who they are, but GV's offer is made before she can do so, and she has a minor correction to make to that:]

Us. You helped us. [When he had gotten hurt, she took it hard and took it personally, then she'd been the one to ask Vivi and Lia if they were willing to continue helping them when Gunvolt was coming up with the plan for dealing with the threat that had revealed itself.] If you let him, I'm coming too.

[He'd seen the creature lurking around. He could see it limping. Part of him, a big part, wants to approach. He worries for it, whether a spirit or a living creature in need of help.

But he knows too well he shouldn't be facing unknown beings alone. The limp could just as well be a trap. It was this time last year, after all, that he was taken apart with teeth and changed.

And so, he doesn't approach. Not until he sees it again-- and sees Vivi running to it. He calls out.]

Vivi! Vivi, wait!

I highly doubt anyone would find this remotely bothersome.

[He shook his head, before kneeling so they can be at eye level]

It's natural to be apprehensive, the mind keeps building up all kinds of scenarios and what-ifs when there are no solid answers to have. Even if the explanation is worse than you hoped, knowing generally is less painful than always wondering.

Now, let me change form - I'll stay close, be as if I'm just any other friendly dog.

[Nighttime doesn't stop Tobias anymore, now that he's grown used to being an owl occasionally. They're creepier than any other night predator, but he can tolerate the morph. And he hasn't been sleeping as well lately--he didn't sleep quite as much as a human before the Galra. Sometimes stretching his wings helps, which he'd never do as a night-blind hawk.

Vivi's up late. That's odd. Reason enough to follow him, because everyone needs someone watching their back, right?]

< Hey. Can't sleep? > [Is how he announces his presence before swooping low over the kiddo's head, just for the hell of it.]

[Well Puella was almost fully asleep, but then she was woken up by the sound that usually follows when someone gets out of bed. By the time she was finally aware of her surroundings, Vivi was already about to leave through the door. Into the common room.]

[That...sure is weird.]

[It takes a few moments for her to follow after him - and that's without bothering with hair or changing clothes. Kind of hoping to find where he went anyway, because it clearly wasn't the common room anymore. Which meant Vivi must have gone outside... But, why?]

[Only one way to know. ...Preferably without angry faculty hearing what happened next morning.]

[ He comes to a stop, blinking as he looks around to see the source of the voice. ]

Oh! Is everything okay?

[ Like the problem here isn't him trying to sneak off the grounds.... ]

...A little. [ Actually, he is sort of tired. But he got out of bed, so he should keep going.

...He doesn't really want to lie to Tobias. Toby has been so nice to him, after all. ]

...But, um...actually...I'm going to see someone.

[ Vivi is clearly too distracted to notice anyone following him, unless Puella makes her presence known. But he's going away from the buildings - towards the campus outskirts - in more or less a straight line, so he's clearly aiming somewhere. ]

Okay. [ He nods, seriously. He can do this. He's...passable at acting, at the very least. ] If you're sure.

[ After a moment, he stretches out his arms, taking advantage of Sherlock kneeling to fling his arms around Sherlock's neck, burying his face in the man's shoulder. It's clearer that ever that despite his brave face, Vivi is scared of what he might find out; he's trembling. ]

I... [ He looks and sounds hesitant, and then he rubs at his eyes a little.

He's lucky to have friends. ] ...I don't know what's going to happen, though...

[ The hunched figure is watching this interaction with a vague confusion, like it's not entirely certain what it's witnessing. It tilts its head to the side in an almost birdlike manner, shedding a few more feathers, and taps its staff on the ground repeatedly.

Not impatient, exactly, but it's clearly a sound meant to draw attention. ]

[He frowns a little over the fact Vivi doesn't see anything off, but lets it be. Instead, he hobbles forward on his cane to fill the space between them.]

Vivi, do you know who that is?

[Or are you just meeting up with a stranger?]

[When Vivi's arms went around him, he didn't even start this time, his own reaching out and pulling him into a hug, feeling how much Vivi was trembling.]

I'm sure... no matter what you find out, I highly doubt it'll make anyone think differently of you.

[With that he melds into shadow, shifting and warping before solidifying into a large hound, giving Vivi a gentle headbutt]

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