Moving Forward

[twibeast]

[ The 7th day comes to pass and despite knowing that things are different now, Achilles still braces for the worst - only when time doesn't reset does he finally feel like he can breathe again. Like the final confirmation that the loops are indeed over.

Though it's what he sees in the coming days as they prepare for the Underside that really excites him, to the point that he messages the group chat about it. ]

Well, well. So is this the highly anticipated "school festival" I've heard all the students speak so highly of?

[ Indeed as Achilles says, the school festival has finally come. It is the most extravagant, anime-ass Japanese school festival you can imagine, with various student run stands outside full of food and even more things going on inside... and the entirety of the student council running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to keep everything running smoothly.

This, even more so than the passing of Authority and the lack of time resets, puts him at ease. ]

I know we still have much preparation to do but I think after all of this a little bit of fun and relaxation might be good for us.

Of course if all the hustle and bustle gets to be too much for anyone you're more than welcome to make use of my office or faculty dorm, should you have difficulty finding an empty room.

[ Not that he'll be in either much, he's also in a mood to check out the food festival. But hey you don't need him to be present to chill in there.

You've done good work Executors. Enjoy this respite before the battle ahead. ]


((ooc: This is an open mingle post for everyone! Feel free to top level your character doing whatever you feel like doing and tagging around. :) ))

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[phantasmagorial]

[ She blinks and then her brow furrows a little, somewhere between confusion and concern. ]

Why shouldn't you?

[twibeast]

…Would it not upset you?

If I were… to keep thoughtlessly bringing up my other child.

[ Odile is important to him obviously but so’s Rei and he doesn’t want her to feel constantly compared to the other. ]

[phantasmagorial]

[ Rei stares at him for a moment and then her fingers tighten a little on his, squeezing back gently. ]

He's... important to you. [ It's a confident statement rather than a question, but her voice is a little hesitant, like she's not fully sure she's saying the right thing. ] And he was part of your life. It shouldn't be something you feel you have to hide from me or anyone.

If it's something that makes you happy... you should be able to share it.

[twibeast]

If… if you’re certain.

[ He thinks on it for a moment. ]

Just… please know that whenever I bring up Odile it… is not to compare you two or make you feel less than him.

[ it’s his turn now to squeeze her hand ]

You are just as important to me as he is.

[phantasmagorial]

Mm. I understand.

[ She'd be lying if she tried to say there wasn't a time it didn't make her feel prickly and anxious inside – Purgatory is an awful place to be alone and these fragile bonds formed with people who shouldn't even be awake are all any of them has. She wants to grip them tight enough that there's no risk of any of them slipping out of her fingers.

But the more they all remember, the more she understands... the tighter she holds on, the more chance there is of them fighting their way loose. She can't monopolize them, as much as a dark part of her heart wants her to.

Still... ]

... Achilles, can I ask you something? If... if it's something I shouldn't ask, or if it's going too far, then you don't have to answer.

[twibeast]

Hm? Of course you can. You can ask me anything.

[phantasmagorial]

[ Rei's fingers curl a little tighter on his. For a moment, it looks like she might slip her hand away, but instead she just averts her gaze. ]

... If...

If we went further down into Purgatory and found... n–not him necessarily, but... someone from your life you remembered and cared for. If they weren't awake or... if they were awake but didn't want to become an Executor and they'd rather stay behind...

... Would you stay with them?

[twibeast]

[ Achilles is... silent for a moment at the question, fully stopped in his tracks and his eyes wide. ]

I... I don't know.

To be honest I... had never even considered such a thing. The possibility of that had never occurred to me.

[ Though now that is making his mind race. Not about his loved ones but... ]

[phantasmagorial]

It– it is possible, though, isn't it? There's already other people here who've found people from their own lives and– and who knows who we might find as we go further down?

That's why I... I just wanted to know...

[ So she could prepare herself.

Just in case. ]

[twibeast]

[ Achilles frowns deeply, now that the shock has worn off a little. Rei speaks of loved ones, and he should be thinking about Patroclus or Odysseus - lovers that are either already dead or should be dead given their life expectancy by the time he adopted Odile. But that's not where his mind goes.

Phoenix and Chiron knew one another in life. And they had been enemies. So it could stand to reason that... the one person he would never want to see again, the one he's been trying as hard as he can to not think about, the one whose poisonous, honey glazed words haunt him more and more as he desperately tries to repress his returned memories, the one Odysseus swore she would slay... would be the more likely one to be here.

...He dare not dwell on it right now. He is a father spending time with his daughter right now, and he has to be strong for her. Give her the words to reassure her and ease her anxiety. ]

...You need not worry so much about such things, Rei. While I am still at a loss at the thought I do know one thing for certain:

I would never do anything to leave you alone. Not by choice at least. Even if my loved ones were here, I am dedicated to our mission and most of all, to you.

You won't stop being my number one priority. If such a scenario were to occur, I would not make any choices that would hurt you or wouldn't at least involve your input.

[phantasmagorial]

[ Rei looks up at him again. When she meets his gaze, it's with a searching sort of expression. It's not that she mistrusts Achilles, she trusts him more than herself somedays, but...

It's so easy to end up alone in a place like this.

For a moment, just a moment, her eyes are a little colder and harder than usual, like white ice closing over a lake. But just as quickly, it thaws and Rei gives a tiny little nod, gripping tight onto Achilles' hand. ]

... Okay.

I trust you.