highfiving | (no subject)

(no subject)

[if there was one thing Elympions were really adept at, it was creating highly technological constructions and living the "high life" so to speak. after the schism dropped, this only increased due to the access to additional, if currently expensive, resources. and with Rieze Maxia also being rich with resources and willing to increase the economy, coordinating to create a fun place where both citizens could enjoy was easier than expected. had a few bumps along the way, of course, including whether the location would adversely affect the neighboring towns, but after several months of planning and clearing out the monsters, a large portion of the Kijara Seafalls had been converted to something like a water park resort. using the natural formations already existing, including the many waterfalls, the company in charge of this endeavor managed to recreate the setting to include natural made water slides and of course the many variety of natural and artificial pools—casual ones to just sit and relax, larger ones to just swim around, wave pools, and even a section for some heated ones.

technology wise, it's a combination of spirit artes, spyrix, and spyrites. the use of spyrix had been as minimal as possible, but their world isn't quite there with replacing it with spyrite. however, it has been designed so that the conversion would be seamless, and it helps that the park is indeed mostly naturally made.

so during the following summer of their last adventure, Alvin had received two tickets to its opening. a gift for being a Svent. although he isn't really "part of the family" anymore, he can't exactly say he didn't like the few perks that come his way. free gifts definitely were one of them. now the problem is...would he actually go? If so, who would he ask? or should he just give them both away? but even with those questions, he was already thinking, "Leia would probably kill to have these." and well, that made his decision for him.

and so invite her he did and here they are at the Kijara Seafalls Resort. the opening ceremony had been a "splashing" hit and the place is packed with a variety of people from esteemed invited guests to those who managed to purchase tickets to every day families who won the lottery prize. and a lot of kids. a lot of kids.

and like everyone else, he's dressed in casual swimming shorts, sandals, sunglasses, and a loose unbuttoned shirt.]

Well the lines are going to be insane, I can tell you that much. So what should we try out first?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[and now she has his full attention.]

...What about it?

[he remains calm and casual, but even as she mentions it he can't help but recall what had made him hesitate to begin with.]

Well, I kind of have this feeling that it had something to do with all of that stuff that happened before. [ they don't talk about this much, really, so she has to take a moment to think about how to approach this. the thing is, thinking things over has never been a strength of hers, so— ] Back in Hamil.

[really there's no good way around it, and he already had a feeling this was what she was trying to bring up.]

Well, you're right. [a small pause.] Does it ever bother you?

[and of course "it" could refer to a lot of things.]

No way.

[ she takes that to mean the confrontation that happened between the two of them, so she's pretty firm about her answer, and it's the truth, too. she even gives a quick shake of her head. ]

I mean... you were a real jerk back then, but things are a lot different now, right?

Hah. [he can't help the dry laugh.] Calling me a "jerk" for that time is an understatement. I was pretty messed up.

[was. so he does acknowledge that things are different now, but...

he's still leaning away from her, his chin resting against his propped up hand.]

But even if things are different now—[he glances at her.]—it's only been, what, almost two years? I'm pretty sure anyone else wouldn't be sitting next to me right now if that had happened to them.

Edited (HTMLLLLL) 2014-12-16 23:37 (UTC)

Maybe you're right about that.

[ because he really did mess up. she's forgiven him for it and she really is over it, but she's not blind to that fact. if it had been anyone else in their group... well, she's not so sure she'd blame them if they didn't want to be his friend. ]

But I'm not anyone else, and I forgave you a long time ago.

[ because, like he said, it's been almost two years. ]

I know, but... [a small sigh before he turns off the TV and looks at her.

he knows that they've mostly brushed over this since it's a topic neither of them really like or would want to talk about. but since she brought it up, he can only assume she does want to talk about it. pull it out from under the rug they swept it under.

so he'll open up a bit. might as well do it now rather than drag it out, which is something he probably would have tried to do in the past. but perhaps a part of him does want to talk it over. to not have these "What if" questions dangling in the back of his mind.]

Leia, I shot you and had tried to kill you even before that. Hell, I might have killed Jude if you hadn't intervened. [he had hesitated back then, and it's actually very possible he might not have gone through with it then either. yet at the same time, he also could have. the line had been very, very thin back then.] There's no way you can't have any resentment or fear because of that.

[more specifically, toward him.

he's grateful, very grateful that she had it in her to not only forgive, but to also be able to stick by him like this as one of his most dearest friends—perhaps even as his best friend. a type of person he only had once before and had also ruined spectacularly. he's trying hard not to make that same mistake, but he always did before. sometimes he wonders if he won't happen again, if unwittingly.]

I know that!

[ that he had come after her and jude with killing intent. she had fought him off for a while there, after all, and the memory is still pretty fresh in her mind in spite of everything. she remembers being scared and frustrated, and feeling betrayed; she remembers how unhinged he had been. ]

After it happened, I was kind of scared of you. [ she stretches her legs out in front of herself and folds her hands in her lap, unsure of where to go with that admission for a moment. ] I didn't even know how to talk to you anymore. I mean, we were supposed to be friends, and you shot me. There's no way I could just forget about something like that, you know?

[ this is probably the most she's said about it to him since the end of their first journey, but she keeps going. ]

Sometimes I even had nightmares about it, but I don't anymore. When I say I forgive you, I seriously mean it.

[even though he had expected and knew she had those sentiments, it still sent a painful and guilty stab to hear it. he even tenses a little, as if cringing.]

I just don't see how you can. How any of you could give me that last chance. I'm grateful for it, but I mean... [he did a lot of shit and he wouldn't have blamed them if they wanted nothing to do with him. and even more, in some ways he's reminded of Presa. he had also screwed her over and hurt her and yet, like Leia, despite that she still looked out for him and worried about him.

he just shakes his head.]

I guess I just can't really understand it. [not from their perspective at least.]

Alvin...

[ she heaves a little sigh, untangling her hands from one another and then scooting closer so that she can lay a hand on his shoulder— it's almost like those reassuring pats on the back he doles out to her, but not quite. ]

It's because we're your friends. [ their relationships with him had all been rocky for a while there, but even elize, who had been very upfront about her disdain toward him, had it in her to call herself his friend. ] Besides, it's not like you've never done anything to earn back our trust. You really saved my butt when I first came to Elympios, you know.

[ she gives his shoulder a small squeeze as she says that. ]

[he doesn't move away when she comes closer, and if he were honest to himself, he would admit that it was a little reassuring. he is all too familiar how words could be as superficial and flimsy as a thin sheet of ice, and that actions and gestures speak a lot more.

he also allows a small smile when she brings up his little rescue.]

I just happened to be at the right place at the right time, that's all.

[ and she returns that smile wholeheartedly. ]

Well, yeah! But you still really helped me out.

[ not just by getting her out of trouble, but by giving her a GHS, too. he had a decent part in helping her settle into life in elympios because of that. ]

So... seriously, try not to worry so much about the past, all right?

[and then the smile falters.]

I know, but it's easier said than done.

[at least he doesn't dwell on his past mistakes, so he has that going for him. but when they do reappear, he can't help but think back and wonder if he can really become something better than that. how can he?]

I won't ever forget it, and I know you won't. But I am grateful that we managed to get to this point.

I am, too. And, hey— I'd say we've come pretty far in two years, so I bet things will just keep getting better if we keep trying!

[ her smile softens a little but doesn't falter. instead, she watches him for a moment before she shifts forward and moves the hand that's on his shoulder so that she can wrap an arm around him. the other follows soon after, and then she sort of. pulls him into a loose hug, with her cheek resting on his shoulder. the angle makes it hard to do much else.

her words might not be completely snapping him out of his mood, but everybody likes being hugged, so she figures that it's worth a shot. ]

I mean, you're practically my best friend these days, so that counts for something, doesn't it?

[ jude holds a special place, being the person in their group that she's known the longest. they text and call each other regularly, but alvin is the one that she spends the most time with face-to-face, so the sentiment is still there. ]

[he's a bit surprised by the hug, and he glances down at her. they've had arm hugs and shoulder hugs, maybe one or two random full hugs. but he's never minded them, and he doesn't mind this one. in fact...it is helpful in a way, and the look of surprise quickly softens, especially at her words. so he leans against her a bit, eyes closing.]

Only practically? [it's a small light tease, but it at least serves as an indicator that this is indeed helping.]

Yeah, only practically.

[ when she feels him lean against her, she holds on a little tighter and shifts a little closer— it's easier to do that when he's cooperating with the hug— before she continues: ]

I can't exactly call you my best friend if you're gonna leave me hanging like this.

[ because he could at least try to hug her back. ]

[that gets a chuckle as he shifts and slips an around her—]

You asked for it.

[—to give her a warm, almost bear-like hug as he pulls her a little closer to him.]

Now I'm not letting go until you tell me I am your best friend—because I'm not settling for "practically."

[and he is indeed keeping his hold on her. although, even trying to imagine her say that is...well it's hard to believe. he half expects her to say that they're really not like that at all. and yet, he kind of does hope that they are.]

[ admit he's her best friend or keep getting hugged? well, neither of those things sounds very bad to her, so she caves pretty easily. ]

Fine! You win!

[ she would lift her head to grin at him but the hug is... actually pretty nice, all things considered, so she doesn't want to try pulling away enough to do that. her tone makes it obvious she's smiling, at least. ]

You're my best friend. [ and she gives him a quick squeeze. ] Happy?

[actually. he really is. he's still a little...hesitant? cautious? not fully believing it if only because he really doesn't deserve this kind of treatment, especially not from Leia. he will never be able to forgive himself for what he did, but at least now he feels that he can move on a bit more from it. he'll always feel some regret, but it won't stop him and instead just make him think of it in a more nostalgic kind of way.

so he just gives her a quick squeeze.]

Good enough. [so not being complete honest, but close enough. just their usual joking way.] Just don't be surprised if I turn out to be the worst one you ever had. [because really, he's still in the re-learning process of how to even be a friend let out a "best friend."]

Edited 2014-12-17 05:35 (UTC)

I dunno, you've been pretty good at it so far, right?

[ he's been really nice to her, actually, since they started working on their friendship again. even if he does tease her a lot, he hasn't shot her or stabbed her in the back, so. it's a pretty vast improvement. ]

You've got your work cut out for you, since you're competing with Jude, but I bet you'll do just fine.

Give me enough time and I'm sure I'll surpass him. [but he kids. he knows they have a special bond that no one could possibly get in, and that's a good thing. in some ways, he's a little jealous. about them being childhood friends, that is. but only a little. one could say that he and Balan could have had a similar relationship (only without the one-sided crush part).

he only holds her a little longer before pulling back a bit.]

And now that we've filled our sap quota, I think it's time to turn in. I hear they serve an excellent breakfast.

Aw, okay.

[ he gives pretty good hugs, so she probably wouldn't have objected to staying like that for a little while longer, but the promise of a good breakfast more than makes up for that if the way she hops up is anything to go by. ]

You'd better not let me sleep in, though! I don't wanna miss it.

[ she'll demote him back to regular friend status if that happens. ]

In that case, I'll be sure to use all my power to drag you out and throw you into a cold shower.

[and judging by that devious smirk of his, he might actually do it.]

[ alvin no ]

If you do that, I'll go all out on you!

[ she plants her hands on her hips and grins. ]

Like, maybe I'll pull you in there with me as payback!

[leia pls]

Guess that means you better wake up then.

(no subject)

reported - 2014-12-17 07:11 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

opportunitycosts - 2014-12-17 07:12 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

(no subject)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

THEY'RE CUTE...

RIIIIGHT ;~~~;

OH NO... IT GOT CUTER...

RIIIIIIGHHH!?!?!?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)