Flesh-Stick: It’s okay. I’m sorry made you feel bad. I thought I was being discreet but…I guess I shoulda realized that being discreet is something psycho bandits are NOT good at.
“Maybe it’s time to stop being discreet.” Eli’s face is literally an inch away from the mask right now. “Maybe I’m not property, or a commodity. I’ve always pushed for choice… Who says I only get one choice?”
For once, the huge round eyepieces on the mask completely fit Fleshy’s actual expression. He can only stare at Eli for what feels like forever.
Finally, he gives the tiniest sniffle
Flesh-Stick: I…Eli I…
he pauses for a moment, trying to collect himself
Flesh-Stick: Thank you. I…I’ve loved a lot of people down here. I can remember all of them now. I loved an artist who only wanted money. I loved a music hall singer who couldn’t stand the sight of me. I loved a revolutionary who was just using me to get his dream, a devil who just wanted my soul, a smuggler who went back home and never spoke to me again, and a naturalist who just wanted my ears. But of all the people I’ve loved down here, you’re the only one to love me back.
“It can all be all right. For all of us,” Siobhan murmurs. “If you want it to be.” It’s not exactly the most conventional offer, but the Neath isn’t a conventional sort of place, and if one spends enough time in Veilgarden, one can run into plenty of people whose personal arrangements are at least this unusual, if not more so.
“Siobhan and I have decided that it’s best that we be free to fulfill our passions, as long as we care primarily for each other.” Eli places his hands on the mask. “But love isn’t a finite thing. Fleshy… Can I…?”
He tugs as the mask lightly, not wanting to remove it without Flesh’s permission.
Flesh-Stick gently, almost tenderly, removed Eli’s hands from the mask
Flesh-Stick: You’re both so…good to me. So…generous. I…I…wish…but…
he shakes his head
Eli. Siobhan. You two have something special. I didn’t really understand it at first…I couldn’t really see Siobhan as anything other than “Eli’s generic girlfriend.” Maybe it was for the best that this whole mess happened, cause I got to see a glimpse of the person Siobhan actually is.
Siobhan, I wasn’t actually sure if you were worthy of Eli…cause he’s awesome and I want him to have someone as awesome as he is to love…but I think you are, and so I’m glad he found you. You two make each other so happy.
Eli I don’t know how much time you’ve got left with us, but I want you to spend it as happy as you can. Without crazy messed up psychos getting in the way. I don’t need to barge into your relationship. I can be happy just knowing somebody loves me.
He hesitates
But…if…if you do love me though…there is…there is this one tiny little thing you could do for me, if you want to. Something I’ve always wanted.
Eli’s eyes are back to their normal appearance. Brown and blurred with tears as Flesh says what he says.
“Anything.”
Flesh-Stick: would you…would it be okay if…i mean…would you…would you hold me in your arms? Just for a little while? I always wanted to know what that feels like. Just to have somebody hold you close because they want you.
(( Hug Brad? Yes or no? ))
Eli takes him in his arms and they sink to the ground. Eli’s breathing is shaky, but he doesn’t sob. They stay like that as long as they need to.
Flesh-Stick’s voice is just a whisper
Thank you, Eli. You can leave me here when you’re done. I’ll be okay.
lays his head on Eli’s chest and closes his eyes
(OOC: okay, NOW I have to go to bed :P Thank you both for the very sweet RP :) )
A nearby rat rushes off into the swamp.
edited by Lord Gazter on 8/6/2016
(occ: dang, that was much better than what I had planned).
Vaustus waited outside through the entire confrontation. He heard shouts. He heard sobs. He saw Eli and his companion leave the house. He himself entered. Flesh-Stick, though still on the ground, was no longer weeping. Vaustus sighs, and sits next to him.
“You got it all sorted out, didn’t you?” He exclaims with a hint of bitterness.
“Lucky. Guess you won’t need those Violant drinking glasses anymore.”
Dirae Erinyes has spent more time in the marshes to be unnerved by the track. Still, they can’t suppress a staticky shiver at the sight of the isolated mansion in these swamps. Memories urge them forward, obviously Flesh-stick was in bad way to be living in a place like that.
Ignoring a submerged unease, they call out. “Flesh-stick? People have been asking about you. Worried people.”
Vaustus, hearing Dirae’s call, sighs.
“More of your friends, I’d assume.”
He says to Flesh-Stick, sarcastically.
Maria runs around the marshes, following Marshy, her Marsh-Wolf. In her hand, there was a… gasmask… or something that looked like it. She needed to appologize to Flesh-Stick. All of this was her fault. Why did she have to tell him he should tell Eli about his feelings?
Vaustus and Flesh-Stick have been sitting side by side for a while now, Flesh-Stick presumably lost in thought. Vaustus stirs himself.
“You know, when I found out you drank Bottled Oblivion I had this moment. This, this hope.” Vaustus pauses.
"I thought I’d found someone who had been as messed up as me, who had felt whT I’d felt. When I heard your shouting match, I was sure of it. "
Vaustus’ eyes look dead.
“You’re lucky. Youre very damn lucky. You get a happy ending. Congratulations.”
(OOC: Fleshy is still sleeping right now because I’ve been at work all day. I promise he will wake up and talk to you when I get home :) )
(I’m fine with that. Vaustus is bitter enough he probably doesn’t care that Flesh-Stick didn’t respond)
Flesh-Stick stirs from a peaceful sleep at the sound of someone’s voice
“Eli?” he mumbles, raising his head. He starts slightly at the sight of the new person sitting beside him.
"OH, HELLO! SORRY, I DIDN’T HEAR YOU COME IN! I HOPE I HAVEN’T BEEN TOO RUDE, SAWING LOGS WHILE I’VE GOT A VISITOR! CAN I GET…WELL…HMMM…I PROBABLY CAN’T GET YOU ANYTHING. I DUNNO WHERE HE KEPT ANYTHING. NOT EVEN THE HORRIBLE COFFEE. SORRY, THIS ISN’T MY HOUSE.
He yawns and stretches and reached a hand under the mask to rub the sleep from his eyes, then looks at you expectantly, wondering what brought you all the way out here in the marshes
Dirae Erinyes gives a sigh of relief upon hearing Fleh-sticks voice. Climbing into the ruins, they call out. “What brings you out here?”