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wildestlogs2021-10-01 09:11 pm
wildestmods) wrote in wildestlogs2021-10-01 09:11 pm
TEST DRIVE ※ 1
TEST DRIVE #1
These woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but being lost in them is pretty alarming to most people. Perhaps it's lucky you're hearing what sounds like... a party?
If you follow the sounds through thinning trees, a brick-paved road rises from the ground ahead. Keep going, and you'll find yourself approaching a bustling festival. Small, jaunty, colorful buildings line a way bedecked with flags, banners, and (of course) ever-present vendors.
Good morrow! Dost thou carest for a turkey leg? Some funnel cake? Modestly priced costume jewelry? Come right this way, dear visitor! The faire is here!
First, however, the faeries would like a moment of your time. At one of the entry gates, a spritely, brightly-dressed faerie tells you, "Tickets are long-since sold out, but joy is one currency we accept. So as long as you plan to enjoy yourselves, you may enter with a day pass. However, please read the sign. By entering, it means you agree to the terms."
The faerie points to a large wooden sign with words painted on it. The sign says something to the effect that the summer faeries are not responsible for anything that happens at the faire, and by entering you're agreeing to exempt them from indemnifying you for not offering the same magical protections they offer proper ticket holders in the unlikely event of surprise and disaster, etc etc.
Fortunately, it's actually not that different from a standard legal agreement for some kind of dangerous activity like go-cart racing. Of course faeries would be careful about any legal disclaimers for events.
USEFUL LINKS
A FAIRE SHAKE
A renaissance faire is in full swing in the woods today, or so it would seem. But no one here is just playing a part: these outsize personalities, bright costumes, and pseudo-Elizabethan voices are perfectly real.
It's the only place you can go for food and appropriate clothing. Also there's magic at your feet, drawing you towards others bound by the Quest magic, making it so all paths seem to lead to the Faire. Even if you don't want to enter, it feels like you have to, like there's something important to find.
a) The Faerie Toll
Some of the faeries are lighthearted and cheerful, with round and heart shaped faces and brightly colored clothes. These summer faeries are willing to part with some faerie coin in exchange for certain actions. Anyone that watches others take them up on their deals can see that the actions are indeed harmless, and there is no catch. Apparently happiness and frivolity really can be exchanged with the faeries here. Ways to earn a small bit of coin: physical comedy, agreeing to a round in the dunk tank (yes they have one), telling the faeries a good joke (but it really has to be a good one, by faerie standards), letting oneself getting pied in the face, and pieing someone you're with in the face, among other things. Silly dances are also in high demand, especially ones with actual rules vs. ones that are made up on the spot, with a clear preference for moves like tiktok dances, the macarena, or the Hustle.
Some of the faeries are lighthearted and cheerful, with round and heart shaped faces and brightly colored clothes. These summer faeries are willing to part with some faerie coin in exchange for certain actions. Anyone that watches others take them up on their deals can see that the actions are indeed harmless, and there is no catch. Apparently happiness and frivolity really can be exchanged with the faeries here. Ways to earn a small bit of coin: physical comedy, agreeing to a round in the dunk tank (yes they have one), telling the faeries a good joke (but it really has to be a good one, by faerie standards), letting oneself getting pied in the face, and pieing someone you're with in the face, among other things. Silly dances are also in high demand, especially ones with actual rules vs. ones that are made up on the spot, with a clear preference for moves like tiktok dances, the macarena, or the Hustle.
b) New and In Stock
You tried to steal from the faeries instead of paying their toll, or have otherwise misbehaved. The faeries like your moxie, though. They'll let you keep what you took (if you took something), but first you're gonna have to do some time in the stocks.
Will anyone take mercy on you and bust you loose? Does anyone have a tomato? Perhaps you meet someone else while they're suffering a similar punishment in the other stocks across from you. If you didn't actually steal, maybe you got framed. Or you're in the stocks with your "partner in crime" who you were falsely accused of being affiliated.
Fortunately, you won't be in there overly long. Even if you can't escape and no one busts you out, the faeries aren't particularly cruel and the absolute worst you'll get thrown your way by the crowd is a fruit.
If you push, the faeries might also let you out if someone else agrees to be responsible for your good behavior. This could, naturally, lead to both of you doing more time together.
You tried to steal from the faeries instead of paying their toll, or have otherwise misbehaved. The faeries like your moxie, though. They'll let you keep what you took (if you took something), but first you're gonna have to do some time in the stocks.
Will anyone take mercy on you and bust you loose? Does anyone have a tomato? Perhaps you meet someone else while they're suffering a similar punishment in the other stocks across from you. If you didn't actually steal, maybe you got framed. Or you're in the stocks with your "partner in crime" who you were falsely accused of being affiliated.
Fortunately, you won't be in there overly long. Even if you can't escape and no one busts you out, the faeries aren't particularly cruel and the absolute worst you'll get thrown your way by the crowd is a fruit.
If you push, the faeries might also let you out if someone else agrees to be responsible for your good behavior. This could, naturally, lead to both of you doing more time together.
c) I'm Just Here For the Turkey Leg
Wandering lost in the woods is hungry work. Maybe you know better than to eat food offered by faeries, but the humans of the faire should be safe enough, right? Where else are you going to find a whole turkey leg, a funnel cake, or a cold beer around here? The lines can get pretty long though, and sometimes orders get mixed up, or someone swipes what was yours! Maybe they bump into you and spill food down your front. Or perhaps you see someone with no money and decide to offer to share.
Some of the food seems out of this world or is clearly made for a more alien palate (not always in an appetizing way). Most of the food has big enough portions if you're not the only one eating
Wandering lost in the woods is hungry work. Maybe you know better than to eat food offered by faeries, but the humans of the faire should be safe enough, right? Where else are you going to find a whole turkey leg, a funnel cake, or a cold beer around here? The lines can get pretty long though, and sometimes orders get mixed up, or someone swipes what was yours! Maybe they bump into you and spill food down your front. Or perhaps you see someone with no money and decide to offer to share.
Some of the food seems out of this world or is clearly made for a more alien palate (not always in an appetizing way). Most of the food has big enough portions if you're not the only one eating
d) Surely, You Joust
Whether you're just watching, betting on the outcome, or have convinced someone to armor you up and put you on a horse, the jousting tournament is a major event! Will anyone be able to unseat the intimidating Black Knight? Have you started a rivalry with a competitor you just met in a line twenty minutes ago? Are you helping another member of the squad by pumping them up for their match? Or are you just over here to see how many horses you can pet without anyone noticing?
Even those not interested in the competition might want to give it a whirl. There are different rewards for unseating certain levels of competitors like food supplies, flasks of boozeahol, small bags of silver or gold, and weapons of moderate quality, like swords, knives, or bows.
For those that don't own their own armor and lances, some light armor and lances are on loan but the armor is all dinged up and the lances are easily broken, putting someone using them at a disadvantage.
Whether you're just watching, betting on the outcome, or have convinced someone to armor you up and put you on a horse, the jousting tournament is a major event! Will anyone be able to unseat the intimidating Black Knight? Have you started a rivalry with a competitor you just met in a line twenty minutes ago? Are you helping another member of the squad by pumping them up for their match? Or are you just over here to see how many horses you can pet without anyone noticing?
Even those not interested in the competition might want to give it a whirl. There are different rewards for unseating certain levels of competitors like food supplies, flasks of boozeahol, small bags of silver or gold, and weapons of moderate quality, like swords, knives, or bows.
For those that don't own their own armor and lances, some light armor and lances are on loan but the armor is all dinged up and the lances are easily broken, putting someone using them at a disadvantage.
e) Everyone's a Comedian
You (and maybe your threadmate) are being teased by a pair of funnymen doing a bit, be they jesters, Punch and Judy style puppets, or a pair of washing well wenches. The audience is delighted, but are you? What are you both going to do?
You (and maybe your threadmate) are being teased by a pair of funnymen doing a bit, be they jesters, Punch and Judy style puppets, or a pair of washing well wenches. The audience is delighted, but are you? What are you both going to do?
f) Wares, If You Have Coin
You're here! You have some gold! Time to get yourself some "period appropriate" (for varying values of both words) gear. Have you found a shopping buddy? What if you resell some goods you just picked up at a slight markup? Are you suspicious of the quality of a vendor's goods? Maybe this item over here is the last of its kind, and you and this stranger want it!
You're here! You have some gold! Time to get yourself some "period appropriate" (for varying values of both words) gear. Have you found a shopping buddy? What if you resell some goods you just picked up at a slight markup? Are you suspicious of the quality of a vendor's goods? Maybe this item over here is the last of its kind, and you and this stranger want it!
g) Stop! Thief!
Someone picked your pocket or snatched something out of your hands! It might even be your thread partner. Do you give chase? If your threadmate isn't the thief, are they helping you chase the thief down or getting in your way?
Someone picked your pocket or snatched something out of your hands! It might even be your thread partner. Do you give chase? If your threadmate isn't the thief, are they helping you chase the thief down or getting in your way?
h) Archery Range
Are you taking the chance to start learning a new skill on the practice targets? If it's any incentive, several fair maidens and handsome young fellows are hanging about, flirting with the best shots. If you're already good, you might be competing in the archery competition for a prize! The targets are close enough you can make conversation with the person one target over.
Are you taking the chance to start learning a new skill on the practice targets? If it's any incentive, several fair maidens and handsome young fellows are hanging about, flirting with the best shots. If you're already good, you might be competing in the archery competition for a prize! The targets are close enough you can make conversation with the person one target over.
i) Fortune Told
A stubborn young blonde woman in a long purple robe with a pointed hat - one that looks more than a little bit witchy - is determined to read your fortune for you. Loudly. Whether you like it or not. She has to demonstrate her skills to drum up business, you see! Now please hold your hand still, she just needs to get a good look at your fate line...
(Note: Players will have to npc the fortuneteller says in their thread and can go absolutely wildly wrong. However, sometimes the fortuneteller suddenly gets more intense and guesses a few things closer to the truth...)
A stubborn young blonde woman in a long purple robe with a pointed hat - one that looks more than a little bit witchy - is determined to read your fortune for you. Loudly. Whether you like it or not. She has to demonstrate her skills to drum up business, you see! Now please hold your hand still, she just needs to get a good look at your fate line...
(Note: Players will have to npc the fortuneteller says in their thread and can go absolutely wildly wrong. However, sometimes the fortuneteller suddenly gets more intense and guesses a few things closer to the truth...)
j) Out of Water
You draw attention to yourself with your behavior, or by how strange your manner of dress is (according to the faire folk, anyway.) Perhaps you have a still-functioning small electronic like a smartphone that's unlike anything they've ever seen. People are starting to give you the stink eye or ask you invasive questions. Will your threadmate help you out?
You draw attention to yourself with your behavior, or by how strange your manner of dress is (according to the faire folk, anyway.) Perhaps you have a still-functioning small electronic like a smartphone that's unlike anything they've ever seen. People are starting to give you the stink eye or ask you invasive questions. Will your threadmate help you out?
k) Bargaining With the Fae
There are some faeries here that are different from the sunny, cheerful summer faeries running the fair. These are the winter faeries, more ethereal and elegant, more immaculately dressed in finery that's a little too fancy for the event. Despite their beauty - or maybe because of it - these faeries are...colder. Many of them are busying themselves with maintaining magical lanterns around the edges of the faire. If asked, they tell your character they're handling security and to bug off.
But some of them maintain stands in shadier-looking areas of the faire. They're willing to offer more in exchange for greater payment. Warm, durable clothing to cut through the slight chill that comes at evening and night time. Swords made of much stronger metals than can be found elsewhere, of better make, with edges that take forever to dull. Bows with strings that rarely ever break.
Their deals are definitely backhanded though. For payment, they might say something like "we could really use your view on something, just a half hour of your time" and instead of having you participate in conversation where your insight is welcome, you lose your ability to see for a half hour.
These effects are unpleasant but usually temporary, lasting no longer than a half hour or so - but it's not like they'll tell you that. And if you try to go back to the stall afterwards to confront them, they'll have mysteriously disappeared. You'll at least get to keep whatever your bought and it will be of good quality, but the joke is definitely on you.
There are some faeries here that are different from the sunny, cheerful summer faeries running the fair. These are the winter faeries, more ethereal and elegant, more immaculately dressed in finery that's a little too fancy for the event. Despite their beauty - or maybe because of it - these faeries are...colder. Many of them are busying themselves with maintaining magical lanterns around the edges of the faire. If asked, they tell your character they're handling security and to bug off.
But some of them maintain stands in shadier-looking areas of the faire. They're willing to offer more in exchange for greater payment. Warm, durable clothing to cut through the slight chill that comes at evening and night time. Swords made of much stronger metals than can be found elsewhere, of better make, with edges that take forever to dull. Bows with strings that rarely ever break.
Their deals are definitely backhanded though. For payment, they might say something like "we could really use your view on something, just a half hour of your time" and instead of having you participate in conversation where your insight is welcome, you lose your ability to see for a half hour.
These effects are unpleasant but usually temporary, lasting no longer than a half hour or so - but it's not like they'll tell you that. And if you try to go back to the stall afterwards to confront them, they'll have mysteriously disappeared. You'll at least get to keep whatever your bought and it will be of good quality, but the joke is definitely on you.
l) Wild Card!
You can make up anything your character might reasonably see at a normal Renaissance Faire, or place an encounter in the woods nearby! Go wild!
You can make up anything your character might reasonably see at a normal Renaissance Faire, or place an encounter in the woods nearby! Go wild!
❧ This counts as a plot and is part of game canon! This means that new players aren't the only ones that can make top-levels. Current characters can be thrown in like it's any other plot or event. The default for threads is that they're game canon if all characters involved are apped in or already in game, but prospective players may opt out and consider a thread non-canon if they're not happy with it.
❧ Feel free to play around with powers. If your character has powers from canon you want to play around with, go for it. If you'd like to test out possibilities for game powers, also go for it. Feel free to change it up from thread to thread if you need to. If you want to keep a thread as canon this can be handwaved as the magic making characters' powers shift a few times before settling.
❧ Potential players may use test drive threads as their log samples. However, at least one post in their thread must fit the requirements for apps, and in quality and length (200 words). If you do plan on using a thread as a sample, please make sure the writing throughout your threads is a good example of your writing skills and has some solid examples of the character's voice.
❧ Players can count TDMs towards AC, with the same AC rules as any other threads.
❧ The game is invite-only. Players without invites are allowed to tdm since some of them may know someone in game to ask for one, and since some people enjoy TDMs just for fun in games they don't plan to app into. But an invite is required during the apping process.
❧ The game is at a starting cap at 30 players. Right now the current number of invitees is likely to not exceed the game's 30 slots, but if we go a few over they will still be allowed to app during this first round. Future apps will be rolling apps and will have a wait queue if the cap has been exceeded.
❧ Invites at game start are limited to current and former players of the mods' previous game Piper90 (
piper90), former players of the first incarnation of Wilderlands (wilderlands, and people friended to the main mod's plurk. If any of those individuals want to invite someone outside those pools in the first app round, they can request it when the mods make a headcount of potential appers. If the game will be under (or only slightly over) 30 players to start, some extra players may also be invited, but the mods want to limit it to exceed the player cap too much. ❧ The first game round will be apps only, no reserves. Apps open: 10/15/21. Game start: 11/01/21
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[A stablehand wearing a thick oilskin glove drops a handful of . . . yeah it's poop, it's a steaming, hay-laced horse turd and a halved jalapeno is fully immersed in the crap. The stablehand looks meaningfully at Gary. Gary looks meaningfully from the horse crap to the horse handler.]
Well how are you going to prove that chili pepper wasn't already in that horse's butthole before I got here? Or that someone else didn't put it there after I got locked up?
[The stablehand lifts a glowing, clearly magical crystal out of his apron with his non-horse-crappy hand, and from the crystal up projects a sparkling captured recording of Gary, pepper in hand, horse's tail in another, looking around for witnesses, seeing none, lifting the horse's tail -]
Any two-bit wizard worth their spit can fake a glittergram that handsome!
[While Gary is objecting, the recorded Glitter Gary has done his dirty deed and been kicked hard enough to send him off-panel. "Oh my eye!" a voice, distinctly his, shouts from the crystal. "Oh my friggin' eye! Horse, you sack of buttholes! What are your hooves made of, friggin' diamond knives? My face is in so much pain! My poor beautiful, handsome, blond face! I, Gary Goodspeed, am in so much pain! Gary Goodspeed's beautiful face is in such hideous pain!"]
There's a lot of Goodspeeds at this faire. It's a common Fairy name. Any glitter wizard could tell you that too.
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[Little Cato can't help but grin just a little at his dad just...being his dad. He shakes his head as much as the stocks allow.]
Second of all: I dunno, dad, I'm not sure you can talk your way out of this one.
They don't usually keep you in here that long, though. I've been caught and put in here twice.
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[He points to a stretching rack, unoccupied, probably more an antique on display than used for actual public torture, but in this position, with his back half-bent and unable to rest except by leaning on his throat, the rack looks as appealing as a feather mattress.]
That looks like it'd do wonders for my cramped vertebrae.
[He is approaching his 30's and his back hurts sometimes!]
Anyway, enough about my terrible back. Tell me about your loot!
[Pride in his son's resourceful thievery will surely reduce the stab of his back pain!]
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[His son is sometimes both more clever and more imaginatively morbid.]
Anyway, a leather bag, my cloak, a little cloak pin thing to hold my cloak on, two small knives to add to my knife collection and since I already woke up with two little half-sword things that means now it's four times the stabbing, a little bit of money, some nonperishable food, and a little water skin thing...
Also some food but I ate it.
[A pause.]
It's not outright thievery but I also scammed some money out of a rich dude by pretending he ran me over with his horse.
[Look at his little furry son, already grifting the wealthy.]
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[In a dog person eat cat person universe they do what they must to survive, and bless his little orange heart, Lil Cato is such a survivor.]
What do you say after we get out of these we go not get caught again stealing some of those giant meat sticks? The smoky ones that are like half as big as my arm?
[Lil Cato needs so much more than some food.]
Maybe we'll run into some of the crew on the way.
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[One, because there's the terrifying prospect of "what if not all of us made it here?" in which case it'll mean the others got left on the ship staring down an existential hole in reality, a looming cosmic nightmare-horror, and the possible end of existence. Without anyone who was here.]
[Two, because the crew had recently gotten a lot smaller. Two people on a crew that small was a large chunk of the team. They'd lost 20% of the crew in the space of a heartbeat, one way or another. And that wasn't counting Nightfall - lost longer ago, and Bolo - more sort of an honorary crew member.]
[And three, because...]
[Well because.]
[Because one of them he kinda didn't want to see. And it was like a blast to the heart, comparing the past - him, trapped somewhere, wanting to see his other dad more than anyone else, to him now - trapped somewhere, only wanting to see this dad, the one he's already looking at. Not the other one.]
[He visibly deflates, ears flattening, and casts his gaze away from Gary, and it's very clear what - and who - he's thinking about.]
I don't - I don't want to be around him. If we find him.
[A pause.]
And I'm not talking about KVN. [Because of course it needs clarifying.]
[And if the mood shift wasn't bad enough, his suddenly-bad feelings are sharp enough that a tear slips down his face. All this running around and adapting and stealing hadn't just been for survival (or fun) it'd been a way of not thinking about home, but now he's stuck standing still and it's hard to run away from.]
no subject
[Wait, of course he wasn't talking about KVN. It's an honest mistake to make but given the intensity of certain recent events, for once, not wanting to see KVN can be on the backburner to not wanting to see literally anyone else in the universe.
Even if that someone is still Gary's best friend, and co-dad, and Little Cato not wanting to see him is going to make so much of all of that so complicated.]
Oh. Okay. Of course. Yeah, I get it.
[No what the heck! Of course Gary doesn't get it! He cringes at his own dumbass statement! No way he gets not wanting to see the person who he previously loved as his devoted and awesome dad knowing now that that person faked being his dad and raised him in a constant lie, since Gary's devoted and awesome dad was exclusively devoted and awesome and his dad without having to murder anyone for the position.]
I mean - take your time. You don't have to be around him if you don't want.
[Gary faces down the possibility of adding 'ever' to that and . . . can't bring himself to. Because he can't face down the possibility of never seeing Avocato again, because he can't face down the possibility of how Avocato's going to be devastated to never see Little Cato ever again, because he knows right now Little Cato probably really, really wants to tack that 'ever' on and Gary can't blame him even a little bit.]
I bet the rest of the crew isn't even here. [Gary tries to bring levity back into the conversation, heart breaking at the little tears on Little Cato's little orange face.] There's way too little explosive chaos going on for our crew to be here.
[And . . . unfortunately that's also its own depressing conclusion. Oh no. Gary made himself sadder.]
no subject
[But it's not exactly been a banner few months for Team Squad.]
[And there are still questions that need to be asked, and why not ask them here? While he's already sad? Rather than bring down the mood later when they're trying to stop bringing down the mood.]
Dad, I need to know... how long did you know about it? Before Ash freaked out? I know she overheard something but did you find out right then, too?
[He looks hopeful. It's clearly the answer he wants to hear, that it was new to Gary, too, that he'd been arguing with Avocato about telling him, and Ash just went overkill because she was losing it.]
no subject
He has faith in Little Cato to listen to him as he gets out the truth of the situation, rather than leaping to the worst possible interpretation of something that was already awful, as Ash did. There wasn't any good way to receive that information, but there were a hell of a lot less bad ones.]
I wanted to find the least awful way for you to hear it. Which is like . . . how many ways can someone drop a truth bomb that big, am I right? I'm sorry, Little Cato. I just - I knew learning was going to hurt you so much, and I wanted to figure out what way to tell you would hurt you least. I wasn't coming up with much fast.
[He looks into the dirt, sad. This whole thing is just . . . it's Capital S Sad, from start to finish.]
no subject
Was he trying to go through with it and tell me because we all thought we were gonna die? [Because Ash had to have overheard something.] And he wanted to get it off his conscience?
[He knows them both, knows how much Gary cares, and about how much of Avocato's recent life has been trying to seek forgiveness. Trying to escape guilt.]
[Sure, he can be oblivious the way a fourteen-year-old can be, but he's also perceptive. And starting to pull back the curtain of admiration to see the reality of his other father behind it.]
no subject
[Gary says it as gently as he can, because he can't allow himself to get cornered in this position of having to interpret everything Avocato has ever said or done for Little Cato, when he himself doesn't have the full picture. Even if he understands a lot of it.]
I mean, I can make some best guesses, but I don't think that would be fair to you when you deserve the real answers to your questions, not my best guesses.
[A pause, as he considers.]
But I do think . . . at least part of it was because you deserved the truth. And that . . . might have been the only shot he had left of giving it to you. Even though the truth hurt both of you.
[He is trying so, so hard to dodge any kind of plea for Little Cato to consider Avocato's feelings, absolutely not the position to pick here, except that interpreting Avocato's choices literally means having to, uh, consider his feelings.]
But hey, I could be totally wrong. I mean, what do I know. I'm not a psycho.
[he meant to say 'psychic,' but nobody will be able to convince him he used the incorrect word.]
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[But there was one thing he could figure out.]
Did you want him to tell me right then?
no subject
[But Ash . . . sort of insisted.]
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[Then he looks up at Gary. There are still a few tears trickling down his face - tears he'd usually catch with a little paw before they fell.]
[But the hurt isn't because of Gary.]
You didn't want feeling like this to be the last thing that happened to me before we all died, did you.
[It was the right call.]
All the lies, the ones that hurt the most are the ones leading up to that. My dad had a million chances to tell me the truth, and not telling me... he did that for himself. Because I deserved the truth, even if it would've made it so I could never look at him the same way again.
[He shakes his head.]
But if we had died, I wouldn't have wanted to die feeling like this. It's the one time I would've wanted a lie.
[He would've rather died being comforted by his two dads.]
I am so hurt and so angry at him.
[A few more tears trickle down and he nods his head a few times.]
But we're good, dad. You and I. The very first time you talked to me you wanted to know how you could make me happy. And you've cared about doing that ever since. And when you couldn't make me happy, you cared about what would hurt me the least.
I don't know if I can ever forgive him, but he'd have to get on your level for there to be any chance at all.
no subject
I hope he gets that chance.
[He means it - for Avocato and for Little Cato. He can't imagine what kind of events would have to transpire for Avocato to even have that kind of chance at this point, when Avocato has damage Little Cato's life and identity and lost his trust in such a tremendously awful way . . .
. . . but strange things happen in the universe. And Avocato wants to make things right. Gary believes that every day, no matter how awful each new thing Avocato has to be ashamed of is when it comes to light.
But he can't imagine, looking at Little Cato crying in his stocks, what could possibly ever overcome this damage, and he can't wipe his own tears away at it.]
Little buddy, you deserve better than . . . than everything that has ever happened to you while I've known you, man, you really do. I just want you to know that I know that. I know you're hurting so bad. I can't imagine how that feels, to have that sense of safety with your - to have that sense of safety taken away, but I support you however you have to deal with it.
[Even if it means parenting Little Cato without his co-dad slash bff . . . even then.]
No matter what kind of awful stuff the universe throws at us, I will always try to make sure you get hurt as less as I can. I promise.
[He wishes he could promise to keep Little Cato from ever being hurt again. But that's just not realistic.]
no subject
[There's happiness there and profound relief.]
[After everything he's been through - after times he spent in a cell without love, being taunted, wondering each day how much more he'd be hurt or if he'd die; after decades alone on a decrepit ship; after all of it, it stings, but also feels so much better than it hurts. It aches like a broken bone aches as it mends; it stings like an antiseptic spray does before it helps heal an open wound.]
[Two of the faerie guards come upon then in this moment. One says to the other, "Oh no, they're having a Moment." He sighs. "We should let them out."]
["What if they're faking so we let them go?"]
["Nah, I have empathy magic, there's a lot of real emotions going on here. Let's just spring them."]
["Okay, okay." The two faeries unlock the stocks. His voice is stern but gentle. "Listen, you two, you better knock it off with the shady behavior. If we catch you at it again, we'll keep you in here a lot longer next time."]
[The second they're both free, Little Cato runs over to practically throw himself at his father, hugging him and burying his wet face in his stomach.]
[Crying is a luxury he allows himself sometimes, but he tries to hold it in as much as he can. Normally even when he cries, it's a silent cry, tears quietly pouring down his face. He'd taught himself to cry that quietly when he was 11. Actually sobbing sometimes brought unwanted attention, sometimes led to jeering and taunting and even physical hurt, and someone exalting in his unhappiness.]
[He lets out a sob here. It's safe to.]
[It's been A Lot recently. He'd managed to go around the faire and meet people and be a little criminal and act normal for a while, but Gary is from back home and that means he can't just stuff it all away. But this is the best possible outcome, him letting himself be sad about his other father and letting himself feel comforted and soothed by this one.]