mygod | pc catchall | kate

[flameguard]

shitpost censored for babies and rondos

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[sootprints]

[ kate seems to have come out to the beach to get some fresh air, away from the festival site. she's walking along the shore and doesn't notice rondo until she's already come very close. ]

Oh--

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt... [ but she trails off as she looks for the second person, the person he was just talking to. surely she just walked in on someone else's pc? bad form, kate. ]

[flameguard]

[ tsk tsk!

no, there's no one there. at least not as far as kate can see! for rondo, a man stands there, tall and imposing, smiling and laughing. it feels so unnatural and wrong on his face, to hear him say all the things he'd say anyway. This greenhorn would be the one to take my position? My Flame weeps. And what have you done since? And what will you do? Trapped here. Nothing. You will not - I didn't mean to interrupt...

wait. wait, that last voice wasn't the same. rondo startles - the vision blurs, and refocuses, and he's looking at... ]

... Miss Kate...? [ the inhale of breath he takes is a hiccup - his eyes are wet and shiny when he looks up, and it's clear he's been crying. ]

[sootprints]

[ ... ]

May I sit with you?

[flameguard]

[ ue ue. the voice continues - rondo looks past kate for a long moment, and then sniffles and rubs his eyes with the back of his wrist. ]

Yes - yes, of course... here.

[ despite all of this, he kind of awkwardly sweeps out his cloak so she can sit on it, so she doesn't get any sand on her nice dress. ]

[sootprints]

[ she comes over and sits, then. ]

It sounded like you were talking to someone...

[flameguard]

...you can't see him? [ rondo says - his gaze goes up, past her again, staring up at someone invisible. ]

He's - hah. He's smiling, I've never, ever seen him smile.

[sootprints]

No, I can't.

[ said very calmly and simply. ]

Who is he?

[flameguard]

...Everything to me.

[ that's very descriptive. it's distant - kate's words register belatedly, though. not real... rondo blinks a few times. once. twice. she couldn't see him? ]

But, Sir Sazantos... he's right there.

[sootprints]

[ she reaches over to gently put a hand on his. and softly, ]

I'm sorry. I don't think he is.

[flameguard]

[ wouldn't it be better, if he was? is there anyone better - anyone who could just find the source of this cult and raze it to the ground? what an example of all the things sazantos abhors. his voice is soft and cutting and familiar. Waiting for me to save you again? Pathetic. You are weak, Rondo Ravus.

kate's hand startles him out of it, though, and he looks down. the dark, shadowy shape, the soot, it's just enough that it anchors him back, and he sucks in a breath. ]

I... sorry. [ rondo lifts his other hand, and wipes his eyes with his wrist. ] ...Sorry, I feel like I must be going crazy...

[sootprints]

It's okay. Something tried to deceive you. It's not your fault.

[ her hand feels just like a human's, though it does leave a little soot residue where she touches him. sorry. ]

Would you tell me about him? This Sir Sazantos?

[flameguard]

[ he doesn't mind. what's the fire without soot, right?

rondo takes a deep breath - even at that, he winces a little. And you fell for it. but he tries to tune it out. he looks at the unnaturally smiling face of sazantos the apparition and nods, slowly. ]

...He... was the Flameguard before me. [ rondo closes his eyes, and leaves them closed. ] He had the purest, bluest azure flame you could ever imagine. He's... strong. Stronger than anyone I've ever met. And fearsome, and noble, and - and beautiful, too. Like an angel that's come down from the Heavens.

[sootprints]

[ wow. gay. ]

He certainly sounds impressive. And you ended up succeeding him?

[flameguard]

[ unfortunately yeah ]

... mmn. [ a little nod. ] The circumstances are... complicated.

[sootprints]

[ oh. hmm. ]

... Complicated how?

[flameguard]

...well...

[ ha ha... ]

His... ideals changed, is the simplest way to describe it. It's a long story.

[sootprints]

[ ... she squeezes his hand. ]

I'm sorry.

[flameguard]

[ uweh. after a moment, he returns it, squeezing her hand with his own and covering it with his other hand. ]

...thank you. [ genuine - for the apology, the sympathy, and for the company. ]

[sootprints]

[ ... ]

... I don't know if it will work for this, but... drinking a lot of water may help make the hallucinations fade.