OPEN;

[wandbreaker]

When; Saturday, January 28th, nighttime
Characters; All are welcome! Open log, just specify if it's an open thread or not or if there are 4th wall rules for your character in the comment or subject line! (4th wallers also welcome~)
Summary; The Blue Light's one chilling hangout; good music, good food, and a spectacularly crabby owner who is even letting in under-18s for the 4th Wall weekend.
Log;

Edmund is actually at work tonight - he hopes a member of his family might show up, but he's also wondering who else might show up. He's made sure that he's well staffed for the extra crowds and well stocked, no less.

He just hopes nothing gets out of control.

And of course, that a member of his family shows up, looking for him.

Comments

[pithos]

Does he? [ A beat. ] Oh. Yes, well. Right. I suppose he does, doesn't he?

[springseternal]

No one can take you away from me.

[pithos]

[ He reaches down to brush a strand of hair away from her face. ]

No. No, no, I suppose not. [ More certainly. ] I've held you for far too long, I suppose, to have to learn how to let you go now.

[springseternal]

[She smiles up at him, the kind of smile that even Hope reserves for only one person]

I would never let you. I know how to hide, you know that.

[pithos]

[ Sometimes he thinks it isn't fair, that he should have such things held in reserve for only him. He'd been given a single task and had arguably failed in it. But for all that failure, he's strove to make up for it by caring, as best he possibly can, for her. ]

Yes, well. I'd never want you to have to feel it's necessary. Hiding from me, I mean. We tried it once, you and I, didn't we? I think, maybe, yes— I prefer this much better.

[springseternal]

[It doesn't matter, not to her, not when he never told anyone how terrified she was, how all the ills were in the jar with her and she was alone in the corner, scared, lonely, and he was always there.]

Much better.

[She moves over to tuck herself against his shoulder]

[pithos]

[ She tucks herself against his shoulder and he makes room for her, lifting his arm so that she can nestle there against his chest if she so chooses. The space there is warm and perfectly matched to her small frame. ]

Did you make friends— ah, what a question. Yes, well. Of course you made friends. You're Elpis, after all. The world loves you.

[springseternal]

[She puts her head against his chest, quiet]

The world loves me sometimes.

[pithos]

[ With a hand — hesitant, questioning at first — he strokes her hair. ]

Well. There's not accounting to lack of taste, then. Because, really, world. How can it not be always? It is quite an easy thing to do, really. For me, it comes more natural than breathing. And more welcome, as well. Did you know that?

[springseternal]

Because sometimes I let them down.

[She's not bothered by that, it's just what it means to be her]

But you can love me always. I don't want anything else from you, I promise.

[pithos]

You've never let me down, dearest, never once. And you and I, we've known one another for quite some time, haven't we. Yes, yes.

[ He pauses, crooking a smile. ] I think, yes, quite. I think that can be arranged.

[springseternal]

[She reaches up and touches his cheek]

See? I would never mistake anyone else for you, sunshine. You know I was joking, right?

[pithos]

[ His eyebrows lift, his expression earnestly uncertain. ] —were you? Not just now, but then. With the young man over the devices.

[springseternal]

Of course I was.

[She leans against his chest]

There's no one else in all the world. No one.

[pithos]

[ He inhales, trying to puff himself up to look proud and preening, though he feels a bit silly for it. ]

Yes. Well. He did look quite like me, didn't he? Though I suppose he didn't stumble over his words. He seemed more eloquent. Refined, maybe. Do you like refined, Elpis? I can try to be, if you'd like.

[springseternal]

I don't want you to try to be anything you can't.

And what makes you think you're not a perfect gentleman already anyway? You wouldn't even sleep in the same bed as me! I had to make you!