Kind friends and companions, join me in rhyme

[consultmybooks]

Who: consultmybooks, lostinmyway, their respective CRs, and...let's face it, anyone wondering what this guy is doing with a Grim Reaper reflection
What: Trying to sort out these mind control shenanigans
When: December 27th to January 2nd
Where: EVERYWHERE
Summary: Dhaos has successfully managed to break apart one of the most faithful friendships in Luceti, and the ripples are spreading to other, unintended targets. Whether it's with some good, old fashioned magic in return or just trying to sit Giles down for a talk, more than a few people have determined to get to the bottom of these strange happenings.
Rating: PG to PG-13 for emotionally upsetting stuff


It was a quiet little collapse, a quiet little ending. The victim never even knew that it had happened, and probably never would.

But the step had been taken, the spell cast, the damage done. Soon after, the changes would begin to be noticed by the near and the dear. What they did with their suspicions was entirely up to them.

Giles feels bad for hurting her, but only as one might feel bad at having to face a particularly messy and difficult social encounter. The soul rending hurt at having to avoid one of his dearest friends is buried deep down inside, unknown to him. So he went about his life, shyer and more inclined to avoid even his friends and his little makeshift family.

Unless you saw a flash of black robe and white bone in the nearest reflective surface, however, there are certainly half a dozen explanations one might come up with. Unless, of course, he's been avoiding you, too.

One thing, however, was probably for certain.

No one made Grune return home with such an utterly heartbroken expression, not without being punished.

((ooc: Despite appearances, this is meant to be a mass interaction type log as much as anything. A lot of you seemed like you were comparing notes for further interaction, so here is your place to have it. Tag around, posit your own theories out of Giles' earshot, hit the books and comfort bewildered Grunes. Actual harrassment of the poor guy will have to wait until I wake up.))

Comments

I don't think it should be as soon as the 28th, but anything is good 8D

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Dhaos has been keeping a low profile since casting his spell, for obvious reasons-- though he is confident that Giles won't be able to remember who he was talking to before the odd behavior began, he would rather not draw any more attention to himself than is necessary. He's been keeping an eye out on the journal system, but otherwise has tried to make himself scarce.

Whether it's weekly grocery deliveries, stargazing or simply dumb luck on those few occasions he does venture into town, however, there's one person he can't avoid.]

December 30, then?

[lostinmyway]

[Grune's footsteps on the stairs leading to the sixth floor of CH3 are not so much slower today as...heavier. She's been trying so hard to keep smiling so her friends won't worry about her, but with every day that passes, with every day that Giles shuts her out, it becomes a little harder.

The last time she had been here, bringing Dhaos his groceries, Giles had come with her. They had talked and smiled and held hands, and everything had been wonderful. She misses that time so very much. She's been trying to give him space the way Jay had suggested, but...it's hard. Giles is like family to her--family doesn't just...stop being family. So why...?

She puts away the groceries in Dhaos' kitchen, then walks to his door. She takes in a deep breath, puts a smile on her face, and knocks.]

Dhaos, I brought your groceries.

[Even through the door, Dhaos should be able to hear that Grune's voice lacks its usual energy. And if he opens the door to speak to her, it will be even more obvious that something has dimmed her spark.]

Sounds good to me!

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Dhaos does indeed hear the difference through the door. He is, unfortunately, very well aware of what has probably caused it, and delays answering, because he is not sure that is what he needs to see right now.

Grune would not like it. He knew that when he made his decision. She would be hideously sad and there would be nothing he could do to stop her.

...But leaving Grune to her sadness would be an even more unacceptable course of action, and so Dhaos eventually goes to answer the door.]

...Grune.

[She looks worse than she sounds, but at least she's trying, right?]

[lostinmyway]

[Her smile had faded somewhat during the wait; she brings it back as best she can.]

Hello, Dhaos. I brought you some nice things to eat.

[whatdeheckisdat]

[...She loves everyone. She felt sad for his persona...]

Ah... Thank you, Grune. You are too kind.

[lostinmyway]

[She shakes her head.]

Oh, no. I like doing this for you.

[whatdeheckisdat]

All the same, thank you.

[...Now would be a good time to ask what's bothering her, but...]

[lostinmyway]

You're welcome.

[She gives him her best attempt at a smile, then turns to go. She probably shouldn't visit with Dhaos today. If he finds out she's sad, he'll worry about her. She doesn't want that to happen at all.]

[whatdeheckisdat]

...

[...He should let her go. It would be the wisest course of action: Dhaos would have no chance to reveal his hand out of sympathy, and Grune would learn nothing that could be used against him by any of her... other friends.]

...Grune?

[lostinmyway]

[She pauses.]

Yes?

[whatdeheckisdat]

...You may as well stop pretending. It is plain to anyone that something is wrong.

[lostinmyway]

[She turns around and shakes her head.]

It's all right. I'm sure everything will be fine soon.

[whatdeheckisdat]

[...He could use the fact that she's indirectly admitting to being troubled against her, but then she'd make sure never to tell him anything again.]

...Have we not discussed this before? If you are troubled, you ought to say something.

[lostinmyway]

Oh, but I don't want you to worry.

[She'll be all right. ...But she just wants Dhaos to hold her right now.]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[They have been over this. Dhaos could easily make her relent by remind her of her promise, but he... is not sure he wants to hear what he knows has caused her sadness.

He knew this would happen. He considered that when he made his decision. But it doesn't make this situation any better.]

...I do not want to see you in this state, and you cannot hide your sorrow from me. Even if you will not tell me what is wrong, perhaps I can help in some way.

[lostinmyway]

[For a moment, Grune is still. Then, she walks up to him, wraps her arms around him, and presses her face against his shoulder. She doesn't say a word.]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Dhaos pauses before returning the embrace. Suddenly, he feels dirty-- so much dirtier than when he simply woke up after ten days of false happiness. Whether his words were the truth or not, he was deceiving her. She was right: she should not be leaning on him for support.

...If Grune does not speak, neither will Dhaos. Even if he could think of the right words, there would be no meaning in them.]

[lostinmyway]

[She sighs out a breath and remains silent. This is the closest anyone has come to seeing her genuinely upset since Stella and Moses left within twenty-four hours of each other. It seems it's Grune's turn to let her guard down in front of him, the way he had with her once, some months ago.]

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Oh, Grune... Dhaos can almost feel his heart cracking for her.

...What would happen if she knew why Giles was avoiding her? If Dhaos told her... She held him in such high regard, her whole world would crumble. Surely even she could not defend him then.

...It hardly matters. What's done is done. She will never learn the truth of what has happened if Dhaos can help it, so the only thing to do is make sure she gets over these feelings now. That's the least he can do for her...]

[lostinmyway]

[A while later, and she sighs again. This time, she pulls back to look up at him. She isn't quite ready yet, but...this can be enough.]

Thank you, Dhaos.

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Dhaos doesn't let her go: she is unlikely to be feeling much better, but... at least he seems to have helped, just a little.]

If there is ever anything I can do, Grune, you need only ask.

[lostinmyway]

[She certainly isn't going to object to Dhaos holding her longer. In fact, she lays her head on his shoulder.]

Thank you. That's a very kind thing to say.

[whatdeheckisdat]

[Dhaos can't decide whether the gesture is heartening, or...]

I mean every word.

[lostinmyway]

[That actually gets a small smile out of her.]

You're a good friend, Dhaos.

[She's so lucky she met him.]

[whatdeheckisdat]

...

[Dhaos can't even get a 'thank you' out. He is not a good friend: he has proven that time and again, and even now. But as long as Grune is smiling...]

...As are you.