[June was hard on Neil. It's really no mystery as to why he's been locked inside of his house the past few days. It isn't until those wishes fade, the crystal growth stops, that he dares stick his head outside his door again. Flat is, of course, the first person he thinks of (aside from, perhaps, Charlie, but Neil shares a room with him).
[He calls, oddly nervous, waiting for the line to be picked up.]
[ flat is...well, not really near his device. but when he hears the sound of something ringing, he wonders if it's either someone calling him or if his experiment is hitting the boiling point.
when he realizes that it's the latter, he rushes to pick it up. ]
[ why would neil be calling him just to ask if he was fine? sure, he hasn't been able to see the other because of the whole issue with the crystal zombie disease...
oh. ]
Aahh, you're probably asking if I got infected! No, no, I didn't! There were a couple of close calls but... I guess I got lucky? Mmm, though that meant I had to be helping out a ton, but I'm not complaining about that.
[ it's good to make yourself useful when you have the ability for it and the desire to do it-- or so his professor would probably say!
but after he says that, flat shifts his tone to something more concerned. measured. ]
What about you and Charlie? Are you okay? The whole thing with coughing flowers was pretty scary, but this was definitely next level. Even I didn't know what to do for a while.
Don’t use me as an example, Neil. Mages are kinda different when it comes to ridiculous things.
[ the unbelievable is their every day. putting their life on the line was their daily bread. he’d hate for his friend to use him as an example of what’s right when he couldn’t be any further from it as someone that’s considered by many to not be a mage or a human. ]
You wanna hang out? I can go to your place, or we can go somewhere else! Whatever you’re more comfortable with. I’m not picky!
Edited 2025-07-03 03:54 (UTC)
he may not be a mage or a human but what he IS is my pookie
Mm, don’t apologize. You haven’t done anything wrong.
[ there’s a gentleness to flat’s voice now, as he shakes his head despite being aware that neil can’t see him.
when he speaks up again, however, it’s with his usual pep. ]
I’ll be there as quick as lightning!! Even if you change your mind, it’s too late! Ready or not, here I come!
[ flat hangs up. but as promised, he is on his way to neil and charlie’s. due to the constraints brought by the laws of physics, ‘quick as lightning’ is not possible, but ‘as quickly as flat’s feet can take him’ is the type of measurable results that everyone is looking for.
after about twenty minutes, neil will hear a knock on the door. ]
[Neil is in the living room, waiting for that knock. Charlie is passed out upstairs. Neil wouldn't leave his side otherwise. He pulls the door open, smiling softly at his friend, and stepping aside to let him in.]
[ as soon as neil opens the door, flat gets close to him and... places both hands on his cheeks. squishes them and everything.
his hands might smell a little bit like smoke, but don't worry about it.
blue eyes observe his friend, before pulling away with the usual cheerful pep and stepping inside. ]
Glad to see you, too! It feels like it's been forever, hasn't it? Pre-zombie and post-zombie. Well, I guess they weren't really zombies since none of them died before turning, but it looked enough like it.
[ he pauses, and then adds: ]
Are you really okay, Neil? Physically, I mean. Mentally, I know you're probably not doing well.
[Neil's eyebrows shoot up as his face is squished, any melancholy overtaken by pure surprise. When Flat lets go, he so much as laughs, albeit weak. They make their way into the house and Neil...hesitates.
[He is alright physically. He wasn't, but he is now.
[He's not necessarily eager to tell Flat about his deal with Chisaki. He hasn't even told Charlie yet.]
[ flat tilts his head to the side, eyeing neil closely. he takes his shoes off and sits on the sofa, legs crossed. ]
Well, I guess it depends on what you would call lucky. You didn't turn into a zombie, sure. Although I wonder how the experience must have been... destroying stuff doesn't sound too bad, but... mm, I should ask a friend. [ he makes a mental note to do that later. ] And I'm guessing you didn't die. [ a beat. ] You didn't die, right? So in both cases, you got lucky. But after so many good things happening, this kinda feels more like bad luck, doesn't it?
That's why you've holed yourself inside here? Because you're safer in your house than outside and because you and Charlie can take care of each other?
[ and without giving neil the chance to even confirm or deny this, flat continues, clapping his hands. ]
Well, if the problem is that it's stuck in your head, we gotta find a way to replace it with something else! They say that when you go through a traumatic event, you should play Tetris, but it's already too late for that and you don't even know what Tetris is in the first place. So how about we go out?
[ yeah, he JUST got in, but he's already pulling out a notebook and a pencil to scribble a note to charlie that neil is fine, they just went to hang out and that he's missing out ✰ ]
[ flat sticks his tongue out, winking. moving back to the front door, he holds out his hand for neil to take. ]
Come on, didn’t you make all that noise about taking a bite out of life and all that? [ but his smile softens, to something more gentle. concerned, even. ]
I’m not very good at comforting people. So if this isn’t what you wanna do, you should tell me. You’ve been through a lot, so I don’t want to do something you don’t want.
[I'm not very good at comforting people, yet he swallows his own impulsivities to ensure Neil is comfortable. When Neil takes Flat's hand, he can't help but squeeze it a bit.]
No. You're right. I'll be alright. [He...
[Takes a breath. Nods his head. Smiles, tight.] Really.
[ with eyes bright, Flat opens the door, squeezing Neil's hand back. he has a firm hold as he leads the other boy out into the streets. and while the mage is mindlessly whistling away, Neil might ask himself just where they're going to, actually?
well, maybe Neil's memory will be jogged once they start leaving the town. remember the so called haunted tower that they went during their first sleepover? well that just so happens to be coming into view. ]
[Somehow, Neil had had a feeling. It just seemed the natural place to go, somehow; familiar, frightening all the same (it had been in that carefree, perfect way).
[Still, he glances at Flat as they walk, hands still intertwined (is it normal to hold hands this long?).]
What did you have in mind with this old place? You don't have Charlie waiting upstairs to jump out and scare me, do you?
[Just a joke. He almost wishes Charlie was with them, but he's always wishing for Charlie. They do work well as a trio...]
[ unaware of Neil’s joke or his doubts about the acceptable duration of handholding, Flat turns around, looking confused. ]
Why would I do that? I thought he was taking a nap or something?
[ as they come to the base of the tower, Flat smiles upwards to the top of the tower, opening the door with his free hand. ]
I just thought it’d be a nice place to be! This was the first place I came to when I got my magecraft, and it’s become my favorite place since. [ he beams at Neil, leading him into the tower that’s only lit by the light of the setting sun that filters through the windows.] I thought it might help you, too!
[Neil doesn't bother mentioning that it was only a joke. Flat missing the point is part of his charm, and Neil feels desperately fond. He follows his friend dutifully up to the top of the watch tower, though, normally, he's used to taking the lead in situations like this.]
I think it's already helping. [Somehow. Maybe just because Flat thought it worth trying.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
voice; un: whitman (post-june event)
[He calls, oddly nervous, waiting for the line to be picked up.]
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when he realizes that it's the latter, he rushes to pick it up. ]
Hello, hello! Neil, you're alive! That's fantastic!
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Yeah. I am. You are too. I'm glad...
Are...you alright, though? [He sounds alright.]
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[ why would neil be calling him just to ask if he was fine? sure, he hasn't been able to see the other because of the whole issue with the crystal zombie disease...
oh. ]
Aahh, you're probably asking if I got infected! No, no, I didn't! There were a couple of close calls but... I guess I got lucky? Mmm, though that meant I had to be helping out a ton, but I'm not complaining about that.
[ it's good to make yourself useful when you have the ability for it and the desire to do it-- or so his professor would probably say!
but after he says that, flat shifts his tone to something more concerned. measured. ]
What about you and Charlie? Are you okay? The whole thing with coughing flowers was pretty scary, but this was definitely next level. Even I didn't know what to do for a while.
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[. . .]
Flat, when I ask if you're alright, I mean...are you alright? With everything going on, with how terrible it all is...
[Where is he going with this? Surely, he's not the only one who-]
Even though I'm alive, I'm really not...feeling alright. No.
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[ there’s a short pause on the call. ]
Don’t use me as an example, Neil. Mages are kinda different when it comes to ridiculous things.
[ the unbelievable is their every day. putting their life on the line was their daily bread. he’d hate for his friend to use him as an example of what’s right when he couldn’t be any further from it as someone that’s considered by many to not be a mage or a human. ]
You wanna hang out? I can go to your place, or we can go somewhere else! Whatever you’re more comfortable with. I’m not picky!
he may not be a mage or a human but what he IS is my pookie
You're right. Sorry, I'm just- [He interrupts himself so he won't lose it.] Anyway, yes. Yes, I'd love for you to come by. Please?
who says he isnt :)
[ there’s a gentleness to flat’s voice now, as he shakes his head despite being aware that neil can’t see him.
when he speaks up again, however, it’s with his usual pep. ]
I’ll be there as quick as lightning!! Even if you change your mind, it’s too late! Ready or not, here I come!
[ flat hangs up. but as promised, he is on his way to neil and charlie’s. due to the constraints brought by the laws of physics, ‘quick as lightning’ is not possible, but ‘as quickly as flat’s feet can take him’ is the type of measurable results that everyone is looking for.
after about twenty minutes, neil will hear a knock on the door. ]
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Heya, Flat. It's good to see you.
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his hands might smell a little bit like smoke, but don't worry about it.
blue eyes observe his friend, before pulling away with the usual cheerful pep and stepping inside. ]
Glad to see you, too! It feels like it's been forever, hasn't it? Pre-zombie and post-zombie. Well, I guess they weren't really zombies since none of them died before turning, but it looked enough like it.
[ he pauses, and then adds: ]
Are you really okay, Neil? Physically, I mean. Mentally, I know you're probably not doing well.
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[He is alright physically. He wasn't, but he is now.
[He's not necessarily eager to tell Flat about his deal with Chisaki. He hasn't even told Charlie yet.]
I'm alright. I was lucky.
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[ flat tilts his head to the side, eyeing neil closely. he takes his shoes off and sits on the sofa, legs crossed. ]
Well, I guess it depends on what you would call lucky. You didn't turn into a zombie, sure. Although I wonder how the experience must have been... destroying stuff doesn't sound too bad, but... mm, I should ask a friend. [ he makes a mental note to do that later. ] And I'm guessing you didn't die. [ a beat. ] You didn't die, right? So in both cases, you got lucky. But after so many good things happening, this kinda feels more like bad luck, doesn't it?
I should ask a friend (eren)
Yeah. It does.
Even now that it's over, I still can't relax. It's in my head...
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[ and without giving neil the chance to even confirm or deny this, flat continues, clapping his hands. ]
Well, if the problem is that it's stuck in your head, we gotta find a way to replace it with something else! They say that when you go through a traumatic event, you should play Tetris, but it's already too late for that and you don't even know what Tetris is in the first place. So how about we go out?
[ yeah, he JUST got in, but he's already pulling out a notebook and a pencil to scribble a note to charlie that neil is fine, they just went to hang out and that he's missing out ✰ ]
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[Neil can't exactly argue. He's afraid, but he's surely not that afraid. All that mess... It's over now, isn't it?
[They start moving toward the entryway. Neil can only offer a helpless:]
Where do you want to go...?
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[ flat sticks his tongue out, winking. moving back to the front door, he holds out his hand for neil to take. ]
Come on, didn’t you make all that noise about taking a bite out of life and all that? [ but his smile softens, to something more gentle. concerned, even. ]
I’m not very good at comforting people. So if this isn’t what you wanna do, you should tell me. You’ve been through a lot, so I don’t want to do something you don’t want.
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No. You're right. I'll be alright. [He...
[Takes a breath. Nods his head. Smiles, tight.] Really.
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[ with eyes bright, Flat opens the door, squeezing Neil's hand back. he has a firm hold as he leads the other boy out into the streets. and while the mage is mindlessly whistling away, Neil might ask himself just where they're going to, actually?
well, maybe Neil's memory will be jogged once they start leaving the town. remember the so called haunted tower that they went during their first sleepover? well that just so happens to be coming into view. ]
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[Still, he glances at Flat as they walk, hands still intertwined (is it normal to hold hands this long?).]
What did you have in mind with this old place? You don't have Charlie waiting upstairs to jump out and scare me, do you?
[Just a joke. He almost wishes Charlie was with them, but he's always wishing for Charlie. They do work well as a trio...]
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Why would I do that? I thought he was taking a nap or something?
[ as they come to the base of the tower, Flat smiles upwards to the top of the tower, opening the door with his free hand. ]
I just thought it’d be a nice place to be! This was the first place I came to when I got my magecraft, and it’s become my favorite place since. [ he beams at Neil, leading him into the tower that’s only lit by the light of the setting sun that filters through the windows.] I thought it might help you, too!
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I think it's already helping. [Somehow. Maybe just because Flat thought it worth trying.]
You're right. It is a special place.