fiddlestick | IC Contact

[ in other words: i'm comin

]

[He'll get that photo and smile]

Drive safe!

[When Eren pulls up, Elliot will be sitting on the front-step of the house. He's got that staff from earlier with him, his backpack (he really has to find an easy way to carry the ARCUS), and a bouquet of a dozen roses. Also a fresh change of clothes from what he was wearing in the phonecall -- it turns out water magic is wet. Who would've thought?

Unsurprisingly, he was occupying himself by listening to music through headphones. But when Eren pulls up, he'll pull the headphones off his head and let them rest around his neck, and gives Eren a big wave]

[ good thing they don’t notice the hooded mustache man lurking in the shadows . . .

eren’s car is easily heard, muffling his metalcore in the parking lot as he rolls up, already feeling a smile tug at his lips with the other boy in sight. there’s the wizard staff, and— wow, roses. if he isn’t feeling bashful already. through tinted windows, elliot won’t be able to really see the look on eren’s face until he steps out, carrying a bag in hand and surprisingly: normal clothes! a favorite pair of working boots, slim fitted jeans and a comfy navy blue t-shirt.

his insides are buzzing with each step, man. it’s obvious that, while in a different and slightly more reserved manner, he’s still beaming. seeing elliot was all he needed to want to do . . . a lot of things at once, and be unable to put half of it in words. ]

Hope you’re hungry.

[ he lifts the bag to show the snacks. well. ingredients. it’s the only thing he knows how to make, thanks Mom. ]

[Pay no attention to the hooded mustache man okay.

He'll stand up as Eren walks up the sidewalk, holding onto the staff in one hand and the bouquet in the other. He can't really hug Eren with his hands full, but he'll beam at him while he approached]

Sure am! Need my kitchen?

And maybe some back up.

[ that was and wasn’t a joke at the same time. a glance goes from the staff to the owner holding it, then to the roses— which were mentioned to be his, right? he’ll find a place for them outside at his place, and very carefully takes them from elliot’s hold, glancing down at the petals. these remind him of his mom, she loves these things. placing the bag on the ground first, he dips his head; elliot probably wouldn’t do the magic inside if it wrecked a chair, so the best place was here. but most of all, he holds the bundle up, looking shy, even: ]

Thanks.

[ for these. don’t feel awkward with how gosh darn sweet it is, he’s never gotten flowers. ever. ]

[He laughs a little at the joke, while making a mental note to watch Eren in the kitchen JUST IN CASE. That's his kitchen dangit, he's slightly protective of it. But oh, watching Eren shyly react to receiving the flowers make his heart melt a little. ]

Haha, it's nothing. Someone was giving away free roses, so I thought I'd get some for you.

[He glances a little to the side]

Though they went overboard and gave me twelve dozen roses...those are the best in the bunch though!

[ THIS IS REALLY FUCKING SWEET AND HE WASNT WAITING FOR IT ELLIOT!!!!! is this a cue to kiss him or something?? probably not, eren’s a little too anxious to try something like that without a lousy success rate. he opens his mouth momentarily, then closes it again, letting that body language speak up for him.

a never before seen action deserves a never before seen reaction, off course. after a moment, he pushes through the red spreading across his face to speak up. was that an embassassing and very slight voice crack? maybe. let him clear his throat. ]

How’s the magic going?

[Wow, he did not expect the flowers to get this strong a reaction. It's really cute to see this side of Eren. His hands move in front of him, holding onto that staff with both hands so it's horizontal in front of him.]

Hehe, wanna see?

[ you’ve got an audience now, elliot. eren sits himself down where he was sitting before, getting comfortable and putting all his attention forward. ]

Let me have it.

Okay!

[He'll take a few steps away from the front so he's out in the front yard. Moving his staff in the up position, he'll set sights on a rather large rock. Then he concentrates, doing his best to channel the energy like that notebook described. It takes a moment, but when he has the right amount of energy build up there's a gray flash of light. In front of him, several water droplets start to form in the air. They start small, but they start to merge together into bigger and bigger forms until there's one heavy mass of water floating in front of him- easily several gallons worth. When it's ready, Elliot releases whatever mental hold he had on it by raising his staff- and the mass of water goes flying across the yard- slamming into that rock with a powerful force.

Which of course, causes a big splash and water goes everywhere. But hey, still magic!!

He lowers his staff back to that horizontal position and turns back to Eren. There's a big smile on his face and he laughs a little as he bows.]

[ the real question: is he or is he not in the splash zone.

it’s watched with great interest, from start to finish— eren nearly gets up (no he actually does get up) when the water appears to stare in awe. he doesn’t even blink, it’s amazing. you’re amazing. fight him, elliot’s a wizard. eren gives a short round of applause before he forgets (staring too hard, whoops), by now on his feet. it was even cooler up close! ]

Holy shit— [ !!!!! ] What does it feel like?

[You're safe this time. Elliot learned the hard way earlier to try to keep the spell landing a good distance away.

Elliot stands up straight again. He's beaming at the applause, even blushing a little. ]

Hehe, uh, it's a little hard to describe. Like I'm manipulating some kind of energy?

[ gathering his things back in his arms and fingers, eren gives elliot a very impressed glance up and down, like, look at how cool that staff is. juggling everything into one arm, he holds a hand out to him as he’s in between the lower steps of the building. ]

That’s amazing, you know.

[He'll take that hand and step closer to him.]

Thanks. I probably still have a lot of practice before I'd be considered good though...

[Elliot there's not exactly many wizards around to compare yourself to, calm down]

What about you? You got something from Retrospec too, right?

[ you know what he was going to say, right elliot. just by the smile on his face and the slight shake of his head. accept that you are great, or else he’ll have to show you his list! you do not want to see his list. it just got bigger, by the way.

but, there’s no way you can say no to that sort of constructive criticism. pulling the other’s hand with enough strength to force an extra step (not too hard, of course), he releases his grip to cushion elliot’s momentum and to slip his arm around his shoulders. hi. let’s walk. ]

Nothing huge, but. I can show you inside.

[ he does not want to lift his shirt up out here . . . ]

[The day he sees that list is the day he dies okay. Because he'd just die from all the compliments. But yeah sorry, the magic is going to get treated the same way his music done- with an absolute perfectionist attitude. Gotta make sure it's perfect so he doesn't get eaten!!

He'll get pulled into that extra step, smiling up at Eren when that arm gets slipped around his shoulders. He'll hold out his staff and concentrate for a moment, and in a flash of white light- the staff is reduced to a much smaller size- no bigger than a violin that's easy to tuck under his arms. There. Now Eren won't accidentally get smacked by the thing]

Inside? Haha, okay. Let's go.

[Heading inside now!]

[ ah . . . . that was cool. that was really cool. it sort of looks like a violin, too? as they make their way inside and to elliot’s room, eren will muse: ]

It really suits you. [ from the staff to the actual magic, like, look at it! ] Those uniforms were probably for magic school, huh? [ see?? it’s not the military!! once they’re inside, he’ll set the roses where he can see them, so he doesn’t forget (but he won’t forget), putting the plastic bag on the counter and spreading the ingredients out.

looks like something that has to do with fruit-! ]

Aha...

[Elliot will hesitate for a moment at that suggestion. He's tempted to go along with the lie, to pretend that yeah, he actually went to a magic school like in those books. It was a nice lie, it would make Eren happy. And maybe it would even make him happy to pretend otherwise. They're having such a nice time right now (and he's even making him something with fruit!! Elliot's favorite), why risk ruining it?

But...it would still be a lie. Elliot knew it wouldn't make it better in the long run. And he didn't lie to Eren. He didn't want to start now.]

A-Actually... [With great reluctance, he'll pull this out of his pocket to show Eren. It looks like a flip phone, but the size is closer to that of an iphone (though twice as thick as one of those).] This came with the staff, it helps with channeling spells.

[The words on the cover read very clearly: THORS MILITARY ACADEMY. Elliot will glance off to the side, not wanting to see Eren's reaction.]

[ sticking a container that looks very much like a gallon or so of vanilla ice cream (eren...........) in the freezer for later use, eren turns around, leaning himself back against the counter and taking the device in hand, curiosity growing. came with the staff, huh— he flips it backwards at first, inspecting it in his hand, then turning it. there’re words—

his vision goes straight to the word his brain was programmed to catch out of interest, but by the time military actually registers, the little shine in his eye snaps to an end. that’s exactly what it means, and his gaze goes straight to elliot, who isn’t looking at him.

time to abandon the fruit for a little bit to stride on over to him, setting the device onto the nearby table, a sigh somewhat apparent through the silence. he’s not happy for elliot, because he knows. he could only imagine what it felt like for him. it’d be like if he found out his past self was a doctor. they imagine the worst because of current feelings on the matter . . .

would elliot ever be the type to be happy with that? he can’t really imagine it. ]

You’re not like that, now.

[ it was still hard to imagine that they’re the same people. they weren’t. even if people were getting body modifications, including himself— would that change anything if they shared the same face, and the same name?

the emotions that came with the memories didn’t help to differentiate. ]

[Eren I don't think Elliot could eat a gallon of ice cream I'm just saying...

As for Elliot's feelings about the school's name...no, he wasn't happy. He didn't hate the military, but he didn't want to be part of it. He wasn't cut out for what it required, and the idea of fighting other people? It just...made him sick to think about. He knew it was hypocritical, that he could accept his family and Eren fighting others but not himself ... but that's what it was.

But at the same time, he had already suspected for awhile it was a military school, despite the reassurances from Eren. The uniforms, the fighting memories- it all pointed in that direction. This just...confirmed it. ]

I-I know.

[He'll look back up at Eren and offer him a smile- one of those where he wasn't actually happy but wanted to try to make things better. ]

It's fine. It's not like I'm going to that school now, right?

You’re studying music, now.

[ It’s said as an extra reminder, but it still doesn’t change what memories tugged with it. they weren’t just memories— there were feelings involved. it’s at these moments where eren would rather not think they’re the same people. so far, at least for him, there hasn’t been anything . . .

there has, now that he thinks back on it. being chained and beaten, wanting to kill people— that’s not something with smooth sails, but then again he doesn’t know even half of the story it painted. unconsciously, his hand goes to his chest, fingers prying for something just under his shirt with far away eyes. ducking his head, he pulls at the string around his neck and out slips a key, holding it out in a slight dangle for elliot to take.

he doesn’t say anything yet, though. he seems thoughtful. ]

Edited 2017-10-10 10:26 (UTC)

R-Right.

[He knows it's not that simple though. It wasn't like he was living his dream fully here- he hadn't even had the courage to declare a major yet. Plus those memories he's been getting of his classmates...there was fondness for them. An affection. He had no idea who they were but...there was a part of him that wanted to see them again.

But he doesn't voice any of that. Instead, he takes notice of Eren as he pulls out the key from underneath his shirt. It's such an old fashion key, like one you see in old movies. ]

Huh? You got a key?

[ if elliot wants to get a look at it himself, eren will place it in his hands as he pinches the rope, lets it down gently. it’s nothing fancy, nothing out of the ordinary, if not just really old as noticed. it might be a little harder for him to shake these thoughts off now in a blink, a little quieter than he had been. the bigger picture in what retrospec wanted to do . . .

a past life was in the past, but there was still curiosity to learn more, and perhaps a little worry behind doing so. elliot may not have voiced his thoughts, but it was highly probabl that eren was thinking the same. ]

Yeah. It’s just a key, though.

[ as far as he knew— believe him, he tried to do the cirque du soleil with it to no avail. but if there was one thing, it was an inner feeling of it being very important. ]

. . . I feel like I need it. You have that too, right?

[ having the feeling that something belonged to you and needing something were two different things, though. ]

[Once it's in his hands, he'll take a closer look at it, as if trying to figure out if there's something magical about it...but there's nothing as far as he can tell. He even taps it on the table a couple times. Yep, regular key sound]

Need it? I...guess? I mean, my stuff feels like it belongs to me, and I'll need them if something happens...

[He thinks over the key for a moment]

Have you taken it to a locksmith? They might be able to tell you something....at least what it's for.

[ it’s not like he’ll need a key if anything happens, unless keys are the rad new melee weapon, so to that, eren gives a slight shrug, dipping his head sideways as if to say it wasn’t exactly the same . . . feeling. there was that sense of belonging, but . . . he needed it. he had to hold onto it. so much that he’s traded his dog tags for it to hang around his neck instead of something so previously prized and prided from the air force.

weird. ]

You think they can tell the difference? From everything I remember— it’s pretty damn old.

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