phantasmalrift | DUNGEON - BELLMARE ENCLAVE (BELLMARE MOUNTAINS, PT 2)

The shadows are starting to grow very long as you crest his particular ridge - it's not night yet, but it will be soon. In the shadows of the afternoon, with a tall mountain already blocking the sun, lies a snow-covered valley that is different from the ones you've come across thus far in your investigation.

This valley is home to a town, and unlike all the settlements you've seen so far - Incendia, the Telovia mining town, and the manor - it's very much active. There are actual people in the streets, visible from above, going through their days on snow-free streets, bundled up against the cold.

Those of you who asked were told of the handful of people who didn't go into the slumber of stasis as the Fissure conditions of the world grew worse and worse, instead isolating themselves and trying to continue living their lives as they could. Now, it seems, you've found exactly such a group.

Welcome to the Bellmare Enclave, and enjoy your stay.

[[OOC: Welcome to part 2 of the dungeon! For the most part, interaction with the town's NPCs can be handwaved as described on the main information post. Worth noting are the following major things: The Bellmare Enclave isn't expecting visitors, though the people are generally friendly to the new arrivals. They don't know about the time dilation effect of their Fissure - to them, it's only been about eighteen years since the Slumber Plan was put in place and they withdrew from the world. And finally, by a similar token, they have no idea how far the Fissures outside of their own have grown - while it's not uncommon for them to find odd objects from time to time, they'll assume that the characters are just arrivals from other places within their own world, rather than outsiders, until told otherwise.]]

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[And he knows this scene, even if it is obviously an uncounted age later with eroded walls and rusted chains, the sight of it is locked into him for eternity, in the deep place he doesn't want to acknowledge, hasn't given voice to, even if it leaks between the pieces of his broken heart -

for a secret that can never be told

- for a brief and terrible moment, he thinks he might be sick.

But just like the dreams of the forest, there is nothing to touch here, except for Ardyn Tenmyouji. And Izunia steels himself before he even considers doing so, his footsteps loud on what is actually the cavern floor. His voice is quiet.]

Ardyn - you're not there, come back up - this isn't - it's not where you are, come back.

[He can't say that it isn't real, because that would be a lie.

It was, once, and that's enough.]

[It was instinct alone that answered at the sound of his brother's voice--thankfully not with blades, but with a scarred and gloved hand curled into a fist and launched at an identical face with all the deceptively considerable strength a slender frame had to offer.]

Edited 2019-01-03 00:11 (UTC)

[That is indeed within the range of expected reactions, honestly. Izunia moves with it enough to not fall over, but he lets it hit, because honestly, yeah. He takes one step away after the impact, hand coming up just shy of his jaw.]

A valid reaction, but are you with me or was that just reflex?

Get the hell away from me.

[A little of both, judging by how Ardyn staggered backwards himself to put his back to the cavern wall.]

I'm not moving. I won't get any closer, but I am not leaving you alone with this.

[That's the compromise.]

...Not ever again.

Fuck you and fuck your sanctimonious act, I'm not going back and you can just try to kill me if you think otherwise.

[...so only mostly here, really.]

[So not here at all, really.]

...Ardyn. Put Tenmyouji back in the driver's seat and breathe. You're not going back and I would ruin anyone who tried with my own hands.

That's a hell of a thing to hear from the one who put me there in the first place.

And I know that nothing will make up for that. That's exactly why I will never let it happen again.

Even if you never believe it, I'll keep telling you that, because it's true.

...I don't. I don't believe you, I can't, I'm never going to.

I know.

But it isn't just for the sake of earning your belief that I do it.

[Ardyn swallowed hard, not quite relaxing so much as seeming gradually less likely to tear his brother's throat out.]

...I don't want your protection.

I know. But you're going to have to deal with it being offered every time anyway, because...

[How does he words. Quiet, for a moment.]

Because not offering it feels to me like saying it was okay. It's not enough to just apologize and pretend it's done, because I know that it will never be done. And if this is all I can offer then I'll do so, time and again, without hesitation.

...

[Quietly, he sank to the floor with his head in his hands.]

...gods, but you're just so fucking infuriating.

I don't know what else to do, Ardyn. I'm just... trying my best to be kind.

Stop sounding like me or I'll hit you again.

Can't help being your twin, brother dear. We're only alike in the unhelpful ways these days, or so I wind up feeling half the time.

Mm...does seem that way, doesn't it?

[...]

I'm not going to apologize for punching you that time.

...I didn't expect you to?

[He literally asked if that was just reflex, Ardyn, he kind of expected it.]

Just making sure we're clear on that, brother dear.

We're clear. Thinking about it makes me want to punch me, so it's fine.

Still could, if you like. I might at least think that was funny.

As my next of kin, consider yourself designated self-punching proxy. Just what you've always wanted, probably.

...I suppose that's a title I can accept.

I'd be wounded if you didn't.

[His jaw is swelling something awful at this point, too, so Izunia grudgingly palms a potion and cracks it in one fist near his face.]

Holding up a little better, now?

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