[Even a phrase as short as that says multitudes. Anaxa did soften the blow, but it was still a blow nonetheless. Phainon stares at the message once, then twice, then several more times, unsure of how to even start again with any words at all.
Anaxa has been staying with Mydei. For a month. And neither of them had thought to tell him that Anaxa was in Kaisou, let alone living with Mydei at all. Not even once. It hurts. It hurts even with the concern to make the information easier to swallow. And he's certain that his beloved professor knows that this admittance will not make anything easier to take, compared to what he already has.
...so far, his reawakening into this life in Kaisou has had plenty of drawbacks.
It takes him a while to find anything to say to Anaxa, at that. More than ten minutes, as he types out words, then deletes them; types them out again, reads over it and then deletes them again. Nothing he says seems like the right thing to say- too upset, too emotional, too angry, even too withdrawn to make it seem like a fair conversation for the other.
Finally, he just decides to push past it. Any kind of response to how the both of them could have left him behind, or not considered him at all? It just comes across as jealous and selfish, and Phainon won't have that.]
That's fine. [It's not fine. But he can lie for the sake of holding face, he's had to do that since forever.] Actually, let me come get you, and we'll walk to the cafe together. It'll be quicker that way!
He can tell that that was a mistake immediately, by the long lapse in Phainon's answers. Knows he's screwed up--though hopefully not irreparably. Is it so wrong that he'd taken the offer of a place to stay? Not on its own, no. But to take the offer from someone else Phainon is close to... and for him to find out this way...
Curse every last thing that calls itself a higher power. Why must it be so difficult to navigate the maze of human emotions? ]
That gives me the time to find a coat warm enough to fend off this infernal chill. If I had known it would get this cold here, I might have stayed in that burning simulacrum.
[ He means the labyrinth, of course... and its recreation of the fallen Grove. ]
[The worst part for Phainon is that he knows none of this was done maliciously. That Anaxa did not purposely avoid him for a month, only lost himself to an entire new world and all the wonders that that would entail. That Mydei would never purposely keep this from him, because he knows how important Anaxa is to Phainon.
...He just doesn't know how to not feel somewhat betrayed by this. Like he's an afterthought, in some way. It's a mess. Phainon scrubs his face a little and reads what Anaxa has sent, pushing air through his teeth as he gets his own jacket.]
It won't take me long to get there, at least? So we won't be in the cold for very long.
[But that last part...]
Burning simulacrum... the Grove? You were in the Grove, professor?
I have to say, it was rather jarring to go from the relative utopia of the Eternal Page to... that. I can't say which cycle, or what time period it might have been drawn from. Only that the whole of the Grove was aflame, and I was alone.
[ As he writes, he's already searching the house for a coat to borrow. It likely ends up being the same one he was offered on the previous excursion out of the house, heavy and dark and altogether much too large for his slender frame. It was... decent enough, then, so it should do for now.
With that coat secured in place around him, he'll make his way outside to wait for Phainon. Or.... to the foyer, at least. ]
[Phainon remembers the glimpses he's had of something akin to that. It's only small pieces in the 20,000 lives he can hold onto, but he has enough of an idea of how uncomfortable and terrifying that must have been, to go through.]
A labyrinth, sounds like. I remember talking about those when I was with the Order.
Be there soon!
[Doesn't really expand on that, at least not now. But he plans to, when he meets up with Anaxa.
Sure enough, though, Phainon arrives promptly at Mydei's place, in a thick coat with a hood over his head. Everything looks rather normal- except for the very obvious white fluffy tail that wags lazily back and forth behind him.
Someone got "gifted" with becoming part dog. He grins at seeing Anaxa, tail moving faster, and walks right up to him.]
[ Anaxa has far too many questions for Phainon by the time he stops answering altogether. What do you mean, ‘a labyrinth’? What do you mean you remember hearing about them? Like it’s the most casual thing in the world?? Is that NORMAL??
Unfortunately, all of those questions have to be saved for the moment his favorite student arrives in person. And in that moment, after spending several terribly long seconds staring at the wagging tail sticking out behind him (as though Anaxa is any better, now), he finds his tongue and starts off sharply. ]
I demand an explanation. Begin with what, exactly, a labyrinth is, and what purpose it serves. Is it yet another “typical” feature of this world? Are all travelers accosted by visions of their worst memories upon arriving here?
[Hearing Anaxa demand so many questions of him actually causes Phainon to pause- but not because of the questions. Rather, it's the fact that his professor has bunny ears sitting on his head, as if he's always had them in every cycle of Amphoreus.
...that is way too cute, actually. It causes Phainon to laugh a little, brow raising, before he moves and scoops Anaxa out from under his feet... and directly into a princess carry.]
I could tell you the answers, Professor, but I think we'd be better sitting down in the cafe, with something warm to drink first.
[Is he going to carry Anaxa there this way?? Hello????????]
[ Not only the ears, either, ohhhhh no. There are also antlers budding from the top of his head, still covered in a layer of velvet as a young buck's might be. That does nothing to help the impression that he is cute.
... Nor does the startled noise that slips out when Phainon scoops him up off the ground like a madman!!! In his bewilderment, he flails a bit, then hurriedly wraps his arms around his former student as though afraid that he may be dropped. ]
Phainon--!! Put me down this instant! I'm perfectly capable of walking on my own!
[ Don't mind the faint gold dusting his cheeks. It's probably from the cold. Yeah. ]
[The antlers will be fiddled with once they're in a warmer place, Phainon partially mesmerized by Anaxa's indecent squawk and the way he clings to him. Instead, he grins, ignoring his beloved professor's order, and just huffs.]
Hold on, we'll be quick to get there.
[And off he goes, speed incredibly quick, but nothing too ridiculously fast that Anaxa can't handle. It cuts down their travel time immensely, and Phainon doesn't stop until he's right outside the door of the cafe.]
[ All Anaxa can do is cling tightly to Phainon as he just-- he-- he just-- runs??? to the cafe??? The professor won't admit to being maybe a little put-off by the whole endeavor, only for the sheer fact that a collision at this speed would likely do serious harm to one or both of them--
--and then they arrive. Like nothing happened. Anaxa does not loosen his death grip on Phainon for quite a while, even then. ]
I... I can't... believe that you would do such a thing, put me down, right now.
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no subject
[Even a phrase as short as that says multitudes. Anaxa did soften the blow, but it was still a blow nonetheless. Phainon stares at the message once, then twice, then several more times, unsure of how to even start again with any words at all.
Anaxa has been staying with Mydei. For a month. And neither of them had thought to tell him that Anaxa was in Kaisou, let alone living with Mydei at all. Not even once. It hurts. It hurts even with the concern to make the information easier to swallow. And he's certain that his beloved professor knows that this admittance will not make anything easier to take, compared to what he already has.
...so far, his reawakening into this life in Kaisou has had plenty of drawbacks.
It takes him a while to find anything to say to Anaxa, at that. More than ten minutes, as he types out words, then deletes them; types them out again, reads over it and then deletes them again. Nothing he says seems like the right thing to say- too upset, too emotional, too angry, even too withdrawn to make it seem like a fair conversation for the other.
Finally, he just decides to push past it. Any kind of response to how the both of them could have left him behind, or not considered him at all? It just comes across as jealous and selfish, and Phainon won't have that.]
That's fine. [It's not fine. But he can lie for the sake of holding face, he's had to do that since forever.] Actually, let me come get you, and we'll walk to the cafe together. It'll be quicker that way!
no subject
He can tell that that was a mistake immediately, by the long lapse in Phainon's answers. Knows he's screwed up--though hopefully not irreparably. Is it so wrong that he'd taken the offer of a place to stay? Not on its own, no. But to take the offer from someone else Phainon is close to... and for him to find out this way...
Curse every last thing that calls itself a higher power. Why must it be so difficult to navigate the maze of human emotions? ]
That gives me the time to find a coat warm enough to fend off this infernal chill. If I had known it would get this cold here, I might have stayed in that burning simulacrum.
[ He means the labyrinth, of course... and its recreation of the fallen Grove. ]
no subject
...He just doesn't know how to not feel somewhat betrayed by this. Like he's an afterthought, in some way. It's a mess. Phainon scrubs his face a little and reads what Anaxa has sent, pushing air through his teeth as he gets his own jacket.]
It won't take me long to get there, at least? So we won't be in the cold for very long.
[But that last part...]
Burning simulacrum... the Grove? You were in the Grove, professor?
[As he makes his way towards the door.]
no subject
I have to say, it was rather jarring to go from the relative utopia of the Eternal Page to... that. I can't say which cycle, or what time period it might have been drawn from. Only that the whole of the Grove was aflame, and I was alone.
[ As he writes, he's already searching the house for a coat to borrow. It likely ends up being the same one he was offered on the previous excursion out of the house, heavy and dark and altogether much too large for his slender frame. It was... decent enough, then, so it should do for now.
With that coat secured in place around him, he'll make his way outside to wait for Phainon. Or.... to the foyer, at least. ]
no subject
A labyrinth, sounds like. I remember talking about those when I was with the Order.
Be there soon!
[Doesn't really expand on that, at least not now. But he plans to, when he meets up with Anaxa.
Sure enough, though, Phainon arrives promptly at Mydei's place, in a thick coat with a hood over his head. Everything looks rather normal- except for the very obvious white fluffy tail that wags lazily back and forth behind him.
Someone got "gifted" with becoming part dog. He grins at seeing Anaxa, tail moving faster, and walks right up to him.]
Hey! There you are. Ready to get going?
no subject
Unfortunately, all of those questions have to be saved for the moment his favorite student arrives in person. And in that moment, after spending several terribly long seconds staring at the wagging tail sticking out behind him (as though Anaxa is any better, now), he finds his tongue and starts off sharply. ]
I demand an explanation. Begin with what, exactly, a labyrinth is, and what purpose it serves. Is it yet another “typical” feature of this world? Are all travelers accosted by visions of their worst memories upon arriving here?
no subject
...that is way too cute, actually. It causes Phainon to laugh a little, brow raising, before he moves and scoops Anaxa out from under his feet... and directly into a princess carry.]
I could tell you the answers, Professor, but I think we'd be better sitting down in the cafe, with something warm to drink first.
[Is he going to carry Anaxa there this way?? Hello????????]
no subject
... Nor does the startled noise that slips out when Phainon scoops him up off the ground like a madman!!! In his bewilderment, he flails a bit, then hurriedly wraps his arms around his former student as though afraid that he may be dropped. ]
Phainon--!! Put me down this instant! I'm perfectly capable of walking on my own!
[ Don't mind the faint gold dusting his cheeks. It's probably from the cold. Yeah. ]
no subject
Hold on, we'll be quick to get there.
[And off he goes, speed incredibly quick, but nothing too ridiculously fast that Anaxa can't handle. It cuts down their travel time immensely, and Phainon doesn't stop until he's right outside the door of the cafe.]
Still in one piece, Professor?
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--and then they arrive. Like nothing happened. Anaxa does not loosen his death grip on Phainon for quite a while, even then. ]
I... I can't... believe that you would do such a thing, put me down, right now.