and when you gaze long into an abyss...

[sageprincess]

Characters: Everyone!
Setting: Everywhere!
Format: Every format!
Summary: General mingle log for the first day of the Into An Abyss event.
Warnings: General Tower warning.

[Freak out, organize, stick your hand into the tear in reality on floor 23, etc.]

Comments

[alephbet]

That's just what happens. Don't worry, we'll build up your endurance too. I'm sure you can be the best swordsman here.

[bydefacto]

I sure hope so. That would be really cool!

[He pauses, looking down at the steak in thought.]

Are there turkeys in the tower? That can be hunted and eaten?

[alephbet]

There should be. Why turkey in particular?

[bydefacto]

It's Christmas next week! I was thinking, we could have a big meal, maybe a party. We can't have those gross nutrition bars and water though; turkey is Christmas food!

[alephbet]

[Let's see, he was around for this last year...]

Christmas is the one with the presents, right?

[bydefacto]

You don't know about Christmas? [He looks up at Aleph, appalled.]

It's when you exchange presents and eat a lot of great food and there's a tree and decorations and stuff! It's great!

[alephbet]

[Aleph shakes his head.] I think it's a holiday of some kind, and my world is... weird about religious holidays.

[bydefacto]

Oh. [A frown.] How come?

I like Christmas, me and my family would have a great time back home... [He smiles fondly, and a little sadly, remembering previous years in December.]

[alephbet]

It's a theocracy run by an insane tyrant of a God. So I'm not really comfortable with religious stuff...

...but I guess it would be nice, if you could spend time with family.

[bydefacto]

Oh... [He's frowning again, thinking that over.]

I'm not really religious. Sealand doesn't even, uh, affil- affiliate with a church anymore. For me Christmas is about family stuff, I guess. And presents, of course! And eating lots!

[alephbet]

I do like presents and eating lots. [Aleph's smiling again.]

[bydefacto]

Of course! [He grins.] Is there any present you'd like the most?

[He's still not sure what to give Aleph next week.]

[alephbet]

Hm... I'm not sure.

[Aleph's not really used to giving or getting presents either.]

There is one thing, but I'm not sure if I should ask.

[bydefacto]

You can ask! I promise I'll do my best to try and get it for you!

[alephbet]

Um. [He fidgets.] You said Christmas is a time when you spend time celebrating with family, right?

...Do you think I could come?

[bydefacto]

Oh. [He's struck silent for a moment, blinking at him. Then he just grins.] Of course you can celebrate it with me!

You're like part of my family now, Aleph.

[alephbet]

[There's undisguised joy on Aleph's face.] You will? Thank you so much!

I've never really had a family.

[bydefacto]

Well, you do now!

You can join me. We can hunt a turkey and cook it! Maybe other meat too, and- [A frown.] Are there any vegetables in the tower? Like, growing ones? [He's kind of hoping Aleph says no.]

I guess I'll have to spend a bit of time with my brother too... He'll give me a present. [This present is totally non-negotiable.]

[alephbet]

Not many grow in winter, I'm afraid. [So that's the no he wanted.]

I'll get you something too. What would you like?

[bydefacto]

That's okay! [Looking very happy about that.]

Um. I dunno... [Everything he wants seems incredibly impractical right now. To get home, to see his family and friends, to be a grown up recognised nation, an iphone...]

I don't think you can find any cool toys or games around here... Not anything I can put in my trunk. But if you could, I'd like it a lot. [He laughs.] Like a football! We need one for the team; I don't think there is any though, so it's okay if you don't find anything. Mostly I think you should do what you're doing now!

[alephbet]

[Not doing anything doesn't sit well with Aleph at all.]

I could try to turn some leather into a ball... I've worked a little on my craftsmanship.

[bydefacto]

Really? That'd be great!

Are you sure you don't want anything else? I wanna get you a proper gift!

[alephbet]

That's definitely a proper gift, what are you talking about? It's the most important thing you could get me.