garregmach | (no subject)

A mist settles in over the monastery.

Is it morning? Night? Who can say? Today, the day feels endless. The sun is nowhere to be seen — or had it been at all? Instead, a curious green glow engulfs Garreg Mach, like an eternal twilight settling in. Time seems to be paused almost, though the wildlife in and around the area continues to act as though nothing is wrong. As though this is perfectly normal. As though it is natural for the skies to be dark, with not a single star in sight, and for the sun to be forgotten in the mist that lingers. The paths are at least lit by small orbs of light, fireflies flitting about.

However, should one come into contact with one of those fireflies, a memory of the past will be projected for all in the close vicinity to see. Joyous occasions, tragic events — they don't seem to discern one way or another. Perhaps it would be best to watch your step for now, though.

Of course, after lingering for about a day, the strange ambience will fade into what appears to be a normal night at Garreg Mach. It's as if nothing had happened at all. Did it? Or was it all simply a shared hallucination?

[ ● MEMSHARE POST. Coming into contact with the fireflies will share a memory of your character's with those around them. You can top-level with a memory to start out or have people tag you and determine it then, whatever. I don't make the rules (except I do and I say yolo). Have fun with it!
● Open posts like this one are flipping to a two week schedule instead of a weekly one.
● Because of the above, the last bit is there for people who'd maybe like to play out aftermath threads later on but don't want to wait for a new post or make a new one.
● Settings have been slightly updated. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I—w-well—

[She hesitates, but... well, other people have seen it firsthand, now, and she saw into what he'd rather keep private, didn't she?

It's... only right.]

My father... he, um, never did anything like... abandon me in the cold. But, that's... that's because, my whole life, he's been trying to groom me to be the 'perfect noble bride' to marry off. I wasn't allowed to have friends early on, and—and when I made friends with a commoner secretly and he found out, the boy got lynched. He'd... do things like tie me to a chair and make me be silent for hours. He'd shut me away and... and eventually, instead of being a punishment, that was my refuge. I hid away when he finally wanted to push me to socialize.

[Her fingers twist together.]

When, when he tried to take me out to show me off to suitors he invited, or to parties, he'd have to literally drag me out of my room—and, um, I'd be kicking and screaming and sometimes wound up hurt, so that only meant I was allowed to hide away again. Bruises lower the brideprice.

[She says that last line with the tired cadence of a quote.]

[ Sylvain waits, listening intently with a knitted brow as she goes on and tells her story. And, at the end of it all, his assessment doesn’t miss a single beat: ]

That’s horrible...

[ There’s true, earnest shock in his voice, head lowering soon after, shaking back and forth. ]

My brother Miklan was bitter and jealous, because he stood to inherit all of House Gautier... until I was born. Our father did nothing to stop it, but there wasn’t much he could do. [ A small shrug. ] Can’t be everywhere at once and all.

[ But as his eyes return to her again, there’s genuine sympathy in his expression. ]

I can’t imagine being in a situation where my father was the instigator; and all for a price.

[ A huff of breath. ]

It’s disgusting. Even heartless.

I...

[She rubs the back of her neck, gaze dropping down.]

I've been hearing that a lot, lately, y-yeah. I don't know if it was the money, or the prestige a smart match could get him, but he was... he was really fixated on it. W-we never really talked about him, during those lessons he insisted on, though. A-And I don't... really know what it's like, having a father that isn't, you know... constantly angry or disappointed. But I imagine that there are plenty of pitfalls outside of that. For... for what it's worth, I'm really sorry you had to live with that, Sylvain.