Empatheias IC Inbox

[shadowofpride]

Use this for any IC one-on-one contact and finishing any loose ends at empatheias

Comments

4/8 | Mental link

[holdsodear]

[This has been a decision long in making. For the longest time Eleanor had mostly been dealing with the shock of what she had been told, and then reasoned with herself, debated, if she should not try to learn more from the actual source.

Seeing him was out of the question, for now, but that didn't limit all her options. It's part of why she takes her crystal into her hands and focuses on the one person out of her reach. She's not even entirely sure if it would work, but what sort of mother would she be if she didn't try?

She can't help but feel guilt after all, even if none of it had anything to do with her to begin with. It was a human thing. Or perhaps just her.]

... Selim? Can you hear me? Is this working?

1/2

[shadowofpride]

[Pride didn't normally expect contacts from anyone outside of the Enforcers or Envy, so another voice actually trying to reach him had him curious. Then he recognized the voice, and the link suddenly went icy cold as if hell had frozen over. He probably should have expected this possibility, considering this place could bring anyone, but it still caught him off guard that his human mother's was here!]

[shadowofpride]

[....She was here, of course the gods would decide to bring her here after everything he had done. What cruel irony this was. ]

.... [He didn't want to say anything. There was no point in pretending to be something he wasn't. Everyone knew and she would have found out...or probably already has. Still, some small part of him felt a need to respond to his mother.] It's working.

[His tone was even, the coldness melting away and returning the link to something more neutral, even if there was this odd low rumbling sound in the background.]

[holdsodear]

[The coldness was unexpected, though to be fair, she hadn't been certain what to expect, with the stories. And yet the voice she heard after was like her son's, and at the same time, not at all.]

Selim ...

[She had not thought step two of this plan very far, now that contact had been accomplished.]

So it is. So it is. Oh heavens. [He was not supposed to hear all of that, but mental links didn't allow the best for discretion.]

I won't lie, I know what's happened here, and ... I know that you're not entirely who I thought you were. I still want to hear it from you.

[shadowofpride]

[Nope. Not what he wanted to deal with.] If you know, then you should address me as Pride.

[Since she confirmed it herself, the child in him went into the background. This was now just a conversation with another troublesome human to him.]

From me, in hopes that it was all a mistake? That your son is actually a good little boy? I doubt anything I tell you will be different from what you've been told.

[holdsodear]

Is that what you prefer to be called?

[It made the fact that she often thought of him as her pride almost all too literal.]

In any case, that's for me to decide, isn't it? I don't know what your thoughts were going into this at all.

[shadowofpride]

That is my real name. [So yes.]

I was looking for a way home, and I did whatever I had to in order to find that answer.

[holdsodear]

And how do you feel about that decision now?

[shadowofpride]

[What do you mean how did he feel? Why does that matter?]

Considering that it was a success, I don't have any regrets from my decision.

5/2

[intohell]

[There's really no reason for her to do this, any responsibility Riza felt toward Selim Bradley died the moment he showed his true self. Still, there had been some lingering affection even if it was aimed at a lie and what she knew for fact now colored that somewhat.

It was probably a stupid thing to even try, she doubted he would answer her in the first place, but she'd be disappointed in herself if she didn't. And so, there will be a message sent his way, the mental voice quiet, and noticably tired.]

Did you know it was possible to be sent home through no effort of your own?

[shadowofpride]

[He didn't answer immediately, there was only an eruption of emotions instead. Of course he fucking knew, that wasn't the point. The amount of times people have been challenging what he stood for lately has gotten very aggravating to deal with. He wished he could shut everyone up, permanently.]

What do you want? [His tone was even, his emotions pulled back and now under control. There was still just this prickling sensation though.]

[intohell]

[It had been an easy enough way to make sure she had his attention. Anything else he would have ignored or completely blown up about. That he replies is a good enough start as far as she's concerned.]

Just a moment of your time.

[It's not like he's busy or anything, right? She won't point that out since she does want to talk and not torment him.]

[shadowofpride]

Then get on with it. [Whether he had time or not didn't matter. He clearly wanted her to get to her point and be done with it.]

[intohell]

Fine. I'd like to know what happened before you ended up back here.

[shadowofpride]

[....] Why? [She gave no indication of being interested the last time he bragged about going home.]

[intohell]

I want to compare what we know now.

[shadowofpride]

[...So when she asked if he knew another method of going home, she was actually saying she had gone home herself. There was silence as Pride thought about how to answer this.]

...Father had completed his ritual and had gone up to the surface while I fought with Fullmetal down below. [The details were vague, because there were certain things he didn't want to admit, that things were not going according to plan before he came back to Verens.]

12/25

[wrenchwielder]

[For Christmas Winry gets Pride a scarf.]

5/1 | Action

[jeido]

[On this day, Pride will be hearing a few knocks on their front door, along with a somewhat familiar, if perhaps unwanted, male's voice:]

Eleanor, are you home?

[Jade's tone is still calm for the moment, if a bit cheerful as he tries to affect a cool demeanor. Not really for the benefit of the Enforcer standing guard nearby, but more for himself as he waits for a response.

He had a bad feeling about this, overall. It's been lingering in the back of his mind since he tried to contact Eleanor through the Network last night and received no response, and was only exacerbated by the fact that he couldn't get a hold of her the next day either. Last night, he could've attributed to a long, tiring day. Today, however, is a different story, especially when they've agreed prior to meet up for lunch and have been timely in terms of keeping in touch.

None of this is characteristic of the Eleanor he's come to know, and loathe as he is to think of the worst-case scenario, it's starting to feel more and more likely with each passing moment, and it's only a testament to his emotional control that none of his anxiety affects the environment or his expression as he waits for an answer to his house call.]

[shadowofpride]

[There was a sense of foreboding surrounding this home, like all the happiness had been sucked dry, replaced by the weight of discontent and anger. Pride was not taking Eleanor absence very well. She had never returned home last night and he had left in search for her on his own, only to find nary of a hint to where she could have gone.

Why didn't he ask her to specify what exactly she was planning to do yesterday? The knock on the door and the sound of a certain someone's voice did not help his mood. He recalls the conversation he had with Ed, which only led him to become further suspicious. And so the front door will abruptly come open, but Jade will not be met with a small child, just complete darkness. Eyes in intense violet form within that darkness.] What do you want?

[The sudden omnipresent voice startles the guard, a shaking hand grasping for his weapon. He couldn't decide if Pride was trying to be threatening or this was just his way of greeting someone.]

[jeido]

[The door swinging open with no one behind it only serves to heighten his anxiety as it lends to the possibility he'd rather not have to deal with. Even with the hint provided by the presence of the guard who accompanies him inside, and especially when it's darkness that greets him instead of Pride's much more "normal" form.]

An answer to my question.

[The guard stops in the middle of drawing his weapon when Jade stops him with his hand--a non-verbal way of saying to let Jade handle this situation. Whether Pride's emotional effects are taking hold on Jade or not is up in the air, but there's a slight edge to his response even as he tries to keep his tone mild and non-accusatory. He's never made a habit of jumping into conclusions, and is certainly not about to start now, even if it's the "easiest" answer to the riddle of Eleanor's whereabouts.]

[shadowofpride]

[However much Jade tries to remain pleasant, Pride's oppressive nature doesn't relent.]

She is not here. What business do you have with her? [He's purposely not mentioning how long she's been gone.]

[jeido]

Is that so...

[There's a trace of doubt in his words, even if all evidence thus far seems to prove that Pride isn't deceiving him. Even so, intent is a whole different story, and he finds himself wondering why she isn't home, and if Pride anything had to do it.]

...my business with her is between the two of us. If she hasn't seen fit to share it with you, I don't see why I should be any more forthcoming about it.

[Jade is still smiling, but the air around him chills slightly, lending a none too comfortable air around him and the guard, who chooses to back away that moment and excuse himself, saying he'll be at the front should there be a need for him.]

More importantly, why isn't she here?

[shadowofpride]

[Jade might have the sense of something creeping beneath him. Dark tendrils were brushing against his boots, not taking Jade's responses very well. And something about the way he remain calm was unsettling.]

And why should I answer that question? Where she is, is not your business.

[jeido]

[Jade feels it, alright. And he doesn't like it one bit. But again, he gives no indication of discomfort, only letting a few harmless sparks crackle from beneath his feet as a warning of sorts should Pride decide to throw caution to the wind.]

It is my business if we've made plans to meet today and she doesn't show up.

[It takes all of his control to keep his tone level. The oppressive air about them isn't letting up after all, and Jade isn't exactly in the best emotional state to not let such things affect him.]

...Is there a reason why you're unable to answer what I feel is a simple question?