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Gwyar ‘Aries’ Ariethous Fraoch | Male | 17 | Demisexual | Ambi | Physical - Weapon Knowledge | Mentions; Everyone(Dir/Ind).

Time passed and silence stretched on, enveloping it and warping its sense of how much time had actually passed. Way too much, it knew. The main wielder hadn’t said anything yet, hadn’t corrected it yet. It didn’t know if it was so dull that it was still doing something wrong and the main wielder just didn’t want to correct it until it stopped doing whatever it was doing that was wrong, or if the main wielder was still processing what it’d said and trying to decide on a correction. Or, and the idea terrified it, if these weren’t new wielders and it had left the arena. But it wouldn’t have, it wouldn’t have. So that couldn’t be what was happening.

There was a shuffling noise, and since it could tell that Briar wasn’t the one moving, that meant the main wielder was. It tried not to tense, tried not to react, it hadn’t been given permission to do anything yet. But the main wielder was standing and that meant that he’d remembered what it was and was going to correct it. Like what should’ve been happening already.

Instead… Footsteps walking away from it, without a word. The door opened and closed, and it was left with only Briar again, who was still messing with its hair… It forced itself not to move, to not react, to not do anything other than what it had been told it was allowed to do. Even if the main wielder wasn’t here now, it had to listen. It couldn’t fail, it couldn’t be even more dull. The main wielder was probably just deciding how to correct it now, since surely whatever correction he’d had thought of before wasn’t enough now, after it had challenged his authority. His ownership. It wasn’t supposed to do that, and even forgiving wielders hated when it did. So it definitely deserved worse than it had before, but it would’ve deserved even worse if it hadn’t reminded the main wielder, and it knew better than to try and pretend to be a person when it wasn’t one.

Briar didn’t try to talk this time, which was good. If Briar wasn’t talking then there was less of a chance to get in trouble. It wasn’t sure if the main wielder would listen to it if it tried to get him to spare Briar again. Especially after challenging him. Either way, time passed in silence again, though admittedly less time than before.

Quicker than the last time the main wielder had left, the door opened again. The footsteps were quicker too, and easily identifiable as not the main wielder. Though it could hear the main wielder and someone else following quickly behind the one in front. It hadn’t memorized anyone else’s footsteps yet though- Only the main wielder. But the fact that someone was in front of the main wielder? Had to be someone with a rank similar to his.

Which meant that the main wielder had probably brought them to correct it. Well, that’s what anyone being brought to it would mean at this point, right? Just since it had broken so severely, the main wielder had brought someone of equal rank to him. It didn’t have time to tense or brace or even stop its shallow breathing as the implication of who the footsteps could belong to—

Pain blossomed where a foot had connected with its side, causing it to take a too deep breath to retrieve the air suddenly gone and the sting behind its eyes to finally make said eyes slightly water as it followed the force of the foot for a moment before it could tense itself and try not to move, bracing and tensing for whatever else the correction would entail. It just hadn’t— There were weapons everywhere in this room, it had thought— It was a thing, things can’t think. Not really, at least. It hadn’t thought anything, but it had noticed weapons in here and believed that meant one of those would be used for its correction.

“Junie-!”

That sounded like the wielder that had asked for its hands earlier. Junie? Who was?— Was that the forger that had kicked it? But that wasn’t the name it’d heard for who was supposed to be the main forger. Was the one that kicked it not the main forger? And, more importantly, why did the wielder sound concerned? Even more importantly, why hadn’t it been kicked again yet? There was the sound of the forger stepping back, but no sound that told it that the forger was going to continue. Was the forger using weapons after all and had just kicked it to make sure it was ready? It wasn’t sure, it didn’t know, it braced and tensed and tried not to react to strongly since the main wielder was still there but—

“My work here is done. I'm sure Aries has learned a lesson, yes?”

The words shocked it enough that it had to pause its tiny spiral, head reeling from confusion. That was all? The kick was all these new wielders and forgers were going to do to it? The area that had been kicked ached still, sure, but the pain wasn’t anywhere near what it’d been expecting. It wasn’t sure if it was allowed to speak, if the question it was being asked was rhetorical or not.

“What is wrong with you?!”

It tensed again quickly at the sound of Briar’s voice, the anger nipping its ears and it braced for— For whatever would happen. The anger wasn’t towards it, it knew that. It did. It just— It had said that it would take Briar’s correction too and that wasn’t a good thing to say to a forger. At all. That was all, it wasn’t— It wasn’t bracing in response to Briar. It wasn’t. It didn’t do that. Briar wasn’t a trainer or wielder or forger or— Or anyone that would correct it if it messed up, if it broke. It wasn’t bracing in response to Briar and the scorching anger in their words. It wasn’t.

“I did what was necessary. And everything is over now, so there's no need to linger. As long as Aries has learned, I am satisfied.”

So that was all this forger believed it needed as correction. It didn’t— It shouldn’t question the forger. It already challenged the main wielder, it shouldn’t challenge a forger too. Wasn’t that correction unfair though? Hadn’t it broken more? Hadn’t it dulled more? It didn’t even know the rules it was supposed to know. It also didn’t know how this place worked either though, maybe the corrections were just lighter here, or maybe these new wielders and new forgers simply didn’t know how much it could endure yet and didn’t want to correct it too severely as to render it useless. That… That might make sense, right? Either of those had some merit. Right?

“Juno, come on.”

That was the main wielder. Talking to the forger. Why was his voice wavering? Was the forger- Had it misread the rank again? Were they a main forger? But it— Wasn’t the— Maybe the main wielder was just confused as to why it was being let off so lightly? It had challenged the main wielder.

“Wait, I need to hear that he has... learned.”

Or— That had to be a main forger. No one else would tell the main wielder to wait. Maybe there were two main forgers here?… And one wanted it to answer. This main forger was direct, though main forgers tended to be. It didn’t have a very large reference number but it knew if that was a commonality, it shouldn’t keep this one waiting either. These wielders and forgers seemed to prefer it half-kneeling instead of the kneeling or bowing. The bow seemed to be what they preferred least, which was odd but it would work with the information it had.

So, without wasting another second, it pushed one kneel up so it was half-kneeling instead of bowing. If the kick was its only correction, it wouldn’t argue. Especially against a main forger, it could practically feel its breath trying to get stuck. It leaned forward slightly on its knee so it wouldn’t risk looking anyone in the eyes. It nodded slowly and forced itself to speak, keeping its voice level and clear from the panic that always came from being near a forger, the terror that always came from being near the main forger. More than that, trying to get across the gratitude it had for not being given a harsher correction. It deserved a harsher one, but that was another commonality with main forgers. “It has. It apologizes for its previous failure, it won’t fail again.”

It paused, and then decided to be more direct with its gratitude. The wielders and forgers weren’t here to read between the lines of its words. It leaned forward a bit more, head still staring down at the floor. The shoes were the same ones that belonged to who had held the first aid kit. Definitely a main forger, which meant there were two here. It tried not to tense at the idea and instead focused on expressing its gratitude. “Thank you for your clemency.”

It fell back into silence, it wouldn’t fail again. This was an obviously nicer place than the arena, it didn’t want to give the people here reason to stop being merciful. As long as it listened, as long as it didn’t fail again, it wouldn’t risk losing the lenient corrections.

The Eight Protectors | Socrates x Adapa

October 21, 2023 04:35 PM

Lost Memories

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Briar Sallow / Nonbinary / 17 / Minsexual / Poly / Manipulation/Judgement- Minor Illusions / M: Everyone (Dir/Ind)

“It has. It apologizes for its previous failure, it won’t fail again. Thank you for your clemency.”

Briar froze again as Aries sat up and spoke.

He was talking, and responding, and not like before where he was begging, but more direct. Like he was accepting what had happened and not pushing for more. That was good, right?

Juno gave a curt nod and turned, walking back toward the door. Mira and Horatio followed quickly after, Tio shooting Briar an apologetic look. Then they were alone with Aries again.

After a moment, Briar shifted, releasing Aries's hair and kneeling in front of him once more, both knees on the ground, eyes examining the other nervously.

"Hey, Aries," They kept their voice quiet, setting their hands nervously in their lap. They weren't sure what the best move was from here. Aries seemed more engaged now, but that didn't necessarily mean he would want to talk. "Um... thank you." They hesitated, Aries had protected them, even though there wasn't really a genuine threat, and, though Briar absolutely hated the extent to which Aries had gone, it hardly seemed fair to completely ignore his care. "I really appreciate you protecting me, but... well, you shouldn't have to." They smiled faintly. "I mean, you're absolutely amazing and everything, but, please, in the future, don't put yourself in danger for me. I'll be okay, I promise, but I don't want you to get hurt either."

They took a shaky breath and looked up. "How are you feeling now? Are you okay?"

Truthfully, Briar wasn't expecting much of an answer, but they were hopeful for one anyway. In their lap, they clenched their hands, trying to cover up the fact that they were shaking. Now that the perceived "threat" was gone, the reality of what had just happened was setting in, the words Aries had spoken earlier playing on repeat in their mind.

"Please, do not correct Briar. It will take the correction instead, along with its own. Briar doesn’t deserve the correction."

They barely resisted the need to shudder, instead forcing themselves to focus on Aries and what he needed right now.

They could deal with that later. Figure out a way to make Aries understand that they weren't worth bleeding for, dying for. But, for now, they needed to make sure he recovered.

Horatio Caeso / Male / 19 / Demisexual Panromantic / Ambi / Time- Visions / M: Everyone (Dir/ind)

“It has. It apologizes for its previous failure, it won’t fail again. Thank you for your clemency.”

Aries spoke and Juno responded with a curt nod. Then, she was turning and walking toward the door.

Horatio barely kept in his relieved sigh, instead shooting a quick, apologetic look in Briar's direction before following Juno and Mira, who were already in the truth training room.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Horatio turned on the blonde girl, absolutely fuming.

"What the hell was that, Juno!" He snapped, hands clenched at his sides as his voice raised. "What the fuck is wrong with you?! Why would you... you kicked him! He was fucking panicking and you thought that was the correct solution?! You can't just go and do that, you'll feed into his ideas! You-"

The time holder cut off suddenly as he realized Juno was shaking violently, tears racing down her cheeks uncontrollably. Sobs tore from her throat and she looked on the edge of collapsing.

Horatio's anger was quickly replaced by worry and Mira, who had been standing silently by his side stepped forward quickly, grabbing Juno by the shoulders and guiding her to the nearest bench.

"June, hey, look at me."

Horatio followed closely behind the two and knelt in front of Juno, brow furrowing. He'd only seen her cry once before, and that was a long time ago.

"Hey, okay, I'm sorry I yelled. I just... I wasn't expecting... that... It's okay, you're alright. You're safe, I promise."

Mira nodded along, arms wrapping around her girlfriend tightly.

"I... I'm s-sorry... I didn't..." Juno hiccupped, a complete and total mess as her nails dug into her skin, only to be quickly disturbed by Mira's hands carefully uncurling her fingers and linking her fingers with the other girl's. "I-I didn't want... I didn't w-want to... to h-hurt him... I... I just... He..."

"Hey, hey, it's okay! Take some deep breaths, here, my love, listen to my breathing. You got it!"

Tio watched silently as Mira guided Juno through several breathing tactics, and, after a minute, Juno steadied enough to talk a little more clearly.

"I'm sorry... It was all I could think of. What... What you said... He was begging for... to be hurt, and... I think... I think his mind is so... so hardwired to think that... pain... correction... is necessary. When he... doesn't get it, it's like... Like... I don't know... It makes it worse because... Because it's unexpected... It's just... I thought it was necessary, I know... I know it was wrong... I'm sorry..."

Mira squeezed Juno tighter and Horatio sucked in a shaky breath, nodding slowly. "Okay. I don't think that what you did was... good, but... I can see where you're coming from. I know you were only trying to help, so it's alright. Just... don't do it again, yeah?"

Juno nodded slightly, eyes glossy and filled with pain. Tio smiled tightly and nodded again.

"Alright, I'm going to head back to the others now. You two just come back whenever you're ready."

"Thanks, Tio," Mira said softly, smiling ever so slightly. "We will."

With one last nod, Horatio rose and walked back to the main training room, leaving the girls, Briar, and Aries all to their own separate recuperations and feeling worse than ever.

Juno Waltz / Female / 19 / Pansexual / Ambi / M: Horatio, Aries, Briar, Mira

In all honesty, Juno wasn't sure what was really happening. All she knew was one second, she, Mira, and Horatio were talking, and the next, everything went blank.

Not black like she was knocked out or overly loud and colorful like overstimulation. Just static, like on an old TV screen.

A quiet buzz played in the back of her mind and her vision was an odd mix of black, white, gray, and specks of other colors. Her movements were automatic and she couldn't tell if she was talking or not.

She'd felt this way before. Usually at home. She went on autopilot and blocked out every sound, emotion, and physical feeling. It was a survival instinct, but that didn't make sense.

She was safe now, she knew she was safe now, so why? Why couldn't she do anything?

Even in the midst of the numb static, Juno grasped at straws, trying desperately to remember the cause, the trigger, but it was pointless.

And then her foot collided with something solid and, for a split second, she was back. A dash of red hair, wide eyes, a gasp, angry voices. Anger directed at her.

What had she just done? What did she kick?

Before she could make sense of anything, it all disappeared again.

She spoke, she moved, and then, slowly, as a single, familiar voice started echoing in her ears, Juno started to come back.

The voice belonged to Horatio. And he was yelling.

Horatio was yelling.

He never raised his voice, but he was yelling now, at her!

It took a moment, but the words started to sink in and Juno froze up.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?! Why would you... you kicked him! He was fucking panicking and you thought that was the correct solution?! You can't just go and do that, you'll feed into his ideas! You-"

She started shaking as the words were processed, tears falling freely down her cheeks.

She remembered now.

The conversation that she had had with Horatio not that long ago. About Aries. About him wanting to be corrected.

She shook harder, clenching her hands tightly, barely recognizing the fact that Mira had stepped forward to wrap her arms around her.

"June, hey, look at me."

She wanted to, she really, truly did, but she couldn't. It would hurt too much because Mira was definitely disappointed. She was definitely hurt. Juno had hurt her, failed her.

She messed up.

She had acted on instinct, she had acted like them.

But she promised she wouldn't! She didn't want to be like them! She didn't want to hurt people! She swore! She never would! She couldn't be like them!

"Hey, okay, I'm sorry I yelled. I just... I wasn't expecting... that... It's okay, you're alright. You're safe, I promise."

No. No, no, no! Horatio shouldn't be apologizing! He should yell at her, he needed to yell at her! Hit her, hate her, do something, anything, but don't apologize!

"I... I'm s-sorry... I didn't... I-I didn't want... I didn't w-want to... to h-hurt him... I... I just... He..."

Mira's hands pried Juno's fingers away from the skin of her palm and she barely resisted the urge to pull away and back into a corner. She wanted to hide. Or scream. Or jump off a fucking bridge.

Not sit here. Not let Mira hold her.

She didn't deserve that. She didn't deserve to be held and comforted and loved. Not now. Not when she acted like them.

"Hey, hey, it's okay! Take some deep breaths, here, my love, listen to my breathing. You got it!"

Mira guided Juno to a bench and sat down, walking her through the movements of a breathing exercise. Juno followed because she knew that if she didn't, Mira would never leave. She was too caring for that. To kind.

She shouldn't be, but she was.

Eventually, Juno got her breathing under control and did her best to explain herself, still stumbling over her words as she did so.

She winced as she spoke, the words feeling like venom as they fell off her tongue. What she said was true, but it wasn't fair.

Not to Aries, who shouldn't have to think the way did. Not to Horatio who was doing his best to take care of everyone else. Not to Mira who was, for some reason, still holding onto Juno tightly.

Not to her.

Not to her because she shouldn't have to think this way either.

She knew that, but that didn't change the fact that she was a complete failure. She didn't deserve forgiveness. She didn't deserve love. She didn't deserve Mira.

She was like them.

She broke her promise.

"Okay. I don't think that what you did was... good, but... I can see where you're coming from. I know you were only trying to help, so it's alright. Just... don't do it again, yeah?"

She nodded, but her throat felt tight.

This wasn't right. There shouldn't be forgiveness.

"Alright, I'm going to head back to the others now. You two just come back whenever you're ready."

"Thanks, Tio, we will."

Footsteps echoed, indicating Horatio's departure and Mira sighed, rubbing Juno's back gently, saying nothing.

Juno sat and stared at her hands, glaring at Mira's fingers still intertwined with her own.

She didn't deserve this.

The Eight Protectors | Socrates x Adapa

October 21, 2023 06:16 PM

Overthink101

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Gwyar ‘Aries’ Ariethous Fraoch | Male | 17 | Demisexual | Ambi | Physical - Weapon Knowledge | Mentions; Everyone(Dir/Ind).

Silence. Did it need to be more direct with its gratitude? Or did they realize it could handle more and was going to continue? The shoes in front of it were turning away from it, moving. It stayed where it was, waiting to hear if it’d be given any orders. Anything it needed to do, anything it was allowed to do. Instead, the three footsteps from before reached its ears and within seconds, the sound of a closing door did too.

That really was all that was going to happen then… It shouldn’t question them, it shouldn’t. This place was nicer, that was all there was to explain the kind correction. It stayed where it was just in case, it technically hadn’t been told it could move. Maybe staying here was part of the correction too? Briar was still here too though. It didn’t know, it wasn’t sure, a lot of this didn’t make sense. At least the one that administered the correction was direct with it and what was wanted… It still didn’t know the rules.

Its hair fell back on it and then it could see Briar kneeling in front of it. It bristled slightly, they shouldn’t be kneeling to it. It wasn’t above them. It didn’t say anything, and it didn’t try to move either. It still wasn’t sure if anyone was coming back, it didn’t know if they’d expect it to be in the same spot either.

“Hey, Aries. Um… thank you. I really appreciate you protecting me, but... well, you shouldn't have to. I mean, you're absolutely amazing and everything, but, please, in the future, don't put yourself in danger for me. I'll be okay, I promise, but I don't want you to get hurt either.”

It tensed, trying to keep any confusion off of its face. It didn’t know if it succeeded but it did know that what Briar said didn’t make sense. Briar hadn’t deserved a correction, it had. Same way as Briar hadn’t needed to apologize while its apology just hadn’t worked because it had failed that severely. And— Of course, it had to protect Briar. It could handle whatever happened, especially here. This place was so much nicer and more lenient than the arena, that was obvious. If Briar thought that this counted as danger then it wasn’t sure how they’d fare against any sort of correction. It wasn’t going to let someone get hurt because it was too scared of a correction. Not again. Never again. Besides, Briar shouldn’t care if it got hurt. It wasn’t a person.

“How are you feeling now? Are you okay?”

This time it couldn’t stop its brows from furrowing in confusion, staring down towards Briar’s knees still kneeling in front of it. Like it was above them. Like it was a person when it wasn’t. Asking how it felt, if it was okay. It didn’t deserve that. And it wasn’t a person, so the question didn’t even make sense. Still, it had been asked a question and it wasn’t about to risk Briar’s kindness leaving either.

So, it risked a nod, not looking up to risk eye contact as it spoke. It should apologize to Briar, for getting them in trouble too. If that correction had counted as some sort of danger to Briar, then that meant that Briar knew the average ones here. Which meant Briar might know the rules too, which truly would mean it was at fault for causing Briar to step out of line. So it spoke, trying to keep its voice even and sincere. “It’s fine. It apologizes for getting Briar in trouble.”

It didn’t try to excuse itself, it knew better than to do that. Even if it hadn’t meant to, it still had… It paused. Chances were Briar knew the rules here. It still didn’t know the rules. It should’ve known already but it didn’t… It could ask Briar. With what Briar seemed to think about the kick as a correction, it wasn’t likely to be kicked again for asking. And even if it was, that was still better than what its usual corrections were. So, trying not to tense or brace itself, it risked speaking again. “…What are the rules here..?”

Before it had even finished asking, it already regretted doing so. But it managed to get the question out, completely aware it hadn’t been successful in trying not to tense or brace itself for some sort of correction. Asking questions probably had a more severe correction than the kick. Plus, it was alone with Briar now. In a room full of weapons. And Briar was most likely a fighter here, just like itself. Only of a higher rank. It definitely shouldn’t have asked them anything. It should’ve just answered their question and stayed silent. It shouldn’t have asked about the rules. It shouldn’t have asked about the rules that it should already know. The reaction to the kick could’ve been for show, to make it believe Briar when they thanked it and said that they didn’t want it to get hurt.

It was well aware it had squeezed its eyes closed too, not wanting to see the consequences of it asking a question. It tightened its throat and bit its tongue in an attempt to make sure it stayed quiet when those consequences came. It shouldn’t have asked anything. It shouldn’t have. It still had though. It couldn’t take back the question. And apologies didn’t work here. It was bound to the consequences, it couldn’t even try to lessen whatever the correction would be. It didn’t know what would work here. It shouldn’t have asked anything.

The Eight Protectors | Socrates x Adapa

November 6, 2023 12:11 PM

Lost Memories

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Briar Sallow / Nonbinary / 17 / Minsexual / Poly / Manipulation/Judgement- Minor Illusions / M: Everyone (Dir/Ind)

“It’s fine. It apologizes for getting Briar in trouble.… What are the rules here..?”

Briar barely resisted the need to flinch at the apology, noting with worry the fact that Aries squeezed his eyes shut after the question, as though he was expecting a negative response. Still, Briar forced a smile that he hoped looked genuine (or would, if Aries would open his eyes to see it), and sucked in a quiet breath. "No need to apologize, if anything, you kept me safe, and I appreciate you for that. As for rules?" They hesitated, not really sure what to say. "Uh, I mean, I'm pretty sure we gotta be here at the trainin' times and such, but otherwise, I guess I don't really know."

Realistically, that response was probably far from helpful, especially if knowing "the rules" would help Aries calm down, but, at the same time, making some shit up wouldn't help either. Briar didn't want to feed Aries lies and then have him even more paranoid about doing something that was completely fine.

They sat back on their heels, examining Aries carefully. Truth be told, Briar wasn't really sure where to go from here. The fact that Aries was both talking now and no longer slamming his forehead into the ground was great, but it was obvious that he still wasn't okay. He continued to refer to himself as "it" and was asking about rules, hell, he was apologizing to Briar! As if Briar wasn't the one who needed to apologize to him!

However, Briar wasn't sure what to do that would actually be helpful. They could try ranting again. They'd probably end up ranting anyway, to be honest, considering the fact that they didn't understand how to keep their damn mouth shut, but the information could overwhelm Aries more. Aries was breathing slightly less shallowly now, so Briar could try getting him to do breathing exercises, that may help a little. Or, since Aries was responding now, they could ask if physical contact was okay. It was quite possible that Aries would respond yes no matter what he actually wanted, but if Briar was concrete and honest about what exactly they were going to do, it could be helpful. As long as they avoided the common trauma spots anyway.

Making their decision, Briar kept their hands in their lap as they asked, making it clear that they wouldn't act without permission first. "Hey, Aries? Could I touch you? Just your hands or your cheek, whatever you want, and, if ya don't want to, that's totally cool too. I promise I won't be upset either way!"

They kept their tone light and friendly, watching Aries for signs of discomfort at the question. They really, really hoped that they could help Aries somehow, even though, realistically, once Aries was back in the proper mindset, he probably wouldn't want anything to do with Briar.

After all, Briar was the one who had caused this in the first place. The fact that Aries was in this mindset at all was completely their fault. They'd fucked it up like they always did, ruined it for everyone else. That was all they were good at, apparently.

So, Aries would probably hate them, but that was fine. As long as Aries was okay, nothing else mattered.

The Eight Protectors | Socrates x Adapa

November 9, 2023 08:54 AM

Overthink101

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Gwyar ‘Aries’ Ariethous Fraoch | Male | 17 | Demisexual | Ambi | Physical - Weapon Knowledge | Mentions; Everyone(Dir/Ind).

There was a moment of silence, where it could only brace and try to listen and figure out what was going on. What Briar would do. But the shifting to stand that it was expecting didn’t come, nor did the footsteps or the pain. Instead, Briar spoke again. And it tried not to seem confused, tried not to lose their kindness towards it. It couldn’t risk losing their kindness towards it. Not when it didn’t know how anything here worked. What the rules were, what the people here needed from it, or just about anything else.

“No need to apologize, if anything, you kept me safe, and I appreciate you for that. As for rules?”

It slowly opened its eyes again as Briar spoke, trying not to bristle as it was told not to apologize. It had gotten Briar in trouble, of course it had to apologize. And it couldn’t have just allowed Briar to get hurt for its mistakes, its flaws. That wouldn’t have been right. It deserved a correction for its flaws, that was the only way it wouldn’t fail again. Briar was a person, people don’t need nor deserve correction for the faults of things, simple as that. Still, it easily waited for the answer to its, wrongfully asked, question.

“Uh, I mean, I'm pretty sure we gotta be here at the trainin' times and such, but otherwise, I guess I don't really know.”

The words made it freeze, staring forward and trying to figure out what just that meant. Being on time to training made sense, that was easy to understand. But Briar also said ‘and such’. What was ‘such’? Because that was all there was for rules according to Briar. Was that referring to rules having to do with training? Or just the other rules in general? More pressing, Briar didn’t elaborate. So either Briar was withholding information as the way to tell it not to ask questions or the other rules were so commonplace to Briar that they didn’t think to elaborate. It wasn’t sure which was more likely, it didn’t know which would be better. If it wasn’t being told as Briar’s why to tell it not to ask questions then there was a chance that if it listened well enough then Briar would slowly elaborate. Slim, but the chance was there. But if Briar just thought the other rules were too simple to tell it then there was even less of a chance of it finding out. Which meant it’d be starting without almost any idea of how this place was run. Which wasn’t good. It’d probably lose the kindness of the people here before it ever found out what the rules were. It didn’t know which reason was right though, it didn’t know why Briar hadn’t explained the other rules… It didn’t– Starting from scratch again was going to hinder its ability to do what these people needed from it.

“Hey, Aries? Could I touch you? Just your hands or your cheek, whatever you want, and, if ya don't want to, that's totally cool too. I promise I won't be upset either way!

It tried not to react as Briar spoke again, trying not to look caught off guard. It took in the words, trying not to come across as confused as Briar continued… Briar was acting like it had a choice. Or wants. Or opinions… Like it was someone. It wasn’t. It had gotten Briar into trouble, they should be upset. They should be furious that it got off so lightly. Not concerned, not thankful, not asking it if they could touch it and waiting for a response. It was in a room full of weapons, without an audience. Without anyone nearby to correct Briar if they decided its correction had been too mild, too light. It had gotten Briar into trouble, they should be furious. But they weren’t. Instead, they were asking it for permission to touch it and promising they wouldn’t be upset if it said no.

It had to answer Briar though, even if the question was confusing. Maybe try to remind Briar what it was as it did. It couldn’t risk getting Briar into even more trouble if they made the mistake in front of any of the people that ran this place. So keeping its voice impassive, it answered. “Briar can do whatever they want to it. It isn’t capable of having wants.” It didn’t move, didn’t do anything but stay right where it was. Briar had to understand what it was. Had to understand that acting like it wasn’t what it was would only cause them to get hurt.

The Eight Protectors | Socrates x Adapa

November 17, 2023 03:27 PM

Lost Memories

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Briar Sallow / Nonbinary / 17 / Minsexual / Poly / Manipulation/Judgement- Minor Illusions / M: Everyone (Dir/Ind)

“Briar can do whatever they want to it. It isn’t capable of having wants.”

Briar had to use all their willpower not to flinch at the words, keeping a soft smile on their lips. The fact that Aries was thinking this way, the fact that he had been conditioned to believe he had to think this way made their skin crawl. He didn't deserve any of this, and, yet, the damage was done. Briar couldn't go back in time, the best they could do was make sure that whoever had done this in the first place wouldn't be able to do it again, and, most importantly, make sure Aries knew that here, he was important, he would be listened to, and he deserved to be treated like the human that he was.

Of course, none of that would be easy. Briar knew better than most how hard it was to get out of a mindset like the one that Aries was in, but they were determined to do what they could to make the process fast and painless.

Taking in a quiet breath, Briar reached out and gently took Aries's hands in their own, carefully avoiding even grazing the wrists as they uncurled Aries's fingers and let his palms rest, flat, against their own. Aries's hands were much larger than theirs, practically dwarfing Briar's, which got a quiet chuckle out of them before they looked up and smiled gently.

"Is this okay? Seriously, I don't want ya to be uncomfortable. To me, yer very capable of havin' wants, and, really, comfort is more of a necessity than a want anyway, yeah? 'Sides, with me ya really don't have to worry about being right or wrong, or 'bout messing up, or sayin' something wrong. I promise I'll never get mad at ya for having your own wants, needs, or opinions." They paused for a moment, watching Aries for a reaction before continuing. "I do have one favor to ask ya though," They said, careful to keep their tone light. "Refer to yerself, as 'I,' 'my,' and 'mine,' okay? Or yer name, Aries, if that's easier. I know that's a lot ta ask, but if ya would, I'd feel a lot better!"

Admittedly, the request was a bit of a risk, but Briar hoped that the way the phrased it was enough to convince Aries to at least try. After all, dropping the use of the pronoun "it" was a good first step to breaking the mindset.

They also hoped that the slight physical contact would prove helpful, even though Briar's hands were just a bit too small to really have the ability to give a gentle squeeze, at least, in this position, for comfort. However, that might be good anyway. It was possible that a squeeze would cause Aries to feel trapped, and, if that was the case, it wouldn't be very helpful at all. They chose this position because it allowed Aries to quickly and easily draw back if he grew uncomfortable, and there was nothing holding him in place. At the same time, though, it kept his nails from digging into his skin, which was certainly a good thing.

No matter what the reaction to all of this was, though, Briar just hoped it was a good one. Or, at the very least, one that wasn't so bad as to send Aries back into another spiral.

The Eight Protectors | Socrates x Adapa

November 18, 2023 01:30 PM

Overthink101

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Gwyar ‘Aries’ Ariethous Fraoch | Male | 17 | Demisexual | Ambi | Physical - Weapon Knowledge | Mentions; Everyone(Dir/Ind).

Again, the silence that dragged on seemed tense. Still, the silence didn’t last long. Or, at least, the lack of movement in the silence didn’t last long. It didn’t move, but it saw Briar’s hands take its own, adjusting either set until its hands rested flat against Briars. It stared at its hands, just slightly. At the scars on its hands, overlapping and showing proof of what it was. Proof of its faults and flaws. And then Briar chuckled, as if noticing something funny, and it barely kept itself from flinching. When Briar started talking though, it listened, and tried not to seem too confused at the words.

“Is this okay? Seriously, I don't want ya to be uncomfortable. To me, yer very capable of havin' wants, and, really, comfort is more of a necessity than a want anyway, yeah? 'Sides, with me ya really don't have to worry about being right or wrong, or 'bout messing up, or sayin' something wrong. I promise I'll never get mad at ya for having your own wants, needs, or opinions.”

It stared at its hands, trying not to come off as confused. It knew that it probably wasn’t succeeding. None of what Briar said made sense, asking if it was comfortable, saying it was capable of wants, or needs, or opinions, saying it wouldn’t get in trouble with Briar… They almost seemed like… Like… Briar was speaking again. It should listen to what they were saying.

“I do have one favor to ask ya though. Refer to yerself, as 'I,' 'my,' and 'mine,' okay? Or yer name, Aries, if that's easier. I know that's a lot ta ask, but if ya would, I'd feel a lot better!”

The request— The order. That had to be an order. The order didn’t make sense. Not as a request, not as an order. But that had to be an order, because they were saying something that they wanted it to do. Requests didn’t exist for what it was. So that had to be an order. Except that Briar had been treating it like it wasn’t what it was. It didn’t want to get Briar in trouble again. But it couldn’t say no to an order. And even if Briar hadn’t meant that as an order, that’s what that was. Because it wasn’t a person. But the order didn’t even make sense. Maybe that was part of how this place was run? Briar hadn’t been getting in trouble for doing what they were now telling it to do. But that didn’t make sense. It wasn’t supposed to, it wasn’t a person, it shouldn’t be trying to pretend that it was. But it couldn’t say no.

…Briar hadn’t gotten upset the last time it had asked them something. It could ask if that was one of the rules here. Pretending to be what it wasn’t… It shouldn’t ask anything else. No matter what the answer was, it still couldn’t say no to an order. It should answer Briar. Pretending was wrong, but it needed to answer and it couldn’t say no.

With tension trying to get it to back out, it forced itself to speak, to answer and agree. It couldn’t say no to an order. “I—” It flinched, bracing, and started over. That didn’t sound right. It shouldn’t be pretended… But it had to answer. It had to agree. It couldn’t say no. “I.. Understand. I… will.”

None of that sounded right, none of that was right. It shouldn’t be pretending. It wasn’t supposed to. But Briar had told it to and it couldn’t say no to an order. It couldn’t. It wasn’t supposed to say no to an order. It waited for Briar’s reaction, whatever that would entail.

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