tramitem_log | 2020 June Summer Solstice Plot

Who: Anyone and everyone in Trames - Please use this as a catach all for all your Summer Solstice Plot fun!
What: Exploring a whole knew world
When: Anytime between June 20 - July 4
Where: Around Krajina Božstiev
Rating/Warnings: Please add warnings to your top-levels/threads as needed

The streets of Krajina Božstiev are dusty and crowded. So many people on their way to live their lives. Markets, taverns, the Temple, the Palace. What do you look at first? What do you buy? Where to do you find yourself exploring?

Take a moment to appreciate the shine of the Temple. The beauty of the Palace gardens. The quiet serenity of the Library. The simplistic, but filling food in the taverns. Or the peaceful quaintness of the hills. A new world has opened up and somehow it all just seems simpler over here. People seem happy (mostly) in this existence.

Maybe...

Watch out for the occasional person going into a rage on the other side of the street or tavern. That can't mean anything...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Elliott hummed thoughtfully.

"I think... the day or two after the memory, I think about it a lot and feel connected to it, then fades. But I know that the sadness even my past self felt about it was complicated and a little distant."

He glanced down, kicking his feet a bit.

"Really, it just made me wonder about my own birth parents. I mean I'm happy with my mom of course, but now I kind of wish I'd gotten a letter explaining everything. Though it's probably just something stupid like an unplanned pregnancy and not anything like that. Still, I'm curious now."

Clarence hummed. "Yeah, makes sense if you were separated from them early on."

A huge part of Clarence wanted to roll his eyes, but he didn't feel like Elliott of all people deserved that. Instead he sighed, forcing frustration into his pencil instead of allowing it into his voice.

Instead, he found himself fighting back a small lump in his throat that he had to clear away. "... Did I ever tell you that I was adopted at one point?"

His feet stilled, attention turning fully onto his friend. He tried not to look or sound too interested.

"No, I don't think so. ...When was that?"

Oh great, now Elliott was looking at him. That made this a lot more difficult.

He cleared his throat again, trying to keep his voice as disinterested sounding as he could while keeping his own gaze on the sketch that was becoming slightly blurry. "Well... the Blakelys adopted me pretty much right after I was born."

He licked his lips, mouth suddenly really dry. "I... Well." He shrugged, swallowing again. "Whatever was on my original birth certificate, I don't really know, but I couldn't care less about the ones who threw me away to begin with."

Elliott winced. That was a harsh way of putting it, though he understood the feeling.

He'd always known he was adopted, but Yotsuyu was such a good mother to him that he stopped thinking or caring about it after too long. But that didn't mean he didn't remember thinking similar things a time or two. He's chosen to think better of them since.

But for Clarence.. That the adoption with the Blakelys didn't work out was obvious, but his friend had always been so reticent about the topic that he hesitated to ask what happened. That left him with very few things he could think to say.

"I, er- I'm sorry. If you ever do wanna talk about it..."

He couldn't sketch like this. Sighing, he reluctantly closed the sketchbook. He'd have to fill in the rest from memory later, but for now...

He blinked the beginnings of tears out of his eyes and looked up at Elliott for a quick moment before turning his face away. "... Thanks."

The last time he talked about this wasn't too long ago, hiding away from his guardians in the park and unable to speak even an iota of falsehood. It was... fine in the end. He didn't mind telling someone like Anthony about it, but it hadn't been on his own terms really. Elliott could tell he didn't really want to speak, not if it was going to make him cry, but a part of him wanted to open up to someone his age and also had, well, somewhat similar experiences anyway.

He breathed out, trying to control his voice once again. It wasn't his best effort, but it could be worse. "I... want to tell you about them someday. But maybe not today."

Sympathy tugged at his heart and left him with a will to reach out to Clarence and do.. something. Hug him? Or just touch his shoulder. Something reassuring in the absence of useful words. But given his friend wasn't in immediate reach, he didn't do either of those things.

Instead he summoned up a smile. "Sure. Whenever you're ready."

It had been years. Six years, going on seven. Clarence needed to stop reacting like this every time, but he couldn't help himself. This was one wound that time never could heal.

Nodding, he brushed himself off and stood again. "... You mind taking a walk with me?"

"Of course."

Elliott pushed himself to his feet and gave into the lingering urge to reach out and touch Clarence's elbow.

"Wherever you wanna go. Still plenty to see around here."

Just a little closer proximity made Clarence feel quite a bit better. He had to fight back to not lean into Elliott right there.

"Thanks. How about we... I dunno, go get some juice? There's some crazy fruit in this place so I bet there's some amazing flavors."

He brightened.

"That's true, huh? Yeah, that sounds like it'll either be awesome or awful. Maybe both. I'm definitely down."

"Yeah." He smiled softly, slowly feeling a bit more like himself. "Yeah. It's definitely a my kind of pace type of adventure."

2020 June Summer Solstice Plot - Catch All!

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