closed

[globs]

[ Cinnabar was relieved when Phos came back. Or they should have been, at least.

Naturally, they would never admit they were actually concerned about them; they refuse to admit as much even to themself, despite how it shows in their expressions and the shape of their poison (which, fortunately, no one ever sees.) They're a bizarre presence in Cinnabar's life, ever-shifting, always changing both Cinnabar's life and their own in ways that Cinnabar is never sure how to feel about - good, bad, both, neither, they all end up melting together in the chaos Phos brings. For a brief moment, it had seemed like they'd brought a miracle back with them: they'd survived the moon. Cinnabar didn't approach, of course. They listened and watched from far away, as always. And the more they learned, the more that miracle seemed like an illusion, and the more they felt the ominous sensation that Phos might not have survived at all.

Cinnabar would also never admit that Phos is the current subject of most of their thoughts tonight. They climb up from their cave with the same footholds they always use and retrace the same steps they've always taken for centuries, walking along the sand while the waves quietly lap at the shore in the moonlight, but they're not wishing to be taken away; they're wishing they had even half a clue about what to do about Phosphophyllite. Maybe they should talk. Maybe...

The moment they actually see Phos approaching by the eerie light of that new eye, though-- ]

...

[ they immediately turn and start walking in the opposite direction. ]

Comments

[trepidate]

[ It's never easy to approach Cinnabar. Part of it is the timing, the back and forth in Phos's own head trying to decide and how and if they should approach them. But even once that's sorted out, Cinnabar themself always has a way of making it difficult.

Like right now. ]

Cinnabar! Wait up!

[ So much for approaching calmly. They wanted to come talk to them with a decent amount of peace, but Phos is now sprinting through the grass after them. ]

[globs]

[ oh god, why are they sprinting. Cinnabar was just walking, but being chased by Phos presses some instinctive panic button their inclusions have, and they find themself now powerwalking, hands clenched into fists as the mercury floating around them turns itself into nervous, jagged shapes. ]

W-why are you following me?! Go back to sleep!

[ any thoughts of talking are momentarily dashed as their usual anxiety comes rearing back to life... ]

[trepidate]

[ with that reaction, maybe sprinting was definitely the wrong way to go about this? Phos's sprint slows slightly, brow furrowed. ]

I'm not following you!

[ They sound indignant at the accusation, but skid to a sudden halt a little ways behind Cinnabar hoping to prove their point. More importantly: ]

I won't be able to sleep unless I talk to you.

[globs]

[ literally, they are following them, which Cinnabar is about to remark, but Phos has (mercifully) decided to stop when they look over their shoulder. For a few brief moments, they very seriously consider running away now that they could get a head start. If they talk to Phos, they're just going to get stressed out. They know it. It happens every single time they talk. Anytime Cinnabar talks with anybody, it happens, but it's worse with them... and with everything that's happened, they're afraid of what Phos wants to talk to them about.

still, for some reason they either don't understand or don't want to acknowledge, they stay put, eventually turning halfway to half-face the other gem. One hand crosses at their waist to hold their arm, almost defensively. ]

What's that supposed to mean... [ they word it dismissively, but it's half an actual question, too. ] There's nothing to say.