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Private RP between Faolan (Jynk) and Elst/Aoi (Roots of the Cosmos).

Location: Farstep Carnival, specifically Keagan's vardo.
Time: Around the same time Zia visits Elle/Rhian.
Weather: Existent, I guess.

So much happening, all at once…Elst mind was racing, in spite of the slow pace of his steps, walking with Aoi to the carnival.

So much was going wrong, he thought, so many tears and regrets, and those were from Ellandra alone; he could only imagine how miserable Faolan was…But that’s why they were here, now, at the front gates of Farstep. Ell, as hurt as she was, had a Nursery to go to, full of friends, and a warm, supportive environment. What did Fao have? His father, yes, but…Elst had no way to know whether or not the man was taking good care of Faolan. That was why he’d come here; Faolan needed to know he had those who cared about him.

So, they walked on, through the cheerful crowds, the quaint carnival games, the laughter of children…So cruel a place for a broken heart to reside, so torturous their merriment when such misery festered within that vardo…

This visit, however, was Aoi’s work. Yes, Elst was the first to suggest coming over, but he hadn’t a clue how to help this poor man, he’d always been terrible at helping others with their emotions, for he was so foreign to such things. He wondered, sometimes, if heartbreak was somehow better than emotional numbness, incapability of feeling…But that was for him to ponder on his own, not now.

Aoi…simply walked alongside his father, his calm outward appearance betraying the conflict that roared from within him. Faolan, the man he’d idolized from early on, for his confidence, his charisma, his seeming ability to just do it right…something had gone wrong, for once…Ellandra, in tears, somehow due to Fao…This tore the flower-child apart, really, like watching a childhood idol fall. This…just couldn’t be right, could it? Faolan couldn’t have done this…

Before he knew it, they were standing before the vardo door, and Elst gently knocked.

Aoi hung his head a little as they arrived; his telepathic reach had already picked up the wallowing sorrow Faolan felt…this would be a tough night. He only hoped that maybe, just maybe he could help. If only just a little…

A sad smile forced itself upon Elst’s face. “I’m afraid it is not work we are here for, nor induction into your culture, not at the moment. We’re here under less…enjoyable circumstances.” He scratched the back of his head, for a moment, as he chose his words. “My name is Elst, and this is Aoi…we are friends of Faolan’s, and we are here to try and help him, and to learn his side of what brought on this miserable separation between him and the distraught woman whom currently takes refuge in my home.”

He drew in breath, slowly, letting it out in a long sigh. “To be honest, I doubt I can be of much aid to what I would assume is your son, I…never was much good with emotions. I would likely best spend my time here perhaps speaking with you, learning what Faolan cannot say in his state of distress. Aoi is a different matter.”

The flower-child in question drew back his hood, revealing his petals, and stepped forward. As the light splaying from the vardo cast a spotlight on his previously hidden figure, it could be seen that a glowing emerald mist was coursing about his legs. Unbeknownst to others; this was the only thing that kept his legs from failing entirely and collapsing beneath him; an unfortunate side-effect of an unfortunate encounter one night previous.

“You see, Aoi is like Faolan’s Ziazan in species; I assume you know which I speak of…he has an uncanny ability to know what’s in people’s minds, what troubles them, and then, to the best of his ability, he tries to soothe their troubles, help however he can. And, so…if you would kindly tolerate our presence for a short while, perhaps he can help the poor man.” Yes, that was quite the monologue, but…Elst didn’t expect the man to know him, and thus felt it necessary to explain himself and Aoi, to try and best convince him their intentions were pure.

Hopefully, it would work…

As Keagan allowed them inside, Elst thought for a moment on the man’s apparent non-understanding…perhaps a better wording was called for, here. “Oh, I’m sorry…I get a little…wordy when distracted. The meaning to all that blather was simply that we’re friends of Faolan’s…Aoi here wishes to help him directly, and I am quite confident he can, at least a little. I would have better luck talking with you, to ask about how Faolan’s been and such, maybe you can tell me something Fao can’t when he’s as broken as this.”

There. Still a little on the wordy side, but…at least this was possible to understand. “That is…only if you don’t mind speaking with me for a short while.”

Aoi, on the other hand, still remained quite silent, his lips not even parting once. He slowly moved over to where Faolan hid enshrouded in blanket, and a great deal of his viridescent mist had already begun to pool upon the bed. A gentle, welcoming mental voice reached out to the man.

Faolan…

Elst sat down in one of the aforemotioned chairs, thinking for a moment as Keagan spoke. “Just tell me whatever you can; it’s all I can ask. Perhaps tell me if he’s said anything, or maybe tell me what he was like when he first found out, if you know. Anything we might use to help him out of this. Though I suppose Ellandra’s the only person in the world right now that could bring him back, fully…” He grew quiet, expression rather grim.

Aoi sat down next to Faolan’s bed, for his pained legs could no longer bear him. He slowly began to pour mist into the bed; some of it, more potent, concentrated, pooled like water within the creases of the blanket. It was a curious mix of magic; one, an energizer, something to clear the mind and perhaps lift the soul. Two, a soothing harmonic magic, to try and dull the sharp stabbing points of a broken heart. Aoi’s mind slowly drifted into Faolan’s, in a way. He seemed to speak, ever so softly, from within the man’s own brain.

Faolan, please…hiding won’t help win her back, you need to wake up and think. Not thinking’s what caused this mess, now prove to her you’re willing to stand to get her back…

Elst listened quietly to Keagan’s explanation, finding himself thinking silently for a moment after the man had finished speaking. Eventually, he spoke again. “I…am quite aware…aware that the only thing in the world that would bring him back would be for her to return…I realize this. But sometimes…sometimes it’s the words that do not solve the problem, but spark the solution. Perhaps if Aoi and myself can return to the nursery with enough understanding…we may be able to convince her back. I…do not think she realizes just what this has done to him, and that’s the main reason she left. From what Aoi could gather, she seems to have deluded herself into thinking Faolan would be best off without her, that she was removing a great weight from his shoulders by leaving.” He was quiet once more, finding himself to have drew his pocket watch out on its chain, opening it to stare at its face. If only these things happened, and resolved as quickly as the seconds ticked by…but they never did…these affairs were always drawn out to the point where it would be painful. How long had Faolan been laying here, suffering?

Tic…tic…tic…

The covers finally lifted, if only for a moment, and Aoi finally had a glimpse of what was left of Faolan. The man he’d so admired, ever since he was a Proto, simply laid there. Crushed. And void of any feeling of hope. Within himself, Aoi writhed around, his heart and mind tying in knots of conflict and desperation as he helplessly tried to think of a way to solve this…to little avail. He’d fail to help Faolan, just as he’d failed to help so many others…He hid this turmoil, this sadness for now, though; he needed to keep up a good front for the pained man before him.

Faolan…you aren’t alone, I promise you aren’t. You have friends and family who care for you. And…even though there is a great physical distance between you and her…your hearts are no less tied, your souls no less bonded. Love lasts, no matter how great the distance is. And maybe…maybe if I can just get her to realize how much you miss her, maybe if you can get her to realize…we might be able to do just that…bring her home.

Elst drew in a deep breath, releasing it after a moment in a sigh. “I…figured about as much. I suppose I just wanted to make sure I made as much good from this trip as possible; wanted to know if you had any extra information. I suppose this answers my question…” A glance at the front cover of his pocket watch. “I will do the best I can to get Ellandra to understand this all, though I suppose there isn’t much I can do… Although, if you want, I have healthy herbs and mixes that you could blend in with Faolan’s meals, to make whatever little he eats a bit more nutritious…”

He was just…well, trying to be useful in whatever ways he could, really. If he couldn’t help Faolan’s mental state, he could at least help the man physically. Some organic herbs that get some more iron in him, maybe some protein, vitamins…just things to keep his body from shutting down out of sheer force of will.

Aoi simply nodded a little towards Faolan. Well, then…I guess I’ll just have to promise to do everything I can to get her back to you. His words, though gentle and quiet, held a sort of firm, reassuring tone, as if he was already 100% certain he’d bring her back.