young_oldman | IC Inbox: Empatheias

Hello Alvin. I'm-

[If it answers that question, there's a loud sneeze interrupting the link. But Alvin may notice something else that's particularly too, even as Lu Meng apologizes.]

Sorry. I'm fine, just a little sick at the moment.

[There's no unwilling leakage of emotions from Lu Meng this time.]

[Well. That's new. He actually also feels as if he's been sneezed on and that's a very weird feeling when it's through telepathy.]

Caught a cold, huh? Actually kind of surprised—you seem like the kind of guy who never gets sick.

[However, there is some relief. He had actually been worried that Lu Meng may have still been in his depressed state and that was why he didn't come out.]

Already seen a doctor? [Griiin.] Cute nurse to help you get your health back?

[Sorry Alvin, but at least there's no boogers flying anywhere? That would be just plain gross.]

I spent a bit too much time in the snow with Sanae. She was trying to show me how to make a snow angel.

[...and right now he wishes he could transmit that feeling of grossness to Alvin. Of course, Alvin would find a way to make a crack out of his situation.]

Of course not. Is your mind always fixed on women? [Froooown.] But I did visit a doctor and he gave me some pills. I'm doing better today.

[Anyway, moving on from hot caretakers...]

What can I do for you? Is there a matter you wish to discuss?

Playing in the snow with Sanae, huh? [Definitely amused.] Big tough guy like you—now that's something I wish I could see.

And do you really want an answer to that? [He says with his usual smirk—well, if Lu Meng could see it, but he can likely hear and sense it. Although, oddly enough it's not so unrelated.]

But as for why I contacted you—well a few reasons. One of which is to check in and see how you're doing. [The obvious immediate reason is the man's lack of presence at the meeting, but it's not too hard to guess that Alvin also means the longer underlying problems Lu Meng has had.]

We weren't playing in the snow. She was showing me some modern winter customs of her time. It was purely for educational purposes. [Huff!!]

And no. I don't. It was a rhetorical question. [And he can definitely hear that smirk dripping over the line. Urrggghh stop teasing him bro--

--oh. He's stopped. Well, that's...alright, it's not as if Lu Meng likes talking about his state of mind; it's still a work in progress to get him to completely open up. But this is Alvin, and if there's anyone he can be honest about his emotions with, it's Alvin.]

I'm alright. The warriors of Sharnaath were not unfamiliar to my illness. Their advice and wisdom were valuable, along with what they taught me of Dunamis.

[A pause, and then a quiet confession.]

I haven't destroyed my room in five days. That's a record.

[It's a snow angel. That is totally playing. No he won't let this go, but for now he'll focus on the more serious topic.]

Hey, it's progress, and glad to hear that the trip down there helped. I can imagine hardened warriors like the people there seem to be would be able to relate.

[And he really is glad to hear about that, the relief probably more obvious than he'd like to let on. But there is a comforting warmth to his words that can be felt through their telepathic connection, as well as maybe a bit of hope that his friend is on the right path to recovery. Alvin always felt bad that he couldn't really do more for his friend, so this really is good news.]

[They did more than snow angels! Like a snowman! And snowball fights! And sledding! It was a holistic and thorough learning experience and totally not playing.]

I enjoyed my stay down there, perhaps a little more than I should. It's been awhile since I've been around like-minded warriors. I haven't had the chance to discuss strategy and tactics much since I've been here.

[And just...subtly trying to change the topic there. Subtly. With all the force of a sledgehammer because Lu Meng is terrible at subtle.]

Edited 2015-12-19 02:10 (UTC)

[It's all play bro.

And he's noticing that shift. He'll let it slide though, because he wants his buddy to have good thoughts.]

It's true that there's not much of "fighting" the classic warrior style around here. Really, despite everything that does happen, this little floating island is really peaceful. A real image of what "modern day" civilization is like...with a little rough edges here and there.

[The whole bounty hunter and vigilantism still runs true, but it's still pretty lawful and orderly here.]

Learn anything really interesting?

[Thanks bro, u da best...when you're not teasing him, that is.]

Mostly about Dunamis, for personal reasons. I'm afraid I was a little selfish during my time there. I spent most of it speaking to the warriors of Sharnaath about life down on the surface.

[A slight pause.] It's not that the warriors of Sharnaath are any less proficient than the warriors in Verens. If anything, the Otherworlders are more than a match for them. [There's no visual, but the frown that Lu Meng's wearing right now can be heard in the melancholy dip his voice has taken.]

I suppose I miss it. Being part of an army. Here, we come together every now and then to discuss the important matters, but then we separate and go our own lives. We don't train together on a daily basis or practice different army formations. We're a band of individuals that desire to protect a city and its people. There's nothing wrong with that, and I'm glad that the city has its defenders.

But we're not a single unit. We mostly act independently - while that achieves the same objective of keeping the people safe, we don't--...[It's hard to explain the small nuances, and Lu Meng's already failed to explain himself to Edea. He takes a sharp inhale, trying to collect and distill these abstract thoughts and emotions into something more concrete.] We fight alongside each other in a group, but not as one group.

[A frustrated sigh.] I'm sorry. You know I'm terrible at expressing my emotions. I'm not even sure what I'm talking about anymore. I'm not saying I don't trust you or the others, or that I trust the people of Sharnaath more. But Sharnaath is more like my home than any other place I've seen since I've entered this world. [If Alvin remembers, Lu Meng has spent nearly half his life as a member of the military. That probably explains the whole homesick thing he's having right now, and his next quiet admission.] The people down below live harsh lives compared to the people on this island, but so did my people as well. I really felt like I belonged down there.

Edited 2015-12-19 17:22 (UTC)

[Alvin remains respectfully quiet before he mentally nods.]

Nah, I know how you feel—that feeling of being an outsider despite being with a group. It's just different, and you're a man from a more war-filled era. Suddenly changing to a different kind of life can be hard to adjust to.

It's not just the change from war to peace. I think I could've handled that back home. I miss my countrymen. My comrades. My friends. My lord. I miss my duties.

[A pause, and then a slight chuckle.] Even the paperwork.

I suppose I miss that role I played in the army. Or being along those who would understand my views, and who share a similar vision or dream. I've tried not to hold onto the past and for the most of it I think I've succeeded.

I never thought of myself as an outsider here. Not until...well. You know. [Little Miss Ghost Girl and her depraved ideas of playtime.]

It's only then that I realised how differently I've viewed the world compared to everyone else.

I see. Well adapting to a new life like that is pretty difficult, especially one that's so different from your own. Different worlds, different culture. [Been there, done that.]

Think if Shaarnath ever opens its gates and there's a way to travel back and forth you'd move down there instead?

I thought of that. It's certainly a tempting idea.

But I decided against it. Too many people that I care about are up here. I'd rather stay in this city and help keep it safe from harm.

[A light chuckle.]

Good choice. Although, if you did, you could become my go-to guy to help expand my business networks.

[Oh Alvin. Always looking at things in a way to work toward his advantage.]

Here I am baring my heart out to you, and you're trying to make a quick syvl out of my predicament!

[But he's not mad. He knows Alvin's just joking...or at least, that the man would consider a business proposition a much more secondary, or even tertiary concern, to what Lu Meng's struggling with.]

I don't think you want me as your representative down there either. I've never been much of a diplomat.

[Chuckles.]

Caught me.

But nah, I think you'd be pretty good. You're honest and trustworthy. Pretty good selling points right there. Don't forget you already have at least one business negotiation under your belt.

You're shameless.

[A fleeting ghost of a smile is felt over the link.]

Well, you're no shady businessman either, Alvin.

Hah, thanks, Lu Meng. [And that's genuine appreciation right there. He doesn't always need it said, but a little bit of confirmation that he's doing pretty good about himself never hurts.

And... Then the chuckles fade, and there's a slight...heaviness now weighing over the connection.]

So, yeah. The reason I called you up.

[So he starts, but he doesn't seem as quick to continue. It's as if he's gathering his thoughts.]

Well, mostly I'm asking for advice, but I don't want to bother you if you're not feeling up to it. [Even if Lu Meng seems and sounds better, he doesn't want to push his friend, either.]

[Advice from him? According to almost everyone, he's been the king of bad decisions for the last few months. He's certainly surprised that Alvin wants to seek his counsel, when everyone else seems to think he can't handle himself and has been treating him with kiddy gloves.

But that's him, and this is about Alvin and he'll just have to trust that Alvin knows what he's doing. Still, he does need a moment to bite back some impatience that Alvin had to tack on the second half. How much more improvement is he going to need to show to get people to stop treating him as if he's going to fall apart with just the slightest emotional distress?]

What would you like to ask, Alvin? [His voice is perhaps a little too polite, a little too patient, but he's got a better grasp on that temper of his, at least.]

[He's juuust being considerate—although, it's not just Lu Meng's personal health he's thinking about. The advice he wants to ask about...well, one isn't too bad, The other, though. The other he might end up not asking about.]

One of them is about Elize. [There's a small trace of a flicker of a smile, a small bubble of happiness that can't be helped.] She... Well, she thinks of me as her dad.

Hard to believe, right? [There's a light, almost nervous laugh in his words, one that belies the faltering emotions that lay beneath that bit of joy.]

Not particularly. You two are very close to each other. You just needed to stop worrying so much about your past.

[Really Alvin, what took you so long to take that step? It's been months since Elios's attack when Alvin first brought up the issue.

But he's not as exasperated as he sounds. Really, he's glad for Alvin. It's why his tone loses part of that grumpy edge and softens into a quiet kind of joy.]

Congratulations on becoming a father then, Alvin. You'll do well.

[A small cringe.]

Yeah, well. Would help if I had some advice on how to really be one. Never had a father figure growing up, so I'm kind of out in the dark on this one.

[He didn't have a father figure growing up either. Still, there's a thoughtful pause on the other side as he considers Alvin's question.]

"Fathers must raise their children to be upright, respectable and contributing members of society." That is what I was taught that matters.

However, I believe such strict guidance must be tempered with love and understanding, less it breeds distance between father and child.

I apologize for my frankness, but how have you been raising Miss Elize so far? Where do you feel you are lacking, and what do you think you have done well in?

[A wry laugh.]

Man. That's giving me memories of when I was a kid. Well, before certain events happened. [Has he told Lu Meng about him originally born as the one and only heir to one of the most powerful families in Elympios? Not something he thinks about explaining off the bat, in any case.]

But as for what we've done so far... Kind of hard to say. Really it hasn't been much different than what I've done before. I mean, she's thirteen so it's not like I have to baby her. [Even. If. She sometimes. Acts too adorable.]

I mean... I dunno. [Small vibration of frustration.] I know I can protect and support her, but I don't know if I should be doing something else.

It's good to protect and support her, but you also have to ensure she grows up with the correct morals. This might mean that you have to take a firmer hand when dealing with her as compared to before where you were friends.

If you were friends this might not be so, but as her father, you now have the right to reprimand and correct her as you see fit. Indeed, it is your responsibility to step in the moment you sense something is amiss, even if she is unhappy about it.

Being a father sometimes means having causing unhappiness to your child if it's for their own good. You can't let yourself feel down if Miss Elize is cross with you for disciplining her.

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