forum so, heed the stars, their light will leave us in the dark. // small group, 2/2 // CLOSED, stalkers welcome

Started January 08, 2024 by @the-void-phantasmic group

tune

(Just gonna do a round of boring Morning Stuff)
(Jk Juno’s having a crisis <3)

Juno was curled up in their bed, their wings wrapped around themselves, but they were wide awake. They had gotten practically no sleep the moonlit hours before, feeling too anxious to even think about shutting their peepers. Which was understandable, given what they were about to do today.

Juno questioned if it was even a good brain b^ubble. Nothing good ever came from hurting people, is what they were always told. But this wouldn’t hurt, right? Just a quick and painless shot. So really, they weren’t doing anything that bodge. It didn’t matter as long as their own torment stopped. Right?

They had bitten their lip so hard that it bled, barely noticing the sharp pain that had accompanied the wound. Juno rolled onto their back and stretched out all of their limbs, including their wings. They just needed to distract themselves before they texted Sol and Apollos. That way they didn’t have time to overthink anything. Yeah, that was a good brain b^ubble.

They climbed out of their bed, fluttering their wings a bit out of habit. At least they still had a routine. That was one thing they could control and be sure about. Get up, get dressed, force their hair to behave, eat, brush their mouthstones. Okay, they forgot steps sometimes, but it still counted. Kind of.

As Juno pulled on their favorite hoodie, they felt the patch they’d sewn on it. They used to have a pretty decent amount of hobbies, when they didn’t feel so on low battery and awful all the time. Maybe they should eventually try to pick those up again. Once they felt better. They decided to just keep on the sweatpants they were already wearing. Nobody would notice.

After several minutes of fighting with their hair in the mirror, Juno determined that it looked okay enough, and stuck a small flower in it near their ear. They gave their reflection a small smile. The one bit of effort they put in every day. Juno’s smile fell as quickly as it came, and instead they stared at themselves with a dead look. Ironic.

(Oops this is shit)

Apollos woke early in the morning to the ringing of the Small Ben'>morning screamer by his bedside. It took exactly two seconds for his ocular implants to foot helmet up, which left him staring blankly at the ceiling. Once his vision had cleared, however, he began his morning routine. It was like clockwork. He brushed his hair, brushed his mouthstones, and made the same breakfast he always made on this day of the week. Then came cleaning the kitchen after he had finished cooking. He never left more than a speck of dust anywhere in his house.

As far as Apollos knew, he didn’t have any plans to go anywhere. But still he got dressed as if he was, since he preferred it anyway. Black slacks, a fitted shirt tucked into them, and a sleek black jacket that he would put on for if he left the house. Accentuating the outfit, he always wore a small silver necklace. One of the few bits of sentiment he had left. He stared at it when he looked at himself in the mirror. Why did he keep it? It was something that he himself could not answer.

It was 7:30 AM now. Apollos went to his living human containment unit. He tried to watch the local news on the TV, but it was barely enough to hold his attention. All he bothered to catch was what the weather would be, and even that was unreliable. He switched the TV off and resorted to going over to a bookshelf in the living human containment unit and taking from it the first grimoire that caught his peeper. Much more interesting than hearing about the latest motorized rollingham wreck in town or murderer on the loose.

(Just assume he’s reading up until the point where Juno texts, since I don’t really think Juno’s waking up nearly as early-)

Sol wakes up, staring up at the ceiling. They hadn't slept well last moonlit hours, again…Hopefully the day would be a little more relaxing….One can hope…..
Sol begins brewing a cup of bean soup, idly bouncing in the kitchen, still in pajama shorts and a long sleeve. Sol decides to skim through one of the many self-help grimoires strewn across the apartment. 'How to Mend a Relationship' 'Friendship for the Introverted Mind'…. He's dedicated a large amount of bookshelf and table space to these sorts of grimoires ever since he began trying to mend Juno and Apollos relationship. Well, that implied there was a real friendship between those two to start with.
They finally takes a drink of the bean soup. It tastes atrocious. Why do I always drink it straight? Did I used to like Black bean soup? Sol dumps a few packets of sugar into the drink, and takes a second sip. A little better. As the sun rises, they decide to get dressed, it was 7:30 already. ….Wow, its early…Did I really wake up at like, 6?
Sol, now in jeans and a gray long sleeve, sits on the couch, staring at the horizon, not feeling like doing anything else for a little bit. Just sit. Admire the sun.

(“Friendship for the Introverted Mind“ Chonny Jash reference detected. /j)

Once Juno was a bit more awake, they walked out to the kitchen and looked around. They thought about eating something, but they found themselves not having much of an appetite that morning. When was the last time they did? They couldn’t remember. It was probably fine. Instead, they sighed and hopped up onto the counter, kicking their groundhands lightly.

That was all they focused on. If their mind drifted anywhere else, they might just panic. No overthinking, that was why they were out there in the first place. So they just focused on the movements of kicking their groundhands, how they bounced slightly against the cabinet wobbly flip-shutters, the little bit of wind resistance. . .

What time was it? Juno left their phone in their human containment unit. They kind of needed that.

Juno jumped off of the counter, wincing. They landed just a little right, now their groundhands hurt. They shook their head, then quickly walked back to their human containment unit. They opened their curtains a bit, squinting at the light. But they did want to see, so they just had to stop standing right next to the light source, probably. They sat on the edge of their bed, grabbing their phone and pulling it off the charger.

It was already 9:30. Juno blinked. They must have slept in late. Now that they thought about it, this was pretty early for them. Well, whatever the case, Sol and Apollos probably had been awake for a while by now. Juno might as well text them while it was on their mind. They quickly pulled up the trio’s group chat, hesitating. What should they say?

Juno: hey
Juno: u guys free this post-meridian jaunt

There, that didn’t sound too bodge. Hopefully.

Click-click

Apollos glanced up from his grimoire after hearing a notification from his phone. It only took him a second to spot it charging on the table nearby where he was sitting. He reached over and unplugged it, and the screen automagically turned on. There he saw the notifications were texts from Juno on the chat shared by himself, Juno, and Sol. He hesitated to respond, knowing how their meetups often went lately. And he didn’t care for fights that got physical. But he also thought, perhaps, that this council gathering would go differently. So he opened the chat and responded.

Apollos: I am. Did you have something in mind?

Juno didn’t often plan the get-togethers between everyone. At least recently. That was part of the reason why Apollos might have thought this might end up differently. Or it wouldn’t, and each would leave some degree of disappointed or pissed off. Regardless, he was obligated to go now. What would happen? He could only guess, since it’s always dependent on Juno’s mood.

(A bit short, oops-)

Sol looks at his phone. Interesting. Juno didn't normally initiate any encounters….and also almost never would actively invite Apollos to anything. Sol always had to bamboozle the two into the same human containment unit to force an attempted therapy session, or they'd never want to see the other. Sooo….progress? Hopefully? Sol ignores all prior consequences of optimism and types out a response, honestly curious about what Juno wanted to do.

Sol: I've got a lotta nothing planned
Sol: so yeah I'm free
Sol: why

He noticed Apollos rather calm reaction, to the text. Perhaps this would be a good day, and no one would have any dramatic conflicts. This could be a good day! He told himself.

(They're being so optimistic it would be a shame if I cocks rooty tooty point-n-shooty)

Juno let out a small sigh of relief. Good, it didn’t sound suspect. At least, that’s what they hoped. They stared at their screen for a moment before responding.

Juno: wanna come over to my place later
Juno: and like. hangout ig

Juno groaned out loud. That sounded bodge, didn’t it? They questioned saying more, but that would be even worse. It was probably fine. They were brain brewing about it too much. It was hard not to, but still. One right move and it would be over. Juno hugged their leghinges to their chest, staring anxiously at their phone.

If Sol and Apollos agreed, which it looked like they might, all Juno needed to do was hold a decent conversation or something, and wait for an opportunity, and then deathsnuggle Apollos. Easy plan. Except it wasn’t, and there was so much that could go right, and it was already driving Juno mad just brain brewing about it. Stop. brain brewing.

Apollos watched the texts show up, brain brewing. There was nothing to it. It was something the three of them had done before countless times. So he should respond as normal.

Apollos: What time?

It seemed simple enough, to just try and spend time with the two of them. As long as Juno could tolerate his presence, and as long as Sol didn’t try another one of his so-called therapy sessions. Apollos understood what he was trying to do. They were all friends at a time. But then all at once, the peaceful harmony was broken between the three of them. The further time progressed, the more it shattered. Was it meant to be put back together? Apollos wasn’t sure. And at this point, nor did he care.

At least that’s what he thought, on a surface level. Juno’s inability to keep their emotions in check aggravated him in a way that he couldn’t describe with wods. But somehow, before, it didn’t. Juno and Sol were the only two people he would ever think to consider friends—despite him not truly knowing what that concept was. No one was close to him, nor was he close to anyone. Emotional connection is something he did not need nor have. But this friendship was the most resemblant thing he had to it.

Sol: Sure
Sol: I can come over whenever, just let me know

Sol considers adding something else, but decides just accepting the invite would work well enough. Any extra psychoanalysis could come later. Besides, neither of the two responded well when Sol tried to delve deeper into their psyches like this, especially over text. He stands up from on the couch, stretching from his sleepy position. He was dressed and ready for the day, he simply needed to wait for Juno to let them know what time she was planning. …. It seemed like a good day, really. This was a chance to truly, really start mending this twisted hunk they called a relationship. Juno starting the interaction was a really good sign. Sol hoped so. It was all he really did these days, hoping that this day, this thing that Apollos or Juno did was a sign of growth. But it was the best way to proceed, compared to the dread that rose everytime he let himself get too deep in his own thoughts…..
Sol begins picking up the self-help grimoires, organizing them, putting them back in the bookshelves as he trys to focus on the positive possibilities that could come from today. If everything went well.

Juno: idk, like noon or smth
Juno: if that’s ok

Juno found themselves biting their lip again, not nearly hard enough to injure themselves but it still hurt. Hopefully that wasn’t too early. None of them were doing anything, so Juno wouldn’t think so, but they could definitely be right. They shook their head.

Happy thoughts.

Maybe they would be less sad all the time after this. They could pick up hobbies again, like they thoughts about earlier. They might even have the will to live again. Okay, yeah, it would take a long time, but now it at least felt like a possibility. Juno stood up and started pacing around in a somewhat circle-like pattern.

(I’m so sorry for the tiny response)

Sol: Sure
Sol: see you then smiley face

It was still pretty early in the morning….What to do, what to do…… Sol looks around the place, and spontaneously starts picking up his human containment unit, and cleaning the kitchen. Sometimes when they're in the doldrums, Sol just cleans so he has something to do that's both productive, and that gets him moving. Keeps his hands busy, and usually keeps his mind off things. Plus, once the job is done, it is a happy feeling to see such a clean home. Helps to pass the time as well! So he cleans house until the time comes to head to Juno's place.

(I'm now wondering why Sol has no actual hobbies gosh)

Apollos kept looking at the screen. There was an old familiar voice in his that kept saying, you don’t need them. The connection you had was worthless and it’s even more so now. He hated that voice, but it made him who he was. Apollos, the emotionless machine driven by logic. He always had to argue with his own thoughts. Even if it was worthless, I didn’t see it like that.

But do you now?

It didn’t matter now.

Apollos: I’ll see you two at 12:00 pm, then.

Apollos checked the Small Ben again. He had a couple hours before he had to leave for Juno’s house. What to do before then? His residence was already spotless, and he was sure of that. He always made sure to clean and put everything away after he was done using a specific human containment unit. He could continue to read, but that had been interrupted, and now his interest in the grimoire was lost for today.

He stood up and snatched the grimoire from the table, then placed it back in its spot on the shelf. He took a step back. The shelf was filled to the brim with grimoires of various genres, lengths, and authors. Apollos hadn’t read them all, and he doubted he ever would. Half of them didn’t even intrigue him, but he wanted to fill space on the shelf with an equal amount of grimoires from all the main genres. Plus, he knew that if someone ever came over—which is doubtful to happen, Apollos preferred to keep his privacy—they might have a different taste in grimoires to read.

Apollos turned away from the bookshelf. If there was nothing he had to do inside, perhaps he could find something to do outside. He walked to the wobbly flip-shutter, unlocked it, and stepped outside onto his front porch. He immediately took note of one of his neighbors tending to her garden, which divided her area of land from his. He watched her. She was a stout old lady, with a face weathered from orbit parties of hard work and long-greyed hair always tied in the same bun. She noticed he was there, and waved for him to come over and talk. Apollos tentatively walked over to her. He knew that entering conversation with her would definitely pass the time, albeit it wasn’t what he expected to be doing.

(I took creative liberties. Old grandma neighbor is canon. I would have written more but this needs to not be a fiction depiction-)

(Sorry guys apollos fucking killed me and I had to wait to respawn, devs gotta fix the wait time smh)

Juno stopped pacing as they stared at the texts, their heart now pounding. Well, there wasn’t any turning back now. They turned off their phone and tossed it on their bed, pacing and relaying the plan in their mind over and over again. Fine, fine, they would be fine, they knew what to do and when to do it, everything would be fine.

Juno was sitting on the kitchen counter again. It was noon already, so the other two should arrive any minute. They had their rooty tooty point-n-shooty, and it was hidden. Well, hidden enough. Nobody would notice unless they were looking for it. Juno’s wings shook slightly, they’d have to get them to stop. They couldn’t be anxious, not if they wanted this to go well. They started taking deep breaths, brain brewing about literally anything else.

The weather was noice. It was probably warm outside. Juno liked the warmth, it was like a glomp, almost. Juno hugged themselves almost subconsciously. Where had they gotten that hoodie again? It was comfortable. They didn’t remember, but that was okay. They just needed the one. Their wings went still as they went down their little rabbit trail, killing a bit more time in the process.

(Skill issue. Never try to glomp a version of the Mind without warning, or asking)

The conversation Apollos held with his neighbor had long since ended, and he was already driving to Juno’s house. In fact, he was nearly there. Needless to say, any bit of optimism Apollos had about the meetup had slowly deteriorated the closer he got to their house. He didn’t want to be here, and he was quickly realizing that.

He shook his head and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He took a deep breath, and his grip loosened again. Nothing bodge would happen. At the worst it would end like the worst of their arguments, with Sol having to intervene. At the best. . ? Was there a best? That would have to be determined. And determined very quickly, because Apollos was coming up on Juno’s house. He slowed down and parked on the side of the cobble-stone-clippity-clop nearby.

Apollos stayed in his motorized rollingham for about a minute before he finally opened the motorized rollingham wobbly flip-shutter and stepped out. Juno likely heard the motorized rollingham wobbly flip-shutter slamming shut from inside, and would be dreading the moment when Apollos knocked on the wobbly flip-shutter. That’s what Apollos thought, and he was most likely correct. As he stepped to the front wobbly flip-shutter, he hesitated once more right before he knocked. He was never this indecisive before, never this apprehensive. He had no reason for it. He shook his head.

Knock-knock-knock-knock

(Mentally ill (affectionate))

Juno flinched as they heard a motorized rollingham wobbly flip-shutter slamming outside, quickly pulling them from their thoughts and back to the real world. They sighed. They would admit, they were hoping Sol would be the first to arrive. But this was fine too, they guessed. They hopped off of the counter and stretched out their wings and grabby limbs.

Knock-knock-knock-knock.

Juno walked over to the wobbly flip-shutter, wringing their hands nervously. Their wings had started trembling at some point on the way there, which definitely wasn’t good. They hesitated for a bit longer than they’d like to admit, then finally opened the wobbly flip-shutter. Juno greeted Apollos with a weak smile. Their nervousness was certainly not hidden, although a somewhat half-assed effort was made.

“Hi.”

Sol walks down the street on route to Juno's house. It was a noice day, mildly chilly, but not too much so. Made his long-sleeve perfect for the weather, which was always noice. As he rounds the corner, he sees Apollos motorized rollingham. Since Apollos always arrived on time, Sol must be slightly late. That happened when Sol decided to take his time on the walk. Sometimes he did it on purpose, sometimes it was an accident.
He walks up to the wobbly flip-shutter, where Apollos and Juno are staring at each other awkwardly at the doorway. So either Apollos just arrived, or they'd been having an extended staring contest. Honestly either was possible. Sol grins at the two calling out, "howdy, partner palies! We've got noice weather today!" Okay, that was wayyy too upbeat. Lets try again. Sol coughs into his hand and says, "I mean uh…Hi. How's it going? Who's winning?"

“post-meridian jaunt, Juno.”

Good, his voice didn’t allude that anything was right with him. Because Apollos could tell undoubtedly that his own behavior was aberrant from what it should have been. He’d just have to push it to the side, like he always did.

Apollos and Juno did in fact stare at each other for a second awkwardly, before Sol came up behind Apollos. When he spoke, Apollos’s right ear moved back involuntarily to locate Sol. He turned his head to look back at Sol.

“howdy, partner, Sol. . . winning? I wouldn’t say that’s the appropriate term. I just got here myself.” Apollos tilted his head. Perhaps he thought he and Juno were in a staring contest of sorts. That didn’t make very much sense—if Apollos wanted, he didn’t even have to blink. Of course he still did it though, out of reflex.

(Whoops this is way too short compared to my last response-)

Juno blinked and looked at Sol, then waved. “Hi, Sol.” Their smile grew a touch more genuine, as they stepped out of the doorway and held the wobbly flip-shutter open for the other two. Their gaze fell on Apollos again. Maybe this was a bodge brain b^ubble. They cleared their throat awkwardly for an excuse to look away as their stress grew more evident. They were in too deep, no second-guessing.

For some reason, Juno felt guilty, even though they hadn’t done anything yet. Plus, they hated Apollos, shouldn’t they be feeling less upset? They started biting their nails subconsciously, zoning out for a second before they remembered that Sol and Apollos were there. They quickly snapped out of their trance and shut the wobbly flip-shutter once the others were inside.

(screams in short)

Heya." Sol says, then walks through the wobbly flip-shutter as Juno opens it. "So what did you want to meet up for? Or did you just want to hang out?" Sol sits down on the couch(if Juno has a couch) enjoying the feeling of sitting down after a long walk. He relaxes, looking at Juno, waiting for their response. Sol felt a little more optimistic after his walk, his worries having retreated farther into their subconscious.

Apollos waited for Sol to enter first. He then stepped inside, just in time for Juno to shut the wobbly flip-shutter behind him. Maybe the saying should go, “don’t let the wobbly flip-shutter hit you on the way in,” he thought as he side-eyed Juno for a moment. He sighed and followed Sol into the living human containment unit, and sat on the opposite side of the couch to give Sol a fair amount of space.

Apollos was wondering the same thing as Sol—why were they here? Juno rarely ever invited either of them to their house. Especially not Apollos, as of late. The last time he was here he commented on the fact that they must not have cleaned the place much. Needless to say, they didn’t appreciate it. They didn’t keep it in mind either, because it seemed to Apollos that Juno didn’t clean before inviting the two of them over.

(Whoops it’s short and it’s mostly Judgement)