november catchall

[offtracks]

Who: Ingo & OPEN
What: catchall for November
Where: around the Bay
When: throughout November
Warnings: discussion of food-related anxiety / past food insecurity

Comments

[outbounds]

Not now, sure. But eventually. You know.

[ It is not like they will avoid the outpost forever. He tilts his head before continuing. ]

I am Emmet. I am fine. You, however. 'Well enough' does not mean one-hundred percent operating capacity. Not even close.

Talk to me?

[ There's barely anyone else awake yet, maybe a couple of fellow early birds. They have time and space both. ]

[offtracks]

Ah, just a bit tired. It is quite early still.

[ This is not untrue! But as far as Ingo's concerned, there's nothing else that they need to discuss! ]

1/2

[outbounds]

And whose fault is that?

[ Lightly. It really is just meant to be teasing— who, exactly, is the one that got up early enough that it pulled Emmet out of his own slumber, hm? ]

2/2

[outbounds]

... You have been quiet lately. Usually that means you are just thinking about things. But you have been quiet for a while now.

[ Whatever the reason, he's been keeping things to himself, which... mmm. Maybe he isn't thinking about it at all, or maybe he's thinking too hard on it. And Emmet knows, from personal experience, how mulling on the same things over and over...

Well. No need to drag that up. ]

Talk. I will listen?

[offtracks]

I could not sleep!

[ Too excited to leave? Or just...well, it doesn't matter. Except that now Emmet is choosing to try and make him talk about things.

That's fine. There's surely something to discuss. ]

Hm. Well. I will have to start preparing for the winter when we return - it's already quite late in the season for it, though I think that the Guild stores should make up for much of it.

[outbounds]

But you ... do not wish to be a burden or strain on those stores? [ he is guessing, based on some of the other things he's noticed Ingo Skwovetting away, other little habits. ] Is that what it is?

[ Because preparing, when the stores seem fine ... or maybe Emmet is just not a good gauge of this? ]

[offtracks]

Yes, of course! Those are for those who cannot provide for themselves!

[ He can, so he should! ]

[outbounds]

Okay...

[ All right, that's probably a valid concern ... Ingo would know and Emmet wouldn't, here. Which means Emmet should also pitch in when they get back, right?

But also. ]

That cannot be all that has been bothering you, though.

[offtracks]

I would not say that it is bothering me! Merely something to be mindful of!

[ Very mindful, granted. But it's winter! It happens every year! ]

[outbounds]

Right. But something that is 'merely' something to be mindful of. I do not think it would have distracted you this much.

[ Therefore: ]

So there is something else still.

[offtracks]

No, no, not at all! I am sorry if I have been quiet!

[ Clearly he needs to get over himself! Move on! All of that! ]

[outbounds]

It ... isn't something you need to be sorry about?

[ But all right. He'll just come right out with it; he's never been good with gentle or subtle. ]

... Ingo. I will be clear. You have been distant since the festival ended. I do not think the timing is a coincidence.

So ... what is wrong?

[offtracks]

Nothing is wrong!

[ How could anything be wrong? Everything that happened that night was entirely correct. Ingo did the right thing by leaving; Emmet did the right thing by spending that precious time with his brother. He has no business being bothered about any of it!

Even if he did, it'd be unbearably petty. The other Ingo is gone now. He doesn't want to admit something so mean-spirited to Emmet. He doesn't want to fight either, so he aims for conciliatory: ]

I apologize, Emmet. I will try and do better.

[outbounds]

Why are you apologizing? You have done nothing wrong. You are not being judged. It is not about having to do better.

[ Is. Is Ingo worried about not getting a good grade in brotherhood, something that is both normal to want and possible to achieve? ]

I am just worried. Even minor misalignments may lead to bigger trouble further down the line. ... is it something you think you cannot tell me?

[offtracks]

It has clearly upset you! Of course I will try to fix it!

[ He's not even sure how to address the other question. Admitting that much is basically the same as just spilling his guts about how awful he is outright! So he is ignoring it to focus on the other bit! ]

[outbounds]

Acting like nothing is wrong is not fixing it.

[ He'd know! ]

It is also— not about me. Should not be. Mmm. It does not sound to me like you are conducting proper maintenance on yourself. But I do not want for the only reason that you would do that to be because of me...?

[ He is not sure that he said that right, but... sure, he's worried, but it shouldn't matter whether he's upset or not— he would like for Ingo to think to take care of himself for himself? Like, what if something happened to Emmet? ]

[offtracks]

[ Ingo cocks his head slightly. He feels like he's been taking care of himself reasonably well, in spite of everything? Feeling sorry for himself does not keep him from doing that. ]

I suppose I have not been sleeping as well as I might, but I am sure that will settle itself in time!

[outbounds]

[ Well, point, Ingo tends to take care of himself well enough physically and basic survival needs wise.

It's the other ways that have Emmet just a little insistent now. ]

When we are further away from here. Right?

If that is the case, what will happen whenever we end up coming back?

[offtracks]

Must we return at all? Every time we've been here has been terrible!

[ Dry, but he doesn't...entirely not mean it. Between Froslass and this... ]

[outbounds]

You would rather stay in the Bay forever?

The only other way out is across the water. [ On top of that direction not being a priority for obvious reasons, let's not talk about how fire types and the ocean mix. ] And exploration will be important to the guilds. You know. Starting from a station closer to the destination is more efficient.

[ Making the day trek out from the Bay before venturing further isn't impossible, but that's a lot of effort spent on avoiding Skull Town ... even if it's been somewhat cursed so far. ]

[offtracks]

We can camp.

[ Normally he might tease a little. He knows he's the more experienced camper of the two; most of their expeditions haven't exactly been multi-day treks. Ingo just isn't in an especially light mood.

...he should still say more than that. ]

...at least in the colder months. Though it does not seem Froslass is an annual visitor...

[outbounds]

Hmmmmm. [ No real inflection change, but it's a little drawn out. ] Haven't done that much camping in years. The gears are all rusty.

[ He could, probably, but. He thinks he's adjusted quite well to the situation here so far, thank you very much, it's only been 10 months,

but the Bay is still a fairly established settlement, all things considered. ]

... she will not be there all the time. Prrrrrobably.

[ Even in the colder months. She did just leave. ]

[offtracks]

[ Ingo squints out at the trees a little, as if bemused. ]

I suppose I have never really thought of it as optional.

[ He's camped much, much less in the past year, but that is only because they had nowhere to travel to until recently! The wilderness must be crossed here just the same as Hisui. ]

She likely only comes in the winter. But the locals were not very clear on how many winters.

[ ...Ingo blinks a second later, frown deepening slightly. It just occurred to him that he's speaking as if their presence here next year is a certainty. ]