Catch-All: You alone will have the stars as no one else has them.

[angealwings]

WHO: Andrew Hughes (Angeal Hewley) and people!
WHERE: Around Recollé and maybe some of the regions. We'll see how it goes!
WHEN: Throughout April, starting on the evening of the 1st, shortly after the Retrospec post goes up.
WHAT: Things! There will be prompts as things come up through the month, but if you have something to do / ideas /etc to poke at Andrew, go ahead and tag directly. Or get in touch with me for a starter at kikibug13
WARNINGS: None right now, but things may come up later. I'll try to keep things up to date.

Comments

April 1: Genesis

[angealwings]

Today was a bit of a mess. Andrew had his presents for Genesis picked a while back - the earring from a sale, because he'd wanted an actual ruby, and the bubble wrap since the beginning of March - but the cooking of the dinner he'd planned to arrive to Genesis's apartment above the bookstore at 8:30 sharp had, ah.

Well. He'd needed a while longer to get it done. He'd texted the birthday boy, of course. But when the time of the app post came, he was just getting everything ready to head over.

And glancing at the post made him just. Pause for a long moment.

Oh.

Well. He got to Genesis's place much faster than he usually did, especially with as much as he was carrying. He was guessing not fast enough.

For once, he rang the bell, mostly because he needed a little help to get everything inside safely.

[rhapsodist]

See, it wasn't necessarily the app itself that was threatening to have Genesis go get his inhaler for an anxiety induced asthma attack. It was what was being told to him within the app. Mainly that life was potentially going to get dangerous, let alone the possible changes to his appearance (if there is any) and acquiring memories of a so-called past life.

He couldn't imagine how this would have affected those when this first started happening (he was told about a year now) but they learned as they went along. Having the information effectively dumped on him was overkill even by infodump standards.

Still, he managed to breathe deep enough and slowly enough and become distracted by a few more mundane conversations that by the time the bell rang, he didn't touch the inhaler. Although it was sitting on the stand by the couch, just in case. He made his way to the door where the landing was that led to the stairs leading to the bookstore one floor below, opening it and reaching for whatever Andrew needed help carrying.

"Which one?" He asked.

[angealwings]

"Left hand, paper bag." Genesis was likely going to know which one, since it was definitely a gift bag. Bulky, very bulky, but, once Genesis took it, he'd realize it was fairly light. Just extra difficult to navigate with.

Andrew's eyes went up to the redhead's face, and he sighed.

"Let me settle these, and I'll be right with you. It's a bit of a shock, I know. But I'm here."

Christ, what it'd have been like if Genesis had gotten this while Andrew was away...

[rhapsodist]

Genesis took hold of it and was definitely surprised at its light weight, but he maneuvered it into his arms so the actual bulkiness of it didn't impede anything as he backtracked into the house again. He set the bag onto the table in the living room, between the main couch and two large matching cushioned seats.

"Yeah, it's a bit of a shock," He said, a bit more bite to his tone. He saw his phone on the couch vibrating near constantly from the massive text bomb still going on. He grabbed it and set the phone to Do Not Disturb, it was faster than turning off the notifications. He dropped the phone back onto the cushion and sighed, a hand on his hip and the other pinching the bridge of his nose. "Actually no, that's an understatement, a massive one. Don't you think?"

[angealwings]

Oh, Andrew heard that. Genesis was upset. Understandable. He was upset at him - also understandable. And there was not much that he could do about it, not really, though it twisted his gut in a way that was way too familiar.

He didn't look at him, instead stepping towards the kitchen to get things settled - the things that needed refrigerating, in particular - so he could give Genesis his full and undivided attention. But he paused, first.

"I got it two months ago. Beginning of February. I tried to tel you, but the moment you took your eyes away from it, you forgot. Again and again." Did Genesis really thing that Andrew hadn't tried? "You can ignore it most days, at least, if you'd rather."

[rhapsodist]

Genesis wasn't upset with Andrew. There was no reason to be, but he was upset at the situation. How could he not be?

"Yeah, I know you did. I'm not blaming you." Genesis huffed, letting go and just rubbing his forehead. "I remember now. I'm aware of the weird... issue us people who didn't get the app had. People told me already."

Why did Andrew always do that? Blame himself for stuff he couldn't control? He wanted to chuck a couch cushion at him for it. Wasn't Andrew technically in the same boat before February, after all? "I'm starting to think if I do, I'll miss something important given I'm now being made aware of things."

Ignorance was bliss, as the saying went.

[angealwings]

Because, well. He was the one who should be able to make things right, wasn't he? And that did not exactly happen anymore.

Anyway. Genesis's words made Andrew's shoulders lose a bit of the tension, and his motions as he emptied his bags and boxes to make things ready for ... a meal later, were a little easier.

"It's kind of like keeping up with the news over twitter or something. Or facebook. You get a few important things, and a lot of not so important ones which can still be interesting. Like someone's eyes turning pink, or something like that." Andrew breathed out. "And I'd have been able to keep in touch over February."

Yeah, that's where he went. "They didn't tell us we'd be missing the whole month."

[rhapsodist]

Genesis really didn't keep up with Twitter or Facebook, aside from the Facebook page he created for the bookstore specifically. It was used mostly to answer people's questions or post when Open Mic night was or any other little event he planned, like for the holidays and whatnot. It got a bit of traction, of course, but word of mouth also worked best for him.

Instagram sometimes helped too.

But anyway, Genesis looked up finally when Andrew mentioned his missing month. He snorted softly. "Doesn't sound like something they would tell you, from what I've seen thus far."

[angealwings]

Yes, well. Andrew had been overseas long enough to have seen all kinds of ways to keep up with home. Some seemed to work better than others.

For now, Andrew shrugged, wiping his hands and coming over to the couch to stand before Genesis, eyes warm. Despite the worry, there was a relief in them, too.

"There's so much I want to tell you, now that I can, Gen. But it can wait. More importantly, how are you?"

Yes, the city was not going to explode tonight.

Probably.

[rhapsodist]

Genesis wanted to pout a little and how unfair Andrew was being right now. The warmth in his eyes, the way he sounded relieved now. He crossed his arms and shrugged.

"Overwhelmed, I guess. The day was slow and relaxing, then all this happened."

What was tomorrow going to be like now that he was aware?

[angealwings]

"Yeah. The first time, I mostly just looked at things and talked to Zack briefly. And Theo. And then Eren realized I'd gotten the app and sent me the information about it and then answered questions." A corner of his mouth tucked up, just a little. "You get through information much faster than me. It makes sense that it gets too much faster."

Andrew tilted his head towards the couch. "Wanna sit and talk 'bout something else and then star breaking things down so they're not as too much? Or you got pressing questions first?"

He was being even more unfair. On the other hand, this was what he could think of doing. Bringing things down to simple choices, and letting Genesis be in control. Overwhelmed was never good.

[rhapsodist]

Genesis rolled his eyes a bit at that. He was probably just going to read the information guide in the morning at this rate. Whatever, Andrew, just because he could read faster-! Instead, Genesis just ended up pressing his lips to Andrew's and said, "Neither. I want cake."

He will probably regret it in the morning but whatever, it was his birthday and he was having his cake and eating it too!

~april runs

[mercurio]

[it's springtime, so this much is to be expected. prompto sneezes once, shaking his head and ridding his hair from the excess water.]

[a sudden springtime downpour]

[these usually don't last long, not with the sun bright and out, but it really disrupts his morning routine for jogging. he bounces on his feet, hiding under the canopy of a house, the only shelter between himself and the wall of rain. prompto doesn't want to get sick and--most importantly--hasn't brought any protective casing for his camera. he cannot afford it getting wet.]

Didn't even make it to the ten minute mark...

[he'll have to start wearing raincoats again]

Yasss

[angealwings]

Bless you.

[ Stretching. Because even a few minutes of running and a few minutes waiting can be pretty bad on the muscles if they warm up and then are left to cool down too fast. ]

Got anything to do shortly after, or are you doing your usual route anyway?

[mercurio]

--usual route.

[he looks up, then back down at his camera. relief floods in his veins when it turns on just fine without any kind of hitching.]

If it takes too long I'll skip the gym today and head to work after instead.

[angealwings]

[ Andrew still hasn't gotten into the habit of carrying the camera everywhere. Maybe he should be better about that, now that he's looking at the blond. ]

You look like you can fix that on your own, even.

[ There's no mockery in his note - mostly impressed-tinged curiosity. ]

[mercurio]

Yeah, it wouldn't necessarily be a problem.

[but still, he wouldn't want to do any fixing if he can help it. there's a warranty for a reason--and this cost him quit a load on his paycheck when he finally got the nerve to buy a camera proper.]

...but, I'd rather it be okay than need fixin'.

[angealwings]

Of course not.

[ Andrew narrows his eyes thoughtfully as he shakes his limbs loose. ]

With an older camera, could you - whenever you have free time and all - teach me the basics?

[mercurio]

[prompto looks up, curious.]

How old are we talkin' about here?

[not that it matters. he loves a challenge, and he's always itching to have cameras to fix in his hands. it's always been a fun hobby, especially with older models.]

[angealwings]

Mine is from the nineties... [ He squints a little. ] Guess maybe getting a similar one off ebay or something might be a better choice, when it comes to practice?

[mercurio]

I guess so.

[he stands up straighter]

I could still give it a look. Some of those older models are a bit harder to work with, but with the right tools I should be able to open 'er up just fine and see what's wrong. --but, yeah, most models have similar specs. Practicing with it wouldn't be a problem.

[angealwings]

I'd... like that. It seems like a good idea.

I could bring it over somewhere, later? I should get into all sorts of habits, anyway.

[mercurio]

I work at MediaMarkt in the afternoons. Shoot me a message and I'll tell ya if I'm in.

I got my tools over there.

[angealwings]

That sounds like a plan. Thank you, Prompto.

[ Andrew looks up, then wrinkles his nose a bit. ]

I don't think it's letting up just yet.

For Zack: Steak dinner. (early in the month)

[angealwings]

[ Between their usual gig - Zack is a big boy, and, well, so is Andrew - and new stuff that they might possibly have to talk over - or at least Andrew feels like he should mention, in case Zack hasn't had anything remembered like that - it doesn't take much for Andrew to just call Zack over for their usual dinner thing. Sometimes it's burritos. Sometimes it's steak. Simple things that give a lot of protein to burn up and build into muscles. At Andrew's place, because it might not be big or grand, but it's decent and clean and has a few plants even, though they're still young. It's a good place to rest up without having to be too careful about upsetting or breaking anything of importance (yes, yes, he has noticed that Zack's being careful). And to talk.

So, here they are, most of the way through the food and at that point where eating slows down but they're not quite done, and Andrew looks over, just. ]

So... this memories thing. How has it been treating you?

[ It's as good a start as any. ]