SPRING CATCHALL

[pyronic]

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[framestory]

[ Ellis has gotten the idea of the goddess not really liking him either, regarding what he received ("marbles") and that he was forced to confess a secret that he was planning to take to the grave. The thought bubble is really distracting though, but Ellis puts the bottle of apple smoothie on the coffee table as if he's bringing an offering to appease Diluc. It's very obviously apple-flavored and the texture is pretty creamy, but not too thick. There is no single chunk of fruit as it had been blended thoroughly. There's even a hint of banana in there.

He just gives Diluc an awkward smile as if to say that he's sorry that the goddess has targeted him. He waves his hand to say it's fine. ]

[pyronic]

[He appreciates you, Ellis. He tries to keep the frustration off his face, but it's of little use when his thoughts are being telegraphed to Ellis right above his head.]

( Spare me your pity. )

[But he takes a sip of the apple smoothie and finds it an ample enough distraction from his woes. Mm, not bad at all. His thought bubble is the first to let Ellis know that he approves, but Diluc's answer follows shortly thereafter.]

It's very good. Do you have much experience cooking, Ellis?

[framestory]

[ Ellis shakes his head no and writes on his notepad, turning it around to show Diluc his message: ]

I only know how to cook basic things, but I got to learn about a lot more once I came here.

[ ...

He was just planning to just shaking his head no and leave it at that, but huh. He feels an odd compulsion. Feels weird, man. ]

[pyronic]

[Huh. Diluc hasn't noticed anything off about Ellis yet, but maybe he will after cutting to the heart of the matter. Now that he has Ellis here, he may as well.]

Are you learning to cook for Gaku?

[He's not letting you skirt your way out of this one, bro.]

[framestory]

[ Normally, he would look shy, force some blush on his face, and say yes, but--

He just shakes his head no and then looks down at his hands for a bit and frowns a little. What the fuck. ]

[pyronic]

[Diluc's brow arches, studying Ellis' expression intently.]

( You're a bad liar, just like him. )

Is something wrong, Ellis? You've lost your composure.

[Shall they blame the Goddess for that as well? In either case, this works out nicely in Diluc's favor. He isn't kind enough to let Ellis off the hook when he can't help but be a little more honest than usual.]

[framestory]

[ One would usually be a bad liar if they're not allowed to lie for a day. Ellis looks up, watching Diluc speak and his eyes dart to the thought bubble. Fine... he'll play this game. ]

I didn't learn for Gaku. I learned it for myself. I don't think I can ever make soba the way he likes it either.

[pyronic]

[That's more like it. Diluc nods, accepting Ellis' words as the truth. He's caught onto the fact that Ellis probably can't lie even if he wants to. Kaeya was afflicted with a similar curse not that long ago, but while he let Kaeya off the hook easily enough, he has no intention of doing so with Ellis. He owes Gaku a debt, after all.]

Does that bother you?

[framestory]

[ Ellis shakes his head. ]

Should it?

[pyronic]

[...While they're being honest?]

No. It's better that you aren't so easily influenced.

[But he does have to ask something for the sake of his own curiosity.]

Do you truly not care for Gaku?

[framestory]

[ I'm going to say that this is after the weekend getaway he had with Gaku, so!

Ellis looks over at Diluc, smiling a little. ]

Oh, did Gaku complain about me?

[pyronic]

He called you an asshole.

[Is that complaining? He'll let Ellis decide.]

[framestory]

[ Ellis laughs a little at that. He's not offended. After all, Gaku said that to his face before, so Ellis doesn't particularly care.

So he just shrugs. ]

[pyronic]

[Yeah, that's easy enough to work out without Ellis saying so, or— you know, writing it down.]

How troublesome for you that you've caught the eye of such a stubborn man.

[And it takes stubborn to know stubborn, so Diluc believes it's only a matter of time before Gaku gets what he wants. The only question now is how long that might take... and how Ellis feels about it. Good thing he can't lie right now.]

How does that make you feel? Will you reject him?

[framestory]

[ Yup. Gaku sure is stubborn. Ellis realized this fairly quickly, but how does this make him feel? Well. ]

He's a fool.

[pyronic]

That he is, but you're avoiding my question.

[Foolish as Gaku is, they both know he isn't going to give up unless Ellis makes him.]

[framestory]

[ And he will continue avoiding it, thank you very much. ]

Wouldn't it be foolish to chase after someone who can die any day?

[pyronic]

Certainly.

[He agrees to that easily, nodding, but there's more.]

But you'd be even more foolish than him to deny yourself what you want. No... That would make you nothing more than a coward, Ellis.

[And it's none of Diluc's concern one way or the other, but Ellis asked, and so he'll give him the truth. Gaku may be a fool, but at least he has a functioning spine.]

[framestory]

[ Ellis nods to that easily. He has no pride about being called a coward. In fact, he knows he is one, so it doesn't bother him. ]

It's really strange to be treated as if we're equals.

[pyronic]

[The thick plottens...?]

( You've got serious issues. )

Do you think that lowly of yourself?

[framestory]

[ Seeing Diluc's thought bubble makes him smile a little. The goddess isn't done with Ellis yet regarding secrets, so he'll tell Diluc too. ]

You're real, after all. I'm not. I'm just a character from a story.

[ ...

Surprisingly, he doesn't feel as bad about it this time. He went into total meltdown in front of Gaku when he did the first time. ]

[pyronic]

[Is it strange that Diluc doesn't doubt him? His speech bubble is oddly empty, too many thoughts churning in his head to come up with one cohesive answer, but he's settled on one before too long. It's less an answer and more a demand, really.]

Explain.

[framestory]

[ Ellis just tilts his head as if to say, "why should I?". ]

[pyronic]

You're the one who brought it up.

( Asshole. )

[framestory]

[ Indeed he did. Ellis doesn't strive to be a greater person when stuck in this sort of mindset like he's supposed to be guarded. ]

Since you're so sweet, I'll tell you.

I'm just a character from a story within a frame story. An extra. A very minor character. My existence has little meaning--so little meaning that I got exiled from the story that I was supposed to be in before I got to perform my role in the story.

A character that is forgotten by the story is worth nothing.