Christmas Resolution [Nathaniel and Trinity]

Hargeon. This harbor town harbored a memory that Nathaniel would cherish. But such has been tainted this past month. In his pocket was the twentieth issue of the Sorcerer's Magazine that held some disturbing information within its pages and he shook his head as he had thought of what happened to him recently. Was he tricked? Or is this a case of clones and/or doppelgangers? He had been left confused for a month, his head wasn't a good place to be in now, and what's worse is he hasn't been feeling good about himself regardless of the fact that what he had done with Eliza or as the magazine would suggest, Trinity, objectively felt like the best thing in the entire world. Or perhaps it was the fact that it did feel perfectly great that he feels bad. He couldn't help but feel like he cheated on the Trinity he's going to meet this Christmas. Like that one guy in a show he watched where the guy kept shouting that they were on a break. That guy was a complete douche. Regardless, he was intent on clearing everything out today because he still had feelings for Trinity. Something that was made ever so clear after having slept with Eliza. Trinity had been trying to get a hold of him all this time but he couldn't stand to look her in the eyes, he was so riddled with guilt and shame that if he chose to meet her right away, even during the first few days where he can still feel Eliza on his hips, he would most likely breakdown in front of her right then and there. But now that ample time has passed. Maybe, just maybe, he can look at her and perhaps even talk to her normally.

That's what he told himself anyway as he was about done finishing the sweater he had made for the contest. Now he didn't know how to make a sweater in the first place, but it sure looked like fun. He didn't even think they were ugly, just hilarious. Nat in particular, still somewhat scarred with his most recent experience made what looks like to be a very itchy sweater. Red was the dominant color. There seems to be a picture in the middle and a caption on both poles of the picture. The one on top simply said Santa while the ones at the bottom said Is Coming. Of course it didn't help that the picture in question was a picture of Santa Claus coming out of he fireplace, starring at the mother of the family who was tired and tucked in on the couch. Nat couldn't even nail the facial expressions on the characters on the picture so it kind of looked like Santa was giving a rather naughty expression. The judges even had a slight chuckle when he turned his sweater in. Yeah, he definitely botched this one. Or nailed it, since it was about making an ugly sweater? No matter, he was just waiting for Trinity.

WC: 509
Nat: 509
Total: 509
Received Two Peppermints for making an ugly sweater
@Trinity

Rolling for tree decorating!

The member 'Trinity' has done the following action : Dice Rolls

---

'Monster Dice' :

Nat opted to wear the sweater he had just made earlier. Because for some reason, now that he's not doing anything, the winter felt colder. Darker. Or perhaps, he knew why and that was the reason he did the sweater making first before anything else? That if he were to be left alone with his thoughts, and with the weight of the events carried today regarding quite possibly not only his personal life, but that of someone he cared about. It continued to don on him, the things he did. And now he found himself hugging himself. Rubbing his hands against his arms as if the sweater that was really thick and tailored to his personal preferences wasn't enough to keep him warm. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes slowly as he took it, and slowly exhaled with a sigh in an attempt to calm himself down and find some semblance of comfort, even mentally.

And what looks like a scene out of every corny romance movie, Trinity would be the first person Nat saw as he opened his eyes. The beautiful girl's radiance in Nat's eyes certainly didn't fade, at least in an objective sense especially with her rather unorthodox color schemed Christmas attire that Nat found strangely appealing. The black and white speaks to him, the black more so for how hot the color was looking, and how dark. Indeed it would have been more than great to see Trinity again. But among the nice things and serenity, there was even more confusion, doubt, and guilt than before. Now that the subject of these feelings are in front of him, he can't help but feel bad for what he did and for what? All because she didn't pick up the phone one day? He didn't know what to feel and think. Was it his fault? Hers? All she ever thought of was that Trinity made it that they're just friends which broke Nat's heart and then she ghosts him the next. When it came down to it, Nat was only really thinking about himself. This. This was one of the products of his month long contemplation. And before he knew it, when he was in the right headspace to talk to her. To see her up close, he already was.

Nat didn't notice his body move up towards Trinity as he lingered in the confines of his own mind. Now face to face with the beauty, he had to say something. Clear the confusion he's gone through and to alleviate Trinity's pain of keeping her in the dark. For it was in fact her small messages every now and again that made Nathaniel's 'recovery' quicker. It may also very well be the reason why he subconsciously wanted to see her so bad because in her little way, he was keeping him sanely happy. But also confused him a bit. She obviously cared about him, so why do what she did. "So. You want to tell me what happened to you? Why did you keep me in the dark? Looking like you care but feel as if you don't? But I think you do because you keep sending me these sweet messages. So what's really going on, Trin? What's going on with you? With us? What am -" he was typing all of this down on his iLac and saying the words at a tone of that was a bit cold, though not as cold as Christmas, but also of worry. His voice and tempo got louder and faster as he said more words at the same time, emphasizing how much it meant to the man who also can’t help but feel a little selfish from asking what appears to be too much of Trinity. He also didn't dare sign because he might sign things differently with how emotional he was getting, letting everything that has been kept inside for a month out so suddenly.

And what cut him off was apparently this old man who is not fond of the holiday. Terrorizing and making everyone else miserable. The man called himself Scrooge and for some reason, he hated Christmas. Now, Nathaniel already had a lot on his mental plate and he would very much like to focus on it. Now all of the man’s frustrations were focused on dealing with the little nuance they have before them, blocking out the screams and wails of those already affected by this spirit manipulating summoner as he took his polite leave from his conversation with Trinity and slowly walked on towards the grumpy old man to face him. Fierce eyes locked on to the caster who might have sensed that the blondie in front of him was a mage. With a scoff of confidence, Scrooge summoned his spirits and set them against Nathaniel who right now is driven by his emotions, primarily rage. This unfortunate state of mind somehow sets Nat back to a more base attitude. His rage fueled him as fires began to rise up from his body as he drew his blade that burned with him. This man who is clearly terrorizing people hands down needs to die, and knowing that is one of the few things for this sudden joy because there would be repercussions, unlike his time with Eliza. “But first, a bit of fun, I see.” he murmured to himself as he readied to charge the summon who called itself The Ghost of Christmas Past, much like the stories he’s been told when he was a kid and unfortunately for it being an undead spirit shooting what seems to be snowballs to a burning Nat’s perspective, that had been deflecting and/or melting the ice of the spirit as he came closer and closer. The ghost sensing great danger tried to confuse the charging lunatic by creating clones of itself. But the flames would grow and sear anyone nearby every time Nat would cast a spell and he has used three. With the power to increase his damage, let out a burst of flame different from the one already covering his body, and throwing a ball of condensed flame at the spirit, he is very much convinced that he has brought a warm hope among the civilians nearby, along with the far more important fact that was one less nuisance present.

And speaking of present, the next spirit to charge at Nat on a skeletal reindeer was called the Ghost of Christmas Present which smirked at Nat, as if she knew something. Atop the undead animal, it taunted Nat, asking if he has done naughty things recently. Although this could very well may have been a general quote the spirit says as it falls well within her theme, Nat took it to mean as a reference to the perfectly splendid time he had with Eliza and that only enraged Nat more and recklessly charged at the spirit with no mental attention. This made it easy for the spirit to find a spot to strike Nat on with one of her weapons: by his left shoulder, Present even gave her wrist at twist to knock Nat back near Trinity and shatter the weapon, leaving it stuck on the man’s shoulder and quite possibly, more shards breaking and scattering inside the wound. The crusader then tried to pull the ice out along with any he shard he was able to pull out and subsequently heal his wound and prepare for round two.

WC: 1,246
Nat: 1,755
Total: 2,524

Defeated Ghost of Christmas Past
@Trinity

Angered by his lack of focus by letting his emotions get the best of him, Nat sighed and bared his teeth afterwards as he healed himself. The only reason it was taking time was because of the shards inside. He couldn't just patch it up and leave them there because his rotary movement would be affected. Though he already had some of them out, there were still a few left in him. During this time, Trinity who had been staying strong the moment they met today. He could only tell because from what Nat could see earlier, she was holding back tears. Or was just a figment of his imagination? That her face was getting a bit moist as he talked? That perhaps he was paying too much attention on her beautiful face that he had missed dearly that he starting to see things on it.

Nevertheless, all of that was gone now, replaced by an anger he had not seen in her before. Though it really didn't surprise Nat all that much, seeing as he personally knows that people have sides they'd wished they didn't have, making him contemplate his own personality and attitude towards the entirety of life. No, what really surprised him was how much power Trinity possessed. He had known of her ability to manipulate her size before but never in this scale. This time it was far, far larger and apparently more devastating as it obliterated the Present ghost in one hit. It was impressive to be sure, but she had been subjected to a terrible illusion that greatly worried the crusader. His concern was manifested by how quickened pace he was trying to get rid of the shards, and cursed himself for how long it's taking. He grunted and cursed a lot for how inefficient it was being as he never had to be surgical about his healing before.

But as if he needed to be impressed more, as if this was a day that proverbial cards were all on the table, he got a glimpse of Trinity's other skills, this time involving dark shadowy appendages crawling of out the ground beneath the last ghost. Though nothing out of the ordinary in the world, he had wondered why someone as sweet as her would come into possession of magic that seems to be out of character. This got Nat into thinking that there really is something that Trinity has to tell him, that there could be something more, something deeper, and in that depth held answers. Explanations. He had to do something because he can't just let her take everything on her own, that is so unbecoming. And the slow painful and eerily dark way the ghost is being dragged into what appears to be the afterlife it deserves, Nat has been able to get a few more of the shards out.

But time was not their ally. Never was. Their whole relationship has been about there might not be enough time, disappearing and not talking of which he was guilt of that as well. This time it manifested itself as the lack of reprieve as the old man himself now stepped in to bring misery and hopelessness to Trinity as the downed Nathaniel still tried to be at 100% fighting capability. He couldn't bear to see her like that. He had never seen her like that and never waned to. She didn't deserve it. She was being mentally tortured and Nat stood up and ran to her side. But Scrooge wouldn't allow it. He had placed a barrier around the tortured Trinity who, despite being unable to speak, tried to nonetheless, making out what seemed to be his name. No, it was certainly his name, she had audibly cried out for help out of pain, suffering, depression, and fear. Nat however, also counted faith. Why else call out like that? She believes in him and he wasn't about to let her down much like he did this past month.

Nat ripped the left sleeve of his sweater and a piece of his shirt underneath it to bandage the wound. And though he can't use that arm very much for now, he only needed one to throw his weapon at Scrooge who very well saw the attack but was not fast enough to dodge it completely. It grazed him on his left side, but before he could react, Nat pulled the sword back through the chain attached at the pommel, a neat little trick he's been growing fond of. The returning blade knocked the man to the ground, but Trinity was still not yet released. He realized then that time was of the essence. If concentration is not required for the spell to persist, then perhaps life is. He dashed forward and tried to strike him down, but the man's cane was actually stronger than it looks, or perhaps it was because he can't handle the blade properly? But Nat was still bearing down on him, putting his weight against the old man who impressively has moves which displeased Nat. He was hoping to spill his guts on the floor and letting him run out of breath as punishment for torturing Trinity. But instead he'll have to burn and that was quicker in Nat's taste, but he would still want him to die gruesomely.

Sensing the loosing battle, Scrooge tried to summon all of his spirits back at once, despite being defeated earlier. Meaning they were still not ready and because of that, one slight wave of Nat's left hand back had all of the spirits burning in agony and slowly dispersing afterwards. Running out of options, Scrooge tried to put Nat in the same tormenting aura he had Trinity in, but Nat waved his left hand in front of him, Making Scrooge catch on fire, and releasing them from the weapon lock. The man tried to douse the flames and while successful, he found himself clashing weapons again with Nat but this time, he got him to fall to the ground. He was about to be impaled by Nat but being a powerful summoner, he would not let up. This agitated Nat greatly. So far, he's been nothing but annoyed, irritated, angered and displeased with how the day is turning out and he just wants all the negative emotions to be over with. Fueled by his fit of rage, Nat raised his weapon and constantly struck the man with force, who initially was able to guard for his life "JUST. FUCKING. DIE ALREADY!" he shouted. Every word accompanied by hate and brutality and a sword swing. Nat got his wish of a brutally gruesome end for the man when his last strike got through and hit the neck. But with blind rage being the guide behind the strike, the hit was unclean and ugly and despite the force behind it being able to cut a man's head off, but by the angle, it struck muscle, jugular and eventually clavicle that still cracked on the force. Now Scrooge just laid there twitching. Gasping for breath, his grip on his magic loosening, like his grip on life. He'll die pretty soon and instead of giving him a quick, clean end Nat hurried to Trinity that he was able to pull out of the magic, hugging her tightly.

Now with his love in his arms and chest, he had felt peace and the raging haze has lifted. It was comforting to feel that they were both somewhat ok. So much so that a tear dropped from his eye and to Trinity's head.

WC: 1,266
Nat: 3,021
Total: 5,036
@Trinity

Activity Completed:
Ugly Sweater Crafting
Tree Decorating

Enemies Defeated:
Past
Present
Future
Scrooge