[As Rosamund is wondering about a Reliver's ability to breathe among the lycoris, Dahut clears his throat, too, in the same stilted and quiet way of someone trying not to be noticed. No one in Arpéchéle is immune, after all - not even Scien.
He doesn't seem at all bothered by it, though. Rather, it's like he doesn't even notice. His gaze is fixed so wholly on this battered woman that it's a miracle he's even thinking to include Rosamund in this mess at all, but he does seem to stay aware of her throughout.
The woman reaches up with her other hand - or tries to, and fails, and Dahut catches that one too and leans down so she can place her bloodied palm on his cheek.
You've made... a friend? How lovely... She wheezes out her words with rattling lungs. Despite the pain she must be in, she carries on like this is a normal conversation and she isn't bleeding out in a poisonous field. She turns her cloudy gaze toward Rosamund.
How wonderful to meet... you, madamemoiselle... What a kind young woman... She looks, maybe, like she's trying for a smile, but doesn't even seem to have the strength for that. As if saying what anyone in this situation would think, gravely but with apology: There is nothing more that can be done... And then, to Dahut: Oh, my darling Liam... I'll leave the rest to you... Never forget that your mother loves you so very, very much...]
Of course, I never will. I'll always remember. I love you, too, Mother...
[She gives his cheek one gentle, shaky stroke and then seems to still, and he just sits there unmoving, too, even with the press of miasma growing more potent with every second. Rosamund might taste iron in her mouth soon enough.]
He doesn't seem at all bothered by it, though. Rather, it's like he doesn't even notice. His gaze is fixed so wholly on this battered woman that it's a miracle he's even thinking to include Rosamund in this mess at all, but he does seem to stay aware of her throughout.
The woman reaches up with her other hand - or tries to, and fails, and Dahut catches that one too and leans down so she can place her bloodied palm on his cheek.
You've made... a friend? How lovely... She wheezes out her words with rattling lungs. Despite the pain she must be in, she carries on like this is a normal conversation and she isn't bleeding out in a poisonous field. She turns her cloudy gaze toward Rosamund.
How wonderful to meet... you, madamemoiselle... What a kind young woman... She looks, maybe, like she's trying for a smile, but doesn't even seem to have the strength for that. As if saying what anyone in this situation would think, gravely but with apology: There is nothing more that can be done... And then, to Dahut: Oh, my darling Liam... I'll leave the rest to you... Never forget that your mother loves you so very, very much...]
Of course, I never will. I'll always remember. I love you, too, Mother...
[She gives his cheek one gentle, shaky stroke and then seems to still, and he just sits there unmoving, too, even with the press of miasma growing more potent with every second. Rosamund might taste iron in her mouth soon enough.]
[WHAT A LOVELY DAY TO BE....... at the... dripping debussy........ Hateful that this name is so awful when the location is decent.
Anyway, as she's wandering through, her peaceful lil walk will be interrupted by the sound of someone apparently coughing themselves to death behind a pillar.]
Anyway, as she's wandering through, her peaceful lil walk will be interrupted by the sound of someone apparently coughing themselves to death behind a pillar.]
[Anna really dripped this on us and debussed out.]
Hello? [Immediate concern. She moves towards the pillar, one hand outstretched tentatively.] Hello, are you — Dahut!
[Fussing at once! She rubs at his back and holds him by the shoulder.]
Are you all right? Should I find some water? Are you sick?
Hello? [Immediate concern. She moves towards the pillar, one hand outstretched tentatively.] Hello, are you — Dahut!
[Fussing at once! She rubs at his back and holds him by the shoulder.]
Are you all right? Should I find some water? Are you sick?
[SHE REALLY FUCKING DID. ANNA!!!!!
Anyway thank you very much for the comforting backrub, Dahut's trying desperately to get his coughing under control. He has so many blue flowers and petals in his lap and in the hand that's covering his mouth.]
—Sorry! I'm-- [COUGH.] -fine!
[A little poof of tiny blue petals flies out from between his fingers.]
Anyway thank you very much for the comforting backrub, Dahut's trying desperately to get his coughing under control. He has so many blue flowers and petals in his lap and in the hand that's covering his mouth.]
—Sorry! I'm-- [COUGH.] -fine!
[A little poof of tiny blue petals flies out from between his fingers.]
[Mostly azure with a gentle sprinkling of marine... He will take the napkin, though, and let himself be led to sit.]
It's not-- so bad...
[He's dealt with so much worse TB before, this is fine!!! Though he is still wheezing tremendously and coughing up a few bits of petals here and there. At the very least, he seems to be strongarming the worst of it under control...]
—Sorry to worry you...
It's not-- so bad...
[He's dealt with so much worse TB before, this is fine!!! Though he is still wheezing tremendously and coughing up a few bits of petals here and there. At the very least, he seems to be strongarming the worst of it under control...]
—Sorry to worry you...
[It's difficult to take in. Rosamund's eyes are watering both from the deathly pollen and the way this woman makes her pleas.
She doesn't dare interrupt now. These last words are wasted on her, illusion or not. Her eyes go to Dahut. A sweet, gentle boy, no matter how unusual or long-lived, sitting on the ground, watching a woman who he calls mother fade away.
There's wetness at her cheeks soon. She averts her eyes for the last. It's too private. Too terrible to take from him, not in this sense. When the quiet lingers after her breath halts, Rosamund can taste it. Blood, all in the back of her throat.
She suppresses a cough. Instead her hand returns to Dahut's back, rubbing slow.]
I'm so sorry, Dahut. I'm so terribly sorry...
She doesn't dare interrupt now. These last words are wasted on her, illusion or not. Her eyes go to Dahut. A sweet, gentle boy, no matter how unusual or long-lived, sitting on the ground, watching a woman who he calls mother fade away.
There's wetness at her cheeks soon. She averts her eyes for the last. It's too private. Too terrible to take from him, not in this sense. When the quiet lingers after her breath halts, Rosamund can taste it. Blood, all in the back of her throat.
She suppresses a cough. Instead her hand returns to Dahut's back, rubbing slow.]
I'm so sorry, Dahut. I'm so terribly sorry...
[He knows he has to go - that they both have to go. His throat and lungs feel thick with the toxin, and he can't help but cough, too. But it's always so hard to let go of her hand.
At least he's well-aware of the fact that it's an illusion this time. The hand at his back and gentle words are enough to draw him away, and he gently sets his mother's hand over her chest and draws her eyelids shut.]
...Thank you, Mademoiselle Rosamund. Even after all these years, it's still... well. Some things don't go away with time, I guess.
[But he'll cough into his hand after that, give his mother's body one last stare, and then rise to stand. With his non-bloody hand, he'll reach back out for one of hers.]
Shall we see if that's enough to leave?
At least he's well-aware of the fact that it's an illusion this time. The hand at his back and gentle words are enough to draw him away, and he gently sets his mother's hand over her chest and draws her eyelids shut.]
...Thank you, Mademoiselle Rosamund. Even after all these years, it's still... well. Some things don't go away with time, I guess.
[But he'll cough into his hand after that, give his mother's body one last stare, and then rise to stand. With his non-bloody hand, he'll reach back out for one of hers.]
Shall we see if that's enough to leave?
[ROSAMUND AND GREGOR OUT HERE WITH THE KILL SWEEP well. Dahut is alive! Again!! He's freshly cleaned and wearing a nice new outfit that isn't garbage stinkified, and he seems... very fine! Completely fine! There is a brightness about his mood that is maybe a little uncanny compared to his usual demeanor but that's surely fine, too!
He'll wave a hand and smile when he spots her, his head canting curiously to the side.]
Mademoiselle Rosamund! I believe I heard your voice earlier...?
He'll wave a hand and smile when he spots her, his head canting curiously to the side.]
Mademoiselle Rosamund! I believe I heard your voice earlier...?
[NOOOOOO ROSAMUND!!!! SHE'S SO SWEET and he is delighted to be scooped into a hug, even if it's with an unhinged air of optimism. He hugs her in return!! And pats her back so reassuringly!]
Oh, there's no need to look so sad! You all did your very best, I'm sure of it. And everyone is so strong that I'm equally sure they'll all feel perfectly fine in no time at all!
[Just like him! A perfectly fine-feeling normal lad!]
Oh, there's no need to look so sad! You all did your very best, I'm sure of it. And everyone is so strong that I'm equally sure they'll all feel perfectly fine in no time at all!
[Just like him! A perfectly fine-feeling normal lad!]
[He'll lean back a little too, but let his hands rest on her shoulders so he can pat them gently.]
Of course I am! I'm doing wonderfully. After all, everything will turn out just fine, even if things are a little tough right now!
Of course I am! I'm doing wonderfully. After all, everything will turn out just fine, even if things are a little tough right now!
Oh, well, we went home! And then got caught up in a bit of trouble here and there, and ended up being experimented on for a bit, but at least I was able to get my mother out of there! We died, once or twice I believe? But everything worked out perfectly well in the end, considering we're all back in one piece!
[The demented optimism continues to shine through...]
[The demented optimism continues to shine through...]
[they're at the strip club
jk it's one of the libraries. Rosamund is laying ponderously on the ground, a book open across her chest, staring at the ceiling. She's come to no profound conclusions about the what the lack of a murder means, and the plan to revive them all hasn't quite hit fruition, so she's waiting. Antsy, dry-mouthed. She doesn't startle when she hears footsteps. She just waits.]
Not sure what to do, either?
jk it's one of the libraries. Rosamund is laying ponderously on the ground, a book open across her chest, staring at the ceiling. She's come to no profound conclusions about the what the lack of a murder means, and the plan to revive them all hasn't quite hit fruition, so she's waiting. Antsy, dry-mouthed. She doesn't startle when she hears footsteps. She just waits.]
Not sure what to do, either?
[HELP the rip club (rat strip).
Dahut will meander over, enjoying a brief reprieve from the insanity of his CYOA effects. Ah, clarity of mind! He misses you so much when you're gone! He'll settle down next to her, tucking his legs up.]
A little of that, a little of wanting to give everyone a break from dealing with my terrible side-effects, a little preemptive nostalgia...
[He's been here for so long, after all - longer than almost anyone, and losing this stupid fuckin Helly Belly represents losing a lot of things to him, in the same way he imagines it means to Rosamund.]
How are you feeling?
Dahut will meander over, enjoying a brief reprieve from the insanity of his CYOA effects. Ah, clarity of mind! He misses you so much when you're gone! He'll settle down next to her, tucking his legs up.]
A little of that, a little of wanting to give everyone a break from dealing with my terrible side-effects, a little preemptive nostalgia...
[He's been here for so long, after all - longer than almost anyone, and losing this stupid fuckin Helly Belly represents losing a lot of things to him, in the same way he imagines it means to Rosamund.]
How are you feeling?
[Very grateful its standard edition Dahut for the moment. Alter Dahut can wait.]
Oh. So you did knew you weren't quite yourself. [Not that he wasn't cheery, but it was a more palatable brand of it. Less denial involved.]
Nostalgia? [Odd. She turns her head and blinks up at him, curious. Hesitant to say much about herself.] I suppose I'm all right, really. I just don't like having to sit on my heels and wait. I know we've got a plan underway and things didn't turn out like we expected last night, but it all feels a little too...tidy.
Oh. So you did knew you weren't quite yourself. [Not that he wasn't cheery, but it was a more palatable brand of it. Less denial involved.]
Nostalgia? [Odd. She turns her head and blinks up at him, curious. Hesitant to say much about herself.] I suppose I'm all right, really. I just don't like having to sit on my heels and wait. I know we've got a plan underway and things didn't turn out like we expected last night, but it all feels a little too...tidy.
I can tell that I'm not acting quite right when I'm out of those moods, at least... When I'm in them, not so much!
[Which is just all kinds of frustrating but it's fine, it's fine.]
But yes! I've grown a bit attached. [HIS HELLY BELLY HOME... He didn't even spend much time in this library and when he did it was getting attacked by small flesh rats.] Worried about something going wrong at the last minute, then?
[Which is just all kinds of frustrating but it's fine, it's fine.]
But yes! I've grown a bit attached. [HIS HELLY BELLY HOME... He didn't even spend much time in this library and when he did it was getting attacked by small flesh rats.] Worried about something going wrong at the last minute, then?
[She's had something of a peek at the books on flowers in the libraries by now. Her off-hand knowledge is limited but she knows the blues tend to lean to — well. The blues.
She takes a seat at his side, still holding on. I forget if this is before or after power returns so I'm deciding after: with one hand to his back, she casts Cure Wounds.
His chest will clear and his throat will feel soothed, as if he's drunk tea with divine honey. The petals will stop for the moment. All ailment gone.]
Don't be sorry. You're not troubling me at all.
Were you hiding back there?
She takes a seat at his side, still holding on. I forget if this is before or after power returns so I'm deciding after: with one hand to his back, she casts Cure Wounds.
His chest will clear and his throat will feel soothed, as if he's drunk tea with divine honey. The petals will stop for the moment. All ailment gone.]
Don't be sorry. You're not troubling me at all.
Were you hiding back there?
[HE'S CURED... Magic is still wild to him especially since powers have been off this wholeass time so he's never actually witnessed it, and he blinks, clearly startled when everything calms down.]
Mm? Ah... [Touching his throat lightly and then glancing over to her.] ...Was that you?
[As for the question, WELL, YOU SEE. Sometimes you're a very private person who doesn't like their emotion flowers getting everywhere for everyone to see. He glances down at the petals, frowning.]
...I just wanted to be out of the way.
Mm? Ah... [Touching his throat lightly and then glancing over to her.] ...Was that you?
[As for the question, WELL, YOU SEE. Sometimes you're a very private person who doesn't like their emotion flowers getting everywhere for everyone to see. He glances down at the petals, frowning.]
...I just wanted to be out of the way.
Are they lessening at all?
[She really hopes so. It's the strangest effects she's seen coming out of one these at all. At least he wasn't a ghost, like Sheba or Diluc.]
I can guess that, yeah. You've been down here an awfully long time, haven't you? [Much longer than he'd spent on the ship proper. She smiles up at him, folding one ankle over the other.]
There's more than enough time for it, yes. Or rather, I'm worried about what may happen after. There's a lot of loose ends to tie up.
[She really hopes so. It's the strangest effects she's seen coming out of one these at all. At least he wasn't a ghost, like Sheba or Diluc.]
I can guess that, yeah. You've been down here an awfully long time, haven't you? [Much longer than he'd spent on the ship proper. She smiles up at him, folding one ankle over the other.]
There's more than enough time for it, yes. Or rather, I'm worried about what may happen after. There's a lot of loose ends to tie up.
U DONT HAVE TO TAG BACK i just prewrote this before return kicks it out of my tabs
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artificialsweetener
2024-04-14 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
[HE WAS... HE WAS JUST IN THE SHOWER FOR THE HOUR IT LASTED...]
Not really... But the last time I had to deal with something like this, it didn't really lessen, either. It just stopped.
[HE HOPES IT WILL DO THAT THIS TIME TOO or he'll just die.]
But yes, I have! Almost two months now... [Much, much longer than the time he'd spent on the ship.]
That's a fair concern, though. Always the loose ends...
Not really... But the last time I had to deal with something like this, it didn't really lessen, either. It just stopped.
[HE HOPES IT WILL DO THAT THIS TIME TOO or he'll just die.]
But yes, I have! Almost two months now... [Much, much longer than the time he'd spent on the ship.]
That's a fair concern, though. Always the loose ends...
[NO I WANT MY DAHUT]
Any way we can help it stop? I know it was...um. Likely an experiment, and you have your heart... [Frowns. Perhaps this is much less of her business than she's making it to be.] Well, I'm glad that there may be an end to it yet. I prefer you as you are, most certainly.
What would you miss most about this place? Or — actually, was there anything fun I missed? You all seemed to be having a lot of adventures down here.
Any way we can help it stop? I know it was...um. Likely an experiment, and you have your heart... [Frowns. Perhaps this is much less of her business than she's making it to be.] Well, I'm glad that there may be an end to it yet. I prefer you as you are, most certainly.
What would you miss most about this place? Or — actually, was there anything fun I missed? You all seemed to be having a lot of adventures down here.
[UNFORTUNATELY DAHUT IS HERE.]
Aha, it's actually just a lingering effect from the terrible adventure I went on. It should clear up on its own, so there's no need to worry! I can say wholeheartedly that I prefer me as I am, too.
[Bouncing between the wild highs and lows of insane hopeful optimism and unshakeable depression has been tiring for him and stressful for his memory bank... BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY:]
I do like the labs! [TERRIBLE.] And I'm not sure about fun, really... We didn't start having our parties until you showed up!
Aha, it's actually just a lingering effect from the terrible adventure I went on. It should clear up on its own, so there's no need to worry! I can say wholeheartedly that I prefer me as I am, too.
[Bouncing between the wild highs and lows of insane hopeful optimism and unshakeable depression has been tiring for him and stressful for his memory bank... BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY:]
I do like the labs! [TERRIBLE.] And I'm not sure about fun, really... We didn't start having our parties until you showed up!
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