![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Yes, that was me. [With a small smile and a flourish of her fingers, a flame sparks to life dances in the middle of her palm.] I don't have a lot of magic. Just enough to help in a pinch.
[Don't rely on her for miracles or resurrections, but if you want wilderness survival baby she is your gal.
She closes the hand and the flame goes out.]
Why so? I would gladly welcome your company. You don't ever have to hide away from me, even if you're not feeling well.
[Don't rely on her for miracles or resurrections, but if you want wilderness survival baby she is your gal.
She closes the hand and the flame goes out.]
Why so? I would gladly welcome your company. You don't ever have to hide away from me, even if you're not feeling well.
[Her head bobs back. Absolutely bewildered.]
Okay, none of what you said at all matches the tone you said it with. [Given how distraught he'd been over his Mother alone. Even when he'd approached with offers to euthanize the newly returned, he hadn't been peppy about it.]
What experiment was it?
Okay, none of what you said at all matches the tone you said it with. [Given how distraught he'd been over his Mother alone. Even when he'd approached with offers to euthanize the newly returned, he hadn't been peppy about it.]
What experiment was it?
Hm? It doesn't? [BOUNDLESSLY BRIGHT he just cants his head to the side a little, looking at her curiously. As far as her question goes:]
It wasn't just one experiment, but a true plethora. Not sure what information that person was trying to glean, but he took us apart very thoroughly!
[He is radiating an aura of beatific saintly forgiveness!]
It wasn't just one experiment, but a true plethora. Not sure what information that person was trying to glean, but he took us apart very thoroughly!
[He is radiating an aura of beatific saintly forgiveness!]
Oh! [MAGIC. Damn, even knowing it's a thing for others it's still wild witnessing it for himself. He looks like he wants to reach out and touch it even though it's a fckin fire, but fortunately she closes her hand first. He offers a little smile.] Well... Thank you very much for the help. I feel better now...
[Physically, but alas, the emotional turmoil persists.]
I'd rather not trouble anyone, that's all. We all have so much we're dealing with, after all! The last thing I want to do is add to it even a tiny bit.
[Physically, but alas, the emotional turmoil persists.]
I'd rather not trouble anyone, that's all. We all have so much we're dealing with, after all! The last thing I want to do is add to it even a tiny bit.
I understand.
[How could it? The loss of family was knife that could never be dislodged. That wound may close over but blade stays snapped off within, gutting you anew when you twist just the right way.
She takes his hand, searching his eyes. If he'll let her, if he'll look at him. She'll take the lead now with a nod and soft steps forward.]
I should hope it is.
[Let him rest. That's enough for one day.
As they walk the scene evaporates, and they are back in the dank air of the Helly Belly. At once she breathes easier, though her chest remains taught and stinging.]
What happened to her?
[How could it? The loss of family was knife that could never be dislodged. That wound may close over but blade stays snapped off within, gutting you anew when you twist just the right way.
She takes his hand, searching his eyes. If he'll let her, if he'll look at him. She'll take the lead now with a nod and soft steps forward.]
I should hope it is.
[Let him rest. That's enough for one day.
As they walk the scene evaporates, and they are back in the dank air of the Helly Belly. At once she breathes easier, though her chest remains taught and stinging.]
What happened to her?
[Regrettably, Dahut is standing a little too close to a certain princess when a memory rift swallows them whole.
He finds himself looking through the eyes of Rosamund. It's a room in a dark inn, a candle of ominous importance on the table. Standing around are a motley crew, more fable than human. They speak, fretful but quick-paced, as if sensing they're on the verge of doing something they'll regret.
"Do you want privacy while you talk to your mom?"
"No, no. I'm not-"
Rosamund pipes up, "I'd like to meet your mom."
The little puppet boy fidgets on the spot. "Yeah, I'm not embarrassed of my mom. I mean, I've never had a mom before, so, I mean, I just... And she's just very..."
He hesitates. The candle flickers before him, waiting for his choice. Before he speaks, the old man panics and thrusts Rosamund — only Rosamund — into a closet.
From there, things get strange.
The light in the crack of the door shifts. There's a sense of expansion. There's a scream — a woman, not anyone present before. A shadow stretches, vast, unknowable.
And by the time the madness ends, their saviour sums it all up with one concise phrase.
"What the fuck was that?"]
((Watch from 17:39-End))
He finds himself looking through the eyes of Rosamund. It's a room in a dark inn, a candle of ominous importance on the table. Standing around are a motley crew, more fable than human. They speak, fretful but quick-paced, as if sensing they're on the verge of doing something they'll regret.
"Do you want privacy while you talk to your mom?"
"No, no. I'm not-"
Rosamund pipes up, "I'd like to meet your mom."
The little puppet boy fidgets on the spot. "Yeah, I'm not embarrassed of my mom. I mean, I've never had a mom before, so, I mean, I just... And she's just very..."
He hesitates. The candle flickers before him, waiting for his choice. Before he speaks, the old man panics and thrusts Rosamund — only Rosamund — into a closet.
From there, things get strange.
The light in the crack of the door shifts. There's a sense of expansion. There's a scream — a woman, not anyone present before. A shadow stretches, vast, unknowable.
And by the time the madness ends, their saviour sums it all up with one concise phrase.
"What the fuck was that?"]
((Watch from 17:39-End))
[WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT INDEED.
Dahut's dropping his plate of scones for the third time today, he really should just give up and leave them in the kitchen and tell everyone where to get them if they want any, damn.
That's a whole lot of wildness to take in in just a few moments, though - a few moments that simultaneously sure do feel strung out over years. As the vision fades, he's left gasping for breath, a hand rising to clutch at his chest over where his memory bank is struggling to process the onslaught of foreign, strong feeling.]
Dahut's dropping his plate of scones for the third time today, he really should just give up and leave them in the kitchen and tell everyone where to get them if they want any, damn.
That's a whole lot of wildness to take in in just a few moments, though - a few moments that simultaneously sure do feel strung out over years. As the vision fades, he's left gasping for breath, a hand rising to clutch at his chest over where his memory bank is struggling to process the onslaught of foreign, strong feeling.]
[He'll let her, and he looks back, but it's hard to read much in his expression beyond the fading vestiges of that tender emotion and a weariness that belies his true age.]
Thank you. [THEY'RE FREE THOUGH YIPPEE. Back in the Helly Belly and so glad for it... What a time to be alive. Or undead. It's fine. He gives her hand a little squeeze, clearing his throat from the last lingering feeling of lycoris poison. A beat as he considers, and then:]
She was assassinated by the rest of our family and left in that field. I was around five at the time, so it's been quite a while.
Thank you. [THEY'RE FREE THOUGH YIPPEE. Back in the Helly Belly and so glad for it... What a time to be alive. Or undead. It's fine. He gives her hand a little squeeze, clearing his throat from the last lingering feeling of lycoris poison. A beat as he considers, and then:]
She was assassinated by the rest of our family and left in that field. I was around five at the time, so it's been quite a while.
[HIS SCONES NO
Rosamund immediately runs to his side. It's not the first time she's been flung back to this damnable moment, and for once she forgets her own panic. It's Dahut she's worried about. She remembers how he'd been laid out on the floor, under the labcoat. He's clutching at his chest now.
She bends to better meet him, hands settling at his shoulder and back. She speaks softly.]
It's okay. It's okay. Breathe deep, all right? Everything's going to be fine.
Rosamund immediately runs to his side. It's not the first time she's been flung back to this damnable moment, and for once she forgets her own panic. It's Dahut she's worried about. She remembers how he'd been laid out on the floor, under the labcoat. He's clutching at his chest now.
She bends to better meet him, hands settling at his shoulder and back. She speaks softly.]
It's okay. It's okay. Breathe deep, all right? Everything's going to be fine.
[HIS SCONES ARE THE REAL CASUALTY HERE!!
Sweet Rosamund is so caring, she should just let him splat onto the scones and become one with the void floor... He reaches out when she comes to support him, resting a hand on her arm in turn, the other still against his chest. At the very least, he doesn't seem to be on the precipice of launching into another fucky Reliver emotions spiral...]
Ah— I'm okay... [He always feels vaguely embarrassed when other people feel the need to console him from their own horrific memories.] --But are you?
Sweet Rosamund is so caring, she should just let him splat onto the scones and become one with the void floor... He reaches out when she comes to support him, resting a hand on her arm in turn, the other still against his chest. At the very least, he doesn't seem to be on the precipice of launching into another fucky Reliver emotions spiral...]
Ah— I'm okay... [He always feels vaguely embarrassed when other people feel the need to console him from their own horrific memories.] --But are you?
[She nods fast as he asserts himself, but falters when he asks after her.]
Me? I... [Well then. He can catch a waft of her own dread, not just of a pulse-pounding encounter but of perceiving things best never seen. An awareness of something beyond her scope or power that might rend her apart if she turns to face it.
And exhaustion. A bone-weary exhaustion that betrays her easy cover and quick words.]
I'm fine. I've seen her before. I don't like having to see her again, but it's not the first time I've been made to.
[There's a beat.]
For what it's worth, I don't think she can do much to anyone any longer.
Me? I... [Well then. He can catch a waft of her own dread, not just of a pulse-pounding encounter but of perceiving things best never seen. An awareness of something beyond her scope or power that might rend her apart if she turns to face it.
And exhaustion. A bone-weary exhaustion that betrays her easy cover and quick words.]
I'm fine. I've seen her before. I don't like having to see her again, but it's not the first time I've been made to.
[There's a beat.]
For what it's worth, I don't think she can do much to anyone any longer.
[They're emotions he sure can't blame her for feeling, given what it looked like she was dealing with. Even though the encounter wasn't his own, nor the dread or sensation of witnessing something unknowable, it's still hard to shake the lingering remnants of it so soon.]
...I'm glad. Something like that feels like it shouldn't exist. It's too big a threat.
[And big threats should always be eliminated, for the good of the people who would otherwise be destroyed by them.]
But-- what was she...?
...I'm glad. Something like that feels like it shouldn't exist. It's too big a threat.
[And big threats should always be eliminated, for the good of the people who would otherwise be destroyed by them.]
But-- what was she...?
[Rosamund nods gravely.]
You're right. She shouldn't.
[And now comes the hard part: trying to put her nonsensical world into sensible terms. There's a line between her brows as she puzzles it all out.]
She was the Wicked Stepmother. She was a character in someone else's story, who was made only to be a villain so that the heroine could be loved. And when she discovered that — when she found out the truth of her existence, she decided she wanted to do something about it.
She found a way to leave our world, and to start devouring all the versions of her that ever existed. Then she started eating those that were close to her, or rather the role she played. Gaining power to...well, I suppose she wanted revenge on the people who made us.
You're right. She shouldn't.
[And now comes the hard part: trying to put her nonsensical world into sensible terms. There's a line between her brows as she puzzles it all out.]
She was the Wicked Stepmother. She was a character in someone else's story, who was made only to be a villain so that the heroine could be loved. And when she discovered that — when she found out the truth of her existence, she decided she wanted to do something about it.
She found a way to leave our world, and to start devouring all the versions of her that ever existed. Then she started eating those that were close to her, or rather the role she played. Gaining power to...well, I suppose she wanted revenge on the people who made us.
[Damn he can understand going batshit after finding out that the entire purpose of your existence was just to be shitty and hated so everyone loved someone else, at least in theory. But what she became is still incomprehensible to him... Busting out of your book house and eating other versions of yourself really makes you into an eldritch monstrosity, huh.]
They should count themselves lucky that she was already stopped, then, all things considered.
[His shoulders hunch upward for just a moment as he still shakes off the lingering unease of WITNESSING THINGS best left in the shadows he hates it here.]
...I'm sorry you had to experience that, though. That was a horrible feeling...
[Even just as a witness, that was truly wild.]
They should count themselves lucky that she was already stopped, then, all things considered.
[His shoulders hunch upward for just a moment as he still shakes off the lingering unease of WITNESSING THINGS best left in the shadows he hates it here.]
...I'm sorry you had to experience that, though. That was a horrible feeling...
[Even just as a witness, that was truly wild.]
[IT'S FINE IT'S FINE IT'S FINE.]
What do you mean? I'm perfectly wonderful, all in one piece!
What do you mean? I'm perfectly wonderful, all in one piece!
[SMOOTH LIL OLD MAN
Also that's such a mood! He's constantly appalled by his own terrible family! His shoulders raise into a sloping shrug.]
People do horrible things when the opportunity to grab power presents itself. I was my mother's only child and my father died when I was just a baby, but our family is fairly large and full of very ravenous people.
Also that's such a mood! He's constantly appalled by his own terrible family! His shoulders raise into a sloping shrug.]
People do horrible things when the opportunity to grab power presents itself. I was my mother's only child and my father died when I was just a baby, but our family is fairly large and full of very ravenous people.
[WAAAAH HE IMMEDIATELY HUGS HER BACK!!!! Even if he is still in his bloody clothing but they all are it's fine.]
Aha, thank you, thank you! Our team really managed to do some good at the tail end...
[Since they BUNGLED THE FIRST PART SO BAD.]
Are you doing okay? No injuries?
Aha, thank you, thank you! Our team really managed to do some good at the tail end...
[Since they BUNGLED THE FIRST PART SO BAD.]
Are you doing okay? No injuries?
[HELP you're right she is also bloody and a bit soggy maybe?]
Oh, no, nothing that I couldn't fix with a heal gun. [Getting slashed by monster Puss in Boots was less than fun, but she didn't suffer the worst of it. Just a slap from heart tentacles too.] What about you? I heard you were in a bad way after a brush with the organs...
Oh, no, nothing that I couldn't fix with a heal gun. [Getting slashed by monster Puss in Boots was less than fun, but she didn't suffer the worst of it. Just a slap from heart tentacles too.] What about you? I heard you were in a bad way after a brush with the organs...
[A BIT SOGGY. Life's rough out there... He will pat her arms fondly.]
Mm? Oh! Yes, yes - I almost died, but fortunately Monsieur Temenos was there to help heal me again. No dying this side of the Helly Belly! ...Well, I guess we were back in the Helly Belly at the time.
Mm? Oh! Yes, yes - I almost died, but fortunately Monsieur Temenos was there to help heal me again. No dying this side of the Helly Belly! ...Well, I guess we were back in the Helly Belly at the time.
Page 4 of 4