But I drank four of the potions you have seen me use before attempting it. They consist of a mana restoration compound from Lethe's world, and a dose of tears. It doesn't head off every side effect, but it keeps them from becoming...cumulatively unacceptable.
[hesitates again, a moment, and then goes on, quiet and matter-of-fact]
We are all what our worlds make of us. You are from one in which most people have eventually betrayed your expectations for the last century and a half in some way, again and again. I don't need to be able to look into your mind more than once to know you've got as many marks from that upon it as you do upon your body, if not more.
You're an alarmingly eternal optimist, but not a blind one. I'll take 'better' from you gladly.
[he doesn't really require an answer. he knows Minuet's listening; sometimes that's all that's needed.
he takes one more deep breath -- the reality of Minuet back home and as whole as he can be in all his senses -- and relaxes further on the exhale, deliberate. smooths his thumb over Minuet's brow, a firm little gesture.
love's still such a difficult concept for him to recognize in himself, to conceptualize apart from devotion. peace is almost as rare, but it's easier to see. there's a measure of it in this room, this bed, this man.]
[ Without meaning to, he thinks about the days Charon was missing. The empty kitchen at 4am. The cold wash of dread at seeing Lily's shepherd staff transferred to someone else. Being nearly helpless to find him or even ascertain whether he was still alive.
... It really adds something, being thanked for simply being present. An understanding, heavy weight.
His arms envelope him again, but this time a few feathery tendrils join in as well. ]
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featherduster) wrote2023-06-15 02:30 pm
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
His grip on him grows jjjjust a little tighter... ]
I will if you will.
That new Judge guy ratted you out.
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
What did he rat out exactly?
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"The creature was destroyed after a mix of magic, gunfire, and a very, very large boat."
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[faintly long-suffering]
But I drank four of the potions you have seen me use before attempting it. They consist of a mana restoration compound from Lethe's world, and a dose of tears. It doesn't head off every side effect, but it keeps them from becoming...cumulatively unacceptable.
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
If it kept you and everyone else safe, I'm glad you did it. I just worry too.
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What a pair we make.
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. . . I did try to be careful, as much as could be done in a situation we had to go in shooting. I didn't want to endanger your life unduly.
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. . . I would have been mad at me. But not at all if the situation was reversed, and you had to do that for Melody. Strange.
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Yeah. I would've kicked my own ass if the reverse had happened, so it makes sense.
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[wow they both suck at being good to themselves actually
tugs him closer with a little grumble about it]
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Whether he's chuckling about that or the grumbling is not clear. The hand that pats his back is mollifying though. ]
How 'bout I just say, "thanks for getting everyone home safe."
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Thanks for the same.
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Is it grim...? That sounds optimistic to me.
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It's not a winning endorsement of my expectations though.
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[hesitates again, a moment, and then goes on, quiet and matter-of-fact]
We are all what our worlds make of us. You are from one in which most people have eventually betrayed your expectations for the last century and a half in some way, again and again. I don't need to be able to look into your mind more than once to know you've got as many marks from that upon it as you do upon your body, if not more.
You're an alarmingly eternal optimist, but not a blind one. I'll take 'better' from you gladly.
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He settles for wordlessly smoothing down some of Charon's hair instead. ]
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he takes one more deep breath -- the reality of Minuet back home and as whole as he can be in all his senses -- and relaxes further on the exhale, deliberate. smooths his thumb over Minuet's brow, a firm little gesture.
love's still such a difficult concept for him to recognize in himself, to conceptualize apart from devotion. peace is almost as rare, but it's easier to see. there's a measure of it in this room, this bed, this man.]
. . . thank you for being here, too.
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
... It really adds something, being thanked for simply being present. An understanding, heavy weight.
His arms envelope him again, but this time a few feathery tendrils join in as well. ]
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of course he turns his face into them, his quiet mouth. of course.]
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Sounds like we can both finally rest easy. At least for right now.
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