[ -- Ah. Well, it certainly is out of the blue - but given Roxas' relatively recent disappearance, Naminé's not inclined to question it too much. (Save, perhaps, to wonder at being worthy of such a question at all.) ]
Yes. I'm here.
[ Her response doesn't take long to arrive; she's not exceptionally busy these days. Obvious though it might be, she seems to find it worth noting, ]
And you are too.
[ Because asking the same question back would be kind of silly when he's the one messaging her. ]
[ Inexperienced as she is with text messaging, Naminé is relatively uncertain what the polite thing to do is when there's no further response. Surely he didn't message her only to ask that...? But he doesn't seem to be saying anything else, so she leaves it be long enough to almost get involved with her latest drawing again before the next ping comes in and she pauses, pencil held between her fingers. ]
Sigyn.
[ And since he's asked another thing, her curiosity is properly piqued. Now, it simply cannot be left alone. That question was rather out of the blue as well, so she does her best to extrapolate from two awkwardly placed points of data. (This is probably about as inefficient as it sounds.) ]
Do you need help with something?
[ That's a genuine question; what difference would her chosen deity make otherwise? ]
[ Well, there goes her best guess right out the window. That would have made more sense to her than that someone was curious about her for any other reason. (Here she'd thought for a second that maybe he needed healing, but-- perhaps she needs to unlearn that old habit of expecting to matter only for the sake of her usefulness.) She allows herself a few extra seconds for this to sink in before messaging back, with a far smaller delay than his, ]
[ Now, see, initially she thinks this might be her opening to ask what his opinion of Honir is, since she met him the other day and now she's curious what other people's views on the individual gods are, but-- then Lalli drops that bit of information and she's drawn up short. ]
You can do that?
[ And here she was thinking they were supposed to stay put. ]
[ Hearing that, she knows there must be a good reason why he's going through such an effort to live somewhere else - although naturally she assumes it might be a cause for concern. Worrywart to the last, this one. ]
[ There's... a lot to unpack for such short sentences. She can gather at least that he has friends(?) who require assistance - which is a nice thought, that he's got people who mean so much to him - but, ]
Killed? By who?
[ Definitely doubling down on the distressing, here. ]
[ Sure, she sees a lot of the network's goings on, but unfortunately for both of them, she also has absolutely no idea how to identify such a person. Or that, you know, this fellow was ever on the network at all. ]
Which viking?
[ Honestly Lalli's probably lucky she didn't just ask him what one was to begin with. ]
[ If she knew how to use itallics, that word would deserve them. She certainly typed it fast enough - faster than she usually does, at least. It could probably use some exclamation points, too, but one must make allowances for her lack of texting expertise. ]
[ She doesn't even remember the period this time, she's too preoccupied. Except then she gets preoccupied about how that's... definitely a Thing which Lalli is doing and by the sound of it it's a good one, so. ]
But maybe moving out is for the best. You're very kind to look after him that way.
[ That would definitely not be her first choice for a course of action. Even if they won, it's liable to make things worse in the long run. Honestly she can imagine a lot of things that would only end up being worse in the long run, but then again, optimism has never been her strong suit. ]
Is there nowhere else in Tyr's house that Klaus could stay? Another room that isn't full maybe.
[ But would that be enough to pacify Knifey McBadRoommate? Naminé has her misgivings, considering his aggression in the first place. ]
Not wanting someone dead is usually pretty nice. Unless you have some other reason for keeping him alive.
[ Lalli hasn't really struck her as the 'sinister ulterior motives' type. ]
[ Honestly that whole thing is one big pit of psychological weirdness. Clearly that guy has some funny ideas about how to keep himself safe - or maybe he's just a sadist, who knows. In any case, Naminé's not informed enough to say anything for certain. That doesn't stop her, however, from mulling the situation over for a few moments. It's sticky, not knowing more. Still, there is one thing she can say for certain. ]
If it happens again if he gets stabbed or hurt that is I might be able to help.
One. I thought it was a butterfly. How did you know?
[ A beat; belatedly, as if to clarify, ]
But another time I used it it was a bird instead.
[ Honestly she hadn't been trying to make it look like anything specific, it just sort of... happened however it happened. Her subconscious might have been involved, considering she'd been in different places each time. ]
[ Not sarcastic; she's genuinely really curious about this all now, because now it's crossing her mind as well that they've surely got different deities sponsoring them and that's-- weird, isn't it? ]
No. I wasn't thinking about what it should look like, I was just trying to help. Does he make his moths on purpose?
I suppose you didn't have any reason to at the time.
[ Perfectly reasonable, as far as she's concerned. The focus of her eyes shifts as she considers the situation, then zones back in a few moments later when she realizes her fingers are still hovering over the keys. ]
Maybe if I show you my magic some time, you can tell me if it seems like the same thing as what Klaus can do.
[ There's a weird little sinking feeling in her stomach at the mere suggestion; surely he didn't think she'd...? Well, the logical part of her brain says it would be more efficient, and yet-- ]
I know.
It might be simpler to do that than to wait for something to happen to someone else but it wouldn't be right to hurt someone just so that I can heal them. Not even if it's me.
[ It takes a few minutes for her to respond. Perhaps it's simply too early, or maybe she was otherwise occupied - either way, when she sees the message it strikes her memory immediately; she almost doesn't even need to look to see who it's from. ]
I am.
[ It's - nice, being checked in on. Supposing she owes him the same, ]
❰ good. he's... relieved, that she's still here. he doesn't really know her, but it's still enough that she's not just some stranger's face in the crowd, and lalli would feel something (even if he isn't sure what) if she disappeared. ❱
[ While they haven't exactly gone through a litany of personal questions to become properly acquainted, there's familiarity enough for her to be glad for his having contacted her. It's a rare treat but a welcome one. Genuinely curious, ]
Kind of done?
[ There would be quotation marks around that if she knew it was appropriate. ]
[ Ah - another name. Another friend, perhaps? Naminé can never quite help herself but to be glad about it when she hears someone else has the good fortune of company. ]
Does Emil fuss often?
[ Because that's one possible implication; she's a little amused by the idea, really. ]
[ Naminé might have been grateful for the limitation, were she aware of it. It's nice to have a bit more to go on; the small things help build up a picture for her of what the situation in question is really like. ]
I see. Well I suppose that means it's a good idea to listen.
[ In theory, anyway. She's, you know, not going to ask if that means the house in question won't be up to code or in another, similarly dangerous circumstance, but-- she is curious about something else. ]
By the way what made you wonder if I was still here?
[ Because she's just now realizing she might have side-tracked him from something, and that wouldn't do, would it? ]
❰ there's a long pause before he answers. maybe he's deciding if he wants to answer at all. there was a time when he would've disappeared from this particular exchange altogether without a second thought, but he can't seem to find that in him these days.
{ The only thing she can assume from his silence is that whatever precipitated his text, it's either not important enough for him to be in a hurry about it or negative enough to make him reluctant to say. Either way she's left to wonder, and yet getting the answer isn't particularly heartening.
Her finger freeze over the 's' key, eyes stopping on his last message. She hesitates only one beat, two, then hits the backspace. Her pause is much shorter than his was, and she spends it frowning at her screen, sad over the departure of someone with whom she wasn't even properly acquainted. ]
[ Honest to a fault; she doesn't hesitate to say it, though it lasts a beat before she actually hits send. ]
I wouldn't want to make a promise to you that I couldn't be sure to keep.
[ It's strange, how it makes her realize that she doesn't want to disappear. There are enough reasons, now, for her to wish to stay even aside from the threat of the unknown - and that's a really odd place to be in, when she thinks about it. ]
But I can promise you that I'll do my best. Is that okay?
[ Not in the face of such total inability to control the situation. None of them can really help it, can they? In the wake of that message, though, she spends those few seconds trying to think of something else, something better that she might be able to say--
but then comes that other line, and it's... enough, perhaps. ]
Then it's a promise.
[ Even so, her mind continues to work on the problem. On anything she can do, really, to provide him some measure of comfort. ]
It may not make any difference but I'm glad that you two were at least able to spend some time together in the city.
[ Sometimes all one really has left are memories - which she knows entirely too well, but saying as much seems like it would be counterproductive. In any case, she's spent enough of her own life alone to be relieved that Lalli is... less so, by all appearances. ]
[ Perking at the first message - clearly incomplete - Naminé experiences that limbo of watching one's screen, waiting for the other person to finish typing and wondering at the possibilities. Of all the sentences she might have anticipated, though, that was not one of them.
Which means she spends an extra couple of seconds herself frowning at the screen, perplexed by the idea for various reasons. There are a lot of questions she wants to ask, but-- ]
You don't think he did it, do you?
[ Because if he'd successfully made that request and it caused him to disappear, there are some concerning implications. ]
[ It's troubling, the not knowing. She has a healthy amount of suspicion about their hosts purely because of the circumstances, but Honir at least has always seemed well-meaning enough. Heimdall she can't say much about, not having met him properly, but... it does beg the question of why he would acquiesce to such a request at all, if he did, and then in that hypothetical scenario proceed to lie about it. It seems more likely to her that Lalli's cousin disappeared for different reasons, and yet--
No, better not to go reading into it too much, coincidental timing or not. Huffing a little sigh, Naminé frowns at her screen. Her fingers hover over the keys; not for the first time, she has a lot of questions. But perhaps it's better to start with, ]
[ A lot of things, probably, but 'stupid' is a very general sort of description, and not particularly helpful in clearly defining Lalli's concerns. Not that she expects to get clearly defined answers about any complicated feelings of Lalli's, since he seems like more of a sledgehammer than a chisel type of guy where words are concerned. That doesn't stop her from trying, and yet here she favors instead the simple, ]
I know.
[ And she understands some of the sentiment, at least. She has no family to lose, no strange context of disappearance to worry over, but it isn't hard to imagine. She's had friends go missing, herself, and though it troubles her, she at least has the consolation of being able to believe it was probably no different for them than for anyone else who left. (Not that that's much help; who really knows what happens to them when they're gone, anyway?)
She takes a moment to frown at her screen. She can't fix the problem, but her instinct is to at least investigate it, at least do her best to fully comprehend as much of it as possible, in case some opportunity to make a difference in it comes later. Naturally her mind moves on to the most pressing question; ]
Why did he think he needed to trade his life for hers?
[ She has to hold back that, 'I'm sorry,' again. This time it's a nearer thing, and once she's erased it she spends a few seconds giving her screen a somber look. It's a surprisingly familiar experience, hearing that about someone. ]
It's strange to think about but there are a lot of us here who are supposed to be dead.
It's hard when one of them is someone you care about.
[ Which is the closest she dares let herself come to that sympathetic sort of apology. ]
It makes much more sense now why he wanted to do that. Still either way you lose someone important to you, don't you? It doesn't seem very fair.
[ That doesn't change the fact of what it is, though. Maybe she says it in part because of how many innocent people she has seen suffer due to circumstances beyond their control, how many times she hasn't been able to tell them that in so many words. The other part is, ]
But you told me not to say I was sorry.
[ There are more ways than one to express the same sentiment. ]
[ It doesn't occur to her to want an apology. He made a request (demand) of her and she honored it the best she could; there was nothing wrong, it seemed to her, in that. And she'd like to know more, really, about the situation with Tuuri, but that's a delicate matter and she's reluctant to force it. Instead, she takes what she can from this message instead. ]
Thank you.
[ Has she ever said that? She's felt it, but it's hard to find the right time to express this sort of gratitude. ]
For checking on me. I like to know that you're still here too.
[ It's been... a long day, suffice it to say. By the time she steps into their cabin, the sun's begun to set. She doesn't know if the city is less active this eve because of the news and battle preparations, or because both natives and Wanderers alike are attempting to rest up for another long day, tomorrow. What she does know? It's going to take much more than a lollipop to lighten her mood.
That doesn't stop her from finding and offering her roommate one — pink for strawberry, or a pale green for melon — however, before settling into a seated position. Nearby for ease of speaking, but not suffocatingly close. ]
Seems that time of rest was short-lived. [ Instead of forcing a smile, she busies herself with peeling off the wrapper to the candy Naminé doesn't choose. Eventually, she'll ask: ] Do you intend to ride out, or stay here?
[ It's quite possible that this has been one of the busiest, if not the busiest day of Naminé's life. Perhaps that's a boon; it leaves less room in one's mind for worry, for fear. Unfortunately for Naminé, however, she maintains plenty of extra space for both, and by the time sunset comes to relieve her of duty, she's both tired and preoccupied.
Enough so that the first looks she gives the offered candy is a blank one, uncomprehending as she tries to extricate herself from her thoughts. It works after a moment, and with a start she begins to lift a hand, instinctively reaching for the pink lollipop without actually having thought about it. ]
-- Thank you, [ she says, more early than late, and as Daenerys settles herself, Naminé pauses, studying her briefly before making to remove the wrapper of her own candy. She never quite gets around to putting the sweet into her mouth, however, because that inquiry seems to stop her short. That's the question of the hour, isn't it? Or the day, rather; her brow knits slightly, perplexed eyes lingering on her roommate for a moment before lowering to the item in her own hands. ]
I haven't decided yet, [ Naminé answers, and it's the weighty kind of sentence, the heavy sort of tone that suggests that's been on her mind a lot today. Her fingers tighten around the little stick that goes with her sweet, and she raises her eyes to ask, in a different manner that carries no less an undercurrent of thought, ] Are... you planning to go?
[ Only then does she actually start on the lollipop, almost more for something to do with her hands than for any other reason. ]
[ Were that weight tangible, surely it would manifest with the answer given. I haven't decided. It's not her war, and for that, Dany's glad. At the same time, however, it's a war now forced onto her... just as it has been for those in Westeros. A war she had no interest in, but one necessary to fight all the same.
She sighs, the sound soft and tired all at once, and picks at the wrapper. ]
It's the war we set off for in my world, before coming here. [ Her fingers still work on the plastic as she looks to meet Naminé's eyes. ] The first of two. The first against the dead, the second against the living.
[ Edd hasn't returned yet; she's glad for the privacy. It's easier not having another Westerosi to share the space with while she says these things. ]
I just discovered one of my children sacrificed his life for an empty promise.
[ Part of Naminé wants to express gratitude a second time for the compliment. She doesn't quite manage it, the words pressed away into her lungs by the rest of the situation that surrounds them. She hopes she'll be of help - wants to be in a way that's mostly from her nature and only a little bit because of that feeling of guilt over past mistakes that never quite goes away.
Lowering the candy, the girl pauses at Daenerys' description. It's occurred to Naminé already, sharp memory that she has, but-- ]
… So they'll be just like what he described at the meeting. [ Jon Snow, that first time - those creatures he spoke about sounded not wholly unlike Heartless in their single-mindedness as well as a few other peculiarities, and Naminé knows all too well how dangerous they could be. ] The wights, the ones that can't be killed by normal means.
[ Except as troubling as that notion is, and as much time as Naminé has spent mired in her own thoughts, her own troubled attempts to choose a course of action, Daenerys has only to utter those last words for Naminé to straighten, features immediately overcome with a mix of sympathy and concern. ]
-- What? [ Her shoulders sink slightly, the lollipop all but forgotten in her fingers as she tries to make sense of that statement. Not fully knowing the context, she can only ask what feels like a lame, yet genuinely perplexed, ] … What happened?
They will, and worse. It's one thing to hear how they look, how they behave... and it's entirely another to see them.
[ That memory is a tired one: the fear which chilled her more so than the snow so high up in the air as she flew. The way they moved like insects, a giant swarm. It's the cold eyes, however, which bothers her the most. Even an enemy holds a wildness to his or her eyes. It's inevitable.
Not the Night King. ]
I won't be selfish and voice my wishes for you, for it's your decision and this is as much your war now as it is ours. I only ask that you take care if you travel with us.
[ It's difficult to see faces she would rather command, but has no right to. Missandei would be easy, if only because her dearest friend has no battle experience. Sansa is equally as inexperienced, but has decided to travel. Far worse in her mind is Naminé knowingly placing herself into danger. ]
My three dragons: Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal... we all flew into the snows to head off the dead. One of my knights and Jon, along with a group of their choosing, sought out the dead to try and capture one. [ It gets no easier to speak of. By now, she lowers her hands to her lap, the candy forgotten. ] Viserion died to the Night King.
The second war I mentioned against the living? The queen sits on my family's throne. We met with her for a parley, and she agreed to it.. .for surely survival is more important than a throne — but her brother told me earlier the woman has no intention of aiding us in a war against the dead. She wants us weakened, so she can slaughter my people when the battle's done.
[ It must be worse, Naminé thinks, when the enemy still has a human face. That's rarely an issue when it comes to Heartless, at least, though Nobodies like herself are-- a different story. Perhaps it's better not to draw the comparison in her own mind to newborn husks without hearts; those zombies don't sound as able as she was to regain even a semblance of human thought.
Rather than allowing her mind to wander, however, she's careful to hearken to Daenerys. With a small shake of her own blonde head, Naminé tries to reassure, ]
I promise I won't be reckless. [ Whether she goes, whether it's here she chooses to stay; in either case, she'll do so with careful consideration. ] I've been giving it a lot of thought.
[ And she's not so hasty as to make a decision one way or the other so early in the preparations. Falling silent again, she hears of the dragons, and despite not having much in the way of personal relationships with any such creatures, she says with genuine sadness, ]
I'm sorry.
[ Because it's clear that the dragons are - were - important to Daenerys; why else would she call them her children? It casts the situation in something of a different light, one that Naminé begins to realize as she listens to the rest of what her roommate has to say. This is-- personal, isn't it? Not only because of the inherent danger posed by the Night King in this world and Westeros, but because the older woman has lost at least one being important to her through him.
Lips pursed, Naminé's frown becomes steadily more apparent as the description goes on. Once it's finished, ]
And there's nothing you can do about it while you're here, is there? [ Which is a frustrating turn of events all on its own, really. ] The queen - she isn't in the city, is she?
It feels as though someone would tell her, if he didn't make it back. She tries to remind herself as much; Tuuri might have reason to, at least, though Naminé refrains with great effort from asking after him directly. Instead she keeps her mind as busy as her hands are, tending to as many wounds as she can among the soldiers and refugees. There's only so much she can do with the limitations of her powers, but she bandages until her fingers are sore and then goes back the next day to do it again. There's still so much activity, and it provides her a cold sort of comfort as she tries not to assume the worst.
But she nevertheless jumps to check the message that comes in when at last it arrives, heart quicker for it. The associated name is familiar, and with its recognition her worry for his life is replaced by a different manner of concern. Perhaps some people would be angry to have been left in the dark. For her, the first question is, ]
What happened?
[ It isn't her initial assumption that he was simply biding his time for no reason; there must have been some cause for his silence. He's not so careless as that, she thinks - and belatedly she hopes from a small, scarred part of her heart that he didn't just forget about writing her entirely. ]
The response can really only make her all the more driven to find out what went on, what had him that upset. But at the same time, it tells her enough to indicate that inquiring further that direction might not get her much of an answer. Despite the intensity of the frown she gives her screen and the furrow in her brow, she resists the urge to write some variation of the same message again. Instead, ]
Is that where you've been for the past few days? Trying not to be anything?
[ Just for a second, her stomach drops. She'd known people would die, but it's a sickening feeling when it's someone you're familiar with. It's only after a moment passes that she remembers those who were lost have returned, and by then Lalli's next messages are there and she leans in to read them, expression one of suppressed concern. Different? Abruptly she recalls the nature of the creatures they went to fight - but no, if it were like that she would have heard of it already, surely. ]
How is it wrong?
[ Her response is quick, maybe enough so to convey her worry. ]
[ The lack of details does make it a challenge to know exactly where Lalli's head is at the moment. It's not hard to recognize that he's troubled by the situation, but without knowing more-- ]
Do you think maybe he just needs time?
It must be very strange, being dead and then alive again.
[ Anyone, surely, would be at risk for preoccupation after a traumatic experience like that. All the more so, maybe, because of the context of that particular battle. ]
❰ he doesn't think emil needs time. the swede has been through so many horrible things since they've met, and not a single one of them made him pull away from lalli.
but of course she thinks that. he hasn't mentioned the most important detail. ❱
And for a second Naminé almost considers whether or not that memory is correct, because she's spent more time changing those kinds of things herself than watching friends actually manage to kill each other. But then the implications of the battle itself catch up with her a fraction of a second later, and she sucks in a breath which presses her mouth closed, chest tight with sympathy and a strange coldness of dread. ]
You had to
[ There's no other explanation, is there? Not unless she's gravely misunderstood his relationship with Emil. ]
❰ that's something he's come to realize since he did it. he didn't have to. he could've found a different god, even if honir wasn't there. he could've led emil back to asgard, if he had to. there were options, so so many options besides stabbing his closest friend in the skull. ❱
[ There were a lot of disturbing implications that could be taken from that 'no'. But it's hard for her to imagine any of them being legitimate; surely there's not other reason Lalli would want to kill his friend, not when he sounds so troubled by the whole situation. The message that comes thereafter puts any temporary fears to rest, however, though it does raise a lot of questions. Is it Lalli being too hard on himself, or is there really truth in that? ]
What else could you have done? I've always heard that there's no other way to stop someone once
[ They've already died, already been taken over; she struggles with it a moment, then adds on the same line before she sends it, ]
[ He's said as much himself, but it feels as though he needs reminding. She knows how easy it can be to blame oneself, so-- ]
If you hadn't someone else might have gotten hurt.
[ Like Lalli himself, for instance - but it was made pretty clear how dangerous undead of that sort could be to anyone around them. ]
Have you talked to Emil about it?
[ Sure, he's said that Emil remembers, but that doesn't convince her they've talked about it, not really, especially considering Lalli's pretty taciturn at the best of times. ]
❰ has he talked to emil, she asks, as if it's that simple. it's almost jarring to him, that talking about something is the simpler answer for once, but that's the mess this has become.
no, they haven't talked about it. ❱
doesn't want to talk
❰ lalli's not entirely sure emil wants anything to do with him, at this point. ❱
[ Doesn't want to talk? On the one hand, it's understandable for someone not to want to discuss trauma so soon - but on the other, that could be a... less than ideal sign. Her teeth worry her lip, even as the upper one presses against it. ]
❰ it's obvious, in so many ways. ways that lalli can feel in his gut and his lungs and his throat and the nerves behind his eyes. ways that he doesn't know how to explain. ❱
[ She isn't inclined to question it; Lalli would know better than she would, wouldn't he? By virtue of being more familiar with Emil, if not for having actually been in his presence. But for her, it's hard to imagine feeling that way - she'd have wanted to talk to him the moment she came back from the dead. ]
[ Oh, dear. While she doesn't really believe that this would end their friendship, it's a bad place for both the boys to be in - though perhaps she has more faith in such relationships after having seen so many strong bonds in her life. (Nevermind that they always belonged to other people.) Whether it's her mess or not, she's in it now, and it's unconscionable to her to do anything but try to help however she can. So she points out, ]
You'll have to talk eventually.
[ She hopes. ]
Right? Even if it's hard for both of you, you can't ignore each other forever.
[ Which. Isn't so much her telling him to do something about it as making a prediction, honestly. But that's not really a solution, so she tries, ]
Maybe it would help to think about what you'd say to him if the two of you did want to talk. That way you can at least be sure how you feel.
[ Even if how Emil's feeling is a bit harder to determine. ]
[ Even without the clarification, the message makes her pause. It sounds like an insecurity talking, and yet at the same time Naminé knows all too well that without being more familiar with their relationship, she oughtn't really be assuming anything. But somehow it doesn't feel quite right to accept that fear as the reality of the situation, either.
Maybe Sora's finally rubbing off on her. ]
He's your friend.
[ Which could be taken a lot of different ways, really. Does that mean she doubts Emil would reject him so readily, or that Lalli would know better than she would what's likely? Both are true, honestly. But either way, ]
Do you really believe that's the kind of person he is?
[ It's one thing to say it to yourself in your head, but entirely another to put it into words on the outside. On a certain level, to do so is to impugn the other's character. ]
[ Keenly aware though she is that Lalli's the one who ought to know his friend better, it still seems... wrong, somehow, to make such an assumption. ]
People do change sometimes especially when something awful happens to them.
But I'm not sure he'd change that much so quickly. Haven't you been friends for a pretty long time now?
[ As long as she's known Lalli, at the very least, and probably longer if they're from the same world. While that's not quite so great a time period in the grand scheme of things as it could be, she figures that at least-- ]
He must know by now that you wouldn't have hurt him if you didn't think you had to.
[ Which would be enough for her not to blame Lalli, at least, if she were in Emil's position - and that's what makes it so hard for her to imagine that he wouldn't want anything to do with Lalli at all even after such an incident. ]
[ If there was anything that promise told Naminé, it was that everything was not, in fact, fine. She'd been quick to pick up once she realized who was calling, not exactly eager for news but searching for it in a fretful kind of way. From her end of the line there was a brief pause as she processed Terezi's voice. Then, ]
… What happened?
[ Naminé didn't sound accusatory - if anything, her voice was gentle despite the undercurrent of worry. For the sake of her moirail's own excuse, the blonde tacked on an only slightly belated, ]
While you were away, that is. [ The whole thing bore describing, regardless of what it was that had the other girl so hesitant. Only just remembering herself, ] And-- welcome back.
[She was keeping a level voice, but an undercurrent of anger was in there when she did. She had issues with the orcs because of what they hadn't told the party that was about to leave. There might have been very different plans made had they been made aware of the actual problem and risk. She kept her voice level, but there was an edge.]
Those guys who came by asking for help? They... didn't tell us the whole story. There was a plague of some sort in the cave. That's why it was walled off. We... we kept it sealed in there, Naminé. I made sure it stayed sealed in so none of it got out.
[She cooughed into her hand. It didn't sound like a sick cough, more of a clearing of one's throat. Her voice calmed considerably afterwards.]
Some of the folks inside called Sigyn. She... uh... removed the disease from us when she sent the people inside back to the palace. So... we got kind of a really fast free trip.
[By, ya know... dying, which she was pointedly trying to avoid saying. And while that detail might not have been obvious, she was holding something back.]
[ Even without the benefit of being able to see the other girl's face, Naminé could sense the displeasure under those words. It made her brows lower, drawing closer together as her eyes shifted with her thoughts. ]
That isn't surprising, [ was her only audible comment, soft and non-interruptive. The whole situation had seemed a bit suspicious to her, even from a distance - but that hadn't been enough to cause her to try to convince anyone not to go and help. Otherwise she was silent, save for her startled, 'A plague--?' which began a different tone of quiet on her part.
It all sounded pretty concerning, and yet-- even while telling her they'd succeeded in curtailing the issue, Terezi didn't sound quite right to Naminé. There had to be something more to it, of that the blonde was certain - although the cough did give her a momentary start before she registered it as unlikely to be related to illness. Through her patient, somewhat bemused listening, Naminé worked at the problem, the question of what it was that didn't feel quite right-- and then, ]
What do you mean... [ There was a cold feeling in her stomach, one that formed quickly as the possible implications of those words stretched out before her. ] … A 'fast trip'?
[Maaaan, she was no good at lying. It wasn't in her nature to do it. She preferred half truths, and she never could tell a lie without giggling like an idiot. Part of why she could trick John and Dave was that one was too stupid to notice usually, and the other found it amusing to just play along in his boredom, not because she was really fooling them.
She gritted her teeth and grunted.]
When... we got sick, Sigyn came to the barrier that had us all sealed inside. I touched her hand, and then I woke up at the palace, feeling all warm and not sick anymore.
[She frowned.]
... I... I think I died in there, Naminé. I just didn't want you to worry. But no way was I risking you getting that disease! It was awful!
[ Frowning, the girl listened for an answer, and once it came continued her silence along the course of it. It didn't sound so bad, exactly, but the context, the meaning of that experience still had her sucking in a breath. ]
You didn't have to hide it from me, [ she promised, more than admonished. ] I would have wanted to know...! It's-- my job to know what happens to you, isn't it?
[ And to worry, for that matter - that was part of being friends as much as it was a part of moirallegiance. None of it sat well with her, of course, and for a long moment she was quiet, trying to digest this development. Perhaps the first thing that came to mind and actually made it to her mouth, whether appropriate or not, was a concerned, ]
Yeah, I know... I just felt like I screwed up. I should have insisted on being there for the interviews with the orcs. I would have smelled something being up, but other folks did that part... so I'm kind of embarrassed and I did't want to make you worry too much.
[She scratched at the back of her head and sighed, smiling to herself.]
I should know better though. Sorry... uhhh, it didn't hurt. I mean getting sick was something awful. Coughing, wet, aching, painful and a bit of blood. Nothing fun, trust me. But what Sigyn did didn't hurt at all. Think that was the point.
... I still feel funny, though. They're sure I'm not sick, but something feels weird. not 'missing' weird. Just weird weird. Haven't figured out why yet.
You can't do everything yourself, [ Naminé consoled, keeping to herself the part about it being a necessity to trust the others, too. Not that she disagreed entirely; Terezi's powers would have been a big help in a conversation like that one, but it didn't seem right for the troll to beat herself up about it.
Humming quietly to indicate her unstanding, Naminé might well have had other questions coming to mind, but that last comment of the other girl's gave the blonde pause. ]
Funny... [ There wasn't much she could do about 'funny,' not without her powers from home, and even those might not have done the trick. ] Funny, like... some part of you has changed? If Sigyn really did bring you back...
[She wasn't being 100% fair there. At least one of them had had truth detection powers themselves, it had turned out. The orcs hadn't been aware of everything that had been going on, so in the end it was as much tragic as anything else. Still, she appreciated Naminé saying it, even if she grumbled a little before sighing and speaking.]
Not... uh, sick funny. Just funny. It feels like it wants me to do something with it. I don't quite get it?
[ From Naminé's end of the feed there was a beat of concerned silence, but afterward, ]
Yes - I think I understand. [ Her voice was careful, not entirely free of concern. ] Sometimes you just have an instinct. Something that tells you that there's more you can do.
[ Like her own powers, both in her own worlds and here. ]
But... even if that's the case, do you think it would be a good idea to listen?
I... think it might be a good idea, but I don't want to test it unless I'm sure nobody's going to be at risk. So, I might just... take it a step at a time. Be careful before I actually try to do something with it.
Might ask and see if someone could look into it. To be sure.
[The only problem being that blood magic was kind of new.]
[ The girl gave an audible hum, sounding as though she was mulling it over. ]
I trust your judgement. You're the one who's feeling it, after all.
[ And surely it was an issue those in charge of Asgard would see fit to take personal interest in, which seemed to make it less likely to become a more serious problem. ]
And I'm sure the gods would want to know about it, too. Maybe they can help you test it in a controlled environment. [ A subtle falter. More gingerly, ] If... you don't mind talking to them about it, that is.
You know... if it's something wrong with the folks who came back, yeah. They probably and almost definitely want to now about that. I'm a little nervous what they might do with the info... but it's not like any of us really knows what's going on here.
[ Naminé frowned, head partway bowed as she admitted, ]
Me too.
[ There was plenty of cause for concern, especially considering-- ]
After how they handled the problem last time... [ Which wasn't necessarily the wrong way to handle it, and seemed to end up relatively consequence-free... or so they could hope. ] I suppose I shouldn't say, 'it couldn't turn out much worse for you,' should I?
[ Literally dying was frequently considered to be at one certain end of the spectrum, but in this case, given its impermanence, it might have occupied a different part of the scale. She wasn't particularly inclined to tempt fate and find out. ]
But I don't think they'll do anything that might harm you unless they have to. Besides, if you're not the only one who feels like they've changed, then they'll come to ask you about it sooner or later, won't they?
I mean, yes. that's sort of part of it. This could have been a whole lot worse? And I know that they're not out to get us, Naminé. I just don't want this to be something bad.
...
Maybe it's something good? Like a new superpower? [She frowned.] That might be asking too much, right?
[ The melancholy undertone of her words suggested that was a concept she was all too familiar with, though of course her voice was not without sympathy.
And despite her serious demeanor, Naminé failed to fight down the breath of a wry laugh that rose in her throat at Terezi's suggestions. Weak and short-lived though the blonde's smile was, she could at least appreciate the sentiment. ]
Maybe. It wouldn't be the strangest thing I've ever heard.
[ But that didn't mean it seemed all that likely. Still, one could hope, futilely or otherwise. ]
But... yes. I think maybe it would be best if you talked to them about it. It might give you a better idea of what to expect - and even if it doesn't, it... helps, to talk to someone who knows what you're going through.
Alright. I'll ask their advice. I trust you on this, and it sounds like the best idea under the circumstances. I've just... you know, kind of been fretting about it is all.
It's hard to know for sure what to do, and I'm sorry we worried you. I really am.
[She could hear the melancholy and deep down she hoped that she hadn't screwed up horribly somehow, but Naminé wasn't giving bad advice so she could take that. One way or another.]
[ The response was gentle, and yet it held a firmness underneath. It was an attempt at reassurance, surely. ]
You didn't know what you were getting into. [ There was always a risk in the decision to go out of the city at all, of course, but that didn't, to her, assign any blame. ] Even if you had - you were trying to help. I could never be upset with you for that.
[ No apologies necessary. ]
And I'm glad that you told me about everything that's been going on. That's what I'm here for... right? So-- if you still feel worried later, you can talk to me then, too. Any time you need to.
[ Whether or not that would be any help she was not so bold as to assume, but that didn't stop her from offering. ]
No, you're right. We didn't do anything wrong. I just don't like being trouble, even if it's not my usual kind. Haha... I guess... for once I got into a mess by doing the right thing, right? hehe... wow. Irony, that.
I'm going to talk to them. See if maybe I can figure out what's going on.
[And later, she could tell her that she'd be able to protect her even better thanks to her blood.]
[ Her voice had a tired sort of surety, and it sounded as though she was wearing a weak, wry smile as she spoke. Firsthand, secondhand - she had experience with both when it came to finding trouble. ]
Chances are if you keep doing the right thing, it'll keep happening. But it's worth it, in the end.
[ Mostly. Hopefully. In any case, ]
Alright. Then I guess-- for now, all that I can do is wish you luck.
[ Even thought it felt like that was not enough. ]
[She sighed and smiled a little through the feed at Naminé. Her? Do te right thing? Not necessarily her style. She didn't do the wrong thing usually, but the right thing usually got her killed.]
You're rubbing off on me, Naminé. Heh. You're going to make a hero out of me yet...
[ It didn't take long for Naminé to pick the message up, and even less time for her to respond. In that short period she was already running through possibilities in her mind, though she was careful not to let herself stray too far into worrying. Surely there'd be more indication than that if it were something serious. If the troll answered the call, the first thing she'd hear was a slightly bemused, ]
Alright, so... first off. I haven't signed up yet. I need to stress that, Naminé. But we've been given an opportunity and I'm not sure how I feel about it.
[She breathed in and out for a moment.]
They want to figure out what's going on with this cave. The blight inside. Heimdall's got a spell he's offering. Something that is supposed to be able to shield people going in. He wants to send in two person teams. Sentinel and a Scout. Someone who can investigate, someone who can protect. It is supposed to last about a half hour, so... it's... it's supposed to be safe, and my nose...
[ There was a lengthy pause. When she did speak, her worried frown was audible. ]
They want you to go back?
[ Even so close to her initial reaction, she couldn't completely muster disbelief. It made sense that they'd want to be certain that situation was dealt with, and it was wise to send people who knew the cave already, yet - part of her balked at the mere suggestion. Still, she never was one to let her emotions get the better of her; it bore considering before she made a kneejerk suggestion. Letting out an unsettled exhale, she turned her mind to practical concerns first. ]
How certain are they that the spell will work?
[ 'Supposed to do' and 'actually does' were two different things. ]
They want volunteers to go back, with special protection. They don't specifically want me to... but at the same time, I'm kind of thinking of the pros and the cons.
[She frowned herself, and it was pretty apparent in the way that she was talking. She scratched the back of her head and her eyes closed and when she spoke, it was uncomfortable, nervous.]
Heimdall vouched for it personally. Thirty minutes, he said. It's something he's giving us specifically so I think he's pretty sure of it. But I can't help remembering the day we arrived.
[ It sounded as if there was half a murmur of the troll's name from Naminé's side, though she didn't fully enunciate. In that her hesitation was obvious; she had to mentally focus and refocus on her resolve not to speak hastily. With some reluctance, ]
He doesn't seem like the type of person who would say that without believing it. [ Whether or not that made him correct was a different question. Though she paled slightly at that last comment, ] Yes, I remember. They... didn't have as much time to prepare back then. Or at least that was how it sounded.
[ Her frown was nearly audible, even as she lapsed into momentary silence. ]
Pros and cons... [ Belatedly, calling back to what Terezi said first, ] What are those, exactly?
[ Sure, Naminé could think of her own list - but she'd rather have the other girl's perspective on it. ]
Ok, so my power works for about an hour. I can't keep his spell up forever. That means I won't get full use, and if I don't set a timer just right maybe something will stop me from getting out in time.
I'm concerned. I don't want to get sick again. If it happens, I don't think Sigyn's going to bail us out like last time, and I don't want you worried again...
Glob damnit, Naminé there's a lot of cons aren't there? But on the pro side, what if by doing nothing we're still dealing with this down the road and it's a lot worse?
[ Naminé's silence was turbulent, the sort of pause that suggested she was primarily holding her tongue for the sake of letting Terezi say her peace. Only once it seemed the troll was finished did the other girl speak up. ]
No matter what dangers there are, I-- do agree that it's important to make sure that it's over, and that nothing will surprise us later. But that doesn't mean that it's your responsibility alone.
[ She wished it were as simple as being able to say it wasn't Terezi's problem and having that be the end of it. Neither of them, she figured, were the type to actually leave it there. ]
… Or that my personal feelings should have anything to do with this. I don't want you to put yourself in danger any more than I ever have, but if I worry... then that's alright. It's my job to worry about you. You should do what your heart tells you is right, even if it makes me afraid for you.
[ That was how Naminé had always handled things, anyway; her own emotions be darned. ]
But your power... even if you don't get to use it fully, isn't it better than not using it at all? And if you have someone with you to look after you, to make sure you get out when you need to, how likely is it that something will happen? Was the cave-- dangerous, besides what happened before?
The danger in the cave is the disease itself. That's the only real danger in there, but it's ever present, and if the charm wears off, there's no way to cure it that we know of. Even Sigyn couldn't do that, and she's supposed to be a god.
[She raked her hand through her hair.]
It's your job to worry about me, like i worry about you... but it's also my job not to make you worry too much. I ... I don't want to put you in that position, Namine. Not without good reason.
I think that my nose might have gotten everything that it could already. I don't know that niffing again, when I took a whole hour of my powers before would tell me anything I didn't already know.
I ... I think you might be right. I've done my part. It doesn't have to be me this time, unless they think they really need me specifically. I feel more sure of that now. I needed to talk this through with you, I think.
[ The blonde spent a moment mulling over the new information about the cave, at least until Terezi spoke again. Naminé hesitated, tempted to deny again that her own feelings were worth worrying over - but that was hardly fair, was it? Terezi wouldn't like it, and besides, the troll was trying to be a good moirail. ]
I understand, [ the Nobody conceded softly. ] I wouldn't want to do that to you either, if it were me.
[ She perked at the addiional new information; if Terezi really had sniffed the whole place out... ]
So you've already done everything that would have tried anyway? I didn't realize...! [ She'd definitely have weighed that into her suggestions if she had. No matter her attempts to stay neutral, she couldn't help the relief in her voice. ]
If that's the case... then yes. I really do think you've done your part. [ Her exhale is quiet, yet audible. She holds herself back a beat, then adds, ] It's your decision. But-- I don't think anyone will blame you if you choose to stay here.
Yeah, I did what I could before we... you know, before we died. So it would only matter if there's been a change, or if something got more obvious once we got there. I'm not sure how much that would change things. Sorry, I reaaaally should have said that to start.
[She nodded, feeling a weight lifted off of her shoulders.]
Ok. I think I'm going to hang back this time. I don't need to take unnecessary risks. If they're smart, they'll handle this.
Unless someone else has been back there since, it would be strange if anything changed that drastically. Aside from... what usually seems to happen around here.
[ The world doing that shifting around that it tends to do, and all that. Still, the chances of that happening and requiring Terezi's specific powers to notice seemed pretty slim, and in any case, the troll's reaction seemed to say what needed to be said about her feelings on going. Breathing out a decidedly less burdened laugh, ]
But it would have helped if you'd told me that first, yes.
[ Naminé made an effort not to feel too selfish about being glad Terezi would stay home. It was for the other girl's sake too, right? ]
Alright. [ Trying not to smile, ] Maybe it'll even be a good thing - it'll give the others a chance to get more experience figuring stuff out for themselves.
Ehehe, sorry, my think pan's been a little confused with everything that is going on. Here I am, forgetting the most important parts, right? [She sighed and smiled through the feed over at Naminé. It felt good to talk about it at least.]
Yeah. And it's not like I'm the only one with this divination stuff. I am pretty sure I know another guy who has something like that... but not his nose. Too bad, that. We could compare smells.
I wish I could show you... I mean, smelling truth and lies is kind of like smelling unpleasant odors. It's not really that complicated, but when I turn on that one power...
It's like the world explodes with odors everywhere I sniff. They're the kinds of smells I never got unless it was back home, and there's even more now. I can't just smell colors, I can smell everything. I have to learn to tell all the smells apart. It's kinda psychedelic really.
I wish you could, too. If we were in my worlds-- [ -- She'd take a look for herself - with permission, of course, before snooping around in memories. But that was a moot point anyway, and she gave her head a shake. More quietly, ] ... Well, I guess you wouldn't have the same powers there anyway.
[ Naminé went quiet a moment, trying to picture what Terezi was describing. ]
It sounds almost-- impossible. To have to pick one smell out of so many - how would you be able to do it at all?
That's where all that experience sniffing weird things comes in, Naminé. [Nod nod] I'm used to lots of odd scents on top of odd scents. When you smell smells and smell colors, you have to be... so it's... it takes practice.
You know how you can train your tongue to pick up flavors that are subtle after a while?
You do have a lot of experience, [ she agreed, still sounding contemplative. Face scrunching at that last question, she hesitated. ]
Um-- [ If she'd ever heard of that it was probably only a dim recollection. ] Maybe...? I don't spend a lot of time tasting things. But-- I suppose if the rest of you can learn things, it makes sense that your tongue can, too.
As far as I know... they say it's a skill. You don't get to be a critic overnight. Well, that's not true. Everyone can be one, but you don't get to be a good one overnight.
So it would make sense you can train. I know my nose is getting more refined all the time, after all.
Well, with a power like that you can practice often, even here.
[ There's a short pause as she mulls over the prior conversation, and decidedly doesn't tack on a, 'so you don't need to go to the cave to do it.' Now that her mind's back at the start, it occurs to her to ask, ]
Was that everything that you needed to talk to me about?
[ She says it a little hopefully, though that's only because she'd rather not find out there's some other concerning news or terrible potential risk to discuss that Terezi has yet to bring up. ]
I think... yeah, I'm good. It's nice to talk with you, but that got off my blood pusher what I needed to chat about. I don't have any more big surprises right now.
...
Thanks, Namine. I needed to talk with you about this.
Okay, [ she responded promptly, and it sounded noticeably closer to a relieved sigh than it strictly needed to. No more big surprises was just the answer she'd hoped for. She allowed herself to take that pause to sort her worries away in her mind - at least for the moment - and after Terezi spoke again, ]
I'm glad that you did...! I know that you can make good decisions on your own, but... it's important to me to hear about them, whether I can help you with them or not.
[Yeah, that was enough surprises for one month. Definitely.]
I can... but it also affects you, and this is definitely the kind of question I want to ask you, to make you part of. It's important that you're involved too, isn't it? So... I'm glad to ask.
I... [ She couldn't help herself but to falter (if only briefly), chest tight with a warm feeling of emotion. It was... nice, hearing that she mattered. Having the excuse of it being her duty made it easier not to feel the urge to deflect. ] Yes, I suppose you're right. And-- I'm glad that you want to include me.
[ Mouth warming into a smile, ]
Sure. You know I'll listen to you anytime, no matter what.
text, day 59 (aug 6th).
Date: 2019-08-07 03:23 am (UTC)still here?
no subject
Date: 2019-08-07 06:00 am (UTC)Yes. I'm here.
[ Her response doesn't take long to arrive; she's not exceptionally busy these days. Obvious though it might be, she seems to find it worth noting, ]
And you are too.
[ Because asking the same question back would be kind of silly when he's the one messaging her. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-08-07 08:12 am (UTC)good
❰ and that seems like.... literally the entirety of the conversation for a good couple of minutes, but then as an afterthought: ❱
which god's yours?
no subject
Date: 2019-08-08 04:23 am (UTC)Sigyn.
[ And since he's asked another thing, her curiosity is properly piqued. Now, it simply cannot be left alone. That question was rather out of the blue as well, so she does her best to extrapolate from two awkwardly placed points of data. (This is probably about as inefficient as it sounds.) ]
Do you need help with something?
[ That's a genuine question; what difference would her chosen deity make otherwise? ]
no subject
Date: 2019-08-09 07:34 am (UTC)just wondered
no subject
Date: 2019-08-10 04:13 am (UTC)[ Well, there goes her best guess right out the window. That would have made more sense to her than that someone was curious about her for any other reason. (Here she'd thought for a second that maybe he needed healing, but-- perhaps she needs to unlearn that old habit of expecting to matter only for the sake of her usefulness.) She allows herself a few extra seconds for this to sink in before messaging back, with a far smaller delay than his, ]
Which one's yours?
[ Wondering can go both ways, after all. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-08-11 05:43 am (UTC)❰ a moment later it sinks in that she might be asking for the same reason he was, so he clarifies. ❱
not in his housing though. building our own
❰ in case she comes looking for some reason and he's not there. ❱
no subject
Date: 2019-08-11 05:55 am (UTC)You can do that?
[ And here she was thinking they were supposed to stay put. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-08-11 06:02 am (UTC)❰ which isn't a huge deal for lalli, but it is a huge deal for the two tyr refugees he's building it for. ❱
no subject
Date: 2019-08-11 08:02 am (UTC)Why would you want to?
no subject
Date: 2019-08-11 08:51 am (UTC)klaus might get killed if he stays in tyr. got tired of making rune traps to protect him. this is easier
no subject
Date: 2019-08-11 05:30 pm (UTC)Killed? By who?
[ Definitely doubling down on the distressing, here. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-08-12 12:52 am (UTC)❰ she may have seen ivar's death threats on the network, if she was paying attention. ❱
no subject
Date: 2019-08-12 05:11 am (UTC)Which viking?
[ Honestly Lalli's probably lucky she didn't just ask him what one was to begin with. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-08-12 06:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-08-12 07:16 am (UTC)[ The knifey guy? Yeah, she remembers him, goodness. Words cannot express how glad she is not to have a roommate like that. ]
I wasn't sure he actually meant it.
Why would he broadcast that sort of thing all over the network if he were really going to do it?
no subject
Date: 2019-08-13 03:13 am (UTC)stabbed klaus once already though
no subject
Date: 2019-08-13 06:02 am (UTC)[ If she knew how to use itallics, that word would deserve them. She certainly typed it fast enough - faster than she usually does, at least. It could probably use some exclamation points, too, but one must make allowances for her lack of texting expertise. ]
Has anyone done something about it?
no subject
Date: 2019-08-13 06:05 am (UTC)❰ that feels like doing something about it. ❱
no subject
Date: 2019-08-13 06:09 am (UTC)[ She doesn't even remember the period this time, she's too preoccupied. Except then she gets preoccupied about how that's... definitely a Thing which Lalli is doing and by the sound of it it's a good one, so. ]
But maybe moving out is for the best.
You're very kind to look after him that way.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-13 06:17 am (UTC)not directly anyway. with magic maybe
don't really want to try
❰ somehow, this girl has successfully engaged him into an actual multi-sentence conversation, what a miracle. ❱
i'm not trying to be kind. just don't want him dead
no subject
Date: 2019-08-14 04:58 am (UTC)[ That would definitely not be her first choice for a course of action. Even if they won, it's liable to make things worse in the long run. Honestly she can imagine a lot of things that would only end up being worse in the long run, but then again, optimism has never been her strong suit. ]
Is there nowhere else in Tyr's house that Klaus could stay?
Another room that isn't full maybe.
[ But would that be enough to pacify Knifey McBadRoommate? Naminé has her misgivings, considering his aggression in the first place. ]
Not wanting someone dead is usually pretty nice.
Unless you have some other reason for keeping him alive.
[ Lalli hasn't really struck her as the 'sinister ulterior motives' type. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-08-14 06:12 am (UTC)house is the best plan we've got
no subject
Date: 2019-08-15 05:22 am (UTC)But he might have fewer reasons to.
[ Honestly that whole thing is one big pit of psychological weirdness. Clearly that guy has some funny ideas about how to keep himself safe - or maybe he's just a sadist, who knows. In any case, Naminé's not informed enough to say anything for certain. That doesn't stop her, however, from mulling the situation over for a few moments. It's sticky, not knowing more. Still, there is one thing she can say for certain. ]
If it happens again
if he gets stabbed or hurt that is
I might be able to help.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-19 10:42 am (UTC)❰ klaus can heal it himself, but lalli asks regardless. call it curiosity. ❱
no subject
Date: 2019-08-20 04:25 am (UTC)I can heal people.
Small wounds that is.
I don't know about big ones.
[ So, you know, only mild stabbings? ]
no subject
Date: 2019-08-20 07:08 am (UTC)what does it look like when you use it?
are there moths
no subject
Date: 2019-08-21 05:27 am (UTC)One. I thought it was a butterfly.
How did you know?
[ A beat; belatedly, as if to clarify, ]
But another time I used it it was a bird instead.
[ Honestly she hadn't been trying to make it look like anything specific, it just sort of... happened however it happened. Her subconscious might have been involved, considering she'd been in different places each time. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-08-21 08:43 am (UTC)was it a bird on purpose?
no subject
Date: 2019-08-22 04:43 am (UTC)[ Not sarcastic; she's genuinely really curious about this all now, because now it's crossing her mind as well that they've surely got different deities sponsoring them and that's-- weird, isn't it? ]
No. I wasn't thinking about what it should look like, I was just trying to help.
Does he make his moths on purpose?
no subject
Date: 2019-08-22 07:26 am (UTC)❰ helpful, lalli. very helpful. ❱
no subject
Date: 2019-08-23 04:55 am (UTC)[ Perfectly reasonable, as far as she's concerned. The focus of her eyes shifts as she considers the situation, then zones back in a few moments later when she realizes her fingers are still hovering over the keys. ]
Maybe if I show you my magic some time, you can tell me if it seems like the same thing as what Klaus can do.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-27 06:49 am (UTC)❰ ......... ❱
only if someone needs it. not worth hurting yourself for
❰ he can't tell if she's the type who'd do so just for a demonstration, so it's worth the caveat. ❱
no subject
Date: 2019-08-28 04:59 am (UTC)I know.
It might be simpler to do that than to wait for something to happen to someone else but
it wouldn't be right to hurt someone just so that I can heal them.
Not even if it's me.
❰ text ❱ day 90 (sep 7th), early morning.
Date: 2019-09-16 07:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-09-17 05:26 am (UTC)I am.
[ It's - nice, being checked in on. Supposing she owes him the same, ]
How's your house?
no subject
Date: 2019-09-19 07:47 pm (UTC)it's okay
should be kind of done in another month
no subject
Date: 2019-09-20 06:07 am (UTC)Kind of done?
[ There would be quotation marks around that if she knew it was appropriate. ]
What does that mean?
no subject
Date: 2019-09-20 08:28 am (UTC)❰ 'livable but ugly', basically. ❱
no subject
Date: 2019-09-22 01:28 am (UTC)Does Emil fuss often?
[ Because that's one possible implication; she's a little amused by the idea, really. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-09-23 08:46 am (UTC)sometimes
usually for good reasons
no subject
Date: 2019-09-24 05:38 am (UTC)I see.
Well
I suppose that means it's a good idea to listen.
[ In theory, anyway. She's, you know, not going to ask if that means the house in question won't be up to code or in another, similarly dangerous circumstance, but-- she is curious about something else. ]
By the way
what made you wonder if I was still here?
[ Because she's just now realizing she might have side-tracked him from something, and that wouldn't do, would it? ]
no subject
Date: 2019-09-24 07:42 am (UTC)then: ❱
onni's gone
other cousin
don't say sorry
no subject
Date: 2019-09-25 04:45 am (UTC)Her finger freeze over the 's' key, eyes stopping on his last message. She hesitates only one beat, two, then hits the backspace. Her pause is much shorter than his was, and she spends it frowning at her screen, sad over the departure of someone with whom she wasn't even properly acquainted. ]
What would you like me to say instead?
no subject
Date: 2019-09-25 08:24 am (UTC)guess you can't say you won't disappear too can you
no subject
Date: 2019-09-26 05:06 am (UTC)[ Honest to a fault; she doesn't hesitate to say it, though it lasts a beat before she actually hits send. ]
I wouldn't want to make a promise to you that I couldn't be sure to keep.
[ It's strange, how it makes her realize that she doesn't want to disappear. There are enough reasons, now, for her to wish to stay even aside from the threat of the unknown - and that's a really odd place to be in, when she thinks about it. ]
But I can promise you that I'll do my best.
Is that okay?
no subject
Date: 2019-09-26 05:27 am (UTC)❰ but it's the best she can offer, so he shouldn't be rejecting it offhand like that. a few seconds later: ❱
it's okay
no subject
Date: 2019-09-27 05:09 am (UTC)[ Not in the face of such total inability to control the situation. None of them can really help it, can they? In the wake of that message, though, she spends those few seconds trying to think of something else, something better that she might be able to say--
but then comes that other line, and it's... enough, perhaps. ]
Then it's a promise.
[ Even so, her mind continues to work on the problem. On anything she can do, really, to provide him some measure of comfort. ]
It may not make any difference but
I'm glad that you two were at least able to spend some time together in the city.
[ Sometimes all one really has left are memories - which she knows entirely too well, but saying as much seems like it would be counterproductive. In any case, she's spent enough of her own life alone to be relieved that Lalli is... less so, by all appearances. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-09-27 07:59 am (UTC)❰ he goes to erase that but sends it instead, further evidence that this interface is stupid. (it isn't, he's just bad at it.)
regardless, it corners him into articulating more properly instead of pretending that first message never existed, so a few seconds later she gets: ❱
he wanted to trade his life for tuuri's. was going to ask heimdall
and now he's gone
no subject
Date: 2019-09-28 05:48 pm (UTC)Which means she spends an extra couple of seconds herself frowning at the screen, perplexed by the idea for various reasons. There are a lot of questions she wants to ask, but-- ]
You don't think he did it, do you?
[ Because if he'd successfully made that request and it caused him to disappear, there are some concerning implications. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-09-30 03:22 am (UTC)heimdall says he didn't. honir says heimdall probably isn't lying
it's stupid
no subject
Date: 2019-10-01 04:41 am (UTC)No, better not to go reading into it too much, coincidental timing or not. Huffing a little sigh, Naminé frowns at her screen. Her fingers hover over the keys; not for the first time, she has a lot of questions. But perhaps it's better to start with, ]
What's stupid about it?
no subject
Date: 2019-10-04 03:58 am (UTC)the answer that comes is: ❱
just want to know where he is
no subject
Date: 2019-10-05 06:43 am (UTC)I know.
[ And she understands some of the sentiment, at least. She has no family to lose, no strange context of disappearance to worry over, but it isn't hard to imagine. She's had friends go missing, herself, and though it troubles her, she at least has the consolation of being able to believe it was probably no different for them than for anyone else who left. (Not that that's much help; who really knows what happens to them when they're gone, anyway?)
She takes a moment to frown at her screen. She can't fix the problem, but her instinct is to at least investigate it, at least do her best to fully comprehend as much of it as possible, in case some opportunity to make a difference in it comes later. Naturally her mind moves on to the most pressing question; ]
Why did he think he needed to trade his life for hers?
no subject
Date: 2019-10-07 08:30 am (UTC)the answer that comes is... pretty frank. ❱
she's dead
or was before we came here
no subject
Date: 2019-10-08 05:34 am (UTC)It's strange to think about but
there are a lot of us here who are supposed to be dead.
It's hard when one of them is someone you care about.
[ Which is the closest she dares let herself come to that sympathetic sort of apology. ]
It makes much more sense now why he wanted to do that.
Still
either way you lose someone important to you, don't you?
It doesn't seem very fair.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-12 04:57 am (UTC)with anything
no subject
Date: 2019-10-12 10:11 pm (UTC)It never does.
[ That doesn't change the fact of what it is, though. Maybe she says it in part because of how many innocent people she has seen suffer due to circumstances beyond their control, how many times she hasn't been able to tell them that in so many words. The other part is, ]
But you told me not to say I was sorry.
[ There are more ways than one to express the same sentiment. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-10-13 08:59 am (UTC)❰ as it turns out? he's not fair, either.
and he knows it, but he doesn't apologize. instead, just: ❱
it's fine. was just making sure you're here
no subject
Date: 2019-10-13 10:38 pm (UTC)Thank you.
[ Has she ever said that? She's felt it, but it's hard to find the right time to express this sort of gratitude. ]
For checking on me.
I like to know that you're still here too.
action; 10/8 - after odin's announcement
Date: 2019-10-13 11:36 pm (UTC)That doesn't stop her from finding and offering her roommate one — pink for strawberry, or a pale green for melon — however, before settling into a seated position. Nearby for ease of speaking, but not suffocatingly close. ]
Seems that time of rest was short-lived. [ Instead of forcing a smile, she busies herself with peeling off the wrapper to the candy Naminé doesn't choose. Eventually, she'll ask: ] Do you intend to ride out, or stay here?
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Date: 2019-10-15 04:15 am (UTC)Enough so that the first looks she gives the offered candy is a blank one, uncomprehending as she tries to extricate herself from her thoughts. It works after a moment, and with a start she begins to lift a hand, instinctively reaching for the pink lollipop without actually having thought about it. ]
-- Thank you, [ she says, more early than late, and as Daenerys settles herself, Naminé pauses, studying her briefly before making to remove the wrapper of her own candy. She never quite gets around to putting the sweet into her mouth, however, because that inquiry seems to stop her short. That's the question of the hour, isn't it? Or the day, rather; her brow knits slightly, perplexed eyes lingering on her roommate for a moment before lowering to the item in her own hands. ]
I haven't decided yet, [ Naminé answers, and it's the weighty kind of sentence, the heavy sort of tone that suggests that's been on her mind a lot today. Her fingers tighten around the little stick that goes with her sweet, and she raises her eyes to ask, in a different manner that carries no less an undercurrent of thought, ] Are... you planning to go?
[ Only then does she actually start on the lollipop, almost more for something to do with her hands than for any other reason. ]
&& she gonna kill that ice turd deader than dead while she's at it lol
Date: 2019-10-21 01:11 am (UTC)[ Were that weight tangible, surely it would manifest with the answer given. I haven't decided. It's not her war, and for that, Dany's glad. At the same time, however, it's a war now forced onto her... just as it has been for those in Westeros. A war she had no interest in, but one necessary to fight all the same.
She sighs, the sound soft and tired all at once, and picks at the wrapper. ]
It's the war we set off for in my world, before coming here. [ Her fingers still work on the plastic as she looks to meet Naminé's eyes. ] The first of two. The first against the dead, the second against the living.
[ Edd hasn't returned yet; she's glad for the privacy. It's easier not having another Westerosi to share the space with while she says these things. ]
I just discovered one of my children sacrificed his life for an empty promise.
much deservedly I'm sure
Date: 2019-10-22 06:13 am (UTC)Lowering the candy, the girl pauses at Daenerys' description. It's occurred to Naminé already, sharp memory that she has, but-- ]
… So they'll be just like what he described at the meeting. [ Jon Snow, that first time - those creatures he spoke about sounded not wholly unlike Heartless in their single-mindedness as well as a few other peculiarities, and Naminé knows all too well how dangerous they could be. ] The wights, the ones that can't be killed by normal means.
[ Except as troubling as that notion is, and as much time as Naminé has spent mired in her own thoughts, her own troubled attempts to choose a course of action, Daenerys has only to utter those last words for Naminé to straighten, features immediately overcome with a mix of sympathy and concern. ]
-- What? [ Her shoulders sink slightly, the lollipop all but forgotten in her fingers as she tries to make sense of that statement. Not fully knowing the context, she can only ask what feels like a lame, yet genuinely perplexed, ] … What happened?
nobody kills her babies and gets away with it
Date: 2019-10-28 11:08 pm (UTC)[ That memory is a tired one: the fear which chilled her more so than the snow so high up in the air as she flew. The way they moved like insects, a giant swarm. It's the cold eyes, however, which bothers her the most. Even an enemy holds a wildness to his or her eyes. It's inevitable.
Not the Night King. ]
I won't be selfish and voice my wishes for you, for it's your decision and this is as much your war now as it is ours. I only ask that you take care if you travel with us.
[ It's difficult to see faces she would rather command, but has no right to. Missandei would be easy, if only because her dearest friend has no battle experience. Sansa is equally as inexperienced, but has decided to travel. Far worse in her mind is Naminé knowingly placing herself into danger. ]
My three dragons: Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal... we all flew into the snows to head off the dead. One of my knights and Jon, along with a group of their choosing, sought out the dead to try and capture one. [ It gets no easier to speak of. By now, she lowers her hands to her lap, the candy forgotten. ] Viserion died to the Night King.
The second war I mentioned against the living? The queen sits on my family's throne. We met with her for a parley, and she agreed to it.. .for surely survival is more important than a throne — but her brother told me earlier the woman has no intention of aiding us in a war against the dead. She wants us weakened, so she can slaughter my people when the battle's done.
dragon vengeance for the dragon mom!!!!
Date: 2019-10-30 06:45 am (UTC)[ It must be worse, Naminé thinks, when the enemy still has a human face. That's rarely an issue when it comes to Heartless, at least, though Nobodies like herself are-- a different story. Perhaps it's better not to draw the comparison in her own mind to newborn husks without hearts; those zombies don't sound as able as she was to regain even a semblance of human thought.
Rather than allowing her mind to wander, however, she's careful to hearken to Daenerys. With a small shake of her own blonde head, Naminé tries to reassure, ]
I promise I won't be reckless. [ Whether she goes, whether it's here she chooses to stay; in either case, she'll do so with careful consideration. ] I've been giving it a lot of thought.
[ And she's not so hasty as to make a decision one way or the other so early in the preparations. Falling silent again, she hears of the dragons, and despite not having much in the way of personal relationships with any such creatures, she says with genuine sadness, ]
I'm sorry.
[ Because it's clear that the dragons are - were - important to Daenerys; why else would she call them her children? It casts the situation in something of a different light, one that Naminé begins to realize as she listens to the rest of what her roommate has to say. This is-- personal, isn't it? Not only because of the inherent danger posed by the Night King in this world and Westeros, but because the older woman has lost at least one being important to her through him.
Lips pursed, Naminé's frown becomes steadily more apparent as the description goes on. Once it's finished, ]
And there's nothing you can do about it while you're here, is there? [ Which is a frustrating turn of events all on its own, really. ] The queen - she isn't in the city, is she?
❰ text ❱ day 138 (oct 25th).
Date: 2019-10-29 06:59 am (UTC)alive
❰ not a question - he's letting her know that he's alive, just like he said he would. ❱
no subject
Date: 2019-10-30 07:41 am (UTC)It feels as though someone would tell her, if he didn't make it back. She tries to remind herself as much; Tuuri might have reason to, at least, though Naminé refrains with great effort from asking after him directly. Instead she keeps her mind as busy as her hands are, tending to as many wounds as she can among the soldiers and refugees. There's only so much she can do with the limitations of her powers, but she bandages until her fingers are sore and then goes back the next day to do it again. There's still so much activity, and it provides her a cold sort of comfort as she tries not to assume the worst.
But she nevertheless jumps to check the message that comes in when at last it arrives, heart quicker for it. The associated name is familiar, and with its recognition her worry for his life is replaced by a different manner of concern. Perhaps some people would be angry to have been left in the dark. For her, the first question is, ]
What happened?
[ It isn't her initial assumption that he was simply biding his time for no reason; there must have been some cause for his silence. He's not so careless as that, she thinks - and belatedly she hopes from a small, scarred part of her heart that he didn't just forget about writing her entirely. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-10-30 08:10 am (UTC)not being anything
❰ it's not an answer to this, but it's an answer to something she asked and it'll have to do. ❱
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Date: 2019-10-31 05:11 am (UTC)The response can really only make her all the more driven to find out what went on, what had him that upset. But at the same time, it tells her enough to indicate that inquiring further that direction might not get her much of an answer. Despite the intensity of the frown she gives her screen and the furrow in her brow, she resists the urge to write some variation of the same message again. Instead, ]
Is that where you've been for the past few days?
Trying not to be anything?
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 11:10 pm (UTC)maybe
❰ he doesn't know what he's been doing. not since emil came back. it's all kind of a static blur. ❱
emil died
❰ the message is sent before he really processes that he's typing it, and it's like the floor falls out from under him, more words tumbling out. ❱
came back but he's different. remembers all of it
everything's wrong now
no subject
Date: 2019-11-02 05:38 am (UTC)How is it wrong?
[ Her response is quick, maybe enough so to convey her worry. ]
Is he not himself?
[ He's changed, obviously - but how much? ]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-02 05:51 am (UTC)not that he can say that to her, of all people. ❱
distant. quieter
❰ lalli feels like he came in out of the freezing rain four days ago and hasn't dried off since. there's a damp ache in his bones. ❱
no subject
Date: 2019-11-02 07:09 am (UTC)Do you think maybe he just needs time?
It must be very strange, being dead and then alive again.
[ Anyone, surely, would be at risk for preoccupation after a traumatic experience like that. All the more so, maybe, because of the context of that particular battle. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-04 09:06 am (UTC)but of course she thinks that. he hasn't mentioned the most important detail. ❱
remembers me killing him
no subject
Date: 2019-11-05 06:18 am (UTC)And for a second Naminé almost considers whether or not that memory is correct, because she's spent more time changing those kinds of things herself than watching friends actually manage to kill each other. But then the implications of the battle itself catch up with her a fraction of a second later, and she sucks in a breath which presses her mouth closed, chest tight with sympathy and a strange coldness of dread. ]
You had to
[ There's no other explanation, is there? Not unless she's gravely misunderstood his relationship with Emil. ]
didn't you?
no subject
Date: 2019-11-05 06:45 am (UTC)❰ that's something he's come to realize since he did it. he didn't have to. he could've found a different god, even if honir wasn't there. he could've led emil back to asgard, if he had to. there were options, so so many options besides stabbing his closest friend in the skull. ❱
thought i did
no subject
Date: 2019-11-06 05:59 am (UTC)[ There were a lot of disturbing implications that could be taken from that 'no'. But it's hard for her to imagine any of them being legitimate; surely there's not other reason Lalli would want to kill his friend, not when he sounds so troubled by the whole situation. The message that comes thereafter puts any temporary fears to rest, however, though it does raise a lot of questions. Is it Lalli being too hard on himself, or is there really truth in that? ]
What else could you have done?
I've always heard that there's no other way to stop someone once
[ They've already died, already been taken over; she struggles with it a moment, then adds on the same line before she sends it, ]
they're on the other side.
no subject
Date: 2019-11-06 09:01 am (UTC)waited for honir even
but i didn't
and he remembers
no subject
Date: 2019-11-08 05:28 am (UTC)[ He's said as much himself, but it feels as though he needs reminding. She knows how easy it can be to blame oneself, so-- ]
If you hadn't someone else might have gotten hurt.
[ Like Lalli himself, for instance - but it was made pretty clear how dangerous undead of that sort could be to anyone around them. ]
Have you talked to Emil about it?
[ Sure, he's said that Emil remembers, but that doesn't convince her they've talked about it, not really, especially considering Lalli's pretty taciturn at the best of times. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-08 06:44 am (UTC)no, they haven't talked about it. ❱
doesn't want to talk
❰ lalli's not entirely sure emil wants anything to do with him, at this point. ❱
no subject
Date: 2019-11-09 06:41 am (UTC)How do you know?
no subject
Date: 2019-11-10 03:51 am (UTC)he just doesn't
no subject
Date: 2019-11-10 10:16 pm (UTC)What about you?
Do you want to talk to him?
no subject
Date: 2019-11-14 08:33 am (UTC)❰ sorry, namine. this is just... a mess that he shouldn't have dragged you into. ❱
no subject
Date: 2019-11-15 06:04 am (UTC)You'll have to talk eventually.
[ She hopes. ]
Right?
Even if it's hard for both of you, you can't ignore each other forever.
[ Which. Isn't so much her telling him to do something about it as making a prediction, honestly. But that's not really a solution, so she tries, ]
Maybe it would help to think about what you'd say to him if the two of you did want to talk.
That way you can at least be sure how you feel.
[ Even if how Emil's feeling is a bit harder to determine. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-17 08:11 am (UTC)❰ but he's said it too late, after other things have been said, so he'll clarify: ❱
to ignore each other forever
no subject
Date: 2019-11-18 05:43 am (UTC)Maybe Sora's finally rubbing off on her. ]
He's your friend.
[ Which could be taken a lot of different ways, really. Does that mean she doubts Emil would reject him so readily, or that Lalli would know better than she would what's likely? Both are true, honestly. But either way, ]
Do you really believe that's the kind of person he is?
[ It's one thing to say it to yourself in your head, but entirely another to put it into words on the outside. On a certain level, to do so is to impugn the other's character. ]
sorry so late. i want to hit her up on something more recently to remedy this disaster thread
Date: 2019-12-01 08:34 am (UTC)AHH NO WORRIES I gotchu bruh. Just tell me where you want shenanigans and I shall make it happen.
Date: 2019-12-02 02:35 am (UTC)People do change sometimes
especially when something awful happens to them.
But I'm not sure he'd change that much so quickly.
Haven't you been friends for a pretty long time now?
[ As long as she's known Lalli, at the very least, and probably longer if they're from the same world. While that's not quite so great a time period in the grand scheme of things as it could be, she figures that at least-- ]
He must know by now that you wouldn't have hurt him if you didn't think you had to.
[ Which would be enough for her not to blame Lalli, at least, if she were in Emil's position - and that's what makes it so hard for her to imagine that he wouldn't want anything to do with Lalli at all even after such an incident. ]
Audio - UN: GallowsCallibrator
Date: 2020-03-27 06:08 pm (UTC)Everything's fine, Naminé. We ... we uh got back.
...
[Siiiiiiigh. Oh man she was holding things back. She wasn't any good at this.]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-29 03:23 am (UTC)… What happened?
[ Naminé didn't sound accusatory - if anything, her voice was gentle despite the undercurrent of worry. For the sake of her moirail's own excuse, the blonde tacked on an only slightly belated, ]
While you were away, that is. [ The whole thing bore describing, regardless of what it was that had the other girl so hesitant. Only just remembering herself, ] And-- welcome back.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-30 04:46 pm (UTC)Those guys who came by asking for help? They... didn't tell us the whole story. There was a plague of some sort in the cave. That's why it was walled off. We... we kept it sealed in there, Naminé. I made sure it stayed sealed in so none of it got out.
[She cooughed into her hand. It didn't sound like a sick cough, more of a clearing of one's throat. Her voice calmed considerably afterwards.]
Some of the folks inside called Sigyn. She... uh... removed the disease from us when she sent the people inside back to the palace. So... we got kind of a really fast free trip.
[By, ya know... dying, which she was pointedly trying to avoid saying. And while that detail might not have been obvious, she was holding something back.]
no subject
Date: 2020-04-01 05:47 am (UTC)That isn't surprising, [ was her only audible comment, soft and non-interruptive. The whole situation had seemed a bit suspicious to her, even from a distance - but that hadn't been enough to cause her to try to convince anyone not to go and help. Otherwise she was silent, save for her startled, 'A plague--?' which began a different tone of quiet on her part.
It all sounded pretty concerning, and yet-- even while telling her they'd succeeded in curtailing the issue, Terezi didn't sound quite right to Naminé. There had to be something more to it, of that the blonde was certain - although the cough did give her a momentary start before she registered it as unlikely to be related to illness. Through her patient, somewhat bemused listening, Naminé worked at the problem, the question of what it was that didn't feel quite right-- and then, ]
What do you mean... [ There was a cold feeling in her stomach, one that formed quickly as the possible implications of those words stretched out before her. ] … A 'fast trip'?
no subject
Date: 2020-04-03 04:29 am (UTC)[Maaaan, she was no good at lying. It wasn't in her nature to do it. She preferred half truths, and she never could tell a lie without giggling like an idiot. Part of why she could trick John and Dave was that one was too stupid to notice usually, and the other found it amusing to just play along in his boredom, not because she was really fooling them.
She gritted her teeth and grunted.]
When... we got sick, Sigyn came to the barrier that had us all sealed inside. I touched her hand, and then I woke up at the palace, feeling all warm and not sick anymore.
[She frowned.]
... I... I think I died in there, Naminé. I just didn't want you to worry. But no way was I risking you getting that disease! It was awful!
no subject
Date: 2020-04-04 04:19 am (UTC)You didn't have to hide it from me, [ she promised, more than admonished. ] I would have wanted to know...! It's-- my job to know what happens to you, isn't it?
[ And to worry, for that matter - that was part of being friends as much as it was a part of moirallegiance. None of it sat well with her, of course, and for a long moment she was quiet, trying to digest this development. Perhaps the first thing that came to mind and actually made it to her mouth, whether appropriate or not, was a concerned, ]
… Did it hurt?
no subject
Date: 2020-04-06 02:57 pm (UTC)[She scratched at the back of her head and sighed, smiling to herself.]
I should know better though. Sorry... uhhh, it didn't hurt. I mean getting sick was something awful. Coughing, wet, aching, painful and a bit of blood. Nothing fun, trust me. But what Sigyn did didn't hurt at all. Think that was the point.
... I still feel funny, though. They're sure I'm not sick, but something feels weird. not 'missing' weird. Just weird weird. Haven't figured out why yet.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-08 03:20 am (UTC)Humming quietly to indicate her unstanding, Naminé might well have had other questions coming to mind, but that last comment of the other girl's gave the blonde pause. ]
Funny... [ There wasn't much she could do about 'funny,' not without her powers from home, and even those might not have done the trick. ] Funny, like... some part of you has changed? If Sigyn really did bring you back...
[ Did everything actually come back the same? ]
no subject
Date: 2020-04-10 02:06 am (UTC)Not... uh, sick funny. Just funny. It feels like it wants me to do something with it. I don't quite get it?
...does that make sense?
no subject
Date: 2020-04-11 05:36 am (UTC)Yes - I think I understand. [ Her voice was careful, not entirely free of concern. ] Sometimes you just have an instinct. Something that tells you that there's more you can do.
[ Like her own powers, both in her own worlds and here. ]
But... even if that's the case, do you think it would be a good idea to listen?
no subject
Date: 2020-04-12 06:03 am (UTC)Might ask and see if someone could look into it. To be sure.
[The only problem being that blood magic was kind of new.]
no subject
Date: 2020-04-13 03:53 am (UTC)I trust your judgement. You're the one who's feeling it, after all.
[ And surely it was an issue those in charge of Asgard would see fit to take personal interest in, which seemed to make it less likely to become a more serious problem. ]
And I'm sure the gods would want to know about it, too. Maybe they can help you test it in a controlled environment. [ A subtle falter. More gingerly, ] If... you don't mind talking to them about it, that is.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-14 04:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-04-16 04:57 am (UTC)Me too.
[ There was plenty of cause for concern, especially considering-- ]
After how they handled the problem last time... [ Which wasn't necessarily the wrong way to handle it, and seemed to end up relatively consequence-free... or so they could hope. ] I suppose I shouldn't say, 'it couldn't turn out much worse for you,' should I?
[ Literally dying was frequently considered to be at one certain end of the spectrum, but in this case, given its impermanence, it might have occupied a different part of the scale. She wasn't particularly inclined to tempt fate and find out. ]
But I don't think they'll do anything that might harm you unless they have to. Besides, if you're not the only one who feels like they've changed, then they'll come to ask you about it sooner or later, won't they?
no subject
Date: 2020-04-16 11:21 pm (UTC)...
Maybe it's something good? Like a new superpower? [She frowned.] That might be asking too much, right?
I could also ask the others.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-18 05:28 am (UTC)[ The melancholy undertone of her words suggested that was a concept she was all too familiar with, though of course her voice was not without sympathy.
And despite her serious demeanor, Naminé failed to fight down the breath of a wry laugh that rose in her throat at Terezi's suggestions. Weak and short-lived though the blonde's smile was, she could at least appreciate the sentiment. ]
Maybe. It wouldn't be the strangest thing I've ever heard.
[ But that didn't mean it seemed all that likely. Still, one could hope, futilely or otherwise. ]
But... yes. I think maybe it would be best if you talked to them about it. It might give you a better idea of what to expect - and even if it doesn't, it... helps, to talk to someone who knows what you're going through.
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Date: 2020-04-23 11:25 pm (UTC)It's hard to know for sure what to do, and I'm sorry we worried you. I really am.
[She could hear the melancholy and deep down she hoped that she hadn't screwed up horribly somehow, but Naminé wasn't giving bad advice so she could take that. One way or another.]
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Date: 2020-04-25 02:19 am (UTC)[ The response was gentle, and yet it held a firmness underneath. It was an attempt at reassurance, surely. ]
You didn't know what you were getting into. [ There was always a risk in the decision to go out of the city at all, of course, but that didn't, to her, assign any blame. ] Even if you had - you were trying to help. I could never be upset with you for that.
[ No apologies necessary. ]
And I'm glad that you told me about everything that's been going on. That's what I'm here for... right? So-- if you still feel worried later, you can talk to me then, too. Any time you need to.
[ Whether or not that would be any help she was not so bold as to assume, but that didn't stop her from offering. ]
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Date: 2020-04-27 03:37 am (UTC)I'm going to talk to them. See if maybe I can figure out what's going on.
[And later, she could tell her that she'd be able to protect her even better thanks to her blood.]
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Date: 2020-04-28 05:16 am (UTC)[ Her voice had a tired sort of surety, and it sounded as though she was wearing a weak, wry smile as she spoke. Firsthand, secondhand - she had experience with both when it came to finding trouble. ]
Chances are if you keep doing the right thing, it'll keep happening. But it's worth it, in the end.
[ Mostly. Hopefully. In any case, ]
Alright. Then I guess-- for now, all that I can do is wish you luck.
[ Even thought it felt like that was not enough. ]
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Date: 2020-04-28 06:40 pm (UTC)You're rubbing off on me, Naminé. Heh. You're going to make a hero out of me yet...
I'll let you know, ok? What they said.
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Date: 2020-04-30 04:00 am (UTC)You don't need me for that. You've been trying to make things right since before we met.
[ Or so she'd heard in a story or two, anyway, regardless of where Terezi might have fit into the scale of morality before then. ]
Okay. [ There was a gentle firmness in her voice, a silent attempt to be encouraging. ] I'll be waiting to hear about it.
Audio - UN: GallowsCallibrator
Date: 2020-04-13 02:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-04-13 07:43 pm (UTC)Hello? Terezi?
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Date: 2020-04-14 04:24 pm (UTC)[She breathed in and out for a moment.]
They want to figure out what's going on with this cave. The blight inside. Heimdall's got a spell he's offering. Something that is supposed to be able to shield people going in. He wants to send in two person teams. Sentinel and a Scout. Someone who can investigate, someone who can protect. It is supposed to last about a half hour, so... it's... it's supposed to be safe, and my nose...
But I'm not sure.
I'm really not sure.
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Date: 2020-04-16 05:31 am (UTC)They want you to go back?
[ Even so close to her initial reaction, she couldn't completely muster disbelief. It made sense that they'd want to be certain that situation was dealt with, and it was wise to send people who knew the cave already, yet - part of her balked at the mere suggestion. Still, she never was one to let her emotions get the better of her; it bore considering before she made a kneejerk suggestion. Letting out an unsettled exhale, she turned her mind to practical concerns first. ]
How certain are they that the spell will work?
[ 'Supposed to do' and 'actually does' were two different things. ]
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Date: 2020-04-16 10:58 pm (UTC)[She frowned herself, and it was pretty apparent in the way that she was talking. She scratched the back of her head and her eyes closed and when she spoke, it was uncomfortable, nervous.]
Heimdall vouched for it personally. Thirty minutes, he said. It's something he's giving us specifically so I think he's pretty sure of it. But I can't help remembering the day we arrived.
Ya know. Arrived and then went boom?
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Date: 2020-04-18 05:14 am (UTC)He doesn't seem like the type of person who would say that without believing it. [ Whether or not that made him correct was a different question. Though she paled slightly at that last comment, ] Yes, I remember. They... didn't have as much time to prepare back then. Or at least that was how it sounded.
[ Her frown was nearly audible, even as she lapsed into momentary silence. ]
Pros and cons... [ Belatedly, calling back to what Terezi said first, ] What are those, exactly?
[ Sure, Naminé could think of her own list - but she'd rather have the other girl's perspective on it. ]
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Date: 2020-04-23 11:28 pm (UTC)Ok, so my power works for about an hour. I can't keep his spell up forever. That means I won't get full use, and if I don't set a timer just right maybe something will stop me from getting out in time.
I'm concerned. I don't want to get sick again. If it happens, I don't think Sigyn's going to bail us out like last time, and I don't want you worried again...
Glob damnit, Naminé there's a lot of cons aren't there? But on the pro side, what if by doing nothing we're still dealing with this down the road and it's a lot worse?
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Date: 2020-04-25 04:45 am (UTC)No matter what dangers there are, I-- do agree that it's important to make sure that it's over, and that nothing will surprise us later. But that doesn't mean that it's your responsibility alone.
[ She wished it were as simple as being able to say it wasn't Terezi's problem and having that be the end of it. Neither of them, she figured, were the type to actually leave it there. ]
… Or that my personal feelings should have anything to do with this. I don't want you to put yourself in danger any more than I ever have, but if I worry... then that's alright. It's my job to worry about you. You should do what your heart tells you is right, even if it makes me afraid for you.
[ That was how Naminé had always handled things, anyway; her own emotions be darned. ]
But your power... even if you don't get to use it fully, isn't it better than not using it at all? And if you have someone with you to look after you, to make sure you get out when you need to, how likely is it that something will happen? Was the cave-- dangerous, besides what happened before?
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Date: 2020-04-27 03:35 am (UTC)[She raked her hand through her hair.]
It's your job to worry about me, like i worry about you... but it's also my job not to make you worry too much. I ... I don't want to put you in that position, Namine. Not without good reason.
I think that my nose might have gotten everything that it could already. I don't know that niffing again, when I took a whole hour of my powers before would tell me anything I didn't already know.
I ... I think you might be right. I've done my part. It doesn't have to be me this time, unless they think they really need me specifically. I feel more sure of that now. I needed to talk this through with you, I think.
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Date: 2020-04-28 05:07 am (UTC)I understand, [ the Nobody conceded softly. ] I wouldn't want to do that to you either, if it were me.
[ She perked at the addiional new information; if Terezi really had sniffed the whole place out... ]
So you've already done everything that would have tried anyway? I didn't realize...! [ She'd definitely have weighed that into her suggestions if she had. No matter her attempts to stay neutral, she couldn't help the relief in her voice. ]
If that's the case... then yes. I really do think you've done your part. [ Her exhale is quiet, yet audible. She holds herself back a beat, then adds, ] It's your decision. But-- I don't think anyone will blame you if you choose to stay here.
[ Least of all her. ]
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Date: 2020-04-28 06:42 pm (UTC)[She nodded, feeling a weight lifted off of her shoulders.]
Ok. I think I'm going to hang back this time. I don't need to take unnecessary risks. If they're smart, they'll handle this.
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Date: 2020-04-30 04:09 am (UTC)[ The world doing that shifting around that it tends to do, and all that. Still, the chances of that happening and requiring Terezi's specific powers to notice seemed pretty slim, and in any case, the troll's reaction seemed to say what needed to be said about her feelings on going. Breathing out a decidedly less burdened laugh, ]
But it would have helped if you'd told me that first, yes.
[ Naminé made an effort not to feel too selfish about being glad Terezi would stay home. It was for the other girl's sake too, right? ]
Alright. [ Trying not to smile, ] Maybe it'll even be a good thing - it'll give the others a chance to get more experience figuring stuff out for themselves.
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Date: 2020-05-02 09:03 pm (UTC)Yeah. And it's not like I'm the only one with this divination stuff. I am pretty sure I know another guy who has something like that... but not his nose. Too bad, that. We could compare smells.
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Date: 2020-05-03 08:22 pm (UTC)That other comment had her perking, looking momentarily pleasantly surprised. ]
Oh? [ And when the other sentences followed after, ] Oh. That is too bad. To be honest, I'm a little curious what all of that's like for you.
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Date: 2020-05-05 08:24 pm (UTC)It's like the world explodes with odors everywhere I sniff. They're the kinds of smells I never got unless it was back home, and there's even more now. I can't just smell colors, I can smell everything. I have to learn to tell all the smells apart. It's kinda psychedelic really.
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Date: 2020-05-07 03:03 am (UTC)[ Naminé went quiet a moment, trying to picture what Terezi was describing. ]
It sounds almost-- impossible. To have to pick one smell out of so many - how would you be able to do it at all?
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Date: 2020-05-08 08:44 pm (UTC)You know how you can train your tongue to pick up flavors that are subtle after a while?
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Date: 2020-05-10 04:53 am (UTC)Um-- [ If she'd ever heard of that it was probably only a dim recollection. ] Maybe...? I don't spend a lot of time tasting things. But-- I suppose if the rest of you can learn things, it makes sense that your tongue can, too.
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Date: 2020-05-12 09:22 pm (UTC)So it would make sense you can train. I know my nose is getting more refined all the time, after all.
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Date: 2020-05-14 04:12 am (UTC)[ There's a short pause as she mulls over the prior conversation, and decidedly doesn't tack on a, 'so you don't need to go to the cave to do it.' Now that her mind's back at the start, it occurs to her to ask, ]
Was that everything that you needed to talk to me about?
[ She says it a little hopefully, though that's only because she'd rather not find out there's some other concerning news or terrible potential risk to discuss that Terezi has yet to bring up. ]
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Date: 2020-05-15 12:29 am (UTC)...
Thanks, Namine. I needed to talk with you about this.
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Date: 2020-05-16 06:26 am (UTC)I'm glad that you did...! I know that you can make good decisions on your own, but... it's important to me to hear about them, whether I can help you with them or not.
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Date: 2020-05-19 10:54 pm (UTC)I can... but it also affects you, and this is definitely the kind of question I want to ask you, to make you part of. It's important that you're involved too, isn't it? So... I'm glad to ask.
Thanks, Naminé.
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Date: 2020-05-21 06:14 am (UTC)[ Mouth warming into a smile, ]
Sure. You know I'll listen to you anytime, no matter what.
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Date: 2020-05-21 11:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-05-23 04:55 am (UTC)[ And with a click, they part ways. Good talk? Good talk. ]