spellbinders | when everything's made to be broken [open.]

Entry tags:

when everything's made to be broken [open.]

Who: Lalli Hotakainen and ????
Where: Aimintas places.
When: over the week, days 54-57? Ish?
Open/Closed: so open, man.

[ A - MEDITATION. ]

[He's trying to practice mindfulness. It's hard even when you know what it is and the process, so Lalli's finding it almost impossible. His job is to be aware of everything -- every little crunch or rustle or hushed sigh of a predator. Even prey. He was to be one with the forest and all that came with it...or he would fail.

Now he needed to close his eyes and breathe deep. He needed to understand not the world around him, but himself. Why had he pushed his limits as if it was his only choice? Why had he shoved people away when he was afraid of being left alone? Lalli needed to get himself back under control before he destroyed himself and others.

Being able to flip the switch on his Qri-given magic would be a-okay, too.]

Hey. What's your coven ability?

[laziest-sounding interrogator ever...he's trying to be zen, okay!!]

[ B - RITUALS. ]

[He hasn't tended to his wounds. As far as he's concerned, having evidence for himself that he was actually around to help this time was...good. Calming. Besides, as a mage, he has far more important things to attend to.

The Palai don't follow the same gods or traditions as his people do, and it feels wrong to abandon those, but if he could swallow his pride and accept help from an idiot Icelandic mage, he can swallow it again and offer aid where he can to these wandering souls.

The rest of the clean up? ...Not much he can do there, with these twigs he calls arms, but feel free to try and boss him around or tend to his wounds when he's on break from death rites and stuff, or whatever.]

[ C - CUDDLEBUG. ]

[When you're typically repulsed by the human touch -- when every grab to redirect or secure you feels like a rough, deadly vice -- cuddling...does not come naturally to you. Lalli's left fidgeting and scratching at himself, picking apart the weak, fresh scabs forming over the battle's results, because something was off in a way it never had been before. If he'd longed to be held as a child like he wishes now, the memory had long since left him.

He's left with one very obvious conclusion he shares via the signet -- though he also says it aloud in case there's anyone in the immediate vicinity that can help him.]

I think something's wrong with me. Maybe I'm poisoned?

[...Heck. He needs to find Emil and make sure he's okay at least, but... Should he really expose him to this problem? Ugh, quieting fears is so hard.]

[ D - GIVE ME THE WILDCARD.]

[cough.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( WHOO BUDDY, DID SOMEONE SAY MAYBE DON'T INVOLVE EMIL IN A PROBLEM because it's too late for that business.

Lalli was certainly a concern during this whole thing -- it was hard to telepathy send out any sort of signal to him when the telepathy network was suddenly thrust into chaos again, and focusing on anything other than dodging or defending himself was hard. This time it was impossible to not get involved, between not having someone to covet and protect to being in the middle of the marketplace when shit starts falling out of the sky again.

Afterwards, he's a little singed and slightly wounded -- he was lucky enough to not be gravely wounded and holed up in a section of the marketplace where defense was easier -- but Emil's largely alright. Telepathy is still something he's not largely used to, so tapping his signet or something isn't actually what he thinks of first. Thank goodness Lalli is a telepathy beast, otherwise he'd spend way more time looking around for him than necessary. )

Poisoned? ( How in the world did that happen? He sounds like he's in one piece but ??? ) What's going on? What are the symptoms? Where are you?

( Not like he can do much about it, but he can maybe find Dr. Mathis or somebody -- please don't die on him. )

[God...how is Emil so useless at this excellent skill, who wouldn't love telepathy once you could control it. So great.

Anyway: oops. The dude heard him right as he was trying to wrestle his brain into making a decision about it. Since he was asked directly, Lalli gives up his location in a series of simple instructions and images to hopefully...minimize the potential of getting lost. He totally believes in you, really. Really.]

I feel...weird. It doesn't hurt. It's... [huff] I don't know, it's just really weird! Dizzy?

( In his day, people talked out of their mouths and looked each other in the eye like normal folk!!

Emil's navigational skills aren't exemplary, but he's not useless either. Give him like 10 minutes and he'll be there -- the images are definitely helpful. In the meantime, there are things to discuss. That doesn't sound like poison, but that also doesn't sound like something he immediately understands. Whatever, he's taking down a list of things for Lalli's unofficial doctor on call. )

Did you hit your head during the attack? If you got injured, it might be from blood loss! ( Those are the first things he associates with dizziness, outside of extreme hunger pains. )

[this is ableist trash rhetoric stop oppressing him]

No, I'm really good.

[Like!!! Don't be so rude? Has he ever failed in battle ~~yet~~? He is currently bleeding, but he knows enough about medical emergencies that this...definitely isn't one. Still, he tries to clench his hands tightly at his sides instead of continuing to worry his injuries any wider.]

It just wasn't like this before...

( Wow, he didn't mean to insinuate anything, remain calm dude. If that's not the case, then Emil's totally confused. Maybe he'll get a better idea about things after he actually sees Lalli, so he picks up his pace in order to get to That One Place Where Lalli Is.

Once he finally reaches his destination, more out of breath than any soldier should be, Lalli is...essentially as described. Good by most outer appearances, minus the wounds he does have which don't appear to be fatal or gushing blood. )

You...look fine? ( no duh )

Yes.

[thanks]

I told you. I feel weird.

[He...should take a step back just in case it's weirdly contagious and Emil gets poisoned from breathing funny too close to him. He sure is breathing funny. They need to go out running together into the sunrise or something. Yeah, that'd be good. Wait -- shit. He's supposed to be stepping back. Not forward. Back!!! Ugh, never mind. How are you, Emil, we're standing close now because why the fuck not apparently. At this distance, he is a little bit more flushed than usual, but not enough to be worrying to anyone intelligent.]

...

[okay just going to follow the impulse of taking Emil's hand -- taking any gloves off, if they're present -- and leaning his face into it like he needs his temperature checked. mmn, that's nice.]

( Lalli...has to feel weird because he's being kind of weird, what the fuck. Him being close isn't a big deal -- they lived in a close-quarters environment together, he sees Lalli as a friend so he was always naturally touchy around him. He's definitely not surprised by him coming closer...the hand thing, though.

You could have just asked if you wanted someone to take your temperature, dude. Even then, Lalli just sort of doing whatever he wants or trying to make Emil do something isn't out of the question. )

...You don't feel abnormally hot. ( He'll just roll with it. It's sort of arid in Aimintas, and everyone was just running around fighting fish people so some adrenaline heat is to be expected. Lalli isn't burning up or anything -- maybe he should ping that doctor. ) Maybe you should drink some water; I'm sure there's some around here somewhere.

[Lalli sighs, letting their hands drop but not letting go. He watches Emil's hand in his for a long moment. It...wasn't quite right, like this... It wasn't satisfying that weird gnaw in his gut, even if the contact did make him feel a little better. What was it that bothered him about it?

...

He shoves his hands into his pockets instead.]

Maybe. I guess I should eat, too. Just in case. Come on.

( From Lalli's forehead to just his hands, the warmth is still present. After Lalli finally lets them drop, the warmth remains and Emil lets them awkwardly hang before readjusting the collar of his jacket.

Maybe it's just an issue of the situation they were just in -- feeling a little strange after seeing creatures they'd spent a lot of time with killed isn't too far-fetched. )

That's a good idea. It's probably better to be inside right now, anyway. ( He'll follow wherever he wants to go, but Emil keeps a cautious eye on him. Just in case more weirdness happens. )

[Humming vaguely, he leads them back to one of the more protected districts, where there wouldn't be so much scrambling or furtive looks while he found a restaurant that was still open. One that wasn't crowded and didn't have crazy food, either... It takes him a while to find the perfect place, and by then he's back to flexing his fingers in agitation. He really doesn't...like this feeling, or not understanding it. It's hard to say which is worse. At least Emil is here with him, even if that, too, is giving him conflicted feelings.

Some food and drink is provided to them with a knowing look before they can even make an attempt at an order -- the waitstaff is always happy to see two helpful soldiers settling down into the season celebrations, Palai or not. Happy mating, youngins. Honestly relieved to not have to talk more than necessary, Lalli doesn't question it as he picks up his glass and downs about half of it. Okay. Let's see.]

Sounds like things are...calmer. For now. I haven't heard anything new.

( Some things transcend massacres, and shipping is apparently one of them. Emil's used to their fawning strangeness, so any of their interest is quickly dismissed -- even if they do appear to be leering. It's probably not made better by the fact Lalli smells like some a/b/o creature to them.

The more awkward issue in Emil's eyes is eating while thinking about what all he'd just seen, so his appetite isn't what it usually is. Drinking is easier, so he'll just stick to doing that as well. )

That's a relief... I know there was a little bit of a warning, but no one seemed to expect this. ( It really makes his stomach clench up. Emil's not particularly fond of the Palai, especially in their larger forms, but they're really just simple romantic lizard folk. They didn't deserve to be so senselessly --

Okay, actually that's enough of thinking about that, it's just making him want to regurgitate. ) Do you feel better? At all?

( Lalli literally just took a drink of water like 30 seconds ago, but that's the easiest deflection topic he can turn to so he doesn't have to think about dead lizards. )

[hey don't kinkshame]

No. They didn't.

[He's more used to this, but he's made himself accept that Emil just...isn't. Death was always upsetting, but in cases like these -- bloodthirsty creatures making an attack when people thought they had a good thing going? Yeah. Sounds about fucking right in Lalli's book. These things happened. You had to do what you could, and you needed fuel and time in order to do that. What life is still there needs to go on.]

Not really. [lowkey judging Emil for asking already, but that, too, was expected. idiot boy. With another, softer sigh, Lalli reaches out and rests his hand on the table, palm up, in offering.] You'll be okay.

[Come on, dude. Buck up. He doesn't like seeing you like this!!!]

( He's still got a few mass murders to go before he's hardened to things like this -- no, he'll still be just as squeamish, just more used to things like this happening in general.

Emil stares queasily at his water before he sees Lalli's hand slide into his peripheral. At first he just stares at it a little blankly -- he's not a total idiot. The guy who still doesn't get what a fist bump is is...offering to hold his hand...?

Well, he's not going to say no. In fact, it does make him feel better. He takes it, grateful at the very least for a gesture of comfort, giving Lalli's hand a reassuring squeeze. )

So will you. ( He can hope. )

C

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

b

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject