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

[lalliho]

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.]

Comments

b

[actus]

[ .... please sit down. please sit down and let someone treat your wounds before they become infected. really, akira is utterly perplexed by this display, but he can't really blame him. after all, he was pretty beaten up after the last fight and refused help right away, staying on the front-lines for longer than was "safe." at least this time he didn't completely fail and feel utterly useless. minor improvements?

but akira will still worry. that's just in his nature. and even though he's only recently met lalli, that's no reason to ignore this. ]

Lalli?

[ might as well get his attention first. maybe the wounds don't hurt as badly as they look? highly unlikely, but, eh. ]

[lalliho]

[The only immediate indication that Lalli's heard anything is the knitting together of his eyebrows. Either he's pissed at the sound of another voice or he's trying to hold his concentration... On what isn't super clear, since Lalli's magic wasn't often an obvious thing, but there's definitely evidence of death around him and he does seem to be...humming? Or singing very softly. Luckily, he was just about finished up, so it isn't long before he gives an extremely vague wave in Akira's direction.]

Yes?

[sup bruh ya got more business for him or what]

[actus]

[ yo yo yo. ]

... You okay?

[ how eloquent, how straight to the point! his head is tipped to the side, hand clasped against the back of his neck. his gaze is roaming over the various injuries, still trying to figure out just how deeply they are. the uvi really need to mind their own business and stop attacking the coven. god. ]

[lalliho]

[I mean, they weren't really aiming to attack the coven... They wanted the Palai and the coven had volunteered themselves as collateral damage. Lalli's brows furrow again, but this time in confusion. Is he okay...?]

Yes?

[Is he not supposed to be? What's happening?]

[actus]

[ ???????? ]

You're bleeding.

[ well, if they're going to speak in short sentences, he might as well continue to roll with that. seems fair. still, he can't exactly help letting his gaze wander along the scrapes once more. god, those really could be bad, but he can't exactly tell from this far away. ]

[lalliho]

[Aha! Comprehension finally lights in his eyes and he switches to examining an arm. He did get injured, and he was bleeding... So: true. But it was also true that he felt okay, all things considered. Well, since he's done, he'll half-jog over to Akira to show him.]

There was fighting.

[...thanks.]

I didn't think it was a problem right now?

[Now that he's closer, Akira will be able to see that there's nothing requiring immediate attention, like a chunk ribbed out of him or anything, and it seems like the bleeding had stopped on its own for a while and just started up because of some activity. He's kind of...dirty, though. He's a bit of a stank boy, with some extra grime and not giving it any thought. That can't be great for the wounds.]

[actus]

[ there was fighting? since when? when was there fighting? who said that? ]

... Yeah, you're lucky they didn't get infected.

[ when did he turn into a mom? it's usually the girls fussing over him, or his cat yelling at him to be a more careful leader. he isn't used to being the mother hen and fretting over injuries. ]

It doesn't hurt, though?

[lalliho]

[That...seems to bring him down, for some reason. Lalli's just mega bummed out??? Weird.]

...I'm still okay. You already said I'm not infected or anything, so I'll be fine.

[actus]

[ THAT IS NOT THE POINT. ]

... Right. But you should rest. They won't heal quickly unless you do.

[ it's odd for him to be the worrywart. usually he's the one being reckless and scolded. ]

[lalliho]

[nnnn... Lalli looks between Akira and the surrounding area, but there's no pressing need to continue right now. Still subdued and defeated by this argument, he crosses his arms against himself and nods.]

Okay... I guess...

[...where should he...go...]

I don't need to see somebody, though. Right?

[actus]

Definitely not.

[ he's used to running to the aid of his own personal doctor, but that doesn't mean he has a lot of faith in the real ones. they aren't meant for every single scrape and bruise. ]

...Wanna just head back to the coven house and have something to eat?

[ there's a suggestion! ]

[lalliho]

[sick, he doesn't like doctor exams, especially for something as minor as this. Some of the tension leaves him with a heavy exhale, but he still shakes his head.]

I don't stay at the coven house.

[...that seems to be his only critique, though, with how expectantly he's looking at Akira even as he takes steps in the direction of the coven house. What kind of food do they have there... Gosh, he's hungry.]

[actus]

[ he's about to amend his statement, but the fact the other guy is already walking makes the point moot. with a short nod, akira begins to follow. ]

What do you like to eat? I'm the best at coffee, but my guardian's been teaching me how to cook back home.

[lalliho]

Oh. I don't know how.

[So mysterious... But he's sort of looking forward to this, now -- enough that he's moving away from his guarded, down expression. Maybe it's really good food?]

I haven't had a lot of food? A lot of stews have been really bad... [A very weird trend in his life.] Meat, maybe. Oh, but sweet things are good.

[actus]

If you don't like stew, then curry's probably out.

[ a sage nod and he tosses lalli another appraising stare. ]

I can make cake. My friend loves sweets so I got used to it before I showed up here.

[lalliho]

[Whatever that means...

Lalli stares back, obviously intrigued.]

Cake... I don't know if I've ever had that? [But if it's sweet, he's in.]

[actus]

You've... never had cake?

[ it actually looks like he's been shot in the heart. ]

Ah. Do you like chocolate, in that case?

[lalliho]

I don't know for sure.

[mostly because he can't remember what cake is... Chocolate, though. Lalli gives a hum of recognition and perks up.]

I do.

[actus]

Chocolate cake, then.

[ that solves the issue of what type of cake to make, anyway! ]

Frosting?

[lalliho]

[ummmm]

...Yeees?

[Like put the cake in the fridge for a while??? That sounds fine.]

[actus]

[ this is not an ice-cream cake. god!!! he's not that talented unfortunately. ]

Ah. All right. Then a frosted chocolate cake.

[ sounds legit... at least they're almost back. ]

You can help make it, if you want.

[lalliho]

[That doesn't sound like resting... Lalli seems to take this as a command rather than an open suggestion, a defeated sigh leaving him. Alright, he's prepared to be bossed around...as always...]

Okay.

[makin' some weird cold thing with sugar... But since they're coming up on coven house and this conversation is winding down -- ]

I...think I asked Emil if I could live with him last night.

[it's a little weird now, please advise]

[actus]

[ ?????????????

he curiously glances back over, attention ripped from the coven house to lalli. ]

What did he say?

[ listen, he won't call you out on that. the poor crimeboy always thinks with his heart and has zero filter, so it's definitely something he would do. ]

[lalliho]

Yes...?

[Thinking now, he wasn't worried about being rejected in that way by Emil. Not when he was so horrifically full of softness. Of course he let Lalli stay!

It doesn't help him not frown at his feet.]

I'm not sure if I should.

[actus]

Ah.

[ interesting. emil did seem like the type of friend who was endlessly loyal. a friend that didn't overthink and simply enjoyed the friendship for what it was. ]

Why not?