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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Feb 28, 2020 22:18:57 GMT -5
Kelsey rubbed her head, screwing up her face as she continued to study Flint while Lobo offered his side of the story. "I-I'm gonna be honest... I don't exactly remember what went down during the fight. At least... when it comes to things that didn't happen directly to me. Whether it's because my brain is still a little fuzzy or because I was just being an inattentive b*tch, I can't say for sure. Either way, I still feel terrible for letting this happen. If you need time to regain that lost astral energy, I can hold back on summoning you for a while, Flint. Your call."
She looked back and offered Jamie a light pat on the arm. "Please don't take it personally, Jamie. I'm the one leading this operation. Whatever happens to you guys is my fault. I appreciate the thought and the support, but I'm not about to ask you to do anything out of your comfort zone. Just being here to console everyone is enough."
Her eyes trailed up, tracing the aurora. She wasn't about to admit it, but she didn't know what to do either. She didn't know how to help Flint, Lobo or Jamie in any meaningful capacity, let alone any of her friends on the outside, and she was honestly getting tired of pretending that she did.
"Maybe the angel was right..." Kelsey lowered her head with shame. "Maybe I need to give up the act..."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Feb 28, 2020 22:50:05 GMT -5
"Graowl... As much as my fangs long for the taste of human flesh and blood- hey, don't give me that look, I'm a fucking dragon in case ya forgot. ... Yeah, I think I need a break. Usually, when draconic creatures like moi get effed up this bad, we just doze the fuck off for a bit. Kinda like hibernation. It's just cooler 'cuz I'm a goddamn dragon." Flint let out a sigh, bending down and placing his hands on his knees. "I'm probably gonna catch some whatever the fuck comes after Y's. I ain't sure if this'll heal or if my immortal-ish soul is permanently fragged."
"... Poor bastard." Lobo exhaled as the dragon pelt retreated into the white forest. "Anyways. I've got some theories as to what the hell fucked up Flint and most of the others, but none of 'em are pleasant. The most mundane guess is that it just hit 'em all in a bad point, but that's also pretty fucking unlikely." He fiddled with a piece of his hair in thought. "It didn't hurt you, Paul, or most-definitely-not-Kenny, so it doesn't fully exist on this plane. Oh sure, we saw it, but it fucked us all up, some worse than others. That leads to some troubling implications..."
Lobo let out a puff of air, extending out his hands to apparently play with the now-green breeze, forming various figures, constantly dissolving and reforming. "... No, it ain't that... too much punch... we can probably rule out that... Hmm, it might be... nah, too not-that... Oh, no..."
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Feb 28, 2020 22:58:39 GMT -5
Jamie didn't know what to say. He simply let out a small whimper as he sat down next to Kelsey, his mood unaltered. Flint's casually gruesome remarks and Lobo's somber theories didn't exactly make him feel better. There were so many questions hanging in the air, and he understood that Kelsey was having as hard a time processing them all as he was, if not more so.
The magic that injured Flint and the other familiars... though Lobo was having a difficult time describing it exactly, it did get Jamie thinking about something he could do...
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Feb 28, 2020 23:06:31 GMT -5
"I get what you're saying, Lobo. I-I think I do, anyway..." Kelsey sighed, the memories steadily returning, her eyes trained on Flint until he disappeared into the woods. After a moment or two, she closed her eyes and lowered her head with exhaustion. "But right now... I'm having a hard time thinking straight. I don't know what to say about any of that. I don't know to prevent it from happening again or... how I could even make up for the mistakes I made. All I can do right now is try to get better. Try to be better."
She stared at the angel out of the corner of her eye. "I promise I'll try to get back to you on this once I'm in a better headspace. Right now... I just need to relax. I think... I think we all need to relax."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Feb 29, 2020 16:02:11 GMT -5
"Relax? I don't know the meaning of th- zzz... Ah! I don't know how to relax."
Lobo slapped a palm to his face, grumbling something, the windy figures dissolving into thin air. "You focus on healing. I need to figure out just what the fuck that was. It's on the tip of my tongue... Fucking... it's... cycle of..." He raised an eyebrow. "You, J-Human. You look like you got something to say. So say it."
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Feb 29, 2020 16:42:57 GMT -5
"Uh...! I, uh..." Jamie curled inward, awkwardly glancing at Lobo and away again in rapid succession. "I-I don't really have anything to contribute, no. You probably know more about this magic than I do. I'm just... thinking, is all."
Jamie turned back to Kelsey. "There was something on my mind, though... You guys said that Paul was with you at the time." He nervously rubbed his head, already regretting the question he was about to ask. "What... exactly is the deal between you two-?"
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Feb 29, 2020 17:20:51 GMT -5
"THERE IS NO DEAL!"
Kelsey glared at Jamie for a moment, then turned away with pursed lips and a slight flush to her pale cheeks. "He's my friend. We've only known each other for like... two weeks. We met under weird circumstances, got caught up in this war, and now we're just trying to help each other out. Okay? I don't see why we need to make a big deal out of what is or isn't going on between Paul and me."
She glanced down at her hand again, somehow rendered whole in the span of a few seconds, a vast amount of Essence releasing from the once-vacant space.
"But, uh..." Kelsey cleared her throat and hastily changed the subject. "You do what you need to do, Lobo. It'll probably help if at least one of us is thinking about hard-hitting matters. I promise I'll get back on track once I'm in better shape."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Feb 29, 2020 17:49:47 GMT -5
"That yer denyin' it just makes it sound like it's really a thing, lass."
Even Lobo couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at the outburst, before quickly returning to his usual frowny self. "Anyways. You focus on healin'. I'll focus on finding out what the fuck that was, 'cuz it sure as hell ain't good. I'm afraid it's a very bad thing that even us angels are terrified of."
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Feb 29, 2020 19:08:02 GMT -5
"I-I'm sorry!" Jamie yelped, raising his hands defensively. "I didn't mean anything by it! I-I don't know Paul as well as you do! I was... just... curious."
He hunched up and averted his gaze, sadly staring at the ground as Lobo said his peace. "Y-Yeah... You guys do what you feel is best. I should... figure out what I'm... gonna..."
After trailing off and going silent for a moment, Jamie sighed, shook himself off and looked up at the angel. "Actually... Lobo, right? Do you mind if I talk to you a moment?"
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Feb 29, 2020 19:17:32 GMT -5
Kelsey's expression softened. Her shoulders drooped as she let out a heavy breath. "I-It's okay Jamie. I'm sorry for snapping. I know you meant well." She briefly cast a hard frown at Lobo, then paused to study herself once again, watching her astral body gradually reform. It seemed like her purpose for entering her soulscape was succeeding. Flashes of the moments she shared with Paul were returning to her, and with them, a myriad of strange emotions. "If anything... it did jog my memory a little..."
............
What was the deal between her and Paul?
Kelsey...?
She flinched and looked up at the sky. She swore she heard a voice echoing from outside the realm.
"I-I'm sorry, guys... I'll be right back." Kelsey slowly stood up on shaky legs, nodding to her two familiars with deep appreciation. "I'll do what I can to get myself back in peak condition. In the meantime... thanks for holding down the fort for me."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Feb 29, 2020 19:47:13 GMT -5
"You do what ya gotta do. I'll hold down this fort of patchwork biomes. Heh, just like home I guess. I suppose you'll know if dragon boy heals or is actually fucked."
Lobo saw Kelsey off with a wave, then turned to Jamie. "Yes, it's Lobo, J-Human. Whatever is it that you need to discuss?"
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Feb 29, 2020 20:10:57 GMT -5
"No problem, Kelsey," Jamie murmured with a tiny smile and a nod. As rough as things were looking at that moment, he was still concerned about her wellbeing above all else. "You take care of yourself. Take your time. We'll be here when you get back."
He meekly looked back at Lobo, running a hand through his hair. "It's, uh... It's Jamie... actually... but okay. Um... Do you think you could tell me... more about what you think this magic was?"
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Feb 29, 2020 21:02:33 GMT -5
A sad smile adorned Kelsey's face, her heart warmed by Jamie and Lobo. She wanted to believe their dedication was wholly genuine. "Thanks..."
With that, Kelsey closed her eyes and pulled herself out. Her spirit seemed to dissolve and expand, becoming one with the land.
---------------------------
Paul quietly stepped into the bedroom and closed the door behind him. Whispering Kelsey's name had yielded no response, and her still, peaceful state indicated a comfortable rest. Probably the most comfortable rest she'd had in the past twenty-four hours. Far be it for him to take her out of it. Smiling at the sight, Paul approached the bed, set Kelsey's glass down on the nightstand, and started pouring water into it...
"Paul?"
He perked up slightly and looked down at Kelsey. She slowly rolled over, gazing up at him with those weary blue eyes.
"Oh, hey." Paul nervously chuckled. "Sorry, did I wake you?"
"S'okay..." Kelsey mumbled with a shrug. "I was just... resting my mind."
"You feeling any better?"
"A little. I puked a bit more while you were gone, but I think I'm getting there."
"Well, I guess that counts for something..." Paul capped the water bottle and set it aside, rubbing Kelsey's hair once his hands were free. "You need anything else?"
A prominent blush filled Kelsey's cheeks, giving her face the most color it had sported all day. She bashfully looked away from Paul, trying to make sense of her fluttering heart. Did she need anything else? She honestly couldn't tell at this point.
Why was he being so nice to her? After all the grief she had caused, regardless of the trouble she had placed him in, despite definitively proving what a monster she could be, why was Paul still so patient with her? She could appreciate the empathy towards her sickness, but she still could only view it as a wasted effort. The concept of friendship was definitely not a foreign one, but this felt so different. So much greater. As if whatever was motivating Paul's actions went beyond simple compassion. With her familiars, Kelsey couldn't shake the feeling that their kindness was a mere result of the natural loyalty their bond to her soul created. Paul didn't have that excuse, and yet here he was, dedicating his every second to her, doing everything he could to make her comfortable, treating her like the most important person in the world.
Looking at him now... Kelsey swore that she could remember more about Paul than she ever knew before.
A single tear escaped her eye. She slowly reached up and tenderly clutched his hand.
"Maybe... just... stay with me?"
Paul was taken aback by the request, staring down at Kelsey with meek, nervous awe. There was a shimmer in his eyes and a slight flick to his tail. His hand tensed up in hers.
Eventually, he let out an airy chuckle. "Well, I wasn't really planning on going anywhere-"
"N-No..." Kelsey gave Paul's arm a weak tug. "I mean... stay... here... with me. I-I don't..." She softly nuzzled his knuckles against her cheek. "I don't want to lose you again..."
Paul's heart was practically ripped in two. It took him a moment to realize what Kelsey meant by "again," but once it clicked, gut-wrenching pity overwhelmed him. She looked so scared... so lonely... so cold... He wanted so much to hug her and assure her it wouldn't happen. That he was there to stay. The only thing that held him back was her illness; he didn't want to upset her stomach again. But as he looked Kelsey over, soaking in her sad eyes, her frail form, her quiet grace, her delicate features, her subtle beauty... he realized that he felt the same way.
Slowly, warmly, Paul nodded and adjusted his hand, curling his fingers around hers. "Of course."
A ghost of a smile crossed Kelsey's face as she squeezed his hand back. A few more stray tears slipped out. "Thank you."
In a silent exchange, Kelsey rolled over, facing the wall again, guiding Paul's hand as he climbed onto the bed atop the covers, lying down behind her and framing himself perfectly against her body. His arm settled around her waist, holding her in a gentle embrace. Her head rested in the crook of his neck, leaning against him. They both sank into the mattress and closed their eyes, finding peace within each other.
"Comfy...?"
"Yeah... Thanks, Paul..."
Time became irrelevant. There, in Paul's embrace, Kelsey's mind might have still been a mess, but her heart was clearer than ever.
I am a rose bush.
Given that my Blight far outweighs my Essence, I am inherently dangerous to everyone and everything around me. I used to pretend I wasn't. Even before I learned the true purpose of my existence, I had an inkling that I was a pariah under the guise of your typical American girl. There was a time when I ignored those feelings and tried to live a normal life despite them. This is not so easy to do anymore, and not just because of the circumstances.
The fact of the matter is that I'm more than human. It's debatable whether I was ever purely human to begin with, but I certainly can't pass for one now. When I look at myself, it's like staring into the uncanny valley. I look human, I act human, but there's something just off enough about me that it's eerie, unsettling, unbefitting of the title of human. Part of me thinks that I should be bothered by this, but the rest of me is too numb to care anymore. This is just what I am.
But I'm starting to notice more and more that I don't come across this way to everyone. My surface-level appearance is enough to fool some people. My personality seems to have its magnetic qualities, and I suppose someone out there might find me attractive for whatever reason. To the fool's eye, I am a flower in bloom. Bright, beautiful, alluring, engaging, delicate, something worth caring for and having in one's life.
All of this belies my true inner nature. I am bristling with a wicked association with the most unholy creatures in my universe, an overabundance of deadly power, and an increasingly short temper. I claw my way around and above any intruders who seek to plant themselves in my garden. I hurt those who get too close to me, whether they seek to uproot me or to simply admire me. I am a magnificent rose smelling faintly of blood that no amount of rain can wash away. It wasn't a conscious decision on my part to evolve like this... or maybe it was; I'm here because I said yes to this pact, after all. I certainly didn't actively want to become this, but nevertheless, here I am, a dangerous tangle of thorns and prickles, liable to ensnare and wound everyone around me, be it out of genuine spite or no intentional fault of my own.
This may be an integral part of my nature, but no matter how hammered in it is that I am something to be avoided, I hate being alone. I like having people to talk to. I like having friends to share a drink and some laughs with. I need a shoulder to cry on every now and then. I want that reassurance that I matter to someone on a personal level, as more than just a warrior or protector. Every time I find someone like that, they suffer for it, but every now and then, I get lucky and find someone who possesses not only the will to survive, but to stick it out for me regardless of the trouble I cause. Heaven and Hell only know how long it'll last. I know I should move on for their own safety, but I'm just too weak to leave them behind. My thorns hitch onto them and refuse to let go.
But I suppose I'm never really alone. I have Tri... the one constant in my life. As much as we bicker, as infuriating as he can be sometimes... on the one day a month where I lose contact with him, I miss him. I wish I knew how he's doing right now. I can only hope he's not hurting as much as I am.
The Angel of Time's Essence took a toll on me. I think I'm finally starting to get better, but I still feel completely overwhelmed with contradicting sensations. I'm constantly alternating between too hot and too cold. My throat feels bone dry and my head feels weightless, yet it feels like I'm drowning, in over my head, and the waters are alive. It's all too much. I'm a little too much.
Now Paul... he's a little too little.
Paul is a man cut down by life. His exterior is tough, but his soul is peppered with wounds inflicted by his family, by his enemies, by the world itself. He is a persona non grata in a much more immediately obvious sense, and no matter how many times he grins and quietly accepts who he is, one can only be reminded of their outsider status so many times before it really starts to hurt. I can see it in his eyes. He wants to belong as much as I do. He's just better at hiding the pain, acting like nothing is wrong, striving to never make any situation solely about him. There's something admirable about people like that, but also highly worthy of pity. Often it's the people who live their lives consoling and elevating others who need it the most.
In a weird way, Paul is my exact inverse. At a glance, I'm just a normal girl; it's only when you get to know me that you realize what a monster I am. The world sees Paul for his rough, draconic exterior, but only a lucky few know what a sweet, compassionate, amazing guy he is underneath the scales. If I am a rose bush, bristling with thorns grown out of enmity and unwelcome intrusion, then Paul is a rare and unusual beast, abandoned by a world that doesn't understand him, riddled with stab wounds, and my thorns fit perfectly into them.
I don't know what I did to deserve him, and it terrifies me to ponder how long it will last until my bristles grow out of control and Paul bleeds out entirely. But I'd rather not think about that right now. Right here, in his arms, I finally feel warm. Not blisteringly cold, not boiling hot. I've finally reached some semblance of comfort, and I'm going to hold onto it as long as I can.
I wonder if Paul feels the same...
God save him now.
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