removeimpurity | Second Incision [Action/Written]

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Second Incision [Action/Written]

[WRITTEN]

[Early in the morning, a neatly written message appears in the journals.]

[Then, a small while later, she writes out another two messages -- filtered rather poorly.]

[Filtered to Helios and Robert | 5%]

[/Filter]

[ACTION]

[Later that afternoon, Syre can be seen about the plaza -- more specifically, around the stores, looking for decorations for her apartment, along with beakers and other scientific equipment.]

[At various points throughout the day, however, she will be hanging around the fountain and the steps of the library -- waiting for someone, perhaps?]

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No need, babydoll. I'll accept your apology.

[He's teasing. Because he's kind of a jerk. But it also means he's not really upset or anything, so...! It's a good sign.]

[Is... Is that the guy who woke up in her bed that first day?]

[...she never got his name. How awkward.]

That's certainly a relief. [...] ... I... I don't remember introducing myself properly.

My name's Syre.

Orphen. [If it sounds like a dumb name, it's because he came up with it.] Nice to meet you. You know, I gotta say, I think I like you a little better this way.

[You know. When you're not hitting on him. 8|]

It's nice to meet you too.

[...]

Yeah... During those days... I wasn't exactly at my best. [She sighs.] It was completely unlike me to act... like that.

Don't worry about it. No harm done, right? I haven't been here very long, but it sounds like that kind of stuff is normal around here.

Ah, I suppose that's true. ...As long as such things aren't a common occurrence, I think I can handle it.

[...]

Oh? When did you arrive here?

Don't worry. If they are a common occurrence, I won't hold it against you.

[But he'll probably tease her about it forever, and his tone of voice might suggest as much. He is totally a great friend.]

I think I got here about a month ago now.

Huh. That's around the time I arrived.

...what a coincidence. [The sound of writing filters through the journal. Yes, she's taking notes.]

I guess that makes the both of us Not-Quite-New Feathers, then. I don't think I've run into very many of those yet.

[...well, besides the one he hadn't heard from in a while. He wonders what Hartia is up to.]

[There's more writing, before she speaks up.]

Nor have I. I wonder where they are?

Oh, around, I bet. I can't imagine so many people being sent home so soon.

[ Oh Helios gets that message and he's not sure how to respond. It was the mask, not her, and yet he...

He had just stopped having nightmares about it and now they were back. And he was just so very terrified. He doesn't reply for several seconds and his writing is shaky at best when he finally does. ] It-it's not your fault. There...there's no reason to a-apologize. I'm...at the library if you to meet.

[After her errands, she heads to the library. She glances about warily, looking for Helios at some of the tables.]

[ Helios will be by one of the bookshelves near the sitting area. He's shuffling through some books as he sets them aside and puts them back in order. He doesn't notice Syre at first but when he does catch her out of the corner of his eye he pauses, almost like a deer in headlights, but no. No. Nothing to be worried about. There is no mask and there is nothing to be afraid. He'll shut his eyes for a brief moment before he gathers himself, placing the book in his hand back into the cart and turning to walk towards her.

There is...an evident look of fear on his features now his steps unsteady and tentative at best. It's taking all he has to even walk over by her but he can do this. He has to do this. ]

H-Helios...

[She settles at one of the reading tables nearby, motioning -- as calmly, as nicely as she can manage -- for him to join her. She sets aside her things, resting her elbows on the table and letting her nose rest just above her interlocked hands.]

[Once he's seated, she takes a slow, deep breath.]

I... I'm really sorry, Helios. I... I don't even know where to begin...

[ His movements are shaky at best as he regards the woman with wary uncertainty. He'll give her a small smile even if it fades rapidly. He'll hold up a hand and shake his head. ] Y-You don't, you don't have to a-apologize Syre.

[ He said the same thing to Giles after that encounter. It wouldn't be fair to hold her accountable for this. He'll bite his lip as his mind wanders back into a string of unpleasant memories. ] It wasn't you. It-it was the m-mask...

[ Same words. Same situation. At least this time he didn't come out marred or scarred from it. His green eyes idly tick to his injured, bad, left hand. The scar in its center still visible if just barely. ] Things like this h-happen here rather often I-I'm afraid. W-We have no control over it when they do.

I do.

[She lost control. It's something she hates so, so very much...]

[She needs to know the risks, to know when to back out, to know if a foe is waiting on that moment of weakness, to...]

[She forces herself out of her reverie, looking down at her bag on the chair beside her.]

...I dislike it when things go awry. As an alchemist, especially...

[Silence. She was never good at making apologies...]

It-it's not something any of us c-can control...

The Malnosso have proven such things t-time and again. They, ah, c-can make us act as the so please. B-But there are ways to go unaffected when shifts occur. Sometimes it's natural other times people have items given to them by going on missions that can prevent sh-shifts from affecting them. [ Though they at least have measures to do so now. It doesn't help what's happened in the past. ]

You're an...alchemist? [ His eyes might widen slightly as he looks at her with earnest interest. He knows alchemy but it's probably different from his own kinda. ]

Well, it doesn't stop me from not liking it.

...missions, you say? [Noting that away. She'll have to ask what sort of missions there are in a place like... this.]

I am indeed. Though... Truth be told, I'm not quite sure if my formulas work in this place. I haven't quite tried yet.

No it doesn't and it-it doesn't change the strained r-relationships that they cause. B-But many people know by now the nature of such things s-so it's...sadly commonplace. [ That is so very strange to admit and say. But it's not as if it isn't true. ]

And yes missions. They're, ah, ways to get special items the Malnosso have made to counteract the effects of shifts and the like. You should...t-try it. Your alchemy I mean.

...I wish it wasn't. [Syre sighs, looking as though the mere thought of this potentially happening again carried a large burden.]

...I see. [At the mention of her trying her alchemy, she raises a brow.] Do you think it would work here? I've been wary about attempting it...

I-I think mostly everyone wishes that. But, well, the aftermath is significantly easier to handle when-when people are understanding a-and know what it's like to go through such things.

[ Helios gives her a small smile and nod. ] It might. Luceti is strange that way. I-I mean my own world's m-magic works here so I don't see why yours wouldn't. Its can't hurt to try.

That is true... At the very least, I am glad I don't have to handle these things on my own.

Hm... [She looks down at her things, reaching inside. After a moment of rummaging, she pulls out a bottle of ink, a few sheets of paper, and what looks like a calligraphy brush.] You're right. It certainly won't hurt to try.

[She sets everything down on the table, bringing the back of the brush to her lips.] I don't think I should try anything too complicated, but... I haven't a clue what I should do.

Edited 2012-07-01 00:54 (UTC)

[Where does he begin...?

Robert's writing is, as usual, crisp and clean - obsessively so. He has to get the letters right. And this is especially true when his feelings are so tangled-up in the mess that was... well. That was what that was.]

Many experiments are like this. They cause us to behave in ways that we do not mean.

It is not your fault.

[She wouldn't act like that on her own, would she?

... Would she?]

Still, I feel the need to apologize. As an alchemist, as a scientist, I dislike it when things are out of my control...

["Dislike" is an understatement. She needs everything to go as she plans...]

I know the feeling well. [It is one he has felt many times. When he can't control things - anything - everything starts to seem impossible to influence...]

But it has happened to many, including myself, and will likely happen again. The Malnosso are the only ones to blame.

...I do as well, but it does not stop me from feeling this way.

[...] ...damn our captors, and damn their experiments. One day, they'll take more than they could handle.

One can [...] only hope that, at some point, something will be done about their atrocities.

[Though so far that has no indication of ever occurring.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Second Incision [Action/Written]

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[action] | ...fff, I'm so sorry about keeping you waiting OTL

[action] | we can be slowbros together!

[action] | Yeah! We do what we want!

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