Penny Rose [ Serah Farron ] (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rememberher) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
pawnstorm2016-11-09 11:02 pm
rememberher) wrote in pawnstorm2016-11-09 11:02 pm
[CLOSED] Back to the world
Who: Lux and Allen
When: Slightly forward-dated to November 10th
Where: Petrosian
What: After sleeping for nearly a month, Lux wakes up to an unexpected guest.
Rating: PG I guess idk
Warnings: There is only pain here.
The room was cold and dark, the smallest glimmer of golden Chrysanth moonslight filtering in from her curtains that early morning when Lux finally awoke. Her head felt muzzy and heavy, it was hard to say whether she was still asleep or awake; a fuzzy, hazy heat settling between her eyes like a shroud. Everything seemed to hurt, and even sitting up felt like a chore, her body hot-cold and shivering gently despite her trying to will it to stop.
Ah. It wasn't this bad when she fell asleep, maybe she shouldn't have put off going to the clinic.
Everything felt heavy, detached and somehow very surreal, like she was both in and outside of her own body. In control of her movements yet somehow watching from a distance. Sitting up and pulling the downy white comforter off her, she swept her feet around the side of the bed, standing slowly. Not slowly enough to keep the dizzy rush from holding her there briefly, but pushing through it, she made the very short walk from her bed to the window. Drawing the curtain back slightly, looking down at the street below...
And stopping quite suddenly, her hand holding the curtain open, the lights from the street flooding in.
It was different. The leaves on the trees were gone, and a glittering frost clung to their branches. It blanketed the road, and the clouds looked like it might snow at any moment. It was nothing like the night before—it was far too early for a cold snap like this. Standing there, silhouetted by the lamplights down below, Lux felt lightheaded, that dull, gnawing ache in her body and heat between her eyes miles away. Was she still dreaming, or—
...The moons. Hanging in the sky, illuminating the street with their golden light, her heart stopped. The last that she saw them, they had been dark. Dread settling in, Lux froze, her hand holding the curtain like it was her only anchor to the world.
She had fallen into another deep sleep, hadn't she..?
The gentle coo of Berenice startled her and, turning quickly, Lux stopped. Staring not because of the griffin sitting there, craning her neck to see and getting quite ready to leap toward the mage, but whose lap the creature was resting on. Because surely she was imagining it, this was a dream, right?
"Allen..?"
Her voice dusty and hoarse, Lux stared, not daring to move. Why was he..?
When: Slightly forward-dated to November 10th
Where: Petrosian
What: After sleeping for nearly a month, Lux wakes up to an unexpected guest.
Rating: PG I guess idk
Warnings: There is only pain here.
The room was cold and dark, the smallest glimmer of golden Chrysanth moonslight filtering in from her curtains that early morning when Lux finally awoke. Her head felt muzzy and heavy, it was hard to say whether she was still asleep or awake; a fuzzy, hazy heat settling between her eyes like a shroud. Everything seemed to hurt, and even sitting up felt like a chore, her body hot-cold and shivering gently despite her trying to will it to stop.
Ah. It wasn't this bad when she fell asleep, maybe she shouldn't have put off going to the clinic.
Everything felt heavy, detached and somehow very surreal, like she was both in and outside of her own body. In control of her movements yet somehow watching from a distance. Sitting up and pulling the downy white comforter off her, she swept her feet around the side of the bed, standing slowly. Not slowly enough to keep the dizzy rush from holding her there briefly, but pushing through it, she made the very short walk from her bed to the window. Drawing the curtain back slightly, looking down at the street below...
And stopping quite suddenly, her hand holding the curtain open, the lights from the street flooding in.
It was different. The leaves on the trees were gone, and a glittering frost clung to their branches. It blanketed the road, and the clouds looked like it might snow at any moment. It was nothing like the night before—it was far too early for a cold snap like this. Standing there, silhouetted by the lamplights down below, Lux felt lightheaded, that dull, gnawing ache in her body and heat between her eyes miles away. Was she still dreaming, or—
...The moons. Hanging in the sky, illuminating the street with their golden light, her heart stopped. The last that she saw them, they had been dark. Dread settling in, Lux froze, her hand holding the curtain like it was her only anchor to the world.
She had fallen into another deep sleep, hadn't she..?
The gentle coo of Berenice startled her and, turning quickly, Lux stopped. Staring not because of the griffin sitting there, craning her neck to see and getting quite ready to leap toward the mage, but whose lap the creature was resting on. Because surely she was imagining it, this was a dream, right?
"Allen..?"
Her voice dusty and hoarse, Lux stared, not daring to move. Why was he..?
2/2
Lost.
And if she does carry the plague it's not like she can infect him again, and if she doesn't... well, at least the rings would prevent it from that. ]
I don't know... It's Chrysanth, though. It's been getting a little colder. [ It's soft but almost conversational. That quiet kind of sympathy that more firmly believes in everything being okay. It'll be okay.
Don't worry about something you can't change now.
And while there's something tired and flagging at the brush of mana in his touch, like the usually ethereal brilliance of it is dimmed, it's calm and firm in that belief as well. ]
You've been asleep since everyone first started getting sick, I think. [ And there's a flicker of a smile, of something caught in the cracks between it, and he presses his thumb against hers gently. ]
Sorry I wasn't here right away.
[ He was in the battle in the forest before he knew, but that isn't something he's going to worry her with... ]
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It hit her all at once then, the sheer weight of his words, the feeling of his hand taking hers and the almost ragged feeling of his mana, like he had been through so much. Her own was... odd, that feeling of brilliance dulled and almost disjointed, fuzzy along the edges and not quite like what it should be.
If he needed any confirmation of whether this city's sudden illness had gripped her, he need not look any further than this.
Her hand trembled as she tried futilely to keep the rest of her from being seized by that tired, fearful shake brought on by a chill both physical and emotional. It happened again. And by her wager, a whole month must have passed as she lay there, existing yet not.
She should be happy that she was still here, for there had been many gripped by that deep sleep that never woke up, who disappeared to only... never return. ]
Chrysanth...
[ It was scarcely over a whisper, and while she tried her best to keep that fearful tremor from her voice, she was unsuccessful. Searching his eyes, his face for something to hold on to, she could feel it hit, like a wave crashing upon the shore.
Fear. Uncertainty. Guilt. Especially when—
"Sorry I wasn't here right away."
She moved before she realized, using that arm, that anchor between them, to try to pull him close. And if that didn't work, she would simply sink into him, the shaking, unstable mess that she was. Her face hot from sickness and pressed against his shoulder. One hand still in his, she gripped the front of his shirt with the other, latching to him as if he were the only thing tethering her there.
Because for that moment, trying her best not to shake against him and failing, that's how it truly felt. ]
Why... why would you...
[ She was alone the first time she woke up, confused, scared and sobbing when she realized what had happened. But here, her shoulders shook as she tried desperately to not cry. Because to let him see her like that, to lose all composure in front of someone, even him... ]
Why..? Why are you here? You should...
[ Be at Pigeonsblood. Be helping those who are sick. Be any other number of places, not here with her... ]
1/3
She does manage to pull him to her since she managed to take him rather completely offguard. And well, if... he had any doubts that she was sick, and that it was probably that she was sick.. ]
!! [ Ah... ]
2/3
Brief panic the world was ending subsiding, Allen pauses at that. Sobered, and almost a little confused. Well yes, if there was still fighting he'd be there, he'd have to be, and all of them had been called to Petrosian it's true. And he hadn't been here the entire time, he'd been with them in Caissa and traveled back to Petrosian with the caravans but then came back to check on Lux again..
But with all of the questions she could ask not knowing any of that, why... ]
...why wouldn't I?
[ It's gentle but with the simple sort of certainty from stating the obvious. Bringing a hand up to touch her shoulder for a moment in a ginger, mindful sort of manner. ]
If someone you care about is sick, isn't it natural to want to see them and make sure they're alright? [ —before letting it rest there. Because Lux, you're...
... this is something that scares you so much? ]
Besides—
3/3
[ Come here, that is. Eventually.
And he'd take her by the shoulders and pull them apart a bit so he could see her face and smile, bright (tired) in the manner of someone knowing they're being cheeky, but she's latched onto him in such a way and so desperately that he... isn't going to attempt it.
So instead he'll smile by her ear and give her a merry if still somewhat awkward (it's ok, please don't be so upset, we're still ourselves and alright) pat on the back. So quick it must almost be nervous. Pat-pat— ]
And anyway, I'm glad... [ Patting her back awkwardly—at least until he just lets his arm relax and loop around her instead. Something more warm and solid.
If fever-warm. Ugh. He has too much pride to be sick with something like this.]Nobody knew if it was because of the plague, or—something else.
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That was likely the reason she got sick in the first place. Possibly even before she began donning her gloves, which sat on her bedside table, ready for the next day of pushing herself past what was healthy.
No, there were any number of places that he should be, taking care of himself, taking care of others, that when he finally spoke, she took a slow, deep breath, her eyes opening wide. Saying something like that, as if it were so natural, like he was supposed to be there... ]
...
[ Tucking her head a bit, until the crown of her head rested neatly just under his shoulder, she shook, biting down on her lip as she tried to stay composed. No, that's not—! This isn't where you're supposed to be, but... but...
Wait, what he just said... Still trembling slightly, Lux stopped at that, quickly looking up and searching his face for answers. Still gripping at his shirt with one hand, feeling his arm wrapped gently around her. ]
...Plague?
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(It'd been... had she been asleep a month?)
Putting on a reassuring smile, he pulls back a little. Quite gentle and sincere, yes, but... it's flickery. Like it's brushed on over something else. ]
It's what was making everyone sick. Something spread by mana exchange, they think, like it affects it... [ Or at least that might explain why the fatigue he has is so much harder to shake off than some other illness. To be honest he's accustomed enough to ignore himself and pushing through debilitations and morally offended over the implication of the virus that it's more that it saps his energy and occasionally leads to very unsettling urges. It'd be hard to tell with him, other than feverishly warm skin and a glassy-eyed look, voice a little too rough-soft to be normal.
Also his way of dealing with it is to basically pretend nothing's wrong.
Which is also why he disengages a hand to touch the back of his fingers her forehead ]
But—Lux you're still sick. You should sit. [ He won't force her but he will try to help her to sit on the edge of the bed. ]
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As if he were...
But that thought was quickly derailed as he explained. A plague, spread by— ]
!!
[ Quickly, as if she had suddenly realized she might be hurting him, she almost forcefully drew back, albeit somewhat weakly. A look of panic suddenly flooding into her features, somewhat watery eyes looked over him in abject horror and realization. If he wasn't sick already, then she would—!
Nearly shrinking back from his hand, but steadily reminded that the gloves she gave him would keep him safe, she let him usher her slowly to the edge of the bed, finally sitting. ]
But you... I might..!
[ Her own mana in a more unstable flux of chaos than before, she searched his face, eyes flickering between his as if they held some sort of answer. And, in a way, they did, even in this faint light; he looked off. Sounded off. Her senses had not quite returned—a nasty side-effect of such a heavy sleep, and the illness circulating through her body in a hot-cold mesh of ache and confusion—she slowly drew a hand upward. Hesitating, pulling back, then finally brushing his hair aside (...was it longer than usual? She couldn't see well in the dark) to place her hand gingerly on his forehead.
Eyes widening in concern as she felt his skin warm against her own equally warm hand. Oh Gods, he was... ]
Allen, you should be—
[ Never mind her in this instant! Quickly trying to rise again, she needed to do something for him. Water. Or a compress. Something..! There was a doctor just down the street, so maybe— ]
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A depressing, somewhat worrisome if he would let himself dwell on it, frustratingly debilitating with all the reminders there's still a lot to be done and fighting still—and that this was obviously biological warfare. And most frustrating maybe at realizing he was actually feeling the side effects of it, general hardiness notwithstanding. And then there was what he hoped might be a cure instead just being a miracle growth formula thing for hair... again???
Which is why he flashes a somewhat sheepish smile and a weak sort of laugh—which begs a cough that he covers up with one gloved hand.—and will tug a little on her wrist to insist she stay where she is. Ah... he should have guessed she'd overreact like that. Lux don't even. There's no point. Also he was resting?? Just... while sitting up?? ]
It's alright, I've been sick for a while. [ ahaha... ha...
Funny story. ]
At least this way we don't have to worry about infecting each other?
[ silver lining!!! because there was no way she would have woken up to see him if he thought he might have infected her ]
[1/2]
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Ah, if her head didn't feel like it was full of cotton and heat, she might be able to suss this out, but instead the slight blond was left somewhat confused. Sighing almost helplessly, she settled down again, instead putting a hand atop the one that covered her wrist as if to say she didn't like this. She didn't like it one bit. ]
For how long?
[ ...She'll let that second comment pass for now, but not completely, judging from the absolute wry look she gave him. Really? You were going to joke about something so serious? ]
1/2
She gets a softer sort of smile at that. The small sort of one that's whimsical and hard to read, the one that's like fingers-to-lips quiet secrecy. ]
I'm not sure. [ LIE MAYBE LIE he ignored the signs until he couldn't ignore them anymore, so he's kind of willfully uncertain. There were a lot of instances where he might have contracted it. ]
There's been a lot of fighting—sometime during that, I suppose.
[ But he knows she wasn't among those in the forest—he was looking and it's why he found she was asleep her— ] It's over now, for the most part. Most of us have been ordered back here with a possible cures to distribute for everyone.
2/2
[ Sideways look? What sideways look.
He might be rubbing a little at the back of his neck. Which what is indeed a long white ponytail is getting in the way of now.
How irritating. ]
There are some side-effects.
[1/2]
[ There was a certain pang in her voice, staring up at him with a mixture of concern and guilt. Did that mean then that they had been fighting Noir, or had another dungeon appeared? Had she once again managed to sleep through her responsibilities here, leaving others to fight in her stead? People like Yoosung or Soo-Won, who were still new; the former at least seeming ill-suited for combat to say the least.
Her gaze lowering slightly, she lightly bit the inside of her lip, unable to quite look at him. Whereas before she might bemoan not being able to fight, insisting that there must be something that she could do, Lux remembered just how that went. So she bit back her words, her countenance dimming as she inwardly scolded herself.
The conversation with Masamune, she should have... said something. But even she thought that the likelihood of this strange illness (now plague) was related. Allen all but confirmed it, and angry at herself for a multitude of reasons. she closed her eyes. ]
I should have—
[2/2]
A cure?
[ Opening her eyes quickly, Lux looked up at him, a revitalized light of hope burning in those tired, somewhat glassy blue eyes. Even if it wasn't proven yet, that was—
Wait, what sort of side effects? Blinking a few times, watching him awkwardly fidget at the back of his neck where he might have normally just rubbed it uncomfortably, did that mean...
Wait.
She couldn't see well in the dark— really, she could hardly see at all, a nice little perk of being a light mage. But she thought something looked a bit off about him before and, pausing with a somewhat confused blink, she brought a hand up over his shoulder. ]
Light the way.
[ A gentle orb of light hovering over her left hand, she peered over his shoulder, around his back and— ]
...
[ At least she was quick to throw her other hand over her mouth. Although she wasn't quick enough to catch the surprised half-laugh from escaping, or the cough that it triggered. Gods, are you serious, Allen who made you a guinea pig? Please tell her they paid you... ]
O... oh. I see.
[ Don't laugh, Lux. Whatever you do! ]
1/2
And even if it doesn't, you can practically hear the tch in his voice when his eyes slide to the other side now. It's not even that this is a side-effect, it's that this isn't the first time... He tends to procrastinate when it comes to getting his hair cut—is this some kind of payback?! ]
It's not the same for everyone. Or at least I don't think it is. [ grump ]
2/2
Lux—I brought some back for you. [ His eyes flick back; gentle and more sober.
He doesn't seem overburdened with worry and emotion now that's she's awake, no, because of it being cut short by how distraught she seemed and that he should be the one to say it's calm and nothing is that strange or out of the ordinary, but...
That's how Allen is. A gentle sort of concern to the point of not burdening others with it, and tempered by the faith in them to persevere. ]
I didn't know what to do while you were still asleep, but... it might help now. You should take them.
[1/2]
[ That one she didn't bite back, said from behind her hand with an absolutely bright giggle, even if she still sounded terribly hoarse. ]
[2/2]
Although the small fit of giggles seems to have brought a brief coughing spell with it, and hunching over one hand as she brings a hand to her mouth, Lux does her best to keep smiling. ]
I'm sorry, it's just... I wasn't expecting it is all! I like it, it suits you.
[ Taking a few breaths to try to calm that cough down, she lets her hand fall again, this time to her lap. Eyes lowering slightly, her smile turns somewhat inward, gaze directed downward at her hands instead of at him. ]
You didn't have to. Thank you.
[ She was never very good at taking the time to take care of herself, so the thought of someone else doing so... it still felt a bit odd. ]
1/2
2/2
Erm. ] Ah..
[ Did he seem to perk up a little? Yes he did. Maybe. A little. More like a chickadee than anything terribly majestic though.
Maybe he.. won't rush to cut his hair all that quickly..He does pat her back gently though, when she's wracked by a coughing fit like that. Soothingly until it begins to subside. ]
Of course I was going to. [ Why is that surprising?? He'd do that for anyone. Nobody should have to suffer this without relief. ] Here, there's something else—
[ Which is his cue to reach for the satchel he'd carried with him on the trip that's been resting on the floor, a crystal clink of glass as vials click together. ]
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Still, she didn't seem to mind as much, looking up at him thankfully as he patted her back. Forcing a few deep breaths in, she managed to stabilize herself, exhaling in mild relief.
(Although he nearly started it again with his very matter-of-fact response. Because Allen did you really have to put it that way?) ]
Hm?
[ Piquing her interest, Lux leaned over, brushing a few strands that had freed themselves from her braid back over her shoulder. Something else? ]
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But it's not a glass vial he brings up, not yet at least, probably she should get something to eat first anyway with how long she's been asleep, but...
What he does hold up for her to see is much smaller than that. And would perhaps be hard to see in the dark, except that it glistens in the light from the window.
A gold band wrought like a vine. ] This is for you too.
[ Is he giving her a ring like it's the most straightforward and simple thing in the world? Yes he is. Because he's also not thinking about it being anything other than a mass-produced anti-zombie plague ring.
look he's practical ok ]
[1/3]
It was probably medicine of some kind, she really shouldn't get so excited— ]
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