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
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 ]
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It was probably medicine of some kind, she really shouldn't get so excited— ]
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It's gorgeousWAIT HOLD ON BACK UP.
Looking down at the band, suddenly her face felt much hotter than it had previously. Because Allen were you serious right now?! What in Heaven's name—
A ring.
Why were you
Like it was nothing.
What???!
Suddenly looking up at him, the light spell she cast still active, her face was a very concerning shade of pink, flushed by a very different sort of fever. ]
Allen, you—
[ Ohhh, she felt dizzy. ]
What—what is this?
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Ah... a ring? [ no of course she can see that
um ]
—it's enchanted. To help contain the spread of the virus. [ And it'll take him a second, but he tugs the glove off his right hand with a practiced nip of teeth (he is holding the ring in his left, after all) and holds his hand up so she might see.
Matching band? Matching band. ]
It's fine, I have one too.
[ this is the picture of blind innocence ]
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And at first, her mind goes in an wholly different direction as he boyishly tugs at his glove, revealing a matching band. Swallowing down hard, it isn't necessarily dread that washes through her, but...
Allen, she had no idea you could be so forward!? It—it was romantic sure, but really? REALLY?
but if he's wearing it on the right... should she put it on her right hand or her le—NOPE NOT THINKING ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW. ]
...Ah.
[ Somehow the "this will help you feel better" nature of the gift seems to go over her head. Probably the actual fever, rather than the one he caused that was currently beginning to spread even to her ears.
You said she was awake earlier, Allen, now she's not quite so sure.
At least if she was dreaming he could be a bit more romantic about it]no subject
what's "romantic" and can he eat itNo, excuse you, he's a gentleman so of course he understands romance and holds it on such a terribly high pedestal that it's unlikely something he'll ever really end up having anything to do with it.
Also he fails to see anything even remotely romantic in his giving her the same sort of ring all of them infected with the virus have. It's hardly a big deal when they're all wearing the same one. Although it's true he did find the choice of a ring a little odd...
But at her rather muted response and firey red appearance, he seems a bit stumped. Quizzical even. And will touch the back of two fingers to her forehead. Ah, hot.. ]
Lux, are you alright? [ Ducking his head a bit to peer closer in a growing gentle concern. Is it normal for someone to be that red because of a fever?? ]
Maybe you should lie back down. You look like you're burning up.
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You brought this upon yourself. ]
H-huh?
[ Was she—oh there was his hand to her forehead again.
Unfortunately this was the type of fever that even his magical this-isn't-actually-romantic-he-swears ring won't cure. ]
I-I'm fine, really!
[ Taking the ring from his left hand now, trying to not even so much as look at him. Gods, she's never been so embarrassed in her life. What does she even do with this. WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE A RING WHY WAS HE GIVING HER
fml]no subject
CAN WE STOP TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT ISN'T
Also he looks less than convinced at her stammered protest, but is too polite to call her on it. ]
Ah... [ Right.
Still he should clarify, holding one finger up helpfully. ]
With it you won't have to worry about infecting anyone by just touching them or mana exchange. Although they said even with them we should take precautions anyway... [ Which.. should he tell her about the suggestion of quarantining themselves?
...
Nah.. He didn't really listen to that part anyway when there are things they could be doing to aid finding a cure... ]
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Probably.
Doing her best to not fidget where she sat, because he was making this so incredibly awkward, Lux hesitantly slips the ring on her right hand, a rather complicated look on her face. Don't think too hard about this one, Lux. It's probably... not what you think.
It couldn't be.
After all, it's Allen, he's too simple-minded when it comes to this sort of thing to actually think that way.
fml. again.And as she slips it on her ring finger, the effects are somewhat immediate. Not all-healing, of course, but suddenly she feels like she can breathe a little easier. Still quite warm (that wasn't going away, was it?), her head felt a bit less fuzzy as well. Ah, that was a bit better.
Still, what his explanation implied... ]
...We aren't close to finding a cure, then. Are we?
[ It was a surprise that they let them walk around without other precautions, then. Shouldn't there be some kind of quarantine? Although if this stopped the spread... ]
What about the others? The people living here in Petrosian? Are they...
[ Are they all right? ]
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Still, Allen pauses a little when she asks that question. With a careful sort of expression, lips pressed together, before he smiles a little apologetically. And will pat her hand lightly in reassurance.
And perhaps sympathy. ]
People have ideas. It's better than where we were a few weeks ago, and the elixirs seem to help lessen the symptoms.
Everyone's just been summoned back to Petrosian as well to help bring supplies—all of the Heroes. It doesn't seem to be fatal to us, but... [ to everyone else—
His smile, while more gentle, is also tinged sad. ]
...it's better we take precautions that we don't spread it to them until there is a cure.
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She swore at herself for not campaigning harder, for not telling more people about Masamune and her theory... ]
Ah.
[ It was quiet and loaded, her eyes lowering gently. There was work to be done, and she should push herself forward, keep moving. Not towards an idea. A solution.
Looking up again, her brow creased, she hardly hid her worry. Fatal..? ]
...It's gotten worse, then?
[ Far worse, by her wager. Gods. ]
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...then that's when you do lose.
So he cants his head to the side a little at her expression—at that implication—and just.. smiles.
In something wrought so very gossamer by the need to believe it's okay ]
There was a battle in the forest. In Merilorn.
I guess you could say we didn't really lose or win since we made it out alive and we helped a lot of people to safety. Not everyone, but... [ but that hurt. a lot; losing anyone in that sea of walking dead to become the same ]
..It's a lot bigger than just an illness, and they were able to release a darkness in the forest. It was meant to do this, the virus—[ as for by who.. she can probably guess ]—so we're going to have to be ready to fight again, I imagine.
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There was a clear problem, and thus, she needed to find a solution.
Yes, she was worried about her ability to do so, still not completely used to the light she wove in this world, but she would not accept defeat, would not accept failure. She would fight it with her dying breath if she had to.
Because what does light do best? It shines, even in the infinite darkness.
But Allen, to smile like that, something that seemed both strong and yet... so small at the same time. Fragile, like it might shatter at any moment. His words only further punctuated that, saying so much more than he ever could. A battle in Merilorn, the place that Masamune told her might have been rotting from the inside out, where he, one of the bravest (brazen) men she knew dared not tread.
A sense of dread, of unease, of something there that should not be, bearing down on him. Messed up, he said. And what he didn't...
That he was afraid. Masamune Date, a man who she could scarcely believe was afraid of anything... had been afraid.
And at that she looked struck, guilt washing over her like a torrent. Why?! Why didn't she say something?! The illness in Petrosian, the sickening taint that fell over the forest, she doubted that they were related, and yet—
Dark magic gripped, perverted that once beautiful forest, and they were made to fight it. A lot bigger than just an illness, he said.
...His expression.
What happened within those woods? ...Something that made Allen too so visibly frayed. Uncertain. Afraid? Or..? ]
...I'm sorry.
[ It was small, not quite weak but quite heavy. Because to wear an expression like that...
(It was not unlike that night. After she...)
What were you made to see out there? Something she couldn't protect him from, and, judging from his face, something that had left a lasting mark. And to that, she hesitated for a moment, doing the only thing that she could think to in that moment.
She embraced him in silence, tightly, as if to ground him. If she could. Both arms thrown around him, she held firm, not saying a word after that, her signature still wavering from illness but strong.
I will make this right. I promise. ]
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To be outraged by the abominations there and horrified by them, and be moved to eradicate them and give them rest by feeling grief for such a thing being allowed to pass.
Such is the state Allen Walker is most familiar with, actually. And why that forest was a return to so many things that make him smile like that.
But the embrace startles him, enough so that he takes a quick breath both in surprise—and because of a small flinch. That new and still-raw wound not from any physical blow cleaving, well... the most of him from when he struck himself. Mostly because it always aches at some deeper-than-skin level, not that he really stops long to dwell on it.
He blinks quickly though, that she was moved embrace him so, and... hesitates for a moment. Precariously, like on a ledge.
Lux— ]
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And instead of quietly sheepish smiles and patting her a little awkwardly on the back, to try and make matters lighter, he just loops an arm around her to settle at the small of her back. Something so understated and simple it's more of an acknowledgement of being embraced than returning it. ]
I know. [ And it is the most gentle, accepting sort of statement.
And yet... ] But you don't have anything to apologize for.
Because if our positions were reversed.. I'd feel the same.
[ Which is perhaps a feeling he's known well before, judging by the so very soft yet heavy tone in which he speaks beside her ear. So if her signatures radiates that fierce immobile strength despite illness, his is that strength and certainty of unwavering.. acceptance?
Ah. Faith.
I know, but it's okay. ]
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But she felt it, even if, in that instant, she didn't want to. Muscles tightening and breath hitched almost raggedly so as he flinched against her. And as quickly as she embraced him, Lux froze, even as he spoke peaceably against her ear. Words that were gentle, accepting and kind.
She panicked, her embrace easing as her arms almost seemed to hang suspended, that strength wavering for just a moment. Because, as he had observed before, she was nothing if not extremely perceptive. ]
...You're hurt.
[ It wasn't a question, but a half-startled statement, her posture quite rigid, holding him like he were made of glass before she drew back, her hands resting on his shoulders, eyes flickering between his and brow creased in worry. ]
What happened?
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Ah.. we were stuck fighting in the forest for several days before we found our way out.
I suppose some of us got a little beat up. [ And the way in which he says it is... well of course even he would be injured, right?
Allen's an Exorcist. It's just how he understands battle. They always come back with wounds that will heal. ]
It's fine— [ see he'll even offer her a much more merry, perfectly cheered sort of smile as he points up to himself.
That it's an act to try and make her feel better—well he is a performer, is he not? ]
—by now our wounds have recovered anyway.
[ It's also not disingenuous. ]
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It was worn, her voice, and her expression only changed slightly, hardening just so. Because the last time he made light of something like this...
That was something she wouldn't press him on ever again. His past. That instant when he nearly killed himself to destroy an akuma. Something that frightened her, that she promised that she would not allow to happen again. It couldn't, he said in jest.
(...then why did she have a sudden, sickening feeling of deja vu?)
Her signature wavering for the briefest moment, she gripped his shoulders a bit, staring up at him, her eyes burning with conviction. ]
But yours haven't.
Don't lie to me, Allen.
[ You can trust her. She was strong, she could take anything that happened there. Anything that happened to him. ]
What happened?
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To her credit, she manages to take him by surprise at that. Gripping him by the shoulders so suddenly and it is, ironically, probably for the first time in his life anyone's ever called him on it quite like that. Not to smile like he does, certainly. But like that?
Stop lying.. ]
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