Kyriakos: DAY 86

[takewing]

[Suddenly, the books on several of the shelves spring to life--they flutter around the room and open above those present. As they do a magic circle springs out of their pages, enveloping the players in a beam of light and making them vanish into their pages--two to a book. Inside is a featureless room with an indestructible paper-like substance lining floor, walls and ceiling, inlaid with an intricate pattern of metallic roses. My, what long thorns they have …

On the floor somewhere nearby is an incredibly sharp quill and a bottle of an inklike substance--which is clearly labelled as ‘Not intended for ingestion unless you wish to die painfully, you twit.’]

((HERE))

Comments

[takewing]

I forgave them. Once.

It won't happen again.

[unlocksmith]

. . . it had better not.

[there's little he can do about it now beyond allow his anger to run its course]

[takewing]

[Closes her eyes and lets out a long, slow sigh, slumping into him a little further.]

Spark ...

[unlocksmith]

I won't.

Say anything.

[he says through gritted teeth. but she knows he is a man of his word]

[takewing]

Thank you.

I'd rather not see them cry again, if I can help it.

[unlocksmith]

Hn. . .

[:I]

[takewing]

[Quiet for a long moment.]

At … any rate … [reaches for one of his hands without looking, face pressed against his shoulder.] Spark, I … gods damnit, I'm sorry. You call me a "good" person so readily, and yet—I'm one of the most selfish people I know.

[unlocksmith]

"Selfishness" and "being a good person" aren't mutually exclusive.

[takewing]

It is when it's hurting the one person I care about more than anything and anyone.

[unlocksmith]

Aha.

No matter what happens in here, someone is getting hurt.

[takewing]

… I suppose you'd not settle for both of us.

[unlocksmith]

[shakes his head]

Wouldn't make much sense for both of us to die when the Echoes are only askin' for one.

[takewing]

We'd at least be together, instead of one being left alone to watch.

… I don't know if I can just watch. Not after—not after that. [But what right do I have to force you to do it in my stead?]

[unlocksmith]

. . .

[he doesn't know how he can make her watch. . . after learning that]

[he falls silent, totally out of options]

[takewing]

[she gently pulls away from him, mutters a low, sharp curse under her breath in her own language, and … buries her face in her hands.]

[unlocksmith]

Nalea-- Nalea. . .

[no no no, he hadn't meant to make her cry. she pulls away from him, but he reaches for her again, fingers brushing up against her arm]

[takewing]

[Khoalan …]

[She doesn't respond to his touch, though, and she's utterly silent aside from the shaky hitch in her breathing.]

[unlocksmith]

[pressing himself against her side, leaning his forehead against her shoulder. . .]

[what do we do?]

[takewing]

[I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't]

[it's … probably a few minutes until she can bring herself to speak up again, her voice a rough whisper]

S-Spark …

[unlocksmith]

What is it. . .?

[seeking out her hand again]

[takewing]

[he can take it, though she doesn't really grasp back]

… we can't do this.

[unlocksmith]

We don't have the luxury of saying "we can't."

[takewing]

[falls silent again, pulling her hand away from his and burying it in her hair instead]

[unlocksmith]

[lets her]

[. . .]

[he ducks his head, shoulders tensing]

[he is out of options, isn't he--?]

[takewing]

[rests her forehead on her knees, clenching her fingers so hard they hurt.]







Do as you will.