abraxaslogs | • OPEN •

[the months scatter back towards a colder season, and it feels even cooler in nocwich where the sun doesn't shine. booked into their usual inn, wanda and matt spent some time reacquainting themselves with one another—an intimate affair by all accounts—and after a shower, she's all cozied up and ready to call it a night. matt's still in the en-suite bathroom when wanda attempts to use her magic to organize things in the room a bit—make it cozier, still.

but there's that familiar, recent rupture that forces her to stop; blood spills down from her nose, over her upper lip, and she breathes slowly as she brings a hand up so that she doesn't stain her clothes.

back into the bathroom she goes, over the sink, to lean her face over.

even with matt being blind, with him being unawares of the situation, he would very well be able to smell the blood—would be able to hear it dripping down her chin and unto the stone sink. as for wanda? she's not trying to hide it, so much as just trying to make it stop, shutting her eyes and brows furrowing.]

Edited 2023-09-11 20:00 (UTC)

Wanda, what's —

( she'd been in the bathroom with him for a few minutes but then she'd gone out to settle. when she comes back in, he smells copper and he can hear it drip drip dripping into the sink.

he steps back and puts a hand on her shoulder, frowning. )

Are you bleeding?

[there's no point hiding it from him at all, so she doesn't even try. there is something positively charming about there being someone looking out for her, anyway.]

Mhmm.

[it's a non-commital hum, but it's all matt needs to know.

she tips her head forward, letting the blood drip out lest it pools inside her nose.]

Your nose?

( he reaches for some tissue nearby, pressing it into her hand when she's ready. and then he rubs at her back to try and calm her down. )

What happened?

[she grabs hold of the tissues, pushing it to her face to clean up a little. she uses the water from the faucet to dampen them, and then back to try and get her face cleaned up.]

— it's been happening a lot.

[wanda admits, after a long pause. the last thing she wants to do is worry him, but it's not fair to keep this from matt when back in the commune most everyone is aware of her 'situation'.

she sighs through her mouth, getting air in her lungs.]

Since the rifts closed.

Since the rifts closed.

( that hasn't been that long ago but the fact that it's been happening a lot concerns him.

he steps away from the sink to give her space and sits down on the toilet, frowning. )

Just...happens randomly?

[all that frowning means that there are a lot of thoughts bouncing in his head—thoughts that wanda isn't exactly a stranger to, since she can hear them quite easily.]

You can't get upset.

[she pinches at the bridge of her nose, keeping pressure there.]

It's been happening when I use my magic.

( starting off with a disclaimer just means there's something he should get upset about. she doesn't keep him in suspense for too long before she tells him and his frown deepens. )

Every time?

( jesus, wanda. )

And it just started?

Most simple spells aren't an issue, but when I do them too much or too many in a row, or anything more complex, I...

[she pauses to wince, knowing she has to keep the pressure on her nose for a little longer. she turns around, leaning back against the sink. is matt done in the bathroom? —she motions towards the bedroom.]

Can we go there? [she asks quietly] I need to keep pressure on my nose for a while.

[and maybe he could help her with it.]

Yeah, come on.

( he stands up and reaches for her arm, helping her out into the bedroom even if she can walk just fine. once she gets settled, he sits down next to her. )

Should I call someone? Claire?

( she'd helped him before, after all. )

[wanda shakes her head no, leaning against his shoulder and keeping her head tipped forward—all the while keeping said pressure on her nose.]

I don't think this is something a doctor can fix.

[a normal doctor, that is. after all, any time this happens it's because of her magic.]

( reaching up, matt presses a hand to her back, sitting closer to her. there's some tension in his body, a want to help but he can't really stop her from using her magic.

he sighs. )

Is it just the nosebleed? Are you in any pain when it happens?

[well, he really isn't going to like what has been happening to her while in solvunnn. she's actually done a good job of keeping things lowkey here in nocwich, but considering how she's always using her magic in small ways—]

It does hurt. It feels like something is blocking my magic.

[it's hard to explain? wanda glances up at him.]

If I push it, I end up passing out.

Wanda —

( matt sighs and presses the heel of his hand to his forehead. he wants to ask her why she hasn't told him this before but decides to table it for now.

how she's feeling is more important. )

Have you told anyone else this?

[feeling a little bit better, wanda sits back against the pillows, looking up at him. the press of his hand against his forehead, the way he's feeling that is so palpable to her—]

You're upset.

[not at her, necessarily, or entirely, but at the circumstances at large.]

Who else do you think I should tell? [it's a genuine question] Those I live with in Solvunn know about it. Most every local does, too. Michael. I'm not trying to handle this on my own.

I'm just...worried.

( because she could be fine without her magic but it was still an integral part of her and he didn't want it to cause her pain. )

I'm not upset. I wish you'd told me earlier but I'm not angry at you.

I did technically tell you that my nose had been bleeding quite a few times.

[so, technically, it's not like she kept this from him. but it's certifiably adorable that she tries to debate technicalities with a lawyer. not wanting to get into an argument over it, though, she puts a hand to matt's bare back and scratches gently with her nails.

maybe it'll make him turn around towards her.]

It's not like telling you earlier would have done anything but worry you, anyway. ['since i'm in solvunn and you're not', is what she doesn't say but implies.] And even if I wanted to when we met here—I honestly had other things in mind that I wanted to do with you.

[lighten the mood with that comment.]

( she's not wrong but that's not going to stop him from worrying about her. his shoulders slouch and he does angle himself towards her somewhat. )

I know, I know, I Just don't like the thought of you being in pain or anything.

( and now that he knows she is, it's going to be at the front of his mind for awhile. )

That's very sweet of you, Matt.

[she tugs at his arm, now that he's angled towards her, and maybe he'll realize that she's motioning at him to lie down on the bed with her.]

—but you're going to worry about me being in pain as much as I'm going to worry about you going out and about at night, playing vigilante in the Cities. [there's nothing for it; it's just how things are.] I'm being careful. I know you are, too.

( matt wants to argue and he even opens his mouth to tell her that's not the same thing but —

but he knows it is. he sighs and nods, reaching out for her. )

Do you think it's permanent?

I don't know.

[is her honest response, finding his hands when he fumbles about trying to find where exactly she is. it takes a gentle tug, a light touch of encouragement, and wanda's moving about so that she can fit easily against him.]

It's not something I understand right now.

[—and she takes one of his hands to press against the outline of her face, just as she leans against it.]

And I can't think that it might be permanent. That's too scary to even consider.

( she's not thinking about it being permanent but now, it's the only thing that he can think about it.

he takes a breath and then let's it go, trying not to be too worked up about this. )

How do you think you'll learn more? Are there people that can help you?

I can talk to the people in the commune. If nothing else, I can just go to Soris’s shrine and pray to her. Ask for insight.

[it’s not that complicated in her mind. she does feel, though, that matt, despite trying his best, is getting worked up about this.

quietly, she mutters,]

Don’t do that, Matt.

I'm not doing anything.

( not exactly true. )

I can't help but be worried for you, Wanda. You'd do the same thing in my position.

[her lips purse, and she can’t help but feel that tenderness and care coming from him. wanda brushes a hand over his face, gets closer to him so they can cuddle—wanda tucked away against him so he can feel that he’s protecting her from whatever ailment has got her like this.

they’ve cycled through this kind of conversation before.

of course she’d be worried, too, if it was matt in her shoes. playfully, she adds,]

I guess you get to look after me for the rest of our time in Nocwich.

• OPEN •

—NOCWICH • MATT

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we can wrap up here!! to make space for dramaz