september catch-all; open

[ushiri]

WHO: "Kyle" and you
WHAT: Monthly catch-all, including errands and quests
WHERE: Castle Thorne, Nott and Horizon
WHEN: Post-Libertas and Thorne farmland attacks
WARNINGS: General talk about war, violence, mention of sex work. The farmlands prompt has mention of handling animal remains. Additional warnings in thread subjects.
OTHER: Will match brackets or prose!

Comments

[ushiri]

[ It'd be hard not to notice the shift in Rhy's demeanor from their first meeting to now. He nods slowly, walking at his side with the crate taking up his arms. ]

I saw the woods and the fields a day ago... [ His expression goes grim at memories both fresh and older. ] It'll be a difficult winter.

[ With so much gone. Let alone for those who lost everything. What Thorne did to Libertas was horrific, but what the Free Cities had done would be a slower kind of cruelty to the citizenry of their enemy. The castle would prioritize itself and the army when it inevitably comes down to dwindling food stores.

Their steps seem to echo in the stone hall. ]

I don't think I could manage it like you - being a healer. [ He admits softly. He's not squeamish. He watched his fellow ushiri'im die horrifically in their training, some quick and some agonizingly slow. The name of the ushman that cared for them in the infirmary escapes his grasp, but he remembers the man drinking himself into a stupor some nights.

He knows the stench of burning human flesh.

Healing is the antithesis to his own purpose. He imagines the incantations would turn to ash in his mouth if he even tried. ]

[londonbound]

...hah.

[ It's something between a sigh, a snort and a laugh. Rhy shakes his head. ]

Between you and me, Kyle -- I'm really not sure how much I'm managing.

[ It isn't easy. He hadn't been prepared for it. Going to the makeshift infirmaries in Nott is nothing like the quiet, pristine space for healing inside the castle, nothing like the temple back home. His voice catches. ]

I nearly vomited on the first burn victim they sent my way.

[ushiri]

[ At the admission he shoots Rhy a look of understanding, and sympathy. A pause, and then he ventures: ]

Have you been able to sleep much?

[ The sights and smells from his memories have invaded his own dreams lately, and he hasn't even been in the thick of it like Rhy has with his infirmary work. True exhaustion would be Kahlil's only respite, his mind too tired to even conjure nightmares. ]

[londonbound]

[ Rhy shakes his head with an exhale of a sound that's somewhere between a laugh and a scoff. ]

No. But that's common enough, in my case.

[ushiri]

[ He hums in response, adjusting the weight of the crate in his arms again, glancing at him thoughtfully. ]

You should consider asking for something like a sleeping draught from the heealers, to make sure that when you do sleep it'll actually be restful...

[ And void of horrible visions. A raised eyebrow, and something lightly teasing slips into his tone. ]

Unless this is some secret power you're trying to tell me about. That'd be a pretty good one, actually.

[ Not needing to sleep. ]

[londonbound]

The only secret power is the fact I've just grown used to it, probably.

[ He's had a terrible time sleeping for far too long, before this new tragedy happened. But Kyle is only trying to help, so Rhy shrugs and only nods. ]

I have some, but who knows? Maybe they're hiding something stronger from me until I ask again.

[ushiri]

Could be worth asking. [ He lets the gentle teasing drop from his tone. He wonders how long he's been struggling with his sleep if it's just something he accepts now. ]

It's only that I remembered you said healing takes energy. [ And with all that he's doing, if he's not sleeping on top of that...

They're winding their way closer to the infirmary. He won't really have a reason to stick around once they get there and unloads the crate. There's still more packages to sort through and deliver. But now that the concern is there, it lingers. ]

[londonbound]

It does.

[ Rhy sighs, a bit of a grumble. ]

It's good advice, Kyle. I am taking it seriously, so you needn't worry. And besides, I'm in great shape!

[ The attempt at levity doesn't quite land, and even Rhy can feel it. He's been worn out lately, and going out to Nott has made everything so much worse, even he has trouble sticking a smile on these days.

Rhy leads the way the rest of the short distance, and holds open the door for Kyle to bring the crates in. ]

All right, here we are.

[ushiri]

[ At I'm in great shape! Kahlil lets out a like huff, keeping his eyes off of Rhy as he holds the door open for him. Current events aside, he has noticed that about Rhy.

Kahlil hasn't let himself entertain thoughts like that in a long, long time. Even if it's relatively safe here to have and act on them, it's too much force of habit for him to act on any attraction. Besides, from what he's noticed Rhy isn't lacking in suitors...

In any case, not the time or place. He sets the crate down and begins unpacking the vials, carefully placing them on the table. ]

By the way, I learned a new trick. [ He sets down the last of the vials and glances at Rhy again. ] Show me your hand.

[londonbound]

More flowers?

[ Rhy can't help his curiosity despite his darker mood, and in an attempt to lighten it, goes along with whatever Kyle wants for now. He has an inkling that perhaps the other man is trying to make him (maybe both of them) feel better. A distraction.

Rhy holds out his hand as bidden. ]

[ushiri]

Close.

[ He draws out his own fist and sets something in Rhy's palm: it looks like a translucent, pale green stone the size of a grape, but if he closes his palm around it he'll find that it's soft like a fruit. ]

My Domain has fruit like this - I had one pop into my hand one afternoon when I got hungry. [ So, that's new. ] They're sweet. It'll disappear in an hour if you don't eat it.

[ Which is a shame, because he thinks they're pretty too. But if Rhy does eat it, he'll find that he won't be hungry for the rest of the day.

With that done, and everything unpacked, he starts to step away. ]

[londonbound]

[ Rhy's eyes widen. He lifts the fruit up between the fingers of his opposite hand, turning it to catch the light. It is, in fact, very pretty. ]

Wait, you pulled this from the Horizon?

[ His voice has dropped, just between the two of them in case anyone approaches for the crates. ]

[ushiri]

[ Both eyebrows raise in confusion. ]

Well, I don't know if they specifically come from there. They just look similar. [ Would that be odd? He hadn't thought about it all that hard. The fact that he was pulling gem-like grapes out of thin air was strange enough at the time. His brow furrows and he's frowning now, almost regretting mentioning it. ]

Why?

[londonbound]

I've just never heard of such a thing being possible. That place stands apart from the physical realm-- or so I thought. I'm no expert, though. I'm hardly even a magician.

[ Rhy shrugs, and pops the Very Fancy Grape into his mouth. ]

Oh. It's quite good, thank you, Kyle.

[ushiri]

[ Kahlil's roommate makes coffee mugs and useable hair dryers appear out of thin air. He thinks that's more impressive than strange grapes. But it's something to consider, since he has no other answer for where this new power came from other than Jack's strange powers rubbing off on him out of nowhere...

Having the Singularity be responsible is slightly less alarming.

He nods when Rhy thanks him, offering a small smile. ]

I should get back to work.

[ And with that he's off. ]