[ Hythlodaeus absolutely isn't faking his reaction - that many years of observing and watching others closely he's had convinces Claude of this, even if he's never met this particular person until now - and that only doubles his confusion. Or triples it when he speaks as though there's something obvious in front of them being missed, and Claude casts a quick glance at the box once more. No, it still looks as Hythlodaeus described it should be prior to opening it.
Then Hythlodaeus pales and Claude sits back down with concern growing considering it's new to him that anyone can feel adverse effects in the Horizon. It makes sense on some logical level, what with how close it is to reality, that it'd be possible. There's the slow creep of foreboding running alongside which he hasn't noticed yet, as he means to reach out to place a hand on the arm of Hythlodaeus' chair to ask... something.
Something he quickly forgets because at once dread floods him. It's dread that's too familiar with the way it creeps through his veins like ice - like poison. Then it hits Claude that poison is exactly what it feels like when it's from something brushed up against him, like an assassin's cloth soaked with something unknown rather than a blade or an arrow, and the cold realization which comes with it. That's before recognizable panic from not knowing what it is and without that knowledge, how can he treat it?
He can't; antidotes work best when targeted to the poison. The only thing he can assume is what Hythlodaeus brought as a gift is the cause and without studying it in detail, there's no way to fight the numbness spreading which has Claude pressing a hand to his chest like it'll help him catch his breath instead of struggling to breathe. (It doesn't.)
All at once the illusion snaps as if he's woken up from a dream and the nausea, shakes, everything disappears. But it brings him no comfort while he struggles to regain his composure after a real fear being played upon, especially with that question asked as his gaze falls on Hythlodaeus again with the assumption the other caused it somehow and now with wariness to show for it. ]
YESSS also the holidays consumed me but i should be back now!
Then Hythlodaeus pales and Claude sits back down with concern growing considering it's new to him that anyone can feel adverse effects in the Horizon. It makes sense on some logical level, what with how close it is to reality, that it'd be possible. There's the slow creep of foreboding running alongside which he hasn't noticed yet, as he means to reach out to place a hand on the arm of Hythlodaeus' chair to ask... something.
Something he quickly forgets because at once dread floods him. It's dread that's too familiar with the way it creeps through his veins like ice - like poison. Then it hits Claude that poison is exactly what it feels like when it's from something brushed up against him, like an assassin's cloth soaked with something unknown rather than a blade or an arrow, and the cold realization which comes with it. That's before recognizable panic from not knowing what it is and without that knowledge, how can he treat it?
He can't; antidotes work best when targeted to the poison. The only thing he can assume is what Hythlodaeus brought as a gift is the cause and without studying it in detail, there's no way to fight the numbness spreading which has Claude pressing a hand to his chest like it'll help him catch his breath instead of struggling to breathe. (It doesn't.)
All at once the illusion snaps as if he's woken up from a dream and the nausea, shakes, everything disappears. But it brings him no comfort while he struggles to regain his composure after a real fear being played upon, especially with that question asked as his gaze falls on Hythlodaeus again with the assumption the other caused it somehow and now with wariness to show for it. ]
How did you do that?