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deercountry2022-08-08 09:32 pm
reddosmod) wrote in deercountry2022-08-08 09:32 pm
Entry tags:
- *event,
- alucard: timmy,
- anakin skywalker: michele,
- anakin solo: ellie,
- battler ushiromiya: chrono,
- chizuru yukimura: jelle,
- daniel larusso: jelle,
- goro akechi: kei,
- hector: laura,
- hotaru tomoe: xae,
- lance: charley,
- luz noceda: pedro,
- makoto kino: mesi,
- manabu yuuki: elle,
- maria thorpe: jaina,
- mercymorn the first: beth,
- murderbot: silyara,
- nico di angelo: xae,
- palamedes sextus: laura,
- pyrrha dve: silyara,
- scorpia: gore,
- sharon da silva: lunare,
- silco: prox,
- vi: aeri
he ate my heart
AUGUST 2022 EVENT
WE GLOW SO DIM
MONSTER WITHIN
LAVISH DESIRES
CODING
EXTRA WARNING:
IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: The shore line lit up by some sort of bioluminescent organism. ]
[Image Two: A sunken pirate ship covered in algae, seaweed, and suffering from wood rot. ]
Prompt Two
[Image One: A tentacle wrapping around a persons hand. ]
[Image Two: A close up of someone's shoulder which is turning black and cracked and dripping water. ]
Prompt Three
[Image One: A statue of a human face, split in half, with a golden devil mask between the two halves. ]
[Image Two: A number of golden hands reaching up for a white sphere. ]
Prompt One
[Image One: The shore line lit up by some sort of bioluminescent organism. ]
[Image Two: A sunken pirate ship covered in algae, seaweed, and suffering from wood rot. ]
Prompt Two
[Image One: A tentacle wrapping around a persons hand. ]
[Image Two: A close up of someone's shoulder which is turning black and cracked and dripping water. ]
Prompt Three
[Image One: A statue of a human face, split in half, with a golden devil mask between the two halves. ]
[Image Two: A number of golden hands reaching up for a white sphere. ]
WHEN: August
WHERE: The Ocean
CONTENT WARNINGS: Deep diving, possible drowning, possible death
WHERE: The Ocean
CONTENT WARNINGS: Deep diving, possible drowning, possible death
Early on in the month, the waves start to have a strange look to them. They seem a little brighter, even at night, and it's then that it hits you: the waves are glowing. It's easy to at first to brush it off as the bioluminescence of certain types of plankton, but the way it moves and sparkles has an other-worldly quality to it that can't be explained by science. Those who look even closer at the glow will notice that it seems to be forming some sort of path into the watery depths.
Those who choose to follow the path despite the angry waves and awful storms that plague the seas this month will find that the ocean seems to be at its calmest along these illuminated, watery roads. Diving down to follow them won't require any equipment, as Sleepers will find that staying within the glowing path allows them to breathe under water when they might normally not have been able to. The pressure changes don't seem to be impacting anyone who follows the light either, allowing them access to deeper depths of the ocean than may have previously been explored.
Continuing to follow the path will lead Sleepers to a series of ship wrecks under the water. These ancient vessels are rotted and covered in seaweed, but anyone who is familiar with the cultures of Earth will notice that they seem to come from all over the world and their styles vary by multiple centuries. But all the ships seem to be covered in this same, strange glow that has brought people here.
Exploring the ships will lead to multiple different discoveries. There are chests filled with ancient artifacts: carvings of squids, statues of various sea creatures that feel a little off somehow, and stones carved with a strange text that is almost impossible to decipher. The artifacts are covered in strange, rust-looking stains that penetrate deep into the materials they're made of. These artifacts can be brought back to shore, and if someone were to try and ask the Trenchies what the writing said, they would only be able to say that these are clearly texts of the Old Ones from long before any recorded history that Trench has in its Archives. When asked about the sea creatures, they'll think it's obvious: these are Mariana's various forms from over the years. The off qualities are her unique takes as a Pthumerian on the creatures of the ocean.
Prolonged exposure to these statues of Mariana will cause people to become more bluntly honest, more open with their emotions, and often much more prone to large outbursts from said emotions, both good and bad. However, Sleepers who keep these statues near them will also find that they are able to keep more control of their blood powers. It's up to each individual if it's a worthy trade off.
If you leave the path, two things can happen: Sleepers will either turn into their squid selves and can continue to swim or they will drown. There will be nothing of interest outside of these paths, just typical ocean creatures, and maybe some of those monsters that have been crawling out of the watery depths as of late.
Those who choose to follow the path despite the angry waves and awful storms that plague the seas this month will find that the ocean seems to be at its calmest along these illuminated, watery roads. Diving down to follow them won't require any equipment, as Sleepers will find that staying within the glowing path allows them to breathe under water when they might normally not have been able to. The pressure changes don't seem to be impacting anyone who follows the light either, allowing them access to deeper depths of the ocean than may have previously been explored.
Continuing to follow the path will lead Sleepers to a series of ship wrecks under the water. These ancient vessels are rotted and covered in seaweed, but anyone who is familiar with the cultures of Earth will notice that they seem to come from all over the world and their styles vary by multiple centuries. But all the ships seem to be covered in this same, strange glow that has brought people here.
Exploring the ships will lead to multiple different discoveries. There are chests filled with ancient artifacts: carvings of squids, statues of various sea creatures that feel a little off somehow, and stones carved with a strange text that is almost impossible to decipher. The artifacts are covered in strange, rust-looking stains that penetrate deep into the materials they're made of. These artifacts can be brought back to shore, and if someone were to try and ask the Trenchies what the writing said, they would only be able to say that these are clearly texts of the Old Ones from long before any recorded history that Trench has in its Archives. When asked about the sea creatures, they'll think it's obvious: these are Mariana's various forms from over the years. The off qualities are her unique takes as a Pthumerian on the creatures of the ocean.
Prolonged exposure to these statues of Mariana will cause people to become more bluntly honest, more open with their emotions, and often much more prone to large outbursts from said emotions, both good and bad. However, Sleepers who keep these statues near them will also find that they are able to keep more control of their blood powers. It's up to each individual if it's a worthy trade off.
If you leave the path, two things can happen: Sleepers will either turn into their squid selves and can continue to swim or they will drown. There will be nothing of interest outside of these paths, just typical ocean creatures, and maybe some of those monsters that have been crawling out of the watery depths as of late.
WHEN: August
WHERE: All over
CONTENT WARNINGS: Body horror, mentions of potential cannibalism/vore, possible death, contagious curse
WHERE: All over
CONTENT WARNINGS: Body horror, mentions of potential cannibalism/vore, possible death, contagious curse
Soon after people start to explore the ships, a strange occurrence will start to sweep through the city. Locals start to mutter something about a curse, one that seems to only be impacting Sleepers. The early signs that there's something off is an increase in strength and stamina. For example, Sleepers will find that they might go to pick up a chair or a mug and it shatters in their hands. Some people may find that they are incapable of sleeping. Others might find they're able to move quicker and for longer periods than normal.
If they look themselves over, they will start to find small patches of skin that have started to gray and blacken. These patches will be cracked, almost scaley, and will be consistently damp no matter how hard you try to dry them off. As time passes, this odd rash will start to spread, taking over more and more of the body. The torso might start to swell and distort, making Sleepers feel particularly top heavy. And eventually, suckers will start to form on the arms and legs.
This curse isn't beasthood in its usual forms; instead, it seems to be some sort of malady in of the magical blood that Sleepers have been granted. If the blood of an infected Sleeper is looked at under a microscope, there will be black patches clinging to the cells, similar to the patches that people see on their skin. If it isn't stopped, the person suffering from the curse will ultimately turn into a monstrous form of their squid-selves: these monster forms are large, aggressive, and able to move on land. They will feel a hunger for destruction and some Sleepers may find in these forms that they are only satisfied if they feed on other, uncursed Sleepers.
There are two ways to lift the curse. One is through a thorough blood transfusion with a blood type that is compatible with your own. This becomes more difficult to do the closer to the monstrous form people get, both due to aggression from the curse, and also due to the fact that the black patches of skin are highly difficult to puncture. Once the blood is completely replaced by fresh blood, the skin patches will disappear over 48 hours and the Sleeper will be left feeling thoroughly exhausted.
The second way to lift the curse is through death. While these monster squid forms are difficult to kill, it is not impossible, and they are particularly susceptible to magic over weapons. Once a Sleeper has died, they can be reborn, and their blood will be completely free of the curse.
The blood malady can be spread outside of those who come into contact with the ship wrecks. People who touch a cursed Sleeper, particularly the scaley patches of skin, will also run the risk of being cursed. It takes roughly a week for the signs of the curse to show, and can spread as slowly or as rapidly as players choose.
If they look themselves over, they will start to find small patches of skin that have started to gray and blacken. These patches will be cracked, almost scaley, and will be consistently damp no matter how hard you try to dry them off. As time passes, this odd rash will start to spread, taking over more and more of the body. The torso might start to swell and distort, making Sleepers feel particularly top heavy. And eventually, suckers will start to form on the arms and legs.
This curse isn't beasthood in its usual forms; instead, it seems to be some sort of malady in of the magical blood that Sleepers have been granted. If the blood of an infected Sleeper is looked at under a microscope, there will be black patches clinging to the cells, similar to the patches that people see on their skin. If it isn't stopped, the person suffering from the curse will ultimately turn into a monstrous form of their squid-selves: these monster forms are large, aggressive, and able to move on land. They will feel a hunger for destruction and some Sleepers may find in these forms that they are only satisfied if they feed on other, uncursed Sleepers.
There are two ways to lift the curse. One is through a thorough blood transfusion with a blood type that is compatible with your own. This becomes more difficult to do the closer to the monstrous form people get, both due to aggression from the curse, and also due to the fact that the black patches of skin are highly difficult to puncture. Once the blood is completely replaced by fresh blood, the skin patches will disappear over 48 hours and the Sleeper will be left feeling thoroughly exhausted.
The second way to lift the curse is through death. While these monster squid forms are difficult to kill, it is not impossible, and they are particularly susceptible to magic over weapons. Once a Sleeper has died, they can be reborn, and their blood will be completely free of the curse.
The blood malady can be spread outside of those who come into contact with the ship wrecks. People who touch a cursed Sleeper, particularly the scaley patches of skin, will also run the risk of being cursed. It takes roughly a week for the signs of the curse to show, and can spread as slowly or as rapidly as players choose.
WHEN: August
WHERE: All over
CONTENT WARNINGS: Personality changes, mental manipulation, hoarding, obsessive anxiety, disassociation, depersonalization
WHERE: All over
CONTENT WARNINGS: Personality changes, mental manipulation, hoarding, obsessive anxiety, disassociation, depersonalization
The high waves seem to just be getting higher at the beginning of the month. Rougher and rougher seas start to cause something anyone who's lived around water will be familiar with: flash floods. These floods are large, powerful, and fill the streets of Trench. First-floors of buildings may get extreme damage, though they can be protected with physical and magical barriers if people are smart about it. The floods happen multiple times throughout the month without warning, so it may be good to get that protection built up sooner rather than later.
The after effects of these floods aren't just structural devastation though. People who get caught up in the water, particularly those who end up swallowing it, will have one word echoing in their mind on a regular basis: More.
More of what? That seems to be different for each individual. Maybe one person wants more and more food, anything from an extra slice of cake after dinner, to wanting to stuff themselves until they just might pop. Or maybe they want to hoard all of their favorite objects or pieces of clothing, filling more and more of the space in their homes until they're ready to burst at the seems. Some might find it's their emotions that come in excess, with over the top anger, or irregular excitement that leaves them unable to sleep for days. Anything and everything can come in excess and it certainly seems to be this month. Some people may get these obsessive needs to such a degree that they start to feel disconnected from themselves, fractured by the overabundance that has taken over their lives.
If people ignore these desires, they'll start to find they're plagued by hallucinations. Strong, life-like visions that riddle them with anxiety and leave them petrified of what might happen if they don't partake in this gluttonous behavior. They'll feel shaken to the core and slowly go mad with need and desire for whatever it is they've been craving. This feeling of madness can make them become violent, lashing out at those around them, even killing those who try and help them out of belief that they're trying to force them to give in to their vices.
The impact of the water will wear off either after one week without re-exposure, or by using a Moon Drop to help to cleanse the mind.
The after effects of these floods aren't just structural devastation though. People who get caught up in the water, particularly those who end up swallowing it, will have one word echoing in their mind on a regular basis: More.
More of what? That seems to be different for each individual. Maybe one person wants more and more food, anything from an extra slice of cake after dinner, to wanting to stuff themselves until they just might pop. Or maybe they want to hoard all of their favorite objects or pieces of clothing, filling more and more of the space in their homes until they're ready to burst at the seems. Some might find it's their emotions that come in excess, with over the top anger, or irregular excitement that leaves them unable to sleep for days. Anything and everything can come in excess and it certainly seems to be this month. Some people may get these obsessive needs to such a degree that they start to feel disconnected from themselves, fractured by the overabundance that has taken over their lives.
If people ignore these desires, they'll start to find they're plagued by hallucinations. Strong, life-like visions that riddle them with anxiety and leave them petrified of what might happen if they don't partake in this gluttonous behavior. They'll feel shaken to the core and slowly go mad with need and desire for whatever it is they've been craving. This feeling of madness can make them become violent, lashing out at those around them, even killing those who try and help them out of belief that they're trying to force them to give in to their vices.
The impact of the water will wear off either after one week without re-exposure, or by using a Moon Drop to help to cleanse the mind.
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[It's sort of garbled, being underwater and all. But really, he's good. Somehow slightly more at home in the water than on land. Swimming is second nature. Breathing water is second nature. Even the depths they're diving... it doesn't really bother him.]
[Following the light is easy. Keeping up a steady stroke too. If only all of Trench were like this, he wouldn't be half as nervous all the time. It's quiet down here. Only the dull roar of the distant surf. The light not too bright, not too dim. Maybe he should do this more often, dive like this. Her hold on his neck is a distant pressure, like a scarf or a cloak, instead of a weight. This is... peaceful.]
No. No, I'm okay.
[And for once, he really feels like that's true.]
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But Melius here.. he doesn't sound like he's not fine. Usually she can easily tell, since he tends to get nervous, or just generally skittish. But right now.. there's nothing that indicates he isn't fine.
Maybe she's the only one then who's a little nervous here, huh? So far underneath the surface, going even deeper, not knowing what's ahead of them. Chizuru clings a little tighter, but still nowhere near enough to be painful. ]
Can you see anything up ahead already? [ She softly asks, the only audible thing in the silence of the sea that otherwise surrounds them. ]
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[He sees fish. Up ahead. Because of course he does. They're kind of everywhere. But as for anything else, no. Not yet. They're going deeper, though.]
I don't see anything bigger. [Nothing bigger than the odd school of small silver fish. It doesn't make sense to him. That's not how the ocean works. That's not how anything works. Especially here - where it seems like predators outweigh the prey more often than not.]
[If they go any deeper, they're going to see the ocean floor - oh. There it is. Looming up to greet them, and absolutely littered with the corpses of ships.]
... Oh.
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Except the sound Chizuru lets out of surprise is a little louder, something more like: ]
Ah..!
[ She gasps, but still clings onto Melius, thankfully managing to not accidentally let go in the middle of her surprise. But Chizuru certainly is staring at the ocean floor and all the ships there. It'd be one thing if there was just one of them, but.. this many? Did this all happen over the past few months, while the sea was so rough? ]
Did all of these.. sink down here? How long has this all been here..?
[ And was the ocean trying to show them this? Is that why it was somehow glowing? ]
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A - a long time.
[Because the coasts of Skyrim are littered with the corpses of ships. Because when you're running from a bear, or a dragon, or bandits, sometimes the rotting bulk of an old sailing ship is the best place to hide. Especially when you can breathe underwater. And... you learn things.]
I - I think they're... ancient.
Should we - should we go down?
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[ She doesn't even seem to need to think about that for very long. Sure, there is a certain risk of danger - there always is, in this place - but on the other hand-- ]
I mean.. It feels meaningful that the ocean was glowing like that, right..? [ Even if Chizuru wasn't sure in which context to place that glow. This doesn't look like it'd give them a way home, unfortunately, but maybe it can provide them with something else. ] There has to be something special about these ships. Maybe the sea tries to call us down here to see them..
[ Don't ask her what is supposed to be so special about these ships though.
Chizuru has no clue just yet from the bits they've seen so far. Even more so because she's entirely unfamiliar with ships in general. ]
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[He doesn't sound convinced. But on the other hand, if she wants to go down, he'll go. As it stands now, he's just sort of floating there, waiting, debating. Still, there doesn't seem to be anything monstrous lurking. He can't see any shadows flickering. There's no movement of the water below - like something big and hungry was swimming.]
[Slaughterfish don't exist here, thankfully.]
[So down they go. Slowly. Melius circles downward, rather than diving. It's safer that way. Easier to keep an eye on their surroundings until he can grasp a railing from one of the ships. Holding on and floating there.]
Now... now what?
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Maybe if there was some way to go inside the ships, then she might be able to move around by herself..
It takes another moment of looking around, but then the girl lets out a tiny, surprised gasp. ]
Oh, over there..! Do you see it? Something made a big hole in the ship..
[ It's a little bit further down from where they are now, but it's still visible. A big, black hole. ]
We could go see what's inside!
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[Translation: why would you want to go down there??]
[Still, he glances back at her as best he can. Then at the hole. Clearly not sure what move would be the best. On the one hand, big hole. On the other, friend seems so excited?]
[Very, very slowly, he starts inching towards the hole. Using the broken bits of decking to pull himself along.]
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[ Okay, maybe 'brought' isn't entirely the right word when they very much voluntarily went into the water.. but on the other hand, Chizuru feels like the glow in the water was very much a sign of there being something important down here.
And since there doesn't seem to be anything down here other than these ships, it's got to be something about them. Something in them, since there isn't much special visible on the outside. ]
What if there isn't something dangerous in there, but instead just a way to go home..? Or something else there's really important..!
[ She wouldn't want to miss that.
It's why Chizuru certainly doesn't protest when Melius slowly starts moving over in the direction of the hole. ]
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Okay - okay. But um. If - if there's anything... living down there... we should go.
[And fast.]
[He'll go down there, but he needs to make it clear his fight-or-flights is already activated. While, you know. Still inching his way across the deck towards said hole. It helps when your hands naturally have claws.]
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But the girl is quiet. Perhaps a little uncharacteristically. It's not like Chizuru is a huge chatterbox at all times or anything, but usually she would have said something to reassure the other much more quickly than she is doing now.
It's since she's thinking though. About this situation, and what he's saying, and.. ]
Um, you know..
[ This is a suggestion she's a little bit nervous about, but Chizuru steels herself, trying to not show this in her voice as much. ]
If you're worried about what's down there.. I could go by myself. Or I could go ahead of you. I really don't mind..
[ She doesn't want to force someone kind, or someone who's helping her here, into a dangerous situation against their will, after all.
That'd just make her feel awful. ]
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[UM? That sounds like a TERRIBLE idea as far as he's concerned. Just sending Chizuru in all by herself? She already said she couldn't swim. She's holding on because she can't - right?]
[He hesitates again, before speaking up, hesitantly.]
You um - you can't. Go alone. Because you - what if you got. Stuck? Down there?
[At least, if he goes with her, he can high-tail both of them out of danger if it comes.]
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[ Technically. Very technically. It's something Chizuru doesn't like to think about a whole lot, since it makes her feel weirdly antsy every single time she does. Something about it just.. doesn't feel right, no matter how she twists or turns it.
But it might work in her advantage there. ]
If something really bad happens, maybe I can find a way to turn back into one and then swim back to the surface that way..?
[ Look at this very, very convincing plan.
Which she says with the most hesitant and unsure tone ever.
Very convincing. Clearly. But she just truly doesn't want to make Melius uncomfortable by forcing him to go along with her! She'd never forgive herself! ]
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[Melius...... please.....]
[Somehow his voice hits a new high, even underwater. It's kind of a miracle, really. Somehow, this has escaped his knowledge. Look he's been buried in studying the plant and fungi life here, not the lore. Heck, he barely remembers the squid thing.]
[A shake of his head, while he keeps inching toward the hole at a sea snail's pace.]
N-no. No that's - I don't think that's a good idea... I um. I should.
Stay.
[Oh. Wow. That is a deep, dark hole they're peering into now.]
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Just the surprise about the squid thing by itself would be an entire problem by itself, but the part that follows it hits Chizuru just as hard, honestly. The girl is frowning when she glances at him, though she doesn't necessarily look angry.. Just.. focused, maybe? Or worried? ]
You know.. that it's okay to say no if you ever want to, right?
[ Did someone teach Melius this.
She's starting to get a little concerned.
(Also, yes, yes, pot calling the kettle black and all, but-- let her have this!) ]
Are you really sure you want to stay? You shouldn't feel pressured to force yourself into anything for someone else's sake, unless you really want to.
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[He's not wrong, there. Unless she's suddenly taught herself on the way down. He can't leave her down here. Even if he's scared. That's wrong.]
[No, he's not sure. No, he doesn't want to stay, but he has to. Like... he had to save the world. Like he had to fight dragons and learn their magic. It's scary, it's horrifying, but there's no other option.]
[What is this having a choice thing?]
Really... slowly. Okay? [He just. Keeps inching along. To start to descend...]
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But Melius keeps moving, and.. even just telling him no now feels cruel. It's still his own decision whether to stay down here or not, after all, even though Chizuru feels guilty for sure as she watches him inch along like that..
Maybe all she can do here is compromise. ]
At least-- if you think there might be something dangerous in there, then let me go ahead.
[ Look, she has a good reason for saying this.
Even if it might not.. seem that way, considering Chizuru is so tiny.. What could she even do about any danger.. ]
no subject
[That stops him dead - no pun intended. He can't turn his head to look at her, but the feeling is there. The feeling of trying to look incredulous.]
You - you said you couldn't - you couldn't swim.
[That's clearly the issue here. Not her size or anything along those lines. She's just - she's holding on because she doesn't know how to move in the water. That's what she said.]
[He's so confused, he forgets to inch slowly, and just sort of ... sinks. Several feet.]
no subject
[ Ship. She meant to say ship, but instead Chizuru lets out a startled yelp as she realises what's happening, and instead starts holding on even tighter to Melius.
Let's abandon that plan for a moment while she's suddenly dropping a bit more than anticipated. ]
W-- We're falling!
[ .. kind of?
It's not really falling when they're underwater, right. It's more like they're sinking. But it's still definitely enough to startle Chizuru, despite her words from a moment ago. And here she tried so hard to be brave... Great effort, Chizuru.. ]
no subject
[See? He can tread water and stop their descent. It's a gentle stop, too, considering how slowly they were "falling".]
You... um. You really. Shouldn't be alone.
[He'd feel horrible if he let that happen. Worse than if he actually went alone in there himself.]
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Thankfully this goes a whole lot better than the Titanic, and Chizuru feels relieved when they suddenly stop in the water.. even though it sure gives his point a whole lot of credit here. She can't help but blush, feeling ashamed about the fact that she freaked out, even though Chizuru couldn't really help it. ]
.. I just feel bad if I take you with me in there. Because.. you know, you seem so hesitant.
[ To put it mildly. But at least Chizuru is being pretty honest and clear now, just laying out the facts.
She already feels embarrassed anyway, so it's not as bad to add onto it by being honest about her feelings. ]
It feels like I'm forcing you. Because I want to look in there, and you don't want to leave me behind. And forcing you would be really unfair..
no subject
I um - I'm. I'm always... that way. I don't - like ... unknown places. Or caves.
[Melius, this is a boat.]
But - but if we - if we look quick... we can leave. Quick.
[Right??]
no subject
[ Chizuru nods to that, at least. It's kind of like ripping off the bandaid, in a sense. That's the lessons Melius is trying to teach himself here.
But there's a little more to it too. Despite the fact that the girl feels like she probably knows the answer to the next question already, she can't help but ask.
Maybe to help him along a little bit further. ]
But.. why don't you like unknown places or caves..?
[ At least she asks it gently. Gently enough that he could weasel out of having to answer that, if he really wouldn't want to. ]
no subject
[The Falmer.]
Th - [Despite the ocean around them, his mouth feels dry.] - They're full of monsters.
[Without fail. Always.]
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cw: mention of decapitation
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