no_reload: (Reyes - Blacked out)
Reaper ([personal profile] no_reload) wrote in [community profile] deercountry2021-11-02 10:09 pm

Few Regrets (Open)

Who: Reaper ([personal profile] no_reload) & Open
What: Post-death recovery & November catch-all
When: Month of November
Where: In & Around Disaster House

Content Warnings: Will add as they come up.


I. Squid Games

The remains of his body had fully inked and become crystallized. Then the smoke filled crystals cracked, shattered and broke apart to reveal a palm-sized squid that shook off bits of crystal and remaining ink. The black bloody ink did begin to resorb into the squid which seemed momentarily disoriented.

Then it lifted four tentacles and gave a soft hissing squeak to whomever happened to be close by. Another squeak and wiggling tentacles that clearly meant to be indication for picking up.

While he couldn’t communicate with words, Reaper was small enough and determined enough to be close to anyone. He would attempt to cling to feet or legs, and sometimes that meant the risk of getting under foot.

At other times, he would somehow clamber onto raised parts of furniture whether it was a table leg, couch arm or even a shoe and lift two tentacles to the air and wait for someone to pass by before trying to attach himself for a free ride to leg or hand.

II. Bedrest

Since leaving the squid state, Reaper had had a hell of a time adjusting back to his body. He had mostly confined himself to his bedroom, a place he hardly used as anything other than storage previously. Now he was there most of the time, sequestered to the bed as he didn’t have the available energy yet to perform his usual household activities.

After all, breathing was a laboured effort; that’s probably what was supposed to happen when one’s lungs had been vaporized. He could be found in his bedroom, sitting up to make breathing easier and clad in black track pants and a oversized black hoodie where the hood was constantly pulled up over his head, obscuring his bare and scarred face with shadow. The white of his goatee was the most obvious aspect of him to be seen.

"…death has always provided a reset, but you haven’t invested time to knowing how blood effects your abilities either. That was stupid of you…"

Reaper grunted softly as if replying to the scolding and exasperated Irish female voice that happened to be coming from a small laptop-sized device next to him on his bed. His bare hand with its blackened dead looking fingers reached out and patted the device as if he were trying to pat the Irish voice on the shoulder.

"I have this pain again." His voice was strained, nearly breathless.

"Expected. You died, Reyes. You will cope as you did before," the voice said with a touch of exasperation.

"Analysis on point, as always," he remarked with a soft nearly whimsical sigh that turned to a wheeze.

The voice was quiet, a reminder that the person behind it wasn’t actually here in Trench. That old friend had returned to their world and had never returned. He turned the medical device off with press of a button and leaned his head back against the headboard, shifting his weight as if unable to find a comfortable spot to sit in.

Then his chin tipped his head down again. "I know you’re out there."

III. Slow and Steady

Thankfully, the month so far had seemed calm and with little to no effects. He was slow to move around the house, less willing to take up some of his normal activities. He technically was the only adult in the house and that came with certain responsibilities he hadn’t been able to get back into. For one, he tired far too easily, like he was far older than he actually was. Or maybe this was how those of the SEP went out… tired, alone and shuffling around.

He spent much of his time in the house, but sometimes he wanted a chance of scenery. He was ease his way out of the house and seat himself on the ground or on a step. If he was having a particularly good day, he could get himself up to one of the edges of roof and seat himself there, legs dangling.

As soon as he went outside, his Omen, Wraith, would immediately appear. The black peacock would make a show of preening and walking around, shuffling long detailed tail feathers and issuing a low mournful swan song that was not normal for peacocks. Always, the Omen would be on high alert, never staying particularly close to him but clearly on guard to anyone who might know what to look for.

"Careful, his bite is as pathetic as his bark," he rumbled softly to anyone that might stop by to have a look or even appear from the house.
onerthes: (09)

[personal profile] onerthes 2021-12-11 02:07 am (UTC)(link)
"We could," she admitted. "Even with my powers lessened, it isn't as if my knowledge was affected. I'm still quite aware. Walking down the streets, I can see choke points, defensible positions... and it's hard not to fall into those old habits. I suppose the question is what we need to do and how we want to mold it. I think, maybe, I hope that this world does not need to reflect our own too much?"
onerthes: (Commission: Pls Ask first) (19)

[personal profile] onerthes 2021-12-14 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
"Hmmm. Blood in rituals lost a lot of steam a very long time ago. Bodily sacrifice has been thought of as a rather poor conduit for power, and the sort of thing only monstrous charlatans pretending at godhood could use." She snorted a bit. "So the practice isn't unheard of, but I want to say the last I knew to use it was a Husward, essentially an Ogre."
onerthes: (Commission: Pls Ask first) (29)

[personal profile] onerthes 2021-12-15 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm trying not to make too many assumptions based on prior experience. Whatever my misgivings, there is a possibility that true mastery of the capacity has quite a bit of potential." the revelations of November would certainly bear that up. "But I might be slow to be convinced."
onerthes: (05)

[personal profile] onerthes 2021-12-21 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"Can't have you walking around naked in the cold, Reaper. That would just be shameless of me," she teased, grinning over at him as they started to get closer gradually. "But ... yes, I think you're one who could show me the benefits without hiding the downsides. I'd probably trust your explanations quite a bit."
onerthes: (Default)

[personal profile] onerthes 2021-12-22 05:42 pm (UTC)(link)
She opened the door at the fence and raised an eyebrow. "you can give me that once you're inside the door," she chided, winking and leading him towards it. Only a few more steps. "But yes. Recover. Get back to your fully, growling self and we'll chat more. It's just good to have you safely back."
onerthes: (Default)

[personal profile] onerthes 2021-12-23 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"Heh. We'll save the dances for New Years," she said after finally taking her coat and smiling. "Mmm, I think you know I have no intention of trying. But we know this world. It does like to make it difficult. Still... I will be careful. You as well." She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek and smiled fondly.

"Tell Maul hello for me, and that I forgive him. Not that I think he had doubts I would. He didn't harm me after all."