escordvi | november catchall! [open]

[ She’s here, too.

But of course she is, this relic is something that interests her on a fundamental level, what with it being tied to the previous siege involving the undead. There’s no such thing as the undead in her own world, after all, but there are a number of those who deal with gathering the dead. Herself, included.

Too bad for her, the tombstone relic affects her as well, albeit in a different way. ]

Xenk?!

[ With a flash of crystalline white magic, both of her blades appear in her hands as she spins away from his strike.

Eyes narrow and flick to the relic, then back to him, knuckles turning white as she grips the hilt of her weapons. The researchers mentioned that the tombstone has a strange effect on those who have died, which means… he must have, at some point— ]

Xenk, you’re…-?

[ Xenk holds his blade before him, the holy glow flaring bright. It's not like he sees some distorted image, or that the tombstone is making him relive the cruelty of his past—no, the effect unleashes aggression in him that he feels only in times of injustice. But even so, it's never quite like this.

He grips his sword tight, shouting in anger once more as he lowers it and attempts another strike. His attacks are wide and perhaps easy to dodge, but there's no denying the rage in each swing. ]

[ She’s only met the man once before, but the person she sees now is a far cry from the calm, composed, and caring one who had helped her with a spicy curry. ]

Over here!

[ The examination room that contains the tombstone doesn’t give a lot a room, but she’s able to flip away and to the side, maneuvering around him that he strikes the wall instead. If the force of his swings are anything as powerful as they seem, she’s hoping his blade becomes stuck within the stone.

It’s a gamble, though. If he’s too strong, then that means the structure of the wall might not hold. She’s preparing for something to happen, though. One of her hands begins to glow as she keeps her focus on him. ]

[ Blinded by his rage, Xenk drives the sword into the wall and ignites it, the holy flames enveloping the blade and making it so that he can pull it loose from where he's cleaved a sizable hole in the wall. The structure is certainly not going to hold like that, but her dodge and the obstruction give Xenk time enough to turn and search for her, his teeth bared and his stance angry.

Whatever she's doing with her hands, he doesn't pay much or any attention to. He's far too distracted by the fire in his blood and the red that fills his vision. ]

[ The spell activates with the rancorous sound of shattering glass, conjuring an aura of white, snow, and ice all around them. With a toss of her arm, she directs the power towards him.

Specifically at his feet, hoping to freeze him where he stands. ]

Hey-- hey, it's okay. [ She raises her hands in a sign of peace. ] Don't you remember me? Rem!

[ Ice magic is neither strange nor unheard of in Xenk's world, though it certainly surprises him. In his rage, in all that anger that courses through him, there was never once any need for ice or anything of the sort.

Szass Tam had not used ice. The chill of death is far different from ice magic. But needless to say, Xenk's feet get frozen to the ground, his advance halted and confusion clear on his face.

He can hear her, distantly, though he doesn't lower his sword. Rem? Why did that name sound so familiar? ]

[ The ice magic seems to buy her some time, and not only that, it seems that his anger has-- well, not cooled (pun definitely intended), but shifted to seething rather than outright rage.

He's also stopped brandishing his weapon. Rem takes a tentative step closer. ]

It's... me. Remember? [ Dismissing one of her daggers, she brings her now-free hand up to her mouth. Conjuring a small, harmless flame within her palm, she blows into it, causing it to flare outward, mimicking the fire cough from when they first met.

She watches for his reaction, worrying her brow. The relic affects those who have been touched by death in some way, and something in her chest tightens as more than one question surfaces. Quickly, she draws a breath. ] Talk to me.

[ The fire is familiar, and recent enough that it's easy to recall. That seething anger still fills him, still overwhelms his mind and his senses, but he is able to hold it at bay, if only for the moment. ]

I cannot. I need... [ He shakes his head. ] I cannot be here, it's... there is so much hate here.

[ His struggle for lucidity is not only upon the strain of his face, but clearly heard within his voice and seen on his body. If the researchers are actually observing what is happening in this chamber, then she hopes they get their fill from using one of their own as a guinea pig-- but enough is enough. ] Xenk...

[ It's a fortunate thing that she arrived later than he, because she, too, would have started to feel the effects of the same curse.

Still cautiously watching him, she crosses the room. Her hands remain raised, one still carrying the dagger, loosely, and the other entirely weaponless. ] Remember, this hate is not you. [ Light and holy magic can help those affected, or so she's been told by the researchers, but it would be best to remove him from the room. ]

I'm not going to hurt you. I'll take you from here-- does that sound okay?

It is not.

[ Xenk repeats, hard as it may be to believe, when he feels it so acutely. Anger and hatred and violence all sing to him, but he can't seem to lower his sword. Still, he keeps his attention on Rem -- not wishing to hurt her, but still drowning in these feelings that aren't his own. ]

I would -- Yes. It's foul here.

[ She takes another tentative step forward; then, lifting her hand, she turns it towards the ice holding his feet in places. Gradually, it begins to dissipate as she uses manalchemy to dispel it.

When just enough is dissipated, Rem turns her palm upward. ]

Take my hand.

[ Xenk reaches for her hand, holding it stiffly. It's taking all his strength to keep himself from losing it. This really is the stuff his nightmares are about.

He grits his teeth, forcing breaths he doesn't need to take. ]

Please.

[ It's a good thing they're leaving, too, because Rem is also starting to feel rather strange-- impatient, irritated-- at being near the stone. Better to return later, if necessary, but for now, he needs help. That the tombstone can affect him of all people is a testament to the mysterious, corrupting power it houses.

Rem gives the broken pieces of the tombstone one last look, pressing her lips into a thin line...

And then she turns her head to give him all of her attention, as well as a smile. Rem's fingers curl around his palm, and she tugs at his hand, an indication to walk with her-- away from the stone, and out of the chamber. ]

Just a little bit more to go. [ It's not lost to her that the feel of his hand is distinctly cooler than her own, but she makes no comment upon it. ] We'll be out of here in no time.

Edited 2023-11-20 02:42 (UTC)

[ Xenk follows silently, focusing on the present moment, on the warmth of Rem's hand and the sound of her breathing. Despite everything, she is alive. Despite everything, he is alive. Somewhat. Mostly.

He feels the anger and rage inside him war with his sense, but holds it down as best as he can. It's honestly a good thing he's so skilled at repression. ]

Good.

[ A single word is about all he can manage right now, but the further they get from that stone, the better he'll feel, at least. ]

[ Although she hadn't noticed much of the tombstone's effect while she had been in the chamber, she is only now realizing how a fog begins to lift from her mind. It's a good thing she hadn't been exposed for too long. ]

...Mm, Xenk?

[ She calls his attention to her as she guides him, pulling his hand in hers. Her fingers give his palm a reassuring, warm squeeze. ] Try humming something. A song. It'll help ground you.

[ And if it's a popular, easy sea shanty from one of the local taverns, she'll join in. ]

[ Xenk is still focused, his mind going over what he sees and hears rather than the darkness that stains his mind from afar. Her voice breaks the din, pulling him back to the present. ]

A song? Perhaps...

[ Here's a cool fact: Xenk can really sing. He isn't confident about it, but he does start to hum one of the slower shanties that they both would have heard. He's a big fan of dirges and that kind of sad stuff, so it's all very ominous. But it is helping! ]

[ While she doesn't know the song, it's not difficult to offer her own voice in a soft, humming undertone to support his concentration. The slower tune doesn't feel so much as ominous to her as it does oeacefu, not unlike some of the songs the soldiers sing when they're marching home from a long, drawn-out battle. Tired, but calmed.

Rem tugs on his hand again, guiding him out of the building until, at last, they stand in the sunlight. ]

...How do you feel?

[ Music helps, a fact that does not surprise him in the least. A Bard's magic is often the strongest there is -- drawn from no god or spell or font of magic, but simply the strength of the song itself.

It also helps that they're outdoors, of course. But Xenk nods shakily, his eyes closed from the sudden brightness of the sun. ]

...Better. Though I fear that is a low bar, I at least feel no presence forcing me to act, as I did.

I'm glad for that, I am.

[ She gives his hand a gentle but present squeeze. ] ...Whatever is in that tombstone, it's-- effecting many. [ Again, there's that thought, that question burning on her tongue: this must mean he is either dead or has died. Whatever circumstance led him to that fate, she's sorry for it.

But now is also not the time to ask. ] One day, we'll find more about it... But not today. Let's get you home so you can rest.

november catchall! [open]

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