Too Much Idiot [Jaunt Week 2]

[helborn]

[While this is happening...]

[Bob's scratchy voice comes on the network, sounding slightly distressed.]

Hey, you know that angel that's been hitting people with that stupid aggravating whip?

Three guesses who picked a fight with him, and the first two don't count.

[There's a brief aerial shot of Casper, suspended in air with raven wings out. Bartholomew has reared back his whip but now there's tons of snowballs and water all over him.]

The fuck am I supposed to do with this?

Comments

[seestheworld]

I mean... if you wanted to end the fight in a hurry, I could probably summon him to Liminal Space? Although that probably wouldn't calm him down any, and would also potentially clue the angel he's fighting in that Weirder Things Than Normal are afoot, so...

[helborn]

He might also still have the manacles on. No idea how to get those off rather than making the angel get them off of him.

[seestheworld]

That would be one of the other problems, yeah. They're probably not the sort of things you can phase through even if he has that particular skill.

[modernliterature]

Ja, okay, the guy inside his head is a friend of mine, but at this point usually we just murder our way out of this problem.

They'll probably throw us a parade when we do.

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin sends this straight to Casper, though he doesn't keep Bob from hearing it.]

Casper, do you have a plan? If you're in over your head, we could switch bodies - at the very least, I could protect you, and I could maybe cut him off from some of his abilities as well, or even take him out entirely. At least for ten minutes or so.

[helborn]

[His response comes quickly, as if he's thinking way too fast.]

Nope, no plan. Can't figure it out. No time for planning. Attack and defend. Can't move.

[helborn]

He can leave his body, but he can't make his body intangible.

[helborn]

I think he's trying to not murder the guy. Though right now I think he'd settle for just being able to move.

[breakaleginhalf]

Oh my fucking god.

[He sounds so fucking mad. But it might mostly be from concern.]

What the fuck is he doing?!

[helborn]

Remember when he went and punched a fae on your behalf?

He doesn't even know these people who got hurt, I don't know what the fuck he's thinking.

[breakaleginhalf]

Baby has a hero complex.

Does he need help?

[helborn]

He does, he - hang on, there's more stupid.

[The feed cuts off for a few long minutes.]

[... Bob's voice pops up again on the network after. He sounds... really tired.]

We're back in liminal. It's... not as bad as it could have been, but it's not great.

Psychic > Action

[breakaleginhalf]

[There is a restrained sigh.]

Okay. I'm coming now.

[It actually takes him about a minute to find a hiding spot, but eventually he manages to find a spot where he won't be seen as he ducks into Liminal Space, into Casper's hall.]

[helborn]

Casper's not hard to find. He's right on the floor of the entrance, bleeding from his wrists and neck and back. He doesn't have wings anymore, and he's curled up into a small ball. He's clearly rolled around on the floor a bit, the dirt dusting his clothes.

Bob sits nearby on a table and looks up at Gil. "I don't know that touching him right now is a great idea."

[breakaleginhalf]

"Yeah, well. I'm gonna have to."

But he burns some Glamour first, so he has the reaction time and strength in case this goes poorly. He kneels down in front of Casper's face, and gently puts a hand on his shoulder. "Casper, it's okay. It's just me."

[neverfeltthatway]

Do you want to switch bodies so I can protect you?!

[It sounds more urgent by the second, and if Casper doesn't have a plan...]

[helborn]

Caaper twitches hard, but doesn't respond verbally. He pulls himself up tighter and tries to turn his back more towards Gil. Fear is practically stinking up the whole room.

He reaches out on the psychic network, but the thoughts are faint and carry even more fear. 'Protect. Fail. Protected? Couldn't do it. Should have done it. Protected myself? Failing...'

[breakaleginhalf]

"It's okay, Cas. Ease up, you're gonna be okay."

His hand doesn't move from Casper's shoulder, but he can't do anything to make it more reassuring. So instead he pulls energy from his dreamcatcher, enough to make a thick lump of goo. "I'm gonna put some shit on you, alright? It's gonna be on your whole neck, so. Try not to freak out."

And he carefully wraps Casper's neck in the healing ectoplasm.

[helborn]

He breathes in sharply, the fear just escalating. He twitches from pain, and a choked sob works his way out of his throat. He doesn't move away, doesn't fight back, but instead goes stiff.

'Danger. Doesn't matter. Do what you're going to do.'

Bob looks down at this, and mentally sighs. 'Kid doesn't do well with being restrained.'

[helborn]

Hang on, I think I figured something out -

[Then they both go silent for a few minutes.]

We're back in Liminal. He's hurt pretty badly. We had to portal out even if it was a little obvious. Can you pick him up? I don't have hands.

[breakaleginhalf]

"I get it, Bob, I was there for both his dungeons," he snaps at the bird. "That's not helping."

He takes his hand off Casper's shoulder and caresses his head, running his thick finger through Casper's hair in a gentle motion. "It won't take long, just. You don't have to hold it in, Cas. I got you." It's already partway healed, it won't take much longer.

[helborn]

'I know! For fuck's sake, I know, I just... he's panicking and I - The bird sounds distressed, far from his usual annoyed state, and his feathers are ruffling up.

Casper takes in little pained breaths, and while the goop seems to be healing his neck wounds he's pulled his wrists up against his chest tightly. 'Failed. I failed. I couldn't do anything. Tried to use what I learned. Didn't work. Supposed to stand up for people...'

[breakaleginhalf]

Gil sighs quietly. Of course Bob was freaking out as well. "Bob, come sit on me. Seems like you need it."

He keeps stroking Casper's hair, keeping an eye on the goo's progress. He's not gonna let Casper scar over this. "You can tell me all about it in a minute, Cas, just relax. I'm gonna stop it hurting."

[helborn]

He eyes Gil for a moment and then flutters down to perch on his shoulder. He does his best to not dig in his talons, at least.

'Don't know if you... can. Cursed or something. At least on my back.' He does untense a little bit, leaning into the touch. He's still shaking slightly, but his breathing is evening out slowly as the pain around his neck starts to fade.

[breakaleginhalf]

The goo finished soaking into Casper's neck and Gil eyes it critically, using the hand in Casper's hair to very gently turn his head a little to make sure there's no marks left.

"Why did you think that was a good idea?" he sighs, exasperated beyond hell. "Stay calm, okay, I'm gonna do your wrists now."

He gives Bob a little pat first, smoothing down some feathers before he pulls more goo out and wraps it around both of Casper's wrists.