[Week 2] Early morning day 320

[desperate_times_right]

[Chloe’s mental voice sounds weak and disoriented, as if she’s in shock]

Can someone come to the caves? I need help.

I think Hana’s dead.

Comments

[youandyoualone]

I will ask him if this is something he might do.

[helborn]

Please. I... I'm not afraid of dying, but I don't want my mistakes to hurt Bob if I do. He didn't ask for this... he doesn't deserve this...

[Fuck, now he's crying.]

[youandyoualone]

Casper...

[There's the psychic sensation of something very like a hand extended. If Casper takes it, he'll be drawn into a mind palace the resembles nothing so much as Anafiel Delaunay's own study--and because Delaunay has enough practice with mind palaces, they will both be conscious of their true surroundings as well.

Care for a psychic hug, Casper?

(He might be trying to awkwardly ignore the tears in the process. But that's his damage, not yours.)]

[helborn]

[He's confused, but does take the hand - and is surprised by the study. He's never been in a mind palace before.]

[Still, he recognizes the gesture and hugs Anafiel tightly, shaking a little and sniffling.]

[youandyoualone]

[He'll return the embrace and stroke Casper's hair as he does. It is good that this is merely the mind and no real snot will get on Anafiel's clothing.]

[helborn]

[The touch to his hair calms him down a bit, and he tries to breathe - this might be a mindscape but the rise and fall of his chest is still grounding.]

I... it's been years. I'm one of my mother's playing pieces but she's basically holding me ransom by having my soul outside my body. It was her punishment for me dying.

[youandyoualone]

Oh Casper, I am truly sorry...

[He'll press a kiss to the boy's forehead: utterly chaste and more quasi-familial than anything.]

[helborn]

[He sniffs again and hugs a little tighter, careful not to use too much force.]

Family I made here is way better. Can't even say how many times better because you don't get anything if you multiply zero.

[youandyoualone]

I have often thought the family one makes for oneself is more important than blood ties.

[Having rejected and been rejected by his own father, how can he think otherwise?

He pats Casper's back.]

Now. Do you wish to talk to Anaf yourself about the matter of yourself and Bob? I think I might be able to bring him here--or we might indeed all meet in person, if you would rather. We are in the sculpture garden at the current moment.

[helborn]

[He nods and lifts an arm up to wipe his face, taking a step back.]

I've been keeping Bob out of the Jaunt because there's no ravens in this place. I can show you the relevant stuff though if we meet up.

[youandyoualone]

[He nods.]

At the sculpture garden, then. Shall we say in an hour? I need to talk to Alcuin inside this mind palace first.

[Talk, kiss... same difference.]

[helborn]

That's fine. I'll be there. If we need to ask him something, he's on the network, too.