![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[ this comes after Alec and Henry. which means he'll hear, after a few moments, the rapid thud thud thud thud thud of Sprezzatura sprinting up the stairs to the motel lobby, right before she flings the door open for him ]
[ The door flies open, and Arthur is surprised by the suddenness. He spares another moment after that to just look her over, looking for signs of injury from the her oni's escapades in her bodies.
She seems to have been healed, thank the Twelve.
And with that in mind he suddenly surges forward to fling his arms around her and pull her close. ]
She seems to have been healed, thank the Twelve.
And with that in mind he suddenly surges forward to fling his arms around her and pull her close. ]
[ As Dream had somehow moved him out of harm's way, Arthur had dimly thought to himself that this must be what it feels like to be on the other end of a Rescue. After that, he'd jerked to a stop, swayed in place a bit, and fallen abruptly to his hands and knees.
He only sort of vaguely registers Sprezzatura's body crumpling to the floor, and then Dream is at his side. He inhales a shaky breath, coughing up a bit more blood for his efforts. Ah, seems he hadn't healed himself as well as he'd hoped. ]
I have... been better...
[ Standing feels like so much effort. What if he took a nap on the floor instead... ]
He only sort of vaguely registers Sprezzatura's body crumpling to the floor, and then Dream is at his side. He inhales a shaky breath, coughing up a bit more blood for his efforts. Ah, seems he hadn't healed himself as well as he'd hoped. ]
I have... been better...
[ Standing feels like so much effort. What if he took a nap on the floor instead... ]
[ this little tiefling is trying to climb him like a tree ]
[They will have to worry about Sprezzatura later. Right now, he isn't entirely certain if they woke her up, her oni still wouldn't be the one behind the figurative wheel. At least his sand guarantees that she will be sleeping for quite a while.
Dream crouches down, his dark coat pooling around him. He puts an arm around Arthur, as though to keep him steady. In reality, this will also aid with-]
I will take us to my room. You may recover there, or we might find a healer for you.
[Up close, he really looks worse for wear. He feels his chest constrict at the sight of it.]
Dream crouches down, his dark coat pooling around him. He puts an arm around Arthur, as though to keep him steady. In reality, this will also aid with-]
I will take us to my room. You may recover there, or we might find a healer for you.
[Up close, he really looks worse for wear. He feels his chest constrict at the sight of it.]
[ He will heft her up, then! Take her fully in his arms and lift her feet from the floor to hold her. I hope no one else is going to try to leave the dorm because they're gonna be here a minute. ]
Oh, my sky. I'm so glad to see you.
Oh, my sky. I'm so glad to see you.
[ His heart aches to have to leave Sprezzatura behind. He doesn't know how much of her awareness she retains when the oni is in control, but even just a little is surely too much. Gods, has she been silently screaming this whole time, a prisoner in the back of her own mind?
He looks past Dream for a moment, to her crumpled form on the floor. He can't be certain who will be in control when she wakes, either. He swallows thickly, and nods. ]
Let's go.
He looks past Dream for a moment, to her crumpled form on the floor. He can't be certain who will be in control when she wakes, either. He swallows thickly, and nods. ]
Let's go.
[Dream feels the guilt of leaving her there, too. Sprawled out like so much of the mess created in the pool hall. But there's little to do for it now. No doubt they will both follow up with her later, and hopefully there will be far less oni to worry about then.
So he nods, and in a similar fashion to how he arrived--whorling darkness, sand and raven's wings--they are both enveloped by the sensation of night.
But it's dark for only a few seconds. Soon, that darkness recedes, leaving them in the same position, only at the floor of Dream's room in Basilisk. Now, he eases Arthur up to his feet... Slowly, slowly, over to his bed.]
Sit.
So he nods, and in a similar fashion to how he arrived--whorling darkness, sand and raven's wings--they are both enveloped by the sensation of night.
But it's dark for only a few seconds. Soon, that darkness recedes, leaving them in the same position, only at the floor of Dream's room in Basilisk. Now, he eases Arthur up to his feet... Slowly, slowly, over to his bed.]
Sit.
[ Arthur has used teleportation magicks before, but they have never felt like that. Soon enough the world reasserts itself, and every ache and pain in his body makes itself known.
Getting to the bed is a chore, to say the least. ]
Ah... seven hells. I feel like I've gone toe to toe with the Lord of Levin himself.
Getting to the bed is a chore, to say the least. ]
Ah... seven hells. I feel like I've gone toe to toe with the Lord of Levin himself.
[Dream may be an Endless, affording him a very useful array of powers, but healing is not one of them — and it makes him feel useless, how very obviously Arthur needs it right now. For now, he stands, stiff with concern, mouth in a thin frown.]
I wish for you to tell me precisely what happened. But first, we must find a way to heal you properly.
[He doubts the man has the energy to heal himself, but perhaps another healer, or a coin spent on the card in the shop—
(For some reason, he feels awful for this having happened at all.)]
You should have called on me sooner.
I wish for you to tell me precisely what happened. But first, we must find a way to heal you properly.
[He doubts the man has the energy to heal himself, but perhaps another healer, or a coin spent on the card in the shop—
(For some reason, he feels awful for this having happened at all.)]
You should have called on me sooner.
I would have liked to. There simply wasn't the time. The shift from Sprezzatura to her possession was... abrupt.
[ Right. Healing first. He starts digging through is pockets for his phone again. ]
I've the coins for a card. I tried to heal myself, and it wasn't enough.
[ Thanks power nerfs. ]
[ Right. Healing first. He starts digging through is pockets for his phone again. ]
I've the coins for a card. I tried to heal myself, and it wasn't enough.
[ Thanks power nerfs. ]
Edited (repetitionnnn) 2023-01-23 03:35 (UTC)
[ what did he just say? who knows! she's buried her face as deeply against his neck as she can, one hand firm at the back of his neck. she even wraps her legs around his waist, but this time there is nothing sexy about it. ]
I couldn't stop her—I couldn't—
I couldn't stop her—I couldn't—
[ Abruptly, he tries to straighten, to pull away a little to look at her. Difficult when they're so entwined. ]
No. Please don't. You cannot blame yourself. I won't hear it.
Twelve forfend, I was so worried about you.
No. Please don't. You cannot blame yourself. I won't hear it.
Twelve forfend, I was so worried about you.
[He's silent, because this realization is hitting him all at once: he never told Arthur about how simple it is to summon him if needed. The thought had not crossed his mind, which was foolish of him. This prison, in which they are thrown into a danger without a moment's notice--]
Arthur... [His voice is low, heavy.] You need only call for me. Say my name, or scrawl it upon parchment. And I will be there, especially for you.
[It is too late now, isn't it? Dream shuffles to his own bedside and sits next to Arthur. Awful feelings intensified.]
I should have said as much earlier.
Arthur... [His voice is low, heavy.] You need only call for me. Say my name, or scrawl it upon parchment. And I will be there, especially for you.
[It is too late now, isn't it? Dream shuffles to his own bedside and sits next to Arthur. Awful feelings intensified.]
I should have said as much earlier.
Oh...
[ He's quiet for a moment, phone held loosely in his hand. It's almost absurd to realize it could have been that easy. It would have saved him a lot of hurt. And Clover... oh, poor Clover.
His ears fold back, but in the end, he leans his weight against Dream's side. ]
What's done is done. Rest assured that your name shall be the first upon my lips should I find myself in danger again.
[ He's quiet for a moment, phone held loosely in his hand. It's almost absurd to realize it could have been that easy. It would have saved him a lot of hurt. And Clover... oh, poor Clover.
His ears fold back, but in the end, he leans his weight against Dream's side. ]
What's done is done. Rest assured that your name shall be the first upon my lips should I find myself in danger again.
[Arthur's warm against him, and it does bring a mote of comfort -- a reminder that he's here now, and not in that blasted pool hall, fending for his own life without anyone to aid him. But the guilt claws deeply. That quiet "oh" of a realization stings, in knowing that he could have saved him so much pain.
Easy to fall into gloom thanks to this thought alone. But Dream reminds himself that Arthur is the one in need of aid right now, that his self-pitying can be saved for later, and he lifts a heavy arm to (gently) wrap around Arthur's middle.]
And I will be there. Swiftly. You have my word.
But for now... what can I do for you?
Easy to fall into gloom thanks to this thought alone. But Dream reminds himself that Arthur is the one in need of aid right now, that his self-pitying can be saved for later, and he lifts a heavy arm to (gently) wrap around Arthur's middle.]
And I will be there. Swiftly. You have my word.
But for now... what can I do for you?
I'm fine.
[ it's childish, but she pushes her face down even harder when he tries to draw away. don't look. just... don't. ]
[ it's childish, but she pushes her face down even harder when he tries to draw away. don't look. just... don't. ]
[ Oh no you don't!! ]
Sprezzatura... my love, look at me. Please.
Sprezzatura... my love, look at me. Please.
[ Please be mindful of the charred skin on one side. He took a glancing blow from a lightning bolt. (He's going to have to ask Da Vinci for help fixing his clothes, he thinks.)
If he knew what Dream was thinking, he would be quick to try and assuage that feeling of guilt. It wasn't his fault that this happened, and certainly not more than a simple mistake that Arthur didn't know he could call for him. But he doesn't know what Dream is thinking, so instead he just kind of sheepishly holds up his phone. ]
Help me work the blasted prison shop? I'm afraid I don't know how.
If he knew what Dream was thinking, he would be quick to try and assuage that feeling of guilt. It wasn't his fault that this happened, and certainly not more than a simple mistake that Arthur didn't know he could call for him. But he doesn't know what Dream is thinking, so instead he just kind of sheepishly holds up his phone. ]
Help me work the blasted prison shop? I'm afraid I don't know how.
[Oh, don't worry. Something will slip eventually; it always does with this one.
But for now, he nods, gingerly removing his arm from around Arthur and taking his phone. He may be an Endless, but he is not technologically inept as one might suspect. He has fiddled enough with his own phone that he can manage to exchange a token for a healing card in Arthur's stead without too much difficulty.
And there it is, a little tarot card appearing on cue, spinning gently mid-air, ready to be taken.]
There. I am only sorry you are having to use one of these so soon.
[?? so soon from what]
But for now, he nods, gingerly removing his arm from around Arthur and taking his phone. He may be an Endless, but he is not technologically inept as one might suspect. He has fiddled enough with his own phone that he can manage to exchange a token for a healing card in Arthur's stead without too much difficulty.
And there it is, a little tarot card appearing on cue, spinning gently mid-air, ready to be taken.]
There. I am only sorry you are having to use one of these so soon.
[?? so soon from what]
[ Arthur does watch, so he can see how to do it. Once the card appears, he reaches out to take it. ]
On the contrary. 'Tis the first time I've needed one since my arrival.
[ Clearly he's misunderstood whatever Dream meant.
The card vanishes in a burst of light, and Arthur breathes a sigh of relief as his injuries are fully healed. Broken ribs mend, bruises and burn marks vanish. It does nothing for his clothes or for the bone-deep weariness that's settled on him since the adrenaline wore off.
He leans against Dream a bit more. ]
Mm. May I stay for a while?
On the contrary. 'Tis the first time I've needed one since my arrival.
[ Clearly he's misunderstood whatever Dream meant.
The card vanishes in a burst of light, and Arthur breathes a sigh of relief as his injuries are fully healed. Broken ribs mend, bruises and burn marks vanish. It does nothing for his clothes or for the bone-deep weariness that's settled on him since the adrenaline wore off.
He leans against Dream a bit more. ]
Mm. May I stay for a while?
[ act like a child and get reprimanded like a child. her heart staggers in her chest, though—my love.
she lifts her face. looks like she hasn't been sleeping well again. ]
I will be fine.
[ a gentle self-correction ]
she lifts her face. looks like she hasn't been sleeping well again. ]
I will be fine.
[ a gentle self-correction ]
[ His expression softens. No, he doesn't suspect she's been sleeping well at all after all that. ]
All things with time. May I come in?
All things with time. May I come in?
[No, it's not what he means. He means that something bad might have happened to Arthur so soon after being involved with an Endless; as he said, fate is ever unkind when mortals are involved.
But he lets that thought go unspoken, too. Instead, he allows to borrow some of Arthur's relief when the healing takes place, removing pain and injuries alike.
Dream angles and lowers his head, his jawline gently nestled in Arthur's hair.]
As long as you like. Would you like to sleep here? I do not require use of the bed, and you still look so very worn.
But he lets that thought go unspoken, too. Instead, he allows to borrow some of Arthur's relief when the healing takes place, removing pain and injuries alike.
Dream angles and lowers his head, his jawline gently nestled in Arthur's hair.]
As long as you like. Would you like to sleep here? I do not require use of the bed, and you still look so very worn.
[ Ah. This is nice. After such a harrowing experience, it's nice to be comforted. To feel safe. He loops his arms around Dream's middle. ]
Ah, I suppose someone like you doesn't sleep, do you?
[ He leans away a little, turns his eyes up at Dream. ]
Still, I would like it if you stayed with me. Here. While I rest.
Ah, I suppose someone like you doesn't sleep, do you?
[ He leans away a little, turns his eyes up at Dream. ]
Still, I would like it if you stayed with me. Here. While I rest.
Page 13 of 23