Libuscha IV System Mingle (no. 1)

[necromanswers]

Who: Everyone! OTA!
Broadcast: sure why not
Action: yeahhhhhh
When: 11/12 to 1/4 (minus 12/26)


It's Candlenights! Or Christmas! Or whatever! It's festive! Go celebrate, explore, go get free stuff from a tree!!

More importantly it's a mingle!

--SYSTEM INFORMATION--

Comments

[deathcouture]

[ He'd half expected her to already be asleep before he could finish his question, but instead, the silence is heavy and thick. He frowns. He's never seen her look like that - not the drunk part, which he hasn't really seen either, but that's not so worrying as the way she looks completely worn down and... almost afraid? No, that's not it...

He takes the stick when it's offered, sits down on the other end of the couch, and considers it for a moment before carefully unwrapping the canvas. He doesn't have to get very far - he could recognize every inch of this thing if asked, and even seeing the handle is enough to let him know what this is all about. ]

The Umbra Staff...?

[ He doesn't unwrap the rest of it - knowing what it is, she's clearly got it wrapped for good reason - but his heart sinks just thinking about it. ]

Lup... How did you get this? -- Was it that tree?

[ No wonder she's drunk... Things are about to get a little stickier between her and Taako at this rate, not to mention how terrible this must make her feel on its own. ]

[necromanswers]

[Now that he's made the connection she looks away, staring deadpan at the opposite wall. Easier to focus on than his expression, which is still far too kind coming from someone who ought to be a stranger.]

I went down there trying to get something for Taako. Shoulda been more specific, I guess.

[Which is not strictly true, at least as far as she can guess. Even if she'd outright asked for it, the tree probably loves the drama of this "gift" as much as the Atroma do. Maybe it was her indecision that screwed her over.

Maybe this will help with Taako. Her own pain is just the price she has to pay for whatever this does to their relationship.]

[deathcouture]

Yeah, that's... that's definitely something for Taako. [ Gods. He takes a deep breath. ] Of all the things to give you, though...

[ She'd made the thing. Been locked inside of it. Done her damnedest to help Taako the entire time he had it. And now that Atroma's brought them all together from completely conflicting points in time, with varying levels of memories and understanding... it just seems all the more like her wish was incredibly backhandedly granted. ]

You're still going to give it to him?

[ He knows the answer. But still. ]

[necromanswers]

[She smiles weakly, hugging a knee up close to her chest, her movements still clumsy thanks to the alcohol. Even so, the conversation is about as sobering as it gets.]

What else am I supposed to do with it? It's not mine, it's his.

[And it is, plain as day. Kravitz may not have seen it when it was hers, but there are signs of his touch all over it even with it still half-covered. Little glittering stars peppered across the fabric, tiny accessories dangling that suited his fashion sense and wardrobe. It's Taako's. It's undeniably Taako's. It ceased to be hers the moment she was sucked into it- and that only became more true when he pulled it from her corpse.]

It's a good focus. He's stronger if he has it. Safer.

[deathcouture]

That's true. And who knows, we probably need all of the advantage we can get in this place.

[ Even if she kept it away from him, any scenario in which Taako finds it with her while not knowing who she is would just be even worse. He sighs quietly - he hates this for her. But all he an do to help is keep her secrets until something changes -- and he has to hope that something will change.

He winds the canvas back around the handle, hands it back over to her. ]

Don't worry - I won't tell him anything about this. I'm just... I'm sorry this happened.

[necromanswers]

...Mmm.

[Lup leans back against the couch, accepting the Umbra Staff and just sort of tucking it awkwardly between the cushions- so she can feel it there, but no touch it or be too close to it. She knows it won't do anything unless she physically does, but fear is rarely rational.]

Thanks, dude. For this, and... y'know. For that. I totally know how shitballs it is to keep all these secrets from him.

[deathcouture]

[ He nods - even cracks some halfways semblance of a smile for a second, because he kind of can't help but do so at the word "shitballs". But it isn't there for long. ]

Of course. I think you know that better than anyone.

[ He stands, looks over the stack of pillows she's got going on... ] I'm going to go get you a blanket. So I'll be right back. ... You should really get some sleep, Lup. And I can't imagine you'll have an easy morning, but... I'll be around if you need anything.

[ He wonders if she might be completely conked out before he even gets back, honestly. fjskdl ]

[necromanswers]

[Lup mumbles something unintelligible in response, burrowing further into the pillows and closing her eyes, secretly grateful to at last be able to rest. She's definitely unconscious when he returns; she doesn't even twitch or notice if he gets close to tuck her in.

She's also gone before 10 the next morning, without a word or a note. Hopefully he'll forgive her, because she really needs to vanish for a couple of days.]