Thirteenth: Killing the Mood (Video; un: Caster/forward dated to 14th)

[colchismagecraft]

[tw death/afterlife talk]

[Unlike last Valentine's Day, Caster didn't come to the network late that evening looking for a distraction- instead, she used the chance to shatter romantic moods, and ask a question that had been playing on her mind for some time.

Of course, the video was dark, poorly lit and as suspicious as was traditional with her- the lower half of her face only visible by the gleaming of a strange potion brewing nearby.]

Good evening, Avalon. For those I haven't met yet, I go by 'Caster' here.

For anyone else who's grown tired of the day's festivities and would like to humour me- I have a question. Tell me, what is the afterlife like in your worlds? There are so many legends, after all, and I'm always interested in hearing in how they differ.

[A pause for thought, before adding, by way of deflection: ]

Ah. I'm working on some new potions at the moment- do come by if you're curious.

Comments

[colchismagecraft]

It's open.

[Caster didn't even look up at the knock on the door- Had it really been 20 minutes? She couldn't be sure. For the time being, she was sat on her sofa with the hood of her cloak down, and the Golden Fleece over her lap like a blanket.

Instead of the door, her eyes were instead fixated on a photo frame she'd picked up not too long ago. With the Freeze Frame spell the Trader's had taught her...she could stay focused on the image she'd conjured there. One of a stern-faced man in the heat of battle, fists raised in a defensive stance.]

Oh...I should have prepared tea, shouldn't I?

[impostorsyndrome]

. . . You don't have to worry about that. I'm just glad you wanted the company.

[The room feels huge when he's walking across it like this, seeing her on the other side looking this small and lonely. And yet it's not big enough to give him enough time to know what to do to make this even a little bit better for her. Maybe someday he'll be good at this. He thinks he wants to be, and that's a new feeling for him. But that day isn't today, and Kadoc regrets that. He reaches her side, and stands, uncertain. What's right? To sit with her? Hug her? Should he have come at all?

But she'd agreed, and he's glad he did.

At last, he settles for first reaching out to rest a light hand on her shoulder.]

Hey, Medea.

[colchismagecraft]

Good evening. Thank you for coming by, Kadoc.

[She finally takes her eyes from the picture, but her unfocused eyes don't look up- instead, she placed the photoframe on her lap so that she could rest her hand over his, leaning into the touch.

Some of the conversations she'd had- especially with the anonymous Hijikata- had worn her down more than she thought. The redness in her eyes was testament to that.]

...I wanted to make sure that...he wouldn't have to suffer too severely, after it was all over.

[impostorsyndrome]

[Medea . . .

Now that they're touching—now that he can see that pain on her face close up—it's easier to offer her his arms. Still diffident, awkward, but without hesitation. He reaches out for her to gently pull her into a hug.]

. . . Yeah. I know. We want that for the ones we love most.

[colchismagecraft]

[There was no hesitation on her part, either, gratefully accepting and returning the hug. At least that took some of the sting out of the pain she felt.

He understood.]

...we do.

I wish...I wish my magic could do something for him now. But this world seems set on reminding me how little power I truly have.

[impostorsyndrome]

. . . This is probably gonna sound stupid, but I'm gonna say it anyway, 'cuz I'm pretty confident in it. I feel like the best thing you could possibly do for him is just . . . take good care of yourself. 'Cuz that's what he'd do for you. Doing that in his honor? That's better than any magic you could possibly do for him now.

[It feels stupid. It's some really optimistic heartwarming crap. But he has to say it, because he believes it, and he wants her to know that, for all that it might help even a little bit.]