Text, Sometime After Calming Down Post Price Is Right (Same Night)
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crushed_pearls
2022-11-18 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
Room is yours until or unless my presence there will not endanger you. A friend might be by to raid my wardrobe for clothing.
My apologies for any distress this has put you through.
Keep safe.
My apologies for any distress this has put you through.
Keep safe.
Miss Erin,
Forgive me for being uncertain as to what exactly has happened, as I was out of the room at the time. All I managed to catch was that something highly distressing occured. However, I will not ask you to revisit something painful, so you may rest easy with that.
I do not believe you would harm me, but I understand that your opinion on the matter weighs most heavily. Please keep safe yourself.
Helena
Forgive me for being uncertain as to what exactly has happened, as I was out of the room at the time. All I managed to catch was that something highly distressing occured. However, I will not ask you to revisit something painful, so you may rest easy with that.
I do not believe you would harm me, but I understand that your opinion on the matter weighs most heavily. Please keep safe yourself.
Helena
I would never harm you. My concern is for your health if others choose to harm me. It would be best to have no crossfire for you to be caught in.
It is difficult for me to suggest an impartial party to give you the information. Your worry is appreciated but I can defend myself if I have to.
She won't, but...Erin can. Technically.
Ossie Wuthridge and Giles may be best to ask if you can find them. They are the older English gentlemen that were competing for the piggy bank. Failing that I am certain someone will tell you soon enough. Forgive me but I do not have enough will to live to relate it over this text to speech when I still cannot figure out how to make it give me my commas.
She won't, but...Erin can. Technically.
Ossie Wuthridge and Giles may be best to ask if you can find them. They are the older English gentlemen that were competing for the piggy bank. Failing that I am certain someone will tell you soon enough. Forgive me but I do not have enough will to live to relate it over this text to speech when I still cannot figure out how to make it give me my commas.
Hello Helena Adams. I am Siffleur, a werecougar staying on this ship. Your roommate Erin made a deal with me that I will not prey on you. I need to know you by sight and smell so there are no unfortunate mistakes. What would be the most convenient place for us to meet up? Thank you.
Were you able to talk to Ossie and Giles?
[there's definitely going to be a pause before her replying, but a reply does come.]
Hello, Siffleur. Why don't we meet in the atrium's lounge? I am not sure if Miss Erin gave you a description of my appearance, but I have a cane, and I will be writing in a notebook. I'll be waiting for you there.
-Helena
Hello, Siffleur. Why don't we meet in the atrium's lounge? I am not sure if Miss Erin gave you a description of my appearance, but I have a cane, and I will be writing in a notebook. I'll be waiting for you there.
-Helena
It has been a very long day of letting anyone with concerns or questions come to me but it had to happen. It went better than I expected. Better even than I could have hoped. I have reason to believe you will not be placed in danger.
But I suspect as well that we need to talk before I move back in. If I move back in.
But I suspect as well that we need to talk before I move back in. If I move back in.
Currently I am still in Tauva which is very full of the results of me spending the last twelve hours chain smoking. I can be elsewhere if you prefer though I cannot stop smelling like smoke until I can do laundry.
I will be waiting warmly. Also notable is that I am sober with no intention of changing this.
Erin does, however, immediately begin moving the thoroughly used ashtrays to the far side of the bar. It's only polite.
Erin does, however, immediately begin moving the thoroughly used ashtrays to the far side of the bar. It's only polite.
It's a bit before she'll emerge into Tauva, having taken the time to wash her face, brush her hair, and settle her emotions before coming up to talk to Erin. There are things she wants to say, needs to say - but there's only a few things she needs to really know, and those will impact their situation going forward.
The telltale tap-tap of her cane and her steps heralds her arrival, and she pauses in the doorway, listening for anyone else in there.
The telltale tap-tap of her cane and her steps heralds her arrival, and she pauses in the doorway, listening for anyone else in there.
Erin's still here, gunpowder popping gently and steadily. It may not be back to its riotous glory but it's no longer a mournful sizzle.
"I'm here at the center table, Helena." Erin's voice is very tired. "Poured you a glass of orange juice if you want it. This place has a lot of it."
"I'm here at the center table, Helena." Erin's voice is very tired. "Poured you a glass of orange juice if you want it. This place has a lot of it."
"Thank you - I didn't realize there was more than alcohol and water in this place."
Coming to the table, she takes a seat, though she keeps her cane in one hand. It gives her some degree of security - her other hand trails along the table to find the juice, and she'll sip from it. She'll accept that much, to start with.
Coming to the table, she takes a seat, though she keeps her cane in one hand. It gives her some degree of security - her other hand trails along the table to find the juice, and she'll sip from it. She'll accept that much, to start with.
"The juice is admittedly supposed to be for making mixed drinks, but who's gonna stop us from drinking just the orange juice, the cops we don't have?" Erin sighs, sips her own juice mainly to have something to do with her hands (she doesn't want to light up, she's pretty sure Helena doesn't smoke). "...Have you been well, these last couple days? Making friends aboard?"
"I think I have. People have been generally so kind, it almost feels...well, one doesn't want to claim it's good luck to be spirited away like this, but out of our choice in companions, we're very fortunate."
She wouldn't say a word if Erin smoked - it's her own choice. There are no police, true.
"And you? Where have you been?"
She wouldn't say a word if Erin smoked - it's her own choice. There are no police, true.
"And you? Where have you been?"
"Staying with Crabb, my girlfriend. Older lass, voice has a lovely roughness to it. But given what we've learned about sudden roommates that can't last forever." Getting onto the topic. "...I'm willing to find somewhere else to stay. No explanation needed."
She takes a breath, lets the offer sit in the air for a moment, before she decides to speak.
"...Your past is not a story I am owed. Nor will I try and drag it out of you when it's not my business to be prying into. As I said before, I won't ask you to revisit something painful. Mr. Ossie and Giles understood this, when I explained it to them. They have the faith that you will do better, be better. That what happened there, it doesn't necessitate unchanging eternity."
Here, Helena pauses, because here is the but that she has been dwelling on. The condition of her offering out again. It's about her need to be the person who is kind, now, echoes in her head.
"Giles said that there are measures in place for safety's sake, should something cause a return. I know, it's a demand to make, but frankly speaking, I don't know any of you enough to go solely on your word about a vague concept. I...would feel a lot better, if I knew what those were."
"...Your past is not a story I am owed. Nor will I try and drag it out of you when it's not my business to be prying into. As I said before, I won't ask you to revisit something painful. Mr. Ossie and Giles understood this, when I explained it to them. They have the faith that you will do better, be better. That what happened there, it doesn't necessitate unchanging eternity."
Here, Helena pauses, because here is the but that she has been dwelling on. The condition of her offering out again. It's about her need to be the person who is kind, now, echoes in her head.
"Giles said that there are measures in place for safety's sake, should something cause a return. I know, it's a demand to make, but frankly speaking, I don't know any of you enough to go solely on your word about a vague concept. I...would feel a lot better, if I knew what those were."
"...Alright. I am going to tell you a few things. Most are not deadly secrets. The last one is, and I must, I am afraid, ask you to keep it close to your heart, as close as your own private nightmares."
Erin reaches for the matches and strikes one; she dances it between her fingers, the small flame flickering but never quite going out, letting out the oddly pleasant yet unpleasant scent of sulfur.
"One: I am not mentally well. I will likely die having never fully recovered, if recovery is even the right word. In times of great stress, great change...I will see things differently. Hear them, differently. And while my reactions will make sense to me, the reality I will be living in will not be this one. For this reason I have entrusted four people close to me with the secrets of my destruction, a secret I will now offer you."
Another, steadying breath. The match flickers and waves its tiny flame.
"Two: all of my people's magics can be undone by iron. Not steel, not iron alloys, but the dirty and honest iron ripped from the earth or which has fallen from the sky, either raw or forged as it is. My great strength cannot bend or break it, my most powerful defenses cannot halt it. When I'm shapeshifted, it cuts the goblin skin from me and forces me back into my natural body."
"...And three, my personal secret, the curse laid on me by being who I am: the stone jade, which repels evil, burns me at the touch. It cuts through my magic like iron does, poisons my blood, and boils away my flesh. Johnny Summer, Honoria Crabb, Ossie Wuthridge, and Giles possess this knowledge. It is now also in your keeping. I gave it to them in the hopes that if I have a bad episode, or run out of my own control, the touch of jade might terrify me back into my right mind. If it can't, it's the fastest way to kill me."
Erin reaches for the matches and strikes one; she dances it between her fingers, the small flame flickering but never quite going out, letting out the oddly pleasant yet unpleasant scent of sulfur.
"One: I am not mentally well. I will likely die having never fully recovered, if recovery is even the right word. In times of great stress, great change...I will see things differently. Hear them, differently. And while my reactions will make sense to me, the reality I will be living in will not be this one. For this reason I have entrusted four people close to me with the secrets of my destruction, a secret I will now offer you."
Another, steadying breath. The match flickers and waves its tiny flame.
"Two: all of my people's magics can be undone by iron. Not steel, not iron alloys, but the dirty and honest iron ripped from the earth or which has fallen from the sky, either raw or forged as it is. My great strength cannot bend or break it, my most powerful defenses cannot halt it. When I'm shapeshifted, it cuts the goblin skin from me and forces me back into my natural body."
"...And three, my personal secret, the curse laid on me by being who I am: the stone jade, which repels evil, burns me at the touch. It cuts through my magic like iron does, poisons my blood, and boils away my flesh. Johnny Summer, Honoria Crabb, Ossie Wuthridge, and Giles possess this knowledge. It is now also in your keeping. I gave it to them in the hopes that if I have a bad episode, or run out of my own control, the touch of jade might terrify me back into my right mind. If it can't, it's the fastest way to kill me."
Whatever Helena was expecting, it's not this. This open pouring out of vulnerability, of exactly how to counter her - it's more than she would have expected, and though neither of them can see her face, the stunned silence probably says enough. Helena swallows down why would you tell me this much and instead takes a deep breath instead. That's a lot to take in over two sips of orange juice.
She could have held back, but she didn't. Could have left it at that people knew how to destroy her, and Helena would have thought it enough, and left it there. But instead, in response to a lack of trust, she gave out more of her own. People don't...do that. Not around her. It's not something she foresaw in this discussion, and so instead she has to gather her thoughts on the fly.
What comes out instead of something practiced is something soft, honest.
"Thank you, for telling me all of this. Not a hint of it will I share with anyone, or so help me."
What comes next? She doesn't know. But...
"Do you want to come back?"
To the cabin, she means. If she decides to stay with her girlfriend, Helena won't blame her. But she wants it to be Erin's choice as much as anything else.
She could have held back, but she didn't. Could have left it at that people knew how to destroy her, and Helena would have thought it enough, and left it there. But instead, in response to a lack of trust, she gave out more of her own. People don't...do that. Not around her. It's not something she foresaw in this discussion, and so instead she has to gather her thoughts on the fly.
What comes out instead of something practiced is something soft, honest.
"Thank you, for telling me all of this. Not a hint of it will I share with anyone, or so help me."
What comes next? She doesn't know. But...
"Do you want to come back?"
To the cabin, she means. If she decides to stay with her girlfriend, Helena won't blame her. But she wants it to be Erin's choice as much as anything else.
"I would like to," Erin murmurs, without hesitation. "I'd like to sleep in the bed my friend made with her own hands, out of thoughtless kindness. I'd like a door I can lock when the world is simply too much, so I can read or cry or just roll the dice on a nap. And..."
"...I'd like to keep being your friend, Helena. If you'll have me."
She blows the match out before the flame can burn her, and drops it in the ashtray.
"...I'd like to keep being your friend, Helena. If you'll have me."
She blows the match out before the flame can burn her, and drops it in the ashtray.
"...then, come back with me, Erin."
She doesn't want to be touched without warning, Helena knows. So when she extends her hand on the table, palm up, it's a deliberate thing. An offer, if she wants it, for the reassurance that chosen touch can bring. Reaching out towards her, so that she's not the one that has to put in all the effort.
It's as easy as choosing to walk back, to where there are clothes not steeped in the smoke of stress and misery, to where her bed has been neatly kept, to let a very long day wind down. The shrapnel's been extracted from the wound, now what it needs is care and time.
There's a lot Helena doesn't know, won't know, unless it's given out or thrust into her lap. But that's all right - she's still learning the shape of this particular thing. It has softer edges than she first thought it did.
She doesn't want to be touched without warning, Helena knows. So when she extends her hand on the table, palm up, it's a deliberate thing. An offer, if she wants it, for the reassurance that chosen touch can bring. Reaching out towards her, so that she's not the one that has to put in all the effort.
It's as easy as choosing to walk back, to where there are clothes not steeped in the smoke of stress and misery, to where her bed has been neatly kept, to let a very long day wind down. The shrapnel's been extracted from the wound, now what it needs is care and time.
There's a lot Helena doesn't know, won't know, unless it's given out or thrust into her lap. But that's all right - she's still learning the shape of this particular thing. It has softer edges than she first thought it did.
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