[ the Fool is, evidently, not awake when Devin's text arrives. In the (relatively) early morning, however, Devin receives a video call from the Fool, who has propped his yimo up on his counter while he goes about making himself breakfast in his kitchenette. There's some light jazz playing on the radio; the Fool's hair, still damp from the bath, has been pinned up out of his face rather than tied into a braid. (It's too damn hot for that.) ]
You are a night owl, [ observed with a whimsical sideways glance once Devin answers. more sincerely, ] Is everything all right?
[While Devin might have preferred the control of texting, he does answer the call. There's not much to indicate where in his tiny apartment he is, given that he has no decorations.]
I don't need as much sleep as humans. The Dreaming, however, is a shitty alarm clock. [He pauses and glances away as though he might be looking out a window.] There are enough uneasy nights to go around without someone else's visions butting in.
[ Ah. Yes. That would explain much, wouldn't it? The Fool pauses in the process of arranging a selection of fruits on his plate to glance at his yimo again, the whimsical quirk to his lips fading some. ]
Yes, its timing could be better, that I shall grant you. Just a moment, [ and here, some juggling ensues while the Fool collects his breakfast and yimo, carrying both over to a small table beside an open window lined with blooming plants. Some birdsong and wind chime notes carry through. ]
What did you see? [ He doesn't ask if Devin experienced visions; they all have. While waiting for his response, the Fool plucks up an apricot and takes a bite from it. ]
A woman named Al'amar. First all the food she ate was turning to ash, then some kind of siren song, and this last one was... more graphic. She cut into some sort of vine wrapped around a tree and it bled like it was an animal before attacking her.
[He grimaces faintly; as objective as he tries to make his observations, he's not heartless.] It hurt her. I'm not entirely sure how, she wasn't coherent enough at that point, but... [The agony reminded him of his own traumas, so near the surface of late. It's probably why this one woke him and kept him awake, where the others had been less disruptive.] I think they're beyond the barrier, wherever they are.
[A mug appears that is probably full of tea.] What about you?
[ It's hard to know just what makes the Fool's heart clench, Devin's description of this strange woman's suffering, or the small but tell-tale signs in his expression that speak to his own private anguish. There is still much about his friend that the Fool does not know, pieces of his history that are his alone. The hints are there, though.
A slow inhalation, and, ] Her name is Eitria, I think. I can only guess that she is crewman aboard the same ship. Vines made of shadow hounded her and dragged her into what seemed like a burial ground for the dead.
[ He grows quiet, his expression distant, as though the subject has brought him back to a dark place. Undoubtedly it has, for both of them, but he does not appear to mind sharing this moment with Devin. ] In my last vision, she was very afraid.
[Devin listens carefully, studying the Fool's expression in turn. Sometimes what was seen but unsaid could tell one more about a situation than words alone. They both have specters from their pasts that may never fail to haunt them, some of which they've shown to each other.]
It seems the visions might be getting darker as they continue. [He says it almost apologetically.] The Dreaming tends to do things in fits and starts, from what I've seen, so hopefully they'll stop altogether soon. A few of us are researching the incident.
[Why is he trying to be reassuring? Well, he knows why. It's the same reason he's contacted only the Fool about this. Devin hesitates over this thought, questioning the wisdom of saying what's on the tip of his tongue. He still hasn't given the Fool an answer.]
If they do continue, I'm a night owl, as you've noted. I'll probably be up. [Way to be unnecessarily vague, Devin.]
[ He is, perhaps, not as vague as he believes that he is.
In response, the Fool quirks a smile that gentles some of the lines of strain and fatigue that have been forming at his eyes and the corners of his lips. He drops his eyes to his fingers for a moment; no, he has not yet received an answer from Devin--and Fool though he is, he is not fool enough to believe that this gesture might be mistaken for more than it is. Nevertheless, what it is, is more than enough. ]
You are very kind, [ he says, his smile thinning though not fading. ] Thank you, Devin.
[the Fool considers the text messages with a soft smile, grateful for the moment that he does not have to put on the appearance of good cheer. Ilda is a sweet child, and it would not do to worry her. He replies,] Of course you may request a carving, and you do not have to pay for it. What would you like?
Yeah, it is. Just a little gift. His wish-granting hasn’t been going well... people don’t believe him, I think. I don’t know if this will cheer him up, but I want to try!
[ Please wait a moment as Ilda screeches and bounces around in delight, wherever she is right now. ]
Thank you, Mister Fool!!!
Should I tell him to contact you or do you want me to deliver the instructions? I have to warn you, though, he can pop out of nowhere and he probably will if I tell him you have a wish! Hopefully you're not having a bath right now!
[...well he's certainly not having a bath now, is he? The Fool can neither confirm nor deny that he has hastily removed himself from comfortably luxuriating in just-this-side-of-hot bathwater, thrown on a houserobe, and is in the process of braiding his hair into order when he texts Ilda back.]
He may seek me out as he likes. That won't be a problem.
[Devin has had far, far too much alcohol to make this a wise decision, which is possibly exactly why he's done it. The aftereffects of Bobby's presence in Aifaran are... significant. Ugly, or so he would call it were he not currently slouched into the cushions of his couch with a bottle of whisky open in front of him.] it's over
no one died. the dreaming didn't let her have her powers. i'd thank god but It's definitely not responsible for this miracle
USER ID: afoolsgold (the Fool) [The Fool did not intend to fall asleep when he decided to lay down during the hottest part of the afternoon, yet it's clear to him that he was indeed drowsing when his yimo buzzes on his bedside table. He tiredly reaches for it, then starts when he sees the name--moreso when he reads the message.]
[The implication, of course, is that Devin does not entirely - or perhaps remotely - believe X. He could have gotten there faster. He could have insisted on laying a claim to X and therefore know whenever he was in danger. There are a lot of 'coulds', and not all of them sensible.]
i'm surprised i *ever* put your mind at ease. i'm usually a source of problems.
[It is several beats before a response arrives. Something is off about these messages, though the Fool is still just a touch too sleep-addled to parse together why. That does nothing to prevent the dull ache in his heart that tightens each time he reads those words.]
USER ID: afoolsgold (the Fool)
I wish you wouldn't say such things about yourself.
[hesitation, before he sends the message,]
USER ID: USERNAME (SURNAME, NAME)
You are a source of many things for me, but not trouble. I create plenty of that on my own.
[Devin does not respond to either of these messages immediately. Being moderately addled by alcohol hasn't removed his gut instinct to be unkind to himself; if anything, it's only made it more obvious. His unaddressed Feelings about the Fool aren't helping un-muddle anything.]
USER ID: oldenglish (Parker, Devin)
the demonic ex-girlfriend was definitely my trouble. at least she didn't think you were a chewtoy
[and he regrets sending the message almost immediately, but is grateful regardless that the depth of his shock cannot be so clearly communicated via text message. because like holy shit devin. holy shit.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
afoolsgold) wrote2018-01-16 10:28 am
TEXT
after an absurd amount of overthinking
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Can I possibly request for a wood carving? I’ll pay for it, of course!
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[the Fool considers the text messages with a soft smile, grateful for the moment that he does not have to put on the appearance of good cheer. Ilda is a sweet child, and it would not do to worry her. He replies,] Of course you may request a carving, and you do not have to pay for it. What would you like?
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I’d like a little hut, please. Something like this, maybe? It doesn’t have to be very detailed, just as long as it looks like a house!
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[a pause, and then,]
Is this for Yato?
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Yeah, it is. Just a little gift. His wish-granting hasn’t been going well... people don’t believe him, I think. I don’t know if this will cheer him up, but I want to try!
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[another pause follows while the Fool contemplates something.]
I have a wish that, perhaps, your friend can grant.
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[ Please wait a moment as Ilda screeches and bounces around in delight, wherever she is right now. ]
Thank you, Mister Fool!!!
Should I tell him to contact you or do you want me to deliver the instructions? I have to warn you, though, he can pop out of nowhere and he probably will if I tell him you have a wish! Hopefully you're not having a bath right now!
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He may seek me out as he likes. That won't be a problem.
[not now, anyway.]
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drunk text;
text;
[The Fool did not intend to fall asleep when he decided to lay down during the hottest part of the afternoon, yet it's clear to him that he was indeed drowsing when his yimo buzzes on his bedside table. He tiredly reaches for it, then starts when he sees the name--moreso when he reads the message.]
Are you hurt?
text;
text;
text;
[The implication, of course, is that Devin does not entirely - or perhaps remotely - believe X. He could have gotten there faster. He could have insisted on laying a claim to X and therefore know whenever he was in danger. There are a lot of 'coulds', and not all of them sensible.]
i'm surprised i *ever* put your mind at ease. i'm usually a source of problems.
text;
USER ID: afoolsgold (the Fool)
[hesitation, before he sends the message,]
USER ID: USERNAME (SURNAME, NAME)
text;
USER ID: oldenglish (Parker, Devin)
text;
[and he regrets sending the message almost immediately, but is grateful regardless that the depth of his shock cannot be so clearly communicated via text message. because like holy shit devin. holy shit.]
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