He did. [...] Though a part of me wonders if that was a blessing or if it only made it even worse for him.
[there was a certain warmth in seeing boothill claim back his consciousness. on the other hand, it was also a stark reminder that they were killing him, and on his end, it must've been horrific to face what he'd done and was doing?]
[ That's always the thing and how it is. They have to try. He produces a few folded up sheets of paper from the inside of his vest and a pen, shuffling them around and squinting tiredly at the notes. ]
Stray monster. Possession, to put it shortly. Murder. If it occurs, probably another counter-ritual set up by our horsemen...
Which ends in a less-than-traditional exorcism. Well... it's an execution, of us, by us.
I'm still asking the horsemen for further clarification on the little things, but it does feel like something that would happen again unless we stop the cult from doing their ritual to begin with.
[she nods, rubbing her wrist as the word mom appears through her glove for a moment.]
... The cult has no reason not to do the ritual again, the exact same way or even worse. We probably can't get physical access to the cultists to just... force them to not do it, so we have to figure out a way to either make the ritual not worth it, or somehow counter the process when they attempt it.
Huh? [she blinks, a little caught off-guard by the question.] Not really. I guess some parts of this situation just, um, reminded me of stuff from the past...
well, he told her a bit about his own circumstances, so she can say this much.]
... My mom turned into a monster before. A miracle happened, and I was able to bring her back, but... there was a period of time where I was bracing myself to have to kill her.
So a lot of this is just reminding me of how I felt back then. [a beat] But like I said, it worked out, so you don't have to worry about me or anything...!
Even temporary, that must've been very difficult for you.
[ Mothers are important to most children (people die when they are killed). Anyway, he is a firm believer in that just because something ended alright doesn't mean that the process in of itself wasn't harrowing. He's been on the field -- the term really is 'survived at what cost?'. ]
... Well, I'm ashamed to admit that when it actually came to do the deed, I kind of fell apart, and then someone got hurt protecting me.
[...]
But, um, don't worry! I learned my lesson about hesitating, so I know that if it's ever me in Karlach's position, I need to have resolve. Although it'd really be much better if I had my powers here and could resolve this non-fatally...
... Thanks, Daan. I appreciate it. [unfortunately not self-blaming is not her strong point but she accepts the rationale] You're right, though. The world would be a pretty cold place if we only ever did what was practical.
Mhm. It leaves a lot of mental baggage to be had, that's for sure. It's what they usually want, of course. Efficiency... even when it comes to lives... but it's never that simple.
...Anyway, I'm just saying. I've lost parents too. Some things, you just can't do anything about it.
I'm sorry. [even though i, oocly, suspect that daan does not love his parents...] But yeah... all you can do is roll with what you're given and do your best not to live with any regrets.
[a beat]
Speaking of which, it definitely looks like your doctor skills are going to be prudent, so I may have to ask for those tips sooner than later...
[ Me fucking cuffing Karlach to fix her hand today like AAAA so yeah he's probably done a bit of that. Sorry if he's got fresh blood on him. ]
...
Yeah. Looks like it.
[ He sighs. So much... everything is so much. ]
There's definitely a limit to what I can just teach you in such a short amount of time, but we can at least sort out the basics. You can always extend those and apply them to all sorts of places.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
anyway, she gives daan a faint smile when she sees him.]
Hi, Daan. That was... pretty rough to watch, huh?
no subject
"Pretty" might not cut it...
[ He takes this non-answer of his question as an answer in itself. ]
It does mean that Mr. Boothill is... contained...
...
He managed to regain himself.
no subject
[there was a certain warmth in seeing boothill claim back his consciousness. on the other hand, it was also a stark reminder that they were killing him, and on his end, it must've been horrific to face what he'd done and was doing?]
no subject
But usually it applies to people before they become a monster.
[ Their weird robot guy... ]
...
Not to be a downer, but I feel like it's going to happen again.
[ He wanted to deny it when some others suggested it to him yseterday, but today? ]
no subject
[...]
But it doesn't change what we have to do, which is find a way to end this. It might not be in time for the next one, but...
no subject
[ That's always the thing and how it is. They have to try. He produces a few folded up sheets of paper from the inside of his vest and a pen, shuffling them around and squinting tiredly at the notes. ]
Stray monster. Possession, to put it shortly. Murder. If it occurs, probably another counter-ritual set up by our horsemen...
Which ends in a less-than-traditional exorcism. Well... it's an execution, of us, by us.
I'm still asking the horsemen for further clarification on the little things, but it does feel like something that would happen again unless we stop the cult from doing their ritual to begin with.
no subject
... The cult has no reason not to do the ritual again, the exact same way or even worse. We probably can't get physical access to the cultists to just... force them to not do it, so we have to figure out a way to either make the ritual not worth it, or somehow counter the process when they attempt it.
no subject
[ The counter-ritual they have is better than nothing, but obviously... they could do better. ]
...
Anything else particularly on your mind?
[ He doesn't want to pry about people and their writings, but he feels like the same word keeps repeating itself. ]
no subject
no subject
[ ...
But his voice softens to something quieter, weighted but shallow. Mom... ]
I just hope it's not bothering you too much.
no subject
well, he told her a bit about his own circumstances, so she can say this much.]
... My mom turned into a monster before. A miracle happened, and I was able to bring her back, but... there was a period of time where I was bracing myself to have to kill her.
So a lot of this is just reminding me of how I felt back then. [a beat] But like I said, it worked out, so you don't have to worry about me or anything...!
no subject
Even temporary, that must've been very difficult for you.
[ Mothers are important to most children (people die when they are killed). Anyway, he is a firm believer in that just because something ended alright doesn't mean that the process in of itself wasn't harrowing. He's been on the field -- the term really is 'survived at what cost?'. ]
no subject
... Well, I'm ashamed to admit that when it actually came to do the deed, I kind of fell apart, and then someone got hurt protecting me.
[...]
But, um, don't worry! I learned my lesson about hesitating, so I know that if it's ever me in Karlach's position, I need to have resolve. Although it'd really be much better if I had my powers here and could resolve this non-fatally...
no subject
[ He sighs, softly. ]
We're only human, not machines of war.
no subject
no subject
...Anyway, I'm just saying. I've lost parents too. Some things, you just can't do anything about it.
no subject
[a beat]
Speaking of which, it definitely looks like your doctor skills are going to be prudent, so I may have to ask for those tips sooner than later...
no subject
...
Yeah. Looks like it.
[ He sighs. So much... everything is so much. ]
There's definitely a limit to what I can just teach you in such a short amount of time, but we can at least sort out the basics. You can always extend those and apply them to all sorts of places.
no subject
but she nods.]
I'll take whatever I can get! I know I don't have a lot of useful skills here, so I want to do what I can to help.
no subject
Can you run me down on what do you know then? Just so I have a bar on where to start.
no subject
no subject
Another person reliant on healing magic... he's quiet for a moment, but nods eventually. ]
That's definitely better than nothing. Maybe knowing how to support a sprain or broken bone could be something useful to add to the repertoire?
[ Him fucking. Remembering watching Yuffie fall off the roof earlier in the week. God. ]
no subject
That'd be good! ... I can, um, definitely imagine those things happening to people here.
no subject
My only concern is running out of bandages... we're really limited in terms of. Well. Cloth and clothes, as a whole.
[ Please. A laundromat is all he asks for. And also more but that'd be nice. ]
no subject
[THEY ASK FOR SO LITTLE]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)