recession | scawwy ✦ karlach cliffgate

[she looks

vaguely guilty]

It's a long story. I'm fine, though, it's asleep.

......

[ This look. His vibe, it's being harshed. ]

[NOT THE VIBE]

You don't need to get in my skull around for worms! Already been done! By not you!

... Look, it's... you probably don't want to hear about it. But I promise it's not a problem.

I thought you were being hyperbolic. Now that you're not, I'm more than a little curious -- in the concern sort of way.

I do hope you're really honest with me when you say it's not a problem, because I think you can understand why I might be questioning this with that look on your face.

[ Your guilt, ma'am? ]

I can tell you if you really want to hear about it.

[she trusts him, she just knows it's one of those things that skeeves people out really bad, and also sometimes people try to kill her at home when she mentions it so that's fun.]

I am. Honest. Cross my heart, hope to - well, not die. It's not a problem here.

[ She got that Animorph slug in her. ]

Only if you feel like talking about it. But fine.

[ Since it's also like what IS Daan going to do about it. God forbid he actually does do brain surgery, he's not Caiman. ]

What say you to a check-up on your hand and then see what's in store for us? Looks like people are buzzing about a bit.

[this is almost not a joke actually]

That sounds good. [reaches... for him. affection week is a nightmare she really is going to be so much worse. he can look at her hand, if he wants.] I heard a bit about the clothing store? And sheep.

... Anyway, I've got to explain to you what Mind Flayers are first.

[ Hm. Well I was a stan of the friendly Yeerks or whatever they were called so you know what this is fine. ]

I don't know about you, but I could definitely use a change of clothes.

[ He takes that hand with ease. His cheer has been harshed somewhat but he still seems more easygoing than he has been for the past week. Gonna unwrap, check, make sure there's no signs of infections and that the connection hasn't budged or anything. Clean up carefully with a damp cloth and all that. ]

Mhm? Sure.

[ Tell him about it while he works. ]

[she is sorry for harshing your buzz buddy

but she lets him do this, watching. it's like, in bad shape, her hand, but not because she's made it worse. mostly just because her fingers got chopped off by a chainsaw. it's clean, and they're connected, but she absolutely cannot move them in the least, and she's afraid to even use that hand too much because of it. she's sort of resigned herself to just never having feeling in them every again.]

They're monsters. Tentacle-faced monsters that eat brains and put their worms in people's heads to turn them into more mind flayers. That happened to me, but... it's a really powerful version of one of the tadpoles. And - long story short, I've got an ally who keeps the damn thing from turning me.

[ He can only do so much... so really it's up to you how well her fingers heal. Based on what I read he COULD probably manage proper reattachment but it isn't like he's got a proper clinic to work with right now.

Making sure she won't get like, an infection and die though. There's at least that. ]

Karlach.

I have to tell you that that is very concerning.

[ Not a problem his ass. Like, he says this objectively and neutrally like he's just giving a medical opinion but his medical opinion is that this is fucked up bro. ]

[yeah this is mostly the mods being like girl your fingers got chopped off and everything here sucks so COMPROMISE. she's fine with them being not infected! that is all she needs!

as for the rest, she sighs.]

No, I know, it's not fucking ideal. [her tail is doing little agitated flickies.] I was trying to get rid of it before I got scooped up here. Was really close, too.

It's sleeping right now. I know it's not active, because I'd have loads more tentacles if that was the case.

[ Frowning a bit more. ]

We could do with less tentacles.

[ Thinking about Boothill. He'll rewrap up Karlach's fingers for now, back to the bandage mitt with ye. ]

Is this a common occurrence where you're from? Do you know how you're going to get rid of it?

[yeah she is PRETTY sick of tentacles.]

Sort of? It's not uncommon, people have got cures for it normally. For us, though, it's a matter of getting rid of the source.

And the progression of its effects have... paused, for the time being.

[ He's trying not to sound you know, too much, but the idea of it is concerning for a pretty obvious reason he thinks. ]

That's a pretty big problem...

It is.

[she just agrees.]

I'll be alright. I had a whole plan. Or - well, Gale did, but same thing.

You really look out for each other, don't you?

[ It's a good thing. ]

[a little smile.]

Yeah. We've been though a lot. Helped each other beat the shit out of our personal villains. That makes you close like nothing else.

Personal villains...

[ That's so funny. He imagines there are bigger horrors but the imagery of just like, Karlach and her gang of not-twink nerd wizard and hissy aristocrat who probably doesn't want to be there rolling up to some devil. ]

I imagine it does.

[that is exactly what it is, just add in an alien, a goth girl, fantasy zorro, and a bear]

... I don't want to fuck your mood more, so don't answer me if it's going to make you sad, but have you got people?

...

[ He needs a moment to understand that, try to process what she's asking.

... ]

She's dead.

[she's quiet for a couple of moments, and then she reaches and holds his wrist lightly.]

I'm sorry.

[ It really is such a weird feeling when you're supposed to be cheerful but it's obviously not possible to. It kind of neutralises out into something more hollow and blasé, blank. ]

Obviously not anything you were involved in or could do about it.

[ So no need to apologise. ]

Told you not to answer me if it was going to make you sad.

[gently.]

Do you want to talk about it? You don't have to.

...My alternative would be to say nothing, and I think you just might have a tendency to overworry and overthink. What kind of doctor puts more stress on the patient by being obscure?

There isn't... a lot to say... or I guess it's more that I don't know where I'd start or what I'd say.

My wife. Elise.

[ ...He just shrugs slightly, helplessly. ]

Aw, come on. We're friends, meds. You can put a little stress on me.

[he's not wrong, but she does have enough confidence to correct him here.

this is a tricky topic. it's rough, and she wants to handle it the right way, so she thinks.]

... I know, I know. But I really am sorry you lost her. That can't have been easy. Would've wrecked me.

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