scawwy ✦ karlach cliffgate

[recession]

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[recession]

[ 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?

[ablazement]

[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.

[recession]

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...

[ablazement]

It is.

[she just agrees.]

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

[recession]

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

[ It's a good thing. ]

[ablazement]

[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.

[recession]

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.

[ablazement]

[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?

[recession]

...

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

... ]

She's dead.

[ablazement]

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

I'm sorry.

[recession]

[ 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. ]

[ablazement]

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.

[recession]

...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. ]

[ablazement]

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.

[recession]

Still isn't.

[ He just absently turns around pieces of his medkit in his hand, looking at the dim light glinting off the needle and thread he put in the set as he turns it around. His voice is softer and muted. ]

It's been over a full week here, now, but not a full month since.

[ablazement]

[she is resisting the urge to hug him. she is vibrating.]

Hardly any fucking time to heal. [...] Can I ask what she was like?

[recession]

[ Oh... his expression softens with a sort of fragility and subtle tenderness, so slight it's a blink-it-and-miss kind of thing but maybe Karlach can squint. ]

Wonderful person in every way... Curious, inquisitive. Beautiful dark hair and eyes, but her soul was like sunlight.

Still sometimes wonder why she'd settled for someone like me. Not of noble birth and in servitude to her father besides. But somehow... he permitted it and she deigned to have me.

[ablazement]

[ablazement]

[leaves that there

i'm sorry karlach is so hopelessly, ridiculously a romantic, and this description makes her look like she wants to cry a little. it's like a visceral response of ougughhghh aaaa when he says her soul was like sunlight.

silence, for a moment, and then:]

Whatever you saw in her, she saw in you. Sort of how love works, you know? It just clicks.

[recession]

[ I'm losing it help... Karlach...!! She's so cute help me. Daan is quiet when she says that to her and this is probably the first time where he hasn't looked so chronically exhausted this entire time here, less lines. The faintest shadow of a smile while he zips up the kit. ]

...Maybe, maybe...

[ But it's less like (doubt) maybe and more like (uh-huh but being politely not too much of a sop on main) maybe. ]

[ablazement]

[she's so wobbly faced at this waaaaaah.]

I'm glad you had her. For however long. I know it's the kind of thing that's never going to go away, but that's good and bad, right? You've got her here.

[gently taps his chest, over his heart.]

You carry her with you.

[...]

Anyway - anyway, sorry, I'll stop being a big weepy mess about it, I just... it's nice to hear about love, even if it's not around anymore.

[recession]

[ ...

His softer expression wicks away like a candlelight going out. Back to being pretty sober as he raises a hand to his chest quietly. ]

Don't worry about it. Anyway, check-up's done.

[ablazement]

Thanks.

[her tail swishes back and forth.]

You're right about me overworrying. If I say something wrong, you're more than welcome to yell at me about it.

[but otherwise, she'll rest a hand on his back, and nudge him just a bit. walkies.]

[recession]

[ Sure, guess they can go for a walk. ]

I'm not that nice. I would speak up if you said something, so that's one thing you don't need to fret about.

[ablazement]

[she wants to go look at things.]

Hah. [fair enough!] Then I won't. Just telling you to not spare my feelings, yeah? Nobody else does.

[she says this like she really genuinely does not mind that. there's no like bitter tone to it or anything. honesty is good.]