corrinesbell | 115. Light

Entry tags:

115. Light

Hey. We've got a lotta new people this month, huh? For anyone who's new, I'm Sheena. I think the guide answers just about every question, but I've been here for a really long time, so if anyone wanted to ask, I'm okay with answering about stuff.

I was thinking about trying out that battle arena thing. Anyone done it already and wanna tell me what it was like? If it's like the coliseum I dunno about trying it.

What would you guys think about having a winter, uh, festival thing like we did a couple years ago?

[Yuri]
I met your crazy rival.

[Raine]
Hey, are you up for visitors? I know it's gonna get late soon...but hopefully Albert'll forgive me.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I... I'm not sure. It seems more like it's sealed off, rather than just limited. Or perhaps I just haven't been able to concentrate on it properly. [Even with trying that weapon as a focus. ... The devil's arm. She's never even told Sheena or anyone else from their world about it turning up here, had she? ... Too much had gone on in these few months.]

[Sheena doesn't know about it just yet, no.]

It's not really like you not to be able to concentrate. Is your Exsphere okay?

[As though her wrist with the bracelet on it isn't right there]

The exsphere seems fine. The issue... may be from another source. Something that interferes with that as well.

Something...specific that you're thinking of? [and after realizing how that may sound...] You're talking like you have an idea but think I might not believe you if you share it, or something.

[She sighs softly.] There's a mark on my hand. I know it's connected somehow, but I don't know... why, or what it really is.

Can I see it?

[she doesn't expect to know either. But you never know what the Malnosso are going to do.]

[She clearly hesitates for a moment, before slowly slipping the glove off of one of her hands. There's a small bandage covering the area, but that's peeled back as well. It doesn't look as bad as it did during those first few days, with the skin finally beginning to heal itself, but the mark is still there, if not faded a little more distinguishable.

Her hands are trembling, though. That at least is obvious.]

[she looks at Raine for permission first, before holding onto Raine's hand so she doesn't have to go to the obvious effort of holding it out like that.]

Does healing magic from other people work on it? Since you can't use yours.

It ... has helped temporarily relieve some of the symptoms, but the mark itself hasn't been removed. I don't know if it can be, or even if it... should be. It could just go away on it's own.

Symptoms? So it brought back access to your magic for a while?

[at least she knows better than to touch it or something]

Ah ... n-no. I haven't had access to my magic at all.

...Then what were you talking about?

[and the fingers she's holding with her own are still...trembling. Almost without really thinking about it, she's got Raine's other hand, too. And it's the same, even without a mark (that she knows about)]

What's this thing doing to you, Raine?

... I-I don't know. I don't know if it's related to that, exactly, or just ... an effect of something else from the kidnapping.

But something's happening. So what is it?

I --

[Is it really worth hiding at this point? She hasn't been able to meet Sheena's gaze for a while.]

There's just been... pain. A lot of pain.

...Is it really bad?

[bad enough, apparently. Have some unasked-for healing right now. There's still not a lot of energy there to work with, but it's something]

The medication... helps. I'm managing.

[A pause, when she realizes --] Sh-sheena, you don't have to do that ...

You'd do it for me, right? [and for a moment she lets her voice up into a joking tone] Quit being ridiculous.

[but the joke doesn't last] Besides, it helps. When you say 'managing' you probably mean something like hiding how bad it is until everybody's out of the room so they won't think you're weak.

[She doesn't say anything for a moment, before very quietly:] ... and hiding it from myself as well.

Raine...

[but what can she say? This is how Raine is. Letting other people in just isn't something she usually does. Sheena doesn't let go of Raine's hands, even though she's out of magic; neither does she raise her voice much louder than Raine's just was.]

If...if your medicine doesn't work maybe you should try something different. ...Are you in pain right now?

It works well enough... and there aren't that many other options. It's not really so bad right now. [She looks down at their hands.]

What's 'well enough' mean, exactly?

[she looks at their hands, too.]

I ... that I can deal with it. It allows me to rest without ... constantly thinking of it.

But it's still there, right?

[and she doesn't wait for the answer]

That's not good enough.

I can live with it. It's a side effect that will have to pass eventually. [Even though that's probably incredibly hypocritical, given that she's a healer. But she just doesn't view herself the way she views others. Not easy to grow out of.]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]