CAVERN.

[atrueheroine]

[Another encounter with the Shimmer, another round of confusion, frustration and exhaustion. It's probably going to be a fairly unanimous opinion, but Page much preferred the circle of peaceful corpses over the tree of suffering.

She emerged from the river just in time to hear what the Shimmer had to say, and it leaves a bad taste in her mouth. But regardless of feelings, it's probably wise that they don't move away from this cavern for the time being; the fire, remnants of that horrible tree, is providing light and warmth. They couldn't really ask for much more, especially after spending the past week in darkness.

So Page will swim back to the fire, placing herself in front of it and unwinding her headpiece, letting her locs fall free around her face. She's soaked, miserable and cold. As awful as the source of the heat is, she needs to dry off. The last thing she wants is to fall ill.

Not that it would mean much - sounds like a problem for her body. Wherever that is.

You're free to join her, or do what you will; time to rest, before the new week begins.]

Comments

[scythegun]

[That gets a soft, hollow laugh from him.]

I've only ever done what I wanted to do at the moment. I thought you could use the company, and I'm pleased I was able to provide you some assistance.

[And for what little it's worth, that isn't as much of a lie as it could have been.]

I appreciate what you've done for me tonight, then. This is... something I have tried very hard not to think about for ten years. It all caught up to me far too quickly, and it's only now I have time to process it.

Today was particularly bad for that, I suppose.

[A lack of existence is always worse than one that's less than ideal... Funny how sometimes a one-off remark like that can have more impact on you than a horrifying people-tree.]

[abysstery]

[Living in the moment, trying not to think of the past...mm. That certainly tracks.]

You were correct, even if I thought I did not want company in the moment.

[He shifts to fully face Yeager again.]

And here of all places. [Does he mean the Shimmer as a whole or camped outside a smoldering tree of charred flesh? Both? Looking back on it, this has probably been eating at Yeager for a while.] Granted, I imagine there is hardly an ideal place for confronting these thoughts.

Our circumstances are incredibly different, but if there is any aspect of your own that you wish to work through with me...I may have more insight on the matter to offer than most.

[scythegun]

It is a bit of an odd place to do this much self-reflecting.

[...Mostly because of the horrible peopletree, but the Shimmer in general is not exactly the best place to have deep existential thoughts that he probably should've been dealing with years ago.]

It's appreciated, Heinwald. I wasn't exactly planning on discussing it with anyone, but you do seem like one of the few who is best equipped to handle hearing all this.

[He absolutely knows how fucked up this is, and you don't inflict this sort of thing on someone who's going to have problems handling it. Can you imagine trying to discuss this with Garma?? Garma does not deserve.]

Now that I've let this particular cat out of the bag, I suspect I will have to try to confront it eventually. For now, I don't plan on doing that. I can only deal with a little bit at a time.

[Maybe that's not the way he should be handling it, but it's not like we have therapy in Vesperialand so it'll have to do. Anyway, he's at least sounding like he's approaching his usual self without getting overly flippant about the whole thing, so maybe this is progress. Slow-going progress is still progress!!]

[abysstery]

[Ilia, he really did end up dragging this out of Yeager in a way... He does still feel somewhat guilty about it, but he's sure it's a weight off of Yeager's chest at the very least.

...pun not intended in the slightest.]

So long as you do not run from it entirely, then that should be just fine. A gradual process is better than none at all.

[So yes, it's progress!! He's pleased to see Yeager recovering in what way he can muster. After learning everything that he has, he doesn't want to see Yeager spiral downward.]

Now, Yeager... I don't suppose you would be interested in hearing about another of my cases?

[He's sprung stories on Yeager before, but this time it's very much deliberate. A palette cleanser, so to speak. With everything out in the open, maybe they could use something more lighthearted.

...if you count Heinwald's stories of creepy cults and blasphemous tomes lighthearted.]

[scythegun]

[worst pun!!!]

I would! Your cases are always so fascinating, it certainly sounds like you've been busy!

[Thanks, Heinwald. You absolutely understand his need for a distraction and sometimes you just want to hear about very lighthearted stories that are also at least mildly terrible. Lay it on him, whatever horrible thing you've got for him today sounds great!!]

[abysstery]

Good, good. Then let us get started, ja?

[He's not one to slip his native language into his speech, but it's becoming far too easy around Yeager. At least their shared language despite being from entirely different worlds is a fun little mystery.

That, and perhaps it is a small comfort to latch onto as the Shimmer takes more and more away.]