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[followyourstar]

@endure

Dante • 30s • hometown: Mephistopheles, The City

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May TDM Overflow

[followyourstar]

Lahabrea

[followyourstar]

[Continued from here]

[It definitely feels like he's hiding something, but whatever it is, it probably isn't that important. Not compared to everything that's going on now.]

< So, uhm, you need someone to walk with you back to the place they've got set up for us? I've been looking for someone to head out with, but it feels like just as I'm about to talk to someone they've already on their way out. >

[abyssalflames]

[There are definitely things he not mentioning. Not hiding, precisely, or so he would claim. But definitely things he does not mean to mention to someone he has just recently met.]

I have not yet found someone with whom to travel. Should you likewise require someone with which to do so, I am willing to accompany you.

[followyourstar]

[So stiff... They guess he did say something about being important where he came from. They wonder if they acted like that once upon a time.]

< Thanks. I appreciate it. I think the name of the place is called the "Valentia?" I've already got the directions written down, so we'll see how good a navigator I am. >

[abyssalflames]

[In fairness, Lahabrea has acted as he has for many a year. And is not exactly handling the sudden arrival to a new world particularly well. Still, there's a nod of agreement.]

Then I shall follow your lead.

[Given that it's not like he has any better idea on how to get to where they're meant to be.]

What's that Natural Soul? -- For Gale

[followyourstar]

[The longer they linger here outside the barrier, the more Dante begins to regret not giving Gale a description to go off of. Sure, they really do stand out, especially in a place like this, but giving themselves more reason to stand around in a place filled with some kind of otherworldly radiation probably wasn't the best idea they could have had.

They stare down at the syntrofos in their hand, thumb hovering over the screen as they debate following up on their previous message.]

[stoplickingthedamnthing]

[The wizard arrives later than Dante, sweeping his gaze back and forth. When his yellow eyes land on Dante he stops and tilts his head, not quite what he's looking at. He's used to all manner of nonhuman people -- elves, orcs, even tabaxi -- but he's never met anyone who looked like Dante. Still] Hello! I'm Gale of Waterdeep. I suppose you must be Dante?

[followyourstar]

[Oh thank goodness.

They stuff the syntrofos in their pocket and turn to face him, raising their hand in greeting.]

< That's me. >

[--is the sentiment that's translated across along with their three swift ticks of reply.

They're pretty sure they can guess what's on his mind the moment they catch the look on his face.]

< It's a prosthesis. I had it before I got here. >

[stoplickingthedamnthing]

I've never seen a prosthesis quite like that before. It's quite fascinating! The ticking was the most surprising part, some sort of telepathic translation, maybe? Ah, but you didn't come here to talk about that, pardon my distraction.

[Ordinarily, he would have a lot more questions about Dante's prosthesis and the magic undoubtedly involved, but since his arrival in Karteria, the unexpected has become quite expected. Even the chronically curious grow weary of asking questions eventually.] Would you like to walk a little further into the woods to shift? Whatever you're more comfortable with, of course. I don't like mine to be seen.

[followyourstar]

< Oh, no, it's fine. I wouldn't be able to give you much of an answer anyway. I don't know too much about how it all works, much less how people here are suddenly able to understand me. >

[As for his question...]

< Please. >

[The answer comes before they can even form as a solid thought, and though it's not something that they necessarily disagree with (just as Gale said, there's something to be said for privacy), the fact that that answer may not have been entirely their own leaves them... uneasy, to say the least.]

< But seriously, thanks for this. >

[stoplickingthedamnthing]

[The exact nature of Dante and how people are able to understand them is a fascinating question that Gale will just have to set aside for now, leaving his curiosity unsatisfied. He sets an easy pace as they head into the woods, assuming Dante will let him know when they've gone far enough. He certainly won't be able to tell based on facial expressions.] Truly, it's no problem. Someone did the same for me early on and it helped me a lot, so it's only right for me to offer the same to other people.

Early September -- backdated (cw: death)

[followyourstar]

[Dante had begun to slow down by the end of August, but over the past few days weakness and chest pains had left them bedridden, a shuddering, fluttering quality to their once steady ticking and tocking.

They know it's coming. Every day it's harder and harder to stay conscious, and a terrible burning feeling spreads in their chest. Sometimes they think they can see something glowing beneath their blackened skin and too-prominent ribs, growing brighter as the pain increases and fading as it ebbs. Will it even still be a heart that's in there, they wonder? Or is it some other organ, twisted and mutated by the soul shoved into them by that thing inside their neck?

As if called into being by their thoughts, the pain crescendos once more, holding them in a vice grip, their hand flying to their chest where their fist tightens around the fabric of their shirt.]

[verminous]

[he knows it's coming now, too, but-- listen, you can't blame a guy for hoping it might be otherwise. that they could be wrong. this hasn't been happening for that long, after all, so what if not EVERY spectral dies? what if there are exceptions...? he never says it out loud, but he still thinks it.

gregor lets go of that once they become bedridden. that's the kind of bad sign you can't ignore, the kind that has him putting everything else aside for now, because possibly the worst thing he can think of is being somewhere else. maybe he can't stop this, but then the least he can do is be there. keep them from dying alone.

(he could do more, too. that's still on his mind. but they don't ask, and he doesn't offer.)

the sudden motion grabs his attention, and he's up before he fully registers it, chair scooting over the creaky floor as he hurriedly leaves it behind.]

Manager Bud-? Hey, how bad is it this time...

[followyourstar]

[They tick and tick but no words accompany the sound, only a cry of pain, lasting until the light fades once more. But this time it doesn't disappear entirely, settling like a glowing ember, pulsing erratically.]

< I don't... I don't think I can take another one. > [--they admit.

Honestly, as grateful as they are that Gregor is here for them now, they hate that he has to do this. Neither of them are strangers to death, but the whole point of this mess of a contract they're both a part of is that Dante is supposed to survive. Dying like this, even if they were to come back to life, isn't supposed to be part of that. Gregor shouldn't have to deal with any of this in the first place.

Could they have tried harder to prevent this? Have they failed as a Manager? It wasn't even their fault. Just... Just a bad bit of luck.]

< ...Sorry. >

[verminous]

...not like you asked for this. None of us did.

[the light is unsettling, but it draws him in all the same-- his human hand rests over it, almost but not quite making contact, before he entirely registers what he's doing.

at this point it's too awkward to back out, isn't it... he has to just leave it where it is now.]

We're just stuck living wi... er, with dealing with it, is what I meant to say-

[followyourstar]

[Even without touching the spot itself, it emanates a certain heat. More than feverish, no doubt uncomfortable for the person with it.

At Gregor's comment, they lift their head to stare at him for a moment of disbelieving silence, but then let it fall back against the pillow again.]

< I'll let that pass. You guys know more about what it's like than I do anyway. >

[They've only ever felt it second hand, after all.]

[verminous]

Not like this, we don't.

[they always come back with their injuries undone, restored to the way they were. this is going to be-- dante's going to be left with new changes, won't they? that persistent light says as much.]

...Do you need anything? Water, maybe?

december, morning after in kelesis... (nsfw ref possible)

[verminous]

[gregor stirs and slowly wakes in a bed that feels more comfortable than usual; there's something else that feels off about it, too. whatever his arm is draped over, it isn't a pillow like usual, and he can feel the vines in his hair curled around something...

he rouses just enough to crack open a bleary eye.

then both quickly blink open, as if to make sure he's seeing what he thinks he's seeing. dante? why is he in a bed with--

oh. oh no. he remembers and just as quickly regrets remembering, except no, he's not sure he actually regrets it, actually. should he? what if dante does?

okay, hold on. he needs to just calm down and figure out what to do about the current situation first, which is: he is in bed with his executive manager, his clothes were abandoned somewhere in the room, and his vines are curled around their arm. are they even awake? it's impossible to tell if they already know...

slowly, carefully, he starts trying to unwind them one by one.]

[followyourstar]

[Many of the thoughts going through Gregor's head right now have passed through Dante's about three or four times already. They have yet to come to terms with a single one.

This was irresponsible. Incredibly so. They're Gregor's manager, they're supposed to be professional about this and this is--this isn't that at all. But at the same time, it wasn't bad--quite the opposite in fact, at least from their point of view, and they wonder if they should be ashamed of themself for thinking that way too.

The responsibility lands on their shoulders either way. They're the manager, they're the one who paid for the room.

(But it was good, some part of them is quick to remind, and wasn't it good to be wanted that way by someone for once? Is it really that bad that it was Gregor, who understands more than anyone? and the cycle begins anew.)]

< You, um... need me to lift my arm? >

[They've been awake thinking about it all for the past hour.]

[verminous]

[shit. they were awake.

he jolts when they suddenly speak, pausing and glancing up at them almost guiltily, as if caught doing something he shouldn't have been. which is ridiculous, it's fine, calm down...]

Manager Bud! Y-you're up early...

[once he recovers from the surprise, he tries unwinding another vine before answering.]

You, er... might wanna lift that, yeah. Think they're a little stuck.

[followyourstar]

[Somehow, the fact that Gregor's still calling them "Manager Bud" isn't helping the war they're having in their own head right now.

They suppose they can't blame him though. It sounds like all this is as much a shock to him as it was to them. And... is that guilt? Why does he feel guilty here?]

< Oh... Yeah, I guess I am. Wow, guess even an hour of extra sun was enough to throw me off, huh? >

[Maybe if they play it cool it'll feel less awkward? They just have to act like everything's normal.

...Is what they think until they lift their arm and remember the two of them are both naked under these covers. And that Gregor is the only person not responsible for helping keep their head in order that has ever seen them like this.

Hell, maybe even still the only one, given how the Corruption's affected them.]

[verminous]

[yeah, he realizes right after it slips out of his mouth that it doesn't suit the situation-- it's sheer force of habit, but sheesh, really? did he actually just call the person he slept with last night "bud"? good going, gregor. he woke up naked and in bed with his direct superior

and he called them bud.

his vines gently unwind to release dante's arm, careful to leave the covers in place. not that he's avoiding looking, but now that they're on the other side of what happened, will they want to be perceived in daylight? they always stay so well-covered.

that's something he can understand all too well.]

Do, uh, do you need to get up, or...

[or are they just doing this now? staying curled up under this blanket?]

[followyourstar]

[...Do they?

They probably should, but... Well, they're not used to being this bare outside of bathing and showering. But even that seems ridiculous now considering Gregor's already seen them and knows and, presumably, doesn't care.

Or does care?

Or... whatever it was that happened with that powder (and they're sure it must have been that) but either way they're in something of a pickle here between remaining naked under the covers with their coworker and getting out of the covers and being naked in front of their coworker.

A ridiculous thought hits them and escapes before they can wrangle it back.]

< We... could try getting out at the same time? >

["Then neither of us will have to worry about what we aren't wearing because we'll both be out at the same time!"

It's quite possibly the worst idea they've ever had.]

ding dong delivery!

[trounce]

✉ SENDING OUR THANKS AND WELL WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR
► inside the red envelope rests an assortment of pristine seashells, sand dollars, and sea glass; also accompanied by other odd little curiosities—which are mostly old coins and strange mechanical parts. ► a second package also includes small samplings of fresh loose-leaf tea from the augmented-run farm, measured out and stored in a handful of vintage tea tins.
	DANTE, NEUVILLETTE FILLED ME IN ON THE MESSAGES I WASN'T ABLE TO READ ON THE NETWORK. I APPRECIATE THE CONCERN. TRULY. RECOVERY HAS ITS SLOWER STRETCHES, BUT I’M STILL ON MY FEET WHERE IT MATTERS. I HOPE YOU’RE KEEPING WELL — AND NOT LETTING WORRY EAT UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME.

[followyourstar]

[Dante isn't sure what to make of the coins or parts inside, but they find themself charmed by the tins enough to make a note to keep them somewhere in their room once they've served their roommates the tea offered within.

The greatest treasure, however, is the note: confirming Wriothesley's recovery, however slow it may be.

They'll have to visit him sometime, they decide, even if the thought of stepping outside their room feels... daunting at the moment. At the very least they should get him a proper get well soon gift.

In the meantime, they set the letter on their set of drawers, both for safekeeping and as a reminder.]