Blood from Stone [AU]

[Helene Dakesh]

"Purely diagnostic. This one wishes to see if there is some way to make a physical representation -- a rune or a color perhaps -- to indicate mental status. Something perhaps related to the Delving ritual..."

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill studies nem for a long moment, then nods. Alright. That sounds okay. "Hmmm. I know about a ritual to do that with emotions... I gather you're looking more for, ummm, climate rather than weather I guess?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"Yes, quite. Which ritual were you thinking?" Helene asks, leading the way back out of the office. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Cal Pattission's Divination of Fancy and Whim? It was created as a party game sort of thing, an addition to kissing games, to show how much a person was into the kissing. Or not into it. But it was quickly determined that..." Merrill rambles on, thrilled beyond measure to not only be useful for once, but also to be using something she learned in the magic classes she's taking with Marian. 

As they near the exit, the elf pauses with a frown. "Would you mind waiting a minute so I can..." With a sheepish look, she tilts her head towards a restroom.

[Helene Dakesh]

"Of course," says Helene, mind whirling already with potential. Is it based on Pattission's Arch? Or was that before the Arch was developed, in which case, the classic Imaginarium Scaffolding?

[NPCs]

Several minutes later- it takes Merrill a rather long time to take care of that sort of business these days, given her disability- Helene is started out of their thoughts by someone grabbing their arm in a painful vise. Yanked around, they're faced with a pale blue face with wild eye. Most of the eye is the same soft white as ner own, but there are green irises despite the lack of pupil. Merikos samsaran? "Electric lice squirm beneath the waves of our flesh," he hisses at nem.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene jumps, a shriek coming out of their mouth even as their hands begin to make the motions for a summoning spell.

[NPCs]

The person recoils at the shout, waving his arms wildly. "Nonononono, please no more, no more! Chanting and casting and all o'Lorady Tessline's humblest terrors creeping and crawling and scuttling and skittering and chitter chitter chitter." He moans piteously as he leans against a nearby wall.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene pants, eyes wide, trying to make sense of the situation. Not an attack. Dream-taken. They're dream-taken. The Dreamer is simply confused.

"H-hey," they say, gently. "This one meant no harm."

[NPCs]

"No harm, no harm? But does that which lurks under your skin think the same? The gnawing hunger and filthy little specks of wrong wrong wrong?" The tone is not accusatory but instead pleading, which somehow makes it far more cutting. The merikos samsaran begins to rock against the wall and he grips his own forearms, nails digging in sharply enough to draw blood. Based on the lines of paler blue all over his arms, this is not the first time he's hurt himself, badly, in this fashion. 

[Helene Dakesh]

Wrong wrong wrong wrong

Helene takes a step back, swallowing hard, trying to get their wits about them. What does he see? The mad often see things the sane cannot...

[NPCs]

Making soft, keening laughs, the Dream-touched peels at the skin of his arms and rocks, starting fixedly at Helene. He has just started to mumble something about 'illuminescent wings soaring across smoke-filled skies' when there's a muttered curse from down the hall. A glance reveals a trio of men, all well built but not overly muscled or scared humans. Two of them are wearing simple brown tunics with no frills or flaps, everything belted down smooth as if to deny grips but still cover all but their hands and face. They also have cords tucked into their waist belts. The last figure is wearing a pale blue tunic of the same cut and cloth but less secured. It also has a border of water droplets around the collar, hinting at association to Bastion.

"Kevin?" the one in blue asks softly as he approaches. "Hey Kevin. You gave us a right scare, slipping off like this. Kevin, can you look at me? Keven?" The merikos samsaran does not notice him at first, but by the third repetition of the name, is squinting sideways at the newcomer. He continues to rock but has at least stopped clawing at himself.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene swallows, stepping forward. "M-may this one provide assistance?" They ask, timidly.

[NPCs]

"Shhh. It's okay Kevin. No nasty crawly things here, okay?" The healer glances quickly and Helene and shakes his head. "Donny is going to come over and help you, okay Kevin? You remember Donny right? You like Donny, Keven, he never has bugs on him." 

Kevin continues to rock and stare at the man in blue sideways, barely blinking. He doesn't resist when one of the other men, Donny presumably, approaches gingerly and begins to tie his hands together with the long cord. "There we go, Kevin. Get you home and cleaned up right quick. No flies on you, eh?"

"No flies," Keven mumbles, then repeats it several times. "Scratches are pretty dear, Mister Graves," the attendant murmurs to the healer. "Gonna scar for sure, even with stitches."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene swallows again, guilt driving them to speech: "M-may this one c-cast upon you? Th-this one is a healer at times."