livestage ([personal profile] livestage) wrote2025-01-18 08:50 am

UNHOLY DISORDER

[Something is wrong with the room you are in.

At first blush, it seems normal enough. It's nicely furnished, lavish dark oak, brass and a rich green drapery and carpet. Except in the middle of the room, a simple glass box sits wrapped in chains. Inside, a heart rocks back and forth as it beats, chambers constricting and relaxing around air.

But the more you look around, you might notice that the rafters beyond the brass lamps are made of bone, spine connecting them all. You might notice that the binding on all of the books seems to be an unusual leather. You might notice that teeth have been used as nails.

You almost can't help but notice the strange ... give... under your feet. Whatever is under the carpet seems almost spongy.

You know, instinctively, that the heart is in danger.

But so are you.]
restitui: (agatha-icons-billy-61)

Re: DISCUSSION

[personal profile] restitui 2025-01-19 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
I just have to deal with it.







[ as it turns out dealing with it means trying to help and nearly getting devoured!!! ]
demolition: @malagraphic (12)

Re: DISCUSSION

[personal profile] demolition 2025-01-19 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
Ha. The books. Right. I mean, who would touch the books? Only nerds, am I right? Yeah, only nerds.

[ she kind of. fidgets with her hands unsure what to do. comfort? what's that? ]

So, like, you good now?
notlikeanyone: (blood red robin)

Re: DISCUSSION

[personal profile] notlikeanyone 2025-01-19 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
[ Heron's first instinct is to say yes, please, it hurts - of course he'll accept help. He should, he needs it, turning it away would be foolish.

But - and the anxieties latch on, shaking through him as the words stall in his throat, but. That's a Blessing that Phoenix is asking if he can use on him. It was a Blessing that caused Phoenix distress beyond the normal, that went so haywire he was on the edge of a panic attack. It's his own Blessing, now, that isn't working as it should, that is diverting and absorbing the pain pain pain and anxiety and wrongness and making him bleed instead of shutting everything off, a sponge instead of a blanket. What if... what if by accepting Phoenix's help, he makes things worse for them again? He can't risk it.

And, sure, he could explain that to Phoenix as a basis for refusal. He might accept it. The thing is, he might also not - he can see the worry, the urge to help others, the impulse that has Phoenix's hand glowing already even if he paused to ask first. He's practically using it already, he might just decide he doesn't care about the risk in the face of Heron's obvious distress.

So. Game plan. He'll admit his concerns, sure, but he needs extra. He can do extra. It's fine. It's just pain and blood and - and focus.

He coughs thickly, wetly, then smiles, shaky and tasting the blood in his teeth. Shakes his head. ]

No, I - I'm not okay, but it's not as bad as it looks. This just happens when I push myself, but I promise, it - [ pauses, spits blood like he's used to it, wipes his face. keeps smiling. ] - it always looks way gnarly but it'll be fine once I sleep it off. It is a bit more - goretastic than usual? But I think that's because our Blessings are being messed with when we use them. Which is another reason you shouldn't. Please.
monkeyseemonkeydoom: (116)

Re: DISCUSSION

[personal profile] monkeyseemonkeydoom 2025-01-19 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
Agreed.

...Do I even want to know what you've been doing this whole time?
restitui: (104)

Re: DISCUSSION

[personal profile] restitui 2025-01-19 04:14 am (UTC)(link)
If you missed it, no.

It's not some of my greatest hits.


[ at least he's trying to be sassy ]
nicetomeatyou: (Default)

1/3

[personal profile] nicetomeatyou 2025-01-19 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
[The name you have guessed writes itself in glowing letters across the face of the glass box.]

Forte

[A grinding, icy sound comes from the glass a moment before cracks appear under the name. The box gives in one single lurch, and the chains suddenly constrict, seeming to gleefully take all of the give that was offered.

The heart is all but juiced as the mass of chains become metal jaws and teeth, tearing into its new meal. Blood pours across the table, seeping into the wood.



You have guessed wrong.]
monkeyseemonkeydoom: (102)

Re: DISCUSSION

[personal profile] monkeyseemonkeydoom 2025-01-19 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
I wouldn't say I missed that you were flipping out...
restitui: (087)

Re: DISCUSSION

[personal profile] restitui 2025-01-19 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
[ It's quiet. It's quiet. It's so quiet. ]


[ He decides that's not a good thing. ]

[ Because in a moment like this he'd know. He'd make the decision. He'd be able to tell so easily and for now - he has to trust his instincts. Or the people around him to not lie. Because he's Also Gonna go do something Stupid I guess. The urge is there, the desire. He needs to help and his mouth twitches. ]

[ There's so much blood. He does not believe Heron, but he trusts his wishes (19/20). Closes his eyes tight to keep from looking at him or from letting the tears built up from falling. Then he breathes out. ]

Okay.

[ Because it's all he can muster in his desire to do more. He shrugs off the jacket he's wearing and hands it to him. ] At least use this to help stop it. Please..

[ He pleads back, desperate for anything to do or to fix what he's already broken. ]
restitui: (agatha-icons-billy-342)

Re: DISCUSSION

[personal profile] restitui 2025-01-19 04:21 am (UTC)(link)
Then pretend you did.
nicetomeatyou: (Default)

Re: FINAL GUESS

[personal profile] nicetomeatyou 2025-01-19 04:21 am (UTC)(link)
[The room shudders, the ground under you churns. Hands tear open the carpet and grasp at your legs, arms and face. Faces form under the leather of the books, chair and table mat, each turning into screams or laughter.

The bones of the room align for YOUR heart like spears.

You have guessed very wrong.

(Each of you can pick one of the following:
Rib bones as sharp and long as swords surge up through the carpet under you, lancing through your legs. You can still drag yourself to safety.

The wall stretches out, teeth forming as you watch. Something more flesh than beast takes a BITE out of you. If you put enough force into it, you can leave enough of you behind that the rest can make it out.

Something crashes into you, slamming you hard into the nearest wall. You are bruised, and perhaps a little broken, but you can still manage to crawl to the door.

A chunk of bone and viscera dislodges from the ceiling and strikes you on the head and shoulder. The world is dizzy and sickening, but you manage to stagger out.

When passing the bookcase, the volumes of manuscripts part from each other, revealing large, dull teeth. It snaps at you and begins to drag you in, crushing your arm and beginning to swallow you. Someone must reach in to rescue you.
)
nicetomeatyou: (Default)

[personal profile] nicetomeatyou 2025-01-19 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
Except for Forte:

[ For all that has happened to your body, your death comes from the heart.

It's gone. It has stopped. You know this for a moment. While the rest of you starves for blood, while your breathing does nothing to feed you.

Before you die, you vividly hallucinate the faces of those you love the most dearly, looking at your suffering, cold, uncaring. Dispassionate about the end of your existence, and the nothing that it means.

You don't have the... well... the heart to care.

There's nothing, the moment after.]
notlikeanyone: (bloodstained ingenue)

Re: DISCUSSION

[personal profile] notlikeanyone 2025-01-19 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ Well, he's not being entirely dishonest. He really does have problems when he pushes his Blessing too hard, they're just... not this. He's dancing on technicalities and hoping it's enough, and it's not his best subversion but it's the best he can manage under the circumstances.

It's enough, thankfully. He's thankful. He's relieved, that Phoenix at least chooses to trust him and his choices.

That's why he accepts the jacket and nods, accepts Phoenix's wishes to help somehow. Speaking carefully, for the blood still flowing, making everything iron-thick and difficult. ]

Okay. Yeah. Thanks.

[ wipes his face and, you know what, actually he's just going to bury his face in the jacket a minute. this is fine. ]
restitui: (H_S3_E3_0481)

Re: DISCUSSION

[personal profile] restitui 2025-01-19 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ Bites down on his lip and just sits there. Watching, wishing. His thoughts don't swim anymore - but at what cost? ]
notlikeanyone: (sick chibi)

Re: DISCUSSION

[personal profile] notlikeanyone 2025-01-19 01:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ once he manages to get some composure back and wipe his face - not that it's clean, it can't be clean because the bleeding isn't stopping, but it's better - he looks up at Phoenix again. ]

Hey, Phoenix... can you, uh, not mention to anyone that I can do... this? With Blessings, I mean.
restitui: (H_S3_E8_0107)

Re: DISCUSSION

[personal profile] restitui 2025-01-19 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
What-

I wouldn't. [ Shakes his head, ] I know what it's like to have a blessing you don't want people to know about.





[ for solidly different reasons ]

Page 9 of 9