Death and Tide

[VisAnastasis]

" I am a child still, technically. But yes, I was then too. But I am the lucky one. I lived. Can't say that for almost everyone else in the city. Only 15 of us made it through, my little guest."  Child smiled a little sadly, underneath smiles covering what must had been a horrifying experience. He took deep breath." Just.. let me have a minute or so before I get to neck, okay? I trust you, but you still have a form of a snake, little one, and snakes can get bitty if startled by pain. Just a nice little minute..." He bid gently, and he, as he pleaded, touched his back, first caressing him a little, then applying a bit more pressure, letting him get used to being handled a bit more, before he worked his way up to the neck, faster than he originally planned, within two or three minutes, per Death's wish. Only then did he touch that injured place brimming with agony for the first time.

[Mirach]

Death only closed his eyes with it, so used to self-control in pain that it easily suppressed the natural snake reflexes.

[VisAnastasis]

" Let's see what we have here... You seemed to be missing quite big chunk here, little friend... It's all streched so thin. Let's see..." Emil looked a little worried as he examined the neck lightly with his fingertips. They were drenched with balm, and despite it hurt to be touched, it was a desirable feeling, as balm sipped into the skin through it, easing the pain lightly as lad moved. The examination felt a little too personal, even more so than when Tide was doing it because Emil seemed to be less hesitant and shy about it. He seemed so lost into figuring it out by feeling it up with his fingertips that he actually smiled a little as he managed to find the inflamed and most painful muscle. " There. I see... When you let your friends do it, this will be good for you..." He said, and he took more of the balm between his two fingers, and applied light pressure right at the place where inflammation was the worst, where infection was most painful. He moved his fingertips in slow circular motion there, and pain of the pressure was mixed with sharp feeling of relief. It wasn't healing it, but there was something cleansing in the gentle process, a little scary but deeply gratyfying, as Death felt the balm melting against his skin and it's effects spreading slowly, but deeply into ill tissue. With each move creature felt its pain lessen and tightly clenched muscles relax and go numbber. Emil kept using one hand on the worst inflamed part, and the other for the rest of the neck, whispering soothingly to him as he explained what various moves were good for his injury,  the strange conflicting experience feeling  baring and intimate, but  every skilled move  sending little chills of relief and pleasure through the tiny pained body.

[Mirach]

Death only winced a little when the most painful place was touched, but otherwise he was lying still. He could not prevent some tears that appeared in his eyes though.

[VisAnastasis]

It was hard for Emil to adjust moves based on his reactions, as there was such lack of them, as in his resolution to hide pain Death was not giving a child much to work with. He knew that at the very start of handling the injury pretty much every touch and move had to hurt, so that experience would feel intimidating and violating if something feels wrong or hurts too much and creature doesn't admit it. He realized soon enough, by the tears most of all, that Death just will not complain of the maddening pain no matter what he does. He tried another approach instead.

" Hey... I know to do this really well... But more to your liking I do this, faster you'll relax and faster the balm will work, little friend. So you could use that chance to learn what you prefer, so you can advise your friends better. We have time, let's pass through this slowly... I'll do different kinds of moves, and you can tell me which you like best... " he said, hoping that admitting what feels better will be easier to his guest than admitting how much he's hurting. Emil put more balm on his hands so its effect would be stronger again, and it was a more insecure, but gentle change, as now every move was new and different, and child tried various combinations of its direction, stroke, and strength he put into the moves. He was doing some with less, some with increased pressure to hurt places, hoping one of them will lead Death to open up about what he prefers and build a little more communication through the process, fearing he'll unknowingly traumatize him if the creature is forcing itself to go through this instead of enjoying it.

[Mirach]

Death found a bit hard to do what Emil asked from him, as he was used to just retreat into himself through pain or treatment of it, but he tried his best to comply with the request. At one point though, he just said that it feels better at the moment when Emil was not touching him at all.

[VisAnastasis]

The child smiled a little sadly with that.
" This is all new to you, and it must have been exhausting... We should make a break now, so you can let it all sink down, little one... " he suggested, and he carefully took a bit of balm more on the spoon instead, and with it instead of fingers this time, he applied the medicine in an even layer on the neck, letting it soak up, and not touching it anymore, just appearing a little thoughtful, realizing that it may be indeed it would be best for his guest, if he's so estranged to touch, to not be subjected to it as much as he had been during process, as helping his body would not help in real if he's scarred mentally by the process. He sat down, on safe distance beside him, so he does not feel threatened, and while Death was gathering his wits through lingering remnants of pain from being touched and relief from the balm, he sat quietly and began adding logs to the fire, to keep him warm.

[Mirach]

Death closed his eyes tiredly, enjoying the reprieve from both touch and pain that the balm brought.

[VisAnastasis]

Emil understood that experience was overwhelming to him, so he let him rest, now that he has known he had fed him and that the suffering was eased, not feeling the urge to keep the conversation going, as what his guest needed more than conversation or food right now was to take in the experience and recover from it. It indeed has been a conflicted one - on one hand, it felt very vulnerable to be handled at an injured place by a stranger, on the other, thanks to the skilled massage the balm was able to affect him more quickly and efficiently. As they sat and rested, Death felt certain anxiety remembering it, as it was taking a long while for the sensation of being handled where he was vulnerable with no control over it to pass, but with every moment, medicine was easing the pain more and more. Now that he was no longer suffering through touch, he could focus on the smell of soothing summer flowers again and feel his soul, as tightly clenched as his body, was relaxing slowly under it, the soft feeling of relief making him more drowsy with it.
Emil was quiet, and he was stirring fire lightly and humming a little melody, as he found that was enough for now, and he didn't initiate any talk, letting Death choose to when he is ready to break the silence.

[Mirach]

Death just rested for a while, trying to cope with the experience. "Would it be impolite if I would fall asleep?" he asked when he finally interrupted the silence.

[VisAnastasis]

" Of course not. You need to rest. " Emil glanced at him only then, appearing a bit timider by now, but respectful above all, willing to go along with his wishes without question. " Would it be impolite... if I stayed here if here's where you'd like to sleep? " he bid quietly in turn. " You are my beloved guest. At least until your friends get back, I'd like to make sure the fire stays lit, and that I may provide you if you need anything if you wake up, sweet snake... "

[Mirach]

"I do not mind it, but you might find it boring..." Death murmured.

[VisAnastasis]

" I come here every day on my own... Everything is better with good company. " Emil smiled a little bit, adding a log to fire as well as a gentle word. " Do not worry for me. If boredom of thousands of year did not bring me down, this surely will not. Sleep freely, sweet guest, with no fear... If any danger comes, I'll alert you... "

[Mirach]

"Thank you," Death murmured and closed his eyes tiredly, although now it took him a while to actually fall asleep.

[VisAnastasis]

Emil felt regret at pushing him into it with his excitement, despite his pain was eased, realizing it may not have been what Death would prefer and that just applying balm would be less stressful to him. He couldn't change anything at that point, though, so he remained quiet, adding logs to the fire and making sure his little guest is warm and safe until his friends return, as he bid.

[Mirach]

Death slept while he could in relative safety, enjoying the warmth from the fireplace and scents of herbs in the garden.

[VisAnastasis]

The garden was indeed refreshing for both mind and soul, a very tranquil and secluded place, and a little oasis of peace in their dangerous reality. Emil let him sleep, all until Tide returned. Two demons got back to them a bit less than half an hour before nightfall. The child nodded to them, and he quietly took Xia downstairs, and he left Tide with Death so they could decide what to do next. The demon was regretful to wake him up but he knew they have to see if they'll go to another fort that's safer, or stay here, and everything else. He didn't touch him yet, feeling he's vulnerable right now for some reason, so he spoke up to him, calling him gently, not by the name of Death, but calling him out to him as a little snake.

[Mirach]

Death woke soon, not daring to fall asleep too deeply in their situation. He looked at Tide questioningly. "What's going on?" he asked.

[VisAnastasis]

" There's no concrete danger yet. First of all, our demon host is called Cernunnos, I don't know if you've ever heard of him. None the less, he said that he can feel some unfamiliar presences along the edges of his forest, but they did not enter it yet. (3).  Perhaps they want to first search before forest borders before going in, perhaps they still didn't find the trail, I do not know. But the sun will go down soon, and they don't open or close doors anymore after sunsets because of the danger. " Tide whispered. " I told Cernunnos we'll decide what to do together now. This form has a lot of protective spells, but the other fort is basically packed to the brim with them. If we go there, they won't be able to feel our presence there at all, but there's indeed a lot of miasma and if Cernunnos loses his wits we'll have to restrain him. If we stay here, though, we won't be able to leave as long as night lasts, and if spirits manage to track us down and brake the door, we'll risk lives of our hosts here, if shadows of the waters reach us here, and if we're unable to defeat our enemies. So, we have to decide between a rock and a hard place... "

[Mirach]

"If I go to the other fort, the hunters might avoid the forest completely," Death said. "They should feel me here to enter. But you should be with Cernunnos, so it seems we would have to split..."

[VisAnastasis]

" But it's dangerous. What if they don't just enter the forest, but come straight to you? I'd rather be close defending you. " Tide bit his lip, trying to figure out. " But... I do guess, while this fort can't be opened, the other could be opened for a short little bit, long enough for me to slip out of it. As long as it's locked down with Cernunnos's special key that binds all protective spells together, he should be safe even with that short window of danger. So, if hunters realize you're at the fort and some go toward it, Cernunnos should be able to tell me, and I could go out and fight them then. As long as I can prevent them from breaking the door of this fort and going in, you'll be safe. It's dangerous for me, though, if I'll have to go out to fight, more so for the things in water than for demon hunters, alas... Logically... It'd be better if Xia was with me so that if the shadows come after us, we can leap into the sky and hope to run away from them... " he smiled sadly. " But I'd rather have her stay with you, even if I know it's not wise... It's stupid... But I wished you had some protection, and I wished I wouldn't have to involve her like this... "

[Mirach]

Death thought intently for a while. "There's another solution," he said. "I go out, shortly before sunset. I will reveal myself just enough for them to feel that I am somewhere in the forest. Then we hide together in the other fort. If the miasma is as strong as you say though, do you think it is safe for me?"

[VisAnastasis]

Tide was quiet for a long moment then, unexpectedly so, gazing at Death a little more seriously.

" There might be a solution to it. But you won't like it... so I guess... it's best you're at least informed, so you can make an informed choice. " he whispered. " There are two things to note. One... Miasma is really thick. Cernunnos is such a nice and soft person - but he's clearly been suffering a lot in silence and darkness. Centuries and centuries of his sadness are drenched within the miasma of that place. It's dangerous for you. On one side, it can be lessened if you stay as close as possible to someone immune to it - that is, to me. If I could hold you as close as possible, preferably the way of that time I hugged you, with your presence leaning against mine, it'd give you the best chances. I'd rather prefer holding you close, than dealing with wounds infected to a much worse degree. It'll still worsen your state with every miasma that does come in contact with you, but not as much as if you'd just walk in on your own. There's another little trick that I used to do with my best friend, but I don't think you'd feel safe enough with it...  " he whispered adding with a faint sad smile. " If we would have to go in the places that were full of miasma that'd be harmful to him, he'd take on a tiny form, and I'd swallow him... I have more than one stomach and one stomach that doesn't digest food. It's not the most comfortable way, but it's a way where he'd be surrounded by my body and my essence from all sides, and be warmed by my internal organs and shielded by my presence. He'd be basically sealed in within me, with as little miasma coming to him as possible. It's slimy and doesn't have as much space, but at least it's warm, and... ahh, forget it.... " he seemed somehow ashamed, knowing how creepy and sinister it might look, covering his mouth nervously. " You probably think I'm creepy enough as it is... "

[Mirach]

Death looked at him thoughtfully. "I'm trying to be openminded, but I fear it is a rather big bite to swallow... Literally, too. This is the smallest form I have... If you just hold me close though, what if Cernunnos becomes dangerous during the night? My only way to defend myself in this form is to bite him, and I do not want that..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Yes, it would be dangerous, if Cernunnos grows dangerous and attacks us while you're just there under my shirt, open to attack, and with no way to defend yourself... But you're right, you are a big bite to swallow. My friend could take on a form of a little fluffy blue mouse - cute and tiny enough to have space to move freely in my belly. You'd be rather tightly packed there, if... Hm... " Tide looked thoughtful for a moment, before he suggested slowly, hesitantly, as he still appeared a little unsure if Death really is open-minded, or just trying to not offend him. " I never had to do it before, as he was so tiny in his little mouse form, but I actually have bigger forms than this. If I just swallow you with a form that's bigger, you'd have more space, maybe even to crawl and move inside freely. There is a catch - since I gave away my heart to my friend, I struggle more to maintain bigger forms, and under stress, it's more painful to me to do so, as I have heartburn, not to mention stretching my hand's fabric to bigger form will hurt more, but... it's just one night, and just a little pain..." he tried to encourage himself as he considered the new idea. " It won't be pleasant for me, and I may be the one that'll get worse for it... But if we are choosing between you getting worst and me getting worse... " he gulped. " I... do not want to lead you into all that miasma unprotected. There's too much for your wounds. It could traumatize you as it is. Maybe a few minutes would be passable, but holding on throughout the whole night is just... too much not to do deep damage. It's so strong that even hidden within me you'll be exposed to some of it when I breathe so you can breathe, but at least it'd be so much less, and you'd have walls of by flesh and presence from all other sides protecting you... Kind of like having one drafty window in the warm house, instead of spending the night outside at winter in nothing but a tunic. "