Re: Svarik and the company II

[VisAnastasis]

" It is. " demon agreed, as he put the tray on the table. He looked out of the window too, despite wearing mask, seeming to see it, as he smiled. " It has been sunny the last few days, and sky is clear now... Sea Deity is resting and slumbering, feeling better. I am glad. I enjoy, living in times like those. "

[Mirach]

"That's good," Senecio said, as he probably heard about the Sea Deity from Lorenzo. "I still don't know where to put the violets though... I'm really not good in growing things. Do they need light or shade? What would be a best place for them?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Let's see.. You should place growing violets 3 feet from a south- or west-facing window for the right lighting. " Tide said slowly, as if recalling something he had read sometimes, like all Beings untroubled by flawed human brain, having perfect memory of things he had learned. " You can find out more from my, um, "Gentle flowers and how to grow them*, it's to the left, where I keep botany and flower meanings  books. "

[Mirach]

Senecio looked around the room. "This window faces to the west, right? Would the top of this shelf be alright?"

[VisAnastasis]

" You must be careful to make sure flowers are not directly touched by sun. They prefer a bit of shade... This would be just right... " demon thought, and he slowly pointed at the appropriate spot on the shelf for the tender little flowers.

[Mirach]

"Good... Can I take them from your room?" Senecio asked.

[VisAnastasis]

" Of course. You do that, while I prepare the bandages and medicine for your hand. "

[Mirach]

Senecio nodded, and went to Tide's room to get the flowers. He then put them on the spot that Tide picked, and took a few steps back to admire them. "So, now it feels almost like home..."

[VisAnastasis]

" It is alright if it is not imediate. Give it more time. Plants are always seeds at first." Tide said shyly." We will go tomorrow or sometimes in following days to bring your stuff from house you lived in... and we will see to buy you some costumes, make up, or whatever other cool stuff actors like... some paintings you like.. some furniture you like... and it could really feel like home yet..."

[Mirach]

"I would rather focus on preparing the play in the two weeks. There is enough time to make it more homelike later," Senecio said practically.

[VisAnastasis]

" If that is how you feel. ... may it be. " Critter said, despite, in fear of close death, he would prefer a little more time to go out with actor and treat him more, instead of less." Priority now, is your hand.   Show it to me now, please.."

[Mirach]

Senecio obeyed that request. "It's really a short time to prepare a play," he said. "And I may need to direct it myself... well, that's not entirely correct.. I want to direct it myself. I would like to make it good for you. But I was wondering, how would you like to see the play? As a surprise, at the premiere? Or would you maybe like to be there while it's being prepared, and help to make it better, since you know the events it is based on?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Accuracy... Is not what I desire to see right now. I have been involved in lot of events, sometimes as participant, sometimes as just observer of the chaos, and helper of needy... I do not feel like reliving it now intently. " Tide replied quietly, as he knelt beside an actor, and carefully unwrapped his hand, to see how it's healing. " No... I wish not to relieve how it was. I'd like to see... How it is remembered. How the author, whoever he was, had seen the events - to catch a glimpse of someone else's point of view. You said it was gray... I would wish to see it as gray, instead of terrifying and pitch black on both sides. " he whispered quietly, evading his look as he was treating his injury, with gentleness, but as well precision and skill of someone who was taking after wounds for a long time. " You... I like your acting. You can make people feel for your characters. " he said, with uncertain vague sadness in his voice. " Once at least... I would like to try to see something worthy of compassion in Spirit king. I pity him for his pain and people that love him, but I loathe him for choices he made, to purge my kind. I like you, though... " he paused, before adding quietly. " I wish to understand why all this, but I will probably never get an answer. You can make people feel for your characters... if you play him, I hope I may perhaps fear and hate him... a little bit less. I need that courage now... Whether if I will have to die by his hand, or help him. I need to find enough compassion and strength to not fight back if needed, but if not, I can not help someone, who calls me an abomination, but whose mere gaze terrifies me. I will need courage. "

[Mirach]

"In that case I really need to make it good," Senecio said thoughtfully. "I will ask differently then... Would you just like to be there while it's being prepared? Or would you like to see it only when it's finished? Because in that case I won't be seeing you much. Or it won't be that good... I don't like making compromises in that."

[VisAnastasis]

" We will be optimistic, then... And I will let you have the time you need, with faith we may have more time after the play. " Tide smiled faintly, indeed, trying to sound more optimistic than he felt. " I would like to see it only when it's done. That way it will really be a surprise. If it means we will see each other less than we'd like while you are preparing it... " he smiled frailly. " That only means we will have to... make it up afterwards... doesn't it? "

[Mirach]

"It depends on what you would prefer," Senecio said. "It's your two weeks. If you would like to see me more, we can do that, but you won't have a very convincing play. But if you want to feel compassion with the Spirit King, then I need the time to work on the play."

[VisAnastasis]

" That is a tough choice. " Tide acknowledged. He was quiet, while tending the wound, and there was an intent frowny grimace on his face, and he seemed rather slow at the moment, as he was thinking what he wants. " If we chose to be pessimistic... " he whispered then. " Then I would die in two weeks at latest, and there'd be no difference, whether we spent more time together or less. It would only hurt more if we did. I do desire to go out on dates and hang out a lot, and everything... but it would be rushing into it. I don't want to rush into anything, and I don't want us to hang out under crippling  pressure of my nearing demise. Let us.. collaborate once more. Let us deceive one another. Let us pretend, that time is not the matter, and that there is no way those two weeks would could be all we have. Let us be optimistic. " he asked him quietly, as he, after finishing rebinding wound, he enveloped his gentle palms around lad's hand, and used his powers to numb the pain of a deep wound with soothing cold. " In the best case scenario, for us and the world, Death will let me help him. For it to happen, he needs to put quite big trust in me, but I also need to be able to put my mind into position where I can be calm and compassionate enough to do that... I would like you to focus on the play, please. That may be best way you can help me, now. This was very sudden, anyway, so it's best if we don't rush it. I want us to be together because we like each other, and not because it is spur of the moment. We need to catch our breaths, so we do not suffocate. I would like to have a bit of your time each day, if at least, for some tea time before bed, or such... But I think it would also be the healthiest, for you to have plenty of time away from me, and time of privacy. Only then, when you get to see me, a little every day, but also have life outside of hanging out with me, you can have clearer mind, to explore how you feel, and see if there can be more between us. Spending insane amount of time each day... I long for it because I am foolish and excited to have this, but I know it would be ill. For us to be happy together, we need to get to first set boundaries we are comfortable with, and only with time bend them to see what feels right. We need to both have plenty of free time away from one another, so we don't stagnate, and have life outside of relationship. We need to keep to our interests, so we can continue to grow and be happy with ourselves, so we can make each other happy too. We need to... Act like we have all time of the world for all that, instead of two weeks. "

[Mirach]

Senecio thought about Tide's words for a while. "So tomorrow I will finish the letters, and then, if there is still time, we can go to find the script... and a nice place to have dinner. I would like to invite you this time. Tye day after I already need to discuss the organization of the play with Hana and then start working on it. Do you think this will heal in two weeks? Because the Spirit King needs a costume with lomg sleeves otherwise..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I don't know... It is quite hard to estimate, since it's a wound made by demonic teeth. If Erdel was in his full strength, such move could have just cut down your hand in half as if it's piece of cheese. " Tide replied sadly and thoughtfully. " I don't think it would heal in time... But I think you should go with costume with long sleeves, anyway. " he whispered quietly. " I never sow him in person... But I know from stories of others that King Nameless used to wear very flowy clothes, with lot of white... Like an elegant, terrifying whisper of a wind. That's how he was to demon eyes. Long silky sleeves, cloaks and such... seem more appropriate for Spirit king. Grendel, um, I mean, Demon King - Grendel already, I met, poor creature, and he had different taste. He liked to cloak himself in form with clothes black, so dark that it reflected none light that touch it, and his skin was as dark, and his eyes sparkled like diamonds. He was a magnificent Demon of the Void, and he liked to take on a form of giant black dragon, that blended fully into night sky, with only his scales glistening like stars... So, white and flowy clothes for King Nameless... And black, simple, with scales that resemble black armor for King Grendel... That would be my only request, if it's alright. Oh, and a flower crown of some nice white flowers instead of crown for Spirit King... " he gulped, as he added somehow sadly. " Death had a friend, Riversong... Riversong used to make him all kinds of white  flower wreaths instead of crown spirit of death did not prefer, as a token of affection... Those flower crowns, ever different, were quite famous among spirits and demons alike. I would only ask for that, please. "

[Mirach]

"I think it's a bit too much to ask the king to grow some more flowers, isn't it?" Senecio murmured. "I hope you don't mind if the will be artificial... I know a very skilled artist who makes flowers from fabrics. You almost can2tell they are not real..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I know they can't be real in this time of year... Artificial will do fine. " critter raised its look, and smiled a little at Senecio, with smile sweet and warm. " I know it's not real, you know... Pretense will do fine. I would just like to pretend that it's real, for a moment. That is what plays are for, right? " he asked shyly. " They are real in their own world, for people that watch. I know you won't magically turn to become a Spirit King as he was. I do not ask you that... I only feel it could help me, and I ask you do what you can as favor from you, as I would ask from a friend. "

[Mirach]

"I will play him so that you can believe it while you watch," Senecio promised him.

[VisAnastasis]

" Thank you. " Tide acknowledged his efforts meaningfully. By that time, wound was properly iced to numb hurt, so he lightly let his fingers brush of to caress his hand, before he slowly stood up. " I shall go now, then, si you can relax properly and drink your tea. Be careful not to burn your tongue, it is still hot. " He smiled a bit." Melody is playing music for Svarik right now, so I shan't disturb them, but a bit later, I will carry your letter to Erdel, so he can read it, and I will return It to you by the morning, so you can continue writing, deal?"

[Mirach]

"Alright," Senecio nodded. "Can I have one more request? Would you take your mask off for a while again?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh... Okay. " critter got a little flustered with unexpected request. He did obey it, though, and he slowly removed the mask he was wearing, and looked up at actor slowly, with a little vulnerable smile.