Senecio adn Tide II

[Mirach]

"Maybe just a few cookies," Senecio said. "I don’t have much appetite, but I'm feeling weak and I guess it might help a bit."

[VisAnastasis]

Tide nodded earnestly, and he reached for Hans's backpack that was at a side. Indeed, like he said, Hans seemed to like keeping some of expensive pastries Senecio has taken a liking to there. Kept in magic bag, they were still tasty and fresh.

[Mirach]

Senecio slowly nibbled on some of the more bland ones, washing them down with water. He ate just a few and nodded that he's ready.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide's feelings revealed, while he was himself a little scared and worried for him, he was utterly decisive to do his best and be  supportive, feeling very passionate about it. He helped him put in warm booths and a cloak, and then he shyly picked him up. He carried him to the carriage protectively, and he was as protective while they were riding, and then carried him to the theathre, towards the basement level beneath the stage, where Janus and his apprentices were staying.

[Mirach]

Senecio let Tide carry him all the way, but greeted Janus cheerfully to show him that he's doing fine already.

[VisAnastasis]

This was the first time Senecio met Janus after getting his new power, and it felt a little unusual. He could feel a lot of creature's feelings were suppressed and somehow lethargic and tasteless, pushed deep down, and were harder to perceive, as a lot within him seemed to be muddled with apathy and quiet solitude. Yet, still, when Senecio greeted him cheerfully, the little smile he gave him in response, along with a timid light streak of worry in it, was genuine. He stood up and bowed his head to greet them.
" It is good to see you smiling, Senecio. Are you... really feeling good enough to be seeing people? " he asked quietly, with his own peculiar greetings, reassured a little with the cheerfulness, but not fully, observing actor up and down a little gloomily. " Is... your nervous system doing okay? Mister sir Svarik said you should be doing fine... "

[Mirach]

"Yes, fully out of danger," Senecio explained. "Poison neutralised, everything healed, the only problem seems to be some waste it left behind. They'll take care of that, though. Tide actually came to borrow some tool they will use."

[VisAnastasis]

" Really? " Janus was a bit doubtful, as he knew that just a day and a half ago, Senecio's life wasn't just in danger, but taken. Still, his expression grew determined. " By they, you mean Tide and Eros? Like I always say, if it's for good cause and doesn't bring unnecessarily suffering, it will always have my support, " he said solemnly and reached for his dimensional bag, from which he took out a solid sized black box, and put it on a safe distance so Tide could pick it up.
" And so, as for the price for borrowing... "
" No price this time, " Being shook its head, speaking in a simple, but decisive, authoritative manner. " Senecio... is my benefactor. He talks to me about important matters, and he teaches me things... Borrowing him something to help him get better is not a deal or a favour. It's a given. "

[Mirach]

"Still I'm wondering," Senecio said, "if something they're going to remove could be of some use to you? From what I understood from Eros's explanation, it's mostly blood, but kind of burnt by the poison. Nothing much, I guess, but there should be a lot of pain in it, from what I can remember..."

[VisAnastasis]

Janus paled a little with it, as if unsure what is a proper way to respond to such a casual wording. He glanced at kids that were meddling with some mechanisms in the corner, and if the talk was before Emmet has already given him a finger, he would surely not be free enough to address the matter in front of them. Because they were there, though, he was still vague, and Senecio could feel discomfort from him, but also truthfulness, even though he was uncomfortable all the more, speaking of such truth.
" To be earnest... when I look at you... It is the same as with Emmet," he whispered, more quietly still, so children won't hear much. " I can not estimate how exactly delicious that part is my looking at you, because... you are delicious as you are. There is too much pain layered up in you with years... I just can not estimate just by looking at you as a whole, because as a whole, you are... tasteful as it is," he admitted quietly, with shame and hardship. " Judging by your words, though, even... if it's not much, it... sounds... hmm.. quite tempting, " it seemed hard for him to admit it, and, above all else, Senecio did feel a sliver of deep, upsetting hunger in the words, but also, strong, unbending pride, as firm as hunger was unending. " Still... I won't accept it as payment. What I am borrowing to help you is borrowed for free. You may decide what you wish to do with what is taken out of you... But I also won't accept it if it would muddle things between us. You are an adult, so you should be able to make a good estimation about how you will feel about it. I can only accept it if it's not something you will end up regretting or frightened with... "

[Mirach]

"Not a payment," Senecio confirmed. "And no regret or fear, really. I just want it out, I don’t care what happens with it. If it's of some use, then it would make me feel better about the whole thing, actually."

[VisAnastasis]

Being seemed to be thinking through implications slowly, but then, he finally nodded.
" If it is so and if you are really certain it won't change anything... I accept. " he just said quietly.

[Mirach]

"Good," Senecio nodded. "Now Tide needs to make some preparations with Eros, is it okay if I stay here for a while?" 

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh... yes. I would feel calmer if I see you for a bit longer. I would like to talk with you for a bit, too, " Being replied, as always, being fully honest, telling things as they were for him. " Would you like some human tea perhaps? I have learnt to make mint and rosehip te so far. " he offered, and, since it seemed he would feel better to have a bit of privacy with him, he asked the kids to leave the room for a bit, giving them a book to read while they are there, only letting them leave after they promised they will stay close by.

[Mirach]

"I'd really appreciate some mint tea," Senecio said, watching the boys leave. As the tea was brewing, he took leave of Tide as well. He remained alone with Janus now.

[VisAnastasis]

Janus brought out some mechanical device and pressed couple buttons on it - it seemed like some kind of mechanical portable source of heat. He had no sense of taste for food anymore, but he looked diligent, and it was calming to look at him as he prepared the tea, using measuring scales to add just the right amount of tea leaves and water, following whatever recipe he got his hands on word for word. As the tea brewed, he took out a neatly packed box from his bag, that had ten teacups. The pack, obviously bought just recently, wasn't too expensive, but it was pretty, with bright cheerful flowers painted on it; demon clearly put a lot of thought into getting bright happy things for the children, to bring something more pleasant into their lives. The strong, pleasant scent of mint spread through the air, as he put one lovely teacup in front of Senecio, and timidly filled it, glancinging at him to make sure he is doing it right.
" Would you... like some honey, or sugar? Kids really enjoy honey in it... " he whispered. " You just have to... tell me how much I should put it. Manual says *sweeten to your liking*, but... I can't feel the difference... "

[Mirach]

"One spoon of sugar, thank you," Senecio said. "Tide told me you found the mechanism that shot the needle. Can you tell me about it?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh, of course... I kept it in my bag if Hans needs it for evidence, you can see it if you want to, " Being said quietly, and after he carefully measured a spoonful of sugar and put it in the tea, he sat down timidly, at the other side of the table. He took a deep breath, and Senecio could feel a stronger mix of emotions than before from him, of sadness, suppressed anger, powerlessness and guilt - as he quietly and with a most calming reassuring voice he could master he explained to the actor all about his discovery, about where it was, about the way it was activated and how it was planned... He spoke in an organized and detailed manner telling him everything he managed to find out, but beneath the surface, Senecio could feel a growing tinge of resigned, cold righteous anger, along with a tingle of the equally resigned regretful feeling of guilt, as demon must have felt responsible for failing to find the trap in the first place.

[Mirach]

Senecio listened attentively, with a cold interest. "So..." he said quietly, "when can we demolish everything and build it anew? I'm not afraid of more traps, but I don't want anything that those man's hands touched in my theatre. And I don't want to ever say his name again."

[VisAnastasis]

Senecio's words were heavy, and demon tensed a little under their weight, but he nodded.
" I can not... human particles. I do not know what all he has touched. So... I would like to put a request to just rebuild every single mechanism in the theatre. They could use an upgrade, anyway, " Being responded firmly, although a little tensely. " I already rebuild and exchanges all the mechanisms that moved the coulises that were used to lay the trap... they are much more efficient, quick, and easier to manoeuvre now. As for here, beneath the stage, I rebuilt with my own mechanisms part of what we have broken that day, with what we needed for the new play, but it is a tiny part of this vast basement labyrinth, still... From how it seems to me, it appears you will be playing only the Spirit King play for next few weeks since it is such a huge hit and everyone wants to see it... so technically, we won't need anything of his things in meantime, will we? " Being said coldly, as he turned, toward the shadowy machinery around then, and quietly, he unexpectedly offered. " Senecio... would you like to break it all apart with me? I have been thinking. It is... true, that there is a lot of good materials here. But yet... it feels wrong. I do not want to touch and work with anything that those man's hands touched, either. I feel... ill thinking about it," he whispered, with a little glassy look in his eyes. " I have waited, to hear from either you or Hans, to speak of this. Senecio... how would you like us to just smash and throw everything out? " he suggested, with a cold, frightful chill in his polite, soft voice. " Wouldn't seeing almost bare, empty room, without even a nail left from his work, only leaving the things we built ourselves, in spite of him... feel refreshing? "

[Mirach]

Senecio bit his lip. "Eros just told me I shouldn't do anything strenuous, and I'm so tempted again... Yes, I would like to do that. Begin without me, but leave me something, alright?"

[VisAnastasis]

" No, " Being refused him simply, outright. " Despite it is a pleasure for both of us, you have more emotional right to it than me. I will wait until you feel well enough to take part in it. May I request this of you? " he whispered seriously. " In exchange for your agreement, I'll let you use my flaming sword to your liking. Destroying things with it will take a minimal toll on your recovering body, I'll guarantee it. "

[Mirach]

Senecio nodded slowly and sipped his tea. "Good," he said darkly and only then, with the promise easing his mind a bit, he smiled a little. "Anyway... how did you like the play?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I was mostly here, underneath the stage, monitoring the children as we moved mechanisms, so I didn't see whole of it, only caught glances of it. But I could hear it. I liked the music and dialogue.  It was... an interesting experience, to be able to take part in something like that, without being swallowed by the tight crowd pressing all around you... But... " he paused uncertainly, with weight on his heart he could not bare to hide. " Later, I felt guilty when I realized... I enjoyed the performance of a person that was dying. Such things... leave a bitter taste in your mouth... "

[Mirach]

"No," Senecio shook his head. "Don't let him spoil it. If you really enjoyed the performance, then I succeeded, despite the poison. A bit of a final *fuck you* to him."