Senecio adn Tide II

[VisAnastasis]

( OOC: I don't know if you've seen it, just had to share it cos it's hilariously cute :D Apparently someone has been going through frames of Zira's bookshop, and they found something adorable in the background, hehe:

https://fuckyeahgoodomens.tumblr.com/post/611742401485291520/seaskystone-ive-just-made-a-life-changing-good )


" That is a relief. " Being smiled a little, seeming glad he can provide something that can make this easier. " Please do excuse me, and let me fetch a bottle of disinfection potion, my Disinfector 3.7.2 and my work chair, I'll be back in a moment. "
" Disinfector.. 3.7.2?" Emil couldn't help but ask with shy interest. " What happened to...Disinfector 1 and 2? "
" Oh, first version of products is always garbage. It is meant to confirm the concept, never a product on the offer. Could not recognize difference between bacteria and cells well enough, so it would always burn my hands in testing, little rascal. " Being snorted a little at the memory, but then realized how it sounded. " There's nothing to worry now, though. 3.7.2 version is extremely stable, it has couple safety settings, on higher ones it can even distinguish and clear parasites and maggots out of the skin. I'm very proud of the last build. " he reassured of its safety, on another hand, not seeming to realize implication that with that setting he's probably using it also on corpses he scavenges for food isn't that reassuring mental image.

[Mirach]

(OOC: I saw :D)

"Alright," Svarik nodded. "We should prepare everything while we wait for Conrad."

[VisAnastasis]

( OOC: It was just too adorable, I had to share :D )

" Yes. Actually, let's get ready right away, then... " Janus waved away with his hand in the general north direction. There was a light gust of wind and from a distance toward his hand, floated a metal box, probably with the delicate machine inside, then a bottle of disinfecting potion, and soon enough, a lovely soft chair, black in colour, but its stuffing having an appearance of soft grass, simple and beautiful. The items remained seemingly floating in the air, as it appeared that in some circumstances, like now and like with lighter objects like lanterns on the outside, Being had a certain level of control over space around it. " Alright, that should be it. " it proclaimed, turning to meadow king. " So, little one, should we finish the disinfection now, or when we are in front of the room? What is a custom preferable option for humans? "

[Mirach]

"I think in front of the room would be alright," Svarik said. "Lead on, please."

[VisAnastasis]

The Being led them a floor above, and then paused, in front of one door - it appeared as if made of glass, their reflections mirroring upon it, but nothing on the inside could be seen.
There, he took out the little machine from the box. It had a peculiar shape, not familiar to kids and Svarik, and it was hard to pinpoint much about it. Children asked a couple of questions about it, clearly curious about its design. https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c9/6d/ec/c96dec80326d1ea929a083bb1775afd8.jpg

Being replied patiently and readily, as it was complex to make, not seeming to have much trouble revealing information about it, knowing no one can reproduce it just by watching at it. He explained there are several settings, depending on the level of clearance needed, from tiny microorganisms to maggots.
" And what is that glowing blue glass part for? " Emmet asked curiously.
" Oh, that's for maggot setting, of course. On the highest setting, the device uses a very light temporal displacement, it captures maggots, tiny bugs and so alike, and keeps them in the blue part, a little temporal pocket dimension. " Janus explained. " When I'm done scavenging, I can just put them back from it to the body. "
" Oh.. I thought... " Emmet stuttered and Being made a long face.
" You thought... I would just go around, killing maggots and bugs? I don't like touching them, but that does not mean I want to squish them. It was hard enough moral dilemma, but I only purge microorganisms that attack the cells of the living. I dislike aggressions... "
" I see... " the boy replied wonderingly, and suddenly, he smiled. " Wait... is that why there suddenly don't seem to be any spiders and bugs in the basement since you came? I thought your presence scared them or something, but... Did you... use that machine on them? "
It was Being's time to seem embarrassed, and he caught, explaining while adjusting settings on the machine.
" Well... I may have... found them more acceptable home. That is, home quite reasonably far from me. They are so fast, and unpleasant to touch, and some bite and sting, and... Um, that is, I mean, it's not good for mechanisms, to be covered in spiderwebs or insects. It's an undesirable variable in its functionality... "

[Mirach]

"I will go first," Svarik said, "You don't need to follow me right away, we need to wait for Conrad anyway. I would just like to see the room and arrange the chairs.

[VisAnastasis]

" Let me come with you, please, while kids await. " Being insisted, when he adjusted the setting, and with Svarik's permission, he turned the device and used his finger to press the trigger to have it start. There was a low buzzing sound that has shown the machine was working, but not much could be seen on the outside. Svarik, with his sensitive listening gift, though, could feel any blemish and slightest dust layer be cleared away from his skin, and it left a tingling, but cleansing feeling, not gentle, like Symbelmyne's, but reassuring in its scientific and strict precision and the clean feeling left behind it, like one of going through an impossibly throughout bath. Used to the reliability of his machines, Being didn't question it and just continued explaining himself while the machine worked.
" I am your host. It is improper for you to move chairs when I can do it. Do not mind my cut hands, please. They are not as bad as they may look, and I shall be mindful and make objects float as much as I can. May I join you in preparing the room? I must point out things you should avoid touching, too, and since I won't be there during the procedure, this is least I can do ... "

[Mirach]

"Of course, just show the children where they can sit down while waiting, please," Svarik said. 

[VisAnastasis]

Being nodded, and gestured to them at a side two doors down, where alcove of the window was making a bench.
When he made sure children are alright, he opened the door, letting Svarik come in first, closing the door after them. The room was mainly white, and felt incredibly clean and clear, despite all windows were closed. It didn't seem like a laboratory originally - it was almost as if some kind of throne room was converted into it. ( Something like this, but with rows and rows of tables, mirrors and machines neatly arranged everywhere so much it was hard to figure out it was something else once: https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/012/551/773/large/angelo-paolo-romito-enviroment.jpg?1535374937 )

Janus seemed relieved when the doors closed, though. It seemed it was exhausting to keep up appearances before the children, and he was terribly hungry by now, especially in Emmett's tempting presence. The floating chairs trembled a little, but they kept floating, while Being leaned on the wall with exhaustion, cringing and covering his mouth with hands wearily to calm his fangs that were bearing themselves on their own. He didn't hide how he felt before Svarik, but he appeared ashamed and defeated.
" Please..." He whispered, lowering his head somberly." Tell me where should we put all the things... Little one..."

[Mirach]

Svarik nodded and took a moment to take in the layout of the room before he started arranging it in a most suitable way.

[VisAnastasis]

( OOC: Couldn't help but share - apparently, Tolkien didn't imagine Legolas thin and pretty, but insisted he was roughest and toughest of the fellowship? Just found this post on Tumblr, the idea was just so insanely unusual XD:  https://supreme-leader-stoat.tumblr.com/post/611898059901861888/militant-holy-knight-doctorbluesmanreturns )

The Being was quietly leaning on the wall the whole time, not speaking. It just listened to Svarik's requests, rearranging things in the room with his mind until they were most suitable for the procedure. As they were finishing, Conrad arrived with the medicine, and he as well bought more human food for the children and Svarik to share after the healing.
Janus went to greet him, and disinfect him with his machine, before bringing him back. It took him a great effort, but all the time he was before children, he tried to stand tall, and do his best to not appear hungry or troubled. He knew Emmet knew, though, and when the time came, he gulped and wished him good luck quietly, to which the boy nodded thoughtfully, before entering the room. The children went in and followed him, gazing wonderingly at the strange unusual place, although Emmet's gaze was focused a little nervously at the place where he was supposed to sit, anticipating what was to come.

[Mirach]

(OOC: heh, it's a fun image)

"Everything here is ready," Svarik said. "But we will only begin when you are. Do sit down comfortably and then I'll give you the painkiller.

[VisAnastasis]

Emmet looked around the place slowly, taking it in. His glance passed across the table, the chairs, the medicines arranged neatly... he took a deep breath. On the surface, there didn't seem anything wrong with the situation, but still, with his experiences with adults and paralyzing potions, and with his lightly furrowed brows, it wasn't quite hard to guess what memories he was struggling with at the moment. Slowly, he sat down, not taking his eyes of Svarik and Falcon. He was given painkiller first, almost coughing out the mixture at first.

" Sorry, I didn't warn you it is bitter. " Falcon apologized. " Was there some sweetened flavoured one I could have asked for? "
" I... do not know if they are all bitter. " Emmet murmured honestly, rubbing his palms. "  I've never had painkillers before. "
" I am... very much not surprised. " Falcon replied gloomily with the statement, trying quite a bit to appear indifferent, while not quite succeeding - as his statement of lack of surprise sounded more like he was strangling someone mentally while forcing the words out of his mouth. Children were his weakness, and while he could hide many things, hiding anger at the bad treatment of children was one thing he was really bad at. As painkiller was quick to work, instead of continuing conversation, he gestured to boy's hand, who extended it hesitantly. Conrad removed the glove slowly, revealing the fingers that looked all the more disfigured in the bright light of this room.
" Are you ready? " he asked. " As soon as we see you're not moving much, I'll cut it so quickly you'll barely feel it, and Svarik will heal it at least quarter as fast. What do you say?"
" I'm ready... " Emmet replied quietly, and he took the spoon with paralyzing potion right away, not leaving himself a place to change his mind out of fear, swallowing quickly, having experience with this mixture, knowing what to expect from it.

[Mirach]

"Before it takes effect, you might want to turn your head to the other side," Svarik said. "Later if you want to look away, you might not be able to. And now move your other hand, please... and again... again..." Svarik monitored the effect of the potion through those movements, getting smaller and sluggish. When it didn't move at all, he took a deep breath to focus, preparing for the spell, and then he nodded to Conrad.

[VisAnastasis]

The paralyzing potion was indeed strong and eerily effective - Emmet's body was limp as a glove, not responding as Falcon leaned closer and took a sharp knife. It was like a pretty doll, his pale porcelain face expressionless, not responding as Falcon brought it against his skin and spread the disfigured finger across the table. He could not scream or wince away, not responding as Conrad with surgical precision indeed pierced straight down, cutting off the finger in but one skilful move of no hesitance.
There was only light hoarse sound deep in the throat and suppressed tears gathered in the corners of his eyes, while Conrad put the remnant of a finger in a cup he brought, so blood wouldn't be wasted, and after gathering some of it that streamed from the wound and applying pressure for bleeding to slow down, he stood up, and gestured to Svarik that he's done, before leaving to carry it to Janus, leaving him with one motionless and two rather worried pale children.

[Mirach]

Svarik was waiting at Conrad's side, ready to take his place immediately. He did so as soon as Conrad stepped away, and started with the healing spell, already prepared at his fingertips. He did not rush it though, careful and thorough with the healing, making sure everything is in proper place and there is no possible source of pain left.

[VisAnastasis]

Falcon has left and didn't return, probably deciding it's best to remain by Janus's side at this moment and doesn't overwhelm the kids any more than they already are with his presence. They clearly were worried and at a loss, holding Emmet's other hand, while watching the right one as it was healing, looking much better, although more pitiful now, that the index finger was fully gone and so much less of it remained.

Emmet, whose head was, at Svarik's advice, turned to the side, was motionless at first as he was healing, despite dazed by strong painkillers, or maybe because of it, not being able to help reveal by his quickened breath that his hand was hurting while being handled. Svarik was gentle though, and there was no hesitance in his intentions just like Conrad's, and that seemed to reassure the boy, and as the pain was slowly dissolving, he didn't make any gesture or refusal or protest. As Svarik worked, though, a little bit of movement began coming back, a bit more eloquence in expression, slight twitching of fingers - almost like a lifeless corpse being reanimated anew. The boy never winced away, leaning into the relief of healing, one he never felt before, of things being moved back into right place, and as broken scarred skin was closing the wound. It seemed though, that both with a daze of painkiller and paralyzing potion, Emmet was rather disoriented - and maybe just as much by unexpected sensations of healing, contrasting so much to what he was used to. His breathing remained shallow as he was coming to his senses, and it seemed as if he was on a verge of a panic attack, despite the hand was healed, the fear not allowing him the courage to try moving it just yet.

[Mirach]

Svarik finished the healing, making sure there's no pain left. That was taking all of his attention, so once it was done, he knelt in front of Emmet, studying his face. "Hey... it's okay now," he said softly, in a calming tone. "You can relax now. It's over..."

[VisAnastasis]

Emmet was disoriented and tense, appearing more so as the medicine was wearing off slowly. He tried to focus his hazy gaze on Svarik the best he could, and then to respond - muscles on his face reacted rather slowly, twitching in the strain as he struggled to speak.
" It... i-iss... pain... killer... is nnt.. it? " slowly, after a couple of tries, he managed to ask, slurring his words - despite that, his eyes were eloquent, and Svarik understood immediately that panic didn't come from fear of him. To someone not used on smooth healing, or magical instant healing, for that matter, being relieved of pain so instantly wasn't natural, and despite that's what he was promised, he was overwhelmed, expecting worse, and panicking because it wasn't coming yet. "I-it... will get w-worse... after it... wears of... right? "

[Mirach]

"No, it won't," Svarik shook his head. "It's healed. It's true that the painkiller might be still having some effect, though. Let's do a simple test, okay?" He pinched the skin of Emmet's healed hand just a little. "Did you feel that?" he asked. 

[VisAnastasis]

Emmet instinctively flinched or tried to, at least, but his movements were too wobbly for that to succeed, just twitching a little. However, the reflex forced him to move, and despite his reluctance, he realized the movement didn't bring him more pain, and suddenly, his lip trembled.
" Nnno... Doo nt... worryy. It did.. nt... hurt... " he whispered, likely misinterpreting the question and wanting to reassure Svarik, as he tried to glance down, to try to look at his hand, seeming both shaken at the sight and shocked with results, his voice cracking as he struggled to breathe. " I... forgott how... it felt. I am terrible. You ar.. nice... b-but... I keep.. rememring... my hand is crushed... between the... c-cogs... a-and..." he shuddered violently suddenly as if trying to force his body to snap out of this terrifying weakness. " I-I am pulling back, but...  It won't... b-budge... "

[Mirach]

"It's alright, you are safe," Svarik tried to assure him. "You are safe. The painkiller is still working apparently, but once it wears off, there will be no pain either. Until then, let's just relax and wait, okay? Do you mind if I play us a song while we do that?"

[VisAnastasis]

The boy tried to focus his look on Svarik, looking ashamed for troubling him, but not able to steady his troubled voice, the shadow of his past deeply engraved into him, holding him tightly, unforgivingly, not letting him relax. He couldn't steady his voice nor breath, and he only nodded faintly.
The kids staying faithfully at his side, pale and unsure, nodded as well, the whispering song would be alright, hoping it could distract Emmet from his thoughts enough till he calms down.

[Mirach]

Svarik took his flute and staryed playing, weaving a calming song that did not dig into the wounds, just caressed their surface to soothe them.

[VisAnastasis]

The song was gentle, and while Emmet was overwhelmed and still dazed with medication, the melody wasn't demanding or rough, so the boy didn't resist its touch. It was harder and harder to think of the silent terror of the dark cold basement and smell of blood mixed with grezzy oil, in this room filled with piercing light and warm music. Finally, with it, and with the other two children hugging him from the side, Emmet relaxed as the memories were pushed aside, and his breath evened as he embraced them back.

Around ten minutes later, Conrad lightly opened the door. He looked clean, with no blood upon his hands anymore. He was probably done with the Being, and he wanted to know if Svarik's done with his part, and if it's time for them to try the artificial hand - he just briefly gestured with 3 last fingers extended and eyebrows raised in question, as he didn't want to interrupt the music.