wotanon | Dreamers After Dark (VII)

[It's very much so real! Although it seems like a little time has passed since the death, and the flesh is cooler to the touch than an immediately recent kill. The robot bird, meanwhile, stops its feasting to give Absinthe what seems to be a curious look - not that you can really tell with a robot, of course, but it doesn't seem hostile. As of yet?]

[ he smiles at the bird and then offers a wave. he's not making a move to touch him again, at least not yet. ]

Do you mind terribly if I interrupt?

[It tilts is head cautiously, stepping from one foot to another - neither a no nor a yes. What kind of interruption, seems to be the unspoken question.]

Well! I wonder if it would be rude to have a taste, when he is in this state. It is hardly hurting him, after all.

[Good job being polite, Absinthe! The bird regards him some more, then reaches inside the corpse, the steely beak neatly slicing off a short length of intestine. No idea if that's exactly what you wanted to taste, Absinthe, but look, it'll share! The bird steps over to Absinthe, offering him the morsel. Isn't this a sweet scene.]

[ so sweet!! he offers a tip of his hat in thanks before he reaches out for the morsel, taking it and tipping his head back to neatly drop it in his mouth without getting his lips messy. it doesn't matter in a dream, but you know, the though that counts and all. ]

How very generous of you.

[This was supposed to be a gore dream, why is it wholesome. The bird shuffles its wings briefly in a pleased way. Glad you like it, friend! Do you want another bit? It steps back to the corpse, eyeing it critically, then - severs off an arm at the elbow. Sharp steel wings sure are useful! It'll offer the severed limb to Absinthe, too. Lunch with friends.

The bird can't speak, but seems like it can still communicate in a sense - feelings and concepts rather than clear words. The thoughts that arrive in Absinthe's mind are...

Don't need. Can share.]

[ there's a blink, as he hears the words, before a smile curls on his face and he takes the severed arm. he's not one to look a gift horse in the mouth! or a gift ... limb, as it were. ]

You have my thanks. I worried that it was rude to request more.

[The bird shakes its head, then probes the body with its beak again.

Thing. Don't need. Thing.

It's not like it needs to eat, either - it seems like it was doing that more out of curiousity than anything else. Speaking of which, it goes back to worrying at the inhards, but this time trying to pull them out of the body and lay them out on the floor, as if for inspection.]

[ he tips his head, curious as he watches it, then seems to accept this! ]

Well, I suppose something like you would hardly need to eat.

Does this simply interest you, then?

[The answering stream of almost-consciousness is a mixture of curiousity, innocent enjoyment of a game, and the definite lack of seeing the corpse as... well, anyone really. To the bird's mind, there isn't really a difference between the body and the surrounding sofas. This one is just more fun to play with than the sofas, though it can be satisfying to tear those up, too. But the body has a lot more colours and fun squishy bits!

It's why it's sharing with Absinthe, too. Absinthe, too, is a more fun thing than the rest of surroundings, and the bird is curious about him, and how he seems to have a different enjoyment of the meal - his reactions and way of acting is interesting. In fact...

Those thoughts shift and flow together, and the bird turns to Absinthe, focused on him now, reaches out to try and grab his hand in its beak. Give?]

[ his eyebrows raise -- he switches his grip of the severed arm from one hand to another, freeing his hand so he can offer it to the bird. there's no hesitation or lack of certainty in it. even if it ended up being a poor choice -- well, considering it's a dream he's not overly concerned. ]

I do warn I'm not nearly as pleasant to taste. Or smell in general, really.

[have you tried taking a shower

It's fine, though! The bird doesn't have anything to recognize scents as pleasant or unpleasant. It's molecules, man. It inspects the offered hand for a few moments, seemingly deciding what it wants to do, and then quickly half-severs off the thumb, mainly to expose the meatier part of it. It's curious about the squishy thing!

Nearly at the same time, though, there's a new voice in... not the air, but more in the dream itself, and by extension in Absinthe's mind.

"Not nearly as pleasant"... in comparison to what? Oh, he probably means me. Does it actually taste good? Though he did say that's part of the corruption. Maybe I ought to ask next time.

The voice is Levity's, and clear enough that it's almost as though he's standing right next to Absinthe. The bird seems to be completely unaware of the voice, continuing to peck at his hand.]

[ don't @ him

he doesn't even blink when the thumb is half-severed, wigging the digit as best as he's able considering his condition. ]

Now now, don't play too rough. I still intend to enjoy my meal.

[ as if he can't hear the voice offering commentary. he'll still keep his hand held out for the bird, though, and in the meantime he lifts Levity's severed arm up to his own mouth, taking a sizeable chunk out of the raw end of it with his teeth -- at this point ignoring the mess that makes over his mouth and chin. ]

[There's no input from Levity this time, though who knows why. The bird, meanwhile, stops for a bit to give Absinthe a Look. You can eat with one hand, you know? It goes back to worrying at his thumb, seemingly trying to pick it apart, with no attempt to eat it. Is there drippy zombie goo instead of blood? Inquiring minds want to know.]

[ there is, in fact, a thick, oozing black ichor instead of blood! though otherwise the insides of his flesh look quite normal, and falls apart at being picked like a normal human's would.

it does taste terrible, wrong, unnatural -- but a robot probably wouldn't notice all that! ]

[A robot certainly wouldn't! It does turn out to have a metallic tongue of sorts, though, and mlems at the ichor - out of curiousity. Can it do anything to metal?

Levity, or whichever part of his psyche it is that's offering invisible commentary, does notice it, however.

The Starscourge...]

[ it doesn't harm the metal, no -- and right now its nature is more of a symptom of his corruption than the Starscourge in and of itself.

he smiles, though, hearing Levity's thought; and as the bird pecks the wound starts to heal, automatically binding itself back together even as the bird tongues at it. mainly to see how the bird'll react, at that, if it'll try to re-open the wound. ]

[The bird is offended!! It makes an indignant roboty beep that in its pattern sounds almost like swearing and pecks at the hand again - and then, apparently deciding that it's Absinthe himself who made the fun stop, jabs its neck quickly to grab Absinthe's hat and jump away, shaking it in its beak angrily.

There's a laugh from unseen Levity, but his musings continue.

Oh, I should try that next time. But... it does heal on its own, then? And it's not transferable... Then, back in Heaven - oh, he just kept it off me out of courtesy rather than necessity, then. He does know how to be sweet. But...

There is a brief pause, but one seemingly heavy with unarticulated thought. When the voice resumes, it's in more concentrated, thoughtful tones of someone remembering something, and it doesn't quite sound like Levity's voice - more like how he would sound if he tried to speak like someone else.

"I think he pulled them. I almost pulled one myself. Each flower seems to have a different significance, so who knows what he thought he was doing to himself."

I wonder if he lied to me about only doing it to see what happened. Or is he really that self-destructive?]

-- I was fine with a little pecks here and there, but there's no need to be rude.

[ his tone is more faux-offended than anything, though, since he could just as easily conjure another hat in his hand. he'll step after the bird, trying to reach to grab the hat back, still with Levity's arm in his other hand.

it'd almost be a comical sight, really, and he's trying not to focus on Levity's train of thought at the home. Emet-Selch warned him Levity would be the sort to pry, but he's really trying not to encourage that! he's just wants to charm him superficially how dare Levity care about him!! ]

[Absinthe is the rude one, so he's not getting the hat back. The bird backs away, yanking its head back once Absinthe reaches close enough. Though it's apparently angry, it's also still trying to play.

Unfortunately for Absinthe, though, Levity's inner monologue isn't stopping there, although there is a touch of amusement at the scene playing out. Who knows how his consciousness is layered right now, but likely he's just thinking while dreaming.

I suppose that's why everyone keeps trying to tell me to be more careful around him. Though, true trust, true trust... It would help if Alexander didn't need to be so vague all the time. "Even if he comes to value you, he might end up hurting you". On accident or purpose? That's... sad, really. Breaking things and people you like on purpose, just to hurt yourself? To have something to be angry about? Or simply out of lack of control over everything else? I cannot even ask him...

The thought trails off into less well-defined streams of emotion moreso than anything - a manner of sadness at not being trusted, knowledge that he hasn't yet earned that trust (because not even Levity is that naive), desire to become closer and a not inconsiderable amount of affection and admiration and worry for the amnesiac Ardyn he'd met. Have fun Absinthe, Levity sure does like your good person self more.]

That is a possession of mine, you silly creature, not a toy.

[ he!! dislikes this!! it's not like Alexander warning Levity of as much was a surprise, though, considering what he's done to Alexander before -- altogether it's a rather mild-mannered warning. but Absinthe doesn't like the tone of this at all. it's straying vaguely too close to pitying him, feeling sorry for him ...

he feels he's been bared, in a sense, having Levity see him without memories. to get a hint he was not always this way. he doesn't like it, and he tries to push past the thoughts he's hearing. if he can't grab the bird, he'll sigh, giving up on their "game" to step back towards Levity's displayed corpse.

unceremoniously he'll dig his hand into the abdomen, with enough force to try and reach up through to his heart. ]

[Well, if his intent was to upset Levity himself with that, Absinthe's aim is unfortunately off! That is to say, the more conscious part of Levity seems unaffected - and, indeed, as the thoughts continue to flow they do come to wondering about what could have happened to Absinthe, niggling at the differences in his behaviour as Ardyn and as Absinthe, putting together all the vague warnings Levity has been receiving from others and trying to correlate them to what he knows of the man so far. Rather sincere and open as an amnesiac, horrified by his condition - but very nonchalant about it as Absinthe, as though it doesn't matter, all easy smiles and played up charm. A distraction of sorts, a defense mechanism?

The bird, meanwhile, seems to be a bit disappointed by the fact Absinthe doesn't want to play anymore - but it does startle when he tries to reach in to grab the heart. It drops the hat, hops closer to stand across the corpse from Absinthe, jabs its beak down to grab at his hand - though this seems to be more a warning than an attack.

Earn.

As in, you gotta work for the heart, buddy! Who's the rude one now, walking into a guy's psyche and then trying to steal his heart, geez.]

[ what, so it's fine when rowdy teenagers do it but not a nasty zombie cannibal? Absinthe is being oppressed!

he sighs, as he's nipped, taking his his hand back. if he's able to he'll try to give the bird a bop on the head, as if admonishing. ]

And here I thought you had no need for him! What is the harm if I do a little exploration?

[To be fair, Absinthe is a rowdy teenager by ancient standards!

There's a complicated mental moment as the bird gathers all of its vague perceptions and instincts in regards to the corpse. There's a certain amount of guarded fear, verging on defensiveness, annoyance directed at the corpse, somehow, but a hint of affection, too. Bird brains sure are weird!

The conclusion that Absinthe can draw from the tangle is thus: if you take the heart, prove that you won't hurt bird. If you plan on hurting bird, it will try to destroy the corpse.]

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II

Re: II