thebastion | Day 255

When: Day 255, midday
Who: The Helmsman and anyone who trips over his prone body
Open/Close: Open
Where: The middle of the Bastion, facedown
What: You know what's nice? Grass is nice.
Format: I'll match
Warning: Blood warning/minor self harm in Aoi and Disciple threads

Ever since he'd been brought to the hospital in the middle of the night by Aradia and the Disciple, the Helmsman has been quiet. His throat has been in no condition to really speak, which had been one thing, but besides that... Any attempts to speak with him have just earned a narrow eyed look and thinned lips, although he'd gone along with attempts to feed him and put him into some cleaner clothes.

Apparently, today's the day that changes because anyone going about their business in the Bastion is liable to notice the gray-skinned and horned alien laying facedown in the middle of the little settlement. The clothes he's wearing are far too big for his food-deprived skinny body but despite what it looks like, he is breathing and is alive.

Don't mind him, he's just gonna be here for a while. If you trip, well, that's your problem. Suck it up.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Well that's a lie."

Even if he's pressed into the pile, he can still hear her. She takes advantage of that.

"You don't hate everything. And you're not you because you hate things. You don't hate me. Or Signless. Or Dolorosa. You don't hate oranges, you don't hate a lot of things. You're you because you're brave, you survive, if it's just to spite her, it doesn't make it less amazing. You came out the other side with a personality and memories and caring about things. You didn't let her win, but now you can let her go. Refuse to think of her, don't mention her name. She doesn't have control over you anymore."

He's not brave. He's never been brave. He's always been terrified out of his mind, it feels. They'd called him a hero, but what did any of those other trolls know?

And let Her go- he's never wanted to hold onto her. It's always been the opposite- still the opposite, he reminds himself, because this is a hallucination and he'll come to any minute now and be aware of her cruelty and her horrible smile and her cold nails and her atrocious shitty sea puns. How can he let go of that?

1 d0nt kn0w h0w

"I don't really know myself. I hate the executor but he doesn't haunt my dreams anymore. I don't wake up wondering why I'm not dead. ...I can't give you answers I don't have. But I'll help if you let me. Take things one night at a time."

She leans in, nudges his forehead with hers slowly, gently. He's warm.

She'll help him. She'll help him just like she did before, just like when he was a slave the firs time around and it was fear that kept him going more than spite.

Hallucination. Has to be. His mind just replaying events he's gone through before but with a different spint- 1 d0nt kn0w His stare at her is wide and desperate. 1 d0nt kn0w 4nth1n9. Especially not what he wants to do.

She finally pulls a single hand free. Cupping his cheek, she nods. She knows. It's scary and she knows. She'd spent too many weak moments curled up in furs, wishing that arrow had come loose, feeling such guilt she was alive. Life was a scary thing to live, more so when you lived it alone.

"It's okay. You don't have to know anything. You just have to take it day by day. I don't...think I'll be as good as he is at it. He was always the best with helping. But I'll try."

For the first time in nights, he lets himself sink into her touch although his body still won't stop its trembling. There's an unfamiliar ache in his eyes, something different than the usual strain which has plagued him for centuries.

y0u'r3 g00d

And he'll stick to that for eternity.

She doesn't protest his statement. This feels good. Right. Different, in so many ways, but right. He trembles but he's close to her and she feels like things might...be okay.

"You're good too, my 22."

Day 255 - Yeah no

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