𝚒𝚗𝚋𝚘𝚡 — 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚗𝚒𝚊.

[sacral]

EVEN WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS

Comments

another post one sacrifice --

[salaryman]

[ His head feels like it is swimming. The emotions felt in the song daze and confuse; it pulls pain that isn't even his to the surface. What is he to do with it? His own trauma is minimal at worst. Ah, what a world they've awakened. ]

... how is my coworker?

we barely knew him 🕊️

[sacral]

[ Unease is like a river's current in the Murmur. Ambient at first, but treacherous the deeper one treads. Subaru senses it; his natural instinct is to assuage the effect. ]

I'm alright. You felt it, didn't you?

near far wherever you are i believe that one will go on ~

[salaryman]

Unfortunately.

You ... you are all right, aren't you?

[ The question he wants to ask if "how." Is it some trick as a Sumeragi? Or a Dragon of Heaven? Here he thought he knew all their little gimmicks... ]

[sacral]

[ Ah. ]

It's not uncommon, [ He explains without being asked outright. ] for those in my line of work to witness ritual like this. Maybe not on this scale, necessarily...

In light of it, how are you feeling?

[salaryman]

I'm coming to find how sheltered I have been.

[ A laugh - or one that he forces. It has the sound of canned laughter from a sitcom. ]

Drained, if I'm honest. Drained from emotions that aren't even mine and horrors that I've not ever experienced.

[sacral]

It's nothing to feel ashamed of. [ Likewise, platitudes softened. ] Most people experience things like you have.

[ Anything else is, well. Not normal. ]

Do you want me to take it away from you?

1/3

[salaryman]

I suppose that is true.

[ A soft hum then a pause. ]

[salaryman]

[ Take it away?

A sensation of how nice that would be - how easy it would be to let these feelings flow off him to someone else. He won't have to concern himself further with this matter. Ah, that is a very tempting offer. ]

[salaryman]

[ But a sense of caution takes hold over the thirty seconds of relief. ]

No, no... it's best I carry this. It'll keep me from making silly mistakes.

[sacral]

It's not a permanent solution. Just a reprieve. [ Though... ] What mistakes are you apprehensive about making?

[salaryman]

[ Irritating someone scarier than Subaru but also -- ]

I was thinking of trying to earn enough brownie points with Sleep to have her tether to me, but now I think I should hold onto these terrifying feelings to remind myself to not do that...

[sacral]

Tethering yourself to Sleep? Why?

[salaryman]

I thought it might give us some insight into ... something.

[sacral]

Even in good faith, the insight of a god...

[ If that's what she really is. ]

[salaryman]

Still... I thought it might be useful to us all to try to acquire something.

However, I'm having second thoughts.

[sacral]

You're right to reconsider. Sacrifice magic always ends how you saw it.

[salaryman]

But if we don't do anything, what do you think will happen?

[sacral]

[ It does strike a nerve. ]

...there are other ways. If you really want to know.

[salaryman]

Well, I wouldn't be opposed to hearing them.

[sacral]

In onmyoudo, you can scry any of the elements. Water, fire, stone, wind...

But it's also possible to scry less orthodox things. Like blood.

[salaryman]

That so?

I'd love to try.

[sacral]

There are some limitations to teaching here. But I think it's possible, if that's what you wish to do.

[salaryman]

Well, it isn't something I could do before - so why don't we give it a whirl?

[sacral]

Alright. Because of the nature of your magic, it might flourish for you.

[ And, unspoken: it's likely the only reason why he's willing. ]

You can name a time, but I'd prefer to pick the space.

[salaryman]

Gimme some time to not be so nervous about the goddess I'm flirting with --

[ He hums. How long will it take to ease his worries? Not that long. His easy-going nature - the nature that lets all trouble roll of him - is a blessing as much as a curse for those around him. ]

How about in two days time? In the afternoon?

[ A small laugh. ] I live quite far so it'll give me time to get to where you are. Since you're doing me a favor, the last I can do is put in the literal leg work.