[open]

[meridio]

WHO: Somnus and [your character] with potential surprise guests!
WHERE: Forum → forest
WHEN: Late July
WHAT: Somnus posts a Craigslist ad for someone with epiphora to cry all over a neon blue tree (and maybe a dark blue tree) in the forest. Reading the post isn't required to catch him outside.
WARNINGS: None

[A message appears on the forum under the display name of #002366. The color of the text is black, suggesting this month's new arrival. The post itself will go unanswered.]

Tears may stem the flow of the curse. Seek me out at the northern end of Bluo if you are able and willing to shed them.

[True to his word, Somnus can be found at the forest edge, where he's leaned against a colorless tree with folded arms and looking into the forest proper. He glances over his shoulder at the first sign of approach from behind, but stops there. He won't speak unless spoken to first.]

Comments

[troubadamsel]

[Maribelle approaches him, a little weary for the wear.]

Are you the one who put up the message about the tears?

[meridio]

[That gets him to uncross his arms as he peels away from the tree.]

The solution was suggested to me by another. Are you volunteering yours?

[troubadamsel]

[She nods.]

It won't be easy, but I've forced myself to do it several times before. I've long since stopped doubting the strangeness of this world.

[meridio]

[Good enough. He gestures toward the forest.]

There lies an accursed near the river. If you are capable, I shall take you to her.

[troubadamsel]

I'll do my best.

[Polite as ever, she puts a hand to her chest and bows a bit.]

My name is Maribelle.

[meridio]

[Somnus' only acknowledgment of the gesture is a nod before he leads them inside.]

I am Somnus Lucis Caelum.

[He takes them along the river, and it won't be long. But it'll still take some time, given how far the accursed were taken.]

[troubadamsel]

[Not much for conversation, is he? This is starting to feel awkward.]

Have you tried your own tears?

[meridio]

I do not recall when I shed them last.

[He pushes a branch of leaves aside.]

The curse has yet to lift, and that is why I sought another for the deed.

[troubadamsel]

I see... my apologies, if I stirred any bad memories.

[meridio]

[The slightest turn of his head, neither accepting nor rejecting her apology, is his response. More importantly, the tears:]

How do you mean to force them?

[troubadamsel]

... It's a little embarrassing, but it does work.

... I pull my hair.

[meridio]

[Ah.]

In those times past, was a single tear sufficient?

[troubadamsel]

I don't know. I smeared my tears all over their face, just in case.

[ew, but it worked.]

[meridio]

[As long as it works, who is he to judge?]

A tree has no face on which to wipe your tears. But if that should be the cure, a single branch should suffice.

[troubadamsel]

Here's hoping. It is possible that by the end of the month, all will return to normal, as it's always been, but...

[meridio]

Our inaction comes with a price. If a solution exists, we must act now.

[troubadamsel]

Yes, of course. I didn't mean to imply we should do nothing.

[meridio]

[He lapses into silence, but it doesn't last once they pick up their pace. Continuing down the river, he retraces his steps from that day.]

A pale blue tree will come into view soon. Are you prepared?

[troubadamsel]

[She sighs... and begins grabbing her hair.]

I'm ready.

[meridio]

[They come upon the tree, its bright roots branching out into the forest floor by the riverbank—exactly the way he left her on that day. It's evident by the tree's posture that the accursed had been kneeling when the curse took over.

Stepping aside, Somnus gestures for Maribelle to do the deed. He won't judge.]

[troubadamsel]

[Bless you, Somnus, because this is A) gunna take a while and B) very embarrassing.]

Nnnngh!

[But eventually, after several long minutes, tears of pain do begin to well up in her eyes.]

[meridio]

[It indeed takes a while. But she said it's worked in the past, and he's hardly in a position to be complaining, so he waits until he sees her eyes glaze over from the tears.

At last! The tree awaits, Maribelle.]

[troubadamsel]

O-Okay... I do hope I won't have do this again...

[She heads to the tree and leans over - she then shuts her eyes hard, trying to ensure the tears fall from her face...]

aaaay

[pyrafect]

[ The tears fall upon one root, then another, but by the time the second one has fallen the tree cyan colored willow already begins to change. Long branches rustle; some retreat back towards the trunk, others only become brittle and break, falling into the river to be carried away. The leaves wilt, the flowers shrink, and bark gives way to skin. Crimson begins to peak out from between the thicker panes of wood that have encased the figure within, illuminated by a gentle glow.

Her eyes flutter open, unfocused as if she's been aroused from a slumber, close, and then open again. She looks from one figure to the other, her exhaustion graciously overpowering her guilt. ] King Somnus.... [ He's returned, he's found someone, when she had hoped he wouldn't. ]

...Maribelle.... [ ...She's cried for her. A friend, someone she's known for a long while, someone who has been in this town longer than anyone else she knows, has forced her tears. That's the last thing she wanted. ]

I'm sorry.

[ She doesn't smile, but her legs do buckle beneath her, and she collapses. ]

eeeey

[meridio]

[What a splendid transformation. It's nothing at all like what brought them here in the first place. Now that Maribelle has done her part, Somnus steps up, addressing her as he does.]

You have done well.

[Effectively releasing Maribelle to do as she pleases, Somnus kneels next to Pyra. Foolish woman, why apologize? He's not here to chat.]

It is time that you returned to the town.

[troubadamsel]

Pyra!

[She kneels down, and feels ready to give emotional tears at this point, because PYRA!]

Is she hurt? I can fetch my healing staff! Oh gods above, Pyra!

[pyrafect]

[ On her hands and knees as they come to kneel beside her, she appears spent, lowering her head as if in apology. Her bangs fall over her eyes as she closes them. ] I do not need healing. [ She tells Maribelle quietly, ] I’m.... I’m fine.

[ A pause, as she catches her reflection within the river. “I’m fine” is such an obvious lie. Pyra corrects herself, knowing that the words might appease them: ] I... I will be fine. So please, do not worry.

[ Back to the town, then, where she must return, and.... this goes back to what she’s told others here, that no one is ever truly alone. She is not alone.

And she doesn’t know what to make of it. ]

Let’s return the town, mm.

[meridio]

[Ah, a healer. A useful profession, but it seems that Maribelle's skills won't be necessary here. If Pyra manifests some ailment down the road, they can deal with it then.

Regardless, sitting around in this forest with the feeling of being watched won't help anyone.]

Can you stand?

[troubadamsel]

Here, lean on us.

[Gently, she takes Pyra's hand, trying to help her to her feet.]

Slow and steady now, we're in no rush...

[pyrafect]

[ Supported by one or both of them, they bring her to her feet without protest from her. Leaning on one or both of them, she straightens up to take her first few steps with them.

Careful, she’s heavy. It might take a while to get back. ]

You... the both of you are too kind. [ A kindness that’s wasted on her. ]

You do not need to do this. [ She murmurs helplessly. Didn’t she say she would be more careful in forming bonds, attachments? And here they are, helping her. ]

[meridio]

[Kind? Hardly.

Supporting Pyra with a strong arm wrapped around her back, Somnus bears the brunt of her weight with his legs. She's much heavier than she looks. This doesn't surprise him for certain reasons.

Maribelle seems to have the conversational part of this handled, and so he stays quiet.]

[troubadamsel]

[If it takes a while, then it takes a while, she's not going to make Pyra hurry. She holds her, patiently leading her along.]

You would do the same in our place, would you not? We are friends, I would like to think.

[pyrafect]

[ Friends. Those who she keeps dear to her heart, those for whom she cares and loves, those for whom she would do the same-- except she could not help others, because she had been a tree.

But surely those who also fell victim to the enchantment had others to help them. ] We-...we are. [ She says carefully. ] Although I wish you would not have to worry.

[meridio]

[If he has thoughts about that, he doesn't voice them. This is a conversation between Maribelle and Pyra. His part is to ensure that all three of them return to the town.]

[troubadamsel]

And I wish it so as well, but there are things beyond our control. Focus on what you can do, not what you can't.

[pyrafect]

[ She's been... doing what she can, this entire time. Doing what she can to not hurt others, to not make them worry.

She's absolutely wrong in how she goes about it-- because she is lost, because she is broken, because she is purposeless, but she is trying. ]

...All... I can do is try.

[ She falls silent after that, seemingly exhausted from being a tree. Unless either of them have more to say, she will remain silent for the rest of the way back into Chroma. ]

[meridio]

[Trying is better than doing nothing. Maribelle is correct.

Somnus offers no words of his own still. He focuses on the path lining the river, keeping his senses on alert for potential attacks from monsters and other such creatures. Unless either expresses a desire to stop and break, he intends for them to keep moving.]

[troubadamsel]

[In that case, Maribelle will let the conversation drop for now. A lot has happened, and a lot is still to come, if she had to guess. She'll stay at Pyra's side until she's safely home.]