Radio (Two days after the possession attempt)

[redlightgreenlight]

I'm sorry...I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't even know it could.

[She sounds exhausted.]

And I know that several of you are hurting as a result of what happened when I tried to possess Tu Vishan...

[The fact that the other foreigners had seen the vision was distressing, she didn't like being used for anything, even if it was by a benevolent being. It was still just too reminiscent of Malicant.]

But the turtle is alive.

[Her voice is quieter now.]

And that vision...I believe it came from him.

Comments

action?

[gistful]

[When Valdis arrives back at the Hotel, Anton seeks her out. He still insists on being properly dressed in spite of Erskine pointing out that this is an opportunity to let go and slum it in his dressing-gown, so he's perfectly decent when he finds her.]

Lady Valdis?

[He's perfectly willing to have a lap full of either wolf or young lady on this occasion, if that's what she needs.]

Of course <3

[redlightgreenlight]

[When he found her, she was sitting on her bed, which was now located by the window, staring out at the city. She had left her door open, closing it made her feel trapped and no matter what happened, she felt safe in the Hotel. But Malicant's shadow seemed to lay over the city again, and she couldn't shake the idea that it was her fault. She didn't look at him when he said her name, ashamed that she had ignored him earlier.]

You should be resting...

[gistful]

I can rest nearly anywhere, oddly enough. Even here, if you're amenable. May I come in?

[Truthfully the walk up the stairs, even activating the escalator feature, was making his knees shake and his vision turn vaguely on its axis.]

[redlightgreenlight]

[He wasn't well, she could tell from here that his condition was bothering him. He shouldn't have come up here.]

I'm sorry, of course you can come in.

[She moved off the bed and quickly walked over to him, gently taking his arm to help support him, which was somewhat laughable considering how much taller he was. If he was steady enough, she would help him over to the chair that sat in the corner.]

[gistful]

Thank you.

[He's steady enough. And possibly giving her something to think about--helping him--was better for her than simply moping. He opts for bland would-be wryness.]

I would ask if there's anything you need, but I rather think I would fall down the stairs if I tried to descend.

[redlightgreenlight]

[Just as with Zel, she was certain that it was supposed to be a joke, but she really didn't find it funny. Anton was ill, Wan was gone and her attempt to find out if Tu Vishan still lived had gone horribly wrong. Despite Anton's steadyness, his weakness was evident and it was something she struggled to come to terms with. It was wrong and the fact that his fragile state had been caused by an unknown was even more distressing.

She managed to hold herself together long enough to help him into the chair.]

That's not funny...[She said, her emerald eyes dulled from tiredness and depression.]

[gistful]

Perhaps.

[Or perhaps anything is funny.]

And yet my question still stands, if in a sideways manner.

[redlightgreenlight]

[It took all her willpower to not collapse to the floor in tears. Exhaustion, shame, the pain of losing Wan. No one was blaming her and she couldn't take it, couldn't understand. And the nightmares...losing everyone she cared about, losing her soul, the Kedan who were dead, but not dead, Malicant, the hatchlings. If those things only existed in her dreams, then perhaps she could cope, but they were all too real.]

Just...don't leave me.

[She didn't know what to do anymore, all she could do was stand there and cry.]

[gistful]

[Anton nods to himself and shifts to the bed, drawing his long legs up and holding out his arms.]

Come here, A leanbh.

[A cuddler? Not Anton. But, every now and then, perhaps.]

[redlightgreenlight]

[There was no hesitation, her need for comfort overruling any foolish sense of pride as she crawled onto the bed and settled in his arms, tears still streaming down her cheeks. It was safe to cry here, safe to be weak while he held her.

There were those that believed in true names, and that they granted power. The name she had given him didn't grant any special powers, it was merely a symbol of what he was to her, someone precious. But he only one she had left, and his lack of reassurance that he wouldn't leave was not lost on her. She knew it wasn't something he could promise, and so all she could do was focus on the here and now. Ill as he was, the fact that Anton could still care for others so strongly was simply one more thing she admired him for, loved him for. If only she could be as strong as he was.]