IC CONTACT

[gemigod]

VOICE | ACTION | LETTERS

Steven lives in Helian's Glade and can usually be found somewhere in the gardens. Letters can be left on his bed, which is made of moss and several supernaturally large blooms, or the drawer filled stump where he keeps his belongings. He is responsive to network communications but prefers not to speak one on one over them.

Comments

[gemigod]

It was... supposed to bring back my strength.

[He flexes one of his arms, wonderingly. Maybe he feels stronger? It's hard to tell when he feels so ginger, still.]

I only... I glowed like this once. It's weird.

[hippocarnival]

Your gem has to do with your strength... right? [He hopes it's just a side effect of it working.

Yuya leans over, to lay on the ground on his side next to Steven. Trying to sit up is just a lot of effort when he's poured everything into continual healing.] Does it hurt?

[gemigod]

It's... getting better.

[He exhales slowly. The pain was so extreme at first, the ache he feels now is nothing in comparison.]

Maybe... this is just the way the potion works. Maybe it had to do something to my gem. It's a part of my body... y'know?

It makes... light.

[He looks up at that sky, thinking about his gem, and the way it ties into his identity. He's wondered for a long time if that part of him was even there, anymore. It'd have to be, wouldn't it?

Did the potion just wake it up?]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya nods slowly.] I hope it gives you what you wanted.

[At least then, he could say maybe that the trade off was worth it. It wasn't just being in a ton of pain.]

[gemigod]

Me too.

[His face falls a bit further, darker thoughts clouding in. Will this be the change that fixes things? If he had claim back a small part of who he was, is that enough?]

I... worked so hard. To have things like they were.

[He feels his eyes misting up.]

And it just took all of it away from me.

[hippocarnival]

I know. [Yuya laces their fingers together.] This place has taken too much from you.

[Not all of it, Yuya stands by that. But a lot--Yuya's sure Steven's lost more than even he has. It isn't fair.]

[gemigod]

[It's not the first time Yuya has said that to him recently, and it hurts a little to know how obvious it is. How obvious he's broken, how obviously he's lacking. Yuya didn't even really know him before all of this, and yet he can still tell.

He knows he should try to test his strength, to see if it's all worth it. But right now he doesn't have the will to try. Instead, he leans his head against Yuya's, and seems prepared to fall asleep again right there, until a time when maybe he'll feel a little bit stronger.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya's just as weary, and tucks himself closer when Steven leans his head in. He just needs to regain his strength... with a nap.]

[gemigod]

[It's a while before Steven wakes up again, and this time he's no longer glowing. He guesses it's a relief that isn't going to be an all the time thing. He dimly looks at his fingers, moving them in front of his face. He does feel different, somehow. Steadier. More filled with vitality.

He shrugs his shoulder a little, gently trying to wake Yuya up as well. His voice is soft.]

Hey...

[hippocarnival]

Mmph... [Yuya bats blinding at Steven as he's nudged, like he's one of the insects that likes to take a perch when Yuya sleeps. At least it's very gentle slapping, Yuya too heavy with sleep to but any real effort in it.

His eyes flutter open a minute later, groggy.]

[gemigod]

[Steven sighs softly, waiting for Yuya to recover. The weariness is understandable, given what Yuya seemed to have been doing while he was unconscious.]

You shouldn't have given me all your energy like that...

[It's a very light scolding, if it could be considered one at all. Steven knows how it is.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya blinks slowly at Steven before rolling over and stretching.] It's--okay. If a nap is all it costs, I don't mind at all...

[He rubs his eyes.] Do you feel better?

[gemigod]

I think so.

[It even shows in his voice, how there's more emotional and physical strength there. He lifts his arm again, looking at his fingers. He can feel it in his movements. His body weight has become inconsequential.]

In fact...

[He moves to sit up, scooping his arm beneath Yuya's back, and his other beneath his legs. Without much effort at all, he can shift Yuya's body onto his lap.]

[hippocarnival]

Whoa--[That brings Yuya to alertness, how swiftly he's moved, and then he laughs and loops his arms loosely around Steven's shoulders.] So you really did get stronger?

[gemigod]

[He smiles, soaking in Yuya's approval. When he feels Yuya's weight in his arms, it really does seem like he got stronger.]

Let's see!

[With that, Steven stands, with Yuya still in his arms. Steven could carry people like this before, but it was at least a little labored. Right now it seems like the equivalent of lifting a pet cat.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya laughs, swinging his feet as he's pulled off the ground.] Look at you, Mr. Strongman! Is it easy?