( semi-open ) though it may hurt today

[gradenine]

WHO: Roland (gradenine) & some of you guys
WHAT: July catchall + event
WHERE: Vaults, then some formalwear shop (get in losers we're going shopping)
WHEN: The rest of July
WARNINGS: Major Ruina and Leviathan spoilers in the first prompt. Death, murder, the usual Project Moon warnings apply, probably. Please refer to his opt-out for more info.




art credit | plotting comment | event log
hmu if you want a starter!

Comments

[gradenine]

See, I wouldn't call these gloves otherworldly... I'd say they're more technologically advanced than your average pair. I could pull out something that'll help us bust out of here, but--

[ throws up hands!! ]

Okay, let's figure this out, then. Uhh, you got that note in your box too?

[limbical]

I don't have a whole lot of knowledge on that sort of thing. But it's also not surprising when you can't even find a car with a fucking engine in this place.

[wompwomp anyway]

Right. The riddle about sharing. I feel like we did quite a bit of that. Is there more to it? [Fortunately, he did pocket the note, so he's gonna just unfold it and hold it out to Roland so they can review it.]

[gradenine]

Yeah, that was weird. Taking away any living being is one thing, but the thought of taking engines from cars just in case people like us are gonna try some shit is a little funny, not gonna lie.

[ there's nothing to laugh about in this situation, though. roland squints at the note, then looks down at the pair of gloves. ]

"If you will not share it, you cannot use it." Maybe we gotta exchange them? For maybe a couple of minutes. Then talk about them a little. I dunno, I'm not too eager to spill my gloves' backstory even to a reliable guy like you, Doc. No offence.

[limbical]

It's pretty excessive, if you ask me. Still, I guess it's not like we could take the cars anywhere anyway.

[Daan shrugs, putting on a faint smile.] Oh, I'm reliable? I'll take the praise. [But more seriously, he adds:] Anyway, I'm in agreement about sharing. I feel like we both had plenty of that already, and I'm not eager to get into more details myself.

I don't know how I'd have you use the sewing kit, though. Unless you want to make something with it?

[gradenine]

Nah, I wouldn't know how to use it. My wife probably would've figured out a way, though.

[ he speaks of her so casually now. reluctantly, he extends the pair of gloves over to daan to take it. it's made of sleek, high-quality material, and it probably would've felt heavy if it weren't for this weird world taking away certain abilities. ]

About the gloves, I used to wear them before. I couldn't help it, what with her being gone and all. [ he smiles wistfully. ] You know how to sew?

[limbical]

[There's a soft noise from Daan, almost a laugh as he takes the gloves. Excellent make, well made; after his life living in the Baron's estate, Daan has gotten an eye for these things, for better or for worse.]

Of course. One could hardly blame you. [Daan certainly doesn't!]

Hell, I sure hope so. I've sutured enough patients. [He smiles wryly.] I never learned to make clothes or dolls, but I'm an excellent surgeon. I'd be lucky to know how to make curtains, though.

These gloves are beautiful. Good taste, I should say. Though I'm not sure what abilities you were expecting of them.

[gradenine]

Oh yeah, you can do that. You're better off learning how to make certains, though. Hopefully I don't get too banged up to the point where I'd need to get stitches...

[ unless there's anesthetic lying around here somewhere? even then, he'd rather take an HP ampoule to the arm than resort to such primitive methods of first aid... ugh, just thinking about it makes him cringe. ]

Haha, thanks. The gloves act like a dimensional pocket. It's where she stores all her weapons, and why I could try blasting the vault door down to get us outta here. She's got quite the collection.

[limbical]

Let's hope so. Doing stitches on someone without some kind of way to numb the area is wretched.

[daan: not helping!]

Interesting. I can see why you tried what you did. Still, I'm not sure how sharing this information really helps us.

[god damn it are they gonna have to go Deeper]

[gradenine]

[ they have to go Deeper, there's no other choice. roland gulps. ]

Me neither. But we're all out of options. I guess we have to share more than that.

[ SIGHS. okay. ]

Could you tell me more about her? Just her.

[limbical]

...Mm, we're seriously going to have to do this, aren't we.

[It isn't a question, and Daan is far from thrilled. At the same time, he also doesn't want to be stuck in this vault forever.

Oh boy.]

I-- fuck, I don't know. She... when I first saw her, I thought she was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. I loved how she said "Daan", how she wasn't afraid to speak her opinion. She could have done anything she pleased, not just because her father was the baron, but because she was smart enough and determined enough. Her... way with a needle was immaculate. I used to think her stitches were elegant.

Tell me that's enough. [Is it? He doesn't know. He could say more, but it becomes so fucked up.]

[gradenine]

[ he listens. it's all he can do. and he gets it, being flustered at having to talk about your dead wife again. it isn't like roland's eager to do it either, and in fact, he'd like to avoid the topic altogether if he can help it.

there's no telling of everyone's safety inside this vault if he dwells on this for far too long. ]

...Okay. If it isn't enough, then...

[ he takes a deep breath. now it's his turn. he can't regale his fellow companion the entire story either because it's just as fucked up. but for now: ]

Angelica... was a strong woman, one of the most powerful Fixers in the business. She showed me the way to cope from all the suffering we go through in the City on the daily basis, and helped me come out of my shell. She was the one who I'd gotten that poem from.

In other words, she was my entire world. And now she's gone.

[ Ah! I realize it: your beauty lies in the force of your being.

he lowers his head, as if hiding his tear-streaked face again.

then, a loud creak comes from the vault doors. it opens with a slight crack, narrow enough for most people to slip through. ]

[limbical]

[It wrenches his heart, and he's sure that's no different for Roland. He's both relieved and horrified to relate to someone about this, but they cannot undo the past. There is no hope of that. Daan isn't even sure if he has the hope to get closure one day.

But the door opens, finally.]

Let's get the fuck out of here.

[Daan doesn't sound quite defeated, but definitely like he might do a party of one with the drinks he has holed up in his apartment.]

[gradenine]

Wait.

[ just going to hand daan the sewing kit in exchange for angelica's gloves before they forget. he'll slip those on, flex his fingers to make sure it's nice and fit, and tries not to imagine her warmth enveloping his hands. ]

...Thanks, Doc. [ there's a small smile of gratitude, but his eyes remain dull as ever despite the leftover tears. ] I'll let you know once I'm down for a drink or two.

[ they both fucking need it so bad. ]

[limbical]

[wait shit that was almost bad. It's good that Roland caught him. Daan's steady hand takes the sewing kit, even if the rest of him isn't quite staving off the trembling.]

Yeah. Take your time, Roland.

[hell yeah they do]