un: Eve 🔪; video

[wroughtandtempered]

[ the video opens to a large, serpentine beast with a wolf's pointed ears pulling back from the camera, having apparently started the recording via booping the phone's screen with her snoot. she flicks out a forked black tongue once, then lays her head down on her paws and says slowly: ]

What do you do when you feel like garbage, and you can't do anything to fix why? When you've just got to wait it out.

...I don't know how long I'm going to be waiting, so. The more ideas the better.

[ a beat, and then she adds: ]

Thanks.

[ —before reaching out to tap the phone again, this time with a paw. animal lovers, enjoy that brief full-screen shot of pink snakewolf toebeans before the feed cuts. ]

Comments

[daturameloxia]

[It takes a moment before Wylan is awake again, but he's more confused than usual when he wakes up. He and Wash were talking about something, something about how the work was fruitless, but he couldn't remember exactly why. He doesn't bother getting up and instead focuses on catching his breath.]

When did you get here?

[schrodingerscockroach]

[After the healing, he starts timing his pulse. Its really not steady at all.]

I've been here for a while. [A pause.] You were going to tell me who did the alchemy on you.

[daturameloxia]

[Wylan frowns, clearly confused by the request. But this is Wash, right? He can trust him?

Just as Wylan starts to open his mouth, he stops himself. It would be a betrayal to give up Relius like this.] How do you know about the alchemy?

[schrodingerscockroach]

You told me about it. After you passed out from heart problems.

[Which is true. Trying to keep it down to just one lie.]

[daturameloxia]

I did? [He shakes his ziptied hands and looks around. At least he’s in a familiar place.] I need to stop doing that. I’m supposed to get used to the alchemy over time.

[schrodingerscockroach]

How many times have you passed out this week?

[daturameloxia]

Only twice until… Eve was here, wasn’t she.

[schrodingerscockroach]

She was.

Two is far too much. And you're alone. This isn't a safe way to go about any kind of experiment.

[daturameloxia]

No, it’s alright. The alchemy helps keep me awake and I don’t need to eat.

It’s supplementing that with strength.

[schrodingerscockroach]

We had this conversation.

Things need fuel, don't they, Wylan?

[daturameloxia]

I don’t. [At least Wash is getting a smile instead of a frown?] I’m fine.

[Wylan tries to demonstrate how fine he is but that’s hard while tied up.]

Can I be untied? I’ll go with you.

[schrodingerscockroach]

You do. Magic isn't coming from nowhere. Energy can't be created from nothing and it can't be destroyed.

Something has to be fueling you.

You're going to take me to who did this?

[daturameloxia]

My hatred is fueling me. And the hatred is being fueled by my soul.

[Waaaait a second.]

I thought we discussed this already.

[sus]

[schrodingerscockroach]

You were light on the details and you still weren't believing on fueling magic things.

And that isn't a good thing. Hatred isn't a good thing for the soul and being the source. Hatred is...really the opposite affect on being good for the whole of a person. That is not a sustainable fuel source.

Hatred historically just grinds people to dust if it lasts too long.

[daturameloxia]

[Wylan shakes his head.] No, I have such a depth of hatred now. I never knew I had it before, but I do now. It's an infinite well of energy and power.

It is allowing me to power through any human needs, like breaks, sleep, food. It's impressive really.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Its not, Wylan.

I have had a lot of hatred. Far more hatred than you could ever have. I've used it as fuel.

But anger has a very short half life.

[daturameloxia]

[Wylan rolls his eyes at Wash.]

Are we done talking about this?

[schrodingerscockroach]

It will be when we go talk to whoever did this. [And get this removed.]

[daturameloxia]

Then we might be here forever.

[And Wylan dips into silence.

[schrodingerscockroach]

....

Wylan, I can put you to sleep.

[daturameloxia]

[Nope, pulling the silent treatment, albeit with a glare this time.]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[He raises an eyebrow.]

[Switching.]

[daturameloxia]

[Looking entirely unbothered.

Meanwhile planning to jump to his feet and hop up to his loft the second he feels able.

Which is very soon.]

[schrodingerscockroach]

Okay, I'm going to have you get some sleep. I already got my finding people contacts.

lmk if anything isn't okay about this

[daturameloxia]

[This looks like Wylan's last chance to get out before he's put to sleep and dragged back to Birdtile house. So he springs up onto his feet and hops like mad, targeting the staircase up to the loft. He can only hope that he makes it before Wash realizes what he's doing.]