steepwithdead | Folkmore

Same Lo tof stuff happend at once, and it's not as bad as it wsas last night It'll be easoer to explain in person, I'm at house 31

[Which is one house over and down the hill from Draxum's actual home, which Cad will pass as he makes his way over. It's, uh. Quite the sight in the morning, looking far more decrepit than any of the other cottages, and the garden completely overgrown.

It's a long walk between the Xhorhaus and House 31, though. Casey and Hunter are up and checking out Draxum's place next door by the time Cad gets close; he might even catch Casey outside and get a few of the details of what happened the night before from him, who knows.]

[Well, no sense in wasting time, then. Caduceus heads out, material components tucked away in his travel bag and crystal staff in hand (you never know). The house shift is quite odd, but it makes sense as he ventures closer and sees the state of Draxum's usual in the distance. Crossing paths with the kids helps as well, so he's a little more versed on the situation by the time he arrives, letting himself in.]

I'm here. Are you up?

[Draxum's still on the couch, so he's right there as Caduceus arrives, laying on his back with his Relic in hand. Though it's a far cry better than last night, he looks haggard, like he could still use some rest.]

Good, it's you. [Draxum maneuvers his long legs back over the side of the couch, waving Cad in as he eases himself up with a grunt.] Yes, I was just whiling the time away.

[It's hard for him to keep still like this when he'd rather be working next door, so he'd turned to the network for a distraction. Now that Cad's here, though, he gladly tucks the Relic away.]

[Caduceus ventures over to the couch, looking Draxum up and down as he moves.]

I saw your house. Rough night.

[Even at a distance, it looked really bad.]

[He snorts.] The Fox should compensate me for damages. I'll be able to make quick work of the garden once I can use my mystic powers again, but the house will take weeks to get back in order.

[Up close and in the light, it's plainer to see Draxum's skin is ruddier than usual, on the redder side of pink in splotches along his cheeks and the back of his hands. He seems sore as he moves, but not stiff, and he squints like he has a slight headache. In some ways he looks a little better off from the last time Caduceus saw him, while a little worse in others, but it says something for how bad last night must have been if this is a stark improvement.]

I can stop by before I head home after we're done here, see what I can do to help the kids.

[Depending on what's salvageable over there, he does have Mending, and he can do that as much as the house requires. At the very least he can fix the little stuff, whatever isn't dusted entirely.]

[He keeps being thrown off by how easily people offer their help here, and it shows in the way his head jerks up in surprise. He opens his mouth to brush the offer off, then closes it again. Thinks better of it and tries again, albeit with some embarrassment.]

I'd appreciate it.

Not a problem.

[It ain't no thing, Draxum, someday you'll get used to it.]

Now, how about showing me what's changed?

[Draxum nods, and opens his robe just enough to reveal the scar in its entirety. The healing session a few weeks ago had cleared it up some, but now it's even smaller, only about three inches in length. The veins of stardust are still visible, but they now lie evenly against his skin.]

[Oh, that is a shift. Wordlessly Caduceus reaches out, brushing his hand over the surface, in part to see if he can feel anything different about it, in part to see if the dust flakes off like before.]

[It does not flake off like before. A good sign to to be certain, if their bodies in this realm really are formed from stardust. Between Caduceus's Greater Restoration spell a few weeks ago and whatever happened last night, it no longer feels like harsh tap could shatter what's left of his soul, either, like a diamond hit in the wrong spot.]

See what I mean?

I do. [Hard to miss. It looks healthier, and even Draxum does, despite the obvious trial he's endured overnight. Fascinating.] I only got the broad story from the boys, regarding the house and the ribbon. What else happened?

[Right, that. His expression turns sour, but he'll explain as best he can without going into the particulars.]

Have you experienced any strange dreams since this trial began?

[That guy who runs the arcade was talking about something similar on the network the other day, but aside from him, he's not heard much chatter about it.]

[He shakes his head. He doesn't drink alcohol- wouldn't have touched the vodka.]

Can't say that I have.

[That would've made things easier, but that's okay, he can sum it up.]

I've had a few. If the network's to be believed, they're going around—visions too detailed to be dreams, but of people and worlds the dreamer may not be familiar with. What I experienced was a memory; it just wasn't one of my own.

Huh. [Makes a mental note to look into that later...] I take it this was an especially difficult memory.

It was unpleasant, yes, for more reasons than one. [His words are clipped.] I can still feel the rain of blows.

[Among other things. The emotions especially still linger. He's trying not to think about how much it upsets him.]

I woke up thrashing. From my perspective I wasn't asleep long, but by the state of the house, I was trapped in that state for an extensive period of time. The joys of time dilation.

[As the stress built, the pain built. But he was asleep and could do nothing about it—so it cascaded out of control.]

[Caduceus furrows his brows, mulling over that one. Blows... so a violent dream? And trapped for a long time... time dilation...

That sounds like something Caleb would be more useful for. He likes researching time magic. Noooot Cad's wheelhouse at all.]

That would be the ribbon I heard about, I take it.

It didn't undo all your hard work, for what it's worth. I'm more weary than sore.

[The rapid onset of pain followed by a nearly as rapid recovery took a lot out of him. His body is still equalizing.]

No, I can tell. It doesn't look or feel worse than before. There's an obvious improvement.

[Which is impressive, really, considering the ordeal he's been through.]

I thought I should show you, if nothing else.

[He's not sure if there's anything to fix? Or if this is one of those rest and keep an eye on it situations.]

And to tell you that... [He sighs.] You were right. About coming clean.

[Caduceus shifts to the side, sitting down on the couch with Draxum, leaning his staff against the arm.]

Oh, is that so?

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