Orchestra 31 | Voice

[springforth]

[She wishes they could just post text but here they are with just voice and video. So. Voice it is]

Hi, um, I was wondering if anyone on the train is like. A therapist? Or a counselor or something like that? It's nothing to do with the whole thing that happened recently, it's more that... Well I promised a friend back home that I'd speak to someone about this--thing that happened back home. But there's not really been a way to do that here. And it keeps coming back to bother me.

I guess failing any professionals, maybe just someone to talk to about it.

Um, I don't want to talk about what incident was on here but maybe I could try to explain in private? [Why do you have to talk about things to actually talk about things, this is the worst.]

Comments

[video]

[controlsthedie]

[ And apparently showing concern is becoming a forbidden topic as well if Ryo is anything to show for it. Thanatos still can't help but feel a little betrayed. He's not certain which part of Ryo's reaction hurts the most. Both, probably. ]

I know you do, and thank you for earlier. At least he'll listen to one of his friends.

[ Instead of just angrily lecture every time and then apologize while giving another lecture. Thanatos tries to keep his tone neutral, but his emotions betray him and give an edge similar to what Ryo gave him. He's hurt, and he's realizing that he doesn't have to take it. He doesn't want to. ]

[video]

[springforth]

[There's the sound of shifting fabric--and a shimmering chord of protest--as Persephone moves. The plants part enough to show her face. Big wide concerned eyes, rimmed dark beneath with how the past few days have kept her up, the corners of her mouth turning up in the palest imitation of a smile.

If he fears she's going to make a plea on Ryo's behalf, it's unfounded. She simply touches the screen with her fingertips]

And you're my friend. So, I mean it. Talk to me if you need to. Even just to vent. I won't try to solve your problems or something dumb. Unless you ask me for advice--but you know, you'd have to ask. [There's more to the smile now as she gestures to the screen, then around her] Sometimes us infallible deathless beings need advice. Awful as getting it may be.

[video]

[controlsthedie]

...

[ Thanatos is quiet, thinking, and just a bit cautious. Then, a small smile is on his face. ]

Maybe not today when you have other things to talk about, but maybe tomorrow or the next. Is that all right?

[ So Persephone isn't fresh off talking about her trauma or feeling like she needs to rush for his sake. And, he doesn't need to worry about whether or not he's pushing her past her limit. ]

[video] ==> Action

[springforth]

[A quick nod as she back up and the leaves envelope the camera once more]

Come and find me the day after tomorrow. That'll be the day after platform--enough time to deal with things. I hope.

[On that day she tries to spend most of her time in easy to find places. The garden. The quiet room. Of course he can teleport around to find her so this isn't really necessary, but she's trying to be helpful.]

[controlsthedie]

[ The day after platform, Thanatos meets Persephone in the quiet booth. He could talk in the greenhouse or the garden, but they are too public. He's afraid of someone walking in on them.

Mort jumps from Thanatos's shoulder to the small table in order to greet Persephone with a cheerful squeak before Thanatos gets a chance to. Thanatos huffs a faint laugh and then closes the door behind him. The door remains unlocked as he usually leaves it. ]

... Greetings.

[ Thanatos realizes he has absolutely no idea what to do now that he's here. ]

[springforth]

[Persephone still has the faint lines of strain around her eyes, but she smiles at Mort, jumping from his shoulder. Oh Thanatos has Made Mort, hasn't he? She scoops Prosera out of her bag to sit on the table. Prosera, not quite to the flying portion of being made into a real being, flaps her wings but they stubbornly refuse to lift her.

Then she looks up to Thanatos and that super awkward hello]

Hi. [Really got it in one there huh?] Uh---sorry about the flowers by the way.

[Not long ago, the flowers merely crawled over the windows and the light fixtures, edging out from those main points. Now they cover half the walls]

[controlsthedie]

[ Oh! Mort is very interested in Prosera's movement, and he'll likely be focusing on her company while the two gods converse. ]

Why should you be sorry for them? I like them.

[ He says while gently brushing his fingertips over on of the flowers. This is the god who risked hurting himself in the sunlight to bask in Persephone's spring without barriers. And now thanks to Zagreus (though it took some reevaluating on Thanatos part), he's even wearing a gorget with various Underworld flora embossed on the edges.

He takes a seat. Maybe they don't have to jump into talking about the harder things. Maybe they could just talk or... Thanatos doesn't know. ]

[springforth]

[Prosera is definitely chattering up a storm, like a wind chime in a steady breeze. Perhaps shortly more melodic. It is mostly gossip but, you know, important gossip. Just not the heavy sort of thing]

Well I didn't really intend to grow them. Lost control for a bit. And I did make this space for you.

[So, apologizing. It makes sense to her] I guess I also wanted to reassure you that this didn't happen overnight for no reason.

[controlsthedie]

[ Prosera might get the sense that Mort isn't speaking about a certain topic that would make great gossip material. Mort will protect Thanatos's privacy until he's ready! ]

I know a little about what it's like to lose control of your power. Only, I don't create. I disappear.

[ And it has caused problems in the past. Still does. Thanatos doesn't like to admit it, but he hopes that by doing so, at least there's an understanding. ]

Depending on what we talk about, that may happen. So, I... it's nothing I can judge you for.

[springforth]

[Is Mort holding out on her? Prosera attempts to poke--then lets out a flurry of annoyance at her limited movement capabilities. How did Than manage to make him so fast anyways!]

I figured that was just you wanting to get out of a conversation. I didn't realize it was your power kicking in. Though mine had done that to me once, as you'll recall.

Though I haven't done that in ages. [Persephone pulls off a smaller flower and holds it out to Mort curiously. Does he also want a flower?]

I'd ask if you're okay, but I feel like that's a silly question.

[controlsthedie]

[ Mort is totally holding out on her, but it seems to be a good thing instead of something to worry over, at least. But Mort will happily take a flower! ]

Not always the case. I have it under control. Normally. But my emotions... less so.

[ Speaking of emotions... ]

... I don't know what to do about Ryo. Not when he keeps getting angry whenever I try to show my concern. Makes me wonder if I should ever say anything about that again in the future.

[springforth]

I think...I think he thinks you doubt him. That he's incompetent. But I also think he's not used to not being the sole healer. [Persephone props her chin in her hand] And he has a savior complex. I think a lot of the train does, to be fair, it's what makes us good at saving worlds. But he takes it so awfully personally.

It makes him good at his job but also makes it hard for him to step outside it. Not unlike you.

[controlsthedie]

The difference is that there are others who can heal, help him, and he can make a choice.

[ Thanatos doesn't have that back home. Hermes and Charon can help ferry the dead to the Underworld, but they cannot cause the act of death. If they could, then death would have never stopped while Thanatos was locked in that chest.

It's different, and Ryo shouldn't try to have the same workload as a god. ]

And I do doubt him now.

[springforth]

I did point this out to him. That no one is counting on him to save everyone. No one is counting on him to save anyone but himself, actually, if he's not up to it.

[It's for the best that she doesn't know his thoughts, because she does have thoughts about that and always will. But they're not here to argue about it]

I won't tell you not to doubt him. But I do think he's not incompetent, just--I think he feels like he has to prove his worth.

[controlsthedie]

[ He shakes his head. ]

I don't I doubt his healing skills. I doubt him acting upon his limits. And that means I can't trust he's in a condition to help using his power. He'll say he's fine when he's not and heal regardless.

[ Thanatos huffs, frustrated. ]

He lectures others but doesn't do what he says himself.