[ PSL : A Vampire Hunter(?) & A Witch Finder ]

[madenomistake]

Comments

[antichthonia]

Those for you? Or someone else?

[madenomistake]

It's. . . just in case. That's all.

[antichthonia]

[it feels pessimistic to say, "yeah, that's probably a good idea, actually," but he does nod in understanding]

Let's get out of here.

[madenomistake]

Coming.

[ this time he doesn't dawdle, sidetrack, or attempt to leave ]

[antichthonia]

I guess we should finish out the night's work.

[not that he seems happy about the idea. watching lament sidelong, uneasy, still considering the possibility of him bolting again even though it isn't happening]

[madenomistake]

I guess so. Do we have another option?

[ he asks not as a question, but as a statement: things standing as they are, they really don't. ]

[antichthonia]

[shakes his head, hand going to his knife in its sheath at his side. a self-soothing gesture]

I'm calling it now. This is going to spiral. But for now it's one night at a time.

[madenomistake]

[ he's not observant enough in the dark to notice him reaching for the sheathed knife— which is just as well. it's the sort of thing that would make him jittery again, after he'd calmed down ]

Just don't think about it yet?

[antichthonia]

If I think about it, it's only downhill from there.

[madenomistake]

Uhm. Are you. . . changing your mind?

[antichthonia]

I'm not gonna change my mind and pull the rug out from under you. I want out of this too. But I'm going to be sour about it the whole time, which you'll need to make peace with early.

[not sounding exactly apologetic, but there's an element of trying to be reassuring in there too]

[madenomistake]

That's... okay. You don't have to believe in me. No one ever does. If you're not going to fight against me. . .

[madenomistake]

That's enough.

[antichthonia]

[squints. trying to decide whether or not to ask. he narrowly decides sure, why not]

What do you mean, no one ever does?

[madenomistake]

[ his smile wobbles a bit, as he tries to answer without saying enough up to implicate himself ]

I'm not really... reliable? For a few reasons. It's... probably better not to rely on me.

And since I'm not really... when I say there's a threat and it's just me, I don't always... get believed. Like I'm being paranoid or just covering up that it's my fault.

[antichthonia]

Why aren't you reliable? That seems like something I should know.

[madenomistake]

A curse? I'm bad at . . . being hurt? That's why I was in the lab. So I wouldn't be a problem.

A—and! I'm good at lab stuff! So...

[antichthonia]

A curse? What, literally? Something magical? Or you're talking metaphorically?

[madenomistake]

No, it's... literal. It has some . . . biological? Component, but it's not all of it. Modern medicine doesn't seem to be enough.