aesculapian | assorted non-canon and AU threads

I see... so it amounts to a failure to outrun the natural process of decay. I wouldn't have expected that souls could degrade...

My second question... I'm bracing myself to not like the answer, but - is any recovery possible, from that state?

There is not.

... I see.

[ looking down at her hands ]

It is not as common for things to get that far anymore ... most who stay now do so out of choice.

I'm glad for that, at least...

All the same, I - I don't want to accept it.

[ simply: ]

Then you will have to do your best.

[probably, she meant "do your best to accept it". Len knows that is almost certainly what she meant. but it's not what he means, when he nods and says:]

I will.

[ he experiences his first game not long after that, and gets a taste of how far an Arbiter's powers can go: the meadow changed into a an abandoned city, which he and the other shades are tasked with exploring to find an assortment of items. doing so ends up requiring both several puzzles to be solved and a healthy dose of teamwork from the gathered shades, and over time there are enough clues found to tell a story: someone who had everything taken from them through a betrayal moving on to take from others in order to gather the strength for revenge.

...in the end, there's evidence that the betrayal was anything but, something that was done to protect the storyteller— but the story is left open-ended from there. did they take their revenge anyway? did they find another way to live? well— "the rest is for you to decide," the snake-skulled girl says as the city fades, and flowers bloom at her feet and the feet of nearly everyone there.

(there are a few who have no flowers. those who didn't contribute, mostly, though there's also one or two who pulled something foolhardy and ended up too injured to play.)

after the game, people gather in groups; chatting about what just happened, what the game was supposed to mean. whether it was "Samael's" idea, or "Lilith's"— and asking about that gets an explanation. the snake skull has a lot of nicknames, but her host goes by Lilith and calls her partner Samael; and apparently there's a common theory that they come up with games together, if the distinct duality of themes and game type are any indication. Samael's are thought to be more logic based, and Lilith's supposedly tend to be depressing, so who came up with this one is anyone's guess...

they also apparently offer various types of healing, which would explain why she's walking among the shades. if he'd wanted to talk with her though, she's somewhat busy: in the middle of talking to another shade, voice far more animated than before— which, perhaps, is explained when she reaches up to lift the snake skull up and back to reveal her face.

...her expression is much friendlier looking than the one look Len had gotten before. maybe it was just a bad time before, and now would be a better one...? ]

Edited 2016-12-01 08:19 (UTC)

[he dearly would love someone friendly to talk to after that game, certainly - he's made acquaintances among the other shades, but he's not entirely sure he's comfortable sharing the darker parts of his - and his son's - history with them, just yet.

it's not that he's any more closely acquainted with "Samael" than he is with anyone else, and not at all with her host, but... he feels somehow drawn to her. feels somehow safe with her.

not that he'll turn down this opportunity to become acquainted with the snake's host, since it presents itself. distraction from his thoughts would be just as welcome as the chance to unload them.

so he patiently waits, at a polite distance, to try and engage "Lilith" once she finishes her conversation. if nothing else, it's nice to see her apparently doing so well, after that glimpse he'd had earlier...]

[ the conversation doesn't go on too much longer— she jokingly says something about needing to check on everyone else and that he can suck up to her later, and then turns away.

but apparently her earlier reaction wasn't a one-off thing, because when she spots him standing there she stiffens, expression blanking in that same predatory way— right before she reaches up and pulls the skull back down with an air of finality, expression smoothing back out underneath it.

Samael—because it's certainly her looking at him after that—blinks at him once or twice, hands still on either side of her head before lowering them with an air of sheepishness ]

... I am sorry about that ...

[also blinks, somewhat shocked]

Ah... no, you needn't apologize. I didn't realize, but I must have done something to offend her...?

No ... you only resemble someone who has. She is bad at letting go of grudges ... so we have both agreed that she should not talk to you until she can see you as yourself.

[a slightly bittersweet smile]

I see... Well, I quite understand that. My son is a bit the same way, himself.

If it's all right, then, do you have a moment...? That is, if you need to see to others first, of course I'll be happy to wait...

[ tilting her head to one side ]

I can speak to you now.

[fidgets with his coat]

... That game, it... Well, it reminded me a great deal of my son. A very great deal. And I... I am realizing that normally, the way I'd cope with this, is I'd go and spend time with him? But he's not here. And I don't want him to be. But I think - I need someone who understands. Just... just to talk to. About him.

[ she doesn't immediately reply, expression still mostly blank and eyes dark under the skull. eventually, though, she says quietly: ]

That game was based off of things that happened to my original host.

If you would like to talk, I will listen. But ... in that case, I would like to see to the other shades first. Will you wait at our house ... ?

[there is visible sympathy in his face, and he nods]

Of course. And thank you. ... And I would be happy to listen to you, as well, if you wanted.

[ bowing to him ]

Thank you, as well. However ... more than I have shared is not my story to tell. I only wanted to remember.

I understand.

Well then, I'll be going...

[ nodding to him again, and then swanning off.

when he gets to her porch there's somehow already tea set out, at just the right temperature. the pot has a knitted tea cozy on it because of course it does. she comes back something like twenty minutes later to join him, smoothing her skirt out as she sits. ]

Thank you for waiting.

[Arbiters.

he's nursing the last of a cup of tea when she returns, and he nods to her, raising his cup slightly with a smile]

Of course! The tea is lovely, thank you.

[ look, if you can manipulate the fabric of your reality however you'd like, why not do it to be a good host? ...so to speak.

lacing her hands together ]

You are welcome ...

[the pleasantries thus concluded, his smile fades slowly. not meeting their eyes, he takes another sip of his tea.]

... I didn't have the chance to know my son, for much of his life. But since our reunion, and our reconciliation, we were seldom far apart.

I miss him terribly.

What is he like ... ?

[a warm smile returns to his face, almost despite himself]

He's rather reserved... and very dignified. In much the same way a cat is dignified after it's done something silly, granted. He adores wordplay, and his kitten, and he craves physical contact and affection... not that he'd been lacking for those, after we mended our relationship.

There is much bitterness and sorrow in him still, I know... things he carries with him that he may never be free of. But he's moving forward. He works on the police force in the town where we met again, out of a desire to protect the people who live there. I am so, so proud of him...

Edited 2016-12-03 04:35 (UTC)

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