wooliefrand | Charonquest

( starts as well, blinking back tears. he's a little shellshocked, only managing to kick himself out of it when he realizes charon is moving. )

W-wait, be careful! We don't know if your body has undergone any ill effects...!

[he stills again but he's breathing hard and fast, staring wildly around him, hands curling into the grass around]

Perci--

( he settles by his side, wrapping a wing around him to keep him stable. )

... welcome back. You're really in the pasture, I promise.

[hides his face in the feathers

wait no he can't perceive people if he's doing that. peers out again]

The--demon--?

( that was so cute he's gonna die aaaa keep it together. )

Left of her own accord... somehow. Ananke must have been very persuasive. Don't worry—no one's hurt. Every Lily and Minuet is safe.

Even...

[reaches out to gently touch Perci's temple. he absorbed some memories but he needs to sort through them, and he still doesn't know everything that's been going on.

even in here?]

Mhm. Even there.

( he braces the back of charon's hand with his own and turns his head to kiss his palm. )

And even if some of us aren't... we'll get through it. We always do, Charon.

( reaches over, now cupping his face and swiping his thumbs across his cheekbones. )

I swear it to you.

[

hey why did he just start crying]

( oh so this is the mild panic and worry he did something wrong that styx felt )

Ah—hey... it's alright...

( still cupping his face but now he's wiping tears away;;; )

[he looks more startled by them than upset or anything. why he crying]

. . .

... sometimes this is how people react to locking part of themselves away.

You've been lost for days, with only a demon as "company". You might react in odd ways for a little while, but it's alright. You're still you.

I cried a lot after you all saved me, after all.

I--

[his voice cracks. he looks incensed. hides his face fully in Perci's feathers for real this time]

Should I not have read your face? Sorry...

( really, even if charon is angry, he's relieved he's back. he just brushes his fingers into his hair and holds him close. )

Don't apologize for my lack of self-control.

[it comes out very rough-edged but not mad; not mad at Perci, anyway]

Still you for certain...

( a little amused, laying a gentle kiss to his forehead. )

How do you feel? —physically, right now.

[RELIEVED TO BE OUT OF A STATUE BUT ALSO BAD]

...

Very overwhelmed.

A-aha... right. Apologies for crowding you... we'll leave you be so you can breathe. Everyone's just happy to have you back.

Perci.

[so low it's almost inaudible, hand tightening briefly on the edge of his wing before he remembers himself]

Don't. Please.

(

something is very wrong. perci's face softens and he wraps his arms around his waist, hugging him again. )

... okay. I won't.

[at least much of the wrongness is probably easy to pinpoint, considering Lily and Minuet went through the mist to get here.

Charon does his best to pick himself up off the ground without breaking contact. he is not doing super hot though.]

( well... perci tenses his wing so he can hold onto it and his bent arm, almost as if he were asking charon for a dance. )

You'll be happy to know that absolutely nothing of note happened while you were gone.

[thank you Perci he appreciates you greatly. levers himself up, though he has to stay leaning on him somewhat: a bit weakened, a bit physically disoriented]

That is...absolutely not true.

Mmm, well, no one can say I didn't try to say nothing happened.

If it's been more than twenty-four hours, there is simply no way.

But...tell me when we are home?

I'll try.

( ... quietly, as perci begins to lead and help him into the barn: )

You... remember how you told me all about what I missed when I was trapped in sleep? Well... I tried to do that, too. Repaying the favor.

But—um... well, obviously, you weren't here to talk to. I... I wrote it down instead.

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