Let me Crawl Inside Your Veins (Wide Open)

[bridge_princess]

Who: Parsee bridge_princess and You!
What: February Open Log
Where: Pretty much anywhere
When: February (after the 8th)
Content Warnings: Body Horror, Blood, Roots and flowers growing in things like lungs and other places they don't belong. Probably some serious self loathing here

Prompts below!

Comments

Guess Who's Back? - Heavenly Blanc/Shrine Bridge

[bridge_princess]

Parsee re-appeared after a week long appearance, looking more surly than most had seen her in a while. She was standing there, at the entry to her bridge, the void behind her, and their newfound world before her. Glaring around for a second, she grunted and muttered to herself. "Is this better?"

The memories were coming back to her, memories of people trying, of people she was getting to know. How long had she been gone? How many still remembered her? She frowned, trying not to think about it, not to worry about it.

Finally, she grunted a quick chuff of a grunt and started making her way to her usual haunts. First stops were going to go to be the Shrine and Heavenly Blanc. In both cases, she was easy to find, chewing on her thumb, staring at the place that didn't look at all different, but not going in. She fussed, waiting to be sure before she actually made her way back in, like she was trying to decide if she belonged.

Heavenly Blanc

[forwearemany]

"Parsee!" Hope you're okay with getting a hug right now Parsee, because that's exactly what Legion is going to do, or at least try to. They're very gentle about it, at least--they don't run up and tackle her or anything, just kind of hurry over and wrap their arms around her, if she doesn't stop them.

She had left. They were uncertain if she would return.

[bridge_princess]

"ACK! LEGION!"

That was about all she got out before she was scooped up in a Geth's arms. Sure, it was being gentle, and that was good even if she could probably endure a rougher hug? But she was initially surprised at the reaction. On the one hand, she knew that Legion cared, but old habits died hard. Still, after a second, her hands snaked around and she managed a little chuffing sound.

"Ngh, how long was I gone?"

[forwearemany]

"You have been missing for approximately one week."

Legion is almost always gentle towards their friends. And Parsee herself has acknowledged that they are friends.

An interesting thing she might note--they're distinctly cleaner and no longer smell of old keyboard, likely the result of the showers now involving videogames.

[bridge_princess]

"Ah... ok... not as long as I thought." That was good. She felt a tiny bit light-headed but shelved the thought as soon as it was there. Breathing a little more easily, she patted at the plastics that made up its chassis and sighed. "Yeah, I was home for a little bit. Apparently this place wasn't done with me though. Probably... probably better this way. Home is the same as ever."

[forwearemany]

Legion would disagree: it's not probably better, but definitely so. They remember how distressed she was when her powers returned, and what she's told them about her life with great clarity.

"The laws of your universe of origin make it unsafe and potentially impossible for you to achieve happiness. This is non optimal."

They care about you, friend.

[bridge_princess]

"Well, I sort of ... gave up on that sort of thing a very long time ago, but I think you knew that. So being ground down for a few more years doesn't feel so awful, even if I could almost be happy here." She grunted and shrugged, offering him a half-smile. "But you're not wrong. Closest I've been to happy in a very long time is here. Pity I couldn't tell Yuugi about this place. But the lack of booze would drive her nuts."

[forwearemany]

"Regardless, we would prefer that you are not 'ground down'."

They have seen enough of that: too many of their allies have been hurt in similar ways.

"This location is not lacking in booze." It's just the effects that are lacking. "An ally?"

[bridge_princess]

"I... I know. Thanks," she said, managing a little smile over at Legion before blinking at the comment. That got a laugh. "No... there's definitely not enough booze with an oni around, hah. Yuugi would be drinking near constantly. That's how they are. They drink like fishes, if fishes only drank alcohol. The bar would never survive."

Pause... what were she and Yuugi? Hmmm. "You know, I suppose she's a friend. She patrols the streets near the bridge. Checks on me pretty regularly."

[forwearemany]

"Hypothesis: it is possible the world will respond to such overconsumption by providing additional booze."

Legion still doesn't think that Parsee's Oni friend would be particularly deprived. This world seems to do a pretty good job of providing for its inhabitants... once it understands what they need, at least.

"Acknowledged." They're glad she has at least one friend at home. They look over at the entrance to the Heavenly Blanc.

"Drinks?"

heavenly blanc

[pragmatism]

Zhongli happened to be visiting Heavenly Blanc at around the same time. He's heard of Parsee from a few other residents, but his own habit of wandering the void made it rare for him to encounter other people. This time, he's lucky to run into her while she's standing outside of the cafe/bar hybrid.

"Is anything the matter?"

She's been standing outside for a while. Maybe she's waiting for someone?

Re: heavenly blanc

[bridge_princess]

"ACK! Nothing!" Fuck, she hadn't been paying attention and a stranger had managed to show up behind her. He probably hadn't even snuck with how pre-occupied she was with staring at the bar. The youkai fidgeted, and started to calm down a little before turning. "It's... it's fine. I just was away for a while. Wasn't sure if I was still welcome at the bar is all."

Because soooo much had changed in the last week, right Parsee?

[pragmatism]

Why would an inhabitant of the void not be welcome at the bar...? Unless Parsee has done some property destruction that Zhongli is not aware of, he doesn't think she would be rejected. Perhaps he could help make her feel more at ease.

"I see. I am sure you would not be turned down as a customer. Shall we go in?"

[bridge_princess]

In this one's case, it was all in her head. She was actually on pretty decent terms with both Ren and Tifa, so she was certainly welcomed in. She just had gotten back and was, as always, struggling with wrapping her mind around the fact that people still wanted her around. It was an old habit that was hard for her to break.

His request made her blink and got a quick nod. If he was asking her in, she could follow at least. "Uh sure. Probably wouldn't get turned down, no. Why don't you lead the way. Name's Parsee. I'm at the shrine with Viridi down the path, by the bridge."

[pragmatism]

Viridi... was the one who started a fight with Zhongli over ley lines, but he doesn't evaluate people entirely based off the company they keep, so he doesn't show any reaction.

"I am Zhongli. It is a pleasure to meet you."

He opens the door to Heavenly Blanc - there's no one inside right now, but the lights are on and the jukebox is playing. They could probably sit down for awhile until the owners return.

[bridge_princess]

Yeah, she wouldn't have disagreed about a lot of nasty things one could say about Viridi. She didn't mind sharing the company of people who annoyed the crap out of her, mostly because she privately annoyed returning the favor. Viridi was absolutely in that odd territory.

Making her way towards one of the booths after nodding to him, she relaxed into it as best she was able. "How long you been here? You don't act like you're completely new, but I don't always get out much." She was the sort who could easily just focus herself on whatever work she was doing so she didn't have to think too much about social interactions, so it didn't surprise her to miss newcomers.

[pragmatism]

"About two months. I tend to travel between places here, so it is rare for me to encounter another person."

It seems like Parsee has gotten over most of her apprehension, so Zhongli wouldn't bring that up anymore. He's come here enough times with Venti to know the layout of the bar well, so he pauses to look around before following Parsee.

"Would you like something to drink?" Is he going to just make some... maybe...

[bridge_princess]

"Whiskey, neat." Yeah, she wasn't actually going to tell him not to make her a drink. It wasn't like there was a working economy and there seemed to be a never ending supply of alcohol that would only be tested if an Oni was present in this town, so why not help themselves? Besides, if there was any settling up, she'd handle that when Ren or Tifa got in.

"Yeah, if you're spending your time wandering in the wrong parts of this place, you won't have seen me. I keep to specific areas a lot of the time. I don't like leaving the bridge for long periods if I can help it. Viridi likes to redecorate." Which was so very very annoying. She couldn't begin to describe how annoying that was.

[pragmatism]

If there's one thing Zhongli is bad at handling, it's money. Good thing nothing here actually costs anything, because he would run up the Void's biggest debt if people started keeping count of anything.

"Oh? I see." He's not going to mention his dispute with Viridi just yet, moving to behind the bar so he can examine the various alcohol bottles. Living for so long lets him identify most drinks just by the smell and colour, even if they're unlabeled. "I heard her mention taking over the shrine. Do you share it with her?"

[theforgottenboy]

She doesn't have to go far into the shrine to stumble across Cole, hunkered down beside a ley line with his frequent chickpeewoo companion huddled up beside him. When he notices Parsee he's quick to stand and face her, the pink critter hopping up and clucking fussily at the sudden loss of its comfortable resting spot.

"Parsee! You're back. I didn't know if you would be."

He may not be the type to go in for hugs or whatnot, but he sounds relieved.

[bridge_princess]

"Cole? W...Were you waiting for me?!?" She couldn't tell how long it had been exactly, but the sight of him there, by one of the leylines connected to the shrine, looking up at her in that fashion? It made her think for just the briefest moment he might have been. Nah... he couldn't have, not that long.

"U...Uh, yeah. My memories are still kind of coming back. Fast, but they're coming. What're you doing?"

[theforgottenboy]

"I was listening, to the not-mist. In case anyone needs help."

Sorry if that answer is disappointing, but-

"Since it's here, I could listen for that and wait for you, too. Now you're here, so I'm glad I did." This is her place, after all. Or at least part of it, it has changed some since their initial arrival. A lot of things have changed.

"Was it very long for you? Are you all right?"

[bridge_princess]

"C...Cole, that mean y...you were basically waiting a..a...t the shrine for d...days!"

She knew enough to know days had passed. Gah, how had he dealt with Viridi for that long? She was insufferable in small doses! Parsee sputtered for a second. There was a 'thanks but you didn't have to....' in there somewhere even if him listening for trouble so sounded like him.

"I...Uh... years actually... really boring... monotonous years, with stupid incidents peppered in and no memories of here. Like my life always is." There'd been a few specific things of note in those memories, but to her it had been such a reminder that it was better here, no matter what happened. "I'm... I'm ok. Just getting my bearings back."

[theforgottenboy]

Sometimes being oblivious in certain situations can be a blessing, but also-

"I don't have anywhere else I have to be, unless someone needs help."

It's not any sort of deflection, just a simple matter of fact. So of course it was no trouble to wait and see if Parsee was pulled back. He's considered the idea of picking a place like others have, but there are plenty of safer places he can pop into if he needs to sleep or the weather gets bad.

Years is theoretically a long time, though he's acquainted with how time can lose its meaning when you're tied to one place.

"It's good that nothing bad happened."

[bridge_princess]

"Nothing awful, no. Just the usual irritations and idiocy that always happens. There were a few strange occurrences. Nothing that really hit me, but I watched them as they played out." Like that time when they were trying to ear people's worship somehow, to be the hope of the people. "Some of them were weird, and I'm not sure what to think of them. But... they also weren't really important. nothing there is ever important."