THE BABY PARTY

[afineknight]

WHO: everyone!!
WHERE: The Rec Room
WHEN: Day 33, around lunchtime

[ Since it is a Daffodil rite, the Daffodils (at least, the ones that are not children who have no idea what they're doing and therefore aren't Tart, the best baby shepherd ever) have set up a little party in the rec room for all the kids and their poor beleaguered adults!

They've set up snacks and pulled out a few games as well as some pillows from the library for naptime and books — including picture books — nearby before putting the word out to others to stop by the rec room around lunchtime. And hey, if they have anything they can bring along, all the better! ]

Comments

[arrowace]

[ nods and starts heading that way. Slowly. Not regular old person slowly but like they are trying to navigate the world with some vast and invisible weight strapped to every limb, and more on their back besides. ]

[afineknight]

[ wow i feel like i will probably need a nap after this conversation.

But soon enough, he follows, closing the door behind them. ]

[arrowace]

[ napping is the only pure thing we have in this bitch of a world.

They push back their hood and . . . look a bit like a botched embalming job, frankly. Their skin is grey and waxen, face gaunt. ]

What do you and Miss Apothecary have for pain?

[afineknight]

[ ohhhh lord.

He considers that for a long moment and.

yeah no let's leave his assistant out of this one. ]

I can mix something up. How bad is it?

[arrowace]

Bad.

[afineknight]

Thought so.

What is the root cause?

[arrowace]

Several disparate schools of blood magic and necromancy, married together through good intentions and the naïveté of youth.

This body is neither fully dead nor fully alive and yet somehow also not even properly undead. I have been told this is both medically and archanically fascinating, but I suppose there’s no accounting for taste.

[afineknight]

Yes, let's be very glad this ritual did not affect me.

[ He takes a step closer to give them a good lookover. ]

I . . . think I can mix up something that will help. I cannot guarantee it given that blood magic is outside of my, ehhh, scholarly learnings shall we say. But I think it has a chance.

[arrowace]

Quite so.

[ we are one medic down already, and Crois has the air about him of a man who enjoyed a prodigious shitshow era. ]

I’ll try whatever you’ve got. There’s precious little that can make it worse.

[afineknight]

Let's hope that holds true.

Wait here. I'll be back in about . . . thirty minutes. That's all I should need.

[arrowace]

My thanks.

[ they are going to sit stiffly down in a nice chair. Ough augh my connective tissues. ]

[afineknight]

[ It does take about thirty minutes, if only because he dips off to the clinic to grab some stuff and really takes his time thinking about it before mixing it together, properly getting them to the right temperature and everything. fucking chemistry how does it work.

But he returns after that, coming into the library and taking a syringe out of his bag. ]

This was the best that I could come up with.

[arrowace]

[ They were either nodding off or meditating or Just Being Old when he comes back, but looks up with interest upon his return.

Ooh a syringe. Thats behind only ominously glowing potions and “whatever the fuck the psychic mushroom people do” on The Shit That Might Actually Help scale. ]

Let’s run it up the flag pole and see if I’ll salute.

[ rolls up a sleeve for him. When he touches them he will notice them cold and waxy and having a pulse rate well below what should be fatal.

So like. Good luck finding a vein. ]

[afineknight]

[ Here's the thing: that would normally be an issue, but normal people aren't [NAME REDACTED], who has had to deal with an inordinate amount of this nonsense.

So it takes him a moment, but boy. does he find it.

have pokey. ]

[arrowace]

[ yeah uh. Impressive frankly. ]

Done this before, have you?

[ The relief isn’t immediate, and there’s no dramatic change to their posture, but after a few moments they do nod. ]

Better. Thank you. Any idea how long it will last?

[afineknight]

Just a bit.

[ He pulls it back, putting it away. ]

A few hours. Normally I say half a day but, given your condition, I don't think it will last quite so long.

[arrowace]

[ nods. ]

Safe bet. Will you be able to make more?

[afineknight]

I will. It is not difficult, it just takes some time and I'd prefer to administer it after making it fresh.

So if you need any more, please let me know.

[arrowace]

Of course.

And thank you.

[afineknight]

Of course. I am just happy to be able to help.