redshiftlogs | [CATCH-ALL] This is gonna hurt kid…

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[CATCH-ALL] This is gonna hurt kid…

Who: Kieran Duffy (

sleepyhollowed) and you!
What: A catch-all for the month of February; closed prompts mostly (let me know if you want something for your character at

Sheepi!)
When: /points to previous sentence
Where: anywhere you want, p. much!

For Ben [FIRST COUPLE DAYS OF FEBURARY]

[This is a thought that’s been on Kieran’s mind for a while now, the weight of what he’s planning on asking weighing heavily on him. He’d acclimated relatively well, in his opinion, to losing his sight. The help provided to him by the other people trapped in Anchor had no small part in making sure that said acclimation went as well as it could, given the circumstances. But therein lay part of his issue: the fact that he still had to rely on others. No matter how much his own confidence had grown over the months, nor how much his friends insisted that they didn’t mind (and, according to some, actually enjoyed) helping, something nagging at the back of his brain told him that no. This is unacceptable. If he’s going to take advantage of others’ benevolence, he has to do something in return.]

[The culture that he’d come from, rife with machismo and eating the weak, insisted upon it.]

[So, he’s pretty sure he’s ready to take the next step, but, like any major change, he needs to make sure that it’s the right thing to do. And what better way than to phone a friend.]

H-Hey Ben, is this a good time? I can call back later if it ain’t!

--

For Carlisle [WITHIN FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY]

[Although Kieran didn’t expect it, Carlisle jumped on the chance to heal his sight the moment he brought up the idea. It’s a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.]

[One that sends him towards the barn as quickly as he can, relying on a pre-determined path that hasn’t led him wrong yet, thankfully. It doesn’t take him long. Kieran doesn’t like to be too far away just in case there’s something or someone who needs his attention. He knows he’s in the right spot when there are two familiar whinnies and the sensation of velvety snouts against his hair and arms.]

Hey, buddies. Didja miss me?

[Kieran hadn’t been gone for long—certainly for a much shorter time than when he’d been initially moved to the dorms—but to finnicky horses, nearly anything feels like forever. He can relate to that.]

[Running a hand down Eavan’s long face while simultaneously scratching under Branwen’s chin, Kieran starts to coo at them.]

I’m waitin’ fer a friend. He’s, uh, h-he’s gonna set everythin’ right so I can see yer pretty faces. Ain’t that somethin’?

[It sure is something, because for a few moments there, Kieran has to fight through a sudden grip in his throat and choke out the words. It isn’t fear, though, as he initially expected… but a sudden, hopeful excitement. Whatever happens next is going to change everything. Hopefully for the better.]

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[Carlisle doesn't leave Kieran waiting for too long; his eagerness to make amends for Kieran's state pushes Carlisle to drop what he's doing (enchanting a proper bed for his pet) and head to meet the man immediately.

Though he feels the usual trepidation when entering the Agricultural area, so sure the decay that follows him everywhere will taint the land around him, he doesn't let it slow him down. Last time he was here for any length, he felt he had something to prove, that he needed to be able to heal Kieran to justify his existence -- and that was one reason everything went so badly. This time, he's making things right for someone he wronged. He's been practicing, is more familiar with both the good and the bad of his new capabilities. He can do this, he reminds himself.

And yet, as he nears the barn and his glowing eyes land on Kieran, he feels is unbeating heart leap into his throat. Most of the withered trees disappeared with the swamp, but one remains, still scarred from the experience. What if it happens again? What if something happens to Kieran, or the horses? The horses must be important, or he wouldn't have chosen them to be the first sight he sees with his new eyes, would he?

Carlisle pulls in a breath and forces himself to move closer. He cannot let his doubts consume him; he has work to do.]

Mister Kieran. [He tries to keep his nerves out of his voice, and only marginally succeeds.] I- I hope you are ready to see again.

[The grin that crosses Kieran’s face upon hearing Carlisle’s voice is automatic, wide, and sincere. He turns to face where he heard it come from, raising an arm in happy greeting.]

Hey, Carlisle!

[He’s about to say more, but his attention is suddenly drawn by the horses and their nervous stamping. Their hooves dig into the grass and dirt while their ears swivel around at Carlisle’s approach. They’re sensitive creatures, and not exactly tactful when it comes to their nerves.]

[Kieran does what he can to calm them, stroking muzzles and meeting them with gentle whispers.]

Sorry! D-Don’t know what got into ‘em.

[Well, he has a little bit of an idea of what could have happened, but he’s not about to bring it up to poor Carlisle.]

Of- of course.

[Try as Kieran might to insist otherwise, Carlisle is fairly certain they both know what spooked the horses. He gives them a wide berth as he makes his way closer to Kieran.]

This should not take long, thankfully. Things would have gone better last time if I had not pushed myself to near-completion of the work, but that does mean that there is far less to do now.

[The horses thankfully settle down enough where they're not an immediate danger to Carlisle, Kieran, or themselves. Kieran is satisfied enough that he's able to switch his attention from them to focus on his buddy.]

That's--that's good news, right? Silver linin' and all that?

[This is the perfect time for optimism, isn't it? Of course it is.]

Do, you, uh... n-need me to do anythin'? Lay down?

[He was laying down last time! Not by choice, sure, but he was still laying down!]

[Carlisle waves his hands dismissively, only remembering belatedly that no, Kieran can't see that gesture. That's why they're here, after all.]

No no, no need for that. You might want to sit, though. As you may recall, the sensation of having foreign energies channeled into you is akin to the searing of white-hot fire.

Oh yeah! Yeah, I remember that.

[It was terrible.]

[But then again, that whole situation was so terrible that that part was amongst the least terrible.]

I'll, uh, I'll--hang on.

[Kieran guides the horses in the opposite direction and gently shoos them off. It's not an outright command to leave the area, and they just sort of trot a little bit away.]

There we go! If it's alright with you, I can just, uh, just sit down here in the grass.

[Oh good, he remembers, despite how utterly awful everything had gone. That saves Carlisle some time and awkwardness, hopefully.]

The grass is fine. This should take but a minute.

[He seats himself, reflexively going to free his hands from his gloves -- only to remember they're not the same gloves, and freeing his hands would reveal what he is beneath. Force of habit from years of work. He flexes his fingers instead, trying to fight his nerves. This is fine. He can do this. The circumstances are not nearly the same as they were that night. He can do this.]

Ready, Mister Kieran?

[The moment Kieran finishes lowering himself onto the ground, a clashing mix of anxiety and calm washes through him. The grass is familiar under his body and in his fingers, but the circumstance... isn't. Even beyond the supernatural aspects of what's about to transpire, the sheer overwhelming nature of someone willing to go so far to help him is intense on its own.]

[But it's all for a positive outcome and if it works--when it works--it will be one of the greatest victories for both himself and Carlisle. That alone is worth it.]

I-I'm ready.

...

I think!

[Kieran laughs weakly.]

N-Naw, I'm kiddin'. I'm ready.

[ Jacob probably should have allowed Charles to make introductions. He doesn't know how close the two of them were, back in their world, he doesn't know what Kieran knows and what he doesn't.

But he was a member of the same gang, and Charles has spoken of him in that sad, gentle way which means that the man probably didn't make it. Jacob knows what life in a gang is like, he's lost men, but the Rooks weren't ever a family. Not like the people Charles had come to know.

It's the curiosity to know more about Charles' life before that leads him up towards the agricultural level and the stable. Kieran can be found up here often, he's told, and if he goes up there he might run into him. He's never thought of himself as much of an animal person, but horses and birds are different. Horses especially, even if he's never actually had his own.

The smell in the stable is familiar, sweet and earthy, warm with many animals. He steps over to the closest stall, gently talking to the horse within as he steps forward, and begins to gently stroke the side of it's neck. ]

You are a beautiful horse, aren't you? Yes you are. It's been a while, since I saw a horse.

[Kieran's blindness made it so that he had to rely on his other senses a lot more than usual. Now that he has his sight back––something he'll forever be grateful for––those same senses are still pretty sharp, and he's not about to take that for granted, either.]

[So when he hears a strange voice inside the barn from the outside, he hurries on in. There's no real paranoia there, after all, everyone on Anchor has been plenty friendly so far, but he can never be too cautious when it comes to his ~~children~~ horses.]

[Kieran stands at the doorway, grasping perhaps the most non-threatening rake in his hands in perhaps the most non-threatening pose known to mankind. Tall and lanky, he's also, effectively, non-threatening.]

H-Hey there! Can I help ya?

[Jacob had sensed the other man's arrival. He's never lost one of the core senses, but his hearing and sight are damn good, even without Eagle Vision. Not that he needs that to have heard Kieran approach. The point is, the man isn't a threat- he isn't trying to sneak up on Jacob, he's not carrying a gun or a knife or a cudgel. Jacob can continue petting the horse without fear.

Which is good, because he doesn't much like the idea of spooking horses if it can be avoided.]

Not really. Just trying to make new friends, right girl? You've got the biggest brownest eyes, don't you?

[He pauses in petting the horses' neck to look over at the man again, taking him in.]

These your horses?

Right. [He takes one more second to swallow down his nerves as he raises his hands, sliding them alongside Kieran's jaw.] Then let us begin.

[The searing feeling of energy flowing into Kieran should be the same as the first time, albeit more focused one one particular area; with no need to check through him for other internal injuries, Carlisle goes right for his eyes, determined to finish the job he started. Despite his focus, he doesn't rush: he keeps the flow of his energy calm and steady, hoping to minimize that sensation of white-hot fire in the veins that accompanies his channel. Thankfully, there isn't much work to be done -- the eyes are nearly fully reformed, and all that's lacking is are their connections to the body itself.

Kieran may experience more of that burning sensation right behind his eyeballs for several seconds. Carlisle's fingers tighten against his jaw, but the searing of energy eventually subsides, pulled from him gently rather than being abruptly cut off like last time. They exit his body the way they came in, the sensation trailing back to the point of contact at his jaw, then out.

Carlisle pulls away slowly, flexing his fingers again. They're largely numb, and his arms are aching all the way up to his shoulders, but at least the ground around him isn't rotting.]

How's that?

[Rule 1 when visiting Kieran's barn: Never Spook the Horses.]

[Kieran approaches, rake still in his hands, as Jacob gently pets at Eavan's neck. Eavan, in the meantime, is loving the attention, the odd glowing marks lining her face and body radiating on and off.]

Y-Yeah. The mare you're playin' with, h-her name's Eavan.

The little one over there's Branwen. He's, uh, h-he's from home. He's supposed to be bigger than that, but, uh, this place shrank him somehow.

[Kieran studies Jacob a bit. The strange man's clothing looks like something from his time, if not a bit fancier. The accent also adds to the man's overall class, especially when compared to a country bumpkin of Kieran's caliber. His face flushes a bit, although he offers a smile as a greeting.]

You, uh, you new here, friend?

[ Jacob would never call himself fancy. Then again, he is willing to bet he lived a very different life to the one Kieran might have known.
But that doesn't mean he doesn't get soppy about horses, however fancy he might seem.]

Eavan, huh? A pretty name for a pretty girl.

[The glowing marks? That's a little unusual in horses. But he's used to Angel's glowing tattoos, so they don't actually worry him too much.]

You managed to bring something from home? That's impressive. But what a good horse. All the best things come in small packages, don't they Branwen?

[The turns then, looking at Kieran with a grin, still petting the horse]

Is it that easy to tell? Arrived a couple of weeks a go, me and a few others from another weird place like this. I was in London before that. I'm Jacob. Jacob Frye.

[Kieran's eyes flutter shut when Carlisle places his hands on either side of his face. He trusts the other man implicitly, despite the hiccups from that first attempt at healing. At the time, it had been an emergency. Mistakes had been made. Mistakes that, due to the circumstances, Kieran couldn't hold against Carlisle. Not when the man so clearly blamed himself for it all. This moment marks a new beginning for them both.]

[He immediately stiffens when that burning sensation runs through his body, his eyelids squeezing tighter when it first hits. Within those few moments, though, he calms down and relaxes outside of the occasional twitch of his brow. He'll brave the pain if it means getting back everything he's lost.]

[As Carlisle pulls away, Kieran releases a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.]

[Slowly, but surely, he starts opening his eyes. His pupils focus as light registers for the first time, and the color is almost blinding. It's enough that Kieran has to blink with gusto, trying to get his eyes to acclimate.]

[The main point, though, is that there's something there causing him to react. So as much as Kieran looks like he's not having the best time, there's a huge smile spreading across his face.]

I-I can see!

[He turns his head from side to side and, when he finally centers himself again, tries to approximate where Carlisle's face is. Thing is, things are still a little blurry as his eyes readjust to actually working again.]

Mostly! I-I got colors and stuff at least!

Yeah, she was the first horse I found while here. Don't think there are a lot like her left.

[Which is a sad fact, but not surprising, given the combination of the overall state of Anchor and the size of the Agricultural Level. It isn't exactly conducive to housing herds of animals of any size, let alone horses.]

[Kieran places his rake against the edge of an empty stall before he reaches over to offer Jacob a handshake.]

K-Kieran Duffy. Pleasure to meetcha.

What about the green? On the lower levels? Wouldn't that work as grazing for some animals?

[ He only suggests it because back home, most of the parks and commons are still used by people for feeding their horses. And cows. And sheep.

Not that it matters when the rake is set down and the man comes up to him with hand extended.]

Jacob Frye. Are you... are you the Kieran Charles knows? Ran with the Van Der Linde gang?

[ Charles had said there were people here from his past, his home. He hadn't said much, but knowing there were people here who had known him? It makes him feel... strange. Uncertain.]

[There is, of course, a question that needs to be answered that involves one of Kieran's favorite topics ever, ever. He's ready to wax poetic (or at least the cowboy equivalent thereof) about the space needed for an actual herd of wild horses and how this big ol' building may be enough for a small handful of them, but also that dangers both natural and its cold opposite could be impeding them. But, his little spiel is overshadowed by the revelation of an overall mundane, but uplifting fact.]

[Someone had talked about him to someone outside of the Van der Linde gang.]

[...He also has no idea if this talk had erred on positive or negative.

[To mirror those ideas, Kieran's face brightens up, then lowers a couple of notches as he meekly responds:]

Y-yeah! That's, uh, that's me!

[ It hadn't been negative, that's for sure. Aside from the fact it had referred to Kieran very much in the past tense. Charles hadn't detailed exactly what had happened to the man, but Jacob had been given the impression that Kieran had died before all the shit had hit the windmill.

It's a little surprising to see him here, and not dead. Instead of remarking on that- he does have some tact- he simply offers a smile in return.

Whatever his concerns, he's glad Charles has people from home, people to talk about the bad-old-days with. People that seem potty about horses.]

Any friend of Charles is a friend of mine. A pleasure to meet you, and your charges.

[Carlisle chuckles, half-nervous and half-relieved.]

Give them a moment to adjust. They are not your original eyes, after all, but brand new ones. I hope they will serve you just as well.

[If not better. If Kieran didn't have perfect vision before, he certainly does now, and will be able to enjoy all the high-definition grasses and livestock the Agricultural zone can provide.]

[Not only did Kieran die, he, like, super died. Good stuff.]

[Which means the only way to go from there is up, right? And with the way he tentatively smiles at Jacob's greeting, he's well on the way there.]

[Or he's a little bit further along, at least.]

P-Pleasure's all mine! And I'm sure it's theirs, too.

[With a special spark introduced into his step, Kieran gestures with his entire body over to Eavan. The movement is deliberate and well within her view to avoid spooking her with any sudden movements.]

D'ya ride? I-I got some gear if you ever wanna go out fer a stroll around the area.

[All you have to do is mention being into horses just a little bit, and this guy is ready to share pretty much anything.]

Yeah! Yeah, I will, I... yeah.

[Kieran grins, wide and happy as he just... soaks everything in. He can feel tears burning at the rims of his eyelids, but he can't bring himself to wipe them away. Almost as if just touching his face would be enough to completely undo all of Carlisle's hard work.]

[And speaking of...]

[After a moment of basking in his newfound joy, Kieran throws himself at the other man, fully intending to wrap him in a tight bearhug.]

[ Even in Jacob's fairly extensive experience of killing people, he's never done anything like what was done to Kieran. That was certainly over-kill, forgive the pun. ]

Ah, I'm sure we'll get along. I'll remember to bring a nice treat for them next time.

[ There's a gentle chuckle, and another stroke down Eavan's long nose, making a soft friendly noise as he does so. She's a gorgeous creature.

At Kieran's offer, his smile grows wider, and he turns his head back to the man as if he's just been offered as much free beer as he can drink, or something equally wonderful.]

Is there any other way to travel? If you... you're free now? I don't have any plans.

[ Okay so sure, technically he was home not all that long ago. But he didn't ride in London. Everyone has carriages. He misses just being able to get on a horse without the fuss of having to steal one. ]

[Kieran seems overwhelmed, and Carlisle takes a moment to reflect on the impact he's made, even if for just one man. Though Kieran would have been blind regardless, Carlisle hasn't yet reconciled with the guilt of having failed to heal him in the first place, putting him and his friends in mortal peril at the same time. He felt it was his fault everything went wrong, and that Kieran was stuck without his sight.

But now, he's the reason it's back. He's the reason Kieran can see, and the man looks completely and utterly delighted by the prospect as he tests out his new eyes. It's been so long since Carlisle properly healed anyone of a major injury -- anything more than some scrapes and maybe a broken bone -- that he'd nearly forgotten that sense of self-satisfaction that comes with it. That was why he found his calling among healers, why he took up the art in the first place: it wasn't just that he was talented, but he felt he could really make a difference with his gift, do some good for others in a way he'd never been able to do for himself.

Beneath his mask, he can't help but smile, truly proud of himself for what feels like the first time since long before his death. He puts a hand on the ground to help himself up.]

Well, if—

[Kieran catches him completely off-guard with his sudden embrace; Carlisle stiffens reflexively as the man's arms wrap around him, as though he's not sure how to react. He doesn't, given:

a. he hasn't been hugged in over a decade, not counting all the time he's been dead
b. he never was terribly open to hugs even when alive, as they put people within close proximity of a cursed fellow who was afraid his curse would rub off on them
c. people touching him in Anchor rather than the other way around has by and large gone poorly, resulting in rotting skin and unintended injury

But he still feels good about what he did -- still feels in control of his abilities -- and so while the hug was a surprise, it's not entirely unwelcome. Though he waits for a second for Kieran to pull away, his flesh decaying from mere contact with him, the moment never comes.

Carlisle tentatively brings a hand around Kieran's back, patting him between the shoulders, all the while wishing he were better at this. While he's never been a very touchy-feely individual, it's a unique brand of suffering to live one's life largely isolated in his home, then death in a strange world, trapped behind layers and layers of clothing to hide what he truly is. Further more, he's unable to feel physical sensation the way he used to. What little warmth he does truly feel comes not from the air or contact with others, but from within as genuine emotion stirs within his cold bones.

Ultimately, it's nice to be appreciated, to be thanked with such an earnest, heartfelt gesture. Carlisle smiles again, murmuring a word of gratitude even though he's the one being thanked. He may have been the one doing the actual mending magic, but in a way, he is also being healed, bit by bit.]

Edited 2020-03-28 09:42 (UTC)

[It isn't odd for Kieran to receive a lukewarm response to the impromptu hug. Men in his day simply didn't show this kind of affection for one another unless they were close--cowboys even less so. So he doesn't take it to heart, focusing instead on the fact that at least he isn't being tossed aside (figuratively or literally) for said affection.]

[Once he's sure that Carlisle isn't going to im- or explode on him, Kieran gives him another heartfelt squeeze, noticing faintly that there's the distinct texture of rib and bone underneath Carlisle's robes.]

[Kieran has been pretty thin, himself, especially following his brief foray into starvation at the hands of the Van der Linde gang. That said, doesn't chalk that observation up to much more than a skinny feller who could use some more food in his belly and meat on his bones.]

[If only he knew the literal nature of that last bit.]

[Kieran pulls away, grinning from ear to ear.]

Thank you so much again, Carlisle. If I can ever repay the favor...

[He thinks about it. He also thinks about that eerie thinness underneath his arms.]

M-Maybe, if you want, y'can have first pick of anythin' Pratt and I get from the barn! You like milk?

[Translation: BOY, YOU NEED SOME MILK.]

[As delighted as Carlisle may be by that wide smile across Kieran's face, he tries to remain calm as he's offered a reward for his trouble -- one he cannot possibly accept. It's not just because he was here to make amends for what happened to Kieran the first time he tried healing him, nor is it because he wouldn't like what Kieran offers. Milk, while not his beverage of choice in most situations, would be a real treat to a fellow who hasn't enjoyed a drink since he rose as an undead; however, he's well aware it'd be a complete waste on him.]

Oh, oh no, I couldn't—

[Oh, but Kieran is so sweet to offer, and so grateful. He simply wants to return the favor, and Carlisle knows good and well just how disappointing it can be when you feel as though you can never repay a debt. That and, Carlisle realizes belatedly, he probably felt just how thin he is beneath the padding of his clothing.]

Well... yes, milk would be lovely, actually. Thank you for the kind offer.

[He can always donate it to the fridge in the kitchens for those making the food for the community, he supposes. Or see if his pet likes it.]

Edited 2020-04-08 07:27 (UTC)

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[CATCH-ALL] This is gonna hurt kid…

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