[She nods, and without much hesitation, steps forward to open up the door. The person who steps out seems entirely average for a moment, from his haircut down to his suit - but the longer the two look at him, it seems like there's something soulless in his eyes and empty about his smile.
A few things happen very quickly, if Shess is playing close attention: her eyes widen in surprise and then even further in fear. Her mouth pulls back into a grimace, and - as the seconds tick by and she just stands there, it might seem like there are tears gathering in her eyes. He's never seen her like this; nobody here has, not even when Lea was stabbed. Her words are choked out.]
No. No, no, that's not— [A ragged breath.] Shess, you have to kill h-- you have to kill it.
[The dagger passes through almost as if he were made of air, and the man barely spares Shess a glance; he's looking towards Emma instead. His expression would seem wounded if it wasn't for that empty look in his eyes. In a lilting, almost lyrical tone, as he tilts his head:
"Why...? I just want you to be happy."]
Stop it!
[And with that, she rushes forwards herself, a sizable piece of ice forming in her hands - which she uses similar to how someone would wield a baseball bat, slamming it full force into the monster's face. Hm.]
[he jumps out of the way when emma rushes forward, just in case. he doubts bashing its face will do much good, but perhaps it helps emma, even if only a little.
moments like these remind him of how frustrating it is, not being able to speak. it's awkward, having to put away his weapon simply so that he can communicate again.]
[It definitely does not work, even if it knocks it back - there are tears coming out of her eyes in full force now, even as she looks between this simulation of someone who she called a friend and Shess.]
What did she say the, the spell was? I can’t look at him anymore, please—
still, putting his tablet away, he walks forward so that he's at least between emma and the man—at which point the latter shifts. it's a silver-haired woman now, beautiful and standing tall. her features would perhaps be reminiscent of shess's, to a degree, but the coldness in her eyes is certainly nothing like him.
for a moment, shess wavers, before he reminds himself this is almost certainly an illusion. taking out his dagger again, he holds out his arm in front of emma. stay back.
she speaks. "raising a weapon against me? i thought you had learned to be more obedient than that, shess."]
[She does take a step back, rubbing quickly at her eyes once she sees the figure has changed, but... That brings with it even more confusion, and she looks from Shess to the unfamiliar woman, even if she stays silent.
They can ask each other about it later. It's fine. ]
[it's difficult. that girl gave an idea of how to repel this creature, but shess—he doesn't think he can laugh at this so easily, when his instincts are screaming that it'd be disrespectful and were this truly her, she'd hardly take it lying down. (also, he can't even say the spell, so it's a moot point.)
still, happy thoughts. he can try and think happy thoughts.
but then the woman changes. not as though the boggart is transforming, but fire dancing around the woman until her appearance shifts into a different woman. this causes shess to freeze, eyes wide.
but when her whip lashes out, shess again reminds himself this isn't real, as he shoves emma back to get her out of harm's way.]
[She takes a few steps backward, nearly stumbling, but as she watches the whip come out, still distressed—]
Shess!
[She's moving forward despite his advice, because if she can get close enough, she assumes it'll change to someone as dangerous - and sure enough, it shifts into a woman who doesn't look much older than Emma. From her features, it might not be out of the question to assume the two are related - but the more striking thing about her might be how injured she is.
There are shards of glass stuck in her hair, her arm is bent at a grotesque angle, and there's a wound on the side of her head dripping blood down her face onto her clothes. There are too many small scrapes and bruises to count. When she speaks, blood bubbles out of her mouth.
"Emma... You never came. I called for you—"
It's that which finally makes her laugh, but it's bitter, nearly tinged with hysteria.]
[All at once, the blood becomes a garish kind of makeup, smeared across her face and mouth, and the glass scattered throughout her hair shifts into silver confetti strewn around.
Emma, for her part, does laugh - even if it sounds more than a little watery and weak.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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A few things happen very quickly, if Shess is playing close attention: her eyes widen in surprise and then even further in fear. Her mouth pulls back into a grimace, and - as the seconds tick by and she just stands there, it might seem like there are tears gathering in her eyes. He's never seen her like this; nobody here has, not even when Lea was stabbed. Her words are choked out.]
No. No, no, that's not— [A ragged breath.] Shess, you have to kill h-- you have to kill it.
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well, he knows this is an enemy they have to defeat, so he doesn't need to be told twice. he can wonder about emma's reaction later.
withdrawing his dagger, he lunges at the man. no hesitation, when he tries to stab him.]
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"Why...? I just want you to be happy."]
Stop it!
[And with that, she rushes forwards herself, a sizable piece of ice forming in her hands - which she uses similar to how someone would wield a baseball bat, slamming it full force into the monster's face. Hm.]
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moments like these remind him of how frustrating it is, not being able to speak. it's awkward, having to put away his weapon simply so that he can communicate again.]
Don't listen to it.
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What did she say the, the spell was? I can’t look at him anymore, please—
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[do not have the mute person try and use spells.
still, putting his tablet away, he walks forward so that he's at least between emma and the man—at which point the latter shifts. it's a silver-haired woman now, beautiful and standing tall. her features would perhaps be reminiscent of shess's, to a degree, but the coldness in her eyes is certainly nothing like him.
for a moment, shess wavers, before he reminds himself this is almost certainly an illusion. taking out his dagger again, he holds out his arm in front of emma. stay back.
she speaks. "raising a weapon against me? i thought you had learned to be more obedient than that, shess."]
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They can ask each other about it later. It's fine. ]
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still, happy thoughts. he can try and think happy thoughts.
but then the woman changes. not as though the boggart is transforming, but fire dancing around the woman until her appearance shifts into a different woman. this causes shess to freeze, eyes wide.
but when her whip lashes out, shess again reminds himself this isn't real, as he shoves emma back to get her out of harm's way.]
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Shess!
[She's moving forward despite his advice, because if she can get close enough, she assumes it'll change to someone as dangerous - and sure enough, it shifts into a woman who doesn't look much older than Emma. From her features, it might not be out of the question to assume the two are related - but the more striking thing about her might be how injured she is.
There are shards of glass stuck in her hair, her arm is bent at a grotesque angle, and there's a wound on the side of her head dripping blood down her face onto her clothes. There are too many small scrapes and bruises to count. When she speaks, blood bubbles out of her mouth.
"Emma... You never came. I called for you—"
It's that which finally makes her laugh, but it's bitter, nearly tinged with hysteria.]
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he places a hand on emma's shoulder, though only briefly. he doesn't know how she'll take it in her state, but it's a reminder that he's here.
still, he has to speak.]
"It's always possible to laugh in the face of fear. Don't let it paralyze you."
That's what the girl said. Emma.
[don't let this get to you.]
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She drops her face into her hands for just a moment before holding her head up, crossing her arms.]
It's fine. I'm - fine.
[Even if she sounds like she's still about to cry.]
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I'm here.
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[All at once, the blood becomes a garish kind of makeup, smeared across her face and mouth, and the glass scattered throughout her hair shifts into silver confetti strewn around.
Emma, for her part, does laugh - even if it sounds more than a little watery and weak.]
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You've got this.
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After a moment, rather than talk about anything that she just saw:]
Who were those people...?
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[The ones she didn't recognize, at least.]
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this isn't exactly something he likes to talk about, but he has no reason to lie either, so.]
My mother.
[... both of them?]
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But... There were two?
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She is my king, and I am loyal to my clan. Regardless of what my mother and I may think of each other in private, it won't interfere with our duties.
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[...]
Wait a second, you're royalty?
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You can think of it that way, I guess.
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