video; un: deathweaver

[respired]

[ Koltira's back to his usual self once again--his hair pale as ice, his eyes burning with lichfire. His skin sallow, tinted with hypothermia, and shot through with spiderweb cracks. He wears the black ALASTAIR uniform as he sits on the edge of his bed, twisting a new ring around one gloved finger.

Beside him, his lynx cub rolls around sleepily.

His voice is still deceptively lilting, but the ethereal echo, the underscore of a guttural scratch, haunts him. ]

I must ask for a favor, should you have the capacity to grant it.

[ He glances back at the lynx cub. ]

The dead are not meant to care for the living. If one of you would take responsibility for this creature, I'd consider myself in your debt.

[ A pause. He frowns slightly as he goes on. ]

Recently, some of you met me as I once was. Understand something now. That man is gone. He died nearly twenty years ago, and nothing--nothing--of him remains in me. His house is ash, and cannot be recovered.

[ Not entirely true, though Koltira maintains otherwise.

Another beat, longer this time, as if he's unsure whether to keep talking. But, eventually: ]

Many of you recognized me, yet you did not ruin the past with visions of the future. For this ... I thank you.

[ And that's all. ]

Comments

[digophelia]

I can see why; it's a precious little cub. Would you not have the time to care for it...?

[ He can do a lot for a dead guy. ]

[respired]

It is not a matter of time, but ability.

[digophelia]

I see. [ He doesn't need to say anything else; Alice won't try to reassure him like she usually would with another. ]

Are you feeling well...?

[respired]

... No.

[digophelia]

[ Alice figures asking him if he would like help is a moot point. ]

Are you somewhere safe?

[respired]

My room. The safest place possible, I suppose.

[digophelia]

Will it be enough for now?

[respired]

It will have to be.

[ Not much else he can do. ]

[digophelia]

Mister Koltira-

[ Alice starts off with a timid voice, unsure of herself. ]

I'm sorry. I'm very sorry that there can't be more to help you. But no matter what happens, you're still my friend.