hadriel_logs | Event Log: Senses Fail

Entry tags:

Event Log: Senses Fail

Who: All characters participating in the event
What: The event log for the Senses Fail event
Where: All over the city
When: May 14th-May 20th
Warnings: None

You wake up on the 14th, and something is different. Maybe it's something small - you can't smell anything, or your hearing on one side seems to be on the fritz. Or it could be something large and impossible to miss - you've gone completely blind, or you seem to be missing a leg. You've lost something, and no matter what you do, you can't seem to fix it.

Will you ever get it back? Probably, but it's impossible to be sure. And even if you're thoroughly convinced that this is temporary, that still means you have to figure out how to live like this for the next week. Even small things can be huge difficulties. Your sense of taste doesn't seem that important, until you accidentally eat something that'll make you sick. And sure, maybe you can figure out how to live without one hand, but what about when you wake up three days from now and you've also lost your magic?

Do your best to keep yourself calm, but remember: it can always get worse.

► This log covers May 14th-May 20th.
► Feel free to make your own logs, as well
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If your lost sense turns out to have been essential to your survival, please let us know here.

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[He makes a noise of assent. For his part, he's managing to walk, though his feet are dragging somewhat. The coolness and darkness of the house is a welcome change, at least, and he closes his eyes briefly, letting them adjust.]

I suppose I have no choice. [It's an attempt at dark humor, but then his tone softens.]...Thank you. [At least he can manage that.]

I should be thanking you, after you've worked so hard for my sake. [As they enter, Yusuke leaves his cane by the door and braces a hand against the wall of the hallway, as he walks Ianchus in and over to the couch. Once he manages to feel his way over to it, he'll try to help him sit down.]

Will this be comfortable for you?

[As a response, Ianchus sits down heavily, letting go of Yusuke and breathing out a heavy sigh. He manages a tired smile, ignoring that he can't see it. He still doesn't feel great, but it's preferable to sit, to be in from the heat.]

It's perfect. You should rest some, too. [Yusuke just practically dragged him down the walk, after all. And Ianchus isn't a light man.]

[Yusuke all but collapses to sit beside him, eyes closed with a relieved sigh. Now that he's sitting it's true that he feels exhausted, the adrenaline from the effort mostly having gotten him through the last stretch. But at least he doesn't have to worry about getting around and being unable to see, at least for the time being.]

I'm glad we made it...

[Ianchus laughs softly, breathlessly. As terrible as all this has been, as bad as he feels that the one he was trying to help had to help him in turn, there's something about sharing a struggle with someone that tends to ease his negative feelings.]

A team effort, hmm? I think we did well, all things considered.

[Yusuke does feel a bit better, too. While he hates that he inconvenienced someone, he's also touched that he'd go to such lengths to help him.]

Yes. I'm very grateful to you. Please rest as much as you can... If your home is far from here, you're welcome to stay the night.

[or "night" in air quotes, considering the sun only sets for two hours here, but]

That's kind. I wouldn't want to impose, especially not on your friend.

[But his home is somewhat far.] I'm in the housing by the hot springs--ah, that's where we met the first time! [He laughs a little, but shakes his head]

I think I'll be okay if I just need to walk. But for the time being...perhaps until it's cooler. Thank you, Yusuke.

You wouldn't be an imposition, by any means.

[Yusuke smiles a bit in recollection of their first meeting. He was lucky to have met him, in a way. Most strangers wouldn't look twice at Yusuke's plight, he's sure.]

But-- you're welcome. Feel free to help yourself to anything to eat or drink once you've rested a bit, too. I'm afraid I can't be much by way of a good host to get you those things myself, currently...

[Ianchus gives himself a bit to rest, and even though his body is still tired (it's not recovering as quickly as it did before, either), he eventually shifts and sits up a little.]

I'll get the both of us some water. Would you like to have something to eat, too?

[Taking care of people is something that Ianchus likes to do, though it would be wrong to call him altruistic. He knows he can't help everyone, that it's important to disconnect himself from some things...still, he's glad he was able to help Yusuke, even if at the end he was the one who needed assistance.]

[Yusuke feels like he could just doze off for a nap then and there after the heat and the struggle to get back home, and he would have, if not for his guest.] Thank you. You don't need to exert yourself too much to get me anything... A small snack will suffice.

[Yusuke offers him a grateful smile for the offer, nonetheless. But Akira can always cook something later, so he'd rather Ianchus save his energy when Yusuke has caused him hassle enough.]

[Ianchus takes a breath and then stands, giving Yusuke a small smile--which he realizes he can't see a moment later.]

I'll be back then.

[His footsteps echo on the floor toward the kitchen. There's the audible sound of him shuffling around for a bit, and then he returns]

Hold out your hands.

[The smile slides off his face soon after Ianchus is gone; the man's good humour is always contagious, but now he's left alone with his thoughts and the darkness. Solitude, something he never minded before, has become something he's coming to hate, even moreso than having others see him in such a pitiful state.]

Like this? [He holds both hands out, unsure of what's being offered.]

Glass of water, about three-quarters full. [Ianchus puts that into Yusuke's left hand, holding it gently until the hand closes on it.] Apple. [That goes into the right hand, and then Ianchus sits down next to Yusuke again, his own glass of water in his hand--the second one, actually. He chugged an entire one down at the sink, savoring the cool, crisp taste of nothing.]

There we go.

Edited 2018-06-06 22:27 (UTC)

[Yusuke takes them both, especially careful with the glass, but again, muscle memory and sound cues are helpfully doing a lot of the work for him. Apparently the human body doesn't depend on sight as much as he thought -- something of an odd realisation, for an artist.]

Thank you. [He drains the glass in a few gulps -- his throat is just that parched -- before making a start on the apple.] Are you feeling a bit better? I truly never meant to put you through such an ordeal...

Really, it's nothing at all, it was my choice--and in the end you had to carry me the rest of the way. I'm fine now.

[The truth is he still feels a little faint, but he's not going to say that. Instead, he gives a little laugh, glancing over Yusuke's frame again.]

I didn't expect you to be so strong, Yusuke.

[Yusuke reaches for where he remembers the coffee table to be, setting down his empty glass.]

I don't know if I'm strong... A setback like this has proven how fragile I truly am. Always burdening myself upon others, and now...

[He takes a sharp intake of breath and trails off, regretful, even if he's grateful for the help all the same.]

... How do you do it, Cepheos-san? I can't see your face, but despite your ordeal, I'm sure you're still smiling.

[It's true, he is--though at that sincere question, his smile falters a little, and his voice grows a little softer. He doesn't really consider himself one that should be doling out life advice...and really, he hasn't in some years. But, if Yusuke's asking...]

Ah, you'll be disappointed. [He gives a small laugh.] I don't think about what I smile about. I just smile, and find a reason afterwards. Even...even when I don't feel like smiling, I suppose.

Does it help?

[Yusuke doubts it's something he could ever do; it's simply not in his nature. Even so, he's curious.]

Try it.

[Ianchus puts his fingers on Yusuke's arm to let him know what he's doing, and then runs them up his arm, over his shoulder, to tap the corner of his mouth. It's something of a playful gesture, though he's being honest.]

Pull a smile, right here.

Edited 2018-06-10 19:27 (UTC)

[Yusuke's head turns slightly at the touch on his arm, surprised, but of course he can't see what he's doing. Then he frowns, concentrating hard.]

Like this?

[... He's concentrating so much on trying to arrange his facial features into a smile, he just kind of winds up grimacing.]

[Ianchus can't help but laugh at the attempt, and shakes his head, tapping the furrow between Yusuke's brows]

You're trying so hard, ah...let's see. Try thinking of a joke. Or something that makes you happy. And then just...keep your face that way.

[It's harder to explain than he expected.]

[Yusuke takes a deep breath, and closes his eyes. Something that makes him happy... His friends, of course. But he misses them, and for his friends here -- there's Akira, who he feels often like a burden to, and Komaeda, who worries Yusuke more often than not...

What else makes him happy? He thinks of a certain painting, her soft smile, and he can easily feel a smile sliding onto his face in turn.]

That's right... I have something like that.

[There it is! And what a cute smile it is. Ianchus can't help but feel a wave of fondness running through him. His smile softens and he sits back a little.]

There, that's right. Now just remember how that smile feels.

I won't forget. Even if I never see her again, I can't forget that feeling.

[He relaxes visibly, and even if there's a tinge of sadness behind his smile, he still looks happier.]

[Ianchus is curious, but he doesn't press. He can sense a hint of tragedy, something buried deep down. He gives Yusuke a light squeeze on his shoulder.]

Smiling doesn't fix everything. But it does help you remember how you feel when you do smile for real. Right?

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