⚡ hadriel - ic inbox

[evocation]

This is Kyna. You should just text me if you actually want me to answer.

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[evocation]

Yeah, yeah, go ahead. Hurry up.

[requiemshark]

Bye, Kyna.

[He gives her a little wave. Because it's fine, isn't it? Everything is going to be fine. No one died.]

I'm coming. Promise.

[braveoff]

[ It's not fine, unfortunately. It's not the end of the world, no, but it's definitely not fine. He's fairly quiet on the walk home. ]

How's your head?

[requiemshark]

[Ephemera manages to retrieve his helmet without having to explain why he threw it in the first place, and they walk. He breathes. It's almost simple.]

Little fuzzy.

[Don't lie. Not to him.]

[braveoff]

Does it hurt? I'm just... trying to figure out if this is getting worse or not.

[ There's no hiding his worry. ]

I know there's nobody here who can check the implants but maybe we should get Pell over in case it's a brain damage thing? You've gotten zapped more than I like to think about.

[requiemshark]

Hurts when it's happening.

[Ephemera is quiet for a long moment.]

Dunno if they're worse. But I'm getting them more.

[He looks away.]

I didn't want anyone to worry. And I know how fucking selfish that is. I'm sorry.

[braveoff]

[ Drake goes quiet again, processing that. Knowing that if there's really nothing they can do about it he's just going to have to learn to cope right along with Ephemera. ]

Hey, I was too fucked up to deal with it anyway. But I'm not now, so we're gonna figure this out. Starting with what triggers it.

[requiemshark]

[That helps, a little. Ephemera feels his shoulder relax.]

Okay. I don't remember what caused it at the beginning.

[It just...happened.]

Now it's...when I'm arguing with people, sometimes?

[braveoff]

So it could be a stress response? That's a problem.

[ They're kind of always stressed, in Hadriel. Over one thing or another. ]

What were you and Kyna talking about, anyway?

[requiemshark]

I know.

It's grim thought, not to mention dangerous.]

...she asked. About what my team was doing before Freelancer. Why we were fighting. It didn't....

[It hadn't gone well.]

[braveoff]

Yeah, that's a sensitive topic.

[ But he can't be expected to just avoid everything that might upset him. Hmm. ]

I think we should get you looked at. See if there's a simpler answer first.

[requiemshark]

I don't--hnn.

[Ephemera shakes his head.]

I hate that it just--stops things. And then it's like I win or maybe it didn't matter at all. Don't like that.