i'm losing blood, i'm gonna leave my bones

[grunehexe]

CHARACTERS: Sieglinde & visitors (mostly current CR but wanderers welcome)
DATE: Four days after the return to Oska, weeks following
WARNINGS: Potential squicky feet stuff
SUMMARY: A bedridden witch would appreciate some company

[The pain becomes a bit more manageable each day. Some people might say a doctor should never be their own patient, but Sieglinde was managing her own regimen, dosing herself with herbs to reduce the swelling, taking teas to numb the pain, and let sleep come a bit easier. She could have fixed it in an instant with magic...

But it was bad enough she had asked Masamune to rebreak her feet so that she could realign the bones and attempt to return the twisted and damaged muscles, tendons, and nerves back to something resembling their original position. Bad enough that she'd taken away the proof of her ignorance, an act that to her seemed just as if she was trying to hide what she'd done.

Pain was the least she could accept in return.

She wouldn't be able to put an ounce of weight on them for quite some time, even tightly bandaged and splinted though they were, and even after weeks, she knew she'd have to relearn how to walk, unable to remember well what it was like, the way one walked when you had a heel, and sole, and toes in play. But at least it was in Oska, somewhere... relatively safe.

And at least she had books, and visitors. Even though she hadn't told a single person her plan beforehand, she couldn't exactly hide it once it was all said and done... and she had requests. Like meals, and books from the library, and entertaining company. She occupies her time in that manner, curling carefully in bed so as not to twist or put pressure on her healing limbs, pouring over her most recent spellbook and occasionally getting ink all over her sheets writing notes. Chatting with those recruits she knew, as if she hadn't done what she had. Testing how her bones were healing, how the swelling was doing.

Wondering if today was the day she actually felt less doubt about what she'd done.]

Comments

Third Day

[perma_banned]

[Saying nothing, Ban swiftly kicked in Sieglinde's door, a medium-sized cask set under one arm. In the other arm, he carried a sleeping roll fashioned from his room's blankets.

Well, King's room.

Ban produced a mug from the sleeping roll and jabbed his thumb into the top of the cask to make an opening to pour from. He poured Sieglinde a mug of light amber ale, unrolled his bedroll properly on the floor and then fell onto it, all without saying a word.]

[grunehexe]

[Absorbed in her book, scribbling notes in (antiquated) German on parchment propped on a lap desk she'd dragged into her bed, Sieglinde likely wouldn't have heard anyone's approach or the door opening... But she certainly hears it kicked open. Startled, her quill scratched a ragged line of black ink straight across the page she was working on, twisting from the hip to try and see who it was, and it was-]

Ban- ?!

[She had sent a message asking (sort of) for him to stop by, but that had been days ago... Before she can even process it she suddenly has a mug in her hands and a scoundrel sprawled on her floor... And she's pretty sure only about ten seconds maximum had passed. Blinking, she stared down at her ale... Then at Ban... Then the ale... Then Ban...

Well it was right there... So she took a drink first.]

[perma_banned]

[He had very a very talented lock-pick and an experienced burglar in his time, but Ban knew when and where to be delicate and indelicate alike. Ban kept his eyes wedged shut, trying to pull himself into his bedroll. By the time he was done, he found it only actually went up to his armpits.

Crap.

Ban opened his eyes and crawled towards Sieglinde's nightstand, looking for a spare blanket. He glanced up, seeing Sieglinde had been drinking, which made him feel a little more comfortable. Sure, there were issues with alcohol and children several centuries in his future, but to him--sometimes, kids deserved a nice drink to even them out.

Even he knew that no one in the world should have drowned themselves like he did. He had his twisted reasons.]

I didn't make it big enough.

a week or so later...?

[winces]

[ she has taken to stopping by every day since she was informed. most days, she would do so with a bundle of freshly-cooked food in hand, something much more substantive if only so she can ensure the younger girl has had something to eat that day. but today she is coming in with two loaves of sweet rolls and some fresh fruit and cream. it has been over a week and a half now, which sees sieglinde's appetite improving exponentially, and so olivia thought it due time for a treat. ]

Knock knock~

[ she taps her knuckles against the door jamb before shuffling in, cradling a basket against her him. ]

How are you feeling today, Master?

[grunehexe]

[As ravenously as Sieglinde ate when she was actually fixated on food, she liked to contribute it to being a growing young woman and needing nutrients. Really, it was more likely a consequence of a very bad habit of skipping meals when she was absorbed in a research project or her potion making... Or, recently, in struggling with the darker emotions she didn't like anyone else to know she had, that only a few had ever gotten glimpses of.

It was harder to have an appetite when preoccupied with wondering if you regretted trying to fix your own feet. If you even deserved to walk around unmarked by the punishments of ignorance.

But Olivia was ceaseless, and Sieglinde was grateful for it even though she didn't know the right words to express it. Today she had decided to dedicate her time to practice- her body might be damaged, but her magic wasn't, so it would be remiss not to work on her spells... And at the moment, she was trying valiantly to copy a spell she'd seen a certain Magnus Bane perform on the healers tent in Nalawi- a ward that had protected everything within. If she could replicate it-]

Oh, Olivia, good afternoon.

[She was already sitting up in bed, propped up on pillows and a hand in the air drawing runes, a slight hint of green to the air writing that fizzled when she dropped her hand, aborting the spell before it was properly cast (or attempted to, rather).]

I am better than yesterday.

[That had become her answer to that question. How was she? Better than yesterday. Hopefully.]

[winces]

[ it has been several visits now, but olivia is well aware they have yet to really touch upon what bothers sieglinde the most. it's a delicate dance, and one olivia herself is not entirely sure how to proceed with. was it her place, as someone who cares for her, to push for an answer? to seek words, in the hopes that it might somehow ease her poor master's obviously trouble mind.

but olivia, too, is well aware of her position beneath the younger girl. though they have shared in lovely words and sentiments, the older woman is still not entirely sure how just close the younger girl would like to keep her... if discipleship is merely the extent of it.

she wishes, now more than ever, that she could tell. ]

I'm glad... Any progress is still progress. [ it's a phrase that sieglinde herself has used on her while she learned, many times when she had been ready to succumb to her low self-esteem.

carefully, she sets about the rolls from the basket, settling one on a plate right atop the younger girl's lap. ]

Can I ask what you were doing, just now?

no freaking idea but probably a week or two

[dishearten]

( once he heard, he was in to see her as much as she'd let him. daily, at first, though she likely wasn't aware. half of the time she wasn't even awake. if it wasn't him, it was the wolf; Brother slept at her feet, kept her company when she was awake, and on occasion brought her a treat from the kitchen. whether she wanted a pastry carried in a wolf's mouth was another question.

for Graham's part, he brings her flowers. not for their medical purpose, like the flowers he usually brings. for the life they bring to the room she can't leave, at least for now. if she asks for books or food or help, he'll get it for her. he doesn't quite understand why she did what she did, but he hopes it means that she can grow stronger for it.

as the days have gone by, he's worked on something to help occupy her time, and it's finally finished. when he knocks on the door, Brother is already there, snoring from his place on the floor. Graham nudges him with a boot as he comes closer, setting a box on the table by her bed and offering her the basket he's brought with food. enough for both of them; they made habit of eating together in Nalawi. he doesn't see why they should stop now. )

Some company he is, ( Graham says of the wolf, who just rolls over, clearly unbothered by the insult. he taps the box when she has the basket in hand, saying simply, ) I brought this for you.

[grunehexe]

[It's at least somewhat interesting, not knowing what she'll wake up to. Since she'd had her feet broken, Sieglinde had largely been relying on medications to sleep, which had made her somewhat like the dead, not stirring even when Brother came in and out, when Graham replaced the flowers. She gets to wake up and drag herself out of grogginess to see what the day would bring.

This time, though, it isn't her first wake of the day- maybe second or third, so she pulls herself off the pillow to the sound of the knock, dragging herself up into a sit and trying to get her long hair out of the way before Graham comes in, (oh, Brother was here this morning- Isengrim wasn't).

This time he had a box and basket both, but the warm smell of breakfast was coming from the basket... she took it, rubbing her eyes to clear the sleep away before she reached for a bread roll, pausing only when Graham's words registered.]

... What is it?

[She accidentally cracked into a yawn, using the moment to stuff half the roll in her mouth.]

[dishearten]

( she wouldn't appreciate the sentiment if he told her, but she looks much younger with her hair down and the sleep still in her eyes. he manages something close to a ghost of a smile as she tears into the food before anything else. she's got an interesting sense of table manners... though the man raised by wolves probably can't judge too much.

he sits down in a chair he drags a bit closer to the bed, dropping to run a few finger's through the wiry fur at Brother's neck before he offers her the box instead of answering her question. she'll see what is inside when she opens it, though the checkerboard top might hint at the contents before she does.

a chess set, and one he's clearly worked on himself. Oska has plenty of conveniences yet little of the things he remembers from his world. ) Are you going to share some of that breakfast with me? ( it's teasing, though his tone is a little lacking. it always is. )

Three or four days in?

[sengetsu]

[It's mid-morning when Kojuro knocks on the door. He's had breakfast already, and he has a bowl of fresh fruit and a pastry from the dining hall for Sieg]

It's Kojuro - can I come in?

[grunehexe]

[Sieglinde has begun to wean herself off the medications she'd been dosing herself with since she broke her feet, so she's actually awake this morning, sitting up in bed and trying valiantly to braid her own hair.]

You may-

[Isengrim gave a grumbling exhale of air, hauling himself up and moving away from the door to stop blocking it, the familiar changing to slink over and under the bed instead.]

[sengetsu]

[Kojuro makes his way in, and gives Sieglinde a small smile] I brought some food - I wasn't sure if you'd had any yet.

i hope this is okay!!

[arcane]

( as days passed since his arrival, he inevitably, grew a bit more weary of constantly staying in place without a more... pressing purpose. it isn't a physical exhaustion as much as it is a mental one. perhaps, even a spiritual one. one that... inherently went against all the principles he carried. the objectives he consistently pressed onwards towards. it's a peculiar thought having this much ... "downtime" or sorts. moments for him to recapture his thoughts, and moreover, with unprecedented freedom. an unspoken breed of liberation. it was a ... strange enough notion, that arjuna found himself purposely busying himself in other ways.

wandering was sort of one thing. or was keeping up their defenses a separate word for it? it's why he often meandered past places he never ventured the days preceding. except, there's one place, he often found individuals go in and out of. a place he could hear the reverberation of spells. could feel the magic being recited, whether in pen or tongue. hence, today, he sees the door is just slightly ajar, or maybe that's just a convenient excuse for his more inquisitive nature winning out.

at any rate, he gingerly cants his head, his fingers resting the door frame. he speaks evenly: ) How unusual. ( it's ... probably far too late for statements like these. in hindsight, arjuna isn't accustomed to the idea of actually being a bother. or rather, he was self-absorbed enough in his own post and in his capabilities to view it in such a bleak light. instead, his words act... merely as a means to ease into the situation. to provide justification, however haphazard. especially, into his next question. his tone is mild, but there's something stern about it. perhaps, even stiff? ) Shall I close your door? ( he hasn't entered, he... hasn't even fully peeked in, if just out of...

~respect! to societal norms and standards. forget the fact he's here anyway and he's prob. infringing on that either way!?! )

[grunehexe]

[Sieglinde was finding ways to occupy herself, even if she'd thought it would be trying. She had her books, both mundane and magical, she had time to practice, and visitors... and her physical body might be damaged, but magically she still had the means to do work.

She was working on a particular spell she'd seen done in Nalawi, (she'd been working on that one for days now), a shield to ward off physical attacks. The focus required meant she didn't notice anyone approaching, and the sound of a voice didn't actually register until he spoke again, and Sieglinde was startled out of her thoughts, hand half-raised and runes shimmering green in the air winking out of existence, the spell unfinished.]

- Who are you?

[It was all she could think to say in the moment, sitting in her bed surrounded by pillows, half-eaten food, books, and hand-drawn magic circles and notes.]

[arcane]

( magic was such a common concept in his own world, and even those he was summoned into there after. it's what fueled the events of his life, whether in curses or in blessings. regardless, it's why... he almost feels a bit nostalgic (or more than he has felt these past few days— though this could merely be dramatic interpretation and mild exaggeration on his end). it's not enough, however, for him to evade his transitory shift of attention back onto her, and her words. finally, he deigns a bit more information on her, if just by the tone of her voice alone.

here, he presses a palm neatly against a portion of the door, opening it slightly, if just to permit himself to come into view. granted, it's barely enough to really make a dent on his identity. still— ) I hardly meant to startle you.

( as always, with his title in this place, there's a mild pause. he doesn't suspect there's as much of a need for secrecy in a place that was destitute and completely emptied of any awareness of the holy grail war(s). moreover, he wasn't the type of hero to merely hide behind designations. he was an individual proud of his own heritage and accomplishments, and hence he pulls no punches in his reveal. ) Servant of the Archer Class. ( well, sort of.

he's testing the waters here okay. maybe he's even testing more than the water? ) I couldn't help but detect traces of magic. ( he continues with. as if offering an explanation. hey, at least it's something. honestly, he should have spent more of his time asking if he could come in, but well. keeping ones distance wasn't always a bad thing??? )

somewhere in the last week before they leave ;

[wardance]

[ Masamune opens the side door that adjoins Sieglinde's room to the (empty) room that expands in between them. Although he usually would not go through another room (occupied or not) due to the fact it would become a habit and then a subsequent problem if someone finally did move in there, but the dragon isn't very interested in the small chance of seeing someone in the hall that he has to great. Also, considering it's night-time, even if he were in a more friendly mood, it still would not be preferred due to being more than ready to go back to sleep himself.

He closes the door quietly, not bothering with a light— it just so happens that on top of the list of other things, the Lightning familiar also functions well as a night light. It is curled up in the bed and around Sieglinde protectively, which it doesn't do unless she's asleep (it would get in her way, at the very least, he assumes).

What could he assumed as the head does lift up to greet Masamune (rather than keep low and intimidate any unwelcome guests). A sound like a high-pitched whale vibrates quietly, and he sighs as he walks over. ]

Mai-chan. Are you taking care of her? [ He folds his arms and gives a small tip to his head. ] And the kid?

[ The familiar gives another sound, Masamune moving to pick up a pad he's left in the room to keep track of her progress on the nightstand near the table. ]

Ha? I see, someone else is providing him, then. [ The Familiar coils around his right hand as he writes. Without pausing, he speaks again to it. ] ...That's Tohsaka. Kind of hard to forget that signature after what happened. Still, how she's providing magic for two servants I don't know, but I also don't care. It's not my business. [ Another sound, this sounding a bit questioning. ]

No...??? You're sure hella generous with my energy!? [ it chirps in retort and uncurls from his wrist now. He inhales and lets it out sharply, a small hiss of annoyance by whatever that chirp meant. ] The kid didn't make that deal with her, which means she did it with his older self. Restoring what he uses to spend time with Sieg is more than enough or I'll have that bastard down my neck expecting it once he returns.

[ Masamune is quiet as he speaks and incredibly so, to the point it's barely above a whisper but quite clear to make out rather than strangely distorted. ]

Anyway, forget about that, I'm here for Sieg. [ Which he realizes the elemental is strangely not very interested in telling him much about Sieglinde at the moment and just considered Gil's younger self. ]

Hey, what do you mean that's all you have to report? Knock it off-- is she doing all right or what?

[grunehexe]

[He'd gotten away with this sort of thing when Sieglinde was still drugging herself to get sleep. Sleep was one of the body's best allies when it came to healing, and she was keen to do so as much as possible before the next mission... whenever that would be.

But she's been weaning herself off it recently, and what she'd thought was perhaps a dream had ended up... not being so.

To think, Masamune thought he could get away with doing his visits at night when she wasn't even conscious? Hah. Her feet might be broken, but she wasn't going to let that slide.]

Perhaps you ought to ask her... ?

[Her voice was a bit sleepy, but there was a certain dryness present there, the flickering light from his electric familiar (what she was calling it, anyway) reflecting off the single emerald eye she cracked open, chest rising differently once she stopped feigning a deep sleep, one eyebrow raised.

Yeah, she heard all that.]

1/3

[wardance]

[ NO NO NO NO NO ]

2/3

[wardance]

Oi, you floozy— [ glares at the electric familiar that's absolutely ignoring him now, floating around in the air and coming to circle around near Sieglinde's head on the pillow, constant chirps which basically more or less are "no you no you no you". ]

THE KOGILENING

[babbylon]

[Gil had told her soon when she asked about him dropping by, and he'd meant it. The next morning, before she awakens, her breakfast has arrived for her, hot and hearty already prepared; her lunch appears mysteriously the same way, somehow slipped in under her nose despite the fact she's bedridden. No notes or anything are left behind, but the culprit becomes obvious by the time supper rolls around in the form of one plucky little child.

Knocking first announcing himself, because it's just the polite thing to do, Gil enters her room dressed in a slick suit and tie. Of course, he's no longer his adult self, but it manages to be a remarkably handsome ensemble. He leaves the door open, and approaches her bed with a curt bow.]

My lady Sieg.

[He takes up her hand and kisses it, affectionately.]

Well! I hope you're ready for our date! Like said, I'm bringing it to you, so we'll enjoy ourselves right in here. Is that okay?

[grunehexe]

[The breakfast she mistakenly attributed to someone else- she'd had several nervous and well-meaning visitors who liked to use food as an excuse to check in on her, and she wasn't completely weaned off drugged sleep yet... but the lunch was suspect.

Not many people could sneak a lunch in within seconds while she turned from one spellbook to another. Suspicious, she started watching a bit more carefully... only to be left blinking that evening when not only did... Gilgamesh? (It was so odd to think of him as Gilgamesh, in a way) arrive, but he did so... quite done up.]

Wh-

[Suddenly feeling very underdressed in her nightgown, long hair undone, Sieglinde couldn't help but blush somewhat as she offered her hand, trying to remain critical in her observations. It did really seem to be... like Gilgamesh, merely. Younger. More... happy? Innocent?

Those words didn't seem quite right, though.]

Well, I suppose I could be convinced to take some time from my studies, yes... What did you have in mind?

[Was this a date? What were dates actually? Was it even right for someone as young as him to be dating?]

two weeks later

[invisiblade]

[it has been quite some time since Saber held company with the tiny lord and after all that has happened since they spoke last she's decided it would be a good idea to check up on her. following Merlin's recent departure, she's had a difficult time coping with his absence- though she's certain she cannot be the only one. while she does not know the full extent of the relationship he and Sieglinde shared, she's certain the two were quite fond of each other's company. she thinks it only appropriate to pay her a visit now in his stead.

she remembers the room from the last time she'd visited, so it's no trouble at all to make her way to that part of the castle by memory. she knocks quietly at the door upon arrival, feeling for the familiar presence of magic from the other side.]

Lady Sieglinde? It is Saber... may I come in?

[grunehexe]

[- Saber?

That got Sieglinde up and pulled her attention from her spellbook, blinking somewhat in surprise. Isengrim lifted his head from the floor as well, the skull-faced dog's tail beginning to swish at the arrival of company.

Trying to look a bit more presentable, Sieglinde adjusted her sheets and the long hair covering the pillows she sat against, pushed the large tone a bit further away on her lap.]

Of course- do come in.

[She'd had a few surprise guests, these days, but this one was perhaps going to be interesting.]

shows up late with a montage.

[selfimage]

[ while it seems that he almost always knows what to do when it comes to most situations, be it morally ambiguous or self-justified, caring about people was one of those things that generally fell into the realm of discomfort. he didn't know what to do with any of it. he's not used to having people that would consider him friends, nor is he used to having people that he would consider friends. so, when he catches wind of Sieglinde's injuries (there's a hot little bit of possessiveness that sparks in him, that's his protege), he brushes it off until he can't anymore.

that leaves the next course of action: going to see her.

she sleeps, and Loki finds the time to slip in. as a low down dirty sneak, one of the best weapons in his arsenal is the method of sneaking. from the way he talks and the obvious dramatic flair, no one would think he capable of silence, but he is. the first week he leaves a book scribbled in ink and bound with dyed leather, along with corrections on the application of her runes. as if to make up for the first week, the second one consists of a pile of paperback romance novels, all of them with browned edges and folded covers. he leaves soda, pens and ink, and instructions to create small illusions.

it's the beginning of the third week that he calculates wrong and missteps. he looks like he's been caught, too, wide green eyes. he's in a loose white button-down and black pants, losing the diadem and jacket for now. (he curses himself internally, he could've used that for some quick invisibility.) ]

Ah, yes—good morning. Is it morning? Good ...

[grunehexe]

[She'd had her suspicions from the moment she woke to find the book, found her runes corrected. After all, that particular study had been given to her by a certain god, and she doubted many among ALASTAIR's number had practical working knowledge of such things.

But he was coming under the guise of night and silence, and she could respect that, avoid messaging him and accusing him of the sins of kindness or attachment. (Plus, it was somewhat exciting, gave her something to do, to wake up each morning and see if something had been left for her.)

She applies the corrections to her runes, even experiments, tries to ward her room but he's either too good or she's too green at it, because he still slips in unhindered and there's some fascinating literature the next time, and snacks her other visitors wouldn't bring her, and-

Something to dedicate herself to working on anew, trying to weave an illusion based on his instructions, concentrating on something first that would be easy to convince herself and the world around her of.

She thinks she has it to the point where if she didn't look at it head on, the feet beneath her sheets, splinted and aching, almost looked bound again.

But then one morning he's just there, and though Sieglinde blinks almost comically for a moment, somewhat shocked, she recovers quickly, smirking a little and patting her new stack of romance novels.]

Why, if it is not the scoundrel who has been playing incubus and "Santa" in my bedchamber?

[Sieglinde, that's a weird combo.]