(voice)

[hexrot]

—This is Jayce Talis. [ that's not going to mean anything, to anyone. this man's voice is rasping, dragging, in between sounded exhausted, heavy and ill. ] I'm a scientist. I researched . . . The Arcane, with my . . . With my partner, Viktor— most of my life.

[ frequent pauses are a must. he almost feels out of breath if he doesn't, and that puffs through the radio, ragged and sluggish. ]

All of us— seem to have a symbol. A rune, on our bodies. If you've been to the Shrine, then I'm sure . . . You have something else, now. Maybe a message. Please, if you could show it to me. I'll be . . . [ another hushed pause, ] Outside the Common Room. There's a truck, with . . . Butterflies, [ the irony in his voice is dry. ] That's— Where I'll be.

If it helps get us anywhere, I . . . Need, to crack it, I . . . [ i promised, he mutters, before swiftly adding, through a strain that's tight in his throat: ] That's all.

(action/flavor)

[ jayce is rebounding hard on his magic sepsis as his first symptom to becoming undead! so he is not visibly well for anyone who wants to come see him, but he is trying deathly hard with the symbols and trying to fight the clock with obsession. the iridescent pick up near one of the camp lights is a mess of papers in the front seats as much as the flatbed behind it, spread out and held in place with pebbles or stones, littered with those very symbols as well as formulas he's trying to link and complete like a map.

it's what keeps him from giving into sleep. ]

Comments

[undyingcrow]

Hunger makes it more difficult to focus.

[What Jayce doesn't know is that Akechi's quite prone to neglecting his nutrition or grabbing as little as an apple to make it through his day.

Either way, his voice remains calm. He can't make Jayce eat, especially as a stranger.]

[hexrot]

[ dead ass staring, man. jayce takes a moment. breathes in, out— and starts rubbing at the kinked bridge of his nose. ]

Low blow, Ace.

[undyingcrow]

[Akechi blinks, eyes slightly wider than before.]

Apologies. I meant no offense.

[Then again, he'd likely be just as offended in Jayce's position.]

[hexrot]

[ jayce stares for a moment, his tired glance stirn, but . . . that's just his tired face. a weak twitch of the corner of his lip gives him away when he asks: ]

I look that imposing, huh.

[undyingcrow]

Oh, I'm not intimidated.

[A weak laugh even escapes him.]

Live as I have, and you don't scare easily.

[At least, not overtly. Compartmentalizing is key, after all.]

[hexrot]

Just enough to think I was offended.

[ its not like he looked friendly anymore— but now he's just prodding the boy; energy he'd have when he was around youth. the sort of big brother vibes that would certainly noogie you into oblivion. alas, jayce is also tired and not entirely energetic right now. it passes over as fast as his momentary smirk.

besides, young people not being afraid of most things they should be was never something to be proud of. it meant they were probably robbed of a safe childhood to begin with. jayce goes somber again. ]

I'm sorry you've had to.

[undyingcrow]

[Tension subtly grips him. His gut instinct is to argue he doesn't need pity, especially from adults.

But that's hardly conducive to polite conversation, and this is a learning opportunity.

Thus, he releases that tension in a sigh.]

The worst of it was my own damn fault. The rest... well, society can be a cruel, cutthroat place, especially if you fall outside of the 'acceptable' norm.

[hexrot]

Sounds familiar.

[ it's like that everywhere you go, looks like. only a change of interdimensional address. ]

Try not to blame yourself, though. [ he's just a kid, man. thats too much weight for young shoulders to hold up. he's going to take the other's hint though, and start waddling toward the convoy for its kitchen. ] Looks more like society failed you.

[undyingcrow]

[Akechi follows along. Truthfully, he's rather hungry himself, anyway.]

Society did fail me, but I could have swallowed my pride and asked for help. Not that it matters anymore, of course.

[What's done is done. He'll just have to live with his regrets.]

[hexrot]

[ mistakes always happen. one won't ever be the first or last. of course, jayce isn't going to the boy off. ]

It matters for next time.

[undyingcrow]

I suppose that's true.

[Heh... Funny how things turn out.]

I expected death, but lived instead. Now the only way is forward.

[He sounds tired, even breathing a small sigh. Here, at least, he has bigger mysteries to focus his attention on.]