Birdity regards him for a few moments, then nods, reaching into Levity's abdomen with one hand and placing another on Absinthe's arm.
"conduit," he offers by way of explanation. He concentrates, and then Absinthe will feel what Birdity is feeling right now - first physical sensations, the slight warmth of corpse-Levity's innards under his hand and the fabric of Absinthe's robe under the other hand. There's a sense of background confusion and uncertainty, too, but resignation to it as well. Birdity does not know who he is, but he knows that he's only a piece of something bigger - incomplete, broken and useless. But that is simply how things are.
It lasts for a few moments before the stream of Birdity's consciousness fades away, giving way to Levity's soul, and oh, there is so much more there. First come the more surface worries of his day to day life in Imeeji, but even that is almost all filled and prompted by his care for his friends, loved ones, even strangers he's barely met. For a time, Absinthe will have to experience what it's like to not only care about people, but want to do so, to be utterly ready to sacrifice his own time and effort to help others. Isn't that nice?
and honestly part of why it's terrible is because, in some small way that he tries to push back, and tries to deny, it's familiar. some part of him still remembered the man he once was, who loved his people and would sacrifice anything for them... including his own life. it's nauseating, and moreso than from the literal cannibalism it's this influx of emotions he almost feels like he's going to lose his metaphor-dinner.
But he pushes past that, with almost a feral sounding growl, on instinct clutching bird-Levity's own arm vice-tight. ]
There's still a connection between him and bird-Levity, so that grip echoes with pain in Absinthe's own arm. But that's likely a very minor consideration, because the flow of emotion only grows stronger now.
There is much love here, deep and abiding. Not just for people around him, but for the world itself, for life, for the beauty of it. Feeling, or perhaps memories of the feeling of peace, fulfillment, purpose, hope.
And perhaps worst of all for Absinthe, there is love here for him too. Affection, desire to protect him, something between pride and awe at the fact that Absinthe retained and regained some of his humanity despite everything he's been through; anger and, yes, sorrow at his fate.
What's it like, to love yourself? To feel for yourself, to hope for happiness?
[ why couldn't this all have been torture or murder or both instead, that would have been much easier to deal with. somehow - - somehow he bears this, even as his nausea increases at the warmth, the love being directed at himself. it's not that he viewed himself in a self disparaging way - - outside of jokes - - but it often was a great deal of energy to even put thought into what he thought of himself, let alone the idea of having that affection.
and the love for others, for the world, is somehow even more overwhelming. Absinthe kneels, curling over himself more fully, hissing like a man burned by the sun - - willing himself to not pull away entirely. ]
There's a brief apologetic feeling - from Birdity, since Levity himself is a little indisposed. Birdity doesn't really understand why it's so hard on Absinthe, but he can see that vore friend is not having a good time! Sorry about like, Levity being a good person and liking people and stuff. Including you. :(.
In a sense, the next part is easier. Or, perhaps, simply more familiar.
After all, Levity's love for people and the world is only a source, and the fruit it bears is--loneliness, despair, and such deep grief at the loss of it all. The death of a world, the loss of all the people he once loved, the blind cruelty of it all - violence wrought not by the hands of another, but by the world itself. What could their people have done to deserve it? What sin, what mistake is there to atone for with such tragedy?
What is it like, to have everything you've ever known and loved torn from you, for reasons you do not understand?
[ this part, at least, is familiar. that doesn't really make it better but there is a comfort to a sort of misery he's all too familiar with. the betrayal, the sorrow, at seeing his life and what he knew of the world fall apart before his very eyes... the person he loved most slain before him.
he's almost numb to it. his breathing slows, less stressed, though he still stays kneeled. ]
The flow of emotion, thoughts, memories, slows down, a torrent fading to a trickle. All that's really left is a quiet weariness, the desire to lie down and sleep forever and ever and ever, and never dream. After all, the journey is already over.
Silence, broken only by the sound of the waves and the quiet whistling of the wind.
Birdity lets go of Absinthe's arm gently - it looks like the job is done.
He smiles in return, though his smile is genuine, not wry.
"sometimes... all that is needed."
Slowly, Birdity unfolds himself, a little unsteadily, and heads towards the edge of the water. The storm clouds on the horizon are suddenly much closer than they were even a few moments ago, distant thunder rumbling loudly.
"you should... be able to leave now. my end comes."
of course you want to watch you absolute son of a bitch
Birdity seems a little confused at that, but then nods, turning back towards the clouds - much darker now, the wind whipping up the waves, the rumbling of thunder seeming to fill the world.
"death is... only met alone."
His shape flickers more and more, like it's harder for him to keep himself together.
"academic interest" is that what they call it these days
Birdity nods again, slowly kneeling on the sand, the waves getting up.
"moments away."
And the storm is suddenly upon you, moving as though a succession of images rather than a real thing. The thunder and wailing of the wind fills the entire world, to the point that it feels like it's cracking at the edges, and--
--there's a flash of white, and you find yourself back at the Macarenses Angle. Things are as you remember them, but the crack in the sky seems a little less wide?
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Re: BEGINNING, SECONDS AGO (VORE EDITION)
Now that I am prepared for it, yes.
Re: BEGINNING, SECONDS AGO (VORE EDITION)
Birdity regards him for a few moments, then nods, reaching into Levity's abdomen with one hand and placing another on Absinthe's arm.
"conduit," he offers by way of explanation. He concentrates, and then Absinthe will feel what Birdity is feeling right now - first physical sensations, the slight warmth of corpse-Levity's innards under his hand and the fabric of Absinthe's robe under the other hand. There's a sense of background confusion and uncertainty, too, but resignation to it as well. Birdity does not know who he is, but he knows that he's only a piece of something bigger - incomplete, broken and useless. But that is simply how things are.
It lasts for a few moments before the stream of Birdity's consciousness fades away, giving way to Levity's soul, and oh, there is so much more there. First come the more surface worries of his day to day life in Imeeji, but even that is almost all filled and prompted by his care for his friends, loved ones, even strangers he's barely met. For a time, Absinthe will have to experience what it's like to not only care about people, but want to do so, to be utterly ready to sacrifice his own time and effort to help others. Isn't that nice?
Re: BEGINNING, SECONDS AGO (VORE EDITION)
and honestly part of why it's terrible is because, in some small way that he tries to push back, and tries to deny, it's familiar. some part of him still remembered the man he once was, who loved his people and would sacrifice anything for them... including his own life. it's nauseating, and moreso than from the literal cannibalism it's this influx of emotions he almost feels like he's going to lose his metaphor-dinner.
But he pushes past that, with almost a feral sounding growl, on instinct clutching bird-Levity's own arm vice-tight. ]
Re: BEGINNING, SECONDS AGO (VORE EDITION)
There is much love here, deep and abiding. Not just for people around him, but for the world itself, for life, for the beauty of it. Feeling, or perhaps memories of the feeling of peace, fulfillment, purpose, hope.
And perhaps worst of all for Absinthe, there is love here for him too. Affection, desire to protect him, something between pride and awe at the fact that Absinthe retained and regained some of his humanity despite everything he's been through; anger and, yes, sorrow at his fate.
What's it like, to love yourself? To feel for yourself, to hope for happiness?
Re: BEGINNING, SECONDS AGO (VORE EDITION)
and the love for others, for the world, is somehow even more overwhelming. Absinthe kneels, curling over himself more fully, hissing like a man burned by the sun - - willing himself to not pull away entirely. ]
Re: BEGINNING, SECONDS AGO (VORE EDITION)
There's a brief apologetic feeling - from Birdity, since Levity himself is a little indisposed. Birdity doesn't really understand why it's so hard on Absinthe, but he can see that vore friend is not having a good time! Sorry about like, Levity being a good person and liking people and stuff. Including you. :(.
In a sense, the next part is easier. Or, perhaps, simply more familiar.
After all, Levity's love for people and the world is only a source, and the fruit it bears is--loneliness, despair, and such deep grief at the loss of it all. The death of a world, the loss of all the people he once loved, the blind cruelty of it all - violence wrought not by the hands of another, but by the world itself. What could their people have done to deserve it? What sin, what mistake is there to atone for with such tragedy?
What is it like, to have everything you've ever known and loved torn from you, for reasons you do not understand?
Re: BEGINNING, SECONDS AGO (VORE EDITION)
he's almost numb to it. his breathing slows, less stressed, though he still stays kneeled. ]
Re: BEGINNING, SECONDS AGO (VORE EDITION)
Silence, broken only by the sound of the waves and the quiet whistling of the wind.
Birdity lets go of Absinthe's arm gently - it looks like the job is done.
"thank... you."
Re: BEGINNING, SECONDS AGO (VORE EDITION)
I've hardly done much but stand here.
Re: BEGINNING, SECONDS AGO (VORE EDITION)
"sometimes... all that is needed."
Slowly, Birdity unfolds himself, a little unsteadily, and heads towards the edge of the water. The storm clouds on the horizon are suddenly much closer than they were even a few moments ago, distant thunder rumbling loudly.
"you should... be able to leave now. my end comes."
Re: BEGINNING, SECONDS AGO (VORE EDITION)
[ mildly, the oncoming storm not seeming to alarm him. ]
Re: BEGINNING, SECONDS AGO (VORE EDITION)
Birdity seems a little confused at that, but then nods, turning back towards the clouds - much darker now, the wind whipping up the waves, the rumbling of thunder seeming to fill the world.
"death is... only met alone."
His shape flickers more and more, like it's harder for him to keep himself together.
Re: BEGINNING, SECONDS AGO (VORE EDITION)
Back the way I came, then?
Re: BEGINNING, SECONDS AGO (VORE EDITION)
Birdity nods again, slowly kneeling on the sand, the waves getting up.
"moments away."
And the storm is suddenly upon you, moving as though a succession of images rather than a real thing. The thunder and wailing of the wind fills the entire world, to the point that it feels like it's cracking at the edges, and--
--there's a flash of white, and you find yourself back at the Macarenses Angle. Things are as you remember them, but the crack in the sky seems a little less wide?
And looks like there's someone else here...