Chalkspit IV (Karlsson's Annex)

[Wald Lowca]

Wald cleared his face for a moment, as he put his shirt back on. Wald turned to look at Sybil with a smile, tears still streaming down but he looked relived. It was a genuine smile, one that was so rare to see on Wald's face. "Thank you." Wald would sniff slightly as he cleared his face once more finally getting the water works away. "Thank you so much... I am happy it was you, and not some being trying to manipulate me for their own gain... Someone I do not know could of been in there, and changed things it would seem." Wald stayed on his knees and held one of Sybil's legs. "I do not want to think of what could of happened, I am so sorry for asking. I trusted you, but it was just such a farfetched concept."

Letting go, Wald tried to relax for a moment. He was not angry, he was not sad, he was happy for once. Happy that he could look back on his memories now, and even remember a good one. Though that did pick a question. "Wait... Does that mean that. Nex was real? I did not just imagine them as a child?" Wald made reference to the Emean that lived in Wald's dreams. The realization seemed to make Wald's eyes open wide. He thought he imagined the fairy for so long now.

Wald shook his head, and sighed. "Sorry, I am having a lot to take in. Please, if you think it helps you can do what you want."

[Sybil Malach]

VI

63rd of Vhalar 719

The frustration that grew in the back of Sybil's mind was nipped at the bud. Their features softened. Their mind began to run less violent images, and they took a deep breath. They were frankly... Tired, of running constant maintenance, and experiencing nothing but judgement. Their mind had jumped to assume what Wald was feeling just by his reaction alone. They remain quiet for a little bit, allowing their tone to clear of the nasty emotion.

"I understand." Sybil finally offers Wald, as he explains himself. Their mind was beginning to ease, as they were thanked for helping. It was dangerous for them to keep doing it, they'd almost been killed once or twice. They were sticking their neck out for Wald, and it was something that they considered to be immensely relieving that they didn't have to deal with constant projection, "... And I'm doing this for you. Don't really have much to gain."

"Nex is... Real, yes. I assume that's what I ran into." They shake their head, slowly, as they take a careful breath. This was when they started getting irritated again, as they reach down, and run their hands through Wald's hair, "... But Nex is the embodiment of things you need to start leaving behind. It's trying to protect you by keeping your dreams placid. You're not allowed to experience what happened to you in the past... It's not healthy. You're not even given the chance to try and get closure for yourself."

[Wald Lowca]

Wald's eyes seemed to look up to Sybil. "I thought... I thought I lost them." Wald moved his hand to his side. "I had not seen them since that day." Wald just looked forward blinking, as Sybil ran their hands into his hair. He was so confused, the world seemed so different then it once was.

Then slowly Wald remembered they were talking about, some sort of power? Or ability? His eyes would go back up, there was curiosity. "Is it, possible, for me to do these things in dreams?" The man was curious about it, he had never heard of something that could allow people to walk through dreams. Was it someone anyone could do, just have to be shown how, or was Sybil just special when it came to that?

The man slowly stood up, as he tried to gain his barrings again. He would soon have to get put under for his flesh to be manipulated. He at least wanted to not look like a beggar at Sybil's feet. Well, he had been more emotional lately, he would normally never let the student know how they felt so openly. But Wald had to put all his trust in Sybil, otherwise, they might not continue to help him. Wald gave a slight bow of sorts, his torso only bent slightly. "Thank you... You really are an incredible person. I do not know what I could do without you in my life." Moving back up, Wald seemed to try and give his best thanks and apologies. They were well past overdue, but he knew he should. "I promise, that I will pay you back."

[Sybil Malach]

VII

63rd of Vhalar 719

"... You need to have a distinct control over your own mind. When I was brought into this, Wald, I wasn't given any direction." Their eyes slowly blinked, as they considered the man at their legs for a moment longer. It was almost as though he was prostrating. Something about that was... Unnerving, but they let him do it, if it made him feel better, "And because of that, when I wandered the dreams in my early times, I nearly died a few times."

They thought about how to best put it. Their lower lip slid between their teeth as they struggled to think of something. Wald was better... But he wasn't much better than how he was before this.

"I'd rather you not be introduced to it. At least, until you're ready to take more strain upon your mind." Sybil offered, letting out a slow breath as they put it gently. Their fingers continued to rustle up Wald's hair. They didn't want to word it like Wald was dumb or something. Sybil knew all too well just how badly trauma could affect dreams. "... It'd hurt you more than help you, if you don't have a solid enough grasp. Perhaps... I could introduce, but not fully bring you into everything. Yet, at least."

Their eyes traced Wald, as he rose to a stand and made his apologies and offer. Their eyes blankly blinked as they tried to parse it. They stared as he dipped into a bow. They were at a loss for words. They expected this to devolve into a shouting match. They blankly blinked, before they simply said... "... You don't have to pay me back. The only thing you have to do is stick with this. ... That's it."

[Wald Lowca]

Wald would understand that Sybil would take their time in things, the student had been doing that a lot with Wald. Perhaps in the future the hunter would be able to do such things. Until then he would trust that Sybil knew what was best, and follow the instructions that was given to him.

Wald shook his head slightly, and gave a soft smile. "I mean, I will protect you, I will do better then before." Wald would take Sybil's hand softly, and held it with both hands for a moment. "I do not want you to be hurt again." He would softly close his eyes, as his hands kept a tight grip. His thumbs softly rubbed the back of the hand, as he looked down slightly to it. Their hands were small and slender, he was putting trust into something so small. His hands were larger, use to doing rough labor. A slow moment went by as he just compared the two hands, before letting go slowly.

Giving a slow nod, Wald looked back into Sybil's eyes. "Is there anything else we need to do before the removal?" Wald asked this, he wanted to ensure that Sybil had an easier time to do things. He was willing to do anything that was needed, as he knew things could go wrong. The danger was there, but he wanted to get it over with.

Sybil will feel Wald relax slowly, he accepted his roll in this now. He would need to listen, in order to get through things now. He wanted to be well, he wanted to feel human.

[Sybil Malach]

VIII

63rd of Vhalar 719

Sybil's eyes closed, as they felt Wald's hands press against theirs. He claimed that he would do better. That the past would not repeat itself, by implication. The promise of improvement. It was a genuine thing, something they could simply accept. But it was something that had no weight upon it aside from now. Sybil understood that there was only so much that Wald's mind could do.

But it was the promises made in the now they were certain of. Returning the man's grip, they resolved, internally, to keep their mind open for more opportunities to keep Wald sane.

As Wald's hand slipped from their own, they took a breath, just to clear their mind, as their eyes glanced up at the far larger man, "We'll take things one step at a time. We'll have to get the mark removed from you first, so that you can at least walk around without anything that makes it obvious that you're owned..." They resolve, with a slow shake of the head, "We'll be able to move on and plan for the future after that."

"Before the removal... Well. There's not much we can do, at least right now. We've been preparing for most of the season." They admit, as they glance from Wald, to the wall behind him, curiously. They'd gotten into the habit of trying to notice if Wald changed anything. Though, they weren't the most perceptive of people, "... And I'll need some time to get things together... So you can see your animals when you wake up."

[Wald Lowca]

Wald nodded, as his eyes popped open for a moment, as he remembered something. He seemed to clear his throat for a moment, his voice going back to its normal soft state. "Ylfa." Wald called out to his spirit wolf companion, similar to what he had done before. "Can you start getting everyone to Viden."

Ylfa would respond quickly to the request. "Yes, Master." A smile would quickly enter his face, Wald missed that voice. It was gone for almost 60 trials, and now she could talk back to him once again.

Wald would scratch the back of his head, his face trying to soften his excitement. "Yes, Sybil will have someone come for you." All that Sybil would have to do is get one person to go down the road a ways, as the animals would meet them on the way there. Led by the spirit wolf who kept them safe for all this time.

Looking back to the student, Wald hugged the smaller figure tight. Before pulling away quickly, keeping his hands on Sybil's shoulders. "I will be back to see you. When I wake up." These words were the same as when Wald had left after the trial. Though instead of a crowd of people throwing rocks and yelling, this time it was a quiet room as Wald was getting ready to be put under soon. He was going to get better, not for himself only, but for all the bonds he made during his life. Despite how few he had.

[Sybil Malach]

IX

63rd of Vhalar 719

A brief smile crossed Sybil's lips as Wald started to speak into thin air. The fact that he started by calling Ylfa by name, was something that assured them that he wasn't about to start speaking to some hallucination like... Whatever that dead child's name was. It'd been a while since they'd seen the spirit wolf. Sybil's mind struggled to even remember what she looked like. They thought that she'd just look like a normal wolf, but... That certainly wasn't right.

A slow shake of the head is given. It's not to signify anything negative, but instead just an offhand gesture of mild mirth, as they started to pick up on the fact that Wald was barely suppressing an amount of excitement.

"... I can take you down to the basement. They should be at least near finished by now." Sybil said, but it was only then that what just left their mouth actually... Sank in, into their own mind. They were about to put Wald under, flay a part of his body, and essentially... Do something that they didn't fully have much experience with. Though they had a decent idea in mind, and even practiced it a bit, when trying to get information about Wald...

Those prior times were done with little concern for the survival of the person they were operating on.

Yet all the same, they set their shoulders back. Letting out a slow breath, they try and center their mind, before pushing off of the wall, and begin moving towards the door, placing a hand on the handle, "... Better now than later. Come with me. Let's... Get this over with."

[Strange]

Thread Review

Wald

Wald Lowca

Skill Points: +15 (cannot be used for magic)
Magic XP: None.

Renown: None.

Injuries/Overstepping: None.
Wealth Points: None.
Loot: None.

Skill Knowledge:

• Strength: Workout with Karlsson
• Strength: Workout with Shanks
• Strength: Workout with both Shanks and Karlsson
• Strength: Working out with Karlsson mad
• Endurance: Working out every day
• Endurance: Forced to eat properly
• Discipline: keeping with a set schedule
• Discipline: Listening to people who know better
• Discipline: Trust others to help you
• Discipline: Control your emotions properly
• Meditation: Focus on your problems
• Meditation: Work on your problems
• Meditation: Do not keep everything in
• Socialization: work with people

Non-Skill Knowledge:

• none requested.

Notes: n/a.
Skills Used: Discipline Competent 45/250; Strength Expert 80/250; Endurance Expert 80/250
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Player Word Count: 2,467 words.

Sybil

Sybil Malach

Skill Points: +15 (cannot be used for magic)
Magic XP: None.

Renown: None.

Injuries/Overstepping: None.
Wealth Points: None.
Loot: None.

Skill Knowledge:

• Caregiving (x2)
  1. Caregiving: Animals can provide comfort
  2. Caregiving: Pre-operative preparation and addressing issues
• Negotiation (x4)
  1. Negotiation: Reaching a fair compromise
  2. Negotiation: Surgery cannot be negotiated on
  3. Negotiation: Offering alternatives
  4. Negotiation: It's best to know the legalities of something before offering
• Persuasion (x4)
  1. Persuasion: Allowing another to come up with their own answer
  2. Persuasion: Prodding another person to come up with a response
  3. Persuasion: Sometimes, provoking a response is better than getting another to do something
  4. Persuasion: Keeping someone just happy enough with a situation
• Psychology (x4)
  1. Psychology: People can form emotional bonds to animals
  2. Psychology: People do not like being deprived of emotional bonds
  3. Psychology: Isolation can be unhealthy
  4. Psychology: Isolation can be necessary for healing

Non-Skill Knowledge:

• none requested.

Notes: n/a
Skills Used: Psychology GM; Negotiation Competent 55/250; Discipline GM; Caregiving Competent 60/250
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Player Word Count: 2,627 words.

Apologies for the delay in the review!

This entire situation and premise is a great highlight to Sybil and Wald's development, both independently as characters as well as their relational dynamic with one another. I enjoy how much you both delve into it, through the respective views of your characters but keep focused on moving the story forward at the same time... yet not rushing it along either. You give the space for Sybil and Wald to consider the finer details of what is occurring while Wald recovers and gains his strength back, and Sybil facilitates that for him.

Sybil's use of their Psychology and Discipline are well-presented in this greater story, and within this specific thread. Their sense of friendship toward Wald leans toward the side of compassion in the way that it is presented... but I also can't help but wonder if Sybil finds it a fascinating case study from a scientific perspective too. The use of dreams to analyze Wald is also a clever application of Sybil's psychology and dreamwalking, kudos!

Wald's acknowledgment that he needs help, and that he is starting to realize how far gone he'd been before, gives the chance for him to go further into his character. I liked his expressed thoughts about how he misses his animals, as that is very consistent with his character. How will he avoid such troubles in the future? Will he focus on getting stronger or will he also start to delve into strength of the mind through discipline as well? Regardless, he is fortunate that he has Sybil to help him.

I also appreciated the nuance of Sybil's upset when Wald started crying in relation to the dreams. That reaction could have easily been glossed over and moved past, but however brief, it was a moment that shone in the scene and gave insight to Sybil's character. Also glad that they aren't rushing into initiating Wald into dreamwalking, as the precautions are likely wise for Wald's sake.

Great job the both of you and enjoy your rewards!

PM me if you have any questions, issues or concerns.

Total Word Count: 5094 words.

Review Request Link: viewtopic.php?p=139181#p139181
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