daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

Have you ever tried to heal something less obviously physical?

Like shock, I suppose.

There are physical symptoms to it, after all, it is only that the cause isn't an obvious wound.

[ Perfectly normal things to contemplate at 4am right Ardyn. ]

[A 4 am text? He’s usually the one making those, at the annoyance of his friends and loved ones. So when he receives one from Laurent, he’s quite curious (maybe a little concerned?) about why he's being texted.

He’s awake, at least, sleep not taking him yet. The glow of the phone lights up the bedroom, and he decides to shuffle out of bed and into the living room, taking his mobile with him. It’d do no good to wake up Grell, after all.

He responds.]

I haven’t. But if physical symptoms are present, there’s a chance my magic may be able to soothe them.

[ He didn't really expect a reply this quickly, but he'll take it. It's a good distraction while he sips chamomile tea. ]

I suppose it depends if we consider chemical reactions distinctly 'physical' enough to count. An adrenaline rush in response to something causes plenty of things. Emotional reactions like fear have a chemical component and can result in other symptoms. I don't know enough about biology or magic to gauge how well the two match up, though.

[ Ardyn clearly you need to perform some kind of experiment with control groups and define exactly how this works.

Or at least, that's a suitably precise and detached conversation for 4 am when Laurent is trying to think of anything but nightmares. ]

[He leaves that part up to his scientist friend. And Ardyn is so far from wanting to experiment with his powers, it's no surprise he has absolutely no clue how it works in that respect. He only knows that it heals, that it helps, and if he can manage to offer it to those in need -- well, it makes him feel less useless in this world of changes and monsters and past lives and whatever else is thrown their way.]

And neither do I. I only know that if it causes the other person /pain/, then I have yet to find an instance where I cannot heal it.

Are these the sort of questions that keep you up at night?

It doesn't keep you up? Wondering when this skill might fail you, when you might be unable to help a person?

It can't keep me up at night if I already have trouble falling asleep at a decent hour.

[He jokes, but Ardyn also realizes that's just a fancy way of skirting around the question. And so:]

But of course I worry about it. There is little that concerns me more, the inability to not be quite enough to help those around me, made more prevalent by the very nature of these powers.

[Just ask his nightmares from this month.]

That is why I ask questions. I worry about not knowing what to do. Since I have no ability to fight, to use magic. I can only answer questions, and hope I give the right answer.

[ Should we fight? Should we run? Can we do this? What should we do? Laurent hopes he never gives the wrong answer.]

Trying to help others understand exactly what it is that Retrospec has granted them, you mean? An admirable task set before you, even if it is a rather overwhelming one, I imagine.

Has something specifically been on your mind?

[Spurring on questions at 4 in the morning.]

Not just that.

[ Trying to help anyone with anything at all. Laurent is a problem solver by nature. He likes to organise, to manage. He likes to understand. ]

But I suppose yes, something is. That is generally what keeps people awake at this hour, is something on your mind too? You appear to be just as awake.

I often have trouble sleeping well. Tonight is just a particularly bad example of what's plagued me for years, and it isn't always related to thoughts being pervasive in my mind.

[Some might even call it mild insomnia.]

Tell me what's bothering you.

[ Excuse me Ardyn, Laurent was clearly trying to make this about you instead of him! ]

It's a list longer than can fit into a text message.

[ Sorry, he didn't invent character limits. ]

[This is what Ardyn does best! Turning his concerns around to other people!]

I've time for it. An excuse for me to make myself a cup of coffee.

[ Ardyn is almost as stubborn as he is, it seems. Maybe more so. A battle of wits it is, who can deflect the longest? ]

If you have trouble sleeping surely coffee will not help? If you are inclined to drink it at 4am I think I see where your issues come from.

[Ardyn canshuffle around deflections all night, they'll be here for awhile.]

I was already fated to not sleep, and therefore the coffee is just here to aid me in my sorrows. And so that I can continue this conversation with the clearest, caffeinated head.

[ This is indeed fierce competition. ]

Well far be it for me to add to your sorrows with a lengthy list.

What's a few more sorrows, when the list has already reached a certain length? Do share.

[ Determination equal to a bloodhound. Laurent engages evasive manoeuvres: ]

I was having trouble sleeping. It's a fairly common affliction, one you have yourself.

[ What happened to that long list, Laurent. ]

[Well, there's always the Direct Attack:]

Didn't you just say there are several things on your mind? Tell me. What else have you to do at this hour?

[ Certainly not sleep at this rate. ]

Several things keeping me from sleeping, yes. Are you offering to analyse my dreams?

Edited (wrong icon...) 2017-11-15 02:08 (UTC)

I can certainly make an effort if you describe them to me.

[ ... Well he didn't expect you to say yes. Who even offers to try and analyse a strangers dreams?

He supposes this is why Faolan likes this person. They're insufferably patient and wry. ]

I don't think there's much symbolism to analysed, unfortunately. I suspect they're memories.

Even more trouble, for memories give us far more to lose sleep over as time moves on.

[He would know, truly.]

What is it that you remember?

[ On the one hand, Laurent doesn't really want to talk about this. On the other, people always say admitting a fear helps alleviate it. That, and talking around it forever won't really work. He can at least make a concession: ]

Nothing pleasant. It appears I had enemies who wished me harm. I suppose I might still have.

What sort of enemies? And why do you believe this may still apply?

[It's understandable, to be fearful of it. But he's not alone in it, for there have been many people here who have had memories of conflict and strife.]

Because at least one of them exists in this world. The other, well, I've never met but that doesn't mean they don't.

This is probably at 4am or sth

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