come_sailaway | (open) strength be granted

[it's a minor peculiarity and easily overlooked in the wake of such a tragedy. certainly, no one could begrudge anyone for sleeping in areas that are not the cabin - even at night, when everyone is supposed to be abed and resting for the next day. but it keeps happening, that new as she is, she finds her rest in places other than the cabins. call her stubborn, but unwilling to impose on anyone, and understanding the current...situation, Helena makes do with what she can. it helps that when she wakes, she's not cold, that she can take the blanket that appeared with her. but it certainly looks like she's steadfastly avoiding the actual rooms, beyond changing and staying clean.

people have their own habits, it's fine. but what isn't a habit is what happens in the night from time to time - the fitful tossing and turning, the sweating, the small sounds of distress. nightmares, and ones that have her in their throes on a regular basis. sometimes she bolts up, breathing hard, snapped back to her reality and having to manage it. other times it simply has to fade out, leaving her in a tangle when she awakes and an increasingly sore back. it's noticeable, but who doesn't have nightmares, after all they've been through?

it's fine. she's dealt with worse, been in less safe situations. it just...can't be forever. it can't be. it won't be. this Helena tells herself.]

( who knew that someone being blind would be an advantage at this time? that means she can avoid worrying her when they swear, the bandages on her hips concealing the true damage done to her body when flesh and skin was torn away from destructive hands. it's what she expected from doing battle with a god, but at least that's behind her now.

in hand is a small trinket, hidden from view, along with a bag that has a mixture of both candy and cookies made. it's her final batch that she never got the chance to hand out, but she believes that helena may enjoy them personally— cookies shaped like turtles with almonds or peanuts for eyes, the white chocolate macadamia, and then what may be a cosmic brownie with m&m flakes drizzled on top. i prommy it tastes better than a cosmic brownie!

her knuckles rap against the door of helena's room, then she takes a step back waiting to see if she'll respond. there's a possibility she's not here, but...

it's after a few minutes that there's no response, which tells her helena isn't here. it's pretty late, and she was hoping she wouldn't have to migrate so far, but she turns away from the door to look up and down the hall. if she checks somewhere else, like the library, maybe she'll be there? that's where she starts to head to next. )

[she is in the library, curled up in a chair, blanket over her, but she's not peacefully asleep. something furrows her brow, looks like pain, and her breathing is rapid. in her dreams, she's running, running - but there is no way out, there are no keys. there is just dying, slow and agonizing, and picking oneself back up, and dying.

a soft sound, a mumbled word.]

Don't...

[in her dreams, it is screamed. in her dreams, there is weeping. it comes back again and again.]

( as she makes her way inside, a world of magic and silence, she's met with a soft cry; perhaps mourning, and her eyes glance around the room as she pauses in her steps. her head cranes to one side, and then tilts to the other, holding her breath so that she can focus on her surroundings— she surveys the area.

...

she remains quiet, wondering if there's something more to what she heard. )

[it comes, a tiny whimper, a shifting in her seat. still fastly asleep - there's no way she could have noticed Pollux's presence.]

Leave me...

[leave her. use the time to free yourselves. let her die, because then they'll be saved...that's all she can think.]

( she doesn't make much of a noise when she follows the sound of that meek voice, fragile and weak only to find helena asleep. a horrible dream, she believes, but there's something that draws her to it.

kneeling down beside her, the servant looks the female over, and a frown appears on her face as she sits properly. gentle touches, warm and thoughtful as she attempts to lay helena's head on her lap. finger's slip through brunette locks, brushing the hair away from her face. )

Shh, shh. I am here.

[she's allowed, the girl won't stir from where she is, but some of the tension leaves her face, her breathing eases. kindness does much, infuses itself down into her mind like tea left to steep in hot water. kindness is absent in these dreams, and so it startles them, makes the fabric easier to sift through. easier to find the edges, to make it less real. waking up, she won't be able to help apologizing, holding up what scraps of dignity she has.

but for now, she's quieted - she's not alone.]

( it's such a shame knowing when dreams cause harm, but that's outside the realm of her abilities to heal. instead, she leans back against the bookshelf that they're near, and continues to run her hand through helena's hair. it's with one hand, she allows for magical energy to course into the palm of her hand so she can touch her shoulder, sending down a wave of warmth in order to put her at ease.

it's warm as light, almost like the sun peeking through the leaves. it's meant to keep her calm and relax. )

[it eases her, and it means her stirring into wakefulness isn't a violent thing. no, rather, Pollux will feel it begun under her hand, know it by the change in her breathing. for a second, Helena doesn't move, afraid that this will end the moment she raises her voice. and still...she has to.]

...Thank you.

[it's the quietest words can be, and still be audible. whoever this is, they don't know the half of what they've done for her.]

Good morning.

( she responds softly, just a little louder so that the other can hear. there's no need for helena to thank her when this should be the norm for anyone if they saw someone struggling to sleep. )

Just rest, I'll be here until you decide you're ready.

( to get up that is. )

-! It's you...

[the surprise is evident in her voice, growing a little stronger.]

How did you find me?

A star can see the entire world and watch those from afar, sooner or later a star will come down to grant a wish.

( there's a small laugh as she smiles softly. )

Surely you didn't want to remain in the realm of the sleeping.

No, not at all...but it seemed impossible to wake up. As if I was deep, deep underground. And then there was a path...I cannot thank you enough.

[a way out, truly out, that she'd fight to have. someone's hand, gentle - how long has it been, since someone was like this.]

But shouldn't you be resting, too?

Do not worry, your concern is enough energy for me to keep going.

( resting is... not something they do so often, really, she has no need to sleep despite that she should. with the battles of the past, and her body still healing, she should. )

I was looking for you as you were on my mind.

I was? Whatever for?

[really, she should be polite and sit up, but surely Pollux will forgive her for the indulgence of one more minute in this comfortable state.]

I know you find these batches of cookies divine, so I wanted to share them.

( she could have given them to anyone else, but she felt that this was the right choice. )

But I see that it's a little too late to indulge...

It is, but that's still very kind of you.

[now she'll push herself to sit up, forgoing the comfort of close contact for the politeness of not lingering.]

You know, you've been so nice to me, and I've forgotten to ask your name this entire time...

( she watches for a moment, and almost has a thought that helena shouldn't have had to move from that spot. if it's to get comfortable then she can allow it. )

Really? Is that what you concern yourself with! You've just woken up, and we should be talking more about you than me.

( she laughs softly, shaking her head. )

But I should apologize, you've been such a delight that I've forgotten to introduce myself. How embarrassing...

No, I've just been rude enough to not ask. And please - I've imposed enough on you that you don't have to devote too much to me.

[it's flattering, deeply so, but she doesn't want to wear out this kind welcome. she doesn't know all the rules here - doesn't want to seem like she's taking advantage.]

You've yet to impose on me.

( she laughs, soft and sweet as she continues on. )

Don't think of devoting, rather as a friend checking up on another. In a place like this, it's best to stick together, hence why I'm surprised you decided to rest here.

( her concerns can come later as a hand settles against her chest, a beat of her heart, and then she extends her arms towards helena to take her hand in hers. )

I am Pollux, a star that will clear away the darkness ahead of you in your journey.

[...that name, though...she would have been willing to dismiss it as parents overly fond of myths, if not for the captain's comment. that the Dioscuri were there, in the flesh, assisting people on the voyage. the local gods. it's a lot to process, but the simplest solution is often the truest.

she offers no resistance to having her hand taken, too stunned for a moment, and Pollux will see the shift in her expression as it dawns, the surprise, the wonder written there as the meaning falls upon her.]

...Miss Pollux...

[wait. wait. is that how you address a god? she doesn't know. she's only ever had to deal with addressing one with respect, and that one just went by titles.]

-No, I mean, Lady Pollux. Is that right? Is that how I should be addressing you? Please forgive me, I don't know, but the captain said you were here and I didn't think I'd already met you and so-

[please cut her off. she's just flustered because by all accounts, it's a great honor, when you meet a god that isn't trying to kill you. if she wasn't still a little sleepy, she'd be even more tripping over herself.]

( the sudden change is familiar, especially for someone who hadn't known the truth and this may be the same. disbelief? shock? her reaction brings no harm or offense, and she knows raising her hand dismissively won't be seen, and so she opts out to reach for the female's hand to give a squeeze. )

You may call me Pollux, or you may call me a friend. Whichever you choose, I'll eagerly respond.

( as long as there's respect, but she doesn't take helena as someone to show lack of it. instead, the warmth and kindness in her voice as she speaks fondly brings a smile to pollux's face. when the captain is mentioned, she wonders who she should comment on: jason, izzy, or even the elusive captain that's trapped them here. whoever it may be, to hear her call them strictly captain is such a polite title than their name, she understands that the other is honest to her actions and feelings. )

Do understand that as long as the stars hang above you, the Dioscuri are always watching over you. Especially when you're on a vessel like this, you are never alone, Helena.

[something about the way she says it makes it seem so certain, and that plus the warm squeeze of her hand sets Helena a little more at ease. she breathes, and the frentic energy dies down, just replaced with a soft wonder. someone who wasn't used to gods, finding one there, holding her hand, saying such lovely things. it's enough to make you believe it.]

You've no idea how much that means.

[quietly said, but she means it down to her bones, and there's an impression of it.]

Thank you, thank you for it.

Please, Helena, there's no need to thank me.

( not vocally, of course. rather she can show it by going on day by day with a smile on her face, but why does she have a feeling even that wouldn't be enough? her smile is gentle though she knows helena's unable to see it, and so she emphasizes. )

It's just that someone as cute as you have no reason to thank me so much, I've done nothing but state facts. Is that so wrong?

No, but I...

[how is she supposed to counter that? she can't even thank her properly for the compliment now. Pollux has well and truly given her too many emotions to handle at this moment when she's also deprived of sleep.

so, the goddess gets to see a rare sight - Helena deprived of her words, with too many thoughts and emotions passing along her face to settle on what to say. this is confusing. she half expects to wake up and be in a dream again.]

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nyktifanis - 2022-11-21 00:59 (UTC) - Expand

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decrypter - 2022-11-22 07:18 (UTC) - Expand

(open) strength be granted

various - 🌗

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my critical 1

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