Comfort

**Decipherer:**  Following
the incident with Alice, Artemis found himself at Alicia's door. Heavy
contemplation as to whether or not this would end well weighed his thoughts and
kept him from knocking, but eventually, albeit hesitantly, he applies a ginger
knock to the door.

**Alicia Ghast:**  \*Alicia looked up from
reading and put her book down, opening the door. She smiled wide when she saw
the man at her door.\* oh, hello, Artemis!

**Decipherer:**  Even
despite his weary appearance, his expression lights up a degree. "Hello
there, Alicia."

**Alicia Ghast:**  \*she frowned\* is
everything alright? Oh, come in! \*she moved out of his way\*

**Decipherer:**  "No
need," he stammers out, hands raising in a somewhat placating gesture.
"I'm simply wondering if you've seen Elias..."

**Alicia Ghast:**  No, sir... why? Is he
missing? I'll help you find him!

**Decipherer:**  "No!
Nono, he's, uh, he's fine." He gives a minute, tight smile. "It's
been a real long month."

**Alicia Ghast:**  Do... you want to talk
about it? I'd be more than willing to listen... \*she looked concerned\*

**Decipherer:**  "It's
nothing I wanna burden you with, hon."

**Alicia Ghast:**  I don't mind at all. I
care about you!

**Decipherer:**  He
relaxes at this, but still remains silent for a period of time. Slowly, pained
and tight in a way unfamiliar to even himself, he says, "I lost my mom,
Alicia."

**Alicia Ghast:**  \*she frowned hard and
hugged him\* oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't know! Come on, sit down...

**Decipherer:**  He
complies wordlessly, sitting on the bed and scrubbing his face.

**Alicia Ghast:**  \*she closed the door and
hugged him, silent\*

**Decipherer:**  He
lets out a small, pained whine akin to that of a wounded animal, face buried in
his hands.

**Alicia Ghast:**  Shhh... it'll be okay...
I know it's hard... \*she didn't want to bring up the not-having-parents, afraid
it would make her sound self-absorbed.\*

**Decipherer:**  Artemis
buries his face into her shoulder, all barriers fallen. Broken sobs rise from
his obscured face, and his response is indiscernible.

**Alicia Ghast:**

  \*hugs
him tighter, sighing softly\* it'll be okay... I'll be here for you whenever you
need someone to lean on...

**Decipherer:**  "Elias
left, he--" He pauses, breathing deeply and unevenly, "I know he
needs time, but.."

**Alicia Ghast:**  Yeah... I'm here
though...

**Decipherer:**  He
sniffles softly, wiping his face with a cough. "Heh... Yeah.."

**Alicia Ghast:**  I promise that I'll
always listen to you.

**Decipherer:**  "...
Heh." He stifles a cough and scrubs at his eyes. "Thanks,
Alicia."

**Alicia Ghast:**  Of course! What're
friends for, right?

(Oh
shut up, I know you want to kiss him!~)

**Decipherer:**  ((
\*Gregorian chanting: Dooooooooo iiiiiiiiiiiit.\* ))

Wordlessly,
he pulls Alicia into a tight hug.

**Alicia Ghast:**   \*hugs him back\* it'll be
okay... it'll all be okay.

**Decipherer:**  He
rests his chin on top of her head (( y'know, cos she's smaallll )) and clears
his throat. "It's a bit soon to say, but I think you're my closest
friend."

**Alicia Ghast:**  \*she smiled, hiding her
disappointment (I spelled that right for the first time ever without
auto-correct XD) and sighing.\* Well, that's kind of sad, since we haven't known
each other long...

**Decipherer:**  His
eyes widen. "Oh, er-- real sorry, miss, I didn't mean it as if I had --
you're great!" He gives a small, timid smile. "Y'know, you're kind,
and smart and pretty! You're a great woman... Or- uh, girl? Girl-woman--"
he clears his throat. "I'll be quiet."

**Alicia Ghast:**  \*she laughed\* girl-woman?
\*she stuck her tongue out at him\* you don't have to be quiet, I like listening
to you talk. Even if you call me a girl-woman.

**Decipherer:**  Artemis
laughs softly, a seemingly relaxed gesture in comparison to his tears not
minutes before. "I don't mean to insult by, of course.."

**Alicia Ghast:**  I know! I'm just messing
with you. \*she giggled and sighed\*

**Decipherer:**  "..
Oh." He relaxes significantly at this, and his gaze fixes itself onto his
feet in the silence.

**Alicia Ghast:**  Do you want to talk about
anything else?

**Decipherer:**  "I
guess not... S'pose all the cryin' got in the way." He lets out a small,
shadow of a laugh before adding, "But, er.. Elias ran off after
everything. It's been eleven days, and I know he needs time, but..."

**Alicia Ghast:** You're worried about him. Do
you want me to help you look for him?

**Decipherer:**  "Not..
yet. If he's not back in the coming weeks, I'll take you up on it, but- he
needs his space. I'll give him it."

**Alicia Ghast:**  For eleven days? What if
he's in trouble? Or hurting himself?

**Decipherer:**  ((
ALICIA SHHH THERE'S A DATE FOR THE EVENT ))

"I
don't even have a way to find him!"

**Alicia Ghast:**  \*Alicia frowned and
sighed\* pardon me, Artemis. \*she walked to the other side of the room\* what do
you mean there's a date for this? Why do we have to wait to find him? He could
be hurting himself badly, I'm worried about him!

**Decipherer:**  He
tilts his head. "Er.."

(( All
will be revealed in good time! I know how Artemis *works.* I
know when his little ticker decides that enough' enough. There's a date! ))

**Alicia Ghast:**  \*she huffed\* Well, you
know what? I don't like any of you. \*she walked back over to Artemis\* fine. A
couple weeks.

**Decipherer:**  "..
Are you alright?"

((
She's not, Arty! Alicia wants a little slice of *moon cake.*GEDDIT?
Artemis, goddess of the moon and the hunt? )

**Alicia Ghast:**  \*she rolled her eyes and
looked up\* can you shut up?

(Better
make sure Arty knows you don't mean him!~)

\*she
blinked and smiled nervously\* yeah, I'm fine. Sorry 'bout that...

**Decipherer:**  "Erm--
alright?"

((
You're gonna spoil the moon cake if you don't take a bite. . . ))

**Alicia Ghast:**  I swear to- \*looks up again\*
can you shut up?! I don't even know what you're telling me to do!

**Decipherer:** "Er--
I can go..."

**Alicia Ghast:**  \*she blushed\* nonono! I'm
really sorry about that, just... ah... the voices in my head... y'know... \*she
looked down\* ...

**Decipherer:**  "...
Voices?"

**Alicia Ghast:**  Y-yeah... \*her voice
dropped to a mutter\* I... I'm not crazy, though...

**Decipherer:**  "...
Right." His smile softens. "I trust you."

**Alicia Ghast:**  I'm really not! Hen says
he hears them too! They're like... narrators! And they like to tease me a lot.
It's mean...

**Decipherer:**

 "I
said, I trust you." His voice borders on sterning. "I do, Alicia. I
don't think you're crazy."

**Alicia Ghast:**  Sorry... people say that,
but I know they still think I'm crazy. \*she smiled nervously\*

**Decipherer:**  "Meh..
I don' mind. People hearing - .. er, narrators, was it? It happens a lot
here.."

**Alicia**
Ghast: **You don't? Okay... \*the redhead**
looked down, relieved.\*

**Decipherer:**  "No
need to look so relieved. You don't.. really think I'd suspise you of being
crazy, do you?"

**Alicia**
Ghast:**Everyone**
does... they say they believe me... but they don't... \*she sighed\*

**Decipherer:**  He
lets out a low chuckle. "'s that 'cos of the talking to 'narrator' thing,
or am I missing something else?"

**Alicia**
Ghast:**Well,**
that and the panic attacks... y'know, the creatures... \*she shivered slightly\*

**Decipherer:**  "..
Oh. Uh, right. And.. how is that going, exactly?"

**Alicia**
Ghast:**I**
haven't had one yet, but I know I will soon... I don't have anything
distracting me...

**Decipherer:**  Artemis'
smile dwindles into a frown. "Oh.."

**Alicia**
Ghast:**It**
used to be Maxi and Des would be so much that I wouldn't even think about it..

**Decipherer:**  "Were
those your children? Curious names," he laughs.

**Alicia**
Ghast:**Oh,**
yeah. Maximus and Desdemona... but we call 'em Maxi and Des.

**Decipherer:**  "Ah,"
he says quietly. "Interesting."
**Alicia**
Ghast:**Uh...**
so... you're feeling better? \*she smiled\*

**Decipherer:**  "Hm?
Yes," he mumbled softly, distracted and in thought.

**Alicia**
Ghast:**...**
you sure? You look distracted...

**Decipherer:**  He
snaps out of it just as fast, flashing a tiny, minute smile. "Sorry. Lots
on my mind."

**Alicia**
Ghast:**(I**
thought he said something about losing his mind, I was about to be REALLY mad
at you.)
\*Alicia rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath\* you're not helping
either, Narrator. \*she sighed\* I'm sorry all this is a lot for you... I want to
make it better...

**Decipherer:**  He
shakes his head almost furiously. "You've done a lot by simply comforting
me, really."

**Alicia**
Ghast:**But**
it's not fixed. I wish I could fix it. I probably can't... but...

**Decipherer:**  He
lays a hand on her shoulder, a small, tight smile tugging his features.
"It's something that you can't fix. The only thing that'll fix this one's
time."

**Alicia**
Ghast:**Well...**
I can make you feel better for a bit...?

**Decipherer:**  "Of
course you can."

**Alicia**
Ghast:**\*she**
smiled\*

**Decipherer:**  "..
Right." He eyes her for a moment before tilting his head, the tiniest,
barest smile gracing his features. "I was gon' to go grab a bite
downstairs, if you're interested in joining?"
**Alicia**
Ghast:**\*she**
smiled back, then giggled\* I'd love to join you!

## Obtained From

Role-Playing page for pg. 72!

Role-playing page for pg. 73!