▶ 001. video

[anti_altruisms]

Good evening.

[ The video flickers on, and there's a very pale, very fatigued-looking Archer sitting in his apartment. A dragon egg is also visible, nestled in a bundle of blankets next to him. (Is he nesting??)

In any case, he doesn't mince words. ]

Since we're all likely experiencing similar symptoms, I'll be brief - I'm looking for moonlacing partners, specifically hand-holding and basic physical contact. Anything more than that is subject to discussion.

[ He moves a hand, and just for a moment, it almost looks translucent. Or maybe, it's just the crystals staring to form on his skin. ]

Thank you for your time.

[ With that, he ends the feed. ]

Comments

[cheir]

[ Well. Isn't this familiar? Incredibly so, but Fiore (who is pale but definitely not translucent) is very quickly reaching out a response. ]

I'd be more than willing to help.

[anti_altruisms]

[ Shhhh, everything his fine, his hand isn't translucent right now. ]

That's kind of you.

[ This is so awkward; he hates it. ]

Are you also having difficulty, Miss Fiore?

[cheir]

I-- [ She struggles, inwardly, with just admitting the burden this has taken and doing what she's always done. Hiding it. Handling it on her own. Enduring and presenting a strong front, so that no one has to worry or doubt her or underestimate her.

But... ]

... Incredibly. I can't do this on my own, it seems.

[anti_altruisms]

[ Archer sighs. ]

Nor can I, it seems...

Would it be easier if I came to you, this time?

[cheir]

If it's not too much trouble. I'm also in my apartment.

[ Which she will still provide directions to if need be. ]

[anti_altruisms]

It isn't.

[ He's not immobile....or at least, not yet. ]

I'm sure I can find it.

[cheir]

All right. Let me know if you need anything additional.

[ but otherwise she'll wait. ]

[anti_altruisms]

I'll be there shortly.

[ Aaaand he's on his way. It takes longer than he would have liked, but since he's basically taking the egg everywhere he goes, he can't just de-materialize and travel that way. It doesn't help, either, that the fatigue is getting worse, so when he finally does arrive, he's looking...even paler. And there are a few crystals on his other hand now.

He knocks on her door. ]

[cheir]

Just a-- minute--!

[ Similarly, Fiore doesn't speedily answer the door. Every turn of the wheels has her feel like her arms are going on strike, but she does eventually get the door open.

And, open seeing him, she hesitates for only a few seconds before she bites her lip. ]

I don't know how much hand-holding will be able to do for you.

[anti_altruisms]

[ He does look bad, doesn't he?

Archer laughs weakly. ]

I've looked worse, believe it or not.

[ The sad thing is, he isn't evening lying. ]

Do you mind if I sit?

[cheir]

Of course I don't mind.

[ It'll take a little longer to wheel herself back enough to enter, but then she'll gesture to the couch nearby. It looks incredibly comfortable, at least. ]

[anti_altruisms]

[ Don't mind him, he's just going to...plop very heavily on said couch. Getting here was tiring...

He sets his egg bundle aside gently, and once its situated, he looks at her. ]

Thank you.

[cheir]

I'm sorry to make you come out this way, when you're not feeling well.

[ Fiore moves a little closer, smiling apologetically-- because she does feel bad, but if she'd gone to him, she would have fallen out of her wheelchair before reaching the goal. ]

[anti_altruisms]

[ Archer just waves a hand. ]

It's fine.

[ Servants are resilient, and he certainly wouldn't want her to tax herself. ]

We're here, and that's what matters.

[ Without any other fanfare, he offers her his hand. ]

[cheir]

... Mm, you're right. But still, don't push yourself.

[ And without any fanfare on her end, she'll slip her hand into his, fingers working in between his larger ones to aid the moonlacing a little more. ]