PCS WITH SIFFRIN

[robopriest]

Comments

[siriuspuns]

[ they might as well be?? Siffrin is laying down on one of the couches, the good eye twitching as it struggles to remain open in the face of the exhaustion in their bones.

but when Hansa speaks up, they jolt awake, gasping as they prepare to run if necessary. ]

Hello!?

[robopriest]

Ah! So the good person isn't dead at all. Huzzah.

[Really, though.]

...You look like you've seen better days. Are you sick?

[siriuspuns]

…?

[ sick?

Siffrin’s shock melts into confusion. ]

No, I’m fine… I think? I don’t know what kind of sick I would be…?

[robopriest]

You don't know what kind? Come now. Nausea, fatigue, headaches...you know what symptom you're experiencing, right? If you have them.

[siriuspuns]

[ they look mildly thoughtful about this. ]

I just… haven’t slept in…

[ days? weeks? who knows, at this point. ]

A while. But it’s fine. I’m used to it.

[robopriest]

Tsk, tsk. Has no one told you the dangers of sleep deprivation. Some people have actually died.

[A little smirk.]

This was before you were taken here, right.

[siriuspuns]

[ (Oh wow~ dying from lack of sleep? Now that would be a new one to achieve~!)

Siffrin laughs derisively. ]

Yeah. I had a lot to do over there, but I guess the Universe had other plans for me.

[ and what is Siffrin to do but follow? ]

[robopriest]

A lot to do...well, hey.

[A snap of the fingers.]

Maybe you can treat this as a nice vacation. Even with the spooky happenstances.

[siriuspuns]

I don’t… I don’t have time for that.

[ (but you don’t have a choice.) ]

We have to be here for a reason.

[robopriest]

[(hansa internal voice) please chill out you are like a stressed gerbil]

Of course. [He does his best to sound reassuring.] But working yourself to the bone just makes sure you kill yourself before this place does.

cw panic attack because youre right hansa he is a stressed gerbil

[siriuspuns]

[ they just.


laugh at that. they know that. they know that they know that they know that they know that.

but what choice does he have? the longer they wait the longer he goes without saving Vaugarde and the longer they go without saving Vaugarde the longer they stay in the loops and the longer they stay in the loops the longer they’re away from their family and

and

and

and

and

and

and

and.

they take a sharp breath in, but no air fills their lungs. ]

I can’t just—!! I can’t just take a break now! I’m so close!! Am I just supposed to stop now!? Haha, that’s ridiculous!!! I can’t— I can’t…

[ they continue trying to breathe, rapid and erratic. ]

[robopriest]

H-

[Hansa freezes for a moment - before reaching out, grabbing him by the shoulders as a way to anchor him. He may not have experience with these things, exactly, but it's clear that if he lets this go, they really will have a whole mental breakdown and a half.]

Hey! Hey. Deep breathes there. In, out. In....out. Come on-!

1/2

[siriuspuns]

DON’T TOUCH ME!

[ immobilized as he is, Siffrin can’t really do much but stay frozen in Hansa’s grip, but they still try to wrench themselves out of it anyway. ]

2/2

[siriuspuns]

[ but the command is registered ans they make an attempt to follow it.

deep breath in.

deep breath out.

inhale.

exhale.

though still tense, they still on the couch, his head hanging in shame and exhaustion. ]

Sorry.

[robopriest]

[Hansa holds tight, staring down at Siffrin without even wincing. His grip isn't too tight, as not to hurt. He's dealt with worse in his time. He's not going to let go because of someone lashing out.]

[But it seems like it goes through. They quiet, and when he's sure that they've fully calmed down, Hansa puts on a bright smile.]

That's alright. [His grip loosens - one hand pats their shoulder.] Anyone would be overwhelmed in circumstances like these. You feeling better?

[siriuspuns]

[ Siffrin flinches at the shoulder pat, but they don’t pull away. his family members always avoided touching him because they thought that Siffrin hated being touched. because they’re too disgusting to be touched. so many loops trying to get their attention to little avail—

(and the one time you got fed up, well how did that one turn out for you, again? teehee!) ]

Yeah, I’m fine.

[ it’s said mechanically; a knee jerk response. they’re not sure if they’re smiling or not, but they pray to the Universe that they are.

(You adjust your hat, wishing you could hide yourself in it and never come out.) ]

You don’t seem that bothered by all of this.

[robopriest]

It's okay to say you aren't.

[Satisfied, he pulls his hands away, propping them on his hips.]

Ah, me? [He makes a little "forget about it" flippant hand wave.] I do stuff like this every other weekend.

[A beat.]

....Seriously though. I am bothered. I'm just foolish enough not to let it get to me.

[siriuspuns]

[ (see Siffrin? he’s so nonchalant. after so many loops, why can’t you be more like him?)

they knit their brows in confusion and slight concern. they also realize that this is a good way to avoid thinking about their own anxieties. ]

What…uh…were you doing?

[robopriest]

Watching a bunch of idiots fight, mostly. It's all egos and "I'm better than you" and "why does the Church have to get involved" and blah blah blah...

[A little eye roll with that.]

But I wasn't transported somewhere. I just traveled to a city by plane. So this is new.

[siriuspuns]

[ plane??? church??? so many words they don’t know. ]

So you’re like a babysitter for adults.

[robopriest]

[He laughs.]

Exactly. You got it in one. It's not the best job, really. But I have to do it!

[siriuspuns]

Is someone forcing you to it?

[ considering this guy's personality, it sounds unlikely. ]

[robopriest]

I wouldn't say forcing. It's like...well, if someone told you they could call on you any time to step up and do something you have the capability to do.

[Voluntold, basically.]

[siriuspuns]

And you're fine with a life like that? Even if it's not something you want to do?

[robopriest]

All in all, I serve the Church, and I serve God. I help to carry out His will, and moreoever, I get to make sure evildoers don't get what they deserve.

It's worth it for me.