Merlin's Bracelet // IC Contact (New)

[dragonspeak]

Arthur, you can't be serious. Oh, come on--ow!

[Merlin's voice, slightly muffled because of the distance at first, is much clearer when he speaks again
after a few seconds, though he sounds anything but cheerful. If anything, he sounds sullen.]

It's Merlin. Sorry I missed you. I'm probably at the hospital or... [here, he pauses,
then continues like the words are being dragged out of him in the most painful manner possible.] Or being useful for my amazingly skilled, patient, and forgiving master instead of
dallying about and picking flowers like the girl's petticoat I usually am.

[A pained moment of silence.]

Leave a message for me here and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

[Click]

Comments

[dragonspeak]

Even so, I have to try. [He's never seen Samantha in this much pain before, and it hurts just watching her struggle with it.

Merlin sends a pulse of power into her, directed at the spine. He frowns when the attempt to absorb the pain is rebuffed.]

You said you were going to try something...did Loki tell you it would hurt this much? [What if something went wrong? It's true Samantha seems to be herself still, but so much pain can't be natural.]

[samantha_grey]

We... we didn't know for sure what was going to happen. [She hissed, her breathing ragged. It took a little concentration, but she did notice something. She felt... nothing. Right about now, Merlin, if things were normal, she'd want to have you against the wall and be doing things to you that would scar you for life.

The urges were just gone.]

It's... it's working. I'm sure of it.

[dragonspeak]

[Asking a favour from the gods was always a gamble, but this makes Merlin fret nonetheless.]

I know--you're still you, even after I untied you. [He watches her helplessly.] But...does this mean you're going to have to go through this every time?

[samantha_grey]

[Her hand reached out to clutch at his leg. She whimpered and tears slipped from her eyes.]

If it means I'm not going to lose control again... hurt someone like that again... It's worth it.

[dragonspeak]

I know. I'd feel the same way, if it were me.

[Remembering how Samantha used to tear herself apart for what her other self did, and people who had been hurt whenever she escaped, Merlin can understand why she would feel this way. Still...

He stands up abruptly.] I'll get some ice. If healing doesn't work, maybe we can numb it to lessen the pain.

[samantha_grey]

Ice... would be nice, thank you.

[She tries to get into a position that's comfortable, but all this ultimately entails is making sure her tail's not moving and her back is up and off the ground. By the time he gets back it's completely unbound. The runic circle all over her back with the spells she's had grafted there is visible, including the one changed since ???'s departure.]

[dragonspeak]

[He doesn't need to be told twice. Merlin bolts out of the room and into the nearest shop to pick up some ice for her. Thankfully, the shops nearby have an abundance of it during the heat wave, and he doesn't have to look too far.

Merlin returns with a few icy packs that he helps spread out over the runes on her back.]

I've left some more downstairs in the cooler so it doesn't melt.

[He sinks onto the floor, slightly winded, but still watching Sam like a hawk to see if the ice has any effect.]

[samantha_grey]

[Her breathing eases. It's still obvious that she's in agony, but she's calming a little. Her face twists around so he can see her and she's smiling, tears slipping down still.]

You're a ... good friend, Merlin.

[dragonspeak]

[Merlin pinks up a bit, but he returns the smile.]

Just doing what any friend would do.

[He fiddles with the ice packs, rearranging any he sees slipping out of place to busy himself. Any leftover embarrassment he has at her gratitude is washed away by relief. It seems like she's calming down.]

[samantha_grey]

[She finally seems to be calming down. Once every twenty-eight days or so, it's going to be murder, even after dreaming of home. However, it won't be too bad. She certainly seems to be coping with it now. Eventually, she's in a fitful but almost restful half-slumber.]

(OOC: Figured we could call it here. She's not going to be very good at communicating here, so having her in a half-sleeping fugue will work.)