003 :: heads are not made for carrying things

[not_a_lamb_nor_ram]

[ Several months within contact of the Plane, and several months doing his best to feel indifferent towards people he has met -- people he sees as comrades, as friends even, and as family -- is taking its toll. It is against his nature to be indifferent, but it is a necessity: his friends don't need the problems his reality has.

Back home, he has been finding himself experiencing migraines and unpleasant dreams. Though today, he blames the sudden sprouting of ram horns on his head for his headache and the soreness he feels about his neck and shoulders. The throb in his head is such that trying to get back home is a literal pain (and he might just figure out that it's currently impossible), and the thought of flicking to a more comfortable place is too troublesome. Besides, the fallen leaves and the grass on the forest floor can be comfortable too...

With a groan, he digs the heels of his palm against closed eyes as he lies on his back and says to no one in particular through his teeth -- ]

I did not agree to this experiment, damn it! It's not even funny.


(( OOC: Yup! Someone's being punked by the Plane! Have at 'im! :Db ))
 

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[lamb_of_gold]

[It takes awhile, but Master does appear, having noticed the distress in his lamb's Cosmo.]

Kiki? What is troubling... ah?

[Mu crouches next to the other Aries, regarding the new additions somewhat bewildered.]

Accessorizing, are we?

[not_a_lamb_nor_ram]

[ When he senses his Master's Cosmo, only then does he attempt (success level of which is low) to mask his own. Still not taking his hands off of his eyes, he tries to smile. ]

Aa-- it's nothing, just... [ Heh. Attempt at humor? ] For accessories, they can't be taken off.

[ Fail. ]

[ram_of_gold]

[Shion has been busy for months himself. That doesn't stop him from steering himself towards Kiki's cosmo...then stop and staring for a moment] ...What has happened to you? [He didn't think he had been gone that long]

[not_a_lamb_nor_ram]

[ Kiki stops in his groaning and moping for a moment upon sensing the approaching Cosmo. He manages to get himself from his prone to position, to a sitting one, into finally tucking his legs to a kneel. ] Someone thought it might be funny to have me bear more obvious traits of my starsign and title.

[ Points up to a horn. ] With compliments from the Plane.

[artofwar]

[She's been busy for a while, over seeing things in her reality. Sasha approaches quietly, having sensed Kiran's muddled cosmos. Her knees press into the grass as she reaches out with one hand, to touch his shoulder.]

No one agrees to their experiments. But, is this all that they did? Can you tell if they muddled with more than just giving you horns?

[not_a_lamb_nor_ram]

[ Athena's presence never fails to bring some form of comfort to her Saints, and Kiran is no exception. The warmth of her Cosmo, for the moment, becomes a beacon he can focus on. He does not expect the contact however, and it slightly makes him twitch, thinking of pulling away -- a thought he quickly stamps out.

Gently, he brings himself up to a sitting position and turns a little to her way. ] I apologize in presenting myself this unkempt to you, my lady.

[ In answer to her question now -- ] I believe it is, with headaches as a side-effect. [ Trying to smile. ] Sudden things sprouting out of your head throws you off like that.

This should be over soon. [ A reassurance more to himself than to anyone else. ]

[artofwar]

It's alright. [She'd seen Tenma in worse conditions. It made her think of the Pegasus Saint. She missed him and her brother. She sends a gentle pulse through her cosmos. It was an attempt to ease Kiran's headache.]

I imagine it would, but at least as far as experiments go it seems to be just this.

I've seen at least one. The man was slowly forgetting things important to him. [And she tried to help but failed.]

[not_a_lamb_nor_ram]

[ A relaxed breath and a more sincere smile that reaches his eyes is the indication of him receiving his goddess' healing power. It does not change the fact that he has lacked sleep for some time already. ] Thank you.

[ For a moment, it makes him feel bad for acting the way he did with this headache. His smile fades and brows furrow. ] I don't like it. Why do they do this? Why are others acting as if it was something to be accepted?

[artofwar]

That's a question I want to answer. We shouldn't have to accept this. And I won't. [If she can do anything to stop it, she will. Anything and everything she can. The question was, how much could she fix?]

[not_a_lamb_nor_ram]

They did something to Master, to Oliver, to Saga... [ Considering that Sasha has been here before himself -- ] Nathan's talked of Employees, and someone named Meredith who help run the Plane.

[artofwar]

They also did something to Shion. He believed he was a specter and no amount of pushing let him see the man he really is. [Her eyes darken, reminded of Sisyphus and his pain. It had been a dream and Shion's suffering had been a very horrible reality.]

[not_a_lamb_nor_ram]

[ His face only spelled a great amount of "DO NOT LIKE". ] That's just-- [ he bit back whatever curse he had sitting in his tongue: Shion is doing well. Voice quiet -- ] And you, my lady? Have you... experienced these experiments?

[ He hopes not. ]

[artofwar]

[She shakes her head and spreads her hands.] I haven't been affected. I don't know if it is because I am Athena or, they're waiting. Only time will tell us.

[not_a_lamb_nor_ram]

I hope you can avoid it. I hope they avoid you. [ Or. Really. The Plane will pay dearly. ]

Even if they say is temporary, I don't want to be doing things without my control over them, or things being done to me without my consent. [ He thinks of Shion and his being a Specter. ] Someone can be a danger to others.

[lamb_of_gold]

[There's no hiding from Master, kid. Mu shifts so he's sitting cross legged instead of just crouching, running his fingers over the keratin covering, and down to the base, where he lets just a little Cosmo run through his fingers, warming the area and chasing away at least the edge of the pain]

How long have you had them?

[And the unspoken question: How badly is this hurting you? Master's voice is low and quiet. Not quite dangerous in tone, but certainly looking in that direction.]

[sosweet]

[ That unease in the boy‘s Cosmo...

Saga appears standing next to Kiran and can‘t help but stare at him with a serious face.

What the...? ]

Horns?

[ram_of_gold]

[Shion takes a step closer, trying to get a better look at those horns. Because that is weird.] Are they hurting you?

[artofwar]

I'll do what I can to prevent them from affecting me. But, if they do. Keep yourselves safe if I become a danger to all of you. Please.

Yes, but remember. We're here to help you if it comes to that. [She leans back a bit, peering up between the leaves.] And if others become a danger, we will deal with it.

[She had to tell Agent Washington his ideas were more than sound and she wished to be a part of them.]

[not_a_lamb_nor_ram]

[ The pulse of Cosmo relieves the sharper edges of pain in his head -- small, but it's still improvement. He stiffly lets his arms rest on either side of him. Eyes still closed. ]

This is the fourth day. [ He actually managed to hide from Master that long. ] Thought it'd be gone yesterday. At least I don't have the urge to literally butt heads with people.

[ But it wasn't the horns hurting him, while there was some stubborn shielding going on in his Cosmo -- quiet, but present. ]

[not_a_lamb_nor_ram]

[ Kiki doesn't move from his spot, and he has no problems with Shion wanting to look. ] Not so much. But they've made rest a little [ a lot ] difficult.

If this goes on longer then I might get used to them.

[not_a_lamb_nor_ram]

[ At this point, Kiki had taken to leaning against a tree and might just be dozing off; though not so deeply that he didn't feel Saga's approach.

Speaking with eyes closed. ] Courtesy of the Plane, Saga. They got me.

[not_a_lamb_nor_ram]

Yes, my lady.

[ Kiran cannot even imagine how the vast and warm Cosmo of his goddess could turn into something cold and malevolent. He wishes that things never come to that, but that would be naive. Marin has taught him to expect the worst...

Small nod. ]

Thank you. And we will.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Mu continues to let his Cosmo soothe away some of the pain. He smiles a bit at the words, even as he notices that Kiki is hiding something.]

I'd imagine that wouldn't help your headache any.

[not_a_lamb_nor_ram]

[ His eyes squeeze briefly as he smiles and lets out an amused sound. ]

It won't be pretty either. What would others think of Aries Saints if they see me like that?

[ There's an awkward attempt at turning his head away from Mu -- away from his touch, or just to find a more comfortable position? Hard to tell -- but the horn on that side didn't allow that movement, at which his smile appears strained. ]

[lamb_of_gold]

[Mu's hands still at the action.]

What is it, lamb?