Back as promised (open, attn Freyja and Morvydd)

[jarndyceheir]

Richard Carstone makes an abrupt sound of pain, as if he'd caught up where he'd left off just before his death. Due to Kyllikki's well-meant magic, coming back to life was harder and more painful than the last time, and after three days of highly pleasant afterlife, it's a bit of a shock. After a moment, though, it passes, and he sits up.

Comments

[notallworthy]

Tom finally sees Richard and gives a shout of joy. "Richard! You came back! We were so worried about you! What happened? Do you remember me now? And Ada? And--" He finally got close enough to embrace Richard and started kissing him.

[jarndyceheir]

Richard winced, and tried to pull away. "Tom -" His voice is a bit raw, and he clears his throat. Softly, "Of course I came back."

[notallworthy]

"I know. Ada said she heard you would but I was still worried." He pulled him closer. "Please don't do that again. First the memories, then the death... I don't like it, Rick."

[jarndyceheir]

"Tom..." He closed his eyes. "I'm so sorry. I've betrayed you twice over."

T: ...my internet is doing weird, unhappy things. I will try to preserve it, but if I disappear, that's why.

[notallworthy]

Tom pulled away enough to look at his face. "What do you mean?"

[jarndyceheir]

"I promised you... I promised you I'd try not to die again." He absently touched the jewelry at his neck, without noticing. "And I..." He hesitates, not quite sure how to say things so that he won't make this any worse.

[notallworthy]

"You what?" Tom reached out to brush the metal at his neck. "What is that?"

[jarndyceheir]

He almost flinched again, but didn't quite. "...nothing. A gift."

[notallworthy]

"Oh. It's quite nice. But what did you mean before?"

[jarndyceheir]

"I told you I'd try to stay alive. Lord, Tom, I've made a mess of everything."

[notallworthy]

"How... What happened this time, Rick?" Tom touched the other man's face with a slightly worried expression.

[jarndyceheir]

He looked down. "...there was a lady. A goddess, she says, and I half believe her."

[notallworthy]

Tom tried to get Richard to look at him. "What did she do?"

[jarndyceheir]

"It wasn't like..." He closes his eyes. "I had someone unenchant me, Tom. That was the other part I meant."

[notallworthy]

"What? Wait. One thing at a time, Rick. Why did you die?"

[jarndyceheir]

He looks a bit broken for a moment, but tries to hide it, looking away. "She asked me."