— 𝐜 𝐨 𝐧 𝐭 𝐚 𝐜 𝐭

[possessum]

action / text / video / etc.
NOTE: I am forever backtag friendly and absolutely open to doing things from past events that won't really have an effect on things at any given time. For example, if you'd like to do something with Peter aged down or when he was his spider dream guide, etc.

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[oldhound]

[ Magical things like this very rarely suit to polite discussions over tea. These kinds of dealings don't exactly stick to timetables and the like. The panic is painfully obvious and the more he explains the more his heart sinks.

He's got to keep it together for Peter. What he's describing very much sounds like a pact and that kind of thing gives demons like Paimon a better grip. More power in this realm. ]

All right. Okay. I can't---do anything about this just yet. I can try and look into it though. Just try not to get too worked over it. It won't help things.

[ He coughs and has to pull the Fluid away a moment as he catches his breath. ]

Not your fault, old son.

[possessum]

[ It's really not quite fair of Peter to lay all that out on John like this, when the man's clearly unwell and overwhelmed, but the boy isn't thinking like that. He's not thinking too rationally; he's..... simply frightened, and seeking help. Peter's flailing desperately through waters he has no idea how to swim in. This business with Luna, with a "pact"..... It's completely over his head, and he's close to unraveling. But even just this much in reply from the older man.... helps. Someone saying they'll try and look into it. Telling him to try and calm down. Though John can't see him, Peter's nodding, eyes wide and breath shuddery. ]

Okay. I.... Okay. I'm sorry. [ He has to stay calm. Getting all panicked won't be good for him, and might even send Paimon back out again. That cough also grounds him a bit, and Peter gives a soft exhale, clenching his own Fluid tightly. ]

Is.... there anyone to help take care of you? [ Is John alone? Peter hardly knows a thing about him; does he live with someone? Does he have anyone around who can help him through this? ]

[oldhound]

[ It isn't something he'll hold against him. It's a lot for Peter to have to deal with. He's not used to this sort of life like John is. He keeps his voice low and gentle. ]

Hey, hey now, do me a favor, eh? Take a breath in through your nose, hold it, and slowly exhale, yeah? No worrying over me. I've got others popping in to check on me. So come on.

Deep breath. [ He'd demonstrate but he's pretty certain it'll send him into another fit. ]

[possessum]

[ He knows this technique — like an old friend by this point, except Peter still tips so close towards panic that it's easy to forget. Having someone there to remind him, a voice speaking it to him..... helps. In through his nose, hold, slowly breathe out. In, hold, out.

He does, his breaths slow and thick and very audible through the phone. If there were any part of him to get embarrassed for needing to be talked down from slipping towards panic, that part is long gone by now.

He listens to the man's voice, the shape of his accent, familiar in its way by now. And after a few moments, his heart is calmer; his grip on his Fluid isn't so tight. ]

Okay. Okay. [ He voices that he's okay so they'll both know it. Even as all of this adds up to something horrible; Peter... knows something bad happened to John because of him. Even if he hasn't been told the exact shape of it yet. Did he.... die because of him? Somehow? Death follows the boy like an illness, after all. There's a longer pause before Peter asks, very quietly. ]

Do you need me to... stay away from you for awhile? Because of him?

[oldhound]

[ He listens to the sounds of the young man breathing. Slowly starting to calm a bit, he hopes. He keeps talking him through it until he voices that he's finally all right.

He will fight that assumption if he ever voices it. Nothing happened to him cause of Peter. It happened cause of this place and that's all. ]

No, old son. That's the last thing I need. In fact, I'd be chuffed if you dropped by to see me.