[Semi-Closed Post: Aornis Is a Real Headache]

[timebethine]

Somewhere around midnight, a migraine descended on Laertes like a thunderhead, and he still hasn't come out from beneath its anvil. He's spent most of the day hiding in bed with the curtains drawn, feeling as though he's about to be sick--and that feeling's only grown worse as the sun has drifted sluggishly to a low apex in the sky.

It isn't until mid-afternoon that he feels well enough to make progress on all his plans. He needs to speak to SecUnit about its drones, to Dionysus about whether Avernus (that is her name, isn't it?) is a goddess, and to Nightingale about whether he can offer magical support in case their confrontation goes sour. He needs to talk with Claudius about what to say when he does speak to her.

So it is that he starts making his rounds through the mansion and its grounds, seeking out friends old and new, clinging grimly to the thermos of coffee that smells sickeningly strong but also helps drive back the pain. His face is wan, his eyes shadowed. He would rather be doing anything but this.

Comments

[vineleaves]

Dionysus makes a soft, noncommittal noise. He hates everything about this, of course. He hates that he can't be of more use, he hates what could potentially happen to a sweet friend, and he hates that he doesn't know what on Earth is going on.

"So what is your plan exactly? Walk right up and say 'hello, I'm Shakespeare's Laertes, are you a goddess and are you planning on sending me to -- back to my story? Also, while we're chatting, have you been dishing out nightmares? What are your thoughts on driving people mad?'" He rubs his face. This day just keeps getting worse. "Sorry. That was mean, I'm sorry. I'm just worried."

[timebethine]

"Forgive me," says Laertes. "I'll go." He turns to get the door.

[vineleaves]

"Laertes, no, please wait! I'm sorry!"

[timebethine]

"I only--I am being directed by wiser men. I'll seek counsel as to what I will ask, and how; I want to answer thy questions, but I cannot. The hand knows not what the brain decides."

[vineleaves]

Well that he also hates. Dionysus moves to give Laertes a tight embrace. "Look, if you -- if you start to suspect she's done something to you, come find me? I might be able to help." He brushes his fingers through Laertes' hair. "Mastery of madness works in both directions."

[timebethine]

A pause (and a lengthier kind of pause, because he is still feeling deeply rotten and this is an unexpectedly very nice hug). "If you knew whose dreams had been afflicted--could you trace them back to their origins? Master that madness?"

[vineleaves]

He considers this. "Potentially? I've never tried that, and it might depend on how the nightmares are being given, but I could try?"

[timebethine]

"Let's try if I fail," he says. "Ask Sagramore whose dreams have been clouded; he knows."

[vineleaves]

“Let’s hope whatever the plan is, it works better — better than expected, you know? Then it won’t come to that at all.” He offers what he hopes is an encouraging smile.

There is still absolutely nothing about this entire situation he approves of, but it doesn’t seem like he has any choice in the matter.

[timebethine]

Laertes smiles back--strained at the edges, but he means it, and maybe Dionysus will be able to feel how much he means it. "I'll be careful. After all, I have yet to take advantage of your acting lessons, and Nina does so want me to be in her play."

[vineleaves]

Dionysus allows himself another moment of seriousness, then forces his smile even larger. "Of course! You can't back out on those lessons now, not when I've already started planning and you've gotten my hopes up!"

[timebethine]

"I'll see you again soon," Laertes promises, and goes.

[vineleaves]

Once the door closes behind Laertes, Dionysus allows himself to start crying. He picks up a bottle of wine from the table and moves to a small altar tucked away in a corner of the room. He's fairly certain nobody from his family will be able to hear him, trapped as he is here, but he's going to try to call in a few favors anyway.