Forever feels like home

As irksome as all of this is, I do hope everyone understands that it will all be over soon. Nothing ever lasts in Adstringendum- not the people, not the events. It's disconcerting to suddenly lose something you've taken for granted for so long, but if you simply allow yourself time to adjust, you'll find that you can train your other senses.

I know that the blind won't be able to read this, so I'll disregard them for a moment.

For deafness, get a friend- I wouldn't mind helping- and ask them to speak to you. Just a simple conversation, ask them to speak slowly. Watch the way their lips move, take important care to note their body language. Ask them to emulate different emotions or conversations so you can get a gist of what watching people through different tones is like. Note the shape of their mouth, the angle of their eyebrows, the tension in their shoulders. Go slowly at first, and try to work your way up to normal conversational speed. It's difficult, but once you get the hang of it, it can actually be a little fun to do! Plus, that way, you can figure out what someone is saying if you're not close enough to hear them, even after you get your hearing back. It's always a good skill to have. Just try to make sure you stay with someone who can hear, in case a monster decides to try and creep up on you.

A lack of touch is more difficult, and the only thing you're able to do is to become more self-aware of your physical presence. Take a quick scan of any room the instant you enter it, try to note everything that could possibly hurt you- sharp corners, knives, chairs that aren't pushed in. You need to think about every movement you make, and be extremely aware of the space your body occupies in relation to everything else in the room. Control your body, know exactly how it moves and how much space it occupies. Don't put your hands anywhere unless you can see where they're going- inside boxes, underneath beds, on top of a high cabinet, that sort of thing. The good part about that is that after you get used to moving like that, it's much easier to conserve your movements later on, after the event is over, and doing tasks can make you less tired.

Being mute is relatively simple. Write things down, communicate through text. Of course, if you're living with someone who can't read- as I do- or someone who is blind, you should try to establish a very basic understanding of language through motion- pointing, patting, smiling. Facial expressions and body language are very important, especially if you're dealing with children.

...I can't exactly help people who are experiencing a lack of taste. Though, if anyone has a friend who is blind and would like a bit of helpful advice, I wouldn't mind writing something up for them. If I missed something too, please let me know and I'll try to address it.

[While it all sounds a bit textbook, he really does know from experience.]

( [Offline to Rain- backdated to the morning after the event started] )

[The feed clicks on into blackness, and a small cry of pain is heard as the feed shakes and jars. It's still for a moment, before the whump of something colliding with something else echoes and suddenly, the video goes bright as the PCD clatters onto the ground with the force of Xerxes Break falling on top of Yuca Collabell.

This isn't an embarrassing little flirtatious tryst between them- the look in both of their eyes clears that up immediately. No, Yuca looks like a killer, eyes narrowed in anger as Break's cane comes down over his throat, forcing him down, making him choke as he already tries to retaliate.]

-Collabell!

[Yuca snarls, a hand yanking hard at Break's hair, his knee driving painfully into the white haired man's midsection. Break's fingers in turn wind in Yuca's hair and slam the back of his head into the ground with a sickening sound. Yuca cries out in pain and blinks the blurriness out of his eyes as he throws his weight up and manages to roll the two of them over, the weight of the cane against his throat dissipating. Yuca can draw in a full breath again, and he does so, eyes full of fury and emitting an aura of deadliness.]

Yuca Collabell! Wake up!

[It doesn't seem to be getting through. Yuca takes a deep breath, straddling Xerxes and yanking him up by the collar until they're nose to nose. He opens his mouth to say something, when Break slams his forehead into Yuca's nose, causing the immortal to reel backward and retaliate with a punch to Break's cheek. They roll again and Yuca hits the drawer- a teacup shatters to the ground.

Suddenly they stop- Yuca's face isn't really seen by the feed, but something in it changes and Break slowly lets his fist down.]

....Yuca.

[It's low and urgent, and after a moment, Yuca shoves forcefully at Break again as the feed cuts off.]


[[ooc: All words are Xerxes'!]]

[The camera flickers on and finds Yuca, once again, sitting peacefully in his garden, an arm wrapped around his knees. He's got cuts and bruises here and there from his fight with Merlin, but for the most part, he still looks pretty okay. The flowers are just starting to bloom, and his fingers barely brush against one, as if he isn't sure of the texture.]

I wonder if this is what he meant.

[A quiet sigh, as Yuca pulls back.]

It's useless though, isn't it? They're all going to die, come winter, and all I'll have left of them are recordings and the memories that they once were green.

[He seems a little conflicted there, resting his chin on his open palm and pursing his lips, thoughtfully. He still hasn't looked at the camera yet, and for a moment, it seems almost as if the video was accidental.]

Maybe I can replant them in pots and carry them all inside for Winter...

[Something that seems like a daunting task- Yuca has probably planted well over a hundred of them in the small clearing, and it's obvious that when they bloom in full, the flowers will form a white blanket against the cold ground.]

I'm sorry to those that happened across me during the last event. It was something that I wanted to avoid, but... hopefully, you've all managed to recover now.

[A thoughtful pause.]

If I build a greenhouse around them, I can keep them safe before it gets too cold. It seems like so much effort though, when they're just going to die eventually anyway. I don't understand why people put themselves through this. [He sighs- he still hasn't even so much as glanced over to the camera.]

Well. It's a learning experience. Rain might cry if I let them all die, anyway. Does anyone know if they'll have a few extra flowerpots when it gets to late fall? I'm going to try and get all of these inside in a month or so. Some special light bulbs might be appreciated too. You can never start too early with these things.

[God what the hell Yuca, who are you talking to. The sunset casts an orange glow on his face, and Yuca closes his eyes and reaches for the PCD, flicking it off with a casual movement.]