Felwinter may not be the most outwardly emotive of the Iron Lords, but that doesn't mean there aren't people he cares deeply for. He wouldn't leave anyone under their protection to suffer in such an obvious nightmare...but he also wouldn't be offering additional care so freely to someone he didn't know and like. "There's no need to apologize. I would have woken you sooner if you had been more obviously in distress."
The act of preparing tea is an old ritual for them both. Sometimes he uses it as a grounding exercise for a restless mind, either his or his student's, but tonight his primary focus is on Osiris. He's followed to the sitting room without complaint or any further commentary regarding his work while Felwinter prepares tea, which is absolutely a sign that he's unwell. Osiris rarely stops unless his body physically gives out or Felwinter makes him.
It takes little time at all to boil a kettle with the aid of Solar fire but steeping requires patience. Herbal tea even more so, but by the time Felwinter brings a tray holding the kettle and two teacups to the table the scent is already noticeable: lavender and chamomile, among lesser quantities of other herbs. It's a far cry from the Assam they normally favor. "This will not help you find focus for further study," he warns. "Your work ethic is admirable, but you must also learn to listen to your body's needs."
Osiris settles on one of the high backed chairs in the sitting room, legs crossed beneath him, as Felwinter makes tea. The sounds of it are familiar, soothing. This is a ritual they have built between themselves, though it has not taught him much patience outside of this one specific instance.
He's drifting again by the time Felwinter sets down the tea, mind already running to his dreams and the visions that sometimes plague him. That point in the depths, the terrible darkness which drifts beneath the surface.
He startles when Felwinter speaks, dragging himself back to the here and now with more difficulty than he should have.
"There's not enough time," he says quietly in response. "I have to keep working."
Felwinter considers pulling a chair closer to Osiris's, but he recognizes that distant look in his student's eyes and thinks better of it for now. The harsh noise of the chair legs scraping across stone isn't going to do Osiris any favors.
Instead he very gently tips Osiris's face up to look at him, finger still warmed by Solar energy. An anchoring point. "You're drifting again. Stay with me." There's no judgment in his voice; it's just a statement of fact. And while he had originally intended to let Osiris tell him - or not - at his leisure, it's quickly become apparent that Osiris is very much not fine. Perhaps it was more than just a simple nightmare, or the nightmare has given way to more visions. Regardless, leaving Osiris to his own devices is no longer an option. The man needs rest - actual rest beyond the bare minimum a human body demands to maintain consciousness - and he's not going to get it at this rate.
Felwinter tilts his head up and he lets him without protest, still struggling to focus. Contact helps, frustrating as it is to need it. He shouldn't need help. He should be able to drag himself out of this state on his own.
"Apologies," he murmurs in response. He sits up a little more straight, as if that will drag his thoughts back to their proper order.
He clenches his jaw at the question, frustration welling up that it was even noticed. Why him? No-one else seems to struggle in this way and it is distressing to not be able to exert as much control over these dreams and visions as he can over his Light. "I'm not sure," he says. "Perhaps. I saw..." He shakes his head. "It's stupid. A restless mind that I need to control better."
Drifting and spiraling. It's why Felwinter is making Osiris look at him in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, he'll get through. "You have nothing to apologize for. Although you might consider being gentler with yourself." No mystery has ever become clearer through berating it, after all. "You have never been given to idle daydreams or flights of fancy. 'Stupid' is not the right word." He trusts that Osiris can tell the difference between a simple dream and something more, and that if he's remaining this shaken, there must be a reason.
After all, how many times has he been called paranoid when there is a very real, Warmind-shaped reason for him to take certain precautions?
But with that said, Felwinter releases him to attend to the tea and to allow Osiris a moment to process.
"I cannot afford to be 'gentle'," Osiris replies, acid on his tongue. He needs to be better. He has to be better. He has this immortality, his many lives, is it not his duty to use them?
Felwinter steps away and Osiris slumps back in his chair. No matter his willpower, he cannot escape his exhaustion. He hovers over his response for a few seconds, and then bites back his impulse to hide. Felwinter has never given him any reason for mistrust.
"I dream of the Darkness," he says quietly. "Of something waiting in it, watching."
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timeasmymeasure
alas if only...AU time maybe?
Date: 2023-08-04 06:03 am (UTC)The act of preparing tea is an old ritual for them both. Sometimes he uses it as a grounding exercise for a restless mind, either his or his student's, but tonight his primary focus is on Osiris. He's followed to the sitting room without complaint or any further commentary regarding his work while Felwinter prepares tea, which is absolutely a sign that he's unwell. Osiris rarely stops unless his body physically gives out or Felwinter makes him.
It takes little time at all to boil a kettle with the aid of Solar fire but steeping requires patience. Herbal tea even more so, but by the time Felwinter brings a tray holding the kettle and two teacups to the table the scent is already noticeable: lavender and chamomile, among lesser quantities of other herbs. It's a far cry from the Assam they normally favor. "This will not help you find focus for further study," he warns. "Your work ethic is admirable, but you must also learn to listen to your body's needs."
Should definitely do an AU!
Date: 2023-08-04 08:59 am (UTC)He's drifting again by the time Felwinter sets down the tea, mind already running to his dreams and the visions that sometimes plague him. That point in the depths, the terrible darkness which drifts beneath the surface.
He startles when Felwinter speaks, dragging himself back to the here and now with more difficulty than he should have.
"There's not enough time," he says quietly in response. "I have to keep working."
no subject
Date: 2023-08-08 06:03 am (UTC)Instead he very gently tips Osiris's face up to look at him, finger still warmed by Solar energy. An anchoring point. "You're drifting again. Stay with me." There's no judgment in his voice; it's just a statement of fact. And while he had originally intended to let Osiris tell him - or not - at his leisure, it's quickly become apparent that Osiris is very much not fine. Perhaps it was more than just a simple nightmare, or the nightmare has given way to more visions. Regardless, leaving Osiris to his own devices is no longer an option. The man needs rest - actual rest beyond the bare minimum a human body demands to maintain consciousness - and he's not going to get it at this rate.
"What troubles you? Another vision?"
no subject
Date: 2023-08-08 10:05 am (UTC)"Apologies," he murmurs in response. He sits up a little more straight, as if that will drag his thoughts back to their proper order.
He clenches his jaw at the question, frustration welling up that it was even noticed. Why him? No-one else seems to struggle in this way and it is distressing to not be able to exert as much control over these dreams and visions as he can over his Light. "I'm not sure," he says. "Perhaps. I saw..." He shakes his head. "It's stupid. A restless mind that I need to control better."
I am so sorry, Fel was not cooperating and I kept losing my post and bleh
Date: 2023-09-15 04:46 am (UTC)After all, how many times has he been called paranoid when there is a very real, Warmind-shaped reason for him to take certain precautions?
But with that said, Felwinter releases him to attend to the tea and to allow Osiris a moment to process.
No worries at all <3
Date: 2023-09-15 09:02 am (UTC)Felwinter steps away and Osiris slumps back in his chair. No matter his willpower, he cannot escape his exhaustion. He hovers over his response for a few seconds, and then bites back his impulse to hide. Felwinter has never given him any reason for mistrust.
"I dream of the Darkness," he says quietly. "Of something waiting in it, watching."