vermified | [Action] > backdated to yesterday afternoon for pacing's sake.

[If you happen to be out and about in the village today, you might find find a strange sight. There is a scattered trail of brightly coloured candies in the snow, in various locations throughout the village. Where a tree or a bush might have once been, there is now nothing but candy. In the smithy, what was once a sword is now candy. The broom that might have been useful in cleaning up such a mess is also gone. Certain spots in the grocery store are full of candy as well- as if someone had taken something off of a shelf and replaced it with a handful of sweets. The entire tomato and pepper sections have been completely cleared out, inside transformed into bins of candy.

And in the plaza, sitting on the edge of the fountain, is Edward, his face buried in his arms. It's hard to tell if he's annoyed or just downright depressed. And the fountain itself, instead of being filled with the normal flowing water or even seasonal ice?

Full. Of. Candy.]

[ooc: Edward has the superpower of the SKITTLES MAN. May children everywhere now love him. Just don't let him shake their hands...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, make sure you brush your teeth regularly.

I'm sure I'll manage.

Okay.

[Starting to head off now.

...and now slinking back and staring at you somewhat nervously. >>]

[...Oh dear. What now?] Katie? What's the matter with you?

Um.

[This is the part where we fidget and shift feet uncomfortably on the ground. And wonder how one possibly communicates they're sorry you died.]

Are you mad at me?

[DOUBLETAKE.]

Wha- of course not! Why would you think such a thing?

I don't! I was just curious. [You totally believe her, right. Especially with that faintly dubious look she's giving you.]

[Yeah, no. No he doesn't. Let's try it again, though- a little more gently this time.]

Katie, why would you believe me to be angry with you?

Well, I'm very easy to get angry at. [Though now she sounds uncertain, because he doesn't seem upset.] I'm very nosy. It gets people hurt, sometimes.

You're worrying for nothing. ...Will you tell me what this is about?

[...]

I showed Sigmund where you were.

You- what? When was that? [Can't remember...]

You know, I'm not sure. I can't remember. [Speaking carefully, because the less of a headache she gives herself, the better.] It might have been after the scientists took you away, but I didn't see you properly when you came back.

[...Oh. Ahaha. Yeah.

Now he understands.]

...I'm not angry with you. I never was. Nor would I be, for that. When you brought Lord Sigmund to me that day-

[He was insane. Evil. He'd attacked people, tried to kill them- tried to kill her, and Lord Sigmund. Oh god, that he'd even considered attacking Sigmund was proof enough of how mad he'd been, wasn't it?

Poor girl, had she been worrying all this time? And here he'd thought-]

...It was a good thing that you did, Katie. I'm in your debt for that. By sending him to me, you saved me.

[It probably doesn't seem like it, but... how could she have any idea of what it felt like to be... that?[

[She knows it haunts him. An echo so fully formed is a terrifying indication of how obsessed the mind is with an idea. She's glad Sigmund killed it-- but not so much about the repercussions for Edward.

But he's not mad at her. That's enough to smooth out her face from worry into stark relief for a moment-- and then back to confusion, because that doesn't make sense either.]

But how did I save you if you died?

It may be hard for you to understand, but... I would rather be dead than a slave to that. I attacked you and Lord Sigmund, and others as well... I could see it all happening, with no control over my own body. With no cure, death was the only way to free me. I've returned, and I'm fine now.

[Besides the memories, but there's little anyone can do about that.]

[No, she does understand, when it's put that way. It doesn't make her feel better - especially given she first saw the vermiform as an echo, which means--]

It's happened to you before, hasn't it?

[Edward is quiet for a long moment, which is probably pretty telling on its own. He does answer eventually, though, his voice muffled-]

...Yes. It has.

[This is where she reaches forward with a hand and ...remembers everything Edward touches turns to candy so stops with a faintly put out look, hands shoving into her pockets.]

It isn't who you are, though.

It's... a part of me, unfortunately. I know it's not all of who I am, but...

[She sits down on the fountain edge next to him, making sure there's at least a few inches gap. Deep and meaningful discussions aren't very helpful if the person you're speaking to suddenly dissolves into sugar, after all.]

Where does it come from? Did you have it when you were born?

[Edward pauses, then quietly tugs off his gloves, revealing the lunaglyph on the back of each hand.]

One, I was born with. The other was... a gift. [From Sigmund.] They grant power to those who possess them, but... a human can only handle so much power before the become overwhelmed. I'm... not strong enough to handle it when I'm stressed.