hear what the silence screams

Liam

In just a matter of minutes, just a matter of time
We could lose it all, we could lose it all

Maybe she didn't approve of his choices, but that wouldn't have mattered one bit to Liam. It's better, sometimes, to keep the pain sharp - to prevent himself from making the same mistakes he'd made in the past, to force himself to be better in the here and now. He knew what waited on the path he'd follow if he ordered the drink he so desperately wanted, and he wanted no part in the pain he would bring on himself.

He sipped idly at the glass of water, gazing at Thalassa over the rim of the cup. She was dismissive of his question, but something about her response had him raising his brows. "Bigger than an ursur?" he asked pointedly. And even though it wasn't really his business or his problem, he hesitated for only a moment before adding, "Need any help?" Because she'd helped him tonight, whether she'd intended to or not, and he would repay that debt, if she'd let him.

If all we are is just what we've earned
We are the destroyers

You are not alone

Indulging in her liquor over any bland water, Thal raised an amused eyebrow to Liam's question. "Dygra and her quests are definitely bigger than any ursur." Physically and metaphorically. At least where she had a million things to figure out about this ursur, where to find him, and how to beat him to a pulp next time, her quest for Dygra was straight forward. 

The added bit of offered assistance brought out a low chuckle as she lowered her glass. When her eyes rose to look at him, they glinted dangerously, a suggestion of caution for someone so willing to help. "Not unless you want to have your life force drained." It was said nonchalantly, a small smile on her lips despite the unpleasant truth of what she required. It wouldn't be an enjoyable experience for whomever agreed to it, and she wouldn't soften the truth by pretending it was anything but torture that few people would subject themselves to.

Expecting him to rescind the offer, Thal turned to take another casual sip of her drink.

- Thalassa -

You are not unknown

Liam

In just a matter of minutes, just a matter of time
We could lose it all, we could lose it all

Ah. A quest, then. Well, that drive, at least, Liam could understand, having completed some of his own. "I see." Drumming his fingers lightly against the bartop, the ex-soldier waited and listened, brow furrowing at the low chuckle and the dangerous glint in Thalassa's eyes. And when she spoke, his frown only deepened. "Er..." The short answer, of course, was 'not really.' Despite his depression, he had no intention of dying, and he would be surprised if, after everything, this was the moment that Thal decided to kill him.

So he considered, gaze unreadable on her face. Then, finally, he said drily, "I would prefer not to be drained to the point of death." Reaching up to rub the stubble on his jaw, he sighed. "What, exactly, is it that you need to do?" Perhaps additional information would sway him one way or the other - or talk him out of offering something he couldn't take back.

If all we are is just what we've earned
We are the destroyers

You are not alone

"Who said anything about death?" The feigned innocence in her eyes was similar to that of someone who'd suggested a walk then been asked if it would be off a cliff. She even threw in a bit of offense just to make it realistic. However, the glint in her eyes revealed the truth, how pleased she was that he seemed hesitant. Thal might have no reason to kill Liam at this point, but his acknowledgement that she could was enough to flatter a girl.

Lowering her glass, he surprises her by continuing to ask for clarification. As if he might actually be considering it. 

Thal leaned against the counter, a fanged grin on her face that was sweet enough to tempt a fly with honey but sharp enough to bite. "I just need to use my siphon ability on someone stupid enough to let me so they can tell me what it feels like." Tilting her head, blonde hair fell over the bruises, eyes sparkling with humor at Liam's obvious lapse in judgement. "Simple, right?"

- Thalassa -

You are not unknown

Liam

In just a matter of minutes, just a matter of time
We could lose it all, we could lose it all

Though Thalassa hadn't said anything explicitly about death, one did not simply agree to have their life force drained without at least a little hesitation. Liam might be depressed and have a healthy dose of self-loathing to work through, but he wasn't suicidal. He had every intention of returning home to his partner and finding a way to work through whatever this was with Wren, if it was in fact Wren that he was working through things with. But what Thal described didn't seem too hard. Unpleasant, maybe, but not deadly, if she needed the person to be able to share their experience with her.

"Alright," Liam said, resigning himself to the fact that he might have finally gone insane. "How does your siphon ability work? Do I need to... do anything?" Other than volunteer as a lab rat for this truly bizarre experience. Gods, if Maea ever found out about this, she might just kill him.

If all we are is just what we've earned
We are the destroyers

You are not alone

"Alright."

Thal smothers the surprise with a flick of her tail. She can't decide if he's stupid for offering his life force so easily, or if he's just stupid in general. A better, kinder person would refuse to continue, refuse to let him give up any of his energy like this. But a better, kinder person wouldn't have the ability to begin with. 

So she lowers her glass softly onto the countertop, excitement sparking across her blue eyes as she slides her arm along the wood, closing the distance between them as she pins him with her gaze. Her voice is dangerously quiet, a flicker of shadow beneath calm waters. "It requires physical touch." And in case his mind decides to jump to dramatics again, she adds an amused smirk and unfurls her hand palm up on the counter. "Just a finger will do." Her fangs flash briefly, graciously giving him another opportunity to back out, daring him to.

- Thalassa -

You are not unknown

Liam

In just a matter of minutes, just a matter of time
We could lose it all, we could lose it all

Thal flicked her tail, excitement sparking in her gaze as she reached across the bartop, offering her hand palm up. Liam stared at it for a moment, hesitating one final time. But in the end, remembering that the Ancient needed his feedback for her quest and it would therefore be unfortunate to kill him - especially given that she was unlikely to find someone else stupid enough to agree to this - he reached out, hesitant, to place his hand loosely over hers.

Resisting the urge to fidget with his water glass, the ex-soldier tried to brace himself for what was to come, but having no frame of reference for what would transpire, he wasn't sure how he should best prepare. Would he simply feel drained or tired? Surely Thal wouldn't look so very predatory if that was it, so would it hurt? And how badly?

"Ready when you are."

If all we are is just what we've earned
We are the destroyers

You are not alone

The contact is timid, the hesitancy clear in the hover of his hand. While her own hand is small yet surprisingly rough from years of working the ship, she can feel Liam's soldierly callouses through the brush of contact. She doesn't pay any mind to the dry skin or transferring of heat. Her mind latches onto the invisible thread that forms between them, a bridge which she can reach across. Letting her eyes rest on the place they touch as if she can see the magic, Thal draws on the connection. 

If anyone were to call her 'gentle,' the Captain would scoff and show them how 'gently' she can bury her dagger beneath their skin, however, Liam has offered her something willingly despite the apprehension singing through every muscle of his body. So when Thal begins to siphon his energy, it's not with the force of ripping out a heart as she'd used in Rae's Fingers, it's with the slow ease of a claw drawn delicately across skin, splitting it only enough to see a small trickle of red blood follow its path. 

Tension falls from her shoulders, her breath deepening as a thin haze of healing spreads across her body. Pain weakens first, the burn of her wounds dampening as new skin begins to form in the deepest sections. The blue of her eyes darkens before she can hide it, the briefest moment of relief as her eyelashes flutter against the multi-colored bruise that softens to a smudge along her cheekbone. 

By the time she stops, only a few seconds have passed. Her tail moves slower behind her, the sharpness of her features relaxing without the edge of pain when she looks to Liam. Swallowing, she blinks her humor and defenses back into place, raising an expectant brow to hear his analysis.

- Thalassa -

You are not unknown

Liam

In just a matter of minutes, just a matter of time
We could lose it all, we could lose it all

At first, nothing happened - but then, like a creeping vine of ivy, he felt it.

The initial draw was faint, gentle almost, but as the contact continued, the siphoning grew more pronounced. His body began to ache, like a slow migraine that covered every inch of his skin, and he shifted uncomfortably in his chair as the feeling grew. And with the pain came a feeling of exhaustion, as though he'd not slept in days, the feeling crawling lazily through his mind, bringing a level of fog with it. Both sensations grew in tandem, an aching, tiring crescendo that sang in his blood. Every bit of him recoiled from it, begging him to draw his hand away and break the contact before it became too much, too painful, too exhausting -

And just when it threatened to overtake him, the feeling stopped.

At first, Liam said nothing. He focused instead on relaxing muscles that had stiffened and tensed beneath Thalassa's ministrations, on unclenching his jaw so that words might come out. When he spoke, it was with a hoarse voice that was not unlike that with which he'd started the evening. The circles under his eyes had deepened, and he looked very much the part of the man drained of life.

"That was... unpleasant." Sitting up straighter in his chair, he winced at the lingering soreness throughout his body. "It hurt - but slowly, like you were increasing the pain bit by bit. And it wasn't sharp, like a dagger or a sword, but... I feel like I was trampled by a herd of horses." Flexing his hands, one of which he'd clamped around his water cup, he hissed softly at the cracking of knuckles. "And I just feel drained, like you sucked some of the life out of me."

Looking up, he realized that Thalassa looked a hell of a lot better than she had moments before. "But I guess that's the point, isn't it?" he added drily. "I'm not sure what all you need to know, so... ask away."

If all we are is just what we've earned
We are the destroyers

You are not alone

When she opens her eyes to see Liam's haggard expression, she's not the least bit surprised by the answer he gives. He looks miserable - worse than when he got here. Bags have formed beneath his eyes, a paleness coating his skin and the obvious exhaustion now taking hold. 

Her lips purse with the barest hint of displeasure, pretending not to feel the smallest pang of guilt for his suffering. If he was someone else, she'd relish in the pain, but she doesn't like knowing this was just another tally on a list of debts she owes. 

Pushing the thoughts aside, she looks away and downs the rest of her drink before smirking at the comment of having his life drained. "It is." The point, that is. But the humor vanishes as quickly as the alcohol, her spine straightening against the discomfort. "That should be enough." From his end at least. 

Thal shrugs her shoulders, brushing her fingers lightly over where the bruise has healed considerably. "It's obviously the opposite for me. Your energy flowed to me freely. Some of the pain is gone because of it, and I can feel that the worst of my injuries have healed." Her hands drops back to the counter, a melancholy smile twisting when she add, "But it would take quite a bit more to completely close it all." More from him or from multiple sources. 

Finally looking to Liam again, she assesses him with a sharp, scrutinizing gaze. "Will you be okay getting back home?" Doubt laces her tone, wondering if he even has the strength to stand from the bar. She hadn't thought she'd taken that much from him, but perhaps the magic is more powerful than she'd anticipated.

- Thalassa -

You are not unknown

Liam

In just a matter of minutes, just a matter of time
We could lose it all, we could lose it all

It was probably for the best that Thalassa had enough information; Liam wasn't sure what else he could tell her aside from what he'd already shared. Perhaps, were he in better spirits - or if he hadn't just been drained - he could have told her more and been more eloquent about it. As it was, at the moment, all he wanted to do was find somewhere to lie down.

Her concern - or doubt, whatever he called it - brought a wry smile to his lips. "Don't tell me you're starting to care," he teased. Then, expecting a scoff and perhaps a biting remark, Liam help up a hand. "I'll be fine. Plenty of inns in the Grounds where I can sleep it off." And when he awoke, he'd head for home - and put his newfound plans in motion.

If all we are is just what we've earned
We are the destroyers

You are not alone

Just as Liam had predicted, a scoff rises in her throat, quick and utterly dismissive of his joke. "Don't flatter yourself." She reaches again for her drink, eyes flickering away so he doesn't see the bit of softening at the edges. The last bit of liquor goes down easy, washing away the sprinkling of emotion as she flicks her tail and sets aside her empty glass. "Good. I don't have time for babysitting."

Feeling much better than when she'd entered the bar, Thal stands with her usual level of characteristic deadly grace. The gleam in the blue depths of her eyes is sharper, brimming with renewed energy thanks to the man's sacrifice. It feels wrong to leave him in such a state, but she's itching to do something now - most likely something Liam wouldn't want to see. So she turns to give him a final once over, slipping enough money across the bar to cover her drink and anything else he might decide to order. And with a curt nod, she leaves him with a sincere "Good luck, Liam."

[FIN]

- Thalassa -

You are not unknown