Colin's posts

"....." Gregory was silent for a moment.

"You... are correct." he said.

"Hey, listen, you just stay up here, try and distract yourself with painting, and don't do anything foolish." he told her.

"I'll be back shortly." he promised her.

Casey said nothing in response, and just looked off into space, causing Gregory to sigh and disappear, appearing where Madison was.

"What?" he asked.

"Because something REAL weird's happening with Casey." he told her.

Gregory shook his head.

"There is, but I'm not the only reaper." he told her.

"There ARE others." he said further.

"The job WILL get done." he assured her.

"Right now, YOU are the most important person in my life... afterlife... whatever." he then said.

'...what was that...?' he wondered.

'What in the HELL was THAT?'

"........" Gregory was silent as he heard this.

'...what the...?' he thought.

"Of course." he then said.

"I WILL stop you." he told her.

"You've come too far to let whatever this is win." he went on.

"I'll do everything I can to ensure you triumph over this."

Lindsay was silent for a moment as she left.

He was about to go and see Casey, before stopping and placing his hands on his head, his elbows on his desk.

"Agh... my head..." he growled.

Meanwhile, up in the attic, Gregory continued to hold Casey close.

"It's all right." he said.

"I know this is scary, but remember, I'm here for you, at the very least." he assured her.

That's when she saw something.

Lindsay flinched, much like he had earlier.

"I... I know." he said.

"She needs help, and I love her... I have to help her." he went on.

"I'd never forgive myself if something were to happen to her..." he said further... before having the spasm once more.

"Which is why I will do everything in my power as a professional to make sure she does nothing rash and drastic." he told her.

"Gregory is her friend, but I have the extensive knowledge and experience to make sure nothing more happens." he went on.

"Is there anything else you wish to aggressively articulate towards me?" he then asked.

"Excuse me?" Lindsay asked.

"If you are going to stand here and throw such accusations at me, then you are free to leave, Madam." he told her.

"I am a highly trained professional, and if there's anyone that can help someone who is despairing, like Casey, then it is I." he declared.

"You come to me inquiring as to why I am not assisting your daughter in this time, and when I agree with what you are saying, you THEN tell me not to do so. Please. Do us both a favour and not give conflicting advice." he suggested.

"Is that such a tall order to fill?"

Lindsay was silent for a moment.

"I..." he stammered.

"It... it's been a very long time since she's performed such an act." he admitted.

"The fact that she's done so is very disturbing, to understate the circumstances." he went on.

"You ARE correct in your assertation that one such at myself has a responsibility when self-harm is a factor." he then said further.

"I suppose I should be a little more assertive and aggressive in my suggestions." he continued.

"It would seem that a frank dialogue is quite the requirement, and I must use the knowledge and experience I have acquired over the years to perhaps determine what has caused this, and attempt to assist her in returning to a more stable state."

Lindsay was genuinely shocked and borderline scared by her sudden appearance and explosion of anger.

"Oh!" he exclaimed.

"I made an attempt." he told her.

"I attempted to establish a dialogue with her. At first it seemed like she was receptive to the suggestion, but she then informed me that she wished to delve into artistic endeavours, as that has been a frequent coping mechanism for her" he said.

"Admittedly, this sudden downturn in her general mood level is confusion, and perhaps a little concerning." he went on.

"But if she does not wish to share and engage in a communication, then nothing positive can come from myself insisting that she do so?" he asked.

"After all, it's common knowledge for one in my field to realise that a patient must be willing to open up, and share of their own free will."

Gregory got closer to her, and draped an arm over her shoulders, gently pulling her close.

"I know you're scared." he said.

"I can feel it." he told her.

'...and it doesn't feel right. For multiple reasons...' he then thought.

"Well, if Lindsay isn't here for you, I am." he continued.

"If nothing else, you know you can count on me."

Her response startled him.

There was no way that was right... was it?

"I..." he stammered.

'Madison, I need help.' he then sent to the woman he worked with... Casey's mother.

'I need you to either come and help console your daughter, or go and talk to Lindsay about why he ISN'T trying to help her.' he sent further.

"Casey, I... I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding." he offered.

"Lindsay's not like that, right?"

Gregory shook his head.

"No." he replied.

"This is more important." he told her.

"But something's confusing me." he then said.

"Where's Lindsay?" he asked.

"Why isn't he helping you with whatever's wrong?"

Again, he was silent, before shaking his head. He created a small portal and reached through it, bringing a roll of bandages out of it.

"Come on." he said, taking her bleeding hand in his own, and starting to wrap it.

"It's easy to see something's bothering you." he commented.

"You're in a very bad place right now. One I haven't seen you in... in a while." he went on.

"So... come on and talk?" he suggested.

"You know you can talk to me, right?"

Before he could vanish from the rune being cancelled, he made himself stay there.

"...that wasn't an apology situation." he said.

"........" he was then silent, before sighing, and realising that the form he was hiding behind the cloak was probably not the best form. After a moment, there was very small pulse of mana, and he took off the hood, revealing the form of a man in his 20's or so.

He then sat down beside Casey.

"Wanna talk?" he asked.

LIndsay stopped suddenly, before he got to the room, and sighed.

'She'll have a dialogue when she feels like it.' he thought.

He then turned and left, the voice in the back of his head being drowned out, no matter how hard or loud it tried to scream,

Meanwhile, the rune did its job, and a cloaked figure was summoned to where she was.

And immediately, he knew something was off.

"....that was a blood rune." he commented.

"You haven't done that in a VERY long time..." he told Casey.