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[Mukuro glances Riley's way, looking faintly guilty, but - they can talk about this another time. Or not. They could also never discuss this again if that's what Riley prefers. She doesn't know how to navigate this, she just knows she helped and that's good enough for her.

She's already standing to leave when Eridanus extends the invitation - and Riley's murmured plea is enough to make her pause. It's not clear who exactly it's meant for, but. There's no harm in sleeping a room away from her usual couch.]

...All right.

[With that soft acceptance, she ducks into the kitchen to fetch water. Having a task is ideal.]

[Mukuro is apprehensive, but Riley is persuasive in her own ways. Eridanus continues to hold her to his chest, even when he diverges and takes her to her bedroom while her neighbor (friend) fetches a glass of water.

Within the confines of another room, Eridanus lays Riley down into her bed, pulls the sheets around her and sweeps away loose feathers with the back of his hand. He looks her over, minding the fresh cuts that have already begun to congeal and scab where she'd scratched herself too hard.]

I'm glad you had someone closer to you to come to your immediate rescue, Sunshine.

[He murmurs, and in the edges of his deep, rumbling voice is a sorrow of not being able to arrive sooner than Ryslig's bus system could carry him. Despite knowing how to drive now, thanks to that other version of their lives, he is still without his own vehicle to make it a faster trip.]

Does she know... about Aunamee?

[ About Aunamee. Not about anything else. Not about how she's a liar. A murderer. A person who would take away someone's special person—

Riley nods. ]

I... I told her. You can trust her. [ Mukuro burst in here, when... Ah. The scratches on her face. She had forgotten about them. Riley shuts her eyes tight, letting herself breathe slowly. ]

[A few minutes pass before there's a soft knock on the door and Mukuro slips in. She sets the glass of water down at Riley's bedside - as well as some cotton pads and wound cleaning solution. Supplies she'd ducked into 807 to fetch, wanting to make sure Riley's scratches are properly cared for.

She'll have to replace those tomorrow, but the walk to the pharmacy isn't bad.]

...Hey. Um. I'll - be on the couch. If you need me.

[Her voice is very soft, but her eyes dart between Riley and Eridanus one more time before she seems more or less calm. When she's mostly sure everything is okay.

She waits just long enough for goodnights before retreating again.]

[Eridanus nods, though really, it isn't a matter of trust or not. Trust was gained the moment he even saw Mukuro trying her best to calm Riley—anyone who would try to comfort rather than harm her when she was already in such a delicate state is someone he can rely on.

But he doesn't say as much to his daughter now, especially not when Mukuro returns with water and first aid. She's flighty though, with reason—he assumes it's because of his own presence.]

Do not be afraid, my dear. I have already told you that I will not let him harm you, [Eridanus tucks some misplaced feathers behind Riley's ear,] and having more allies will ensure that.

[He knows that Mukuro has already retreated to the living room, but an important discussion is yet to be had.]

Call you friend back in here, my dear. I'm afraid these claws of mine will be terrible for first aid, and you are too shaky to do it yourself.

[ Riley sniffles lightly, pushing even the thought of Aunamee approaching her in the back of her mind. Eridanus' gentle touch helps with that. Safe. Like this, she's safe. ]

What? [ She blinks and brings a hand up, to one of the deeper scratches on her face. ] ...O-oh. Right, I wasn't thinking.

[ She raises her voice just a little, despite how scratchy it is. ] Mukuro? Um... Can you come back here?

[Mukuro isn't expecting to be summoned so soon, but she appears dutifully regardless, and the situation becomes clear when she sees both of them with their razor-claws.]

...Oh. Sorry, I can - yeah.

[That makes sense. She probably should have anticipated this.
Without hesitation, she approaches the bed, picks up some gauze, and soaks it in antiseptic so she can dab ever so carefully at Riley's scratches. It's sure to sting, at least a little, but she does her best to be as gentle as she can - and to her credit, it's about as painless as anyone could make it.

It's pretty clear she's had lots of experience with this sort of thing.]

[When Mukuro returns, Eridanus moves aside so that she can better mind Riley's cuts. He still stays close, however—or at least, close enough to keep his own hand over his daughter's. It reminds him for a moment of their false-life. How, whenever she had gotten hurt, be it competitions or riding a bike, she had always wanted to hold his hand while he patched her up. It made things harder, of course, but with a second set of hands available, Eridanus falls into the habit without thinking.]

Miss Mukuro, you are quite resilient, aren't you? [He gives Riley's hand a gentle squeeze, minding his daggered claws as he does.] You are still new to this peninsula, and yet you carry yourself expertly when tasks are required of you.

[It reminds him of his soldiers on the warfront, though whatever this child has lived through, he won't go so far as to make them all uncomfortable by inferring out loud.]

If I give you Aunamee's physical description, will you protect my Riley when I cannot?

[ Riley's silent throughout the first aid process. She winces lightly at the antiseptic, as expected, but it's nothing like the pain of her wings growing in, of her feet practically melting off, so she certainly doesn't complain. At this moment, she feels strangely pampered despite it all, and thirsty for more.

Until, of course— ] Dad...

[ She starts quietly, a little awkward. ]

She's already...done so much, I couldn't ask her to...um...

[Mukuro nods absently as Eridanus speaks. She's very used to the more senior monsters commenting on her demeanor by now. A lifetime of horror had prepared her for this one. One of the few upsides.

But his question makes her look up sharply, and:]

Yes.

[Her response is immediate, despite Riley's soft protests.]

Yes, I will.

[Riley doesn't need to ask her to. She would have tried to anyway, even without her father's blessing. But knowing exactly what she's up against will make it easier.]

[Eridanus' hand remains over Riley's, continuing to gently, but firmly squeeze.]

Aunamee is a man of average height, but peculiar appearance, so he's easy to recognize. His head looks as if it's made of shattered glass, and he seems to only wear clothing that is all white — suits, preferably. He keeps a knife on him, but that shouldn't be an issue if you are combat trained.

[As far as Lucius said, he wasn't a difficult opponent... but then again, to Lucius the Eternal, no one on this peninsula is.]

The difficulty arises from his monster type. Aunamee is a lich, and they are a type of undead monster that are incredible hard to kill due to the fact that their hearts are kept in phylacteries. Beyond this, he is also a priest of the Fog God, so only Light knows what sort of magic he wields. The only spell of his that I have witnessed in person was his ability to turn his mirrored head into the appearance of one of his victims.

[Which means... Erin.]

While I am more than capable of fending off Aunamee myself, I live too far away to be here if he mysteriously shows up on Riley's doorstep. Luckily, he is a weak-willed man who will flee a fight if he isn't obviously winning it.

[ He's already giving instructions. Orders. And Mukuro's listening and nodding, like a...

Like a good soldier.

It unnerves her. But she also doesn't know what Aunamee looks like here, so it's not like she wants to interrupt the description. So, Riley frowns lightly, looking from one to the other, not saying anything. She lightly pales at the thought of Aunamee reflecting those he's killed— he can just do that? That's just something he can do, like a sick trophy?

She shivers. Maybe it's good timing that Maple hops up on the bed at that point, snuggling into her side. ]

[Eridanus has her full attention as he speaks. 'A knife' is almost laughable; she can handle a man with a knife as easily as breathing, but the potential for magic is more concerning. Still, she nods, sharp and firm. Whatever magic he has, whatever monster he's become, he's still just a man under it all. And the kind of man who has to taunt girls over the internet to feel big.

Pathetic.]

Understood.

[There's something about the way he speaks that calms her. Yes, she's a good soldier, she can listen and obey. She can protect Riley.]

...I don't need to kill him as long as I can disable him.
I'm not worried.

[Hard to do much with both hands severed at the wrist, for example.

She turns most of her attention back to Riley, making sure her wounds are clean and well-cared-for. They're not deep, they won't scar. Her voice comes again, a little softer, as she finishes up.]

...Just call me if you need. I'll come.

[That Mukuro's reply comes instant and with the clarity he would expect of a soldier, Eridanus only feels as if his suspicions have been confirmed. Even more so, when she continues as if she's already decided that it's a fight she'll win. No fear, but not confidence either—simply a need to complete the mission.

It creases his brow, pulls his thin lips downwards into a small frown. That this child had to play soldier in her previous life sickens him, but... he figures, she might just be one of the few where Ryslig ends up being a better place for her than her previous world was.]

Riley, my dear, sweet girl... [Eridanus turns his gaze back towards her as Mukuro finishes applying first aid, and he brings a hand up to pet her feathered hair,] we care about you, so please... allow us to protect you. I understand that you are apprehensive to learning self defense, and I won't force you to learn swordplay — but if Aunamee... does manage to harm you...

[His voice tightens, pain edging into it as he shoves down what guilt he has before it can find his gaze.]

I will have failed as you father, [he takes a steadying breath,] I... will not be yet another parent who disappoints you.

[ A wet, choked hiccup escapes Riley's lips as she tries to keep herself from falling apart. There's very little she can do in that department, though, as her vision blurs and her body trembles. ]

Daddy...! [ She can't fight it. That amount of dedication and love, it tears into her. Even with the other lifetime in her mind, it's never going to be anything less than special every time he expresses this—every word, every touch, every single look is enough for her to treasure, forever.

So Riley throws her arms back around him, shaking and sobbing in his arms. ]

[This is - good, she knows, it's good Riley has support. It's good she has someone to protect her that isn't Mukuro, someone who actually knows her. Family. She's genuinely glad that, at least for now, Eridanus seems like someone who cares.

It's also profoundly uncomfortable and unfamiliar, all this pure familial love. It feels like she's intruding on a private moment, and something in her recoils, like an suspicious animal from possibly-poisoned food. So. She gathers the stained gauze and first aid and steps back.]

...Please let me know if you need anything else.

[With that, she gives a short bow and retreats again.]

[Much like a specter, Mukuro comes and goes, and despite the way Riley clings to him—coaxing his gentle, petting touch over her hair—his gaze follows the girl silently as she exits the room. Though he feels completely at ease in this situation, her own discomfort is apparent. A child soldier, who is wary of adults and is made uneasy by familial displays... it all slots together perfectly in his mind to give him an idea of what the girl is like.

And in many ways, it reminds him of Riley, too—those first weeks and months, where she had danced around him with uncomfortable smiles and conversations brushed aside.]

Your friend is rather flighty, isn't she? [Eridanus adjusts himself at the side of Riley's bed, tugging the blankets over her lap like a too-worried parent.] I hope I didn't make her uncomfortable with my presence. Wouldn't it be better if I slept on the couch and you had one of those...

[What are they called?]

Slumber parties...?

[ Through her tears, Riley smiles just a little. Slumber parties are for kids, but she'd much rather feel like a kid, right now. Like she can be protected and kept safe, the way she's always supposed to feel. ]

She, um— [ A sniffle, as she rubs at her eyes, careful not to disturb the bandages. ] She doesn't...really socialize a lot.

[ A sleepover. If she really pretends, it could just be normal. Like the ones she used to have with Cairo, before everything got just so supremely fucked up. ]

I'll...ask, but can- can you just...stay here, f-for awhile?

[Despite concern for the girl now occupying Riley's couch, he could never ignore a request from her. So, while he stands from the edge of her bed and untangles himself from their embrace, it's only for as long as he needs to peels himself out of his jacket and vest, as well as his foot coverings.]

Of course I'll stay my dear, [Eridanus exhales before climbing into the bed proper and offering his arm for her,] I will stay for as long as you want me to.

[Whether that's simply giving her his arm to sleep on for the night, or for the next two or three—he's sure Lucius won't mind his absence.]

[ Riley doesn't want to leave Mukuro alone. Not when she'd rushed over to help her, not when she'd shown her such kindness and care. But there's something she's not ready to talk about with Mukuro yet, something she's not ready to talk about with most people.

Riley shrinks down under the blanket, nuzzling into his side. ]

...You really still...love me...even though I... [ Can't even say it.

Sometimes she thinks she can still smell their blood. Sometimes, she thinks about how before she even killed them she could smell their blood. She thinks about how for a good few days after, she wondered if she was walking through a dream, or a nightmare. ]

...I...could hurt you too. I could...hurt so many people.

Edited 2021-05-22 00:21 (UTC)

Of course I love you, [Eridanus almost sounds convicted, as those words pass his lips in a gentle murmur,] I have always loved you, my dear.

[In that other world, from birth until his dying breath. In Ryslig, when he found her trembling in a dirt and dung-made cell, confusion stricken and so very afraid of every little sound, every little movement. He has loved her from the very moment their souls met, and he decided—ah, this is one who is shaped in the same way he is. Different from the others, and so very afraid of it.

He sees a younger version of himself in her, and for that reason alone, he wishes to love her undying so that she will never become the sort of beast he has.]

You won't hurt me, my sweet girl... just the fact that you hold such a fear is proof enough that you will not do so, [he pets her cheek with the words—mindful of her bandages—holding her fast to his side,] I promise you, dear Riley, your heart is far to big to become the sort of person who hurts the masses.

[ It wasn't instantaneous for Riley. She couldn't shake it, years of feeling like she couldn't be good enough, that whatever she tried, whatever she did, no one would acknowledge her. Not a coach, teacher, or parent—she'd muddle through on her own, or depending entirely on Cairo until the two knew and loved each other so much they could no longer stand each other.

Riley tried to apply that to Ryslig as well. But, slowly but surely, she found...exceptions. Cracks in the carefully carved mask she's worn all this time. People who...aren't shying away, despite her reservations. Eridanus was the first to offer it, unconditional aid. Against expectation from everything she's experienced, he's here. She asked for help, and he came. ]

You really...really... [ An awful girl who takes away people's loved ones doesn't deserve this. But still, Riley drinks it all in as he holds her close. A quiet escapes hum her, wet and wavering and elated. She's wanted this for so, so long; she can't help herself. ] Dad. Dad, thank you, tha- thank you, I... I love- love you too...!

[ A sleepover is a great and wonderful idea. However, Riley is tired. If left in this position, she's absolutely going to fall asleep at Eridanus' side...and she doesn't seem inclined to move. ]

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cw: untreated mental illness, homicidal ideation, dissociation mentions

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WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CHEERYCHERRY. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 019.46.820.17 * CHEERYCHERRY has joined 019.46.820.17 <CHEERYCHERRY> It's Riley! <CHEERYCHERRY> Please leave a message! <CHEERYCHERRY>** Please be someone with their priorities sorted out properly!