Omega19x: There is a knock on the door.
ph33r my rod: Isis slowly made her way to the door, wrapped up in a blanket. She opened it, sniffling. "...hello."
Omega19x: "Greetings good priestess." Mahaado shivered, pulling his robes around him. He had even found an extra coat that must have belonged to Seth, and was wearing that as well.
Omega19x: "I brought you a potion."
ph33r my rod: "...thank you, hopefully it should help." Her voice was hoarse from all of the coughing she'd been doing. "If you're cold, you can come in for a minute and warm up before walking back."
Omega19x: "If it does not trouble you, perhaps that would be a good idea." he shivered, making certain not to accidently brush his hands against the tube that was just poking out of the top of his robes.
ph33r my rod: "Okay." She stepped aside, covering her mouth as she let out a couple of coughs.
Omega19x: "The infusion is one of my best potions. The peppermint will help ease nausea, elderflower for sore throats and coughing, boneset for aching muscles, and vervain to reduce fever. I also added a slight healing spell, to increase your body's natural defenses and energy."
ph33r my rod: "...oh, good, one that treats everything. It sounds much more effective than what the doctors prescribed me."
Omega19x: "The healers here are barbarians." he replied frankly, sitting down/
ph33r my rod: Isis nodded a little, sitting down as well. "Really, not all of them are... true, some are downright sadistic, but some can be really helpful." She sniffled again. "I didn't get either of those when I went to the hospital earlier."
Omega19x: "I pray that the gods grant you a swift recovery."
ph33r my rod: "...thank you. I could use it."
Omega19x: Mahaado nodded politely.
ph33r my rod: "Uhm..." Isis tugged her blanket tighter around herself. "There's something I'd sort of like to talk to you about too, if you don't mind."
Omega19x: "Yes?"
ph33r my rod: "...your drinking habit. It... really worries me."
Omega19x: Mahaado looked down at the floor. "I see..."
ph33r my rod: "I'm sorry, I just..." She started to sigh, but it turned into a short coughing fit. "I'm just concerned. About you, and the effects it could have in the long run..."
Omega19x: "No, it is all right. I... have done things recently that I am not proud of." Mahaado sighed, leaning back. "You have every right to be concerned."
ph33r my rod: "...I really just want to know what drives you to do that. Because, I've noticed a bit of a... pattern." Isis reached across to the coffee table and grabbed a tissue, wiping at her nose with it. "You seem to drink - and I mean really drink - after particularly stressful events. Like when Rishid disappeared, after that whole Finn fiasco, atfer your rematch with my brother's dark half..."
Omega19x: Mahaado was quiet for a while, thinking about how to best respond.
Omega19x: "It... helps me forget things." he eventually whispered.
ph33r my rod: "...forget?"
Omega19x: "Yes." he answered quietly. "Forget things."
ph33r my rod: "There are better ways to forget things..." She looked down at her lap, clutching at her tissue. "And sometimes it's better to work through the problem itself instead of trying to forget it..."
Omega19x: Mahaado sighed. "Some failures cannot be remedied. No matter what the sacrifice."
ph33r my rod: "...I guess that's true." Isis glanced up at him, then back down. "I just wish you'd... take better care of yourself. I get so worried when you drink so much that you pass out, or get put into the hospital... I'm not trying to tell you how to live or anything like that, but it just hurts to see you do that to yourself."
Omega19x: Mahaado glanced away. He wanted to tell Isis that it was none of her concern, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. She was right. Once he started drinking, he wouldn't stop until it was gone, until he was in such a stupor that he passed out.
Omega19x: And how much he tried to forget... when he eventually woke up, and the massive hangovers subsided, he had escaped nothing, and forgotten nothing more than what happened the night (or few nights...) before.
Omega19x: "It solves nothing. Does it not?" he asked softly.
ph33r my rod: Isis nodded slightly, looking up at him. "Right... even after everything, the problem is still there. So there's no need for it..."
Omega19x: "It makes no rational sense." he sighed. "But that does not stop me from imbibing yet another bottle of intoxicating liquor."
ph33r my rod: "...and you can think of no other alternatives?"
Omega19x: "None that..." he shifted his glance, still speaking softly. He was rather embarrassed and ashamed about all this. "None that give me the pleasure of letting my guard down for a brief moment."
Omega19x: "Which, sadly, ceases to be pleasurable once I come to my senses again."
ph33r my rod: "I'm sure there's something... perhaps you just haven't looked in the right places." Feeling a sneeze coming on, she turned away, releasing it into her tissue. "Either way, if it's just something you subconsciously turn to... maybe you should get some kind of help for it."
Omega19x: "Right..." he sighed, half-dismissively. "Help."
ph33r my rod: She looked up at him again, the sudden movement making her slightly dizzy. Isis leaned back into the couch, waiting for her head rush to clear up before speaking again. "Please don't take that the wrong way, I don't mean to offend at all, I just... you're my friend, and I care about you." She sighed. "At least try to control yourself when you do drink...?"
Omega19x: Mahaado sighed again. That was much of the problem. "It is like the sennen spellbook, good priestess. After a point, one after the other, there is no more control."
ph33r my rod: "...I see." Isis looked away, focusing on an interesting-looking spot on the floor. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have even brought it up..." Her voice was quiet.
Omega19x: "It becomes just another thing I would rather forget..."
Omega19x: "Being unable to keep control... That is not something to be proud of." he looked away. "It is the worst of mistakes for a sorcerer."
ph33r my rod: "...you have to focus to keep control, right? Maybe that's part of the problem... the more you drink, the less you can focus, and the more likely you are to lose control. So that's a problem in itself..."
Omega19x: Mahaado looked away. "... Good priestess... There was a day on which the pharaoh found me drinking. He needed my assistance in a ritual, and instead of preparing, I was... He told me to choose, and I had difficulty choosing duty over drink. I had difficulty choosing to go with the pharaoh!"
Omega19x: "I.. have no control..."
Omega19x: Mahaado buried his face in his hands. "The healer, Subaru, told me that I was running away from my problems, and all I did was return home and try to drown those words. I was a disgrace to the pharaoh."
ph33r my rod: "..." Isis was silent for a moment, before reaching out to lightly grip his sleeve. "...please, there has to be something else you can do. I don't know what, but..." She bit her lip.
Omega19x: "I have failed as his priest..." Mahaado couldn't bear to look Isis in the eyes.
ph33r my rod: She eyed him for a moment before looking down at the cough, reaching up to wipe at her eye with her free hand. "...I'm sorry. You came here to help me out, and I... I didn't mean to get you thinking about all of this. I just wanted to help..."
Omega19x: "I can fight shadow creatures that threaten the safety of the world. I can survive poisons that would kill an army. I have the strength to carve my own heart out and survive. I can perform magic meant for gods... and yet... I am powerless to stop myself from losing control..." he held his head in his hands.
ph33r my rod: "...I don't know what else to tell you, other than think about it before you really get started. Like..." She looked over at the table, picking up an empty mug she'd been drinking from earlier. "Say you'
ph33r my rod: jkdfsjkd
ph33r my rod: (( *stabs enter key* ))
ph33r my rod: "Say you'll only have this much, and cut yourself off after that." She set the mug back down. "But it's... not that easy, is it..."
Omega19x: "No." he just shook his head. "It is not."
Omega19x: The amount in a tiny cup may have been a large amount for Isis, but for Mahaado, he could chug three bottles of Everclear without noticing any difference.
ph33r my rod: "...then I don't know..." She cut herself off; all of this talking was making her throat hurt worse. She'd have to get that potion into her system before long. "...s-sorry."
Omega19x: "No." he added, standing up. "The fault is not yours. It rests with me."
ph33r my rod: Isis nodded, letting go of his sleeve. "...please, at least try to do something about it. You won't get anywhere if you don't..."
Omega19x: "What can I do?" he finally asked. "Like a complex shadow battle, this is a war I do not think I can win alone..."
ph33r my rod: "...then let us help. Or someone... anyone."
Omega19x: "How..."
ph33r my rod: "I can't answer that... you're the only one who can decide how someone can help." She reached up again, gripping his hand. "Please..."
Omega19x: He stood there, pondering for the longest time.
Omega19x: "Priestess... One trains to fight shadow battles, learning spells, weapons, tactics." he finally answered. "How do I train to fight myself?"
ph33r my rod: "... The same way you'd train to fight anything else. Just... focus on what you want to do, and then do it. Don't lose that focus..."
Omega19x: "No..." he shook his head. "Where can I find a master?"
ph33r my rod: Isis thought for a moment. "...well, there are people out there who can help. I suppose you'd call them a 'healer' of sorts... I know you don't really like 'healers', but... just trust me on this one."
Omega19x: "They can train me to stop?"
ph33r my rod: She nodded, looking up at him.
Omega19x: "Where can I find them?" he turned towards Isis. "I cannot live like this, priestess. I... cannot allow myself to be defeated."
ph33r my rod: "I'm not sure exactly where... I'm sure if you look around in the paper or on the internet, you could find information on places that can help with alcoholism. I know you... have the power to overcome this."
Omega19x: "Your faith means a lot to me, priestess."
ph33r my rod: Isis sniffled, attempting a small smile. "...I believe in you."
Omega19x: He smiled slightly. "Thank you. I should be leaving, though. Priest Seth will not be pleased I am out of bed, yet alone across town."
ph33r my rod: "Alright..." She nodded, letting go of his hand. "Take care of yourself."
Omega19x: "I will. Take some of that potion I brought you. It will help you do the same."
ph33r my rod: "Okay. Thank you again, for bringing that by."
Omega19x: He nodded, and made his way back out the door, and back to Seth's.
ph33r my rod: (( And she hath intervened. XD ))
Omega19x: (and it seems he was much more receptive than I thought he'd be.)
Omega19x: (that's one thing the mind crush coma taught him - there are some battles that cannot be won alone.)
ph33r my rod: (( Ohhhh yes. ))