Ereshkigal (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
queenofkur) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
synflux2024-04-08 03:58 pm
queenofkur) wrote in synflux2024-04-08 03:58 pm
[Open] A Withering Flower
WHO: Ereshkigal & YOU
WHAT: The goddess was grievously wounded during the event and refuses to let people see her while she's convalescing. This is for people who want to check up on Eresh by paying her a surprise visit. First prompt has her door locked and people need to knock, second prompt the door is unlocked and they can enter whenever.
WHERE: Ereshkigal's apartment.
WHEN: Throughout April, but after the event.
WARNINGS: Mentions of wounds / pain.
A/ Locked Door
B/ Unlocked Door
((In this prompt, Ereshkigal is talking to herself while wandering around her apartment. She has forgotten to lock the door though, so feel free to step in at any time. Listen in a little bit, eavesdrop on everything she says or step in before she's even had the chance to whine about her flowers: whatever choice you prefer!))
WHAT: The goddess was grievously wounded during the event and refuses to let people see her while she's convalescing. This is for people who want to check up on Eresh by paying her a surprise visit. First prompt has her door locked and people need to knock, second prompt the door is unlocked and they can enter whenever.
WHERE: Ereshkigal's apartment.
WHEN: Throughout April, but after the event.
WARNINGS: Mentions of wounds / pain.
A/ Locked Door
[ The cons of being a Servant who requires a human vessel is that your body is, in fact, made of flesh and blood. It's not just a magical body that is so easily healed. It's not a divine body that is so resilient either. No, it's a human body. So weak and fragile! Thus had the doctors told her to remain inactive for at least two weeks, as well as take lots of medicine till the end of the month.
... How shameful is that? A bedridden goddess! The mere thought fills her with horror. What if people knew that? They'd laugh at her, mock her and say all kind of mean things. And they would be right to do so, for she is an absolute failure. As such, she's decided to remain secluded in her room till she feels better.
She has everything she needs in there asides from the shower, but for that she can go in the dead of the night while everyone sleeps. Why, is is possible people have seen some kind of black ghost moving about at night in the corridors. Indeed, Ereshkigal is wearing a black nightgown while healing, one that's hiding the impressive layers of bandage around her stomach. It still hurts like heck but she's getting better. Slowly. And she'd intended for things to remain this way until... Knocking?! ]
.........?
[ Did... Did someone knock on the door? Is that a nurse? Are they hunting her because she left the medical bay early? But then people could have seen her! No way she can allow that. But there is also no way she can ignore the knocking. And so she gets up. Goes to the door.
Whoever has knocked will see the door very very slowly open. Barely so. With Ereshkigal's red eye peeking through the opening to try and see. When she speaks, it's in a purposefully deep and grave tone. She's hoping it'll convince whoever knocked that she's just fine. ]
... Who's there?
B/ Unlocked Door
((In this prompt, Ereshkigal is talking to herself while wandering around her apartment. She has forgotten to lock the door though, so feel free to step in at any time. Listen in a little bit, eavesdrop on everything she says or step in before she's even had the chance to whine about her flowers: whatever choice you prefer!))
[ Still dressed in her black nightgown, Ereshkigal is watering the numerous flowers she has bought and keeps in her apartment. Unfortunately, they've seen better days... She looks at them sadly and lowers her head. ]
They're dying... [Sniff.] And I can't go to the flower shop. Not like this. I could ask someone to purchase flowers for me... But then they'd know what state I'm in. If only Dumuzid was here then I could just ask him.
[ She puts down the watering can and sits on the edge of her bed, putting a hand on her stomach. It still hurts like hell, especially when she touches it. ]
Anything happens and the wounds could open. I can't risk it, but... It's so lonely here... [She sighs.] Yet when I'm outside, I'm so stressed the moment people come around me. Why am I like that...?
[ Silence for a few minutes as she buries her head in her hands. When finally she emerges, she stares at the ground. ]
Maybe I should post on the network... See how everyone is doing. But what if I post something by accident like last time? [She starts rubbing her temples.] Ugh, they'll all mock me and laugh at me...
[ A few more minutes of silence. Until finally, she shakes her head and gets up. ]
No... I need to stop thinking only about the worst case scenarios. Alright. My breathing exercises... [Silence for a few minutes, only interrupted by her breathing.] Okay, and now the mirror─
[ She walks to the impressive stone mirror she has in her room. The one thing from home she has in this reality. ]
I can do it... Look at yourself, Ereshkigal! [She points a finger at her own reflection.] You are resplendent, beautiful and gorgeous! You are the Queen of Kûr and Goddess of Death! There is nothing you cannot do if you don't put your mind to it! [And now she smiles as confidently as humanly possible.] Of course! This is what being a perfect goddess is like.
[ ... She remains frozen like that for a good ten seconds, trying to look as charismatic as possible... Until she deflates and sighs, head tilting down. Ugh, that's useless. She grabs a book sitting on the desk nearby and flips through its page. The title is "Self-Esteem: How To Improve It." ]
Ugh.... How long till it works? I've been doing it every day since I'm here. [She reads a passage from the book:] "Look at yourself in the mirror and compliment yourself. Confidence comes from the inside. Do this exercise everyday and within a month, you will feel your self-esteem soar."
[ She closes the book and casts a most displeased glare at her reflection in the mirror. ]
It's been more than a month... Am I doing those exercises the wrong way? Or is it just how I am? Maybe I am fated to remain the dark queen of Kûr. Gloomy and lacking in any self-love even when I'm not down there...
[ She grabs a slice of cake that was sitting on the desk before going back to her bed, once more sitting on the edge. ]
Right, I really need to stop talking to myself... If I accidentally do it before other people, they'll think I'm crazy. [She munches on the slice of cake and speaks... With her mouth full! How shameless.] It'sh not like in Koor where I'm alwaysh alone all che time.
[ She focuses on the cake as she's finishing it. ]
There's already that man who thinks I'm dangerous... And that girl who hates me. [That just won't do. She closes her eyes and takes another deep breath.] Okay, not a word any more. Starting now!
[ And lo: Ereshkigal goes silent. She picks up another book that was on her nightstand and lays down on her bed, now reading Confidence For Dummies. ]
B
Should... Should she say anything? Should she wait? Should she come back later? While stuck in the great enigma of social conduct fate answers for her, when a shift closer to the door in an attempt to maybe politely knock results in the door just
Sliding open anyway.
Uh-oh. ]
Um.
... Sorry for interrupting your exercises...
no subject
Lapis...?
[ Has she... has she heard everything? Ereshkigal's features go from frozen with surprise to marred with horror and panic. T-That's a nightmare...! ]
H-H-Have you been here for long...?
[ Please say no please say no please say no ]
no subject
Doesn't answer for a few moments.
Because she doesn't want to lie but Ereshkigal's expression clearly asks, pleads, for her to say no. ]
... I wasn't paying attention. [ That's a good answer right? Right. Anyway.
Lapis is going to offer the bouquet to her. ]
That aside, I wanted to drop these off for you.
no subject
[ T-That says it all! Such a non-committal answer could only be given by someone who has something to hide!
She buries her head in her hands and tries her very hardest not to panic. This is not very successful... ]
P-P-Please do not tell anyone wh-what you may have heard and seen...!
[ Unfortunately, she's not even noticed the bouquet yet. ]
no subject
Uh oh. ]
I promise I will not tell anyone anything I have seen or heard. I've forgotten it already, wiped it from my memory.
[ Just wiped the memory clean! She swears! ]
Anyway. Anyway, I came over to see how you were doing. [ And give her the bouquet, but she'll do that when the other girl has stopped panicking. ]
no subject
[ Deep breathes! The emergency is behind. She just said she's already forgotten, and while it's not literal, she wants to believe her. She has to. The alternative is panicking over the thought she could tell everyone... And that's not worth it.
Instead, she stands up, put a hand on her hip and tries to look as relaxed as possible. ]
As you can see, I am doing perfectly f-fine!