Back as promised (open, attn Freyja and Morvydd)

[jarndyceheir]

Richard Carstone makes an abrupt sound of pain, as if he'd caught up where he'd left off just before his death. Due to Kyllikki's well-meant magic, coming back to life was harder and more painful than the last time, and after three days of highly pleasant afterlife, it's a bit of a shock. After a moment, though, it passes, and he sits up.

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[halftheslain]

Freyja rushes over, kneeling beside him and stroking his hair. "Oh, pet! What happened?"

[jarndyceheir]

"It-" He clears his throat, voice a bit raw. "It hurt."

[halftheslain]

"Shh..." She presses him to her. "It was not meant to."

[jarndyceheir]

He nods, letting her hold him close. "I feel so queer, now."

[morvydd]

Morvydd's rooms, as Ragnelle will doubtless have told him, are at the end of a hall on the second floor of the Mansion. A knock will elicit a cautious but mild, "Who?"

[jarndyceheir]

"Excuse me, madam. My name is Richard Carstone. If you're at liberty, the lady Ragnelle suggested I pay you a visit."

[morvydd]

"Oh, I see." A moment's pause, then: "Come in."

The room is warm and quiet, lit by tall windows overlooking the lawn; a low fire burns in the hearth to one side. Morvydd turns from an inner door to greet him. "Sir."

[jarndyceheir]

He steps in and bows. "Madam. Thank you for agreeing to see me."

[notallworthy]

Tom finally sees Richard and gives a shout of joy. "Richard! You came back! We were so worried about you! What happened? Do you remember me now? And Ada? And--" He finally got close enough to embrace Richard and started kissing him.

[jarndyceheir]

Richard winced, and tried to pull away. "Tom -" His voice is a bit raw, and he clears his throat. Softly, "Of course I came back."

[notallworthy]

"I know. Ada said she heard you would but I was still worried." He pulled him closer. "Please don't do that again. First the memories, then the death... I don't like it, Rick."

[jarndyceheir]

"Tom..." He closed his eyes. "I'm so sorry. I've betrayed you twice over."

T: ...my internet is doing weird, unhappy things. I will try to preserve it, but if I disappear, that's why.

[false_kyllikki]

Kyllikki is not in mourning, exactly, but she is sober as she goes about the tasks of her day. She is fetching bread and milk for herself and the Rose when she sees Richard unexpectedly--the shock of it makes her shriek, dropping her milk to soak into the carpet.

[jarndyceheir]

"Madam! Are you quite alright?" He goes to pick up the bottle, though most of the milk is gone.

[false_kyllikki]

She cries out and pulls away, tripping over her skirts in her haste to flee and sprawling in the hall. "You are dead--!" she whimpers, "and I carved your mark in a tree--"

[jarndyceheir]

He winces, and steps back, looking distinctly unthreatening. "I'm sorry. It is... not quite as permanent, here."