"Oh don't be like that-" Otem said dismissively, misinterpreting his flickerings of mental clarity for shame or embarrassment. She was just giving him a hard time. Yes the smell was bad, and yes he was a bit of an idiot for leaving all the scraps of sued up magic just laying around to rot, but it wasn't that bad. The smell had dissipated somewhat, and besides, she wanted to see what else he had grown. Perhaps if she had looked up, seen the subtle changes occurring on his voice and taken the time to hear the intonations in his words she might have been aware that something was happening with this would-be prince she had found, but she did not. Instead her eyes darted from plant to plant, hungrily take them in with her eyes to feed the nostalgia of her soul. Even though it was covered with death, this was like home.
"Besides, it isn't like we're strangers anymore." She continued, moving easily through the garden of life and death that Tamlin had created. "Oooh that one!" Otem exclaimed suddenly, prancing excitedly over to what looked like vines of ivy laced with blue and silver. A smile tugged at the sides of her lips, making her look positively angelic in her youthful delight. She lowered her head, sniffing at the leaves. They made her nose and throat feel cold as the sweet-slightly-peppermint aroma wafted towards her. "Mmmmm I missed this one." She crooned, turning her ram-horned skull to give a sideways glance towards Tamlin. She was just about to ask him if she could have just one nibble, but as her lips opened to form the words, the sounds died in her throat.
He looked ... well, it was hard to say how he looked, other than exactly the same. But he almost seemed tense - but on the inside. Her youthful brain didn't have any words or images to describe what detox or withdrawal or coming down might be like, all she could think was that he seemed more rigid somehow. Was it his words that had sounded that way? Rewinding the last few moments, Otem tried to remember if there was anything off about his voice. But of course she hadn't really been paying attention, and so these recent memories were fleeting at best.
Solanis
