Rezo the Red Priest (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
redprayer) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
unfinishedlibrary2026-04-11 09:00 pm
redprayer) wrote in unfinishedlibrary2026-04-11 09:00 pm
Seeing is Believing
Who: Rezo and anyone who wants to help a guy through a panic attack.
What: Rezo's understanding of his current situation deepens.
When: Early April, after Rezo's first night at the library.
Where: In a quiet corner of the stacks.
Content warnings: Panic attacks, eye horror/squick stuff, Rezo's internalized ableism issues.
At some point he'd found a cushy seat in one of the Library's reading areas and drifted off there. He hadn't expected to wake up in the Library again. As vivid as everything was, it was also so outside the bounds of usual experience that it was hard to accept as entirely real. When fatigue inevitably encroached upon his physical body, it had been easy to feel like this was all a dream or hallucination and at some point he'd wake up... Somewhere else. Or it would all stop.
Instead he'd woken up with a thundering heart and covered in a cold sweat.
Ruby Eye Shabranigdu.
Rezo had lurched to his feet and felt his way over to the nearest wall, then deeper into the stacks. He had no particular destination in mind, except for his desire to get somewhere as private and far away as possible from the kindly, alien, people of the Library.
When he felt he'd been walking for a long time he finally came to a stop, resting one hand on a nearby shelf. He couldn't hear anyone, outside of or inside of himself.
He shouldn't open his eyes, but knowing that he shouldn't only made the desire stronger. His thoughts began to race; maybe nothing bad would happen? He'd felt different ever since he'd arrived here. Was that down to more than just being back in his original body? It's a foolish, selfish chance to take. He doesn't know what will happen. He wants to know. There has to be another way to find out. He needs to know. How long does he have? Something has to give eventually. Lina isn't here to deal with the fallout. The Library was powerful enough to summon him. Why? What did they want from him? Did they want Lord Ruby Eye to appear?
It's anticlimactic when he finally gives in. He feels muscles in his face twitch, but everything remains as dark as ever. So he's back to being unable to open his eyes again...
Or it's just pitch black in the library. This, at least, is something he can change.
"Lighting!"
Rezo tosses up a ball of light. It should be producing a brilliant glare, but he still can't see it.
With a curse he collapses to his knees and begins to scrub and scratch at his eyes, tugging and pushing at the skin of his eyelids. No matter how frantically he rubs he still can't see, but if anyone sighted were to witness this they'd see that his eyes are already open. In his frenzy, Rezo doesn't even notice when he touches his bare eyeballs.
His chest grows tighter and tighter, and when he finally drops his hands his breath is barely able to squeeze out of his throat. And the sounds he's making are rather wretched.
What: Rezo's understanding of his current situation deepens.
When: Early April, after Rezo's first night at the library.
Where: In a quiet corner of the stacks.
Content warnings: Panic attacks, eye horror/squick stuff, Rezo's internalized ableism issues.
At some point he'd found a cushy seat in one of the Library's reading areas and drifted off there. He hadn't expected to wake up in the Library again. As vivid as everything was, it was also so outside the bounds of usual experience that it was hard to accept as entirely real. When fatigue inevitably encroached upon his physical body, it had been easy to feel like this was all a dream or hallucination and at some point he'd wake up... Somewhere else. Or it would all stop.
Instead he'd woken up with a thundering heart and covered in a cold sweat.
Ruby Eye Shabranigdu.
Rezo had lurched to his feet and felt his way over to the nearest wall, then deeper into the stacks. He had no particular destination in mind, except for his desire to get somewhere as private and far away as possible from the kindly, alien, people of the Library.
When he felt he'd been walking for a long time he finally came to a stop, resting one hand on a nearby shelf. He couldn't hear anyone, outside of or inside of himself.
He shouldn't open his eyes, but knowing that he shouldn't only made the desire stronger. His thoughts began to race; maybe nothing bad would happen? He'd felt different ever since he'd arrived here. Was that down to more than just being back in his original body? It's a foolish, selfish chance to take. He doesn't know what will happen. He wants to know. There has to be another way to find out. He needs to know. How long does he have? Something has to give eventually. Lina isn't here to deal with the fallout. The Library was powerful enough to summon him. Why? What did they want from him? Did they want Lord Ruby Eye to appear?
It's anticlimactic when he finally gives in. He feels muscles in his face twitch, but everything remains as dark as ever. So he's back to being unable to open his eyes again...
Or it's just pitch black in the library. This, at least, is something he can change.
"Lighting!"
Rezo tosses up a ball of light. It should be producing a brilliant glare, but he still can't see it.
With a curse he collapses to his knees and begins to scrub and scratch at his eyes, tugging and pushing at the skin of his eyelids. No matter how frantically he rubs he still can't see, but if anyone sighted were to witness this they'd see that his eyes are already open. In his frenzy, Rezo doesn't even notice when he touches his bare eyeballs.
His chest grows tighter and tighter, and when he finally drops his hands his breath is barely able to squeeze out of his throat. And the sounds he's making are rather wretched.
no subject
It's the sounds that get her attention--she's heard sounds of misery way too many times since the Fire Nation came: from her own village through Ba Sing Se. Whatever differences the people here might have, misery sounds the same.
"Hey. A-are you all right?" Literally the stupidest thing to say. "I mean, I can see that you're not all right. Sorry. Do you want to talk?"
no subject
Rezo tilts his head pointlessly in the direction of the voice. He attempts to salvage his dignity with an apology but it comes out as a ragged "Ff-forgive me..."
What did she say? She was asking about him, wasn't she?
"I, I can't-" See. Think. Talk? "Talk- Can't, breathe." No, that's not right. He's breathing right now, it's just very, very fast. What kind of imbecile is he, can't even breathe correctly...
no subject
She dropped her map board and pencil, the tools scattering on the floor, trying to kneel next to him. "I can heal things. I'm a healer." Was now the time to explain waterbending? Probably not. "Just...look at me. Okay? Look at me and let's breathe together." Because he's kind of freaking her out as well. They can both calm down.
no subject
"I can't." Rezo shakes his head in agitation and clutches at the fabric of his sleeves. He can't look at her, and he doesn't even know why. If Lord Ruby Eye's gone, he should be able to see. If Lord Ruby Eye's still here, then- then- He swallows down another gasp.
But he has to breathe despite himself, and he has enough experience to recognize he's hyperventilating. And what does he tell people to do in this situation? Breathe in, slowly, through your nose, then exhale out, slowly, through your mouth... It's simple enough in theory but still a struggle to focus on doing that and not thinking about his eyes. He'll need a minute or so to start falling into a rhythm.
no subject
no subject
In. In. Hold. Hold. Exhale... He silently counts his breaths and the recitation of numbers helps push out the other thoughts. He's more aware of the girl, Katara's voice, and the feel of her hands on his. At least her next question is an easy one.
"...Rezo," he says, head drooping. He finally forces his hands to relax.
no subject
He came around one side of the stacks and saw a man crouched and pushing at his eyes as he was breathing in a very frightened sort of way. Viktor didn't want to startle him, but he was making worrying noises.
..."Hello?"