[center][h1]Lihn Phan[/h1] [img]https://i.imgur.com/DaeyXno.png[/img][/center]
[right] Interactions: Tayla [@silvermist1116], Clancy [@Zombiedude101]
[code]The Halloween Festival, Kids Section[/code][/right][hr]
“Lucky for you then, getting to avoid the play,” Lihn said. “Colouring sounds like much more fun! And you get something to remember it by, rather than just a headache from bad acting…”

She shook her head and laughed. Tayla seemed to be getting more comfortable with her - which Lihn was glad about. It was a slow process she was used to at her job, but for once this was something she wanted to comfortably talk to as opposed to just a client. “You’re right, I am quite glad she didn’t want me to sit there. It might look worse than just her sitting by herself…” She shrugged. "It's hard to imagine how they'll grow up, but it happens much faster than you expect. I feel like it was just yesterday that I could easily carry her about everywhere, and now I can barely pick her up. Time really flies.”

Lihn considered Tayla’s question for a moment, thinking back. Where did she even begin? Well, with the truth, she supposed.

“I won’t sugarcoat it, it’s been tough,” Lihn replied honestly. “It’s just me, with a bit of help from my younger brother. The first few years were the hardest. I had no idea what I was doing, and was trying to take care of her and my younger brother while trying to make a living. I neglected myself a lot then. Still do. It's tough being a single mom. You never really get a break."

She laughed, gesturing to the dark bags under her eyes. "She's always been my priority over everything else, but there have been times when I almost regretted it. Sometimes I just felt like giving up. When she was three she went through a horribly fussy phase. She wouldn't sleep unless it was in my bed, she threw a tantrum whenever I took her to nursery and she wouldn't eat much. Those few months were the hardest. I felt like I'd failed as a parent. But we got through them. It does get easier as they get older, even if there's always new challenges. You get more used to it, they grow slightly more independent. I can't say it's ever actually been easy, though… and I've made loads of mistakes because I didn't know any better. I still don't know if I'm doing the right thing… but it's worth it to see her healthy and happy. I've really learned to cherish the time I have with her. Just seeing her smile makes all the difficulties worth it.” Lihn glanced over at her daughter again, still fervently listening to the story telling.

"Sorry, I got carried away," Lihn said. "I rarely have a chance to talk about myself. Most other parents judge me because of my age, and I don't have time to talk with-"

At that point a lone child walked past, completely distracting her because of his costume. Her eyes widened and her lips parted slightly in shock. It was... inappropriate, to say the least. It told Lihn he had parents that didn’t care at best. His height suggested maybe eleven or twelve - not old enough to be going around alone. She glanced around for any adult that was watching him. None. A parent could be nearby, or there could be none at all. With him acting strange, and dressed like that, she couldn’t just ignore it. 

“Excuse me a moment, I’m just going to make sure that kid’s ok,” Lihn said to Tayla, gesturing to Clancy. She stood up and quickly approached the boy. It didn’t take her empathy to notice that he was agitated. Off. Not a child having fun at a festival.

“Hello, are you alright? You look a little lost.” Lihn said to Clancy with a reassuring smile. She didn’t ask where his parents were. If the boy had neglectful parents he’d either say they weren’t here, or in the worst case run away when faced with the question. It was better to be careful, and gentle. “Is something bothering you? Perhaps I can help.”

She then gestured to his outfit. “I take it you're a sheet ghost? It looks a little, hmm, like something else. People might take it the wrong way. I’d recommend taking off the hood at least.”

Lihn radiated a light, calming aura with her empathy. A precaution, just in case - she tried not to use her empathy too much on others without their consent. To those without emotional fields it would help them feel less agitated and make her appear more approachable and safe. It was like a warm blanket of comforting emotion. But to those with emotional fields, there would be no effect unless they allowed it - it was just a light, unobtrusive tap against them. 
[hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/QIUSezo.png[/img]     [img]https://i.imgur.com/ycOCuCr.png[/img][/center]
 [right][b]Interactions:[/b] Stormy [@Blizz], Jasper [@NoriWasHere]
[code]The Halloween Festival[/code][/right][hr]
Pain seared through the Rot as Luca was pulled against Stormy, body too weak to struggle. The Phantombane ate away at it just like it ate away at Luca. The wounds across Luca’s body stopped opening, the decay of his organs slowing down. 

[color=F0E68C]”You can’t stop what’s already started,”[/color] Rot-Luca’s lips pulled up into a weak smile. Clouded, rotten yellow eyes met Stormy’s calmly. [color=F0E68C]”Try your hardest.[/color] [color=#F0E68C]E[/color][color=#ECE389]v[/color][color=#E8E086]e[/color][color=#E4DE83]n[/color][color=#E0DB80]t[/color][color=#DCD97D]u[/color][color=#D9D67A]a[/color][color=#D5D477]l[/color][color=#D1D174]l[/color][color=#CDCF71]y[/color] [color=#C6CA6B]e[/color][color=#C2C768]v[/color][color=#BEC565]e[/color][color=#BAC262]r[/color][color=#B6C05F]y[/color][color=#B3BD5C]t[/color][color=#AFBB59]h[/color][color=#ABB856]i[/color][color=#A7B653]n[/color][color=#A3B350]g[/color] [color=#9CAE4A]w[/color][color=#98AC47]i[/color][color=#94A944]l[/color][color=#90A741]l[/color] [color=#89A23B]d[/color][color=#859F38]e[/color][color=#819D35]c[/color][color=#7D9A32]a[/color][color=#7A982F]y[/color][color=#76952C].[/color][color=#729329].[/color][color=#6E9026].”[/color]

It pulled back as it's power began to weaken, retreating from actively using Luca's body. [color=F0E68C][i]What nice friends you have. It will be a shame when they lose you.[/i][/color] 

[color=6B8E23]What.[/color] Luca’s fading consciousness started to wake back up, pushing back the rotten roots digging into his mind. His body was limp in Stormy’s arms as he fought off the Rot internally. Its physical decay weakened first, discarded in favour of the continued erosion of Luca’s mind. But Luca was pushing back now, regaining more and more control. [color=6B8E23]No. I won’t let that happen.[/color]

[color=F0E68C][i]You already know it’s too late. It's easier to accept it.[/i][/color]

Luca gasped for air as his body started to recover, his rotting touch continually reducing until it completely stopped. His fingers curled into Stormy’s shirt, clinging to it weakly, and his other hand shot out to blindly find Jasper. It landed limp against his arm. He could hear his words, pushing their way through the prison the Rot had tried to form around his soul. He couldn’t let Jasper down. He had to come back. He had to. It wasn't so difficult now to push the Rot back out of the cracks, back to where it had been merely residing in his body as a passenger.

[color=6B8E23]I do accept it. But I won’t let you take me like this. This is my body. It will [i]never[/i] be yours, even when I die.[/color]

[color=F0E68C][i]We’ll see.[/i][/color]

[color=6B8E23]I'll make sure of it.[/color]

The Rot just laughed lightly, as the Phantombane began to weaken the last of its power. The Rot wasn't stupid. It knew this wasn't a fight it could win. But that was fine. In such a short time it had made plenty of progress towards its goal. It was willing to retreat without much of a fight. Why expend so much energy on something so pointless? It was patient. It had already waited ten years, what was another one or two? It had been fun to take control of the body, but it ultimately wasn't needed. It would be the Rot's eventually. The body's days were numbered. [color=F0E68C][i]Enjoy a brief reprieve.[/i][/color]

Luca shuddered at the whisper in his mind, before its presence disappeared. Rotting green tendrils fled from his eyes, emotion spilling back across them. Relief flooded across his face, even as his lips twisted down in pain. His vision was blurry, slowly coming back - he could just about make out the shapes of Stormy holding him and Jasper beside them. 

He turned his head slightly towards Jasper, previously limp hand finding Jasper’s and curling his fingers around it. Luca gave it a weak, but comforting, squeeze. For the first time in ten years his touch didn’t damage what it touched, effortlessly.

Everything still hurt. His whole body felt heavy. His arms burned and his insides felt as if nails were constantly raking across them. But the pain wasn’t as active. For once he was stable. Each breath became easier than the last. His vision cleared, and he could see Jasper’s worry- then he turned his head to see Stormy’s determination.

He could feel the damage that had been done by letting the rot take over. It was something he was always aware of, the deteriorating state of his body. Each day it got a little worse. Today it got a lot worse. He was never, ever going to let that happen again.

Luca didn’t want to lose anymore of the few years he had left. 

[color=6B8E23]”I'm so sorry,”[/color] Luca whispered, finally seeing Stormy’s rotting skin. Then Jasper’s. His heart sank, and guilt stabbed at him. The Rot was not there right now to take advantage of it, at least. [color=6B8E23]”Sorry. Normally I can keep it under control. It’s gone now.”[/color]

Though he felt incredibly bad about hurting them, it was nice coming back to himself in Stormy’s arms while holding Jasper’s hand. Really nice. Comforting after so many years without any physical contact. 

[color=6B8E23]”Thank you.”[/color] His voice was rough, but much brighter than before. He moved slightly to be more upright, still leaning heavily against Stormy. His limbs didn’t have the strength to hold himself up right now. It was slowly returning, and eventually he’d be fine. He’d gotten like this before where he was temporarily too weak to move. He always got better after a short while… Though he might need some support for the rest of the night while walking. [color=6B8E23]”I’ll be able to move in a bit. Might need a bit of help, though. I’m mostly fine just… a bit weak. It’ll improve with time, don’t worry!”[/color]

He winced as he tried to lean on one of his legs instead of Stormy, sharp pain shooting through them as it instantly buckled underneath him. Thankfully with Stormy’s arms still around him he didn’t fall, just leaning back against him. Deep, gnawing pain worked its way up his leg.

[color=6B8E23]”I've got some painkillers in my backpack, do you mind getting them for me?”[/color] Luca grimaced, not caring whether it was Jasper or Stormy who did it. He wasn’t quite able to move enough to get to it and open it himself. [color=6B8E23]”The, uh, Codeine bottle.”[/color]

He didn’t like being so open about all of the painkillers he had, taking his long acting ones in his room so Jasper didn’t see. But he needed to take something extra to deal with the pain, so he could be alright enough to enjoy the rest of the evening. He really didn’t want to have to go home.

[color=6B8E23]”Oh man,”[/color] Luca finally looked at his arms and saw the festering wounds they were riddled with. He smiled, tone turning more joking. [color=6B8E23]”I guess I'm a zombified manly Powerpuff girl now. Extra spooky.”[/color]