Only with “Holy Water”. Right now it’s just, [ he rubs it again, gently before his hand is sliding back down to his lap. ] numb, like if I had ice on it for a really long time.

[ there’s something that’s been plaguing his thoughts, though. something stupid but still a concern that eats away at the attempts to say it: his lips move, but he doesn’t speak, only to suck in breath right after inhaling to start. ]

Back home they’d call us descendants of the devil. [ it’s a long history that falco doesn’t agree with, he’s just as human and deserving as everyone else, but . . . ] This doesn’t mean that’s true, does it?

[ because holy water was a quick association for agony, now, no matter how many times he tried to convince himself it was for good. you can’t quite convince someone with a phobia for needles that it won’t hurt— because it was terrifying even if needed. ]