"Dark… slowly enclosing. She's bound, bothered, barely breathing… can't breathe… can't breathe… the bones pinch at her waist and ribs, hurting… her heart beating wildly at her throat… darkening, dimming… help me… help…"
The thin, light haired young man's hand moved in reflex, grabbing the small knife at his lower back, just as the door that led to the ramparts burst open, with Idril running breathlessly toward him, her face pale. At the sight of him, she ran and turned around, showing him her back. With a flick of his wrist, his knife split apart the laces that held the corset together, and Idril breathed in as offending fabric ripped apart away from her body, and she collapsed in a heap down the floor by his feet.
"Thank you, Cole… I needed that." Idril gasped out as she breathed in deep, and exhaling luxuriously. The young man crossed his legs and sat down on the floor beside her, looking disappointedly at the ripped corset.
"I ripped them. I'm sorry." Cole's gentle voice said, and she smiled as she patted his hand. "Don't worry, I think Josephine has more of them."
Cole nodded, "Colors… so many colors… green, silver, blue… no white, it would make her look like snow. Yes, Josephine has more of them. Was this the thing that was hurting you?"
She smiled up at him, "Yes, it was."
The young man's head tilted as he took the fabric in his hands, "If it… hurts you, why would you wear it?"
Idril arranged herself so that she was leaning on the wall while sitting on the floor, and Cole mimicked the position beside her, "Vivienne made me wear it. She was fitting me with clothes to wear at the ball in Halamshiral."
"Clothes… do I have to wear clothes like this, too?" Cole asked innocently, and she smiled gently at him, "No, Cole. Josephine made you a suit with the others. I'll give it to you when it's done."
"But… if people can't see me, why should I wear a suit?" He asked again.
"Well… there are people there who will need their hurts healed, too, Cole. If the others see you, you should be discreet with what you're wearing. It would be like… camouflage. To hide from the assassin."
"Like shadows, lingering, blending… always there but not noticeable… yes, I understand now." Cole said, and he looked at her with relief, "Blood, blushing, rushing… a flush spreading through her cheeks… breath returning to normal… you feel much better now. You're not pale anymore. I am glad."
She smiled brightly at him, "Yes, I feel much better now. Thank you again, Cole."
The young man smiled a little, "You're welcome, Inquisitor."
She reached up and touched the brim of his hat, seeing a tear on it, "I'm going to get you a new hat for the party, Cole. Would you like that? We're not going to get rid of this one, though, but I might need to get it sewn."
"Yes, I'd like that…" But he stopped when he heard a strange noise come out of her stomach, "Loud, rumbling, boiling… you're hungry."
Idril laughed out loud before standing up, with Cole following suit, "Yes, I guess I am. I haven't eaten since morning. I'm going to head down to Sera, she always has cookies. Would you like to come with me?"
Cole shook his head, "Demon… creature… bucket-hatted shite… shite… no, I do not think I should. She's still afraid of me."
She nodded and touched his hand again, and Cole looked down at it, "Alright, I'll see you later, Cole."
The human/spirit of Compassion smiled up at her, "How do you know?"