Sticks & Bones // IC Inbox

[bladeascent]

>man who dies in all 7 timelines

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After :) plot hint :) :)

[divinechains]

[ The bodies of the Heirs strewn in the trees just makes Ras grow cold. The subtle curious shine in his eyes flattening out to the usual blank one that he harbors when fighting the Acolytes. Somewhere, it probably hurts to see it actually in front of him all like this, but he blames himself enough on a daily basis about their deaths that it probably doesn't cause the intense pull of the heartstrings that Suri is hoping for. All Ras can think in the moment is how this really is just like the Archdemon. He's powerful, he's clinging to this world that seems to be corrupted because of it, and he knows more than Ras is comfortable with about him. Which, you know, good. He would've probably given him a chance without that context, but now he can treat him like Angrhaf, no holding back.

The pile of Vildred's corpses, though? That. That gets to him. It isn't as though Ras wasn't haunted by the times Vildred had threw himself on the blade for Ras and the Heirs, but he's sort of had this twisted coping of "but we fixed it" when Diche reset the world. Seeing it like this...

Ras doesn't respond to Suri vocally, he just turns and flies off to the Grove once more to seek Vildred out. He's not sure where he is, but he'll hunt him down rather frantically. Frantically for Ras, anyway. Is he in his room? Sword maintenance by the river or well? At the General Store? ]

oh no him mad face...

[bladeascent]

[Vildred is (throws dart) leaving the General Store with a tote bag full of raw ingredients, because until the shell situation gets easier, he'd rather cook for himself rather than rely on the restaurants here. Plus, the food selection will be broader that way. He'll be the first to admit that the cafe's stretchy ice cream is fun, though.

Anyway, Ras floating up in some state of alarm catches his attention immediately, and with the lion cub still following at his heels — he thinks he might be the little one's mother now, RIP — he stops just in front of his friend.]

What's wrong?

): him angy...

[divinechains]

[ It's Ras turn to be touchy. But this time, it's Ras just grabbing Vildred's wrist and holding his thumb against it to feel for a pulse. Something that is probably stupid, considering his divinity eyes can see Vildred's aura and soul here, but... he's not sure he can totally trust his eyes. Not right now. He just needs another source of confirmation. ]

I... [ ... ] I was looking into the forest to gather information. I believe I had an interaction with the enemy in there. Not physically, but he had meant to psychologically harm me.

[ Ras seems rather cool and level-headed in terms of a normal person, but his words are coming out just slightly faster than usual, and he keeps flicking his eyes away to survey the surroundings, both signs he's actually very on edge. ]

I'm okay. [ Just so Vildred doesn't also panic. ] I'm just aware now that he knows an uncomfortable amount of information about us.

[bladeascent]

Wait—

[Pause, what? He had an encounter with the enemy... mentally? From what information Vildred managed to get out of the cookie child, the thing holding everyone hostage has mind magic of a type, but he hardly expected — for some naive reason — Ras to be susceptible to it. Wishful thinking on his part, perhaps.]

Uncomfortable how? Slow down and take a deep breath. [with the lungs you don't have] What happened, exactly?

[divinechains]

I've been informed he specializes in illusions - very akin to Acolyte Tenebria. Though, unsurprising, given the experiences so far...

[ He lets go of Vildred's wrist, glancing to the floor for a moment before answering. He either switches the topic, or lies, and neither he's really all that keen on doing. But the latter is unfortunately going to be the easier choice, so Vildred doesn't get suspicious or worried. ]

It's shown me the Heirs and Heart of Orbis, dead. It taunted me that I'd failed Orbis. I believe it had intended to rattle my faith - a fruitless endeavor, but seeing the death of my friends, even if fabricated, had alarmed me...

I'm more concerned he knows about the Heirs [ and the resets ] and Orbis as a whole. Pilfering my memories means he'll know my weaknesses before I know his.

[ ...So business as usual. ]

First Night

[divinechains]

[ There's still lots to unpack, but at least they're clean now, and laundry is taken care of. Their clothes are drying, but fortunately the robes Ain mentioned are a good substitute. They're soft, too, which makes for good pseudo-pajamas, Ras thinks. For Vildred, that is. Ras's own robe is practically falling off his shoulders every two seconds because he's trying to keep it open to keep his chest rock exposed, but... hm.

As night falls, and once they're back at the inn, Ras does not go back to his room. Rather, he is following Vildred back to his. His little mossfox is right beside them this time as well. He doesn't even announce that he's going to stay with Vildred or anything he's just... waiting for him to open the door to his room. Hi, hello, you have a goddess vessel on your tail. ]

[bladeascent]

[Being in your pjs in the inn: not weird.
Being in your pjs in the inn hallway: still not weird
Wearing nothing but a bath robe with your good pal who has his own falling off of him and you're both standing in the hallway: okay this looks suspicious.

He's opening his own door and intending to say bye to Ras, but...]

Do you need something?

[Why are you not going back to your room, why are the animals cramming into his suddenly—]

[divinechains]

[ Congrats, Vildred, you’re now a mother of two animals. Ras adjusts his robe for the millionth time before he just gives Vildred the most ???????? expression. Like this was to be expected or something. ]

I don’t need to sleep. [ Babe, that doesn’t explain anything. ] …We don’t know anything about this place, these rooms, or if we’re gonna wake up somewhere weird again. Isn’t it safer if I stay with you?

[bladeascent]

That's... A good point. [Okay, he'll sidestep to let Ras in.] Get in, before someone sees your robe falling off like that.

[ >the whole Grove will think you fucked ]

I can probably find a way to tie the sleeves back so that you don't have to keep adjusting it.

[yes that's the concern here obviously and not the very serious situation that you're in where you could be transported in your sleep to a secondary location]

sorry he's stupid

[divinechains]

[ Ras will come back from the General Store totally nonchalantly and allow Heimr time to work his magic, preparing for things back at the Inn. Once he's finished with the dojo, though... ]

Vildred, what is that ritual humans do when they put blindfolds on their friends to generate suspense so one can see the expression the make when it is removed? [ That. That's not a ritual babe. That's just surprising someone- ] I would like to partake in this. I would like to take you to see something I think you will enjoy.

i need him biblically

[bladeascent]

[Are you ever just sitting in your room trying to teach your lion tricks (it's a cat Vildred it's not going to learn tricks) when your Ras comes in and asks you about surprise parties?? No?? Just him???]

It's not really a ritual. You'd call it a surprise party if it were someone's birthday, but mine already passed. [...] Honestly, it's just called "surprising someone" otherwise.

[...]

Do you have a blindfold...?

[divinechains]

No. I was going to hold my hands over your eyes~

[ Holding his hands out like ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ]

[bladeascent]

[Snorts.]

That works.

[Alright, let him get up off the floor while Clawde gets up to follow after like "where going? :D"]

You're going to have to lead since I won't be able to see. Don't let me faceplant in front of everybody.

[divinechains]

[ It's cold.

Ras does not really register temperatures well. He can usually keep at a very even temperature unless things are exceedingly ridiculous - the kinds humans wouldn't be able to even begin to survive. But he can tell the signs from the others. Their breath showing, their shivers, the way they huddle and try to wrap themselves in their clothes.

It's... cold.

Some have begun to make a fire, but it's hard when they can't make it into the cave much without smoking people out. Ras finds himself by Vildred, as always. He wants to extend his warmth unto everyone, if possible, but first things first... ]

...Are you holding up alright?

[bladeascent]

[Vildred is just glad they both made it out of Roseroot alive. He didn't think Ras would have an issue with it, but the fact that they didn't really cross paths has been bugging him. He's spent the last half hour generally checking Ras over to make sure he's alright, pulling leaves and such out of his hair and fretting over the fact he's not wearing shoes and it's like negative three billion degrees up here and—

Anyway, he's not worried why do you ask. A little scuffed up, a little weird-feeling over the knight he fought, but not worse for wear.

...

Okay he's a lot scuffed up but it's survivable.]

Surprisingly. Sorry I couldn't find you at all. You're fine, right?

[divinechains]

I am fine, yes. Seems as though our captor has gone all out, compared to those monsters from last month. And now all of this...

[ He immediately leans against Vildred in return, to share his warmth with him. ]

I think we were not meant to find one another. That fog wanted to keep us separated. [ He could not talk to it or really "see" it's intent, but he could see that it wasn't natural, and intentionally seemed to confuse paths and such to make sure as little people as possible could see one another. ] So, there is no reason to apologize. I am just happy you are here now, and that you are... mostly well. When we return to the Grove, you should see our medical people, though.

[bladeascent]

[Ras is very warm. It's nice. He's glad he "bought" a new jacket while he was there; he's wearing both of them now, the newer one over his shoulders like a cape and the old one as usual.]

They're gonna get tired of seeing me at this point. [Yeah, so stop getting fucked up by things!] ...by the way, I got you a gift before the city went rotty. Do you want it now?

[divinechains]

[ After having been subjected to a lot of Things(tm) lately, Ras cannot help it if he had found himself digging into the "lore" of this place. Learning from others that there have been people who'd been previously dead in their world, how some others are from the same world, but from different points, and a whole slew of other realizations. Not to mention when the reincarnation thing had been brought up... He doesn't really know how to process that one.

At least they're back home, and Ras does not have to feel as guilty bringing this up to Vildred now. He knows that he is from a different "world" altogether, and he knows why that is, but in this place where apparently other universes and timelines are not that abnormal, perhaps then... he can get away with this? That way, at least, while the guilt would still remain, it may feel... lessened. And perhaps if Vildred wants to decide sooner rather than later that he does not want to be around Ras - it's best to pull that band-aid off now. ]

Vildred? [ He has wrangled the moss fox inside so he can close the door to the balcony. ] If it is find with you, I have some... disappointing news, I suppose. Is it alright if we talk about it?

[bladeascent]

[Vildred is putting away new clothes in the bedroom closet when Ras comes in. Now that he has more stuff to wear, he feels less bad about having to river-dive every few days to get shells. If it weren't cold, he'd do it in swimwear to make it easier, but uh.

It do be cold out.

Anyway, Ras comes in and says that, and it immediately gets Vildred moving away from what he's doing. He was largely done anyway, just hanging up the last of his jackets.]

What's going on?

[divinechains]

...I have spoken with the other residents here. About their worlds, and their relations with one another, and other such things. In doing so, I have learned that some people are from the same "world", but not necessarily the same... one. Be that a different point in time [ Like the Terrans ] or a different... circumstance. Like it is their world, but if things happened differently. [ The many Earths, he means. And the two Elswords. ]

You have said some things to me that I simply brushed off. [ Not... technically a lie. He cannot actually lie, after all. But he is omitting that he's known for a while that he's from a different world. ] I do not know some of the people you have mentioned. I have not made another form of myself yet - one with shorter hair, as you have mentioned.

I believe... I am not your Ras.

[bladeascent]

[Ras had him in the first half, and lost him in the second. What does that even mean?]

Uh... [He strolls over to the bed and sits down on the edge of it.] What do you mean? You used that form all the time. You're usually only in this form when you need to basically obliterate something from the stratosphere, and you brought up being able to shift to it when we were making stew after we moved in here.

...do you just not remember?

[divinechains]

[ Contined from here

Ras doesn't really have the time to correct himself. Rather, he meant what would lead Vildred to think Ras had been the one to tell him first, and yet, he simply goes still when Vildred shifts him. It's funny, isn't it? How the Heir of the Covenant, often coated in the blood of beasts, and with the strength and capability to take down those who match the gods, is but putty in Vildred's hands. Light and with no resistance to movement. One may say this is what makes Ras less human - his almost doll-like reactions like this. Ras would argue this is what makes him closer to human than not, though. To give all one's trust to someone they love and care for... to be able to give oneself unto another... is that not human? Certainly no god could ever do so.

Ras does not pull away when Vildred kisses him again. Though, he is also having a hard time figuring out... what to do with this? How does he kiss back when it's so... rough? This isn't just pressing their lips together. It seems to be done with intent. So, no, he definitely doesn't pull away, because he can't say he doesn't like this, but it does mean Vildred is not going to be getting a lot of response out of the turning-rapidly-into-a-tomato Heir of the Covenant. ]

[bladeascent]

[Vildred is learning things about intimacy today.

1. It may have been better to let Ras stand on his own before doing this, instead of being supported largely by Vildred's weight pressing the other to the wall and his tail acting as a sturdy brace underneath Ras' ass.
2. Because he did not let Ras stand up, that means there are legs around his hips, and he decides in that moment that he really likes how Ras' legs feel around his hips.
3. Kissing deeply like this is a gateway drug to wanting to kiss along Ras' pulse in ways that would maybe, he thinks, make even Krau blush. (It would not do this, if Vildred knew the things Krau got up to it would be him accusing the blonde of blasphemy instead of the other way around.)

Vildred breaks their kiss almost breathlessly, realising quickly the error of his ways. He wants to kiss Ras in ways the nuns and priests and general populace of Orbis haven't. He wants to kiss Ras in ways that Flamebringer at the bar certainly did, but with more emphasis on the romance and less on the hedonism. Or maybe more accurately, Vildred wants to be the most romantic hedonist on the planet.

...right. He was demonstrating the answer to Ras' question.]

—they kissed like this.

[He blurts, sudden, remembering himself.]

That's part of what has me so convinced.

[divinechains]

[ This is. Something he probably shouldn't be doing. Not because it's "wrong" or whatever nonsense of "sin" the churches warn about, but because... he truly won't let Vildred go if this continues like this. Perhaps he's already reached that point. Perhaps Ras is afraid these absolutely abhorrent feelings of selfishness and neediness are something to worry about, rather than feed like he's doing. He cannot help it, though. Where would he be without Vildred? Would he care at all? Would he be the holy beacon that wanted to save humanity, if Vildred were the one to remind him of his love for them?

He cannot, will not let Vildred go. At this point, he would sooner let Orbis burn.

He does not try to correct Vildred. He does not try to correct his thinking, in asking why he thought Ras was the one to speak out first, but rather, he just stares at Vildred's flushed face and observes the hitch in his breath with a disgusting fascination. He eventually reaches his hand out to gingerly touch his cheek. ]

...Do that again? [ It is a question, since he doesn't want to upset Vildred. ]

[bladeascent]

["Upset"? No no. He's raking his gaze over Ras in a way that's new to both of them, akin to a parched man staring at a bottle of water. Something in the nervous twitch in his tail says want, desire, and the careful scrrtch of his dragon claws against the wall say restraint. Ras asks to be kissed again, and Vildred obliges immediately, not having much of an idea of what he's doing other than what he saw earlier.

It does not stop curious hands from moving to hold Ras up by the combined strength of hands under his ass and hips pressing the Heir of the Covenant himself into the cold plaster of the wall. Redoubled effort. Completely unnecessary amounts of effort here.

Ras is getting his mouth licked into. Terribly sorry, apparently Vildred's gay awakening has snapped something Else awake in his brain.]