bladeascent | Sticks & Bones // IC Inbox

[ 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.

[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...?

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

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

[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.

I had not intended to. It is across the river, though, so I may have to carry you at that point. [ Or you could just. Cross it where you can't see the dojo. Ras is not thinking about that. Instead he walks up to Vildred and plants his hands over his eyes, having to lean just a little to look around Vildred and gently nudge him out of the Inn.

He doesn't stop Clawde from following. He'll have to come back for Tina and Quacklyn, though. They seem uninterested in Boy Shenanigans. ]

[Clawde is simply very attached to Vildred. The shenanigans are funny, though.

Being blinded is, uh, hard though to be clear! Vildred stumbles out of the inn barely, feeling out of his element all of a sudden but no less curious to find out what Ras is so excited about. He wonders if it's Moder again... surely she's just loafing though.

Anyway please don't let him trip by the well as they head out.]

I can't tell where we're going at all, [he says, nearly stumbling over a very overgrown tree root,] so yeah, you're going to have to carry me. The river is pretty deep in the middle, isn't it?

[ >we drop vildred in the water for the third time ]

[ Don't worry, Ras is a pretty good leader despite his own clumsiness. Maybe it's because being aware of someone else helps? Who knows. He even chimes with a "door threshold ahead" and lets Vildred sort of kick forward so he knows where it is, before they're outside. It's a little harder to navigate since the ground isn't even out here - or, rather, not as even as wood flooring, but y'know.

There's a few hiccups, but Ras is sure to not let Vildred fall, simply pulling him back into him with his elbows against Vildred's shoulders to help regain his balance. ]

I intended to, do not worry. It does mean I have to take my hands off your eyes, though. You can use your own. I trust you to not peek.

I'll close them when we're crossing it, promise.

[He won't spoil the surprise (??) that he's almost positive is going to be Moder doing something. Or an animal. Or maybe there's a cool ruin or something. ...tell him it's not an actual birthday party, actually, please his birthday was months ago he doesn't want a delayed party but Ras is absolutely the type to find out about birthday parties and want one. Help.

Anyway, he's distracted wondering and nearly trips over a rock.]

[ Ras stops and briefly releases his hands over Vildred's eyes so that he can wrap his arms around Vildred's chest and pull him yet again against Ras. Y'all people in the Grove can See You- ]

Ah. Maybe I should start carrying you now? This is more challenging than I initially perceived.

[Oh hi, hug from behind—]

Maybe. I feel like my senses are being tested. It's probably good training, in any case...

[He learnt to sense his enemy with his eyes closed, not sense fucking rocks.]

But if you wanted to make it there in a reasonable amount of time, you might have to trust me to keep my eyes closed. [leans his head back on ras' shoulder to talk to him like?? yes we are looking each other in the eye we are communicating. this does not look homoerotic he doesn't even know what a homo is]

There are other things we would better fill that time doing. [ Like moving in. Not that there's a lot TO move, but Vildred put food in the inn room and such, so, y'know- ]

I do trust you. Always. Here, I'm going to pick you up now. One moment.

[ Ras will kneel down, and gently scoop his arm under Vildred's knees. He hopes he trusts Ras enough to not suddenly lock them on him, else this is going to be a lot harder. But a bridal carry is the only way Ras can pick Vildred up, since he's so much taller than Ras is. Which is what he'll be doing now, thanks- ]

[Somehow he's not expecting to be bridal carried. He was imagining "sack of potatoes" or "fireman carry" or even "held under the arms like a naughty cat". But no, no no, he's getting "damsel rescued from dragon" carried. He is not a damsel in distress he's manly as hell

Anyway here he is closing his eyes and putting his arms around Ras' shoulders like, way too comfortable with this actually. Fly him over the river, fruity boy.]

[ Flying commenced!!!! Ras doesn't see a problem with this. He gives a nod in lieu of a wave to Zahliya as they fly across the river together. Don't worry, he's doing a surprising to Vildred ! :)

Anyway, he will be put down when they're across the river, a few feet away from the dojo. Ras does trust Vildred, but he still puts him down facing away from it. Mostly so he can excitedly shuffle around and try to make sure it's in clear view. Then he turns and gently taps Vildred. ]

Alright, you may look. Turn around and open your eyes.

[zahliya is going to call you guys slurs

Anyway, Vildred is set down upon the ground and told to turn around, and that he does, opening his eyes as he turns. He... is not expecting a whole-ass dojo. In fact, he's pretty sure this was not here yesterday when he was doing his patrolling. To that end, he does look the least bit shocked, eyebrows shooting up into his hairline and his eyes briefly wide.

How the fuck—]

This wasn't here yesterday. Is it a training hall?

[This IS surprising! Congrats Ras, he's looking at you like he's so fucking baffled (he is!!!).]

It was not! That is because it was built today. My understanding is that the Shopkeeper has some sort of construction magic? I am not privy to how it works, but I figured it would be nice to have. It will keep our skills sharp, and provides an excellent place to spar. Perhaps the others would be keen to learning swordplay from you, too?

[ He's sparkling again like ✨✨✨✨✨. You don't have to praise him, Vildred. He is just so happy to see that look on your face. ]

Thaaat makes sense.

["Cities can't be built in a day" except if they had a guy that could just conjure goddamn buildings out of thin air, apparently,

He wants to go inside. He is Already Walking.]

Let's check it out.

[REALLY excited about the potential for stabbing something suddenly. Totally normal reactions to have btw, he's shouldering the front doors open if Ras doesn't stop him.]

There is one more thing I would like to show you. [ He won't stop Vildred. In fact, he is helping Vildred open the doors. The main floor is pretty much exactly what you'd expect of a dojo. It's quite large, too, as to account for the space they'll need for sparring and such. Ras is very, very pleased. But, more specifically, Ras is gesturing off to the side where there seems to be a staircase leading upwards. ]

I believe he put it up above. Though, take your time. I do not want to rush your investigations.

[...there's a second floor—?]

Wait, did you request this? [Ah, ahah!! Now everything makes sense! No wonder Ras had wanted to show him; it wasn't just "this place just spawned a cool building" but "it was ME who asked for the building to spawn". Well, this is good, because he felt weird about sparring in the Sun Goddess' church.] What's upstairs?

[Asking this, he pokes his head into a side room that absolutely is not upstairs, finds it sufficiently stocked with training dummies, and nods. He will be in here stabbing them later.]

I did. If we are going to spend some time here, and it simply takes shells to make these buildings, then I did not see a reason why this would be anything but beneficial for us.

I cannot just tell you. That would ruin the ritual. [ He recalls Vildred saying it's not really a ritual, but he does not know what to call it. It is not a surprise birthday party. He does not know how to birthday or party. So ritual it is- ]

Land is expensive. How many shells did this cost?

[You didn't even know what a shell was 3 days ago?? What's the shell:gold ratio? Why is the economy here fucked UP—

Anyway, he's going to the staff only door in the back and pointing at it.]

There's staff? [YOU'RE the staff!]

I had been searching the river for a while. The opalescent shells seem to be the better ones, and I managed to find quite the number of those. Do not worry about it, though. [ Translation: I know you'll want to get me shells back to help pay for this place, but I won't let you because I just want you to have nice things. ]

Since it is a building I procured, I am taking the role of staff. And you, if you would like. Again, I can see you doing well in teaching swordsmanship to the other residents here. [ He nods to the door. ] You are welcome to open it, regardless.

[He's going to get you one day Ras Elclare—]

I can do that much easily.

[Pshhhh he's got this
>flamebringer is rapidly approaching his location

Anyway, the door gets opened. They're staff, huh? He was expecting a staff room behind this, like, desks and equipment and extra training mats and stuff. A storeroom just in case. But instead there's a stairwell, and with a quizzical look at Ras, he starts heading up. It's gonna be a pain in the ass if all the extra training dummies are up here and have to be hauled downstairs, but maybe Heimr was concerned about the building being too wide...?

He gets to the top of the landing and flicks on the lights, then rounds the corner into the main living space.

...]

This is a house. [Good job genius.] Wait, are you moving out of our room?

[Vildred.]

[ Vildred saying this like they've picked out a house together. Boy these homes are temporary- ]

I was expecting more shock. [ :( He was so sure this was going to be the most exciting part?? ] Why would I not want you to live here, too? Is there something I am missing...? Was this too presumptuous? I do not need all this furniture personally, but I assumed that we would be able to move the food and such here for you and I to stay here comfortably.

...Am I wrong?

I'm living here?

[There's the shock! It's right there! Don't ask him how he didn't get this, it's been a long time since anyone gave him land. That was a, uh, "gift from dad for being an adult" thing and not a... "The heir of the covenant just bought me a house" thing. Yeah sorry he's gonna struggle for a second—]

—sorry, don't look at me like that. I didn't put it together. [Ras is big and important and, yes, just a Guy to Vildred, but that doesn't mean he should be buying Vildred things??] Ras, it's perfect as it is, don't worry about all of that. I just wasn't expecting all of this, so I'm a little... Shell shocked, I guess. —That's not a pun about the economy this time.

[But it could be. He's walking further inside now.]

Only if that is something you want. I would like for you to, but I understand now that I should have asked first. Unfortunately, I do not believe there will be a next time for something like this.

[ Lesson learned, but at what cost..................... anyway, he's smiling again because that's exactly the Vildred reaction he was hoping for. He's immediately walking beside Vildred to watch as he explores. This is mostly new for Ras, too, as he hasn't gotten to look around himself, but it isn't like he needs anything more than a seat to rest every now and then. ]

There is space for the animals, too. And, as stated before, the river is nearby. I believe it is in an optimal place for our requirements.

sorry he's stupid

i need him biblically

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