bladeascent | Sticks & Bones // IC Inbox

You stopped. [ That’s not answering the question. Mostly because Ras doesn’t know. He didn’t get them from the circus?? So they should be okay?? ] It was nice. Can you keep doing that?

I can't talk and hum at the same time, [also yeah that does not answer the question, but he supposes the lemons are... edible... and can be used....... so he'll put them where the fruit goes.] But sure, whatever you want.

[This man's mantra is basically "whatever you want" to Ras specifically. So yeah, sure, he'll start humming again as he puts things away and cleans up, and then immediately has to get out half of it again for the stock... look don't criticise the system.

Ras at least gets to listen to singing while he watches Vildred chop veggies.]

Ah, yes. Apologies. It was just nice to hear. To answer your questions, I picked them from the tree nearby, so I believe them to be fine. If you would prefer, I can verify as such with Guardian Moder.

[ He will move closer to Vildred as he cooks, listening to the melodies with apt attention. He even closes his eyes while standing right next to him. Probably to focus more on his hearing, but there's truly no telling with Ras at this point. ]

[Mid hum—]

It should be fine. It's not like the circus food was toxic, it was just... questionable.

[And back to humming while Ras hangs at his side. This is nice. What he's humming is a tune he heard playing in the streets a lot growing up that sort of just stuck with him as he went into town. Nowadays it's not a popular song. Passage of time and all that, tastes change, bards don't pluck the same tunes, y'know how it is.

He tries not to elbow Ras by accident as he's slicing up carrots and potatoes. He has long arms and Ras is very close.]

[ Puts your Ras on low power mode: ]

...My other form, [ He finally says, in the midst of cooking and humming. ] I could probably use it here. This training grounds seems... safe. But I would like your opinion on the matter first.

[Vildred has all the ingredients in the pot by the time Ras speaks up, so now it's time to set the oven on a low simmer for the next four hours. With that in mind, he washes his hands off one last time, dries them, and then turns to his friend with a small smile.]

You know if something happens that I'll protect you. ["With my life" is, yet again, unspoken! Because Ras does not seem to like this! Strange—] Whatever form you want to be in is fine with me. What do you prefer right now?

...That should not be your job. [ Please. Even if it is unspoken, he knows how Vildred is. He loves him dearly, and he is happy that Vildred is the constant in his life, but also... ]

I... [ "do not know what I want." ] ...I will stay like this.

[ Easier this way. Maybe then nothing will sneak up on him, and he can protect Vildred, as he'd done all this timelines... ]

I'll keep braiding your hair for you, then.

[who the fuck just says this]

Here, the pot needs to simmer for a while. I haven't actually checked out the rest of the house yet. Come with me?

[ Taking Vildred's hand likes this is normal and a heterosexual thing to do- ]

[They're both normal and heterosexual I don't know what you're talking about,

Anyway, it's down the hall he didn't look at time! They've already looked at the kitchen and main living room obviously, and the dining room is just the living room and/or a partitioned space off to the side that's open but has a table, don't need to be fancy about it. There are storage closets and amenities in the hall, standard apartment type stuff, and then it's off to the master bedroom and bath. Thank Diche it's bigger than what they got — Vildred loosely comments on how much easier it'll be to wash the animals before mentally noting to fill the shower caddy with Stuff later.

Still, one bed, large room, Ras doesn't sleep... par for the course. There looks to be closet space for the both of them, and it's not like either of them go crazy with fashion. It should be enough for standard clothes, thinks man who is oblivious to the tailor's intentions to stuff Ras in little outfits like a purse doggy.]

Oh, hey, look at the view.

[He's bringing Ras over to the sliding glass door that leads to the private balcony now, where they have a pretty decent view of the woods before the fog wall, and from one side they can see the river leading off to the lake, but obviously not the lake itself. It's a nice view, brisk and breezy up here, and Vildred leans halfway over the railing to look out over it.]

This is a good spot, Ras. Good job.

[ Ras is keen to look around too, even if he doesn't really have to "live" here like Vildred does. He doesn't really need more than a closet's worth of space, if he's being honest, but it's still fun to see. There's cute little carvings along the floorboards, and the the colors of the place are so nice, and the bedroom feels so cozy. He's mostly just giving Vildred very small smiles whenever he talks about the place, taking everything in on his own.

When they're out on the balcony, his smile does briefly fall to look over the place. He's... of course, he's seen this place before he picked it out. He had a look around, and decided on what would be best, but... also... it's different now. He's let it set now that this is where they're living. This is their temporary home here, and... the river, the trees, the little seaborn in the air, and the critters below... just seeing it all here like this is nice in a way that hurts. It's that same familiar feeling of waking up in his world for the first time. Everything foreign. Everything beautiful. Everything harmonic.

What if he fails this world, too?

He doesn't realize he's squeezing Vildred's hand too hard. He seems out of it completely, truthfully. ]

...hey. Are you alright?

[He's noticing that Ras seems less excited about the view, not that he's been outwardly excitable lately but Still. Still... having him shut down like that isn't the best sign.]

What's on your mind?

...It is strange. I did not speak much to Diche on Orbis after she made me. And yet, I'm realizing I do not have her guidance here.

[ He lets go of Vildred's hand so that he can brush his hands over his eyes. They're beginning to sting. And he hates that feeling. ]

I am overthinking things. That is all.

[Ras hates that feeling, and Vildred hates the way he looks when he gets it. He wishes he could fix it, but he's just a Guy, and he definitely doesn't offer some kind of higher-power type security.

He flips around and leans against the railing, facing Ras properly.]

Do you want to talk about it? I'm all ears.

[ The answer to that is "yes", but... ]

I am not sure I know how to begin. There is a lot to talk about it, and some of it I do not know how to put into words. [ Not to mention the things he really wants to tell Vildred... but........ ] I think mostly... I am just worried about what the repercussions might be. If this entity here is just as horrible as the Archdemon, then what will become of this world? I have seen his flippant manipulation of space and time, and that can cause things far worse than the rifts on Orbis if left unchecked. Not to mention this "corruption" and...

...

I do not know. I am worried about so many things.

...me too. You're not alone in that.

[The whole situation is another nightmare. Similar to back home, but they're at far more of a disadvantage. At least Ras was created in the Goddess Factory for combating the Archdemon, but here? Here, it's sounded like they don't know how to stand up to this guy other than Doing Their Best. Which, yeah, everyone on Orbis Does Their Best all the time, but they're also backed by the Heir of the Covenant and the Heirs in general.]

Like with the Archdemon, we have to take it a day at a time and answer the threats as they come. Hell, if I could solve every problem in the world, I'd already have that done. ...but we've got good people backing us here, too. We'll be alright, I'm sure of it.

[ After clearing his eyes, he leans against the balcony himself, arms crossed and just… feeling so small. Smaller than usual, anyway. It’s been a while since he’s had thoughts like this. ]

…Would you be disappointed with me? If I faced this entity, and did not win? [ It’s different here. Here everyone is not saying “it’s fine because the Heir of the Covenant will fix everything!” But that doesn’t mean Ras isn’t still drawing the parallels. ]

Ras, I could never be disappointed in you.

[ >ARBITER VILDRED RAPIDLY APPROACHES YOUR LOCATION ]

I know you have the weight of a world... two worlds, maybe, on your shoulders. You're big and important and everyone looks up to you. I do, too. But none of that means I'd ever show any sort of disdain because some cosmic force that may or may not be stronger than both of us won.

[He flips positions again, pulling Ras in for a one-armed hug.]

At most, I'm worried that this entity would take you away from me permanently if you failed. But that's not disappointment — I just don't want to lose you.

[ ...

It does not stay a one armed hug for long. In fact, Ras, who'd previously been so close to crying, is now having tears stream down his face. As ever, it's silent. He does not sob, he does not cry - hell, he doesn't even have a runny nose. But the tears are still there.

Which is why Ras' head immediately goes into Vildred's chest to hide his face there, where he then throws his arms around him for a proper hug, too.

He is not... surprised to hear Vildred say this, necessarily. But it does confirm things for Ras. He still can't say what he wants to tell him. He still can't tell him about the worlds that he has failed. He still can't tell him anything. But it's so relieving to know that there is at least one person who does not expect the weight of the world on his shoulders.

He will be okay. Just give him a moment. ]

[Oh— Ras must be dealing with a lot if he's breaking down like this, he thinks sombrely. For now, he'll comb his fingers through Ras' hair in an attempt to soothe him, or at the very least, give him something to focus on that isn't so existential.]

I wish I could share some of your burden.

[One day, maybe. One day, he'll get even stronger than he is now, and maybe he can't go toe to toe with a pseudo-deity or two, but he sure will be able to hold his own against three acolytes at once. That's kind of the dream right now, as far-flung as it is. If he can focus on that, then Ras can do the important stuff. Here? He doesn't know, but the situation seems similar enough. If he can do the heavy lifting, Ras can focus on the main guy. Easier said than done.

He sets his head atop Ras' for a brief moment.]

Maybe I'll ask Diche if she'll make me a God or something when we get back. Then I could take at least half of your duties on for you. What do you think? [He's trying to lighten the mood, but also, might be a liiiiittle tiny bit serious about that.] I'd probably look cool, right?

[ It's... no wonder Ras always seeks Vildred out. This is the very same man who always manages to diffuse things. If someone is treating Ras overly piously, Vildred will bring them back down to Earth. If Ras is having trouble opening up about his opinion, Vildred will ask him what he wants to do. Hell... even if he is sad, Vildred will try to lighten the mood, as he doing now. That's something Ras has always found curious. He doesn't like when people are sad. So why is he doing this for Ras, instead of leaving or changing the subject...?

Anyway, Ras laughs. It's that sort of sad laugh one does when they're caught off guard mid-cry, but it's a laugh. He wipes his eyes again, this time into his robes, and tries to recompose himself. ]

Oh, I do think she would make you the jester of gods, though. [ Hehe... He breathes a little sigh. ] Thank you. And I apologize. I understand this was quite the emotional heft for a conversation. I did not mean to impose.

...And just so there is no misunderstanding, I think you look plenty cool now.

You weren't imposing.

[Just. Baseline, putting that out there. No, he doesn't like to be around Sadness and in general being around sad people makes him feel a little awkward. This is a man that runs from depression even if it's completely warranted. Compartmentalizes, all that. But.

Not for Ras. Never for Ras.]

And I'd look much cooler with a title like "God of Comedy", right? I could even have a nametag. [He laughs, one hand still around Ras as they kind of, sort of part.] I think that gives me more divine power than being just a jester. Maybe I can make the Archdemon laugh to death.

[ He should apologize to Vildred specifically, for a lot of things he's done. It's funny, Ras has done so little for him in turn for everything he's done for Ras in them. Even now. There is no amount of time he has with Vildred that he can do to make up for it, either.

But he's so happy he's here, anyway. ]

Perhaps. We can start calling him "Anglaugh the Archdemon", in that case, hm? [ His eyes are still a bit puffy, but they're not watery anymore. ] I know Diche would at least be pleased to have you among the deities.

When all's said and done and I get to ask Diche if she thinks I'm cool enough to join the rank and file of the heavens, [dork,] do you think you can stay awake this time? Experience life the way humans live it?

[Still holding him as he asks this, just, btw.]

There's a ton of stuff you haven't gotten to see yet that I want to show you.

[ This... this takes Ras very aback, actually. His mouth opens to say something, but he finds himself at a total loss for words. The gears are turning, but... ]

Wh... what? [ He heard Vildred. He did. He's just... confused. He hadn't... considered that to even be an option, actually. This is like someone putting an "O" on the back of the paper instead of inside the grid of Tic-Tac-Toe. ]

...I don't... I will not be needed after...

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