bladeascent | Sticks & Bones // IC Inbox

[ 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.

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?

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. ]

[Lying works. It's not like Vildred doesn't believe every word out of Ras' mouth no matter what, for weal or for woe.

Either way, lie or truth, that sounds harrowing. A normal man would be shaken to his core by that, and though Ras says he's fine, Vildred still has to wonder if that's true. Ras had always been sensitive and caring, and it isn't as though he didn't get sad when someone died, like Iseria had...

In his free hand, he takes Ras' back, and if it's any comfort the Covenant will feel Vildred's pulse softly in his fingertips too, alive as ever. They should walk and talk, he thinks. Head back to the inn and sit down for a moment.]

If his power is similar to Tenebria's, it makes sense. He seems like a nasty mix of her and Kayron. With those abilities in mind, he's probably gone ahead and messed with others like he did with you. [He frowns, then suggests:] And if he is anything like those two, we need to watch out for people who might be tempted to switch sides.

[ He does find comfort in it. Especially after seeing that pile of his illusion-corpses. Or... something else. He doesn't know, he doesn't want to think about it. He will walk properly alongside Vildred back to the inn. ]

...I hadn't considered that. [ :( ] I do not believe they would. Not the people here at the Grove, anyway. It sounds like they either want to go home and he's their roadblock, or have just been severely hurt or in some cases, killed and resurrected.

He really does just sound like he harbors so much hate. Why would anyone... [ ...The Acolytes and the people who want to see Ras' own fall come to mind briefly. ] ...I don't understand.

I don't want to believe they would either, Ras, but you know how people like the Acolytes operate. You don't know if people here have been promised something they badly want or not. Human motivation can be fickle like that.

[When they get to the inn, he shoulders the door open and holds it for both Ras and the dandylion, and from there, it's upstairs they go. Please don't trip up the stairs bud he needs you upright.]

...I couldn't tell you why someone would do that either, to be honest. If I could, I think we would've already saved Orbis, just you and I.

...It will be difficult for us, won't it? On Orbis, the Guardians would do the efforts of finding those who we could trust and I never had to... question it. Question the Heirs. I... don't think I would know how to begin figuring out if someone is trustworthy. [ He's never had to try. He's just kind of been stumbling through his social interactions as a whole, and Arkasus had been the one to mostly steer him away from shady people. He doesn't have him here, though, and trusting Ras' own instincts, when he just loves humanity and people as a whole...

He's not tripping up the stairs. He's actively floating up them, actually, so it's not going to be a problem. He chooses to walk again when he's at the top again, though. ]

Is that too negative of a thought? Sorry. Maybe we could ask the Spirit Lords here for some kind of guidance in that regard.

[In the room they go, and Vildred shuts and locks the door behind him as he flicks on the lights with a bump of the elbow, lets go of Ras, and proceeds to the kitchenette. He has to put things away as he talks, but Ras will still be able to hear him over the clank of cans and glass.]

Good idea. [He's heard there's a Lake Spirit Lord, but he has no idea where the lake is... and the shadow woman had been pretty clear that Callan was quite, uh. Eccentric.] And, you know I have your back. If we can't trust someone... I'll tell you. Just have some faith in me.

["For once" goes unspoken... he's still salty about their fight, but now isn't the time. Every single time doesn't feel like "the time".]

[ Ras stays by the little dandylion, kneeling down to give it little scritches as Vildred puts food away. ]

I know. If you weren't here, I... [ Beat. ] Diche made sure I had support. She bestowed the world with the Guardians. She did not want me to be alone. She never gave me you, of course, but... she would be happy to know I had you here with me.

[It's the way Ras says shit like that that makes Vildred way less angry than he should be. He knows there are things Ras hides from him, but damn, Ras can't just say stuff like that and expect him to stay as mad as he was before they headed off into battle.]

When we go home, I'll let Her know I have your back.

[Ha. Haha.]

One step at a time, Vildred. We have to take care of what's going on here, first. The tailor, Ain, had quite a bit of insight about what's going on here. It's... certainly a lot, though, so I recommend having a seat for a moment while I get through it.

[ Which he'll absolutely wait to do. But once Vildred is seated, Ras will go over the whole of the conversation with Ain he had, telling him all the things he'd deemed important information, and leaving out, like, Ain's love life and such- ]

[Wow, this Ain guy sounds very heterosexual, just like Vildred is :) Also good to know that they'll have clothes in X days.]

Pavlova mentioned a "disease" spreading. I take it that it's this Corruption thing?

[With groceries all put away, he'd like to get started on... fuck, he doesn't know, soup? But also this is too much to take in while preoccupied with cooking, so he's at least glad he sat down for it.]

Very likely. I'll have to speak with the gargoyle he'd mentioned, as he can purify it which... might mean he knows at least something about it. With that said, Ain mentioned there are dragons on the beach where you can receive blessings that can prevent it from spreading to you. Maybe... that's something you can look into? Just in case... it's not something I would be able to cleanse from you.

Didn't you say that the dragon's blessing changes people physically? [Not that he's against it, and if anything it's probably temporary lol lmao like most blessings are, or at least it'll stick to them for the duration they're both here.] I don't mind, but you're going to have to help me afford the tailoring bill if I sprout a tail.

[ He laughs, gentle and light. ]

Of course. I'm sure Ain would not mind. He seemed like a very kind person. He mentioned being the descendant of a goddess himself, too. [ Translation: So I'm pretty sure we can trust him. ]

If it's not something you're interested in, though, I'd understand. I can always see if there's anything else we can do to help with that sort of thing.

—wait, there's two of you now?

[Crazy. Does he also have a chest rock...]

I'll see what the dragons say. But what about you? Are holy beings immune to it, or do I have to drag you with me?

Different world. Different goddess. I also believe he is strictly a descendant, and not a vessel for Her will.

I do not know. That would be something to ask the gargoyle, I feel. I could look into it, if you're concerned.

You should. I don't want anything to happen to you.

[You'd think he'd eventually stop worrying over Ras, but no. No no. If something happens to him, Vildred can't fix it. And if the Corruption sways people to the wrong side and he loses Ras...

...]

Promise me you won't touch anything unfamiliar or suspicious-looking for now.

[ Ras doesn't want anything to happen to Vildred either. He's also just worried about the blessings as a whole. Both on the stance of he isn't sure how it would affect him, and just... afraid of what it might do to the body given to him by Diche. Something something self-indentity crisis- ]

...Do I come off as the reckless sort to you, Vildred?

You come off as the sort to hear someone suspicious say "hey, hold this bomb" and hold the bomb with your politest smile, Ras. I'm worried someone or something here will pull the wool over your eyes, and you already said that the Archdemon-knockoff got in your head.

[Somewhere Suri is grumbling—]

It isn't that I want you to distrust people, but at the same time, we're in a completely new environment. We're not exactly holding any advantage here, are we.

[It's not phrased like a question for a reason.]

I wouldn't... [ Please have more faith in him, he's doing his best!!! ] ...E-even so... [ :( Mean to him. ]

I'm well aware of our position, unfortunately. We don't have the support of the Guardians or the Heirs or the Holy Order or anything like that here. We know very little about our enemy, and no guidance from Goddess Diche...

...

But there is the Goddesses here. We could potentially try to seek their blessing. I'm not sure they would much care for someone like you or me, though, given our allegiance lies with another... but at the very least, it's worth a try?

[Vildred has infinite faith in you, Ras, but also he worries that your big heart is going to get you killed. Sorry. He does at least look sympathetic when Ras' face colours like that, but Ras also did just admit he'll have a hard time ascertaining who can be trusted or not.]

More interviews for us, normal day for me. [He manages a quiet, half-assed laugh. Ohhh a knight's job is never done, is it... but he shakes his head as if to clear the expression away, slouching forward and putting a hand on Ras' shoulder.] I know I'm being harsh on you. If I lead you astray, you have every right to blame me for it. But for now, I've got you covered, alright?

No, I'm happy you can be blunt with me. It's relieving when you don't hold back how you're feeling... [ Or treating Ras like he needs to be put on a pedestal. Sure, Vildred is overprotective, but it isn't as though Ras is a special case there. That's just how Vildred is with his friends, and those he cares for. He still treats Ras like they're on equal footing and it's... so refreshing. Even now. Even if he's not from the same reset as Ras.

He really doesn't change. It's nice... ]

...Thank you, Vildred. I'll do my best on my end, too, and let you know if I learn anything else.

Sticks & Bones // IC Inbox

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