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sticksandbones2025-01-03 12:00 pm
sticksandbonesmods) wrote in sticksandbones2025-01-03 12:00 pm
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[he nods. Yes, natural is the word for the scent of it. The natural world could be cruel, but it was a fair cruel. That's what this feels like. He doesn't look up from the wound, but his ears turn towards Clive as he speaks]
Dunno the term, but I know a bit of magic, aye. A little healing, some tricks. Nothing formal or fancy like you were doing.
[he flicks a hand to where he hung his bow]
Even that was something my brother cooked up- he's got a talent for pulling power into machines.
Dunno the term, but I know a bit of magic, aye. A little healing, some tricks. Nothing formal or fancy like you were doing.
[he flicks a hand to where he hung his bow]
Even that was something my brother cooked up- he's got a talent for pulling power into machines.
[ He's silent as he absorbs this information. He would never ask a bearer to use their magic for his sake, lest the curse advance in them. Maybe it's not the healing that helped? He glances towards the crossbow, expecting to see a crystal, and is a little surprised he doesn't. ]
Your brother is able to work magic into machinery without crystals?
[ Oh, Mid would be all over this, his heart clenching to the thought. He hopes they're all all right back in the Hideaway. ]
Your brother is able to work magic into machinery without crystals?
[ Oh, Mid would be all over this, his heart clenching to the thought. He hopes they're all all right back in the Hideaway. ]
[And as Clive frets over it, Will nods to himself, deciding that the heat is not doing as much as he wanted. Raising his hands again to flood the spot with more light]
Mhm. Though I know he uses this and that in doin' it, I wouldn' be able to tell you how. He really is a genius.
[Said with open pride and fondness]
Mhm. Though I know he uses this and that in doin' it, I wouldn' be able to tell you how. He really is a genius.
[Said with open pride and fondness]
[ He knows. He knows, and he can't do anything about it. So, with a sigh, Joshua follows his brother's lead. Whatever gets Clive in out of the cold sooner. If the ball of flame hangs closer to Clive, he's just imagining things, clearly.
But he'd forgotten about the amulet in the rush to aid Clive. As Clive mentions it, he lifts his hand to where it lays beneath his shirt. It still hangs heavy around his neck. The voice that sounded so much like his own, and the cold seeping into his bones, had also been forgotten in the flurry of activity forced by adrenaline, but now that it's over...
No. He can't. The lights of the town are ahead through the snow, and they have to make it. ]
Yes. But I'll be fine. We have to go.
[ For Clive's sake. ]
But he'd forgotten about the amulet in the rush to aid Clive. As Clive mentions it, he lifts his hand to where it lays beneath his shirt. It still hangs heavy around his neck. The voice that sounded so much like his own, and the cold seeping into his bones, had also been forgotten in the flurry of activity forced by adrenaline, but now that it's over...
No. He can't. The lights of the town are ahead through the snow, and they have to make it. ]
Yes. But I'll be fine. We have to go.
[ For Clive's sake. ]
[ He thought so. Origins final curse on them? Or, considering the circumstances, this lands curse? He won't respond again, pushing through the thick snow with as much haste as he can, hauling his brother after him. Joshua is far more susceptible to the call of it, and he needs to get his brother into the warmth of the Inn... without bodily throwing him over his shoulder.
Thankfully neither of them were too far out, and the lights of buildings bloom suddenly through the snow when they stumble into the Grove proper. Clive instantly bee-lines towards the Inn, forcing the door open with one hand to let Joshua step in. The Inn's fire is blazing away, offering a warmth that seeps in instantly despite the clutching cold. ]
Toss the amulet into the fire.
[ Before he rips the damn thing from Joshua's neck. Angry, protective brother. ]
Thankfully neither of them were too far out, and the lights of buildings bloom suddenly through the snow when they stumble into the Grove proper. Clive instantly bee-lines towards the Inn, forcing the door open with one hand to let Joshua step in. The Inn's fire is blazing away, offering a warmth that seeps in instantly despite the clutching cold. ]
Toss the amulet into the fire.
[ Before he rips the damn thing from Joshua's neck. Angry, protective brother. ]
Wait. Don't push yourself.
[ But whether it's the healing or the care towards him, the ice glimmers under the light and begins to shrink. Slowly but surely, and he flexes his hand as sensation comes back. ]
But... thank you.
[ And oh, he knows that pride and fondness, and it gets a small smile from him in return. ]
Younger?
[ But whether it's the healing or the care towards him, the ice glimmers under the light and begins to shrink. Slowly but surely, and he flexes his hand as sensation comes back. ]
But... thank you.
[ And oh, he knows that pride and fondness, and it gets a small smile from him in return. ]
Younger?
[ By the time they've made it to the inn doors, Joshua is tightly clutching the cloak around his shoulders. Nothing he seems to do can cut through the bitter cold, and every footstep is a struggle. But no matter how much the voices - his voice - call for a sacrifice, he has to keep going. For Clive.
The ball of flame lasts until they reach the doors, where it fully gutters out and disappears. But even in the inn's warm embrace, he can't get warm. The heat may be melting the snow in his hair, but the cold in his body won't abate.
Clive tells him to burn the amulet, and he lifts his hand to grasp it out of his shirt, but his fingers feel so numb that it takes a couple of attempts. Prying it off is a whole other matter, and he has to yank hard to break it away.
He tosses it in the fire, and it fizzles and spits. But the more it burns away, the more the cold seeps from his bones. ]
The ball of flame lasts until they reach the doors, where it fully gutters out and disappears. But even in the inn's warm embrace, he can't get warm. The heat may be melting the snow in his hair, but the cold in his body won't abate.
Clive tells him to burn the amulet, and he lifts his hand to grasp it out of his shirt, but his fingers feel so numb that it takes a couple of attempts. Prying it off is a whole other matter, and he has to yank hard to break it away.
He tosses it in the fire, and it fizzles and spits. But the more it burns away, the more the cold seeps from his bones. ]
It's fine. I can' put yer guts back in or nothin', so let me do this much.
[He smiles, chuckling]
Elder, actually. He pretty much raised me.
[He smiles, chuckling]
Elder, actually. He pretty much raised me.
[ There. He would have done it for Joshua, but he didn't know if the curse would be lifted that way. He works to pull the gloves off his brother's hands, shedding his own after, to begin briskly rubbing them between his to warm them. And move to sit Joshua down into a chair he kicks towards the fire, his brows furrowed as he frets and works to get the last of that cursed chill out of him.
But he pauses as his eyes lift to land on the spot on Joshua's chest where the wound was, his hand coming up to lightly shift aside some cloth to look. It's not there, Ultima ripped from him, and on top of that it's healed. As he had thought but seeing the spot up close whisks away the last of his tension and his shoulders slump a little with a heavy sigh.
Now he can tease, relief flowing over him like water. ]
No rest for the wicked.
But he pauses as his eyes lift to land on the spot on Joshua's chest where the wound was, his hand coming up to lightly shift aside some cloth to look. It's not there, Ultima ripped from him, and on top of that it's healed. As he had thought but seeing the spot up close whisks away the last of his tension and his shoulders slump a little with a heavy sigh.
Now he can tease, relief flowing over him like water. ]
No rest for the wicked.
[ He won't argue but his gaze will be intensely focused on Will's hands, as if to watch for something. Any sign of petrification. But... Beastmen have never seem to be afflicted by the curse so maybe.... ]
He must love you dearly.
[ Which means Clive needs to find a way to get them all home. ]
He must love you dearly.
[ Which means Clive needs to find a way to get them all home. ]
I'd be dead otherwise.
[His voice is as airy as it's been this whole time, but there's a seriousness to his gaze. He finishes up casting, looking at the place the wraith clawed]
Now that looks right keen, I think!
[His voice is as airy as it's been this whole time, but there's a seriousness to his gaze. He finishes up casting, looking at the place the wraith clawed]
Now that looks right keen, I think!
[ Normally, Joshua would balk at being coddled so, but it's his brother, and he's also so cold that he really has no energy to do it anyway. He allows Clive to maneuver him, sitting in the chair and closing his eyes as he tries to will the warmth to settle into his bones faster.
He barely even notices Clive inspecting his chest for the numbness that the cold has brought and the near burning warmth of his skin attempting to regulate. It's only as the cloth is moved that he opens his eyes, looking down. There is indeed a mark there, but it's nothing like the blatant blue that had been there before. Perhaps the Phoenix had healed it... He really doesn't know the extent of the damage, other than it felt as though he'd been pulled apart from the inside.
Clive's comment makes him huff out a soft laugh, and he tips his head back, eyes locking on the ceiling. ]
No rest indeed. Though, I daresay we've earned a little regardless.
He barely even notices Clive inspecting his chest for the numbness that the cold has brought and the near burning warmth of his skin attempting to regulate. It's only as the cloth is moved that he opens his eyes, looking down. There is indeed a mark there, but it's nothing like the blatant blue that had been there before. Perhaps the Phoenix had healed it... He really doesn't know the extent of the damage, other than it felt as though he'd been pulled apart from the inside.
Clive's comment makes him huff out a soft laugh, and he tips his head back, eyes locking on the ceiling. ]
No rest indeed. Though, I daresay we've earned a little regardless.
And you will get it.
[ His tone brooks no arguments. There's too many unknowns in Clives mind to do anything but rest and plot their next move, shifting his brother's hands over more towards the fire to let the magic heat from it flow into him. Standing he moves to remove the cloak too, hanging it up so more heat can reach Joshua, then summons his fire. Just to test, the flame flickering in his hand before he quenches it. Still dampened. ]
We're not in Valisthea.
[ The only place he can think of is the lands beyond the oceans, but Ultima said they were blighted beyond repair... ]
[ His tone brooks no arguments. There's too many unknowns in Clives mind to do anything but rest and plot their next move, shifting his brother's hands over more towards the fire to let the magic heat from it flow into him. Standing he moves to remove the cloak too, hanging it up so more heat can reach Joshua, then summons his fire. Just to test, the flame flickering in his hand before he quenches it. Still dampened. ]
We're not in Valisthea.
[ The only place he can think of is the lands beyond the oceans, but Ultima said they were blighted beyond repair... ]
[ More warmth is good. The longer he sits before the fire, the more he feels as though he can move. Soon enough, he doesn't even need Clive's help in angling himself, and the warmer he gets, the more he sinks into his chair.
Not in Valisthea... What happened to them? ]
I wondered as much. I don't know of anywhere this plagued by frost, outside of the northern lands.
Not in Valisthea... What happened to them? ]
I wondered as much. I don't know of anywhere this plagued by frost, outside of the northern lands.
[ And while Clive doesn't sit, he does stand by the fire as much as Joshua, arms folding over his chest as he ponders the flames. ]
It doesn't match anything from Father's stories.
[ The small Grove does seem very... tribalistic, yes, but there's something else to it as well. The Beastman he met. The large man running the Shop that called himself Heimr.
And Magic is still working, so either he failed - brother, forgive him - or something is quickening their abilities beyond the lands lifeblood. His head bows, his brow vee'ing down aggressively as he frowns. ]
It doesn't match anything from Father's stories.
[ The small Grove does seem very... tribalistic, yes, but there's something else to it as well. The Beastman he met. The large man running the Shop that called himself Heimr.
And Magic is still working, so either he failed - brother, forgive him - or something is quickening their abilities beyond the lands lifeblood. His head bows, his brow vee'ing down aggressively as he frowns. ]
No more shiny a coin than that.
[He grins, tail wagging]
[He grins, tail wagging]
This way!
( if her voice carries through the wind, she'll be surprised, so maybe her fire will light the way for him. the inn is unusual, but it's shelter enough with food and fire, and that's the important part. but forgive her for being unwilling to go back out into the storm to meet him- instead she stands in the door, fires beckoning with her fan. )
( if her voice carries through the wind, she'll be surprised, so maybe her fire will light the way for him. the inn is unusual, but it's shelter enough with food and fire, and that's the important part. but forgive her for being unwilling to go back out into the storm to meet him- instead she stands in the door, fires beckoning with her fan. )
[ He hears her, but it's the motion and light she's making that helps the most. And no, he doesn't blame her in the least for not coming out. The wind is clawing and violent, and the chill is sinking deep into his core.
So forgive him as he's stumbling when he reaches her, too cold to even shiver properly, frost settling on the tips of him. His lips, his ears, gathering on his lashes. The pendant weighs heavy on his neck, and he braces himself on the wood of the door frame with a hand, trying to steady his breathing. Trying to will himself to shiver to begin the warming process. ]
May I-?
So forgive him as he's stumbling when he reaches her, too cold to even shiver properly, frost settling on the tips of him. His lips, his ears, gathering on his lashes. The pendant weighs heavy on his neck, and he braces himself on the wood of the door frame with a hand, trying to steady his breathing. Trying to will himself to shiver to begin the warming process. ]
May I-?
( it's... concerning, seeing a boy so young look so frail and haunted. she's not sure who he is, or where they are, or what he's experienced. eventually as he sits at the fire though, tingyun joins him, a small roll cake and a fork on a plate being slid over while she gives him a gentle smile. )
I know it's not much, but... I thought maybe something sweet and fresh would help cut through the cold a little. Please, try some.
I know it's not much, but... I thought maybe something sweet and fresh would help cut through the cold a little. Please, try some.
Hah, agreed.
[ He doesn't mind owing this man. Twice over, truthfully.
Do forgive him for watching the tail wag though, brow lowering thoughtfully. It's a lot like how Torgal would react...
Do Beastmen also like their ears rubbed? He probably shouldn't. Or at least ask first. Hm. ]
[ He doesn't mind owing this man. Twice over, truthfully.
Do forgive him for watching the tail wag though, brow lowering thoughtfully. It's a lot like how Torgal would react...
Do Beastmen also like their ears rubbed? He probably shouldn't. Or at least ask first. Hm. ]
Yes.
( by which i mean, she is outright pulling him in and pushing him further down the entryway before forcing the door shut again- "may i?" he asks! "may i" indeed! even the wood feels frigid as ice... tingyun exhales as she backs away from it, almost like a hiss, before she returns her attention to the man.
... so he also has an amulet... )
This inn has no proprietor, but we're welcome to it all the same. There's a fire in the common room, and supplies enough to spare. Let's get you warmed up... will you need assistance?
( by which i mean, she is outright pulling him in and pushing him further down the entryway before forcing the door shut again- "may i?" he asks! "may i" indeed! even the wood feels frigid as ice... tingyun exhales as she backs away from it, almost like a hiss, before she returns her attention to the man.
... so he also has an amulet... )
This inn has no proprietor, but we're welcome to it all the same. There's a fire in the common room, and supplies enough to spare. Let's get you warmed up... will you need assistance?
[ Being manhandled shouldn't be surprising, but it is, and he makes a soft noise as if to protest it; he can walk, it's all right. But he's also known plenty of people like her, and his protests die on his lips as he's pulled and pushed in.
The Inn is warm but it doesn't seem to touch the ice clinging in him, his eyes sweeping around to take it in. He needs fire. ]
I-
[ No, he wants to say. Don't let him be a burden on you. Then his eyes land on her ears and he blinks, momentarily taken aback. Beastman?
And then something outside the window speaks in his voice and demands the sacrifice. End the Winter. His bones ache with a cold worse than Shiva's ice and the amulet drags. He does not mean to hit her with the sad dog look but there it is. Saddest puppy man. ]
... Yes. Please.
The Inn is warm but it doesn't seem to touch the ice clinging in him, his eyes sweeping around to take it in. He needs fire. ]
I-
[ No, he wants to say. Don't let him be a burden on you. Then his eyes land on her ears and he blinks, momentarily taken aback. Beastman?
And then something outside the window speaks in his voice and demands the sacrifice. End the Winter. His bones ache with a cold worse than Shiva's ice and the amulet drags. He does not mean to hit her with the sad dog look but there it is. Saddest puppy man. ]
... Yes. Please.
[ Oh Clive, you have no idea. Gold is fine. He likes gold. Loves it even- likes having means for himself and his loved ones. But a favor, ooooh a favor. A favor never goes stale and never depreciates. He hordes them like gems. Trades them like a merchant baron. Gives them out and cashes them in with utmost care.
That wasn't on his mind when he leapt to aid him, of course. But his better nature has paid out more than once. He doesn't see it as a sin.
Thinking on this he almost doesn't notice Clive's eyes falling to his swishing tail. His eyes lid in amusement, and he rests his elbow on the armrest and his chin in his hand, looking self satisfied. Cat in the cream]
Not used to beastkin, eh?
That wasn't on his mind when he leapt to aid him, of course. But his better nature has paid out more than once. He doesn't see it as a sin.
Thinking on this he almost doesn't notice Clive's eyes falling to his swishing tail. His eyes lid in amusement, and he rests his elbow on the armrest and his chin in his hand, looking self satisfied. Cat in the cream]
Not used to beastkin, eh?
... Yes and no.
[ It's rude to stare and he lifts his eyes from the tail only to land them on the ears. A lot like Torgals too... Yet different enough to not be a wolf. His fingers itch to rub them. ]
The Beastmen I am most aware of are Goblins, Orcs, Minotaurs, and Gigas.
[ He folds his arms over his chest and relaxes back, propping his back up against something. ]
I have never encountered a more humanoid one, with beast features. Forgive me if that's rude.
[ It's rude to stare and he lifts his eyes from the tail only to land them on the ears. A lot like Torgals too... Yet different enough to not be a wolf. His fingers itch to rub them. ]
The Beastmen I am most aware of are Goblins, Orcs, Minotaurs, and Gigas.
[ He folds his arms over his chest and relaxes back, propping his back up against something. ]
I have never encountered a more humanoid one, with beast features. Forgive me if that's rude.
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