The adventures of Sad Clay 2: Sad Clay Loses More Friends

[enkidoh]

Who: Enkidu & You
When: The beginning of July
Where: A variety of locations
What: Sad Clay 2.0: electric boogaloo
Warnings: Sad, sad clay


I - Heading for the Coven
It is too early to be up and it is way too early to be running through the streets. Still, that is exactly what Enkidu is doing. They are running at high speed, wearing a white pair of pants and a light blue tunic. Their hair is somewhat messy and they still look quite pale after being sick for a large part of this month. Also, it would have helped if they’d put on a pair of shoes before going out like this.

There is something reckless about the way they move, something that might indicate some sort of panic. They don’t bother with avoiding people, those who are in their way get shoved aside. The closer they come to the large building, the faster they run.

And all because of the fact that this particular morning, Gil still hasn’t returned from that quest. Normally they wouldn’t worry that much. Their friend is quite capable of saving himself and chances were big that he got distracted by the promise of some old treasure, a monster he could battle or that medicine he promised to find for them while they were sick. But there’s still no answer to why their heart aches so much. More than ever, actually. That, and their magic is off balance. Instead of flowing it is stacking up inside of them. Exactly like it did when they had no bond at all.

With a mind this occupied it is only a matter of time before they bump into someone more sturdy, lose their balance, stumble and land on the ground in a very unfortunate way.

“Ah…” Slowly they get up and rub their face and knees. When they look at the other their face is white as a sheet and very tense.

“I am in a hurry…” Then they blink and correct themselves, straightening their shoulders as if nothing big has happened. “…But perhaps I can ask you. Have you seen my friend Gil?”


II - Snooping around the infirmary
The first place they visit is the infirmary. Gil could be injured and unable to contact them. And maybe, he managed to get himself killed. That idea isn’t pleasant but they know the Coven’s witches could get him back from whatever underworld.

Carefully they shuffle through the room, eyes focusing on the patients lying in bed. Some were beasts, some were witches. Some looked like normal townspeople. There were injuries and illnesses. Some cried. Some slept.

But none of them looked like Gil.

“Did he die?” Enkidu frowns when they ask that question. “Are you going to summon him back from the underworld? Can I help?”


III - Sad Clay Whispers to Mirrors
They know the way and they know exactly which mirror belongs to their friend. Only this time they do not run, they walk carefully, their heart hammering in their chest with every step they take. Enkidu had always lived with the notion that there is an end to everything that begins, they did not fear death, for a lump of divine clay they have made the best of the life they have given themselves. Even their existence as a Heroic Spirit was on borrowed time.

But ever since their summon to this place things have started to shift. They admitted to themselves that, right now, they probably would have never accepted the punishment the gods gave them. They would probably fight to stay, to not leave him. They admitted to feel love and that this might not be some new chapter to their old tale. This might just be something new. A new story, a new existence. Perhaps something close to being human. They could be an actual couple, in the way Diarmuid and Berserker were a couple. Really, all they had to do was tell him this.

Finally they stop in front of a mirror in the corner of the room and the second they look at its surface the world seems to stop around them for a minute. And when they finally move they reach out and trace the large crack with the tip of their finger.

“Hmm…”

A shuddering sigh escapes their mouth. Gil wasn’t going to return from that quest at all. He went back to that Moon Cell and the universe he was exploring at Hakuno’s side. They move to crouch down in front of the mirror and place their hands on the cold surface.

“…Gil? I do not know if you can hear me…” Enkidu’s voice is calm when they speak, every word echoing through the room. “…But know we are waiting for you here. Hakuno and I. Know that new stories can be written, friend…know that you will never be lonely again…”

Yes, there is absolutely some green haired weirdo talking against a cracked mirror.

“…And if you might be unable to find us…know that we will find you… Let us speak each other’s names from now on and tell others of the memories we shared. It is wrong to try to forget the things we do not want to forget.”


IV - Sad Clay leaves mirrors, uses the force of their sadness to pet dogs
When they leave the Coven their heart is heavy. And even though they try to accept this as it is, the emptiness inside of them spreads. One day they’re happy and the next day it is gone. They are right back at where they were.

For some reason their feet takes them to their favorite spot in the harbor. They move to stand up straight and whistle shortly. It only takes a couple of seconds until the dogs show up. A large, scruffy brown one, the one with one ear and three legs and the thin spotted one.

“Ah, there you all are…” Enkidu perks up a little, a small smile appearing on their face. “…you look well…” As they crouch down the dogs start to lick their face while wagging their tails. “…And you look fat. You must have been feeding on those fat seagulls…, not?”


V - Holed up in the Treehouse - for those actively looking for a missing clay or those curious
Not long ago Asura has built a treehouse, a safe haven for travellers or those who want to be alone. And even now it is still under construction. Some parts need to be finished and some rooms can use more furniture. And despite being located deeper inside the forest (where Shades roam) it feels safe. The smell of wood is soothing to them and even though winter is raging in the forests, they don’t mind the cold.

First they make sure they get a fire starting and after that they move to sit in front of that fire with a blanket wrapped around their shoulders. In their hand they have a mug with beer and in the other they hold some bread.

They had spent the day actively pushing themselves to move on. They cleaned the apartment, ridding it of every bit of mold and dirt they could find. They took care of the plants, arranged some deliveries, managed to pay Mikasa some cunes for her trouble, they recharged crystals at Inkchanted, threw a fish at Ozymandias’ kittens.

But now they’re sitting here, gazing at the fire, they realize they had to find a new bond again. Their fourth. And, to be fair, they have no idea where to start. Of course, they can bask in the sweet sense of familiarity, the calmth, the connection to another. But it is something that’s connected to loss as well.

“Ah…” A soft sound escapes their mouth as they touch their cheeks. They’re wet. Apparently they have been crying but they have no idea for how long. Weapons do not cry so this is new. And the moment they want to take a sip from their beer they hear knocks on the door downstairs.

“I am here…” Finally they move to stand and slowly start to wipe their cheeks and open the door. “…I am not sure if I wish to have company now but you are free to take a bed, a bath or get something to eat. I have restocked some cabinets and brought fruit.”

Comments

Closed to Hakuno

[enkidoh]

They have no idea how to start this conversation, after all, she would feel it already, not? Maybe she checked his mirror as well. Maybe she has been there at his side during that quest and they were too sick to notice. So they gaze at her briefly before they finally open their mouth.

“Gil went back home.” Enkidu is sitting in the window with their knees pulled up and Butter Cake lying at their feet. The look on their face isn’t sad at all. It is perfectly neutral. Of course, on the inside it feels as if every bit of themselves is being sucked into some sort of black hole. To say that they’re doing well, no, not at all. But they do think that they might be allright somehow. If this was a life where they could feel like this but where they could also put hope in a possible future, it would be foolish to waste it. To turn their back to such humanity.

“Will you come sit with me?”

They scoot over a little, making room for her to sit.

[sealeted]

"He went back to an alien planet we found," she corrects them quietly, winding Sachertorte's leash up in one hand and scooping the poodle pup up in the other as she steps out of her shoes. Her voice is light, and steady, and her face looks calm—just as long as you didn't look at her eyes, at least. There's a tired, bottomless pain there, and she settles in next to Witch and cat without a whisper of protest.

Her heart is a gaping, seizing wound of loss and panic and fear, despite her best intentions, so at such close range they can't possibly miss the way she's trembling.

"That's where we were, before we came here," she says, after a perhaps too-long pause. "We'd... he took me away from the Moon Cell, and we blasted off into the stars. So." She shrugs, wings folded down behind her, and hugs her dog as her voice dwindles down again. From the outside, she imagines, Enkidu and Hakuno must look terribly composed—just as long as you didn't know any better, at least.

"...is it... okay for me to still stay here?"

[enkidoh]

"Since you are here...he is there alone now, not?"

Enkidu looks at her, unmoving.

"I have tried to send a message through the mirror. Let him know we are waiting for him." There's still nothing about Enkidu that might indicate that on the place there was a heart once there is nothing but a hole now. Something heavy and empty at the same time. Still there's something about the way they are digging their fingers into the fabric of their pants.

"It is foolish, I know that very well. Everything here...it seems it is without purpose, without a certain aim...every time things fall into place they fall apart the next day. The ground is like sand, once I get footing, I find myself sliding away."

Then they nod. "You may."

IV

[arturiarex]

Saber is going about her daily business; running errands, simply taking a walk so that she can breathe in the air of the city. Something of a wind-down after the Underground, even if she's also itching to put herself to use doing something again. It's the whistle that grabs her attention. She detours, a little curious, and is surprised to find Enkidu.

Saber hesitates for a long moment and then approaches.

"Enkidu," she calls out, "It's been some time since last we spoke."

[enkidoh]

Enkidu puts their heart and soul in petting all these dogs. Their enthusiasm makes them smile and feel a little better.

When they hear her voice they look up.

"Saber..." And yes, they can't do anything but agree to her words. "It has been a while, yes. I have been ill for quite a long time."

A human disease, how fascinating...

[arturiarex]

"Ill? I'm sorry to hear that," Saber steps a bit closer, hands folded into her pockets.

"Are you doing better? You're up and walking now, so I assume you must be."

Then again, she doesn't know them as well as others, so she has no idea what their level of self-preservation actually is.

v

[scatmaam]

"None are good company when they're in mourning, Enkidu."

Scathach saw herself into the place, having spotted it plenty of times in her journeys into the Wilde but never felt the inclination to visit it until she caught Enkidu's scent trail leading here. Honestly, had he not cried, the scent would have been so much more faint that she might have missed it entirely.

And yet...

"Set the beer down. I've brought you something proper to drink."

[enkidoh]

Enkidu blinks once before they open the door further to let her in. No, they aren't in the mood for any sort of company and it shows with every movement they make.

"No, I am not."

Slowly they close the door behind her, noticing that a snowstorm is starting to brew outside.

"I would not know what to talk about. I guess I am what humans call 'quite dull'." In the back of their head they hope they're able to become better eventually. Thing is, they've lost too many bonds in a short amount of time. "Give it time... I do not believe this is...forever..."

[scatmaam]

Scathach pulled a bottle of Scotch, her actual finest, from her jacket pocket. Nothing short of the finest would matter here... but thankfully, she'd also brought a canteen of water, too. Just a splash or two for each cup would do it.

"Are you trying to convince me, Enkidu, or convince yourself?" Grief was... something she was kin to, as someone who had walked with the concept of death itself for so long, and yet would never know it, herself.

III

[perspicaciously]

Ozpin has often found himself wandering among the mirrors here. For some reason they're rather...serene and a small comfort when it comes to checking in on things. He only happens to run into Enkidu by chance and directly after hearing that last part about wanting to forget and not wanting to at the same time.

He can understand it, in a way, he too has so many things he'd like to forget as well. It seems the man has gone through some loss recently so his voice is gentle, understanding and comforting.

"It's not wrong to want to forget things, especially if they cause one pain. But keeping those same memories and cherishing them is also important as well." Though the light tapping of his cane stills as he cants his head to the side to regard the other.

"I apologize. I couldn't help but...overhear."

[enkidoh]

When Enkidu turns they look dreadfully tired and just very sad. Their shoulders slump a little and their eyes are dull. One of their hands is clenched into a fist and the other still rests on the mirror.

"After our story ended we never dared to speak one another's name anymore. It was wrong to do so."

They look at the stranger and briefly wonder why his glasses are so small. It does not seem he has small eyes. He looks like a normal human.

"You do not have to apologize. I am trying to process the loss of my friend, I hope my words have reached him." While talking their shoulders just start to slump more and more.

I

[kivatteru]

Wataru's build is not sturdy as he had it back home, before Aefenglom stripped him of all his Fangire blood and, by proxy, all his physical prowess as well. It's only by chance that he doesn't fall over when, distracted by something, he bumps into the unknown long haired stranger.

He's late on the recovery, though, and is unable to offer a hand when they get back on their feet. Apologies drip from his lips right away, but he freezes immediately at the sight of their face; it is blank as a sheet, like they have borne sight of something horrible.

The question almost flies over his head, but as he knows no one with that name around, he shakes his head.

"No, unfortunately. I know no one named Gil." He easily shakes off the feeling of uselessness and adds worriedly, "Are you hurt anywhere?"

[enkidoh]

"He has golden hair, red eyes...he can be rather..." How to describe Gil properly? Enkidu frowns. "...When he is present you will know about it. He is loud. And he likes to tell about his position as king."

The frown turns deeper.

"It is very important that I find him..."

In fact, it is of utmost importance.

"If you have seen him...please tell me where I can find him... I do not want..." Enkidu doesn't finish that sentence. Deep inside they know what is going on. His mirror is going to be cracked, his traces will be gone, his voice is nothing but a memory. Once again all they have left is a lot of memories.

[kivatteru]

Golden hair, red eyes, loud, calls himself a king. Wataru absorbs the information with little effort, and something clicks immediately as he recalls one such person among those in the Mirrorbound Council. He never caught the name despite being in the same group, but maybe he should have learned something more about him. Sadly, the man's overbearing presence seemed unfriendly enough for Wataru to keep a polite distance from him instead.

Pressing his lips together, he avoids mentioning any of the above. It would seem rude and out of place; the stranger in front of him seems to be a close friend of this Gil.

"I... know him. We never talked, but I've seen him around." He carefully chooses his words. "Not lately, though. The last I spotted him was a couple weeks ago.. I believe."

He sighs, giving them an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I wish I knew more."

i.

[disasterstraight]

Without his Golden Core, Jin Zixuan is perhaps not as sturdy as he once was, but he's still hard to barrel over. And so it is that the young green haired person ends up on the ground, and he ends up only stumbling back a step or two.

"Watch where you step!" he scolds, clearly angered. Here he was, minding his own business, when this fool comes rushing out of nowhere and runs straight into him.

He straightens his robes, dusting off whatever scuffs might have appeared. "I do not know of anyone by that name. What does your friend look like? Perhaps I have seen them."

[enkidoh]

Enkidu should watch their step.

"My apologies..." they whisper softly, hearing the anger in this man's voice. Normally they would have had the energy to start a disagreement of some sorts but now every bit of energy seems to be focused on that one important thing: finding Gil.

"Gil is...he is the type of person you would not forget. His hair is light and his eyes are red. He has a stern voice, he is a king. He is fond of the color gold. There is a possibility he has referred to you as a mongrel."

Enkidu hopes fiercely. Just one speck of information would be enough.

"I need to find him..."

[disasterstraight]

Satisfied that his robes are back to being in pristine condition, none the worse for wear after that run-in, Zixuan turns his full attention to listening. He understands what it feels like to be separated from those you care about. Thankfully, his wife and son had followed him here-- though the latter was a complicated issue at the moment-- so he didn't have to feel that way for long.

"I have seen no one of that description." Though he doesn't like the idea of someone in such a position of power going around referring to people as 'mongrels' willy nilly. Reminds him too much of Wen Ruohan.

IV

[curruid_coinchenn]

Berserker spends much of his time at the harbor -- he works there, after all. The strays dogs and cats that congregate around The Sly Seadog are known to him and friendly with him because he feeds them; don't ever let it be said that he's entirely heartless.

What's not so familiar is Enkidu's presence here. Something must be wrong if they're here right now...

"Why are you here?"

Aside from the obvious. Visiting the strays is the obvious answer, but he knows the answer isn't obvious.

[enkidoh]

"I am petting the dogs. They do not have a master so I come here to give them some attention."

But it is good to see the other. He seems to look better as well. Perhaps the hole in his heart has healed.

"Are you here because you worry for me?"

The moment Enkidu speaks those words they realize they have asked something foolish. It is written right on their face.

[curruid_coinchenn]

A foolish question, indeed. Berserker tilts his head just slightly. Well, Enkidu did answer his question with that question, at least.

"...Why would I worry about you? You can take care of yourself."

He takes some a piece of waxed cloth from his pocket and takes some food scraps out of it. One of the dogs takes immediate interest, sitting patiently in front of the dragon.

"I'm here for them," he says as he gives the eager dog a bit of food.

IV

[needsteaplz]

In between the different goings on, Saori is often busy drafting up plans for an idea that's been pestering her for some time. On this day, however, progress seemed to grind to a halt. Maybe this is a sign she needs a break and so she wandered around, finding herself by the harbor. As she walks, she heard a whistle followed by a flash of dogs crossing her path. Curious. She follows them a distance away until she sees who's there.

"Oh, Enkidu. Hello there."

[enkidoh]

They recognize her. The young woman had showed a lot of enthusiasm when she realized they were the Enkidu from those old stories.

"Hello…" Enkidu looks up and there's no mistake that they look very tired. It is difficult to channel their magic well and in a way it feels as if they're right back at the start.

They don't really know what they should say to her. Something about Gil not being here? The dogs? Instead of that they just smile a little, awaiting her words.

[needsteaplz]

She walks closer and crouches down, letting the dogs sniff at her before petting the brown scruffy dog first. At least the local wildlife doesn't judge chimeras like the locals. She does notice his state and tilts her head.

"You look really tired, Enkidu. What's troubling you?"

I - after 10 million years

[getting_better]

The world is silent in purple blueish light of early morning with nary a soul wandering the streets of the city. Bishop thrived in this atmosphere as he enjoyed and the silence and calm granted him focus and clarity to practice with his blade forms from the first to the last without cease.

This morning however, brought a new being into the fold. A being that broke the silence with the soft crash of bare feet against the cobblestone street. They crashed one after the other, with clear purpose the person rushed on catching Bishop's attention. He knows the being.

"...Enkidu?"

An odd sight he was early in the morn and only made more alarming when he remembered that he was ill, or rather is. His visage was gaunt and ghostly which only made his course more concerning. Letting him continue would be foolish and irresponsible.

"Hey! Enkidu!" He called out, sheathing his sword and chasing after pale hero. "What are you doing? Shouldn't you be in bed?"

after 5 million years a tag back

[enkidoh]

Enkidu hears a voice but doesn't really bother to look over their shoulders. With every step they take more and more dread fills their heart. Some sort of emptiness, the type of emptiness that comes with losing a bond. They know that now.

So yes, they move on, focused on reaching the Coven. All they have to do is check, all they have to do is ask. Just in case.

Still, before they climb the stairs to the entrance of the Coven they finally move to turn and look at Bishop.

"I would like to ask you to stop following me."