middaeg | Juril Quests, Full Moon, and Catch-all [OPEN]

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Juril Quests, Full Moon, and Catch-all [OPEN]

Who: Berserker (Cú Chulainn Alter) and you!
When: Throughout Juril
Where: Various places
What: Monthly catch-all and quest log!
Warnings: None currently

[ 1. Walk, walk, fashion baby (New Look) ]

[ Berserker has been wrangled as a model for one of the tailors in the city. A dragon draws enough attention just by existing, so he's in high demand. The look he's wearing is a little ... skimpy, to say the least. His hair has been braided to match the look, the red lacing a stark contrast to the dark clothes.

For someone being paid for this, he doesn't look pleased (does he ever look pleased?}. He shoots an annoyed glare at anyone that stares for too long. ]

What? If you want to buy this, it came from the shop behind me.

What a rousing advertisement...

[ 2. Moon Madness ]

[ Around the city on the full moon, you may spot a somewhat familiar dragon...Except he's small. Berserker has taken on his cat-sized form to run off his feral energy. The problem is that he's exceptionally touchy at this size, willing to bite, scratch, and even poison anyone that even slightly annoys him.

He rushes along the ground without any care for how he might be tripping people up. If someone does trip over him, he claws his way free and runs for the nearest dark spot. Dare you pursue him? ]

[ 3. Wildcard ]

[ Got an idea? Did we plot something out? Drop me a starter or hit me up on discord glitzkrieg#0673 and we'll make it happen! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sorry, we're closing alre— [ Caster starts speaking before he opens the door fully. And doesn't finish when he notices Berserker on the doorstep. That's where he mutters a welcome. ] Ah, hey—

[ And opens the door wide to invite Berserker inside the Inkchanted (and making sure to flip the "closed" message onto the door. He doesn't say a trivial thing, like "long time no see" or something the way. They work too closely to not pass each other... although he wasn't in very social mood last few days—

and then there was that message session a few weeks ago, hm—

So instead he acknowledges the goal of the visit that he can see in Berserker's hands ]

It is a good night for sharing a chilled drink.

[ There's a lot that can be said, more that probably needs to be said, and all of that goes unsaid for now. Berserker hands over one of the bottles silently as he steps inside. Whatever is bothering Caster is significant and, well, he owes him for the comfort given to him after Flat's disappearance. ]

It is. [ And, because he can't help but ask: ] ...Are you alright?

[ Strange to think that a year ago this sort of meeting would have been completely unthinkable. ]

[ A lot happened during that year. A lot of growth in ways too many to count, not to mention just simply strange for those who were once but Spirits. ]

Mmm... not really— [ A casual admission as he puts the bottles on the table and brings them glasses. Briefly he wonders how Berserker even knew, but then he realizes— if someone knows well what he's going through, able to notice the signs, it's Ciarán. Recent days have been mostly going through the motions, returning home as soon as he could. It felt almost too needy, but he actively sought Archer's attention and presence. ] I've lost someone I was Bonded to.

[ Pouring the drink ]

Everything was as usual and then— just gone.

[ A sudden hole in life. ]

[ Ah.

It's as he thought. It's a significant and painful loss, one he can relate to all too well. Berserker can't quite bring himself to meet Caster's gaze at the moment; he feels remarkably selfish for memories of his own losses digging at him so strongly right now. ]

Like a part of you was torn away, right? [ He finally looks up. ] And you were just comforting me for my loss not that long ago.

[ Caster takes the glass and takes a look at the lamp standing on a cabinet. Before Inkchanted was open, they had made a call for help, for donations and such. This lamp was one of those items received, with Lex' help ]

Funny, how these things turn around, eh? [ He turns to Berserker, and raises the glass in a silent toast ] Thank you for being here.

[ The gesture is what matters, the token, the thought. ]

[ He can only give a nod and raise his own glass in response. This is one experience he wished they didn't share; at least Caster has the emotional capacity to deal with it better than he does. Dealing with those emotions, however, is another story. Locking them away is the more likely option, he knows. ]

It's the least I could do...A distraction is best in these times, especially when reminders of their presence are all around.

[ There's so much being locked away. Realistically he knows it's... not a good thing to do. That it might come and bite him with a vengeance.

But Berserker knows how it feels, he understands the experience itself, so even if they process these things differently. It's easier to open up to him. ]

Going to remember the good times, and hope she makes more of her stories back in her world. [ A click of a tongue ] But then I remember that— I don't think she really wanted to...return.

[ But not getting what you want is just the fact of life. It's most important what you do with the time given. Take action, fight back, take a stand. He returns to sit down on the table and drinks. ]

Aren't the biggest stories about those who did what they had to do, whether they wanted it or not?

Hm...Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

[ A fleeting smile crosses his lips. So much of their own legend was just that...Well, as much as he hates to do it, it's time to dispense the most obvious advice he has. It's words that have helped him hold on when it felt so hopeless, as trite as they are. ]

Cherish what you had. You know that much. [ He averts his gaze down to his own glass. ] And...keep those you still have closer. You're as bad as I am, but...tell them what they mean to you. Or show them.

[ He can't bear to lift his eyes to meet Caster's. That last part was something he couldn't do himself and it feels hypocritical to give it. ]

[ Always the best at not following their own advice, both of them. Sometimes it feels, he's always too late. Back in life too. Too late, too far to really make a change— only fighting against the flames that sprung. Valiantly, beautifully, until only ashes are left.

He finishes the drink and instead of answering, he takes advantage of Berserker not looking at him. Quietly, he moves from his spot, walks around the table putting his arms around Berserker. ]

Now it's your turn to hold me. [ It's a bit of a joke, but also a genuine request ]

[ Ah...That gets him to lift his head. He doesn't reciprocate immediately, opting to push his chair back a little further instead. It's only then he winds his arms around Caster, a hint of a smile on his lips. ]

It's only fair...Are you going to demand to sit on my lap, too?

[ Gentle teasing right back at him, though it's not an insincere offer. ]

[ That earns him a chuckle ]

Tempting, tempting— [ He leans into the embrace and shifts just a bit closer. Well, he demanded this, he could demand more apparently. A year ago they have nearly ended each other at the port and now— What is it, this now? He wonders as his hand runs up Berserkers neck, and then he just puts his weight down onto his lap anyway. Without asking or demanding ]

Oh, I went for it. Looks like a comfortable spot.

[ It's exactly what he was expecting -- he knows Caster too well for obvious resons. No demands, just do it and wait for the consequences. There aren't any consequences this time, unless he counts Berserker hugging him a little bit closer a consequence. ]

Ah, is that so? How does it suit you?

[ He plays with the ends of Caster's hair, smirking just slightly. ]

[ Caster cranes his head to take in his expression. A year ago he'd think he's looking in a strange mirror but now— the resemblance very obviously is still there, but they took so different roads. ]

Almost too good. Comfortable. [ Right ] I wouldn't mind getting more of that.

[ He rests his forehead against Berserker, feeling the gentle tug on his hair. It's probably the time for cutting them a bit, but there's always something else, distracting ]

It's selfish, isn't it?

[ Their existences will always be intertwined, though now it's considerably less adversarial than before. None of the resentment Berseker once harbored is there, or if it is there, it's barely a ghost of what it used to be. They've both endured so much in their time here, setting them on different paths. ]

It is...

[ Against his better judgement, he tilts his head up just enough to give Caster a gentle kiss. ]

And so was that. You can be as selfish as you like with me.

[ It was almost as if they were smoooothly moving away from the topic of mourning the lost Bonded. Or maybe, continuing it in the sense of focusing on what's here and now.

Or rather who. ]

You sure like to invite trouble at your doorstep. [ The humour is genuine, as is a quiet, pleased hum at the kiss. He reacts impulsively and kisses back. ] But know this, I'm glad whatever is out there, gods or destiny, or whatever, that threw us in these circumstances.

[ That's kind of tsun way of saying 'I actually do like you', but gets the point across. ]

[ A little bit of both. There's no real soothing a lost bond, it's something that simply has to be endured. Taking comfort in those here and now is a good way to at least distract from it.

Berserker strokes his side gently before chancing another kiss. This is bad. ]

You're one to talk about inviting trouble... [ He pauses. It really was Diarmuid that made this possible. Without their bond, he and Caster would have killed each other sooner than made peace. It was because of their bond he offered the truce after the incident last year. ] Destiny is a funny thing, isn't it?

[ He runs his fingers through Caster's hair fondly. ]

One choice changes so much...A practical solution to a problem grows into something you could never predict. Letting someone in opens up possibilities that were impossible without them...

Edited 2020-08-29 04:12 (UTC)

[ "Behaving like this, will hurt the person we care about" was truly a wake-up call. And now so, here they are.

Which is fitting. The "Cú Chulainn" has always been a creature of extremes after all. ]

I do keep wondering though, is this still destiny, though? Or is this taking it by the reins and... steering wherever it might go? [ Not wherever you want it to go. At least he thinks so. He never actively wanted to get where they did, it never was a goal he had in mind. The direction was only— away from resentment and bitterness. That it went here, is a surprise ]

It's new. It's been a year, but it's still new. There's been always a destiny, or a Master to guide me. To guide us.

[ Now, this is getting really damn serious. Philosophical even. It feels almost as his job is to steer it away from such tones, into something simpler, playful. And as he's tactile, touchy-feely by very nature, his hand dances around Berserker's jaw. ]

For what it's worth, I'm glad I let you in.

[ Pun notwithstanding ]

[ There's far more that can be said, but the atmosphere is heavy enough with the loss of a bond hanging around -- lightening the mood is welcome. No more needs to be said about destiny or who is or isn't guiding them right now. A chance to just take comfort in each other's presence is what they need.

Berserker tilts his chin up to welcome more of that affection. If Caster listens carefully, he may be able to hear the gentle rumblings of the dragon's odd reptilian version of a purr. ]

...And I suppose I'm glad the dream wasn't a prophecy.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Juril Quests, Full Moon, and Catch-all [OPEN]

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