[Open] February Catch-All | Pegasus Moon

[bergamotrose]

Who: Lorenz Hellman Gloucester + Open (with potential closed starters as needed)
When: Full Moon and after
Where: Throughout Aefenglom
What: Lorenz finds himself facing the consequences of not having his priorities straight.
Warnings: Possible body horror. Will update as needed.



A

[It was a miscalculation.

That was what he would tell himself later, after the dust had settled. It was a miscalculation of a variety of factors that he had neither predicted nor given the appropriate weight in his planning. The first was finding others from his land with yet a different set of memories than the ones he had already encountered, and navigating the particular frustration of not being able to determine who among them was friend or foe. The second, Lapis Lazuli. The ferocity of the rage that boiled within her was far more intense than he had realized, and it was a disruption in the plans he was trying to pursue with her. As much as he wanted to trust her as an equal, for the moment that was impossible. The third...

Marianne.

In an ideal setting, they would have been of similar age and had met with the same trials. She would have faced the darkness inside her heart and made peace with it, and they could have moved forward. But she had arrived in this realm as she was five years prior-- seemingly fragile, certainly untempered, and as liable to shy away as she was to explode in her fear. That alone would have been enough to still Lorenz's own plans, but then she had been taken. Taken, and forced to endure an untold number of disrespects that she was still reluctant to speak of. She, among all of those in this realm from Fodlan, had faced the most trauma in Aefenglom.

And yet, she was the least able to accept the final verdict delivered by the judge.

Knowing all of this in his heart, Lorenz was faced with a singular certainty that she needed his protection. But, that certainty was coupled with the fact that he felt he could not interfere.

He itched to write something-- a poem. Anything. 'Amid time’s flow I mourn bonds I’m not sure I can ever rend...' It left an unsettled feeling in his fingers that crept up his arms and firmly clenched his swiftly beating heart in it's fist, binding him to it's will.

At least he had the foresight to lock the bedroom door. Stocked in his personal quarters were sundry items that he suspected he would need until dawn--

But, it wasn't enough.

The wave of pain that met his body as he caught a glimpse of the full moon slowly dawning over the horizon had him biting his tongue in shock. Hands clenched tightly upon the rails of his bed in a white knucked bid for support as his knees buckled beneath him, changing configuration into something wholly unfamiliar. His ears burned, his vision blurred--

Amid the disjointed thoughts that rolled in a tangle in his mind was one recurring thread: Marianne. He couldn't let Marianne see him like this.

He knew he shouldn't be alone. Yet, unbonded as he was, he had no choice.

Finding his footing, Lorenz took the only course he could think of: Flee. Throwing the window to his bedroom wide open, Lorenz leapt for the freedom of the night. The late winter chill of the wind helped him have a grip on his intention, kept his awareness sharp.

Thus, with an inhuman stillness he crept through the shadows of the city, intent on making it to his destination unimpeded: The Harbor.

The salty air at the docks, the frigid bite of the sea, would surely help.]

B

[It was a miscalculation, yet here he was.

Lorenz sat on the edge of the dock, wrapped in a blanket he had procured from parts unknown while his unfamiliar feet dangled in the empty space wrought by low tide. His silken hair hung in his face and clung to the ears that now twitched in the cold breeze, tangled with muck and dirt that Lorenz was too hesitant to attempt to define. Uncomfortable and exhausted, Lorenz squinted out over the crisp horizon while he attempted to ignore the hollow feeling in his chest and the distinct knowledge that he was certain his flight from Haven had not been as clean as he had wished.

People had seen him. They had to. If they hadn't, they surely would in the near future.

Huffing irritably, Lorenz idly picked at the delicate swatches of velvet that were now hanging from his antlers.]

This must make quite a sight,

[He mused darkly, bitterly. After spending so much time keeping his appearances in a perfectly coiffed illusion of grandeur, Lorenz knew there was no coming back from this.]

Comments

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ Judar might've tried to help, or offered a crutch... Maybe. Except the crutches are still new enough that he was dependent on them. The faun was just very good at making things seem like they're going better and smoother than they really were. He'll just have to watch Iskandar's strong, helpful self.

Really, they were probably getting the extra looks because it was more than one faun in the group. That, or because the three of them were eye catching in their own ways. Such a comment gets a curious hum, just barely bumping against the big guy. ]

I dunno... You've got quite some unique wishes, don't you big guy?

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar chuckles. He doesn't doubt Lorentz's riding skills. He saw the man hold himself on Bucephalus with almost no effort. It's his legs that he doesn't trust.]

Ha! As if I could not handle the two of you!

[Not that he would mind. Quite the contrary. It could be rather interesting.]

Careful, I may yet treat that as a challenge.

[Iskandar catches Judar as he bumps into him, arm around faun's waist staying in place a couple of seconds too long for it not to be intentional. He flashes a grin. There's already one faun he likes a lot.]

As a matter of fact, I do but I have to disappoint you. Right now they are fairly mundane. I wish for a good place to sit and something to drink. Excellent company I already have.

[He leads them all inside, scanning the place for a free table they can sit at.]

[bergamotrose]

Hmm... it seems you're about to attain both of your wishes, then.

[Lorenz said with a smile, carefully watching his feet and his antlers in relation to the rest of the bar while they picked their way inside. He kept quiet about the lingering touches he saw between the other two men-- and about the brief spike in jealousy in his heart that he felt at being tertiary to such things. A part of him longed for the simple gifts of friendship and touch-- but even under the full moons he knew it wasn't wise to try.

He wasn't good at friends, after all.]

I do hope we don't disappoint. Surely a man such as yourself can have anyone for company on any night.

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ Yeah, message received on the waist, quite clear indeed. Meanwhile said faun was gun-shy enough about some aspects of where they'd probably want to bring such a fondness. Luckily, he's got a lovely and convenient distraction. Such phrasing though... It seemed like something was just underneath all of that. ]

Yeah, that's right. If I didn't know you big guy, I'd think you had eyes bigger than your stomach.

[ Such an appetite for attractive people. And just for that, Lorenz, Judar's going to make sure you're right in the middle when they sit down. Get ready for a game of footsy that's just all leg, as Judar avoids adding his hooves to those kinds of things. ]

We've got the drink and company for one another, so the last part would be... Stories, hm?

[ Should they just shine the spotlight on the one they knew the least about? ]

[towards_okeanos]

[The table is found quite fast even if Iskandar's company gets more of the looks ranging from simply curious to what the hell are you doing here kind. Some rather jealous too. Though it's difficult to tell who the jealous types envy more. Iskandar replies only after he had both of his companions to sit. He has already claimed the right to go and order drinks for them all. Both of the fauns shouldn't walk too much.]

I can't complain on my luck in that department.

[While it might look like it, what he says should never be mistaken for modesty. If anything it's more a compliment to the current company. And Judar being completely on point. Iskandar can't be blamed that he prefers the company of beautiful people. It's one of the pleasures of life. It would be waste not to seize it.]

How fortunate then that you do know me.

[He grins at that last part. Judar's is right with this one too. Iskandar's appetite for stories rivals that for attractive people. That's the main reason he goes to Sly Seadog and not anywhere else.]

Well, naturally!

[bergamotrose]

Hmm... what kind of stories are you interested in?

[He could tell a few. A good few of assorted varieties, but he needed to know who is audience was and what they were interested in. Like anyone with a flair for writing, he liked to meet the needs of those who would be listening.]

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ Iskandar is rather good at being mindful of things like delicate and potentially aching legs. The actual company is enough to distract Judar from doing anything to spite any particular looks in their direction, much less pay them any mind at all. ]

Mm... I'm generally more for action, but anything that really shows off how your world works should do it. I figure there's always some kind of war going on with any world, but how it's done, what's going on around the wars... Things like that.

[ That's... A pretty broad stroke there, Judar. ]

[towards_okeanos]

I'd go with Homer's example and will like to hear about your people's food.

[The first thing any honest Greek would like to know about foreigners was: Are the bread-eaters? Iskandar was not so strict to consider men who knew nothing of the bread beasts, as some of his countrymen did. He's seen enough of the world to know that's a quite preposterous assumption. Still, if his conquest had made any impact on him in that matter, they made him more receptive to novel cuisines, not less.]

I'll take my leave for a moment, gentlemen, so you can decide on the topic of your choice and I'll get us something to drink along with the tales.

[Having said that he leaves to speak with the bartender. This is a busy place. Good luck with anyone taking interest in them if they'll just sit and wait at their table.]

[bergamotrose]

[Lorenz chuckled as the towering man waded through the crowd, understanding that sentiment entirely. He didn't need to understand who Homer was or anything about Greek culture to understand how to treat strangers. Although Fodlan was itself cloistered from the outside, the Liecester Alliance where he made his home had trade connections to the continents beyond the mountains and the sea. Spices, teas, and wines came from beyond-- along with strangers that the local citizens regarded with as much interest as they did suspicion.]

I've heard it said that it's impossible to understand anyone until you dine with them. There's also a certain sense of comfort and relaxation during mealtime... wouldn't you agree, Judar?

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ That's the great thing about Iskandar's size- he's always easy to spot, and there's always something amusing about how he can tower over others; easily matching or surpassing various dragons' height. ]

Mm... I guess. Things were always busy, so no one really dined with others back in my country. There were always plans or other official work to go over, so the others couldn't be interrupted. So, aside from some attendants, I ate alone.

[ Which, he was learning, was considered pretty unusual. Judar knew how to socialize, of course, but for more official capacities than being able to 'relax during mealtime.' ]

So, I don't know about comfort or relaxation, but it's definitely more enjoyable with people.

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar returns carrying three huge tankards filled to the brim with beer. It seems that when it comes to alcohol, he can exhibit almost supernatural agility, as he didn't spill any on his way through the crowded space.
Wine would be more preferable but in its absence, he just made sure they won't go thirsty too soon.]

So! Have you decided on a topic?

[bergamotrose]

[Pardon Lorenz. The Faun is going to stare dumbfounded for a moment at how any one man can carry so much at one time. A single tankard required work, but three?

--Then, he laughed.]

Not quite yet, sir. We were talking about how much we enjoyed sharing drinks with others.

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ Big hands help. Judar's less taken aback, if only because he's more familiar with how varied Iskandar's skills have been, and what he can do with his hands. ]

Well, in a loose way, we've stayed on the topic of food. So it'll make sense to start there, right?

[ Meals and drinks. Close enough, right? Plus, Judar seems to be the type that likes to indulge in the people he likes being around. ]