[ CATCH-ALL ] it’s july, and i have hope in who i’m becoming.

[passio]

WHO: dextera and others!
WHERE: the town!
WHEN: july!
WHAT: quests, and anything else that might come up later.
WARNINGS: nothing yet!

( i’ll be posting closed starters in the comments below! if you’d like to plot anything, hit me up at pavaal! )

Comments

BERKUT | QUEST 65

[passio]

[ does it seem like the wisest idea for dextera’s fragile sense of self-worth to invite berkut on a quest? certainly not. is he doing it anyway? certainly so.

dextera knows by now that he’s capable of tackling most of the quest monsters that the town can possibly throw at them—he’s been here since the beginning and fought almost every one, and even if that hasn’t done much for his basic swordsmanship, a year has developed his understanding of how to fight these creatures. and, since he hasn’t been able to check on berkut’s condition after their last conversation, this seemed like as good a time as any to try to do something.

maybe to try to set this relationship on the right path, as the town’s residents slowly dwindle. he can’t afford to let things stagnate like this. ]

…have you ever seen a Naga?

[ this is the question he opens with, simple as it is. his sword today is another weird one, but otherwise, dextera seems the same as ever. ]

[superioritis]

[ what is he carrying? that's no sword. that's a club. ]

No. Have you?

[ a part of him still wonders why dextera bothered to invite him along. but a quest is a quest, and there's everything to gain from returning victorious. most of all, he can use the practice. there was no reason to decline, and so here he is.

he carries with him his lance, while his horse walks beside him. there's a considerable lack of room to ride these days; of course, it's nothing that berkut can't maneuver if he should need to go on horseback. ]

[passio]

Mm… not exactly.

[ dextera has never seen a naga as such, but he’s battled creatures similar to them. even without seeing them, though, he knows the legends. ]

I do know they’re snake-people. Your horse… should stay back.

[superioritis]

[ snake people. that means they'll find their mark in the forest. it's now a question of how deep they'll need to venture before they encounter one.

berkut shoots dextera a flat glance. although he rankles at being told what to do, he can't deny that there are reasons to leave buceph behind. but he won't make it so easy. ]

For what reason?

[passio]

Huh?

[ dextera truly did not expect to be questioned, mostly because he didn’t think it was a thing that warranted suspicion. does berkut think that he’s trying to set up the death of a horse? ]

Um…

[ … ]

The Naga might eat it. That’s all.

[superioritis]

[ if he really thought that, he would have stabbed dextera by now. either way, berkut doesn't appear convinced—amused, more than anything. ]

That won't happen. Don't concern yourself with Buceph.

[ only an idiot would allow such a tragedy to pass. ]

[passio]

[ buceph… dextera looks at the horse berkut is leading along, and he does look powerful. if any horse could stand up against a naga, maybe it’s this one. ]

You really love your horse.

[ dextera makes that comment lightly, not mocking, as he carefully guides them both deeper into the forest. ]

[superioritis]

[ love is . . . one way of putting it. he can't say that he cares for it. it's certainly not worth a response. ]

Where we can find this Naga?

[passio]

[ dextera wasn’t expecting much of a response to that anyway, so he doesn’t seem bothered when berkut moves on to the real business here. the town has a way of dropping the quest monsters in the path of those looking. ]

…

[ still, he’s gotten used to carrying the pocketwatch with him, so he flips it open and uses it like a compass, moving his hand this way and that until he feels a tug of color in the right direction. ]

It’s this way. [ as he snaps the watch closed, with a little shudder. ]

[superioritis]

[ another one of those tools. while berkut isn't entirely sure of their purpose, he knows that pyra possesses something similar. well, he has no complaints if it'll make finding their prey easier.

he does, however, look to dextera for one more answer. ]

Make your intentions clear now. Do you mean to let the Naga go once it's suffered defeat?

[passio]

[ dextera looks back at berkut, like he’s surprised. it would certainly be the kindest method, but dextera thinks the naga, like the jorogumo, is a creature best dispatched of entirely. ]

…no.

[ it’s a decision he comes to slowly. it’s not merciless in tone, even if the result itself is somewhat cruel. ]

[superioritis]

Good.

[ the last time he attempted to dispatch a beast, he got assaulted for it. one of the great spears is one thing; if someone like dextera were to attempt the same, berkut can't say that it would end well.

but that's no concern now. he motions for dextera to lead the way. a god can be afforded the privilege of guiding a noble. ]

[passio]

[ despite himself, dextera feels some pride at being praised. it isn’t exactly a good quality, the desire to kill, but it’s something that berkut has dignified it all the same.

they walk slowly, silently, without any small talk, and then—dextera stops, crouching behind a tree and motioning for berkut to stop as well. ]

…

[ he narrows his eyes. ]

It’s here.

BATHING WITH SINISTRA

[passio]

[ it’s been a while since dextera has been to the baths. it’s not for a lack of bathing, of course—his house has plumbing now, thanks to the efforts of the wishing tree. it’s rather that he hasn’t had any desire, so when the opportunity comes, he’s quick to take the charge and lead his brother to the hot springs.

luckily, no one else is around. they can really take a proper bath here. ]

You have to wash first. Then you can soak…

[bisection]

[ Sinistra has been better about taking care of himself, but he still lacks in a lot of areas. A basic scrubdown with a bucket of water and the soap he'd been rationing was the most hygiene he normally managed.

Soaking in the big pool of water in front of him sounds good somehow though. He's only disappointed he can't go straight in. ]

Wash first? Why?

[passio]

Everyone shares this water. If you don’t clean yourself first, then the water will get dirty.

[ granted, dextera’s purification now extends to the ability to purify water, but the principle of the thing is what’s important here. his brother ought to know how people live communally. ]

I can help. It’s just us. [ there’s soap to be used, and buckets to scoop water and use that for washing. it’ll be nice, dextera thinks, to bond this way. ]

[bisection]

[ He shuffles to the edge of the water and crouches, looking into it to see how clear it is. He can see his own face. It's something he rarely observes. ]

Is it always the same water, then? Since it got here, just the same?

[ Doesn't that mean it's dirty no matter what? ]

Will you wash my hair? I never remove all of the soap.

[passio]

Oh… I don’t know. I think people clean it sometimes.

[ at his brother’s request, he nods. even now, he can see some residue in his brother’s hair, even if being a statue for a month kept that from getting worse.

with supplies in a bucket, he manages a smile. ]

You can help me with my back, too.

[bisection]

I hope so ...

[ he seems skeptical and peers at the water almost accusationally before standing up again.

He nods at his brother's request with a dutiful expression. ]

Of course I will, little brother.

[passio]

[ dextera is a little hesitant toward the water now, too, but he can still purify it before they get in. regardless, he pulls a stool over, and sets up a little washing station for his brother to go first. ]

Here. I’ll show you how.

[ it’s just the two of them, so although he hesitates for just a moment, he wiggles out of his shirt to keep it dry. ]

Take your clothes off, and sit here.

[bisection]

[ Sinistra watches his brother set things up with interest. It's not the same as a sponge bath or even the baths he's tried to take at home.

He nods and starts to strip, much less hesitant than his brother. He doesn't have the same self conscious feelings about his scar, even though his is a little messier still. He just let's the garments drop before sitting unceremoniously on the stool, back hunched. ]

[passio]

[ normal people might instantly take notice of the fact that sinistra’s posture is bad, but dextera’s is also so terrible that it looks more normal to him to sit as if actively attempting to make oneself smaller. ]

I’m going to pour some water on you.

[ he makes sure to let his brother know this, because he knows his brother and knows very well that he will inhales a lungful of water if dextera doesn’t give him proper warning. then, with about half the bucket filled, he slowly pours it over sinistra’s head. ]

[bisection]

[ Sinistra nods again and pinches his nose with his fingertips before squeezing his eyes shut. He doesn't like how the water burns if it gets in. The harbor taught him that twice.

Even though he's expecting it, he still startles, shivering once the water reaches his back. His shaggy hair hangs in his face, making him look more animal than human. ]

[passio]

[ this is… nice. it’s different from the baths they took as children, if their “baths” can be called that at all. such a unique situation made every aspect of their life different.

dextera smiles. ]

It’s going to feel better once you’re in the water. I promise.

[ and so he takes the soap to his brother’s hair first, making sure to wash thoroughly—but maybe his technique could use some work. ]

Um… does that hurt?

[bisection]

[ He tips his head to try and look back at his brother through the veil of hair, blowing between pursed lips to get the water out of his mouth. He isn't sure he likes this, but at least his brother is the one caring for him.

He tips his head back down once he smells soap and shuts his eyes tight again. ]

No, it does not hurt at all.