Event Six.

[awashmods]

If you see this hairy creature Your first choice should always be to run Otherwise you had better hope You have silver bullets in a gun.

he full moon hangs brightly over the Town, hovering so low that it almost feels as though you could reach out and touch it. It should be comforting. But as the howl of wolves fills the air, it's anything but. There are werewolves on the prowl, and their target is very clear -- the Town won't be able to last without your help. Welcome to Awash's sixth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to start your own posts or logs for this event as well. If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

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[bittybat]

[For a long moment, Damian doesn't do anything because he's not sure exactly what to do. He does look up, though. He does frown.

Reluctantly, uncertainly, one of his hands finally slides back into one of Dextera's. It's awkward, but there. Before, Dextera had held his hand, and he thinks maybe Dextera needs the hand again.] My father thinks... you can do the right thing... even if you've done... the wrong thing. [He clears his throat softly.]

I believe him.

When I'm with him... it doesn't hurt. I feel like... I can do better.

[passio]

[ dextera has never had anyone like that—no parents, no friends. only his brother, and he killed him. the archangel’s stance is that dextera doesn’t deserve to do anything else but repent, and only in following orders will he be able to find absolution.

he exhales, and he squeezes damian’s hand. ]

You can.

[ dextera can’t speak for himself. he doesn’t feel like he’s earned the right to forgiveness or salvation when he’s here, hiding from his problems. but damian? he’s got so much time, and his heart is in the right place. ]

[bittybat]

You too. [If anything, Damian understands enough of what's it's like to know this much about Dextera. To believe it. No one deserves a lack of forgiveness more than Damian Wayne, is what he thinks. But people have told him differently. People have forgiven him, and people have told him it's alright to be forgiven.

The squeeze is a little strong on Dextera's hand, but not rudely so. He's just... strong in general.] Together. [He only draws his hand away so he can sign and give his throat a break.]

I forgive you.

[He's not a fool. He can't give the title of angel to Dextera and pretend it's a good thing. Angels are pure, but not good, and he's too smart not to understand this. They destroy. They're terrifying. They're blind, and they follow the words of someone else.

Demons, too. He was going to be the vessel for his grandfather, the Demon's Head who leads the Demon's Fang. The two of them can meet in the middle perhaps. That's where humanity lies.]

[passio]

[ together, he says.

dextera has said this to plenty of other people—assuring them, constantly, that he’ll be there and that there’s nothing they could do to make him go away. all the friends he’s made here, he would die for, and he’s never expected to get anything in return when he knows he hasn’t earned it.

and yet. ]

…thank you.

[ he still doesn’t know how to describe “what” he is, but he wants to be fair. he wants damian to understand what it means, to offer forgiveness to someone like him. ]

I was [ and he spells these words out, because there’s no way he would know the sign. ] a protector of God. Now, an executioner.

[bittybat]

[Surprisingly, Damian's face softens. For some reason, he was expecting much worse of a title based on how Dextera acted, not that he thinks whatever Dextera has been through is somehow less horrible.

It doesn't seem like Damian is judging Dextera for anything, at least.]

Funny. [He's not laughing? But it's ironic.] A warrior of God, and the heir to the Demon's Head. [It's not protector necessarily, but he shows Dextera the sign for protect and for God--crossed fists, a tilted hand turned upward as it passes in front of the face. Demon is expected: something like motioning for horns.] We should be fighting?

We're holding hands. Ridi...culous.

[passio]

[ they are most certainly holding hands, and dextera breathes out a laugh through his nose when damian comments on it like that. there are so many people here who have been through things dextera can’t even imagine—and yet, they manage to hold themselves upright and keep going. they maintain humor.

dextera wants to be able to do that, too. ]

Ridiculous.

[ he agrees, but he seems… relieved, anyway. ]

I prefer it.

[bittybat]

Me too.

[He's still not completely over the Change, not to mention it was almost back-to-back in a way with being terrorized by Heretic because of the Bogeyman. He's not sure what he'll do when not placated by daytime.

Worry a lot, he guesses.] I think you should help others, too. But be careful. It's dangerous. Maybe you won't change, but keep being careful. We'll find a way to stop it.

I'm going to go so you can sleep. Okay?

[passio]

[ dextera doesn’t know if he would change or not. if it’s an infection, it’s possible he could purify himself—or maybe he couldn’t. there’s no sense in risking himself to find that out, when he might be able to do more good in his right mind.

slowly, dextera nods. ]

OK. [ a pause. ] If you need something—come to me. Try to remember.

[ dextera is putting himself at risk just by telling damian to target him, but he wouldn’t feel right if he let damian go back to chaining himself up at night all over again. ]

[bittybat]

[Damian is quiet for a moment, thoughtful. He peers at Dextera, then he peers around the room. When he looks back, he signs:]

I'm going to stay in the woods at night. [A pause.] I won't chain myself. An hour before sunset, I'll come stand nearby where you can see me. In the morning, when it's over, I'll come back and stand again.

So you'll know I'm okay.

?

[passio]

[ damian’s regimented plan is not one he would have come up with himself, but that doesn’t mean dextera doesn’t appreciate it. having a schedule is useful. ]

OK.

[ and then, because izuku taught him this extremely important gesture… he holds out his pinky. yes, he is going to make damian pinky promise to come back in the morning. ]

[bittybat]

[Three years ago, he wouldn't have any clue what this gesture meant. Friendship was an anomaly to him, a weakness. Family was based on servitude and battle loyalty, not on affection and promises.

But it's been three years, and he's learned. He's had friends and the right kind of family, and he's made one or two pinky promises.

He lifts his hand and holds out his pinky, hooking it around Dextera's own. If anything, Damian Wayne does not go back on a promise.]

I promise.

[passio]

[ dextera, too, has learned. it’s only been a few months in this town, but there are countless things he’s been taught, that he wants to carry with him for the rest of his life. how to garden. pinky promises. the value of a life, and of death. all of them, equally important in their own ways. ]

…

[ with the promise sealed, dextera pulls his hand back and smile—a quiet, tired smile that suggests he is going to sleep as soon as damian is out of here. ]

Take care.

[bittybat]

[On the way out, Damian visits the chickens for a couple of seconds just because... they're cute, and he likes them, he's had a rough night, shut up. He's not worried they aren't okay; he trusts Dextera with that much.

He's tired, too. Being in the boathouse alone is preferable, but his feet take him to Bruce's cottage in Flavo where he sleeps with Ace. Damian hadn't lied.

For the length of the curse, Damian is outside of where Dextera stays every afternoon an hour before sunset and then again every morning. He doesn't try to go in or get Dextera to come out. Sometimes, he'll sign, OK if Dextera is looking out of a window.

He does seem alright, if a little worse for wear in terms of being tired and perhaps a tad ill. Sometimes, he's bloody on the front, but there doesn't appear to be any wounds, and he doesn't walk any differently. The blood streaks down his neck from his mouth. He's just ravenously eating some forest creature? It's fine.

And then he'll go throw up later because he's vegetarian.]