[ JULY CATCH-ALL ] dextera’s summer of fun

[passio]

WHO: dextera + various! maybe even... you.
WHERE: all around!
WHEN: july! specific dates will be denoted if they’re important.
WHAT: quests and other important things. starters will be in the comments! (if you want to do something, you can PM me or pp me at pavaal!)
WARNINGS: probably violence, sadness… dextera is just like that, you know.

Comments

GUREN + EMMA | QUEST 18

[passio]

[ dextera has no idea what a moondrop heart is, he is not especially good at stealing, and the woods are still a terrible, dangerous place in his mind—but he was talked into this because he likes guren and he hasn’t spoken to emma in some time. the sun has finally come back out after a couple days of rain, too, and it’s pleasant enough that dextera feels… safe.

he feels safe! so the three of them have agreed to meet up for this quest, which hopefully will involve as little fighting as possible.

already, in the distance, dextera can spot what looks like a castle through the trees, and that bodes well for the outcome of their mission. still, the most pressing question on his mind is something that probably all three of them should address before they actually try to go in. ]

What is… a Moondrop Heart?

[ painstakingly spelled out, since he’s not even sure it’s a thing, based on the crazy names for the cure ingredients found in the forest. ]

[swordfucker]

[Guren's been pretty quiet this whole time, eyes focused on the castle in the distance. He's still a little iffy on quests after the whole bogeyman thing, but this sounds like something they can do. A way they can be safe. He has his demon and he's got drugs.

But the second he sees Dextera gesturing beside him, he turns to him.]

It sounds like something out of some kind of RPG. [Helpful.] My guess is a crystal of some sort, but it'll probably be obvious in a castle like that.

[His eyes turn back to it.]

Hey, kid. [Emma, of course.] We're working together. That means do what I say, got it?

[He's only being bossy because he cares, I swear. The last thing he wants is for someone like Emma to get hurt, or to be in danger at all...]

[keeneye]

[It's only a fetch quest, Guren. How bad could it be? No one is gonna die (again) on her watch!]

Maybe a flower like a snowdrop. There were a bunch of weird plants found last month.

[But the gem sounds more plausible with the massive castle guarding it. Emma is just staring at that display of fairy tale weirdness. She's never seen such a big building... Especially one that gaudy. Its crazy what can just pop up in this forest when it wants to.]

I got it! I won't wander of, you can count on me.

[She flashes a thumbs-up to Dex as well. They're a team right now, after all.]

[passio]

[ dextera would like a flower, but guren’s guess is probably more appropriate. not that he has any fucking clue what an RPG is, but “treasures in a castle” is pretty much part of the collective unconscious. ]

Don’t mind him.

[ dextera is not usually the positive one, but children make him soft. it’s not that guren is being mean, but dextera naturally eases up in order to balance out the attitude toward emma!

like a couple of parents. ]

Team? Scouting alone?

[ how should they proceed? ]

[swordfucker]

I guess it could be a flower...

[ That’s all he says to that, allowing Dextera and his silent commentary to match Guren’s tsun to stay only with Emma. He’s focused ahead, plotting, immediately spotting a guard in the towers and more on upper levels. Somehow, Dextera’s questions get him to whip his head over to him. Guess he was catching it in his peripheral! ]

We stay together, for the most part. We may have to send certain people into things first, but look up there— guards. All we have to do is steal this thing, so let’s not get caught. I’ll head in first, here, and you two follow me.

[ Of course he has to be like this ]

GUREN | THE FEATHER

[passio]

[ dextera likes to just admire his feather, sometimes.

it still glows softly, never losing the “magic” that’s so often associated with the holy light of an angel of myth, and the pure white sometimes hurts his eyes to look at for too long—but he likes it. he keeps it on display, high out of reach of either leliel or the cat that now sometimes strolls up to his room for a nap.

so he notices it, immediately, when the feather suddenly flushes a now-familiar shade of red. that’s guren’s color.

he doesn’t know what it means, but anyone would be able to guess that an angel’s feather suddenly losing that snow-white glow to turn anything else is a bad sign. it’s tainted, fallen, and dextera can only attribute it to a problem with guren. so he first goes to his laptop, firing off a quick message—Are you okay?—before remembering that guren said he had something to do in the forest today.

that’s…

dextera doesn’t waste any time after that. he’s out of the house in an instant, bringing supplies and food. he knows better than to throw himself into the woods without knowing where guren has gone, so as much as it pains him, he goes to guren’s home, letting himself in and waiting, nearly manic with worry. ]

[swordfucker]

[ Of course Guren had to ruin that beautiful feather.

It took hours to get to where the beast was in the forest. Night fell, and it attacked immediately after that. The glowing would have happened then. From there, it was just as long of a trip back, though Tonbokiri’s horse assists in speeding that up a fair amount. Still, it’s way too long before Guren gets home, bloodied and beaten and a mess.

Again, he’s slipped away from the others to deal with this alone, though they didn’t just let him leave while bleeding out. Thankfully. Still, when he enters his house, it’s with a stumble in, grabbing at the nearest wall for support. Something in his eyes seems out of it, as hard as it is to look at his bloodied face, and he doesn’t greet Dextera right away. He doesn’t seem to even notice him, yet...? ]

[passio]

G—

[ dextera is horrified. he looks—he looks terrible. dextera hadn’t seen the worst of the bogeyman’s aftermath, and he wonders now if guren’s demon is still unable to heal him properly. all of this should have left him dead, and dextera is most certainly worried that if not tended to, it will anyway.

he’s quick to move from his waiting position to help guren, thankfully heedless of getting his hands bloody even if it’s later going to make him sick to think about guren losing so much.

his mind is in overdrive right now. ]

[swordfucker]

Dextera?

[ There are hands on him, and he turns his head to see Dextera properly. His hair had been slicked back, but it’s all starting to fall back after everything he went through. Honestly, it’s not as bad as the bogeyman. Though, this time, the claws went straight through the left side of his face, and those poison things went straight through his eye. Blood is trailing down there, and he can’t open it— he doesn’t seem all that concerned.

Recognition hits him as he speaks Dextera’s name, and more of his weight leans against him suddenly, almost like he’s relaxing, or even losing strength. It’s slight. It’s just that he’s home now, safe. ]

I’m fine, don’t worry. What are you doing here? [ Did something else happen...? ]

[passio]

[ dextera doesn’t answer him right away, even though he should. he’s just scared. he’s terrified. he reaches up, smoothing his face over guren’s cheek, under the eye that’s so badly damaged—his stomach churns, but he’s just relieved to hear guren speak as if nothing is wrong, even if something very clearly, definitely is. ]

…

[ he adjusts to make sure that guren’s weight is safe in his arms, but he doesn’t know if they should move. instead, he just tries to help guren to the floor, and they can figure out what to do later.

his hands are busy, but he’s murmuring something—maybe not meant for guren. just involuntary. ]

—thought something—

it's complicated brothers hour

[bisection]

[ Thirteen knows where he's supposed to sleep, but he can't fall asleep in his 'house'. He's never slept without his brother by his side, so since his arrival, he's been stuffing himself under Dextera's covers. He sleeps tangled around him or holding his hand, placated by the sound of his breathing. It's familiar. It's his lullaby. It was the only comfort he had in years of feeling so alone despite having his brother tied to his hip.

But tonight he can't sleep. Watching Dextera's sleeping face and stroking his neck, he can only see the past. He can hear doctors in the hall. He can hear the hymn of God haunting him.

He can feel his brother's pulse under his fingers, thumping in a slow, steady rhythm and mocking him. It had been so shallow when it had supported the both of them. Now it was strong and hardy.

That heart... this body... had only seen his life as parasitic. From the start, their biology and the Order had laid him out on a chopping block and left him to squirm until it seemed 'most merciful' to bring down the hatchet.

He was never going to be the one allowed to live. Not since the day he'd taken his first breath.

It is maddening, the way jealousy and resentment well up in his chest. His anger is a child lashing out at a cursed fate. It wasn't Dextera's fault. It was not his little brother's fault. His brother had cried for him hadn't he? Hadn't he?

But... it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that he'd been lonely all the time. It wasn't fair that he was born disposable and everyone, himself included, knew it. It wasn't fair that his finite existence had been dragged out by false hope and a twisted world that tied his soul to that damned tower.

It wasn't fair that his brother had all the chances he didn't.

He feels his jaw tighten as he rolls up to sitting, hip pushed against his brother's side as his bares down on him. His thin hands tremble against his throat before clamping down and squeezing, the steady pulse throbbing harder against his palms as they restrict the path of blood to his brain.

It's not fair. It's not fair! It's his heart too. It was his life too!

Why was he the only one no one wanted? ]

my favorite hour

[passio]

[ dextera sleeps better than he ever has before, with his brother returned to him, even if it’s still—confusing and scary, in many ways, to have someone here that he thought had died several years ago. no matter how many conversations he has with the others about it, the person he needs to talk to is his brother.

he hasn’t, yet, but sleeping together like this is their own form of peace, isn’t it?

dextera had been the first to fall asleep this particular night, drifting off with a quietly fond stare at his brother’s face and his legs tangled up in his brother’s as well, and he’s sleeping soundly even once XIII moves to sit up. the first time he notices something wrong is when his body suddenly struggles to breathe, and he snaps his eyes open with the simultaneous realization that there’s a weight on him.

his first guess is that the bogeyman has returned, but—he looks up and sees his brother, and that’s much worse than a monster of this town’s making. ]

—!

[ he whimpers, grabbing at his brother’s wrists in a panic. ]

[bisection]

[ His brother's eyes have opened but he doesn't flinch, weighing down on his throat and gripping his throat tighter. He looks half-mad with screwed down brows and tears in his eyes. He's breathing shakily but he's fallen into some automatic state, determined to stop the heart in his brother's chest and take it back.

It's his, too, right? It's his and his brother's had it long enough.

It's been years and years and years of his brother being the one who gets hope and chances while he sulks in the shadows, time run out long ago. And now he's brought back as some sham of a life, stuck in this place just to live at the back of his heels as a second thought.

He can't even see his face right now. Everything is red and loud and smothering him as he squeezes his brother's throat tighter and tighter. ]

[passio]

[ stop it—!

no voice comes out, with his throat or through their connection, however. dextera silently struggles underneath him, gasping desperately, his body naturally fighting to survive no matter how little he truly wants to fight against his brother.

he kicks, his vision blurring at the edges.

his brother—his brother is trying to kill him, and dextera doesn’t want to die, but he doesn’t want to hurt his brother anymore either. he chokes out a sob, meeting his brother’s crazed look down at him, and his own eyes are glazed over with tears. ]

B…

[bisection]

[ His brother fights him but he doesn't relent, digging his short nails into his skin and shoving his thumbs down against the bones of his throat, breathing harder between his teeth. Any kicking or grabbing is met with grit teeth and determination.

Everything is red. Everything is dark here. Should his brother die? Should he not be dead? Should they not both be dead?

What is fair? What is right? What is he doing here? Who's playing this joke on them?

His brother's eyes meet his and their wide innocence and his struggle to call out is enough of a slap to dredge him out of the murky waters of his heart. It's enough to bring him to reality and face his crime.

Slowly, slowly, the anger dissolves from his face, being replaced with abject horror at his own self. His hands follow, their trembling grip loosening as his brother's struggling breath replaces all the noise rattling his brain.

He takes a sharp breath and throws himself off the bed, bolting out of the room, slamming open doors as he flees the house as fast as his bare feet will carry him. ]

QUEST 17 | SAEKI + CAIRNGORM

[passio]

[ after the incident with the bogeyman, despite dextera’s reluctance to use the angelic rifle at all in the tower… its destructive power can come in handy for monsters that may otherwise be unbeatable. the problem is that he doesn’t know much how to shoot a gun that’s small enough to require aiming, so he’s luckily enlisted help from two kind (or just reckless) souls that are willing to complete this quest with him.

he’s asked them to meet him by the harbor in bluo—saeki, with the gun and the expertise, and cairngorm with the relative indestructibility. shooting a rock seems like the best way to make sure no one gets hurt, while dextera tries to learn quickly enough to get this quest done in time. ]

[unghost]

[ They are literally only willing because they don't want to see someone much more fragile than themself get shot - and they guess they kind of owe Dextera for helping them in the forest. If this is going to keep him from shooting at someone who could actually die (or feel pain for that matter), then so be it, but that doesn't mean they have to be happy about it.

When they pace up to the agreed meeting place, they're carrying a jar filled with tree resin and a few cloths and paintbrushes, a typical frown on their features. They're definitely expecting to get damaged somehow, though they aren't sure how badly... they've already been warned that guns are quite powerful, but a part of them also thinks that spending centuries dodging arrows should help them if something goes amiss. They don't know how fast bullets are... ]

Hey.

[ Short wave to get his attention!!! ]

[passio]

[ bullets are fast, cairngorm. dextera offers a little wave in response, though it is almost definitely more of a greeting than just grabbing attention. saeki will come soon, but in the meantime, dextera’s attention is turned to… the resin? and all the supplies?

for a moment, he wonders if cairngorm has misunderstood the attempt here, but he’s sure that they were told in no uncertain terms that they’re going to get shot at. ]

What are those?

[ dextera, sweet and useless, has brought the apple, and it’s simply up to saeki to bring along the gun. ]

[underworldpianist]

[ Saeki's never really played teacher before. The escorts all had their weapons and they really didn't have any reason to change them. But it shouldn't be impossible, he thinks. He learned and Dextera seems bright, so with some practice and the use of no less than two 'targets' that won't suffer much for mistakes made, he thinks Dextera will get it down to a science in no time.

He is absolutely irritated with himself for being a little on the late side, but he arrives with a chipper expression all the same. This is exciting enough that it squashes out the negativity he is directing at himself. ]

Hello! Sorry, I needed to make sure my rifle was cleaned properly.

[unghost]

[ Before they answer, they look up to the other person who just appeared, giving him the quick up-down look, then turning back to Dextera. ]

If I get broken, it'll be up to you to glue me back together with this.

[ Their attention is drawn back to that rifle-- they've never seen a gun in person, so they're not exactly sure how to feel about it. ]

So try not to knock my head off with that.

BLOODSUCKING | ELIOT

[passio]

[ dextera isn’t even a little bit worried about tossing his blood away to someone he’s never met before, which is a testament to both his kindness and his idiocy.

as promised, he waits by the harbor in bluo, every now and then touching his fingers to the pulse under his neck—feeling his own life, his heartbeat. as strange as it is, he’s looking forward to this. ]

[anamnestik]

[Eliot is in a foul mood upon arrival: Partially due to his anxious emotions, but also simply due to physical fatigue. His head is ringing and he is overly aware of how empty he is. When he stops Dextera, he greets the other with an unintended glare.]

You. You're the one from the network? About blood?

[passio]

[ dextera doesn’t mind at all, which says a whole lot more about dextera’s idea of a polite greeting than it does about the severity of eliot’s bad mood.

he nods, his eyes only softening in sympathy when he sees just how bad a shape eliot seems to be in. dextera has potions that are intended to take care of this very thing, but it’s likely that dextera’s need for blood and eliot’s are just different enough for his drugs to be no help. ]

…?

[ he taps his own neck, curiously. is that how this is going to work? ]

[anamnestik]

[The silence makes Eliot uneasy. He's not sure if he ought to take that as some sort of social cue, or if it is perhaps a personal choice. As Dextera taps his neck, Eliot can be seen visibly flustering. He can't exactly blush when he's this anemic, but he seems to bristle like an emotional cat with the way he tenses up.

Oh gosh, no. But also, that sort of is the best way... But it's so embarrassing...! This isn't the time to get embarrassed!

His hands come together as he plays with his fingers anxiously.]

Ah, yes... Oh dear. In public, though... Perhaps there's somewhere out of view? [Drinking blood is so embarrassing, and that is clearly more important than how dizzy he is.]

[passio]

[ bless… his heart. dextera doesn’t understand the embarrassment, considering all that he has to deal with on a daily basis, but he’s not going to push eliot into something he doesn’t want to do in public.

so he nods, adjusting his collar so it’s righted again, and points toward the fishing supply house. ]

…?