awashlogs | january catch-all!

[ Dextera is also among those they have little problem trusting on a combat mission of all things. As sturdy and hardy as Cairngorm is, and as invincible as they seem to some people in the town, they’re just a regular gem - they don’t have any special powers. He, on the other hand, has proven time and time again to have abilities beyond their own comprehension. Their track record in the forest is pretty good in terms of coming out unscathed, and with Dextera along too, they’re feeling passably certain that this quest will turn out fine.

There is one small issue, though. ]

Have you fought any “demons” before? I’m not really sure what I should be looking for.

[ How does one go about finding a dastardly demon… or will it come to them if they walk around in these woods long enough? ]

[ dextera has fought demons, in a sense. he’s fought mutants, and he has some experience with demons in—well, with guren. it’s a complex mess of things, but he’s sure if he can take on a meta-being, he can fight whatever demons the town is going to throw at them. so he nods. ]

They…

[ he starts to sign, automatically, but stops himself. ]

They can take any form. The Bogeyman was a kind of demon.

[ Uncharacteristically, they get a little distracted for a moment. Their brows raise in surprise, and their head tilts over at him, slowing their gait to a pause. There's not anything around - it's okay to sidetrack for just a second. ]

Ah... your voice. [ His voice...! It's so soft and sweet; not exactly what they expected - not that they spend a ton of time thinking about it. They'd pretty much assumed that that might've just been how people in his universe communicated, since it's normal for all different kinds of life to speak differently. Well, either way. It's weirdly nice, but also not what they're supposed to be focusing on right now, so they shake their head. ] I just didn't expect it.

[ And they mean that in the least rude way possible. In acknowledgment of what he said about demons, they glance around a little more suspiciously at the thicket around them, not wanting to linger on the topic (his voice, or the bogeyman) if he doesn't want to talk about it. ]

[ although cairngorm didn’t apologize for pointing it out, precisely, dextera can hear the beat of uncertainty about what is and is not appropriate to linger on—and he’s sort of warmed by it, although cairngorm has never been tactless, just occasionally blunt.

for this, though, his voice, it’s a happy occasion. he’d rather focus on that than the thing that killed him. ]

I wished for it. My voice.

[ that’s enough explanation, he thinks, and he draws one of the crystals he’s collected out of his pocket for light, and a ward. ]

Look out for your fears and desires. That’s what demons prey on.

[ Here would be a good place for a small reassuring smile, but they suffice for a little nod of acknowledgment, at least glad that he was able to get it back through the town. They have to admit that the wish department has been working out well in everyone's favor so far with little backlash. ]

What, like hallucinations?

[ They ask idly, eyes immediately darting towards the lurking of a figure between the thin trees of the forest a little ways away from the pair. Is it someone, or something? Even with it's creeping movement, ambling and certainly person-like, it's difficult to tell anything too conclusive, except for that it's much bigger than the two of them. ]

Yes, like hallucinations.

[ and anything else terrible that could possibly come their way, but some sort of delusion is as good a way as any as putting it.

dextera follows cairngorm’s gaze, naturally, and his eyes narrow—the crystal can float on its own, so he lets it, and he pulls his sword from its resting place on his back. better safe than sorry, he figures. the demon, or at least hopefully what is the demon and not something much worse, hisses, and there’s the vague sound of other voices within it. things that sound almost familiar, if they could only listen a little closer. ]

Don't… let it distract you.

[ They don't answer, in case they obstruct something that the demon has to say— the voices sound familiar, sure, people from home and in Chroma alike. But they remind themself that it isn't real. There's no one here but themself and Dextera, and anything they hear is just an imitation.

When they take a creeping step towards the figure, their own blade brandished with both hands, they aren't exactly expecting for the demon to just lunge at them. While it catches them off guard momentarily, they react without thinking, taking a hard swing at the demon's midsection - the feigned shriek of pain it makes would fall on both Dextera and Cairngorm's ears as too identical to people they care about. Phos, Lottie, Lupin. It's chilling enough to make them flinch, despite having just steeled themself for this.

As it turns out, the demon was more shroud than solid when Cairngorm struck it, so it washes over both Cairngorm and Dextera as a dark cloud before reforming into a humanoid shape again a distance away, and even they can guess what's about to transpire, as they turn heel to face it again. ]

And now we'll start seeing different things, right? What a pain...

[ More like different people, if this silhouette is anything to go by. ]

[ dextera winces, too—to him, the squeal sounds like guren, like his brother, even if he’s never heard either of them make such a sound before. his imagination makes it worse, perhaps, but there’s no time to consider it. it’s an illusion. ]

It’s not real.

[ dextera tells himself that as much as he’s telling cairngorm, because cairngorm surely has a better head on their shoulders than he does. he’s no good with this kind of thing, always falling for even the most obvious traps simply because he doesn’t like putting himself through it. it’s better, then, that they dispatch this demon as quickly as possible.

he rushes the demon before it has a chance to form completely, but the silhouette is there as he runs his lit sword through its neck. the outline of it shifts, but it’s a man. maybe guren, maybe lupin, dextera doesn’t really stop to tell. ]

[ Maybe the demon catches on that both of them are trying to get it over with quickly before things get too real - Cairngorm is familiar with the concept of having to fight things that look like your loved ones, at least from the abstract standpoint. Gems get turned into weapons all the time. That's why they're forcing themself to try to be okay with the image of Dextera cutting through what looks to be Lupin's neck (probably Guren's, to him), and the gurgling yelling that's following it.

That is, until the demon gets a little more creative, and Dextera's continuing attack only makes a spray of blood drench the both of them, hot and sticky and certainly very real feeling (and smelling). Cairngorm had followed in hot pursuit with his rush, which they're left sorely regretting as they squint through the amount that's gotten into their eyes.

Whether or not Dextera stops because of it all, they take a swing at one of the demon's legs, cutting it clean off. What's going through their mind right now is that they at least have to make it not mobile, while it's in a solid form like this, even though the scream of pain in response and the onslaught of more blood eats them alive. Crushing gems is different from this; they just shatter and they don't feel it. But hacking something apart that looks and acts human, moreso that resembles someone they care about - it leaves a sick feeling behind, even for a non-human like them. ]

[ on the other hand, this is exactly the kind of brutality that dextera is used to. he shouldn’t, but it’s almost instinctive, the way that he licks away the blood that spills hot and sticky across his face. the taste of it is likely as much an illusion as anything—as soon as it’s in his mouth, he thinks he wouldn’t be surprised if he were to find himself nauseated in a few hours.

for now, though, he just wipes it out of his eyes and keeps going. ]

Are you okay?

[ dextera asks it without actually looking at cairngorm, since he’s focused on this. having a voice feels so handy, he wonders how he ever survived without it, but he supposes that working alone for so long never called for communication like this.

the demon wobbles, now left with only one leg, and a kick in the back from dextera sends it toppling over. at least it’s losing its shape, the more they strike at it, and he drives his sword through it’s back to pin it to the ground. the pipe-blade luminates, burning a hole right through the monster’s chest. at least with this, there’s no blood, and the light starts to spread through it like a bomb imploding. ]

[ They're grateful that it's losing it's form— it makes it easier for them to press on. As tough as they act, and as hardened by constant fighting as they are, the gruesome nature of battle like this isn't something they're totally used to, unlike Dextera. When he knocks it to the ground, they move in a way that allows them to take off the other leg, wincing at the spatter. ]

I'm fine.

[ Truthfully, their answer is a little belated. But once they're certain that it's down for the count, they take a half step back to let Dextera's abilities finish the job, yanking their blade from the carcass and setting the end of it into the dirt beside them. The heel of one of their hands rubs at the blood on their face, taking off some of that pristine white powder, and revealing the glittering dark quartz features beneath it. ]

It's just... messy.

[ In more ways than one. But they're not the type to fall apart or admit any vulnerability. It's easier to complain about the disgusting nature of the task than let the conversation drift in an emotional direction. ]

[ dextera isn’t sure he’s ever seen cairngorm like this—physically, or emotionally, in fact. he doesn’t know what cairngorm might have seen here, besides the blood that’s clearly more tangible than either of them likely would have liked, but it must have been something unpleasant. dextera wonders why he himself wasn’t more affected by it. if it marks something wrong with him.

that’s one less demon haunting the woods, though, and their job here is done. the reward, hopefully, is worth it. ]

I can purify that off you. [ he wipes at some of the blood on his face. ] It won’t hurt.

[ At that, they tilt their head slightly, still taking off some of the powder from their face. ]

You can do that?

[ That is... extremely convenient. Maybe it would be okay to ask for that, since it would take off most evidence of this happening, aside from what they'd have to cover up with more makeup. They do feel a bit bad that Dextera is always ending up doing stuff for them, like giving them his light, or his coat, or his blood-cleaning powers. He seems so stable, now, too, compared to how jittery they feel... ]

It won't do anything else, will it?

[ dextera has been playing laundry for ryo basically since they arrived, since it’s all too easy for ryo’s pristine white coat to get covered in blood without even blinking. (it probably has more to do with ryo’s personality, however, than the color of the coat.) so he shakes his head, and demonstrates by evaporating some of the blood off his fingers.

it disappears in an instant, like paper burning up in a flame. ]

You’ll be okay.

[ and maybe for a moment, he means a little more than just the effects of his purification. ]

Can I?

[ They watch with some genuine amazement in their eyes and a raise of their brows. Belatedly, they nod, coming a step closer in case that's what they need to do. ]

...It's fine, if it takes a little of this powder off.

[ A little reassuring, or at least they hope so; they find themself being a slightly kinder version of themself in Dextera's presence, and whether that's out of fondness or indebtedness or plain not-wanting-to-stress-him-out-ness, they are not sure of. In any case, he's earned their guard coming down, if only momentarily. ]

[ dextera nods, warmly, and reaches out to touch whatever part of cairngorm is closest, covered in blood, and least invasive. as long as he can get his hands on some part of the blood and some part of cairngorm, he can separate the matter—it’s easier, really, when it’s something inorganic like cairngorm and a vital fluid like blood.

his fingertips warm and glow, and the blood quickly, easily dissipates. this is something he never cared to do in his own world, when he was going to die and have his clothes replaced anyway, but he’s gotten quite good at it here. it saves him a lot of laundry. ]

There. Did that hurt?

[ Here's where they'd normally tense up from someone else's touch, if it was a stranger or someone they didn't particularly like, but they don't; they just let him do what he needs to, only glancing at his hand when the blood actually begins to disappear. ]

No... didn't feel anything. [ He already knows their kind don't experience pain the same way humans do - or, rather, don't experience most sensations the way beings of flesh do. So they save it. ] You are always helping me...

[ For the first time around him, they seem a bit bashful, actually inwardly embarrassed that they have relied on Dextera so much in the past. They've found that others extending their hand to them unconditionally is... well, weird at first, then embarrassing, then heart-warming (in the metaphorical sense.) They sigh, tutting and holding their cheek with their hand like the two of them hadn't just slayed a beast together. ]

All this, and I still end up owing you.

You don’t owe me.

[ dextera feels better when he can help others.

he’s spent a long time here being completely reliant on people helping him, and although guren told him that people helped him because they like him, just “liking” someone isn’t a good enough reason for dextera to take advantage of the kindness extended to him. cleaning cairngorm up after working together to slay a demon is the least he could do.

softly, he smiles. ]

I’m just glad it turned out okay. The demons are… vicious.

[ They frankly disagree, but then again, they don't really know what they can do for him that would pay him back, other than just helping him out again when the next opportunity arises. That's basically just being friends, isn't it? The realization...

More importantly, at that, they close their eyes momentarily, lifting the end of their blade from the ground so they can start walking out of this vile place. Their brows knit together when they open their eyes again. ]

...I guess. [ Vicious in the psychological sense, definitely. ] They are probably like that because they aren't difficult to destroy otherwise.

[ Using mind games - that sort of thing always puts the opponent at a disadvantage, especially ones not as strong as Cairngorm and Dextera are. ]

[ dextera nods, following cairngorm as if he’d just been trailing behind this whole time. it’s not in his nature to take the lead, except when he truly feels as if there’s no other choice—a battle, where he can fight with the holy powers bestowed upon him, is one of those few scenarios. ]

Everything needs something to defend itself. Even demons.

[ it’s not good, he’s not on their side, but it’s just an observation. ]

I just… don’t like how much they seem to know about us. How much this town knows.

[ They meet his eyes, keeping their expression decidedly neutral. Come to think of it, they don't like that either. Cairngorm is someone who never speaks into existence their ties with others - next to no one knows who they're close to, sans those people themselves. So, it's chilling. ]

I don't understand it. [ They're blunt about that much. ] Even when we had just arrived here, that furniture knew things about us. Us being here longer and getting to know people around only gives them more things to work with...

[ It's one thing to draw information from their homeworlds - but the idea that they somehow know everything happening currently is worse, and begs the question of who is watching them, and from where. ]

…yeah.

[ dextera is pretty open with people, so it’s not like the town has dug too deep. the more concerning thing is when it was able to pull memories from far within him, things about himself that even he hadn’t been aware of until one thing or another brought it to light. ]

There’s no being careful about it. We just have to… figure out how to beat it.

[ they can’t stop it, but surely they can cope. ]

[ At that, they look over at him a little curiously. ]

"Beat it?" You mean the town?

[ Now, this isn't something they've really brought up with anyone on purpose. But the topic has come up enough in the past few weeks that they are beginning to become curious about other people's motivations towards the town, and about returning. When they speak again, their tone lacks it's usual expectancy; as if it's nothing more than a mild question to pass the time. ]

If we're ever able to "beat" it... what do you think will happen?

…mm.

[ dextera doesn’t really want to think about it. if they restore color to this town, there’s no telling what will actually happen to them all. there may be no saying goodbye, just like when people go home as it is now. some of them may even be stuck here as new residents, or maybe all of them will be. ]

Guren made a wish for all of us to be able to go back to the places we want to go. I hope it comes true.

Where we want to go...?

[ They repeat back, visibly surprised. To choose where they go home? They'd always just accepted that they'd be forced to go back to where they came from. Even considering it briefly— no, they should evict this thought immediately. Well, they should, but they can't, the possibility hanging over them oppressively. ]

Choosing where to go... or who to go with. [ The edge of town comes up in the pair's line of sight, littered with the bits of color that the residents have restored. But they turn to look at Dextera's profile, instead. ] I don't think it's past this place's capabilities.

[ Whether or not Cairngorm would, or even should consider a possibility like that, they don't know. But it seems that he's already made up his mind. ]

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passio - 2019-02-02 12:40 (UTC) - Expand

january catch-all!

DEXTERA

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