catchall ✧ this is our story.

[regression]

WHO: Yoo Joonghyuk and you! Friends. Not-friends.
WHAT: Catchall forever
WHERE: Netherworld general
WHEN: The present, the future
WARNINGS: Will update as necessary.

Look at me. I am woven together by story, held firm by myth. Look at me. I will tell you of the men that ate me bloody. I will tell you of how ferociously I bit my way out of their stomachs.

— Venetta Octavia, The Alchemy of Smallness —

Comments

[damnpire]

[No coat. Only a hat and a sword. They will be naked otherwise. (no)

He inclines his head in a nod, following Joonghyuk's gaze off, away from escape. It doesn't bother him. So little bothers him... Begging him to be bothered by more than a few terrible things.]

Let's go.

[They will get their shit back.]

[regression]

[ And they'll go with light steps, barefoot like hobos they are. As they're coming to a corner, Joonghyuk pauses and whispers: ]

How is your hearing?

[ He isn't sure if whatever is subduing his abilities is doing the same to D, so he might as well ask. It may be useful to know if there are guards nearby. ]

[damnpire]

[The loud, fleshy slap, slap, slap of their feet (no). D somehow doesn't make hardly any sound because he's too OP. This is what the spurs on the boots are far, like when you put a bell on a cat's collar.

He sidles up to the wall by the corner with Joonghyuk, but makes no effort to strain to listen.]

There is a guard making a rotation, [he says quietly.] Heading away from us. Their heartbeat is level, so they aren't on alert.

[Yet.]

[regression]

[ Wouldn't it be soft grinding against gravel... The idea of tiny pebbles touching my soles makes me grimace, but Joonghyuk isn't me and he can handle it with his light steps.

Hm. Taking a quick peek, he does see the back of the guard and also a door in between. ]

We can apprehend them or avoid them.

[ Which will it be? They both have their merits, but he assumes D has MORALS. ]

[damnpire]

[True, the defining feature setting him apart from the Nobles on the Frontier is he has morals. Many of them do not.

There's a few second's pause of consideration, but it's not hesitation. Very affirmatively, he says,]

Avoid them.

[Not to say he wouldn't kill if he absolutely had to do it.]

[regression]

[ this is so sad for D... He's like the last unicorn. Anyway, he doesn't think this is a bad idea. Less commotion, while difficult to achieve, can yield better results for sleuthing. ]

There's a door midway.

[ And when he says that, he darts through. To the door—let's hope it's not locked. ]

[damnpire]

[Stop, don't assign him unicorn. He wouldn't even be able to look at one much less touch it.

The speed and surety in which Joonghyuk turns around and books it doesn't bother him because, of course, they are the same person. It would be stupid to get caught halfway there while waiting for Joonghyuk, so he remains where he is until he can verify whether Joonghyuk can get in.

Don't be locked. Imagine it's locked after all this.]

[regression]

[ I would not do this to them while they're in loinclothes... But really, Joonghyuk is somewhat forceful with the door handle and they're in. It is a general room with some supplies, not much. Just arrowheads here and there, but no bow, so useless.

Of interest, though, is a skeletal hand with a rusty key in its clutches. Joonghyuk squints at is as he softly closes the door once D has scurried. ]

[damnpire]

[You had your chance and squandered it.

As soon as Joonghyuk is in the door, D wastes no time zipping from here to there as quietly as possible. Imagine being a duped guard in Gallows prison.

Paused, D also sort of peers at the skeletal hand. Why does it feel weird to just have a key right there for the taking? It feels like a trick... Is the fact the person is now a skeleton a sign?]

The key.

[regression]

[ Why can't skeletons just be skeletons? Why do they have to be people before they were skeletons?

Joonghyuk makes sure the door is locked and turns to see the sight. Huh. ]

Why would they leave the key like this?

[ IS THIS. AESTHETIC? He doesn't take it yet. ]

It feels like it's cursed.