logs | (catchall / open)

[ It's a rare thing for someone as stubborn as Dimitri to surrender. They hadn't known each other long at Garreg Mach, but the time they did have together was often filled with Claude pestering Dimitri about something or another, and failing to have him give into Claude's ploys. Honestly, it was him and Edelgard both—part of what made them good leaders, he supposes.

But first, Dimitri relents and lets Claude manhandle him to the bed for some rest, and second, he gives up and accepts his fate when they tumble onto the mattress.

It's both funny, and sad. He can only imagine how tired Dimitri must be. ]

Well, not exactly how I planned to do this... [ He laughs, because what else can he do?

They'd landed somewhat side by side, managing to avoid any injuries, with Dimitri face down and Claude on his back. It's easy from this position to smile at Dimitri's defeated form, patting his head and his back. ]

Sleep well, Dimitri. Take this as a sign to get some sleep... I won't bother you any longer.

[ Fear is a natural response; he's had it trained out of him, but he doesn't regard that as the norm. She's been imprisoned, branded, and left completely in the dark—of course she would be afraid.

So he'll stay with her. That isn't a problem. But even as she squeezes his hand, he shakes his head. ]

No. [ He says this firmly, a princely edge of authority sneaking out. ] I want your safety, not your loyalty.

[ He won't claim to be a saint; of course betrayal stings, and when he was younger, it would outright burn. But fealty comes at a cost he never wants to pay. She could use him as a weapon, a shield, a distraction—whatever it takes, and he wouldn't flinch.

Then, more quietly, ]

...Even if you are fine with being punished, understand that I am not. If you do, then I will help you escape this place.

[ For all he cares for the risk, they could leave right this instant. ]

[ As her legs swing in the air, Jinx begins to feel heat mounting from the depths of the crater. Hurled balls of fire crash into the cliff face, uncomfortably close and undoubtedly meant for her. She estimates that she is mere seconds from losing her grip on the edge of crater when suddenly she is being pulled up over it.

She climbs to her feet in time to witness the impending approach of a horde of furious, tiny knights. ]

Run! [ She shouts before breaking into a sprint, headed for the trees. She doesn't stop for several minutes, wanting to put as much distance as possible between herself and the crater, even though she suspects the knights won't abandon the rest of their treasure in pursuit of just a couple of stolen fragments. Better safe than on fire.

Finally, she stops to catch her breath, practically collapsing onto a damp, mossy log. It occurs to her, a little too late, that perhaps she should have checked to make sure that her partner was keeping pace. Hopefully he's not far behind. Having to double back for him would suck, but she does owe him one. ]

[ he senses the faltering beat, the weight of an expectation after the name dimitri that doesn't come. there is something familiar here — the man's demeanor, the ease with which he issues commands, even the way he carries himself now that they're both standing. laurent spends a moment studying him, his gaze completely blank even as his mind whirs. ]

You'll protect me. [ he repeats the words slowly, somehow making the noble offering sound sour. ] Would you like to get on your knees and suck my cock, too?

[ he is almost certain dimitri is nobility, and the worst kind at that. virtuous, honorable, righteous. or at least there is the facade of these things. a man can be all of these things and still be a prince-killing akielon dog.

laurent steps lightly into the hall after sliding the door open as quietly as possible, now focused on his task as if nothing has transpired between them. he peeks into the other cells. ]

There are only people here. I want to find my clothes. [ nudity might be commonplace in vere, but this tattered sheet is uncomfortable. ] If it's guaranteed to cause chaos, I'll unlock all the doors. We can slip away easily in the ruckus.

[ Was this "Pepa" a goddess of the seasons? Interesting. He can't help but envy that she would grant them mostly warm weather, then. ]

I see... well. In a harsh winter, there are nearly no plants to forage. The air turns dry and cold. You can lose your fingers and toes if you aren't careful—they'll practically turn to ice and won't turn back.

[ Which might be an extreme way of putting it, but it's been drilled in him since he was a child not to underestimate winter: the cold does not discriminate between king and peasant, ready to claim either overnight, and this isn't even half the dangers of it. Bruno seems to be a man of summer though, and Dimitri tries to keep his words as a gentle warning rather than an admonishment. ]

If winter comes, the journey to the city will become more demanding. [ Or he could get snowed in completely. ] So if you continue to stay here, you ought to prepare yourself now, just to be safe.

[ Dimitri isn't blameless, even if Vincent is gracious about the situation. Still, he knows the core crux of the problem isn't on his head—that lies on the Hierarchy, and their decisions. ]

...At least we can agree on that.

[ That gives him some reason to want to escape, at least. ]

What will you do if you escape here? [ He doubts Vincent is as reckless as he is, not ready to charge up to the Hierarchy's doorstep and demand answers, but he's curious what his plan is all the same. ]

[ He's covered enough that he's decent. It doesn't bother him much; he's never been one to care about his appearance beyond needing to look presentable as royalty. His clothes back home were always so unnecessarily ornate anyway. ]

No, but hopefully they're nearby...

[ He didn't have a whole lot, but it's better than starting from scratch. Luckily though, there's some bins near the mouth of the escape route with their things collected. The fluff of his stupid little scarf sticks out of one of them. ]

Though these garments will suffice for now, if need be.

I suspect our sudden imprisonment is connected to the murders last month. Ten of their members were slain during the festival.

[ they wouldn't have taken such drastic measures otherwise, indiscriminately rounding up any restless who'd spilt even a drop of blood. ]

They most likely believe that the one responsible is among us. [ it's rather desperate and tactless, yet it seems befitting for a group in power that don't seem to hold much regard for those they lead. ] If my suspicions are— [ he pauses for a moment as he covers another round of coughs. ]

If they're correct, [ he clears his throat. ] then the opposition may be a group rather than an individual who has a vendetta against them and they're enough of a threat for the Hierarchy to respond in panic.

[ so what is he going to do? ]

I intend to look into it.

[ It's hard to place this man, Laurent. He moves like someone tutored in combat, carrying himself with a familiar assurance, but his words are uncouth, bitter as anything; is the vulgarity meant to unsettle him? Is it a provocation?

Either way, Dimitri only answers by fixing him with a hard look, unamused. ]

...The guards travel alone, and if their power is nullified as ours are, then we should be able to overrun them with numbers.

[ The blatant overconfidence would work in their favor, though the problem then is finding an escape route. But given how worn and fractured the buildings are here, he can't imagine it's impossible to slip through the cracks. ]

I'll deal with the next patrol. [ They can't just keep knocking guards out ad nauseum without someone catching on, but it'll buy some time, at least. ] —Your clothes can wait.

[ Not a priority! They can escape in rags for all that Dimitri cares. And with that, he hurries down the hall, wasting no time in clobbering a lazy sentry mid-yawn as they turn the corner. ]

[ He looks a little amused, because he's self-aware enough to realize his name is long and cumbersome. Announcing himself fully is a habit made from courtly manners, ones he hasn't shed, but... ]

It is good to meet you, Leaks. You can call me whatever is convenient—most do not use my full address.

[ Just 'Dimitri' is preferable, anyway. ]

If your curiosity gets the best of you, you're welcome to visit and look around the premises. I have my own quarters, but it can be... nice not to live in total seclusion.

[ He can come and hang out! Or fight with them on the rooftop. Very exciting prospects at the Han Sooyoung Corporation. ]

You stay here, I'll go take a look.

[ there shouldn't be too much trouble, given how much of it the restless have already stirred earlier. the remaining guards are probably licking their wounds just as much as the escapees...

...eventually, sylvain returns with dimitri's clothes. or, dimitri can come with, but sylvain will insist he stay put and rest up. whatever the case, the cute lil' scarf is indeed easy to spot. :') ]

We can't have you running around without proper clothes, now can we.

[ unanimously decided by sylvain... at least, he won't offer to dress dimitri for him, and instead turns around so he can have a modicum of privacy while he changes. (ur welcome) ]

[ good to meet him? really?? even if it's just pleasantries and politeness, doesn't mean that leaks is used to it. would dimitri still believe it's 'good' the next time? and the time after that? eventually, he will hate leaks. that's just how it's meant to be. ]

... I will think about it.

[ leaks frowns half-heartedly. he might take him on that offer, if he doesn't decide to move in with someone else down the line.

his tail swishes. ]

I do not know what you see with your special eyes. However... I can walk with you the rest of the way and if any apparitions make themselves seen, I will attempt to ward them off.

[ He'd be shocked to discover the presumed "goddess of the seasons" was his sister but, uh, anyway, Bruno seems more and more worried the longer that Dimitri goes on about the dangers of a real winter. He doesn't like the sound of it, any of it, and it shows plainly on his face. ]

S-so, basically, winter's gonna kill me. Is. Is that right?

[ Because that's what he got out of it, no matter how gentle a warning he'd tried to offer. ]

Edited 2022-12-01 06:11 (UTC)

[dimitri with a taemin bowl cut.... gwiyeowo]

Wait, hold on!

[by contrast, Sooyoung sounds more alarmed than before. She is ~~embarrassed~~ allergic to feelings, especially the sincere kind where someone tells her that they consider her a friend. She wracks her brain for her past behavior -- HAS IT REALLY BEEN FRIENDLY? DIMITRI?]

Stop right there. I know I'm an incredible person, so you don't have to list all my wonderful traits.

[if she reminds dimitri that she's an egotistical creature who ensnared him into the mistletoe pyramid scheme then they can avoid further incidents like this one. maybe.]

[ his clothes are a priority, thank you, but dimitri scampers off like an overly confident dog before laurent can point this out. the man is strong, at least — for that he's grateful, considering laurent would rather use his head than exert himself unnecessarily. while dimitri takes down another guard, laurent quickly searches the body, leaving the cumbersome club behind when he finds a short blade instead. this is much preferred.

laurent makes quick work of the rest of the doors, each lock clicking open, and stops to free a handful of shackles before leaving the keys with the prisoners to help themselves. he joins dimitri at the corner as people begin to rush around them — and sentries start streaming in, though they're far outnumbered by the newly freed prisoners. ]

We need to find a way out. Don't waste your time playing the brute.

[ laurent beckons dimitri with him as he takes off down the winding hallway, the lights fading to near perfect darkness. the screams behind them fade, and laurent spies an arrow painted on the wall, a dark bloody red. he places a palm to the cold stone, hesitating only briefly before he steps inside, the temperature plunging. he can no longer hear the prisoners, only the steady sound of dripping water, the stone damp beneath his feet as he traverses the underground mausoleum.

phosphorescent fungi clings to the walls, just barely offering enough light to keep him from stumbling, but laurent keeps his hand grazing the stone to watch his steps, his eyes wide in the dark. he can barely see dimitri, but he can sense his presence nearby. a skittering little creature runs by, small and glowing. laurent has half a mind to grab it to use it for light, but it's possible it could bite. ]

We're below the surface. [ he can readily tell from his brief imprisonment below ground courtesy of govart's attempt to kill him. ] We just need to find a set of —

[ something cold and wet wraps around his ankle, and he's abruptly pulled to the floor, landing hard and dragged unceremoniously across the rough stone. on his back, he comes face to face with a mottled gray abysmal, caught in one of its tentacles. he sinks his knife into the slippery flesh and pulls, blood spilling over him before another tentacle slams his wrist to the ground, the knife clattering across the stone. fear swells in him and he swears the creature bares its teeth in hunger as if in response. ]

[ that isn't true. sure, he probably doesn't want her to die, not in a situation where it would feel like his responsibility; that's the exact sentiment she gambles so much of her survival on, after all. but if it were that simple, she would never have had to struggle so desperately. safety is always, always conditional. somewhere, there is a line, and once she crosses it, even this hand she's holding will turn to violence.

it doesn't matter. all he wants is reassurance—it doesn't need to be true. ]

I understand. I'll keep myself safe. If I can escape, then I won't look back.

[ there is a blank obedience to her tone. her gaze lowers to his hand clasped between her own, and she releases it to instead, gently, link her pinky finger with his. ]

But I'm counting on you to keep me safe too, so... please don't put yourself at risk either.

[ Dimitri is, ultimately, the host. If he wishes to fetch tea, there is little Set can do to dissuade him; there is much about the man that Set has to learn, but he has taken note of his quiet stubbornness. He is as easy to change the mind of as a stone. With time and violence, perhaps. For now, neither are things that have any place in Dimitri's home. Instead, Set takes a very non-violent approach to matters and casts his body into the nearest creaky chair, throwing pale limbs into the space as he sprawls and slouches and drums his fingers on the leaning table. ]

'The bloodthirsty god of war and violence shed none of it, and thus / remained apart.'

[ Even speaking the common tongue of the Restless, his accent is a remarkable thing. Lyrical and ancient, and by the time of some of the human mortals of Earth, it is a dead thing. He recounts his own experience like theatre, like a tale that would be told orally to villages and travelers seeking the news. They would laugh over it, he thinks. The god of war, already such a miserable thing, failing to do what he was made for. ]

Many of you did not deserve the punishment they sought to levy upon you, and those of us who did, simply were overlooked due to a singular element. Stygian justice is a poignantly ill-organized aspect of this land.

[ WELL, that's a conclusion he was hoping to dodge, though also he tends to err on the side of honesty, even if it's a little brutal. So. ]

It's... a possible outcome? [ quickly: ] But completely preventable.

[ It's totally fine and okay and cool. Probably. ]

Just—looking around, it's something I would keep in mind.

[ They've equipped the others with what they need to escape, their hunger and fury overtaking the sentries with ease and stealing their weapons to beat back fresh guards as they stumble in, confused and in disarray. The freed prisoners do more work than Dimitri can with a single club, though part of him hesitates to leave the din all the same. It takes a moment to convince himself to follow Laurent, and perhaps only because he's taking off alone, in more danger on his own than the escaping throng of prisoners here.

And he did say he'd protect him.

...As it turns out, navigating a dripping, dark cave of a ruin as they are, that was probably the right move. Dimitri only hums in agreement, the dank, stale humidity of their surroundings suggesting that this is some underground channel of sorts, but he's more focused on squinting into the dark at what might possibly, maybe be a passageway?

But it only takes the length of that one sideways glance for something to go awry; his attention snaps back at the sound of Laurent taking a hard fall, the luminescent plants capturing the vague, writhing outline of tentacles.

And—for better or worse, a brute is exactly what he is. And it's only another instant before he answers the call of violence with violence, eyes flared wide and digging his nails in to get a grip on the slippery, mottled tentacle that's pinned Laurent's arm; something wakes then in his blood then, dozing and sealed away as it'd been in their cell, the barrier's effects finally flagging. It takes one tug to tear the tentacle off the Abysmal's main body as his strength answers him. It rips viciously free in rubbery sinew, dark blood—the monster rears back with a ripple of motion and limbs and unholy noise and he chases after its momentum like a hound, unyielding.

A stray bolt of electricity or two arcs off of Dimitri in the meantime, flashing bright enough against the mausoleum walls for Laurent to find that knife of his—or, even better, an exit. ]

[ One more thing to worry about. Bruno breathes out a long, quiet sort of sigh. ]

I guess I couldn't keep on being a weird hermit forever, huh?

[ Moving into the city. What a nerve-wracking thought but there's no way the chapel is going to be anything but freezing cold during a real winter. After that, Bruno's silent for a time, lost in thought, still staring down at the floor, but then he gives a start, as though suddenly remembering, yeah, he has company? Yes. He has company.

His head darts up and he looks at Dimitri again and, following one last awkward pause, he latches onto the first thought that comes to mind. ]

Do you... want something to drink while you wait? Uh, like. I think I have some tea left I could make?

(catchall / open)

no subject

no subject

no subject

sincere apologies for my eternal slowness

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

ur good!!💕

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject