[ i hope they never get tired of this reaction because without fail rondo YELLS in surprise and jumps like ten feet and promptly bobbles his bestiary and drops it like a dumbass. ]
I was wide open... [ clutching his heart, he turns around... sneaky!!!! and then he laughs a little, and takes the book back. ]
Here, I... I wanted to show you something. Ask you about it. Hold on... [ and then flips to the very back of it, where he's written something down. he looks left, and then right.
and then flips to an emptier page:
... caution, for the ritual is not without its troubles. The god we seek to bring into our realm might still be a fledgling. A newborn. It needs to be protected and the steps to bring it into the realm completed perfectly, else it just become just as mortal as those who brought it into the world.
he doesn't say anything out loud, but he raises his eyebrows, like he's not sure if he can say anything about it. but also. ]
[ they tilt their head so they can gaze upon the page offered to them. oh... secret message. they are paused for a moment as they read, then glance up at rondo. not the brows.
they shake their head to at least confirm for him to be quiet. ]
Where exactly did you find such... facts... about monsters?
[ - and he manages a smile, like this is definitely just a. talk about monsters. yeah. it's not like the most subtle but you know. at least he hid it in a book and didn't just yell. he is does in fact have a brain. ]
[ it's now not the first, or second, or third time he's seen this memory, but... it never really gets any easier. every time it ends, he just feels that awful, lingering cold. it's never gone away. ]
Well, you wouldn't be the first one here who had a questionable encounter right before finding themselves in this place. As I have said to them, I don't think that is an end you need accept.
[ rondo is going to take this as nicely as possible even if they are being extremely hard-headed about it. luckily,
rondo gets one in return: ]
There is a person standing not too far from Rondo. A young man, terribly handsome, with rich and deep-purple skin and long white hair pulled half-up in a knot. He is clad from neck to toes in an iridescently silver, chitinous sort of armor which makes a cricket-like noise when he hurries toward Rondo. Annoyingly, he is taller than Rondo - evident not by their current leveled heights, but the fact it feels as if Rondo is floating above the ground to make it so. An intimidating helmet is held under one arm; the other hand holds a long glaive with scary ease. There is also a sword at his waist as if the glaive isn't enough of a deterrent.
"Essek!" he cries.
Formally, Rondo replies, "Taskhand," but there is a subtle edge of playfulness beneath the greeting.
"Come on, Essek," the young man whines. "We're not even on duty."
"Verin," Rondo relents, but then adds: "You are always on duty as someone representing the Bright Queen. Don't forget."
Verin waggles his head defiantly, mocking. "How did it go? There's a lot of them..."
"It went fine," he reassures, but a small wave of uncertainty and worry rolls up through him. "They are called The Might Nein. They are guests, and I have been tasked with overseeing them. Ironic considering your title is Taskhand."
Verin lets out a charming, gentle laugh. "I'm the task they deal with if they try anything funny. She made the right choice; I know you can handle it. Shadowhand."
"Yes, well," Rondo says, then doesn't continue for a moment. "They went to the Dungeon, so keep your ears open, brother."
"I will." Verin offers Rondo a bright, but small smile. "Try not to make too many friends."
[ imagine rondo ever sounding this cool and collected its really taking me out
oh... when the memory fades, rondo is smiling!! first of all that armor was SICK. second of all, it's cute to see war's memories, and he thinks he knows that person as it plays out. when it finishes, he beams and goes through about twenty five thoughts at once so it collects in: ]
...Your brother! [ a beat. ] You're purple! Like Karlach. Kind of. [ a second beat. ] Wait, he said your name!
they seem a little put-out at having such a boldly soft memory yanked out of them and handed over to someone else. rondo, of all people. rondo is as bad as karlach to be handing stuff like this to actually. ]
I'm a drow.
[ RONDO YOU CAN'T JUST SAY PEOPLE ARE PURPLE ]
Do not repeat that name any where here to anyone else.
[ oh. right. of course!!! rondo mimes covering his mouth and nods. secret's safe with him.
... well, okay wait he wants to talk about it, so, the symbolism will have to be enough. rondo drops his hands away from his mouth and smiles at him, instead. ]
He makes a very gallant knight. [ verin... is so cool... ] Younger siblings really are the best, aren't they...? You must love him very much.
[ embarrassing. yeah of course he's embarrassing. ]
[ he smiles all the time there's no escaping this. but, oh, no... that's kind of sad, but kind of sweet, too? there's a little huff. ]
I get that. [ it was just him and cordelia, after all. he doesn't quite get it to the same extent as war does, but, well. the ravuses had to rely on each other, too. ] Do you still get to see him often?
Good. [ about getting to see each other, at least. that's the thing that he misses the most about cordelia - he hasn't seen her in years, now. ] It really... that kind of thing really matters.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week 2, monday
Battle says hello.
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-- War!
[ YOU ARE GOING TO TURN HIM GREY LIKE SAZANTOS ]
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Yes?
[ they beckon one hand out of their robe, lifting the book up to it. they glance over the outside, then offer it back. ]
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I was wide open... [ clutching his heart, he turns around... sneaky!!!! and then he laughs a little, and takes the book back. ]
Here, I... I wanted to show you something. Ask you about it. Hold on... [ and then flips to the very back of it, where he's written something down. he looks left, and then right.
and then flips to an emptier page:
... caution, for the ritual is not without its troubles. The god we seek to bring into our realm might still be a fledgling. A newborn. It needs to be protected and the steps to bring it into the realm completed perfectly, else it just become just as mortal as those who brought it into the world.
he doesn't say anything out loud, but he raises his eyebrows, like he's not sure if he can say anything about it. but also. ]
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Mm?
[ they tilt their head so they can gaze upon the page offered to them. oh... secret message. they are paused for a moment as they read, then glance up at rondo. not the brows.
they shake their head to at least confirm for him to be quiet. ]
Where exactly did you find such... facts... about monsters?
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Miss Kate and I share a lot of reading material.
[ - and he manages a smile, like this is definitely just a. talk about monsters. yeah. it's not like the most subtle but you know. at least he hid it in a book and didn't just yell. he is does in fact have a brain. ]
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[ they nod, accepting this answer. rondo does have brains, it's just hidden behind all the muscle. ]
Thank you for showing me. It seems that many beasts in here have some sort of weakness. Maybe we should keep that in mind.
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Definitely. Do... you know where I might be able to obtain some more information on the subject?
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Perhaps it is... a misprint?
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Right. [ wait. ] Oh. I mean, that's... too bad! Well, Miss Kate collects rare books, so, I guess maybe that's not a bad thing, either.
[ there you go, good job. anyway i'm flavor blasting you with a memory you dont get a choice. bomp.
when the memory ends, rondo's hand has come up to his throat, and he's silent. ]
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for a short moment, war sort of collects themselves after. truly the little brother energy of it. ]
You fought a difficult battle.
[ understatement ]
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... It's the last thing that I remember.
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[ rondo is going to take this as nicely as possible even if they are being extremely hard-headed about it. luckily,
rondo gets one in return: ]
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oh... when the memory fades, rondo is smiling!! first of all that armor was SICK. second of all, it's cute to see war's memories, and he thinks he knows that person as it plays out. when it finishes, he beams and goes through about twenty five thoughts at once so it collects in: ]
...Your brother! [ a beat. ] You're purple! Like Karlach. Kind of. [ a second beat. ] Wait, he said your name!
[ MUCH TO TALK ABOUT ]
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they seem a little put-out at having such a boldly soft memory yanked out of them and handed over to someone else. rondo, of all people. rondo is as bad as karlach to be handing stuff like this to actually. ]
I'm a drow.
[ RONDO YOU CAN'T JUST SAY PEOPLE ARE PURPLE ]
Do not repeat that name any where here to anyone else.
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... well, okay wait he wants to talk about it, so, the symbolism will have to be enough. rondo drops his hands away from his mouth and smiles at him, instead. ]
He makes a very gallant knight. [ verin... is so cool... ] Younger siblings really are the best, aren't they...? You must love him very much.
[ embarrassing. yeah of course he's embarrassing. ]
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Thank you.
[ proud of the lil bro even though they stand on different ends of the spectrum. sometimes, you just have a lot of trust in the brother you love. ]
...He was one of the few - mm, no, perhaps the only person I ever had.
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I get that. [ it was just him and cordelia, after all. he doesn't quite get it to the same extent as war does, but, well. the ravuses had to rely on each other, too. ] Do you still get to see him often?
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He was the only one who supported me when all others turned away because I questioned our faith. Him and our mother.
[ they nod. ]
I do when neither of us are busy and bound to our duties to serve the Queen.
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He must be so proud of you, as you are of him.
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...I cannot say. My beliefs - or lack of them - usually put a lot of trouble on his shoulders, so.
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Heh. Well, since you said we're alike - I bet he is. I know I would be.
[ with a big smile. ] There's something just as important about sticking to your convictions that's worth being proud of.