ACT II : GROWTH

@pluresque​ said : “great enthusiasm, terrible timing.” fjord to veth sjvmfjd

veth hasn’t been listening . not since they left zadash . the blooming grove is beautiful & kind of depressing ( but fuck , what isn’t right now ? ) & all she can think about his her son . how small he looked in marion’s arms , the fear & anger & confusion that still courses through her veins , a day and a half later . how desperately she’d wanted to stay with him , hold him until he grew up & then hold him some more . she knows , somewhere , she knows that it doesn’t matter . it doesn’t matter if she’s with him & yeza or not , if the somnovum makes it’s way out of the astral sea . it’s a cold comfort to think that it would matter but she thinks at the end of the world she’d like luc & yeza’s face to be the last thing she sees . she looks up from her tea when she realizes fjord has been talking to her , only catching the end of whatever sentence she can’t say she heard any of & it takes her a full 30 seconds to comprehend the last few words - great enthusiasm , terrible timing .   ❝   what timing ... ? oh ,  did jester show you the sex potion ? i mean , i told her to wait until you guys had a minute to use it , but it’s not half bad , right ? no need to thank me , i’m happy to help .   ❞

@atlasburdened ‘like’d for a starter.

It had happened in a terrifying blur. As he’d been traversing a back hallway to his room, a figure had appeared, and swept their arms as though to unleash a tidal wave. He’d instinctually Counterspelled to no avail. He felt nearly all of his life leave him as the spell tore into him, his retaliation missing the mark. In another moment, the assassin Dimension Doored away, leaving him standing there with his hands shaking. He had a sudden urge to hide the wound as if it was something to feel guilty about (and in a way, it was).

With a wave of his hand, he Prestidigitated away what blood he could, holding his cloak strategically. His panic told him he couldn’t go to the outpost guards. If the assassin was sent by the Dynasty rather than the Assembly, they might have orders to finish him off. Taking care to avoid being seen, he kept going until he could see a familiar blue-skinned tiefling.

“Jester,” he said, barely able to get the words out past his closing throat, “I need- Can you-”

A drop of blood emerged from his cloak, and hit the ground.

too long . they’ve been gone for too long . she feels like they haven’t stopped moving since they left essek , like she hasn’t even stopped to breathe . not with the weight of so much on their shoulders . as soon as the icy winds hit their faces she’s looking for essek , purple irises searching the outpost as they all try to be as inconspicuous as they can around the dynasty guards . she hears her name , quietly behind her & spins to find his recognizable cloak a smile on her lips that dies as soon as she sees him . hurt . she can tell he’s hurt even before she sees the blood .   ❝   essek ! what -   ❞   jester rushes up to him , grabbing his arm to hold him steady in case he can’t ... hover .  ❝   how bad , essek ? i need to know so i know how to help or at least get caduceus , ok ?   ❞