5th level

Tagged by: @unmovable-sovereign Tagging: steal it >:3c

tagged by: @unmovable-sovereign​ and @abyssalblessing​ tagging: @bakvhatsv​ @oneoniboi​ bc that’s all my friends who know abt this blog u - u

Bondrewd is lacking:

Clones

Precure

Love

“Your guess is as good as mine. I haven’t the faintest clue why they avoid me.” Of course it had nothing to do with the fact that she enjoyed tossing the poor sod high in the air whenever they met. It wasn’t her fault a White Whistle was wary of heights.

What kind of delver was wary of heights?

Her dark eyes pinched at the corners as she watched him take a sip of the wine. The initial taste really was quite horrendous. Throaty chuckles murmured from her chest. She took a gulp of her wine as well, and set it aside for more soup.

“The aftertaste is its only redeeming quality, but it’s the best we can do in the Abyss.”

Chewing on a big mouthful of fatty meat, Ozen pondered the notion of replacing food items with ration bars. “You know, it didn’t occur to me not many can carry a Scarlet Maw on their back.” She hummed, her words genuine. “This is why Maruruk must grow strong. If not, he will have to eat rations.” She scooped up another spoonful of meat, and stuck it into her mouth, a trickle of soup spilling down her chin.

“In that case, you must bring me a Desert Hydra egg each time you visit. It’s a delicacy I haven’t had much chance to try. Did you know it makes a man especially virile when eaten raw? I will prepare some rice for you just for the occasion.” She kidded in return, pointing her spoon at his face with a crooked smile on her lips.

           “ i am sure that can be said for many things. “ the second sip was hardly as abrasive as the first, his pallet having grown used to the sharp tang of the wine already. he could feel the familiar warmth of the alcohol seeping into his system rather acutely. how unusual it felt, after so long going without it.

           pale lips widened. “ it is not a case of being unable, it is a case of the same weight in rations could feed double the amount of meals. i’m sure maruruk would do well on them. perhaps there is something in a diet like this that the rations would make up for, for him. “ bondrewd mused, taking another bite of the hearty soup. he doubted a child raised on a luxury like this would give this up for bland, dry bars, even if it could help them grow better.

          her request caused the white whistle to pause in his eating, hiding his mouth as a laugh parted. “ oh dear - that’s a high request, but i can certainly see what i can do. i doubt one would go far enough with your appetite however. “ and so that was an invitation to come back? she must consider him good company.

         then again, anything black whistle and above was chance for good company as far as he could remember with ozen.  while bondrewd very much doubted that ozen was one to get concerned over the idea of loneliness, there must be something to be had in having company with a white whistle when your preference in company was so picky. he himself seldom found issues in being lonesome, but he also had praying hands, and his nature for such thing was probably vastly different now than a fellow white whistle who remained ( mostly ) human. 

“They deserve a harrowing blow to the head. It’s one thing to have lesser Whistles run when they see you, but a fellow White Whistle?” Ozen gave her head a slight shake, echoing Bondrewd’s chuckles with one of her own, the sound stirring low in her chest. “They make me seem like a monstrosity of the Abyss.” Despite her words, she didn’t appear bothered by the thought, taking another spoonful of soup.

Ozen definitely agreed with Bondrewd’s assessment of the rations. While they were useful for extended dives, the taste was so bland it just about sapped the soul out of a delver. Nestled within the deep, keeping one’s spirits high was about as vital as required skills. To live on bars of dry wall spoke of fortitude unseen in most, or perhaps Bondrewd’s usual diet of rations and fish was merely for the sake of convenience.

Nonetheless, being made to eat such horrid things out of necessity was a tragedy in of itself.

“Why not think up a way to make them more pleasant on the tongue? With your intellect, it shouldn’t be difficult.”

It was a curious experience to see Bondrewd without his helmet, which had become such a staple for who he was that no one really knew what face he wore. Ozen’s dark, inky eyes stared at his features, though she made no effort to memorize them. What Bondrewd looked like wasn’t as important as the whistle he wore. The pale hair and pale eyes spoke testament of his dedicated fascination with the Abyss. A small smile tugged at her lips. She reached for her own hair, and groomed the tips of her white strands.

Someone had said the same of her once.

“Courteous as always, Lord Bondrewd.” Ozen raised her mug, nearly twice the size of his glass, and waited for him to tap them together lest she overexerted and broke something. “I’ll have Maruruk pack you a few boxes of spices for your fish. Who knows? You might even try putting some on those ration bars. It couldn’t taste worse.”

           it would do ozen well not to remember or become ‘attached’ ( as impossible a thing that is between the two ) to this face, for there was no guarantee of it’s longevity. this one had lasted him some time, now, 

           “ well, i do not know the deal of which you two spoke of, but you are right. but also consider; what was it you must have asked for that encouraged them to stay away, perhaps? “ he hardly had to lean forward with ozen’s long reach, his fine glass making hardly a noise against the wood tankard. a silver brow quirked, “ it is just a thought, though. it just is not typical for a white whistle to stay so far hidden over something like a deal. “ 

           he withdrew the drink and took a sip of his own. pale lips peeled back faintly at the immediate assaulting flavour, his tongue unused to the harsh tang that came with alcohol. his jaw tightened momentarily and relaxed immediately. “ you weren’t wrong about the taste. despite that, you are correct ; what follows is rather lovely. “ 

           his light smile did not fade as they continued to speak, and instead only grew with mild amusement at her inquiry and offer. “ well thank you for such a compliment, ozen. but with my intellect, i know well it makes little sense to try and preserve and bring down heavier meats and vegetation. i can bring down more meals with ration bars than i can when i bring down such things, meaning it goes further.” 

             “ but, i will happily accept the offer of spices. so few things grow down below, that it may be nice to have something beyond eternal fortunes to use to add flavor to dishes. perhaps it will give me a reason to regularly visit you, if i find them too much to my liking. “ an almost playful, teasing smile was offered over a spoonful of the soup before it was eaten.  “ wouldn’t that be lovely? being able to visit one another and talk like this more often ! “ 

“Indeed. A good doctor is rare to come by. Next time I go to the surface, I’ll have Maruruk tag along. We might even find a competent one.” Maruruk would suffer a terrible migraine from weathering the bright sun, but it was better than being stuck as a big-headed brat with sticks for torso and limbs. Ozen often wondered if the Curse had something to do with his lack of growth. Not that there was much to be done about it. She certainly wasn’t about to live on the surface just because her apprentice was a twig.

“You must read their mind. That skinny bird has hidden from me for years. If you see them, give them a good smack on the face for me, won’t you?” It wouldn’t be the same as a smack from Lord Immovable, but Ozen didn’t have the patience to scour the Fifth Layer just to collect a debt. She leaned forward, and rested her elbows on the table. Even with a chair made specific to her height, she still hunched, a dark mass of robes held up by a thin frame.

“Even if he joins us, he will not be sitting beside me.” Ozen chuckled, the sound rumbling in her throat. “We are lucky in the Inverted Forest. There are many species of vegetation we can use to ferment and brew. The berries have yielded the best result. It tastes a bit like puke, but its sweet aftertaste is quite pleasant.”

Before long, Maruruk arrived in the dining room, pushing a cart of soup and wine. He greeted Bondrewd with a chipper, spirited ‘hello’, and took a bow. An experienced caretaker, he seemed to know everything that was needed, and prepped the table with a bowl and utensils for everyone. He poured a mug of wine for his mentor and her guests, and put a full bottle on the table before taking his leave. The dinner table of White Whistles wasn’t his place to attend. The kitchen was close enough for him to know if he were needed.

Steam wafted from their gigantic bowls of soup. Large chunks of meat stuck out like hills, glistening under the light. An aroma of herbs and spices filled the air, a treat to the nose. Various root vegetables accompanied the meat, and bits of bloated insect stomachs bobbed on the surface.

Ozen took a sip with her spoon. “Not bad.” She commented. “Definitely better than the dry wall you eat at Idofront.”

            bondrewd, despite his pressing, pondered not as to why ozen kept a child around like maruruk if only to pester and berate the child. it was typical, really. he expected no less of a fellow white whistle, especially one such as ozen. if the nature of the abyss were to be personified, it’d find it’s hands being that of people like ozen. cruel and unyielding. if anything, should the child ever end up growing well, ozen’s harshness would prepare him for a life typical of the abyss, far better than any other delver child would be.

            “ i will be sure to keep it in mind. they only have passed through once, though what words where exchanged where minimum. i’m sure they’ll consider it a mercy it will come from me, however, rather than their skull being cracked! “ an unintentional chuckle parted from bondrewd as he watched the massive woman haunch over yet again. to think;  she lived here and did not take the opportunity to at least alter some of her surroundings to better suit her. 

             “alas, vomit is still better according to many of my associates than the taste of the rations.” nods immediately echoed out from his two praying hands, in vehement agreement. despite this, they would not receive any sort of alcohol. only food. if he was to drink, they must remain well and both knew this. the food would suffice for their pallets. 

              with the meal sat before them, and maruruk having left, bondrewd finally removed morning star from him, gently raising the relic and removing it of his head. it would be rude ( and rather impossible to eat with it on ) to keep it on at the dinner table. his praying hands did the same. 

              all shared the same white in their hair as typical of abyss delvers, though of course, the white whistle hosted the most, for his entire head of hair was ashen, and even his eyes had lost whatever pigment that they had once held. it left them caught erie amounts of light as the white eyes would gaze down appreciatively to the meal before him as he reached, carefully resting morning star aside both the meal and drink. 

           “ it smells delicious, and you’re absolutely right. i’ve yet to try it, but it does not take much to have better flavour than those bars. “ with nothing holding him back now, the dawn would also move to enjoy the soup, his mouth immediately caught off guard by the flavours. while he had his fair share of meats and vegetation offered by the abyss during his ascent, it was nothing like a properly seasoned and cooked meal. “ my, my, my - what a little chef you have. perhaps i will simply steal him away. “  with their master eating and having approved the dish, both praying hands silently joined. 

What an accommodating man, humouring her pawing at him. One could almost pretend he didn’t commit questionable endeavours within the walls of his icy abode. Not that Ozen would ever probe. White Whistles withheld their curiosities towards each other to steer clear of conflict. From what she knew, long-living as she was, she and Lyza had been the only White Whistles to delve often together.

“He eats when I eat, and I eat numerous meals a day. I used to forcefeed him, but that only made him sick and become skinnier.” As far as Ozen was concerned, it was a wonder children grew up at all. “Perhaps I will send him to you for a few months after all. He will benefit from studying with you. As long as he returned as he left, you may do with him as you wish.” It was a risky arrangement, but she figured Bondrewd would not abuse her apprentice beyond repair.

“Not merely old. Ancient.” Chuckling under her breath, Ozen led the way into Seeker Camp, through the winding corridors circling the Great Tree of Porta. Her strides were wide, an easy gait for a tall, lanky woman with long limbs. Upon the news of the other remaining White Whistles, or the lack thereof, she raised her brow.

“I hope Srajo hasn’t fluttered off to the Sixth Layer. They still owe me favours.”

Arriving at the dining room, Ozen walked to the head of the long, wooden table, and sat down on her customized chair. “Take any seat. Do those shadows of yours eat as well?” She pointed at the Praying Hands, for the first time acknowledging their presence. There was a savory smell in the air, that of bubbling soup and rich, fatty meats. “What do you drink, Lord of Dawn? If alcohol agrees with you, I have some swamp berry wine that’s ready for tasting.”

           “ it is a shame that not many delvers specialize in much beyond the nature of delving, but i suppose that would take up more of their otherwise finite time when it comes to being a delver. a person skilled in diving as well as medical understanding would be an irreplaceable asset. i am fortunate in the few i have at the idofront, but that is just it; they are there, and we - and maruruk - are here. not so easy to inspect a child’s health with such a distance between. “

          bondrewd would follow with ease after the self-proclaimed ‘ancient’ white whistle, his black ghosts following after in utter silence as they would enter the dinning hall after her. out of the three, only bondrewd found himself a seat. “ in no manner would i be surprised if srajo has weaseled their way beyond. perhaps it is easier to go down, than to rise up and owe you a favour. “ 

           a glance was offered back towards the two hands, each tilting their head towards their master at the offer of food. one’s stomach even made an audible growl, drawing a short chuckle from bondrewd. “ i will presume they shall join us.” a hand gestured for the two to sit, and with little hesitation, the praying hands found their own place flanking their master, though hands stayed neatly folded on their laps, whereas bondrewds remained upon the hardwood, periodically gesturing as he spoke. 

           “ i will happily take wine. i don’t get such a luxury down at the idofront. it is not exactly nonsensical to waste precious cargo space on such a long journey with frivolous items. “ he would not have much. he could not recall the last time he had a taste of alcohol - at least not with this form. it would not do him well to inhibit himself too much, as clear thinking was crucial, even if welcomed into the home of another white whistle. 

Her hands trailed down his arms, fingers testing the girth and make of those limbs. Her touch was firm but not painful, a tiny fraction of her strength just enough to map out the basic contour of his physique. She wondered if he’d changed bodies since the last time they met, and from what she remembered, it was unlikely. Still the same height and bone structure. Weight might fluctuate, but one’s skeletal frame did not easily change.

“If you stocked a proper kitchen, I may be more inclined to send my apprentice to you when I grow irritated with him.” Her digits lingered near his elbows. Ozen caught him peeking around her, a lopsided smile twitching at the corners of her lips. “You have not heard harsh from me, Lord of Dawn. Once you see him, you will understand. He is just as thin and waddling as when I found him. It’s a wonder he’s survived this far. Maybe that big head is mostly skull. That would explain why he’s stopped crying when I smack him.” She sounded distinctly displeased about that fact, since it was boring to bat about a child that did not cry.

“Come. Let us not dawdle in the wind. My old bones grow weary.” She let go of Bondrewd at last, and straightened from her hunch to audible crackles of vertebrae. “How are things in the Fifth? Any news of the Wise and the Mysterious?”

          in a way, bondrewd had a keen feeling of what she was doing - literally - and would allow for it to become easier for her by slightly lifting his arms for the tactile giant to have a better reach and touch. the praying hands watched on in silence. in all realism, should something go wrong, they would stand little chance against ozen, however it was always good to have assistance like such.

           “ oh how cruel. but alas, if that were the case, i would happy accept him. i’m sure he’d find more comfort under my hand than yours if that is how you speak of the poor boy. are you sure he is not merely under-fed? i find that is a common case with orphans with such physiques. “ 

           “ my, my, my — “ in an almost comical fashion, the novel would lean back as he moved to follow ozen as her spine crackled into position. “ getting a bit old for this aren’t we? “ such a thing seemed uncommon and rare for white whistles. old age held such little power over them, it was more a tease. really, it can’t be good for you regardless, for that to happen regularly. 

            “ nothing, as usual. while one has the title mysterious, the truth is that both are enigma’s. seldom do they visit, and it almost leaves me lonely, down below. it almost leaves me to wonder if both have not moved beyond the fifth layer without my knowing. not likely, but alas - this is the abyss, and not all is known - or could likely ever be known about it, hmm ?” 

“Still got a sweet mouth on you, I see.” Ozen grinned, the wide stretch of lips akin to a leer. She allowed his touch, as he was a White Whistle, someone she considered her equal. He didn’t cower and splutter or demand her attention like some upstarts wont to do, which made her far more inclined to keep an inkling of common decency.

“That he is. Maruruk is skinny and weak with too big a head, but he has his uses.” Ozen started to paw at Bondrewd’s helmet, long fingers running across the panels of his face before her hands slid down his neck and wrapped over his shoulders. “You will join me for supper. I received a fresh jar of insect stomachs today. They will add a nice bite to the soup.”

            “ not even the twisting depths of level 5 could ever take that from me. “ the dawn’s head would tilt and turn slightly at ozen’s wandering touch as she would explore the facets of his helm before finding her way to his shoulders. the weight of her hands was noticeable. she had not lost an ounce of her strength in all these years, bondrewd could tell.

            “ ah - fantastic. such things are little more than a luxury below. seldom do we dine on little more than the compressed meal replacements and periodic fish caught by my companions from the surrounding bodies of water. you excite me with this information.” this time the white whistle kept his hands to himself as he tilted on his feet, looking beyond ozen as if to see if maruruk was near.

            “ goodness, fortunate the poor boy is not near. what harsh words you say of him. he is entirely endearing in his own right, and serves you well. lighten up, ozen. he is but a child! “

            despite being well aware of his standing with ozen, bondrewd would make no effort to move beyond her. this was not his territory, nor was it just the open abyss. this was ozen’s land as it were, and despite their nature as equals, bondrewd would extend nothing but the utmost respect and patience when extending himself into her territory.  the last the man would need would to make an enemy of ozen - this body was far too valuable, what with sparagmos and morning star on his person to boot.