“If anyone knows how to pull off the manticore blood and gore look it is you.” He chuckled. It wasn’t exactly the way Davios was accustomed to meeting new people. But it clearly left an impression. Enough to cause him to travel this far just see Maddox. Even if traveling was as easy as opening a door and stepping through for the mage. He took a moment to really take in the clothed and groomed version of Maddox. Still as alluring for Davios even with the clothes on. It was his straightforwardness that really caught the mage’s attention. Always drawn to those that could pull him from the shell he was so comfortable in. “And what makes you think I have interest for finer lads? I am insulted you believe me so shallow.” He smirked as he finished the rest of his bowl and put it to the side. “Just for the record I know a few witchers but I have never been with any of them. Now the fact that you can slay beasts is amazing but it has nothing to do with me wanting to be in your bed. I guess I just have a thing for guys that look like you but act like a complete gentleman. It is…intriguing to say the least.” Maddox gave him a bed to sleep in, didn’t violate the fact Davios was naked in his room and even kissed his hand (even if it might’ve been in jest) before leaving. Why wouldn’t Davios be at least smitten on some level?

maddox knew this mage was going to be trouble, just like every other pretty mage that had entered his life and left him a husk of a man sometimes. the witcher sat down, just a leg’s width from the mage on the same couch. he had one arm draped over the back, posture relaxed so they could face each other and have a more intimate conversation. “because ye look like ye deserve a finer lad,” the witcher said honestly. as far as he knew, a learned mage that advised the king really had no business fraternizing with a lone witcher. “ah don’t blame ye. swooned many a lads back in the day,” maddox laughed. “could now, maybe.” he really had no interest in going back to society again but he’d always entertained the idea of having a family or a lover to dedicate himself to sometimes. “all ah know is that once ye have a witcher, any other lad won’t do it,” maddox barked out a hearty chuckle as he downed some whiskey by the neck of the bottle. 

“The signs? Oh, no, I saw them,” he replied quite casually. “They were quite clear. But I suspect they were put there by the individual I am trying to locate,” he explained. “He is supposedly very reclusive and tends not to interact well with strange folk. Or so I’ve been told. I suspect it is just a ploy to scare off unwanted visitors,” he added before looking at the man with excitement. “Though he is no ordinary man. He is a Witcher." 

He raised his brows in excitement and grinned at his new companion who would surely find such information both impressive and thrilling. “But I must not reveal any more,” he added with a flick of his groomed locks. “I appreciate you must be very interested to know more, kind Sir, but I shan’t say another word.” He was on a mission, after all. Even the scholarly kind deserved some sense of honor. 

As they waded through the swamp together, Mephisto’s grip on the man’s arm tightened as the mud got thicker. Perhaps the signs weren’t entirely wrong… "Forgive me!” He exclaimed once he realized his error in judgment, flicking his muddy coat out of the way so he could awkwardly shake the man’s balled fist which he had held out to support him. “I am not without manners, I promise you.” He hesitated as he thought the best way to greet the man further and almost went in for a peck on his cheek before his body told him not to–all awkward movements. “My name is Mephistopheles Flint. As you must already suspect, I am on a scholarly mission to track this infamous man down in the hopes he will grant me the pleasure to write about him. But like I said, it’s all very covert I’m afraid,” he lied. Mephisto enjoyed thinking he was on some great journey of science – and the man was just a humble stranger. He need not know the truth of the journey’s origin. Flicking his hair again to face the direction they were going in, Mephisto continued through the muddy swamp aided by the rugged stranger.

maddox lifted a brow as the noble went on to say that he was in search of a reclusive man in the forest, like he was hunting for some mythological creature. many a curious traveler had wandered into his territory to find him before though not all were fortunate to have the witcher escort them himself. “well, count yer lucky stars ah was here, ye bloody eejit,” the witcher scolded. “sign’s there fer a fookin’ reason, right?” 

“Cursed place,” he swore as tried to pull his foot from the thick mud which had claimed his left boot. Fed up with the task, he yanked so hard that his foot slipped out his boot and he fell backward into the mud. “Curse this ungodly forest!” He shouted out to himself, birds fluttering from the trees as he did. Picking himself up from the mud, he waded through the swamp and saw a man in the distance. “Uh, dear sir! Sir!” He called out to the shadowy figure peering behind the trees. “Would you mind helping me cross this wretched swamp? It has already claimed my boot; I’m afraid I will be next,” he joked, hoping the stranger would be kind enough to offer him some aid.

@ofdox​.      /     closed.

“Hearing you were well, having the letters read to me, was one thing.” A man could lie in a letter, as to not cause concern, or discourage further aid. “To feel that you’re well, to have you standing beside me, is a great relief.” that new roughness had even made it to Maddox’s lips, as they brushed against his knuckles.

Though his attention was centered on Maddox, his face was angled towards the floor, as to better hear the man’s rasp and rumble. “You’ve had duties to carry out, as both a man and a witcher.” Even with his height, he felt dwarfed by the sheer mass Maddox possessed, when the man pulled him in. “I am as well as one can be, and shockingly better off than many.” Who knew a man such as he would escape the attack unscathed? “I’ve Lord Marchant to thank for that.”

Mercury felt permission implied by the contact, and reached up to press his palm against Maddox’s cheek, his thumb tracing under the man’s eye. “And how have you fared, with these years of service?”

“well, ah’m all kinds o’ fucked up,” the witcher belched out a laugh as his dear friend mapped out his face. he was scruffier than before, and his cheek bore a deep scar that hadn’t healed over right. that was just one of many others that mercury couldn’t feel at the moment, though, but his changed visage was certainly a cause for alarm, or at the very least some concern.

“Yes. I do hear that a lot.” A faint smile gracing his lips at hearing the common trait of mages and their mental state. Davios has seen it at both ends, how common madness could find those that could bend the very laws of nature. It could be any mages downfall allowing themselves to fall under the intoxication of their magic and lose all sense. What could you expect of men gifted with the power of the gods? Hopefully Davios never found himself in such a group. Once he noticed his little friend had fallen to sleep in his arms he rose to rest the griffin into what appeared to be a nesting bed set up for him. Glad the poor dear didn’t wake as he moved. Freeing his hands just in time to take hold of the stew that smelled divine. Even if it appeared questionable. “Thank you.” Taking seat again he rested his legs folded as he scooped up the first few bites. “But please. Do not go into any trouble over it. I can make due with what I know thus far.” As he was in mid bite he felt himself forget how to swallow when Maddox once again called him out. No longer did he feel the need to be coy. If they were going to establish some sort of friendship honesty was always important, no? “Maybe I have found myself longing for the warm bed of a witcher to rest my heavy head. I slept so well in the last one you left me.” Attention to host instead of his bowl. “Though I have to saw I am disappointed to find that you do not always walk around rooms as bare as the day you were born. Pity really.”

The tease was enough to goad a chuckle from Zahir’s lips as he pressed his form against the sturdy make of a wooden pillar as that swell of air led into a more comfortable huff. Now that would be a fair assumption, would it be? Nothing says a good breather than being so far away from court that he found himself in a witcher’s hovel. With a griffin cub that had now taken to itself to ease away into the scene with its own food in tow ——— at least it wasn’t squeaking in pain. As for him, there was promise of mince and potatoes—once more, a scoff. For someone being a common face in a brothel, Master Mckay surely does have a certain coziness about him that was certainly worth of interest ——— and even more since he seemed to like his solitude.

“Meal for me from you?” Zahir teased then. “—and to think men and women was vying more than just a rough night of drunken plowing with you, yet here I am…” he hummed on, eyes darting towards the window as the pelting grew louder and heavier. Expected from air that thick and a sky that gray. Though with another squeak, that warranted another nod from Zahir as hi grin grew bigger. “ ——— though I’d assume your little runt here already had the best cuts.”

“ah, no need t’ go an’ hurts its feelins,” maddox chortled as a heavy hand came down to stroke back the baby griffin’s head. it seemed too preoccupied with stuffing its beak to pay the heavy-handed pats any heed, so maddox went on to rearrange its broken wing and fashion a tighter splint around it. he then fetched his guest a bowl of the mince and tatties, seasoned to perfection with the variety of spices that casther had to offer. “you or ah won’t do much plowin’ on an empty stomach,” maddox chuckled as he began eating, never one to miss out on a meal or eat like it wasn’t his last. he slurped up a chunk of meat and a cut of fat, waving his wooden spoon at the nobleman. “ah got ye a good piece o’ manticore ass in there,” he burst out laughing, no trace of the tough witcher left in his bright smile. 

To a point Davios had to understand where Maddox was coming from. It was not too far off from how he did not feel he needed to tell Maddox just what the notes were needed for. But in his view keeping it to himself was not too unfair. Given he did not plan on using anything he learned against Casther as much as for the protection of Valtolia.But how was Maddox to know that? Was this something he would need to get used to? When friends from different kingdoms may not be able to share information so freely with one another? It concerned him that this could happen for him or any of his friends from Sollia or Medes at some point. With a nod he almost felt his partial reasons for being here was not a good call. “I have to respect your position, Maddox. I had hoped that I would not be labeled ‘one of those bastards’ so easily. But we are still relatively new to one another.” He took a moment to put his thoughts in order and he did not feel any offense by Maddox’s hesitation to share. “Maddox…I am sorry that I have put you in a bad position. I would rather we not go further into this topic. I may have overstepped by coming to your for help for my kingdom. And for that I am sorry. I would rather take my request off the table. It is probably best that we remain here building a friendship outside of our kingdoms. And hope that we are never put at ends with our positions in respect of the other.”

It was disappointing to hear. A long shot hope that missed its mark it seemed. No bother. If he was unable to get any help from Maddox than Davios would just have to use what information he could gather from the library and let it be that. Sulvan was still an option but he would not hassle the witcher of Valtolia unless there were no other options. Still the trip was not a complete loss even if Maddox had no notes to share. What did throw the mage off was his host’s declaration that Davios was not being straight with him. Honestly no clue as to what exactly could be the cause for his statement, clear in the confusion etched into the mage’s face. “I am sorry you are going to have be a little more specific as to what you mean.  Maybe use a few more words than that do not require small children to exit the room.” There was charm in Maddox’s brutish ways but he was making no sense at all. All Davios did was ask for the notes he had. Where was the bullshit there? “If I said something to offend please enlighten me.”

Little did Mercury know he was being stalked like so much prey. Even with the other’s supernatural senses, he’d managed to remain mostly hidden, freezing once footsteps came on approach. If Inferum was to take him this day, then so be it – but no such fate was at hand.

The air around the man was heavy with alcohol, firewood smoke and the outdoors. And yet, notes of the voice were familiar, even through the accent slathered thickly over each word. The lord blinked with surprise, before slowly forming a grin. “At least I can still surprise you, Sir Mackay.” He only waited a few seconds before reaching forward, his fingers brushing the man’s coat, following it to the side to grip Maddox’s arm. “Nobody calls me ‘Cury anymore.”

At the mention of Sulvan, Mercury visibly softened. “Of everywhere Sulvan could go, I’m glad he chose to come here. He’s resting at the moment, after some tea I had made for him.” The tall lord pulled in a slow breath, his chest pushing the coat out as the man’s aura hit him again. “Now, tell me of you, Maddox. It’s been so long since the letters you sent for aid. I’d shipped off what I could slip past the house ledgers, but never knew if it arrived…”

maddox rested a hand on the one on his arm, squeezing it in his hand and pressing a gentle kiss to the knuckles. “aye, ye’ve helped me more than most,” the witcher said, clasping his other hand underneath mercury’s hand. “ye’ve kept me alive.” if it hadn’t been for the parcels of money and food mercury had been sneaking to him over the borders, maddox would have surely turned to a life of crime, or even starved to death. that aide had provided him with enough food and lodging for a few weeks until the castherian royals had taken him in.

Designed to keep attackers at bay, yes – but often times, it’s friends and allies that end up lost in the twists and turns of Mulciber Labyrinth. Many liked to say the castle changed at will, as wily as the winds, but it was as mundane and magic-less as it was mystifying. Perhaps living without sight was even an advantage within the walls, knowing a path by heart without all the options to either side to distract him.

The quarters where Sulvan was housed – Mercury’s own, to be honest – were deep enough towards the heart of the maze to leave anyone guessing to his location. The Lord Mulciber was making the walk from a resting witcher to the village proper, his people housed within his walls with enough space to live and grow, when he heard the grumblings of a man almost not of this world. Mercury paused, head angling towards the hall he’d heard the voice bouncing from. Breaths were slow, as to hinder his detection. He move closer carefully, slowly, keeping pressed to walls and corners.

finally, maddox detected a warmth that was not his own, drawing closer to where he was now. in his sight, a thin ribbon of red led him towards it like a blood trail, and while it was more helpful than wandering in the dark, he knew to exercise caution. he wouldn’t put it behind mercury to set traps in such an elaborate maze, just to keep out unwanted visitors. the witcher followed the trail, though, and eventually turned around the corner to come face-to-face with his old friend. he drew back first with a wheeze of surprise. “god fookin’ damn it, cury, ye nearly scaret the shite out o’ me!” he barked.

though, once he regained his nerves, the witcher stood for a contemplative moment in front of his friend, a piece of bergia he’d never truly forgotten. he could see how cury had aged, as two decades with nearly three-quarters of it being wartime hadn’t been forgiving on any soul. “it’s me, ‘dox. ah came t’ bring that bastart sulvan’s sword, an’ ta see ye.”