#tex-blades

@tex-blades​ asked: "you look so beautiful right now, I can't even tell you"

                  If anyone had told her at the beginning of their journey, back when she’d thrown a bag his way and ran off disappearing into the crowd, or later on when he found her and formally introduced himself with an offer of traveling together, that this is where they’d end up, Jester wouldn’t have believed it. Or, perhaps, she would have, but her imagination would’ve taken her to a very different scenario. One with a castle and neatly decorated horses and the poofiest dress her mother could buy. Exuberance and opulence all around rather than the simple ship they’ve been traveling in all these years, or the soft delicate light pink silk dress and the sparkly translucent cape that matches her tattoo around her shoulders. It’s silly, she thinks now, that something like that could’ve ever been a dream of hers and not this.

"of course."

Fjord back to his usual green orcish self, instead of the intimidating human volstrucker he'd disguised himself as for the purposes of their mission.

The necklaces now in their possession and distributed amongst their group for attunement, it felt like a job well done. However Fjord purposely took time out to check in with Caleb.

"I would ask if you're okay, but I realise that's probably a ridiculous question." Throwing the traumatized head first into the source of their trauma, no one could possibly come out of that okay.

"I think you handled all of that with tremendous bravery.. I can't begin to imagine how horrific it must have been for you. You should be proud of how far you've come.."

Fjord tucks his necklace under his armour, choosing to focus on his friend first. They were safe enough for now.

"is there anything you need from me Caleb? Anything I can do to.. make this easier?"

IT   WOULD   HAVE   BEEN   SO   MUCH   EASIER   TO   LET   GO   IN   THE   SANATORIUM.         without   any   sort   of   restraint,   all   of   it   coming   from   fjord,   he   knows   what   he   would   have   done;      he   knows   what   he   plans   to   do   when   he   steps   into   that   place.      and   though   it’s   what   he   wants,   he   asks   for   fjord   for   a   reason,   and   fjord   delivers.  

he   looks   out   over   the   ocean   of   nicodranas,   knees   pulled   close   to   his   chest,   gripping   the   newly-attuned   amulet   tightly   in   one   hand,   the   other   combing   idly   through   the   sand.      he   swallows   down   a   sharp   lump   in   his   throat.            “      it   looked   exactly   the   same,      ”            he   says,   quiet   and   small,   with   little   to   no   inflection   in   his   voice.            “      exactly   .   .   .      the   same   .   .   .      ”

memories   from   that   time   and   the   times   before   are   foggy.      sometimes   they   flood   in   with   sharpest   clarity.      sometimes,   there   are   large   gaps   he   cannot   fill   if   he   tried.      but   that   hallway   below   vergessen   .   .   .      that   place   .   .   .      he   remembers   it   perfectly   well.      the   people   within   may   have   changed,   but   nothing   else.  

A softer smile comes over the tiefling’s features as she gazes out and over all the field below the cliff they stood upon; colorful flowers and rolling fields were all that the eyes could see. “You know...it might be boring to others, but it kinda makes me feel a leetle less small.” There is a bit of sadness in her eyes, though, her hands gripping the fabric of her dress as she closes her eyes, mustering her courage before turning her eyes back over to Fjord, a brighter smile replacing that which was previously upon her features.

“It’s like...I drop all that hurts down this hill and it splats on the ground below, never to be made whole again. Like that egg story where he falls off the wall.” A bout of giggles leaves her lungs before she bumps her shoulder with that of Fjord’s forearm; not quite tall enough to bump their shoulders together. Although times were hard, she knew that taking these moments for just the two of them, was better for the mind and soul. Besides, it also gave her the chance to do the small things, too. 

Fjord’s brow furrowed, the half orc giving Melody a curious look as he chewed the mouthful of whatever it was Caduceus had cooked up for them that evening for dinner. It was a quiet evening for the Nein and their companion, and he hoped it stayed that way. They were sat around the fire, eating, chatting and reflecting on the previous few days travel. Fjord, however, was a little confused by her statement, he hadn’t said much that evening, content just to listen to his friends. So what could she mean?

“What.. what are you talking about?” He asks her quietly, not wishing to draw attention to their conversation. “I don’t.. I mean.. I..” Usually Fjord was an accomplished liar, he could charm the birds from the trees when he wanted to. But sometimes, just sometimes, he’s caught off guard and he flounders. Except it’s usually a different tiefling who was responsible.

“I’m not.. I’m not sure I follow.”

Melody was grateful for the group to have accepted her along for a little while. Travelling alone, especially in her state, wasn’t advised; So there was a certain safety to be found in numbers, and the Mighty Nein were welcoming enough. 

She couldn’t help but take mental notes from seeing their interactions. They were a close-knit group, friends, even family. It reminded her fondly of her old group. However, one particular relationship stood out to her the most: Between Fjord and Jester. It was eerily - almost painfully - familiar.

She let the words sink in for a few seconds longer before she turned her head to look up at him. 

After many months of various odd jobs, Vorel finally felt financially comfortable enough to try and pay for passage to another continent. She’d had no luck here in finding her mother’s family, so it was time to branch out, even if it meant... getting on a boat. She had never sailed before, and she couldn’t swim either, so she was understandably rather nervous as she walked along the creaking docks.

Her clawed feet instinctively gripped into the wooden boards, her talons digging in as best they could with each step. Some people gave her odd looks, but she was rather used to those after all, dragonborn were a somewhat rare sight, especially chromatics like her. She looked around for anyone that seemed to be a captain or a ship worker but she wasn’t quite sure what she was looking for. While she scanned the area around her for anyone that jumped out appearance wise, she wasn’t paying attention to right in front of her and- thump! She ran into someone!

There was no way she just said what he thought she said. No way.

Although she was looking at him strangely, maybe because she didn’t know he was looking at her, only much sneakier.

Fjord turns back towards Jester, wondering if she would turn away when he did so.

“did you.. did you say something Jessie?’

@tex-blades

She doesn’t turn away,

“Yea, I said I love you. ... I mean, you know Beau and I say it to each other, and Nott, and my mom says it to me all the time; so why wouldn’t I say it to you? That’s what friends do right?”

   EYES BULGING, snarl VISIBLE on lips -- she balls up her hands into FISTS, then she RAISES it to point at the half-orc.

   “ME ?? LOSE ??” She BARKS, appalled. She jabs herself in the chest with a THUMB, shaking her head.