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Bog Boi Dion weathers a storm.
The morning was foggy. Very foggy. Hard to see. The sylvari yawned as he sat up and stretched. Could hardly see outside. Very foggy. His lower lip tutted out in a slight pout. Fog meant the bottom of his house- a mixture of soft leaves and mud- was much wetter than usual. He pushed the ferns at the top of his head just enough so they didn’t obscure his vision even more.
Outside. Step outside, almost sink into the mud. Very wet! He sniffed towards the air. Rain. The heavy scent, strong rain coming. Soon. His eyes narrowed, trying to count the claws and beaks of the creatures in the swamp. Many were hiding. Of course, yes. Rain coming.
He heard mud and leaves squishing. A blink. And turn, who? A warden? Stepping carefully through, smiling when he looks up. Oh?
“Hey!” The warden called, waving a hand. Barely visible in the fog. “There’s a storm coming, the captain wanted me to ask if you wanted to stay with us until it’s passed.”
Many words. But the sylvari tilted his head to the side, only slightly, with a smile. Then shook. The warden’s smile faltered, stepping closer.
“Look, I know you like isolation, but this is a really big storm. It could blow your house away.”
He shook his head again, smile dropping to a frown.
“I- Look at me!” Aggression. “Even the hylek are battening down and preparing for the possibility of their homes being gone. You won’t be safe out here!”
“No.” He turned away from the warden, picking up a few larger branches. If a storm was coming, he had to prepare. He could cover up holes and windows. He’d have to gather a store of food. Maybe plant some inside. “Will be… okay.”
“You-!” He heard the warden growl behind him, and the sucking sound of him trying to stomp back to the outpost.
A storm meant preparation. He could weather a storm. He did before. He would be fine.
--
The rain kept him up the first night. Lightning cracked so bright it turned the world to day for a second, followed by roaring thunder. A few smaller creatures trembled in his lap. Drops fell on his nose. They would be okay. The storm would pass.
It kept raining all day and night. It was hard to tell when the sun was up and when it was down. One day, two days. Hard rain. Second night, more drops fell through his roof. The creatures left his home, digging holes in the mud. He had to push it back to keep the rain out.
But, when the clouds cleared after on the afternoon of the third day, his home was still standing. He napped the last of the rain away, yawning as he rolled out of bed and outside to survey the swamp. Many creatures were visible, slinking away into their homes to sleep. And a few could even still be seen digging at the mud or catching fish by the water.
Many branches surrounded the area. He would clean up. But first, as he thought about it, his stomach growled. He needed food. Yes. Time to forage. Maybe ask wardens? No, forage. Find food.
Mushrooms bloomed after a storm, dozens sprouted up in just as many places. He could gather an armful and there would still be twice as many left. Yes, perfect. He could eat after missing out after the storm. In the distance, he caught sight of the wardens cleaning up. Oh yes. Cleaning.
Cleaning would come next. First, he ate. He found a rock to sit on, dry enough. Looking over the swamp, over his home. Hylek cleaned. Drakes settled in to sleep. Travelers wouldn’t cross for a while. Unless they had to. A deep breath, post-rain air. Lovely air.
“Hey!” He frowned, looked over his shoulder. The same warden.
“I uh… Sorry.” The warden came closer. He pulled his food closer, hiding it away on his lap. “Relax, I’m not taking your damn food! I mean, uh… Sorry. About… All that. Let us… Know if you need help cleaning. Or repairing.”
“...”
“Yeah, sure. Be silent. But the offer’s there… We’ll help if you need.”
“...” His eyes locked, watching as the warden sighed heavily and turned, waving a hand as he shook his head and started walking.
“Thank… you.”
A pulse of something from the warden, barely stopping to turn his head back.
blorbo bingo ask! dei and dion, if you'd like? :D @kerra-and-company
Ty for the ask!
Answered Dei's already but will always talk more about the purple. They actually did start as a joke character! I was trying to make a character that would make Rush Limbaugh roll in his grave (demi-boy, aro but bi, down for poly realtionships, effeminate at times). But then story happened and now they are a fixture. It's also largely thanks to Dei that I've found I'm v comfy with using they/them pronouns as well, so thank you Purple! I've also poured a lot of myself into them, at times I worry a bit too much. But they have my whole heart and I adore them.
My other wholesome Beeb! Dion's sound sensitivity is a bit telling but I would put him on the spectrum somewhere. Also his social anxiety and nervousness is a mood. I only say wrong genre because I write Angst™️ and refuse to write much of it for him. He's a good bean and doesn't need me being Edgelord2000 about it. Local bog cryptid actually big softy - more news at 9!
I like you // I love you // You’re one of my best friends // You’re like family // You are family // I dislike you // I hate you // I’d kill you if I got the chance // I want you to like me // I’m scared of you // I would adopt you // I’d date you // I’d sleep with you // I’d marry you // I’m worried about you // You confuse me // You’re annoying // I pity you // I respect you // I trust you // I feel protective of you // I’d invite you with me to parties // I’d lend you my money // I’d borrow your money // You’re good-looking // I’m suspicious of you // I’m hiding something from you // You’re fun // You’re boring // I’m upset with you // You’re nice // You’re mean // I’m envious of you // You’re smart // You’re stupid // I look up to you // I think you’re a better person than me // I think I’m a better person than you // I want to apologize to you // I wish I’d never met you // I never want to forget you // I want to get to know you better
Kerra would most definitely like Dion, and she'd do her best to give him as much space as he wanted, but if he ever wanted to hang out (in whatever form that would take for him), she'd love to! And a note--the protectiveness isn't because she thinks he isn't capable (though he's not a fighter, he's doing well living on his own), but just because she likes him and is therefore instinctively like "he's happy and everyone Better let him stay that way, please and thank you".
Fantastic melee fighter, specialized in dual daggers! Played a very high risk high reward style of combat, being a necromancer and light armor wearer but being in the front lines as melee.
🌍 — knowledge of the world
⭐⭐
He knows a good deal of the world from his time as Commander but maybe not as much as expected. Riag didn't have a wanderlust period like some saplings do and so while he's more learned than many - he's not as versed as say Ruby.
🌲 — surviving in the wilderness
⭐
Bless him, he's not an outdoors person. I mean he's not going to go tumbling off a mountain on day one but his survival skills are severely lacking.
😇 — following rules
⭐⭐
Oh that's a tricky one. Baby Riag was *shit* at following rules, then the Vigil happened and he had to start listening to others. Commander Riag was not the best at following but would hear out ideas and then decide whether or not they had any validity.
Dion:
🔪 — melee weapons
⭐
Bad bad bad - couldn't fight a gnat if he tried. Has a giant stick as a 'staff' but only uses it to poke animals to move without hurting them.
🌍 — knowledge of the world
⭐
He knows the Wychmire and that's about it, doesn't know what world events have been going on or what's outside of his swamp.
🌲 — surviving in the wilderness
⭐⭐⭐
Best of my kids for survival outside! You can plop him in any natural setting and he'd manage to survive and do quite well. He knows how to build his own shelters, how to get food and drink without disturbing the natural flow, and how to remain unseen.
😇 — following rules
⭐⭐
He's not really been exposed to many hard 'rules' to follow, so most of them are his own morals. But in this regard he does stick to his guns.
Ruby:
🔪 — melee weapons
⭐⭐
She's a good fighter but most of her power comes from her pets, she doesn't do great solo. She uses her greatsword the most along with her longbow!
🌍 — knowledge of the world
⭐⭐⭐
Very learned and seasoned! Had a long wandering spell and traveled a lot even before she became the Commander.
🌲 — surviving in the wilderness
⭐⭐
She can make it on her own outdoors for a good long while but does need to be around people, more for the psychological needs than the practical.
😇 — following rules
⭐
Somehow worse than Riag on this - Ruby adheres to the policy of combat as a last option. This doesn't endear her to many of the Pact that want War first and talk after. She'll disobey anyone and anything if it means trying to talk it out first.
1. What’s the maximum amount of time your character can sit still with nothing to do?
4-5 Hours. He's actually very good at being able to just sit and chill, since he's very sensitive to sounds and things he can stay fairly involved by just listening. And then plays sort of a mental game of naming whatever it is. A frog? Yes... but what type. Hm. Sounds like a (specific type). But their breeding season isn't for a few months, so they wouldn't be croaking. So it must be (different type)! and so on.
12. How do they deal with an itch found in a place they can’t quite reach?
He has two methods of trying to scratch an itch and both of them are a bit bizarre. The first one is more common, he'll find a large tree or stump and rub against it like a cat so he can get the exact spot. Think Baloo from the Jungle book animated movie, but no songs. Or - and this is rare - if it's really, really bothering him, he'll find someplace with nice loamy dirt and just bury himself in it. Cool fresh earth is delightful for relieving itches.
14. What animal do they fear most?
Dion's not really afraid of them he just doesn't like stink beetles. And beetles as a whole he's somewhat wary about. They get a side eye from him but he still will avoid squishing them. I think he'd probably be afraid of anything the Nightmare Court has managed to make out of animals. But not like one specifically?
F) What do you feel when you think of your OC (pride, excitement, frustration, etc)?
Anxiety - but only because he's full of it and I wouldn't want to make it worse by hanging out with him. Like I would love to hang out with him, we would get along bc we both be mild but he's even less socially equipped than i am.
From the tarot asks: 🔮 II - The High Priestess for Dion? :D
Ty for the ask :D
🔮 II - The High Priestess : Biding time, patience, placidity, intuition, inner vision, potential, that which is supernatural and obscured.
Dion is a good candidate for this one! Being sensitive to his environment and to things as a whole, he is able to sense things that others might not be able to. For instance, minor changes in weather that suggest rain is coming, or changes in the Wychmire that tell that something dark is afoot. A lot of it is relying on his intuition and gut feelings. He's also very patient and laid back about things as a whole!
He's also considered a myth/cryptid to some degree by locals. Because he hangs out in an area that most avoid, tends to dwell back in the fog and mist, and avoids contact. Given that his voice is strange and it's hard for him to talk people assume he's some form of entity/monster. See an eerie giant green glowing shape in the misty swamp that makes strange creaking and low growling like sounds? Enough cause to run away!
Meanwhile he's the most 👉👈 person they'd probably meet.
sneak attack ask for ya boi Dion! (feel free to not answer if you so choose)
How does he feel about people who are actually taller than him, like big ol' Norns? Does his size make him uncomfortable around non-sylvari?
Dion is uncomfortable around everyone even if he doesn't have to worry about accidentally hurting them! The Bogboi is a physical embodiment of social anxiety r i p
Around other Sylvari? Scary! Probably thinks they dislike him or are afraid of him.
Around Charr? Scary! Lots of loud machines and aggressive military nature.
Around Asura? Scary! Small and clever, he dimly knows they were mean to early Sylvari and the impression stays.
Around Norn? Scary! Big and loud! Very strong, can also be animals? Too much for him.
He stays in the Wychmire with almost 0 contact from others. Being big and ominous looking as well as having a hard time speaking (he can but it's very hard to understand and very croaky sounding). Most people wouldn't be comfortable and if *they* aren't it makes him even more on edge.
Short answer is: just as on edge and afraid of people his size and larger as he is his size and smaller!
9, 10, and 14 for Valens and Dion (bog) :3 - @moonlit-grove
Ty for the ask!
9. Do they have a word or phrase that they tend to overuse?
Valens: Hers is 'Yeah, yeah'. She doesn't even realize that she says it on the ends of things often or that it gives the impression of being dismissive. It's just a habit!
Dion (Bog Variety): He isn't much for talking or speaking when he doesn't have to. However, that being said he does use 'um' as a filler a lot when he isn't sure what else he is supposed to say. Dion is a Bogboi of few words.
10. What is a weird quality that they have (ie their hands are always cold, they’re always hungry, they snort when they laugh, etc)?
Valens: She's always stretching or cracking her knuckles. Valens is one bendy Charr and is lithe and lean, meaning she's too flexible for her own good. If they don't stretch or fidget in some way, they get antsy.
Dion: He gets the hiccups, a lot. Not so much as a reflex when he's nervous or anything - he just gets them. And they aren't the quiet, cute type either. They are LOUD and he's embarrassed by them.
14. What attributes do they have that are inherited from their parents or shared with their siblings/other relatives?
Valens: Most of her coloring came from her mother, who is a stunning solid black, panther looking Olmakhan Charr. The only thing she inherited from her dad was her peanut allergy.
Dion: BIGNESS. Many of the Mordrem guards, captains, and higher ranked individuals are BEEG and much of his bigness came from supposing to be one of their kind.
