“I do not exactly make myself easy to find, at least when I travel… Summoner.” As if it was the equivalent of a knowing touch nose, the Bladesman tapped a finger to the side of his goggles, “You are a Summoner, yes? Or at least… Well, I do not know what they call themselves now, and I suppose Summoner auras are not the only thing I see. It is quite hard for my eyes to digest you, as it were.”
He shrugged before setting his gaze forward and away from the other man, “You are certainly one of the first stumble upon me like this and know my title, though I suppose you were actively seeking me… 我能帮你吗? How you say,can I help you?”
The older swordsman’s words were...well, Renzus wouldn’t exactly have called them perplexing, but they were certainly curious. The Crow guessed that Master Yi’s goggles enabled him to see a great deal more than mundane eyes, although it was at least a quiet relief that were not able to identify the horror that Renzus’ soul kept contained within.
Either that, or they could, but Yi simply did not know what it was. It was an entirely possible theory.
“Quite perceptive, Master Yi. There are quite a few former Summoners roaming Valoran...a fair few of us call ourselves Crows, now.” Renzus smiled slightly, the expression hidden beneath the shroud cast by his cowl. Not that Yi would have seen it anyway, turned away from Renzus as he was. Would the Wuju warrior have known of the Crows that watched silently and vigilantly over Valoran? There was always a chance, no matter how slim, even out here in the Ironspike mountains, where the Crows did not overtly exert their influence.
“In time, perhaps, I may have questions that need answers from perspectives that are not my own.” The First Crow maintained his distance, his voice chasing after the older man from behind. “For now, I am content to simply have found you. A great many Champions went their separate ways when the League...fell. Considering there were quite a few unkept promises that were owed to each of them, I felt it prudent to try my best to keep track of those who once carried the title.”
“If I’m not mistaken, however, your departure from my former home was fairly amicable, despite the circumstances. Do correct me if I am wrong.”
Send my muse a scent and see how they’ll react to it.
It takes a tired mind a few moments to fully notice the warm smell in the air, and by then her brows turn ever so slightly in different directions in both comfort and confusion. There was just something so intoxicating about the smell of hot, baking bread. Or the sweet smells of cakes rising. Or the crispy sort of bitter-sweet scent of chocolate cookies.
For a woman bound to silence, her stomach was able to roar very loudly. It had been awhile since she’d eaten anything substantial, and sweets were her weakness no matter how depressed she may have been.
But who was cooking in her kitchen? Did someone turn on her oven? These thoughts worried her. Perhaps Yi was cooking her something to eat?
themasterofwuiu replied to your post:ladybuvelle replied to your post:Ionia: the...
“I love artifacts and armaments. I really, really do. In my hometown of the Kashuld Province in Ionia, there is no greater pride than our knowledge, love, and craft for artifacts.” ~Reira Kashuld: Journal of Justice Reporter from back in le day
it appears I’ve been outdone by one line in the JoJ
mmm and it doesn’t explicitly say that the Kashuri armories are in the province of Zhyun either but ehhh my inner petty person would just combine them to make things easier for me
Tobias’ hand props up his chin as the crooked smile turns over his face. His eyelids lower to give him a coy, savvy look, and in the low candlelight of the near-empty pub he looks downright seductive.
“Nothin’ much.” He jokes, gently kicking Graves’ foot under the table. “Just some damn bilge rat sucking down pint after pint.”
Graves rolls his eyes and knocks back yet another cup of whiskey, much to Tobias’ amusement. Even in the dim lighting he can see Graves’ cheeks growing rosy and ruddy from the booze. Not that he’s much better – he’s had a few drinks himself, which are allowing him to act so openly.
His foot taps Graves’ again, earning him an unhappy grunt from his companion.
“Can you not?”
“Can I not what?”
“Play fuckin’ footsie with me right now.” Graves growls.
Tobias snickers, and he relaxes his body back into his stiff wooden chair. Everything about the bar was flimsy – the alcohol was all old and dusty so everything you drank felt distilled and old, the tables wobbled every which way, the chairs felt as though they would either break your back or break themselves and it was only a matter of time to see which came first. But it felt romantic all the same, and bless Tobias’ little heart, it (along with the alcohol) was starting to affect him. He felt warm, tingly, fluttery, all the things he’d been feeling around Graves for months now but amplified by the settings.
Past all of his rough edges and all his vices and irritating quirks, somewhere along the way Tobias Foxtrot had fallen in love, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. He doesn’t bother trying to hide his smitten grin as Graves finally puts down his keg and stares at him, bushy eyebrows pulled forward in confusion – probably struggling to focus.
“Wha’ssup wi’ you?” He asks, slurring now significantly worse.
“Just admiring.” Tobias hums. He takes a sip of his own whiskey, not caring how stale or tasteless it all seems to be.
“Well, stop. ‘S throwin’ me off.” Graves says, tapping the table to ask for another drink. Tobias rolls his eyes.
“How is it throwing you off?”
That catches him by surprise, as though he didn’t expect Tobias to be able to hear it.
“…Nothin’.”
“Nothing?” “Nothing, Tobias.”
Tobias can’t help but laugh again, and this time it doesn’t stay quiet, the snickering turns to bubbling giggles, and before he knows it he’s having a fit, curled over the table with a hand trying to stifle it all.
“Gods, what the fuck isso funny?” Graves asks, and through his haze Tobias thinks he sounds flustered.
“It’s just–” He stops to catch his breath and wipes his eyes. The laughing dies but the tittering giggles occasional come forth again. “You’re unreal.”
“Me?” “Yeah, you.” “I’m the unreal one.” “That’s what I said, yes.”
“Fat load, comin’ from you.” Graves is poured another drink by the barmaid and he immediately clings to it like a lifeline.
“What do you mean?” And the laugh still punctuates his sentence, and it makes Graves fidget.
“Jus’… look’it you.” He gestures vaguely in Tobias’ direction. “You’re– you’re…”
Tobias isn’t laughing anymore, as the anxious thrumming in his heart has stopped all sources of breathing. He leans forward intently, expression curious but soft.
“I’m…?”
“Y’know,” Another vague gesture. “… Like a dream.”
Tobias blinks, lost. Graves sighs and rubs his face before trying again.
“You’re like– not a real person. Untouch’ble. Like someone inna dream. It’s– it’s weird, I’unno how t’explain it, but you’re… shit, what’s th’ word?” He’s clearly struggling and Tobias is trying very hard to not find it endearing and adorable. “Y’know, like… inhuman, but in a good way.”
Tobias couldn’t think of the word either, but for reasons other than alcohol. He stands from his seat, sways a little. He steadies against the table, braced by one hand as the other finds Graves’ collar and pulls him up. A brave act of affection for him, if he’s honest, but it’s slow enough for Graves to pull away if he doesn’t want it. But he doesn’t. Their hazy eyes find each other’s, smokey cobalt meeting stormy turquoise. Graves’ hand cups the back of Tobias’ neck and pulls him down, almost unbalancing him off the table. The small gasp at the tilt is cut off by lips meeting, and it’s like Graves lit a fire in Tobias. The way the table is shaped means his legs are straining to keep balance, especially with how Graves is pulling down on him like this, but he couldn’t care less. They break apart, and both look completely dazed by it. Tobias slowly inches back into his chair, his calves aching with relief, and Graves pulls away. Their hands fall away from each other and brush fingertips as they recline, significantly redder than before.
“…I think I remember the word.” Graves says, trying to change the subject.
Love me or leave me, make your choice but believe me
I love you! I do, I do, I do, I do, I do~
I can't conceal it - don't you see, can't you feel it?
Don't you too? I do, I do, I do, I do, I do~
---
Oh, I've been dreaming through my lonely past
Now I just made it, I've found you at last!
---
So come on now, let's try it - I love you, can't deny it
'Cos it's true! I do, I do, I do, I do, I do~
