[ It doesn't take long for him to reach her cottage. They live close enough already, and Caster takes the liberty of shortcuts (that is jumping from tree, to tree, from roof to roof) to cross it even quicker.
He slips into the cottage, and the moment he spots red hair, he descends onto Yona to give her a welcome kiss on the forehead ]
[ She laughs when she feels his arms twine around her, leaning in against his chest. The brush of his lips against her brow is warm and she hums affectionately as she rests her hands against his shoulders. ]
Was I meant to make that more challenging for you? I wasn't aware.
Oh, that definitely sounds like a challenge. [ She laughs as she pulls her head back to grin up at him, then gives him a playful shove towards the kitchen table. ] I'll definitely keep that in mind for the future.
And not at the moment, have a seat. The water is just about done. [ Which is when the kettle whistles and she moves to fill the teapot. A fragrant - but lightly spiced - scent fills the air from the tea before she turns to carry the tray over to the table for them to share. There's two little cups and a plate of cookies for them to share while they talked.
Taking a seat, she starts to pour them both a cup of tea. ]
It sounded as if you had something serious to discuss. Is everything alright?
[ There's a pang of "oh damn" for bringing this kind of worry into the peaceful setting. But the best he can do, is explain himself so he after taking a first sip of the fragrant wonder, letting a small ahh ]
Yeah, all's fine. I just need you to know, that if you happen to meet a dragon that looks like he could be my twin, it's not me experimenting with transmutation.
[ That... was not a warning she'd been at all prepared for. Hand freezing in pouring the tea, her startled gaze flies to his face instead as she tries to make sense of that. ]
You... pardon?
[ Scratch that, she gives up on trying to make sense of that. Her head hurts already. ]
It's... an explanation we thought could work, but at the same time, not really.
[ Pretending, lying, and the like are just not in their nature. If someone runs with that assumption, then yeah, he can just not correct it until asked. Not giving out details is how they skirted around this particular issue for long.
But he can't keep his Bonded in the dark. His mistake for not realizing it sooner, and Soren had a shocking surprise on him ]
But we're not related in such a way. [ Doesn't mean there is no relation though, and he focuses on tea again, trying to get this right for once ] We're like different faces of the same coin. He is me, and I am him, but at the same time not.
[ There's always a question of how much to tell, how much to explain. ]
I don't want to confuse you, so I'll give you any explanation you need to clarify this.
He's you... but he isn't? Perhaps you should start with that bit.
[ Because this is now officially the strangest conversation she's had with Caster to date. And considering some of their past conversations, that was an achievement indeed. ]
Believe me, I'm trying to figure out how to... make the whole story concise. [ Oof ] Back in my world, I have been long gone for well, centuries. But I was remembered, and that's all that world needs, a good story.
[ Kind of avoiding the Dead word here, and also making a bit light of it. Seriously, it's not a big deal, and he just hopes it doesn't stress her out ]
That's enough to pop-up sometimes as a ghost, when needed. You could say I ended as— [ Sudden brilliance ] —a guardian spirit. My Master summoned many of us, people like me, to help with a big crisis—
[ He waves his hand, not dismissively but as to signal that it's a whole another story. A long one, personally important to him. One he doesn't mind telling, but still, one not necessarily needed for the issue at hand ]
Stories though, they change with time. Not to mention, no life is constantly the same. He has come from a twisted wish of our enemy, a path that I did not walk.
[ That is so very much to unpack right there, Cu. You're going to need to give her a moment here.
She takes a slow sip of her tea, more for something to keep her hands occupied as her mind races over what he'd just revealed. And oh, it had been reeling from the very first sentence.
He's... long gone. How long, she doesn't ask just yet, but the fact that legends and stories have sprung up in his wake is telling in itself. That there are stories spun of him she doesn't find surprising in the least - Caster has ever been a figure larger than life in the time she's known him - she doubts that would be different no matter the age. But the fact that he is gone in the first place is.... something that's proving harder to wrap her head - and her heart - around. She blinks quickly, eyes burning a little as she takes another sip of tea to hide her struggle for composure.
The guardian spirit, at least, is the easiest part of his explanation to understand. From the sound of it, it's not so different from her own dragon companions from home - if only sworn to a different cause and sense of duty. Suddenly all those similarities she couldn't help to have noticed seemed all the more poignant.
But that last point has her gaze narrowing for a long moment as she mulls that over. ]
He was you... or a version of you... who lived a different life. Is that what you're saying?
[ It's... always strange to spring that part of his existence on those close to him. It rarely comes up, if ever. But with his Bonded, he wants to come in a clear. But then that means moments like these— of shock, and surprise, and well... many more feelings.
He lives his life well, and despite how it ended... he does not regret. But some parts of being alive again here remain strange to understand and... disconnecting.
Cú lets her mull, process, and think. All the time she needs. And when the question comes ]
In the broadest of strokes— yes. Being more specific— he didn't choose this path himself. The woman who killed me did it.
[ He'd rather not ruminate about Medb, but the truth is after he saw Berserker, part of him started to regret not killing her. It's all a bundle of complicated nerves and ideas there. ]
A queen that waged war against my king. I rejected her, and she never forgave that offense. Someplace else... sometime else... she was brought back and given the power to make one of her wishes come true. So she made a "me" that would be her "king"
[ Yona just takes a moment to blink at him, even as she tried to come to terms with the ramifications of that. ]
My. [ She speaks after a moment, her tone a hint droll - if only to give her time to think on that complication. ] You do certainly leave an impression on people, don't you?
[ Momentarily he blinks, before he connects the dots— and then he sighs shaking his head ]
It's not like this. [ The rejection implies romantic one, he could have worded that better ] Medb operates on two extremes, people are supposed to either love her or hate her. I refused to kill her, but not because I fell for her. I was just tired— [ of all the war and death ] —and wanted her to leave and never come back.
[ He didn't hate her back then. He's not sure if he hates her now, as evident by the confused subdued discomfort whenever her names show up. However, he's pretty sure Berserker does hate her, so she succeeded in getting one or the other from him ]
[ Her head cocked to the side as she studies him. Studies those emotions she gets from their shared Bond. Reaching out, she brushes her fingers over the back of his hand, the touch light but understanding. ]
I can imagine apathy would have been a grave insult indeed. It's far colder than either love or hate. An emptiness there's no way of filling. So she sought her revenge by bringing a part of you back. To alter what she could not accept.
He never looked at it this way. He never truly considered why it was considered an offense, he just lived on, as long as he could, fighting off her attempts at revenge.
So in this weird moment of clarity, everything falls together. Not just regarding his long ended life, but his life here, and connection to the man he was just trying to give a brief description of. It's upsetting, distressing even, this sudden realization that this apathy Berserker always displayed is something not specific to his altered form. It has always been there. After Ferdiad's death, Laeg scolded him for mourning publicly their enemy, so he learned the lesson and had no tears to spare after killing his own son.
Berserker might have resented him for having the positive emotions he thought he no longer had. But Caster... for all this time, looked at him and suppressed the question "am I going to end like this one day?" If he lived longer, would he end like this? Is this why the very idea of living again is so pointless to him?
——it's all a goddamn mess in his head right now, and it is also not a burden any of his Bonded should be made aware of. He cannot put that on them. So with a deep breath, he makes use of that apathy. Smoothing out the waves of the sudden emotions rushing through him. Dampening them from storm to a cold breeze. ]
You speak the truth. [ One that he never looked that closely on ]
[ Acting normal isn't something that he can just do, since being an actor isn't really his strong suit. So it all comes serious rather than casual. And distant ]
That man is not my enemy. We're allies now, but accidental comparisons or mistakes can happen and they don't always go well. I never intended to keep it away from you, I just couldn't figure out a good moment to bring it up.
[ I'm not that different than him is at the end of his tongue, but he doesn't allow it to be spoken. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2020-12-14 11:01 pm (UTC)He slips into the cottage, and the moment he spots red hair, he descends onto Yona to give her a welcome kiss on the forehead ]
Got you.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-14 11:12 pm (UTC)Was I meant to make that more challenging for you? I wasn't aware.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-15 02:41 pm (UTC)I'll overcome anything you throw at me— [ That's just his thing ] Need help with anything?
[ He's not a barbarian, he can make the table... ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-26 12:04 pm (UTC)And not at the moment, have a seat. The water is just about done. [ Which is when the kettle whistles and she moves to fill the teapot. A fragrant - but lightly spiced - scent fills the air from the tea before she turns to carry the tray over to the table for them to share. There's two little cups and a plate of cookies for them to share while they talked.
Taking a seat, she starts to pour them both a cup of tea. ]
It sounded as if you had something serious to discuss. Is everything alright?
no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 06:47 pm (UTC)Yeah, all's fine. I just need you to know, that if you happen to meet a dragon that looks like he could be my twin, it's not me experimenting with transmutation.
[ A bit of joke to lighten the atmosphere ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 10:11 pm (UTC)You... pardon?
[ Scratch that, she gives up on trying to make sense of that. Her head hurts already. ]
You have a twin?
no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 11:08 pm (UTC)[ Pretending, lying, and the like are just not in their nature. If someone runs with that assumption, then yeah, he can just not correct it until asked. Not giving out details is how they skirted around this particular issue for long.
But he can't keep his Bonded in the dark. His mistake for not realizing it sooner, and Soren had a shocking surprise on him ]
But we're not related in such a way. [ Doesn't mean there is no relation though, and he focuses on tea again, trying to get this right for once ] We're like different faces of the same coin. He is me, and I am him, but at the same time not.
[ There's always a question of how much to tell, how much to explain. ]
I don't want to confuse you, so I'll give you any explanation you need to clarify this.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-28 01:15 am (UTC)[ Because this is now officially the strangest conversation she's had with Caster to date. And considering some of their past conversations, that was an achievement indeed. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-28 01:54 am (UTC)Believe me, I'm trying to figure out how to... make the whole story concise. [ Oof ] Back in my world, I have been long gone for well, centuries. But I was remembered, and that's all that world needs, a good story.
[ Kind of avoiding the Dead word here, and also making a bit light of it. Seriously, it's not a big deal, and he just hopes it doesn't stress her out ]
That's enough to pop-up sometimes as a ghost, when needed. You could say I ended as— [ Sudden brilliance ] —a guardian spirit. My Master summoned many of us, people like me, to help with a big crisis—
[ He waves his hand, not dismissively but as to signal that it's a whole another story. A long one, personally important to him. One he doesn't mind telling, but still, one not necessarily needed for the issue at hand ]
Stories though, they change with time. Not to mention, no life is constantly the same. He has come from a twisted wish of our enemy, a path that I did not walk.
[ Hence the coin comparision ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-28 02:07 am (UTC)She takes a slow sip of her tea, more for something to keep her hands occupied as her mind races over what he'd just revealed. And oh, it had been reeling from the very first sentence.
He's... long gone. How long, she doesn't ask just yet, but the fact that legends and stories have sprung up in his wake is telling in itself. That there are stories spun of him she doesn't find surprising in the least - Caster has ever been a figure larger than life in the time she's known him - she doubts that would be different no matter the age. But the fact that he is gone in the first place is.... something that's proving harder to wrap her head - and her heart - around. She blinks quickly, eyes burning a little as she takes another sip of tea to hide her struggle for composure.
The guardian spirit, at least, is the easiest part of his explanation to understand. From the sound of it, it's not so different from her own dragon companions from home - if only sworn to a different cause and sense of duty. Suddenly all those similarities she couldn't help to have noticed seemed all the more poignant.
But that last point has her gaze narrowing for a long moment as she mulls that over. ]
He was you... or a version of you... who lived a different life. Is that what you're saying?
no subject
Date: 2020-12-29 07:05 pm (UTC)He lives his life well, and despite how it ended... he does not regret. But some parts of being alive again here remain strange to understand and... disconnecting.
Cú lets her mull, process, and think. All the time she needs. And when the question comes ]
In the broadest of strokes— yes. Being more specific— he didn't choose this path himself. The woman who killed me did it.
[ He'd rather not ruminate about Medb, but the truth is after he saw Berserker, part of him started to regret not killing her. It's all a bundle of complicated nerves and ideas there. ]
A queen that waged war against my king. I rejected her, and she never forgave that offense. Someplace else... sometime else... she was brought back and given the power to make one of her wishes come true. So she made a "me" that would be her "king"
[ This all sounds like a fairy tale ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-07 10:03 am (UTC)My. [ She speaks after a moment, her tone a hint droll - if only to give her time to think on that complication. ] You do certainly leave an impression on people, don't you?
no subject
Date: 2021-01-07 10:15 am (UTC)It's not like this. [ The rejection implies romantic one, he could have worded that better ] Medb operates on two extremes, people are supposed to either love her or hate her. I refused to kill her, but not because I fell for her. I was just tired— [ of all the war and death ] —and wanted her to leave and never come back.
[ He didn't hate her back then. He's not sure if he hates her now, as evident by the confused subdued discomfort whenever her names show up. However, he's pretty sure Berserker does hate her, so she succeeded in getting one or the other from him ]
That was the rejection she couldn't accept
no subject
Date: 2021-01-07 10:28 am (UTC)I can imagine apathy would have been a grave insult indeed. It's far colder than either love or hate. An emptiness there's no way of filling. So she sought her revenge by bringing a part of you back. To alter what she could not accept.
1/2
Date: 2021-01-07 11:36 am (UTC)He never looked at it this way. He never truly considered why it was considered an offense, he just lived on, as long as he could, fighting off her attempts at revenge.
So in this weird moment of clarity, everything falls together. Not just regarding his long ended life, but his life here, and connection to the man he was just trying to give a brief description of. It's upsetting, distressing even, this sudden realization that this apathy Berserker always displayed is something not specific to his altered form. It has always been there. After Ferdiad's death, Laeg scolded him for mourning publicly their enemy, so he learned the lesson and had no tears to spare after killing his own son.
Berserker might have resented him for having the positive emotions he thought he no longer had. But Caster... for all this time, looked at him and suppressed the question "am I going to end like this one day?" If he lived longer, would he end like this? Is this why the very idea of living again is so pointless to him?
——it's all a goddamn mess in his head right now, and it is also not a burden any of his Bonded should be made aware of. He cannot put that on them. So with a deep breath, he makes use of that apathy. Smoothing out the waves of the sudden emotions rushing through him. Dampening them from storm to a cold breeze. ]
You speak the truth. [ One that he never looked that closely on ]
2/2
Date: 2021-01-07 12:05 pm (UTC)That man is not my enemy. We're allies now, but accidental comparisons or mistakes can happen and they don't always go well. I never intended to keep it away from you, I just couldn't figure out a good moment to bring it up.
[ I'm not that different than him is at the end of his tongue, but he doesn't allow it to be spoken. ]