CLOSED | the perfect stormrider.

[poleaxed]

WHO: Erik Stephens, Gabranth, Diana, Benedict, Edgard, Tiffany, Dick & Jone.
WHAT: The Gang Fights A Dragon.
WHEN: Cloudreach.
WHERE: The Thenuviet estate on the Exalted Planes.
NOTES: if something looks wonky or is misspelled, please know I’m typing this on mobile & have mercy.

GETTING THERE isn’t a short journey, and they’re hardly traveling in comfort. Most of the horses are carrying equipment, armor, weaponry, and anything else those volunteered for this expedition thought to include. And there’s camping equiptment. Anyone who said the travel overland involved staying at inns was lying. Inns are notoriously stuffed with murderers, anyway.

Every night, there’s a campfire and food. Sometimes it’s fresh caught, but if it is, Jone certainly didn’t catch it. Just as likely that it’s rations, salt pork and jerky and whatever dried fruits and nuts Riftwatch can spare.

There’s a STOP AT A BATHHOUSE in the town near the Thenuviet estate, however. It’s stupid, they’re just going to dirty themselves up later, but presentation is important to these people.

Surely all of you brought fancy dress and masks, because IT’S TIME TO SCHMOOZE. There’s a small party of Orlesians dressed to their finest, having a cozy little soirée on the edge of a cliff. Literally on the edge. Don’t indulge too much in the fine wines and cheeses, because there’s a dragon waiting, but for now? It’s never a bad idea to look good in front of rich people of influence. At least, not these days.

Eventually, it’s time to move forward, which means PREPARING FOR BATTLE. Climbing down the cliff is easy stuff, if you’re good with rope or have basic upper body strength. But now is probably the time to set up any traps, get in good positions... because it’s not long before the party on the cliff above begins to cheer.

...Because a few dead swine are unceremoniously kicked off the cliff to fall into the ravine now filled with you and yours.

The cheers from the cliff face only increase as loud thrashing, howling sounds start and become increasingly closer. How long have they been feeding the dragon like this?

But then it’s DRAGON KILLING TIME. You probably know how that goes. Stormriders are huge, dark scaled, and shoot thunder instead of fire. This one is angry you’ve interrupted lunch time.

AFTERWARD, it’s time to heal, take a breath, poke around the dragon bits for fancy heirlooms, and climb back up that cliff.

Comments

[altusimperius]

Though Benedict flinches, it's more from surprise than anything like pain.

"...thanks."

He glances at Edgard out of the corner of his eye, offering the faintest of smiles. It's difficult, going through this with each of them, but he can't be too certain.

"You too."

[muckspout]

Edgard grimaces and then does a weighing motion with his hands.

"Done better. Didn't fuck anything up this time."

He notes Benedict's smile and it gets to him a little. Oh all right.

"Except maybe most of what I have said to you the past few days?"

Edgard quickly breaks eye contact and kicks the ground.

[altusimperius]

Twisting his mouth to one side, Benedict looks down at the ground. It would seem Edgard is not solely to blame for the tension between them, so Bene shakes his head, perhaps in an attempt to rid him of the notion.

"It was only after what I said to you."

[muckspout]

Edgard shrugs. His anger seems so silly and so much less sharp at Benedict's remorse.

"Don't remember what you said. Mostly remember what you didn't."

If Benedict can do it, so can he.

"I am sorry I said you don't do anything. That was--not really about you. Also, 'm wrong about that," He makes a sweeping gesture to indicate the past few days. "obviously."

[altusimperius]

The corner of Bene's mouth twitches upward and he gives a little shrug. Obviously or not, it's nice to be acknowledged.

"Thanks for... I dunno." He rubs the back of his neck. "...looking out for me."

[muckspout]

Edgard cocks his head at that.

"Didn't think that I did."

He's genuine, not trying to be humble. He scrunches his face in thought.

"Didn't do anything on this mission to help you in particular."

[altusimperius]

"I just mean. In general." He squares his shoulders uneasily.

"I know you're trying to."

[muckspout]

Edgard sighs a little and then meets Benedict's eyes.

"You really aren't used that, are you?"

It's both a question and a statement. It's a sudden understanding that surprises Edgard.

[altusimperius]

Benedict meets his gaze sheepishly, and shakes his head.

"Well, not since before Riftwatch."

He looks forward again, tangling his fingers in his hair to push it back out of his face.

"...there are people who have helped me. Or tried. And I've fucked it up, every time."

[muckspout]

Edgard burst out laughing and it rings loud and clear.

"Sorry," He says. "You're the last person I'd expect to have something in common with."

He claps him on the shoulder.

"I don't know how you fucked things up before, but you haven't fucked it up with me."

[altusimperius]

At first, Benedict's face reddens in a look of mortified horror-- Edgard is laughing at him-- but the clap on his shoulder shakes him out of it, at least partially.

His smile is feeble and uncertain, but he's not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"I'm ...glad."

[muckspout]

"It's alright if you're not." Edgard laughs. "Tend to fuck things up, myself. Like to say it matters that you're trying. Hope it does. But," Edgard shrugs. "Sometimes things just happen."

He blows air into his cheeks. "Can I ask you why you lied?" The tone is not accusatory. It's conversational and genuine.

[altusimperius]

Benedict lets his head sink glumly onto his hands, his fingers curling over his cheeks.
"I don't know. I was scared." His face is still red, and he's all too aware of it, "it was an impulse."

[muckspout]

"Were you scared of the dragon?" Edgard asks. "Or of me?"

[altusimperius]

"The dragon," Bene replies, with a little laugh, though his smile quickly dwindles.

"...well and. ...and then of you."

[muckspout]

Edgard hums a little. "The dragon is scarier than me. Most of the time. Probably smart to be scared of a dragon."

He sighs. "But, you've been training--for what? To make sure you don't die if you happen to be attacked? Because I and other people yelled at you?"

He shakes his head. "I suppose I don't understand why someone would be with Riftwatch if they just...stay there and don't fight things sometimes, dragon or no."

[altusimperius]

Bracing himself for another leg of an already difficult conversation, Benedict folds his hands behind his head, letting the weight of his arms pull his elbows forward as he pauses for a long moment. No such admission comes easily, but especially not when trying to win back the respect of someone who's just seen him get justifiably dragged through the mud.

"Well... I used to be the chamberlain," he says, so quietly that only Edgard will be able to hear him.

[muckspout]

Edgard blinks and leans forward. He keeps his voice down, but with an air of confusion as to why he has to do so.

"You were? Before I was here?"

He leans his head to one side in thought.

"Seems a good fit. Why aren't you doing that anymore?"

[altusimperius]

Bene nods. When the inevitable question arises, he sighs deeply through his nose, letting his eyes close for a moment.

"I did something stupid," he murmurs, "...and got in trouble for it." It never gets any easier, explaining this: not only because he regrets making certain decisions, but because he has to re-humiliate himself every time by bringing to an unsuspecting mind the image of who he was and what he did.

The fact that it hasn't ruined any relationships yet is, likely, only a testament to how low he already is in most people's esteem.

[muckspout]

Edgard watches Benedict's face, tinged with regret, and it is something he recognizes. He puffs out his cheeks. He thinks in terms of his own mistakes.

"Like... you stole something and gave it as a gift stupid?" He shrugs and then his shoulders drop with the weight of the next question. "...or people died stupid?"

[altusimperius]

"Like..."

Benedict's eyes are fixed on the ground.

"...like betrayed Riftwatch stupid."

[muckspout]

Edgard takes a breath and lets it out slowly. Edgard understands why he hasn't been told this and certain things--Benedict's surprise at him caring for one--start to make more sense. Still, Edgard isn't sure what to think.

"Why would you do that?"

The tone is conversational, much like the one he used before.

[altusimperius]

"Because my mother wanted me to." He can dance around the truth all he wants, but that's what it comes down to.
"...and I wanted her to be happy with me."

[muckspout]

Edgard is quiet for a long time after that.

"In the dream..." He pauses for a moment after that, the mention feels painful. "You said, in the dream you were sent back to your parents."

He breathes out. He thinks about when Benedict reacts strongly. "So, what did you do? Can't have been that bad, you're still here."

[altusimperius]

A pursed-lipped nod. Benedict has been careful not to talk too much about the dream with Edgard, not wanting him to take too much blame for what none of them were able to control, but the connection has been made and he won't deny it.

"I defected," he murmurs, "to stay with her. So she and the others could study my shard." The others, of course, being Venatori.