The goddess seemed to flicker, two different images leaning in opposite directions: toward Evan and away. When she came back together and parsed through his words, he could see the conflagration of emotion rising behind her eyes. He braced himself for another storm--perhaps another cascade of shocks to endure. In the end, she raised up her arms and gathered literal fire above her before sending it flying behind her, crumbling the wall out into the back of the clearing.
Evan felt breathless from the sight, relief and surprise both spiraling through his muscles, confusing them between impulses to tense or relax. The goddess leaned on her arm to the side, letting her hair fall over her face in a small retreat. It tugged hard at Evan's chest, made him desperately want to re-entangle with her. He remained still, but his own conflagration was rising the longer he held the impulse at bay.
Finally, the goddess let out the smallest of laughs.
"I suppose I've made it perfectly clear how much I don't want that," she said, and Evan sighed--exhaled, really, after a long moment of forgetting to breathe. The goddess met his gaze delicately, her complexion heartbreakingly pale, though color was slowly filtering back in. Finally, she looked away again and took a deep breath.
"Go. Go now so you might come back to me sooner. And bring the rest of what you promised." After another pause, she added, "I'll stay and clean up this mess."
Evan was stuck for a moment, pulled by the painfully powerful desire to connect with her again--another kiss maybe, or a hug at least--but worried that would only make this even more painful for them both.
Finally, he managed a nod, tugging determination into his expression as he stood from the bed. He looked at her another moment, trying to at least think of something to say, but nothing he could think of seemed remotely adequate.
((OOC: I'll leave this here cuz I don't know what Evan knows/remembers about where the talisman is right now and I'm getting too sleepy to go look it up lol... plus just in case there's anything you do want to go ahead and respond to here you can.))
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
So, with one last flash of longing wincing through his expression, Evan turned to leave the room--but then stopped in his tracks, heat flushing his cheeks with embarassment as several realities stabbed at him at once.
The way back to camp was not on foot, but through the talisman.
The talisman that wasn't in his pocket--
The non-existent pocket on his naked body.
Fuck, he'd lost his clothes several times this evening--had he lost the talisman with them?
But, no, his original clothing--wet and torn, Evan winced--was in the room the goddess had first led him to tonight, and the talisman should still be with it. He relaxed, letting out the breath he'd briefly held, but hesitated, feeling awkward aabout the steps that still remained before he could properly leave. His fist closed at his side, his jaw clenching to keep himself from turning around, putting off this goodbye still longer. Then finally, he pushed himself into motion to walk out the door.
The way back to camp was not on foot, but through the talisman.
The talisman that wasn't in his pocket--
The non-existent pocket on his naked body.
Fuck, he'd lost his clothes several times this evening--had he lost the talisman with them?
But, no, his original clothing--wet and torn, Evan winced--was in the room the goddess had first led him to tonight, and the talisman should still be with it. He relaxed, letting out the breath he'd briefly held, but hesitated, feeling awkward aabout the steps that still remained before he could properly leave. His fist closed at his side, his jaw clenching to keep himself from turning around, putting off this goodbye still longer. Then finally, he pushed himself into motion to walk out the door.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Dehaljadrun couldn't deny the longing Evan felt for her. He wanted to comfort her, to do something--anything--that would soothe their parting. But they both knew it would come eventually. And at least once more after this.
I can let him go. Her mind supplied, unbidden. With the company of ten, I can let him go. Surely. And yet, it was difficult convince herself.
He'll come back, she told herself. Though, there was no response in her mind.
The goddess felt Evan's breath shift the air in the room, and she had not realized until that moment exactly how keyed into his every movement she had been in that moment. She felt his fist clench at his side as he fought his impulses. She was not making it easy, but then again, she never had. Still, even now, I am asking him to resist me. But I don't want him to succeed.
He didn't turn. He started walking out of the chamber.
She got up to follow him, staying close behind him but not close enough to touch as he walked back toward his clothes. The goddess picked up the satchel as they went and immediately saw the wooden horse on the ledge, her stomach clenching, but she said nothing as Evan fidgeted through his clothes. She only watched with folded arms and a slight pout, leaned up against one wall in the nude.
I can let him go. Her mind supplied, unbidden. With the company of ten, I can let him go. Surely. And yet, it was difficult convince herself.
He'll come back, she told herself. Though, there was no response in her mind.
The goddess felt Evan's breath shift the air in the room, and she had not realized until that moment exactly how keyed into his every movement she had been in that moment. She felt his fist clench at his side as he fought his impulses. She was not making it easy, but then again, she never had. Still, even now, I am asking him to resist me. But I don't want him to succeed.
He didn't turn. He started walking out of the chamber.
She got up to follow him, staying close behind him but not close enough to touch as he walked back toward his clothes. The goddess picked up the satchel as they went and immediately saw the wooden horse on the ledge, her stomach clenching, but she said nothing as Evan fidgeted through his clothes. She only watched with folded arms and a slight pout, leaned up against one wall in the nude.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan heard--felt--the goddess stand up to follow him, and sparks danced through his body. He was elated that she wanted to follow, and at the same time, livid that she did. Was this not just drawing out this torture? She seemed to keep just out of reach behind him, though he didn't dare feel for her or even turn to look to find out. Each step was agonizing, drawing up longing and also concern--would she really be okay another day all alone? Well, she had Raccoon he supposed, wherever they were. Jealousy burned at that, and only conflagrated further as he dreaded the next time he would have to leave her.
For better or worse, his attention was wrenched back to the present as he came upon his destination, the sight of his clothes on the floor and the horse from Ponderance on the ledge both sending a shiver through him.
He faltered for only a moment, though, before marching over to his clothes and crouching down to rifle through them, half fishing the talisman from his pocket and half taking stock of just how ragged his outfit was. The fabric was still fairly wet--he hadn't exactly laid it out to dry--and while everything was arguably in one piece, gashes would lay bare much of his skin, and what had transpired. Physical comfort aside, it wouldn’t paint a pretty picture for those volunteers coming tomorrow night.
Grimly, Evan finally let himself look at the goddess where she leaned against the wall, pouting as she watched him. His eyes squinted into a glare, though in the same moment his lips briefly twitched with a smirk.
“You sure don’t make anything easy.”
He sighed and stood up, holding only the talisman in his hand and letting his tattered clothing slump together on the floor. The thought crossed his mind to ask the goddess for new clothes--or, for permission to make himself new clothes--but in the end decided both of those routes were unnecessary. Instead, he simply met her gaze for a moment as he felt for the magic he’d used before; remembered the colorful shimmers of their merger-afterglow here in this room; the satiating, pulsing touch of the tree’s inner pool; even the wispy caress of the air beneath his soaring dragon wings. Surely, he had earned a fresh pair of clothes.
((OOC: I once again *could* keep going, but wanted to give her a chance to respond/react/potentially influence his outfit. He’s not totally sure exactly what he’s going to go for just yet in this moment, and I suspect is highly suggestible/unlikely to fight the goddess on any particular vision other than just, being dressed lol.))
For better or worse, his attention was wrenched back to the present as he came upon his destination, the sight of his clothes on the floor and the horse from Ponderance on the ledge both sending a shiver through him.
He faltered for only a moment, though, before marching over to his clothes and crouching down to rifle through them, half fishing the talisman from his pocket and half taking stock of just how ragged his outfit was. The fabric was still fairly wet--he hadn't exactly laid it out to dry--and while everything was arguably in one piece, gashes would lay bare much of his skin, and what had transpired. Physical comfort aside, it wouldn’t paint a pretty picture for those volunteers coming tomorrow night.
Grimly, Evan finally let himself look at the goddess where she leaned against the wall, pouting as she watched him. His eyes squinted into a glare, though in the same moment his lips briefly twitched with a smirk.
“You sure don’t make anything easy.”
He sighed and stood up, holding only the talisman in his hand and letting his tattered clothing slump together on the floor. The thought crossed his mind to ask the goddess for new clothes--or, for permission to make himself new clothes--but in the end decided both of those routes were unnecessary. Instead, he simply met her gaze for a moment as he felt for the magic he’d used before; remembered the colorful shimmers of their merger-afterglow here in this room; the satiating, pulsing touch of the tree’s inner pool; even the wispy caress of the air beneath his soaring dragon wings. Surely, he had earned a fresh pair of clothes.
((OOC: I once again *could* keep going, but wanted to give her a chance to respond/react/potentially influence his outfit. He’s not totally sure exactly what he’s going to go for just yet in this moment, and I suspect is highly suggestible/unlikely to fight the goddess on any particular vision other than just, being dressed lol.))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess kept an eye on Evan as he sorted through his clothes, and she remembered the damage she had wreaked on them. Ravenous hunger leapt at her as she recalled her snapping teeth and ferocious nails. It was a wonder his pants were still intact.
Evan smirked, though, which felt normal, familiar to her, even, in a way that set her at ease. "You sure don't make anything easy."
She scoffed quietly, biting back the words, As if you'd want that, and instead opting for a momentary silence.
Gods, she wanted to touch him, just once more.
Evan sighed, gathered the priestess' talisman in his hand, and dropped his wet clothes to the floor. The goddess eyed him, suddenly understanding his intention.
He wants to wear something that suits him, something that sets him apart or at least entices those entering into my service.
And why shouldn't he?
Evan looked at her and asked--no, told her--with his eyes that he intended to use her magic. In his mind, the caress of the great tree's inner fluid and the movement of the wind beneath his dragon's wings.
Gods, yes.
She closed her eyelids to focus. She wanted something worthy of someone she had so clearly chosen and yet... subdued, calculated and undeniable, yet... subtle.
Finally, she simply said the word, "Grow."
Immediately, slow tendrils of foggy black smoke skittered out of the shadows of the wall and jumped lightly onto Evan's forearms, sinking into his skin there. Then the goddess allowed the magic to flow from her in his direction--thinking of the demon they had witnessed, the lightning she had torn through him, the playful thud of his back against the ground as he fell from her panther.
The black smoke spread up his arms and up to his neck. Then the black began to spread from his groin and down his legs. Lastly, his chest, all the small tendrils meeting and doubling over and between Evan's nipples. The second skin grew and began to harden or perhaps age, painlessly breaking away from Evan's skin in flexible armor plates reminiscent of Evan's black scales.
The effect was as flexible as leather and as durable as metal. It did not restrict movement as it formed around Evan's every joint, accentuating them. His pants were almost skin tight as they completely peeled, like petals away, soft on the inside as they covered his groin. His jacket was only hip length and folded over itself in the front where it clasped shut in three places with a black, sinewy, muscular loop. If Evan were to open the jacket, he would see that fabric that fell against the tops of his lungs housed a nested pocket--a hole, really--perfectly fitted for another scale altogether. And, lastly, other muscular strands ran up from two places on the back collar of the jacket and each circled Evan's neck, pulling taut. They were flexible strands, but every movement of Evan's neck met with elastic pressure.
And all the while, with every movement of the smoky tendrils, Dehaljadrun touched him. Though she did not leave her wall, she left no place of his body free from the memory of her touch.
Admiring her handiwork with a small smile, she then left the room briefly and returned with the scale, having taken it gingerly down from the shelf outside the room. Approaching Evan as he inspected his new trappings, she deftly unbuttoned his jacket, revealing his bare chest and slid the scale comfortably into place.
"This is still mine," the goddess said, "But I want it near you today." She placed the scale against him as she rebuttoned the jacket and briefly touched his cheek before stepping back to her place at the wall.
((OOC: Dehaljadrun's thoughts are getting sent to Evan rn through the magic.))
Evan smirked, though, which felt normal, familiar to her, even, in a way that set her at ease. "You sure don't make anything easy."
She scoffed quietly, biting back the words, As if you'd want that, and instead opting for a momentary silence.
Gods, she wanted to touch him, just once more.
Evan sighed, gathered the priestess' talisman in his hand, and dropped his wet clothes to the floor. The goddess eyed him, suddenly understanding his intention.
He wants to wear something that suits him, something that sets him apart or at least entices those entering into my service.
And why shouldn't he?
Evan looked at her and asked--no, told her--with his eyes that he intended to use her magic. In his mind, the caress of the great tree's inner fluid and the movement of the wind beneath his dragon's wings.
Gods, yes.
She closed her eyelids to focus. She wanted something worthy of someone she had so clearly chosen and yet... subdued, calculated and undeniable, yet... subtle.
Finally, she simply said the word, "Grow."
Immediately, slow tendrils of foggy black smoke skittered out of the shadows of the wall and jumped lightly onto Evan's forearms, sinking into his skin there. Then the goddess allowed the magic to flow from her in his direction--thinking of the demon they had witnessed, the lightning she had torn through him, the playful thud of his back against the ground as he fell from her panther.
The black smoke spread up his arms and up to his neck. Then the black began to spread from his groin and down his legs. Lastly, his chest, all the small tendrils meeting and doubling over and between Evan's nipples. The second skin grew and began to harden or perhaps age, painlessly breaking away from Evan's skin in flexible armor plates reminiscent of Evan's black scales.
The effect was as flexible as leather and as durable as metal. It did not restrict movement as it formed around Evan's every joint, accentuating them. His pants were almost skin tight as they completely peeled, like petals away, soft on the inside as they covered his groin. His jacket was only hip length and folded over itself in the front where it clasped shut in three places with a black, sinewy, muscular loop. If Evan were to open the jacket, he would see that fabric that fell against the tops of his lungs housed a nested pocket--a hole, really--perfectly fitted for another scale altogether. And, lastly, other muscular strands ran up from two places on the back collar of the jacket and each circled Evan's neck, pulling taut. They were flexible strands, but every movement of Evan's neck met with elastic pressure.
And all the while, with every movement of the smoky tendrils, Dehaljadrun touched him. Though she did not leave her wall, she left no place of his body free from the memory of her touch.
Admiring her handiwork with a small smile, she then left the room briefly and returned with the scale, having taken it gingerly down from the shelf outside the room. Approaching Evan as he inspected his new trappings, she deftly unbuttoned his jacket, revealing his bare chest and slid the scale comfortably into place.
"This is still mine," the goddess said, "But I want it near you today." She placed the scale against him as she rebuttoned the jacket and briefly touched his cheek before stepping back to her place at the wall.
((OOC: Dehaljadrun's thoughts are getting sent to Evan rn through the magic.))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess met Evan’s gaze with understanding and closed her eyes in contemplation, giving him pause. After a brief moment, a realization splashed against his chest with a glowing warmth: she was going to adorn him.
"Grow," the goddess said, and slow tendrils of foggy black smoke began to skitter out of the shadows of the wall, jumping lightly onto Evan's forearms and sinking into his skin there.
He gasped softly, his gut startled, but he held his arms out to his sides to invite the strange shadows, his eyes watching with wide, sharp curiosity as the black spread up his arms and over his body. As the shadow covered his groin, his legs, his chest, it solidified and grew leathery and then hard like armored scales, peeling away as a second skin. It was soft inside, like smooth velvet rose petals, but more than that--like the goddess' skin touching his, holding every crevice of him in her embrace.
Evan looked for the goddess’ gaze with a wide-open expression, awe and gratitude and lust swirling--dancing ecstatically on his surface. The energy only rose further as he felt tendrils of the second skin wrapping around his neck. He swallowed, his heart thumping and briefly freezing him beneath the sensation. The tendrils kept a subtle pressure on his skin, but moved fluidly with the brief shift of his neck; their presence ever-reasserting itself in his awareness, but uninterested in causing him hinderance beyond that.
His body relaxed at that, his hands finally lowering to his sides. He realized in that motion, though, that he felt lighter than he expected, and turned his gaze back to his new armored jacket, watching as it bent and stretched effortlessly with first his arm, and then his knee and hip and his shoulder as he quickly tested his range of motion. He was entirely unencumbered, almost naked--in fact, a quick glance down toward his crotch and an absent-minded free hand to his ass confirmed that the outfit left little of his form to the imagination. His cheeks grew a little warm, but the grin he tossed the goddess was downright conspiratorial, gleeful despite--or maybe even in small thanks to--his flush of embarassment. After all, he'd be lying to say there wasn't a thrill at returning to camp like this, endorsed by the goddess perhaps, her handiwork and his own muscular elegance both together on full display. He felt both powerful and beautiful, confidence practically conflagrating in the air around him, and his gratitude and elation about that radiated happily from it.
“Thank you, my goddess.”
((OOC: Likely, he is going to hold her gaze for a beat before beginning to use the talisman, but we wanted to pause there just in case she’s doing anything unexpected at this point like not meeting his gaze or looking like she has something else to say before he goes. Of course, he could theoretically miss something like that, but probably not if she’s being pretty telepathically readable to him rn.))
"Grow," the goddess said, and slow tendrils of foggy black smoke began to skitter out of the shadows of the wall, jumping lightly onto Evan's forearms and sinking into his skin there.
He gasped softly, his gut startled, but he held his arms out to his sides to invite the strange shadows, his eyes watching with wide, sharp curiosity as the black spread up his arms and over his body. As the shadow covered his groin, his legs, his chest, it solidified and grew leathery and then hard like armored scales, peeling away as a second skin. It was soft inside, like smooth velvet rose petals, but more than that--like the goddess' skin touching his, holding every crevice of him in her embrace.
Evan looked for the goddess’ gaze with a wide-open expression, awe and gratitude and lust swirling--dancing ecstatically on his surface. The energy only rose further as he felt tendrils of the second skin wrapping around his neck. He swallowed, his heart thumping and briefly freezing him beneath the sensation. The tendrils kept a subtle pressure on his skin, but moved fluidly with the brief shift of his neck; their presence ever-reasserting itself in his awareness, but uninterested in causing him hinderance beyond that.
His body relaxed at that, his hands finally lowering to his sides. He realized in that motion, though, that he felt lighter than he expected, and turned his gaze back to his new armored jacket, watching as it bent and stretched effortlessly with first his arm, and then his knee and hip and his shoulder as he quickly tested his range of motion. He was entirely unencumbered, almost naked--in fact, a quick glance down toward his crotch and an absent-minded free hand to his ass confirmed that the outfit left little of his form to the imagination. His cheeks grew a little warm, but the grin he tossed the goddess was downright conspiratorial, gleeful despite--or maybe even in small thanks to--his flush of embarassment. After all, he'd be lying to say there wasn't a thrill at returning to camp like this, endorsed by the goddess perhaps, her handiwork and his own muscular elegance both together on full display. He felt both powerful and beautiful, confidence practically conflagrating in the air around him, and his gratitude and elation about that radiated happily from it.
“Thank you, my goddess.”
((OOC: Likely, he is going to hold her gaze for a beat before beginning to use the talisman, but we wanted to pause there just in case she’s doing anything unexpected at this point like not meeting his gaze or looking like she has something else to say before he goes. Of course, he could theoretically miss something like that, but probably not if she’s being pretty telepathically readable to him rn.))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
"Thank you, my goddess."
She knew he meant the words. She could feel his awe and lust in equal measures. And yet, little surmounted the fact that he was leaving her.
At least he wouldn't be able to move at all without thinking about her.
What a treasure those clothes would be in the human realm. Did Evan know what she had given him? Surely he did. Surely he knew that having not only a sword but also armor made by a goddess was far, far more than a simple honor.
She nodded amd looked down, watching him begin to fumble with the talisman.
The goddess bit her tongue, determined at first not to say anything but finally said, "I love you." She met his gaze and submitted him to the full weight of her ability to compel him toward her for a few short seconds before she broke the sensation off altogether and added, "I know you'll represent me well."
She knew he meant the words. She could feel his awe and lust in equal measures. And yet, little surmounted the fact that he was leaving her.
At least he wouldn't be able to move at all without thinking about her.
What a treasure those clothes would be in the human realm. Did Evan know what she had given him? Surely he did. Surely he knew that having not only a sword but also armor made by a goddess was far, far more than a simple honor.
She nodded amd looked down, watching him begin to fumble with the talisman.
The goddess bit her tongue, determined at first not to say anything but finally said, "I love you." She met his gaze and submitted him to the full weight of her ability to compel him toward her for a few short seconds before she broke the sensation off altogether and added, "I know you'll represent me well."
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan held the goddess' eyes for a moment, honoring both the earnest understanding of the exchange and the potent melancholy of his looming departure. They would miss each other today, deeply, but at least they were parting on this note, with constant reminders of the goddess gently encircling his neck, cradling his cock, caressing his chest and back and torso as he breathed.
With a shared final nod, Evan swallowed, tugging his attention into his neck before turning it back to the talisman in his hand, fumbling to find the memory of how to use it. It was difficult to focus, a nagging worry creeping in that the goddess might still need something from him. He tried to brush the thought aside--of course she still yearned for him; she'd made that clear. But there was something else, something that buzzed at his ear until finally the goddess said it out loud.
"I love you."
His gaze pulled back to her, his hand nearly tempted to drop the talisman and go to her; screw returning to camp and just be with her. But he managed to plant his heels, reveling in the unbridled joy of hearing those words but managing to stay put even as his body trembled, yearning pulsing through him and echoing in each swallow.
After an agonizing moment, the goddess relinquished something, and Evan breathed a sigh of relief, though his breath and body still shook in the aftermath of her pull.
"I know you'll represent me well," she added.
He felt the urge to repeat himself--thank you, my goddess; I love you--but instead settled for swallowing again, letting a fresh grin bloom as the sensation of the tendrils around his neck sent another shiver spiralling down his spine. Gods, he'd be in a state that day, but at least at this point he didn't have to fucking hide it. It would be good for the volunteers to get a glimpse at what lay in store; for the entire army to get just a fleeting taste of what the goddess really was, what she offered.
He let out a sigh shaky with excitement and nodded to her before returning his attention to the talisman, a fresh determination honing his focus to get the damned thing to work. Finally he slipped the wooden mechanisms the correct ways, and a portal opened in the room before him. He looked at the goddess once more, his eyes reiterating the desire to somehow speak without repeating himself--thank you, my goddess; I love you--before returning to the portal, his feet begining to walk that direction with one last swallow, one last shiver of longing cascading through him.
With a shared final nod, Evan swallowed, tugging his attention into his neck before turning it back to the talisman in his hand, fumbling to find the memory of how to use it. It was difficult to focus, a nagging worry creeping in that the goddess might still need something from him. He tried to brush the thought aside--of course she still yearned for him; she'd made that clear. But there was something else, something that buzzed at his ear until finally the goddess said it out loud.
"I love you."
His gaze pulled back to her, his hand nearly tempted to drop the talisman and go to her; screw returning to camp and just be with her. But he managed to plant his heels, reveling in the unbridled joy of hearing those words but managing to stay put even as his body trembled, yearning pulsing through him and echoing in each swallow.
After an agonizing moment, the goddess relinquished something, and Evan breathed a sigh of relief, though his breath and body still shook in the aftermath of her pull.
"I know you'll represent me well," she added.
He felt the urge to repeat himself--thank you, my goddess; I love you--but instead settled for swallowing again, letting a fresh grin bloom as the sensation of the tendrils around his neck sent another shiver spiralling down his spine. Gods, he'd be in a state that day, but at least at this point he didn't have to fucking hide it. It would be good for the volunteers to get a glimpse at what lay in store; for the entire army to get just a fleeting taste of what the goddess really was, what she offered.
He let out a sigh shaky with excitement and nodded to her before returning his attention to the talisman, a fresh determination honing his focus to get the damned thing to work. Finally he slipped the wooden mechanisms the correct ways, and a portal opened in the room before him. He looked at the goddess once more, his eyes reiterating the desire to somehow speak without repeating himself--thank you, my goddess; I love you--before returning to the portal, his feet begining to walk that direction with one last swallow, one last shiver of longing cascading through him.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
((OOC: I'm imagining that Evan is returning a little later to camp than previous days, so there are people up and about. I imagine that Serio has probably found the ceremony preparations a useful distraction from the fact that the prince is missing. I do think Serio and Mizu may need to talk before Mizu will be ready to talk to Evan (assuming he's going to check in with her before he crashes).
I'll continue with Dehaljadrun's story in a different thread. It would be helpful to know approximately when/if Evan is going to put the scale into his jacket, but we can work it in retroactively if needed.
So much fun!))
I'll continue with Dehaljadrun's story in a different thread. It would be helpful to know approximately when/if Evan is going to put the scale into his jacket, but we can work it in retroactively if needed.
So much fun!))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Exhaustion hit heavy as Evan's feet both settled on the ground in his tent, the portal closing behind him. His chest ached terribly, devastated by the now irreversible reality of leaving the goddess for even a day, especially knowing how alone he was leaving her. He exhaled a shaky sigh, eyes closing almost as if to avoid looking at the cot that called to him, urging him to bury his devastation with sleep. His hand touched his chest, caressing the metallic scales of his jacket and gently pressing the goddess' scale into his chest. Warmth brust through him from the reminder of its presence, and a sob erupted from his chest--full of joy and longing, pain and forgiveness, melancholy and acceptance, all of it swirling with awe and love. Evan's free hand rushed up to cover his mouth, his shoulders trembling with the temptation to fully break down--to revel, moreso than wallow, though the tempation certainly held a little of both. It was just, in all of his imperfections--in all of both of their imperfections--they'd managed to navigate this far together. And, had to go through today apart.
After some time, Evan managed to calm himself, summoning the determination to get himself together for his commander. Miyamoto needed to know that he was all right, that the volunteers would be safe and welcome--and so very appreciated. That they'd heard from Ponderance in the night. Gods, what was the situation here even? His own tent was still here in one piece, in any case, and there wasn't any particular commotion outside. Hopefully that was a good sign. With a heavy sigh, Evan forced his arms to relax, and he gently refastened his jacket before taking a rough stab at smoothing out his hair. Then, he finally set out from his tent to go find his commander.
Morning had fully broken, the early risers at camp already out and about. There was something about the activity this morning that seemed abnormal, but it was almost more excited than anything else, many soldiers scurrying with more purpose than Evan would expect at this hour. He was curious, but not only was he eager to get his meeting with the commander out of the way so he could get some fucking sleep, but eyes also landed potently on him as he walked, and he shivered, his gut vibrating with conflicting impulses toward embarrassment and pride. He tried to lean toward the latter--to strut and own his presence as he walked--but he was so damn tired, nervousness gripped at his chest that at best the facade was thin, and certainly fragile. He very likely wouldn't hold it together for more than a single conversation, if even that, and so he moved quickly, praying that he managed to exude the promise of the goddess from afar, even through his nervous exhaustion.
He arrived at the commander's tent and briefly shook out nervous energy through his hands with a soft huff, before asking permission to enter. His heart pounded heavily when she gave it, and he took another deep breath before entering. He only took a step inside before pausing, fairly aware that Miyamoto may need a moment to take in the sight of him. He didn't try to keep up the prideful posturing for her, though--instead, he spread his arms subtly, palms forward, chin tilted downward and eyebrows raised, almost an offering. Meanwhile, he took in the sight of his commander, searching for indications of how she was and debating what news he should lead with, beyond the simple visual presentation of, Here I am.
After some time, Evan managed to calm himself, summoning the determination to get himself together for his commander. Miyamoto needed to know that he was all right, that the volunteers would be safe and welcome--and so very appreciated. That they'd heard from Ponderance in the night. Gods, what was the situation here even? His own tent was still here in one piece, in any case, and there wasn't any particular commotion outside. Hopefully that was a good sign. With a heavy sigh, Evan forced his arms to relax, and he gently refastened his jacket before taking a rough stab at smoothing out his hair. Then, he finally set out from his tent to go find his commander.
Morning had fully broken, the early risers at camp already out and about. There was something about the activity this morning that seemed abnormal, but it was almost more excited than anything else, many soldiers scurrying with more purpose than Evan would expect at this hour. He was curious, but not only was he eager to get his meeting with the commander out of the way so he could get some fucking sleep, but eyes also landed potently on him as he walked, and he shivered, his gut vibrating with conflicting impulses toward embarrassment and pride. He tried to lean toward the latter--to strut and own his presence as he walked--but he was so damn tired, nervousness gripped at his chest that at best the facade was thin, and certainly fragile. He very likely wouldn't hold it together for more than a single conversation, if even that, and so he moved quickly, praying that he managed to exude the promise of the goddess from afar, even through his nervous exhaustion.
He arrived at the commander's tent and briefly shook out nervous energy through his hands with a soft huff, before asking permission to enter. His heart pounded heavily when she gave it, and he took another deep breath before entering. He only took a step inside before pausing, fairly aware that Miyamoto may need a moment to take in the sight of him. He didn't try to keep up the prideful posturing for her, though--instead, he spread his arms subtly, palms forward, chin tilted downward and eyebrows raised, almost an offering. Meanwhile, he took in the sight of his commander, searching for indications of how she was and debating what news he should lead with, beyond the simple visual presentation of, Here I am.