Written Wonderland

((OOC: After Novelty's conversation with Philip, which is here.))

After leaving Philip's tent, Novelty felt alight with excitement and elation. He still could not believe that he had acted so rashly--and with a superior officer, no less. But, it was likely going to be his last night here, and he didn't want to leave anything undone. Novelty didn't intend to live with regrets. And Philip had made him laugh--not to mention that the man hadn't immediately chastised him for it. The soldier hoped that that action would not come back to bite him later, but he was too happy about having done it to let himself care, much.

Though he was full of a bubbling, bounding energy, he tried to contain himself when he told his closest friends about his plan. Several of them were casually interested themselves, and Novelty told them to seek out Captain Rutliff if they were serious. He wouldn't be surprised, though, if none of them showed up. Of all the people he knew, Novelty seemed to have the most followthrough.

After more hugs than Novelty had received in longer than he could remember, he headed toward the commander's tent and walked casually outside it and around his own camp, hoping to soon catch sight of Serio so Novelty could begin working on his offering to the goddess.

((OOC: After Serio's convo w Evan and Mizu))

Serio's first stop was to find Ari and update her on their new timeline, since he'd already put her in motion. Once that was recalibrated, he started heading back towards his section of camp in search of Novelty.

The soldier had indeed made himself easily findable, which Serio appreciated. The two caught sight of each other and approached with an easy sort of haste. Serio was happy to walk while they talked, but didn't have any particular destination in mind; everything he had to say to Novelty was fine for other soldiers--especially his soldiers--to overhear.

"We're going to wait and send the volunteers tomorrow night," Serio started in, figuring that was an important piece of information to transfer to Novelty quickly. "Complete with a public ceremony, to send you off with honor." Serio smiled at that, hopeful that Novelty would be pleased with the news. He didn't revel too much in it, though, as there was still yet more to share.

"The priestess in the woods confirmed that each of the volunteers should prepare an offering... she made a suggestion for you particularly; would you like to hear it?" Serio wasn't sure if Novelty was more the type to appreciate direction in something like this, or whether he'd rather figure out his own path. Either way, Serio wanted to respect the soldier's preference, as it felt rather sacred in this particular vein.

Novelty's stomach fluttered excitedly both when he saw Serio and when his captain started talking plainly in full view of other soldiers. That meant things were moving and more confirmed. Novelty's excited energy seemed to combine with Serio's own, a sensation that pleased the soldier deeply.

He was surprised to hear that they would be waiting another night, but he supposed it made sense, especially if they were going to put some kind of ceremony together. Some of the people Novelty said goodbye to might be a little confused come morning, but he was sure they would understand and could be informed of the change when it was relevant. And, regardless, the soldier couldn't deny that he was excited at the possibility of being sent off with honor with the other volunteers. He was sure it would be worth the wait, and it made him all the more eager to volunteer.

Novelty was pleased that the priestess had an idea for his offering, and he looked around at the people within earshot--there weren't many, and they weren't paying especial attention--and decided to risk it.

"Yes," Novelty said, a little breathless.

Serio let his smile widen at the sound of Novelty's breathless yes--dare one say, a glimmer may have even flashed in his eyes.

"Many different vining, flowering plants grow in this area--clematis, wisteria, and climbing jade. The priestess suggested you bathe, and then go find such plants to dress yourself in."

Serio reeled in the glimmer in his eyes to give Novelty a more familiar expression, not wanting the soldier to feel leered at... even if, on some small level, some of that was going on. Hopefully no more than the soldier was indeed volunteering for, though.

The soldier felt a flash of regret course through him as Serio's smile widened, and Novelty could not help but wonder how this might have gone differently somewhere private. Not that he expected his captain would make a move by any means, just that Novelty was impressed with how candid Serio was being and would have liked to see how far the captain would have taken it.

But the regret left immediately when Serio began speaking, his excitement and curiosity overwhelming him. Clematis, wisteria, climbing jade... They were all purple flowers. Novelty could certainly work with that.

As Serio's fervor faded into the background, however, Novelty found himself wondering if he was the only one of them who thought this meant he would be going to the goddess--and going to the ceremony--naked.

At first, he reasoned he shouldn't need to ask. Better to make his own interpretation of the suggestion. But, then again, having explicit permission to be nude in front of the entire camp? Novelty couldn't pass that up.

Narrowing his eyes and tilting one cheek forward slightly with a bit of a smirk, Novelty said quietly, "Is that... only flowers, do you think?"

Serio wanted to laugh--a warm, good-natured sort of laugh--but he kept it to simply a warmer curve to his smile, and a raised eyebrow illustrating his amusement.

"Oh, yes, she was explicit about that."

He let a pause stand after that to give them both space to relish the implications and imaginations this gave permission for, before he gently nudged them along to slightly more responsible pursuits.

"She said that each volunteer should prepare a different offering, but didn't have ideas for the others; I gather she had some insight into you through me somehow." There was perhaps more that Serio could tell Novelty... but that was all that felt imperative, at least before he inquired about Novelty's task. The captain sobered a little bit further before moving on to that.

"How did it go with Lieutenant Pemberley?"

Novelty blushed deeply, though he stayed alert and present, his stomach flooding with delicious sensations of butterflies. Not in all his wildest fantasies would he have imagined having permission to waltz around nude in front of everyone. Sure, some part of him was rather terrified about the prospect, but excitement was a clear winner here.

He was even more pleased to hear that this offering was specific to Novelty... or at least specific to Serio, which Novelty found equally fascinating. Yes, he decided his captain would also look quite ravishing covered in vining flowers. Novelty did have to look away for a moment to catch himself from going further on that line of thought.

Novelty snapped back to attention when Serio asked about Philip, however, though his first thought was to wonder whether Philip might be there to see him off. He hoped so, but he knew that was a lot to hope for.

And, what to tell Serio? Certainly not the way they had said goodbye.

"We talked," Novelty offered, knowing that, at minimum, had been a triumph. In the meantime, he sorted through details, picking out what Serio might be interested in. "It seems the goddess was not uninterested in encouraging those with her to interact with each other." He supposed that was the most useful thing Philip might have said, strictly in a strategic sense. And while it did indicate something rather lurid about what happened to Philip, Novelty didn't feel like it counted as details. "I'm still of the impression that the goddess only makes people do what they have a desire to do, but that in and of itself can be terrifying." Novelty's expression was all business now, the mirth falling for a moment from his face. He lightened up a little, though, as he began speaking again, "Other than that, it went roughly how you might expect--" other than that I kissed him "--Lieutenant Pemberley does not seem interested in volunteering, and he's worried about his fault given everything that's happened. But, all that said, I do think he will recover."

He hoped Captain Kade would find his report useful as he carefully weighed the expression on his captain's face and tried not to erupt into another grin at the thought of wearing flowers.

Serio listened carefully to Novelty's report, his expression calm and business-like as he filed each detail away and made what connections he could before moving onto the next. Most of it wasn't immediately actionable, but he was certainly glad to have a little more insight into Pemberley's experience with the goddess, and his current state.

"Thank you." Serio said with a smile once Novelty finished talking. "I'm very glad you were able to speak with him."

After that, the captain let stand a brief moment of silence. He knew where he wanted to go next, but he wanted to take a moment getting there.

"There was something else the priestess said. That the goddess will know exactly what each volunteer seeks." Serio stopped walking, and faced Novelty with a serious expression.

"I know I said before that you likely need to want to look and listen and learn above all else. The priestess' remark makes me think that it is imperative that you genuinely want to go to the goddess for your own reasons, too. Or, at the very least, that your true intensions are to act more as an emissary than a spy. To that end, I want you to know... I will certainly be interested in anything you can report back, but I will not expect you to betray the goddess in any way. Much as information about the goddess and her realm would potentially help the kingdom, I'd be remiss to not acknowledge that you are committing yourself to something sacred, first and foremost."

Serio paused there, to let the soldier digest what he'd said and to observe any reactions that arose. He hoped this wouldn't change Novelty's interest in going, but he also hoped that the soldier would take this new information seriously. As much as it pained him to direct Novelty's loyalty away from him, however subtly, it seemed necessary, lest he risk sending the goddess an insult rather than an offering, which would serve none of them well in the slightest.

While Serio did appreciate the information about Philip, Novelty found himself a little disappointed that his captain moved on from the topic so quickly. Maybe it was simply because Novelty didn't want to stop talking about Philip. He was still overflowing with giddiness over what had happened in the lieutenant's tent. Which perhaps meant that Novelty should be grateful that Serio was changing topics, lest the soldier say more than he wanted. Moving on, then.

Novelty listened carefully, interested in reading between the lines of really anything Serio had to say. He was surprised, then, to find more permission to go to the goddess for his own sake rather than for the sake of reconnaissance. He was almost disappointed by the idea. But, then again, it wasn't unfathomable that the goddess of desires would know exactly what Novelty wanted. And if all he wanted was getting information out of her, then... yeah, that would not go well.

The conversation Novelty had with Philip came ringing back, and the soldier found himself thinking about having said that he had never been loved, that he hoped to find something of the like with the goddess. Or at least stop trying to find it here. Then there was that glimmer of hope again, though, that absurd hope that maybe Philip could be...

But the lieutenant nearly refused to talk, not to mention... And how would Novelty justify passing up on opportunity like visiting a goddess in her realm for the mere possibility?

Novelty did, however, close his eyes for a short moment and allow himself to think about how it might feel to continue coaxing Philip toward comfort, being patient beside the man, listening to whatever he needed to say, offering physical comfort. Even if nothing came of it, the fantasy was a beautiful thought. Would the goddess be able to see that one as well?

...committing yourself to something sacred. Novelty was enormously glad to know that that's how his captain felt about what he would be doing with the goddess, and putting that first would be easy for Novelty. And, while he knew that the captain wasn't necessarily asking for details on what Novelty's personal reasons were for going, the soldier did want to offer his captain some form of confidence in that direction.

After blushing a little and looking down at the ground for a moment, Novelty lifted his head to meet Serio's eyes and said, "I do have my own reasons for going."

As for betraying the goddess, Novelty felt that he was rather well experienced at this point with telling Serio exactly what was useful and no more and felt confident that he could, in fact, navigate a more sensitive version of that well.

Serio took in every nuance of Novelty's response, heartened that the soldier showed shyness and fluster. It meant there was something real there, between Novelty and the goddess. Sparks of envy and curiosity sweltered in the captain as he couldn't help searching what he knew of Novelty for clues as to what that was, but he stopped himself, a flicker of bemusement tugging at his smile as he shook his head. Whatever Novelty's reason for going, Serio trusted it, and there was plenty else that could use his attention.

"I wish you the best, then."

Serio made sure to meet Novelty's gaze head on for a long moment, and he reached out to touch the side of Novelty's shoulder, the gesture surprisingly warm from the captain, especially given how public they presently were. It was over in a moment, though, and then Serio lightly clasped his hands behind his back, straightening up subtly.

"For now, I've some things I need to get rolling for the ceremony tomorrow. If you have the bandwidth, it'd be helpful to learn who other probable volunteers are, and begin talking with them about the ceremony and their offerings--and whatever you think is relevant from your conversation with Lieutenant Pemberley. Captain Rutliff has indicated that Captain Dodd had someone under his command in mind, and that Lieutenant Holloway has expressed an interest, in addition to two others--one of which I'm assuming is Raccoon."