Yukiko waited patiently while the boy inspected his toy horse. When he nodded, she mirrored the motion and then continued speaking.
"We discovered a couple days ago that the nightmares our soldiers had were caused by the goddess Dehaljadrun. We've since established contact, and now are working with her. Captain Rutliff is currently meeting with her every night to coordinate."
Amusement certainly bubbled up in Yukiko's throat at the euphemism there, but she let it pass without expressing it; now wasn't the time or the place. Especially since the next thought to cross her mind was that what they were coordinating was the assassination of Ponderance's father by the goddess, but that didn't seem like something she needed to explicitly thrust upon the boy to discuss. He could surely connect enough dots to ask her clarifying questions if he wanted to. To wit, maybe the next thing she should do was simply to leave space for that. She wasn't positive she'd be able to answer just anything he'd ask, but that was no reason to cut him off from the opportunity.
"Do you want to ask me any questions about that?"
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Part 1
Ponderance thought for a moment and continued not looking at Yukiko. "Why tell me?" The boy set the horse down and watched it as though it might suddenly start moving on its own. For now, at least, it remained motionless. After a few more seconds passed, he patted the horse's head and stroked its wooden mane a couple times.
"Nightmares didn't make them scream."
"Nightmares didn't make them scream."
Re: Part 1
Yukiko tilted her head slightly, surprise gently playing across her expression at the boy's initial question. Then, his comment tugged her brow up rather inquisitively.
"I don't want you to feel left in the dark when big things are happening," she replied earnestly, then couldn't help turning up a grin. "Though sometimes I wonder to what extent you keep me in the dark." She made sure her tone was playful, though then she reeled that in in favor of light curiosity and a softened expression as she followed up with her own question.
"Were you already familiar with the goddess of dreams and desire?"
"I don't want you to feel left in the dark when big things are happening," she replied earnestly, then couldn't help turning up a grin. "Though sometimes I wonder to what extent you keep me in the dark." She made sure her tone was playful, though then she reeled that in in favor of light curiosity and a softened expression as she followed up with her own question.
"Were you already familiar with the goddess of dreams and desire?"
Re: Part 1
Ponderance shrugged and pet the toy's mane once more, his hands settling into his lap and his gaze distant.
((OOC: Yukiko would probably understand this as a desire to disengage from at least that particular subject.))
((OOC: Yukiko would probably understand this as a desire to disengage from at least that particular subject.))
Re: Part 1
Fair enough. Yukiko couldn't deny feeling disappointed that Ponderance wanted to disengage from that line of conversation, but she supposed it was understandable. Though, now she felt something of a dilemma: it could be useful to the cause to push the boy for more information. But, no; that wouldn't be worth it, and besides, Evan had this, with or without further insight from this boy. Yukiko really did believe that, so that was something at least.
With a light sigh the captain pushed herself to her feet, releasing the boy from any pressure to further engage. She was about to simply tell Ponderance she had some more captain business to attend to, but stopped herself; she could say more than that, now that she was filling the boy in.
"In any case, as part of working with the goddess, we're going to offer some of our soldiers into her service. I need to go talk to my troops to see who might volunteer. I'll be back later this afternoon."
She didn't immediately leave, in case the boy wanted to say anything else or exchange any goodbye gestures before she left to go find the soldier she thought most likely to want to volunteer.
((OOC: Continued in Yukiko's thread with Trevor))
With a light sigh the captain pushed herself to her feet, releasing the boy from any pressure to further engage. She was about to simply tell Ponderance she had some more captain business to attend to, but stopped herself; she could say more than that, now that she was filling the boy in.
"In any case, as part of working with the goddess, we're going to offer some of our soldiers into her service. I need to go talk to my troops to see who might volunteer. I'll be back later this afternoon."
She didn't immediately leave, in case the boy wanted to say anything else or exchange any goodbye gestures before she left to go find the soldier she thought most likely to want to volunteer.
((OOC: Continued in Yukiko's thread with Trevor))
Re: Part 1
Evan hardly remembered the walk back to his tent. It was a haze of anger at the sun in the sky, and active yearning for his cot. Though, the thought crossed his mind that wouldn't it be nice to just stay with the goddess next time, sleep in her bed or among the cushions in her palace? Or, anywhere, really, just so long as he could be against her skin...
The captain sloughed himself eagerly onto his cot the instant he was in his tent. He groaned softly at the pain in his side, but at least he could say it was nothing compared to the burns the night before. He wondered if he should at least get his boots off before going to sleep, but sleep closed in entirely too quickly--though honestly quite blissfully; the anger at the sun had faded, the pain at his side dulled, and the relief of sinking into unconsciousness was indescribably sweet.
Whatever his dreams were, they eluded his memory as he awoke slowly and hazily to his body shifting to help his hand get into his pants. The captain didn't really think much of it--it would hardly be the first time he sleepily rubbed one out before starting his day, and although he couldn't remember his dreams, he could tell they'd been rife with that sort of energy.
Scattered scenes replayed through his mind with no regard for what was dream or memory or fantasy. The goddess’ hands around his throat; lightning coursing through him on the battlefield; the black velvet of the Underworld’s succulents caressing his leg; limbs tangling with the goddess’ over a broken table in the king’s castle in celebration of his demise. Evan was overflowing with sensations of excitement and pride and elation dancing with his desire and lust. He could practically feel the goddess’ lips against his ear, her breath sending tingles over skin, her voice whispering--
”Your next climax is mine,”
Panic shot through Evan’s body as he jolted to fully awake and jerked his hand from his pants, pulling a loud, angry groan from his throat, which quickly escalated to--
“FUCK!”
He sat up hastily and threw his pillow to the side; the impact briefly puffed the wall of his tent before the pillow flopped down to the ground. His cock twitched desperately against his pants, and the rest of his body shuddered in frustration and sensitivity while his mind frantically searched for what to do about this situation. He supposed it wouldn’t be the first time he’d be trying to manage a boner since this started, but it was going to be the first time he couldn’t do anything about it. Even going for a run was going to potentially be pretty fucking visible. Evan’s cheeks reddened at the thought.
Then again, pretty much everyone knew what was up now, right? They’d told all the captains, and given the all-clear to inform the troops, right? So, in that light, it wasn’t like he’d be sporting a boner with no context. Could he spin it that way? At least enough to feel confident going for a run?
Fuck it, yes, yes he could.
...Though the cut in his side might have different ideas. The captain groaned loudly as he pushed himself to his feet and felt the slash at his side tug at itself sharply. Maybe running wasn’t so wise. Fuck. He’d just have to do whatever else with a boner and hoped it calmed down on its own, then. Ughhhh.
Which, next thing on the docket was to check in with Mizu, he supposed; he had indeed gotten some rest. Not a full night’s worth by any means, but enough. At least she’d seemed uninterested in making a deal out of his similar state the other day, so hopefully that would hold true. Now, to walk over there.
First, he grabbed his new sword, and swapped it into his old sheath, respectfully discarding his old sword on the floor of his tent over where his pillow had dropped. To wit, he shook his pillow off and sloughed it back on his cot, not especially keen on explaining that particular thing should he need to grab anyone into his tent for a conversation today. Which, given the need to recruit volunteers, he might.
At least with his sword strapped to him, he felt much more confident. That was true in general, and the added knowledge that he carried with him something that he had personally crafted from thin air? Fuck yes. Let onlookers smirk about the bulge in his pants if they wanted to, then; he’d finally gotten his mind to a place where he wouldn’t give a fuck, thank gods.
With that, the captain assertively exited his tent and started making his way toward Mizu's head held high.
((OOC: he is free to be intercepted or not as desired; he's not wearing his "STAY AWAY" grump face at this point lol. I'm also assuming his boner isn't as obvious as he's imagining it is, but it *is* probably noticeable, if that's fun to play with. If he makes it to Mizu's without interruption, plz feel free to assume he requested permission to enter upon arriving and proceed from there.))
The captain sloughed himself eagerly onto his cot the instant he was in his tent. He groaned softly at the pain in his side, but at least he could say it was nothing compared to the burns the night before. He wondered if he should at least get his boots off before going to sleep, but sleep closed in entirely too quickly--though honestly quite blissfully; the anger at the sun had faded, the pain at his side dulled, and the relief of sinking into unconsciousness was indescribably sweet.
Whatever his dreams were, they eluded his memory as he awoke slowly and hazily to his body shifting to help his hand get into his pants. The captain didn't really think much of it--it would hardly be the first time he sleepily rubbed one out before starting his day, and although he couldn't remember his dreams, he could tell they'd been rife with that sort of energy.
Scattered scenes replayed through his mind with no regard for what was dream or memory or fantasy. The goddess’ hands around his throat; lightning coursing through him on the battlefield; the black velvet of the Underworld’s succulents caressing his leg; limbs tangling with the goddess’ over a broken table in the king’s castle in celebration of his demise. Evan was overflowing with sensations of excitement and pride and elation dancing with his desire and lust. He could practically feel the goddess’ lips against his ear, her breath sending tingles over skin, her voice whispering--
”Your next climax is mine,”
Panic shot through Evan’s body as he jolted to fully awake and jerked his hand from his pants, pulling a loud, angry groan from his throat, which quickly escalated to--
“FUCK!”
He sat up hastily and threw his pillow to the side; the impact briefly puffed the wall of his tent before the pillow flopped down to the ground. His cock twitched desperately against his pants, and the rest of his body shuddered in frustration and sensitivity while his mind frantically searched for what to do about this situation. He supposed it wouldn’t be the first time he’d be trying to manage a boner since this started, but it was going to be the first time he couldn’t do anything about it. Even going for a run was going to potentially be pretty fucking visible. Evan’s cheeks reddened at the thought.
Then again, pretty much everyone knew what was up now, right? They’d told all the captains, and given the all-clear to inform the troops, right? So, in that light, it wasn’t like he’d be sporting a boner with no context. Could he spin it that way? At least enough to feel confident going for a run?
Fuck it, yes, yes he could.
...Though the cut in his side might have different ideas. The captain groaned loudly as he pushed himself to his feet and felt the slash at his side tug at itself sharply. Maybe running wasn’t so wise. Fuck. He’d just have to do whatever else with a boner and hoped it calmed down on its own, then. Ughhhh.
Which, next thing on the docket was to check in with Mizu, he supposed; he had indeed gotten some rest. Not a full night’s worth by any means, but enough. At least she’d seemed uninterested in making a deal out of his similar state the other day, so hopefully that would hold true. Now, to walk over there.
First, he grabbed his new sword, and swapped it into his old sheath, respectfully discarding his old sword on the floor of his tent over where his pillow had dropped. To wit, he shook his pillow off and sloughed it back on his cot, not especially keen on explaining that particular thing should he need to grab anyone into his tent for a conversation today. Which, given the need to recruit volunteers, he might.
At least with his sword strapped to him, he felt much more confident. That was true in general, and the added knowledge that he carried with him something that he had personally crafted from thin air? Fuck yes. Let onlookers smirk about the bulge in his pants if they wanted to, then; he’d finally gotten his mind to a place where he wouldn’t give a fuck, thank gods.
With that, the captain assertively exited his tent and started making his way toward Mizu's head held high.
((OOC: he is free to be intercepted or not as desired; he's not wearing his "STAY AWAY" grump face at this point lol. I'm also assuming his boner isn't as obvious as he's imagining it is, but it *is* probably noticeable, if that's fun to play with. If he makes it to Mizu's without interruption, plz feel free to assume he requested permission to enter upon arriving and proceed from there.))
Re: Part 1
Idel was walking back toward the mess tent--gotta make sure to not go hungry--when he heard it.
"FUCK!"
He stopped dead in his tracks, looked around, and assessed the situation. It wasn't difficult to recognize Evan's voice, and after taking a moment to place the direction the shout had come from, Idel determined he had been correct. Yep, that definitely was Evan's tent.
Idel stood stock still in place, one hand halfway raised in mid-stride. He was certainly aware of the special mission Evan was on with the... the... well, whatever supernatural thing was going on around the camp. (Idel shivered internally for what felt like the thousandth time but then pleasantly recalled the feeling he had this morning upon waking--rather late--that everything was going to be all right. It had been nice to feel so reassured. Though Idel had managed to keep his spirits and the spirits of his retinue up, it was nice not to have to put in effort to do it.)
Managing to un-freeze himself, Idel took a step toward Evan's tent, figuring the most reasonable response was concern--but then again, this was Evan, and his expletives didn't always demand urgency. Idel leaned back. "Hmm..." he said, raising his fingers to his chin.
But then it was too late, and Evan was already out of the tent, sword slung into its sheath like the man had a purpose--and Idel was standing there in his path like an idiot.
"Oh, um, everything all right?" Idel asked, reaching up a hand to scratch errantly at the sun-bleached hair on the back of his head.
"FUCK!"
He stopped dead in his tracks, looked around, and assessed the situation. It wasn't difficult to recognize Evan's voice, and after taking a moment to place the direction the shout had come from, Idel determined he had been correct. Yep, that definitely was Evan's tent.
Idel stood stock still in place, one hand halfway raised in mid-stride. He was certainly aware of the special mission Evan was on with the... the... well, whatever supernatural thing was going on around the camp. (Idel shivered internally for what felt like the thousandth time but then pleasantly recalled the feeling he had this morning upon waking--rather late--that everything was going to be all right. It had been nice to feel so reassured. Though Idel had managed to keep his spirits and the spirits of his retinue up, it was nice not to have to put in effort to do it.)
Managing to un-freeze himself, Idel took a step toward Evan's tent, figuring the most reasonable response was concern--but then again, this was Evan, and his expletives didn't always demand urgency. Idel leaned back. "Hmm..." he said, raising his fingers to his chin.
But then it was too late, and Evan was already out of the tent, sword slung into its sheath like the man had a purpose--and Idel was standing there in his path like an idiot.
"Oh, um, everything all right?" Idel asked, reaching up a hand to scratch errantly at the sun-bleached hair on the back of his head.
Re: Part 1
Evan was startled at first to practically collide with someone right when he started on his way, but then some part of him wanted to laugh when he registered who. For all the other people he'd imagined having to deal with as he psyched himself up, Idel hadn't so much been on the radar. He supposed that really this was a relief, running smack dab into a reminder that the entire army camp was not in fact rife with mines for Evan to step on; as far as the other captains went, Dodd seemed pretty harmless, in that respect.
"Yeah, sorry." Evan answered, some of his relief and amusement playing across his face. He'd apologized before he realized why, but when he thought about it, he supposed Idel must've heard him snapping to attention before. That did trigger some embarrassment, but then again, he told himself, it wasn't like he hadn't cursed about stupid shit like tripping over his boots before, especially when he was tired, and surely no one in camp would fault him for being tired.
"Just woke up, you know how it is..." He was about to contemplate exiting the conversation, when he realized he wasn't sure how much Idel knew. His eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Has Mizu issued any updates yet today?"
"Yeah, sorry." Evan answered, some of his relief and amusement playing across his face. He'd apologized before he realized why, but when he thought about it, he supposed Idel must've heard him snapping to attention before. That did trigger some embarrassment, but then again, he told himself, it wasn't like he hadn't cursed about stupid shit like tripping over his boots before, especially when he was tired, and surely no one in camp would fault him for being tired.
"Just woke up, you know how it is..." He was about to contemplate exiting the conversation, when he realized he wasn't sure how much Idel knew. His eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Has Mizu issued any updates yet today?"
Re: Part 1
Okay. Yeah, that was definitely embarrassment. Little pinking there, uh-huh.
At least it set Idel's nerves at ease. Wow, he hadn't realized how tired he had become of being so alert. Maybe he should cut back a little on how many watches he was taking.
Wait, but Evan.
Just woke up, you know how it is...
Idel's eyebrows raised as that sensation from when he woke up this morning rushed suddenly back through him. Quicker. He couldn't help it; he looked down at Evan's pants.
And, yep, there it was. Uh. Well. They didn't tell teenage stories about that goddess for nothing.
Idel looked away, pinking a little himself but recovering after shifting one of his legs a little. It helped when Evan changed the subject. As he settled back into his role as captain with the mention of Mizu's name, Idel became more comfortable, his expression even making some attempts toward serious, though he couldn't ever keep a slight smile off his face.
"She sent a runner around to say there would be another captain's meeting tomorrow but not much more than that." Idel let that hang in the air for a moment. He didn't want to monopolize Evan's time--the man was wearing big socks now--but Idel was curious.
"So... my men have been asking a lot of questions I don't have answers for. Which is, you know, what I tell them. Would you mind fielding a couple for me?"
Idel looked at Evan to see if there were any immediate objections before adding, "Yesterday, Nick asked me if I would tell him one of the myths of Dehaljadrun." Idel shrugged. "It's been a while since I heard one of the stories myself."
At least it set Idel's nerves at ease. Wow, he hadn't realized how tired he had become of being so alert. Maybe he should cut back a little on how many watches he was taking.
Wait, but Evan.
Just woke up, you know how it is...
Idel's eyebrows raised as that sensation from when he woke up this morning rushed suddenly back through him. Quicker. He couldn't help it; he looked down at Evan's pants.
And, yep, there it was. Uh. Well. They didn't tell teenage stories about that goddess for nothing.
Idel looked away, pinking a little himself but recovering after shifting one of his legs a little. It helped when Evan changed the subject. As he settled back into his role as captain with the mention of Mizu's name, Idel became more comfortable, his expression even making some attempts toward serious, though he couldn't ever keep a slight smile off his face.
"She sent a runner around to say there would be another captain's meeting tomorrow but not much more than that." Idel let that hang in the air for a moment. He didn't want to monopolize Evan's time--the man was wearing big socks now--but Idel was curious.
"So... my men have been asking a lot of questions I don't have answers for. Which is, you know, what I tell them. Would you mind fielding a couple for me?"
Idel looked at Evan to see if there were any immediate objections before adding, "Yesterday, Nick asked me if I would tell him one of the myths of Dehaljadrun." Idel shrugged. "It's been a while since I heard one of the stories myself."
Re: Part 1
The light pink on Evan's cheeks darkened when Idel's gaze flickered downward, but Evan supposed he couldn't fault the guy just for noticing. Besides, there was a bit of pink blooming on Idel's cheeks about it, too, which made Evan feel like this was a mostly even footing sort of conversation, at least, especially since Idel got right back to business.
Evan nodded at the news that Mizu had only announced a meeting so far. He tried to pull back up the memory of his conversation with her this morning, but the specifics were hazy. Should he report in before sharing more about the next stage of things, or would Mizu appreciate him getting some balls rolling?
While he was contemplating that, Idel mentioned Nick had asked to hear a myth about the goddess, and Evan raised his eyebrow, his smile also widening a bit in the same moment. From what Evan knew of Nick, he liked him, and couldn't help being amused at the thought of regaling him with lurid tales of the Demon Queen. Though, like most fantasies, the thought was pretty contextualized, and the context of instead regaling Idel with such a tale right here in front of his tent was somehow less appealing, though he supposed not the worst thing in the world.
Evan shrugged, somewhat mirroring his fellow captain's motion from the moment before.
"Honestly, it had been a long time since I'd heard any stories about her myself, before this all started. And most of what I did hear way back when was just, y'know..." Evan reached up and rubbed at his hair as he trailed off, wondering how he really wanted to finish that sentence. His blush was darkening again, as the thought crossed his mind that, when he really thought about it, probably quite a lot of the stories he'd "heard" about Dehaljadrun before were in fact fantasies he'd made up in his own head. Not all of them were, but it honestly might be tricky to sort out which was which.
"I'm probably better off answering questions about what I know now, rather than spreading around teenage fantasies." Though, he couldn't help a quick, airy chuckle before continuing, "Not that she's terribly different than expected, in that regard." Evan paused there and gauged Idel's expression. Even though he'd inquired, Evan didn't feel confident how in comfortable Idel would really be treading further here, or in what direction would be most comfortable to tread.
Evan nodded at the news that Mizu had only announced a meeting so far. He tried to pull back up the memory of his conversation with her this morning, but the specifics were hazy. Should he report in before sharing more about the next stage of things, or would Mizu appreciate him getting some balls rolling?
While he was contemplating that, Idel mentioned Nick had asked to hear a myth about the goddess, and Evan raised his eyebrow, his smile also widening a bit in the same moment. From what Evan knew of Nick, he liked him, and couldn't help being amused at the thought of regaling him with lurid tales of the Demon Queen. Though, like most fantasies, the thought was pretty contextualized, and the context of instead regaling Idel with such a tale right here in front of his tent was somehow less appealing, though he supposed not the worst thing in the world.
Evan shrugged, somewhat mirroring his fellow captain's motion from the moment before.
"Honestly, it had been a long time since I'd heard any stories about her myself, before this all started. And most of what I did hear way back when was just, y'know..." Evan reached up and rubbed at his hair as he trailed off, wondering how he really wanted to finish that sentence. His blush was darkening again, as the thought crossed his mind that, when he really thought about it, probably quite a lot of the stories he'd "heard" about Dehaljadrun before were in fact fantasies he'd made up in his own head. Not all of them were, but it honestly might be tricky to sort out which was which.
"I'm probably better off answering questions about what I know now, rather than spreading around teenage fantasies." Though, he couldn't help a quick, airy chuckle before continuing, "Not that she's terribly different than expected, in that regard." Evan paused there and gauged Idel's expression. Even though he'd inquired, Evan didn't feel confident how in comfortable Idel would really be treading further here, or in what direction would be most comfortable to tread.