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trailblazers2024-02-12 01:07 pm
receptacles) wrote in trailblazers2024-02-12 01:07 pm
receptacles) wrote in trailblazers2024-02-12 01:07 pm
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It's Caelus's own fault for chasing after the knight after realizing that something went wrong, but one way or another, he got caught up in the malfunctioned warp, and now he's stuck with Argenti on some other planet entirely. His reception is spotty out here. He's managed to make enough contact with the Express crew that he knows they escaped the nightmare beetles just fine, and everyone's okay; it's just that they're all stuck looking for him and Argenti now, and that's a problem.
The planet they're on doesn't seem so bad, though. It's not as cold as Jarilo-VI, or as futuristic as the Space Station and the Xianzhou Luofu; it actually appears to be largely uninhabited by humans, which is a little interesting. But he and Argenti have set up camp in what appears to be a lush forest, with relatively non-aggressive birds and bees and bears out in the woods. Their tent is by a riverbank, so they've got fresh, running water, and Argenti even managed to find his (overly fancy, if you asked Caelus) spacecraft, the One and Only, so they have some extra supplies.
(The engine's busted, though, so they can't use it to leave the planet. They're just going to have to wait and see if the Astral Express can pick up Caelus's SOS coordinates before his phone runs out of battery.
Mercifully, yes: the Trailblazer has a battery pack, and if that fails, he can use the juice out of his electric bat to charge his phone, too. Thank you, Herta, for the random Curio, the provenance of which he has never quite been able to get out of her.)
Anyway, they're surviving. It's less camping than glamping, since they're relatively comfortable in a lot of ways. If this goes on longer than a few weeks, Caelus might have to hunt a deer or something and figure out how to cook it, but they have plenty of creature comforts. Argenti has food in the One and Only's pantry, and also salt and pepper, so if he does have to hunt a deer they can at least season the meat, and for now, no animals are being harmed in the course of this thread. Argenti likes hard bread, so Caelus is buttering a thick, crusty slice for him while the knight is, uh... bathing in the river.
Does the redhead generate his own sparkles, or is that just the sun bouncing off the river's clear surface? Caelus wonders. Maybe he's staring for a bit too long at Argenti's naked body, but really, he's not currently entertaining lustful thoughts. He's really just wondering. Where do the sparkles come from? How does Argenti survive things that really ought to kill him? ]
Argenti, food's ready.
[ Caelus sets the bread down on a plate. Yes, they have plates, and a table, and chairs. Again: they're basically glamping. ]
But take your time. It's not like it's hot.
i am so sorry for writing a gd novel smh
That lunge had been exactly where it was meant to be, lance like a single beacon of light in a flood of darkness. He had struck, fully intending for the Express to be launched out of the beast's stomach and the passengers aboard brought to safety. And yet, somehow, he'd felt the tug of the warp drive of the Express and saw Caelus running towards him, concern clearly on his face-
All of this has led them both to be somewhat stranded here, on this planet. He doesn't mind. It simply means Idrila has willed it that their friendship is meant to bloom like the roses Argenti is so familiar with. And who is he to deny his Aeon's will?
Still, it's obvious that he's accustomed to traveling in solitude- that was the ways of the Knights of Beauty, after all. To hold oneself to the Code of Chivalry demands sacrifice in many ways, to hone and keep one's sense of self focused on the true nature of Beauty and all its forms. Even cleansing himself in a river on a strange planet, there is no shame nor any sense of need for privacy in anything he does. One may be humiliated by the scars they carry from battle, but his journey is one that is built upon visiting death's door time and time again, just to catch a glimpse of Idrila. So for a man like Argenti, the scars he bears are many.
(His last companion had gone down the same path as he and had succumbed to madness, Argenti mercifully ending his suffering upon their last encounter. It is a memory of joy and of sadness all in the same breadth. He can't help but wonder, sometimes- will his journey on the Path of Beauty end in the same way?)
Their resources, thankfully, aren't limited. With both the environment open to them as well as things from the One and Only, they've more than enough to keep themselves comfortable. Of course, Argenti knows how to survive without the extras and do well enough on his own, but with Caelus along for the ride, there also comes certain risks. The Trailblazer is not the same as he is- what Argenti needs to live off of may be too little or too much compared to the other's needs. It is a careful yet precarious balance that needs to be kept until the Express can find them both and get them out of there.
With bathing out of the way, Argenti returns to dress himself, choosing to leave part of his armor off while his hair dries. But hearing his companion say his name causes his face to practically light up in response, his smile wide.] Your kindness truly touches me, Caelus, and I thank you for it.
[There is not an ounce of insincerity in his voice, he truly means what he says. He watches the other, finding his seat and taking the plate with the bread. One hand brings his long hair to the side and on his shoulder as he bites into his food, thinking, grateful they have food and can easily find more if necessary.
Still, he's noticed something.]
...my friend. [Argenti speaks, eyes searching as if to find a silent answer to a question never asked. Despite his ridiculousness, he likes to think he's decent at reading people.] You can speak of your troubles to me. What ails you?
[Because they're friends now, and this is what friends do, right? Of course it is!]
don't be sorry! i love big tag
The Trailblazer clears his throat, putting the lid back on their little tub of butter. It'll have to go back into the fridge on the One and Only. ]
Oh, uh... nothing. Was just... looking at you.
[ ...That sounds bad. Quickly, Caelus passes a hand over his cheeks; they don't feel hot, though, so he assumes he's not blushing. (He might still be blushing.) He turns away. Is he being evasive? Maybe... but it's not because he doesn't trust Argenti!
Swiftly, he moves on. ]
I can't get in touch with the Express, so they're probably not coming today. It usually doesn't take longer than a week for the Express to get anywhere in the universe... but I guess we'll be together for a little while longer.
[ Curious, Caelus cocks his head to one side just slightly. ]
You wanna do anything in the meantime? Go around and explore?
[ Because they're friends! And... Caelus usually just kind of goes around exploring with his friends! ]
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I see. However long it takes, know that I will stay by your side as a knight, and as your friend. [There's a nod as he finishes the slice of bread, swallowing before he continues.] The Express will find us soon enough, and I'm certain your friends miss you terribly.
[But when the Trailblazer offers to go check things out on the planet, Argenti's grin widens, and he looks both enamored as well as excited.]
First, you honor our friendship with accepting my request to fight you, to prove your valor. And now you would invite me to journey alongside you in exploration? Words cannot say how much I would be honored to do so.
[In other words, yes! Because at least this way, they can stretch their legs and see what all the planet has to offer.]
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The Trailblazer also doesn't need words to see how Argenti lights up at the prospect of a bit of exploration. He... likes this kind of thing, doesn't he? If he weren't sworn to Idrila, he'd probably make a fine Nameless. Fortunately, Akivili's followers do not need to proselytize, and so Caelus doesn't really need to extend a formal invitation. It's not about the paths they follow — it's just about having a good time for a little while. ]
Yeah. Why not, you know? You can handle yourself, I can handle myself... and the creatures in our immediate surroundings don't seem too dangerous.
[ At least on the surface. It's more than possible they might run into danger deeper in the forest, but that's a problem for Future Caelus to handle.
Caelus strokes his chin sagely as he regards the pretty, idyllic scenery around them, and as he bites into a mouthful of buttered bread, he adds (talking around the food in his mouth, which gives his voice a slightly muffled quality): ]
There might be treasure.
[ Everybody loves treasure, right? ...Even Argenti? ...To be fair, the man finds the beauty even in potted plants, so maybe he's not so interested in treasure. But. ]
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It's no surprise to him, then, how Caelus seems to understand him in more ways than one. Ah, what a beautiful blessing! Exploration may not be the thing Argenti enjoys most (that would be proclaiming the Beauty of Idrila and saving others), but it comes with a certain excitement you can't always find from walking the path of Beauty. You see new things, talk with new people, learn about culture and history all at the same time. Argenti would have been a fantastic Nameless but also endless chaos incarnate, as his entire self would have to be a thing other people would have to deal with on a consistent basis.
There's a brow raise as Caelus talks with his mouth full, and Argenti holds in a bit of a laugh at the sight. Treasure is something he comes across in so many ways, and it's definitely not the same kind of treasure the other is thinking- but he doesn't need to get that. The path of Beauty is one that is riddled with so many things, he would be remiss if he turned his gaze to only one thing at a time.]
An adventure awaits, then. [His eyes are bright, and Argenti stands, hands going to his hair and lazily combing through it. He'll have time to fix it later, when the two of them are off this planet and back on their respective ships. With that out of the way, he wanders back to the rest of his armor and begins reattaching it piece by piece.] Though we've yet to run into trouble, I've no doubt there will be something awaiting us. As your fellow knight and your friend, I will protect you as much as I am able.
[Argenti, please, you already stabbed a bug's stomach and look where that got you both. Could you not.]
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You don't have to protect me. [ He says this very confidently. ] I'll protect you.
[ Which — sure, they've talked about it, and yes, Caelus accepts it. He accepts that self-sacrifice is part of Argenti's creed, his oath, his mission, his life goal. That being said, as a friend, he doesn't have to enable it, now does he?
Caelus really doesn't like the thought of watching Argenti suffer, especially not on his behalf. Even if he'd probably suffer beautifully.
So. Well. Because he's feeling silly, and also because Argenti's been doing this sort of thing on and off for the past day or so anyway — Caelus approaches Argenti as he's getting dressed, and sinks to one knee, as if he is an actor on a stage, about to deliver a pensive monologue. With the appropriate amount of dramatic fervor, he reaches to take one of Argenti's hands — the one that has just carded through his hair and probably smells like roses for it — and opines at him beseechingly: ]
Lord Argenti, most peerless among knights.
[ He's absolutely mirroring Argenti himself here, although he can't quite seem to get the hang of that thing Argenti does, where he swears he hears choirs sing every time the man says something exceptionally delusional. ]
You are stronger than the winter thorn, yet even more beautiful, more evanescent than the fleeting blooms of spring. How could I ask you to defend me, when it is I who should defend you? What value our friendship, if I would not lay down my life for you in turn?
[ Maybe there are no choirs singing, but Caelus's attempt at this is surely worth a disembodied and improbable spotlight casting him in elegant silhouette...! Somehow... ]
the literal SOUND i MADE at your tag
...but... this is not anything he's used to or expecting, and it shows. It shows in how he turns and actually blinks at hearing Caelus say this to him, surprise clear in his face. Of course as he listens, that surprise soon enough turns to flustered as he hears his friend recite rhetoric back at him, the knight absolutely caught off-guard by it.
At the end of it all, despite no choir and no true spotlight on him, Argenti sees everything done as beautiful, especially Caelus's effort. Something soft crosses his eyes, touched by this gesture, and he exhales in amusement.]
Caelus. [His other hand goes and covers the Trailblazer's, and Argenti can't help but smile.] Rise, my friend. [He understands what the other means, even if it was in this roundabout way. He can keep to his Code of Chivalry- but Caelus also wants him to still be careful and concerned about his own safety. And so long as they are together on this unknown planet, that's how he'll have to be.
With the last piece of his armor bound into place, he watches the scenery around them for a minute before deciding to speak again.]
I shall grab my things, and you, yours. [A pause, and his hand reaches over to grab the crimson lance he's fought with since the first day he was truly a part of the Knights of Beauty. He looks back towards his friend, smile wide.] Then, let us venture onward, and you and I will protect each other.
[Just as Caelus asked.]
good!!!!!
He allows Argenti to pull him to his feet, grinning as he takes up his bat (at some point he polishes off the last of their bread, too) to prepare to venture off into the wilderness.
Despite the dubious nature of Caelus's origins, he really is a Trailblazer through and through. He's awfully excited just to explore a forest. He stretches his back and shoulders out as he walks, windmilling his arms to ensure that he's loose and limber for any fights that might happen. But then, uh... given the fact that creatures don't seem to be lurking in these woods, maybe the worst that'll happen is that they wrestle a bear?
Caelus flashes a grin over his shoulder at Argenti, feeling sunny and confident. ]
Alright. So, is there any direction you want to go in? Because I was thinking, we should either follow the river upstream or downstream. That way, we definitely won't get lost.
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The question asked of him, however, is a good one to start with- and Argenti takes a moment to think. Were he on his own, the direction wouldn't matter in the slightest, as he'd be able to deal with anything that came across his path. But in considering the situation for both of them...]
I believe either direction will prove fruitful in discovering more about this planet. However- [Here he thinks, lance to his side momentarily.] Upstream may lead to a higher vantage point, so that we can see more for this exploration of ours.
[The more ground covered, or even seen, the better an ideal they'll get about what exactly they might expect as they continue on.
The knight returns Caelus's grin back eagerly, amused.] Perhaps we may even find a direction to go towards that your friends may be able to reach you.
[And that would be a boon for them both, at this rate.]
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[ Caelus does really like exploring uncharted territory. Fitting, one might suppose, for a Trailblazer of the Astral Express to enjoy the process of trailblazing. He's careful to not rush too far ahead of Argenti, but as they make their way up the riverbank together, he jogs ahead every now and then, excited to see what this seemingly beautiful and tranquil planet holds for them.
They'll see it before they're close enough to enter it, of course. They'll hear it before they can see it, too. The more that Argenti and Caelus walk upstream, the more they'll hear the rushing of a waterfall nearby. Turns out the stream they were camped at is being fed by a larger waterfall. It's positively beautiful: wildflowers and bushes dot the landscape, fish gleam as they swim along the riverbed. ]
Wow... This is gorgeous!
[ This is actually Caelus's first time seeing a waterfall, or at least one that isn't frozen over — Belobog looks like it might have had a few in the hinterlands before the Freeze. Regardless, though, the knight and the Trailblazer will now face a dilemme: where to go from here?
It looks like there might be a hidden cave behind one side of the waterfall... that's always fun.
On the other side of the waterfall, though, there's... an entire cottage. Just. A beautiful wooden cottage with some flowers in the window and a sign out front in a language that their synesthesia beacons will tell them reads Help Wanted.
Caelus puts his hands on his hips, frowning at the scene. ]
...Huh. Do you think someone lives here?