[Video]

[whatwas]

[Ah, the monthly saga continues. The PCD switches on to reveal Horst, and a tray of food.]

Hello again, gentle viewers. I thought in light of this latest event, it was fitting to show you the proper care and feeding of a Johannes Cabal. The most important thing, especially when you lot are out wandering from dream to dream, is not to let him sleep too much.

Since he is always armed to the teeth with either magic or a very heavy gun, I suggest bringing him a peace offering. [He gestures at the food.]

Remember, never attempt this without supervision.

[He manages to balance the tray, carry the PCD, and go down to the basement lab without spilling a drop.]

Good morning, baby brother, and please do note it is not actually morning. Not that you would know since you haven't--

[The room is empty. All of Johannes's carefully gathered supplies, his clothes, his Gladstone bag, gone.

The tray of food is the first to clatter, and then the only sound just before the PCD is shut off is a disbelieving whimper.]



[Horst won't be answering anything on the PCD for a while. Feel free to find him offline but he, well, won't be anywhere near the church, he'll just be around the woods and on rooftops. Also if you happen to live at the church you would probably have heard noises from the basement. That was not in fact a pack of moose, just Horst. Destroyin' shit before he left. Like ya do.]

Comments

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[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[Horst had made his way there because it was quiet, out of the way, and abandoned. He heard Rhode coming a second before he smelled her, but he stayed hidden in the shadows for a while longer.

He knew that appearing without so much as a smile was telling, but trying for even a polite one exhausted him. So he simply stepped out into the solid world, and watched her approach.]

[Offline]

[dreams-are-mine.livejournal.com]

[He stopped when she spotted him, paused with one toe just touching the flagstones midstep, her head tilted to give him a long stare. After a moment she settled her foot down and rocked on her heels, clasping her hands behind her.]

I saw. [His post. That's all she needs to say about it.]

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He nods, gaze sliding away from her as if he can't seem to look at anything for long.

Without asking, he moves to stand with her, to accompany her on the walk.]

[Offline]

[dreams-are-mine.livejournal.com]

[Rhode doesn't reach out to take his hand or give him contact or comfort at all. If she were him she wouldn't want comfort, she'd want to kill everyone. She'd want blood. And so she walks along the cobbles, kicking aside leaves and stopping in front of a dried, ornate fountain--There are lanterns around the plaza, and she wanders to each, seeing if her candle will light it.]

[It works for most of them, and the effect is beautiful, ethereal. The way only elves could craft.]

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[The lack of contact is in fact what he needs, or at the very least what he wants. He feels disconnected, and it's easier that way; he doesn't want to be grounded right now, he doesn't want to be reminded.

He blinks up at the courtyard, with just the barest traces of amazement in his eyes. His throat hurts, but he swallows and manages a hoarse voice:]

What is all this?

[Offline]

[dreams-are-mine.livejournal.com]

[Rhode sits on the edge of the fountain when she's done, admiring the craftsmanship, the way the courtyard lights up revealing more details of the excellent stonework--it's probably supposed to be a place for parties and dancing. And while it's beautiful, it seems empty and alone. Abandoned. Fitting, really.]

[She picks up a dried leaf from the fountain, twirling it in her fingers.]

I don't know. I've never been here. It feels lonely, though.

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

I should follow you around more often, then.

[It's what he would normally have said, but it's clear he's just saying it because he knows he should; it lacks any conviction or teasing.

He falls silent, and busies himself with examining the area, cleaning out the leaves to find where water might fill the fountain. It's becoming just warm enough for some of the heartier plants to begin to bloom. They're probably weeds, but the purple blossoms are still flowers. He pulls them out from between the cracks in the walkway, and tucks one of the few in tact ones behind Rhode's ear.]

...You know, everything I was going to do doesn't mean a thing now. Not a damn thing.

[Offline]

[dreams-are-mine.livejournal.com]

You should. [Rhode watches him calmly, kicking her feet back and forth over the fountain's edge. The privilege of being short is always getting to swing your legs when you sit on things.]

[She reaches a hand up to touch the flower, tilting her head into it.]

No. [She agrees. His plans are defunct now, that's clear. She's not going to candy coat it and try to make him feel better.] Horst~ He's going to die some day.

[What will you do then?]

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

He's a necromancer. If he succeeds, he'll live as long as I will. Longer, probably. [Again that falling away gaze.] And if he fails...he won't have any reason to live anyway.

But he's not dead, he just--he's gone. [Again.

There are so many things on top of it, but those are the things that stick in his throat and refuse to be said.]

Can people live forever, Rhode? It's such a long time...so many things happen in just one lifetime that destroy so many people. Is it even possible for a person to live forever and still--still be who they are?

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[dreams-are-mine.livejournal.com]

Mm. [She swings her legs some more, looking down at her shoes as they bounce off the stone fountain.]

[She has nothing to say about Johannes being gone. Horst's going to miss him, that's that. And she wont' try to pry out the other things he wants to say. She can answer the question though.]

To stay the same? It'd impossible. [No hesitation.] You wouldn't want to. It hurts too much. [She looks up from her shoes, giving Horst a level stare.]

I don't really remember who I was, seven thousand years ago. But I don't think I'd want to be that person again. If you can't change... You'll just age. [She crumples the leaf in her fingers and scatters the dust.]

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Mm. I thought so.

[Strangely he doesn't sound either defeated or resentful; it's just a fact that he has noted, nothing more. He sits beside her and dusts his hands off. It takes some concentration to get the mud out from under his fingernails.]

If I somehow adapt to be more like you, I don't think I'd mind it.

Was Tyki always like he is?

[Offline]

[dreams-are-mine.livejournal.com]

[Rhode shakes her head emphatically.]

Just this time.

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

That's too bad. I rather like him as he is.

[Offline]

[dreams-are-mine.livejournal.com]

So do I!

[She likes him however he is, really.]

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He laughs softly, and without much feeling, but cut him some slack.]

I hope he stays how he is for a long time, then.

Does everyone forget after enough time? Do any members of your family remember who they were a thousand years ago?

[Offline]

[dreams-are-mine.livejournal.com]

[She's not judging. Why should she?]

Mm. [She leans her elbows on her knees, chin in her hands.] Some remember. But it's complicated.

[She doesn't want to talk about it. Why most of them have damaged memories, even her.]

What will you do now?

Re: [Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

I don't know.

[That sounded more desolate than he intended, so he adds:]

I haven't thought that far ahead. I'm still trying to....

[Offline]

[dreams-are-mine.livejournal.com]

[Rhode swings her legs again, silent for a while. She still hasn't decided how she feels about Horst--he spoils her and he's not human and he's a lot like Tyki. She likes him. But she doesn't know how much. For all her talk of having to learn to change, she's so old and set in her ways that she doesn't really adapt to change as well as she pretends.]

You don't have to think ahead.

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Fortunately for me.

[He exhales softly and leans back on his hands, balancing in a way a human wouldn't be able to. It allows him to look up past the soft glow of the lanterns.]

Maybe I'll go on a trip with Tyki or something. Poor bastard seems stressed, too.

[Offline]

[dreams-are-mine.livejournal.com]

[There is the slightest hesitation. Tyki is a concerning subject for Rhode right now, something delicate and painful, but she won't ever show it or acknowledge it. She's scared she's losing him somehow, and that shouldn't even be possible.]

Where would you both go?

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Mm, don't know yet. Maybe just out for a camping trip.

[He noted that hesitation, and he looks at her with a small frown.]

Nothing to worry about. It's not like I could drag him out and kill him, even if I were that sort of vampire.

[Offline]

[dreams-are-mine.livejournal.com]

[She kicks at his leg, not exactly lightly.] Of course you couldn't. [She huffs it, as if that were a ridiculous notion.]

[And then, switching track.] It's not really going to get better.

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He winces, but accept it. Maybe he's becoming a masochist in his undead years.]

What isn't?

[Offline]

[dreams-are-mine.livejournal.com]

[What's a little beating between friends?]

The loneliness. It'll always be there until you see him again. [She's really cheering, isn't she?]

You may forget it sometimes though.

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[It may not be what other people would tell her is wise to say, but it's the truth, and Horst--despite his flaws--respects honesty. It's the only thing he wants right now.]

Is it that way with you?