OPEN POST; [ VERSO / CLAIR OBSCUR: EXPEDITION 33 ]

[reverso]

(( verso's not even in the party yet but this is such a jam ))

Comments

[reverso]

[That seems to surprise him, and he halts his walking briefly, looking down at his squeaky pocket.]

Help? Aren’t you more concerned about finding your way back home?

[crimsin]

[ Nico looks back up. There's something kind of comical about such a serious look on the face of a bat. ]

I cannot ignore this injustice. Human life is already perilously short. Having your years stolen from you is a cruelty I will not abide.

[reverso]

[Has he ever seen a bat look so serious? Well, of course not. But more staggering than that is the sentiment itself. This stranger, who claims to be from a different land altogether—impossible as that should be—is offering help so soon after hearing about what ails this world?]

That's very noble of you.

[But it is such a quick offer that he wonders if this is a subject Nico already feels fervently about.]

But I'd have to be honest... You offer your help, and the only way to do so would be to put yourself at risk. Many previous Expeditions who hail from Lumière have already failed, ending in their deaths.

[crimsin]

[ Humanity never ceases to astound him. Faced with the impossible, still they fight. It moves him every time. ]

Perhaps then you need something unpredictable, non? Something new? Besides, I have not survived these last three centuries by being easy to kill.

[reverso]

[The want to survive and keep going is admirable, isn't it? To circumvent the reality of death at every turn.]

Hm. Maybe you're right. But... three centuries? Really? Vampires live that long?

[Undead, perhaps?]

[crimsin]

Oh, much longer than that! I am thirteen hundred years old, all told. Three centuries is how long I have spent living with humans, helping them fight for the betterment of our world.

[ If nothing else, it’s probably nice to know that Nico has combat experience? ]

[reverso]

Thirteen hundred?

[Shit. That is far more than he expected.]

You really are old.

[help sorry that's his takeaway for now]

[crimsin]

Rude!

[ In Verso's pocket, Nico flails, though not enough to accidentally dislodge himself. ]

I will have you know that I am very young and spry!

[reverso]

[He pats down his pocket as if calming the little bat in there.]

Sorry, but once you're over a thousand, young and spry are not words used to describe a person. I don't make the rules.

[crimsin]

Do not measure me by human standards! It is unfair!

[ MEAN VERSO. ]

[reverso]

[HE'S LEARNING THAT NICO IS EASY TO BULLY. HE'S JUST POKING FUN]

You look good for your age. How about that?

[crimsin]

[ Long pause. Have you ever seen a bat pout before? ]

Fine, I will accept it, if only because you are human and do not know any better.

[reverso]

[He pauses, wondering if he should offer this, but then figures there's no harm-]

I might be human, but I'm rather old for one, too. I think I have the authority to recognize a fellow elderly person when I see one.

[crimsin]

[ Nico shifts again, looking up at Verso from his spot in his pocket as best he can. ]

Is that so? You look quite young to me. How old are you really?

[reverso]

[Yes, look at this scruffy dirty scarred face.]

I'm a hundred.

[Holds up a finger as he walks.]

And before you ask how, you can blame the Paintress for that.

[crimsin]

[ Nico only chuckles, small and batty and squeaky. ]

Then allow me to say you look very good for your age, as well, mon ami.

[reverso]

[Pfft.]

Just minutes into our acquaintanceship and you're already using flattery against me. Well. I'll take the compliment.

[He is, in fact, a little vain, even if it's a moot point these days. It's nice to hear after these... very long years.]

So, what's it like, fighting for humans for three centuries? You said it was for the betterment of your world?

[crimsin]

Oui, that is right. Vampires have been the ones in power since time immemorial. Humanity bears the unfortunate burdens of being servant and food source both to my people. It is an injustice I hope to see set right one day.

It is not an easy road, nor a short one, but very worthwhile. I walk it gladly.

[ You know, after he helps with this whole mess he's now in. ]

[reverso]

[Damn. A truly noble heart in this one. For a moment, he hardly knows what to say.]

I imagine that's not a very popular stance among your fellows. How's it working out for you so far?

[Three centuries is a long time to make change, or... to face failure over and over again.]

[crimsin]

Not very popular at all! I am in exile for my beliefs.

[ Another one of those squeaky bat-laughs. He's clearly not very broken up about it. ]

It is better, in recent years. I grow more hopeful by the day.

[reverso]

Merde. Exile? I'm sorry to hear it, even if it sounds as though you're not sorry to have made that decision.

[And yet here Nico is, still, willing to take up another cause in a world that doesn't even belong to him. To aid people he doesn't know, with the understanding that he'd be saving them.

Ah, fuck.]

...You know, as much as I appreciate your offer to help, it would be a shame for you to risk life and limb here when you have such a big calling awaiting you back home. Are you sure this is what you want to do?

[crimsin]

I would never forgive myself if I were to ignore your plight. Please, let me help.

[ This is definitely totally fine. ]

[reverso]

[Sure. 🥲

It's fine, totally fine, and he tells himself it's fine, too. He gave Nico a chance to change his mind, and if Verso feels guilty about it later (and during), then really, what else is new? Just one more layer atop many.

So he's silent only for a moment before affecting a shrug.]

Right. If you're so set on it, I'm not fool enough to turn you down. [ ... ] Guess we'll be doing our best work at night, hm?

[crimsin]

That would be ideal, though if you have the means to provide me with enough coverings, I can make due during the day. It is more risky, however.

[ A hooded cloak is all well and good, but if something pulls it off him, then he's reduced to so much ash on the wind. ]

Will you tell me more about the perils we must face in this place?

[reverso]

Right. A cloak might do you go just in case, besides. Perhaps we'll pay the Gestral Village a visit, barter for an item or two. It's been a while.

[For him, he means. As for the question-]

As for perils, well. It's the Nevrons, like I said. Mostly.

[Mostly.]