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

[reverso]

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

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[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.]

[crimsin]

[ Hm. ]

"Mostly"?

[reverso]

[Mostly.]

There are others who live here. A young girl and an older man. He's mostly the problem, but he'll do what's absolutely necessary to keep anyone from reaching the Paintress.

Needless to say, we don't want to run into him.

[crimsin]

Duly noted! Thank you, mon ami. Rest assured I will help in any way that I can. I can be quite the charmer when it comes to bartering!

[ Citation needed. ]

[reverso]

[He doesn't have a real reason to feel dubious about that, but he is.]

Ah, but you've never bartered with a Gestral. Hope you like a good fight to go along with your shopping.

[crimsin]

Oh! Well, so long as it is in good fun and we can battle in the shade, I do not mind!

[ He can probably hold his own against a Gestral! Whatever that is! ]

[reverso]

Ha, you'll fit right in, then.

[He probably can hold his own against a Gestral, except maybe Golgra. Though maybe even her, who knows.]

In which case, that can be our first stop. It's about a day's journey north from here, so we'll have to make camp sometime before then.

[crimsin]

Of course, mon ami. I will defer to you as the expert on this place. And as my ride.

[ Because right now, he's not going anywhere without Verso's help. ]

[reverso]

As the one doing all the hard work of walking, right?

[But he's joking. He doesn't mind, and he's used to traveling long distances via hoofin' it. Though that might not be a viable solution in the long term, they'll cross that bridge when they get there.

For now, northward! Thankfully, it's a relatively peaceful trek, and Verso will entertain Nico with any further idle chatter. But when hours pass and the sun finally falls below the horizon line, pushing twilight across the land, he finds them both a camping spot beneath the overhang of a steep slope.]

Okay, I need a breather now.

[crimsin]

[ Once they've stopped and the sun has finally dipped out of sight, Nico finally wriggles free of Verso's pocket, assuming his true form once again. He stretches his long limbs, the last of the fading light glinting off the rapier he caries at his hip, the red gem embedded in its hilt. ]

Of course, mon ami. Take all of the time you need. If you like, I can gather wood for a fire.

[reverso]

[He had noted the weapon before, of course; it's hard to miss a blade like that, much less one that reminds him of his sister. But the notion had flown from his mind for how long Nico had been spending in bat-form and in his pocket, but now that he's man-shaped again, he thinks to question it. Out of curiosity, of course.]

If you don't mind. I suspect with a blade like that at your side, you'll be prepared for any nasty surprises while you're out gathering. [Not that Verso would just leave him... alone to be attacked.] Or do vampires use chroma, too?

[crimsin]

[ He gives the sword a pat with one hand, grinning broadly. He doesn't present himself very much like someone who knows what he's doing, so the question causes no offense. ]

Oui, this trusty blade of mine has seen me through many a battle. Ah, but... what is chroma? I wield magic, as do most vampires. Is it something like that?