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?
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.
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.]
[ 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.
[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?
[ 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?
[Carrying a blade like that implies he must know what he's doing to some degree, at least. A rapier is not an easy weapon to wield, requiring dexterity and finesse. He doesn't think he'd ever be able to become incredibly proficient in the art.]
Magic is a good enough word for it. It's the energy of this world, and it can be utilized all manner of things. Pictos, spellwork...
[Hm. He raises his wrist, flicking it, and a long dagger appears in a short burst of wispy energy, solidifying in his hand. He holds it by the hilt, gives it a spin.]
And quite handy for storing items until you need them for later.
[Sure! He's going to get a few camp things together (again, courtesy of his hammerspace probably) while letting Nico gather something for the fire.
The vampire doesn't have to wander far to find old, dried-out branches that would be perfect for the job. And there's nothing dangerous nearby to make this a perilous task, either!
...Probably.
There is a figure at a distance, though, eerily still. Just standing there. Like that.]
[ Just about the time he thinks he can safely wander back to camp with nothing even remotely exciting happening, he spots that figure, still and silent. His eyes narrow. Though his vision is quite exceptional in the dark, he thinks his eyes muse surely be playing tricks on him.
Leaving his bundle of firewood somewhere he can retrieve later, he takes the chance to creep a little closer, one hand on the hilt of his rapier. ]
[There is no reply, no movement. Not just yet, anyway.
But as Nico draws closer, perhaps he oversteps an invisible boundary that has gained him notice from the strange, statue-esque mime-like creature(?). It turns its head and looks directly at him.
The mime shifts its entire body now to face Nico properly, and lets out (with an unmoving mouth) a tinny-sounding "Haha!" as though it were speaking through an old toy voice box.
And then, in its tall and long limbed glory IT STARTS SKIPPING TOWARDS NICO surely this is fine]
[By the time Nico rushes back, Verso's just chilling, waiting for him to return. He's seated on a nearby overlarge rock, being productive by swiping some soil off the side of his boots. Very useful man here.
But his eyes immediately flick up as he sees his companion rushing towards him with what appears to be an awfully creepy mime just trailing behind. Skipping after him. Jovially.]
Don't bring it here-!
[a;djfkajdfa he's standing and immediately summoning both blades into his hands]
Anyway, as he runs, he leaps, feet finding the surface of the ledge overhanging their little camp, and there Nico stands for a moment, sideways on a sheer wall of stone and dirt. A couple of sprinting strides upward and he leaps again, sailing over the head of the jovially skipping mime to land behind it, blade now in his hand.
Nico whistles, the sound sharp and loud and sudden, to get the thing's attention. ]
[Yet despite his attempt at decrying this sudden battle upon them, Verso's immediately falling into stance, muscles coiled and ready for what he knows will be a fight. It's not the first time he's faced one of these godawful things, though he always wishes it'll be the last.
He barely has time to register the way Nico leaps practically over him and stands sideways on the overhang, much less time to question it. Vampire things, probably!! It's fine. More helpful is the way he springs off and lands directly behind the mime, thus placing it between them.
Their opponent stops briefly, looking at Verso for a moment, before turning its whole, stiff body around and facing Nico again. And then, without much warning-]
Nico! Watch out, it's faster than it looks!
[-it raises one arm up and backwards, and the ghostly image of a GIANT HAMMER flickers in its grip as it then tries to smash it right atop Nico's head.]
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finalflight2025-05-05 12:40 pm
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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?
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[ 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?
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[For him, he means. As for the question-]
As for perils, well. It's the Nevrons, like I said. Mostly.
[Mostly.]
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"Mostly"?
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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.
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[ Citation needed. ]
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Ah, but you've never bartered with a Gestral. Hope you like a good fight to go along with your shopping.
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[ He can probably hold his own against a Gestral! Whatever that is! ]
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[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.
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[ Because right now, he's not going anywhere without Verso's help. ]
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[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.
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Of course, mon ami. Take all of the time you need. If you like, I can gather wood for a fire.
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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?
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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?
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Magic is a good enough word for it. It's the energy of this world, and it can be utilized all manner of things. Pictos, spellwork...
[Hm. He raises his wrist, flicking it, and a long dagger appears in a short burst of wispy energy, solidifying in his hand. He holds it by the hilt, gives it a spin.]
And quite handy for storing items until you need them for later.
[magic hammerspace, noctis eat your heart out]
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Oh, that is handy! I have no such thing, but I do have some other tricks up my sleeve. Perhaps you shall see them in action one day!
[ Not right now, clearly, since Nico is going off to collect firewood and Verso is staying right here to rest! Right? ]
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The vampire doesn't have to wander far to find old, dried-out branches that would be perfect for the job. And there's nothing dangerous nearby to make this a perilous task, either!
...Probably.
There is a figure at a distance, though, eerily still. Just standing there. Like that.]
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Leaving his bundle of firewood somewhere he can retrieve later, he takes the chance to creep a little closer, one hand on the hilt of his rapier. ]
Bonjour? You are a funny little statue.
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But as Nico draws closer, perhaps he oversteps an invisible boundary that has gained him notice from the strange, statue-esque mime-like creature(?). It turns its head and looks directly at him.
Staring.]
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Ah. You are no statue.
[ Maybe if he just backs up, nice and slow. ]
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The mime shifts its entire body now to face Nico properly, and lets out (with an unmoving mouth) a tinny-sounding "Haha!" as though it were speaking through an old toy voice box.
And then, in its tall and long limbed glory IT STARTS SKIPPING TOWARDS NICO surely this is fine]
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Absolutely not.
[ TIME TO TURN AND RUN. He may or may not be bringing a friend back to camp, sorry Verso. ]
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But his eyes immediately flick up as he sees his companion rushing towards him with what appears to be an awfully creepy mime just trailing behind. Skipping after him. Jovially.]
Don't bring it here-!
[a;djfkajdfa he's standing and immediately summoning both blades into his hands]
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[ Don't answer that.
Anyway, as he runs, he leaps, feet finding the surface of the ledge overhanging their little camp, and there Nico stands for a moment, sideways on a sheer wall of stone and dirt. A couple of sprinting strides upward and he leaps again, sailing over the head of the jovially skipping mime to land behind it, blade now in his hand.
Nico whistles, the sound sharp and loud and sudden, to get the thing's attention. ]
Over here, mon ami.
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[Yet despite his attempt at decrying this sudden battle upon them, Verso's immediately falling into stance, muscles coiled and ready for what he knows will be a fight. It's not the first time he's faced one of these godawful things, though he always wishes it'll be the last.
He barely has time to register the way Nico leaps practically over him and stands sideways on the overhang, much less time to question it. Vampire things, probably!! It's fine. More helpful is the way he springs off and lands directly behind the mime, thus placing it between them.
Their opponent stops briefly, looking at Verso for a moment, before turning its whole, stiff body around and facing Nico again. And then, without much warning-]
Nico! Watch out, it's faster than it looks!
[-it raises one arm up and backwards, and the ghostly image of a GIANT HAMMER flickers in its grip as it then tries to smash it right atop Nico's head.]
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