in your wildest dreams

[standvastig]

🧙 WHO: Hendrik and Jasper
⚔️️ WHAT: Some trials and tribulations
🕒 WHEN: Sometime in the first half of December
🗺️ WHERE: The Land of Maidens
⚠️ WARNINGS: None for now

[Reaching the third island had been ... a trial, to say the least. But it seems that traversing all of the islands is necessary to make it back to Avalon, with multiple ways for the many struggling "visitors" to the Land of Maidens.

Weary from having carefully crossed the bridge, Hendrik finds himself drawn to sit down at an aptly placed stone bench as he and his old friend arrive. He goes through his pack for his bottomless mug, which has served as a very helpful item in a realm where they are not supposed to eat anything. He drinks some of the water contained within before passing it to Jasper.]

I hope we can find out what must be done on this island so we do not have to return to the previous one for rest.

Comments

[leitstern]

[Jasper refuses to complain while parking beside his travelling companion. He focuses inward on nobody and nothing, distracted by the perils of the journey and the rumblings of his stomach. The mug crosses his sight beneath his nose and he seizes it immediately - water already refilling as he lifts the vessel towards his lips.

One second of drinking becomes several. He continues gulping for a good while and empties the mug before passing it back to Hendrik.]

That would be wonderful. And why I am here, I reckon.

[His sour mood is hardly wonderful. He begins grumbling to himself, loud enough that Hendrik can hear.]

Perhaps one day you will fail to convince me to join you on these ridiculous adventures.

[standvastig]

Admittedly, I did not think it would be this much of an adventure when choosing to use that totem.

[After all, it seemed like everyone was receiving the invitation to this never-before-visited land. How was he to know practically every step of the way through it would be a puzzle of some sort?

He watches the mug refill before securely shutting it and putting it back into his pack, talking all the while.]

Still, I am relieved to have you here. Better to have a familiar face around than not.

[leitstern]

[The comment makes him freeze. Every morning he studies himself in the mirror and finds himself looking at a face both familiar and strange. Inhuman and without the colours of emotion.

He hunches his shoulders and leans forward. Least he can accept the sentiment without understanding it.]

You make a habit of losing the trail. Someone must keep watch on you.

[standvastig]

[Hendrik grimaces somewhat at the pointing out of one of his weaknesses, though he knows it to be true.]

You do not have to sound so...

[He trails off, having looked up from his pack to turn his attention to Jasper. His brows knit together in confusion, eyes blinking rapidly at what is ... almost an unfamiliar sight after all these months in Avalon.]

Jasper?

[leitstern]

[Jasper sighs, twists his neck and turns his gaze.

Hendrik occupies his sight but his frustrations are elsewhere; mounting towards their unfamiliar and uncomfortable surroundings.]

What now?

[standvastig]

I-- You--

[What does he say? The change was so sudden that he can't even process when it took place, even if the transformation was pretty unmistakable for someone who has known Jasper for so long. In his momentary struggle with words, he reaches out and squeezes the other man's arms, hoping to convey his urgency.]

You changed. Your face. Your eyes.

[leitstern]

[Sudden contact. Immediate concern. Jasper is too shaken by both to remember to move and shifts backwards upon the stone bench; frustration draining out his features only for them to be coloured by confusion.]

Good grief, man. Are you seeing things?

[standvastig]

I-- Am I?

[Jasper's question is worth considering, with so many unknown magicks and such in this realm. He forgets himself in his shock, hands moving from the other man's arms to his face. It certainly isn't the wisest or gentlest thing he has done, patting Jasper's face with leather gloves.]

The changes remain. Do you have a mirror? Something with a reflection?

[leitstern]

Nothing whatsoever.

[Jasper wrinkles his nose. He bares his teeth whilst leaning down, eyes narrowing as he pulls back, boiling alive from the indignity of his cheeks being poked and patted. The question of why he is holding back is stored in a tight, narrow hole in the corner of his mind. He soon forgets where and gently pushes Hendrik away with the tips of his fingers.]

Is this so urgent that it even matters?

[standvastig]

[The restraint with which Jasper meets his shock and exploration give Hendrik pause, and the following way that his hands are pushed away serves to remind him of what he is doing. His hands retreat with notable speed, and he slides across the bench to a more respectful distance.]

I...

[He gazes upon human, gold eyes that look at him with all of the frustration and annoyance he had seen in slit, claret ones. And he looks away.]

No. I suppose not. Apologies for-- the surprise.

[leitstern]

[The hands investigating his face retreat only to meet his own fingertips. Touch is broken after a second; his companion pulling away to a respectful distance. His gaze falls upon his fingers and after a moment he spots the colour of his skin.

White. Delicate. Pale but not inhuman.

He clenches those same fingers and rests them upon his knees.]

I suppose it is better you cared enough to realise.

[standvastig]

[Hendrik is about to protest that jab about caring enough before he catches himself. This isn't the time to be fighting.

He slings his pack over his shoulders and sighs, looking to the thick brush obscuring the interior of the island from those trying to observe it from the bridge.]

...Shall we move on and see more of this island?

[leitstern]

If you wish.

[Hands support his weight upon stone, pressure exerting down while he pushes to his feet. He checks the pack slung around his waist before fixing every button his coat.]

I would welcome finishing here by the end of the afternoon.

[standvastig]

[Though he leads the way by a few steps, Hendrik keeps close to Jasper -- if simply because he has to glance at him from time to time and assure himself that he is not in fact crazy. Perhaps it wasn't worth the shock and exclamations and rudeness on his part, but...

But he isn't sure how to process his reaction. Why such elation over something like that? Over something that he had thought lost to time and corruption?

He pushes down the questions, tilting his head at a small, clear pond beyond the brush. A chance for drinking, perhaps, in a less magical realm.]

I suppose we need look for anything that looks like an entryway.

[leitstern]

[Jasper follows at a distance; heart beating nervously in worry of rejection much as losing his way. Might he long for companionship? Understanding, perhaps? Is this world of fairies making him sentimental?

He hardly knows what to think and decides not to think at all. His knee kneels in the dirt and he looks down into the pond - mistrust etched on his face.]

A cave, then?

[One might consider a lake an entranceway way - with good reason considering their arrival in this land - but, well...]

[standvastig]

Perhaps. Unfortunately, I cannot discount anything, given the many ways we have seen magic work in this world.

[He shakes his head, disliking that unknown. Rounding the pond, he looks to the trees, hoping for a hint or-- well, anything.

He tries to focus his thoughts forward so he doesn't linger on Jasper's change of appearance.]

What will you do when we get out of here?

[leitstern]

[His gaze travels in the opposite direction from his companion; two sets of eyes better than one in observing their backs. Trees grow wild and he avoids walking into a low-hanging branch. Thoughts turn towards the future - and he finds himself thinking deeper of their time ahead when Hendrik happens upon his question.

He wrinkles his nose. This question, at least, is simple to answer.]

Turn my intelligence towards sending us home.

[standvastig]

[The answer is worth a slight smile, even with the unease that Hendrik otherwise feels at the thought. Hope and worry have been at constant war in his thoughts over the months, even with the knowledge that the time they spend here seems to mean nothing.]

A worthy pursuit. Better than thinking of our next dinner, I suppose.

[Much more ... humble goals at the moment.]

[leitstern]

I suppose it is.

[He stops for a moment; clearing roots with grace as nerves fret with unease.

His heart pains with longing to see other people. One important man in particular who had aged sixteen years in his company - and yet not.]

Hendrik, what do you suppose might happen when we return home?

[standvastig]

[Hendrik pauses in his brushing through the greenery to frown slightly. Haven't they spoken about this before? More than once? ...Something must have concerned Jasper.]

It is difficult to say. We have gone through hopeful and terrible scenarios before.

[Maybe if he's vague, Jasper will clarify.]

[leitstern]

[Jasper strides past Hendrik and pushes through the overgrowth. Much of it resembles a familiar shade of green and he frowns; reminded of the verdant world atop Yggdrasil. His words become clear as Her waters - defiant of his own observation.]

So you believe His Majesty will have nothing to say?

[Truth is, when he returns home he has to make a choice on who to follow. Or perhaps he should not follow at all but maybe that is best dealt with later on.]

[standvastig]

[That question has Hendrik frozen in his tracks, slow to react. They did not allude to His Majesty often at all, considering the discomfort and bad feelings that could arise from knowing what had happened to him.]

I believe His Majesty will have many things to say.

[King Carnelian was often difficult to read, considering how his severe countenance could lead people to believe him a stoic and fearsome king. But he was as wise as he was strong, loved by his people for many reasons.]

...Would you speak to him, if you had the chance?

[leitstern]

[Hendrik freezes. Jasper stills. His emotions remain invisible, tense back and shoulders the only visible language of unrest.]

I would not deny him the chance.

[He would speak with the man. It is simply his pride twisting the situation to be inoffensive to his dignity.]

We have much to discuss. None of which is something anybody else might understand.

[Including you. The experience of being possessed and mislead to their extent is not a common experience. Yet he knows Hendrik has been mislead much as anyone. He had enjoyed it, once. Now it just tastes bitter.]

[standvastig]

[It takes a long moment, but Hendrik eventually nods and continues forth. The land dips slightly, and he slowly walks down into more overgrowth.]

I imagine it would be a good discussion. A much needed one.

[Though he doesn't say it aloud, he fully believes it would be good for both of them.

He pauses again, this time realizing they must have gotten turned around and walked right to the edge of the island, a fair distance away from the bridge but still able to see some of it. Taking a furtive look at the wild blue beyond the island, he turns to reenter the overgrowth.]

[leitstern]

[Jasper follows the path Hendrik creates upon the earth. Footstep after footstep, down the hill, into the overgrowth and onward to the land's edge. He slowly approaches the edge of the cliff and stares into the ocean. It is an attractive sight to see the water move on a designated path; freeflowing with direction provided by the rocks and cliffs.

He inhales deeply and finds himself distracted for a while. Footsteps move away without registraction and when he turns he hears the crashing of the waves upon the cliffs. Hendrik has disappeared into the wilds.]

Hendrik?