isleofavalon | in your wildest dreams

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in your wildest dreams

🧙 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.

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Hendrik.

[Jasper pauses before uttering his sentence. The emotions running through his friend have their own grip on his heart. Does this mean his master lost? Could it mean he has found safety and peace? He wrinkles his nose, mountainous feelings flashing behind his eyes. This all means his actions had been for naught - yet without those actions would he have become this older, less deluded man?

He chooses to utter something different. There is peace and security here, too, in the comfort of his friend.]

Pass the water, would you?

[It is also mercy. Hendrik with a task to perform will find distraction in the act.]

[Hendrik gulps down what was forming into a sob, exhaling roughly as he hears Jasper. He latches onto the request quickly, reaching into his pack for his magical mug. The task does exactly what it should, distracting him from being overwhelmed by the mounting possibilities of Carnelian's words.

The king watches the two younger men, taking in their reactions for a long moment before speaking.

"Perhaps I should have expected this. In being here for so many months, you would of course be concerned of what could be transpiring back home."]

[That comment sends his observant gaze towards the floor. He looks ashamed for a moment's passing - sitting back in his habitual upright position once he has surpassed feeling nauseatingly piteous and sentimental.

He holds out his right hand and awaits his drink. Perhaps with water filling his throat he might not be pressed to speak.]

That must be the case. Hendrik does have a tendency to worry.

Yes.

[The single word in affirmation is thick with repressed emotion; Hendrik doesn't risk further words, simply handing over the mug to Jasper before going quiet again.

When one's concerns go so deep as to worry about the continued sustaining life of humanity, there is immense relief in knowing someone out there still finds worth in rebuilding what was destroyed.

"Do remember that the people of Heliodor are resilient, Hendrik, and we are but one of other kingdoms and cities holding on. Let that ease your mind."]

[Jasper listens to every word; looking into the bottom of his mug with nothing to say. His brow furrows upon hearing about his friend's victory and his failure. There is cold relief in knowing the man survives and lives to fight - but though he is told of his place in this future how does he earn his place in this future?

It is difficult to know.

He continues drinking.]

[The fire crackles. The wind blows from off the island and into the trees and thick grasses that shelter their clearing. The sky darkens.

It takes sometime before Hendrik speaks, his voice quiet and gravelly with emotion.]

I am grateful to those words, Your Majesty. Thank you.

[In a way, he finds he doesn't even care if this is ultimately some terrible trick. The audacity to hope doesn't seem so ... worthless now.

Carnelian shakes his head. "If I had known you needed to hear the words, I would have said them sooner, Hendrik."]

[The comfort of his company lulls him into thinking he has found peace and security. He listens to the advice his friend receives and finds the tenderness of the moment almost robbing him of his senses. Until his ears prick and his mind screams what he heard was wrong. His gaze turns upon the fire, having nowhere to aim his enflamed anger. What a load of nonsense.]

Of course you would.

[His tone is calm and polite but with trace amounts of venom.]

[Breathing slow and steady to help calm himself, Hendrik still misses the weight of what Jasper is saying. Carnelian, on the other hand, looks over at the other young man, his eyes focused on his head, as if he can see his face from his angle.

"You are upset."

The observation draws Hendrik's eyes, and he blinks in confusion at the other former general.]

Jasper?

[Jasper curls the corners of his lips. His eyes focus too intensely on the fire, imagining flames lapping at wood and buildings, as though he were back home amongst rubble.]

Please, Hendrik. Think nothing of it. We have already spoken at length about... circumstances. i hardly wish to discuss them further.

[His plan? To completely ignore what Carnelian is saying.]

[Hendrik looks reluctant to let the issue go, quiet even as he watches Jasper would concerned eyes. Carnelian shakes his head, brushing at his beard.

"Much has already been said today. It would seem a fine enough time to let the mind rest."

That is something that Hendrik can agree on.]

I can take the first shift. We know not what will happen if all of us fall asleep.

[The thought of sleeping amidst the company of these two men who have become everything leaves him feeling inexplicably alone. He looks towards Hendrik with a needful stare, poorly hidden behind pride.]

Then at least permit me to join you.

[Hendrik doesn't respond right away, wondering if perhaps he should say that they do not both need to be awake. But his main concern is the king, who does not also offer to stay up with them, so he nods at Jasper.

Once the decision is made, Hendrik moves from his bedroll and closer to the fire, while Carnelian removes his crown to settle down. It's some much needed silence after everything that has happened today.]

[Jasper leaves the peace and comfort of his perch to sit beside his friend. His hands clasp together in his lap, his thoughts turning away from their adoptive father for one moment. He feels no compulsion to share his thoughts with the man still awake to hear them, choosing to sit on the earth with his hands now on his knees.]

It has been a long day.

[His attempt at conversation begins with testing the waters; they both know why this day has been stranger than most spent in this place.]

[Hendrik glances back to see Carnelian settling down, scratching distractedly at his brow as Jasper sits down next to him. He huffs in agreement at the quiet remark, looking again to the fire.]

A surprisingly long day.

[With the conversation behind them, Hendrik allows for a weary expression.]

And tomorrow will be another long day.

And each day following that.

[Jasper continues peering into the fire, wearing a thoughtful expression that colours the impression he makes upon others. With this sombre topic colouring their mood, now seems an appropriate time to speak about their current lives.]

I am tired of living day to day and hand to mouth in this place, Hendrik.

[Hendrik is quiet at that. He isn't particularly of the mind that they are living hand to mouth, but perhaps his standards are not to what Jasper expects. He reaches for a branch to snap and feed to the fire.]

Mm. What do you want to change?

[The snapping of the branch is a distraction, their conversation a process that requires focus. He inhales deeply a handful of times, mindful of how each breath offers little comfort. His fingers stroke his chin before flicking disdainfully at air.]

That we are simply here. I need to return home.

Mm.

[Hendrik's acknowledgment continues to be quiet as he continues breaking the branch until it's basically a handful of twigs.]

Then it would seem there are two options. Somehow helping with ... whatever must be done to stop this encroaching end of the world, or wait until we are swept up like the Princess.

[And the Da-- Luminary.]

The world has ended for us before. In truth, I struggle to accept this nonsense everything shall end. For all we realize, the Princess could have returned to a life where none of this is real.

[He listens to Hendrik snap every twig off each length of the branch, closing his eyes to focus his thoughts.]

And I should rather help fight this calamity for personal means. Perhaps because I am no longer the man I was.

There are those who offer to show the ... ongoing progress of this end of the world event. Whether or not one believes it is another story.

[He's not so unaware of the rest of the city as to not know that much.

After feeding the twigs to the fire, Hendrik carefully glances at the man next to him. He can admit to himself that he's wanted to see Jasper as he's known him for years again, even if in the moment it's still a surprising change.]

I am sure your talents would be welcome. Any help at all, truly.

[Jasper crosses one leg over another, leaning against his hand, eyes closed whilst listening to the fire. He misses the gaze of his companion and when his eyes open he looks into the flames - adjusting awkwardly like he has been caught sleeping unawares.]

I suppose I could offer assistance.

[A large but is audible in his tone.]

On your behalf, mind. I should not deign to act for the sake of anybody else.

[Hendrik averts his gaze before too long, not wanting to be caught staring. Jasper's already had a way of making him feel guilty for getting hung up on appearances.

But... On his behalf?

He has a faint frown on his face at that, unsure how to feel about Jasper's intent. The thought is quickly quashed. He had told himself he would be better about not holding Jasper to past standards.]

That sounds fine. As you will.

[The controlled manner in which Hendrik delivers his comment offers room to pause. Jasper looks over his shoulder at Carnelian, feeling that divide again until he turns back towards the fire.

It offers little warmth.]

So do you have plans for tomorrow?

[That particular question is worth a sigh, and Hendrik bows his head in thought.]

I suppose the most obvious plan is still the same as before: finding a way off of this island. Beyond that, no.

[He doesn't even want to touch the issue of Carnelian. Now that he is not hearing comforting words, his mind whirls with wary concerns.]

[Jasper collects a stray branch, lying on the ground, and uses it to stoke the fire. He lets it crackle at one end and gently lays it against the flames.]

Well, plenty have no doubt tried. It worries me that nobody has succeeded so far. Still, there must always be a first time. Perhaps we ought start by observing this calamity everyone is speaking about.

[It does concern him that nobody has found a solution but that is what he is known for. Fixing problems.]

in your wildest dreams

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