We all end in the ocean

[leitstern]

🧙 WHO: Hendrik and Jasper
⚔️️ WHAT: Gathering rocks
🕒 WHEN: First week of May
🗺️ WHERE: River's edge
⚠️ WARNINGS: Nothing

[Hendrik had waited until he was sitting to offer his suggestion of venturing outside. He had thanked the upturn in weather and remarked how nice it would feel to enjoy a stroll. Holding onto his breath for a moment, bracing himself before commenting on his chance to do something kind for a stranger. Tears had filled his eyes while he yawned and slouched, twirling his finger and twisting his fringe.

A stranger? No. Hendrik is the reason he wanders outside today. Nobody else can motivate him to sludge through grass and soil, to stride over pebbles and verge, walking so far for so long.

The light patter on his hood is barely enough to soak through, clouds overcast with intermittant blue skies. The plight of an ailing grandmother is hardly enough to drag the human remnants of caring out of him. It is difficult to muster up the energy to find feelings for people outside his life. Where is their connection?

His fingers curl around a thin pebble and he weighs it in his hand before skimming it across the river. One loud splash and it sinks to the bottom, rather than bounce along the top.

Such is his life.]

Comments

[standvastig]

[If Hendrik appears at all reluctant to hand over his phone, he says nothing to hint at what may make him reluctant. Jasper has tried to help already. What was he going to do? Toss his phone into the river?

But if he is going to hand over his phone, he might as well ask...]

May I use your phone to record a picture?

[leitstern]

Heavens no.

[No response for a while. Jasper is busy flicking through screens and settings: nothing strikes him as untoward. He thumbs through to reset some basic functions. That restores the apps function and he scrolls through to find the camera.]

Ah. Afford me one moment, would you?

[He holds it down with his thumb and returns the icon to the home page. Then he brings up the camera and offers back the phone.]

Better you enjoy taking it yourself, I dare say.

[standvastig]

[The rejection is swift and blunt -- so much so that Hendrik almost drops his phone in handing it over to Jasper. He remains silent and averts his eyes elsewhere so he isn't watching the other work, his expression set as he receives the offered phone and looks at the opened camera application.]

Apologies for the trouble.

[He spends a short amount of time adjusting the camera and attempting to see how it works. Not that it helps in any regard.]

[leitstern]

[The apology goes without answer. Jasper watches patiently as Hendrik finds his way with his own phone. He finds himself resisting the impulse to smile; his lips cracking at the corners in happiness at seeing his friend learn.

He leans over the bridge, folding his arms upon the barrier. His kind words are not so easily disguised.]

Do you think it ever was a bother?

[standvastig]

[The question is not answered right away, as Hendrik spends another moment wiping the screen of his phone before hiding it away from the rain. His answer is plain.]

Yes.

[He averts his eyes to the river, frowning.]

I was the one who asked if you would come out here, after all. The least I can do is not add to the detours.

[leitstern]

[Another sigh and he looks meaningfully at Hendrik. Then he gestures over the river and surrounding banks. How many times must he explain himself?]

This pile of rocks matters not. Take your photograph, Hendrik.

[Perhaps he can say it convincingly because of how he left his world in ruin. Or perhaps he says it because he sees how his old friend is relaxing.]

[standvastig]

[Silence. A glance that is both somber and contemplative, not reflecting any of the focused curiosity or embarrassment of just a little while ago. Quiet consideration as Hendrik again looks down at his phone.

The camera screen comes back into view as he lifts up the device, and he fiddles with how he holds the phone and tries to keep it steady. He takes four pictures in rapid succession by holding down the camera shot button too long, each one blurrier than the last. He tries again. And again, with a lighter tap.]

[leitstern]

[Jasper says nothing more. He reaches inside his own pocket, retreiving his phone to catch a quick shot of the river. His gaze turns towards Hendrik and he spends time contemplating whether to photograph the man. A nervous look worries his face. Conscious of being seen, he looks away before looking again. His lips open slightly but he lowers his hands and slides his phone back in a pocket.

He closes his eyes for a moment to better control his emotions. Then he begins heading for the northwest side of the river.]

[standvastig]

[The silence between them is not quite relaxed, but it lacks the bitter tension that had plagued many of their conversations last month. Hendrik tries to balance his hopefulness with the reality of the severity of Jasper's betrayal, only to shove the entire mental exercise out of mind when he realizes he's dwelling.

His fingers twitch as he takes another few pictures and then pockets his phone. Then he's following after Jasper once more, past the bridge to look more closely at the river and the dancing fairies.

Like Jasper had done before, he goes to the water's edge and picks up a stone there. Despite its proximity to the holographic shine, the stone itself doesn't pick up any of the effect.]

...I wonder how we will know how long a stone will keep these holographic properties.

[leitstern]

[Jasper carefully walks down the bank to join his old friend at the water's edge. There is no love of the embarrassment of landing on his back in the soil and mud; his pace is cautious and chosen with deliberation. The water shines in a multitude of colours. Might the rocks on the riverbed hold the answer?

He tilts his head and scowls in displeasure at the thought of getting his feet wet.]

If it is a regular phenomenon then ought the network have the answer? Search for it.

[The internet is a wonderful thing!]

[standvastig]

[Hendrik looks blankly at Jasper for a moment at the prospect of searching for the answer on his phone, before pulling out the device and starting to tap out possible search terms.

Meanwhile, their familiars have followed them down to the riverbed, and the platypunk waddles out of the iron maiden's cage to splash into the water. Hendrik takes little notice, focused on finding more information.]

It looks like the shine is created by a spirit purifying the stones in the water. So it would be best to find a newly purified stone.

[Somehow.]

[leitstern]

[His attention focuses on the stones within the water. The shine they reflect is no reflection on his mood. The prospect of a long search for little reward is work he is unwilling to enjoy.]

I see. How are we supposed to know that? Ask the fairies?

[It is an idea delivered not in the best tone of voice.]

[standvastig]

Er... I suppose? I can keep looking for more information...

[After a brief glance up at Jasper, Hendrik turns his attention back to his phone. All the while, there is some splashing in the river as his familiar swims about in a spot with a gentler flow.]

...Ah, here. Others have taken back stones from the river. It appears the shine will last a number of days. Approximately a week.

[leitstern]

Oh. Plenty enough time, then.

[Ears pricked by the splashing of water, Jasper looks down and spots the platypunk swimming around. The sight distracts him from the unpleasant silence that intermittantly falls upon their conversations. He watches it enjoy the rest and relaxation, curiously and with no small amount of envy.]

We simply need find one to collect.

[standvastig]

Perhaps more than one? It would be a nice temporary keepsake.

[Even as he voices the idea, Hendrik wonders about it. Perhaps the fairies would attempt to stop them if they took rocks from the river. On the other hand, he hadn't seen anything to hint at that possibility.

He almost puts away his phone before recalling he can now take pictures, and he turns his attention to getting the camera active again.]

[leitstern]

[Jasper folds his arms and closes his eyes. He holds his breath and listens to the platypunk splashing in the water as he feels the rain splatter on his back. This poor climate is welcome after a number of weeks trapped inside going spare. Hendrik also seems enamoured of the countryside, given how he is attentive to his phone.]

If you wish. I imagine the countryside should not miss a couple of rocks.

[He speaks and returns to silence. His enjoyment of the day lies less in what exists around them than in who he's spending time with.]

[standvastig]

[It's a bit easier to take another set of pictures this time, though Hendrik still finds himself a little heavy-thumbed with tapping on the button that takes the picture. Looking to the river also makes him aware of what his familiar is doing, his brows knitting in puzzlement as he wonders if he should stop the platypunk. The platypunk doesn't seem to be causing any issues, so...

Shifting his angle leads to Hendrik capturing Jasper's side profile in a picture, and this also makes him pause. With that hood pulled up, none of the features that Hendrik associated with Jasper's betrayal and ... corruption are visible. It gives him a brief moment of imagining normalcy, though it's quick to fade.

He slips his camera back in his pocket and starts walking along the river's edge.]

It should not take us long to find a suitable stone if we are all looking.

[leitstern]

[Hendrik begins walking beside the river. Jasper hears his footsteps and misses his presence. Eyes open and he stares at the water, looking at his own reflection that seems neither human or inhumane. His usual confidence is replaced by a curiosity of what might happen had he not decided to turn and bite the hand that feeds. But that confidence returns and refuses to let him question himself. One second later, he steps away and picks up the pace

He mulls over Hendrik's comment and looks over his shoulder to what the platypunk is doing. The iron maiden stays behind them, waiting for the other familiar upon the path, away from the river's edge and all that mud. Many hands make light work, he supposes.]

You intend to ask your familiar?

[standvastig]

Hm? Ah, yes.

[Hendrik nods upon registering Jasper's question, averting his attention over to his familiar.]

Quis!

[It takes a little effort to get the platypunk's attention, but it bobs in the water much like a buoy once it realizes it's being called. It seems to teleport out of the water, dripping wet at it appears on the river's edge.

Hendrik crouches to show the platypunk a picture of the rocks he'd seen while looking for more information on the phenomenon.]

Look for some rocks that shine like this. Underwater, if you can.

[The platypunk looks just a tiny bit thoughtful before bobbing its head and waddling back into the water. Hendrik glances at Jasper with a vaguely bemused look.]

[leitstern]

He seems a hard worker.

[Jasper seems to smile a moment. Better able to express himself when he feels safe; greeted by an old friend with bemusement instead of disdain. He doesn't watch the platypunk waddle into the water and looks instead at Hendrik.

Dare he make his observation? He looks distrusting of the idea, even as it spills off his lips.]

Much as you were.

[standvastig]

[Hendrik snorts when he hears Jasper finish his observation, standing up and carefully looking to some point along the middle distance, as if in thought.]

I suppose I may share some qualities with my familiar. It is not something I had thought about in depth.

[It's even stranger to be making these comparisons with a monster, considering his distance from monsters up until arriving in Avalon.]

[leitstern]

That hardly surprises me, I must admit.

[For as much as he knows Hendrik is a hard worker, he understands he is not a profound thinker. His old friend's thoughts and wishes tend to be beautifully simple. It was something he tolerated, once.

He looks away down the river's edge.]

Come. We should start looking in earnest.

[standvastig]

[His eyes refocus on his immediate surroundings at Jasper's words, and he watches for a moment before wading up to his ankles into the river. His boots are thankfully sturdy enough to resist the water, but all it will take is a bad slip to end up in the water and a very soggy return trip.

After picking up a half-dozen stones and examining them, Hendrik comments.]

Perhaps we need to go further up the river. If a spirit is responsible for making the stones shine, perhaps it has not gotten to all of the stones down here.

[It seems like it makes sense, but it doesn't quite take into consideration that the river itself is still shining. Going for the easy rocks is just not that helpful.]

[leitstern]

[Jasper carefully lingers on the edge of the river, unwilling to wet his feet. His hands remain in his pockets. His feet upon land. Hendrik makes his inspections and offers his opinion - and everything together makes him sigh. He turns away and stares upstream. The river sparkles and shines but it hardly mirrors his mood.

His sour expression says it all.]

Perhaps not. Things are rarely easy, I suppose.

[They were certainly unnecessarily stressful. He looks across at where the platypunk disappeared into the water and then towards Hendrik.]

Are you ready to move on, then?

[standvastig]

[Hendrik is in the process of dropping the stones back into the river when he catches sight of Jasper looking across the river. It takes him a moment to realize that he's probably looking for his familiar, and he frowns as he follows his gaze. The sparkling river is a peaceful scene, without anything marring its--

He blinks as he sees the platypunk break the surface of the water, watching as it spins in the water, apparently trying to gets its orientation. He calls out to his familiar, catching its eye for a second before the platypunk quacks in confusion and starts floating with the river current, back towards the bridge.]

...Er. What is going on?

[He stares, dumbfounded by the distressed monster's plight, before wading out of the river and hurrying after it.]