isleofavalon | a horse, a horse. (of course.)

🧙 WHO: Hendrik and Jasper
⚔️️ WHAT: They can tolerate a short trip. How about a longer one?
🕒 WHEN: Second week of May
🗺️ WHERE: Heading towards the Rent-a-Ride Outpost; maybe Red Springs
⚠️ WARNINGS: N/A for now

[When he is not paying attention to the path ahead of him, beaten into the grass by carriages bearing new arrivals to the Red Springs and Camelot month after month, Hendrik turns his thoughts inward to his carefully managed funds. Did he have enough for a good saddle and tack? What if he could not afford a horse that really spoke to him? It's a dilemma that he never truly encountered until Avalon, with his low interest in expensive purchases and most of his needs provided for by the king or the army.

And when he is not thinking about those things, his thoughts inevitably wander to his traveling companion. Is this a good idea, given how volatile their interactions were only a month ago? He can't say for sure, especially when the alternative was to leave Jasper in the house with their familiars, but he had let him know that it would be a longer trip due to how far the horse farm was from the city.

Truth be told, he is surprised that Jasper decided to come along. He had not shown much interest for most of the last outing, after all.]

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Come on, Hendrik. We are a long way from home, are we not?

[Jasper grinds his teeth for a moment in frustration. Unable to turn his anger againt his old friend as he might wish, unwilling to ruin what progress they've made. Perhaps all that, too, is down to this accursed place.

Life is never simple nor fair. His voice loses some of that hot outrage but not for anything good. The words off his lips sound mournful.]

What else should I call our stay here? Miserable? Even for you that is too on the nose.

Do not call it a vacation.

[His voice is too flat to be considered a shout, though his words still carry across the flat expanse of the area. Taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself does not do much for his anger.]

I do not care if that is what you personally see it as. I do not want to hear it.

[Bitterness. Even thinking back to the state of the Last Bastion and the looming threat of the undead hordes is bound to worsen Hendrik's mood.]

[Bitterness meets acrimony. A sour and acidic combination that churns and spills out when Jasper sees Hendrik inhale; dismissing him as he strides further and further away. His own pace has drawn to a standstill but that cannot be the reason, right?

His voice isn't flat - it is sharp. Taking comfort in a bitterness brewed over years.]

A fact that hardly fails to surprise!

[It doesn't soften as he begins ranting. Taking comfort in how they used to argue - because at least his friend paid him attention back then.]

You have always been blind. Might as well be deaf.

[If the reminder of what was going on back in their world is not appreciated, the reminder of his failures is even less so. He clenches his jaw, seething through his teeth for a moment before attempting calm again. He stops walking, focusing on clenching and unclenching his hands.]

Have you not already said as much? I am blind. I am ignorant. It does not change what I said.

[Jasper doesn't speak for a moment. His eyes watch those clenching hands, narrowing tight, thoughts turning to agitate Hendrik more. He lacks means of knowing where he stands - of understanding where his old friend comes from.

His observation comes without empathy.]

Certainly not. It only changes your right to say it.

[Agitation. Confusion. Hendrik finds himself storming back, not minding how his pack beats against his back at his aggressive pace. What? What does that even mean?]

My right?

[Both eyebrows lift when Hendrik turns around and stomps his way. Insulted, injured, indignant. He stands his ground and snarls. It doesn't make sense. Why does Hendrik find his words at times like these?]

You want freedom to choose your words yet wish to deny mine. I have not even begun to touch on the irony of them from you.

[Perhaps they are inappropriate. But they are also the truth.]

[The answer has Hendrik stopping before he reaches Jasper, jaw clenched and hands curled as he glares at his former friend. It takes effort for him to wrench his gaze away and instead stare at the ground, sorting out his thoughts.

What is he doing? Jasper hardly alluded to his terrible deeds in Erdrea. Getting incensed over his word choice is ... inane.

He doesn't respond with the same anger, instead taking a deep breath before speaking. His tone is noticeably sullen.]

...You are right. I will not deny you your words.

Good. I doubt I have any patience for arguing the matter.

[One foot steps before the other. Soon, he is walking past Hendrik with barely a glance. Mirroring that sullenness in body language as well as tone.]

Now. Should you be done grousing let us head off.

[Hendrik doesn't fall in line. Not immediately. He doesn't look at Jasper as he passes, the glare still evident in his eyes as he focuses on the ground.

Six, seven, eight feet of distance grow between them before Hendrik turns to follow, busying himself with adjusting his pack before settling into a silent march. The disgust is slow to fade, but the urge to voice himself no longer fights for his attention.

He knows his anger is out of line. Better to bite his tongue next time than let more foolishness play out.]

a horse, a horse. (of course.)

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