I'm only happy when it rains

[leitstern]

🧙 WHO: Jasper & open
⚔️️ WHAT: Open and closed threads
🕒 WHEN: First two weeks of June
🗺️ WHERE: Camelot
⚠️ WARNINGS: Blood and murder


II: The Second Week’s Sun - OTA

[The first week crawls by as the pouring rain forces everyone to remain indoors. Trapped between his old friend and the ball of fur that is his familiar, Jasper finds himself wrestling against an impatience gnawing at his toes. The frustration makes him itch and when the storms cease he immediately heads out to enjoy the sun.

Hours later, he takes his seat beneath a tree at the local park. The drying earth is hidden beneath a chequered blanket stolen from home, together with a wicker basket full of packaged desserts. A veritable feast of sponge cakes and iced fancies.

People walk to and fro across the grass. Locals or outsiders? Neither matters until his familiar floats their way. His eyes narrow slowly over his flask of tea and he stops her with his cold tone.]

Be quiet. If they do not wish to play with you there is little point in persuading them otherwise.

III: The Scarlet Butcher - Closed to Hendrik

[Jasper acknowledges nothing around him as he strolls down the path, continuing on towards a tree surrounded with flowers and cards. Piles of red roses and yellow tulips, sunflowers and white chrysanthemums, all wrapped in teal, pink and green paper are lying at the foot of the trunk, a memorial to a victim of senseless murder.

He stands there in silence for a long time, reluctant to move. His feet are rooted to the spot and holding him immobile; his knees almost too weak to hold his weight. The scene changes before his eyes and he remembers standing over the remains of one of his countrymen.

The voice behind him is hard to notice. It is difficult to catch his attention when it is somewhere else.]

Comments

III

[standvastig]

[While it was troubling to realize that he had somehow not heard of a spreed of murders happening in Camelot, Hendrik did his best to rationalize that the city is big and he isn't privy to the same channels and reports that would have been available to a kingdom's general. Any positives about being generally unknown in this new world also had its downsides.

He frowns at the request as it appears on his phone screen, contemplating if there is anything that can be done about it when he realizes the man who had been walking beside him had disappeared. He finds the other man further down the path, already arrived in front of the memorial.]

Jasper?

[When he receives no immediate reaction, he walks closer.]

Are you looking for something?

[He cannot imagine any other reason for Jasper to be looking so intently at the ground.]

[leitstern]

That is the plan, I admit.

[A blessing. It relaxes his shoulders and soothes his muscles. He redirects his gaze, looking back towards Hendrik with a troubled expression. The last thing he desires is to broach the subject of what happened to his compatriots, but they both know the truth. An instant later, a finger is playing with his hair. His decision is to say nothing; he cannot endure losing Hendrik's friendship a second time.

He inhales and squats before the tree, pushing aside the flowers to reveal marks slashed into the bark. They extend upwards towards knots in the bark.]

Hendrik, would your magic provide an explanation for this?

[standvastig]

[Hendrik's eyes follow the movement down to the base of the tree, narrowing as he spots the marks. He crouches by the tree, mindful of the flowers and cards, and lifts a hand to reach out to the damaged area.

The tree isn't unwell; the wound to it is fairly minor for a healthy tree and didn't have anything lasting that bothered it.]

An explanation? No. I can detect that the wound is minor and there is not anything persisting there that is injuring the tree further.

[He slowly lifts his head to look up at Jasper.]

You are interested in what happened here?

[leitstern]

[Jasper stands on his feet and stares down at the numerous marks. The attention turning upon his thoughts is a discomforting feeling, eliciting a recollection of misdeeds and crimes. These memories that never used to haunt, never used to make him second-guess.

He grinds his teeth in a need to forget. Truth is, the weight of his decision is too heavy to ignore.]

No. I am interested in preventing it from occurring elsewhere.

[standvastig]

[Hendrik says nothing as he thinks about Jasper's answer, not yet climbing to his feet. While he can admit to himself that his old friend is slowly getting better in the ways they interact, this interest seems sudden, to say the least.]

I am glad to hear that. The fewer senseless deaths in the city, the better.

[He holds his tongue on inquiring further for the moment.]

[leitstern]

Indeed.

[His arms fold across his chest, one following another as his gaze directs left and right. Searching for facts and hints is simple; he struggles more to dig out old issues hidden behind those of the present. Hendrik cannot recognise the weight behind his words, surely? He sighs in an attempt to hide his discomfort.]

It seems this spot is secluded from the citizenry - yet it lies on the main path nonetheless. I should reckon that indicates our killer is brazen. Insolent, I should add. To waste our time on a merry chase.

[He rests his fist on his hip. It's not quite so merry.]

[standvastig]

Brazen.

[He repeats the word with a frown, nodding carefully as he eventually climbs to his feet. What should they do at this point?

His eyes go back to the marks in the tree, and he scrutinizes them for a long moment, as if trying to divine more information. He opens his mouth, shuts it, and then slowly opens it again.]

I wonder if we can discern anything from the height of these marks.

[leitstern]

[Being responsible for ending the lives of monsters and men, Jasper finds the answer comes easier than most. It brings to mind uncomfortable times and he turns his head away to look down the path, visibly avoidant. His voice goes quiet.]

The height of our assailant and their closeness to the victim?

[He sees no marks on other nearby trees.]

I pray you are not expecting a demonstration.

[standvastig]

Perhaps, yes.

[He leans forward to get a decent look at the marks again, then presses his hand to the bark and pushes away. Even with more distance, he can't imagine his greatsword ever creating these kinds of markings in the wood.

It takes him awhile a notice how ... strange Jasper's body language is. Avoidant? Uncomfortable?]

What is on your mind, Jasper?

[leitstern]

[Jasper crosses his arms across his stomach and continues staring down the path. It leads him into darkness and shade; towards where sharing the truth will take them, in fact. His hands slide into his pockets, covered in the blood of his countrymen. He cannot imagine what Hendrik might say about his thoughts.

Of course, that leads him into imagining what they are. This is not the place for a discussion. A little late, do you not think? Save it for home. None of them match what he wants to say. He doesn't speak for a while.]

I think my concern for the situation is not something you would understand.

[standvastig]

[He stares at Jasper, but no further explanation comes. It's disappointing, but not ultimately surprising; even with their strides rebuilding their relationship, their mindsets remain far apart.

He eventually looks away, expression contemplative.]

I see.

[Maybe another time. The wording is evasive at best.

He crouches back down and rearranges the flowers back the way they found them. Then he steps back to turn away from the tree.]

[leitstern]

[There are few thoughts more uncomfortable than the idea of being alone. Hendrik stands behind him, but the small distance between them feels impossibly wide. It prompts him to turn around and stare. He strokes the front of his neck and winds his fingers in his hair. Recent thoughts keep him rooted to the ground as he adjusts his cuffs.

Frightened to share his thoughts. Frightened to do anything but focus on work.]

Do you think it is worth finding witnesses? Regulars to this stretch of the woods, you might say?

[He stares at Hendrik and wonders if he might understand one day.]

[standvastig]

The attempt could be made, though it is possible the death would make witnesses wary about being in the area.

[So they can search the area, but he isn't exactly hopeful they will find someone.

It's better than standing around, though. After another glance at the tree and Jasper, he starts heading down the path.]

I am somewhat surprised you would ask.

[leitstern]

[Jasper follows with his footsteps echoing on the pavement. His steps are heavy and swift; sharing how he hardly desires to endure this task more than necessary.]

You think I would ignore their necessity? If we cannot find them here we track them to their homes.

[His tone is resolute. Hendrik is often unsuccessful in changing his mind, after all.]

I honestly cannot suffer their discomfort when the alternative is a murderer going unpunished.

[The irony of that statement is hardly lost on him.]

[standvastig]

[It takes Hendrik a moment to reply, frowning to himself as they walk. Perhaps he had not been clear and would need to clarify.]

What I meant is that you asked me if it is worth finding witnesses. You already knew what course you would want to take.

[It seems like a meaningless question. Or a false one. He isn't sure if it is for his benefit or Jasper's.]

Thus my surprise.

[leitstern]

[From the moment those words leave Hendrik's mouth, Jasper finds himself slowing. Brows drop and he pauses uncertainly for a moment. Deciding on his mood and then deciding on his response, he continues walking beside his old friend.]

Is it a crime to ponder aloud? Perchance I was attempting to involve you.

[At one time he wouldn't have bothered. This place certainly inspires some strange feelings.]

[standvastig]

It is not a crime, no.

[He has to admit that there is nothing inherently wrong with Jasper's approach; it is more an observation of ... something he can't quite identify.]

I am already involved. There is a reason we are out here together.

[Regardless, he can focus on the task at hand if Jasper's explanation is all that it is.]

[leitstern]

For the sport of hunting a man down, I dare say.

[Brows furrow. His nose wrinkles and he focuses on the path, stepping away from the memorable scene of murder without his own memories fading into nothingness. Words given freely hide the fact they are offered as diversion - using their disconnection from the crime to hide his feelings.]

Why else are we here?

[That is not what Hendrik means and they know it.]

[standvastig]

[Why else? Normally he would not search for ulterior motives, understanding the reasons why he is wielding his sword. But with the way Jasper replies about making sport of the situation, it is difficult not to stave his own distaste.]

For the money, I wager.

[leitstern]

[Jasper doesn't acknowledge the comment for a second. After several minutes of looking back to the past, he is finding it hard to focus on the future. But he manages to think far as Hendrik is concerned. Are they out here pounding grass for money? Yes. It is no surprise to him that his old friend feels distaste for the work.]

And the thought a gentleman wishes to reward us for effort bothers you?

[Of course it does. It would have bothered him too.]

[standvastig]

[Another question that goes nowhere. Jasper knows what he would think of such a thing -- regardless of if he would use that opinion against him. What is going on here?

He stops in the path. Whether or not Jasper joins him, he should at least say something.]

You are distracted. Will you tell me why?

[leitstern]

[Hendrik's opinions. Hendrik's beliefs. Hendrik's thoughts. All of these are well known and have been subject to interrogation and ridicule over the years. He murmurs a little noise, a sigh of discomfort, stops walking and starts sweating. It is likely his emotions will cause cracks and strains in this mess of a relationship.

This unfortunate excuse hardly matters, mind. Their new bond is built on the ruins of another.]

At present I hardly know what to say. Neither of us are content to dwell upon the past.

[He frowns like he knows the problem.]

Not that I have much right to dwell...

[standvastig]

[Jasper's earlier comment comes to mind, though he isn't sure how their present course relates to the past. His stance remains open, arms at his sides as he regards his old friend.]

You said earlier that you were concerned about the situation. And now you talk about dwelling on the past.

[Even as he starts speaking, the question he intends to ask changes. What are you bothered about? Why are you thinking about the past now?]

You have always been the one telling me not to focus on the past. Why are you not taking your own advice?

[leitstern]

[Jasper stands on the spot, unmoving and unmoved. Hendrik's openness offers firm ground to tread upon but there is unwillingness to take his first step. Being a heroic figure to his countrymen, the sort of man who earns admiration, has no realism. He would claim it feels little like his past at all, more like another life entirely.

Perhaps that is why putting his men out their misery had been uncomplicated. But if he ended their lives on a lie...]

I have no need for the counsel of an unenlightened man.

[It is all he is willing to admit, far as Mordegon is concerned.]

[standvastig]

[He expects an insult, a deflection, and is still disappointed to hear it. He turns his face to the side, giving the ground a concentrated look that doesn't actually see anything as he thinks.]

Yet you wanted the friendship of an idiot. I see.

[There is annoyance in his voice, tempered by disappointment into something flat and cold. But it soon gives way as he sighs.]

Do you want to be here?