calderamemes | TDM #4

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!mod post,
!tdm

TDM #4

ARRIVAL

It happens in an instant. A heavy weight in your gut, a trembling of your limbs, the world spins and you barely have time to register that you're falling before you lose consciousness. And when you awaken, it's not where you were last. Dark, unadorned oak walls surround you in a tiny room, the only furniture the bed you are currently resting upon, and the bedside table with a folded piece of parchment resting atop it that simply reads:

“The Tavernkeeper is awaiting your arrival downstairs.”

As you exit you find others like yourself emerging from the surrounding rooms. You are indeed in a tavern, but there is no hustle and bustle one might think to hear in such a place. The only person down on the main floor is a humanoid figure wiping down the bar, who smiles when they see you. They're familiar, but not, and you can't quite place their face. For some reason, however, their presence is comforting and warm.

“Welcome, Visitor. I'm sure you have a lot of questions.”

And you most certainly do.

Due to popular demand, the starter tavern and the drinks provided are available to in game characters via a portal accessible only to those with a faction gem.

DRINK MENU

WINTER'S WHISPER A fragrant spiced tea that calms the nerves and inspires the drinker to share their hopes and dreams.

JINGLE BELL A crisp, bright drink...that makes jingling bell sounds as you walk. There are no bells, and yet you jingle.

S(LAY) RIDE This drink has an earthy, woody taste. Almost as woody as the tavern floor it forces you to lie down upon. You cannot get up unless someone else helps you.

MISTLETOE MEAD Made with honey from enchanted bee hives and a touch of mistletoe leaves. Time to find a smoochin' partner!

HOLLY JOLLY SPICE A bold and fiery blend of rum, cinnamon, and cloves with a secret twist—just a dash of enchanted holly berry syrup that makes your cheeks flush with warmth and your laughter contagious. One sip, and you're the life of the party, even if you're by yourself.

CANDY CANE CRUSH A festive burst of minty sweetness with a cool, refreshing sensation that tingles the tongue. The drinker’s mood subtly shifts the color of their surroundings, briefly changing the hues of objects or lights in the room to match their feelings.

GINGERBREAD MAN A thick drink that tastes exactly like a gingerbread cookie. However, candy and other delicious accents start appearing on you as if YOU were the cookie. Is that icing on your nose? Candied cherries in your hair? Gumdrop buttons? But on the bright side, free candy!

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY

As the effects of your drink wear off, the Tavernkeeper speaks once more:

”It is time, my friends, for you to find your new homes.”

You are compelled to walk through the only door leading out of the tavern, finding yourself not outside, but in a deep black, seemingly endless room with five portals arranged in a circle. As the last of you leave and the door closes behind you, gone when you look back again and replaced with nothing but that black void, three of the portals illuminate:

The first portal is surrounded by an almost blinding light, prismatic rainbows shining brightly in the dewy air outside of the tavern. A soft breeze may gently caress you, pulling you toward it. The portal seems to lead to a city in the clouds, airships and winged beings of all sorts soaring through the skies. Of the little bits of visible land, much of it boasts giant waterfalls that look like clouds melting into the land below. The portal calls to those who crave independence and freedom; and especially to anyone that wishes to find the strong bond of a family not forged in blood.

The second portal is encircled by a fairy ring of spotted white capped mushrooms, the faint scent of damp stone and rich earth wafting from within the faint green glow. Peering inside, one can see a sprawling harbor city of gray hewn stone, a melting pot of humanoid beings going about their day, and beyond, rolling green farmland and cottages clustered in small villages. This portal is destined for those who crave stability and solid ground beneath their feet. A simple life, an adventurous one, and everything in between can be found within.

The last portal is adorned with shells and seaweed, the glow of blue around it catching on droplets cascading down the circular opening. Beyond it you see a city housed inside a massive bubble deep under the ocean, spiraling towers encrusted with coral, and a variety of different creatures mingling about the streets. Outside of that bubble, merfolk swim, a massive squid engulfs the view from the portal as it smoothly glides through the water, and schools of fish disperse as it passes. A sanctuary in the sea that calls to those with a hunger for knowledge and a desire to aid those in need. Or perhaps it is the mystery that beckons you - the lure of the unknown in the depths that bids you explore it.

Upon following the pull of the breeze through the first portal, you are thrust into the beauty of a lively city that goes by the name of Heaven's Bow. Much of this main city feels exactly as you would expect on a city below, but there are clouds surrounding every direction you look. The walls of buildings are made with light-colored limestone, and buildings are generally built up to heights made even more grandiose by their position in the sky.

The Skyfall Docks are the first thing you notice, boasting hundreds of airships sailing in and out across the clouds with shouts that accompany a typical port city. Just outside is a fantastic market with goods not only from the other regions of Caldera, but from what some shopkeepers claim are other worlds--items sold or left behind by Visitors. Almost anything can be found in the markets if one is willing to look hard enough. Transport to other locations throughout the sky and even to the land or sea can be found here.

If the docks are too lively for you, you may instead find yourself roaming the underbelly of Heaven's Bow and finding brothels and gambling parlors filled with the promise of pleasure and fortune. The guild house for the Sylphs can be found here as well, giving out quests and training to prospective adventurers and guards alike--though none of them seem concerned with the illicit activities that surround them. Perhaps the freedom the Sylphs boast of extends to what others may deem an undesirable activity.

But most curious of all, you find a shimmering opal gemstone in your hand. When placed anywhere on the body, it will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

If it was the second portal that called to you, you will find yourself in the busy city of Grey Ward, with its cobblestone streets and sturdy grey stone buildings. You are in the heart of the city, the Glass Market, so named for the colorful stained glass windows of the surrounding buildings. The scent of cooking food and the sound of barkers fills the air; watchful guards keep an eye out for pickpockets and thieves, and citizens go about their day. From here, one can investigate the rest of the city: the Sundown Docks, where both sea and sky faring skips transport people and goods. The Soot Spire, home of inventors and engineers. The Hearthstill, the main residential area. The Downs, a smaller residential area for those with less means.

Outside the city walls, one can explore acres of farmlands to the east and west, or follow Terra’s Pass to the less settled areas, but take care. Past the Skyward Range, out in the smaller burrows and villages, the influence of the city guard diminishes quickly, and you’ll have to keep your wits about you. Bandits along the road are always a risk, and the wildlife are less controlled by regimented hunting.

In your hand is a gemstone, a brilliantly green emerald that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

If the last portal beckoned you through it, you find yourself within that bubble covered city beneath the sea, the city of Salt Spire. Your ears pop with the change in pressure, and the smell of the salty sea fills your nostrils. All around you buildings made of dark stone encrusted with coral and seagrass tower high above your head, the backdrop outside the dome a deep blue, seemingly endless sea filled with fish and merfolk and all other manner of creature swimming through the water. You stand in the heart of it all, surrounded by people with gils on their necks and scales upon their vibrantly colored skin, all of whom seem intrigued by your arrival. You have many options of where to visit in the city under the sea, but where oh where will you go first?

The Salt Spire Library is right before you, an impossibly large building housing thousands upon thousands of books of all genres. Fiction, non-fiction, romance and mystery and all between. You may even find books from your world and others! Oddly enough though, no Calderan history books are to be found, and if you ask for them, the librarians and locals all choose to ignore your questions.

If scholarly pursuits aren't to your interest currently, perhaps a trip to Bluetide Market would be more your style? The marketplace is host to every manner of shop one might ever need: artisans of all varieties, apothecaries and healers in the Shimmer Quarter, the most in fashion undersea clothing shops, food stalls, and all between can be found in Bluetide. There are also the Tideshore and Fogbottom docks on either end of the city. The former allows transport to the surface via large, magical bubbles for those that cannot hold their breath or make the swim themselves yet. The latter allows people to venture further into the sea. Those without their underwater abilities are offered rebreathers for travel that last for four hours before needing to be replaced.

In your hand is a gemstone, a shining sapphire that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

Visitors in all starter cities are offered a standard home with basic necessities provided (your choice in design, etc.) that can house 1-4 people if they so choose. Home upgrades can be purchased via rewards.

FANNING THE FLAMES

The renewed seething of the lava flows brought on by the tempestuous events deep below the sea seem to have been dealt with, though city guards have been stationed around the crater and are barring anyone from approaching to investigate any further than the outskirts. Interestingly, not only does the crater seem calm, it appears to be changing. Any remaining lava flow is being directed as if by unseen hands, and when the light catches just right, the barest hint of a shimmer can be detected surrounding the glowing rivers. New rock formations take shape as the days pass, though one never can catch the presence of a mason working on the structures. It's as if something intangible or invisible is repairing what was broken, turning what was previously chaos and ruin into order and life.

SEASON OF LIGHT

The world remains unsettled, still bearing the scars of the trials endured just a month prior, not to mention the oddities happening with the volcanic crater and the ominous shadows creeping in from the sea continue to haunt the collective psyche, leaving both locals and visitors on constant edge, fearful of a sudden, unprovoked assault. Despite these lingering anxieties, the leaders have publicly reassured all that calm has been restored. They claim that the worst is behind them and that every measure is being taken to prevent such devastating magics from ever threatening Salt Spire again. The protective bubble holds, new Undine are being ushered into their roles, and the world, it is said, is slowly healing. Or so they claim.

Whether or not the assurances of the leaders ring entirely true, life, as it often does, presses on. The people of Caldera have once again immersed themselves in the comforting bustle of distraction, turning their attention to the imminent Season of Lights celebrations. This holiday, it seems, bears a striking resemblance to the festive cheer of Christmas (and a mix of new years), with gifts exchanged in abundance and decorations of shimmering silver and radiant blue casting their glow across the sky, sea, and land in harmonious splendor.

One of the seasons's highlights is the grand Feast of the Sky, a night when the people gather beneath a star-filled canopy to exchange gifts—ornate trinkets, hand-crafted items, and tokens of affection that carry deep personal meaning. In the days leading up to the feast, a tradition of "Lightwalking" emerges, where families and friends embark on midnight strolls through streets aglow with lanterns, singing carols and sharing stories of hope and renewal. Sea-going vessels, too, partake in the festivities, their sails and riggings festooned with glowing orbs that drift like stars across the waters.

The Season of Lights is, above all, a celebration of resilience, a time when the people of Caldera set aside their worries, if only for a little while, to bask in the glow of community, generosity, and the promise of brighter days ahead thanks to the Visitor's arrival...

THE GRAND MASQUERADE

Another highlight of the season is the Grand Masquerade that unfolds high above the world in Heaven’s Bow, the floating city where the wind dances in the sky and the stars seem close enough to touch. The event is more than just a celebration of the Season of Lights—it’s a gathering of hope, a last-ditch effort to save Caldera from its slow unraveling. Here, among the clouds and the wind, the people of Caldera and the mysterious Visitors from other worlds come together in a shimmering, ethereal celebration, their faces hidden behind elaborate masks and appropriately fancy dress provided when one steps through the threshold of the castle gates.

The palace at the heart of Heaven’s Bow is a breathtaking sight, its walls adorned with silver and blue decorations that catch the light from thousands of lanterns floating in mid-air. The atmosphere is both jubilant and tense, a world on the brink of collapse holding its breath in the hopes that this fleeting night will offer a glimmer of salvation. The sky above is painted with the colors of dusk and dawn, swirling in a palette of purples, blues, and silvers.

Sylphs—the free-spirited, airborn people of the Sky—flutter about, their wings glinting in the light, performing acrobatic feats in the air, their laughter and music mingling with the sounds of the celebration. Guests, their masks intricate and stunning, move among the crowd, exchanging pleasantries and stories, some joining in the dances while others linger near the grand tables, laden with food and drink from every corner of Caldera and beyond.

As the night unfolds, the guests find themselves drawn into different corners of the event—each space offering the Visitors a chance to prove themselves worthy of the leaders’ favor. There is no shortage of opportunities to learn, grow, and, perhaps, change the course of this dying world.

THE SKY'S ASCENSION

At one end of the palace's terrace, a floating platform hovers above the clouds, surrounded by shifting air currents. Sylphs glide effortlessly through the space, their wings leaving trails of light as they move to the lively music, which seems written by the wind itself.

Aella, Admiral of the Slyph, stands at the center of the platform, her cloak of shimmering feathers rippling in the breeze. She surveys the crowd, inviting those brave enough to take part in her challenge. Before them, a maze of floating platforms stretches out, some wide and stable, others narrow and swaying in the wind. The task is simple: leap from one platform to the next, navigating the shifting air and ever-changing obstacles.

The platforms move unpredictably, some rising higher, others sinking, and a few disappearing entirely. Guests must time their jumps perfectly, balancing agility with timing as they avoid falling into the clouds below.

Those who succeed will earn Aella’s favor (in the form of 100 Bones and a single white feather). And those who falter will simply reappear the start of the challenge to begin anew or give up with no repercussions for the latter save perhaps a bit of embarrassment.

THE SEA'S SECRETS

On the other side of the terrace, a serene water garden unfolds, its shimmering pools reflecting the stars above. Water flows in delicate, endless cascades, filling the air with a soft, soothing melody that mingles with the distant sound of waves. The Undines, graceful and serene beings of the Sea, glide effortlessly through the space, their robes flowing like gentle currents, their movements as fluid as the water itself.

Cordelia, Queen of the Sea, stands quietly on a raised platform at the edge of the garden, her presence calm and powerful. Her eyes, deep and unfathomable, seem to reflect the vastness of the ocean, and though she watches the guests, she does not engage with them. Her stillness holds an air of mystery, as if she is both present and yet unreachable.

The Undines move silently through the garden, offering peaceful company to those who wander nearby. The garden is a place of contemplation, where guests can simply pause and connect with the tranquil beauty of the water—its soothing flow, its quiet depths, and its promise of renewal. There are no tests or challenges here, only the peace of the Sea to calm the mind and soul.

Those who linger may feel the weight of ancient knowledge in the air, a silent understanding of the oceans' mysteries and the healing power of water. In this place, the answers are not spoken, but felt—a quiet reminder that some of the world’s deepest truths are best discovered in moments of stillness.

As the evening fades, those who have found solace in the garden’s stillness will discover, tucked gently in their palm, a lustrous pearl. Unlike any found on the shores, this pearl is soft and warm, its surface shimmering with an inner light. It is a symbol of the wisdom that comes from quiet reflection—the knowledge that some things, like the depth of the sea, cannot be rushed.

THE LAND'S EMBRACE

In the heart of the palace gardens, beneath a canopy of flowering trees, the Dryads drift gracefully among the guests, their earthy skin glowing with life and their eyes bright with the vitality of nature. The air is thick with the scent of blooming roses and jasmine, while the ground beneath the guests' feet pulses with a quiet energy, inviting them to pause and feel the garden’s magic.

Terra, the Lady of the Land, stands at the center, her form adorned in living vines and blossoms, moving as if the garden itself flows through her. Her presence is both nurturing and fierce, a silent invitation to those seeking connection—to the land, to love, and to one another.

Guests are drawn to the tranquil beauty of the garden, stealing soft moments with their partners among the flowers. Lovers exchange quiet glances, touch petals with gentle fingers, and share unspoken promises beneath the soft glow of lanterns. The garden hums with romance, as if the earth itself is blessing these tender moments, offering the quiet assurance that love—like the land—can grow in the most unexpected places.

As the night draws to a close, Terra’s gentle power is felt in the air, and for those who have taken the time to connect with the garden’s beauty, a soft gift of nature is bestowed. A flower—unique and radiant—appears in their hand, a token of love and growth, a reminder that even the briefest moments can take root and blossom into something everlasting.

QUESTBOARD [NEW QUESTS ADDED]

Settled in? Good. It's time to make your way to the Questboard located in every city in numerous, easy to access locations. That is, if you want to make any kind of impact on the world or just get some Bones for anything you might wish to purchase. Visitors are given a very small stipend in which to survive every month, but all it does is keep you fed and housed. These quests will assure you greater wealth, and they're the main reason you're here: each finished quest helps the Calderans fix their shattering world.

Quests can be accepted at the questboard via magically signed parchment upon the board. Just sign your name to accept and the paper will be whisked away... somewhere. You're not actually sure. Probably nothing to concern yourself with.

Once quests are completed, earned Bones will be dropped off at the character's residence by Bonita, the mysterious artisan who has supposedly handcrafted every Bone circulating in Caldera. Please do not speak to her, she startles easily.

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Caldera's fourth TDM! All characters awaken in a strange tavern with nothing save the clothes on their backs, all of their powers stripped, and a piece of parchment directing them downstairs to the Tavernkeeper. There is a thread of all questions answered by the Tavernkeeper here, and if you have more, feel free to ask there for what would be offered ICly.

For OOC questions, please direct themhere.

All locations are available to be explored!

The TDM is game canon and all completed quests can be carried over once accepted into the game.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It was clear that Alex would not be detered, and honestly Henry did not have the heart to do so-- not when Alex craved adventure and possibly blood? He wasn't sure, no matter what though it would be absolute chaos. So he settled in close (but only because Alex drew him close) and then said nearly tongue-in-cheek. ]

I trust your judgement, gods that will be my famous last words.. won't it?

[ He was expecting a push, a shove, anything coming from Alex. ]

Oh yeah, they'll carve it into your tombstone.

[Alex did crave adventure, craved discovering just what he was capable of. And he wanted to help. They were brought here for a reason, weren't they? To make a difference?

Instead of shoving, he tightened his arm around Henry and pulled him closer.]

That's the spirit.

[He finally released him, stepped back as he pulled out his trusty stick and gave it a reasonably impressive little twirl.] Let's go. To the caves!

[ At the very least, Henry could rest easy knowing that he was there. It wasn't really easy rest, but it was comforting nonetheless; it meant that Alex would at least have some sort of assistance before he zipped into the luring embrace of adventure.

Though, truth be told, Henry was excited; he just was far more calm about it.

He wanted to know what was in the caves and what they needed to go find, and likewise he also realized that Alex would do whatever it took to succeed. And thereby they would make a difference, something that they were both passionate about. ]

I cannot argue with that, Mister First Son.. so away we go, you lead the way?

[Alex fixed Henry with a smile, bright and excited and entirely unguarded. Somewhere along the way he'd gone from despising Henry to trusting him completely. Pretend best friends to actual best friends, and he couldn't imagine anyone else he'd feel more comfortable having at his side, even heading out into something that could prove dangerous.]

Of course.

[A pause and he realized they ought to take the map. Right? Yeah, okay. Just gonna... grab the map.]

Thanks, by the way, for coming with me.

[ In a way, Henry was having that exact same realization.

It had been a publicity ploy starting out, and then suddenly it was the two of them against the world, it had been long nights texting back and forth and even insecurities revealed slowly but surely.

For better or worse, they were indelibly changed by each other, and that was an intensely romantic thought. ]

I would not allow you to go alone. Sure, you do have a sticky stick but I think that you should have some sort of backup. [ And such adventures were drawing them closer together day by day. ] Also, I am not going to lie-- ever since I was a child, I have dreamed of going on book-like adventures so this is a bit self-indulgent, I would imagine.

[That drew another smile from Alex, as he pictured tiny Henry and his adventure books dreaming of living those sorts of fantasies. It was adorable, and even on adult Henry right in front of him? Still adorable.]

You and me both. Never did find my way into any fantasy lands in the back of my closet, so I kind of figured I'd missed my chance. But here we are.

[That I would not allow you to go alone sort of struck him. He couldn't explain how much it mattered that he wasn't alone here. He wasn't good at alone, really. He never had been, And he got the distinct impression that Henry had been alone too often and too long, and he was determined to change that.]</small

[ It was funny how their parts fit together so seamlessly.

Not in a physical sense (though if Henry gave himself permission to think about it, he would imagine they would fit rather well) but in an emotional sense, where Alex was intrepid and daring and he was calm and logical-- together they would be certain to find the right way of doing things.

And then as they walked, Henry glanced over at Alex.. at those squared off shoulders, at the profile. And then down at Henry's hand and he reached for it to take it-- it was such a very careful gesture but it was a show of solidarity between them, a 'you are not alone, I am here' and it was the truth, they were here together and they could navigate it as they needed. ]

[Alex was not expecting the feeling of a hand taking his, and the surprise showed in his eyes as he glanced over at Henry. Surprise gave way to a smile though, bright but soft, as if he took that touch for exactly what it was, reassurance that they were in this together.

He slipped his fingers through Henry's, lacing them securely together.

His heart was tripping over itself in his chest, like he'd been running for miles.]

I'm really glad you're here.

[ Why did Henry feel like this was home to him?

Secretly, he believed in true love. Just not true love for himself; he believed in happily ever after and the fact that good and justice and truth prevailed for all. But once again, not for him.

The feeling of Alex's hand within his own though, it defied his own reasoning and touched something deep within him, and so he squeezed it. It was a tentative response to everything. ] I am glad you are here too.. it is rather amazing that we ended up in the same place?

[ It didn't feel like coincidence. ]

Can't be a coincidence.

[Alex voiced the thought that Henry was having. Because it couldn't be a coincidence that they both wound up here. Whatever had decided to bring one of them had decided to bring the other with. Maybe it recognized that they were better together than they'd ever been apart.

God look at him having those thoughts when less than a year ago, Alex would've told anyone who even came close to suggesting he might want Prince Henry anywhere in his vicinity that they were so insane they ought to be carted off to the loony bin.]

I mean, clearly you'd be lost without me, so it's probably for the best.

Forgive me sweetheart, that I do not languish at your feet-- the damsel in distress that I clearly am. [ He would pick up a sword on the way up, a pointy one. Because he knew that there were fencing rapiers sold in the marketplace, and he did not entirely trust the stickiest of sticks that was in Alex's possession. ]

I do not want to give you too much of a thrill, it may stop your heart.

[ An almost smug smile, the sort that appeared overly confident; he could have his bursts of confidence and it was also easier to deal with sentimentality through humor, or so Henry said. Best not to let slip that he was feeling sentimental by their shared predicament. ]

I don't know, my heart could probably survive a bit of it. And you are looking very damsel-y. [Not a word. Whatever.] I think it's all the blond and the big doe eyes.

[People who lived in doe-eyed houses should not throw stones, but Alex wasn't really considering that.]

Doe-eyed? Excuse me, you look like you walked out of some sort of southwestern Disney movie, you certainly have the lashes to match.

[ Henry did not have Disney-princess lashes, it was a fact, that was all within Alex's scope. ]

Says actual real life Prince Charming.

[Alex countered. But he also looked over at Henry and batted those aforementioned lashes in his direction.]

Stop it with your devil eyelash magic.

[ He gave Alex a good-natured shove that was nothing if not light, a teasing joke but also it was because if he looked into those eyes he knew that he would drown and then he would never return because he had lost himself in those eyes. ]

Some people would kill for your eyelashes, Alex.

Never.

[Can't stop won't stop never gonna stop. Alex laughed as he was shoved, rocking to the side before lifting a hand to rub at his shoulder where he was shoved as if he'd been grievously wounded.]

What I'm hearing is you noticed my eyelashes.

Your very criminal lashes.

[ Those insanely sickningly long lashes, and the eyes that were dancing laughing teasing affairs meant to charm him all the more. They were devilry at their core ]

I may have had a thought or two.. in passing.

[ The tone of voice that Henry adopted was non-commital, that is if non-commital failed gloriously. ]

Oh? In passing?

[Alex prompted, looking entirely too smug for his own good. For anyone's good really.]

I might've noticed a thing or two about you, too. You know, in passing.

[ they had stopped at an blacksmith where he had picked up a rapier and was currently testing it for balance, regretfully he had let go of Alex's hand to do so. ]

Oh? What have you noticed about me.. I am feeling very much like you should stroke my ego...

Is that what I should stroke? Noted.

[Henry couldn't just set him up like that. Alex was only human.

But as he watched Henry try the blade, he would answer the question.]

Your smile. Not the one for the cameras. The one you smile when you don't think anyone is looking.

[It softened all those rigidly held edges, lit up his eyes. Alex was constantly charmed.]

And right now I'm noticing you and a sword is a pretty sexy combination.

Oh, you've never seen me fence...

[ Or play polo, they hadn't gotten to the point in the relationship where he invited Alex to watch him play polo, and the ensuing blowjobs. He was already swishing it about though at a safe and responsible distance so that he did not hit random-passerbyers nor alarm the other people at the weapon stall. ] And really? I do not smile that way much.. [ The barest hint of it could be see, like his smile was trying to run away with his mouth. ]

Its easier around you, to smile like that.. it means I trust you.

I have not. And now I wish I had. ...think you could teach me?

[Swordplay? Like with and without any innuendo that might have attached to it.

He watched Henry and the sword still, a smile of his own as he nodded in agreement.]

Yeah, I know. It's a rare sight. Saw it for the first time that day in the hospital. I think that was the beginning of the end for me. [How could he ever have hoped not to go falling.]

Perhaps not an ending, a beginning.

[ He said as he twirled the sword hint in his hand because he was a show-off (in his own way, he too desired to impress the guy he was currently in absolute and utter love with) and then he placed the point tip on the ground and affected the very gay lean with one hip jutting out. ]

I could teach you a bit of sword-handling.

[ Which brings to mind something that was absolutely and utterly serious. ] You seriously are not going to go into possible danger with just a stick?

Yeah. Start of something kind of amazing.

[He watched Henry show off, watched him strike that absurdly cute sassy little pose. What the hell, Henry. Being that cute ought to be a crime.

But then Alex was looking down at his stick and then back to Henry.]

It's a really good stick?

[He would, however, admit (begrudgingly) that Henry might have a good point.]

[ No no no no.... he walked over to hold up a club. ] Well here is a club, I know that you are probably good at baseball, since you are American. [ And then with the other hand he picked up a knife. ] And also this, which I suppose can be effective, you are not going on this trip with me unless you have something other than that stick.

[ And to curtail any puppy-faces, Alex was also pretty good at those puppy eyes. ] The stick can come along, we don't have to leave them behind.

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