TDM #5

[calderaevents]

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

FLAMEFRUIT SANGRIA a deep red wine based punch with chunks of softly glowing fruit floating in it. A single serving makes you feel relaxed, social, and maybe even a little flirty.

MOLTEN MEAD Though the thick drink itself is room temperature, it bubbles sluggishly, and feels very warm going down. The bold flavor affects your mood. You feel very bold! Like you could do anything!

BESALT BRANDY a hopefully staple drink for the brewery, this liquor is smooth and rich with a peppery bite. Ironically after consuming it, you kinda want to bite someone! Not hard! Just a little nip and nibble!

THAT ASHY ESPRESSO a single potent shot of dark espresso swirled with a gold-tinged cream. Intense and bitter with a hint of caramelized sugar. You are now very awake, hyper, and excited.

PYROCLAST'S WHISKEYa glossy black whiskey that turns a vibrant glowing orange when swirled. You now breathe fire.

EMBERMARK WINE a rich, velvety, spiced wine that immediately makes one feel mellow and calm.

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.

IGNACIA'S CRADLE/EMBER VEIL

Months ago, a piece of land from Heaven’s Bow fell from the sky and scarred the land below, damaging a part of the city. From that chaos and ruin rose new life, a new ruler, and a new city: Ignacia’s Cradle. Just a short walk from the edge of Grey Ward, the gates of the city are guarded by two massive obsidian golems, and any who did not rise from the lava itself are warned at the entrance that to travel about the city will be most difficult, unless they have obtained a way to mitigate the extreme heat: be that with a charm, an ability, or a potion. The very streets themselves are paved in slabs of volcanic rock, tall spires of buildings constructed and shaped by rapidly cooled lava. The main method of travel are the mine carts, with tracks that wind through the spires ready to take one to almost any location.

Currently, the main feature of Ignacia’s Cradle is the Lava Flats, home of skilled smiths that use the extreme heat of the lava to melt the strongest metals and create unbreakable weapons, glassmakers and jewelers who fashion elaborate headpieces, rings, and amulets. These items are sold at the Ember Market on the outskirts of the Flats.

At the edge of the city lies the Ashfall Terrace, where a small farm using the rich volcanic ash and soil is in its infancy, as well as the Basalt Brewery where clever alchemists are researching ways to use the extreme heat to craft new and unique beverages that they are eager to find folk to test them out on.

---

The hot spring of Ignacia’s Cradle is a breathtaking anomaly located just beyond the Ashfall Terrace, tucked into a secluded crater formed by the celestial impact that gave rise to the city. Here, molten veins from the Lava Flats weave beneath the earth, heating a natural reservoir that bubbled to life amidst the chaos. The spring’s waters shimmer with an ethereal brilliance, hues of deep turquoise blending with molten gold and fiery orange, as though Heaven’s Bow itself left behind a fragment of its essence. Steam rises in curling wisps, carrying the tang of minerals and faint traces of sulfur.

The spring, known to locals as The Ember Veil, is both a sanctuary and a marvel of natural wonder. Its soothing waters are reputed to heal wounds and fortify the spirit, with the temperature kept in perfect balance by an intricate system of naturally formed vents and channels. The edges are lined with intricately carved obsidian benches, where patrons can soak their feet or meditate in the rising steam. Plants resistant to the intense conditions—vivid fire lilies and ash ferns—dot the perimeter, their resilience a symbol of life’s ability to flourish even in the harshest environments.

Sometimes, when two or more individuals share the waters, the spring creates a subtle connection between their minds, allowing memories to surface like ripples on its surface. These shared memories appear as glowing, translucent scenes that hover above the water, visible to all within the spring. Participants can relive moments from their lives, experiencing them through each other’s eyes, fostering profound empathy and understanding.

Another of the spring’s mystical properties occurs when bathers who enter the waters feeling drained, injured, or burdened by grief often find their vitality restored. The waters seem to draw out negative energies and emotions, replacing them with a warm, invigorating sensation that spreads through the body. In rare instances, the spring has been known to accelerate physical healing, mending minor injuries and soothing chronic aches, as though the magic itself is stitching the body back together.

A lesser-known but equally fascinating effect happens on particularly clear nights, when the moonlight reflects on the spring’s surface, some bathers report fleeting glimpses of potential futures. These visions are often cryptic, appearing as brief, dream-like flashes, but they have guided many to life-changing decisions. The alchemists of the Basalt Brewery believe this effect stems from residual cosmic energy, and they have begun experimenting with enhancing it through the addition of rare minerals and lunar elixirs.

RADIANT SUN

The day begins like no other, with the skies painted in hues of golden-pink as the Radiant Sun ascends. Its light spills over the world, warm and soft, caressing the land and filling every heart with a sense of peace. Beneath its glow, emotions of love and connection bloom like never before. Strangers exchange heartfelt smiles, old friends embrace as though no time has passed, and lovers find their feelings deepened, their bonds strengthened.

Even the air feels different—lighter, sweeter, as though the universe itself is celebrating. The songs of birds harmonize with the melodies of impromptu musicians who feel inspired by the sun’s radiance. Those with magical abilities sense their powers of healing and creation magnified, as if the sun itself lends its strength to their intentions. Long-held grudges seem to melt away under the sun’s tender gaze, replaced by tears of reconciliation and words of forgiveness.

The Radiant Sun touches every heart differently:

◾A widow finds peace as memories of her late spouse no longer bring sorrow but gratitude for the love they shared.
◾A timid youth finds the courage to confess their feelings to the person they’ve admired for so long.
◾A gruff warrior lets down their guard, laughing freely with their companions for the first time in years.

For a fleeting moment, the world feels as it should be—unified, harmonious, and drenched in love.

But as the day wanes and the Radiant Sun dips below the horizon, an unease begins to settle...

JEALOUS MOON

The golden light gives way to deep purples and silvers as the Jealous Moon rises, its glow pale and cold. Its light pierces the heart, not to warm it, but to expose the insecurities that lie buried within. Where love had flourished during the day, doubt begins to creep in.

Under the Jealous Moon’s influence, emotions twist and darken:

◾A once-reconciled pair of siblings argue over old grievances, as jealousy over perceived favoritism resurfaces.
◾A couple, who had spent the day lost in each other’s arms, now question each other’s loyalty and intentions.
◾A nobleman, inspired to be generous during the day, grows suspicious of those who received his gifts, fearing they may exploit his kindness.

The air grows heavy with tension, and the magic of the Radiant Sun fades, replaced by the sharp sting of distrust. The moon’s pale light seems to follow people like a judgmental gaze, amplifying every fear, insecurity, and lingering resentment.

Worse still, the night seems endless, as though time itself has bent beneath the weight of the Jealous Moon’s envious glow. For three long days and nights, the moon lingers high in the sky, its pale, piercing light casting a shadow over hearts and minds, amplifying discord and despair. Its power sows strife among even the closest bonds, driving some to dangerous extremes. Yet, when all seems lost, the scholars of the three factions unite their wisdom and uncover a glimmer of hope—a means to dispel the moon’s cruel influence. For those who have not yet succumbed to jealousy’s grip, there remains a chance to reclaim harmony, a chance for redemption before the damage becomes irreversible.

The solution lies not in complex rituals or rare relics but in the simplest and most instinctive actions: physical connection. To weaken the moon’s hold, people must embrace one another—offering a hug, a handshake, or even resting a hand on someone’s shoulder. These gestures of closeness disrupt the isolation and mistrust that the moon thrives upon. Sitting side by side or holding hands creates a barrier against its oppressive light, reminding the afflicted that they are not alone. Even small acts, like sharing warmth through proximity or clasping arms in solidarity, build a shield of connection that the moon cannot penetrate.

As these actions ripple through the night, the Jealous Moon’s light begins to dim, its sharp, cold glow softening until it fades from the sky entirely. The tension in the air lifts, replaced by a quiet calm that feels almost foreign after the chaos of the past three days. Slowly, the world seems to exhale, and the darkness that clung so tightly to the hearts of many begins to loosen its grip. People step back from the brink of despair, their minds clearing as if waking from a long, disorienting dream. Relationships strained by the moon’s influence begin to mend as apologies are exchanged, tears are shed, and bonds are reaffirmed.

ALL IS WELL(?)

With the Radiant Sun rising again, its golden-pink hues spilling across the horizon, life begins to return to normal. The birds resume their morning songs, markets reopen, and the hum of daily activity fills the air once more. Though traces of the moon’s influence linger in whispered memories, there is a collective sense of relief and gratitude among the people—gratitude for the light, for connection, and for a second chance to heal.

In the outskirts of Ignacia's Cradle, Aella and Terra, two of the three leaders of the factions, come together to address the gathered crowds. Together they assure the people that this celestial event was a rare anomaly, something never before recorded in the annals of history. They explain that while the Jealous Moon’s influence was unprecedented and deeply unsettling, it was a unique alignment of cosmic forces that is unlikely to occur again in their lifetimes—or ever.

The leaders thank the people for their resilience and compassion, emphasizing how their acts of unity—simple gestures of closeness and connection—proved stronger than the moon’s envy. They commend the scholars for their quick thinking and the Visitors for their role in guiding others through the chaos. Finally, they urge everyone to move forward, not in fear of what has passed, but with the knowledge that even in the darkest moments, their strength lies in the bonds they share.

QUESTBOARD

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.

*February will be the last month to complete quests for this rotation. New ones will go up on March 1st.

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Caldera's fifth 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! Ignacia's Cradle and Ember Veil have been added, along with details about the Violet Drop regarding the Cult of Triton.

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

Participation in the Radiant Sun/Jealous Moon effects is not mandatory.

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Comments

[wantadistraction]

"Is it nice? Warm?" Lydia asked with a small smile as she toed off her shoes and slowly lowered herself to sit on the edge beside him, sliding her feet into the water before he could even really answer her.

A sigh of pleasure escaped her almost immediately as she curled her fingers around the edge and closed her eyes, leaning forward while kicking her legs slowly through the water. Okay, it was very nice.

lmk how grimdark you want this memory and remember nope is always an option

[thecodexabides]

Oh. That. "It is warm." But she was already sliding in next to him.

"I did not know you were coming up here." He would have waited, carried her through the worst of the heat on the path up.

it's all good!

[wantadistraction]

"It's okay, I can walk by myself." She wouldn't have minded being carried but she reassured him with a little pat on his shoulder.

Then she withdrew her hand so she could start shimmying her dress up over her hips, revealing the smooth expanse of her thighs and further until she was pulling the fabric up over her head. She wasn't naked but there was a lot more bare skin on display as she sat there in a pair of panties and a bra, both the shade of blue nearing the color of the water.

Setting her dress aside behind her, she pushed forward to sink into the water with a happy moan.

[thecodexabides]

"I am aware of that." Always, she has to insist she can walk places. When speed matters, or danger, that sort of pride should give way to expedience. Mortals have, as a species, poor battle doctrine. Someone should remedy that one day. "And I know," he'll just cut this one off at the pass as well, "that you can take care of yourself."

Clothes were a nuisance anyway, unless they provided environmental resistance or protection. And the dresses she wore did neither. Really someone was going to have to get Lydia some proper armor at some point.

He was making a list of these obvious needed improvements in mortals as she slid in, until she made that soft sound. ...well, that got his attention.

"Are you all right?" Because his gaze might have changed, fixing on her, pupils dilating.

[wantadistraction]

Lydia chuckled softly at his response and that he was so quick to add in the bit about how she could take care of herself which she imagined was nearly impossible for him to say. It was no secret what he really thought but that he was making some kind of attempt to acknowledge her endless statements that echoed those words exactly meant something.

“Exactly,” she nodded before smiling as she ran her hand over his shoulder, patting gently. “But I would have let you carry me up here if I had known you were coming up too.”

She figured that would make him feel better and so she focused on sliding into the water which felt amazing. The heat was sinking into her skin while plastering the silk and lace of her lingerie against her curves. Thankfully she had already pinned her hair up, so it wasn’t getting soaked while she turned to face him.

The look in his eyes caused familiar flutters as she nodded, drifting back while she watched him. Not that she was out of reach with his long arms. “I am, it’s just the water feels really good.”

we call this...foreshadowing?

[thecodexabides]

"I was not planning. I was just...walking." He didn't sleep as much as normal mortals, and it meant he does a lot of meandering at night. Some around Lydia's house, some further afield.

"It does feel good." He dropped his voice, because it seemed that every time Gadriel admitted something nice or good is happening, something terrible almost immediately followed. At least he didn't feel the need to be on edge around Lydia, and he settled back, letting his eyes lid, softly, watching her from under his lowered lids.

oops, it's a novel

[wantadistraction]

"I understand that." Because there were times when Lydia didn't sleep either, mostly in an attempt to keep the banshee back who seemed to like taking over when she was asleep. It didn't always work though because she eventually had to give in to the need to rest.

She smiled faintly as he dropped his voice, letting herself relax in the water as she started to move towards him. At least until the water rippled between them, catching her attention as it wasn't the gentle rolling ripples caused by movement. These seemed to be something else as they gathered and rose until there was a shimmery scene in front of them, an image taking form....and sending a chill through her.

The blood drained from her face as she watched the scene play out of her, years ago, standing in the middle of a field while wearing a pretty dress. It was easy to see her confusion turn to fear as the large lights started to click on one by one as she called out for someone. How many times had she dreamed about this? Replayed it in her head and now it was here?

She watched as a dark form emerged from the shadows, slowly taking form to reveal a man she hadn't recognized at the time. A seemingly normal man until his mouth opened slowly and far too wide, filled with fangs that gleamed in the lights while his eyes turned red. Then he lunged at her as she screamed, the vision blurring until it was her falling to the ground, a large wound on her side and another one on her shoulder, blood all over her as she passed out. The scene faded with him crouching over her, running a claw over her cheek.

After there were snippets of him tormenting her in her dreams, taunting her with horrific images, and leading her, talking about how she was not only beautiful, not only incredibly intelligent but also immune. Not that she needed to watch them because she relived them all the time and she let out a shaky gasp as she immediately slashed her hand through the memories, disrupting the scene with a sharp look. All while not looking at him.

It didn't matter that she had told him some of this before, she hadn't wanted him to see them.

brace yourself bc next tag from me...but first this

[thecodexabides]

It wasn't the violence that surprised him. To be honest, he had seen worse. That didn't make it not terrible to watch.

What did make it awful to watch was two things: one was the fear in the memory, the fear of someone cornered; not even a defensive weapon at hand; the fear of being hunted, and caught. The pain was almost a relief--something he could understand, something he could process. But the rest of it....?

And the other thing that made it awful to watch was Lydia's reaction, because he saw the fear was not just in the past, and that the last thing she wanted was to have him see either.

For a long moment, he said nothing, staring deep into the water, until the ripples from her striking the water had smoothed out. He had hoped, in the interim, the right words would come, but none came, so after a long moment, he just reached out a hand, across the water, hoping she would take it, and maybe let him pull her across and against his side.

we're so mean to our muses

[wantadistraction]

The sad thing was that this wasn't even the worst attack she would face as she'd had multiple people try to kill her since. Maybe none of the violence would shock him but she didn't want him to see those either.

But this was the start of it all, the first attack that had changed everything in her world and revealed her to the monsters. She hated now that the memory would echo in his head though perhaps she would be lucky enough to he would let it go quickly. But also how could she convince him that she was okay or that she was capable of taking care of herself when he had seen that?

She knew there was nothing easy to say and she was almost relieved when he did nothing but reach out for her. It was easy to reach back, to take his hand and let him pull her close against his side. She normally liked to stand on her own two feet but there was something about Gadriel that made her want to curl up on or beside him which was exactly what she was going to do. She tucked herself against his side, sliding an arm around his middle as she stared at the water with a frown.

CW: surgery, body horror generalized warhammer stuff.

[thecodexabides]

When almost every time you open your mouth you say exactly the wrong thing, sometimes it's better to just...not talk. He knew Lydia would at least grant him grace if he'd said something clumsy, but, right now, she should not have to.

It was better to just sit in a soft silence, together, the echoes of the pain and surprise and horror slowly ebbing.

It felt like some stayed too long, finding some purchase in Gadriel's memories.
***
It. hurt. He was seventeen, and this was the last of the rounds of surgery, and part of him thought he should be used to it by now. But your body never gets used to the shock of pain. Not really. The endurance of pain is a skill, not a numbing. It was feeling it, recognizing it, and then fighting it as if it were another enemy, on a new battlefield.

In combat, he would have stimms that would block some of the pain. He'd run on a broken tibia already, vision going white with every step, but he'd done it, because he had to. Because to fail as an Aspirant meant everything.

A reminder beside him: the medical servitor, handing the Archmagos the tools of his trade as he worked. Clad in the red and white of the Apothecarion, half of his face replaced with cybernetic augments, one arm split into a series of servo-arms, but Gadriel remembered him from before, before he had fallen in one of the combat trials they endured. He had been a fellow Aspirant, and now he stood, slack faced, with what face he had left, assisting others to succeed where he had failed.

They said that servitors got mind wiped. Gadriel hoped it was the case, because spending an eternity of service confronted by those who had succeeded where you failed and knowing that success or failure was sometimes as small as your foot slipping an inch on a bloodslicked floor at the wrong moment, was a hell he could not endure.

Or maybe it would take some measure of consolation here, watching those Aspirants grit their teeth, enduring the ministrations of the Mechanicus surgeons, who believed all flesh was weakness, and treated the young Astartes as machines, with no care or concern for their pain.

A binharic squawk. "The carapace," the Mechanicus said, holding out a clawed hand until the servitor handed it over and then sliding it under Gadriel's flayed open chest. It was a horrible feeling, cold and somehow feeling alive, like a parasite waiting to grow itself inside him, a coldness against the heat of his exposed muscle, that stayed cold even as the Mechanicus laid the skin back over, beginning to stitch it up, a coldness against his heart that Gadriel felt might never thaw.
***

He shivered, suddenly, in the heat of the hot spring, turning his face away from Lydia for a long moment.

[wantadistraction]

But it had always been sort of different with them as they had been able to talk to each other from the moment they met in the volcano. Sometimes he still said the wrong thing and she would react but it was smoothed over quickly as they decided they appreciated blunt honesty over anything else.

And yet sometimes silence was appreciated as it gave her a moment to breathe through the tension and to push back the feeling of being rattled. Maybe it did the same for him, giving him a moment to process. At least until more memories played and this time they weren’t hers.

She felt her stomach drop with a nauseous surge as it played out before her. Not because of the gruesome nature as she had seen a lot of horrible things and terrible scenes. It was horrible because of what he had been put through as she could only imagine the pain. By the time the memories faded, she was pale and clenching her jaw as she looked up at him while he looked away much like she had.

She made a soft noise as she slipped from his side to climb up into his lap instead, stretching up to press her face against the side of his neck as she wrapped her arms around him as best she could just to hold on.

[thecodexabides]

Gadriel thought it was because Lydia's memory was about the same age, when they were young and violence was still almost new to them, and that they both felt, heavily for the first time, the touch of Death's hand.

He accepts Lydia's touch, leaning his cheek against her hair for a moment. "It was a long time ago, Lydia."

[wantadistraction]

“I still hate it.” She murmured, her breath warm against his neck as she sighed. Maybe it was because they had both experienced violence at a young age, violence that started to shape them both and changed who they were.

She slid a hand over his chest, rubbing gently over his sternum to soothe herself. He probably didn’t need it but still.

[thecodexabides]

"Do not waste your hate on that," he says, against her hair. "It was necessary to make me as I am." The Carapace, which allowed him to connect with his power armor, the thing that had spread itself under the very skin of his chest she was touching.

"Yours, however. I at least consented." In a manner of speaking. By being alive, at the trials, he consented to the rest. "You did not."

[wantadistraction]

“I understand that but I don’t like the idea of you in pain, even if it was for something you wanted.” She pointed out reasonably or at least she thought it was a reasonable idea. It was just a sign that she cared about him on some level.

She shifted to press her forehead against his neck so she could gaze out across the water, staring at the rock formations. “No. But he needed to use me, so he didn’t care.”

[thecodexabides]

No, Lydia, that's not how this works. How many times did he have to explain that he got to worry about her, but she did not the other way around?

"And you say this person still lives." She had mentioned this werewolf person several times, and now, his distrust had blossomed into a murderous urge a Space Wolf would be proud of. "And does he have a name?"

[wantadistraction]

You would be mistaken, Gadriel. She got to worry as much as he worried and there really wasn't anything he could do about it.

"He does but there's no point. I haven't seen him in a long time," she shook her head as she shifted to sit up, looking at him seriously. "But I promise if he ever shows up? I will tell you that he's here."

[thecodexabides]

"That is not the point of vengeance." Vengeance is about taking the enemy who hurt you and making them regret every breath they took from the moment you met up with them until their demise at your hands. Lydia was altogether too forgiving.

"I will bring you his head." Or whatever anatomical part you desire.

[wantadistraction]

It wasn't so much that she was forgiving but dealing with Peter had been a necessity considering all the things that had happened after. It hadn't been easy and she still didn't trust him as far as she could throw him but sometimes life had a way of putting you in impossible situations. "I know it's not."

The corners of her mouth twitched before she leaned up to brush her lips across his. "Thank you."

[thecodexabides]

He has his doubts. People here seem very shaky on the concept of vengeance, along with heresy. But she hadn't said 'no' so...he pencilled that in as an action item. Should he need it.

He let his eyes close, tipping his chin just slightly into the touch of her lips, feeling the smile on her mouth through the contact.

[wantadistraction]

She was learning that he probably wouldn’t listen if she said ‘no’ about such things, so why discourage him? He was protective, she had seen that much and she didn’t want to discourage him.

She didn’t linger in the kiss after he leaned into it, keeping it light before she slipped down like she was moving to his side again. She eyed the water warily as though it might show them more memories.

[thecodexabides]

There are fights worth having with Gadriel, most of which he would back down, but not about murdering people who hurt her. That was not really negotiable. And sure she could protect herself, but he could do it faster and leave her conscience unstained.

He tried to follow the kiss, just for a moment, before relenting with a soft, discontented sound. He'd rather that, than have her have to endure another memory of his. "Are you concerned it will happen again?" Because he is.

[wantadistraction]

He would be a little too late about her conscience but it would still be nice to think he would do what he could. There had been a point when no one had protected her or at least she wasn't the first choice. Half the time, she still rushed to be the one to protect others but she was proud of that.

She offered a small smile when he leaned down in an attempt to continue the kiss and she was tempted to lean up but sometimes it was nice not to be the one initiating all the time.

"A little." She wasn't concerned about enduring one of his memories, it would tell her more about him but she worried what would happen if he saw more of hers. "I'm already aware of how you view me as weak, at least physically. I don't want you to see the other things that have happened that I can't do anything about."

[thecodexabides]

His mouth flattened, frustrated at himself. It took a moment before he spoke. "Lydia. I do not think you weak. I know that you have lived with dangers, some of which I cannot even understand. And you have survived without me. That is not weak, to have survived what I saw," he glanced at the water, to hint at the memory, "or what you have told me."

"But. If I could take some of the burden off of you, you might do so much more than survive. I would like to see that. For you." If he took care of the protecting, maybe she could do...he didn't even know what. But something better than mere existing.

[wantadistraction]

It was her turn to be frustrated with herself as she sighed, leaning into him. "That was uncalled for, sorry. Truthfully, there have been a lot of times I have been frustrated with my abilities and the fact that I don't have anything defensive. Or didn't before I learned how to focus the scream as an attack. Everyone around me seemed to know how to fight or they had claws and teeth among other abilities that just made them better at handling danger."

She didn't want to tell him that training with him had reminded her of that but that wasn't his fault. He was built stronger and faster than she was, so he was right that she would have to rely on other ways to go against someone like him.

"I guess maybe I feel like if I was stronger, you wouldn't feel like you have to hold back all the time with me or be so worried about hurting or scaring me." She sighed softly.