( open ) and i've been dreaming of revenge

[nilhilistic]

WHO: Rafal + You
WHAT: Quests + Day in the Life Interactions
WHEN: Late April/May
WHERE: Around!
WARNINGS: Grief, forced truths for the Bridge of the Lost prompt



( i. bridge of the lost ) cw: grief, forced truths

[ he had been exploring at his leisure. sometimes, as a dragon, sometimes the way a human would. both experiences were mandatory if he wished to get a grasp of what life was like here. and this quest . . . it seemed strange. stranger than the others. as if half couched in mystery and horror. and rafal has always liked a good horror story, being one himself.

so he waited, skeptical that anything would happen when footsteps alert him of another's presence. he turns to them with a scowl on his face . . . which quickly melts away into astonishment. ]

Nil. No — It cannot be. I saw you die.

( ii. sunwaning — the equinox bakery )

[ the one good thing about all these bakeries is that it made it easy for rafal to find a job. he had thought it would prove to be more difficult, especially since he has never held a "job" before and lived in a castle, but he was never fussed about work and this is the kind of work he enjoys. he spends most of his time at the back, creating elegant confectionaries and designs, idly swatting cats. should you make a special order, he'll see it through and come out to deliver it.

yes, that fancy cake with a layer of chocolate, creme brulee with an oreo base that melts on your tongue is his creation. and he's waiting to see if you like it, tapping his foot impatiently against the floor. ]

Well? Out with it.

[ his people skills could use work though. ]

( iii. hope you have a landing strategy )

[ he could see why such a location was troublesome. a hindrance to those who wished to visit and had no easy way to get back and forth. and while he's not really the generous type, he knows a certain level of kindness is necessary.

necessary for the world to thrive. he's not too concerned if someone is unkind to him personally.

he transforms into his dragon self, fanning his wings as he settles into it. ]

If you require a ride, I will get you there safely. You have my word.

( iv. around ish — wildcard )

[ rafal can be seen around amberfell and nightwake. for the most part, he'll be hitting up every bakery/cafe at least once in a week. in less populated/forested areas, you're welcome to spot him in his dragon form. he is also looking for a potential room mate so that he has adequate living quarters. his inbox can be found here.

if you have any questions/prompts you'd like to do, you can reach me @ timmtams or simply drop a PM. ]

Comments

[sangreine]

< And what does that cost you? >

[nilhilistic]

So far, nothing yet. No one has demanded anything of me.

[ yeah he'll ignore basic things and doesn't really take care of himself, but that's fine, right? all good when you're worthless. ]

[sangreine]

[ It's like looking in a mirror and very much not in a good way. ]

< And I guess there isn't anything you wouldn't give, if asked? > [ Hoping she's wrong about that but not thinking she is. ]

[nilhilistic]

I'm not a fool. I will not let people take advantage of me.

But essentially, yes, I suppose.

[sangreine]

< We don't know each other well enough for me to object on any realistic grounds. Still, the thought that you might somehow perish during that duty saddens me. >

[nilhilistic]

[ rafal blinks, surprised. ]

Why?

[sangreine]

< A lot of reasons. I like you. I rarely meet anyone else who is even a little like me. Because choices made in ignorance shouldn't be a life sentence in any respect. >

< Because I think those worlds you are restoring are better off with you alive, whether they know it or not. >

[nilhilistic]

[ are they? if there are rafals in other worlds, do they even deserve to exist? ]

I am . . . not sure of that.

[sangreine]

< You don't have to be sure of it. I'm sure of it. >

[nilhilistic]

[ again, he doesn't know how to respond. it is a kindness and he has never been good with that. ]

I do not deserve it.

[sangreine]

< My feelings are mine to give. That's up to me. >

< I do understand, for what it's worth. I don't feel I deserve the people around me. I once felt I deserved to die. But those around me told me that it wasn't my right to decide that, and they were right. >

[nilhilistic]

I would not do anything that would upset my sister.

[ and rafal dying would upset her, despite his own nonchalance towards his life. ]

But . . . your sentiment is felt.

[sangreine]

< Good, that's all I can do much about anyway. We won't be here forever. > [ And then he'll be able to do whatever he likes no matter what she'd think about it, even if he should grow to care about what she thinks in the first place. ]

< I had a sister as well. >

[nilhilistic]

[ ah. he softens a little. ]

I had many siblings once. Numerous, never-ending.

[sangreine]

< My species doesn't have typical family structures. There are only ever two Queens at a time, and our birth kills the previous Queen. We make our servants and mates from humans, and I don't do that anymore. >

< I spent most of my life not even knowing about my sister, either. >

[nilhilistic]

Did you wish you had?

[sangreine]

< I wish I'd been able to help her, yes. Humans spent many decades torturing her, keeping her starving so she couldn't fight back. >

< I freed her eventually, but the damage was done. She was never quite right after that. >

[nilhilistic]

. . . I had a twin once. Most of us were sent to the battlefield as soon as possible. They died before I ever got to know them.

[ rafal never knew their name or their face. and in a family where everyone had their special twin, it was agonising. ]

[sangreine]

< I'm sorry. >

[ Saya's going to leave out of this that technically she's the one who killed her sister. They killed each other, or so they thought, but then Saya didn't die. It was the worst moment in a life where there have been many worst moments. ]

[nilhilistic]

[ rafal shakes his head. he too has killed plenty of his siblings. that was simply a fact of life. ]

It is a difficult thing to reconcile. What a family is, what it should be.

[sangreine]

< I wouldn't know where to begin, and I suppose I never will. The closest thing I ever had was a family of humans that took me in after I hatched one cycle. >

[nilhilistic]

Perhaps it is enough to make it whatever you want it to be. I think you can accomplish that.

[sangreine]

< If I had time, perhaps. Unfortunately, I don't. >

[nilhilistic]

What do you mean?

[sangreine]

< My hibernation starts in a few months. I'll be asleep for between thirty and fifty years, and wake with no memories of my past whatsoever. No memory of what I am. >

< I'm trying to prevent it, but I don't know how much of a chance that is. >