|
|
Post by CautionCat on May 6, 2022 9:12:25 GMT -5
After Vanya and Lia did their potion identification for Biff, Verdi said that he would do a quick scout of the area, maybe find Monte- a hint to Vanya that they would like to be alone for this. With a high perception, and knowing his voice well, Verdi, although a bit nervous, would seek out the hunter.
It had been a long day of adventure, and Verdi had a lot on their mind. Between personal troubles and what lurked in the jungle, he was a bit stressed... At least he could try and mend one of their troubles.
|
|
|
|
Post by opius on May 9, 2022 20:23:01 GMT -5
It really wasn't hard to find Leonard. He was loud, boisterous, and bombastic. By one of the campfires, Verdi spotted the man with a number of other commission members. Currently the human man was making a funny face while holding a set of Jaggi frills next to the sides of his face. He let out his best imitation of the creature's call which seemed to set the small crowd into a fit of cackles and laughs.
There was food, ale, and numerous weapons gathered around the campfire. For Verdi it was a familiar if noisy sight- telling stories and drinking while going over gear maintenance.
So far Monte hadn't noticed the ranger. Even with Verdi's new armor and armaments, the Ranger did well to blend into the gloom of dusk.
|
|
|
|
Post by CautionCat on May 9, 2022 21:02:19 GMT -5
They kinda stood aside to watch for a little while, smiling as he listened in on the antics, before moving closer to catch the light of the campfire. He waited for Monte to- eventually- notice him before he gave a little wave. New armor, yes. He wasn't wearing the breastplate he left with. Verdi didn't really raise their voice much, and he didn't want to interrupt their goofing off.
"Monte... Umn... Do you have a moment?" They felt a flourish of nervousness, speaking up some. It caught him off guard, and his tail coiled itself around one of his own right leg.
|
|
|
|
Post by opius on May 9, 2022 21:29:11 GMT -5
True enough Monte hadn't noticed Verdi at first. It wasn't until the tiefling spoke up and drew attention to themself that the human perked up and looked in their direction. The other fighters likewise looked in Verdi's direction, nodding and remarking about the presence of the Blackguard, the Guide, and other titles Verdi had collected over the years. Monte's brows lifted some as he looked the tiefling and their new armor over appraisingly.
After brief words with his companions, Monte excused himself and sat his gear upon the stump he was using for a seat. A different guard took over dominating the conversation while the human moved away from the group and off to the side toward Verdi. In the time it took him to get to the tiefling, a dull roar of conversation gave them a modicum of privacy.
"Vidar, good to see you've caught up." He glanced up and down, hands on his hips. "New duds? Nice."
|
|
|
|
Post by CautionCat on May 9, 2022 21:40:05 GMT -5
"Well, we uh... actually went off ahead of you all... Found a sunken temple and... umn..." Well this wasn't what he wanted to talk to Leonard about, but he might as well not jump to the reason why he was here. Why be that way? Be comfortable- tell him about your day! Your adventure! How excited Vanya was with the samples---- well no maybe not that.
"S-sorry." Verdi waved his hand some. He had stopped mid sentence, the thoughts rambling in their mind. "I have had a very... Umn, my day has been full of adventure. It is... mind blowing how quick that ship Rorr has modified is. Did you not see it fly past everyone earlier today?"
|
|
|
|
Post by opius on May 9, 2022 21:56:48 GMT -5
Leonard nodded and smiled, cocking a brow somewhat as Verdi rambled. The tiefling was more talkative than usual. It was cute, in a way. He shook his head, dismissing the thought with a laugh. "Sure did. I'm surprised you guys came back at all. You could be half way to the Peaks of Flame by now. Trail blazers, hah!"
He grinned somewhat. "It's been a little slower going on our end, but that's expected. Got a whole bunch of people moving through a whole bunch of jungle. And damn if that jungle isn't hungry for stragglers." Hands still on his hips he tilted his head. "So what's all this about a temple? That's gotta be exciting for you, the whole arachnidalog... Analog... Archaeology and stuff, right?"
|
|
|
|
Post by CautionCat on May 9, 2022 22:07:45 GMT -5
Verdi's ears flicked some as Leonard tried to remember what word it was. And he got it. It tickled him. More than it should. He blinked some, and smiled.
"Yes- studying the history of the ruins of Te'Kaal. It was... fascinating. Slimes and skeletons everywhere... and a... Baelnorn." He paused, there was a lot to tell him. This was their second Baelnorn... "They are uh... a good sort of undead. Elf." He waved his hands some.
"A-anyway it's a... well, long story and I.. well we're back because Norixus wants us to help keep watch, but we scouted ahead. Everything is clear, at least... for now." His tail tightened a little around his calf, reminding himself that rambling was him being nervous. He shouldn't be nervous- not around him- not anymore... and yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by opius on May 9, 2022 23:43:57 GMT -5
Leonard laughed and nodded. "I'd invite you to tell your story by the fire, but..." He glanced at the group of carousing adventurers behind him, then back to Verdi. "Y'know... Not really your crowd. Maybe later you can fill me in." There was a brief, quiet laugh that escaped his lips. And a few moments silence. He glanced away.
"I can't say I know what a Baelnorn is. If it's anything like a vampire, you'd do well to watch yourself. They can be charming and handsome and kind- til they turn." He nodded affirmatively and looked back to the Tiefling.
"I'm glad you're giving the all-clear. There's a couple of ranging parties who haven't come back yet, we were getting a little uneasy." Hands still on his hips, he nodded with a gradually returning confidence.
|
|
|
|
Post by CautionCat on May 9, 2022 23:57:11 GMT -5
"Ah... no... they are not. My type." Verdi's lips tightened, and he scratched behind his head.
"It is... there has been a lot going on. With me. And this group. It's... really amazing." They paused, and then cleared his throat some. "I uh... Well... Maybe um..."
He sighed, glancing back to the group by the fire, and took a step back. "Could we... follow me to um... someplace more private- I.. they probably can't hear me but... I... Mmn... Should really talk to you somewhere else. Nothing bad- it's fine- I... just... follow me. Please." They gritted their teeth some, hoping it wasn't going to be this awkward when he talked to Vanya once they got to New Haven.
|
|
|
|
Post by opius on May 10, 2022 0:26:50 GMT -5
Leonard nodded and followed Verdi toward a spot that was relatively more private. He spoke up. "I imagine you're enjoying this group a lot better than that last scrub party, huh?" There was a pregnant pause before Leonard laughed. "I'm just busting your balls, Vidar. I know it's not like that. Your new crew is something else- I've seen them all in action. There's a reason you're all blackguards now, and I couldn't be more proud." That same confident, daring grin didn't falter.
"But for real, what's on your mind? For something not bad, you seem kinda... Tense."
|
|
|
|
Post by CautionCat on May 10, 2022 1:03:48 GMT -5
Verdi paused, smiling at the mentioning of Leonard being proud of him becoming a Blackguard. That was nice to hear. "I know... You like busting balls." He chuckled, and sighed.
"Right... What I need to tell you..." Verdi turned around, finding the quiet space to speak to Monte. He took a deep breath, and let out a long sigh.
"It's taken some time to... Recover. Mentally. I understand what happened wasn't your fault. You... Didn't mean for any of that to happen. I just... I wanted to say I forgive you." He folded his hands, and tightened his tail some around his calf, before loosening and letting it hang behind him.
|
|
|
|
Post by opius on May 10, 2022 20:46:05 GMT -5
Monte blinked and that sure and confident grin slowly broke into something... less confident. Less cheerful. As his lips came to purse into a little 'o', he seemed to chew on the words for several long moments. He blinked a few more times while reaching to clasp the back of his neck.
"I uh."
Lips tight, brows furrowed, he didn't return eye contact for several long moments. "...That means a lot, Verdi. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't something that was gnawing at me every time we meet up." He laughed, though there was no levity in it. More like a gasp in reverse that shook his voice. "... It's the kinda thing you build up a response to in your head and then when the moment comes..." he puffed his cheeks and let out a slow breath through them.
Turning back toward the Tiefling, Monte shook his head. "... Why now? I mean... How? I'm not saying I don't appreciate the... closure, I guess. And it's not like I haven't learned anything- I have. Really... I have. But what you went through was awful, and it's on account of my asinine behavior. How can you be over that?"
|
|
|
|
Post by CautionCat on May 10, 2022 20:57:29 GMT -5
Verdi sighed, glancing away and folded his arms. His tail coiled, and slackened as he thought. There was some silence. The hurt was still there, but... "It's been three years. I've... had a lot of time to think. Seeing you trying to be helpful, and fumble, yesterday, was... it made me realize that I'm... Better. When I saw you after we fought the dragon, you... tried being your old self. It... rubbed me the wrong way- as it should but- yesterday just..."
He sighed, and scratched the back of his head. "It felt like... before everything happened. A bit you more uh... well less confident than you normally are." He shrugged, and looked back to Monte. "You... understand what happened. We haven't seen or spoken much since. I won't ever fully recover... Scars and losses don't just go away overnight. But... I thought about it today, as we traveled. I thought about it last night, between... what has been going on with Vanya... and... I mean it. I don't... like this... tension going on between us. It... won't ever really be like old times again but... I just... well, I don't want you thinking I hate you. I did... I did for a long while but..."
He shrugged, and shifted his weight on his feet. Honestly felt right, and things were different now. They let out a soft sigh, and gave a weak smile. "I don't think it's fair making you feel like you're on eggshells around me."
|
|
|
|
Post by opius on May 10, 2022 21:04:56 GMT -5
Monte frowned and lowered a brow somewhat. He quirked his jaw to the side and looked askance, still cupping the back of his neck, but eventually started nodding. "I'll admit, I try to... reel it back in around you. That's... less to do with what happened and more to do with just you. You don't like galoots. I guess I'm trying to be less someone you don't hate and more someone you want to be around."
There was a long pause. His lips went tight. And after a moment he laughed, the smile returning to his face. "But after all that, I'll settle for you not hating me. I still owe it to Fyodor to be better-" He made a quick, short punch and jab motion in the air between himself and Verdi. "To be a team player, listen better, y'know? Avoid the same mistakes." The smile weakened, his brows arched. "Get fewer friends killed."
And then he shrugged. "...So... Thanks. Getting back on your good side is one less thing on my List. I don't think the other thing can ever be marked off as done, but maybe that's the point. Can't take back a failure like that, and I'm... okay with the struggle. Really."
|
|
|
|
Post by CautionCat on May 10, 2022 21:15:41 GMT -5
"Ah..." Verdi raised his brows, but listened as Monte continued. Someone he wanted to be around? Well, now things were different... Verdi was with a Blackguard group. A party. A team. It hadn't been that long since they came to shore, either, and yet... it felt so long ago. One could say Verdi was more out of their shell than they used to be. Maybe it was the slowly building confidence.
"I... I think I can hang around... you. It's... the crowd I'm not fond of. Being at the Commission, you... just being yourself. But..." He winced some, feeling a pang in his gut. His tail coiled and swayed.
"We have... history." He cleared his throat some. "But, I don't... think that will... happen again. I... Umn... Have grown interest in someone."
Well, that felt mean. He waved his hands some, ears dropping. "Not-that I wanted to tell you I just- well- Besides the group I've been traveling with and- ah... I... It's not that I wouldn't want to spend time with you, it's... there's other things. It's more of a drifting sort of thing. Different interests, different crowds... I mean, if I find you at the bar... alone... ah..."
|
|
