[RP log] with Luc = 19 =
Who: Tyr tyr_mcdohl & Luc wind_incarnate
Where: Bath house
When: September 8th, IS 481 - Consequence of this thread.
What: A much delayed hot bath after an unfortunate plunge into the lake.
It was almost an hour passed midnight by the time Luc finally entered the baths. It was an uncanny hour for anyone to bathe, but it was the only time there was the least amount of people present inside. If anything, there was no one there at all. So to him, this was the ideal time to use the communal baths of the castle.
The dip into the lake also made this quite mandatory to begin with... The weather had been hot at one moment, and suddenly the autumn breeze had suddenly graced the grasslands without warning. It was the sign of the change of seasons... and changing his clothes after he fell into the lake was not enough to remove the chill he felt in his body.
Aside that... this privacy was also good for gathering one's thoughts. And Luc was on who had a lot to think about.
"... I actually said it..." he mumbled to himself as he sat alone in the large tub of hot water that took up most of the men's side of the baths. "... now what...?"
Normally, the Toran Tenkai took his bath at regular, early morning hours after his daily meditation, but this time was an exception. Having taken a willful plunge into the lake--during a day that he knew wasn't as ... and kind as the past ones were, no less--a hot bath was a requirement.
The fish that Luc had caught that day was so lively though and, the man figured, it would be a shame to leave it in his room while he bathed. Who knew, considering what happened and who arrived lately, whether the fish would still be there. Or if it were there, whether it would still be as lively and tasty by then. Besides, as he left the docks, squeezing as much water from his person as possible, Tyr knew what dish he wanted for this and simply made his way over to the cafe.
By the time he'd gained Miss Mamie's attention and entrusted the fish to her culinary skills, the rune bearer was more damp than wet and had decided to bypass the idea of taking a bath and simply change out into dry clothes. However, as the evening wore on and turned into night, Tyr found himself sneezing whilst stubbornly practicing his whittling. Not too badly in his opinion--it could've been because of the wood chippings or the dust in his room--but he was also starting to feel queasy despite the extra layer he put on. That was not good at all, not after Luc's parting words.
This was how, after giving in to a barrage of unstoppable sneezes and way too many cuts, Tyr found himself going to the baths. The steam that emanated from it was a welcome sight and the former leader could only breathe in relief as he entered the bath perimeters.
Unaware that his privacy was about to be interrupted as he was buried in his thoughts, Luc leaned against the end of the tub and let out a sigh. His current situation was a little worrying... with it being so far away from the comfort zone of not having to worry about things like relationships with others. He really was unfamiliar with what to do.
The last argument... it had triggered his thoughts that perhaps he had been taking this too lightly, secretly hoping it would all just fade away as time passed. But at that time, hearing a set of words McDohl uttered that sounded so sure of himself... in a situation where intimacy was shared behind closed doors. It surely irritated the wind mage. And that was how he was convinced to think it over. After all, what kind of idiot who claims to care for no one would feel such an emotion over that?
Jealousy... He questioned himself the moment he came to realize that. That emotion was only reserved to help support his hatred for his so called 'blood relatives'.
"... I knew it..." he raised his right hand towards the open ceiling, watching the dormant insignia of the True Wind glimmer slightly on his skin. "... This place is changing me too..."
At least... even though he felt jealous, and even guilty for uttering such harsh childish words to his old Tenkai, he wasn't foolish enough to assume that he was suddenly inlove with him. He'll admit that he was a bit more understanding of the other's feelings but... that wasn't love. Even though he didn't know what that really was or how it felt... he was sure it wasn't that at all.
Still sneezing as he put his clothes into the one of the lockers and donned a towel--a particularly violent set kept him from noticing neatly-folded clothes in another locker--the Tenkai entered the baths, more than happy to feel the heat radiating from the pool.
At least, until he sneezed again.
In hindsight, he really should've bathed earlier despite his routine. As it was, he was going to need to wash off first before going into the oh so inviting water...
As he looked up though, Tyr would've never thought--not since the liberation war--that he would be greeted with the sight of Luc's profile, the only visible part of him starting shoulder up.
"Ah..." That was potentially awkward.
The sneeze McDohl made after entering the baths roused Luc's attention away from his thoughts and straight back to reality. Well... at least it makes two as he also didn't expect to see him at this time of the night.
"Hey." He greeted casually while he dropped his hand into the hot water again.
"Hi. I--" Tyr tried to return the greeting only to sneeze midway and do it all over again. "I didn't think you'd be here..."
Even as he said that, the man went over to the washing area, knowing that the sooner he was in the water, the sooner he'd, potentially, stop sneezing.
That sneezing was definitely not going unnoticed... Luc kept an eye on the Tenkai, keeping his stoic expression on as he studied for any other signs of what he thinks was wrong with the man.
"... It's quieter at night." He replied simply. "And that annoying kid isn't standing outside throwing his weight around the place."
'Annoying kid...?' The Tenkai was briefly confused until he thought about just who normally stood outside of the baths. 'Oh... Lo Hak.'
Though how the blond could do that and handle a massage parlor at the same time escaped Tyr. Who stood in when he was busy with a customer?
"I guess someone has to take care of the baths," he reasoned as he started to wash himself as quickly as he could. "Unless you volunteer?"
"Antagonizing me already?" Luc said as he lowered himself further so the water reached up to his chin. "I suppose you'd want me to apologize for having the inability to shut up, conform and get along with everyone."
"No," lather lather lather "that'd be boring and unlike you."
Tyr paused as he upturned a bucket of water over his head.
"Not to mention they'll all be suspicious and watching your every move if you did."
Well, that was true... and it would be pretty damned annoying to have to deal with more people keeping an eye on him.
"Right. Having you do that is already a handful on its own." He smirked.
"H-" achoo! "Damn it..." he muttered before trying again, glaring at the brunet. "I resent that comment."
Again... that sneeze. That definitely confirms it.
"Hey..." Luc finally turned his attention to him completely while placing both arms over the edge lazily and placing his chin on the warm tile. "You've caught a cold, haven't you?"
"..." Could he lie? Would it help his case if he lied? "...just the beginning of it."
Determined not to have it become worse, the Tenkai redoubled his effort to finish washing, scrubbing as quickly as he could. With so many cuts on his hands however, it was a bit tricky, not to mention that the soap to flesh contact stung.
"Did you decide to take a longer swim?" the wind mage continued with his inquiry while he tried to ignore the urge to get up and smack the man across the head. "Or did you do something more stupid...."
Oh please, the gods help him; he hoped this wasn't going to be the case...
"... like not change out of your clothes after the incident....?"
'Shit.' The man went still for the briefest moment, though it was luckily disguised during a pause as he poured water over himself.
"I changed out of my clothes as soon as I could get to my room," he answered as he continued rinsing the soap off.
"And when was that?" came the question in a very stern voice.
Why was Luc so sharp!?
"...my clothes had the time to get damp instead of soaking wet." Though, to be fair, he did squeeze as much water out as he could.
"..........................................................................." Luc glared at the man's back.
The way this guy was acting almost seemed like he wanted the wind mage to get mad at him. It was just too bad the only thing at hand to throw was a small wooden tub lying on the floor.
"...." Oh... that can work.
At that, he leaned over and picked up the tub before chucking it at the back of McDohl's head like a Frisbee.
Luc's silence was foreboding. It was a bit worrying that the younger man wouldn't say anything... no doubt, the mage was glaring and... Tyr's eyes went wide as he saw, and barely ducked out of the path of, a wash tub.
The resulting crash resonated quite loudly as the wash tub made contact with the wall in the otherwise empty bath house.
"Are you trying to kill me??"
The wind mage sat back down into the water and sighed.
"Tried. Obviously missed." He huffed.
"Why yo-..." Tyr would've protested more if it weren't for the loud sneeze that interrupted him.
Ow... That one actually hurt his head.
"......"
That didn't sound like a beginning of a cold. But then again... judging for how long the idiot stayed in wet clothes that was no surprise.
"You best get yourself in the hot water before you get any worse..." Luc said to him quietly this time. "I'll go to the infirmary after and see if Mathiu left any medicine out for colds."
"...Thanks."
Tyr found there really wasn't anything else he could say when Luc was making quite a bit of sense. Sullenly, the man turned back to the washing station and made sure to completely rinse off the remaining soap before he made his way to the hot water, careful not to disturb the mage.
It was almost too hot, but any complaints the Tenkai had left him after a few moments of discomfort.
Well... this was definitely awkward... He'd never had taken a bath with anyone before, although he did use to bathe Sarah when she was younger. That usually just resulted to him being splashed at but not actually ending up in the bath with the child - thankfully.
"............." Why did he have to end up in these situations lately, anyway? And small talk wasn't really one of his fortes...
As he sat there in the subsequent silence, Tyr found himself to be uneasy with it despite other instances of silence. After all, or rather because, it was just Luc and he. In the bath. And...he wouldn't follow that train of thought.
"I didn't expect you to catch a fish on the first try," he said instead.
Luc couldn't help but raise his brow at the older man.
"Like I did? I wasn't even trying to." He grumbled quite irritably, remembering his own plunge into the large body of water while moving to catch the fishing rod.
And piercing that worm into the hook? Wiggling and squirming in his hand... urrgh... He couldn't help but shudder slightly at the thought.
"How can you call that a hobby anyway...? With that whole... masochism bit..." he gestured with his finger with a sort of wiggle to represent the worm he murdered that afternoon.
Despite himself, the Tenkai found himself chuckling a bit even as he sunk a bit deeper into the welcome heat. Even that earlier head pain was easing.
"It passes time and I find it enjoyable," he answered as he looked at Luc through the corner of his eyes. "Do worms really disgust you so much?"
"Books pass the time and can be enjoyable depending on what you're reading." And can make one smarter... sometimes... "And that doesn't require stabbing anything and feeding it to a larger animal, so one can eat it later."
Well fishing does handle another chore, that being dinner, but that's aside the point.
"And yes, they disgust me that much. Not as much as caterpill-tch!" Luc suddenly flinched the moment the water touched the injury to his neck.
The injury still remained raw for whatever reason, perhaps because he didn't allow Sierra to finish her business, and he had been lowering himself into the water slowly so that he could get used to the sting as the water touched it. At least it didn't bleed... But that didn't mean it was bothersome...
He sighed as he sat up and placed a hand protectively at the injury. The brunet was just about ready to believe all these circumstances were some form of divine intervention to make him suffer even more. The only thing stopping him was his pride and refusal to believe higher unseen entities.
While Luc had a point about reading being enjoyable given one read something one was interested in, but Tyr wasn't the type to just sit down and read a book every evening. Having always been more of an outdoor kid than an indoor one--and having taken the habit to skip out on his homework whenever possible--he simply didn't find it appealing to have that type of hobby and much preferred to keep book reading as an occasional activity to indulge given the right circumstances. Obviously, the mage thought otherwise, but if Luc had indeed spent his time within the Magician's Tower day in and out, the brunet's choice of hobby didn't come as a great surprise, if any.
It did make him smile though, that Luc was so disgusted with worms, and... that didn't matter right now when the mage was suddenly flinching.
"Luc?" The former hero sat up as Luc pressed on his own neck, brow knitting in a concerned frown.
There wasn't supposed to be anything there, right? Or... if he thought about it, there had been a bandage there when the Tenkan had come see him at the docks. In the heat of the moment, he'd completely forgotten to take conscious notice of it, but right now...
"...Didn't you say that was healing up?"
"..... I thought it was..." Luc muttered as he slowly took his hand away. "It itches so I thought it was just healing."
Wounds did tend to get irritated while healing due to skin drying out and the scab forming while it heals from the inside. So it was normal in his mind... The injury didn't seem so deep either as he managed to get away before she could clamp down on his neck completely.
But as Sierra kept pushing to BITE him again, stating that it would help him, there may be some truth that the vampire would have to finish the job for it to stop irritating. He wasn't about to give in to such a stupid reason though... There may still be a chance it'll just go away in a few more days.
"I haven't... really looked at it." The wind mage explained.
That particular news just... bristled him. He knew it wasn't in his right to be so annoyed about it, but that that woman had done something to the mage which apparently wasn't going away simply didn't settle well with him.
At all.
Add to that Luc's neglect and apparent unwillingness to look at it--later, he would remember that there hadn't been a single mirror in the mage's room, but that didn't apply now--and that equalled a rather incensed Tenkai.
"Let me see."
Without waiting for Luc's permission, the older bearer moved over to his other side, anxiously turning the mage's head away as he took stock of the bite wounds. The sight that greeted him wasn't a pleasant one though. The bite still looked fresh, the skin around it uncomfortably red, its only saving grace the lack of blood trails.
A growl would've escaped him if he hadn't clenched his teeth and kept himself in check as he spoke the truth. "It's not healing at all."
"Are you serious?" Luc frowned before letting out another sigh. "... Damn it..."
So Sierra really wasn't kidding, was she?
"I was hoping she was just playing a stupid prank to get back at me for calling her old all the time." Although he was being truthful about it. "......."
The brunet then pushed McDohl's hand away from his head as he glanced over at the other man.
"... Do you know anything... about vampires? You hung out with Viktor more so than I ever did... so..."
While that was true, Tyr wasn't certain whether there was anything of use besides what he'd already mentioned before.
When they chased down Tengaar at Neclord's castle, all that the liberation army leader had been able to pick up was that the self-styled Lord of the Night had a preference for night time, liked virgin nubile flesh, turned into a bat, had the ability to duplicate himself, create zombies and was vulnerable to the Star Dragon Sword. There were, of course, local folklore that were potentially useful, the wooden amulets, garlic and holy water ideas for protection and wooden stakes for extermination.
But anyone, except perhaps zombies, would die from getting stabbed through the heart. Last he knew, Viktor had passed on the Star Dragon Sword to his protégé and that would be too much trouble to track down. All the other tidbit that he could recall were basically pointless, which only left them with the protection items...
And only the wooden amulets had been truly useful against succubi and incubi when they stormed the castle. Holy water worked only on inflicted curses and...the garlic was only useful as ammunition to get the monsters annoyed with them.
"I don't think anything I know will be useful," the Tenkai grimaced as he answered regretfully. "Unless you already did try using wooden amulets or know where the current holder of the Star Dragon Sword is or can track him down, then that's the extent of what I can suggest."
"I think I may have encountered the new owner of the talking sword, but... circumstances didn't make it my priority to learn his name." Luc explained as he put some space between him and the Tenkai.
That fact had mostly truth but also came lies. To the North of Budehuc was the tablet of promise for the war in the Zexen and Grasslands territory five years ago. Upon it were already the names of the 108 destined for that even. But even though Luc was one of the four who started this war, his name was still engraved upon that tablet under the role of the Tenkan, the guardian of the Tablet of Promise.
Either ways, Luc learned all their names, remembered each chosen upon the star that guides them. He knew them by name, but not by their faces. He did not remain to record the fate of each chosen. So he did not know them... he did not watch them. That's why he didn't know who exactly bared what name.
"... I guess there's no choice then..." he muttered darkly, obviously not looking forward to such a solution.
Understand though he may the reason why the Tenkan had moved away during his explanation, Tyr's heart still plummeted down to his stomach. Dejected, the older man stayed where he was, sinking deeper in his seat and moving his gaze elsewhere in the silence that followed.
His personal feelings aside, it was a pity that Luc didn't know who was now holding the Star Dragon Sword. Not that they would've used it to kill off Sierra, but the thing might've had better ideas than those he recalled. It had been the actual expert on the matter of vampires, although a very selfish one who wouldn't bother with the rest of them beyond exterminating Neclord--who, last he'd heard, hadn't actually been killed in Toran, but rather in Dunan. It had been a surprise that Viktor cared to wield it even in Dunan.
As he gazed at the watery surface of the bath, he kept an ear open for whatever else the mage might say. As the brunet finally spoke though, Tyr looked at Luc in confusion before a past conversation suddenly came to mind.
In spite of himself, the Tenkai jerked, alerted.
"You don't mean that ridiculous solution she was proposing, do you?"
Luc side glanced at the old liberation army leader with a calm expression.
"Do you have any other ideas?" he asked. "I'm not happy with the idea either, but if what she said is true, then the stupid thing can go away sooner than later."
Honestly speaking, he didn't have any other ideas. Short of inventing something new, they were stuck with what little method they had... And he couldn't remember if any runes could have an effect on this sort of marking.
This was discouraging.
"...No," he replied at length with a long sigh, returning back to his previous position. "No, I don't..."
The brunet would be lying if he wasn't actually hoping McDohl would bring up another plausible solution. But oh well... that wasn't the case.
"................." Although swallowing his pride and actually letting Sierra bite him was another thing.
He slipped deeper into the water, thought carefully this time, his resolve suddenly wavering at the thought of letting someone drink his blood. His days lately have been nothing but disgusting lately, hasn't it...? Not to mention such unflattering and highly unwanted attention from various parties...
"... Ah." He murmured.
That's right... there was still that one issue.
"McDohl? Have any of the Councillors approached you since their first arrival?"
The Tenkai really wished he could provide Luc with a solution to his problem. After all, he had been among the party that had gone to exterminate Neclord and he honestly felt he should've known more than what he did. They had to prepare for the rescue mission and he'd paid as much attention as he could, but amidst Zorak's longwinded stories and their haste to retrieve Tengaar intact, there had been a few tidbits that he missed.
Wallowing on the uselessness of his so-called 'help', Tyr barely caught what the mage was asking him about Councillors, taking a moment to think about it.
"...Oh, those guys," he recalled with displeasure one particularly smarmy-looking man who'd thought to approach him with rather intrusive questions. "They don't seem to know when to keep their nose out of other people's business."
"Ah..." So they really had been active since Luc's disappearance. "... Did they ask you anything about Soul Eater?"
"They tried," the Tenkai shrugged, looking down at the insignia that was currently free from the confines of glove and bandages before moving it away from sight. "Asked who I was, what I was doing here, why I was wearing anything on my hands."
They had been particularly insistent about the why of his coverings. Just what business of theirs was it to know whether he had anything there, he didn't kno-...
Wait... how would Luc know what they tried to ask?
"................" the older bearer turned to look at the brunet, suspicion written all over his face.
That look wasn't good... He didn't expect a simple question like that would result to the expression on McDohl's face.
"...What?" Luc frowned at him in return before following up with a lie. "They asked me too. So I thought they'd do the same to you."
That response caused Tyr to blink at Luc... after which a terrified look settled on his features.
"They what!?" he yelled.
Those bastards were still conducting their interviews!?
Ah shit... That appeared to have just made it worse. Now what...?
"Calm down." The wind mage sighed in exasperation. Just what in the world compels this man to make things even more complicated... "They just asked me about rune bearers. I don't think they recognized me."
There... that should be convincing enough... He really didn't want the Tenkai to get anymore emotional than he had already displayed before the brunet since the argument when he returned.
"Oh..." he blinked. 'Was that what they...?' the Toran native thought dizzily as he sat back down in the bath. "You're safe then..."
While that was a reassuring thought, if the Councillors were still nosing around and if any of the inhabitants who held Luc in contempt revealed him to them... who knew what would happen to hi-.. the Tenkan. That aside, the thought that they were asking about the true runes was downright worrisome.
"...So they're asking about all the true runes..."
At least that calmed the man down a bit. Luc was bound to run out of lies had he pushed on about this topic, though it was his fault for bringing it up. Still... this at least confirms that what Colton said was true after all. If he makes that report... it should be enough to have them leave him alone. But there were some issues... one being his blood relative.
But... now there were more pressing matters at hand that needed attention.
"McDohl... you shouldn't stay too long in the water..." the wind mage said to him in hopes to change the topic completely. "Your face is starting to turn red."
Absorbed in his worried thoughts, Tyr looked a bit distracted and lost upon the wind mage's words. "Huh?"
What was Luc bringing up now?
"Your face... It's starting to turn red." Luc repeated with some concern hidden in his voice.
"Oh.."
Tyr rather thought it was normal that he would've turned red in this heat and almost seemed unwilling to leave the water... if he didn't know that staying longer wouldn't do him good, cold or not.
"I suppose I should go back to my room..." he said quietly.
"Mm." the younger man nodded while he made a move to get out of the bath himself. "I'll take you."
Just to be sure that the Tenkai will get there safely. It wouldn't do if the man suddenly collapsed outside somewhere. He wasn't even sure how the cold was affecting the man aside his sinuses.
At first, Tyr thought to tell Luc he could do that on his own, what little man pride he allowed himself to feel rankling at the idea that anyone needed to take him anywhere over a minor cold, but he stopped himself before he would do anything irrevocable. If he refused Luc's help now, who knew if he'd ever hear another such proposal.
This wasn't like the time he'd already fallen prey to Nanami's cooking and had no choice but to accept medical help, nor was it like the time he'd battled Luca Blight and found himself injured. In both instances, Luc had been under the 'obligation' to provide him assistance. As an on-duty staff member of the infirmary, the rule seemed to be that anyone would be nursed back to health.
Right now though, the mage could've simply let him go on his own without proposing to accompany him. This was quite the detour he would be forced to take. Honestly speaking, the Tenkai didn't know whether it was because the brunet felt it was an obligation of his to do so upon meeting an ill man, but... hadn't his voice held the faintest hint of concern earlier?
He might've imagined it, but either way, this small gesture meant a lot.
"Thank you, Luc."
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Where: Bath house
When: September 8th, IS 481 - Consequence of this thread.
What: A much delayed hot bath after an unfortunate plunge into the lake.
It was almost an hour passed midnight by the time Luc finally entered the baths. It was an uncanny hour for anyone to bathe, but it was the only time there was the least amount of people present inside. If anything, there was no one there at all. So to him, this was the ideal time to use the communal baths of the castle.
The dip into the lake also made this quite mandatory to begin with... The weather had been hot at one moment, and suddenly the autumn breeze had suddenly graced the grasslands without warning. It was the sign of the change of seasons... and changing his clothes after he fell into the lake was not enough to remove the chill he felt in his body.
Aside that... this privacy was also good for gathering one's thoughts. And Luc was on who had a lot to think about.
"... I actually said it..." he mumbled to himself as he sat alone in the large tub of hot water that took up most of the men's side of the baths. "... now what...?"
Normally, the Toran Tenkai took his bath at regular, early morning hours after his daily meditation, but this time was an exception. Having taken a willful plunge into the lake--during a day that he knew wasn't as ... and kind as the past ones were, no less--a hot bath was a requirement.
The fish that Luc had caught that day was so lively though and, the man figured, it would be a shame to leave it in his room while he bathed. Who knew, considering what happened and who arrived lately, whether the fish would still be there. Or if it were there, whether it would still be as lively and tasty by then. Besides, as he left the docks, squeezing as much water from his person as possible, Tyr knew what dish he wanted for this and simply made his way over to the cafe.
By the time he'd gained Miss Mamie's attention and entrusted the fish to her culinary skills, the rune bearer was more damp than wet and had decided to bypass the idea of taking a bath and simply change out into dry clothes. However, as the evening wore on and turned into night, Tyr found himself sneezing whilst stubbornly practicing his whittling. Not too badly in his opinion--it could've been because of the wood chippings or the dust in his room--but he was also starting to feel queasy despite the extra layer he put on. That was not good at all, not after Luc's parting words.
This was how, after giving in to a barrage of unstoppable sneezes and way too many cuts, Tyr found himself going to the baths. The steam that emanated from it was a welcome sight and the former leader could only breathe in relief as he entered the bath perimeters.
Unaware that his privacy was about to be interrupted as he was buried in his thoughts, Luc leaned against the end of the tub and let out a sigh. His current situation was a little worrying... with it being so far away from the comfort zone of not having to worry about things like relationships with others. He really was unfamiliar with what to do.
The last argument... it had triggered his thoughts that perhaps he had been taking this too lightly, secretly hoping it would all just fade away as time passed. But at that time, hearing a set of words McDohl uttered that sounded so sure of himself... in a situation where intimacy was shared behind closed doors. It surely irritated the wind mage. And that was how he was convinced to think it over. After all, what kind of idiot who claims to care for no one would feel such an emotion over that?
Jealousy... He questioned himself the moment he came to realize that. That emotion was only reserved to help support his hatred for his so called 'blood relatives'.
"... I knew it..." he raised his right hand towards the open ceiling, watching the dormant insignia of the True Wind glimmer slightly on his skin. "... This place is changing me too..."
At least... even though he felt jealous, and even guilty for uttering such harsh childish words to his old Tenkai, he wasn't foolish enough to assume that he was suddenly inlove with him. He'll admit that he was a bit more understanding of the other's feelings but... that wasn't love. Even though he didn't know what that really was or how it felt... he was sure it wasn't that at all.
Still sneezing as he put his clothes into the one of the lockers and donned a towel--a particularly violent set kept him from noticing neatly-folded clothes in another locker--the Tenkai entered the baths, more than happy to feel the heat radiating from the pool.
At least, until he sneezed again.
In hindsight, he really should've bathed earlier despite his routine. As it was, he was going to need to wash off first before going into the oh so inviting water...
As he looked up though, Tyr would've never thought--not since the liberation war--that he would be greeted with the sight of Luc's profile, the only visible part of him starting shoulder up.
"Ah..." That was potentially awkward.
The sneeze McDohl made after entering the baths roused Luc's attention away from his thoughts and straight back to reality. Well... at least it makes two as he also didn't expect to see him at this time of the night.
"Hey." He greeted casually while he dropped his hand into the hot water again.
"Hi. I--" Tyr tried to return the greeting only to sneeze midway and do it all over again. "I didn't think you'd be here..."
Even as he said that, the man went over to the washing area, knowing that the sooner he was in the water, the sooner he'd, potentially, stop sneezing.
That sneezing was definitely not going unnoticed... Luc kept an eye on the Tenkai, keeping his stoic expression on as he studied for any other signs of what he thinks was wrong with the man.
"... It's quieter at night." He replied simply. "And that annoying kid isn't standing outside throwing his weight around the place."
'Annoying kid...?' The Tenkai was briefly confused until he thought about just who normally stood outside of the baths. 'Oh... Lo Hak.'
Though how the blond could do that and handle a massage parlor at the same time escaped Tyr. Who stood in when he was busy with a customer?
"I guess someone has to take care of the baths," he reasoned as he started to wash himself as quickly as he could. "Unless you volunteer?"
"Antagonizing me already?" Luc said as he lowered himself further so the water reached up to his chin. "I suppose you'd want me to apologize for having the inability to shut up, conform and get along with everyone."
"No," lather lather lather "that'd be boring and unlike you."
Tyr paused as he upturned a bucket of water over his head.
"Not to mention they'll all be suspicious and watching your every move if you did."
Well, that was true... and it would be pretty damned annoying to have to deal with more people keeping an eye on him.
"Right. Having you do that is already a handful on its own." He smirked.
"H-" achoo! "Damn it..." he muttered before trying again, glaring at the brunet. "I resent that comment."
Again... that sneeze. That definitely confirms it.
"Hey..." Luc finally turned his attention to him completely while placing both arms over the edge lazily and placing his chin on the warm tile. "You've caught a cold, haven't you?"
"..." Could he lie? Would it help his case if he lied? "...just the beginning of it."
Determined not to have it become worse, the Tenkai redoubled his effort to finish washing, scrubbing as quickly as he could. With so many cuts on his hands however, it was a bit tricky, not to mention that the soap to flesh contact stung.
"Did you decide to take a longer swim?" the wind mage continued with his inquiry while he tried to ignore the urge to get up and smack the man across the head. "Or did you do something more stupid...."
Oh please, the gods help him; he hoped this wasn't going to be the case...
"... like not change out of your clothes after the incident....?"
'Shit.' The man went still for the briefest moment, though it was luckily disguised during a pause as he poured water over himself.
"I changed out of my clothes as soon as I could get to my room," he answered as he continued rinsing the soap off.
"And when was that?" came the question in a very stern voice.
Why was Luc so sharp!?
"...my clothes had the time to get damp instead of soaking wet." Though, to be fair, he did squeeze as much water out as he could.
"..........................................................................." Luc glared at the man's back.
The way this guy was acting almost seemed like he wanted the wind mage to get mad at him. It was just too bad the only thing at hand to throw was a small wooden tub lying on the floor.
"...." Oh... that can work.
At that, he leaned over and picked up the tub before chucking it at the back of McDohl's head like a Frisbee.
Luc's silence was foreboding. It was a bit worrying that the younger man wouldn't say anything... no doubt, the mage was glaring and... Tyr's eyes went wide as he saw, and barely ducked out of the path of, a wash tub.
The resulting crash resonated quite loudly as the wash tub made contact with the wall in the otherwise empty bath house.
"Are you trying to kill me??"
The wind mage sat back down into the water and sighed.
"Tried. Obviously missed." He huffed.
"Why yo-..." Tyr would've protested more if it weren't for the loud sneeze that interrupted him.
Ow... That one actually hurt his head.
"......"
That didn't sound like a beginning of a cold. But then again... judging for how long the idiot stayed in wet clothes that was no surprise.
"You best get yourself in the hot water before you get any worse..." Luc said to him quietly this time. "I'll go to the infirmary after and see if Mathiu left any medicine out for colds."
"...Thanks."
Tyr found there really wasn't anything else he could say when Luc was making quite a bit of sense. Sullenly, the man turned back to the washing station and made sure to completely rinse off the remaining soap before he made his way to the hot water, careful not to disturb the mage.
It was almost too hot, but any complaints the Tenkai had left him after a few moments of discomfort.
Well... this was definitely awkward... He'd never had taken a bath with anyone before, although he did use to bathe Sarah when she was younger. That usually just resulted to him being splashed at but not actually ending up in the bath with the child - thankfully.
"............." Why did he have to end up in these situations lately, anyway? And small talk wasn't really one of his fortes...
As he sat there in the subsequent silence, Tyr found himself to be uneasy with it despite other instances of silence. After all, or rather because, it was just Luc and he. In the bath. And...he wouldn't follow that train of thought.
"I didn't expect you to catch a fish on the first try," he said instead.
Luc couldn't help but raise his brow at the older man.
"Like I did? I wasn't even trying to." He grumbled quite irritably, remembering his own plunge into the large body of water while moving to catch the fishing rod.
And piercing that worm into the hook? Wiggling and squirming in his hand... urrgh... He couldn't help but shudder slightly at the thought.
"How can you call that a hobby anyway...? With that whole... masochism bit..." he gestured with his finger with a sort of wiggle to represent the worm he murdered that afternoon.
Despite himself, the Tenkai found himself chuckling a bit even as he sunk a bit deeper into the welcome heat. Even that earlier head pain was easing.
"It passes time and I find it enjoyable," he answered as he looked at Luc through the corner of his eyes. "Do worms really disgust you so much?"
"Books pass the time and can be enjoyable depending on what you're reading." And can make one smarter... sometimes... "And that doesn't require stabbing anything and feeding it to a larger animal, so one can eat it later."
Well fishing does handle another chore, that being dinner, but that's aside the point.
"And yes, they disgust me that much. Not as much as caterpill-tch!" Luc suddenly flinched the moment the water touched the injury to his neck.
The injury still remained raw for whatever reason, perhaps because he didn't allow Sierra to finish her business, and he had been lowering himself into the water slowly so that he could get used to the sting as the water touched it. At least it didn't bleed... But that didn't mean it was bothersome...
He sighed as he sat up and placed a hand protectively at the injury. The brunet was just about ready to believe all these circumstances were some form of divine intervention to make him suffer even more. The only thing stopping him was his pride and refusal to believe higher unseen entities.
While Luc had a point about reading being enjoyable given one read something one was interested in, but Tyr wasn't the type to just sit down and read a book every evening. Having always been more of an outdoor kid than an indoor one--and having taken the habit to skip out on his homework whenever possible--he simply didn't find it appealing to have that type of hobby and much preferred to keep book reading as an occasional activity to indulge given the right circumstances. Obviously, the mage thought otherwise, but if Luc had indeed spent his time within the Magician's Tower day in and out, the brunet's choice of hobby didn't come as a great surprise, if any.
It did make him smile though, that Luc was so disgusted with worms, and... that didn't matter right now when the mage was suddenly flinching.
"Luc?" The former hero sat up as Luc pressed on his own neck, brow knitting in a concerned frown.
There wasn't supposed to be anything there, right? Or... if he thought about it, there had been a bandage there when the Tenkan had come see him at the docks. In the heat of the moment, he'd completely forgotten to take conscious notice of it, but right now...
"...Didn't you say that was healing up?"
"..... I thought it was..." Luc muttered as he slowly took his hand away. "It itches so I thought it was just healing."
Wounds did tend to get irritated while healing due to skin drying out and the scab forming while it heals from the inside. So it was normal in his mind... The injury didn't seem so deep either as he managed to get away before she could clamp down on his neck completely.
But as Sierra kept pushing to BITE him again, stating that it would help him, there may be some truth that the vampire would have to finish the job for it to stop irritating. He wasn't about to give in to such a stupid reason though... There may still be a chance it'll just go away in a few more days.
"I haven't... really looked at it." The wind mage explained.
That particular news just... bristled him. He knew it wasn't in his right to be so annoyed about it, but that that woman had done something to the mage which apparently wasn't going away simply didn't settle well with him.
At all.
Add to that Luc's neglect and apparent unwillingness to look at it--later, he would remember that there hadn't been a single mirror in the mage's room, but that didn't apply now--and that equalled a rather incensed Tenkai.
"Let me see."
Without waiting for Luc's permission, the older bearer moved over to his other side, anxiously turning the mage's head away as he took stock of the bite wounds. The sight that greeted him wasn't a pleasant one though. The bite still looked fresh, the skin around it uncomfortably red, its only saving grace the lack of blood trails.
A growl would've escaped him if he hadn't clenched his teeth and kept himself in check as he spoke the truth. "It's not healing at all."
"Are you serious?" Luc frowned before letting out another sigh. "... Damn it..."
So Sierra really wasn't kidding, was she?
"I was hoping she was just playing a stupid prank to get back at me for calling her old all the time." Although he was being truthful about it. "......."
The brunet then pushed McDohl's hand away from his head as he glanced over at the other man.
"... Do you know anything... about vampires? You hung out with Viktor more so than I ever did... so..."
While that was true, Tyr wasn't certain whether there was anything of use besides what he'd already mentioned before.
When they chased down Tengaar at Neclord's castle, all that the liberation army leader had been able to pick up was that the self-styled Lord of the Night had a preference for night time, liked virgin nubile flesh, turned into a bat, had the ability to duplicate himself, create zombies and was vulnerable to the Star Dragon Sword. There were, of course, local folklore that were potentially useful, the wooden amulets, garlic and holy water ideas for protection and wooden stakes for extermination.
But anyone, except perhaps zombies, would die from getting stabbed through the heart. Last he knew, Viktor had passed on the Star Dragon Sword to his protégé and that would be too much trouble to track down. All the other tidbit that he could recall were basically pointless, which only left them with the protection items...
And only the wooden amulets had been truly useful against succubi and incubi when they stormed the castle. Holy water worked only on inflicted curses and...the garlic was only useful as ammunition to get the monsters annoyed with them.
"I don't think anything I know will be useful," the Tenkai grimaced as he answered regretfully. "Unless you already did try using wooden amulets or know where the current holder of the Star Dragon Sword is or can track him down, then that's the extent of what I can suggest."
"I think I may have encountered the new owner of the talking sword, but... circumstances didn't make it my priority to learn his name." Luc explained as he put some space between him and the Tenkai.
That fact had mostly truth but also came lies. To the North of Budehuc was the tablet of promise for the war in the Zexen and Grasslands territory five years ago. Upon it were already the names of the 108 destined for that even. But even though Luc was one of the four who started this war, his name was still engraved upon that tablet under the role of the Tenkan, the guardian of the Tablet of Promise.
Either ways, Luc learned all their names, remembered each chosen upon the star that guides them. He knew them by name, but not by their faces. He did not remain to record the fate of each chosen. So he did not know them... he did not watch them. That's why he didn't know who exactly bared what name.
"... I guess there's no choice then..." he muttered darkly, obviously not looking forward to such a solution.
Understand though he may the reason why the Tenkan had moved away during his explanation, Tyr's heart still plummeted down to his stomach. Dejected, the older man stayed where he was, sinking deeper in his seat and moving his gaze elsewhere in the silence that followed.
His personal feelings aside, it was a pity that Luc didn't know who was now holding the Star Dragon Sword. Not that they would've used it to kill off Sierra, but the thing might've had better ideas than those he recalled. It had been the actual expert on the matter of vampires, although a very selfish one who wouldn't bother with the rest of them beyond exterminating Neclord--who, last he'd heard, hadn't actually been killed in Toran, but rather in Dunan. It had been a surprise that Viktor cared to wield it even in Dunan.
As he gazed at the watery surface of the bath, he kept an ear open for whatever else the mage might say. As the brunet finally spoke though, Tyr looked at Luc in confusion before a past conversation suddenly came to mind.
In spite of himself, the Tenkai jerked, alerted.
"You don't mean that ridiculous solution she was proposing, do you?"
Luc side glanced at the old liberation army leader with a calm expression.
"Do you have any other ideas?" he asked. "I'm not happy with the idea either, but if what she said is true, then the stupid thing can go away sooner than later."
Honestly speaking, he didn't have any other ideas. Short of inventing something new, they were stuck with what little method they had... And he couldn't remember if any runes could have an effect on this sort of marking.
This was discouraging.
"...No," he replied at length with a long sigh, returning back to his previous position. "No, I don't..."
The brunet would be lying if he wasn't actually hoping McDohl would bring up another plausible solution. But oh well... that wasn't the case.
"................." Although swallowing his pride and actually letting Sierra bite him was another thing.
He slipped deeper into the water, thought carefully this time, his resolve suddenly wavering at the thought of letting someone drink his blood. His days lately have been nothing but disgusting lately, hasn't it...? Not to mention such unflattering and highly unwanted attention from various parties...
"... Ah." He murmured.
That's right... there was still that one issue.
"McDohl? Have any of the Councillors approached you since their first arrival?"
The Tenkai really wished he could provide Luc with a solution to his problem. After all, he had been among the party that had gone to exterminate Neclord and he honestly felt he should've known more than what he did. They had to prepare for the rescue mission and he'd paid as much attention as he could, but amidst Zorak's longwinded stories and their haste to retrieve Tengaar intact, there had been a few tidbits that he missed.
Wallowing on the uselessness of his so-called 'help', Tyr barely caught what the mage was asking him about Councillors, taking a moment to think about it.
"...Oh, those guys," he recalled with displeasure one particularly smarmy-looking man who'd thought to approach him with rather intrusive questions. "They don't seem to know when to keep their nose out of other people's business."
"Ah..." So they really had been active since Luc's disappearance. "... Did they ask you anything about Soul Eater?"
"They tried," the Tenkai shrugged, looking down at the insignia that was currently free from the confines of glove and bandages before moving it away from sight. "Asked who I was, what I was doing here, why I was wearing anything on my hands."
They had been particularly insistent about the why of his coverings. Just what business of theirs was it to know whether he had anything there, he didn't kno-...
Wait... how would Luc know what they tried to ask?
"................" the older bearer turned to look at the brunet, suspicion written all over his face.
That look wasn't good... He didn't expect a simple question like that would result to the expression on McDohl's face.
"...What?" Luc frowned at him in return before following up with a lie. "They asked me too. So I thought they'd do the same to you."
That response caused Tyr to blink at Luc... after which a terrified look settled on his features.
"They what!?" he yelled.
Those bastards were still conducting their interviews!?
Ah shit... That appeared to have just made it worse. Now what...?
"Calm down." The wind mage sighed in exasperation. Just what in the world compels this man to make things even more complicated... "They just asked me about rune bearers. I don't think they recognized me."
There... that should be convincing enough... He really didn't want the Tenkai to get anymore emotional than he had already displayed before the brunet since the argument when he returned.
"Oh..." he blinked. 'Was that what they...?' the Toran native thought dizzily as he sat back down in the bath. "You're safe then..."
While that was a reassuring thought, if the Councillors were still nosing around and if any of the inhabitants who held Luc in contempt revealed him to them... who knew what would happen to hi-.. the Tenkan. That aside, the thought that they were asking about the true runes was downright worrisome.
"...So they're asking about all the true runes..."
At least that calmed the man down a bit. Luc was bound to run out of lies had he pushed on about this topic, though it was his fault for bringing it up. Still... this at least confirms that what Colton said was true after all. If he makes that report... it should be enough to have them leave him alone. But there were some issues... one being his blood relative.
But... now there were more pressing matters at hand that needed attention.
"McDohl... you shouldn't stay too long in the water..." the wind mage said to him in hopes to change the topic completely. "Your face is starting to turn red."
Absorbed in his worried thoughts, Tyr looked a bit distracted and lost upon the wind mage's words. "Huh?"
What was Luc bringing up now?
"Your face... It's starting to turn red." Luc repeated with some concern hidden in his voice.
"Oh.."
Tyr rather thought it was normal that he would've turned red in this heat and almost seemed unwilling to leave the water... if he didn't know that staying longer wouldn't do him good, cold or not.
"I suppose I should go back to my room..." he said quietly.
"Mm." the younger man nodded while he made a move to get out of the bath himself. "I'll take you."
Just to be sure that the Tenkai will get there safely. It wouldn't do if the man suddenly collapsed outside somewhere. He wasn't even sure how the cold was affecting the man aside his sinuses.
At first, Tyr thought to tell Luc he could do that on his own, what little man pride he allowed himself to feel rankling at the idea that anyone needed to take him anywhere over a minor cold, but he stopped himself before he would do anything irrevocable. If he refused Luc's help now, who knew if he'd ever hear another such proposal.
This wasn't like the time he'd already fallen prey to Nanami's cooking and had no choice but to accept medical help, nor was it like the time he'd battled Luca Blight and found himself injured. In both instances, Luc had been under the 'obligation' to provide him assistance. As an on-duty staff member of the infirmary, the rule seemed to be that anyone would be nursed back to health.
Right now though, the mage could've simply let him go on his own without proposing to accompany him. This was quite the detour he would be forced to take. Honestly speaking, the Tenkai didn't know whether it was because the brunet felt it was an obligation of his to do so upon meeting an ill man, but... hadn't his voice held the faintest hint of concern earlier?
He might've imagined it, but either way, this small gesture meant a lot.
"Thank you, Luc."
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