002nd Forged Devil: Ever Exploring [Accidental Voice/Action]

[curseresistant]

[Hector's feed starts off with the sound of the river, of the breeze through the trees. The sound of Hector's voice soon filters in, soft and distant, as though not directly addressing the listeners.]

Yes, I know; t'is cold indeed. But soon, when the frost melts, you can enjoy the sky as much as you like.

[In response, there's... chirping? It seems Hector is talking to a small bird.]

Now, run along. Back to your nest, to your parents. T'would be a shame if they grew worried, would it not?

[Again, chirping in response, then the fluttering of wings as the little bird departs. The sound of Hector's boots draws nearer to the journal, crunching over bits of ice; it isn't long before the feed stops entirely, Hector finally realizing that it was open.]

[Later that day, Hector can be found grabbing a few things from the grocery store and the item shop: dried meats and fruits, a tinder box, some canteens, as well as a cloth bag to hold it all in. It seems he's preparing for a hike of some sort, judging by the sort of things he's gathering.]

[It isn't until the late evening that he decides to properly head out, filling up his canteens with river water before starting on his way back out the village. What his destination is, he doesn't yet know; but he does know that he's not going to stop until he's seen a good chunk of the area around the village.]

Comments

[relictusdeus]

[He snorts as though skeptical but then thinks to remark on something entirely irrelevant, jerking his chin towards the screen.]

That smile of yours becomes you.

[On rare occasions, he could in fact let a few complimentary words slide off his tongue. Not having anticipated the offer to simply talk, he then tilts his head in an expression of quiet curiosity.]

I imagined you wouldn’t. [Or you would not have thought to ask, he nearly adds.]

[curseresistant]

[... Well, there was something Hector hadn't expected. A compliment, from Isaac of all people.]

[At that next comment, however, Hector's smile turns a bit roguish, even playful, and his voice reflects this.]

If I could hold onto this journal whilst working, believe me, I would not be sitting idle.

[relictusdeus]

Well then. What ever shall we do with ourselves, now that you have been so gracious as to offer me your precious time? If you are still without your devils, you have no hope of challenging me. ‘twould be like me kicking an imp down a flight of stairs… [He pulls a face.] …more a pathetic sight than an amusing one, really.

[curseresistant]

[...pathetic sight though it may be, the mental image of an imp tumbling down a flight of stairs brings an amused smile to Hector's face.]

[But, on the subject of offering time...]

If you would like, Isaac... I was interested in exploring the wilderness of Luceti, when night comes. 'twould be nice if I had you to accompany me.

You have been here longer than I, after all.

[relictusdeus]

[His pale eyes shift in thought for a moment too long. Is this Hector figuratively extending an olive branch? As he turns his invitation over and over in his mind, pulling words apart and piecing them back together, a nagging little voice in his mind jars awake his sense of wariness. This may be a trick, an attempt to bait and lure him. An attempt at revenge late in coming to catch him unawares. Is it possible? He did not know Hector to have a manipulative bone in his body, but perhaps it was not beyond him to take a page from his old friend’s book and answer blood with blood.

Anything is possible, Isaac thinks, in the wake of the suffering he’d unleashed. Suffering he did not much regret. Whatever the case may be here, he has already made his choice.]

Then upon the witching hour, you will await me by the fountain.

[curseresistant]

[Hector is willing to offer at least a truce of sorts -- something to let his fellow Forgemaster know that there is no hatred between them. After all, in this strange place, there is no reason to bear ill will toward one another, is there?]

Of course. Is there anything you would like me to bring?

[Besides foods for their trip, of course, and the obvious supplies.

[relictusdeus]

[His proposal goes unchallenged, just as he likes it.]

Yourself; anything more is unnecessary.

[To Isaac, at least.]

[curseresistant]

Very well. At the appointed hour, then, I shall wait for you.

[There isn't much else to say after that, Hector reasons, and the feed is soon shut off.]

[His trip around the village later on is, for the most part, uneventful. Once sunset comes, he moves to the fountain, opting to pass the final few hours of his wait with a book in hand and a heavy cloak around him to stave off the chill of the winter air.]

[relictusdeus]

[The sound of Isaac’s soft chuckling announces his appearance as he approaches a few minutes after the appointed time, as is typical of the arrangements he makes. The sound of his heels clacking against the cobblestones is dampened by the snow.]

I trust you have not been waiting long.

[Not that it matters to him; he’d waited so many years to see Hector’s face again after the fall of the castle, he feels the man could stand to exercise some patience. Should he not lower his book, the Forgemaster will have half a mind to pluck it from his hands. He will suffer no distractions.]

[curseresistant]

[The moment the sound of heels come to his ears, Hector's book is closed and tucked away; he stands without a moment's delay, greeting the red-head with a nod.]

No, not long at all. [Well, that wasn't entirely true; a few hours was a bit of a wait. But he could stand to be a little patient.]

Shall we head out then, Isaac?

[relictusdeus]

[Isaac looks to Hector a beat, wide-eyed, as if the question drips with insolence and is worth a crisp slap to the face. He did enjoy putting on a theatrical performance after all.]

Well, if you please, good sir. I did not come merely to stand before you and block the wind so that you might read in peace. [He folds his arms across his chest, cocking his head as if to say, 'well...?'.]

[curseresistant]

[Hector starts walking at a calm, even pace, watching the chill air blows his breath upwards in misty clouds. He's barely three steps away before he speaks, with an equally melodramatic tone.]

Well then, we do not have all night. Do try not to fall behind.

[He course, this is before an all-too-amused chuckle escapes him; really, how does the redhead manage to do that and still keep a straight face?]

[relictusdeus]

[For a moment, Isaac wavers between feeling mildly insulted and terribly amused by this unforeseen attempt at mimicry. Should he feel flattered that that the diction isn’t half bad? At the same time, they had spent years together; there would be no excuse for missing the mark. Hector’s chuckle soothes any nerves that may have been rankled.

Then, in a show of maturity, Isaac decides to assume a dour, unsmiling, and cooly determined look as best he can manage and lowers his voice as to approximate Hector's own.]

I shall try. [He can't resist a bit of exaggeration, making his former companion out to be a rather dull, bland creature through his tone.]