07-12-2021, 04:40 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-12-2021, 04:49 AM by DerpyMcPandos.)
![[Image: Greywald.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/785266669659488276/863999033424478218/Greywald.png)
North of Chaturanga
The Deal:
The Deal:
Flowers are blooming. The wind is blowing. A temperate day awaits not long after the fall of a demigod, granting a moment of peace to those warriors who'd pursued him.
One such Warrior sits in a wheelchair- Pushed by an attendant to meet with a dear friend and comrade in this path. Despite his injuries, his permanent losses... A lack of function in three of four limbs- He found relief in the result they'd earned. In a moment so tainted by death and suffering... He felt released. Seeking to share this moment with one who'd sought their foe just as long as he, his attendant brings him ever closer to a vineyard in Northern Kysei; Seeking a man in white.
The trek through the Estate was an easy one, a well tended for and manicured demense. Though naturally, some difficulties were presented in scaling the wheelchair up the marble mansion stairs to the 2nd floor.
The Ashen-haired man awaited, a leg splinted and bandaged, sat in a cushioned chair that had been carried out onto the air of the semi-circular balcony. Next to him, a small round-table, with a few wine glasses and a bottle of Greywald 345 Red, a rather prized year's vintage. His crutches were left to the side, abutting a marble railing as he quietly surveyed the Kyseian countryside.
The Shaitan looked about, but in fact, it was his friend escorting him that spotted the reason for their visit, first. They approach, a word is given.... And as the shaitan parks at the round table, his attendant departs for a moment. No time is wasted as he leans one arm onto the table.
"...Walter." He speaks. "I wasn't sure you'd talk to me, now that our work is done. I'm glad you invited me today." The shaitan has a hint of an amused tone in his voice. "...Kinda amazing that it's finally over."
"Well," Walter grabbed the bottle, a grimace to his features as he tightly worked the plug, before it comes off with a faint pop. "I could have not bothered, but I'd be remiss to have not."
A hand raises the bottle to indicate its state to the Shaitan before him, as he then settles the opened beverage back on the table. His eyes go to the fore as he speaks next, "It really is. It was messy and beyond our control, but we still did it."
Maksim turned a smile ahead as the man spoke- Turning to face Walter, instead, as the beverage was set down. "...I think we did right by her. A lot of things are still unanswered, a few loose ends are hanging... But honestly?" He lifts the bottle, pouring out a generous serving into two wine glasses. "I'm alright with that. The three of us took him down."
With the wine poured, he placed the bottle back down. He didn't go to grasp the glass immediately, though, instead coddling his bandaged left arm with his right arm. "I imagine you'll be quite a bit less busy, now. What endeavours are you embarking on next, old friend?"
The Alabaster Wanderer brings his hands together, not yet taking the glass, but letting his digits intertwine in his lap. He tips his gaze up, giving a slight sigh. What would he do now? He had performed illustriously throughout his time, in medicine, as an adventurer. He had entered the hallowed ranks of those who could claim to have killed a demi-god with some veracity.
"Well," The Alabaster man notes, head tipping down and smiling, "For me, at least. I have a wedding to plan for."
"Do you plan on continuing your Corrupted philanthropy?" He'd then turn, querying.
The Reaver leaned back, satisfied enough with the man's answer. He, himself... Had been steadfast about his plans, but the man recognized that was in good part due to his simplicity. "Make it a good one. I'm sure more than a few people are excited to see you get hitched." He snickers. "At the very least, settling down should keep you out of my bar at two in the morning."
"Of course I will. As long as the Dark Zones exist, and as long as Iahsus hangs, people who need me will exist. Many won't take it from me- And many more still, will find their own path or be picked up by someone else. But as long as I live, I plan to give a home to any Corrupted who needs it." He takes the wine glass... Tentatively sniffing it, before tossing back a good sip- and giving a good "Ahhh~" After swallowing. "...To us a certain someone's words. I suppose it'd be 'my life's work'." he gave a low-pitched chuckle.
"The locals have a word for that, Reason for being, I think it translates." Walter chimes in, he finally grabs his glass, giving a soft, subtle scoff himself.
"Ah...." A wistful note escapes him, "Remind me of the last time we talked about building homes and life's works. That dark spot in Alstalsia's wilderness. Back then I called you a fool or something of the sort, didn't I?"
"Ahhhh...." The man smiles, thinking back on that time fondly. "I remember that. I believe you did... Not that I ever disagreed with you. You know, She told me that being an idiot was my strength." He chuckled. "...You were never all that clear about your 'reason for being', so to speak." He turned forward, looking at the vines about them and sipping gingerly from his wine.
"...Man. I've really caused you quite a bit of trouble, thinking back on it... haven't I." The Revolutionary's smirk only seemed to widen as he said that, though- thinking back on all the times Walter's had to reign him in or pull him out of trouble. He came to look back on the man dressed in Alabaster.
A nod, followed by a wave of a hand, "Mine? A story for another time."
"And yes, that you did, Maksim. Dont forget for a second that I remembered your actions. You're only loyal to yourself and your goals." He takes a draught from his own glass, "-You even courted the Falcon for the hope that Arael would institute a system that would give the scions of the Hanging Star an inch more recognition in the Empire."
"But...You're making me forget the point, Maksim." He'd look over, a grin drawing on his features, "After what we saw, I'm slightly more inclined to believe your goal isn't as foolish as I first thought." He would watch expectantly, a more measured gaze hidden by the smile. The offer was being laid.
"Now, now~ It seems like it worked out in the end, and my membership was quite beneficial to you in many ways, wouldn't you say?" He hummed at that; Truly an irredeemable man. The world had never truly uncovered the specifics of his crimes- Nay, the story many were told is simply that he was a 'suspect', and that he was apprehended for miscompliance after killing the criminal, Abaddon. Walter would be one of the few people who knew the details of this man's deeds.
"...But, I'm surprised to hear you say that." He raises an eyebrow at the man. "I suppose we know it's not impossible... But you always seemed too strict for such a thing. Too straight-laced." The Shaitan tested him- Determining if this was something real, lain before him.
"Well, everyone has their wants, their dreams, no?" Walter adjusted how he sat in the chair, a sniff as he took in that summer air, "I have one, one that I'm free to pursue now Cornelius is nothing but stardust."
An exhale, "But, I cant do it alone, so I suppose you I'm asking you a favour, You help me, I help you."
The glass extends across the gap between them, an offer of a toast, "How about it, one last adventure?"
"..." A silence came over the man. He turned away, frowning properly for perhaps the first time in a while.
"...You know, I never thought of myself as an 'adventurer'. I kept people safe by exterminating pests- And made good money for it. That was my job." He takes a short sip. "....My adventures... I don't intend to travel far from home much, anymore, unless it's something I can get done in one big trip." He glances towards Walter again. "...I'll support you. And when it comes down to it? I'll be right beside you, backing you up. But if this turns into a goose chase, I'm leaving you on your own. Got it?" He waited for an answer to that... Before raising what was left of his glass to the man.
A slight shrug, but the smile didn't leave Walter, "If it's any solace. I'll be gone and out of your hair by the end of it."
"Cheers, Maksim."
"Ahh, that'll be a little boring... But alright. Cheers." He clinks his glass to the man's. "...To victory."
One such Warrior sits in a wheelchair- Pushed by an attendant to meet with a dear friend and comrade in this path. Despite his injuries, his permanent losses... A lack of function in three of four limbs- He found relief in the result they'd earned. In a moment so tainted by death and suffering... He felt released. Seeking to share this moment with one who'd sought their foe just as long as he, his attendant brings him ever closer to a vineyard in Northern Kysei; Seeking a man in white.
The trek through the Estate was an easy one, a well tended for and manicured demense. Though naturally, some difficulties were presented in scaling the wheelchair up the marble mansion stairs to the 2nd floor.
The Ashen-haired man awaited, a leg splinted and bandaged, sat in a cushioned chair that had been carried out onto the air of the semi-circular balcony. Next to him, a small round-table, with a few wine glasses and a bottle of Greywald 345 Red, a rather prized year's vintage. His crutches were left to the side, abutting a marble railing as he quietly surveyed the Kyseian countryside.
The Shaitan looked about, but in fact, it was his friend escorting him that spotted the reason for their visit, first. They approach, a word is given.... And as the shaitan parks at the round table, his attendant departs for a moment. No time is wasted as he leans one arm onto the table.
"...Walter." He speaks. "I wasn't sure you'd talk to me, now that our work is done. I'm glad you invited me today." The shaitan has a hint of an amused tone in his voice. "...Kinda amazing that it's finally over."
"Well," Walter grabbed the bottle, a grimace to his features as he tightly worked the plug, before it comes off with a faint pop. "I could have not bothered, but I'd be remiss to have not."
A hand raises the bottle to indicate its state to the Shaitan before him, as he then settles the opened beverage back on the table. His eyes go to the fore as he speaks next, "It really is. It was messy and beyond our control, but we still did it."
Maksim turned a smile ahead as the man spoke- Turning to face Walter, instead, as the beverage was set down. "...I think we did right by her. A lot of things are still unanswered, a few loose ends are hanging... But honestly?" He lifts the bottle, pouring out a generous serving into two wine glasses. "I'm alright with that. The three of us took him down."
With the wine poured, he placed the bottle back down. He didn't go to grasp the glass immediately, though, instead coddling his bandaged left arm with his right arm. "I imagine you'll be quite a bit less busy, now. What endeavours are you embarking on next, old friend?"
The Alabaster Wanderer brings his hands together, not yet taking the glass, but letting his digits intertwine in his lap. He tips his gaze up, giving a slight sigh. What would he do now? He had performed illustriously throughout his time, in medicine, as an adventurer. He had entered the hallowed ranks of those who could claim to have killed a demi-god with some veracity.
"Well," The Alabaster man notes, head tipping down and smiling, "For me, at least. I have a wedding to plan for."
"Do you plan on continuing your Corrupted philanthropy?" He'd then turn, querying.
The Reaver leaned back, satisfied enough with the man's answer. He, himself... Had been steadfast about his plans, but the man recognized that was in good part due to his simplicity. "Make it a good one. I'm sure more than a few people are excited to see you get hitched." He snickers. "At the very least, settling down should keep you out of my bar at two in the morning."
"Of course I will. As long as the Dark Zones exist, and as long as Iahsus hangs, people who need me will exist. Many won't take it from me- And many more still, will find their own path or be picked up by someone else. But as long as I live, I plan to give a home to any Corrupted who needs it." He takes the wine glass... Tentatively sniffing it, before tossing back a good sip- and giving a good "Ahhh~" After swallowing. "...To us a certain someone's words. I suppose it'd be 'my life's work'." he gave a low-pitched chuckle.
"The locals have a word for that, Reason for being, I think it translates." Walter chimes in, he finally grabs his glass, giving a soft, subtle scoff himself.
"Ah...." A wistful note escapes him, "Remind me of the last time we talked about building homes and life's works. That dark spot in Alstalsia's wilderness. Back then I called you a fool or something of the sort, didn't I?"
"Ahhhh...." The man smiles, thinking back on that time fondly. "I remember that. I believe you did... Not that I ever disagreed with you. You know, She told me that being an idiot was my strength." He chuckled. "...You were never all that clear about your 'reason for being', so to speak." He turned forward, looking at the vines about them and sipping gingerly from his wine.
"...Man. I've really caused you quite a bit of trouble, thinking back on it... haven't I." The Revolutionary's smirk only seemed to widen as he said that, though- thinking back on all the times Walter's had to reign him in or pull him out of trouble. He came to look back on the man dressed in Alabaster.
A nod, followed by a wave of a hand, "Mine? A story for another time."
"And yes, that you did, Maksim. Dont forget for a second that I remembered your actions. You're only loyal to yourself and your goals." He takes a draught from his own glass, "-You even courted the Falcon for the hope that Arael would institute a system that would give the scions of the Hanging Star an inch more recognition in the Empire."
"But...You're making me forget the point, Maksim." He'd look over, a grin drawing on his features, "After what we saw, I'm slightly more inclined to believe your goal isn't as foolish as I first thought." He would watch expectantly, a more measured gaze hidden by the smile. The offer was being laid.
"Now, now~ It seems like it worked out in the end, and my membership was quite beneficial to you in many ways, wouldn't you say?" He hummed at that; Truly an irredeemable man. The world had never truly uncovered the specifics of his crimes- Nay, the story many were told is simply that he was a 'suspect', and that he was apprehended for miscompliance after killing the criminal, Abaddon. Walter would be one of the few people who knew the details of this man's deeds.
"...But, I'm surprised to hear you say that." He raises an eyebrow at the man. "I suppose we know it's not impossible... But you always seemed too strict for such a thing. Too straight-laced." The Shaitan tested him- Determining if this was something real, lain before him.
"Well, everyone has their wants, their dreams, no?" Walter adjusted how he sat in the chair, a sniff as he took in that summer air, "I have one, one that I'm free to pursue now Cornelius is nothing but stardust."
An exhale, "But, I cant do it alone, so I suppose you I'm asking you a favour, You help me, I help you."
The glass extends across the gap between them, an offer of a toast, "How about it, one last adventure?"
"..." A silence came over the man. He turned away, frowning properly for perhaps the first time in a while.
"...You know, I never thought of myself as an 'adventurer'. I kept people safe by exterminating pests- And made good money for it. That was my job." He takes a short sip. "....My adventures... I don't intend to travel far from home much, anymore, unless it's something I can get done in one big trip." He glances towards Walter again. "...I'll support you. And when it comes down to it? I'll be right beside you, backing you up. But if this turns into a goose chase, I'm leaving you on your own. Got it?" He waited for an answer to that... Before raising what was left of his glass to the man.
A slight shrug, but the smile didn't leave Walter, "If it's any solace. I'll be gone and out of your hair by the end of it."
"Cheers, Maksim."
"Ahh, that'll be a little boring... But alright. Cheers." He clinks his glass to the man's. "...To victory."
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