Post war catch up - Markas and Baine
Jul 5, 2020 9:48:45 GMT
Grimes, Varis/G'Lorth/Sundilar, and 9 more like this
Post by Markas Virnala on Jul 5, 2020 9:48:45 GMT
The Crimson Fist compound is quiet. Too quiet. Even this far into the night, the place has a tangible void that can be felt. As Markas quietly crosses the yard, a feeling of guilt creeps over him; He should have really come sooner. As emotional as it had been to see Red lead the charge a few days ago, he hadn't stopped to consider the impact that would have here.
He reaches the window of the barracks and carefully cracks it open, not even bothering to try the door. Soldier’s lock up at night. He vaults gracefully and silently through, landing softly on the stone floor in a crouch. He looks up and comes face to face with a very happy Frankie thumping his tail against the blankets of Baine’s bed. Standing up, he reaches out with one hand to pat Frankie on the head while looking around the dorm.
With very few exceptions, the bunk beds are all empty. Blankets are all made up and neatly tucked in, side tables cleared of personal belongings, and where there should be the snoring of close to 50 soldiers, there is stillness.
Markas turns back to the large man sleeping in the bed next to him and pats him once on the shoulder before taking a quick step back. In a split second, Baine goes from sleeping to wide awake with a startled breath, fist already raised to strike before he takes in his surroundings and recognizes his friend. He sighs heavily and rubs his eyes instead of punching.
“Bloody hell, mate. Come here,” he says quietly and reels Markas in roughly, pulling him down on the bed and hugging him with bruising force as usual.
“Wh’the fuck have you been?” he mumbles into the half-elf’s shoulder.
“Just… around. Haven’t been feeling right…” There’s a pause before his muscles relax and he takes a deep breath, and continues on, his voice taking on a dejected quality “I’m so glad you made it back ok.”
Baine pulls back slightly, meeting his eyes in solemn understanding.
“You haven’t heard from her.”
It’s not a question. The answer is plain to see on his friend’s face.
“She summoned a God, Markas. She brought Corellon himself into Avernus to help us, and then she.. Had to help Him in return? I think? I don’t know where they went.”
The Half-Elf seems to deflate at the news, “I haven’t. I’ve heard a few things about what went on but…. I guess I wanted to hear it from you. I looked but… there’s just no sign of her anywhere”.
He takes a second to try to recompose himself, idly looking around the room in an attempt to contain things before returning his gaze back to his friend, “But, how are you Baine? I took too long to come check on you and I know she was important to you too… and… well, I was there with Red...”
Baine looks away from Markas, sweeping an almost helpless gaze around the dark barracks. He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. He settles for a shrug. Knowing his best friend, Markas waits, and sure enough.
“They did their duty. They did the thing we’ve all sworn to do, including me. But there are no good deaths, Markas.” His lower lip trembles a little, and his breathing hitches. Markas pulls Baine’s head forward and rests his own against it in response.
“I don’t think I have it in me to take anymore, right now. That’s why I have to believe that she’s alright. She’s fine. She’s off with Corellon, communing with nature. I couldn’t take it if she-”
He closes his mouth with a snap, biting down on the words.
“What are you going to do?” he asks. “Are you gonna go looking?”
“I have been already but, to tell the truth, I’ve felt something has been off even when we were still in there. Something was nagging at me the whole time and when I got back I just knew… I don’t know where she is but…” He takes a second to steady his own breath, “I think I need to believe the same. But… I can’t just sit here. I need to do something.”
This close it’s hard to read Baine’s face, but Markas can feel the acceptance, tinged as it is with resignation and sadness. A large hand closes around the back of his neck, squeezing.
“I get it. You need to go. And I need to stay, I think you get that too. Will you just… will you write? So I know you haven’t gotten into to some dumb shit.”
A smile finally breaks across Markas’ face, the first in a few days now.
“I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t getting into something stupid right?”
Baine laughs through his tears.
“And remember to hit things when you punch at them.”
“Sure, I can manage that… I don’t think it will be long but I'll make sure I write. I just need to try and find her, just in case.”
Baine squeezes his neck one more time and pulls back, wiping at his cheeks.
“Of course, mate. Go. Find her and drag her ass back here so I can chew her out.”
Markas gives a laugh as he sits up and wipes his own cheeks and lets out a deep sigh as he gives Frankie a fuss at the edge of the bed. The room is quiet for a few moments before he turns back to Baine.
“So you gonna tell me what you ended up doing down there? We ended up going to a Spa!”
Baine’s eyes widen and he opens his mouth to respond, but is cut off by a very disgruntled voice from one of the few occupied bunks.
“I allowed it because you clearly needed to get some emotions out, but if you don’t stop talking now, I’ll kill you both.”
He reaches the window of the barracks and carefully cracks it open, not even bothering to try the door. Soldier’s lock up at night. He vaults gracefully and silently through, landing softly on the stone floor in a crouch. He looks up and comes face to face with a very happy Frankie thumping his tail against the blankets of Baine’s bed. Standing up, he reaches out with one hand to pat Frankie on the head while looking around the dorm.
With very few exceptions, the bunk beds are all empty. Blankets are all made up and neatly tucked in, side tables cleared of personal belongings, and where there should be the snoring of close to 50 soldiers, there is stillness.
Markas turns back to the large man sleeping in the bed next to him and pats him once on the shoulder before taking a quick step back. In a split second, Baine goes from sleeping to wide awake with a startled breath, fist already raised to strike before he takes in his surroundings and recognizes his friend. He sighs heavily and rubs his eyes instead of punching.
“Bloody hell, mate. Come here,” he says quietly and reels Markas in roughly, pulling him down on the bed and hugging him with bruising force as usual.
“Wh’the fuck have you been?” he mumbles into the half-elf’s shoulder.
“Just… around. Haven’t been feeling right…” There’s a pause before his muscles relax and he takes a deep breath, and continues on, his voice taking on a dejected quality “I’m so glad you made it back ok.”
Baine pulls back slightly, meeting his eyes in solemn understanding.
“You haven’t heard from her.”
It’s not a question. The answer is plain to see on his friend’s face.
“She summoned a God, Markas. She brought Corellon himself into Avernus to help us, and then she.. Had to help Him in return? I think? I don’t know where they went.”
The Half-Elf seems to deflate at the news, “I haven’t. I’ve heard a few things about what went on but…. I guess I wanted to hear it from you. I looked but… there’s just no sign of her anywhere”.
He takes a second to try to recompose himself, idly looking around the room in an attempt to contain things before returning his gaze back to his friend, “But, how are you Baine? I took too long to come check on you and I know she was important to you too… and… well, I was there with Red...”
Baine looks away from Markas, sweeping an almost helpless gaze around the dark barracks. He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. He settles for a shrug. Knowing his best friend, Markas waits, and sure enough.
“They did their duty. They did the thing we’ve all sworn to do, including me. But there are no good deaths, Markas.” His lower lip trembles a little, and his breathing hitches. Markas pulls Baine’s head forward and rests his own against it in response.
“I don’t think I have it in me to take anymore, right now. That’s why I have to believe that she’s alright. She’s fine. She’s off with Corellon, communing with nature. I couldn’t take it if she-”
He closes his mouth with a snap, biting down on the words.
“What are you going to do?” he asks. “Are you gonna go looking?”
“I have been already but, to tell the truth, I’ve felt something has been off even when we were still in there. Something was nagging at me the whole time and when I got back I just knew… I don’t know where she is but…” He takes a second to steady his own breath, “I think I need to believe the same. But… I can’t just sit here. I need to do something.”
This close it’s hard to read Baine’s face, but Markas can feel the acceptance, tinged as it is with resignation and sadness. A large hand closes around the back of his neck, squeezing.
“I get it. You need to go. And I need to stay, I think you get that too. Will you just… will you write? So I know you haven’t gotten into to some dumb shit.”
A smile finally breaks across Markas’ face, the first in a few days now.
“I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t getting into something stupid right?”
Baine laughs through his tears.
“And remember to hit things when you punch at them.”
“Sure, I can manage that… I don’t think it will be long but I'll make sure I write. I just need to try and find her, just in case.”
Baine squeezes his neck one more time and pulls back, wiping at his cheeks.
“Of course, mate. Go. Find her and drag her ass back here so I can chew her out.”
Markas gives a laugh as he sits up and wipes his own cheeks and lets out a deep sigh as he gives Frankie a fuss at the edge of the bed. The room is quiet for a few moments before he turns back to Baine.
“So you gonna tell me what you ended up doing down there? We ended up going to a Spa!”
Baine’s eyes widen and he opens his mouth to respond, but is cut off by a very disgruntled voice from one of the few occupied bunks.
“I allowed it because you clearly needed to get some emotions out, but if you don’t stop talking now, I’ll kill you both.”
