Love and Contingencies - Keros and Calla
Aug 18, 2024 18:41:57 GMT
Jaezred Vandree, stephena, and 3 more like this
Post by Tom M on Aug 18, 2024 18:41:57 GMT
Co-written with dee
Set shortly after the events of Leaves Off The Tree
As Calla leaves the duelling pits a large figure is sat on a bench outside, staring intently down at the back of a huge, round shield.
Still ablaze with her first full victory since a return to the pits, Calla suddenly remembers that she’s outside, in public, and that lighting the street with the blue flame of the weave is… improper. Immodest, at least. Her fingers curl, and illusory glasses find their perch on a more recognisable, less lambent, face.
She’s lost in thought and almost entirely past Keros before he recognises her.
“Calla Prim?” He queries as he looks up. “I heard I would find you here. It has… been a while.”
“Keros!” She almost stumbles mid stride, “It has. Are you well?”
Keros gets to his feet. He looks much like he did when they last met besides a few more battle scars, a very fresh looking tattoo of a vine with red leaves curling around his right bicep, and his Legion shield being replaced by one with a swirling pattern of words in many different languages on it. He looks tired.
“I think so. You look good for someone I was told had died.”
Calla's brow furrows,"You know, I feel good, but it's remarkable how often it's 'oh, Calla Prim, the woman who died', and how infrequently it's 'oh, Calla Prim, who snatched the heart out of the Mountain'. Especially given how private the first was, and how public the second". She huffs with the indignity of it.
"No matter. You look exhausted, can I help you?"
“That… is fair. If I made a sacrifice I would want people to focus on the cause. I was hoping I could ask you for some advice, but I would greatly enjoy hearing this story if you would tell me it?”
"You first, and then we can reminisce. Is this the kind of advice one seeks in the open or no?"
Keros gives a faint snort of a laugh, “Definitely private. Perhaps in an inn unless you have a better idea?”
"On this occasion, I do not".
Calla gestures for the minotaur to lead on.
Keros leads Calla to The Three Headed Dragon despite knowing that The Hung Rabbit is much closer and finds a booth, picking up drinks for them as he does so. He drains his tankard almost immediately upon sitting down.
He flips his shield up onto the table where it takes up most of it, revealing copious notes chalked on the inside.
"That's... novel"
Keros grins, “When you fight like I do you write notes on something likely to survive.” He takes a deep breath, “Do you know of The Thousand Words?”
"With a definite article: no".
“Well then I guess I need to start from the beginning.” He sighs, hoping he could have skipped some of this, “There is an organisation made up of beings who represent single word concepts. Retrieval, Solution, Annihilation… seemingly a thousand of them. They supposedly keep balance in the universe.” He flips the shield over to reveal the inscription, the words ‘Pactsworn and Oathbound’ repeated over and over in every conceivable language. “This shield belonged to my ancestor. The concept of Devotion. I became aware of this about a year ago. Are you with me so far?”
"Well this is just the Sky all over again," Calla puts fingers to the bridge of her nose, "Yes, I'm very much with you".
She waves Keros on.
"Please proceed".
Keros looks relieved that he doesn’t have to go through the hassle of proving that he’s not making this impossible story up as he goes along and continues, “So… the Words became aware of me when I obtained the shield. At first they thought I had stolen it and attempted to kill me for it, which did not work out for them. I have good friends. Then they came with an offer that I could awaken the spark of Devotion in me and the rest of my memories and self would be destroyed as I joined them. Alternatively I could resist and they would destroy not only every part of me but every life I have impacted with my own. I was going to take their offer.” He makes solid eye contact with Calla, “And you know full well why. But I was persuaded that there could be another way. A chance to fight them. And that is when Rae started researching with… the diary.”
"Ah...yes".
“Okay so that you do know about and that is good because this is the part I really do not understand at all.” He goes to take another drink, forgetting that he’s already finished his beer and considering getting another before he keeps going, “The diary changed them. They hid things from me. Became reclusive. They stopped caring about anything but their research. When the ‘Something Hungry’ thing happened I was scared for them, but at least it helped me get them out of their room. I tried to take action to fix things and it backfired. Badly. I guess you know about that because everyone else seems to.”
Calla nods, ruefully.
“So they were cursed. I know that now. And now they are cured? But not? Like I know what that even means, but I spoke to them yesterday and they intended to keep going and I have no idea what is Rae and what is that book and I trust them. I want to trust them, but… I made the mistake of thinking I could do this on my own before. I thought I could be enough. I was not. I need your help to understand what they are doing. I will not make that mistake again. Because yes, I know, I could just hand myself over to the Words and end this, but if this plan of theirs is going to hurt them and it is the book, not Rae, then all that happens next is they do it anyway and I am not there to even try and save them. Am I making any sense?”
"Unfortunately, yes".
Keros consults his notes at this point to make sure he’s not missing anything, “They said their plan was to find… a point where the ‘barrier between the Material and the Weave is thin’ whatever that means. They think there is somewhere in the Feythorn that is like this. That they could use it to draw enough power through to threaten Purpose and the others into submission. They said they would ‘tear a hole in the multiverse’ to save me.” Keros exhales deeply, “My instincts tell me that this is the kind of thing that ends with Rae dead or worse, but my instincts have been way off lately. What do you think?”
“Well, they seemed lucid when we talked recently. I impressed upon them the necessity of respecting the wishes of those we aim to help, and that seemed to land. And also I gave quite a compelling lecture as to why threatening such creatures in person is much less sensible than getting others to do your dirty work for you. So either you needn’t worry, or they’re so far gone that they refuse to listen to sense, delivered by the person best placed to give it?”
Calla sucks her teeth. “Honestly, you’ve had a lot more time with them than I have, and I’m not known for being an astute judge of character, but I’m inclined to think it’ll be okay?”
She laughs. Shrugs. Turns her hand to and fro.
“That or the Weave’s in imminent peril, which would be a bit of a problem given my recent vows, but I find it very hard to believe they’d be that much of an idiot”.
“Right?”
Keros takes this all in, “Thank you for the reassurance. Unless something has changed since the two of you spoke I should… relax a little.” He pauses on that thought and then looks back over his notes, “But the magic stuff… that is fine too? They got… weird when they talked about it. Not their usual ‘three hour explanation about chalk circles’ super smart adorable weird you know?” He finishes the sentence and breaks eye contact as he realises the over-share.
“No, I don’t think that’s fine, but I have given them a plan that’s very likely to resolve the issue. Whether they’ll follow it or not is, of course, up to them. I feel fairly certain that the Lady of Mysteries will take any cursed tome in tribute, if they want rid of it”.
She shrugs again.
“Certainly that’s a better option than stealing it from them. Although the thought has occurred”.
Calla looks at Keros properly, and sees just how much the Minotaur cares for Rae. Her lips tighten.
“I… if something truly terrible were to happen… I’m not. I’m not good at destructive magic. I’m an abjurer. If Rae needs to be stopped… it’s better that you do it. My intercession would likely be… final”.
There’s the faintest flicker of abyssal fire in Keros’ eyes as he reflexively controls his reaction to Calla’s implication and he moves his hand away from the now misshaped pewter tankard that it was resting on.
Calla shrugs. There’s no malice in her, just a sad and strategic assessment of the facts.
“It will not come to that.” Keros states firmly, his words preceded by a breath of smoke.
She sighs. It’s not a happy sound.
“I do not pray for much, but I pray you’re right”.
Calla locks eyes with him, and some fragment of Keros’ labyrinth-sense trills with danger. There’s a maze here. If the time comes, he’ll need to navigate it, and quickly.
Keros is on edge enough that his politeness dissipates. “What are you holding back?”
Calla is not a big woman and when she speaks, it’s quiet. No bluster, no bravado, not even the faintest attempt at intimidation. It’s… jarring, how much sad certainty she seems capable of.
“I do believe that this will be fine”
She looks down, studies her fingertips.
“If it isn’t, you need to fix it before I do. If I have to handle it alone, only ash will remain”.
“Fuck you.”
Keros stands up from the table abruptly and picks up his shield.
“If this is what magic does to people. Reduces others to ‘calculations’ and whatever, then I am glad to take no part in it.”
Calla looks up, and up, and up. Her expression isn’t fear, and although she’s angry it’s not at Keros. Not even at Rae. Just… the world. Her eyebrows go up, her eyes close, she shakes her head ruefully. It looks like… defeat.
She glances up at him again. Starts to say something and bites it back as he turns to leave. She can only mutter spent words to his back.
“Good luck, Keros Pactsworn. If I could wish for anything at all, it’s that the Dawnlands would always deserve your love, and never my contingencies”
Set shortly after the events of Leaves Off The Tree
As Calla leaves the duelling pits a large figure is sat on a bench outside, staring intently down at the back of a huge, round shield.
Still ablaze with her first full victory since a return to the pits, Calla suddenly remembers that she’s outside, in public, and that lighting the street with the blue flame of the weave is… improper. Immodest, at least. Her fingers curl, and illusory glasses find their perch on a more recognisable, less lambent, face.
She’s lost in thought and almost entirely past Keros before he recognises her.
“Calla Prim?” He queries as he looks up. “I heard I would find you here. It has… been a while.”
“Keros!” She almost stumbles mid stride, “It has. Are you well?”
Keros gets to his feet. He looks much like he did when they last met besides a few more battle scars, a very fresh looking tattoo of a vine with red leaves curling around his right bicep, and his Legion shield being replaced by one with a swirling pattern of words in many different languages on it. He looks tired.
“I think so. You look good for someone I was told had died.”
Calla's brow furrows,"You know, I feel good, but it's remarkable how often it's 'oh, Calla Prim, the woman who died', and how infrequently it's 'oh, Calla Prim, who snatched the heart out of the Mountain'. Especially given how private the first was, and how public the second". She huffs with the indignity of it.
"No matter. You look exhausted, can I help you?"
“That… is fair. If I made a sacrifice I would want people to focus on the cause. I was hoping I could ask you for some advice, but I would greatly enjoy hearing this story if you would tell me it?”
"You first, and then we can reminisce. Is this the kind of advice one seeks in the open or no?"
Keros gives a faint snort of a laugh, “Definitely private. Perhaps in an inn unless you have a better idea?”
"On this occasion, I do not".
Calla gestures for the minotaur to lead on.
Keros leads Calla to The Three Headed Dragon despite knowing that The Hung Rabbit is much closer and finds a booth, picking up drinks for them as he does so. He drains his tankard almost immediately upon sitting down.
He flips his shield up onto the table where it takes up most of it, revealing copious notes chalked on the inside.
"That's... novel"
Keros grins, “When you fight like I do you write notes on something likely to survive.” He takes a deep breath, “Do you know of The Thousand Words?”
"With a definite article: no".
“Well then I guess I need to start from the beginning.” He sighs, hoping he could have skipped some of this, “There is an organisation made up of beings who represent single word concepts. Retrieval, Solution, Annihilation… seemingly a thousand of them. They supposedly keep balance in the universe.” He flips the shield over to reveal the inscription, the words ‘Pactsworn and Oathbound’ repeated over and over in every conceivable language. “This shield belonged to my ancestor. The concept of Devotion. I became aware of this about a year ago. Are you with me so far?”
"Well this is just the Sky all over again," Calla puts fingers to the bridge of her nose, "Yes, I'm very much with you".
She waves Keros on.
"Please proceed".
Keros looks relieved that he doesn’t have to go through the hassle of proving that he’s not making this impossible story up as he goes along and continues, “So… the Words became aware of me when I obtained the shield. At first they thought I had stolen it and attempted to kill me for it, which did not work out for them. I have good friends. Then they came with an offer that I could awaken the spark of Devotion in me and the rest of my memories and self would be destroyed as I joined them. Alternatively I could resist and they would destroy not only every part of me but every life I have impacted with my own. I was going to take their offer.” He makes solid eye contact with Calla, “And you know full well why. But I was persuaded that there could be another way. A chance to fight them. And that is when Rae started researching with… the diary.”
"Ah...yes".
“Okay so that you do know about and that is good because this is the part I really do not understand at all.” He goes to take another drink, forgetting that he’s already finished his beer and considering getting another before he keeps going, “The diary changed them. They hid things from me. Became reclusive. They stopped caring about anything but their research. When the ‘Something Hungry’ thing happened I was scared for them, but at least it helped me get them out of their room. I tried to take action to fix things and it backfired. Badly. I guess you know about that because everyone else seems to.”
Calla nods, ruefully.
“So they were cursed. I know that now. And now they are cured? But not? Like I know what that even means, but I spoke to them yesterday and they intended to keep going and I have no idea what is Rae and what is that book and I trust them. I want to trust them, but… I made the mistake of thinking I could do this on my own before. I thought I could be enough. I was not. I need your help to understand what they are doing. I will not make that mistake again. Because yes, I know, I could just hand myself over to the Words and end this, but if this plan of theirs is going to hurt them and it is the book, not Rae, then all that happens next is they do it anyway and I am not there to even try and save them. Am I making any sense?”
"Unfortunately, yes".
Keros consults his notes at this point to make sure he’s not missing anything, “They said their plan was to find… a point where the ‘barrier between the Material and the Weave is thin’ whatever that means. They think there is somewhere in the Feythorn that is like this. That they could use it to draw enough power through to threaten Purpose and the others into submission. They said they would ‘tear a hole in the multiverse’ to save me.” Keros exhales deeply, “My instincts tell me that this is the kind of thing that ends with Rae dead or worse, but my instincts have been way off lately. What do you think?”
“Well, they seemed lucid when we talked recently. I impressed upon them the necessity of respecting the wishes of those we aim to help, and that seemed to land. And also I gave quite a compelling lecture as to why threatening such creatures in person is much less sensible than getting others to do your dirty work for you. So either you needn’t worry, or they’re so far gone that they refuse to listen to sense, delivered by the person best placed to give it?”
Calla sucks her teeth. “Honestly, you’ve had a lot more time with them than I have, and I’m not known for being an astute judge of character, but I’m inclined to think it’ll be okay?”
She laughs. Shrugs. Turns her hand to and fro.
“That or the Weave’s in imminent peril, which would be a bit of a problem given my recent vows, but I find it very hard to believe they’d be that much of an idiot”.
“Right?”
Keros takes this all in, “Thank you for the reassurance. Unless something has changed since the two of you spoke I should… relax a little.” He pauses on that thought and then looks back over his notes, “But the magic stuff… that is fine too? They got… weird when they talked about it. Not their usual ‘three hour explanation about chalk circles’ super smart adorable weird you know?” He finishes the sentence and breaks eye contact as he realises the over-share.
“No, I don’t think that’s fine, but I have given them a plan that’s very likely to resolve the issue. Whether they’ll follow it or not is, of course, up to them. I feel fairly certain that the Lady of Mysteries will take any cursed tome in tribute, if they want rid of it”.
She shrugs again.
“Certainly that’s a better option than stealing it from them. Although the thought has occurred”.
Calla looks at Keros properly, and sees just how much the Minotaur cares for Rae. Her lips tighten.
“I… if something truly terrible were to happen… I’m not. I’m not good at destructive magic. I’m an abjurer. If Rae needs to be stopped… it’s better that you do it. My intercession would likely be… final”.
There’s the faintest flicker of abyssal fire in Keros’ eyes as he reflexively controls his reaction to Calla’s implication and he moves his hand away from the now misshaped pewter tankard that it was resting on.
Calla shrugs. There’s no malice in her, just a sad and strategic assessment of the facts.
“It will not come to that.” Keros states firmly, his words preceded by a breath of smoke.
She sighs. It’s not a happy sound.
“I do not pray for much, but I pray you’re right”.
Calla locks eyes with him, and some fragment of Keros’ labyrinth-sense trills with danger. There’s a maze here. If the time comes, he’ll need to navigate it, and quickly.
Keros is on edge enough that his politeness dissipates. “What are you holding back?”
Calla is not a big woman and when she speaks, it’s quiet. No bluster, no bravado, not even the faintest attempt at intimidation. It’s… jarring, how much sad certainty she seems capable of.
“I do believe that this will be fine”
She looks down, studies her fingertips.
“If it isn’t, you need to fix it before I do. If I have to handle it alone, only ash will remain”.
“Fuck you.”
Keros stands up from the table abruptly and picks up his shield.
“If this is what magic does to people. Reduces others to ‘calculations’ and whatever, then I am glad to take no part in it.”
Calla looks up, and up, and up. Her expression isn’t fear, and although she’s angry it’s not at Keros. Not even at Rae. Just… the world. Her eyebrows go up, her eyes close, she shakes her head ruefully. It looks like… defeat.
She glances up at him again. Starts to say something and bites it back as he turns to leave. She can only mutter spent words to his back.
“Good luck, Keros Pactsworn. If I could wish for anything at all, it’s that the Dawnlands would always deserve your love, and never my contingencies”