abraxaslogs | [ OPEN ] split tomorrow from today

Well, maybe that was your sign to bring the hat.

[ He's unconcerned about the hat complaint, because: Hilda insisting on things happening? That's deeply familiar since of course since it was those helpful suggestions ("suggestions") from Hilda that made sure he occasionally got sleep, remembered to eat something, any number of basic tasks besides obsessing over maps and strategies every waking hour. They're useful, just as his entirely unsubtle remark about burn care was meant to be.

But more importantly, when Sylvain's mention of how long he's been here in the desert clicks it derails the rest of Claude's thought process because that means he has to think about how long he's been here, and - it's much longer than he realized. Huh. That is... a lot of moons. ]

Hm, I'll consider it. There's also plenty of plants out there just as likely to cause rashes as I might've learned the hard way, so keep that in mind. [ Is he serious? Who knows! ] Just don't go wandering off into any unknown shrubs while we look for this scorpion nest. It shouldn't be too much farther out.

[ He just makes a face at Claude because you are not allowed to gang up on him with Hilda. That's his job. ]

These aren't more ravine-sized monsters, are they? Because I am fresh out of sandworms. Although I doubt they would have sent us out here just for normal scorpions, either...

] A pause, as he glances over at Claude with a puzzled expression on his face. ] Do you know how to fight scorpions? Because those things definitely aren't native to Faerghus.

No, but the ones here are a lot bigger than the average scorpion. Nightmare material, honestly.

[ Claude says this distractedly, mostly because he's peering at a different flowering plant trying to place it in the growing mental encyclopedia he's building of what's out here, and so that slips out before he really processes what his answer ends up being. Figuring that out is timed right with the all important question about scorpion battle, and. Whoops. With a shrug he glances Sylvain's way for some good old misdirection. ]

We saw a few scuttling around on the supply run minding their own business at the time, and seems like the ones in Cadens grow bigger than those closer to Solvunn. [ Yes, this is his brilliant story as he points to Sylvain's lance next with a grin. ] And that will make it a lot easier to fight them than me shooting them with a million arrows. Don't get stung by them though since we'll get some bonus payment by selling the stingers if we can bring them back in one piece.

Great. Just what I needed in my life. More nightmare material.

[ His voice is completely deadpan as he replies to that, then he just looks amused as Claude reveals his 'brilliant' plan. ]

So what I'm hearing is, I don't actually need you for this task at all. [ He's smirking a little at that. ] Do they need the scorpion intact or just the stingers? Because those are two very different things. Especially if you're sending me up close and personal to stab the things.

[ The mention of more nightmares gets a slightly forced second grin from him, since: they definitely don't need more nightmares. He'd like to avoid those totally if possible since the last... however long's provided more than enough sources for potential ones. However, the scorpion explanation isn't about to not provide Sylvain with the same. ]

I've only been bringing back the stingers. These scorpions are like the size of the monastery cats so if you want to bring them back whole, you're on your own for carrying them all. [ Matter-of-fact, because a stack of oversized bugs isn't something Claude plans to ever pick up. ] At least they'll be easier for you to stab without worry.

[ A bright side! There's a small rock formation a little ways away yet which seems like a good starting point to begin the search properly, so with a nod in that direction Claude changes paths (slightly) towards it. ]

Careful what you wish for though since I've heard the sand worms exist out here too and they weren't just hanging around the ravine out of convenience. The soldiers told me they like to also hang around in groups. They're faster than the scorpions, but hopefully we don't run into them or I think we'll be wishing we brought horses with even if it won't be that long of a trip.

Right. Definitely nightmare fuel. [ Who decided to let scorpions, of all things, grow that big??? ] Fine, but if I get stung, I'm going to be a pain in your ass for the next... indefinite amount of time.

[ Following Claude seems to be the wisest thing to do at the moment, especially since he has far more experience out here than Sylvain does. Although he's already eyeing that rock formation suspiciously. And then starts casting that suspicious look towards the desert itself, when Claude goes on to talk about sand worms. ]

Have I mentioned how much I hate the desert? Who in their right mind would voluntarily live out here?

[ There's probably a plant out here to mitigate stings. Hopefully. Somewhere in his bag is a recipe he'd written down from Nadine's notes if things get dire and somehow healing magic doesn't work, but he's wisely going to keep this to himself. However, the disdain for the desert gets a loud laugh from Claude. ]

Oh, don't be so dramatic. Just because it's not covered in a league of snow at any given time doesn't make it awful! I'll take this over freezing to death all because I dared step outside or the potential to by mauled by -- [ it's now that Claude discovers he doesn't really know if Faerghus has animals in that cold climate the Alliance doesn't, so here's a quick wave of his hand as if that'll specify it past - ] wildlife. Unless you're just bitter you didn't bring the hat after all? Let me fill in for Hilda in that case: I told you so.

[ Just to prepare Sylvain for the unmerciful teasing that'll go his way if Hilda hears about this. He has more to add, because of course he does, but there's other topics more important than giving the other grief - even if the segue to them includes much of the same. ]

Maybe if you get extra burnt then we'll garner some extra goodwill throughout Cadens for risking our well-being out here, or something.

The irony of you, of all people, calling me dramatic.

[ Still, he grins, because making Claude like that is something that makes the conversation totally worth it all the same. ]

At least in the cold, you can put on more layers to warm up. Out here? Good luck. You can only take off so much. And that doesn't actually help any. Just gives you sunburn in way more uncomfortable places.

[ His suggestion about extra goodwill just gets a snort from Sylvain, however. And then he's smirking at Claude as he swings his lance down off his back and readies it to go prod at a bunch of hopefully-scorpion-infested rocks. ]

I think I'd rather you just offer to kiss it better.

Please, I'm hardly dramatic just because I like to keep things interesting. Think of how bored you'd be if I didn't.

[ Or other such excuses for what is wholeheartedly a flair for drama and in the name of keeping things interesting. Like now since it conveniently doubles for that too with Sylvain's explanation of the reasons cold is preferable to the desert and though he solidly disagrees with that, it gets a short laugh from him all the same. ]

And what exactly am I supposed to kiss considering you just said taking off layers is pointless? Sounds a lot like there's gonna be a whole lot of nothing since that's the same logic about being in the cold with clothes in the way.

[ With one more grin for good measure as he retrieves the bow from his back and an arrow to nock it. Easy enough to line up the shot while still walking and send it into a crevice between a couple rocks just to see what will happen. At first nothing does, but then? Suddenly the rocks are teeming with more scorpions than Claude imagined could appear and that previous conversation can wait. ]

You're creative. I'm sure you'll think of an inventive solution.

[ He might have teased him more, only Claude interrupts the conversation by shooting the pile of rocks before Sylvain can reach it to inspect for himself. Not that it would have done him any good. Because suddenly there's cat-sized scorpions everywhere, spilling out of the rocks like some horrific tide and Sylvain just barely manages to bite back a very unmanly yelp as he leaps backwards out of the way.

And then stares in horror at what Claude has unleashed. ]

Okay. I officially hate you just as much as the desert.

[ Hissing out a curse, he dances away from an approaching scorpion with stinger raised and starts stabbing down at any of the freakishly large creatures as soon as they come within range of his spear. Although it takes him a few tries to get the strength of the jab right to be able to penetrate and also to find a reliable vulnerable spot. ]

That's very rude, you know!

[ Is what's called out to Sylvain like he's taken serious offense to this. Or more accurately, it'd sound that way if Claude wasn't too busy laughing both over the reaction and the sheer horrible luck of this many scorpions. Sure, there'd been the expectation of some nebulous idea of 'lots' as an amount meant what with being told to go take out a nest menacing a farmer's land, but this?

Sylvain has a point about it being terrible.

Now's not the time to continue kidding around. Based on how even Sylvain's lance seems to struggle with piercing the shells of their targets, Claude moves closer - not without dodging one scorpion willing to take its own shot by opting to jump over it - and sticks to close range shots with more force behind them. But the arrows clink off the scorpions more than they strike true so with a creative swear of his own he swaps the bow for the collapsible sword stashed in his sash and takes a swipe at the next scorpion attacking his boots with a vengeance, almost as if it doesn't appreciate being stabbed for some reason. ]

I'm sure I'll care about that once you stop trying to get me killed!

[ The retort is more exasperated than anything as Sylvain dances out of the way of another raised stinger. Although a slash of his spear manages to dismember it before it can sting him, because he can only imagine how badly that would hurt. Another jab impales the thing and it give a skittering rattle before going limp.

Of course, that means it's stuck there and he has to use the next one swarming towards him to try and scrape it off, pushing it back in the process. And there's still at least a dozen left. He groans, already leaping for the next one. ]

I think you should have brought something a little bigger than a sword.

Dramatic.

[ On all counts, and that's said in what's not exactly a stage whisper given that'd be far too quiet for its intended recipient to hear it and he wants to make sure it carries over the sounds of the minor clash. Claude's still unconcerned since the sword is doing considerably more damage than the bow was and makes him feel slightly more in control of their offensive. ]

Offering to buy me an axe instead, are you? That's very--

[ Whatever teasing was about to come out of his mouth gets cut short since Claude's about to pay for it: though running his mouth in tandem with something else isn't often a problem, it's that he'd paused to shoot an obnoxious grin Sylvain's direct which means one ballsy scorpion sneaks up on him. The break in that thought comes from a stinger finding purchase in his leg and cuts him off with a wince and a sharp inhale as he looks down to confirm that yes, that was indeed him getting stung right above where his boot ends, because of course that's his luck.

No time to deal with it now beyond ending that scorpion and yanking the stinger out to drop onto the ground. It's not the worst injury he's ever suffered, and maybe that poison immunity he built up will come in handy here and ward off whatever the poison will do until he can rummage through his bag for something to help. ]

In case you were wondering, I don't recommend getting stabbed by one of these. [ Now Claude's just annoyed as he swipes another one and eyes how many are left to weigh their chances against that extra pay compared to potential wounds. ] You wouldn't happen to know any fire magic to knock out about half of them, would you?

[ See also: regret he hadn't taken Lorenz up on those lessons. ]

Warranted!

[ Sylvain just hisses the word back in between sharp jabs and one well-aimed kick when one of the scuttling creatures got too close. Goddess, they even move creepy.

But then Claude breaks off mid-sentence and he risks an alarmed glance back over his shoulder in the other man's direction, only to see what he'd been afraid of had come to pass. Dammit, Claude. ]

Just how poisonous are these things?

[ He should have probably asked that before Claude had a chance to disturb that innocuous pile of rocks, but here they are.

The question gets a pause from him, however, although that might be because he's too preoccupied murdering to answer right away. ] I don't know. I haven't actually tried channelling any crest magic into my weapon since I got here. Have you? Is it even possible? Although I have no idea how this one would even hold up to that, the last thing we need is me melting my spear in the middle of all this.

[ He does know more than just Ruined Sky, however, even though he was hardly as adept at it as some others. But this counted as an emergency, right? Hissing out a curse under his breath, he dances back several spaces to give himself some room to work - there was a reason he normally never mixed magic into his fighting style. He's far too used to being too up close and personal to bother. But it gives him the needed seconds to call on the more powerful of the black magics he knows, casting Bolganone directly into the center of swarming scorpions. He hopes, with luck, that if the fire aspect doesn't get them, the fissure that opens up under them might. ]

Head's up!

Beats me.

[ He's back to nonchalance about any potential danger, if only because 1) Claude has a feeling that particular answer isn't going to reassure Sylvain and 2) he's invested in pretending like he's unconcerned about the possibility because he has a feeling anything otherwise isn't going to go over well. Not that the glance he'd caught was reassuring the latter isn't happening already, so he's just not going to mention there's a mild but unpleasant tingling sensation starting to radiate from the puncture.

Still - not on his list of things to deal with immediately. It's his turn to kick a scorpion out off to one side to deal with in a second since he doesn't quite follow Sylvain's answer and where it involves Crests thanks to their collective distractions. ]

No, I didn't mean risking your weapon right now. I meant more of--

[ Claude doesn't get to finish that thought either before Sylvain calls out, and now it's his turn to glance in the other man's direction. There's a familiar glow he recognizes from Leonie's own magic and he immediately puts dexterity to work to dodge a couple feet away from whatever's incoming. That turns out to be a good choice when the ground shifts beneath them and cracks open where it was targeted and the fire he'd hoped for appears. It'll have to be effective, won't it?

Better to make sure it is so he extends a hand to cast Cutting Gale, sending a blade of wind to shove another portion of the scorpions towards it and to fan the flames. For good measure, even if it kicks up dust from the sand around them in the process. ]

[ Sylvain has to lift an arm to shield his eyes from the flying sands for a moment but fortunately Claude's wind spell knocked the scorpions back from his immediate vicinity. There's the hissing pop and crackle of flames as he keeps his distance and he peers from behind his arm to see their combined magics have managed to take care of roughly half the remaining scorpions.

That's better odds. He can work with this. ]

Thanks. [ A whirl of his spear has two more biting the dust (literally) in quick succession. ] Do you need to sit down? Isn't there something about not moving around? Or am I thinking of something else?

I've survived worse, Sylvain. I'll be fine. Besides, imagine how boring of a cause of death 'stabbed by a scorpion' would be when it's not even a horse-sized one to make it worthwhile, so I'm definitely not claiming that as my own.

[ Time to joke, of course, mostly because that's better than focusing on what 'worse' might consist of or any further mentions of death what with that whole war thing Claude's content to go right back to ignoring. Some of it might also be due to giddiness from the magic actually working to take out their angry bug friends who were just enjoying their scorpion lives before they showed up. Even if he has to stop to sneeze thanks to the sand before going right back to scorpion-wrangling, it was still well worth it. ]

Besides, it's a little late for the not moving part considering these guys won't leave us alone. I'll take my chances, mostly because I'm also counting on your healing magic if it's a bad gamble.

[ This is his idea of reassuring. Enjoy, Sylvain. ]

I swear to the goddess, Riegan, if you just jinxed us by summoning a horse-sized scorpion, I'm going to stab you myself. Murdered by me isn't going to get you much more renown, you know.

[ The words are huffed as he kicks away a half-charred scorpion that is somehow still moving - creepily so, they shouldn't be allowed to do that. He lops off its stinger in the process because at least that makes it slightly less threatening. ]

And who's to say my healing magic isn't the bad gamble? Do I look like Mercy to you?

[ Even if he did learn what little he knows from her.

Also, that is not in the least bit reassuring, Claude. At all. ]

[ Claude's sure there's a genuine threat in there somewhere beneath Sylvain's grumbling, but all it gets is a loud laugh from him since he's not bothered by this potential danger looming over them, because - ]

I'm pretty sure you just cursed us by speaking that aloud. There's power in words, or so they say, so if that happens? That was all you, Gautier.

[ He's still going to cast a quick glance back over his shoulder to confirm there's no scorpion of farm animal proportions scuttling towards them. Just for good measure. But the mention of Mercedes makes his smile slip ever so slightly since it doesn't take much to recall the woman in question or all of her kind ministrations. Claude doesn't let himself think any farther than that in favor of cutting through one of the few scorpions still alive - hopefully - with a shake of his head. ]

Because I'm also willing to gamble that if you didn't know decent healing magic, you would've said as much on our way out here.

[ He means to continue needling Sylvain all in good fun since there's no actual danger here in his mind. But when he turns to look there's one (cat-sized) scorpion ready to strike the man in question in what almost looks to be a surprise attack, and Claude's already scrambling for his bow in case there's enough time to fire off an arrow before it strikes. ]

Behind you!

Define “decent”.

[ He ignores that first part because it was totally you who’d brought that up, Claude, and therefore the blame still rests solely on your shoulders.

But that warning has him spinning in alarm, half-expecting the large beast in question to be lurking just behind him. It’s not, it’s just another smaller (but still far too big) scorpion just coming within range, it’s stinger raised threateningly.

Letting out a curse, because he’s off-balance and his spear range is off from having just stabbed another one from the other direction, he does the only thing he can at this range - spins the spear a half-turn in his hand and brings the blunt end smashing down right in the middle of the thing’s body.

It doesn’t kill it, but it does pin it in place and that stinger ineffectively strikes at the lance’s shaft instead of his leg as he keeps it trapped there. ]

Thanks. Care to give me a hand here? [ He does not want to let this thing loose again, it looks really pissed at him. ]

[ Hold that thought on what's decent or not: it takes a bit of haphazard shuffling but Claude intentionally drops the sword to worry about it in a second and to free up his hands to fire an arrow with no hesitation. It might possibly cut rather close to Sylvain's leg on its way there, but fortunately it finds a home only in the scorpion's body where he'd intended it to go. That's the end of that scorpion. ]

Don't worry, I'm here to be the knight in shining armor for the knight himself.

[ What else is there to do but joke at this point? Because after Claude shoots Sylvain a purposefully annoying grin, he stops to peer around their surroundings. There's a swath of veritable scorpion carnage around them between ones they'd stabbed and that the brief fire had scorched. No longer constantly being on the move means when he goes to take a step it comes with a slight wince since now he's very aware of his souvenir wound. Just annoying more than anything else, so it doesn't stop him from wandering over to where Sylvain is to continue surveying the aftermath. ]

Well. I think we're the decisive winners today, unless that horse-sized one really is showing up next.

I hate you.

[ The retort is stated with more exasperation than any actual heat. And Claude knows him well enough by now to know that he's lying through his teeth anyway.

His gaze searches their surroundings but there's no more movement from what he can see, and well over a dozen scorpion corpses now littering the ground between them. Well. At least that will make for a nice bounty to return, especially if they can salvage all the stingers.

But the immediate threat dealt with, he turns to fix Claude with a stern look. ]

Sit your ass down so I can look at where you got stung.

[ The nearest scorpion gets nudged with the toe of his boot, just as a cautious check to make sure it's really dead. It is considering the fire damaged this one rather well and its shell crumbles a bit, which convinces Claude to stop poking at them to ensure there's enough for them to return.

What's less a suggestion than a not so thinly veiled command, however, earns Sylvain a flat look in return for the scolding one he gets himself. Even if he takes no actual offense to either, of course he won't comply right away with other things to be done. ]

I said I was the knight here, not a damsel in distress. I'd rather organize these guys first and then we can take a break. Better to do it now before it warms up any further.

[ Whether the temperature will actually rise today or not, Claude's more than willing to play upon any Faerghan distress over weather not suited for a tundra as motivation. Besides, there's a tree nearby - even if it's a sad and sparse one - they can sit under in a bit, so with that in mind? Time to retrieve his gloves to put them on to avoid touching any scorpion stingers accidentally while piling them up. ]

[ Why must everyone around him always be so difficult about everything when they inadvertently get holes poked in them? Claude seems to be in the same vein as Dimitri, Felix, and Ingrid in being a terrible patient and Sylvain doesn't have even half of Mercy's patience for it.

Which is why he drops his lance to the sand so he can have both hands free... and then he turns to heft Claude unceremoniously over one shoulder to cart him over to the shade of that nearby tree. ]

Sure thing, Sir Claude, but you forget you're here with a fellow knight and not a healer. So the sooner I can get this treated means the less the poison or whatever it is has time to spread. Meaning less time and magical energy I have to spend healing you. Because still not a healer, so that's definitely not as much as it could be. We could wait, sure, and then your wound would be worse and I wouldn't be able to heal all of it, so you'd have to limp back to Cadens toting all the scorpion carcasses and my unconscious drained ass.

[ Distracted as he is by ignoring Sylvain's supposed request to continue doing exactly what it is he plans to be doing, Claude doesn't notice Sylvain's approach. When he does, there's a half step he takes away like it'll help him escape his impending fate. It certainly doesn't, so there's nothing to do but let out a startled yelp when he's suddenly hoisted into the air. ]

You have got to be kidding me-- [ That attempt at a protest is drowned out by the lecture he gets for being stubborn. It's not long before Claude rolls his eyes rather soundly, even if Sylvain can't see it and the effect is completely lost. Probably for the best or he might be rightfully called dramatic again, but he'll have to settle for using words for that. ]

If you sounded a lot crankier and were like a foot shorter, this would almost feel like being bullied into something by Lysithea. You've got a long way to go to catch up to her though since she's seen worse injuries on me than whatever the scorpion did considering I don't think my leg's in danger of falling off, or whatever it is you're imagining. This hurts a lot less than getting getting hit with magic.

[ And, rather pettily, for good measure: ] You could at least act like I weigh something.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject