[ dextera has never gone camping intentionally before. each time he’s ended up in the wilderness has been mostly by accident, or it was temporary enough that overnight preparation wasn’t such a concern. ]
Um…
[ he picks up his sword. then puts it down. the valley is a place of peace. ]
[ dextera does, in fact, have clothes. none of them are very fashionable or flattering, but they’re practical for the price dextera has paid. he has a small sack he’s been keeping assorted items in, and so in go a few of his sturdiest belongings… and two pairs of underwear. he’s been moving up in the world.
he does also attach his sword to the strap over his shoulder, on his back, but he doesn’t expect he’ll need to use it. ]
…
[ he throws in a stale piece of bread for good measure, and turns to face dokja. ]
[ TWO.... You know what, that's better than one so we'll take those.
At this point, he doesn't even question the stale bread that gets in. Honestly, he's just happy it's not moldy. This is who Dextera is... and Dokja has to accept it sooner rather than later. ]
Great. [ Is it really? ] Let's head out.
[ Don't start regretting this already, Dokja... But he'll lead the way back out the door. ]
[ the stale bread makes sense to him, you see, and it will all be revealed when they actually reach the valley. he makes sure everything in his room is in order—and his rent has already been paid until the end of the month, as he’s made it clear to the owner that he’s a long-term tenant—so there’s no harm in just disappearing for a few days. ]
Mm.
[ he slings the bag over his shoulder and across his chest, and follows dokja out with his notebook in hand. at least until they’re out of the city, this is probably a better method. ]
[ And out they go! Dokja takes them down the streets of Godsblood into a entirely too sketchy area of the city. Is Dextera familiar with it? Because the first time Abel brought him here, Dokja thought someone was going to stab him and take his kidneys.
In fact, they're getting quite a few stares now from some of the more brazen-looking folk. Keep your belongings close, Dex... ]
It's around here somewhere.
[ ... Oh yeah, did anyone mention that Dokja is really bad at directions. ]
[ …right, dextera hadn’t considered the possibility that dokja’s sour reputation could extend to dextera just by association, and being down here in a part of town that dextera doesn’t often go to means that they’re both in trouble. it’s probably best for them to skedaddle as quickly as possible. ]
…
[ therefore, dokja’s mumbled comment doesn’t inspire much confidence. ]
Um…
[ dextera attempts to shuffle dokja on, seeking a landmark that can orient them both while they both scour their memory. ]
[ So. It was definitely in a building? The issue here being that there are lots of buildings...
Unlike the first time he'd been brought to this seedier part of the city, he doesn't pay attention to the glares of the onlookers. He's already on his way out, what's one more bit of trouble should it come to that? ]
Okay, I think it's this one.
[ Points to a random building... ]
Or the one right next to it. [ Sweats. ] We'll check them both out.
[ HEADS INTO THE FIRST ONE... It looks like a rundown tavern and upon entering, all eyes will turn to them. ]
[ dextera’s breath catches in his throat with such a small sound that, mercifully, likely only dokja can hear the squeak. his whole body, too, goes tense at the sudden observation—normally, he would just keep his head down and ignore it, but with the knowledge that dokja is sort of a persona non grata in godsblood right now, this could all go sour very quickly.
without looking away from the crowd staring at them, dextera slaps dokja’s arm. not this one. it can’t be this one. ]
[ Oh, yup. That smack on the arm really wasn't necessary because Dokja immediately realizes this is the wrong building. There wasn't anything like this when Abel had taken him to the portal...
With a bit of a nervous laugh that sounds more like a choke, Dokja quickly spins around, tugging Dextera along with him. ]
[ there’s a beer thrown at their heads on the way out, shattering above the doorframe and sprinkling them both in what dextera hopes is more beverage than broken glass. the door shuts behind them just in time for dextera to hear a muffled cheer. ]
…
[ he shakes some liquid out of his hair, just mildly distraught by how quickly he’s gotten dirty again after just taking a bath. he had been so clean…
but his sympathies do lie with dokja. if this is the kind of reception he’s getting on this side of town, it’s definitely better for him to get out and lay low for a while, at least until people forget the look of his face. dextera checks the next house over, and at least this one isn’t immediately teeming with hostility. ]
[ Beer and bits of glass in their hair... It could be worse? But oh man, Dokja's starting to have second thoughts about bringing Dextera along with him. He hurries into the next building which is a lot emptier and quieter than the previous one and a spark of recognition lights up Dokja's eyes. ]
This way.
[ A couple of glances go in their direction but no one stops them as they head toward a staircase leading to a basement. It's creepy and dark and there's no hint of a light down there. ]
Be careful with the stairs. They creak.
[ And he'll lead the way down, sliding his hand against the wall as he goes to help guide him. ]
he flicks away the smallest shard of glass he can find from his bangs, and then he slowly follows dokja down the stairs. the steps do make the cautious entry obvious to anyone listening in, but dextera has to believe they haven’t been followed—and if they have, it’s not like this portal is taking them anywhere secret. the valley of the innocent is the safest place they could go. ]
…
[ the last time he was on a set of stairs with dokja, it ended badly for the both of them… but, at least this time, there’s mercy had on them both and they manage to reach the bottom with no tripping, and finally, the portal is within distance. ]
[ Thank goodness no one fell to their death. These stairs are absolutely going to take someone out one day.
But with the portal coming into view, Dokja breathes a sigh of relief. He doesn't necessarily know what it takes to maintain it, but having a reminder of Abel is both relieving yet agonizing. Relieving because he forces himself to believe that it remains stable so as long as the priest is kept alive, and agonizing because he can't do anything about the situation. ]
Go on through. I'll follow.
[ He gestures to the portal. It'll lead to a thicket in the valley, somewhere safely hidden among the brush. ]
[ dextera nods. he’s not too accustomed to using the portals, but he’s used the one between godsblood and greentruth enough times now that he knows what to expect.
on the other side, the valley is as quiet and peaceful as it always is. even in the hidden thicket that welcomes them, there’s just a sense of peace that lays over the whole area—possibly the influence of the mythical unicorn, more likely the influence of the innocent that’s seemed to give them so much trouble. today, though, they’re not really here for the valley’s namesake.
he’s not entirely sure what they’re here for, but being alone with dokja does mean that he can get caught up on the private matters he seems to have missed. ]
…
[ he exhales and waves through the portal, as if he can signal to dokja that way that it’s safe. ]
[ Once Dextera is through and he gets the signal, Dokja steps into the portal as well. This is his second time using it and as soon as the sights of the valley greet him, he feels... refreshed. Rejuvenated. Like he hadn't just had strangers throw glass and alcohol at him only some minutes ago.
He's never really been the type to enjoy nature in the past, but he's starting to develop a healthy appreciation for the peace and quiet it offers. ]
If we go this way, there's a clearing by some water.
[ A good place to set up camp! It's... where he and Abel and spent some time as well, as depressing as the thought is now.
But he'll start to lead the way. And as he does, there's some rustling up above them in the trees. ]
[ dextera is always on guard for being attacked, even if his logical mind knows that no violence can be done—or at least, he assumes that’s how the valley’s magic works, and he has to hope that means they can’t be ambushed by any person or creature that might wish to do them harm as outsiders. ]
…
[ he slows to a stop under the rustling, and this time, instead of warning dokja, he just takes himself over to one of the trees. placing some of his supplies down, he puts his fingers against the bark and tries to find a place to grab onto.
Dokja pauses mid-step when Dextera trails off on his own. It's not like he hadn't heard the rustling, but he figures it's... well. They'll find out soon enough. ]
Wh... Are you trying to climb that tree?
[ He's not gonna watch Dextera fall off and careen to his death, is he. ]
[ dextera is having trouble getting his fingers under any cracks in the bark, and so he doesn’t immediately answer dokja in favor of trying to find some kind of purchase. only once he manages to grab on and pull himself up one step does he turn to look over his shoulder and nod. ]
[ Why does Dokja have such a bad feeling about this. His anxiety is spiking like crazy and he really considers grabbing Dextera to yank him back down. ]
Hey, if you fall, I'm not going to catch you.
[ He says LYINGLY... Because the dice has already spoken and there will be some very poor catching. ]
[ dextera is just trying to find the source of the rustling. he doesn’t even want to disturb it, he just wants to see it—the exact same behavior that got him in trouble with the soldiers in their first days in horos.
he manages to get one good foot up the tree, but one can only expect so much from someone who’s barely even seen a plant in his life. his next attempt at ascension causes him to lose grip on his old, ratty shoes, and since he’s got his weight over his shoulders instead of at his side or in front of him, he falls back with a yelp. ]
Even though Dokja had said he wouldn't catch Dextera, he's a stupid liar. So as soon as he sees the other man slip and start to fall, he makes a startled noise in the back of his throat and immediately extends his arms to try and catch Dextera.
Is it even that far of a drop...
Well, whatever. Land in these arms or don't. Either way, they'll end up both crashing to the ground, probably. ]
[ it isn’t that far of a drop, but it’s farther than dextera has ever fallen before—stairs aside—and there’s a very real danger that he’ll hurt himself if he’s unprepared. without the instinct to just adjust his fall and land on his feet, it really is a straight fall backwards…
luckily, right into dokja’s waiting arms, except the dead weight of dextera’s body makes him a hard target to catch properly and it’s more like he just falls back onto dokja as if pushed. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Mmm…
[ he considers it again when dokja tries to re-confirm, but ultimately, he offers a nod. ]
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Alright, then. There's a portal set up not too far from here we can use to get to the valley.
[ They Are Really Doing This, huh. ]
I guess we can start with packing what you need for the trip?
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Um…
[ he picks up his sword. then puts it down. the valley is a place of peace. ]
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Why don't you start with clothes?
[ And bring more than one pair of underwear, please. ]
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he does also attach his sword to the strap over his shoulder, on his back, but he doesn’t expect he’ll need to use it. ]
…
[ he throws in a stale piece of bread for good measure, and turns to face dokja. ]
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At this point, he doesn't even question the stale bread that gets in. Honestly, he's just happy it's not moldy. This is who Dextera is... and Dokja has to accept it sooner rather than later. ]
Great. [ Is it really? ] Let's head out.
[ Don't start regretting this already, Dokja... But he'll lead the way back out the door. ]
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Mm.
[ he slings the bag over his shoulder and across his chest, and follows dokja out with his notebook in hand. at least until they’re out of the city, this is probably a better method. ]
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In fact, they're getting quite a few stares now from some of the more brazen-looking folk. Keep your belongings close, Dex... ]
It's around here somewhere.
[ ... Oh yeah, did anyone mention that Dokja is really bad at directions. ]
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…
[ therefore, dokja’s mumbled comment doesn’t inspire much confidence. ]
Um…
[ dextera attempts to shuffle dokja on, seeking a landmark that can orient them both while they both scour their memory. ]
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Unlike the first time he'd been brought to this seedier part of the city, he doesn't pay attention to the glares of the onlookers. He's already on his way out, what's one more bit of trouble should it come to that? ]
Okay, I think it's this one.
[ Points to a random building... ]
Or the one right next to it. [ Sweats. ] We'll check them both out.
[ HEADS INTO THE FIRST ONE... It looks like a rundown tavern and upon entering, all eyes will turn to them. ]
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[ dextera’s breath catches in his throat with such a small sound that, mercifully, likely only dokja can hear the squeak. his whole body, too, goes tense at the sudden observation—normally, he would just keep his head down and ignore it, but with the knowledge that dokja is sort of a persona non grata in godsblood right now, this could all go sour very quickly.
without looking away from the crowd staring at them, dextera slaps dokja’s arm. not this one. it can’t be this one. ]
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With a bit of a nervous laugh that sounds more like a choke, Dokja quickly spins around, tugging Dextera along with him. ]
It'll definitely be the next one.
[ PLEASE be the next one. ]
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…
[ he shakes some liquid out of his hair, just mildly distraught by how quickly he’s gotten dirty again after just taking a bath. he had been so clean…
but his sympathies do lie with dokja. if this is the kind of reception he’s getting on this side of town, it’s definitely better for him to get out and lay low for a while, at least until people forget the look of his face. dextera checks the next house over, and at least this one isn’t immediately teeming with hostility. ]
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This way.
[ A couple of glances go in their direction but no one stops them as they head toward a staircase leading to a basement. It's creepy and dark and there's no hint of a light down there. ]
Be careful with the stairs. They creak.
[ And he'll lead the way down, sliding his hand against the wall as he goes to help guide him. ]
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he flicks away the smallest shard of glass he can find from his bangs, and then he slowly follows dokja down the stairs. the steps do make the cautious entry obvious to anyone listening in, but dextera has to believe they haven’t been followed—and if they have, it’s not like this portal is taking them anywhere secret. the valley of the innocent is the safest place they could go. ]
…
[ the last time he was on a set of stairs with dokja, it ended badly for the both of them… but, at least this time, there’s mercy had on them both and they manage to reach the bottom with no tripping, and finally, the portal is within distance. ]
Ah…
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But with the portal coming into view, Dokja breathes a sigh of relief. He doesn't necessarily know what it takes to maintain it, but having a reminder of Abel is both relieving yet agonizing. Relieving because he forces himself to believe that it remains stable so as long as the priest is kept alive, and agonizing because he can't do anything about the situation. ]
Go on through. I'll follow.
[ He gestures to the portal. It'll lead to a thicket in the valley, somewhere safely hidden among the brush. ]
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on the other side, the valley is as quiet and peaceful as it always is. even in the hidden thicket that welcomes them, there’s just a sense of peace that lays over the whole area—possibly the influence of the mythical unicorn, more likely the influence of the innocent that’s seemed to give them so much trouble. today, though, they’re not really here for the valley’s namesake.
he’s not entirely sure what they’re here for, but being alone with dokja does mean that he can get caught up on the private matters he seems to have missed. ]
…
[ he exhales and waves through the portal, as if he can signal to dokja that way that it’s safe. ]
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He's never really been the type to enjoy nature in the past, but he's starting to develop a healthy appreciation for the peace and quiet it offers. ]
If we go this way, there's a clearing by some water.
[ A good place to set up camp! It's... where he and Abel and spent some time as well, as depressing as the thought is now.
But he'll start to lead the way. And as he does, there's some rustling up above them in the trees. ]
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…
[ he slows to a stop under the rustling, and this time, instead of warning dokja, he just takes himself over to one of the trees. placing some of his supplies down, he puts his fingers against the bark and tries to find a place to grab onto.
he just… wants to check… ]
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Dokja pauses mid-step when Dextera trails off on his own. It's not like he hadn't heard the rustling, but he figures it's... well. They'll find out soon enough. ]
Wh... Are you trying to climb that tree?
[ He's not gonna watch Dextera fall off and careen to his death, is he. ]
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…!
[ well, he seems determined anyway. ]
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Hey, if you fall, I'm not going to catch you.
[ He says LYINGLY... Because the dice has already spoken and there will be some very poor catching. ]
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he manages to get one good foot up the tree, but one can only expect so much from someone who’s barely even seen a plant in his life. his next attempt at ascension causes him to lose grip on his old, ratty shoes, and since he’s got his weight over his shoulders instead of at his side or in front of him, he falls back with a yelp. ]
Augh?!
[ whatever was in the trees scampers off. ]
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Even though Dokja had said he wouldn't catch Dextera, he's a stupid liar. So as soon as he sees the other man slip and start to fall, he makes a startled noise in the back of his throat and immediately extends his arms to try and catch Dextera.
Is it even that far of a drop...
Well, whatever. Land in these arms or don't. Either way, they'll end up both crashing to the ground, probably. ]
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luckily, right into dokja’s waiting arms, except the dead weight of dextera’s body makes him a hard target to catch properly and it’s more like he just falls back onto dokja as if pushed. ]
Ngh!