[ 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. ]
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no subject
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. ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
…
[ 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… ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
…!
[ well, he seems determined anyway. ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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!