Day 1: Evening

Evening: 5:00pm - Midnight

[ IRL Timeframe: March 11th - March 18th, 2019 ]

The first day has come to a close, the only things left to do are get some food and get some rest. Fortunately the residents of Bamborough are hosting a party to congratulate the heroes on their first victory, unfortunately it's running for several hours this evening. There's only so much time for sleep. What kind of balance will your hero try to strike?

Unfortunately for everyone, the evil-allured knights will be treated to a rude wake-up surprise when they finally go to sleep. No matter when they finally set their head down to rest, they all wake up at the same time, in the same place. Only the evil-allured knights will have access to this post, click to see if you've been chosen.

The good-allured knights, meanwhile, are free of a visit tonight with the Princess and the Protector. The two of them, however, are due to have a chat. Questions have to be answered, after all! He's dressed in his usual attire:

He's the same height as Luka with dark skin and vivid blue eyes that match the color of the sky. He has wicked winged white eyeliner to accent his eyes and curly black hair with white tips piled on top of his head, it's a wonder how it stays up there. Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, he's wearing a pajama robe that looks either blue or silver depending how it's touched or how it moves. Most importantly is that he's got brass knuckles on both his hands, like he's ready to fight. But he's not here to fight, he's here to give a whisper about what comes next.

First Night Event: Bamborough: Everyone invited.

The Weather
Starry Night.
64°F / 18°C
Quite breezy, all the trees are rustling.

Prompts:

Bamborough Party: To celebrate the defeat of the first monster, a full banquet is being held near the beach in Bamborough. Unlimited food, unlimited drinks, and most importantly of all was a small stockpile of blankets, sheets, pillows, and toiletries to offer any knight who might've forgotten something on the way out here. Naturally, every item is sponsored.

You're all over Social Media!: Videos were successfully taken of all twelve knights and the princess during the first battle, and now the world is abuzz about what happened! What are they saying about your hero? How did they even get this footage? Or worst of all, how bad are they dissing your camera skills for those that recorded themselves?

A late night walk: The first day is over, the first monster is dead. How's your character holding up? Do they seek out support from a fellow hero? Do they spend it alone? What kind of night are they having now that it's all real?

A late night meal: Anyone leaving the Bamborough party late enough will be able to spot that a local late night ramen shop is open for business. If your hero hasn't quite eaten enough, they can drop by for a bite. But be warned, a certain sleepy villain is getting a bite to eat herself. Care to share a ramen bar meal with the enemy?

Procedure:

Reply to the appropriate toplevel comments for events below. Indicate if a post is a private conversation with "Private" in the subject otherwise all threads should be open to interaction with others. Plan OOCly how you'd like to toss everyone around.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Gyre's compassionate about that entire fiasco, to phrase it gently, and it makes Garrot smile through the downtrodden mood. Not even just a smile, there's an affirmative little nod! And the doctor doesn't leave, even as he starts to fidget sheepishly until he's facing Gyre again.

"I thought you wanted to hit me because you hit that rock and we were both yelling, but I'm glad I was wrong." He looks down at the ground. Garrot kinda feels like an ass for assuming that, but what else is new? "I just... I want to make sure we're good. That's why I came out here, to make sure we can work together." But then he looks up, and he's got an awkward little smile.

"You wanna just bury the hatchet, start over, and try being friends?" The doctor lets out some noise between a chuckle and a scoff. "I mean, it's better than walking away angry or yelling at each other, right?" And the ball's in Gyre's court.

This guy. He really does just want a hug. Gyre can feel his mouth twisting a little as Garrot starts speaking, bracing himself for what he's sure is going to be a rant about how he needs to apologize or something again. But it's not that at all. He ends up sighing softly, reaching up to rub awkwardly at his neck.

"Of course we can work together. I want everyone to live just as much as you do." He smiles cautiously back at him, tilting his head and... And his face goes blank all at once. Why would you bury a hatchet, Garrot? Hatchets are hard to make and incredibly useful. He glances off to the side, combing through his memory for when he's heard it used before. He hasn't.

Has he? No, he doesn't think so. "Uh..." he murmurs after a moment, shrugging almost anxiously. "Is the hatchet a grudge...?" What's the metaphor here, Garrot, please.

Garrot was tempted to start cheering when it seemed like they were on the same page, agreeing. And then Gyre just... paused? The doctor was concerned that the tea was having an adverse effect or two, but then. It's worse! Another cultural barrier: idioms!

"Oh, uh...!" Now Garrot's the one rubbing at his neck. "Why do they bury it?" He blinks a few times, finding no reasonable answer to his question. And then he shrugs. "It's like how people say water under the bridge or let bygones be bygones." And then he pauses again, blinking a few times because what if Gyre doesn't get those either?

"People say it when they wanna leave a problem in the past and move on." And then he nods confidently, because he knows that's right! Probably. Today has been full of many surprises, so.

"Oh. Yeah, I've heard the bygone one," he murmurs, staring upwards for a few beats. Language is weird. Idioms are weird, but at least he can categorize this one away for now.
After a moment though, he turns his gaze back to Garrot, glancing up and down his body. Trying to take him in as if for the first time.

"That's fine with me, but..." He sighs faintly, sounding cautious and almost defeated, "If you have advice for me, can you just say it in the future? I don't need to be warned about how dangerous things are. I've been in plenty of fights before." Please talk to him like a person and not a project. This is all he asks.

"Y-yeah, sorry, I..." He looks away, but decides he's tired of running and demurring when not being open about their emotions was what got them into this problem! So he looks back at Gyre, less like a kicked puppy and more just... uncomfortable.

"I've been stressed since this morning." He fidgets in place. You're not his therapist or his family, it's weird talking to you about this, Gyre! "Being a Knight is bringing up a lot of... a lot of difficult memories." Garrot thought he was past the death of his father, but this hit a lot closer to home than he'd anticipated. He looks sad, more defeated than Gyre sounded. But there's a glimmer of hope!

"Talking about bad stuff has helped me, so i-if you ever wanna talk about the past or those fights or anything else," Garrot looks around awkwardly, realizing that he's back to trying to help someone who says they don't need and it might be him shooting himself in the foot after all this work but he wants say something about it, so... "I'd listen if you'd let me." And then he opens his arms for a hug, because yeah, Inner-Monologue-Clone-Garrot was right, he kinda did need a hug right now.

Lord, Garrot. He wasn't really asking for an explanation. He just wanted Garrot to understand his perspective a little, but the news that Garrot is dealing with his grief and it's stressing him out is not surprising in the least. Gyre nods immediately, holding his hands up as if to reassure him or calm him.

"I understand. Grief can be," he pauses and waves a hand as if to indicate something bigger then them, "it has a habit of sneaking up on you." He gives this knowing shrug, glancing away as he registers that Garrot is offering him help again. He doesn't mind it this time at least, even if it does make him close off slightly, crossing an arm over his body without thinking about it.

"I'll keep it in mind," he says after a moment, but he won't offer anything right now. It's nice to know one of his allies seems to have his back if any of his own griefs pop up to terrorize him, but he has no interest in just sharing them out just yet. He chews his lip for just a beat, wondering if Garrot will be happy with that answer, before he turns his gaze back to him and... pauses. What is that pose for.

"Are you asking for a hug?"

I'll keep it in mind isn't a complete rejection, so Garrot is filing that away as a solid Win. But then there's that awkward pause, that clear indicator that oh no, it's weird between them again, and-

"Really? Have-" He blinks, shaking his head slightly in disbelief. "Do you really not know this? My kids are from all over and they know!" But then Garrot places a hand upon the bridge of his nose and just chuckles.

"Yes, it's asking for a hug." A sigh. "Jeez, we gotta get you like a- a phrasebook or something." He's trying to be upbeat and jovial and helpful because things have turned around, for what it's worth. And then the arm goes back out to The Hug Position.

Gyre sighs, glancing off to the side for a second.

"My kids just hugged me," he mutters, but he's also approaching almost immediately. Approaching quickly, actually. Despite himself, getting a hug from a giant man is very appealing to him, even if he wishes said giant man would shut the fuck up every now and then.

"And adults just ask," he clarifies, just before he plants himself in Garrot's chest, wrapping his arms around him... as around him as he can get anyway. He thoughtlessly grabs handfuls of the back of other's shirt, squeezing himself as close to him as he can get without just crawling on top of him. He definitely needed a hug! And he definitely likes that he's getting one from Garrot specifically, despite all this arguing.

"Aww, looks like we both needed a hug..." Garrot chuckles, and then wraps his arms around his new pal. He notices the grabbing at his shirt and barely resists the urge to make a joke before squeezing his arms a bit around his pal, careful not to put undue pressure on his head or neck. No need to hurt his throat!

"And I did ask. Technically." He breaks the otherwise nice silence with his voice. "I think? But most adults are too scared to ask." Honestly though, the lifestyle of the wild elves doesn't seem too bad- hugs whenever, no giving a fuck about stuff, and, wait, he should mention that, uh,

"I won't let go until you do. Take as long as you need." Because yep, he sure managed to turn this around since Gyre was so enthusiastic. But, he actually shuts up now and just gives Gyre another big ol squeeze. One arm wrapped around the shoulders, another around the back, because stacking hugbear strike points can hurt people.

"Shhhhhh," he hushes Garrot basically the second he starts talking. It's nice to listen to his voice in his chest, but this guy has such a way with ruining every moment where things seem fine between them again. He doesn't know what he would do if Garrot said something stupid while he's this close to him.

Luckily, the guy stops eventually, and Gyre actually lets his eyes close contentedly. He turns his head, pressing his ear up against him, listening to his heartbeat. It's nice? He lets himself drift into better memories then this, his breathing evening out, slowing. Slowing a lot, actually? Weird!

It's so tempting to just let himself fall into this, until Garrot forces him away, honestly. He's so comfortable here for... well, way longer then most people would ever hug an almost stranger. He does shift eventually though, his grip loosening on Garrot's back.

"That's a dangerous offer," he murmurs, turning his face back into the other's chest. "You're pretty comfy."

Nothing weird at all about two warrior dads hugging it out on the beach. Nope.

"You're not the first person to say that." His kids, students, patients, colleagues, friends... other friends. In fact, some people even hunt Garrot down after a bad day because he's, well, him. The good doctor did say to take as long as he needed, so he doesn't even mind how long the hug is going. That said...

"We can sit down, if you want." The words are hushed and kind as Garrot's arms loosen as well. He's never noticed the slowed breathing of his friend because he's preoccupied with the closeness, and he's spending more effort than he's comfortable with keeping his big mouth shut.

He snorts at the offer, the sound a sort of chopped short laugh. It sounds amused even if it's not a real laugh, and he leans his head back to smirk up at Garrot. Sitting down to hug sounds like...

"You want me to sit in your lap?" he asks, putting just enough of an edge in his voice to make it an obvious tease. Or maybe he's flirting? Who knows! He does pull further back though, peeling himself out of the hug despite his body protesting it.

"Won't your partner be upset? You all only have one, right?" he continues teasing gently, only taking a half step away from him. He's lingering just in case his hug options are opened up again! But he won't insist if Garrot's got other plans.

When Gyre puts it that way, all Garrot can do is turn scarlet and stammer out a few half-voiced syllables. He just wanted them to get off their feet, but he sure did phrase it terribly! Although of course, he would be less opposed if it wasn't still the first day! His kids would lose it, his- Aw, the hug is over and oh look, a change in subject!

"N-no?" Still red, still embarrassed. "I don't have a partner, but even if we were," it sounds like he had someone in mind there, "variety is the spice of life." Garrot just sighs wistfully, not caring to explain the idiom or his love life to someone he just met.

"Do you want to, uh," he gestures with his head towards the surf, "relax and watch the ocean? I think I kinda interrupted you earlier." And after all that, they could use some concentrated relaxation.

It's good to see the shoe on the other foot! Garrot had flustered him plenty of times, so getting a little revenge like this is nice. He shifts towards the ocean as Garrot suggests it, clearly happy to go back to his food and the water now that tensions seem lower.

He's also clearly thinking about something, pursing his lips. Partially he's turning the idiom over in his thoughts. This one is more obvious then the last one, once he remembers what spices are for in these people's food. But he's also uh not going to leave Garrot's relationship status alone!

"You said you had kids, didn't you?" he asks, pressing for more details if he can get them. The idea of raising any number of children alone sounds like insanity to him? He must have heard wrong, right? Or Garrot is being coy about whoever this person is who's 'not his partner', right??

"Y-yeah?" Poor Garrot hasn't regained his composure yet, and he just gently pats Gyre on the back as if to guide him towards the rocks. The elf was sitting on one before, and since Garrot is kind of huge, he doesn't want to just steal all the good real estate. "I have four."

And then he taps his phone waiting within his pants pocket, a brief flash of loud enthusiasm on his face. "Can show you a picture of them if you want." But instead he raises an eyebrow at Gyre. "You have kids too, right?"

He's not really sure where his pal is going with this, since they were just talking about hugs and lap-sitting.

He steps quickly ahead of Garrot after that pat on the back, moving towards the spot he'd claimed before so he can sit right back down there. There are other rocks around it for Garrot to take up, or there's more then enough space on the one Gyre has grabbed. Depends on how close he wants to be. Gyre won't protest either way.

In the meantime, that flash of enthusiasm is infectious and he can't help grinning broadly back. The smile falters only very slightly when Garrot returns the question. He still manages to sound pleased, despite the mix of feelings his kids bring up in him, "Uh, I do. They're grown now. And I don't have pictures of them."

He leans closer to Garrot at that, putting himself in exactly the right spot to see any pictures the other may or may not pull up. "I'd love to see yours though," he says, and he does sound genuinely excited about it. He seems to have completely dropped the lap hugs, the tease just as casual for him as any other bit of this part of their conversation. If he meant it, he's not bringing it up again, apparently totally refocused now.

While Garrot may have originally sat on another rock, the offer for him to talk about his kids with another parent was too much to resist, and so he squeezes in next to Gyre on what's now their rock, phone in hand. Sure, Gyre can't show off his kids, but that just means he'll have to be excited enough for both of them! Even though Gyre's plenty interested. It's fine. Garrot's just incredibly excited.

"Hold on, let me get a good picture, and-" He huddles his large frame over his phone or a moment before cackling and holding the device between them. Garrot's chosen a beach photo, except it looks, well... ridiculous. The doctor himself is wearing nothing but swim trunks making most of his tattoos very visible, but what's really noticeable is the two torn pool noodles being used like nunchaku against two tiefling boys. Each has a boogie board strapped to their arm like a shield and is holding a pool noodle like a rapier, flanking Garrot with perfect symmetry. They're fighting on the beach, because of course they are.

A bit closer and standing off to the side from the shot's center is a pair of girls. One's a young adult, a pale, black-haired elven woman wearing a bikini and a radiant smile as she kneels in the sand. Holding her hand is a school-aged girl pumping her other arm, carrying a boogie board, into the air. Her springy blond hair is tied into a ponytail, she looks incredibly excited, and her feet seem to effortlessly blur into the sand even though her skin is a bit more gray than brown elsewhere. And then at the bottom of the frame, there's a little bit of a dark olive green finger blocking some of the shot.

"Who do you want to hear about first?" Garrot does not seem to care that this picture is a work of absolute chaos. In fact, he seems quite proud of it! He does look pretty gung-ho in the background there.

Gyre seems to absorb Garrot's excitement and reflect it back at him, leaning close enough to press their shoulders together so he can see the little phone picture. He spends several moments just taking it in, noting the details of it, Garrot's tattoos and the fact none of his kids seem to be bugbears and that green finger from off screen.

He's grinning all the while, trying to avoid the melancholic pain of thinking back to his kids. He'd been shipped off to die by the time his oldest was the little girl's age, and he'd only seen them in glimpses by the time they were the tieflings' age. He ends up sighing after another moment, his smile fading for just the briefest second.

He gets it back though, glancing up to Garrot. "Adopted?" he asks, obviously knowing the answer but wondering if the other will say more about it. Either way, he reaches over and taps the screen right by the girl's.

"Start with the little one?"

He doesn't mind their shoulders touching, because Garrot is too engrossed in Gyre's face as he studies the photo. So he notices that sigh, that lapse in the smile, and the question that followed. All Garrot can do is deadpan out a "Yep! All of them." The way he sees is, Gyre might just be judging him for adopting instead of having his own.

So when Gyre picks a precious photographed progeny, Garrot smirks. He'll stomp out any judgmental bullshit with parental glee because the elf just chose his favorite! They're all his favorites, of course.

"That's Ursula!" Garrot is grinning ear to ear. "She's seven years and eight months old. The months are important!" And then he nods cheekily. Kids are silly like that. "She has a sweet tooth, and would definitely cry for you if she knew you couldn't chug that tea like it's water." And then he laughs, before pointing at her feet.

"It turns out she can change her skin, like a chameleon." Garrot sighs for a second before gritting his teeth. "When someone taught her how to pick locks," he sounds quite irritated, mostly because the mystery is still unsolved, "I had to start hiding the cookie jar in a safe!"

The situation is so absurd to him that the doctor starts laughing. He loves her, but holy crap is she an unpredictable little booger.

...did he do something wrong? He tilts his head at that strange tone, confusion clear in his eyes as he looks at Garrot's face. Why did he confirm they were adopted with that tone? He doesn't understand at all, but he also doesn't want to press if the other doesn't want to talk about that part of his kids' life. He knows the adoption system can be a nightmare, especially for the kids themselves, and god knows he wouldn't want to tell some stranger about the bad things that had happened to his kids.

But Garrot moves on without any more weird tones, clearly so excited as he talks about this sweet little girl. He grins as Garrot laughs, nodding enthusiastically. He knows kids are silly and place emphasis on such specific details. He actually visibly winces when he says she can make herself blend in and that someone taught her to pick locks.

"She'll have the combination memorized before you blink, if you're not careful," he says, smirking delightedly. "Do you know who taught her?"

Garrot just rolls his eyes at the question and groans, clearly trying not to laugh. "That's the worst part, I'll never know!" A hand reaches to pinch the bridge of his nose as he shaked his head and lets himself chuckle.

"I mean, Miri learned how to pick locks during one of her rebellious phases." He says this like its a casual occurrence. "Then she and I taught the twins because hey, it's a good skill to have!" Plus for Garrot it's about the same as surgery.

"Ursula does well in school and gets along with other kids, so if raiding a cookie jar is the worst she does then consider me a proud parent!" And then he beats a fist against his chest while beaming with utmost pride.

Gyre can't help smiling all the while he's talking, clearly just enjoying the stories. When Garrot says a new name, his eyes return to the picture, trying to pick out which one it could be. At least it ends up being easy mode as the other talks about the tiefling boys separately. Miri and Ursula. Alright.

Then Garrot is beating his chest, and Gyre leans back to grin even wider up at him. "It's good to encourage a little independence at that age anyway," he says clearly sounding amused. "You sound very proud of them. All of them."

"Of course I'm proud!" Garrot chuckles, and the fist on his chest turns into a gentle hand over his own heart. "They're my kids." The words are softer, more tender than his typical bravado.

"They've each been through... a lot." He pauses for a second, then seems surprised with himself and chooses not to dwell. "I mean, with the Wizard coming back every year, seeing them all be so happy is enough for me." Garrot takes a moment to sigh and just... stare at his kids on the screen.

Gyre gives him the moment, keeping his eyes averted for at least a couple beats. He can't help looking back eventually though, watching the other's face. He is... deeply jealous of that look! He wants to suck those paternal feelings out of him and hold onto them for himself for as long as he possibly can. He can't do that obviously so he settles for this instead, murmuring, "They're very lucky to have you, I think."

He won't linger on this weird storm of feelings he'll need to deal with sometime later though, gesturing at the picture again.

"You said the other girl's name, right? Miri?"

Garrot just shrugs at the compliment, half-smiling. It felt weird to say he's the one who's lucky to have them, but its true. It's also a little too gooey for their parental bragging summit. They were just arguing a little while ago!

"Yeah, Mireina, but we call her Miri. She used to hate it!" And then he chuckles, because those were happier days. "She's studying Journalism and Wizard Studies at the Amarosian University of the Arts." He nods, knowing that Gyre might not... care? Which is fine. "She likes telling people's stories, and dancing, and I annoy the crap out of her. Like when I called her for advice after earlier." Garrot giggles mischievously, before looking over at Gyre. Yep, he had help!

"I think you'd like her more than you like me!" And then he gently pats his friend on the back. Sure, Miri might literally murder her dad if he can't set up an interview with the elusive Boar Knight, but he can't just say that!

The Weather

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