atworldsend | action | open, choose your own adventure

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action | open, choose your own adventure

a. the garden

Tamhas hates this place, if he's honest. He tries not to - making the best of bad situations and all that - but it feels wrong. The Dark Tower is so like Yggdrasil that sometimes, in the corner of his eye - because the Tower is always in the corner of your eye, he's found - he forgets it isn't the tree, thinks for a heartbeat that maybe he can find a way back. Not quite home, but the closest he has. But then he looks and it's a damn Tower, dark where the tree was all radiant, glorious light. And the fractured plate above is stifling. The sun, Tamhas' guiding beacon, feels so very far away even on bright days. A little like Svartalfheimr, but he supposes there is something to appreciate about this place in that.

It could be worse. It could be Svartalfheimr.

And it's not all bad, he supposes. The garden is nice, even if near all the plants are strange. He's always liked work like this, anyway. Steady, menial. It's comforting, soothing, quelling the itch in his hands. Sian would be delighted at all the strange new growing things to look at, even if there's wrongness here she'd hate, a thought which always makes him miss his sister keenly - Tamhas doesn't know a lot about all the various types there are here, and he's a farmer, not a herbalist, but it's enough. He tries to make it enough, anyway.

So, when he's not fighting monsters somewhere, he frequently comes here. Waters, plants, prunes, harvests - anything that's needing done, anything folk might need a hand with. And he takes solace in it, finds some measure of peace here, which is why he looks fleeting surprised when he almost walks into someone. He's usually more alert than that.

"Ah, sorry -" a fleeting smile, turning slightly wry as he inclines his head in greeting. "- you'd think a man would have learned to pay better attention by now, wouldn't you?" There's a cluster of blue banora white apples in his arms; after a moment, eyebrows raising, he holds one out in offering.

b. a street

A lot is strange and different and weird here, but some things are just as Tamhas remembers. Fighting is one of them. Most things here take to his sword as well as most things did back there, which Tamhas is remarkably grateful for. It's always good to do something. So, when he tumbles down from the plate to a street and finds he has company, he's not terribly perturbed.

He doesn't know what he's fighting. They're like the skeletal, feathered kin of Valravn, but different - of course they bloody are - but they come at him shrieking with claws like sickles and Tamhas responds in kind, falling easily into a dance he knows well. It's strange, fighting alone, not feeling the strength of his friends round about him, not having to dodge the spells Morven slings or consider tossing opponents back for Kenna or making openings for Halldis - but then Tamhas realises he's not fighting alone.

Friend or foe? He can't spare the time to figure that out, fending off blows and delivering his own as furiously as he is, but he resolves to hope for the former and deal with the latter after if necessary. He can't even tell if it's someone in the fight, or someone trying to escape it. Either way, he moves solidly between this new party and the creatures, light flashing along the length of his blade as he brings it down, cutting down one and scattering the rest, just for long enough that he can swiftly glance over at the new arrival. In battle, his face is stern, lips curled in a snarl, though that fades in a moment of genuine concern as speaks.

"You alright?"

And then he's turning back to face the next line of attacks, sweeping out in an arc with his sword to meet them.

c. the forest

Sometimes, it's easier to be a bear than a man. That's proven generally true in the woods around World's End. His senses are better for it, for a start, and the prevailing cold doesn't touch him, and there are things that would attack a man on sight that don't so much as look up at a passing bear.

(Sometimes, Tamhas attacks instead. Not today.)

And he's better at hunting as a bear than he is as a man, which he might consider a point of embarrassment, but he reasons that there are things he can do better than a bear. Hopefully. At the moment, he's up to the forelegs in river water, catching fish. But watchful eyes may notice that this bear, huge and golden furred, is perusing his catch with great, and perhaps unusual, scrutiny. Just as Tamhas is not a botanist, he's not a fishmonger, either, and the fish are as weird here as the plants, so every time he catches one it takes careful deliberation to decide if it's worth eating - or taking to someone who better enjoys and knows cooking - or if it might even be dangerous. So many things are dangerous, here.

The range he's caught today are definitely fish. He can tell that much, though there's one that's borderline, as far as he's concerned. Dubiously, he noses them further along the bank, and turns back to the water.

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Leo chews on his bottom lip as he watches Tamhas take a bite of the apple and assesses the risk. He doesn't want to appear too cautious, nor does he want his stomach to make any more angry noises and embarrass him in front of the stranger.

“Can I... have that one?” He asks, nodding toward the very one the man has already taken a bite out of. “I know, it’s weird, but...”

He trails off because he doesn’t really want to explain exactly why he is so suspicious. It’s a nice gesture that the man is even willing to take a bite first and Leo appreciates it more than he can express.

“Yeah. I’ve never seen blue fruit either. Go figure, it must be weird in more places than one.”

He stands awkwardly, still trying not to stare.

Another momentary look of surprise melts into an easy smile. Tamhas holds out the apple he took a bite from without question. He well remembers sitting at Hilsveltr's table, and watching every ewer and cup carefully, terrified even though he hadn't honestly expected the man to poison them. He's no Hilsveltr - he hopes, prays, tries - but this fellow has reason to be wary and that's something to be respected.

"Go figure, aye. There's a lot here that's weird, to my eye anyway. Honestly?" He holds up another apple, eyeing it rather dubiously. "These are similar enough to what I ken that it makes it even weirder, but they taste good."

He offers a smile. Small, but there's warmth there.

"My name is Tamhas, by the way. Good to meet you."

"Leo," the boy nods, taking a bite of the apple and trying to stifle a sound of pleasure from leaving his mouth, because even weird fresh fruit is still fresh fruit and after spending six months living on instant noodles alone, he could almost cry it's so good.

"Um... So... Where do you come from?" He asks when he's done chewing, hoping that at this point that question isn't rude. He desperately wants to know. Is it somewhere like Middle Earth? Is it somewhere like Krynn? Had he read about this mans homeland? Escaped to it on dark nights alone in his room with only books for comfort, just like fuckin' Matilda? ... God, he could be pathetic sometimes.

Edited 2021-10-04 20:34 (UTC)

"Leo," he repeats, with a respectful nod in greeting, fighting off a smile as his new companion clearly enjoys the fruit. It is good having such things here when so much is unreliable, to say the least.

At the question, he does not seem offended, only thoughtful. "I'm from Pictland - uh..." He wracks his mind for other terms Leo might have heard, but where does one start? "It's in Midgard? Connected to Yggdrasil?" Huffing a laugh, he shrugs. "Any of that mean anything to you?"

Leo can't help but gape slightly. First he meets Hera, an Olympian Goddess, now this guy? No wonder he seems so grand with his fur and face paint. Suddenly, Leo feels a whole lot smaller and not just physically. It's beginning to be a consistent pattern with the people here. They aren't like him and Aydin. They're bigger than them.

"I've heard of it, yeah." He admits. "It's uh, the subject of a lot of myths and legends where I'm from. Like... People tell stories about it and stuff. I hope that's not insulting or anything..."

"Insulting?" There's another little breath of laughter, shaking his head. "No, gods no - most of it was myths and legends to me, too. Or it would have been, if I'd been from the region... it's complicated," he says, with a chagrined smile, and then he shrugs.

"I knew Pictland, and I'd heard of some of the places south - Dal Riata and Berenicia and such. But all the rest was foreign to me." He grins faintly. "Honestly? Still have a hard time wrapping my head around it all, and then I ended up here, which... is another complication, I suppose."

It's strange how much Tamhas sets him at ease. Leo had already started to feel incompetent in comparison to the people here, because each one he meets exhibits some new splendor that is beyond him in so many ways. Magic users, accomplished doctors, surgeons and even Gods, all leagues away form anything he will ever achieve in his lifetime. It makes him uneasy to know that no matter how much he works or how hard he tries he will never be able to meet their worth. It makes the dark part of him get bigger. The part that pushes people away, because people should stay away from a cold hearted monster.

And yet here is Tamhas saying that he is just as confused, and that things are strange to him too. When he hears that, somehow Leo feels the darkness inside calming. The man has managed to put them on equal ground.

"Complicated is interesting," he comments. He wants to ask more, learn more, but he doesn't really know how to. "This place is definitely that..."

He can't help but look toward the Tower as he says it, even if it can't be seen from here, he knows which direction to cast his resentfully longing gaze.

Briefly he wonders if Tamhas is like everyone else around here, avoidant and unwilling to really talk about the Tower.

"Definitely," Tamhas agrees, that faint grin returning in a brief flicker as he sighs. "Don't get me wrong, I don't mind interesting, but... Well. Makes me wish I had a better head for such things." But, he is what he is, and so far that's been enough. He's made it enough. He tries to take heart in that, to take heart in what he can do.

Casting his eyes over Leo, he notes the path of his gaze and finds his own following, almost unbidden. The Tower is there, looming, a gloomy beacon for the end - or center - of things. Tamhas huffs.

"Strange, isn't it? If it's so important, you'd think it might... I don't ken, be less... Less unsettling?" He considers that a moment, then gives another huff, shaking his head. "Maybe not. Suppose a lot of important things aren't nice, but - it's an eyesore, to say the least."

"That's an understatement," Leo says, almost with a scoff. Unlike Tamhas, what he can't do is always at the forefront of his mind. Not being able to get to the Tower pokes at his already fragile spirit daily.

"You spoken to anyone about it since coming here? I don't know about you, but I find nobody really wants to talk about it, despite the fact everyone has to be thinking about it."

The lack of answers from people had frustrated him. Seamus had said it was because people couldn't talk about it. Because they were afraid and didn't want to address that fear. Seamus had admitted that he was scared, just like that. It was annoyingly mature of him and it made Leo even more irritated when he couldn't bring himself to that level of honesty.

"Can I ask... Have you tried to get there?"

"Not a lot, honestly. Found the same thing as you. Folk are reluctant - though I suppose it's hard to understand. Makes it hard to talk about, maybe." He shrugs, sighing quietly, then shakes his head. "But I haven't tried, myself. Heard we couldn't, and I'm a strong swimmer, but not that strong." His grin is rueful, and brief.

"It's... something I have a bit of experience with now. Being unable to get somewhere through some magical means," he admits with a kind of dry humour, raising a hand to scratch at a spot on the side of his neck as he does. Something dark shadows his expression as he does, his gaze fixed far away, beyond the land and beyond even the Tower.

But when he glances Leo's way again, his expression has lightened, the weight lifted. "What about you? Ever tried getting out to it?"

Leo sighs, taking another bite of of the apple. If he's eating, then he isn't admitting that no, he hasn't tried. He has no idea how to even begin trying.

He finishes chewing, swallows and looks up at Tamhas. noticing that the man looks a little haunted by something. Probably the damn tower. No wonder no one wants to talk about it.

"What I wanted to do was find out what had already been tried. You know? Make that information public access. That way folks wouldn't be wasting their time doing things that already failed. But, no one wants to share what didn't work for 'em, so... That idea didn't go anywhere."

He takes another bite of the apple. It's good, he hopes the man will give him another to take home to Aydin.

"Mm. That does make sense." His frown is thoughtful, and he hums quietly as he considers. He can see Leo's frustration, and it strikes him as entirely understandable. The lack of being able to do anything is something that Tamhas has struggled to accept. He empathises.

"Is this... something you've asked many about a lot, or no? Maybe if we just take a bit of time, some will come round, be more forthcoming? I ken there are folk who've been here longer... maybe they'd be able to explain more..."

But as he thinks, the frown deepens.

"That said... I don't ken that such information would stop folk trying. I mean, even though I accept it won't work... the temptation is there. Do you get that, yourself?"

"Sorta..." Leo admits, his expression softening. This person, he is so reasonable, it's difficult to stay buried in the dark with such gentle light shining in.

"To be totally honest? I think I gave up too quick. I guess I got sore about it..." He gives a wan smile, shaking his head from side to side as if just caught on to the gravity of his own idiocy. He always takes rejection so hard, it stops him in his tracks as much as any monster could.

"You're probably right though. People like to try stuff out for themselves, so even if I got information I needed for a process of elimination thing, it wouldn't really help me or anyone else."

He gives a brief smile.

"Thanks. For the fruit and the talk, by the way. It's appreciated."

Edited 2021-10-07 07:46 (UTC)

Tamhas' expression eases in a soft smile, and he nods. "It's a pleasure. You can take more if you want, by the way," he offers, wiggling the apples in his arm as a means of demonstrating. There's a brief, contemplative pause, then Tamhas speaks up again.

"But, I wouldn't be too hard on yourself for giving up on it. There's... there's a lot going on here. I've never been good at feeling helpless," he confesses, sighing gently. "I don't ken that it wouldn't help though. Even if people saw such a list and decided to try it regardless, it would probably still help them avoid getting all their hopes up, at least. Or, maybe someone will appear who can try something else."

A scant hope, but there's always a chance, right? So Tamhas tells himself.

With a faint smile of his own, Leo reaches out for a few more apples. He takes another one for himself and two more for Aydin to make it even. He then gives Tamhas an unguarded nod of thanks since the man has succeeded in lowering all of the boys walls, at least for now.

When he continues to speak, Leo listens intently, thinking over what he says. There is an unsettled feeling of jealousy running through him, but he tries to ignore it. Tamhas makes it seem so easy to admit his personal struggles. It's the same problem he has when talking to Seamus. How can these guys display weaknesses like that and still be so put together? He would feel so vulnerable if anyone knew what he wasn't good at.

But what Tamhas is saying is encouraging. Maybe there is even a suggestion there that he thinks Leo's idea could be a good one? That would be something.

"So... You think I should keep trying? With the list I mean?"

It's heartening to see Leo ease up, even a little. Although he can only speculate at why he's so guarded - and he tries not to speculate; it feels disrespectful when it's so unnecessary - he doesn't doubt that there are reasons. Once, that would have made him hesitant to even try, fearing he was impugning upon the other, but these days it's a little easier. He can do something, he hopes. Everyone needs somebody they can count on, even a little.

It's a start, anyway.

"I do. I think the more information we have to hand, the better. If I hear anything, I'll let you know - can't really help with the writing it down, or anything, but," smiling, he shrugs. "If I find a boat, I'll report back."

Leo smiles a little more. Validation is so soothing and he's starting to really enjoy talking now that his nerves are easing.

"A boat, huh? Yeah, I considered that too. Was gonna try and build a raft or something, but I -" He stops mid sentence, realising something.

Can't really help with the writing it down

Huh. Does that mean Tamhas can't write? Or maybe there's an issue with his hands? Maybe some other reason entirely, but either way, Leo slows down both with curiosity and sympathy. If he can't write, Leo decides, he will 100% teach him.

"Um... Can I ask, why not with the writing? What's stopping you?"

Tamhas huffs softly, looking rather rueful. Not ashamed, or even terribly embarrassed, so much as wry. "I'm even less for written things than most of my folk are," he answers, shrugging again. "Not for lack of trying, mind, but... the more I try, the more the lines... all tangle together." He wiggles his fingers as though to illustrate this. "I can just about manage, but... never really have a need to. Leave it to those who like such things."

He looks out after that, over towards the Tower again. "I don't ken that I'd trust a raft on that sea. But admittedly, I'm not terribly familiar with being on the water, either."

He's dyslexic. Leo is sure of it. The explanation fits. He's heard similar before, from Aydin and from her. Lines tangling together, words moving around all by themselves. Neither of them got any help with it back home, so Leo had to look it up and explain it to them. Before that, they had both thought they were just too stupid for learning.

"Me either," he says hastily, eager to return to Tamhas's admission and put Tower talk to the back burner for now. The excitement of being able to help someone makes his heart race. Maybe where Tamhas is from they don't know about learning difficulties either, and don't help with things that stop folks doing things like reading.

"Look, it's not your fault, the writing and reading stuff," he begins, "You could have dyslexia. It's pretty common, but if it got missed then it's possible some of the things that might have helped you out got missed too. It's not too late to learn if you're not through trying."

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