warforged | [open!] i found stars on the tip of your tongue

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[open!] i found stars on the tip of your tongue

Who: Vanadi and anyone he runs into!
What: The Obsidian Sanctum is for squares, Vanadi's gonna go find where the cool people party.
Where: Obsidian Sanctum and then... anywhere
When: Nebulously pre-kidnapping
Warnings: there will be flirts

[ a: obsidian sanctum ]

He doesn't spend long here. In fact, if you catch him here, you'll catch him on his way out. It's dismal, it's filled with people he thinks he can safely put off getting to know, and he can't find a single drop of anything interesting to drink. So after a grand total of ten minutes spent lost and confused, Vanadi very promptly books it.

Later, nerds.

[ b: out there ]

Alright, so this wasn't as well-planned as it could have been. He'd escaped the Sanctum just to find himself somewhere in a... forest. A boring, generally unoccupied forest. Not quite the city nightlife he'd been hoping for. But Vanadi walks gamely on, sure that he'll find something if he keeps moving. Hopefully something to drink. With alcohol in it, that would be nice. Maybe someone to share it with... maybe several someones...

But for now he walks, and occasionally tries out some of those interesting new abilities he seems to have picked up. Handy for dodging animals, that.

[ c: anything else ]

Such ENDLESS POSSIBILITIY.

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There is one animal in particular who isn't thrown off quite as well by the use Blackflight stealth, and it's probably because now that he's caught Vanadi's scent, he's pointedly trying to track him down. Apollo doesn't know what the hell her dog is currently tracking, but he's clearly very determined to find the target, so she just decides to go with it and follow. Thinking maybe he's caught the scent of a deer or some other large game, she pulls her crossbow from her back and tries to stay relatively quiet as they stalk through the woods.

Eventually, Metalhead finds what he's looking for, and the moment he catches sight of Vanadi he's bounding toward him and barking happily as though he were a puppy and not an enormous half monster dog, apparently unable to contain his excitement.

But where he may recognize Vanadi right away because of his nose, Apollo on the other hand is left standing there in the bushes, crossbow still in her arms and at the ready, but not aiming at the man (elf?) because what the hell Metalhead that isn't a damn deer. "Uh." Apollo just sort of. Stands there, watching as her dog harasses the man with a wagging tail as he tries to lick Vanadi's hand whether he wants him to or not, her stare both confused and suspicious. "Do I fuckin' know you?"

Vanadi'd paused as soon as he'd picked up the sound of some large animal headed his way, slipped immediately into that subtle sort of something that he's been practicing, and... it had done no good. Well, shit, that's what you get for relying on some mysterious new trick, isn't it? He's ready to bolt for the nearest tree and pull himself up to safety when he realizes that the creature has... less than lethal intentions.

He pauses, bewildered, and all the more when it starts up with the licking and the tail-wagging. His eyes dart over at the sound of a voice, and promptly his set-back ears draw forward to see Apollo.

Now there's a pleasant sight. He smiles, doing his best to ignore Metalhead (this involves trying to shove his hands behind his back and out of licking-range, for all the good it does).

"Well, not yet," he says cheerfully, in an accent Apollo might recognize. "But I'd be perfectly happy to change that."

Metalhead, determined as he is, just ends up circling around him when he moves his hands, nudging his nose against his long lost friend and otherwise being nosy and insistent.

Apollo, lacking the nose of a monstrous bloodhound, doesn't clue in to what exactly is happening right away. Curious, she returns her crossbow to it's place on her back, and approaches without responding. Normally she'd respond to something like that by immediately going into flirt mode herself, but something here is mighty suspicious, and for once she's more keen on figuring that out first. Strangely familiar accent and ears aside, Metalhead just doesn't act like this with strangers.

She isn't at all shy about getting in Vanadi's personal space. Stopping barely a couple inches away, she begins giving him a few pokes in the arm and chest. She doesn't find the metal she's looking for, but now that she's this damn close, the combination of being able to inspect his face, the accent she's heard from one person in particular, and her dog's reaction, there's only one person that comes to mind.

"...Vanadi?"

Well, this is a little... odd. Vanadi's smile drops into an uncertain frown as the woman approaches him without saying anything. She looks human... mostly... so he'd been sure he'd understand her mannerisms, but maybe not. Maybe he's managed to run into some bizarre and unsocialized wild woman of the forest.

He holds his ground until the poking starts, which is when he finally pulls away with a darkening frown. This is a little much for a first encounter, no matter how attractive she is.

"Ah... yes. Maybe we have met, then." He sounds doubtful about it. "But I feel sure that I'd remember the..." Terrible manners? His eyes flick back over her shounder. "...Wings."

Bizarre wild woman probably isn't too bad of a description, barring the unsocialized part. In any case, the only reason she isn't immediately being loud and cheerful as usual is because she's so goddamn perplexed. Where the hell are his metal bits? And since when does he have hair like this? Well, the hair he could have coloured, or something, but the metal bits.

"Holy fuck, you don't remember me." Which leads her to the conclusion that time is fucked up again, because she is pretty sure there is no way he'd forget her. But just to make super sure, she's going to start listing things. "Exsilium? Marduk? Apollo? Shit, d'you recognize Metalhead?"

Maybe if she goes on long enough, he'll recognize something and she'll look less crazy. (Unlikely.)

A string of words he doesn't recognize, wonderful. He doesn't even glance toward the dog at the last one, not knowing the two concepts are connected; all he does is cock an eyebrow.

"I don't, I'm afraid." It's all a little off-putting, too. Or a lot. But on the other hand, if someone already knows him — and doesn't seem to dislike him — then that's half his work done already. He smiles again. "But, come! Jog my memory, maybe it will come back again. It's a crime to forget such a lovely face! What's your name?"

Oh, there we go. The smile makes her perk up and move a bit away from her poking (both physical and verbal), so she feels a little better. Physical differences aside, his personality seems to be more or less the same, at least.

"Apollo, an' that's Metalhead." She says, giving the dog a pat. Should she explain what Exsilium and Marduk are? Maybe. She doesn't, though. Not right this second, at least. "Dunno how much memory joggin' I'll be able to do considerin', but sure, let's give it a go. Where you headed anyway?"

Well, that's slightly better. He takes note of the names (hers, at least — Metalhead's is deemed unimportant and he'll be lucky to still remember it in five minutes), and he spares just a couple seconds to wonder who Exsilium and Marduk are. Probably unimportant, though.

"You know, I think I feel a stirring," he says with a smooth grin. He probably means 'of memory'. "I wasn't headed anywhere in particular, though, seeing as I've only just arrived and haven't quite worked out the lay of the land. Do you have any suggestions? Anywhere a man might buy a beautiful redhead a drink, perhaps?"

"Yeah?" Well, if it is a stirring of memory, then even she can tell it's bullshit. A history like his with the things she's listed, and there's no way those memories are going to be at all fleeting.

"Dunno, kinda just got here myself. Haven't seen much beyond volcano bullshit an' now, forest bullshit." The last comment gets her to grin back at him, even though in the back of her mind she wonders if she should really be flirting with him. But if he doesn't remember her or anything else, then he's... not really Marduk's Vanadi, and she does still think he's handsome, so... "Wouldn't object to findin' a place like that though, sugar. Sounds like somethin' we'd both enjoy."

And just like that, the odd circumstances of their meeting are forgiven. She can be just as strange as she wants, as long as she responds well to the attention he's happy to lavish.

"Good!" He offers out an arm, for her to thread hers through. "Then all we have to do is find said place, hmm? Ah, and by the by — what's your species, if you don't mind my asking? You look human, but..." He nods toward the wings.

She's obviously amused and charmed by the arm offer, because she laughs a little before accepting it. It isn't something she'd usually insist on herself, but if Vanadi is offering, well, she isn't going to turn him down.

"Mmhm, hopin' it ain't gonna be too hard. Kinda lost track of where the fuck I am, but I'm assumin' there's gotta be settlement somewhere." And settlement somewhere meant booze. Hopefully. "Well, you ain't wrong. Got a lotta human in me, but the wings are 'cause I'm part gryp too. We're descendants of the original gryphons, if y'got those in... uh, where ever you're from."

"Watch out down below!"

If he was expecting some pint-sized elf to jump down in front of him from overhead out of nowhere, then he got one. Everyone's getting one apparently judging by the amount of leaves and stray twigs she has sticking out of places they don't belong it's apparent she's been doing this for some time.

Think she might have gotten better at landing. Despite the energetic greeting, she's sprawled out on the ground and hasn't quite bothered to get up yet.

Vanadi jumps, clearly startled -- girls falling from branches is totally not what he signed up for. He darts a quick glance up just to be sure she's the only one, then ventures a step nearer.

"Ah... still alive, I hope?" He sounds less invested than he could. He hasn't decided yet if she's worth flirting with.

"Yuuuup, still alive."

Rolling over onto her back to stare lazily up towards him, Nowi tries to regain her bearings the best she can without accidentally turning into a bear. That keeps happening to her, but thankfully she's still humanoid.

"Ever since I got knocked out of a tree, I've been trying to perfect landing on my feet." She's had no luck with this obviously.

[ it's a hard life, being dead. marduk still hasn't made his way back to the bronze sanctum since first arriving, but things are quickly reaching the point where wandering the forests is downright monotonous.

he's almost considering going back when he spots a familiar set of ears through the trees-- unfortunately, seeing them against black hair is also familiar, but in a way far less exciting. that probably accounts for why he's so irritated as he marches up to vanadi, grabbing him by the arm (and trying not to be weirded out by the lack of metal). ]

Hey, asshole. [ he snarls, tugging on that arm. ] What the fuck are you doing here?

Vanadi has just enough time to twitch an ear and half turn toward Marduk before his arm has been seized. By a stranger. By a strange-looking stranger. He doesn't recognize the species, and also he looks a little... dead. Vanadi makes a face, ears flattening against his head, and makes a valorous attempt to jerk his arm away.

"Walking, as a matter of fact," he quips, voice a little taut, somewhat short of a snarl in return. "Is there some permit needed for that? No one told me."

Wrong answer. His grip is far from iron, but he manages to hang on for now, digging his claws in a bit to keep hold.

"Not what you're doing-- no shit you're walking." Like he couldn't see that? At least this kid is exactly as insufferable as he remembers-- wait. That isn't actually a good thing. Marduk scowls. "How long have you been here."

His eyes narrow when he fails to pull away. Just who is this imposing asshole, huh? Someone who knows him, maybe, like Apollo — whatever that's about. He hadn't much liked it when Apollo pulled that stunt, and he likes it evne less now. His free hand drops toward his belt and the dagger hanging in its sheath at it.

"Longer than I've wanted to be, and beyond that, why should I tell you?"

"Because--"

He has no real reason to give, not with Vanadi this young-- too far back for even that brief time in Exsilium, apparently. Marduk's expression softens for something far more morose, but he still doesn't let go.

"You're going to get yourself killed," he hisses, pulling again for emphasis. "Do you get that?"

He still hasn't let go; it's obvious that further action is required. Vanadi doesn't look away from those somewhat unsettling eyes of his mystery companion as he nudges the dagger deftly up out of its sheath. He shifts his grip, tugs it free, and presses the tip just firmly enough to be felt into the man's side, all in a fluid motion. Good thing he'd practiced that earlier.

"What I do understand is that I'd rather like to be released. Tell me you can comprehend that much, I don't want any unseemly bloodstains on these clothes."

You've got to be fucking joking. Seriously? He's not sure how much that would even hurt-- if at all-- kind of a small dagger, isn't it? Marduk stares him down, the one time not having to blink has ever been an advantage.

"Vanadi." He sounds exasperated. He is exasperated. "Don't be an idiot."

Dammit, what is it going to take to get this guy to show a little respect and step back? Vanadi isn't quite up to following through with his threat... but that doesn't mean he isn't up to anything. He glares up at him, then moves quickly. "I see you've never been taught manners, or how to give a man his space—" One leg snakes between Marduk's while his arm twists, slamming his forearm into the man's chest. The aim is to trip him up and throw him onto his back, but Vanadi hasn't quite had a chance yet to gauge his skill and weight.

Cute move, but it's not going to work; Marduk is too used to having to dodge around similar maneuvers to really be taken by it, and he's moving even before he figures out what Vanadi is actually trying to do. He growls automatically, trying to figure out how to move around him without losing his hold, but his attempts to read his next move are interrupted by--

The scene is a diner. Vanadi is there with a friend (and Marduk needs no extra help to know it's Maria), encouraging her to partake-- mocking her for it-- "Vanadi! You promised!"

It's that flash of memory that makes him stumble more than Vanadi trying to push him away does-- more importantly Marduk does, finally, let go. He puts his hand to his face instead, like the contact there will answer any questions; it doesn't.

He looks back at Vanadi, more confused than anything before finally blurting out, "You are such a shit."

So the stranger doesn't actually fall, but he's let go, so that's good enough for Vanadi. He springs away as soon as he's able to, jamming the dagger back into his belt again with a huff. That pause and his apparent confusion is odd, but the words at least are familiar. Vanadi smiles unkindly.

"I wasn't the one with the unwelcome grab." Which might be a first, actually. He sets both hands firmly at his hips. "Now, am I going to get any sort of explanation for any of this?"

"It's not going to be an explanation you like." Marduk can absolutely guarantee that much. He jams his hands into his pockets so fast you'd think they'd been burned, sullen stare still focused on Vanadi. (Bonus: unblinking!)

"Just--" UGH. He glares off to the side, like there's a solution to the incredible problem standing before him there. "At least pretend to stay out of trouble, you stupid motherfucker."

The way he doesn't blink, Vanadi will admit, is pretty unnerving. Sure, he's seen it before, but never on anything so generally kitrite-looking. He slips into a thoughtful stare, though, and taps a finger against his chin. There's a hunch forming.

"Let's see... you must be someone I've heard of." He quirks a smile, growing more sure of himself. "Marduk, maybe?"

There's at least one animal in the forest that won't be dodged by a rogue still learning their way around the shadows. Seviilia catches the sound of a heartbeat not too far away in the midst of her own searching in the forests. Her ears flick backward and she clings to the shadow she's already found for herself, following Vanadi's movements around her position.

Whatever it is, she can safely assume it isn't a Night Elf. Too loud for that, and she had yet to see one traveling alone in the forests. Probably smart of them for a myriad of reasons.

But then, she spots him. Seviilia had only ever seen Vanadi on the network in Exsilium, and even then he looked very little he looks now. The familiarity is vague, not nearly vague enough to approach with. Vanadi might feel himself being watched. One of those dark corners definitely has a pair of glowing blue eyes staring at him -- or it might just be a trick of the light.

He does feel it. It's creepy. Vanadi pauses now and then, sets his ears back, glances around... Slipping into that vagueness that has thrown off so many animals doesn't seem to be doing much for it.

Then, eventually, he spots it. That glowing, about kitrite-high, about eye-distance-apart. He stops stock still, considers his reaction very carefully, and then tries out a smile.

"That's a terrible way to make friends, you know," he calls, not even sure if he's talking to something that will talk back. But it's worth a try.

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[open!] i found stars on the tip of your tongue

b sooomewhere oooouut there

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b is for idek

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sometime after those two nerds probably, tho

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me typing prose means i love u. i guess

i know :')

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