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 Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:00 pm
Only a few days had passed since life returned to 'normal' at the school. Everyone was back from that hellish field trip, alive and in one piece. On the outside, Jericho tried to act as normal as he could, but it was hard to not seem at least a little mellow compared to how he usually acted. Things were different in the confides of his own room.
He had been doing a lot of thinking to hammer out the heavy mess of thoughts that weighed him down. Now he knew what it was that bothered him, and there was quite a bit to it. Though it was similar to the time he broke down in the fog, it wasn't the same. There were doubts on what really mattered and a healthy dose of what was like regret. The things that happened, and the things that didn't happen on that island were all on his mind.
While he still smiled for others he was around, there was none of that in his cavernous room. He often held a distant look as he brooded and tried to really get down at the issues at hand. It was something he felt they didn't need to see. He was supposed to be the strong, confident one. Laying on his pile of treasure, his hand idly sifted through the coins at his side. Right now the gold may has well been dirt and grass to him; its luster was lost for now.
Gimbal did what he could to tend to his master, but the dragon usually just waved him off to do whatever.
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:11 pm
Some might have been surprised to know how good Jericho was at keeping his feelings locked away, hidden behind that easy smile. Riley was pretty confident that no one had even noticed anything was wrong with him. Everyone was acting a little differently since the trip, and she included herself in that as well. So there was no way to know the subtle change of one student out of dozens.
But Riley knew.
She didn't knock. She flipped a small keychain out from her belt, and unlocked Jericho's door. You'd better be decent in there. Riley sent out, as she opened the door and walked in. Or at least, in there. I don't really care if you're decent or not. Riley closed the door behind her, and locked it. Her eyes scanned the room, quickly finding Jericho exactly where she'd expected - lying on his treasure. He might as well be playing emo music, with the look on his face.
She slid her keychain back into her belt, and moved to stand directly in front of him, with her hands on her hips. One eyebrow was raised as she stared down at her best friend.
Hello, sunshine. Came her deadpan greeting.
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:17 pm
Being lost in his thoughts and not expecting visitors of any sort, Jericho barely heard the door unlock. If Riley hadn't given him the heads up, he might not have even notice her walk on in. Pretty soon he saw her standing over him and he forced himself to snap out of whatever held him. That lost look he had on his face shifted into something more normal for him as he stared up at the Mindflayer before propping himself up.
"Hey Riley... is.. something up?" he asked with a light smile. That deadpan greeting of hers wasn't a very good sign, but the reasons for her visit could be for a multitude of reasons. The dragon hoped it wasn't something that dealt directly with him, however.
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:23 pm
Both of her eyebrows shot up as he tried to hide his true feelings from her perceptive eyes. She lifted a finger and shook it at him. Stop that. She growled dangerously, before dropping down to crouch in front of him. She crawled up the treasure hoarde, flopping down at his side, and turned to sit facing him.
I'm serious. She murmured, much softer this time. You can't really think you're fooling me for a minute. You may have this entire school fooled but..
Riley reached out and brushed Jericho's hair out of his eyes. Had he even brushed his hair today? You can't fool me. Now spill your guts, before I do it for you. Her claw poked his stomach gently as if threatening to cut it open.
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:32 pm
Jericho flinched a bit at her words and the facade dropped in an instant. His eyes darted away from hers briefly as she positioned herself by him, looking back only when she brushed some of his hair away from his face. Even then, it was brief. There was a moment of silence before he stared up at the ceiling again with a sigh.
"I just don't know anymore," he murmured, "My goals before were pretty much just to grow stronger... but what's the point of having strength if it's worthless in a time of need? What good is it if it counts for nothing in the end?"
There was much more to it than that, but it was a start.
"No amount of strength, confidence, or fighting prowess would have mattered in that damn cove. We were killed without even putting up a fight. I didn't die to some opponent who bested me... or from trying to save you guys. It just.. happened. And I didn't even really have any real purpose when it did."
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:44 pm
When there was a problem, it was usually Riley's specialty to fix it. However, Jericho's problem was mirrored in her own eyes even as he spoke it. Did he not even realize that?
Come here. Riley grumbled, climbing higher up the treasure hoarde to sit indian style, and hooked her arms under his elbows. Without any real warning, she pulled him up with a yank, and dropped him in her lap. There she left him, putting both her hands on his head and leaning down against them.
I died the same way you did. She murmured quietly, her voice lost in contemplation as she stared at the wall in front of her. Don't you remember that? I did not die fighting, either. There was no honor in it. No saving grace. No rush of adrenaline and thrill of battle. There was just the end. She turned her head down just slightly, and her eyes were at level with his, upside down. And then there was you. And Malodore. Right there with me. And I realized that I would never have to be alone. Not even in death.
Her eyes returned to the ceiling.
I had clear goals when I entered this school as well. You know that. Do you think those goals are the same as they were then? Her body huffed in laughter. I don't even think they were meant to stay the same. She looked down at him once more. Maybe being in this school isn't about learning how to fulfill your purpose in life, Jericho. Maybe it's about finding out exactly what that purpose is.
Her eyes crinkled softly at the sides. And for the record, your death was not for nothing. You were there with us. Even at the end. You can never call that nothing.
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:56 pm
For a moment, Jericho's eyes widened as he was suddenly pulled up onto Riley's lap, but he relaxed once he was there. As she stared down, his eyes met with hers while he listened. Though she had a point there, his golden eyes softened as he still wasn't quite sure of it.
"Then what's the point of having strength in general?" he said quietly before glancing away.
"What if there had been no resurrection? We would have just been stuck... nameless like the rest of the souls massing in that place... I.. I'd never even got the chance to say goodbye or... thank you and the rest for being there," he said in an even softer tone, "You guys are worth far more than the damned metal we rest on right now.. and somehow I feel like I take you for granted."
"But that's how things are I guess... when it comes time to really bite it.. there's no final words.. just nothingness."
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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 12:13 am
Riley's hands had been idly playing with a small clump of the hair underneath them, but when Jericho mentioned the nothingness they'd experienced while dead, her hand froze. There was a small compartment in her brain for memories she could not handle, and that one was right in there. It only threatened to open when someone reminded her of it, like this very moment. It rattled dangerously in her mind. No. She snapped, at both the thought, and the conversation as well. We will not speak of that place. It was not natural. I am sure that is not what death is truly like.
She chose to focus instead on his first question, clinging to it with a fervent desperation if only to keep from thinking about that place.
What's the point of having strength? Do you really need to ask? She turned her head sideways, tilted it down. Look at me, Jericho. Look at me, and tell me something. If I was in danger - if something was attacking me, right now. What would you do? Would you run away? Would you leave me? She chuckled softly. Or would you have the strength to fight?
We won't always have a chance to use the strength we fight so hard to possess, Jericho. That doesn't mean there won't ever be times where we will, though. It is in those chances, that our strength means the most.
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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 12:24 am
Her touch was somewhat soothing, but it didn't do a whole lot for the entire picture. For a good while, he laid there in silence, staring off into nothing as he digested her words. Again, she had a point. Closing his eyes in the meantime, he heaved another sigh. It was hard to argue against this point too.
<<I really am lucky to have a friend like you.. It.. can't be easy to be a source of strength for a red dragon,>> he said before slowly opening his eyes. He reached up and placed a hand over one of hers and gripped it lightly. The dragon tried to send her waves of appreciation and gratitude, though it wasn't easy.
"Thank you Riley.." he whispered, wanting to get it out lest the walls cave in and crush them both by some freak accident. As he said this, he had slipped something into her hand. It was a small pin with a d20 as its crest. His personal emblem.
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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 4:22 am
It sounded kind of nice, to be claimed as a source of strength. That was a title she wore with pride. Her eyes closed as he sent his gratitude in rolling waves of emotion, letting them wash over her. It was a sweet gesture. Her hand clenched around his, in an attempt to keep it from slipping away - but it released them when she felt something cold and hard pressed against her palm. She opened her eyes and lifted her hand to look at the emblem, and her eyes widened just slightly.
Her mind raced into action. She tensed up, and her fingers closed slowly around the emblem, clutching it in her grasp. There had been a time, not so long ago, when she had been confident she would never give her emblem away to anyone. She was a collector of loyalties, not a giver. Wasn't she?
..Wasn't she?
She looked down into those molten golden eyes, burning with absolute trust and affection, and felt her world once more shift just a little farther from where she'd started.
Her other hand plucked her pin off of her armor, where it normally rested beside Malodore's. She clenched her hand around it, and poured her FEAR into her tight fist, until it glowed with a bright purple light. When her fingers unfurled, the light was gone, and in her palm sat two exact copies of her own emblem. She picked one up and reached down with both arms, fastening it on Jericho's jacket. When it was done, she left her arms there, and pressed the side of her head against her friends.
I will always fight for you, Jericho. She whispered with fierce emotion. I will be your strength.
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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:15 am
Jericho hadn't really expected Riley to fasten her own pin to his coat, but he supposed he should have. As her hands lingered there, he placed his over hers again, gripping them once more. A genuine smile appeared, though it was a soft one.
"And you can count on me," he uttered quietly but firmly, "I hope I can return the favor of being yours when you need it."
There were still issues lingering in his mind, such as wanting to find his purpose, but that wasn't something he'd likely figure out quickly. His doubts on strength were practically nonexistent now thanks to the Mindflayer. Resting his head against hers, he closed his eyes again, just soaking in the comfort she provided him.
Lightly, he gave her a friendly peck on the cheek and relaxed again.
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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 3:16 pm
Riley reattached her own button, as well as Jericho's - putting it on the opposite side, so that her emblem was now sandwiched between Jericho's and Malodore's. It looked pretty there. Her expression lightened, before she returned to resting her chin in the nook of his neck and shoulder. Good. She murmured quietly. Because I plan on needing you for a long, long time. So I'll take you up on that. She bumped the side of her head against his and chuckled softly.
But for now, no more sadness. If I see you smile in the hallways, it'd better be genuine. Or I will come back here, and you're going to get it. Her voice was a low, dangerous growl.
She patted his head, and contented to let him take that constructive threat in, while they hugged in silence for a while.
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