[closed]

[blacklord]

Date & Time: 01/24 onwards
Location: civic gardens usually, or just generally out 'n about
Characters: Bariyan e Kodhi (blacklord), Martin Darkov (theguideless), Ranka Lee (symbioses), Koltira Brightdawn (brightdawn), Ico (hornedomen) POSSIBLY MORE TO BE ADDED IN THE FUTURE
Summary: Catch-all log for timeswap Bariyan 'n flower shenanigans
Warnings: timeswap Bariyan is weird

---

01/24 | martin darkov | civic gardens
01/25 | koltira brightdawn | THE GREAT OUTDOORS idk
01/26 | ranka lee | civic gardens
01/27 | koltira brightdawn | a bar
01/28 | ico | civic gardens

Comments

[brightdawn]

[Traditions of floriography are not uncommon among the elves, though obviously Koltira has no reference for this particular flower. Still, he does understand the basic meaning behind what Bariyan's trying to do, and as such, he takes the flower with some reverence, his eyes widening.]

This is a beautiful specimen. I'm surprised you could find something like this here.

[He takes the flower; turns it over in his hands, careful not to touch any of the delicate petals. Then he tucks it behind his left ear, smiling wide and sincere.]

Thank you. [Koltira sets a hand on Bariyan's shoulder, gently.] And you're welcome, Bariyan. I was glad I could come to your aid. Regardless of the yelling.

[blacklord]

[ Given the positive reaction, Bariyan grinned. He put his arm back into the sleeve of his jacket and pulled it close around his frame, lapsing back into silence.

He felt odd. Odd, because his mind wasn't racing with worries, wasn't desperately trying to figure out where he'd gone wrong, or searching futilely for a way to fix things. Odd, because it'd been so long since he last felt so at ease with himself and the world. Yes, the grief remained, but the desperation was gone now. The months leading up to this moment had been fraught with strife and stress, and now that it was all over....

And it was over. It'd been over before he even came here.

Bariyan forces himself to smile again, shaking his head, clearing his thoughts. Something that would have been impossible to do just a day ago. ]

I'll keep yelling down to a minimum from here on out. Promise.

[ Then he nods to the flower again. And, teasing: ] It looks good on you.

[brightdawn]

[He grins at the compliment, his long ears perking forward.]

Does it, really?

[Koltira leans over, touching Bariyan's cheek lightly with one hand.]

I don't know. Against your skin, the contrast would be quite a bit more striking.

[blacklord]

Would... it?

[ A weak, vague response, as Bariyan's currently more concerned with the fingers brushing against his cheek. His expression goes blank for a moment, eyes flickering towards Koltira's hand, before he manages another smile and gently turns his head away. ]

I liked red flowers, myself. White is a little too sharp, I think.

[brightdawn]

[Ah. Koltira surmises that this one doesn't appreciate being touched, and he quickly withdraws his hand. He looks out into the street, his own smile still intact.]

If that's so, you would love my world. We have flowers there that glow so brightly red they seem to be lit from within.

[blacklord]

[ just a little too early for that!! ]

I'd like to see that. [ But he doesn't think he will, really. And he won't allow himself to dwell on that; he's not ready to go down that line of thought yet. Bariyan looks down at his wrists, at his hands. ]

Do you think you'll be returned, soon? [ You. Not we. ]

[brightdawn]

[Elves are forward; he cannot help it!!

He shakes his head.]

I couldn't say, but I hope it's sooner rather than later. As lovely as it is here, I do miss my family. My poor little brother is probably in a panic right now.

[He pauses, quirking one of his eyebrows. Same habit of trying to direct the conversation to anyone but yourself, Bariyan ...] What about you?

[blacklord]

[ Bariyan had been trying very hard not to think on what was happening back home in the meanwhile -- only enough to come to terms with the fact that Cat would be waiting. Bariyan's very existence was now an insult to Cat's pride, after all.

Bariyan's answer is quick, perfunctory, and obviously nothing he wishes to elaborate upon. Please, Koltira, you're far more interesting!! ]

I don't know. [ Yes, he thinks. He scratches at the back of his neck and draws it forwards, unconsciously digging his fingers into the skin that Cat had laid his blade against. ] Is your brother your only family?

[brightdawn]

[Well, it was true that this Bariyan had come into Exsilium bleeding and dying. Koltira can deduce enough from that to understand that maybe he'd like to avoid his home for a little while. And if he doesn't want to talk, Koltira's not going to force that, either. He just shrugs and keeps smiling, though it does falter a little as he goes on.]

Oh ... no. No, I have a fairly impressive family, but I don't see them often. My brother and I have to keep vigil at the temple. [Another shrug.] We have visitors when there are banquets and so on, but An'owyn is some distance from the main city. Not a journey one would take every day.

[blacklord]

I see. That's unfortunate. [ A pause. ] My family is very far away, as well....

[ Oh, gods, he shouldn't have started this conversation. Altogether far too awkward. His mind shuts off quickly and spurs him to force the conversation onwards.

Bariyan turns to Koltira, abruptly, and leans in a little to smile brightly at him. ]

Tell me about An'owyn. What is the temple for?

[brightdawn]

[Koltira blinks. Such a cagey little bird of a human.]

Hmm, how to explain ... [He laughs, rubbing one side of his cheek. He's not sure how to put it in a way that won't sound completely ridiculous and arcane.]

I suppose you could call it a container. Our main city--Silvermoon--has certain protections on it, wards that make it and the temples invisible to hostile forces. An'owyn houses one of the artifacts that powers the shield. If that makes sense to you at all.

[He sighs.] Normally, it's one of those jobs that's important but not urgent, you know? There have been some dark rumors lately, though, about evil spreading in the human kingdoms ... so I've had to keep an essentially constant watch.

[blacklord]

I see... it does make sense, actually! We have a shielded city as well. Though its shield exists for another reason, entirely. [ And was in the process of falling.... Bariyan didn't have many good memories of his world, right now. But there was no use in dwelling on that, no use at all. Especially not in pleasant company.

For as long as he remained here, Bariyan planned on striving for the exact opposite of misery. On the outside, at least. ]

You wouldn't be the temple's only guardian, of course? [ Bariyan draws back a little, though he keeps his eyes on Koltira. ] Or will evil go unchecked if you aren't there?

[brightdawn]

Oh? [Koltira's finding it hard to keep up, here. Bariyan seems to open and close on a dime, as though he both wants and yet also very strongly does not want to share anything about himself. He's cute enough that Koltira doesn't mind, but he's not sure how to navigate--especially since it's rude to just go on and on about yourself, isn't it?

He smirks, shaking his head 'no' again.]

There are a number of us, admittedly, but I'm among the most senior. And I don't like to leave my little brother alone for too long. He's shy with people, but completely reckless in battle.

[His tone is wryly fond as he thinks of Faltora, wonders what he's doing right then. Stumbling over his words to Merriel, most likely.]

[blacklord]

[ Flighty. Flighty as his mind races to try and cope, just as it had in the days following Komini's death, but... better than that, in a way. Easier to think about his own impending death than the death of his son, hard as both were to fully accept. Even now.

Bariyan merely laughs. ]

I will hope for his sake that you are returned home soon, then.

[brightdawn]

I am worried about him ... but being here isn't terrible or anything. In a way, it's a bit like a vacation.

[He eyes the stormy, slate-colored sky.]

A dreary vacation, true, but I've never met so many humans before--and, of course, never from so many different places. I hope I'll remember everything when I'm sent back. If I am.

[blacklord]

Oh? And how are you liking humans so far?

[ Bariyan crosses his arms, but the gesture looks nervous on him, as if he's hugging himself. He hadn't made much attempt to interact with the others here, for various reasons of his own. ]

[brightdawn]

[Koltira's sharp enough to catch that there's something sad and anxious just below the surface of the man beside him. It makes him want to reach out, to offer comfort, but he similarly does not want to press into Bariyan's personal space, to be untoward.

Instead, he just murmurs, his voice warm as he looks back at Bariyan.]

Quite well, in fact. My people live a long time ... they can sometimes lack the vitality and sincerity that comes so easily to humans.

[blacklord]

I wouldn't say that sort of thing comes easily to all humans, either. [ Bariyan's smile flickers, but only momentarily. To make up for it, he grins at Koltira. ] You seem quite a bit more vital and sincere than half the people I've met, anyway.

[brightdawn]

True, not all. But a short life guarantees a little more urgency than most of us tend to possess.

[Koltira scratches his chin, looking sheepish.]

Anyway, I'm young by our reckoning of time, and I'm also somewhat more forthright than the average quel'dorei. Give me a hundred years and I'm sure I'll be just as jaded and myopic as any pampered noble in the city.

[blacklord]

[ A hundred years... he wondered what the normal lifespan of the quel'dorei was, in that case. He couldn't imagine living that long.

He sighs, rather more dramatically than needed. ]

That's a depressing way to look at it. Are you sure? I'd hate to see that-- you seem so nice, right now.

[brightdawn]

Ah, well, maybe I can avoid it, provided I have the right influences around me.

[He leans back against the bench, folding his arms behind his head.] If I am returned to Azeroth, I'll be certain to make a few human friends like you. People who can give me perspective.

[blacklord]

[ He reaches out, gives Koltira a friendly pat on the shoulder. ]

See to it. Jaded cynicism is no way to live, not even after a hundred years.

[brightdawn]

[Aw, what a nice pat. He likes this, but relaxing too much produces another yawn.]

Mmmm ... what about two or three? Some of my people can even go into the thousands ...

[blacklord]

Would be a waste of a good two or three or thousand-so years, if they spent most of it bitter and blunted.

[ Bariyan lets his hand linger for a moment, as if to reassure himself that Koltira is still solid and real. Then he pulls away. ]

How old are you, then?

[brightdawn]

[Koltira don't mind that lingering at all. He sits there, eyes closed, his breathing soft and even.]

Nearly seventy, I think. [He opens one eye, grinning.] You lose track after a while.