but in the deafness of my world

[obliterating]

Date & Time: Today, Afternoon.
Location: The Outlands
Characters: Frost Fever obliterating and Purify thewhitepawn
Summary: THASS FINDS A FARM. I was originally just not going to log this but he had to be a helpful jackass and invite Anduin along THASS WHY
Warnings: Honestly this will probably be pretty tame, all things considered.

It had been hours since they set out from the city- the ruins that lay beyond were an eerie sight, but he kept moving. He was certain he would have made better time, but it was probably for the best that Anduin had accompanied him. Light knew the boy needed something to busy himself with. At least he seemed rested, which was an improvement.

They had stropped a few times to rest- Thassarian hardly needed to, but he didn't want to force the prince to march for hours on end. It was yet another reminder of what he was- tirelessly marching toward the horizon. He would have made better time if he had Dusk, but he wasn't certain about that. If he thought about it, it would have been an odd situation- he'd have given her reins to Anduin. In truth, he missed her a bit. She was a good companion, though he wasn't as fond of her as he was Lurid.

He always did regret having to leave those poor bones behind in Andorhal.

Thassarian was walking ahead of Anduin. The distance between him an Andun was better for him- Anduin's breath had been heavy and his heart quick. Thassarian had gone too long without killing, and he could almost feel Anduin's heartbeat when they stopped to rest. It was nearly maddening. They had seen very few animals- the ruins and rural areas beyond the city were strangely silent. It was a definite change from what he was used to, but it was comforting, somehow. He enjoyed the quiet, the stillness. It seemed, in some strange way, even the land beyond the city was dead.

There was grass, odd and sparse, that finally gave way into a clearing. There was a grey building in the distance, and he quickened his steps. It seemed this place, too, was deserted.



He drew his swords, walking across the sparse field to the building and calling back behind him.

"Anduin! Stay close."

Comments

[thewhitepawn]

Anduin was by no means out of shape. For a prince he had lived a rather full life in his short years on Azeroth. He was fit and used to travel from his stay in Pandaria. Still, after the months of little activity in this place, broken up recently only by his rather basic blacksmithing skills, he was a touch out of practice. His muscles were still sleek, but it was obvious that he would require moments to rest or drink water in their journey.

But he had managed to sleep, and nightmares had not claimed him for their own the night before. He was as refreshed as he could be, and he was eager - not to mention that he at least didn't complain or ask to rest more than Thassarian allowed.

His heart and his breath might give him away to his Death Knight companion, but he would only ask when it was absolutely necessary. This was good; he needed the exercise and the chance to just go and get away. Well, as away as he could from that lonely apartment. The excursion was perfect for that - and more interesting as he noted the greying building in the distance. That seemed to be their destination.

"I will!" He called back, quickening his pace to catch up to Thassarian, eager to see what might be inside.

[obliterating]

He couldn't sense anything inside the building- nothing alive or undead was moving in there, as much as he could tell. Still, he had Anduin to worry about, and he stepped closer to the building.

He could feel Anduin breathing.

"...hello?"

He stepped closer to the building, finding a battered door and pushing it aside. The wood protested, and door catching on debris inside, and he used a bit of force. Looking inside, he could see very little that would be threatening.

Another push, and he stepped inside. The plaster walls were crumbling, bits and pieces of them littering the floor. The wood was bare, and the window had long since shattered.

But it was silent. He raised his voice, echoing slightly in the empty room.

"Anyone here?"

[thewhitepawn]

Anduin let Thassarian clear the way in this instance, following after him, peering around the corner of the doorway as the Death Knight moved farther inward, studying what lay inside silently.

"It looks like it's been abandoned for a long time..." he murmured, carefully taking another step, gaze darting all about the room and then behind him. He had his father's sense at least, not wanting to leave himself too vulnerable in a strange place and provide extra work for his companion.

[obliterating]

"Looks like it." He stepped back into the room ahead, but he didn't hear anything. Though some senses were dulled- taste and touch, he could still hear very keenly. All that he sensed here was himself and Anduin.

He motioned for Anduin to wait and quickly checked the other rooms. Some walls had holes in them, debris piled on the floor, but otherwise...nothing. Nothing to even suggest that someone or something was living here.

He sheathed his swords and walked back for the main room.

"Well, looks like you're right about that. No one's been here for a while."

[thewhitepawn]

Anduin obediently staid put for a few moments, gazing at the room beyond his doorway. He could hear Thassarian moving about, inspecting the other rooms, but there didn't seem to be anything else there.

"I wonder how long this place has been abandoned..." he murmured thoughtfully as the other man returned, easing farther into the room to join him.

[obliterating]

"It's been a long time." He stepped to a wall, peering at it. "A few years, at least, with the shape it's in."

His own family home, in Lordaeron, looked much the same when he had finally gone to see it. The boards were rotting, cobwebs in every opening and the land around it wild and untamed again, trying to reclaim the farm.

It was his home.

His expression softened a bit, recalling Koltira's cabin. It shouldn't be too far away from here, maybe a few hours walk at the most.

The city was strange, but this was more familiar. He looked around for a moment.

"...do you think anyone would mind if someone fixed this place up and stayed in it?"

[thewhitepawn]

Anduin looked around at the walls and the debris, carefully edging towards one of the windows, running his fingers along the sill, studying the dust that clung to his skin.

"I doubt anyone would mind - I wouldn't see why at least." A project like this building sounded ...well, not fun but rewarding in a sense, and he had a feeling the other would like having a place away from all of the living sorts.

"Would you like some help? If ...you do restore it, that is?"

[obliterating]

"That might be nice, actually. I get the feeling it'll be a learning experience for you."

He smiled softly, almost a smirk, and chuckled. It was good, he supposed, to give Anduin something to do. A project to put his mind to, something to keep him busy here. He was more than certain that Anduin didn't crave war, didn't need to fight, to kill, the same way he did. What was there, that they were all soldiers, for those that didn't fight?

He didn't think Anduin was weak for it. He actually appreciated it, in some way. All that Thassarian had ever known was fighting. He was a soldier in life, and a soldier in death, and it was almost curious to him that someone could believe in peace.

What place was there, for a Death Knight, in a time of peace?

"We'll need supplies from the city...and don't expect this to be a quick fix. This is...it's a project. But you're more than welcome to help."

[thewhitepawn]

"I could use a learning experience right about now." And his own smile mirrored Thassarian's as a sort of almost-smirk. He cast a glance around the room they stood in, crossing his arms.

"It will definitely require a lot of work," he observed, and perhaps there was a hint of anticipation in his voice at that - a desire to see what could come of their shaping this place into ...something. Something that Thassarian wanted, something that would perhaps be his and his alone.

And it kept him from combat, something that he had no desire to set foot near. Anduin was no coward but he was no warmonger either. A task like this, something he could plan and work on, it was just what he needed, a project to look forward to. His smile turned eager as he gazed at the Death Knight, nodding firmly.

"I would love to help. I can't wait to start."

[obliterating]

"Good." He stepped to the window, looking out at the cloudy sky. He couldn't see the sun through it, but if he had to guess...

"I don't think we'll make it back to the city before dark." He frowned slightly. "I won't make you march all night. There's somewhere along the way we can stop- an old friend's home."

He nodded. "You can rest there, and we'll back in the morning."

[thewhitepawn]

He wouldn't say it, didn't need to, but he appreciated Thassarian's courtesy. While he certainly would have marched back if they needed to, stopping to rest sounded like an infinitely better idea. Stretching his arms up and ove rhis head until he felt the popping sensation, he gave the Death Knight a small smile, nodding.

"Alright, if you feel that's best. We'll come back here though when we're able, to work on it for you, right?"

[obliterating]

For you. He was sliightly taken aback by Anduin's words, and it showed. Of course, he had no intention of expecting anyone else to live here, but he had considered the repairs to be something Anduin might do just to keep his hands busy.

"...for me?" A slow smile formed on his face, and he looked at Anduin. "Thank you."

He meant it, and he looked away, though the smile didn't leave his face. That someone would do this for him, especially someone who knew what he was...meant a lot to him. More than he really knew how to say.

"Let's move out, then. Plenty of ground to cover between now and dark."

[thewhitepawn]

For a moment, he gave the other a startled, somewhat bemused look in return for his questioning echo.

"Well, I didn't think you were going to fix it up to give it away." His voice was a gentle one, laced with a teasing tone he didn't often use with others. Thassarian's smile told him well enough how much the gesture meant to him and it just made him all the more determined to see the project to completion for him. At the Death Knight's suggestion he nodded firmly, moving away from the door to allow him to lead.

"Lead the way, friend. I'll be right behind you."