A distributor of medicines to the Church of Favonius. Adrian is known not only for their floral, herbal, and medicinal expertise but also considered an exceptional healer despite not being a member of the clergy or possessing a vision of their own.
intimacy and affection—two things a human could rarely afford and which always seemed out of reach for him. some sort of curse impressed upon him by virtue of his being, the inability to touch. such tactile indulgences are the spine of community, the thread that binds two. as such, he remained effectively untethered.
"no." his response is too quick, too clumsy, all teeth and no sincerity. the complete opposite of his appearance; his delicate visage belied his brusque nature. and though he lied, however unconvincingly, his features twitched at the unfamiliar touch. "why would i crave something that makes humans act like idiots?"
walls built beyond the heavens crack , glimpses of what lies beneath his bravo & venom reflect in crystallised azure. lashes aflutter to conceal the ragged pieces that time & betrayal dragged through figurative mud & battered to an unrecognisable state. a longing for penitence gleamed , yet hands too dirtied & a mockery of disease still prickles beneath his skin. he would not retreat the second time , not in the traditional sense , as the corners of lips twitch & his metaphorical mask returns , walls rebuilt. instead , he shifted his weight , allowed the accursed stain on his essence to be hidden , withdrawn from cautious sights - whether it was to protect or from shame , he did not linger on the thought behind it.
" i need it. "
their gaze burned , he was not naive enough to fail to witness where it focused , & the reasons to why. that cold grasp tightened its hold , mockingly speaking in voices long hoped deceased. he could not risk losing the abilities that came with , & he exhaled shakily - the sense of shame returned tenfold.
" you should know , of all those who bare witness to what i am , that this is not a burden that may be lifted. my eternity has not ended , bygone mistakes not yet atoned for. if anything , there have been additions. "
[ Apologies for the delay—I'm also making a steady return, haha. Absolutely ecstatic to see you back, by the way. I'll respond to that mini starter very soon. ]
" have you not heard . . . ? there is no rest for wicked. "
while this newcomer , or perhaps an old face he no longer remembered as a curse eroded memories from a time so long ago , moved forward - their target glided back a step , cautious of the prickle of disease rotting his senses. azure gleamed beneath lashes , lacking in the realm of emotion , as devoid & cold as the figurative fingers that coil around his heart. numb though he did not beckon forth neither the cosmic glow or the weapon that bore his title.
" your offer is admirable , if not foolhardy & ill-advised. "
he wore no malice ; there was a time & place , & now was neither. they bore no marking of the abyss , their presence carried another tune - dainsleif averted his gaze , disgust & disgrace in equal parts.
" or perhaps this is a charade you are attempting to build ? "
"The contrary, in fact—I simply cannot wrap my head around your optimism. You seem to have plenty to be happy about. All the more reason for you to keep your distance. I am not a good man, Adrian. Surely you are aware of this."
( I will be responding to our longer thread once I return, however—should you wish to continue it! )
"I have been, actually. And it absolutely isn't because your smile is contagious."
( ♥ Always happy to receive something from you. I think this banter may do me better for the next two weeks, as I will be rendered mobile overseas anyhow. )
In the corner of his singular eye, the rays of remaining sun are caught dancing through the canopy of droopy willows. Somewhere in the undergrowth, the remnants of animal decay feeds the earth. After all, everything that dies returns to the planet again, in one way or another.
Lullabied and faint, the forest beckons to him. Strange, foreign, yet beautiful. So bafflingly calm.
"You must be out of your mind," he rasps, hands brushing as they tread through the green. How ludicrous! Adrian's sense of independence waltzes through the boundaries of absurdity, shamelessly untamed. And in their hair, sunlight. Soaked with it, too. It is bone-splintering and world-shattering. Breathtaking, ravishing—
Dimitri averts his gaze elsewhere, refusing to acknowledge the rapid beating of his heart. The damned organ. He simply offers an arm for them to take, should they still wish it.
