[ open ] swift as the coursing rain, with all the force of a great typhoon

[flashbanging]

CHARACTERS: McCree; Koltira; yOU
DATE: First few weeks post-arrival in Perdition's Rest
WARNINGS: somebody might hit somebody else
SUMMARY: TRAINING DAY(s)



MCCREE

[ McCree's set up near the northwestern border of the town. He's constructed a line of targets--six flour sacks tied to poles, facing the expanse of desert beyond--and he's spinning his revolvers in his good hand. He's got a mess of other guns piled on top of a nearby barrel, some borrowed from Riza Hawkeye, some purchased from the local munitions shop. Attached to the barrel is a sign:

SHARPSHOOTING
(OR HAND-TO-HAND)
HERE. ]

KOLTIRA

[ Koltira's on the southern outskirts. Anyone conducting business in the town proper can see him just beyond the edges of the last buildings, giant sword in hand, black coattails fluttering behind him as he paces. He has no targets, and no sign, either. He has the sword in his hand, the knives on his belt, and a scowling expression on his face. ]


[ OOC: TRAINING, with either Koltira or McCree. Obviously, totally separate from one another--I just combined the log so as not to spam the community needlessly. If no actual training was discussed on record, but you'd still like to have your character learn something, feel free to handwave that discussion.

McCree offers: sharpshooting; brawling.

Koltira offers: weapons training; magic if you're capable; hand-to-hand also.

McCree is a friendly and patient teacher.

Koltira is not.

Of course, if you'd just like to bother them while they are holding deadly weapons, that is also fine. Please comment to either subheader below for a custom starter! Please specify what you're here for! ]

Comments

[respired]

[ Friends. He doesn't have too many of those. Few enough in Audentes, and only the one in Azeroth. A man he's not seen in years, anyway. A man he doubts he'll ever see again.

He curls his fingers against the fence, his nails digging into the wood, chipping the paint. He thinks of Tobias's kiss, and he thinks of Twisted Fate's kiss, and he thinks that this is something else that will be taken from him in time. Perhaps more quickly than he realizes.

It would be best to send Fate away. It would be safe.

But his mouth had been so warm.

Koltira swallows thickly. He lifts his head, and the glow of his eyes burns behind the curtain of his pale hair. ]

Few ever trust a death knight, and that is wise. Few befriend us, either. That, too, is wise.

[ He draws his hair back. Exhales false breath, just to steady himself. He remembers walking through Orgrimmar. How the people had screamed, and spat, and called for a noose. He remembers their hatred, and their fear. It's what he's used to. What he expects. ]

But if you would defy that wisdom, I would not turn you away.

[fateality]

[Sometimes it amazes him how much someone can be so full of self-loathing, but then he knows to an extent how much Koltira has reasoning for it. Regardless, that is all he can really understand of his reactions, the way he grips the fence.

But perhaps it is more than he knows. The questions will probably cost him a few drinks sometime.

Twisted Fate shrugs to him.]

I pick my friends carefully. Ain't makin' the decision lightly.

[As he said, trust is a big thing. Difficult, to be sure. But he thinks, honestly, that the nobly intended elf is not entirely gone and he can count on that, for certain.

And it doesn't hurt to have a death knight for a friend. Not yet, anyway.]

But if you ever get sick of it, you just let me know.

No hard feelings.

[respired]

[ Koltira's fairly sure that Fate will come to regret this choice. And if Koltira regrets it--which he knows he will--it'll only be because of the pain he's destined to cause, one way or another. ]

I do not tire.

[ Not exactly what Fate meant, and Koltira knows it. But still, the implication is clear. He is not the one in danger. He is not the one who will turn away.

But he manages a smile, small and wry. ]

However, I am afraid most of my feelings are not soft, either.

[fateality]

Right, and you don't get hungry or thirsty. Guessin' you don't sleep, either. But you can get impatient.

[It's spoken, more like teasing, more like the smugness he usually carries in his voice.]

Hell, if it were soft, doubt I'd have wanted to come this far. Not much room for it for either of us, I think.

[Even if it would be nice, on paper anyway. But he knows to be somewhat realistic, not idealistic.]

Now then. Seein' as how you've been ever so considerate, hearing me out and all, is there anythin' you need from me?

[respired]

[ He tries for a lighter tone to match, and succeeds, if only for a moment, his thin smile in place. ]

I could. I am simply not in the habit. Sleep was forbidden among the ranks of the Scourge.

[ The last time he'd slept was during the mission to Nalawi, and only then because he was dying. He hasn't tried since. He does sometimes wonder what it might be like.

But Fate goes on. The moment passes; Koltira's expression falters.

Does he need anything? He bites his lower lip, his vampire-sharp canine digging in.

Oh, yes.

He reaches forward, too quickly, as if to grab--but he struggles, he fights himself, and instead his open palm settles gently against Fate's cheek.

He murmurs, his head throbbing, howling. ]

A favor.

[fateality]

Well, lucky you, you're pretty damned far from them.

[It's just meant to be a remark; he doesn't know much, but he fathoms that Koltira must be grateful to be far from the Scourge and whatever else has conformed him into this.

He forgets; Koltira is quick, quick enough that Twisted Fate almost fails to react in time, but finds a hand resting against his skin, cool and dry.

Fate's expression relaxes into a smile, almost lazy, as if unconcerned.]

If you need one. Won't even charge ya for it.

[respired]

[ Sleep is as fanciful a thought as ever to him. Were he not so close to the edge of hysteria, were he not so wracked with spasm, he might have thought on it more. Might have entertained it.

But he has nowhere to sleep, anyway.

Koltira brushes his thumb back and forth over Fate's cheekbone; it's a light, soft motion. He feels the warmth against the chill of his own palm, and he likes it. But he can't let it distract him.

He sets his jaw. ]

The next time you see me, you must run.

[fateality]

[He isn't certain what he expected, but certainly not that.

Twisted Fate reaches up, pressing his hand over Koltira's, as if to invite him to the warmth. Maybe to keep him there.]

You gonna tell me why?

[respired]

[ Sharp jabs of pain prickle up along his spine; mere whispers of what's soon to come. Thunder before lightning.

He mutters, looking away. Ashamed, wincing.

But he doesn't move his hand. ]

I -- feel it. I'm losing reason. Control. The pain is becoming unbearable. Soon it will be so.

[fateality]

[So that's what it's been, all this time during their conversations. He's been in pain, literal actual pain. That makes more sense, in retrospect.

Fate scowls and gently squeezes his hand.]

Is there anythin' else that can be done?

[respired]

[ He holds up his other hand. ]

ALASTAIR gave me a ring. Its jewel offers some relief, but--

[ The once white crystal is cloudy. Not completely black yet, though not far from it, either. ]

--its powers are already nearly exhausted.

[ In other words--no. ]

[fateality]

Well, that figures. Suppose they didn't have the foresight to get you another.

[He shuts his eyes for a moment, considering before he looks at Koltira again.]

So what'll happen next?

[respired]

[ Simply: ]

I will lose myself to the pain. I mean to warn the others properly, as well. I mean to isolate myself, and pray to the Light that it passes with no harm done to anyone who does not deserve it.

[ He'll go out among the bandits, maybe. He hasn't thought it fully it through, because thinking at present is a trial. ]

[fateality]

[Suffice it to say, it sounds as if he can't do anything about that, and Koltira is taking the time to explain expectations.

He offers a smile, a little softer than he's made before.]

But it'll pass? Before it comes back, I reckon. Way you explain it, sounds like it never really goes away.

[respired]

[ The tips of his ears perk forward slightly, unconsciously, in reaction to that smile. ]

It will pass, or I will tear myself apart. Either way, I must try to ensure that you and the others are safe.

[ He glances down, staring at the cloudy ring, at his bare hand. He could swear he sees a blood stain blossoming over his palm already. ]

It never truly leaves me. I fight it. And sometimes I lose.

[fateality]

[Carefully, he takes Koltira's hand from his face, bringing it around to press his lips lightly against the knuckles. An echo from the last time he encouraged a kiss, and Koltira paid this to him.]

I'm a bettin' man, as you know.

You'll see the end of this. And I'll see you at the other side, whenever it's done.

[He thinks, briefly, of the last time he saw Malcolm: ready to kill Twisted Fate, even as they were surrounded and ready to be taken by pirates. ALASTAIR had good timing, ensuring Twisted Fate's escape, but it's not the first time he'd technically abandoned his ex-partner.

He'd like to think he won't make that same mistake here.]

[respired]

[ Koltira's ears go rigid, standing straight upright as TF kisses his knuckles. He, too, is unused to softness of any kind; certainly he's been shown precious little of it since his undeath. There are people in Audentes who have been kind to him, even inexplicably affectionate. Even lascivious. But not romantic.

And as for this confidence in him--well, that's pretty new, too.

He doesn't really know what to make of it.

So he just goes formal (not that he ever isn't formal), bowing his head slightly, trying to hide his bewilderment. ]

I can only hope, Fate.

[ And he does have some small hope. Death knights were not always entirely lost to despair. He thinks of what his commander used to say: 'All is not lost.

Not yet.' ]

[fateality]

[Koltira's hand is gently released, and Twisted Fate looks up at him, keeping his smile.]

Hey now. That's almost positive sounding from you.

[A careful remark, meant lightly.]

For right now, if you aren't busy, I can buy you another drink. After that, I'll keep what y'said in mind.