datadiving | fantasy AU shenanigans

[Avery's shoulders droop, his prideful expression washed away in an instant]

That's it? That's all you have to say?

[After he put all that effort into it?]

[ He'd raise his eyebrows, if he had any. As it is, he gives Avery a surprised look. ]

If you're pleased with it, then surely that's what matters? You needn't cater to my tastes.

[ This is logical, right?

He feels like he's suddenly stepped into a hole that he didn't know was there. ]

Ugh, it's not about catering to someone's tastes, it's about the principle of the matter! You don't just walk up to a masterpiece and go "It's all right."

Yes, but I don't need this hunting ground, so I don't see why my opinion matters so much...

[ At a loss for what to say next, he turns to suggestions. ] Perhaps you could try adding more fog?

More f--... I guess.

[It'd certainly look cool and imposing, not to mentio nmake it easier for him to drag people away, but.

Well.

He doesn't exactly know how to do that.]

Let me guess: you're not impressed because you think you could do better.

Better? Not particularly...different, perhaps. [ He prefers things that are less visible. Prettier, to draw people in, and more subtle, to ever stop them from getting out. ]

It's all rather...obvious, isn't it? I'd make it more subtle, to draw people in.

But that's boring! Aren't the woods around a villainous lair supposed to make some sort of statement? You know, something like "you're an idiot if you come here and if you die it's your own fault?"

[Even if it does make it harder for him to get something to eat...]

What's the point if there's no dramatic flair?

What's the point of dramatic flair if you starve? [ He has been feeling hungrier lately, but his feeding requirements are less stringent than Avery's. ]

It doesn't have to look like this all the time, does it? Put an illusion over it, or something. Obviously villainous woods do run the risk of attracting 'heroes', and we're only two people.

[Truth be told, he wouldn't mind going up against a hero or two. There's something tempting about bashing their goody-two-shoe heads in, (and he's not sure if that's the bloodlust his little friend gave him talking or if he really is just that done with the idea of heroes at all).]

Fine, fine, fine... I'll keep it to the deeper parts of the forest and figure out how to put a little fog here and there. Any other things our resident forest expert wants to add?

[ Ekkehardt, on the other hand, is a little sour about the idea of more heroes. The last time he'd run up against one that was his equal, well...

Plenty of things had ended, even though he himself had survived. There's a bitterness there that refuses to leave him. So, mostly, he wants to be left alone. ]

I'd add some flowers in, personally. Something carnivorous, something that can hold prey, perhaps. [ Human, animal, whatever he likes. As a demonstration, he makes one of the many thorned vines bud and bloom with a large and violently purple-and-crimson flower. It has something like teeth around the edges, ridges hooked inwards to catch on clothing, fur and armor. ]

[It's... impressive, much as Avery hates to admit it. A good mix of form and function, vicious yet charming.

Still, he's not going to be outdone.]

Sure, it's nice and all, but didn't you just say you need something to lure them in?

[He gestures to one of the trees, where a caged fruit the size of a large cherry blossoms into being, swaying gently even without a breeze.]

Well, no reason that you can't have both. [ He eyes the cherry, and after a moment's thought, bids the flower to emit a sweet scent. Nothing too overpowering or sickly - just pleasant. ] And what does this fruit of yours do, pray tell? Surely looking nice can't be its only function.

[ If he knows anything about Avery, he knows that the man must be dying to show it off. ]

[He wears a proud smirk and holds out a hand, the fruit's stem detaching from a branch and gently floating over to rest above the palm of Avery's hand.]

Leads them right to me, of course. With a little wild goose chase thrown in if I want.

Truly? I was expecting something a little more weaponized. [ He half expected it to explode or something...

He inspects the fruit, seemingly admiring how it looks. It's alluring bait, even he can admit that. ] But it works well as is. It's a pretty thing.

Exactly. Nice and unassuming and especially good for luring someone deeper in. Maybe even right into one of those plants of yours.

[He "tosses" the fruit from hand to hand, the delicate, caged thing twirling as it moves back and forth. All the while, Avery is practically preening, chest puffed out and a smug little smile on his face.]

You look absurdly proud of yourself. [ He feels like he should be annoyed, but he's mostly just amused. ] I take it something like this wasn't exactly a childhood hobby for you?

Not really. Got a little bit of training when it came to the fire magic, of course, but most of the focus as on swordsmanship.

[Which was a shame, really. Magic always seemed much more fun, but they were always more worried about making sure he didn't burn the place down.]

Well. [ He crosses his arms, glancing around. ] I suppose it's quite the feat, if this is your first attempt. [ He has an aloof sort of tone, but it's unmistakably a compliment. ]

[From the look on Avery's face, it's clear that Ekke has made a grave error--the man's ego has expanded to roughly the size of a small moon.]

See? Even you know I've got the right idea! Almost a shame our visitors will end up dead before they come to really appreciate their surroundings.

[ He forms a fist and gently bonks it on the top of Avery's head. He notices that grave miscalculation and is now doing his best to correct it. ]

See if it catches anything first before you do too much preening. Don't get too full of yourself.

[Avery makes a short, sharp noise of surprise, fruit flying out of his hand and off somewhere into the forest, and then reaches up to try and swat away Ekkehardt's fist.]

It'll catch a ton of people! If you don't believe me, we can even keep a scorecard to see who managed to catch more.

We'll see. The proof is in the results, after all. [ He lets out a small, huffy laugh, swatting back at Avery's hand. ] I'm telling you this for your sake, you know! You're the one who needs to feed on souls.

[ And when did it become about doing things for him? He doesn't know. He's only just started thinking about it, and he wishes he hadn't. ]

[Avery's eyebrows raise a fraction, but in an instant he's turned on his heel, waving a hand dismissively and keeping his back to Ekkehardt in order to hide his expression.]

Yeah, yeah, I get it... Just don't be too negative or I won't let you have the remains.

Hmph! You say that like I'm incapable of finding my own food. [ There's no bite to the words, because he's replaying the conversation in his head and sinking slowly into the realisation of the fact he might not hate him after all. That alone is startling enough.

Anything else will have to wait. He doesn't want to think about it. ]

Oh, you're capable all right. But are you really going to turn down that kind of convenience?

[He knows he wouldn't. (And maybe, just maybe, it's the least he can do to pay the wizard back for all he's done.)]

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spelleton - 2021-04-26 04:31 (UTC) - Expand