Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

Comments

~In the name of the Stars, I will punish you!~

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Staying on the move, it seems, was far easier said than done.

Although they were avoiding them, they were still using towns as landmarks to guide their way, and the next one from the little den was approximately three days' travel. Maya had done an admirable job of repairing the damage from Mondo's magic, but Peter's body was still exhausted and repairing itself and, in a perfect world, he would've had another day or two to rest. But the world isn't perfect, because sometimes you get chased by a band of bloodthirsty thieves and maniacal wizards, and sometimes you make blood pacts with Sirens, and sometimes you lose the ones you love or get imprisoned by a bunch of assholes -- so, Peter thinks, you just have to make do with the hand you're dealt.

On the bright side, Peter's fears of slowing them down weren't proven true, mostly because sheer stubbornness and willpower (and, in some ways, fear of a repeat of their encounter with someone like Brother Mordo) kept him upright far after it was wise for him to still be moving. If it hadn't been for Maya noticing his unsteady steps and forcing them to rest, and subsequently lecturing him for how idiotic and irresponsible and bull-headed (and a whole lot of other negative attributes that Peter didn't hear because she was using her magic to heal him by that point, and once she did that it made him seriously drowsy), Peter would've kept going until he collapsed from exhaustion.

At the very least, he slept dreamlessly that night.

It's midway through the second day that Maya had had enough and gave him an earful, and whatever it was he heard finally got through his thick skull. Guilt probably had a lot to do with it. Pride, too, perhaps. He probably had those dark thoughts about being a burden and a liability, and what would happen if they were attacked and he was too exhausted and couldn't put up a fight? He would look ridiculous. Bad enough he was out-classed in every possible way when it came to a magic-user battle; the least he could do was be an annoyance and a distraction if members of the Order appeared.

So Maya stops forcing their breaks, because Peter's the one finally asking. Perhaps they're not stopping as frequently as they should, but that he's asking to rest at all is surely an improvement.

He's feeling a lot better by the third day, but still not quite at his best just yet. Maybe another day or two and he'll be fine, he thinks -- or he hopes, anyway. But at the moment he's leaning against a tree, trying to catch his breath as Maya moves on ahead. They're not too far from town, maybe another hour or two, and he'd really like to just keep pressing forward to at least reach the outskirts, but his legs are starting to feel like jelly, but they're so close, and maybe he could just keep going--? ]

Maya, hold on. [ He sounds a little pissed and embarrassed. ] Sorry-- could we stop again?

[phaselocknroll]

[ Maya is well-aware of the frailty of humans, Peter's, it seems, most of all. She's not sure what would compel him to push himself far beyond his limit, but having demonic strength and stamina, she has yet to actually reach hers so she really has no place to wonder.

She has no problems with sitting Peter down and telling him when he's being a dumbass about it. She cares about him (again, in what capacity, she has no idea), and would rather not see him exhaust or further injure himself.

So when he starts asking to take breaks, she really and genuinely appreciates it, because it means he's willing to take his own well-being into account and not just hers.

Which is why she stops walking, and turns to him with a nod and a look on her face that she hopes it reassuring. ] Of course. If you want to sit down, I can get you some water.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ At her invitation, he slips off his bow and flops down immediately and gracelessly (but only because she suggested it, honestly). At least he's careful not to sit on his knapsack. ]

I'd appreciate it. [ He leans back against the tree, head tilted back against the bark. ] Sorry again. I know we're near town, I just...

[ He trails off, shrugging a little helplessly. ]

[phaselocknroll]

Peter, please don't worry about it. The important thing is that you recover.

[ she moves to the knapsack, rifling through it for the empty skein. ] There's a creek nearby. I'll fill this and be right back.

[ She lifts the skein free and turns to go, though not before jarring something small and silver from one of the pockets. ] Ah- I'm sorry. I didn't know that was in there.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ His eyes are already slipping closed when she moves to grab the skein from his bag, but he glances over lazily when she apologizes, and the light catches on something small and silver.

The pendant.

He starts immediately, eyes wide, and working on some base instinct, his hand flies out to snatch it up. He doesn't realize how desperate he looks, because he's busy remembering the last time he lost it, how fear of losing it forever had made him physically sick, and how finding it after hours of searching in mud was the only thing that had helped him recover.

Weirdly, he calms the instant his fingers close around it and he sighs with relief. He takes a few breathes and pulls a hand through his hair before he finally answers. ]

It's okay. Just-- try to be careful.

[phaselocknroll]

[ That reaction was strange and startling, and she looks a little concerned, but nods all the same. She goes quickly to refill their water supply, and comes back a few short moments later.

She offers him the skein, quiet for a beat before saying softly, ] I assume that's important to you.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's still holding it when she returns, looking down at the metal pendant decorated simply with some sort of black, swirling design; and he's considerably calmer when he takes the skein from her.

He takes a long pull from it, then nods; and he struggles, a little, to get his phrasing right when he speaks. ]

My mother gave it to me, before she-- when-- when the Ravagers took me. Kept it ever since.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She takes a seat next to him, leaning against his shoulder to peer over at the pendant.

Well, at least his reaction makes a little more sense. ]

Very precious indeed. I'm sorry I dropped it.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He shrugs his other shoulder, trying for a reassuring smile. He's a little surprised by her closeness, but he tries not to show it -- in a small way, he's afraid drawing attention to it might startle her. ]

Hey, no harm done.

[ He holds the pendant a little higher, giving her a better view. ]

Used to wear it around my neck, but I nearly lost it once. Guard grabbed me around the collar while I was on a job, snapped the chain without my noticing. Didn't realize it was gone until hours later. Had to sneak back to look for it.

[phaselocknroll]

It really is lovely. May I...? I mean, if it's all right with you.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He hesitates -- but only for a quick second, because if he can't trust Maya with it after he'd basically put his life in her hands several times over, who could he trust? So holds the pendant out on his open palm for her to take. ]

I don't mind.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She picks it up gingerly, turning it over in her hand. It's really a lovely piece of work, and really she feels so at ease just holding it, and-- wait.

She blinks a couple of times. ]

Huh. Strange.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's chewing on his lower lip, trying not to be too nervous as she looks it over. But, well-- a small part of him is, just a little. He doesn't want to lose it again. ]

What is?

[phaselocknroll]

I, uh. I think this has some sort of enchantment on it.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He blinks.

-- Okay he blinks again.

-- Yep, okay, three times.

When he finally speaks, it's slowly and evenly. ]

What are you talking about?

[phaselocknroll]

Nothing major. More like a magical suggestion than anything.

But when I hold it, I just sort of feel... I don't know. Calm?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Even as she's saying it, he's shaking his head. ]

Mom didn't know any magic. Hell, we didn't even know anyone who knew magic. There weren't any wizards or enchanters for miles.

[phaselocknroll]

Do you know where she got it?

[nostalgiabomb]

She's-- always had it. She wore it ever since I could remember.

[phaselocknroll]

It's possible that she didn't know about the enchantment. As I said, it's very subtle.

But there's certainly nothing harmful about it.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He frowns, clearly puzzled by this bit of news -- and, if he were to admit it, a little troubled. ]

Well... she was sick a lot. Maybe it-- helped, somehow. I don't know.

[phaselocknroll]

Perhaps.

[ she turns it over in her hands a couple of times, inspecting the markings. ]

... I'm sorry. I doubt this was something you wanted to hear.

[nostalgiabomb]

Well-- it's certainly not something I expected, I can tell you that much.

[ His presses his lips together into a thin line, still thoughtful. Then-- ] As long as it isn't dangerous, it's nothing to worry about, right? I guess if I've had it all these years then something would've happened by now.

[phaselocknroll]

I honestly don't think there's anything malicious about it.

[ In fact, she's kind of okay just sitting here holding it. She's tired, suddenly, but because she's never really been tired before, she mistakes it for the calming nature of the amulet making her lazy. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

That's reassuring, at least.

[ For Peter's part, a headache is starting to bloom just behind his temples -- probably overexertion, he thinks. He takes another pull from the skein of water and lets his head fall back against the tree, eyes slipping shut.

There's a quiet snap of a twig nearby, but Peter doesn't notice it. ]

Do you think I should try to get it-- disenchanted or something?