Braincells are a Myth

[Sparky]

[Refs]

   As sunlight filtered through the trees, a soft breeze carried with it the soothing scent of nature. Summer may have finally been in it's dying hours, but the trees had yet to lose their color. A hare poked its head from its burrow, nose twitching while it scanned the forest floor. Whatever it may have sensed, the furry bundle quickly darted back, hiding itself away. In truth, there was an eerie sense of silence that had blanketed the forest. No birds to call their song, or squirrels darting betwixt their trees. Despite the picturesque beauty of the scene, the lack of true life gave it an almost dream-like quality. A sensation of... wrongness. As though the forest was holding it's breath, waiting for something to-

    An explosion tore through the silence, splintering wood against the ground. A shrill cry pierced the air as a man was hurled through sky, crashing into a tree with a sickening crack. Howling laughter chased a pack of bandits as they stumbled past the broken, mangled heap of what used to be their friend. The men shouted between one another in a wild panic, as the sounds of violence grew ever closer. Their ranks broke as a wicked shout overtook their voices. 

    "RrrrAAAAAAAUGH!" A behemoth of a man roared, head thrust back, bloodied arms pumped back, as though he were a rockstar on the grand stage. His body tensed and rolled unnaturally. Each movement had a fluidity to it, but was strained. As if the man was fighting against his own limbs. Glowing blue crosses rolled forwards and fell upon the bandits as they toppled backwards. A low chuckle welled in the man's throat and quickly grew into a howling laughter. "Bwahahahahaaha!"

    Blood dripped from the head of the man's axe, and with each step it felt as though the world shook beneath him. "More meat, MORE MEAT! MORE MEAT FOR MY AXE! Give me your guts, GIVE ME YOUR GUTS!" The man roared forwards, then whipped his head back, rolling it, shaking. A heavy fist clattered into his temple- his own. White hair frayed out when the goliath shook his head from side to side, and leveled his gaze upon the bandits. The mask hissed, a trail of vapor escaping it, trailing after him with each step he took. One of them tripped over himself and fell backwards, left to watch helplessly as a shadow fell upon him.

     The sight of the behemoth looming over him filled the bandit's vision. The blood that dripped from his gauntlets, his axe as it hung idly at the man's side. Remnants of the slaughter. The mask tilted to the side as the crosses locked to him. "Punish the deserving..." he growled. Without warning, without any sign that it was coming, the man reared back and slammed the axe down between the bandit's eyes. It was a clean cut, cleaving straight through the bone and into the dirt beneath. 

    Gaige tugged at his axe a few times, head tilting side to side in confusion when it didn't come out as easily as he expected. In a fit of desperation, one of the men siezed the chance to rush at the barbarian, screaming bloody murder as he lunged in with a longsword. The mask snapped to the side towards the bandit, head tilting quizzically. Once more, his body language shifted in a blink, and Gaige's left arm shot to a holster, bringing twin barrels to bare with a casual air. 

    An explosion burst forth and erased all thoughts. 

    The headless corpse flipped backwards and clattered onto the ground unceremoniously, just as Gaige pried his axe free. "EXCALIBUR!!!" He roared, hefting the axe to the sky. Once more his laughter shook the survivors to their very core. "Meat... meat... meat... more meat for my axe... muahahahehehehe." A puff of red mist hissed from the mask.

    "Give me your guts..." 

---

    "Fluffy, fluffy, fluffy booys! FLUFFY YOU'RE SO FLUFFY!!" The man sang as he danced around holding a wild hare. With a hefty 'thump,' he fell onto his rear down onto the ground. Nearby a fox growled as it attempted to tear into a finger, while up above, the bird songs had returned. "YOU WILL BE A GREAT GENERAL! ALL WILL LEARN TO FEAR YOUR MIGHT. I SHALL NAME YOU... BENNY THE MIGHTY SLAUGHTERER, devourer of ALL THAT IS BAD!" 

    The hare looked positively fucking terrified. 
    
    A puff of pink mist elicited a brief shake of the man's head, before he continued to fawn over the... weirdly numerous amount of animals around him. From small rodents such as squirrels or racoons, to even something as large as a doe. 

    But as the camera pulled back, the greater picture formed, giving a reminder that despite the beautiful wildlife, what surrounded the man was a scene of pure gore. Of course, it was his job to make sure every last member of the bandit troop was sent to the grave, and certainly they were deserving of death given their many crimes. However, there was something to be said for the manner in which he dispatched his adversaries. 

    Certain warriors saw an art in a clean and efficient kill. Ending their enemy with as little suffering as possible. Others at least made an attempt to avoid needless suffering. What surrounded Gaige was a tribute to the art of slaughter. A vulgar and brutal spectacle that left little care towards whatever life his victims once held. While it might not have been as blatant as pinning corpses up to spikes, the brutalization of them in their final moments left their bodies as little more than grizzly spectacles. 

    As though to emphasize that point, a head, now divorced from it's body, still sat where it had originally came to rest- atop Gaige's axe, which still remained firmly planted in the tree it had swung into. Obviously, the big man had more important matters to attend to than trying to get his weapon unstuck yet again. 

    Like playing with General Benny the Slaughterer, Devourer of all that is Bad. 

    "Benny, Benny, Beeen-ny." He chanted, bobbing the rabbit up and down off his knee. "GO FORTH NOW, and CONQUER all that stands in your path, FOR THE GLORY OF WAFFLES! Ghk." The man's head jerked to the side with a sudden twitch, followed by another burst of the pink mist. As soon as Benny was set upon the ground, the Rabbit bolted back to its hole, leaving the big man in the clearing. Sitting cross-legged and rocking back and forth at a steady, easy pace, he began to hum a song. Beneath the mask, his eyes swept the branches above and watched the clouds.

    He was blissfully unaware of the world around him, and anyone else who might stumble upon him.

[fluffymcsnuggles]

[Playlist]

   

The days spent in this new place were...interesting. She couldn't seem to land another job for the life of her. She would rather not risk another run-in with bandits. She's far too weak and pathetic for that now. She knows that much. Still, she has no skill with service, she has a fair education but it seems no one is willing to take her on as a governess or tutor of some kind.

So she's back in the woods now. It's best for her really. She'd rather be alone at this point and fade into obscurity. Just a pathetic ex-ruler who can't even take charge of her own life when the weight of the crown has been severed from her shoulders. She's so tired. Part of her wonders why she even still lives. It felt like there wasn't much point in continuing on. Maybe that's why her behavior has steadily grown more reckless. Or rather, less caring about her own well being. Even now the clothes she wore began to break down from the harsh environment she camps out in.

She had enough gold for a pack, a tent, and a bedroll. The food she could acquire herself. Even if it's something as small as a rabbit a day. She never dared to stay in one place for too long. Even during the festival, she felt unsafe, even with the generous offer from strangers. There was some motive behind it she figured. They wanted something from her and when she didn't give it to them, they left her alone. That's how it always works.

She has nothing to give anyone anyways. Besides maybe her own head for a generous amount of gold. She needed to drag herself out of her thoughts. It makes it hard to focus when she's hiking in fuck all nowhere. However, there was a distinct smell on the air that made her gag on instinct. She pressed forward and the smell of iron got stronger. That was how she happened to stumble upon Gaige's slaughter through the brush. She, of course, did not know what caused the carnage since she had yet to discover the source.

Despite every instinct telling her to stop and run away she pushes forward. Part of her wondering if she could find the source and meet the same fate. Why did such a thought bring her comfort? She couldn't understand this sudden desire to be a part of the hacked limbs before her. She looks down and gathers splashes and pools of blood before spotting the culprit sitting and rocking back and forth in an opening grove. She narrows her eyes and debates if attacking them is wise. She shouldn't. She wouldn't win. She would die.

She brings out her dagger into her hand, heart hammering in her ears. She didn't know the full situation, was it really smart to attack a stranger? No, but this stranger was clearly fucking mad. He's rocking back and forth muttering to himself in a pool of limbs and blood. No one in their right mind would let that person getaway. Still, she isn't in her right mind and she figures she would join these fools soon enough. She had to be subtle, though as she thought that and took a step forward a branch snapped near her direction. She looks down and finds there was no twig under her feet, but rather a rabbit running off that caused the brush to snap and break off.

"Fuck!" she hisses tightening the grip on her dagger.

[Sparky]

[Refs]

    Gaige looked up from humming 'The Ants Go Marching,' perking up as the cross-shaped eyes fell upon a young woman in tattered garbs. He seemed completely unfazed by the weapon she held, instead hopping up with a joyful gasp. A thick coating of blood had begun drying on his hands and forearms, as well as upon his boots. And yet, he seemed joyful of the other's presence, completely contradicting the threatening, almost monstrous appearance. 

    "A NEW FRIEND!" He cried, stumbling over towards the woman, laughter booming off of him. "A soft and GOLDEN birdy. Hello little birdy! WELCOME TO..." The words trailed off as he seemed to lose himself for a moment. His eyes wandered along with the turning mask. When the crosses fell back upon Nienna, the big man perked up again. "A LITTLE BIRDY! A golden bird! Why are you out of your cage, little bird? Were your keepers cruel? COME! JOIN ME ON MY GREAT CRUSADE! I AM GOING ON A GREAT ADVENTURE TO CONQUER THE MOON AND PUNISH THE DESERVING, AND TOGETHER WE WILL FIND ALL THE GLORY OF FLUFFY BOIS AND FRIENDS TO SMACK WITH WAFFLES eheheheheheheheh...."

    Laughter bloomed up from his throat, and while once it may have been a cheerful sound, it was now hoarse and rough. The brute threw his head back, laughing with a childlike energy. So strange. Every movement was so exaggerated. Each motion was reminiscent of an actor on a stage, or a marionette on a string. Overexaggerated past the point of reality.

    A puff of pink mist elicited a shake of the man's head.

    Once more, the head tilted, twisted, and turned, reassessing the area he was in. The mask returned down to Nienna. Gaige lowered himself, crouching slightly as he studied her. "Why are you here, Little Bird?" Another slow hiss of the pink mist as his head cocked to the side. This time, the man seemed reflective as he spoke. The storm of thoughts that roiled in his mind ebbing as his eyes stared deep into hers. Probing for an answer she did not have. A question he did not know. His voice became smooth, low. Each word carrying a slow measure. The young woman could no doubt feel his eyes prodding and probing past the mask. "You do not belong..." 

    The man's head rocked to the other side as his hands lifted up, up to head level. The droning static that clouded his thoughts receded, the noise begetting a curious focus. There was something there. Gaige could see it, deep within the fields of her green eyes. His hands rose to her cheeks, close, but not touching. A question. An answer. A curiosity. "Who are you... Little Bird?" His hands slowly eased close as his thoughts collided with one another. Something Something ^Something _SOMETHING ^something SOMETHING something _{is someone there?} His head snapped to attention as the static roared back in, the noise consuming his thoughts and devouring the man in the storm.

    Clarity. Chaos. A wave of noise. Gaige pealed away from the woman and threw his head around, a stream of pink mist trailing after him. The world was out of focus. His hands were miles away from him and yet the ground was oh so close. He could taste the sky, and feel the clouds. Something was wrong. Something wasn't right. A question, an answer, a curiosity... a memory. A memory? When his mind tried to find it, everything lost focus. The big brute felt as though the world might have been, perhaps, upside down. Or maybe sideways? 

    He buckled over, trailing the mist as he roiled and fought against the storm as the noise threatened to consume everything he was and leave nothing behind in it's wake. The mask clicked, gave a small puff, and reality stopped being inverted. Upside down was upside down, green was green, and the ground was where it should have been. The man breathed deeply of the sweet taste of Bliss, and the noise subsided. Where was he? He didn't remember. The man looked around and slowly the memory came back to him. The deserving! He'd punished them properly, and completed the bounty. Now it was time to head back and collect his pay! As he turned, Gaige perked up. "A little bird!" He cooed.

    "Hello Little Bird! What brings you here? Why are you not in your cage? Were your keepers cruel?" He approached her once more, clapping his hands together. "Your feathers are all tattered where once they must have been so pristine? What happened Little Bird? I know! You should accompany me! I have PUNISHED the deserving, and am returning for my compensation. We can replace your dirtied feathers, with something new!" 

    Once again around the track, but the path had once more changed. 
    
    It was as though Gaige's mind was disconnecting, probing different trails through brute force to see which one kept him the most intact. The path had changed, but the landmarks were still there, only placed differently than before. Even under the mask, however, the man's smile could be felt in each of his words. 

[fluffymcsnuggles]

[Playlist]

   

The minute his eyes fell upon her, she felt her legs jerk, attempting to run. But she stayed her ground, frozen stiff with sudden fear. All the words that echoed behind that mask were the ravings of a madman. Now she questioned whether it was wiser to run or stay still as she is. She couldn't predict how this person would react to sudden movements at all. The insane are the worst because she can never tell what they're going to do.

His names were confusing and he sounds too curious for his own good. Her eyes flick away from his, passing over the carnage. She internally grimaced with regret looking upon the scene once more and forced her eyes back towards Gaige.

His laughter made her head twitch ever so slightly with the regretful display of fear. He had to be controlled by some kind of magic with the way his body twists and snaps. The puff of pink surrounding him only confirmed her thoughts. Now what to do with such a revelation...

His fixated gaze made her stop attempting to evade the present. Right now she was in the company of an extremely dangerous, possibly malicious, most definitely insane person. She wanted to get out of there as soon as she could, but moving seemed impossible.

As his hands dared to get closers she clenched her jaw and her breath hitched. There was the slightest waver of her eyebrow, but she did not move. Perhaps now this was a test of her own will, a stubborn need to not display fear. Even though part of her knew she was already failing at this. She does not dare answer his questions, she knows nothing of him, where he is from or who he knows. He could know about the bounty. She gives no answer to him. Her eyes just narrow only slightly, and her hands tighten on the hilt of her dagger as his hands edge closer. She'll kill him if he does something, but she'd have to do it in one blow. She just needs to wat for the perfect opening.

That never comes as he pulls away and she can breathe a little easier thanks to the distance. She watches him fall away and thrash around with the mask. She went to move but his attention was back on her quick and she stilled once more under his gaze. Once more he approaches with his mad ravings, like his mind had reset their entire conversation- or lack of one.

She swallows down the sick pit of fear in her throat as she speaks. Her voice still, cold, and calm. "Then what would I owe you, if you were to buy me new things? Strangers don't offer up freely."

[Sparky]

[Refs]

    Silence. Dead silence. The man's head tilted again while he tried to comprehend what she meant. To him, she was speaking such an alien language. "Oh Little Bird, who hurt you so?" Came the slow reply. His tone was soft, tinged with a somber sense of pity. "You owe me... NOTHING! Hrm, no, too proud, yes? TOO PROUD! Pride, pride, pride. Hm? Pride? Pride! I SEE! YOU OWE ME...!!!"

    The big man performed a curtsy, lowering just a bit... further than he should have. "A BOW!" He announced, popping back up and clapped his hands together. "Royalty bowing! Fancy fancy fancy! Little brother would love to hear about this story! Ohohoho, he will be so surprised! Please Little Bird? Then we can get you new feathers! NEW FEATHERS! New new new new." The last repetition came out in a sing-song manner, the big man overjoyed and filled with excitement. 

    His fingers dug away into his jacket, grabbing for a piece of paper. The material was as obvious as the contents. No doubt more so to Nienna, thanks in part to her recent experiences in the bounty-hunting business. The brute uncrumpled it and began rotating it this way and that, flipping his head this way and that. Finally, he pulled out a pen and cleared his throat. His voice put on a feaux-posh accent, deepening slightly as he spoke. "Melagan Bandit Clan. Crimes; rape, murder, theft, arson, kidnapping. Wanted Dead... check~. Bring proof of kill for reward." 

    With a hum and a nod, he stuffed the paper and pen back in his pockets, and turned to where his axe was planted into a tree. The head that rested upon it was a good bit of proof, so he snagged it and swiped a bag off one of the corpses. For this process... it was best if Nienna looked away, especially when instead of taking the axe, Gaige pulled out a long, sharp hunting knife. 

    The process was not going to be pretty in any capacity. 

    When finally the "proof" was collected, Gaige slung the bad over a shoulder and allowed the axe to hang by his side. "Come, Little Bird! Compensation to collect, feathers to buy, people to make happy!" The proud young man turned and started marching, whistling 'The ants go marching' through the mask as he did so. He seemed so happy with himself. Like a child who'd just done something to make their parents proud. Off-putting or not, he was simply following the bounty as it was written. 

    A dense fog of static rolled in his mind, ebbing back and forth. This was fine, nothing was wrong. And yet, the noise was always there. Ever present. Ever bothersome. Ever clouding the path ahead. Gaige could scarcely see a foot infront of him, but as long as he kept going forwards, it kept working. Under the mask, the young man blinked it all away and shook his head. He paused, looked back towards Nienna, waited. "Little Bird! Come, come, come! Not far, not far at all!"

    Words continued to echo in his mind, circling around him and coming in and out of focus. The more he repeated them, the more sense they made. The more real they felt. He smiled under the mask and continued to whistle his tune, marching in place while waiting for Nienna to catch up to him. 

[fluffymcsnuggles]

[Playlist]

   

Her nose almost scrunched up in disgust as she could hear the pity in his insane voice. She hated that feeling, that people pitied her. She didn't need pity, pity wasn't going to get anything back. Pity wasn't going to do anything. Or perhaps that was more of her wounded pride speaking. She just hated being seen as something pathetic and to feel sorry for. She straightened her posture and met his gaze, her own eyes burning with a harsh fire. Nothing sounded too good to be true, especially in the company of a mad man.

She raised an unamused brow at the attempt of a bow which she did not return. Though seeing the gesture made her blood run cold. Was it that obvious, or was there something perceptive through the madness? That was terrifying. She knew he could very well go off and speak about her towards other people who may actually make the connection. That made her dread letting him run off with what he knew. She couldn't afford him to live with such information- but she wasn't able to kill him yet. Time to tolerate more insanity than she's willing to for the sake of safety. Ironic, considering staying in the company of this stranger is also dangerous, but not as dangerous as the information he now has.

While he is distracted rifling through his jacket she goes to make some moves to get a bit closer, dagger tight in her hand, heart racing. But once more he looks up and begins to mutter and mumble about the crimes of the torn-up bodies before them. Well- at least those bastards wouldn't cause any more misery. She watches him walk over to a mangled corpse and immediately looks away as he takes out a knife. Dear god, he's going to chop off the head. She did NOT want to watch that stuff. It's probably for the best, there's a great deal of gore and violence she can stomach but it's only so much.

She waited until the squelching and slicing ceased before she dared to look back at the scene. Now it was a headless mangled corpse. Gross. She watches him as he begins to march away. She could leave now. Though that thought quickly dies when she notices he's just marching in place. Waiting for her. With the familiar heavy pool of dread, she steps forward, following after him. She debates if magic would be an effective way of taking him out, but she needs to catch him unawares which seems far easier said than done given how perceptive he is. Well, if he was going to kill her, it's not like she could stop him. Part of her wonders if she even wants to beyond the basic instinct of desiring to live.

[Sparky]

[Refs]

    Though she didn't give him the requested payment, the big man didn't seem to mind all that much. Payment could be exchanged later on. Gaige marched on, not knowing where, but somewhere memories he didn't have told him that the village was in this direction. Each time he got distracted, each time he fell lost in thought, something tugged him back down in the correct direction. 

    Which was good because he got distracted a lot. 

    It was weird seeing him seem so whimsical, and yet each sidetrack seemed to carry a purpose. When he stopped to giddily splash in a river, cheering over to Nienna as he tried to catch a fish with his hands, the blood ran clean from his form. When he belly flopped on a sunny rock to have a staring contest with a lizard, the time spent in the light dried him off. It was as though some hidden hand was gently guiding him into taking care of himself through things Gaige thought were fun. 

    But then came the moments he stopped to pet or pick up furry animals, especially Rabbits which he seemed to coddle and coo like they were babies. Each animal had a name. The lizard atop his head was Fredrick Far Eyes, Watcher of the Great Crusade. A squirrel perched on his shoulder was Chippy, Consumer of the Shell and breaker of Shields. A Raccoon clinging to his back? Mr. Vincent Grabby-Hands, Clingy Thief and Conqueror of the Great Apple Tree. Gaige was a regular walking Zoo, and with each new friend, he would excitedly turn back to Nienna, giddily telling her about them and how they were part of his "Grand Army." 

    When he turned to introduce a rabbit to her, His mask popped and startled the animals away- save for the lizard who seemed to be content not giving a shit. The change in body language was immediate. Calmer. Like a different person. The big man gently set down the rabbit, petting it before it ran off. Gaige thumbed the side of his mask, near the mouth and there was another tiny click. Sunlight glinted off a piece of glass now poking from it. An empty vial. Nienna didn't exist anymore. The world was as far as he stood. If he were to take a step, he'd simply plummet off the edge. His mind crackled and popped as the noise crept in, like dark tendrils threatening to wrap him up and strangle the life from his lungs. 

    A pain ebbed in his temples. 

    Calloused fingers pulled the empty vial free and it dropped into the abyss. From his jacket, Gaige presented another vial, this one full of a glowing pink fluid. On it's surface, the phrase "Forget Me Not." Was inscribed. His thumb caressed the surface, tracing each letter. Rubbed "Not" away. The mask, despite ever grinning, felt... immeasurably sad. A deep, longing pain that affected the world around him. Even the forest seemed to hold its breath, the air still. The boy wrapped his fingers around the vial. Pulled his hand to his chest... and seemed to fold into himself. 

    The noise crept ever closer. Whispers. Shouts. Memories. Sweet nothings and broken promises. An ocean of sound that wanted nothing but to drown him. Gaige leveled the vial up to the empty chamber, and pressed the words "Forget Me" into his mind. There was a soft click, followed by a gentle hiss. And color returned. 

    Gaige looked around confused. Where had his animal compatriots gone? The man's fingers tapped at his head and the lizard allowed them to pet its back. Clapping his hands, the big man danced around and once more realized that Nienna was still there "Little Bird, Little Bird! Brother always wanted a lizard! He'll go so happy!" He cooed, bouncing up to her with the same energy of an excited child. He dug into his back pocket and presented a metal plate. "Come, come, look! Little Bird!" 

    He thumbed a recessed button and the plate popped open to reveal a photo... album. Of sorts. Well, more like one of those picture booklets one had in their wallets. The photos showed Gaige with a younger boy, his smile beaming into the camera. In many of them, a white and black rabbit was settled comfortably atop Gaige's masked head. While a good chunk were dated, as he thumbed through they became more and more recent, all the way up until... the festival? Gaige had been there? 

    The joy of the younger boy was visible, while the rabbit brimmed with overly content energy. From the angle of the pictures, it seemed the kid was the one to take all the pictures. Gaige thumbed back a bit and muttered the date beneath his breath. "This is when he said he wanted a lizard!" He cooed. "He'll be so happy when I return." 

    Clapping the album closed, Gaige let out a soft sigh. "All I do, I do for him." The cross eyes leveled onto Nienna. "I'm dumb. Lost cause. Nothing left for me but this life. Him? He's smart. Good heart. Good mind. Good head on his shoulders. Top of his class. He has hope where I do not." Gaige cradled the album close to his head. "He is my hope." 

    A soft wind blew past, and Gaige perked up. When he thought of his brother, the man seemed different. As though whatever curse that plagued his mind receded enough for him to become coherent. It didn't last long, however as he began bouncing again. "Come, come! You'll love to meet him one day, perhaps. But first, feathers and compensation!" 

    The town wasn't far after that.

    It was quaint, peaceful. A few of the guards recognized Gaige and though they didn't talk to him, they did nod politely in his direction. While not busy, it was certainly lively. A few merchants shouting their wears here and there, a group of children playing in the street. One would jokingly call out about Gaige going in the wrong direction, eliciting a chorus of laughter as they watched the giant spin around in place a few times, only to return to the original path. From their unfiltered joy, it was obvious that was a typical response out of Gaige, one that the children loved to see everytime, and Gaige was too stupid to remember. Or maybe he did? 

    Surprisingly enough, Gaige wasn't the one to get the weird looks in the town. Nienna was. The big man, for all his faults, flaws, and borderline psychotic tendencies, was recognized in the town. Even respected, in a sense. At least from the guards. Passing by the bounty board, it was absolutely barren of any new jobs, save for some bits of busy work cleaning up parts of the town. The mystery didn't linger, as  the second Gaige passed, he snagged them up, leaving it barren once more. 

    Gaige was recognized. But Nienna wasn't. She was strange, new. Bearing tattered clothing and following a known bounty hunter. Rumors carried on the air. Was she someone he rescued? Or was she a target captured for the guards? Of course, she wasn't chained. She wasn't knocked out and being dragged behind the man. So perhaps she was simply being cared for by the giant? Regardless, it drew many curious and confused stares. 

    "After you, Little Bird." Gaige announced, motioning towards the door of the bounty hall. That certainly didn't help the rumors any. 

[fluffymcsnuggles]

[Playlist]

   

She wasn't even sure what payment she was supposed to give. He said she owed nothing, after all. But this was a madman. Nothing could very well mean something and it's that something she doesn't understand. She wished she did since it might be the difference between life and death.

His attempts at guiding felt more like watching a child run around. It seems anything and everything caught his attention. She would stand beside, arms crossed giving out an exasperated sigh as he goes to splash in the river or mutter off to a lizard. She had to admit it was quite...entertaining watching him attempt to name every creature that crossed his path.

What unusual names too. Titles more like it. His mention of the army of conquerors both concerned and confused her. Surely he did not mean the woodland creatures, but considering he was fucking insane it absolutely meant the woodland creatures. The care he displayed to such creatures did surprise her though.

How could someone capable of such horrid violence also be capable of such gentleness? Perhaps one of those people who prefer animals over any humans. She couldn't blame him given the cracked state his mind is in. A part of her wonders how he ended up like this, surely he wasn't born mad was he? If so, what an unfortunate life to have lived. She can feel disgust rise into her chest at the sensation of pity. She refuses to pity others or to have others pity her. She ceases any feelings of friendliness she might have dared to consider.

She nearly jumped when the mask popped off and hissed, her reaction much like the animals though she would stay her ground. Her curiosity beckoned her to step closer to try and catch a glimpse of the visage under the twisted mask of madness. She couldn't see anything unfortunately and she did not dare to move closer than she already had. His calmer posture nearly set her at ease. Nearly.

She tilts her head as she looks at the empty vial. Why does he use them? Did it create his madness or stop it from fully taking control? She couldn't quite determine what it did. She doubted asking about it was wise, sometimes it is best to keep one's mouth shut until the information is slipped from the tongue. Once more she dares to creep closer, but a second vial is brought out causing her to halt.

'Forget me Not' what an interesting name. Though the not is being rubbed out by Gaige. Why? What is he attempting to remember, or attempting to forget? This stranger is getting more strange by the minute and her curiosity burns, begging for answers. She refuses to feed the flames. She could feel the deep melancholy in the air, it drowned this man's mind.

No wonder he's mad. He's mad with misery.

Whatever lucidity he had fades with the vial, or perhaps it comes back. The sadness is swiftly forgotten. A brother is mentioned once more and she wonders if that is who he is attempting to remember...or forget. It's really quite confusing what that vial does. He offers up a metal plate insisting she look, and part of her fears what she may see. She dares to peer as much as she is willing to over his shoulder upon the metal plating.

A small child, a rabbit, and the stranger. All gathered in one photo, somehow the child seems happy with the presence of the madman. Her attention is quickly drawn away from the photo and towards the person holding it. She wonders how this child deals with their brother's clear insanity. Maybe they're insane too, they're family after all. There is one thing she is certain of. This stranger cares for their brother immensely and wants nothing but their happiness. How interesting.

He seems to be a little lucid speaking about his family, but it quickly fades as his attention does. What has the stranger sacrificed for the sake of their brother? Their sanity certainly and who knows what else.

As he speaks to her once more she realized that she never talked out loud. She has yet to really speak to the talkative mad man. "Maybe one day..." she echoes softly. She has no intention to stick around with this person long enough to meet their brother or whatever else they were going to ask of her or drag her along to.

She continues along, trailing after him, sighing in relief upon seeing the village. That was until the crowds decided to fixate their gaze on her. She's used to stares, but for entirely different reasons. People used to look at her with admiration, respect, and envy. Now all she can feel is curiosity and some misplaced suspicion. She can hear their words clear enough, her elven ears twitch slightly. She just keeps her eyes fixed on the road, head held high. She looked towards the door motioned towards her and back towards the strangers. She can only give a silent look, a silent plea begging for help. She doubts she will receive any. Something tells her no one would dare stand up to this man.

[Sparky]

[Refs]

    Gaige didn't move. In his eternal psychosis, he had an ungodly amount of patience for such simple things. That, or his mind refused to process until certain parameters were met, like the program of a machine. If one weren't paying attention, they might have thought he'd stopped breathing, completely turning into a statue. However, on closer inspection, though it was extremely slow, he was indeed breathing. 

    Anyone who passed by didn't really seem to notice or mind what was going on with Gaige, though Nienna would once more get a few confused stares in her direction. Meanwhile, mischievous children would run up and tape or clip notes and scraps of paper to Gaige's body. A smiley face here, a crudely drawn bird there. The lizard, ever vigilant atop Gaige's head, was content to just sun itself on its perch. 

    Despite the woman's reservations, it was obvious that Gaige was just another part of daily life in the town. A young man, that despite his eccentricities, kept the bounty board empty and the villagers safe. The only person that was acting off right now... was her. Finally, a guard approached, chewing on something as he looked at Nienna, then down at Gaige. The man sighed and placed his hands on his hips, jerking a thumb back at the girl. "You need any help, big guy?" 

    Silence. 

    With a sigh, the guard pat Gaige's shoulder and walked away, tossing a curious stare back at Nienna before returning to his post. The message was clear. She was the outsider here, not Gaige. Given the big man's job and track record, no one had any inclination towards siding with Nienna. She was either a captured prisoner being turned in, or a rescue, in shock and being handed off. No one was picking up on whatever subtle message she was trying to send out, because there was no reason to suspect the great giant of any wrong doing. Especially when all he was doing was remaining stock still, being slapped with pieces of paper. 

    It was quite the predicament. 

    No longer content with just slapping drawings to Gaige, a few children had taken to clambering upon him. One child dangled off his arm like a monkey bar, while the other clung to Gaige's back, gazing at the Lizard with starlight in their eyes. The big man, meanwhile, didn't move a single inch. The truth was, he didn't even have much of a concept of time anyways. He didn't realize how much time had actually passed standing there, waiting for Nienna to move. It all simply blended within. 

[fluffymcsnuggles]

[Playlist]

   

His stillness was disturbing. She wasn't sure what to think of the stranger now, whose name she didn't know. Clearly, the townsfolk knew him well and liked him. If the village was fond of him, especially the children he couldn't be that terrible of company. Dangerous? Most definitely, a bad person...that's beginning to be debatable.

But with whatever reputation he had managed to garner in the town, she would find no friends here. The suspicious stares made her only feel worse and her arms go to instinctually cross over her chest, as a way to shield herself from judgment. It's not atypical, but she never enjoyed all eyes on her anyways. Funny how regardless of whether or not she is known people still seem to focus on her. To judge her every move, watching and waiting for her to slip, then striking at the perfect moment.

She felt herself bristle ever so slightly at the man's comment. She was not a problem. She was not something to be dealt with. Was she? Or is that all she had become. Just a thing to be dealt with? She supposed that is what she is now. Anything of significance was erased in a single night.

She lets out a tired sigh of resignation as she walks inside the place. Best to just keep her head down and keep quiet. She sticks close to the wall, attempting to press herself within it and blend in, fade into nothing.

[Sparky]

[Refs]

    A clock softly ticked within the room. It was empty, quiet. Behind a hardwood desk, a squat, middle-aged man looked up from his spot and quietly eyed the young woman. But unlike the towns people, his attention did not linger on her for long. He simply adjusted his glasses and returned to a stack of papers. Until the laughter of children pulled his attention yet again. Gaige waddled in like a great ogre, and carrying the two children on his shoulders. The young ones squealed with delight and held onto Gaige, their drawings trailing behind the man as they pealed off. 

    The older gentleman shuffled the paper stack aside and pulled out a new form. His pen scratched the paper, marking off a few things. Gaige beamed as the old man looked up at him expectantly. 

    "I don't suppose you finally collected a braincell while you were out, did you Gaige?" The man inquired, leaning back in his seat with fingers laced in his lap. His voice carried the same tone as a tired father. One of the children slapped a toy arrow to Gaige's mask, and for a moment, the loading bar could be seen above his head. 

    Thinking. Loading. Processing. AAAaaand "I AM THE PRETTIEST UNICORN PRINCESS!!! ALL WILL FEAR ME!!!"

    Yup. There it is.

    The stupid.

    The children laughed with delight at the response, while the other man sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "No, I suppose you wouldn't. Alright, present the bounty and the proof of completion, let's get this over with so I can go have my afternoon tea." The man treated Gaige so dismissively, despite the obvious fact that one wrong word could, in theory, send the giant into a frenzy.

    Supposedly. 

    In response, Gaige pulled the crumpled sheet out of his jacket, and untied the now bloodied bag from his hip. The old man rolled his eyes as he took it, peering in and counting the heads. "Alright, sign here." The old man pushed the sheets of paper forwards, and Gaige took the offered pen. It was pitifully small compared to his massive fists, but the brute signed anyways. "Bounty completed." The older gentleman announced, stamping the form. "Here's your payment, as promised. When you head back to the capital, tell your younger brother I said hello." 

    Gaige took the gold and crouched down to allow the children to hop down and run off. Frederick, however, remained on his perch atop the man's head. The older gentleman took the sack and sighed, ringing a bell to summon a young teen. "Take these to the incinerator and perform the last rights. Oh, and when you're done with that, get to work on writing letters of notification for the affected, to inform them of the successful bounty hunt." The boy nodded, grimacing as he caught a whiff of the smell of rot coming from the bag, and hurried off to complete the task. 

    All's well that ends well. Or... something like that. But there was one more duty to perform, at least in Gaige's mind. The masked man turned back to Nienna proudly, hands on his hips, toy arrow wiggling as his head spun around. "NOW Little Bird! Now we get NEW FEATHER-"

    "Keep it down, you braindead oaf." The old man barked. 

    Gaige looked from him, back to Nienna. A big hand lifted up, cupping the side of his mouth like a child whispering secrets. Indeed, he  loudly "whispered" "Newww feaatherrrss!!!" He clapped his hands together, excitedly thumping back to the door. "Come, come! Come Little Bird, more to do, more to do!"

[fluffymcsnuggles]

[Playlist]

   

She felt a small wave of relief sweep over her as the man paid her no mind. Her reprieve was regretfully cut short as Gaige walked in. She tilted her head upon seeing the children still clinging to him eagerly. She supposed children were always drawn to the unconventional.

Nienna tensed as soon as the man behind the counter started speaking. He spoke so brashly towards Gaige. Her eyes immediately snapped over to the giant, watching closely. Nothing about him screamed hostility for the time being. In fact, his reply made her roll her eyes. Ah so he's just a mad murderous idiot, she isn't sure if that's actually more dangerous. Still, it seemed that insanity held some morals.

She turned her head away from the bloody bag when it was presented. She was not interested in witnessing any more gore today. But who knows what the future has in store for her. She keeps quiet for most of the exchange as she has habitually done. She finds that there is far more interest in observation than conversation.

She doesn't need to be told twice to leave, so she exits the door. She looks around the village, wondering if a tailor was there. She would hate having to go back to the capital to get something. She isn't entirely sure what to make of herself there, hence why she left in the first place. Besides, she doesn't think she could stand her current company for much longer.

[Sparky]

[Refs]

    Seeing the woman exit with Gaige quieted most of the rumors around Nienna. While she was unsual, there wasn't much reason to hold any further interest in her now. She was just some stray that Gaige had picked up. Instead, the mutterings turned outwards. To rumors of a group of bandits, lighting an entire forest on fire. Supposedly, a brave woman had gone to take care of them and never returned. Rumors traveled fast, and spread quickly in the villages of the periphery. A tale might come as news from a messenger, or a traveling trader. But eventually, the story would reach the people's ears. 

    There was a quiet concern amongst the villagers. If the bandits had killed the person sent to stop them, then they were still at large. How many were there? Five? Ten? Some stories said that they were countless in numbers, while others said that it was a lone man, fueled by hatred. Maybe it was a monster, who could say for certain? 

    At each story, Gaige's head would shift in the slightest of ways. Ears focusing on each tale from under his hood. It made for a very quiet walk to the tailor compared to last time. Thankfully, inside the workshop, the duo were safe from the rumors, as a man in his early thirties looked up from the suit he was making. "Ah, the Giant himself." The man rose from his seat and pulled the toy arrow from Gaige's mask. "And a... companion, I see?" 

    "The little bird needs new feathers. Hers are torn from escaping her cage. CRUEL KEEPERS! Unfriendly tidings. Pretty Bird isn't built for the wilderness! PAMPERED LITTLE BIRD! Pampered and tossed to the wolves." Gaige clenched his fists as he gave his impassioned speech. "Cruel fates, CRUEL FATES!"

    Silence.

    "Riiight. Well, you're welcome to either shop around or I can make you something new. I'll need measurements for the latter, though." Gaige plopped down onto a stool three times too small for him, looking up at Nienna as his own response. The tailor, used to this sort of thing, shrugged and went back to the garb he was making. It seemed that Nienna was free to do... whatever..

[fluffymcsnuggles]

[Playlist]

   

She was glad talk of her had ceased. Though it hadn't really, as the nature of the conversation unknowingly turned back to her. This seems to be a running joke in her life, no matter what people are always going to talk about her. Her brows furrowed and she forced herself to stop listening. She still felt the sting of pathetic guilt at her inability to dispatch all of them. But she at least managed to kill one and really put some harm to them. But she didn't escape without her own wounds.

Her eyes drift towards the pink flesh still healing from the burn wounds. It's gone through the worst of it, time is the only thing that will let it fade. She snaps back her attention to her surroundings as they approach the tailor. Well, that is convenient. Then she can finally be rid of the stranger.

She doesn't respond to the man's questioning, nor does she freely offer a name. Little Bird is degrading but she supposed it would do. She could feel the rush of alarm run through her veins as Gaige began to speak in his mad ramblings. She wasn't sure if she should be more worried that he's giving valuable information that could kill her or the fact that he was actually making sense to her through all of that.

She brushes off her invisible distress and goes to the counter to quietly murmur her measurements to the man. "Just some simple blouses and trousers will do. Nothing more," she said, keeping her voice elegant and distant.

[Sparky]

[Refs]

    The tailor shrugged and gave a nod, setting aside his work and starting on clothing for Nienna. Gaige was already off in his own little bubble. A puff of pink mist spritzed out from the side of his mask, eliciting a small glance into the big man's direction from where the Tailor was sat. It wasn't his place to make comments on either of them, and Nienna didn't seem the conversational type anyways. 

    After a moment, the big man let out a hum and tilted his head over in the direction of the Tailor. "Rumors of fire." He mumbled, tilting his head back in the other direction. The tailor didn't look up from his work. 

    "You mean the bandit story? Been floating around. Probably a bounty for it in the next town over. Thinking of taking it?" Gaige drummed his legs, mask tilted up towards the ceiling and staring off to nothing. As though trying to search for something amongst the cracks. The silence hung for a while. 

    "Yes..." He said slowly, thoughtfully. No other conversation happened after that point. Nothing was said at all until the tailor finished the project and held them up to Nienna. Seeing them done, Gaige rose from his seat, approaching the tailor who had his hand opened without even looking at the brute. Shimmering gold coins spilled into the man's palm, chiming a sweet tune.  The tailor smiled after Gaige, and pocketed the coin. 

    "Pleasure doing business as always, Gaige." He sang. 

    Gaige turned towards Nienna, and raised one big hand. He pat her head ever so gently. "Take care Little Bird. Fly free, find your purpose." His deep voice was quieter now. Softer. Despite not receiving a bow from her as compensation, he left her with her new clothes. His duty was done. All tasks set out were completed, and now a new one had been placed in front of him. Out in the bright, warm sun, the big man hefted his axe. He had a new job lined up now, so all the bounties he'd pulled would have to wait until he returned. 

    Though the preparations were small, the man had a method. He unholstered his shotgun, and clicked it open. Loaded. Clicked shut, holstered. Then came a series of stretches. Limbering himself up. The journey would not be terribly long, but he'd already been walking long enough. Still, setting out without resting? It seemed like the brute had a near bottomless well of stamina. He stopped for a moment suddenly and looked around, back to Nienna. His boots clicked against the floor as he held an open palm out towards the woman. In his hand was the lizard, Frederick. Gaige didn't say anything, just pointed his axe towards the Bounty Hall. He didn't give her a choice in the matter though, as a big, gauntleted hand gently dropped Frederick upon her shoulder. 

    And off he went.