cryopathy | sticksandbones IC Inbox

[oh FUCK yes they get to feed the baby!!! absolutely zero hesitation they are tearing into this bag for a BEET. and holding it out to sweet, precious ambrosia, palm flat the same as feeding a horse. a beak the size of your head is nothing to mess around with!

once they turn to accept the stone with raised brows, and clive is sufficiently distracted... pinto reaches out for his hair again, though now she just teases at it with her lips. hello? she is still here and likes being brushed, and also that beetroot looked really tasty! just saying!]

What exactly is it you're making?

[ Ambrosia takes it gently, carefully, then whips her head back to throw it down her gullet. One crunch, two, and it's on it's way. She fans her feathers out in glee, stomps her feet and kweh!s loudly.

The tug on his hair makes him laugh and reach up to rub that nose. ]

Okay, hold on, let go. Beet? Carrot? There's corn in there too, I think.

[ What can horses eat? He waits until he's released to go over to the bag to pull some things out. ]

A method to shut the Phoenix up. I can't punch it, or kill it, yet but the stone with the right enchantments will act as a barrier when activated.

[ He carefully holds the items out for the horse, palm flat for one but his right hand lightly curled. But she can get around the stone fingers to choose. ]

[oh, kiera adores the sounds she makes. they have just decided that they love chocobos. this one in particular.

pinto whickers and paws at the ground, rearing her head back to look at him expectantly. all of the above, please! and she will take it all if allowed, at which point clive will become her third favorite person in the grove.

as they hold the stone in their hand, the lighthearted feeling of the moment fades to something cold and hard in their gut. where did clive get the idea for such a thing? and why didn't they think about it first? is it even possible for such a thing to work as intended, or will it only end up making the phoenix angrier and using it as an excuse to hurt luca further?]

... Do you know for certain it will function properly?

[ He will definitely let her take all of them, smirking a little and making sure Kiera can't see him spoiling their horse a little. And when Pintos ate all she can, he will rub her nose again gently, looking back to Kiera with a soft sigh. ]

I hope so. It's been blessed by the guardians, Joshua and myself have offered energy to it, and I felt it right the third should be you.

[ He picks up the brush again to gently go back to Pintos mane, frowning a little thoughtfully as he does. ]

It's... something, at any rate. If it doesn't work, I'll think of something else.

[ There's determination in his voice. Ambrosia makes a deep raptor like noise and moves to settle herself back down again. Right onto some Tomas chicks, spreading her wings to make sure they're all covered. Clive answers her with an amused: ]

It's in another world, I can't.

[ The most chicken grunt ever. ]

[please. as if kiera spoiling her ass isn't the entire reason she's such a brat.

kiera turns the stone over in their hands, contemplating. she very nearly says aloud that if it backfires and hurts him, she'll kill all of them, including herself. ultimately decides that's a bad idea and in poor humor, given that she would take the threat too seriously if clive said something similar.

as she summons a tiny whirlwind of snow over the crystal, she glances to Clive once more.]

What can't you do?

Kill the Phoenix.

[ His expression is a humorless little smirk, before he finally backs away from Pinto to join Kiera again, the smirk fading away. ]

As much as I'm a God killer, if there's no actual God to fight...

[ A half shrug with his shoulder, watching her summon the snow. That makes him smile a little more relaxedly. It's not unlike Jill with Shiva. Small and precise, something he can't do. ]

[the chill over kiera's hand spreads to their heart for just one moment. they recall a time last year, an argument with luca in which he shared that his goal was that very same -- to kill the beast. kiera knows it tortures him, of course they know, but that doesn't mean they're willing to just let luca potentially kill himself in the process of removing it.

they stare deeply into the stone, their hand shaking once before they force it still once more.]

I must admit, I'm relieved you're unable to access it. Luca is tied intrinsically to the Beast. Killing it may very well kill him.

I was hoping it wasn't the case with your brother. My brother is the Phoenix. Killing the Phoenix would kill him. But from the sounds of it, Luca was blessed.

[ He sighs on 'blessed', the tone saying 'cursed'. He leans himself against a pole of the barn, studying the other animals in their stalls. Ambrosia warbles and coos nonsense to the chicks, and his eyes land on the cow. The hells is that. ]

I'm more than willing to find a way to 'untie' them, however, before finding a way to kill it. I would never hurt Luca.

[the cow makes eye contact. does clive want to go? she's very clearly beiwe-themed, the same horn-halo and all. she's up for a tussle. try her. she dares him.]

I'm inclined to believe it wouldn't be such an issue with the other Beasts. There are those Blessed by the Wolf, the Fox... the Butterfly. Each of them are many. Luca, being the Phoenix's only heir... [kiera, and even luca, has no true way of knowing what would happen, if they were to kill it. but kiera isn't willing to risk it.

they glance to ambrosia, to pinto, to clive. following a discussion that seemed very difficult for them, the smile on their lips is surprisingly tender.]

I can tell. You're very gentle with him. [he needs that, she doesn't say, but the sentiment is clear.]

[The next time the siblings are on shift together, Luca's mood is significantly different. He fusses with his hands, can't seem to stand still. More than once, he opens his mouth, then closes it, failing to say something that seems to be eating away at him.

It's probably obvious as to why. Luca oscillates between looking at Clive with furrowed brows, and looking anywhere but. Asked about it, he'll brush Kiera off, or try to play it off

At least until the last patron leaves. Only then does Luca shift and... take a seat at the bar. There's a loud thunk as he flops down.]

[ .... He getting a very strong feeling that animal is challenging him to a fight. Does he- does he honor it? Is it? It looks like Beiwes pet. He focuses on Kiera instead, though he keeps the animal in the corner of his eye.

And he nods to show he understands. ]

It may have tied him more thoroughly than others might have tied theirs. It's a risk and you don't want to find out the hard way.

[ The smile and 'very gentle' makes him huff softly and turn a little red. ]

It's easy to be, with him.

[ And not because Luca is fragile or anything like that. ]

Thank you, Kiera.

[while kiera can't relate, she's studied people and the way they interact for plenty long enough to have her suspicions. to her credit, she doesn't embarrass luca in front of any clientele.

once they're all gone and he plops his own ass onto a barstool, she'll look up from her measly little closing tasks and shoot him a wry smile.]

And what will you be having, stranger?

[He lifts his head just long enough to fix Kiera with the most miserable of looks, then thuds his head down once more. After a long, drawn out groan, he manages:]

Advice. Please.

[if kiera thinks anything of clive's slight fluster, they don't speak of it. even if they themself find the concept of romance a bit... icky, they haven't seen luca in such decent spirits since they were children. maybe he isn't doing great, but it's a hell of an improvement from the man who returned to her over a year ago, now. she can't bring herself to harass clive too much, when he's done so much for them.

she steps closer, to offer the gem back to him.]

Was that all I needed to do?

[a quiet chuckle rises from their chest, despite themself.]

Good grief. We both know you're barking up the wrong tree, but alright, I'll humor you your Tending Bar Entry Exam.

So long as you let me drink on the job.

Mmmgh...

[He flaps his hand a few times. It's as good of a yes as any. Otherwise, Kiera's going to have to deal with some muffled chatter.]

I worry I'm not good enough for him, Kiera. He's a good man, and I'm...

[Another hand flutter.]

[oh, thank the beasts. they were definitely sneaking themself a shot (read: 3 shots) of brandy, not cleaning, a moment ago. just going to knock that back while luca's head is down...]

... a good man as well.

I don't see the issue.

I used to be, maybe. Good. Kind. Gentle. But I -

[He makes another noise, before finally lifting his head to stare at Kiera. Or try, at least. His hair is kind of everywhere.]

I met someone in Cataega. We were awful for each other but... I liked that. I wanted to be carved up and bloody when everything was said and done.

And Clive? He deserves something better than that. Gentle. Loving. And I fear I no longer know how to give that.

[clive should still be what she focuses on, but of course kiera locks onto the idea of luca in a relationship or anything similar with someone who would hurt him. they're no stranger to pain being a kink, but after having heard and all but witnessed luca's healing and resurrection... they're fully aware that "carved up and bloody" is not an exaggeration. and most likely not for pleasure, either, but for the exact sense of low self-worth he's displaying right now.

it takes them a long moment of staring off, fingers gripping the bar until their knuckles blanch, before they relax once more with one of their all too convincing false smiles.]

Too bad you're here now!

[another shot, because they can, and because fuck this.]

Sure, you know. Those aren't things you are, they're things you choose to do. And I've seen you choose them, time and again. You've chosen to do "good," talking down our enemy rather than allow our allies to slay her. You've treated me with kindness, welcoming me back into your graces rather than pushing me away -- which you'd be well within your rights to do, given how I've treated you. You're gentle each day with Polaris, with our younger residents.

You're a smart man, Luca. I'm sure you'll think of ways you can apply these things to a... partner. [for his sake, they don't say that word with any sort of derision, as they normally would.]

[The faint motion isn't lost on Luca, despite the mess of hair blocking his view. He isn't surprised by her reaction. He also doesn't even attempt to temper it. There's nothing he could say that would do so. Alazon had been terrible for him, and yet Luca had come running back to him every time. There was a desperation there.

... he almost missed it.

Instead, Luca focuses on what Kiera says. She... really does make a valid case. Even if he doesn't agree with the words, the effort means much to Luca. He knows these topics are difficult, if not outright alien to her. The fact that she tries at all means everything to him.]

Every day is a struggle to do so. It was... so much easier when I could mindlessly break and destroy. I don't remember how I ever managed kindness before. Not when everything is as... cruel as it is.

[well, so long as they're offering advice, kiera supposes they can do the other part that goes with it -- the serving. though they know his tastes almost always run nonalcoholic, they set to preparing two drinks for him -- the first of which requires some ginger and cinnamon to brew into a tea. as they set this in motion, their gaze stays trained on him. seems they're more proficient at this bartending thing than they typically act, and without a doubt, luca knows it.]

Is it a struggle, or does it only seem so when you think about it? From my perspective, it appears to come easy to you, still, when you have the opportunity. I think the biggest obstacle you get tangled up in is your own mind.

[Luca watches her movement, curiosity plain on his face. He's obviously set her free on the bar many times, knowing she could produce good work. It's a bit different, though, when it comes to her trying to appeal to his own tastes. He's interested to see what she pulls together.

Or was, until she called him the fuck out. He huffs once, lowering his head once more.]

Maybe you are onto something. But I would hate to get so wrapped up in Clive, only to find that I was unsatisfied. He would deserve far better than that.

[as the spices steep, kiera leans back onto the bar, elbow propped up and chin in hand, as if she were the one on the barstool, seeking gossip.]

It sounds like you ought to discuss all of this with him, as terrifying a prospect as it is.

[Luca groans and outright flops down once more.]

I was trying to avoid that. [He huffs against the wood grain.] Since when do you talk sense, anyway?

[oh, nooo, the grown ass man has to talk about his grown ass feelings like a grown ass adult!

is what kiera wants to say, but they're very hesitant to tease luca on this matter, currently. they don't want to give him any more reason to be antsy about it.

no, instead, they strain the spices from the tea, add a generous amount of honey, and a shot of that brandy. and just in case he isn't interested, they pour a short glass of apple juice as well, pushing them both over to him.]

Did you not come here specifically asking me to knock some sense into you?

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