Member
Elite Minor
Duoya
odium
amorphical
Guardian Angel Haruki
Torack
FulgrimLives
Foster
Lurking Krog
Tolerable Company, Intolerable Heat
Word Count: 1957 (+3 points)
Experience: Osvald 15/20 EXP | Therion 246/70 EXP
Location: Sandswept Sky, Kara Kara Oasis
Trudging along through the sand dunes with his overcoat draped in his arms Osvald lost himself in quiet contemplation stopping for a moment as he crested the top of a dune he surveyed his surroundings for a moment he spotted Therion still a bit ahead.
Leaving whatever hijinks the spikey shelled turtle and his boy got up to behind, the scholar had been following the trail of the brooding young thief to wherever this ‘oasis’ he had mentioned was.
Osvald wouldn't dare say but he at least found Therion’s company amicable, the boy didn't mince words or waste time with idle chatter unlike another feline thief they both had the unfortunate luck of knowing.
Wiping away a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead the scholar dusted off his trousers after sliding down the hill of sand, he had shed the shabby rags he found after his dalliance with brigands and decided it best to strip off the ruined cloth in order to beat the heat.
For a man of his ilk, Osvald's physique didn't quite match up with the stereotypical image of what most magic users and bookworms tend to look like; bulky and tall, sauntering behind the thief with his coat draped in one arm his chest exposed to the sun. He had long scars across his back, and arms most likely from the sting of a lash.
It wasn't exactly hard to notice the old guy following him, the light clinking of the chain connected to the manacle around Osvald’s neck filled the bouts of silence intermingled with the cries of distant birds likely circling a cadaver far out in the endless expanse of sand.
Thankfully for Osvald, the trek through the desert needn't last much longer. Therion disappeared behind a sand dune, and after the scholar crested it himself he could see the oasis not far off.
Kara Kara Bazaar was only about a mile outside of Gerudo Town, though the heat may have made the walk seem longer. Besides the aforementioned oasis, the area featured an inn, a general store, and of course a small open air bazaar.
Though there was at least one peddler of textiles, food was the main thing that could be found for sale here, catering to weary desert travelers with fresh fruits and filling meats. There were plenty of palm trees scattered around the water, and it was there that Therion headed - swiftly past a market stall and then seating himself on the sand under the shade a little ways away.
The gruff looking scholar had longed for the relief of the oasis and when it came into view he heaved a heavy sigh of relief, his feet weary from trudging through the unforgiving sand dunes as he approached, the radiant sunlight danced on the water's surface creating a mesmerizing glow. Casting his heavy overcoat to the ground, Osvald sought release from the oppressive heat.
He gingerly stepped into the cool water, soaking the fabric of his trousers to soothe the burns of the arid wilderness. As the water embraced his sun-warmed skin, the cool relief enveloped him, bringing a long-awaited solace to his worn frame.
The signs of hardships endured were etched into his reddened flesh, recalling the cruel lashes of captivity, fleeting though this moment was the water felt soothing but only for a moment. Osvald's steely eyes surveyed the surrounding Oasis, at the various though few stalls selling their goods ‘I don't relish the idea of dealing with these Gerudo were I to steal from one of these traders in broad daylight.’ the scholar thought to himself as he carefully stepped out of the glittering blue water.
“Tell me,” without anything else to dry his wild hair with he used his crumpled overcoat, as he approached the palm beneath the shade of which Therion laid under “That thing on your arm, it's not jewelry I'm guessing.”
Not nearly as cautious as Osvald in regards to petty theft, Therion had already nicked a couple fruits when he passed the stalls by. He paused in biting into an apple when the scholar walked up to him, confused at first. He wasn’t surprised that Osvald had followed him to the oasis, since it was the only other place around besides the women-only town. And it seemed like Osvald had imprinted on him or something, maybe since his was the first face (Artorias’ helmet could hardly be called a face) he’d seen since being locked up for who knew how long? But he didn’t expect the man to make more idle conversation. Therion glanced down at his right arm, then it clicked that “that thing” must be the manacle tight around his wrist, since it was in view while he’d been eating. Through all the changes that had happened to his body while fusing and unfusing, that hunk of metal remained just as it was, even in his beast form.
"What, this?" he said, shaking his wrist so the short chain clinked together. "I guess Solistia and Orsterra aren’t that similar if you don’t recognize it."
Honestly, the fact that more people didn’t recognize it was a huge boon for the thief. Especially because… well, it was practically a sign attached to him that said “I AM A THIEF.” Therion took another bite of his apple, mulling over whether to tell the man or not. It didn’t really matter in the long run, since apparently the geezer was sticking around and it wasn’t like Therion was going to steal from his allies… unless they had something really, really good and refused to share. Plus it wasn’t like he had much else to do besides sit around and wait for the others.
"It's called a ‘Fool’s Bangle.’ A special prize for anybody caught red-handed."
the scholar wasn't surprised, he even seemed amused though his face was pretty hard to read “Hmph, how am I not surprised.” Osvald grunted, crossing his arms “Though you seemed to easily unlock my chains, why is that still shackling you?”
Now didn’t that just wound the young man’s pride? He put on a small, rueful grin and turned his arm, showing the completely smooth surface of the manacle. There was no lock to pick, and hardly even a seam to be found. It was very clearly not designed to come off; a permanent reminder. Of course, the man who had shackled him alleged there was a way to remove this particular bangle, but Therion had doubted that.
"Fashion statement. Everybody’s doing it," he said sarcastically, clearly a dig at the chain on Osvald’s own neck. Then the thief flopped down onto his back, folding his hands behind his head while propping it against the palm tree while he crossed his ankles. His tail swished back and forth slowly, pushing the sand around.
“I think we're the only one-” the scholar's brow furrowed as he began to speak only to clam up, realizing the obvious jab at his own so called accessory. Osvald snorted derisively “Very funny, so you say you were caught. You don't seem the kind to get caught.”
Therion scoffed. "Good eye, considering we hardly know each other. I'm not."
The lazy flick of his tail turned into agitated thumping on the sand. He didn't say anymore, since he didn't feel like talking about it. Everybody had bad days - the day he'd been caught at the Ravus Manor just happened to be one of them. Looking back on it, the only reason he'd ended up traveling with Alfyn, Primrose, and the others was because of his fuck up there. While ultimately it ended up paving the way for something good in his life (though he wouldn't admit that out loud), getting caught in the first place still stung his ego.
I gotta find this guy a tome or something, Therion thought. Some kind of distraction. At first it was hard to believe Osvald was a scholar as he'd said, but if the magic wasn't enough the questions certainly proved it. Always the curious ones, those scholars, no matter how grizzled.
In the middle of that thought, potentially interrupting any further questions Osvald had, Therion's ear flicked. The linkpearl inside it came to life, delivering a message from Nadia. Apparently Ganondorf had gotten them all a pass, even the men, without tearing the whole city apart. That was surprising.
"Fortune just called. Sounds like they got us guys an exception for entering town," he told Osvald.
To which the man simply inclined his head “Hm, then there is little reason to stay here.” the scholar retrieved his brown overcoat from the ground nearby, shaking the sand from it and hanging it loosely over his shoulders at least that way he wouldn't be completely shirtless when they were in town.
“Hand over the umbrella,” Osvald said, turning with a hand out his tone making it clear it wasn't a request but still it was slightly more polite than usual “Please, and thank you.”
Therion wasn't sure he agreed with the first statement. He was actually considering staying put and just lounging until the group chose to move on. At the second thing Osvald said, Therion narrowed his eyes at the man. He was honestly not expecting to be asked to return it at all. But like hell was he going to give it up when the threat of rain or water could come at any time.
"Huh? Why?" he asked. "You want me to pay you back for it or something?"
The scholar shook his head, he almost looked amused for a second though with his beard it was hard to tell.
“I don't require payment for something I never paid for,” the mage stuck his hands in the pockets of his frayed trousers and stuck them out showing the thief he had nothing in them “I simply took what I needed.”
"Great, so if it cost nothing and isn't some family heirloom, I'll just hold onto it."
It was a little funny to imagine the tall old man trying his hand at thievery, if that was what he was implying. But Therion hunkered down in his spot, defensive over the random umbrella, and dismissive of Osvald. If the scholar was in want of shade for the walk to Gerudo Town's gates, he could have to make due with a large palm leaf or else "take" a keffiyeh from one of the bazaar's stalls. "Have fun in town."
Osvald considered grabbing the boy by the collar, though he'd seen him hold a dagger and how nimble he seemed though aloof he may be “Fine, keep it.” he hadn't the patience to argue with Therion nor a reason to but he was too annoyed to prove a point he simply turned looked out over the desert with a sigh.
“And what? Are you content to stay here? Not that I care.” stubbornly he began to trudge, calling back to the thief one last time before cresting the top of a hill of sand “Hm, anyways I'll see you when I see you.” and with that the ornery scholar disappeared behind the dune.
Therion lazily held up a hand as Osvald left, though not quite a wave it was a gesture of goodbye. He very much was going to stay there, he decided. Some time to himself in the peaceful oasis sounded too nice to pass up. When he dropped his arm he called back in via pearl just to let them know he'd gotten the message and that he was going to stay put for now, but to keep an eye out for the old man without a communication pearl of his own. Then fished another fruit from beneath his poncho and indulged.
