See, I agree with you there. That's the way it's been for millennia. But unfortunately, these kids gotta be ready to fight again in a year, and a year ain't exactly enough time for them to 'ripen'.
[Brad himself was sixteen when he killed a man and ate his mana stone for the first time. He doesn't want other teenagers to be forced into that same position.]
If nothing else, think you can avoid the courtyard from lunchtime to dinnertime? That's when I train with the kids. I'll get you some beer as a thank you gift if you can.
[ A snarl, lips pulled back from his cuspids-- but Wulf doesn't bite where he would've any other alpha in his presence. Instead he clicks his teeth, standing down finally and crossing his arms. ]
[ A years time is only 4 seasons. At least this one has seen more than that. ]
Beer? [ Seems treats work even if the dog doesn't know what exactly the treat is. ]
[For a moment Brad wonders if Wulf can smell though his scent maskers. Even the guys he sees all the time like Cain and Owen can't tell he's not an alpha. But Wulf wasn't escalating like alphas do when they butt heads, and that makes Brad worry for a moment.
But Brad quickly decides that he's going to keep up the act, even if Wulf questions it. He's worked hard to become as strong as an alpha should be, so he has nothing to fear. He can hold his own in a fight.]
Yeah! Never heard of the stuff? It's pretty great.
[Not as good as hard liquor, which is what Brad had expected Wulf to negotiate too, but he won't explain that now!]
[ Wulf will question Brad's scent later when the artificial markings are finally purged from his nostrils, for now he is calm in ways he hasn't shown anyone else. ]
Fine. [ If it's so great, Wulf will take it and hoard it along with everything else he's brought. His room is already pretty full as it is, which Brad would be able to see. ] Midday to evening?
[Wow rude. He will not stop wearing his scent blockers, thank you.
That said, they do wash off easily, and all it takes is one mission to a swamp to get rid of them.
On that day, it's a handful of the older wizards and the Sage heading out to the Western country to hunt down some magic creatures that have been supposedly dragging humans into the swamp. Though he is not happy about the early hours, Brad is going along on the mission, and Wulf has been asked to go too as a sort of test run to see how strong he is.
The Sage is standing in front of the other wizards, giving instructions to everyone present.]
I haven't gotten much information on our target yet, but some of the wizards to the West have been sending reports saying they feel a strong magical presence in this one swamp. Bradley can provide support, while Wulf, Cain, and Owen fight the thing. We also have Faust here in case anyone needs healing. Any questions before we go?
[Brad yawns and rubs at his eye. Eight am is far too early for him! But he doesn't complain or ask questions, and instead glances to Wulf to see if he has any questions.]
[ To say Wulf was sulking would be kind-- being around so many other powerful wizards and not being allowed to take their powers for his own is a sign of his unending patience. There's only one other Wizard who might stand against him, and Wulf is aching for that fight. ]
[ He hasn't fought the Calamity before, he doesn't know what they face yet but Wulf's an untapped well of magical energy: the black dog prowling along snowcapped mountains, the one that finds you if you stray too far northward. The idea of a new enemy has Wulf is equal parts curious equal parts furious at the situation he's in. So for now, he stands as far away from the rest of the wizards as he can manage while still being as close the the Sage as possible. He's not very successful in standing very close. ]
[ A broom, hardly something Wulf had need of before. Wulf watches closely, flicking his hazel eyes over when Brad calls to him. If he wanted to Wulf thinks he could take any branch of any tree and make it into his broom but a different option opens up. ]
Are you wearing that perfume again? [ Cautious. ] And where's my beer?
[He grins and holds out his free hand, and a glass bottle of beer poofs into it. Then he holds it out to Wulf.]
I stuck a few in the river to cool 'em down. They taste better cold.
[Faust looks over and shakes his head. Really? Drinking on the job? But Brad pays him no mind and keeps his attention on Wulf to see his reaction to beer.
He is still wearing scent masking too, just not as heavily applied as previously.]
[ Wulf approaches, not caring for the looks any of any other wizards throw him. For a glass bottle it's tough, the beer foaming as the top is easily yanked off. He drinks it without a second thought, the pinch of fermentation biting the back of his throat. Oh, it's like the fermented vegetables and fruits he'd find on rare occasion, only with far more fizz. Wulf downs it in one and drops the bottle. ]
Fine. [ His answer the incoming question of how he liked it and the previous question of if he needed a lift. Brad's won him over here again. ]
[Beer always brings people together! Brad grins as he hops on his broom, sitting more towards the front so Wulf can climb on behind him.
The other wizards present regard the pair with amusement (Cain and Owen) and tired glances (Faust). Truly it is odd for a wizard to offer up his broom to another wizard so easily. 'Just like Bradley', Wulf might hear Owen say under his breath. Whether that is praise or teasing is hard to tell.]
[ Wulf catches himself growling at Owen when the snipe is lobbed Brad's way, teeth bared in a display of territorial dominance. It's only when Brad speaks that Wulf looks back at the other wizard, hackles instantly soothed. ]
[ Just like Bradley, indeed. ]
Never had to. [ Honesty, because he doesn't care enough to lie. Wulf saddles the broom easily the heat of him radiating against Brad's back. ] I prefer to run. [ As a wolf, but that's besides the point. ]
[Damn, he had no idea a single beer made Wulf so protective. It looks like Brad has a new friend, albeit a toothy one.
But running, huh? Too much exercise, Brad thinks. But he doesn't say that, as he chooses to see the positives in this situation.]
First time is always the best. Hold on and enjoy the sights.
[He doesn't seem outwardly bothered by the presence of an alpha right behind him. But being just a few weeks from his heat, his heart is fluttering in a way that he has to stamp right down. Nope, he's not going to think about how close they are. Flying on a shared broom is normal and something Brad has done countless times before with the different Sages he has known in his 90 years as a Sage's wizard.
(he is absolutely thinking about how close Wulf is right now.)
Though Brad's natural smell is still covered up, this time it's with less concealer and more of a soapy smell, as if he took a bath earlier this morning.
After giving Wulf a moment to settle down on the broom, Brad will take to the air, with the other wizards following shortly after. They don't fly high up, just above the trees, but it still gives a birds eye view of the ground below as they travel from the manor to a forest in the Western country.]
[ Wulf presses closer when Brad takes to the sky, confidence in his balance only reaching up to a certain height. Being so close, though, has Wulf's nose pressing in just behind Brad's ear for a brief, bright second. ]
[ A second, which is all Wulf really needs. ]
[ Brad's scent is still disturbed, Wulf finds, though in a easier way than before. Instead of a cloying scent gag, Brad simply smells clean. Frustrating, but understandable. Wulf, on the other hand, is bathed in his own scent: a heated of piece of charcoal so close to combustion. While not in rut, Wulf's instincts run higher than many other alphas like him. He reflexively covers his pack in his scent when they are weak and without a strong one of their own. That includes Brad now. ]
[He is a little annoyed by the smell of Wulf's scent spreading and presumably covering him as well. Even though he covers up his own scent, he doesn't need another to fill that void! Brad's omega instincts tell him that this is a good thing, but he fights against that instinct to keep up his act as an alpha.]
You know I'm one of the strongest here, right? You don't gotta scent me.
[Here in the air their conversation is relatively private, with the rushing wind keeping those on other brooms from hearing. Though Owen is still watching with his unnerving grin, as if he's trying to catch what the two of them are saying.]
Then why don't you smell it? [ The facts don't add up. All the other alpha wizards had a strong scent; enough for Wulf to recognize who's who from through the door, but not Brad. If Brad's supposed to be powerful, then why doesn't he smell it? The posture he flaunts is different from what his scent must provide. The cogs slowly turn as Wulf ponders through the mystery. ]
I do smell it. But I grew up around alphas and learned pretty quick that fighting all the time gets tiring eventually. 'S better to fight yer enemies, not allies.
[It would make him the most patient alpha in the world if it were true. But he seems confident in his words when he says them, using centuries of practice to make his lies sound like truth.)
Other alphas usually are. If anything, their powers are worth eating. [ But here Wulf doesn't attack, even if he wants to. The Sage acts as a calming beacon, their guidance and acceptance making Wulf tamer than he'd been in centuries; but how civil he is against Brad's back is unusual. Wulf takes a deeper smell, uncaring that his nose now dips directly against the side of Brad's neck. He's going to get to the bottom of this. ]
[Whatever he was saying is suddenly cut off by a surprised sound as Wulf presses his nose right against Brad's neck. Since Wulf is right up against Brad's skin, he will smell faint scents of gunpowder, campfire smoke, and ash.
But that only lasts for a moment, because Brad is trying to shove Wulf away with his shoulder.]
Dry. [ Wulf's wants to lick it, see if it feels as good on his tongue as it smells. The only thing that stops him is Brad pulling away and pushing Wulf in the same movement, making the broom sway. ]
[ The swaying isn't appreciated, and Wulf tightens his grip on Brad. Again, a sulk: ] Fine.
[ He's not used to being up so high and he likes running for a reason. Wulf doesn't threaten their safety again. ]
[Even though he's won, Brad just can't let anything go, so he's going to complain as they fly the last bit of distance to their target.]
You gotta leave that kinda shit for when you're on the ground. Do you even know the feather-falling spell? Looks like I'll have to teach you how to fly on a broom.
[But the others are slowing to descend into a clearing just ahead, so Brad will do so as well and get them to the ground safely.
The clearing is about the size of a city block. There is a path leading out of the clearing and towards what is presumably a village, while a rarely-used footpath leads deeper into the woods.
After surveying the area, the Sage speaks up:]
We have to go deeper into the forest to find a river, which will lead us to the swamp. Keep your guard up, there could be anything here waiting for us.
[ Well, at least it's slightly comical to see Wulf's massive form brood on the back of Brad's broom. ]
[ When they land, Wulf nearly goes back to Brad's neck; they're not in the air anymore so there's no reason for him not to. Until the Sage speaks, that is.
Swamp's just off the path, water smells off that way. [ One of the things that makes a swamp a swamp: unmoving water that's humid and stale. Wulf doesn't want to help the other alpha's, but for the Sage he will. ]
[Brad silently thanks the Sage, glad to have Wulf staying out of his personal space for the moment.
He rubs at the back of his neck, as if he were trying to rub away Wulf's scent. Which he is, he does not want the scent of an alpha lingering on him when he's so close to his heat. He has a reputation to keep up, and going into heat right in the middle of a fight sounds less than ideal.
Once he's satisfied that he's covered up Wulf's scent enough, he snaps his fingers and casts a climate spell on himself. He's not going to be sweating due to humidity today!]
Right. Off to the swamp, kill this fucker, then get the hell outta here. If we go fast enough, we can make it back in time for lunch. Let's go.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-08-16 10:54 pm (UTC)[Brad himself was sixteen when he killed a man and ate his mana stone for the first time. He doesn't want other teenagers to be forced into that same position.]
If nothing else, think you can avoid the courtyard from lunchtime to dinnertime? That's when I train with the kids. I'll get you some beer as a thank you gift if you can.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-16 10:59 pm (UTC)[ A years time is only 4 seasons. At least this one has seen more than that. ]
Beer? [ Seems treats work even if the dog doesn't know what exactly the treat is. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-16 11:09 pm (UTC)But Brad quickly decides that he's going to keep up the act, even if Wulf questions it. He's worked hard to become as strong as an alpha should be, so he has nothing to fear. He can hold his own in a fight.]
Yeah! Never heard of the stuff? It's pretty great.
[Not as good as hard liquor, which is what Brad had expected Wulf to negotiate too, but he won't explain that now!]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 12:26 am (UTC)Fine. [ If it's so great, Wulf will take it and hoard it along with everything else he's brought. His room is already pretty full as it is, which Brad would be able to see. ] Midday to evening?
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 12:42 am (UTC)Midday to evening. And I'll let you know when the kids toughen up too.
[Surely they will eventually, right?]
Thanks for bein' so understanding.
[Really, it's a breath of fresh air to see an alpha that doesn't turn everything into a fight.]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 02:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 03:02 am (UTC)That said, they do wash off easily, and all it takes is one mission to a swamp to get rid of them.
On that day, it's a handful of the older wizards and the Sage heading out to the Western country to hunt down some magic creatures that have been supposedly dragging humans into the swamp. Though he is not happy about the early hours, Brad is going along on the mission, and Wulf has been asked to go too as a sort of test run to see how strong he is.
The Sage is standing in front of the other wizards, giving instructions to everyone present.]
I haven't gotten much information on our target yet, but some of the wizards to the West have been sending reports saying they feel a strong magical presence in this one swamp. Bradley can provide support, while Wulf, Cain, and Owen fight the thing. We also have Faust here in case anyone needs healing. Any questions before we go?
[Brad yawns and rubs at his eye. Eight am is far too early for him! But he doesn't complain or ask questions, and instead glances to Wulf to see if he has any questions.]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 03:16 am (UTC)[ He hasn't fought the Calamity before, he doesn't know what they face yet but Wulf's an untapped well of magical energy: the black dog prowling along snowcapped mountains, the one that finds you if you stray too far northward. The idea of a new enemy has Wulf is equal parts curious equal parts furious at the situation he's in. So for now, he stands as far away from the rest of the wizards as he can manage while still being as close the the Sage as possible. He's not very successful in standing very close. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 03:31 am (UTC)At that, everyone grabs their brooms. Flying is faster and will make this a simple day trip.
Brad, with one hand on his broom, looks to Wulf and grins.]
Need a ride?
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 03:49 am (UTC)Are you wearing that perfume again? [ Cautious. ] And where's my beer?
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 04:11 am (UTC)I stuck a few in the river to cool 'em down. They taste better cold.
[Faust looks over and shakes his head. Really? Drinking on the job? But Brad pays him no mind and keeps his attention on Wulf to see his reaction to beer.
He is still wearing scent masking too, just not as heavily applied as previously.]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 04:36 am (UTC)Fine. [ His answer the incoming question of how he liked it and the previous question of if he needed a lift. Brad's won him over here again. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 05:11 am (UTC)The other wizards present regard the pair with amusement (Cain and Owen) and tired glances (Faust). Truly it is odd for a wizard to offer up his broom to another wizard so easily. 'Just like Bradley', Wulf might hear Owen say under his breath. Whether that is praise or teasing is hard to tell.]
Ever flown on a broom before?
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 05:22 am (UTC)[ Just like Bradley, indeed. ]
Never had to. [ Honesty, because he doesn't care enough to lie. Wulf saddles the broom easily the heat of him radiating against Brad's back. ] I prefer to run. [ As a wolf, but that's besides the point. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 05:38 am (UTC)But running, huh? Too much exercise, Brad thinks. But he doesn't say that, as he chooses to see the positives in this situation.]
First time is always the best. Hold on and enjoy the sights.
[He doesn't seem outwardly bothered by the presence of an alpha right behind him. But being just a few weeks from his heat, his heart is fluttering in a way that he has to stamp right down. Nope, he's not going to think about how close they are. Flying on a shared broom is normal and something Brad has done countless times before with the different Sages he has known in his 90 years as a Sage's wizard.
(he is absolutely thinking about how close Wulf is right now.)
Though Brad's natural smell is still covered up, this time it's with less concealer and more of a soapy smell, as if he took a bath earlier this morning.
After giving Wulf a moment to settle down on the broom, Brad will take to the air, with the other wizards following shortly after. They don't fly high up, just above the trees, but it still gives a birds eye view of the ground below as they travel from the manor to a forest in the Western country.]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 06:00 am (UTC)[ A second, which is all Wulf really needs. ]
[ Brad's scent is still disturbed, Wulf finds, though in a easier way than before. Instead of a cloying scent gag, Brad simply smells clean. Frustrating, but understandable. Wulf, on the other hand, is bathed in his own scent: a heated of piece of charcoal so close to combustion. While not in rut, Wulf's instincts run higher than many other alphas like him. He reflexively covers his pack in his scent when they are weak and without a strong one of their own. That includes Brad now. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 06:12 am (UTC)You know I'm one of the strongest here, right? You don't gotta scent me.
[Here in the air their conversation is relatively private, with the rushing wind keeping those on other brooms from hearing. Though Owen is still watching with his unnerving grin, as if he's trying to catch what the two of them are saying.]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 07:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 02:32 pm (UTC)[It would make him the most patient alpha in the world if it were true. But he seems confident in his words when he says them, using centuries of practice to make his lies sound like truth.)
no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 06:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-17 08:38 pm (UTC)[Whatever he was saying is suddenly cut off by a surprised sound as Wulf presses his nose right against Brad's neck. Since Wulf is right up against Brad's skin, he will smell faint scents of gunpowder, campfire smoke, and ash.
But that only lasts for a moment, because Brad is trying to shove Wulf away with his shoulder.]
Oi! Do you want us to crash?!
no subject
Date: 2025-08-18 02:09 am (UTC)[ The swaying isn't appreciated, and Wulf tightens his grip on Brad. Again, a sulk: ] Fine.
[ He's not used to being up so high and he likes running for a reason. Wulf doesn't threaten their safety again. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-18 03:02 am (UTC)You gotta leave that kinda shit for when you're on the ground. Do you even know the feather-falling spell? Looks like I'll have to teach you how to fly on a broom.
[But the others are slowing to descend into a clearing just ahead, so Brad will do so as well and get them to the ground safely.
The clearing is about the size of a city block. There is a path leading out of the clearing and towards what is presumably a village, while a rarely-used footpath leads deeper into the woods.
After surveying the area, the Sage speaks up:]
We have to go deeper into the forest to find a river, which will lead us to the swamp. Keep your guard up, there could be anything here waiting for us.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 03:58 am (UTC)[ When they land, Wulf nearly goes back to Brad's neck; they're not in the air anymore so there's no reason for him not to. Until the Sage speaks, that is.
Swamp's just off the path, water smells off that way. [ One of the things that makes a swamp a swamp: unmoving water that's humid and stale. Wulf doesn't want to help the other alpha's, but for the Sage he will. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 05:02 am (UTC)He rubs at the back of his neck, as if he were trying to rub away Wulf's scent. Which he is, he does not want the scent of an alpha lingering on him when he's so close to his heat. He has a reputation to keep up, and going into heat right in the middle of a fight sounds less than ideal.
Once he's satisfied that he's covered up Wulf's scent enough, he snaps his fingers and casts a climate spell on himself. He's not going to be sweating due to humidity today!]
Right. Off to the swamp, kill this fucker, then get the hell outta here. If we go fast enough, we can make it back in time for lunch. Let's go.
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