[Wulf might think it's unneeded, but wait until they get stuck in the snowy north and a warming spell saves them all from frostbite.]
Guess dinner's outta the question then.
[Onwards they go! Though Brad is moody for the entire walk because he knows he's going to miss out on Nero's fried chicken, which is his most favorite meal in the world. (Nero cooks fried chicken at least once a week so he's not actually missing out.)
The walk is mostly uneventful, with Owen making little comments to Cain and Cain getting annoyed in return. Brad mostly ignores that nonsense and keeps his focus on either walking or checking on the Sage. He does worry about them, they don't have magic to protect themselves like Brad and the other wizards do. If something dangerous happens, all five of them will have to protect the Sage. At least Wulf seems to like the Sage and would protect them, Brad thinks.
As the sun starts to set though, the ground they are walking on grows softer and the sound of frogs can be heard nearby. They have reached the edge of the swamp.]
Not yet. [ But once Wulf catches wind of the Corruption, he's sure he'll be able to track it like a hound. Until then, he wants as much information about the enemy as possible, what weaknesses he should be keeping an eye on. ] What is it like, anyways?
[When Wulf asks what it's like, Brad is instantly taken back to a year ago, where everyone was fighting for their lives and people were turning to stone left and right, and though he couldn't see he certainly felt the skin on his face turn hard and start to fleck away-
He takes in a breath and pauses for a moment, acting like he's considering a good description while he's actually shoving away the thoughts that haunt his nightmares.]
It doesn't matter how strong your are or how good at battle you are. You're always going to be outmatched and one unlucky moment away from death. 's why we always get dispatched in groups: a single wizard is never enough to deal with these things.
[Even Oz, arguably the strongest wizard in the world, needs backup. It's a fight nobody can do alone, which is why the Sage's wizards exist in the first place.
The Sage, Cain, and Faust all deliberately look away when Bradley explains. They all just lived through it, and their reactions confirm his words. Owen is there too but his poker face is too strong, he would never betray his negative thoughts about fighting the Calamity.]
Since we just beat back the Calamity though, whatever we're about to find will probably be weaker. But still, don't underestimate it. These things are huge.
[ Wulf is quiet at the intensity of the threat, all the other alphas falling silent instead of boasting. If the threat is truly so great then Wulf will have to fight everything he can. There have been great foes he's hunted before, great wizards and monsters that he's sunk his elongated teeth into and never let go until the threat was neutralized: but the Calamity is beyond even that. Pride only matters when you win, so Wulf sets about knowing as much as he can in the time spent walking through the forest. ] And how do each of you fight, then, as a team?
Well, see, that's where the Sage comes in. They're a real analytical type, and they're good at seein' everyone's strengths 'n weaknesses. Unless there's an emergency and the Sage isn't around, the Sage is pretty much always the one to draw up battle plans and change said plans if shit goes sideways. They're pretty smart like that, they think twelve moves ahead and never lead us wrong.
[The Sage actually looks a little embarrassed by the praise.]
Please Brad, I'm just trying to get us all home safely.
[Grinning, Brad pats the Sage's shoulder in a slightly rough but friendly manner.]
Take a compliment! I only praise people who deserve it.
[Then he looks to Wulf again.]
But beyond that there's some of us who are better at attacking and some who are better at support. Faust here is a great healer, which is probably why he's here with us. Shylock and Murr are good illusionists, so those two get brought in whenever we have to put up a farce. But the Northies, they're for raw firepower most of the time.
[ The Sage, Wulf understands finally why he's been so attracted to their presence. Wulf tips his head to the side and ponders. Taking orders from someone, relying on others: neither come natural to him. He's only ever had his own strength to believe in. If there was anyone to finally trust... ]
I'll follow their orders, then. I've never had to think of combat in such a way. Hunts haven't been difficult in a while; perhaps I've grown stale to the true threat.
I have my teeth and my claws, the moon showed me how a millennia ago. [ That's the last time Wulf had diffuclty in a fight. Time for another period of growth: one which Wulf knows not where it will take him. ]
[The way everyone side-eyes Wulf when he mentions the moon. They seem to know something about that, and Wulf will find out as well before too long.]
Well, that's good then. It means you're not all talk, and we can sharpen whatever skills you're rusty in too.
[Not that he thought Wulf was all talk. He can smell Wulf even standing ten feet away. Weaklings never have a smell that strong.
Speaking of the moon, it starts to rise in the evening sky as they all get close enough for the smell of stagnant water to invade their nostrils. Stagnant is never good, Brad thinks. It means something has lingered long enough to become a problem.
Soon enough they can start to feel the sturdy ground turn soft, and that's when the Sage stops them for a moment.]
Stay out of the water until we find this thing. Apparently it can drag people under and drown them. Wulf, can you detect anything nearby?
[Apparently the Sage has picked up on Wulf being good at tracking.]
[ Wulf tips his head back as the air begins to change, pulling ahead of the pack once the Sage calls for their attention. The air is humid and still, yet Wulf can still sense where creatures inside it move: their actions shifting the space around them just enough for Wulf to catch: and yet, there's not even a fly close. Something feels wrong, the boardwalk in front of the path just rotted enough that Wulf decides better safe, than sorry. ]
[Meanwhile Brad follows after Wulf, his casual stance still somehow carrying tension. His arms are resting behind his head, but still ready to summon his rifle at a moment's notice.]
Well, maybe it's not that big if it's hiding in this small lake.
[This 'small lake' is still plenty large and could probably hold a Beast 50 feet long, maybe even longer.
It does feel the presence of food too, and it stirs underwater and uses the murky surface to hide its movements. There's barely a ripple of water as a long tentacle slips up and over the dock, wrapping itself around Brad's leg with a moments notice.
Brad, for his part, does start to cast a spell. But whatever he tried to cast is quickly interrupted as the creature drags Brad down through the dock, breaking it with Wulf on one side and everyone else (minus Brad) on the other.]
[ The alpha in Wulf stirs, laughing at what Brad thinks is small. Part of him wants to chip back like he would to an partner he was courting, stating he'd hate to see what Bradley considered large, then. ]
[ But when Wulf turns around, Brad isn't there anymore; neither the dock, or the path back to the Sage, too. Instantly Wulf snaps to attention, the back of his neck and space under his tongue burning as he shouts at the tendril taking Brad down into the depth, voice booming. ]
TIMŌRĪ!
[ Time halts, as an eclipse comes into fruition: the magic that has kept Wulf safe for so long becomes clear: time distortion-- luck manipulation. All this, with tools ill fitted for him in this position. Wulf discards the teeth and claws he's lived with for so long and starts anew for the sake of the Sage. ]
[Everyone and everything suddenly stops moving as time grinds to a halt. The Sage is in the middle of shouting out an order while Cain and Faust draw their respective weapons. Owen is in the process of casting a spell to split the water and reveal the monster lurking below.
Should Wulf look underwater, he would see Brad extending his hand towards the underwater monster, mid-cast of a spell meant to blast himself free. A fighter even to the bitter end.
But hey, Wulf can prevent that end if he kills this squidlike monster before his spell runs out.]
[ Wulf knows that it won't be him who makes the final shot, not when he has to strain just to hold the Calamity in place, let alone his environment. Failure here isn't an option, not with Brad suspended under the murky waters, not with the Sage cut off from two of their wizards: Wulf has to focus, so focus he does. ]
[ The image of a coin, not a moon, flips in the nightsky and lands fully alight, the magic surging through Wulf and into the Sage. With their guidance, with their promise, Wulf finishes his mantra. ]
Timōrī fortuna!
[ Brad will find himself freed of Wulf's time magics, along with the rest of the wizards under the Sage's care. The Calamity stays still for just long enough for the first barrage of combined power to strike it, the tentacle flailing and tossing Brad into the air. Not a graceful rescue, but a rescue nonetheless. ]
[It's a bit startling to go from being dragged down into the murky water to just being stuck there, with a frozen tentacle still tied around his ankle. But Brad is a fast thinker, and he quickly changes his spell target from the Calamity monster itself to just the tentacle. He has to cast magic without speaking, so the blast is weaker than usual, but it's enough to sever the tentacle and Brad starts swimming away.
Soon her surfaces with a gasp and some flailing as he reaches blindly for something to grab onto. The first thing his hands find is the bit of pier that Wulf is still standing on. He coughs a few times, expelling swamp water with a grimace.]
Fuckin' nasty...
[He looks up to Wulf, then to the others closer to shore.]
Oi! That thing down there stopped moving! Now's our chance!
[ Blood scents the air immediately, of the Calamity and Wulf both. ]
[ Turns out, forcing a creature of such a massive size to stay still for longer than a few moments requires sacrifice. ]
[ Blood pours from Wulf's nose and the grasp he has on luck beginning to weaken with each second passed. Just as Wulf is about to break, Faust heals him, metallic ichor evaporating from Wulf's upper lip as the other wizards press their advantage, as the Sage stands and guides them all. Pain comes and goes, but with Faust there, with the others, Wulf takes any hit if it means keeping the window of advantage open for as long as possible, for as exposed as possible. ]
[ By the time they finish, the mass of Calamity writhes about on the broken pathways, death-throws loud and drawn out but ultimately, by the end, harmless. ]
[ Wulf has some cuts and scratches, his eye swelling black already, but the Sage is undamaged. That's all that matters. ]
Brad is impressed by Wulf's tenacity and his ability to keep up his magic without getting distracted by pain. So much so that, when he eventually fishes out the monster's mana stone from the swampy water, he climbs up onto the pier and holds out the mana stone for Wulf to take.]
You really saved our asses today, so you deserve this more than any of us.
[Grinning, he pats Wulf on the shoulder as well. Which is unfortunate, because just as he does that he feels a tickle in his nose. Before he realizes it he sneezes, and the two of them will hear the Sage say "oh no" before they are suddenly teleported away.
Their luck is middling today. They end up in the North somewhere, with a light snowfall coating the streets in a thin layer of white. The town is small, but it has enough to support about 500 people. More than enough for their needs.
They did land right next to the bar though, and this spooks several people who were in the area. Brad doesn't pay attention to them, though, and instead rubs at his nose.]
Fuck! Sorry, didn't mean for that to happen. Those fucking sneezes just sneak up on me.
[ Wulf's there, helping Brad out of the waters and onto relatively drier land. The mana stone offered to him has a dark sheen to it, dark oil on water, pretty enough to make Wulf tip his head with interest. He's never seen a stone from the Calamity before: his interest is quiet and intense. ]
[ And then they're gone, the slap on his shoulder, the sneeze, and Wulf is back North where it's cold, where snow drifts from the sky between them. Bradley just may notice how Wulf's shoulders relax, his head tipped so slightly back as he gathers his surroundings the air in relief. They're close to home, closer than Wulf has been in a while, so when he feels the chilly winter air his rumble is subtonal and pleased. ]
[ It'd be perfect, if not for one thing... the swamp they came from was a mire, the bog residue on both of them making the air between them steam with purulence. No matter how happy Wulf is to be back home, he wants a stream and a fire. After that, his prize: the mana stone and a mate. He looks at Brad beside him, pupils dilated, and oh. ]
[Brad is all too aware of his incoming heat. While he still has some time before it hits him in full force, he's much more aware of what alphas around him are doing than he usually is. Such as the noises Wulf is making and the way he looks at Brad. So he frowns.]
Oi, don't go getting all doe-eyed. I don't think there's any omegas around for you to spend the night with here. C'mon, there's a place in this town with hot baths. You'll feel better once you're washed up.
[All distractions to keep Wulf from noticing something very important. Plus if they bathe separately, Brad can sneak on his concealers after his own bath maybe. (This will not happen, but he can still hope.)]
[ The predator is still active in Wulf: the hunt rushing in his veins. Under all the rot and stink of them, Wulf smells something different. He knows his own scent, that of the deep pine forests he calls home, but this is unique, rich like campfire smoke and gunpowder. ]
[ He reaches out to grab Brad's bicep, pulling the omega in tightly while pulling fabric away from unmarred skin. Under it all, Brad smells good and Wulf sinks his nose into Brad's shoulder, just like he had back on the broom. The difference now? Brad has no excuse to run and no fake scents to hide behind. ]
[Brad practically jolts to attention when Wulf presses his face against his neck. It feels so nice in all the ways he's been avoiding for centuries, and it's only because of his incoming heat that he doesn't immediately shove Wulf away. Instead, he'll grab the man by the shoulders to try and get his attention again.]
We're dirty. Bath first.
[They can talk after. If there's much talking at all.]
Then, you'll tell me everything. [ Not a question, a fact. ]
[ Wulf tips his nose to the air, scenting for heat. The small town would be easy to stay in but beyond it, in the mountains, Wulf can see steam come from just over the crest; a promising sign, paired with the smell of brimstone. Wulf knows what this village is actually for: just along the paved path, trodden by the steps of many weary travellers, they've found a retreat. Hot springs must spring from the mountains range here, pooling enough for steam and villagers to settle, but either too remote or too difficult to find to make it anything less than a pilgrimage. ]
[ Nothing they do here will truly be looked upon. Beyond their strange arrival, no single person even glances their way. ]
Why here? [ Like Brad had a choice. Wulf doesn't know that yet. ]
[Thankfully Brad isn't close enough to his heat to smell of it yet, though his insistence on space might give away that he does track his yearly heat and knows when it will arrive. Omega wizards can be fertile for thousands of years, and knowing one's body is vital for survival in the unforgiving North.
Brad is already starting off in the direction of the baths, though he makes sure Wulf is following him before he goes too far.]
Hell if I know. 's all random. I have to keep pepper on me in case I end up somewhere deadly, so I can sneeze away before anything bad happens. Last year I had to sneeze around like seven times to get close enough to a fight to fly the rest of the way there. Seven! It's a pain in my ass, that's what it is.
[As much as he complains though, it has come in useful at times.]
A curse. [ Simple as that, isn't it. Wulf's seen one in action only a few times during his time living wild. Strange, to find such a phenomena so close to him here. ]
[ The steps over the last mountain peak is easy here, time having worn the mountains soft and hospitable in this single pilgrimage unlike so many other encampments found this far North. Once they pass over the last step, the breathtaking crest of an untouched snowy valley spans out before them. Pools of blue, green, and yellow mineral water have carved out a sequence of springs which flow into private caves. The snow crunches under their feet, the light coverage of only an inch or two enough to tell them they truly are the only ones here. ]
Take your pick. [ A reward, it seems, for a fight well fought. ]
[Though it did get them close to a hot bath, so that's not so bad. At least they didn't end up in a snowstorm.
Brad immediately beelines for the blue pool, shrugging off his coat and stripping off clothes as he walks. He's not shy about nudity, even if it shows off more of his scars than can normally be seen. His crest is visible too, just right of his bellybutton and taking up most of the visible skin there.
As soon as he reaches the pool he immediately sinks into the pool and sits down with a satisfied sigh.]
[ Wulf watches as Brad undresses, hazel eyes almost gold as the moonlight catches them just so: his own rut a thick haze the air around him. The alpha in him is hungry. Scars upon scars are revealed to him and Wulf holds him back, watching and studying as Bradley moves. There's no question to Wulf anymore. Even if they weren't traditionally compatible, Wulf wants to rut with Brad for as long as the other would let him. ]
[ It wouldn't be the first time he fucked an alpha, if Brad really was one. It probably wouldn't be the last, either. ]
[ Only when Brad is fully naked and submerged does Wulf approach, skulking closer when his eyes lose their reflection with a blink. Shadows coat Wulf and its only then does he strip from his bloodied, ripped clothing, leaving them in a pile. ]
[ Wulf looks no more than 35 years old, the strength curled under his skin undeniable despite the thin padding of fat which protects him. His body is dusted by sandy brown hair which turn into thatches of wild hair across his chest, under his naval, between his legs, and beneath his arms and all of them have been matted by blood, sweat, and rot. The injuries he'd sustained are bright against his skin, bright purples and blues, skin broken in wide patches where the physical trauma simply tore away every barrier he'd had. And yet, and yet: he'd be dead if not for the others. If not for Brad taking the shot given to him, if not for Faust healing him, if not for the Sage guiding them, Wulf would be dead. ]
[ The hunger in him is two fold. Sinking down next to Brad with a hiss, Wulf only approaches the other in deference. ] The stone? I'd never seen one like it.
[Brad sees the scars and gives an approving look. Those scars are proof of how hard Wulf fought, and of the fact that he survived an encounter that would kill most people. Wulf has every right to feel proud for them in Brad's mind, and he would be lying if he said that some part of him didn't find it hot.
Such is survival for those raised in the unforgiving North. Strength is sexy.]
Yeah, the mana stones from Calamity monsters usually look a little different. It's a sign of the Calamity magic that has taken hold of them. Luckily it's not dangerous to us, the Calamity magic seems to disappear once we eat 'em.
[He would know, he's eaten plenty of them over they years.]
We just don't give 'em to the kids until they've had mana stones from other sources first, since they're more potent. You might wanna wait until your rut passes to eat one too. Even regular mana stones can mess with someone in a rut.
[He drops it casually, like it's no big deal. After all, a real alpha would be supportive, so long as there were no omegas around to compete for.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-08-20 01:49 am (UTC)Guess dinner's outta the question then.
[Onwards they go! Though Brad is moody for the entire walk because he knows he's going to miss out on Nero's fried chicken, which is his most favorite meal in the world. (Nero cooks fried chicken at least once a week so he's not actually missing out.)
The walk is mostly uneventful, with Owen making little comments to Cain and Cain getting annoyed in return. Brad mostly ignores that nonsense and keeps his focus on either walking or checking on the Sage. He does worry about them, they don't have magic to protect themselves like Brad and the other wizards do. If something dangerous happens, all five of them will have to protect the Sage. At least Wulf seems to like the Sage and would protect them, Brad thinks.
As the sun starts to set though, the ground they are walking on grows softer and the sound of frogs can be heard nearby. They have reached the edge of the swamp.]
Does your nose tell you where the monster is?
no subject
Date: 2025-08-21 06:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-22 04:07 am (UTC)He takes in a breath and pauses for a moment, acting like he's considering a good description while he's actually shoving away the thoughts that haunt his nightmares.]
It doesn't matter how strong your are or how good at battle you are. You're always going to be outmatched and one unlucky moment away from death. 's why we always get dispatched in groups: a single wizard is never enough to deal with these things.
[Even Oz, arguably the strongest wizard in the world, needs backup. It's a fight nobody can do alone, which is why the Sage's wizards exist in the first place.
The Sage, Cain, and Faust all deliberately look away when Bradley explains. They all just lived through it, and their reactions confirm his words. Owen is there too but his poker face is too strong, he would never betray his negative thoughts about fighting the Calamity.]
Since we just beat back the Calamity though, whatever we're about to find will probably be weaker. But still, don't underestimate it. These things are huge.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-27 03:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-27 03:57 am (UTC)[The Sage actually looks a little embarrassed by the praise.]
Please Brad, I'm just trying to get us all home safely.
[Grinning, Brad pats the Sage's shoulder in a slightly rough but friendly manner.]
Take a compliment! I only praise people who deserve it.
[Then he looks to Wulf again.]
But beyond that there's some of us who are better at attacking and some who are better at support. Faust here is a great healer, which is probably why he's here with us. Shylock and Murr are good illusionists, so those two get brought in whenever we have to put up a farce. But the Northies, they're for raw firepower most of the time.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-27 05:18 am (UTC)I'll follow their orders, then. I've never had to think of combat in such a way. Hunts haven't been difficult in a while; perhaps I've grown stale to the true threat.
I have my teeth and my claws, the moon showed me how a millennia ago. [ That's the last time Wulf had diffuclty in a fight. Time for another period of growth: one which Wulf knows not where it will take him. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-27 05:52 am (UTC)Well, that's good then. It means you're not all talk, and we can sharpen whatever skills you're rusty in too.
[Not that he thought Wulf was all talk. He can smell Wulf even standing ten feet away. Weaklings never have a smell that strong.
Speaking of the moon, it starts to rise in the evening sky as they all get close enough for the smell of stagnant water to invade their nostrils. Stagnant is never good, Brad thinks. It means something has lingered long enough to become a problem.
Soon enough they can start to feel the sturdy ground turn soft, and that's when the Sage stops them for a moment.]
Stay out of the water until we find this thing. Apparently it can drag people under and drown them. Wulf, can you detect anything nearby?
[Apparently the Sage has picked up on Wulf being good at tracking.]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-27 06:48 am (UTC)Closer than not. Prepare yourselves.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-27 04:01 pm (UTC)Well, maybe it's not that big if it's hiding in this small lake.
[This 'small lake' is still plenty large and could probably hold a Beast 50 feet long, maybe even longer.
It does feel the presence of food too, and it stirs underwater and uses the murky surface to hide its movements. There's barely a ripple of water as a long tentacle slips up and over the dock, wrapping itself around Brad's leg with a moments notice.
Brad, for his part, does start to cast a spell. But whatever he tried to cast is quickly interrupted as the creature drags Brad down through the dock, breaking it with Wulf on one side and everyone else (minus Brad) on the other.]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-27 06:13 pm (UTC)[ But when Wulf turns around, Brad isn't there anymore; neither the dock, or the path back to the Sage, too. Instantly Wulf snaps to attention, the back of his neck and space under his tongue burning as he shouts at the tendril taking Brad down into the depth, voice booming. ]
TIMŌRĪ!
[ Time halts, as an eclipse comes into fruition: the magic that has kept Wulf safe for so long becomes clear: time distortion-- luck manipulation. All this, with tools ill fitted for him in this position. Wulf discards the teeth and claws he's lived with for so long and starts anew for the sake of the Sage. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-27 09:29 pm (UTC)Should Wulf look underwater, he would see Brad extending his hand towards the underwater monster, mid-cast of a spell meant to blast himself free. A fighter even to the bitter end.
But hey, Wulf can prevent that end if he kills this squidlike monster before his spell runs out.]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-27 11:21 pm (UTC)[ The image of a coin, not a moon, flips in the nightsky and lands fully alight, the magic surging through Wulf and into the Sage. With their guidance, with their promise, Wulf finishes his mantra. ]
Timōrī fortuna!
[ Brad will find himself freed of Wulf's time magics, along with the rest of the wizards under the Sage's care. The Calamity stays still for just long enough for the first barrage of combined power to strike it, the tentacle flailing and tossing Brad into the air. Not a graceful rescue, but a rescue nonetheless. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-28 02:09 am (UTC)Soon her surfaces with a gasp and some flailing as he reaches blindly for something to grab onto. The first thing his hands find is the bit of pier that Wulf is still standing on. He coughs a few times, expelling swamp water with a grimace.]
Fuckin' nasty...
[He looks up to Wulf, then to the others closer to shore.]
Oi! That thing down there stopped moving! Now's our chance!
no subject
Date: 2025-08-28 04:09 am (UTC)[ Turns out, forcing a creature of such a massive size to stay still for longer than a few moments requires sacrifice. ]
[ Blood pours from Wulf's nose and the grasp he has on luck beginning to weaken with each second passed. Just as Wulf is about to break, Faust heals him, metallic ichor evaporating from Wulf's upper lip as the other wizards press their advantage, as the Sage stands and guides them all. Pain comes and goes, but with Faust there, with the others, Wulf takes any hit if it means keeping the window of advantage open for as long as possible, for as exposed as possible. ]
[ By the time they finish, the mass of Calamity writhes about on the broken pathways, death-throws loud and drawn out but ultimately, by the end, harmless. ]
[ Wulf has some cuts and scratches, his eye swelling black already, but the Sage is undamaged. That's all that matters. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-28 04:43 am (UTC)Brad is impressed by Wulf's tenacity and his ability to keep up his magic without getting distracted by pain. So much so that, when he eventually fishes out the monster's mana stone from the swampy water, he climbs up onto the pier and holds out the mana stone for Wulf to take.]
You really saved our asses today, so you deserve this more than any of us.
[Grinning, he pats Wulf on the shoulder as well. Which is unfortunate, because just as he does that he feels a tickle in his nose. Before he realizes it he sneezes, and the two of them will hear the Sage say "oh no" before they are suddenly teleported away.
Their luck is middling today. They end up in the North somewhere, with a light snowfall coating the streets in a thin layer of white. The town is small, but it has enough to support about 500 people. More than enough for their needs.
They did land right next to the bar though, and this spooks several people who were in the area. Brad doesn't pay attention to them, though, and instead rubs at his nose.]
Fuck! Sorry, didn't mean for that to happen. Those fucking sneezes just sneak up on me.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-28 05:06 am (UTC)[ And then they're gone, the slap on his shoulder, the sneeze, and Wulf is back North where it's cold, where snow drifts from the sky between them. Bradley just may notice how Wulf's shoulders relax, his head tipped so slightly back as he gathers his surroundings the air in relief. They're close to home, closer than Wulf has been in a while, so when he feels the chilly winter air his rumble is subtonal and pleased. ]
[ It'd be perfect, if not for one thing... the swamp they came from was a mire, the bog residue on both of them making the air between them steam with purulence. No matter how happy Wulf is to be back home, he wants a stream and a fire. After that, his prize: the mana stone and a mate. He looks at Brad beside him, pupils dilated, and oh. ]
[ He's going into rut. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-28 05:18 am (UTC)Oi, don't go getting all doe-eyed. I don't think there's any omegas around for you to spend the night with here. C'mon, there's a place in this town with hot baths. You'll feel better once you're washed up.
[All distractions to keep Wulf from noticing something very important. Plus if they bathe separately, Brad can sneak on his concealers after his own bath maybe. (This will not happen, but he can still hope.)]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-28 05:36 am (UTC)[ The predator is still active in Wulf: the hunt rushing in his veins. Under all the rot and stink of them, Wulf smells something different. He knows his own scent, that of the deep pine forests he calls home, but this is unique, rich like campfire smoke and gunpowder. ]
[ He reaches out to grab Brad's bicep, pulling the omega in tightly while pulling fabric away from unmarred skin. Under it all, Brad smells good and Wulf sinks his nose into Brad's shoulder, just like he had back on the broom. The difference now? Brad has no excuse to run and no fake scents to hide behind. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-28 05:51 am (UTC)We're dirty. Bath first.
[They can talk after. If there's much talking at all.]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-29 03:00 am (UTC)[ Wulf tips his nose to the air, scenting for heat. The small town would be easy to stay in but beyond it, in the mountains, Wulf can see steam come from just over the crest; a promising sign, paired with the smell of brimstone. Wulf knows what this village is actually for: just along the paved path, trodden by the steps of many weary travellers, they've found a retreat. Hot springs must spring from the mountains range here, pooling enough for steam and villagers to settle, but either too remote or too difficult to find to make it anything less than a pilgrimage. ]
[ Nothing they do here will truly be looked upon. Beyond their strange arrival, no single person even glances their way. ]
Why here? [ Like Brad had a choice. Wulf doesn't know that yet. ]
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Date: 2025-08-29 03:34 am (UTC)Brad is already starting off in the direction of the baths, though he makes sure Wulf is following him before he goes too far.]
Hell if I know. 's all random. I have to keep pepper on me in case I end up somewhere deadly, so I can sneeze away before anything bad happens. Last year I had to sneeze around like seven times to get close enough to a fight to fly the rest of the way there. Seven! It's a pain in my ass, that's what it is.
[As much as he complains though, it has come in useful at times.]
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Date: 2025-08-29 06:16 am (UTC)[ The steps over the last mountain peak is easy here, time having worn the mountains soft and hospitable in this single pilgrimage unlike so many other encampments found this far North. Once they pass over the last step, the breathtaking crest of an untouched snowy valley spans out before them. Pools of blue, green, and yellow mineral water have carved out a sequence of springs which flow into private caves. The snow crunches under their feet, the light coverage of only an inch or two enough to tell them they truly are the only ones here. ]
Take your pick. [ A reward, it seems, for a fight well fought. ]
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Date: 2025-08-29 04:09 pm (UTC)[Though it did get them close to a hot bath, so that's not so bad. At least they didn't end up in a snowstorm.
Brad immediately beelines for the blue pool, shrugging off his coat and stripping off clothes as he walks. He's not shy about nudity, even if it shows off more of his scars than can normally be seen. His crest is visible too, just right of his bellybutton and taking up most of the visible skin there.
As soon as he reaches the pool he immediately sinks into the pool and sits down with a satisfied sigh.]
Now this is better.
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Date: 2025-08-30 12:53 am (UTC)[ It wouldn't be the first time he fucked an alpha, if Brad really was one. It probably wouldn't be the last, either. ]
[ Only when Brad is fully naked and submerged does Wulf approach, skulking closer when his eyes lose their reflection with a blink. Shadows coat Wulf and its only then does he strip from his bloodied, ripped clothing, leaving them in a pile. ]
[ Wulf looks no more than 35 years old, the strength curled under his skin undeniable despite the thin padding of fat which protects him. His body is dusted by sandy brown hair which turn into thatches of wild hair across his chest, under his naval, between his legs, and beneath his arms and all of them have been matted by blood, sweat, and rot. The injuries he'd sustained are bright against his skin, bright purples and blues, skin broken in wide patches where the physical trauma simply tore away every barrier he'd had. And yet, and yet: he'd be dead if not for the others. If not for Brad taking the shot given to him, if not for Faust healing him, if not for the Sage guiding them, Wulf would be dead. ]
[ The hunger in him is two fold. Sinking down next to Brad with a hiss, Wulf only approaches the other in deference. ] The stone? I'd never seen one like it.
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Date: 2025-08-30 03:17 am (UTC)Such is survival for those raised in the unforgiving North. Strength is sexy.]
Yeah, the mana stones from Calamity monsters usually look a little different. It's a sign of the Calamity magic that has taken hold of them. Luckily it's not dangerous to us, the Calamity magic seems to disappear once we eat 'em.
[He would know, he's eaten plenty of them over they years.]
We just don't give 'em to the kids until they've had mana stones from other sources first, since they're more potent. You might wanna wait until your rut passes to eat one too. Even regular mana stones can mess with someone in a rut.
[He drops it casually, like it's no big deal. After all, a real alpha would be supportive, so long as there were no omegas around to compete for.]
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