Babysteps, Dom, babysteps. - LP 12/26/19

Ol'random · 2019-12-27 05:29:07 PM

Pvt. Dom,
Sgt. Felicity,
Sgt. Terrence,
and Cpl. Zolomon, hares.

Zolomon is in here training, though he did oversleep and so missed some running drills, but he decided to just come here and is hoping no one missed him much. He practices some kicks to a training dummy and looks around the room.

The training room is mostly deserted when the corporal arrives, owing to the season; however, Terrence stands in front of a squad of eight or so hares who are marching back and forth across the room in quick step. "LEFT!" The sergeant barks, and the eight turn left, sharply. They're in step even if a few look rather tired, but Terrence pays no heed for now, waving for the squad to continue their drilling as he nods to the corporal. "Zolomon." He grunts in greeting as he makes his way over.

Zolomon salutes the Sergeant and gives a nod. "Sur..did ya need anything sur? I was..finishing up some training and was gonna head off to check on some privates learning some archery."

"No, not really." Terrence replies, leaning against the wall to watch the eight hares continue their march. "I was just saying hello. Haven't seen much of you since we got back is all." The sergeant turns his head to look towards Zolomon, raising an eyebrow over his spectacles as he does so. "Actually, about those archahs - can you make sure the lot of them keep focused on that? And make sure they know how to use a blade. We don't have many dedicated archahs in our patrols..."

Zolomon nods. "I..use ta not be good at the blade, top skilled with the longbow and..guess been busy sur or resting.I have not seem much of..well anyone myself..you or Felicity either...and thar is Dom....wonder how Dom is doin' anyways, I could say hi but...not sure how wise that is, he seems to dislike me."

Letting out a chuckle, Terrence pushes himself off the wall to fully face Zolomon. "You and I are both in that boat, wot. Dom rathah dislikes me as well, as fah as I can tell. Don't worry about him - he's down in the catacombs and seems to enjoy scaring leverets..." He looks down at his feet before saying, "I believe Felicity is the only one besides the leverets he can stand, least fo'h now."

Zolomon nods. "Well let her jolly well talk to him, lot safer that way."He gets in a couple punches to the training dummy and mods, "She is..easy to get along with, I..don't know her sister..too well though, not really...she and some other dibbuns were in the kitchens one day and...yeah that was interesting." He has yet to really help with the whole watch the sister thing yet.

Terrence nods. "Indeed. There was a time back right before you first came here that I was rathah convinced she couldn't stand me on account of me putting my, well," He coughs, "Foot in my mouth around her. As for Julia, well - most of my interactions are when from when she was younger, and at least two of the times involved he'h snatching daggers or something from the armory. Though a few days ago she had a fight with the lieutenant's kid in the catacombs - they were apparently trying to make Dom's cubby down there all pretty."

Zolomon hmms. "Odd...dibbuns seem to like me sometimes and not at other times. My thinking is," He looks back and forth, "Try ta avoid dibbuns fer de most part, hee hee."

"I see." Terrence doesn't laugh, instead looking at the corporal over his spectacles. "They are more than likely the future of ou'h patrol." He says, flatly, "But anyway, I nevah much dealt with Dibbuns," he tries the still foreign word out, having heard several beasts use it in the past seasons, "All that much myself before. I've helped out with the oldah ones, of course, and helped some others do theih homework fo'h classes, but the young leverets don't really go fo'h all that stuff, eh?" He grins.

Zolomon nods. "I protect them, of course and...well suppose have cheered some up with cartwheels a little."

Terrence nods before walking away for a bit to wave the eight hares drilling finish up. "Right then, you lot, that's good enough fo'h today." As the hares are filtering out, the sergeant returns to watch Zolomon. "I suppose you've done that a lot now, haven't you?"

Zolomon grins. "Cartwheels are fun Sargenta T.." He does a couple and grins, "Seee.."And he crashes into the wall and an ear gets a but pinched, "Ouchie"

A sigh escapes Terrence at the nickname, and he bows his head when Zolomon hits the wall to hide laugh. He comes over to the corporal and offers a paw. "Say that's the heavens' way of letting you know using nicknames fo'h superiors are bad luck, eh?" He winks, before chuckling once again. "Daresay you might need to work on you'h aim when cartwheeling, corporal!"

Zolomon he lets himself to helped up and rubs his ear. "I say..ouch....I am gonna get me ear looked at...chat later..sur."

Terrence then took his leave of the corporal, taking some old weapons down to the storage.

A good amount of time had passed since the Dibbun Incident within the catacombs, and Dom had fled deeper into the caverns as things devolved into a tussle between said Dibbuns as they seemed to fight over Blorg, of all things. He had left his alcove abandoned for a short time, as he figured it would eventually be overrun with visitors as he's sure the event triggered a lot of attention. A short time later, however, Dom had decided that he at least should go and retrieve Blorg, so he can bring him to his new living arrangement further within the catacombs. He slowly approaches his old spot, the hare finally reaching it, and as his eyes fall upon the chaotic scene within, they immediately cloud over and darken. His paws clench and unclench at his sides, his chest slowly beginning to heave with deep breaths as he stares at the toad skeleton which lies facedown on the ground, its arm missing. "...vat. VAT!" He has taken on the appearance of a tea kettle who had begun to boil and was just about to totally blow it's top. His face scrunches up, jaw clenching, red beginning to creep into his face. The shout of anger that results can likely be heard throughout most of the mountain.

It's actually been a full day since the Dibbun Incident, and while a very subdued Julia is with the leveret caretakers, Felicity has decided to check on her friend Dominik. She's grudgingly donned her Sergeant's uniform, although she would've preferred to wear something Dom has seen her in before he....well, cracked. When she hears the shout, instead of running away like a smart person, she starts jogging down staircases, passing other hares until she's in the doorway to the catacombs. "Dom?" She calls, wanting to make sure to not startle him. "Dom, love, whot's wrong?" She cautiously continues forward, staying light on her feet....just in case.

Having heard the yell while coming from the storage rooms Terrence was rather surprised to see Felicity disappear into the dark. For a moment he debates if its a good idea to follow her then realizes backup might be needed, considering what happened last time and how Dom's beloved skeleton ended up... So, with a sigh of resignation, he enters the catacombs after her. "Felicity?" He says, as quietly as he can manage while still trying to be heard by her, and not by Dom. "He sounds rather angry," There's worry in his whisper, "You sure about looking fo'h him at the moment?"

Dominik is standing in his alcove, his gaze fixed downward as he stands over Blorg. The detached arm is held in one of his paws, as he stares down at the skeleton, the hare absolutely seething. As he hears voices approaching and he whirls around, his eyes blazing, teeth bared. It is likely not the thing one wishes to see when down in creepy catacombs. "This. THIS VAT WRONG!" he waves the arm about, the arm flailing around in the process. "Blorg dead. SOMEONE KILLED BLORG!!!" he shouts, tears in his eyes as he eventually slams the arm bone down on the ground, enough for it to snap in half. With a growl, the large hare picks up the rest of the skeleton and flings it across the alcove, where it hits a wall and shatters into pieces. He begins to stalk back and forth, the back of his neck bristling.

Felicity freezes and goes to push Terrence back a little. "No, I'm not," she mutters, "but I am certain 'twould be bad f'r y' 'ealth if y'followed me unless absolutely necessary." She then comes forward quietly, paws raised to show she has no weapon in them. "Dom, love, I'm sorry. 'Tis always 'ard when our friends die." She just decides to go with his delusion that the skelaton was alive. I mean, he's been dead for a while, but she can just let that slide. "Nobeast 'ere would do that intentionally, an' believe you me, if it 'ad been an accident, I would've personally dealt wi' 'em by now." She stops at a bit of a distance from him, but close enough that he could pounce on her if he wanted to. Fortunately, she's staying light on her feet, ready to dodge if necessary. "Dom, d'y'trust me, love? Y'know I would nevah lie t'you."

"Right then," Terrence mutters with a wince when he hears the shattering bones, "You'll get no argument here." Staying put were she pushed him, the sergeant wonders how Dom would think back to this time if he ever- when he gets back in his own mind. He'll let Felicity handle this, and its not like he could have stopped her anyway. "Just hope Dom doesn't try to attack you, as I don't think even the two of us could take him..." He thinks aloud.

Dominik whirls around and sees Felicity standing there at the entrance to the alcove, and with a growl he stalks over in her direction. He comes to a stop just before her, the large hare now inches away as he glowers down at her, his teeth bared and eyes wild. His cheeks are damp from tears, and he slowly lifts a paw and points it at her. "...you," he says, his voice a low growl. "YOU!" His head jerks up as he hears Terrence's voice as well. "...vas HIM. HE DID IT. Never liked Blorg. NEVER LIKED HIM!" he growls, as he tries to get past Felicity to exit the alcove and try to find where Terrence is. Uh oh. That can't be good.

Felicity doesn't show fear as the huge hare towers over her. Instead, she meets his gaze, firm, strong, brave. "Dom..." Uh-oh is right. "Terrence, hide! Dom!" She dances to in front of the mountain hare, her paws still up placatingly. "No, Dom, I sweah 'twasn't Terrence 'cause 'e was wi' me at th' time, an' we weren't anywhere neah Blorg when it 'appened. Dom! Do y'trust me, love? I'm tellin' y'th'truth!" She was near the aftermath, but they weren't in the catacombs when Earlbuck accidently de-armed the toad skelaton. It is true. "Just stand down, Dom, please. Y'm'friend, an' I know y'don't act like this. Y'listen really well. Remembah? That's part o' why the leverets love y'so much."

It occurs to Terrence, as he look this way and that for somewhere to hide, that Dom can more than likely catch him if he runs and smell him if he hides - so he turns to face Dom (and Felicity), backing up slowly and as nonthreateningly as possible. His goal is to give the massive buck no reason to chase after him, and the sergeant suppose his life might very well be in Felicity's paws. He says nothing during all of this, as he is aware enough to know that will just make everything worse. Despite the circumstance, he appears remarkably calm as he takes even steps backwards towards the exit.

Dominik's head focuses down on Felicity again with a sharp turn as the doe steps in front of him to impede his progress. He reaches down with those huge paws, both of them coming to rest on her shoulders and beginning to squeeze. His ears lift as Felicity's words reach them, his glare focused down on her. After a short time, it eventually softens, the large hare seemingly relaxing just a little as he stares down at her. Soon, his paws leave her shoulders, his gaze lifting and landing upon Terrence as the other buck slowly begins to back his way towards the exit. He gives him a long stare, teeth baring for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he merely watches him quietly. Finally, he looks back down to Felicity. "...then who?" he huffs. "Somevun vas here. Somevun touch Blorg. Someone...kill Blorg. Vhy?" He frowns, as he turns and steps back into the alcove. He sinks down to his knees where the thrown skeleton had hit the wall, and he begins trying to piece it back together with his paws...but it continues to fall apart as he does so. His attempts move faster and faster, expression growing desperate until finally the realization hits him, and he flings the pieces against the wall and slumps there, his head lowered.

Felicity tenses as she's grabbed, but still she shows no fear as her brain starts frantically trying to figure out ways to escape. As he relaxes, though, she starts to relax, too. "Dom, y' 'ave t'trust me, okay? Y'know I won't lie t'ya, but I'm not sure y'want t' 'ear m'answer." When he lets her go and starts fiddling with the skeleton, she inches forward, gesturing for Terrence to stay put for now. "Oh, Dom..." she murmurs as she sees him fighting with the bones. It breaks her heart to see him like this. She has to hope that someday he'll get better.

Terrence certainly had no intention of leaving Felicity alone down here, and had already stopped moving when Dom went to Blorg's ruin. He's a fair distance away now, but not too far away so as to not be able to see or hear or spring into action if things go south. Remaining quiet as possible, he rolls his shoulders, preparing himself for a fight if Dom becomes aggressive again.

Dominik sits there amongst the scattered pieces of what used to be Blorg, the massive hare completely despondent as he stares down at the ground. His icy eyes well with tears, the occasional one streaking down his cheekfur, his paws still occasionally pawing at the odd bone here and there. "...you know, then..." he mutters, his voice cracking. "Tell Erg. Who did this? Vhy? Vhy vould they do?" He lifts his eyes to Felicity, the hare's expression absolutely heartbreaking as he peers at her, his cheeks damp, ears folded back against his skull. "Vas Erg's only friend. Listened...ven had to speak. Does not deserve...this..." he waves his paw at the scattered bones. "If know, tell now. Or Erg vil leave, not come back. Go back...to svamps." His voice hardens, his eyes narrowing as well.

Felicity's narrow, as well. "Don't y'go threatenin' me, Dom. I won't let y'leave th'Mountain, an' if y'some'ow escape, I swear I will scour th'earth 'til I find ye agin so I c'n bring y'back." She crosses her arms, looking angry, but also letting her hurt and sorrow show, channeling all her worry about him into her sadness. "An' whot about me? I thought I was y'friend, too. I try t'listen! I'm 'ere f'r ya! Whene'er I c'n get away from all m'stupid Sergeant duties, I come down t'talk t'you! I always make sure y' 'ave food an' watah, even when I can't come down t'see you." She stifles her crying as tears trickle down her own cheeks. "I thought we were friends, Dom! But y'say I'm not?" She's evading his question about the skeleton, just as she would if he was a child.

Shifting from one foot to the other, Terrence ponders if it would be wise to tell the truth - he had heard and seen more than Felicity, and the sergeant is sure Dom wouldn't harm Earlbuck in any way. At least, he hopes that is the case... So he listens uncomfortably as the doe tries to talk down the buck, and once she finishes he decides to speak up. "Dom," His voice is clear and loud, but without anger, "A leveret less than three seasons did that to you'h friend there. It was an accident, and I can swea'h he didn't intend it."

Dominik stares quietly at Felicity as she speaks, the hare's expression still one of hurt and betrayal, a frown upon his muzzle. His arms fold across his chest as he listens to the doe, his gaze averting to peer back at the dismembered skeleton on the ground. He reaches down and fiddles with the bones, not really trying any more to piece them back together...it appears as if it's just something to keep his paws occupied. Eventually, he mumbles softly, his tone petulant. "...not Dom. Erg." It isn't nearly as forceful as it had been previously when he'd spoken to Greg, when Greg had been down here. This seems to be directed to both Terrence and Felicity. As Terrence tells him what really happened, Dom fixes his gaze on the other buck. He stares at him, with a frown. "...vil not blame little vun. Vil blame you, for letting down here..." he mutters, bitterly. He looks back to Felicity, his shoulders slumping in a heavy sigh. "...is...sorry, Licitee. Is...friend. Erg much thanks for...food. And for talking vith. Did not mean vords..."

All the weight of her imprisonment in the swamps, her new rank, rescuing and now trying to help Dominik become his old self, and dealing with the day-to-day stresses of raising Julia and dealing with the hares who still hate her, as well as all her seasons of combat, have taken a toll on Felicity, and it shows now that she can't stop crying. 'Twasn't anybeast's fault, Dom....an' ye're Dom, Dominik, m'friend, not this....this Erg creatah th'stupid toads made y'into." She begins shaking. "Those....those blasted toads...." She places her paws over her eyes and weeps, barely able to stand. Her time with the toads hurt her way more psychologically than she's let anyone know.

Terrence simply shrugs in response to Dom's frown - this wasn't the first time he took the blame for something he had little to do with. However, once Felicity begins to cry in earnest, he disregards any danger that Dom might pose and closes the distance to reach out a paw with the aim of touching her arm. "Felicity?" He asks quietly and worriedly, pushing down the rising fear that the hare who calls himself Erg might lash out.

Dominik frowns, watching Felicity having her breakdown with an impassive look, at first. As she continues to hammer it into his head that he is this Dom fellow, the large hare shakes his head, his tone a little more hesitant as he speaks. "...no. Am...not Dom. Am -Erg-...am...toad-slayer...am..." At that, he remembers what Grace had told him about him being a hare and not a toad-slayer. His ears lift from his head. "...Grace...leetle vun...told Erg he is not toad slayer. Say he is...hare. Beeg hare. Beegest in mountain." His gaze drifts down towards the ground again. "Showed that ve look the same. So...mebbe is this...Dom...that you keep saying..." He stares down at his paws, slowly holding them out in front of him, turning them back and forth. As he lifts his eyes to look back to Felicity, he catches a glimpse of the diamond shaped scar upon his shoulder that he had received when he'd been poisoned a season ago, and was on death's door. "...Dom..." he mutters, softly. "Dom...?" His voice lilts with more of a questioning tone, and he looks back up at both Felicity and Terrence.

Felicity just shakes her head and backs away. She's ashamed and furious with herself that she can't stop crying. She looks up, staring at the other bucks through her tears. "Aye....aye, y'Dom, one o'....one o' m'good f...friends, who..." she sobs some profane something about toads and shakes her head again. She tries to speak, but can't, so instead she does the one thing she will despise about herself for the rest of her life: She turns and runs, praying to every deity she can think of that Dominik won't blame Terrence. She hides somewhere deep in the darkness of the caverns beneath Salamandastron until she has wrestled the memories of what the toads did to her back into her subconscious...

"Felicity!" Terrence calls after the fleeing sergeant, his back now turned to Dom. When she disappears into the darkness a loud curse escapes him, and he slumps against one of the nearby walls, looking up at the cobwebbed ceiling. A moment or so later, he remembers where he is and springs to the middle of the hallway, looking frantically for any sign of Dom. He grits his teeth and waits for a moment.

Dominik is likely too busy being confused at the moment to really react much to the fact that he is now alone with Terrence, and could likely put a hurt on the other buck if he really wanted to. He lifts his head to stare at him quietly, a frown eventually appearing upon his muzzle, his eyes narrowing. Slowly, he lifts a paw and points in the direction that Felicity disappeared to. "Go..." he rumbles, his voice deep. "Find. Leave alone. Do not return...til find." He shuffles over towards the back of the alcove, then sits down with his back to Terrence, staring at the wall. "Will give five second. 5...4...3...2..."

"I certainly intend to." Terrence says in a neutral tone, before stiffly backing away slowly. He refuses to give Dom the impression that he is scared of him, even if there's truth to that. Once the sergeant is several yards way he relaxes and walks more naturally, doing his best to follow the passage Felicity disappeared down. Even if he won't admit it to himself, a deep felling of relief settles within him when he can no longer hear Dom in the dark, or his counting.

~~rip blorg 2k19-2k19 u will be missed~~

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#1 2019-12-27 05:29:07 PM

Babysteps, Dom, babysteps. - LP 12/26/19

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