video: un: pillar of the heavens

[inkfire]

[ open scene: a quiet night, the sun long since set, the night air finally cool, and mo ran alone in his tent. ah, blissful peace, some modicum of comfort after a long day trekking the dunes, and mo ran— rash and foolhardy, makes use of a special treasure he discovered. (or perhaps it is something the sand provided to him, laughing at the misfortune sure to come.)

all is quiet, except for a moan, hastily broken off, and then: the sounds of a swarm. a legion of small, fluttering locusts, their wings buzzing. they come from nowhere, from the sand itself, and disturb nothing in camp, except for one specific tent: mo ran.

the swarm descends and the peace around his tent is shattered as he yelps and curses the heavens. scrambling can be heard in the tent, as though a fierce fight is underway, and a minute later, a new video appears on the network.

normally cheerful, with a smile bright enough to charm any young maiden, dimples to please the aunties, and bright eyes, he looks different that night, his eyes a little darker, annoyance lingering at the corners and in the twist of his lips. around him swarm the locusts, and any attempt at batting them away s futile. more simply appear. ]

How the fu— how do I get rid of locusts? Never had to deal with something like this before.

[ a brief scramble and then he darts out of his tent, the camera shaking some. he's half dressed, hair down, and barefoot as he makes his way out. for a moment, he looks relieved, brightening up, the locusts have forsaken him, he can beg another tent possibly. but alas, that is not the case: within moments, the locusts are back, swarming around him. ]

Fucking hell, [ he mutters, and tries to brush away the locusts again, running a little further away from his tent in hopes of dislodging them. ] Can I set these stupid things on fire?

[ they're in his hair, and— what's that, are those locusts trying to get into his pants?— so maybe fire isn't the best option. ]

Comments

audio; un: pillar of the heavens

[inkfire]

[ okay, that much laughter would annoy him, but it is amusing, he knows, and the laughter isn't mocking or cruel, simply entertained. ]

Did what? I didn't use anything! [ except— ]

I was massaging the unguent I found into my muscles. That is what it's for, right?

[bravelyrunsaway]

No, no, love, no one makes that sound for sore muscles. I know, I've worked plenty well enough on many a person's aching everything. Including the aches that lead to those noises.

( he still sounds amused, but the laughter at least isn't ruling everything. for the moment, it's tapered off to just a few wheezing sounds. )

You think anything you find here is like that? That you find? Better borrow someone else's mouth or hands than find something here and rubbing it in, magic scorches everything it touches. You're singing a love song to the insects now, aren't you, because you rubbed in some unguent you found.

( there truly is no judging, just the increased sound of his amusement with his emphasis. this whole thing is hilarious. )

[inkfire]

It's a muscle. It aches, from time to time. Letting out that tension helps.

[ okay so he can't get away with a lie with this guy. he'll own it, at least. ]

It's just unguent! Nothing magical, just from the dunes.... [ he trails off, considering that, then mutters another curse ] Is everything here fucking cursed?

[bravelyrunsaway]

Oh, and what lifting are you doing with that muscle? You pamper it, it doesn't pamper you.

( he sounds even more amused at this. )

It searing well is, so take me up on the offer next time you're tempted to let out tension for your aching muscle. I'm willing, skilled, handsome, and not cursed. Also usually available.

( because he's flexible, rather than not actively seeing who he can sleep with, it's just not often (read: ever) anyone in their traveling party of foreigners to this world. )

[inkfire]

Do you pamper yours?

[ he's got a point there that mo ran can't refute, so he doesn't attempt to. he was trying to pamper it! ]

There still needs to be something. To ease the way.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Regularly, love, I never fail to pay attention to my needs.

( though he mostly prefers partnered activities, there's therapeutic value in a quick wank, as you do. )

Yes, and a wise person arms themselves with their own supplies, or minimally makes questionable requests from the cooks for certain oils. Not unguents from unearthed containers.

[inkfire]

[ Long past are the days when he wouldn't even need to talk to the cooks, he'd just have oils and everything he might need at hand. He's learned to be thrifty since then. ]

Hey, it was free unguent. Wasn't going to just toss it.

[bravelyrunsaway]

In cursed lands. You think anything here is truly free?

[inkfire]

Why wouldn't it be?

[bravelyrunsaway]

... Love, are you usually well off?

[inkfire]

Nope. Grew up dirt poor. Just used to nothing having an impact like that.

[ he just grew up in a pleasure house, so things were always available there. and he still has a tendency to remember his time as emperor, every luxury close at hand. ]

I got lazy with this.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Feeling more motivated now?