#. ⟡ * thread ( marcellus | dragonhcrt (1) ) .

[windfavord]

You really thought you could change, didn't you? How ridiculous...

His hat ought to have shielded him from the rains. How was he supposed to know that simply reaching out to touch the falling droplets was enough to get him infected?

Still, it's not like he cares that much.

"What's ridiculous is you," he mutters. What he wants is to rip this ambitus to shreds, but it's just an illusion. It seems that some people get to see people they want to see, but he's had no such luck.

Maybe because there's not really anyone he wants to see, or many happy memories for it to play upon.

Though, he thinks, if it did happen to show those few people he might have once cared for... he would absolutely tear it to pieces on the spot. As it was... it seemed far more interested in taunting.

He crosses his arms as he leans up against the side of a building. This place is full of filth. The dregs of humanity, with their underhanded tactics and rotten gazes... it all disgusts him. And yet... the ambitus' taunting has managed to find a foothold despite all his supposed indifference.

It would be best for you to remain here, don't you think?

It's the Doctor this time, and he whips his head around, glaring sharply toward a space where he knew no real person stands. Teeth bare, feathers ruffled and savagery that he's tried to restrain showing through to the surface again.

You caused quite a lot of destruction back there, didn't you? Perhaps you're better off in a place like this.

"Shut up!" he snaps, aloud-- and then bites his tongue. The people nearby have turned to look in his direction.

Damn it... now he looks crazy too. He pulls his hat down to cover his face. When he hears a set of footsteps approaching, he releases a long, slightly shaky sigh, not even glancing up.

"What are you looking at?" he snaps.

This place... it might be getting to him more than he'd like to admit.

@dragonhcrt ——— ◈ omerta nostra.

[magiccuco]

٠ ࣪⭑ Cucumber smiled with a little blush. He couldn't deny the fact that he wasn't too much like his sister. They had very little in common, but that didn't matter to him. Afterall, she was his sister. He still had plenty of responsibility to keep an eye out for her and try to be a good influence.

" Nah... I-I'm not nearly as adventurous as she is. " He laughed. " Rice could be good with it! It's hard to go wrong with bread too- s-sugar can also work well in balancing flavors. " just that little bit of spicy sweetness could go a long way.

" But a dragon??? " he was confused, but his eyes lit up very quickly once he heard Mister Marcellus talk about that. " I've heard of those in stories I've read here, but that's cool you know one! " it'd be cool to know a dragon, he assumed.

"Does she really? I guess you didn't get that side." Or maybe he did and his spicy stew was just a little on the spicier side. Some people would probably say that it tasted like fire!

"I definitely wouldn't be eating all this alone," even if he could. "Maybe I can add something to counter-act the spice, huh? Bread, rice, something." The drink would help, but it wasn't something you ate.

"The lady was like a mother to me. Took care of me and all that jazz. She's no longer in our world, but she certainly left a huge mark! The toughest dragon if I've ever seen one~."

[windfavord]

"Hm," he replies. "I guess these people aren't really known for their hospitality. About what can be expected from a place like this."

Though the Wanderer's own plight is... a little more complicated. The fact of the matter is, he'd like to get back to Arcanus as quickly as possible.

"I see... a missing girl," he frowns. "Aren't there quite a few of us now who'd be considered 'missing' now? And you haven't found her yet... I wonder. This place can tempt you. It seems that humans are even more susceptible. It's been awhile since she went missing, right? Have you checked the codas?"

Ah, so just like some others. He's aware of others arriving against their will. Whether that's through sleepwalking or something else. Giving the other an apologetic look though, Marcellus gives a wry smile, "If I'm being honest, I don't think the locals like me very much either," he winks.

"There's a missing girl named Sandy. I got separated from my other partners when searching for her."

[windfavord]

"Not ready to leave, huh?" he raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms. Indigo gaze is sharp, inquisitive... though his voice is casual, it's not hard to notice that he's trying to subtly pry. This isn't the first such situation he's seen.

His gaze darkens at the question, and he looks away. Whatever it is that brought him here... it's clearly something haunting him.

"It wasn't my intention," he says, at last. That's all.

A short, bitter laugh at that remark. "I'm inclined to agree... besides that, I've already managed to piss off the locals. Pretty sure they're out to get me... not that they'll succeed, of course. I'm more than used to this sort of thing."

"I havent," he admits, defeated. Regardless he smiles down at The male with hope. "I'm sure we will figure out how to get back, but uh..." He was supposed to look for the kissing girl.

"What made you come out this way?" There were some who had a choice and others who did not. Which did this stranger fall into?

"I doubt anyone here is willing to help us. Something tells me they want to keep us here." If there was any evidence of the way Ryuhei who was no longer with Marcellus, was trying to convince him to stay here, with them.

[windfavord]

He releases a sigh, and reaches up to press slender, delicate fingers against his brow. This whole situation is giving him a headache. This island is even more confusing than the last one, and... while he's learned some things since he's been here, there are still far too many mysteries whose answers remain buried.

What's just as concerning... that there's no clear way to return to the other island. He's even experimentally tried to get some of the little dogs to lead him there... to no avail.

Honestly, though, he would be fine continuing to investigate. The phantoms aren't easy to ignore, they're annoying, they bring things up they have no business bringing up... and sometimes even dare to show him a world in which things didn't fall apart.

The puppet has no interest in a happy lie, though. He'd rather find the truth.

So he turns to glance at the man who had given him his coat, and decides he'll go along with all this. "Nevermind those illusions. Have you found any way back to Arcanus yet?" he asks.

Marcellus exhales, his fingers curl then uncurls. There's a sense of needing to protect. It's always been that way with him, hasn't it? Putting others first before himself. This situation is no different.

"C'mon," He doesn't know where he'll take the guy, but as long as they keep moving...

It'll be hard to ignore these phantoms. They whisper in your ears, talk directly in your face...For however way, they know the dearest most treasured people in your life, or even the most you feared. For this guy...It's his own self and for Marcellus, a person with ivory short hair and a softness in their feature. The way they speak, the way they glide across the ground as they follow...

Marcellus ignores them.

"Staying here idle isn't going to do us any good," he says to his current companion for this trial.

[windfavord]

"Hm. Fine, then, suit yourself," he shrugs his shoulders, awkwardly holding onto the jacket for a moment longer before eventually giving in and, albeit with a slight show of reluctance, draping it back around himself. "Just don't say I didn't warn you."

It's mostly just out of habit... he's a bit of a prickly sort, especially right now when he's on edge from the rain and the phantoms. Especially when they're digging at a particularly sore spot for him. A fresh wound laid on top of an old scar.

The other is right.

It does help to have someone else there... but he still flinches a little, and releases a soft sigh, shaking his head. "It's a nice sentiment," he mutters, "but... I'll always be alone."

Even when there are others around, even if they say otherwise. The world is a lonely place for a being who was never meant to exist in the first place.

All the more reason not to inflict yourself upon it,

says his former self.

Shut up and go to hell, he thinks back.

Marcellus' own head shakes and there's a small smile that etches at the corners of his lips. Soft, and bittersweet. Almost in silence, he's saying: It's a little too late for me.

it was a little too late for the both of them, but living in the kind of voice and phantoms for him was a normal thing. Marcellus, for as long as he lived learned to LIVE with the voices of his ghosts. To have idle chats with those who took forms of the ones he once loved and continued to love 'till this day.

"Keep it. I'll be fine," He reassures the other.

"but you're right. it doesn't matter, but it's nice to have someone there with you when it hits you. Just a reminder that you're not alone, mm?"

[magiccuco]

٠ ࣪⭑ Cucumber was excited to have another sip of the drink that he was offered. He simply nodded when Marcellus mentioned lowering the spice of his dish.

" W-well I know my sister likes to try spicy food. " whether or not she could actually handle the dish was a totally different story. His dad liked to try and do a similar thing. The two of them would get into a "who can tolerate spice the most" competition. Cucumber always opted out of these little contests.

" M-maybe if you're sharing the dish with others. But a-as long as you like it that's what matters the most. "

He took one more sip with a smile. " A lady? W-who was she? "

Poor kid! Marcellus really can't help but laugh, but it's not to make fun of Cucumber. "You know what, I'm glad you at least like the drink." But now that he's also thinking about it, "I might have to actually lower the heat a bit. I can handle it, but others may not. Nah, I think you were the perfect tester. Thanks a lot."

While he's at it, Marcellus pours him another drink when Cucumber's done, "A lady I used to hang around with used to make this kind of drink a lot whenever I felt gross."

[windfavord]

Fabric settling heavily over his shoulders surprises him, and he looks up. The irritation on his face melts away as he meets the other's gaze-- he hadn't realized just how much he'd ended up in the world of his own mind, attention focused on the phantoms that cling to the corners of his vision.

Well... it's not that surprising. Aside from them, he's mainly been in solitude.

Though he's loathe to take assistance from someone else... he still can't deny that meeting the eyes of a real, solid person is a bit of a relief.

He blinks, and the initial surprise clears-- and it's back to his usual aloof demeanor. He sighs, shaking his head. "Whether it's real or an illusion," he mutters, "It doesn't change the truth in its words."

He reaches up and clasps the collars of the jacket, shedding it from his shoulders and holding it back out toward Marcellus-- though before he does so, he hugs it more tightly around his shoulders for a brief moment. "It gets stronger with every drop that hits you," he says, "You'll need this more than me."

He's a little bit calmer now... even if he wouldn't necessarily admit it. He's used to being alone, he shouldn't have any trouble with it, and yet... maybe he's gotten too used to having others around.

He gets it. This place really knows how to get under your skin. The dragon god has been fighting for his life to keep his sanity, but these blasted...

He gets it.

A person can only handle so much before they lose it and this person has already been through enough. Marcellus slides off his jacket and places it over the other. He wouldn't care of the blue haired boy took it off, but it's more of a way to shield him from the rain further. Not that it'd do any good. It's too late. They're both affected by the drops the moment it touched them.

"If you need someone to ground you and remind you that there's no one here, I'll be that person."

[magiccuco]

٠ ࣪⭑ Cucumber was perhaps just a bit too quick in grabbing the drink to gulp it down. It was very refreshing, indeed! He let out a deep sigh after drinking it, feeling his taste buds simmer down.

" A-haha... s-sorry Mister Marcellus... " he murmured, looking at the tasted dish a little sheepishly. " B-but the drink is yummy! The flavors balance really well. " he took another little sip to really get a better taste of it ( and also cool down his still slightly burnt mouth. )

" There's probably other folks who could give you a better taste test than me." A part of him wondered if Byleth would've liked it, not that he knew exactly what her favorite foods were ... yet.

The Dragon watches as Cucumber's cheeks turn red and the tears are evident enough that the dish is indeed too spicy. Though, surprisingly enough it came in last. A slow burn, huh?

Poor kid!

And Marcellus chuckles, reaching over to grab a kind of drink that he's also made in preparation for a just in case it's too spicy situation. "Here, this should help cool it down. You should let me know what that tastes like too. I added some lemon, mint, dragonfruit, and some sparkling water for the fizz."

[magiccuco]

٠ ࣪⭑ Well it was very interesting. Cucumber liked the textures and the flavors of the dish well enough. He was trying his best to discern them as much as possible ( though he wasn't much of a food conesuer... despite living in the doughnut kingdom. )

He was prepared to give his feedback- when the spice kicked in.

Cucumber's cheeks started to turn red, while tears welled up in his eyes. But he didn't want to look rude, so he looked at Marcellus and smiled as wide as he could.

" I-it's...-s great! I-I have no c-c-comments. " He stuttered. Despite having fur, it almost looked like he was starting to sweat.

@magiccuco

"What do you think? Does it fit your palette? Not too salty? A perfect balance? is there anything missing?" Marcellus has always been known to take constructive criticism when it comes to his dishes. He can't expect someone to enjoy his dish if he doesn't ask the people for their input after all.

"Hopefully the spice isn't too overpowering."