Learning to Fend for Yourself

[losthunter]

After a brief absence from the Nexus, Hunter has returned. He is still without his magic, as evident by the growth of hair on his head and not being covered by tattoos or piercings. However, Hunter does not have one tattoo, a freshly-created recreation of the rose bush tattoo on his left forearm.

Hunter seems to be deep in thought, as he taps a pencil on a large sketch book with one hand. His other hand is playing with a protection rune hanging from his neck.

"If you had to face a foe that has abilities you do not... how would you prepare yourself?" Something about his question might clue a listener to the fact that this is not hypothetical.

Comments

[losthunter]

"Zandros. Good to see you." Hunter nods at the other man.

"I am an artist. And quite proud of the artwork I create. But not very useful in a fight." He smiles. "And unfortunately, the one magical way I had to defend myself was taken from me... by the same witch who is currently threatening me."

[lionofthelight]

"Witch?!" Zandros sputters. Did he hear that right? "I was not aware you were beset by such! Light, Hunter, how long has she been in pursuit? And, dare I ask, for what reason, if any?"

[losthunter]

"Perhaps you should sit down. It is a long story."

"And it involves two witches, technically." Hunter finds a table nearby with two chairs, gesturing for Zandros to sit down.

[lionofthelight]

Zandros doesn't hesitate to take the offered seat. He folds his hands on the table and waits in silent expectation for the story to come.

[losthunter]

"About five years ago, when I was younger and foolish, I made the error of judgement by insulting a young woman, named Kendra. Who turned out to be a witch, with magical abilities."

"Kendra used her magic to change my appearance, to something that at that time I had considered 'ugly'. I had tattoos that covered my entire body. And piercings. And absolutely no hair."

"This tattoo.." He points to the freshly inked one on his forearm of the rose bush. "Was placed on my arm, and had the magical trait where the roses would bloom. The leaves would fall when the season changed. Christmas lights showed up in December."

"Kendra's magic was not harmful to me. In fact, she only wanted me to learn how to be a better man. She gave me a year to find 'true love' to break the curse. But the truth of it was... the love I thought I had was not true. And since I never truly loved myself, her magic stayed with me."

"Until three months ago... if you had come into the Nexus, you would have seen me with that appearance... the tattoos. The piercings. No hair on my head."

Hunter pauses there for a moment. "Three months ago, a different witch came into my life. She took the magic that Kendra left for me. And my appearance reverted to what you see now. Our shared face."

"That witch, named Karlene, is actively trying to kill me. I do not know why. I can not get close to her without being caused great pain."

[lionofthelight]

Zandros listens at attention throughout the story, now and then raising his brows or blinking hard -- especially at descriptions of what his 'twin' looked like just before his own arrival in this place.

"Light," he murmurs. "You are very brave to be preparing for this rather than fleeing for your life. What a wretchedly complicated situation to be in. Cursed and hunted, with the spectre of death and deformity on the horizon..."

Zandros clenches his fist on the table and begins to shake his head. "I believe you should prepare by gathering your friends and allies. You surely are not alone in this place, are you? Are there any who might come to your aid?"

[losthunter]

"Deformity?" That word catches Hunter's attention. He frowns. "Zandros... I am aiming to reclaim the appearance I am most comfortable with. Are you going to be consider me deformed when that happens? Because I don't."

He pauses for a moment. "I never thought of gathering my friends and allies."

"No. I am not alone. And there are those who have come to my aid before..." It is something to think about.

[lionofthelight]

He wants... Really He wants to reclaim that sort of visage? Light, Zandros can only imagine. He's left staring, rude though it may be, at his own reflection in another man's face.

Hunter wants that again? To be cursed? To be twisted?

Zandros looks down at the table, at his own fist, and says nothing. Not at first, anyway. Not for a long while.

Eventually he asks simply, "Why?"

[losthunter]

Hunter frowns. He looks back at Zandros, with an uncertain look. Are they going to have a problem with this? He hopes not.

"This..." He gestures to his current appearance. "Is not me. It is not Hunter."

"Right now, every time I look in the mirror, I am reminded of a judgmental, rude, irresponsible man. Someone who didn't care about anyone else. And someone who really didn't even care about himself."

Hunter rises, not sure if he should leave or not. "I need to reclaim my real appearance Zandros. I feel like I am pretending... wearing a face that is not mine."

[lionofthelight]

Zandros is quick to gesture for Hunter to take his seat again. "There is no need to leave," he tries. He wouldn't want to be the reason a conversation with one of the friendliest people in the Nexus ends abruptly.

"I simply... Do not understand. I suppose... Perhaps... It is not for me to understand? I am... In truth, I am uncertain I could make the same choice? I have had to consider in the past, when I was a soldier, if or how I might go into my future with--" He stops abruptly. How to phrase this delicately?

"With... An appearance which was not one of my choosing. But the appearance of my choosing is the very one you now seek to escape. Grappling with this concept is... Admitting my own vanity? Quite difficult."

[losthunter]

Hunter pauses at the gesture. And after a moment, returns to his seat.

"You have to understand.... right now, I have an appearance that is not my choosing." Hunter takes a breath to steady himself. "It took my five years to be comfortable in my own skin, and it was taken away from me."

"And maybe I should clarify... your appearance is your own. It does not remind me of my life as... Kyle... the man who was so judgmental and misunderstood others."

He chuckled lightly. "It took me all that time to admit to the faults of my own vanity. So I understand how difficult it can be."

"I just don't want to lose you as a friend."