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RESPITE PARK - LATE AFTERNOON
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Claudio returned to the park once more, this time having ditched his cloak back at his home. His sweat was freezing to his cloak and stinking it up, and he didn't want to smell bad all the time. Walking around in just his usual pirate-like garb, he would take in the beauty of the park once again. The place was so calm, so serene, and incredibly grounding for him. He took a seat at a nearby bench and closed his eyes, allowing the time to pass. Time was all he had, after all...
Gareth wanders through the park, the one-eyed wolf moving with a liquid grace that fits someone who's spent so long on the seas. His overcoat, quite obviously piratical in design (along with his entire appearance in general), is loosened to provide some relief from the day's warmth, flutters in a light breeze as he walks, and he whistles a cheery little tune to himself as he goes. His business has been pretty good as of late, so he's been in an especially good mood.
Claudio's ears would perk up, prompting him to survey his surroundings for the culprit behind the whistling. Surveying the area, he noticed that there was a male heading in his general direction. His eyes adjusted to the warm light after being closed for a little while, noticing that they appeared to be wearing a pirates clothing. His breath catches in his throat for a moment, a sudden welling of emotions as his exhale shook violently. He attempted to look down and seem uninterested, but he knew his sudden appearance in Respite would probably prompt conversation.
Gareth continues his wanderings through the park, a path that has him passing close in front of Claud. He doesn't quite take too much notice of the folf's demeanor, but he does take enough notice to give Claud a friendly greeting. "Afternoon there, lad! Good tides to ye!"
Claudio shook nervously, his breathing continuing to shake and become more unstable. He reaches an arm around his body in some vain attempt to comfort himself, but his condition only worsens. His eyes remain tightly focused on the area in front of him, almost looking as if he's remembering something flashing in his mind. Like a movie playing, but his memories are the tape reel.
Gareth blinks as he notices Claud's demeanor getting more withdrawn, but also the shivering and distant stare. Feeling more than a bit concerned, he pauses in his walk and and gives the folf a tilt of his head. "Uh... are ye alright, lad? Should I run and get the doctor fer ye...?"
Narrator: In spite of the males concern, the folf would stand up. At this point, essentially hugging himself as a fog-like air begins rolling out of his maw like a dragon about to breathe flame. The air within close proximity to the folf becomes deathly cold, the folf seemingly unbothered. He whispered under his breath as the fog continued to roll from his mouth. "Mom... Dad..."
Gareth paces back carefully as the folf stands up, now feeling more than a bit wary as he sees the mist rolling off of Claud's body... and out of his mouth as well. "...Magic, hm? Oi, lad... take it easy, aye? Yer not in any danger here in town. Just say the word and I'll get ye to the doctor fer help."
Claudio: "Just stop talking... stop fucking talking!" With little to no warning, the folf would lunge at the male with intent in his eyes. Tears welled in his eyes as they froze, almost cutting his eyes with a near miss.
Gareth leaps back as the folf lunges forward, his overcoat flapping about as he does what he can to get back from Claud's reach. Though he's fully armed for a fight, he doesn't draw any weapons at all, figuring it'd just make things worse. "If ye just back off and leave it be, I'll go on me way, lad! No need fer this!"
Claudio: "You're to blame... you're all to blame! You took everything from me, my whole world! So now it's my turn to take it all from you!" He lunges again, missing yet again since the other male was clearly a more experienced fighter than he was. Magic was clearly more his speed. During all this, the air got increasingly more cold. It was like it was reacting to Claud's emotion.
Gareth shakes his head as he continues to dodge and weave around Claud's reckless attacks, noting that despite the exertion and the time of day, the air is getting positively bone-chillingly cold. "I had nothin' to do with what happened to ye, lad! Snap out o' it, or I'm goin' to do it fer ye!" He's not angry, far from it in fact, but he's clearly getting ready to try and subdue the folf if need be, rather than keep up this awkward dance they've got going.
Claudio's stance was animalistic and feral, but his voice and tone was full of despair and sadness. A crude mixture of each. He would lunge once more at the male, giving his all for his final strike.
Gareth sighs to himself as he throws himself aside to avoid the next incoming blow, only to decide that the only way to stop this craziness is to knock some sense back into Claud. As he lands from his dodge, he turns, braces, then lunges forward with a strong shoulder check, in an attempt to knock the folf over and jar him out of that trauma-induced trance he seems to be in. "Sorry about this, lad, but ye asked fer it!"
Claudio stood in a battle ready position, ready to brace for whatever the pirate would throw at him. His breathing continued to be full of emotion and volatility.
Gareth charges, shoulder lowered, intent on at least knocking the wind out of Claud so the two could settle things properly instead of the continued scuffle they've been having. While he has weapons openly belted to himself, he makes absolutely zero effort to try and use any of them at all.
Narrator: When the male makes contact with Claud, he somehow manages to stand his ground and move a considerable distance in the direction the pirate was charging at him. He winces and another burst of deathly cold air comes from the folfs mouth this time. Another surge of emotion bursts through the folf as he grabs his head, like he's having a headache, and begins to whimper.
Gareth comes to a stop, regaining his footing after the shoulder charge. He seems impressed that Claud managed to stay on his feet, but otherwise just stands up straighter. When he talks this time, he puts a bit more weight into his words, like he's back on deck of a ship again. "Did that knock some sense into ye, at least? Relax, lad, I'm not here to cause any problems for ye or anyone else, ye understand me?"
Narrator: The panic and fear sets in more and more. Upon closer inspection, the folfs eyes turn an almost pure white. He would begin screaming, the air whipping up almost to a gale as it becomes almost antarctic.
Gareth lifts an arm to shield himself from the gale of freezing air and takes a couple of steps back as a cold aura radiates out from Claud. Given the sheer intensity of magic whipping around right now, he doesn't dare approach the folf, and decides instead to take another couple steps back, some tingling sensation in the back of his head warning him being too close is likely to be deadly right now.
Narrator: Without warning, one animalistic shout comes from the folf. The area around the folf becomes shrouded in an almost opaque fog as a loud, almost glass-like shatter resonates through the air. Once the fog clears, he is standing with his arms at his sides, swaying from side to side before collapsing to the ground.
Gareth staggers back just from the sheer loudness of the explosion catching him off-guard. He waits for several quiet seconds, an arm still raised in front of him, before he lowers it and spots Claud on the ground in the middle of a patch of frozen greenery. He hesitates for another second, then carefully moves forward to kneel beside the folf. Reaching down, he rests a couple of fingers on Claud's neck, checking for a pulse as he mutters to himself. "Damn it, lad... what was that all about...?"
Narrator: Upon pressing his fingers to the folfs neck, he would detect a heartbeat, but incredibly faint. Almost like at any moment he could let go. His breathing was shallow and faint as well.
Gareth frowns at how weak Claud's heartbeat is, then decides to get the folf to the clinic. He takes a moment to remove his overcoat, then wraps Claud in it as a cozy blanket before scooping the folf up into his arms. Confusion and a bit of concern etch his expression as he carries Claud out of the park and to the clinic with as much haste as he dares, given the folf's condition.