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[soulsword]

In Russian folklore we have a tale of a being known as Koschei the Deathless. [ Such a strong name requires a dramatic pause before she continues on. ]

One particular tale, Tsarevich Petr and the Wizard, goes as such: once upon a time the beloved wife of Tsar Bel-Belianin was abducted by the vile Koschei. This wizard was known as a terribly frightening foe as he had cast a spell upon himself that prevented himself from being killed. You see, he had the brilliant idea to separate his soul from his body and hide in nested objects. In this particular tale his soul was in an egg, in a duck, in a hare, nested in a hollowed log.

Seems like a needlessly complicated path to immortality if you ask me. One with some very obvious flaws. [ She thinks this story is stupid. ]

Well, the sons of Tsar Bel-Belianin went to rescue their beloved mother. Only one was able to trick him into tell him of this nested soul and he ventured out find the egg. Once in his possession he found the wizard and then smashed the egg in front of him, kill him instantly.

[ And thus ended his reign of terror. ]

There are many variations of the story, he's something of an archetypal villain where I'm from. Generic if you ask me. He's always on the search for an eternal bride.

[ But there it is, her story that she was forced to tell. ]

Strange...well, if I disappear you'll know what happened. [ She sighs. She better not though. ] Should we all play truth or dare next?

[ ooc: Not too long after posting this she'll be kidnapped and talking from there. ]

Comments

[ask_whydunit]

You’re right. I never would have guessed.

[ He responded, tone and expression more than a little deadpan, and maybe just a hint of some tiredness behind the eyes. So all in all, normal Waver. Eyes narrowing at the continued dramatics, he huffed in answer to her exaggerated sigh. ]

Pardon me, my lady, but I thought you might take offense to me trying to help you again.

[ He responded with a mock politeness. He had been really worried there, dammit! That, on top of feeling like a fool for believing her act was making him… a little petulant? Yes, a little. He might not be as bad as he was in his younger years, but it happened now and again. He was still himself, deep down, no matter how much he’d grown.

Waver even had half a mind (the stubborn half) to tell her that he didn’t need to be teleported anywhere… But the sensible half also didn’t relish walking all the way back the way he’d come after all that. ]

If you wouldn’t mind, yes.

[soulsword]

Oh? I didn't know you cared if I took offense or not. [ Something else to tease him about! How exciting! Ah, she did love deadpan he got sometimes. Particularly when it was followed up by the mocked politeness, it really did only add fuel to her fire.

She grinned and then a disc began to form at both their feet, coming up quickly to surround them and then they were at his place. Because of course she'd go there. ]

I guess I'll leave you here, we should both probably get some sleep. You've had a big day, especially for the elderly! [ As though he were a lot older than her. She paused for a long awkward second before actually adding on: ]

Thank you.

[ask_whydunit]

I don’t! I just don’t feel like listening to the complaints and arguments about-

[ He started in a reactive huff, ears starting to turn red in embarrassment at the notion that he actually cared (no one could know)! But then Illyana’s disc formed under their feet and he found himself at his place. More than a little disoriented by the experience, his retort cuts off short.

Brows furrowing as he glanced around. Of course, she’d just teleport him in here. On the one hand, sleep sounded good. This week was going to hit him hard the minute he let his guard down. It always did. But on the other hand… ]

I’m not THAT old yet! [ He found the prickly nature inside him again…

But her thanks get an awkward hum, shoulders lifting slightly. ]

Don’t mention it. I wasn’t going to just leave you to that. [ Waver finally responded in a less tense tone. He’s not happy to leave anyone to a horrible fate if he can do something about it. He’s just glad he didn’t fail this time. ] You’re a menace, but you didn't deserve that.

[soulsword]

Could've fooled me. [ Of course she had to throw that out there, right? ] But hey, don't sleep then. If you eventually pass out though, don't blame me.

She shifted a bit, putting one arm on the other in display that revealed a hint of awkwardness. ]

If you say so. [ Well. Now it was time for her to teleport away from the situation. The Illyana special. She as there and then she wasn't. ]

[ask_whydunit]

S-shut up, I’m not going to just pass out! [ Waver makes a face, expression embarrassingly awkward like she’d hit the nail on the head. Does Waver have a habit of falling asleep in weird places like at a desk or something? Yeah… Even here he’d done it once or twice.

His expression softened a little at her own awkwardness, and he opened his mouth to respond in an attempt to be a little nicer about it. ]

I do- [ And she’s gone. Sighing, Waver actually found his sofa to make an attempt at sleep, despite his earlier argument. ] You can’t keep doing that, Illyana… One of these days we’re going to have to talk after this kind of thing.

[ He muttered, as though he wasn’t a great big hypocrite himself on the subject of open conversation… before finally taking that nap. ]