The Exploits of Misfit Company

Meanwhile, back at the sleepover, Kasha was whooping and hollering, laughing and playing. She wished this day would never end. It was definitely more fun than eating orcs as a kashasaurus. She would make sure to find an opening and give a playful pillow face smack to each one of the girls, and just couldn't stop laughing at the fun, or their faces, when they got hit.

Helm. God of guardians, protection, and protectors. Yvan's expression twisted into one of confusion. "What would a God want with a murderer?" Yvan asks sardonically. 

"There are murderers in this world Yvan, but you are not numbered among them. Why do you continue to punish yourself, when no one else does?"

"Because I deserve it." Yvan retorts, frustrated. "Because no matter how hard I try, I can't run away from what I've done. I can't forget the faces of the people I've had to slaughter, guilty or innocent, young or old." He looks down at his bandaged palms, trembling, the world ebbing around him as he begins to see blood soak through the gauze and drip down his hands. "I-I don't deserve any good. I don't deserve happiness, o-or love, or anything other than pain. I-I'm a risk to have around b-because... what if I hurt them?" He looks to the eagle with pleading, tear filled eyes, asking it to answer him. "Wh-what if I hurt the ones I swore I would protect?"

The eagle flies over to you and lands on your shoulder. It feels...slightly comforting, in an odd sort of way. "True. You cannot blot out your past any more than you can blot the sun out of the sky. But how you write your future is your choice. You need not live like this, flagellating yourself for the deeds that you've done and living in fear of hurting the ones you love. Redemption is possible, young one. You can live without the fear of hurting those you love and wish to protect. If you wish, you can become a better protector and possibly a healer. And hopefully, you will feel like you are deserving of the love and happiness that you are given. Do you want this, young one?" The eagle looks into your eyes and you get the idea that if it could, it would wipe those tears away.  

Stella, Alys, and Kasha: Vastra enthusiastically participates in the pillow fight. "So uh, what else do we do in sleepovers? I haven't really participated in one of these either."

Kasha made a sound that was a combination of surprise and something else. "You've never been at a sleepover before?! What world do we live in?! We pillow fight, we build pillow forts, we uh.." she thought for a moment, a quick one. "Oh! We eat! Duh." she rolled her eyes. "Play games like Truth or Dare. Oh! Oh! And we giggle and tell stories!" she scrunched her face up like she just discovered a huge secret, or like that episode where Spongebob discovered Squidward liked Crabby Patties and lied about it the whole time. "And we talk about boys." she squeaked out. "KHKH!! Or girls!" her eyes bobbed.

"I have no idea," Stella admits with a laugh. "Snacks?"

"My childhood was primarily spent studying magic so that I could become a member of my country's elite defense force. So no, I haven't really been to a sleepover before." Vastra pulls over the room service menu with her Mage Hand and shows it to the group. "I suppose we can order food now and talk about boys or play Truth or Dare."

Alys gives Kasha one last bop before she gets off of her. “Munchies!! Gummy bears. And pizza. And chips. And ice cream. And...” The elf would giggle before coverIng her mouth in excitement and to stop her from naming all things bad for them. She could hear Yvan’s voice warning Kasha of sweets from back in Dio’s shop. Make sure she doesn’t get a tummy ache!

The wizard would look around at the girls, a few feathers still floating in the air. She felt a sense of warmth from their companionship, happy to share this experience with them. Though when Kasha would mention truth or dare or talking about boys and girls, her face would start to heat up.

Alys would smile encouragingly to Vastra who shared some of her history. She did look up to her. After a moment, she decided to share a little too.

”I never knew sleepovers until I spent time with humans. I was invited to experience some with them.” She’d speak softly. “They were fun, but not as fun as you three.” Alys would smile genuinely. 

 The tears that fell down his cheeks felt like lava, his body shaking as it had that night before. The mere thought of losing himself during a battle, the thought of hurting Kasha, Alys, Vastra, Stella, Hells even Bixby, terrified him. They would see him for what he truly was, what he believed himself to be. No gentle giant, no guardian, but a monster. He had already been ostracized prior, the feeling reeling its ugly head back again and again whenever he was vulnerable, and he didn't want to feel it again. It would have been easier to just remove himself. To run away as he did before, for their sake. It would have been better for everyone had he just disappeared--

Once the eagle rests at his shoulder those thoughts disperse. The imagery of blood soaking through his bandages gone, the world, once receding around him, settles back into place. His tears stop and he goes to wipe away at them with his cloak as he listened to what the bird has to say to him.

Redemption. What could he possibly do to redeem himself from his past sins? To become a better protector, to be a healer. His mind flies back to the day Alys had given him the vial of oil, her words echoing at the back of his head; "You had a hand at making this."  He remembered how her words had made him feel, how they made him believe that he was capable of doing good.

He wanted to protect that. He wanted to protect her. To protect Kasha, Vastra, Stella, and even to some extent Bixby. He wanted to protect his family.

"I do."

"Then accept Helm into your heart and follow his teachings. He will keep you from falling when your strength alone is not enough and in time, give you the power that you seek. The power to heal."

"Let's play Truth or Dare!" Kasha barked out. She covered her mouth to stifle a khkhkhkk.

“I... I will try...” Yvan affirms, giving a nod over to the eagle. He would need more time to think the offer over. “Thank you... bird.” 

Stella grins as they get all the junk food. "Well, my parents were very isolating, so I've never really had one of these either, but Truth or Dare sounds fun enough!"

Alys would hide her face in a pillow. Being a bit shy, she always found this game difficult.

“Who’s brave enough to go foist?!” Kasha teased.

"I'll go if no one else wants to."

I think, at this point, someone asks Vastra truth or dare.

That is correct. So either Stella, Kasha, or Alys can go ahead and ask Vastra Truth or Dare.

Alys’ ears would twitch when Vastra said she would go first, and in the pause of silence, the elf would think. Since her mentor chose truth, it was an opportunity for her to learn more about her. But what? Hmm... Well... Might be cheesy... 

Alys would peak out from her pillow, vibrant blue eyes looking to Vastra’s with genuine curiosity. Timid and gentle, but curious all the same. “Vastra, have you been in love?”